1. This is where I’ll by tomorrow afternoon:
For now, though, I am here in my house, which is in its normal chaos. My kid has been up since 5:15, won’t eat her breakfast. Dogs are barking. Laundry and a million other things need to be done before we leave, our decorators are coming for a meeting in about an hour AND I know already I’m forgetting something crucial that has to be done today. When I think of these things, I feel my head start to spin but then…look at this picture above. And breathe. And repeat. As necessary.
2. Speaking of good things to remember, this week I finally found something I’d been really wanting/needing. I considered getting it as a tattoo, but my husband has enough of those for both of us. Also, there’s the pain factor. And the what-if-I-get-tired-of-it factor. Enter this bracelet, which I got from a shop called STONZ on Etsy:
This Too Shall Pass. Whatever it is, good or bad, this is the one thing you can always count on. They have it on rings, too! You can find them here.
3. Last night was date night. I put on a little black dress, some summer platform sandals, straightened my hair. I was even kind of glam! We went to dinner at 411 West, one of my fave Chapel Hill places, had a great meal and wine. Then, driving up the driveway on the way home, we saw it: our Little Chickens, which we’d just put in with the Bigs that very day, had all literally flown the coop. They were all over the place, and it was getting dark fast. So much for the romance: we did a quick change and bolted out there, where I grabbed a shovel and shooed them towards my husband, who chased them, picked them up while squawking and freaking out, and put them back in the coop. It was madness, and I was REALLY glad I’d changed out of my nice clothes because chickens aren’t exactly dainty under the best conditions, but when running/terrified, they just…well, you can imagine. Whew! I kept thinking that this was so much what our marriage is like these days: sweet, short moments of romance and loveliness, peppered with chaos, crazy, and chickens. Well, at least it’s never dull. Like, ever.
4. I’ve been hearing from a lot of folks here and on Twitter/Tumblr, wondering why it’s going to be a WHOLE YEAR before my new book is out. Well, there are reasons. One is that I am, at least for YA, a “slow” writer. It takes me about a year to write a book, followed by editing, copyediting, marketing plans, tour plans…there’s just not a fast turnaround. It takes time! But hopefully, it will be worth the wait. In the meantime, there’s going to be OTHER fun book stuff happening this summer that is SO TOP SECRET that I can’t even tell you about it yet. That’s coming up at the end of this month, so stay tuned. I’m also thinking I might have to do some superfun giveaway whenever I hit 200,000 followers on Twitter. Only 15K or so to go! (Okay, it might take awhile. But it’s good to have goals, right?)
5. Finally, a more serious note. You might have seen the news this week that Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, is incorporating a way to list if you are an organ donor on your status. It won’t make you officially a donor—you have to do that at the DMV, I believe—but it’s a way of encouraging people to think about whether or not they want to be donors and get a conversation going about what a great need there is for them. This is close to my heart right now, as I have a cousin who just two weeks ago had a lung transplant she desperately needed, all because someone checked that box and made that choice. I have another cousin who is currently on the list for a transplant as well. I know organ donation is a delicate and emotional subject, and it’s not for everyone. But if you haven’t considered it, please do. You can literally save a life.
Okay, off to pack. Have a good weekend, everyone!
Sarah,
This comment has nothing to do with your blog post, except that I was watching one of John Green’s recent videos and thought of you and your daughter:
http://johngreenbooks.com/a-surreal-descent-into-madness-reviewing-childrens-tv/
Forgive me if anyone else has already sent you this link. I think you both are brilliant writers. Have a great time at the beach!
Kaylie N
I think it’s a great idea to incorporate your organ donor status on facebook, soon everyone will be asking for more info and then a lot of lives will be saved.
Also, loved the bracelets.
Your book is SO going to be worth the wait, no question about it!
I love waiting for your books! I am so excited for the next one. I hope you have a lovely time at the beach!
I LOVED this post! It’s so inspiring. The photo is a great way to insPire you into getting through the day! Just today, and tomorrow you’ll be at the beach!! So jealous!
And the “This too shall pass”? LOVE IT! I’ve always wanted a tattoo with inspiring words, and that was one of my options. It’s amazing. Just breathe and get through it, right?
And the donor thing, wow, you’re right. It IS helpful, in any way possible.
Hope everything’s good with those relatives !
Enjoy your vacations!! You deserve them
I can NOT wait for the super secret news!!! A movie deal?! Oh the possiblilities
Have fun at the beach, maybe you’ll get an extra long date night there.
Didn’t wanna crowd your inbox just to say that bracelet is awesome, but I think you need the “well behaved women rarely make history” one! i might order it for my mom
WOW that beach is so gorgeous! I’m so envious you get to go there, and I hope you’ll post a ton of pics on your blog for us to enjoy.
Thanks!
Those bracelets are gorgeous, and I just ordered some for myself! I’m so inspired by your books, and now I can be inspired by “your” bracelets too! (meaning you’re the one through whom I found them)
I cannot WAIT to find out about your “top secret” stuff, and I’m literally dying to read your new novel. It’s times like these when I honestly think time works against me.
