1. I’m writing this from my secondary satellite office: the parking lot of my daughter’s preschool. (First satellite, regular readers know, is Whole Foods.) I’ve been running errands like mad, trying to get ready to leave town this afternoon. Just as a reminder: I’ll be at the Miami Book Fair tomorrow, then NCTE/ALAN in Chicago on Sunday and Monday. Want more details? They are here.
2. Somehow, Thanksgiving is next week. WHAT? Wasn’t it just Halloween? I will return home from this last trip of the Book Tour That Never Ends But Now Actually Is to throw myself completely and totally into meal prep. I am responsible for dressing (Not stuffing! there’s a difference!), mashed potatoes and apple pie. The potatoes I have done for years, the pie is my cousin Caroline’s recipe and basically idiot-proof (although one year I did forget to mix the sugar in with the apples until AFTER I’d put the top crust on. Whoops!). Dressing, however, is a new ball game, but luckily I have my husband’s grandmother to go to in case I truly panic. I mean, it’s just celery, onion, breadcrumbs, broth and butter. How hard can it be? Oh, I can’t believe I even just said that.
3. I’m excited for this last trip for lots of reasons—I mean, Miami! It’s cold here right now!—but especially because I LOVE seeing so many other YA authors at the NCTE/ALAN conference. Being down here in NC, I don’t have a lot of teen authors around me as I would if I lived in, you know, New York or LA or some other big urban center. So these conferences are my big chance to catch up, compare notes, and just dish. And some of my FAVORITE folks will be there: John Green, Jenny Han, Laurie Halse Anderson, Megan McCafferty…the list goes on and on. Woot! It’s like old home week, as we say down here. Where there aren’t very many YA authors. But LOTS of good dressing.
4. I think I’ve written here recently about how this season of Glee has been a bit harder for me to get into. I’m not sure if it’s them or me, it just wasn’t grabbing me as much. This week’s episode, however, was flat-out AWESOME. I love a mash-up show! Also, as a child of the 80′s, I have a serious soft spot for Hall and Oates. And Adele, too? Stop it. Just stop it! So good I know I’ll be watching it again. And probably more than once.
5. Another great thing about traveling is that I get to READ. I mean, I can read at home as well, and do, but it’s rare I get long stretches where no one is asking me to look for toys, or make a pb & j, or demanding to have squeaky toys tossed for them. Lots of people HATE the downtime associated with airports and flying, but personally, I savor it these days. In my bag on this trip is THE RULES OF CIVILITY by Amor Towles, a book my editor gave me. It is so great, all about New York City in the 1930′s. It’s glam and so well written and just makes you want to put on a beautiful dress and have a martini. I love a book that makes you feel like you’re stepping into a different world. Meanwhile, on audio, I’m listening to Meredith Baxter’s memoir, Untied, which is SO great. And she hasn’t even gotten to talking about making The Betty Broderick Story yet. (Confession: I LOVED that movie. Have seen it way too many times to even count.) Then, on my iPad (holy multitasking, Batman!) I’m still reading COMMENCEMENT, which is so fun and good as well. Oh, and to be fair: I’m also reading a LOT OF the Little Miss and Mr. books, but out loud. My personal favorite: Mr. Funny. He lives in a teapot and drives a shoe! I mean, what’s not to love about that?
Okay, almost time for pickup. The office is closing.
Have a good weekend, everyone!
I’ve read Rules of Civility, and it’s just WONDERFUL!
My mom read Meredith Baxter’s memoir (our family LOVES to watch Family Ties- have you ever seen it?) and she loved it! It can be really sad at times, but still really worth reading. Have a great trip!
I will have to check out Rules of Civility – I love old school New York! I hope to hear how your dressing comes out. Have a fabulous trip!
I use crumbled up cornbread to make dressing (my mom’s recipe). of course, you have to cook the cornbread first, but still. I’m only making a sweet potato souffle for my family dinner next week. I had to keep my mouth shut during meal volunteering
I agree about this week’s episode of Glee. It was really good! The rest of the season, not so much. I HATE what they have done with Quinn’s character. UGH!
I absolutely love reading your blog every week! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I love apple pie! You should try adding some extra cinnamon; it’s delicious.
Glee is amazing, and I LOVED this week’s episode. I agree with you!
Have so much fun on your trip, and can’t wait to hear about it.
I loved that episode of Glee too, but the one after it was even better!!
Hahaha! Your so funny! I love reading yor blog! Omg and the glee this week?!?! It was crazy! Haha. It was awesome! Haha.. I sound like a teenager. (I’m really 26) I got my husband into glee- FINALLY! He likes it. Thanks For the laugh Sarah!
please write more books! i LOVE them you are DEFANITLY my favorite author write more!!!
Dear Sarah,
As a book enthusiast/ classics geek/ erstwhile librarian/ general Sarah Dessen appreciator / writer-mama, I’ve been stopping by for occasional visits to your blog for years. Always I’m encouraged by your positive attitude, your attention to and genuine affection for your readers, and the huge joy you take in your work.
Your books were some of the first to make me think my own writer’s voice might be most at home within the realm of YA fiction; I feel that in some part I have you to thank for this fantastic lark:
http://www.serendipitylit.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=129
As any writer knows, the actual writing is the lifeline to joy, but I do allow myself forays into daydream…if my book someday finds its way into print? Awesome. The proverbial icing on the cake. If I someday find myself in the midst of the YA writers who have made the ride worthwhile? Even awesomer! I could get into a basketball pool with Sarah Dessen and Laurie Halse Anderson and we could all geek out come March Madness time!
So thank you, Sarah Dessen, for your good work, your good humor, and your good faith in basketball. And please be prepared for my Kentucky Wildcats to mop up the floor with your Tar Heels on December 3
A grateful fellow writer, fellow Sarah, and fellow basketball fan
I absolutely admire your work! Your books are amazing and they inspire me with new ideas. I want to be an amazing writer like you.
Thanks so much Sarah for all the great books you write. Your books are all very inspiring to me and I hope that in the future I could be just like you. I am already a third of a way through your book Along for the ride! I LOVE IT SO FAR!!!!!
I wish I could meet you and thanking you for writing these books……. I LOVE YOU!!!!
Have fun in Miami!
it is cold!
I also love the downtime during traveling! My last vacation was to Florida and while at the airport (on the way there!) I finished my book! So, I convinced my mom to let me go to the bookstore and find a new one. I ended up getting “Dreamland” by Sarah Dessen. Ever heard of it? It was wonderful!:0)