So, first off – I know it’s been a long time.

A very, VERY long time.

And I apologize for that.

But I hope you know that I have an excuse for being totally, unabashedly, MIA.

I’ve been writing my new book, RULES OF SUMMER, and I’m finally DONE!

I know I told you guys about the new book in my previous post, “The Secret I’ve Been Dying to Share.”  But here’s a quick recap:  Rory and Isabel, both 17, are spending the summer in the same beachfront mansion in East Hampton.  Isabel is the daughter of the blue-blooded family that owns the mansion, Rory’s the niece of the family’s housekeeper.  When they meet, it’s pretty much dislike at first sight.  The two couldn’t be more different: Isabel’s the privileged beauty who’s used to having guys fall at her feet. Rory’s the driven student who’s always been the friend, never the girlfriend.  But soon they realize that they have more in common than they thought… especially when each girl begins a summer romance that will change her life.  The book, which will be published by Poppy, will be out next May.  I know, I know, it’s far from now, but it will be here before we know it, I promise!

One of the best parts of writing this book was pretending that it was summer all winter long. Summer is, and has always been, my favorite season.  And even though I live in LA, it is decidedly not summer year-round, no matter what anyone tells you. (In fact, it can get quite chilly out here, believe it or not.  I always need a jacket after the sun goes down, even in July.) But now the jacaranda trees on my street are in full periwinkle bloom, and if I so much as stay outside for more than a minute without SPF, my nose is bright red.  Summer is almost here!

And with that comes my “summer resolutions.”  For some reason, I always make resolutions in May/June instead of in January.  Maybe this is because I went to summer camp as a kid, where I’d learn new sports and make new friends and have an altogether different experience than the one I had at school.  Summers were always a time of starting over and trying new things.  So this morning I woke up thinking about all the stuff I want to read, do, make, wear, and try for the first time this summer.  And this list includes (but isn’t limited to):

1. Reading!  On my list is The Marriage Plot, by Jeffrey Eugenides (and State of Grace by Ann Patchett, and The Uncoupling by Meg Wolitzer, and the latest from Emily Giffin, and Jennifer Weiner, Elin Hilderbrand, etc, etc.)

2. Finding the perfect pair of cork wedges

3. Finally filling my bike tires so I can take a spin around my neighborhood

4. Taking Edie to the beach (where I sadly never seem to go even though I live in LA!)

5. Cooking some decent veggie dishes (lately I’ve been flirting with meatless cuisine, but don’t know how to make anything but salad and rice and beans)

6. Planning a trip to NYC!

What do YOU guys want to do/try/read/wear this summer??  Let me know!

Also, THE DAUGHTERS JOIN THE PARTY is now available in paperback!  Nice and portable, just in time for that train/plane ride or trip to the beach.  See?  I so have summer on the brain!

xoxo, Joanna

Love at first sight, right?

Other highlights: launching the newest Daughters book, THE DAUGHTERS JOIN THE PARTY at Books of Wonder – a must-visit children’s bookstore on 18th street in Manhattan:

I also got to hang out in Central Park on some truly glorious autumn days:

And another BIG highlight  was being inducted into The Twitterhood of the Butt-Lifting Pajants.  Er, let me explain…  Sarah Mlynowski, the author of the Bras and Broomsticks series and Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have), and I met one night in TriBeCa.  Sarah is a whirling dervish of creativity AND friendliness.   At one point she grabbed my hand and said excitedly, “You should wear the Pajants!” The Pajants are a pair of “butt-lifting” pajama jeans that were given as a joke to author Julia DeVillers (she wrote the amazing Liberty Porter series.)  Thinking they were funny, Julia wore the jeans to a formal event with her husband.  Then she signed them.  Then she passed them on to another writer to wear to a completely inappropriate event.  A year later, authors like Sarah Mlynowski, Maureen Johnson, Courtney Sheinmel, Elizabeth Eulberg, and Lauren Oliver had all taken a turn in the pants and signed them, a la the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants:

So on a Friday in October, it was my turn!  I wore them, danced in them, and of course, signed them:

Authors Sarah Mlynowski, Adele Griffin, Courtney Sheinmel, Alyssa Sheinmel, and Elizabeth Eulberg were all on hand that day to lend me their Pajants support!

