They’re calling for a “wintry mix” here tonight and I am….less than enthused. I know, I know. I had a gorgeous summer last year and this is the required payment for another one: I am earning those sunny, blue-sky warm days. But that doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it.
I THOUGHT I had managed to end all this wintry precipitation, simply because I finally broke down and bought myself some good rain/snow/ice boots. This after being in such denial that I had to wear motorcycle or cowboy boots during the last couple of storms, which made me look like a fashion victim as I’m out making snow angels with my kid. Luckily we live so far out no one could see me, but still. Sort of embarrassing. So I ordered these really nice black galoshes, tall and impenetrable, all the while assuming that of COURSE because I’d spent the money it would now never snow or ice again. Because that is Just My Luck. Also, I Control the Elements. Apparently. Or, um, not. If we have to have something, I am just HOPING it is snow, because ice scares me. Ice means downed power lines, which means no heat or running water (country living, we have an electric well pump!) which means inside camping, which is fun for about…oh, twenty minutes. Since we’ve been in this house, we’ve had The Big Snow of 00, where we got, like two feet and the entire world shut down for days, as well as what we delicately refer to as the Big Eff You of 02, the ice storm where we were without power for over a week. I do not feel like coming up with a clever rhyme for 2011. Just saying.
Remember the summer? Beach trips? Flip flops? Fresh tomatoes, not pale ones with white specks? When it didn’t get dark until 7 or 8? Yeah, me neither.
In other news, thanks to DirecTV pay per view, I am FINALLY getting to see some movies that are kind-of current. Last weekend, it was The Other Guys, with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, which was not that great, which was sort of surprising. Then last night, we tried Dinner for Schmucks, with Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd. How much do I heart Paul Rudd, people? Oh, sa-woon! Adorable. And of course I love Steve Carrell even when he isn’t Michael Scott, but especially when he is. But this movie, too, was not what I expected. it was….odd. I’m used to having a solid opinion about things like books and movies, either a yay or nay, but I wasn’t sure HOW I felt when this one was over. Nyay? I’ll get back to you about it.
Speaking of movies, like a lot of authors, I get asked fairly often if any of my books are going to be made into movies. My first two books, That Summer and Someone Like You, were adapted into the movie How To Deal back in 2003, but since then there hasn’t been much happening on that front. Why? Well, there are any number of reasons. They might be hard to adapt, or there isn’t a producer who was really in love with my work, like Bill Teitler was with the How to Deal script. (Thanks, Bill!) I would love, love, LOVE to see any of my other books make the jump to the big screen, but I long ago learned it’s best not to hold my breath. This weekend, the fab YA author Ally Carter addressed this issue better than I EVER could with this blog entry, which should be required reading for any writer with Hollywood hopes. It’s like my friend and mentor Lee Smith said to me when I signed my option, a million years ago, and was convinced I’d see my name on the big screen within a week or two: “Sarah, I think that’s great. It really is. But you should know all my books have been optioned at one time or another, and nothing’s ever come of any of them.” Hard words to hear, but true. But, you say, your movie DID get made. Which is true! But it was seriously like winning the lottery, and had nothing to do with me or my books as much as a dedicated producer and the fact that Mandy Moore liked the script. I had about as much control over it as I do over….well, anything. Which isn’t much. I mean, look what happened with the whole managing the elements thing?
Oh, well. At least I have boots.
Stay warm, everyone!
I hear you about the boots…I recently traded in my minivan for an SUV with 4-wheel drive, assuming I’d never have to use it. Plus, we just bought my dad a huge snowblower for Christmas, again, assuming it would sit in his garage forever. But we were hit with that blizzard the day after Christmas…so at least we were prepared, right? I’m so over snow now, though, and am ready to bust out my flip flops again!
“Friend and mentor Lee Smith”? Oh, I’m jealous. Lee Smith is one of the reasons I’m a writer. I love, love, love her books. I still remember this one point in The Devil’s Dream where I was just about fell over at how good the writing was.
I have a dream of working with movies and ever since I read Lock and Key I’ve wanted to make that into a movie. If I ever make it big, I promise I’ll do just that.
