1. I’m writing this from the playroom, crammed into a corner, with all of our belongings piled up all around me. Which is pretty much the way things have been since Tuesday, when our painters arrived to redo the entire downstairs. It is just CRAZY around here. Between that chaos, the dogs, my kid and trying to do my own work, I am beyond frazzled. On the upside, though, the color looks REALLY good and I know it’s going to be worth it, when it’s all said and done. Which will be…oh, dear, I can’t even think about it. Someday?
2. It’s going to be wicked, crazy hot here today and for the next few days. Like, heat index of 110 hot. This is making me anxious. I mean, I am used to hot weather, being from NC. I can handle humidity. But a hundred and TEN? Really? I see a lot of trips to the frozen food section in our collective future. And maybe watching some movies set in the winter. While sitting in a the baby pool, full of ice. Okay, I feel better already. *shivers*
3. Today, I am taking my kid for a haircut. If you’ve ever seen a picture of her—and I try not to post many, and those I do without showing her face–you know she has crazy, Shirley Temple-style ringlets. In the summer, they get even wilder, often attaining more of a finger-in-a-light-socket look. Her hair doesn’t grow down as much as OUT and cutting it seems to me more like pruning a hedge than anything else. That said, I don’t have the confidence to do it myself, although I have been tempted at times. I’d think, “How hard can it be? A snip here, another there, done.” Then I remember my former neighbor, a stay at home dad who had the same thought about HIS daughter’s hair and decided to give it a quick trim while his wife was at work. He cut the bangs STRAIGHT across and SO SHORT that his wife didn’t speak to him for days. All I could think of was when I cut MY own bangs last, back in college. BIG MISTAKE. People: cutting hair is not as easy as it looks. Just ask my twenty year old self, who spent MONTHS tugging at her forehead, trying to make the hair grow faster there. Live and learn.
4. I have a new sign on my office wall, proclaiming one of my rules for this room:
In all honesty, this sign is more for me than anyone else. Firstly because I’m really the only one who is ever over here, other than when entire house is being torn apart. And secondly, because when other people ARE here they tend to be nice, because I don’t have mean friends. (If you do, they probably AREN’T actually your friends. Just an aside. As well as a lesson it took me awhile to learn, myself.) The meanest voice in this room, really, is the one in my head when I’m writing. If you write, or do anything creative alone, you know what I’m talking about. It’s that one that sneers and says “You suck, have no talent, this is the book that will finally show everyone you are a TOTAL fraud,” among other things. Anne Lamott calles it KFUCKD radio, if I remember correctly: it’s always on. I can tune mine out, usually, but during the middles of rough drafts, the ends of revisions and pretty much ANY time in the six months leading up to pub date, it gets LOUD. Will this sign help? Maybe not. But it’s pretty to look at and can’t hurt. So it stays.
5. Finally, a remembrance. Deborah Brodie, who my editor on my book DREAMLAND, passed away this week. She was my fourth editor, and we only did one book together, but I admired her so much for her wit, intelligence and very keen eye. DREAMLAND is my darkest and most emotional book, at least for me personally, and in a less qualified person’s hands it might have ended up being a much more sensationalistic story. I am so, so glad I had Deborah to walk through it with me. I’m proud of that book, and the work we did together, and feel grateful for both. She will be missed.
Stay cool, everyone! Have a good weekend….
Hi Sarah! Wow, I cannot believe it’s 110 degrees in NC! That’s really insane! I’m thankful I’ve never been through weather that hot before. Try staying cool by drinking lots of water and eating ice cream, that’s what I usually do when it is humid. Anyways, I’m sure your house is going to look great once everything is redecorated. While life may be chaotic now, you’ll forget about it once everything settles. Someday, you’ll probably look back on the whole house makeover experience with a laugh. Your new sign for your office is cute. While everyone does feel self-conscious from time to time, I wanted to let you know I think you’re a fantastic writer! Your books aren’t just stories; I found them to be very thearpeutic. You’ve have a large group of loyal fans out there that have been really inspired and uplifted by your books, Sarah. So whenever you’re ever feeling insecure and hopeless, remeber you have tons of fans who have love and support you and your work to no end <3. And finally, RIP Deborah Brodie. While Dreamland was very dark and emotional, it was a captivating read; I couldnt put it down. While she only edited one of your books, I know she will be missed in the publishing world. Have a great weekend!!
Hey Sarah! I just love reading your blogs, they are so inspirational! It is really cool to hear what goes on in the life of an author, especially one that I look up to, your posts always brighten my day. As the above post says, you have many fans, and I am happy to be one of them! Your stories really changed my life, and I can’t wait for your upcoming project. Have a great day (although it sounds really hot down there in NC),
-Annabel
I’m from Raleigh and have really curly hair, and the lady that cuts my hair gives FANTASTIC haircuts to both curly girls and kids. If you don’t mind driving to North Raleigh, you should totally try her. Her name is Tanaua (Ta-Nay-Uh) and the salon is Tanas on Leesville- 919-870-6050. Try it, you won’t be disappointed!
I might use that reference myself.
I have had that sign hanging in my home for the last seven years. And I made it Rule #1 in my classroom, too!
Hi Sarah! I am a huge fan of both your books and your blog, as well as your tweets. All three make my days a little easier
I have the EXACT same hair as your daughter. Curls. Colour. All the same. It’s a riot going to get it cut; everyone stares and marvels and cracks jokes about how it grows out instead of down. It took me five years to grow it to my shoulders after cutting it down to an inch long when I was ten. That is my warning to you: cutting your daughter’s hair super-short will only make it crazier. So yes, going to the hairdresser may be best
Also, I hope that your daughter grows up loving her hair unlike I did. When I was a kid, hair that curly was NOT cool. I was made fun of my entire life for it. However, crazy curls seem to be the trend now, and I hope that your daughter loves her hair and has total confidence. 