Wearing the Pajants was a great way to get to know some wonderful people, and to see how supportive the young-adult writing world is.  There was even a huge event at Books of Wonder on December 3rd to celebrate the Pajants (which I missed, sniff sniff!)  So everyone, check out these authors if you haven’t already! They are incredible!  And to learn more about the Twitterhood of the Butt-Lifting Pajants, which will be auctioned off to support reading and literacy, go to their Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/Pajants

Last, but not least, I was able to attend my dad’s very last show.  For those of you who may not know, he is a cohost on a morning program called LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY.  He’s been doing the show for almost thirty years.  The final show was SO well-done, with many funny and touching clips from over the years.  One moment my sister and I were laughing, another we had tears in my eyes.  I think my dad appreciated it, too. But right after it was over I had to get out of my dress and walk Edie. Here we are that morning (our last morning in NYC):

And now, we’re home.  SIGH.  But seriously, it’s all good.  I’m working on my new book, The Rules of Summer, and I’ve gotten a lot of cuddle time in with my niece and nephew. While I miss New York, I know that it will be waiting for me when I can go back again.

And this Friday, December 9th, I’ll be at Mrs. Nelson’s Book and Toy Shop in La Verne, California where I’ll be reading from and signing copies of THE DAUGHTERS JOIN THE PARTY.  (For more info, check out the Events page of this site.)  Please come say hi!

I hope all is going well in your world.  Talk to you soon!

xoxo Joanna

It’s called THE RULES OF SUMMER and is about two 17 year-old girls living in the same beachfront mansion in East Hampton for the summer, one “upstairs” (the daughter of a very blue-blooded family) and one “downstairs” (the niece of the family’s housekeeper.) Isabel is the privileged daughter who’s used to having guys fall at her feet. Rory is the no-nonsense girl from a small New Jersey town who’s always been the friend, never the girlfriend.  Besides becoming each other’s unlikely allies, both Rory and Isabel have a summer romance that will change her life.  Expect a story about friendship, family, and first love (i.e. what happens after that amazing first kiss.)  Poppy, the amazing publisher of The Daughters series, will be releasing the book in May of 2013.  I’m thrilled to be working with the folks at Poppy on this new book, and I’m especially excited to be writing a book set in East Hampton, where I spent many a memorable summer (or two) in my teens.

If you’re not familiar with the Hamptons, they are a cluster of towns at the very eastern tip of Long Island, about a two and a half hour drive from New York City. It’s an area lined with pristine beaches, dotted with sky-blue ponds, and filled with some spectacular homes that rise up above the corn and potato fields. It’s also known for becoming a miniature version of Manhattan on summer weekends (complete with bumper-to-bumper traffic and tres expensive shopping.) My main reason for coming to New York this fall was so that I could go back there to do some research, and finally, last weekend, I did.  Here’s a little taste of what it looked like: 

I loved every minute of it.  I walked on the (empty) beaches, drove past some jaw-dropping homes, attended a cocktail party for the Hamptons Film Festival, and ate at the very cool, very shabby-chic American Hotel in Sag Harbor, which is like stepping back a hundred years in time.  And, of course, I got tons of great ideas for my next book.  For me, getting a setting just right is crucial, because it always winds up becoming another character in the book.  Just like New York City does in The Daughters.  And speaking of The Daughters….

THE DAUGHTERS JOIN THE PARTY COMES OUT IN 2 WEEKS!  (It might even be out before November 8th, but that is the official “pub” date, so that’s what I’m stickin’ with!)  I can’t wait for everyone to meet Emma Conway, the newest Daughter. At fifteen, Emma has never fit in with her high-achieving family.  Her purple hair dye and lack of interest in school has always made her the “problem” child. Then her senator dad announces that he’s running for president. In a world where image means everything, will Emma have to change into the perfect First Kid to help her dad get elected?  Thankfully she has Lizzie, Carina, and Hudson to help her make the right decisions.