I feel the same way you did about Dinner for Schmucks. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Paul Rudd and Steve Carrell, but I’m not sure how I felt about the movie. Maybe I have to watch it again to get a definitive feeling.
Love you Sarah Dessen! Thanks for keeping on blogging. And I really hope another one of your books becomes a movie. I’ve been hoping for a while and I still hope that it will happen in the future! Good luck with the bad weather =(
Random but just thought you should know
So, I was at your book reading in Vero Beach last June, or was it the one before? Who knows time flies so fast, but anyways my dad took me and he was the only dad there (we laughed for hours about that). Hahahaha. I told him I was reading your blog and he was just so happy to bring that little memory back “Sarah Dessen signed your book-PAUSE-and put my name on it too!” It’s the little things that make him happy. I just thought I should share that with you because even though it was a long time ago, you make me and my dad’s days everytime we think of that joyful lunch. Thanks!!!! Marisa Winkelman
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Just caught up reading the last two entries. I’m super glad you’re keeping the blog! I love reading it!
Mhm
Well snow snow snow, I know your pain. I hate SNOW yea please don’t let it snow and this is coming from a Jr. High student who is supposed to want snow to get out of school…mhm
Steve Carrell don’t even get me started! I LUV that guy if I could meet any two people it would be Sarah Dessen and Steve Carrell. I am sad to see him leave ‘The Office’ but am happy to see him in new movies!
And Sarah if any one of your books could be made into a mvie it should by far be ‘The Truth About Forever’!
TTYL I’m in computer class and the bell just rung…off to Geography!
I’m EXACTLy the opposite. GO winter! The summer gives me some severe migraines. I’m trying to get my husband to move us to Alaska…
SOME DAY.
Just Listen
Just Listen is great!!!!
oh
Hey Sarah! Looks like you have a challenging winter ahead of you! Thank goodness that you got boots for playing with your kid! I wish u the best of luck!
I read Ally Carter’s blog entry and what she said about a movie being a 2 hour commercial for the book. “How to Deal” was my gateway to your books six years ago and I’m very happy it was made.
Yes….we read blogs..especially ones that make you smile
So..last night my 12 year old daughter and a friend were talking about the most incredible book the friend just read. This morning, my daughter begged me to go to Borders today and buy it for her. IT is called “Someone like you”. So I found time to go to Borders just now and decided to buy her a 3 pack gift set. She loves books and can read them in a day. I went online to make sure they were age appropriate for her and I found this blog. You seem like a very interesting person, and your books sound very interesting. I am glad that you post your thought because now we can think of you as a real person and not just an author somewhere out there. I look forward to hear her thoughts on your books and plan to rent the movie that was made next Friday, when they have a day off from school! Keep up the great work…we appreciate it!
The ice storm
You bring back fond memories! I was a senior at UNC for the 2002 ice storm. I lived in the Glen Lennox appts then (built in the 50s) and that first morning when I woke up the indoor temperature was 41 degrees! Our power had been out all night. So, I crashed on a friend’s dorm room couch and spent the week at the UL (campus had power), which I recall being exam week.
yah my great aunt and uncle are in NY and they had to bear with HORRIBLE weather. I was kinda jealous though, because down here in NM it is soooooooooooo hot. It got to 90 degrees on Friday and I was not enjoying it. You should come down to NM to do a tour!!!! It would be sooooo cool!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG SARAAAH!
I’ve read many of your books and have fallen in love with you writting. I also hope to be a writter and hope to be as sucssesful as you!
(sorry to bother you. I know you probably get messages like this all the time)
Thank You
Well as many of you fans probably say “I Love Your Books” which in fact i really do. And i also really want your books to made into films, especially “This Lullaby” and “Just Listen” when i read those i couldn’t stop reading, i would even go to bed earlier to to make i had more time to read! Those two books though are defiantly my favourites, Just Listen is a wonderful book. I love how two completely different kind of characters find their way in to an unexpected love, it shows that no matter how strong you are sometimes in the end you need a shoulder to cry on. This Lullaby amazed me, i found it strange how showed that sometimes just for one person you can really just let go of all the toughness and that maybe opposites can be the best part of love.
I love your books and hope that you continue to be a successful author. Thanks, bye x