Can’t wait for the book, the good news, and the next blog.
1. That turtle you found earlier this week on the road? What kind is it? I find them on my road to and have been wondering if it’s safe to take one home, but I can’t look up any info because I don’t know what it is. Maybe your husband might know?
2. “I’m also thinking I might have to do some superfun giveaway whenever I hit 200,000 followers”. I can’t create 15k accounts. Please don’t go by the numbers, if that’s the case you’ll never be satisfied.
Outer Banks? That’s where I’ll be tomorrow afternoon! I am sooo ready for a vacation. I’ve never been there before. Any pro tips?
I am most definitely an organ donor, no exceptions. Glad you support it, Sarah.
Those bracelets are so cute! And the place you’ll be going to is absoulutely beautiful.
Keep writing!
Hey Sarah!!!!
I can so wait for your new book, take all the time you need. The more time you put into it the better I am sure it will be. I just got What Happened to Goodbye yesterday, I am so ready to jump into it tonight. I read Along for the Ride the other day, it was so awesome! I love it, your books are amazing! I tweet you sometimes
Hopefully some day I will hear back!!!!
Don’t ever stop writing, your awesome!!!
- Miranda Payne
Hey This doesn’t have anything to do with what you just posted but I was wondering if you were writting a new book and if so when or around the time would it come out? I love all your books! I have read everyone of them! You are my favourite athour ever and don’t ever stop writting book because then I won’t know what to do with my time
Love your most biggest fan,
Erica
Please forget what I just posted other then the fact that I love your books and to never stop writting <3
1. Okay, you and your husband sound so sweet! I know that there are a lot of times when I wish my parents could have a marriage like that. They have a good one, but sometimes it feels tense, or like they’re just settling for what they have. I’m so happy that even if they are small, you guys have romantic moments like that. And I mean, thats actually really awesome that you guys went on a date, but when you get home, chicken run! That is so sweet.
2. I am so jealous that you went to the beach! I really love the beach, and only live a few hours away from it, but its WA beach, so the beach would be like 55 degrees, while off of the beach, its a 100, no kidding, it’s happened. But I love the beach, even when it is cold and rainy, I would just love to go to the beach, even for the day.
3. I was sooo bummed and slightly mad when I first heard that your next book wouldn’t come out till next may. But then I read your post on it, and I realized, for one, I write really slowly too, so I can understand. But secondly, even though your job is writing, its second to your family, as it totally should be. In one of your books, you wrote a letter telling us how it had been with being gone doing the whole book thing, and how it had been hard on you. So even though I love your books so much, that I’d love it if one could come out every month, I felt almost mad at myself for getting mad about it taking so long. When I become a published writer, I don’t want to be constantly buisy running around the country while I have a family back home waiting for me to be a wife and mom, I want to be home with them and writing whenever I can get a spare minute. So I just want to say, I totally understand, and even though I am bummed, I think I’d almost be mad at you if you weren’t doing exactly what you are doing, being a wonderful mother/wife/chicken rangler.
4. Thank you for bringing up the Donor thing too. I believe that that is an amazing thing, and that you helping support that cause, is one more person that will save one more persons life. So thanks for doing that, because that just show’s the true love that is still in this world.
5. On a much less serious note, what does your husband look like? He must just not like the camera, but I am very curious. Your always talking about him, but I don’t even know his name! lol, I totally understand though, if you guys would like to keep it private. Privacy is something that I think everyone wants, so why should we all always want them to give that away?
Thank you for the books you write, you inspire me everyday and give me the push I need. And I love your tweets, I rarely start a day off without reading your tweets, your so funny and wonderful. Thank you for being you.
And sorry for my last post being so long, I’m told I often write books…when I shouldn’t be. lol, Love you!
Ms. Sarah, My daughter has recently discovered your writings and is devouring them! 2 books in 4days and that is while school is still in session. We live in Arizona but I am out visiting NC. Two sisters are graduating. Last weekend we were in Greenville and tomorrow in Chapel Hill. I was wondering if you ever do local readings in Chapel Hill. Would love to have you sign a book for her as I believe she is your new #1 fan! Kind regards, Rhonda Morenzoni
Ms. Dessen,
OMG…I love your books! Great job with Lock and Key! Can’t wait for the next book!
katia
It is Unbelivable how much I actually love you! And its quite random how I found out about you. I’m from Gold Coast, Australia and my cousins came over from perth (another state) and I stayed with them in their holiday house. The Gold Coast is known for being notoriously sunny but one of the days it was pouring down with rain. There was nothing to do and no where to go so I went to the book shelf which they had at the house and got out your book ‘This lullaby’ I started reading it, not knowing that I would finish in 3 days and fall in love forever. I have now read almost all of your books.
xoxoxo
p.s. I wish I would have kept the book, It was the old covers and I haven’t seen them in store since.
p.p.s I LOVE your new covers! Now only if I was rich I would go out and buy them all