We’ll be celebrating the release of THE DAUGHTERS JOIN THE PARTY on November 8th from 6 – 8 p.m. at Books of Wonder in New York City.  Please come for a reading, signing, and, yes, cupcakes.  Details are on my Facebook page and in the Events section of my website.  I’ll also be doing a signing at the lovely Diane’s Books in Greenwich, CT and at the wonderful RJ Julia Booksellers in Madison, CT.  (More info on FB and on this website.)  Hope to see you there!

Also: giveaways of signed copies of The Daughters Join the Party, The Daughters Take the Stage, and all four of The Daughters books in hardcover will be happening very, very soon on Facebook – stay tuned!

I hope all of you are well and having one heck of an October. Here’s one little shot before I go, because, well, I think it’s cute:

Have a good night everyone!!  xoxo Joanna

And here are a few highlights (and a couple lowlights) of my past five weeks in the Big Apple:

1.  HIGHLIGHT: Meeting Valentino’s pugs

One crisp morning Edie and I trudged into the Park for her morning walk.  All kinds of dogs are in there, and I’m used to Edie dragging me over to anyone and everyone to say hi.  But on this morning we were approached by a woman and a very good-looking Italian man walking two pugs. “Can we say hi?” she asked.  ”Of course!” I said.  Edie and the other pugs started doing this amazing puppy game of faking-left-and-dodging-right and out of nowhere the woman informed me that these were Valentino’s pugs!   “He never travels without this one here,” she said, pointing to one of the dogs, who I swear gave me a haughty look from above its pushed-in nose.  ”Valentino, really?” I said.  I wasn’t sure I could believe her… and then the guy started speaking perfect Italian to them.  ”Vieni” (come) and “gentile!” (be nice!)  (If you’ve never seen the documentary on Valentino, called Valentino: The Last Emperor, it is well worth seeing, even if you’re not a pug fan!) We walked home with a little Italian spring in our step…

2. HIGHLIGHT: Starting SoulCycle

SoulCycle is the newest fitness craze to hit New York.  It’s basically a spinning class, but with one small tweak: IT’S THE HARDEST SPINNING CLASS IN THE WORLD.  I’m serious.  First of all, it can be challenging just to get into the class, since signups are done a week in advance online.  And it’s done by candlelight, with an instructor who runs around the room and can see you if you’re cheating.  I know. And you even do pushups and lift weights on the bike.  Yes, lift weights on the bike!  Kelly Ripa, my dad’s co-host, is a huge fan of the class, and I’d been asking her what it was like, so one day last month she brought me with her.  I thought that I might be able to hide in the back row, and slowly ease myself back into “the spinning thing.”  But there were only 4 of us in the early afternoon class, meaning front row, and nowhere to hide!  Somehow, I got through it, even with all the crazy choreography.  (“Touch backs in four, now two!”) Maybe it was Kelly sitting next to me, spurring me on with her dedication, or maybe it was the awesome Erasure mix the teacher was playing, but I survived – and loved it.  And in the last three classes I’ve taken, I’ve left not only drenched, but exhilarated and on cloud nine for the rest of the day.  Rumor is it’s hitting L.A. soon.  Fingers crossed.  We need it.

3.  HIGHLIGHT: The subway.

I love the subway. You can read, the ads are fantastic (in a sort of ironic way), and you don’t have to parallel park.  I don’t miss driving AT ALL.  Fighting my way through the seventh circle of hell that is the Trader Joe’s parking lot on La Brea and Third Street… yeah, don’t miss it.

4.  HIGHLIGHT: Pizza.

Because L.A. has a weird water pH,  decent bagels or pizza can’t really be had there. Now, it’s catch-up time.  Enter La Traviata Pizza on West 68th between Columbus and Broadway.  The best cheese slice in Manhattan.  There, I said it.