Have a lovely weekend 
I cut my daughter’s bangs when she was seven and she looks just like a blonde Mr. Spock in her second grade school picture. Leave it to the professionals.
In my 6th grade picture I looked like I had a fluffy dog sitting on my head. Omg bff tried to curl bff hair. Ended up with ugly hair and burn mark on my nose
I like your sign!!! And may your editor rest in peace.
Keep writing. 
Hi!
I really love all your books and your blog posts. I look forward to reading them everyday. Reading your books was one of the reasons why I wanted to write.
Hihi I love your sign too!
My mom used to cut my hair when I was younger and she told me that she hated it because I was always running away from her. She was so glad when I was finally old enough to go to the salon with her.
Dreamland is the first book of yours I read, when I was 14 or 15, and it had by far the most intense emotional impact upon me. It made me ache with sadness for the narrator, and for the real people she reflected. You and your editor crafted an amazing story, and I, personally, will always appreciate the impact it had on me.
I cut my own hair, always have (at least so far). I don’t think it’s hard and when I ask people they say it’s right. Of course, I hate my hair to begin with and I’ve had the same hairstyle for about 4 years. I’ve never tried layers or bangs, so maybe I’m not the best person to get reassurance from.
I love the sign. I agree about the voice in your head. I have mine too. They get wayy too loud and sometimes, even when someone else is talking, they can get extremely rude and interrupt. Not cool.
So sorry to hear about your editor. I had no idea that you had different editors. How are you handling it? I’ll send good thoughts your way, but not from the voices in my head that are too negative.
Ahhh, so much to share! I thought I’d do it in a 5-things format just to be silly/cute.
1) As a curly-haired gal, I used to think it didn’t matter if I got a nice haircut. Um, who can even tell if my ends are even? But, at 31, I finally splurged on a nice haircut. Totally makes a difference. And leave-in conditioner is my best friend. As is not shampooing that often. (Sounds gross, but totally works.)
2) I just crammed all of my things into storage for the YEAR to teach in Japan. I don’t know Japanese. And I’ve never taught. Errr, I think I’m having a third-life crisis. Ha! So I can relate to the chaos.
3) I’ve been rereading The Truth About Forever for like the tenth time because it’s the one thing I find calming and fun in the midst of this total life change. I mean, really, the perfect summer read too. Nothing can touch it.
4) That sign is great, as is Anne Lamott. I feel like anything she says has infinite wisdom to it?
5) I’m so, SO sorry to hear about your editor.
Lock and key is my favorite, then again I’m only 16 so i totally understand main character.
Sarah,don’t worry about the voice in your head, you are a great writer!!***!!**:);)
I totally get what you were saying about how hot it was outside. I live in Virginia, and it was just as hot. I thought I was crazy when I spent all day OUTSIDE at Kings Dominion. At the end of the day, when I saw Skillet, it was all made up for. I love your work, and you have become one of my favorite authors.
Sarah! I was just looking at an article on Pinterest and it’s 11 Wedding Readings from Literature and you are in it!!!!!!! Here’s the link. http://www.perpetualpageturner.com/2012/02/wedding-readings-from-literature.html
Oh my gosh! I just finished reading WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE (I know, have I been living under a rock? No, university.) and I loved it! THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER has always been my favourite but I think there is now a tie…
I reviewed it here http://readwithvictoria.blogspot.ca/ for anyone interested. I’d love to talk about how amazing it was!!!
Wow! 110! I know the feeling. It’s been in the 100s the past few days. We were in the car for seven hours on one of those days and no AC in the car!! Complete torture but it helped to read Along For the Ride for about the 5th time. Gotta love Colby
Thanks for such awesome books Sarah! Keep em coming!
Omg if she doesn’t I will stop reading! That’s like omg favourite thing to do!!;)
I live in New england – but was on vacation in Virginia Beach-i’d take the heat down there over home anyday..it’s hot but not sticky gross hot. stay cool– maybe take your daughter to see one of the many kids’ movies right now…
have a great weekend!
It was HOT HOT HOT there this weekend!!! I was in my brother’s wedding in Raleigh this past weekend and we sweat through the whole thing! The exciting part of the trip (I am from Louisville, KY) was we had to stop in Chapel Hill to fill up and avoid some construction. I am just that big of a nerd that I found this amazing. Your town is so cute! I know this because we got turned around and I saw a lot of it… My fiance (we got engaged on Topsail Island!
) Kept saying, “Yes, I know your favorite author lives here, now stop looking at ever car that drives by, she is going to have a restraining order taken out on you.” But anyway, I just wanted to say how nice your town was (Officer Jim and a gas station employee got us back to the highway) and that I felt like you standing outside the GMA window hoping to spot a GMA member. Maybe I should have brought magic bars…have a great weekend! This one is supposed to be hot too (boooo)!
My cousin loves ice age, I promised her i’d take her. Bringing ALONG FOR THE RIDE and my home made key necklace gotta love Ruby.
Its hot here in Mo, too,make it go away!!!!!!!!!!;)
Hey Sarah! I have no idea if you’ll read this, considering that it’s the last comment on this page, and the fact you probably have a million other better things to do with your time, I wanted to let you know that Just Listen helped me.
I recently read it, and the issue with Sophie and Annabel was so much like a conflict I had with a friend. We had an ugly breakup, and she lives next door to me, and goes to the same school. I really can’t get away from her. The way Sophie treated Annabel, it was the exact way this girl treated me. I was so inspired by Just Listen, I’m going to be like Annabel, and just move on. You have no idea how much that book means to me now, I bought it, and if you ever happen to wander into my area, I want my copy signed
Thank you, Sarah!