5. LOWLIGHT: Rain

This is sort of new for us.  Edie, especially.  Our second week here it was like being in a monsoon every day.  So I had to buckle down and get Edie a slicker.  Which she DID NOT like.  As you can see:

6.  LOWLIGHT: Bladder Stones

Because Edie is so small, and because we’re living in an apartment building for the first time, I’ve been walking her more than I would in L.A. just to keep her comfortable, and she’s been wonderful – no accidents, doing her business outside. And then one day, she just started doing her business ALL OVER THE APARTMENT.  I knew instantly that something was wrong.  I ferried her over to the vet and got the diagnosis that every pet owner fears: “Your dog has bladder stones, and she’s going to need surgery.”  What?? I thought.  My little dog needs to be operated on?  Fortunately, Edie could still pee, so it wasn’t a complete emergency.  I took her to another (nicer) vet for a second opinion.  The diagnosis was the same.  Edie had surgery on Tuesday.  Thankfully, she came through it fine.  She’ll probably need to be on a special diet the rest of her life, and she’s on pain meds for her stitches, and antibiotics, but she came back yesterday, and she’s already back to being herself.  Here she is, giving me her don’t-bother-me-I’m-trying-to-nap-face:

That’s it for now.  I’m exhausted from the week and ready to hang at home for the night. I hope everyone has a terrific weekend, and I’ll be in touch soon!

xoxoxox  Joanna

Long time no post!!  How was everyone’s summer?  Are you sad it’s over? I’m writing this in the middle of Labor Day weekend and you can practically hear the last minutes of summer ticking by, at least up here in Connecticut, where I swear the leaves look like they’re already getting brown. But I’m not feeling my usual end-of-summer slump because I have some VERY big news to share:

Edie and I have decided to spend the fall in New York!!

This is a dream come true for me, as anyone who’s read my previous posts on this site could probably guess.  I love New York – love, love, LOVE it, and living in L.A. for the past five and a half years have only made me love it more.  This year I came back East three times, and each time it hit me that New York is really where I want to be right now.  Writing THE DAUGHTERS books was a way for me to feel like I was still living in New York, but now that the series is over, I think I needed a good long fix of the real thing.  So when the opportunity arose to spend September and October there, I jumped on it!

But I was dreading Edie’s first plane flight.  I had to visit three different pet stores to find the “right” kind of Sherpa bag, then I had to call Virgin America to make sure it would fit under the seat, then I had to take her to the vet to get her health certificate….  Fortunately Edie loved her bag on sight – and would crawl into it even in the apartment.

After an awkward and panicky moment when I had to get that bag under the seat in front of me (in a middle seat, no less – try doing that gracefully!) she calmed down and slept the entire flight.  Phew!  And when we got to our apartment and I took her for her first walk, it was like she’d been a city dog her whole life.  Of course, she couldn’t sleep that night, so we took many, MANY walks around the block, but I think she’s gotten the hang of it now.

My first day I was exhausted but so happy to be here.  My friend Jon and I sat in the Meadow and it was a gorgeous late-summer day, just look:

And that night I went with my parents to the Open, where we watched Andy Roddick play Mike Russell.  I noticed a girl sitting nearby who looked oddly familiar – did we go to school together?  Work together?  How did I know her?  I was about to wave hello when I realized who it was: Barbara Bush!  Whom I’ve never met, obvi.  Ha!  I guess that’s what zero sleep can do to you!

The other exciting news is…  remember that new idea I was working on a couple months ago? Well, you’re going to be hearing a lot more about it!  As soon as I can say more, I will.  But I couldn’t be here at a better time, inspiration-wise.

Before I go, I should also add that I’m going to be reading and signing at the Salem Literary Festival on Sunday, September 25 at 3:30 p.m.   If you’re in the Boston area, come on by!  Visit www.salemlitfest.com for more details.

And don’t forget that THE DAUGHTERS JOIN THE PARTY will be out November 7th!  Stay tuned for more readings and signings to happen around that time. I’ll post them here and on Facebook.

Okay, I’m signing off… Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend, and I’ll be in touch! Much love from New York!!  xoxoxo  Joanna

Big Drop 174 Spring Street, SoHo 10012   Cute, fun boutique where Lizzie buys the top that she’s going to wear to Todd’s party.

http://www.bigdropnyc.com/

Pearl River Mart 477 Broadway (SoHo/Chinatown) This isn’t exactly where Andrea takes Lizzie shopping before their Chinatown photo shoot, but it’s an amazing source of inexpensive clothes, shoes, and accessories with Chinese flair

Intermix 1003 Madison Avenue 10021 (Upper East Side)  Where Carina likes to shop in the beginning of The Daughters Break the Rules…until she gets ahold of her spending!

http://www.intermixonline.com/home.do

Catherine Malandrino 652 Hudson Street (Meatpacking District) One of Carina’s favorites again…

http://catherinemalandrino.com/

Resurrection 217 Mott Street 10012 (NoLIta) Where Hudson takes Hillary Crumple vintage clothes-shopping in The Daughters Take the Stage

http://www.resurrectionvintage.com/

Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market West 25th Street (Hell’s Kitchen)  This isn’t listed by name in The Daughters Take the Stage, but this is the biggest flea market in Manhattan and would be one of Hudson’s favorite places to shop.

http://www.hellskitchenfleamarket.com/home/

Some of my personal favorites for shopping in NYC these days are Searle (http://searlenyc.com) for clothes and Wink for accessories (http://www.winknyc.com/)  But like I said, last week I was mostly staying indoors with the AC on at full blast!

That’s it for now – I hope all of you are well and having a wonderful Friday night!

xo

Joanna

Isn’t it pretty??   Designer Tracy Shaw did such a beautiful job once again – thank you, Tracy!  And as you can see, there’s a Fourth Daughter who’ll be joining the group: Emma Conway, daughter of New York Senator Adam Conway.  (That’s her on the far right.) Emma is tired of living in a family of over-achievers – especially because she isn’t one.  When her dad tells his family that he plans to run for President, she feels intense pressure to be the Perfect First Daughter.  But luckily, she’s met Lizzie, Carina, and Hudson, who know firsthand what intense pressure and expectations are all about!  I don’t want to give too much away, but The Daughters Join the Party will be out in November.

Other than that,  I’ve been in front of my computer most days, listening to an ever-growing playlist and working on an outline for the Next Book.  Working on something new is exciting, but it also requires that you sort of act like Thought Cop, banishing any and all negative thoughts from your mind when you sit down to work.  I’m talking about those doozies like  ”Is this any good?“, “Do I know what I’m doing?” or my favorite “Maybe I should take today off...”  Some days being Thought Cop is harder than others.  But I guess that’s kind of the trick with life, isn’t it?  Learning to turn down the negative and turn up the good stuff.  In my case, the good stuff has been a LOT of 80′s and 90′s pop.  Like Roxy Music and the Eurythmics and even some really old stuff like Dire Straits’ “Romeo and Juliet” and Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work” and Billy Joel’s “Summer, Highland Falls” (but only the live version, from Songs in the Attic, but you probably don’t care about that…)

Anyway, Edie is scratching at my leg, and demanding my attention – as usual.  I think that’s it for me tonight.  Happy 4th of July, and I wish you all a great weekend!!

xoxo Joanna

My apologies for being completely MIA these past couple weeks, but I think I have a good excuse… I’ve been working on a new book!  Or rather, an IDEA for a new book.  Let me explain: there is still one more Daughters book on the way – The Daughters Join the Party, which will be out this November.  But it’s all finished (these things have to be wrapped up way in advance), and for the past few weeks I’ve been working on the Next Thing.  (And that’s all I’m going to say about it! )  Besides writing, I’ve been making playlists for inspiration, jotting down ideas in my car (after I pull over, of course!), waking up in the middle of the night to take some more notes, and trying to make trips to Trader Joe’s before I run out of milk.

You see, I’m sort of obsessed right now.  I love starting to live in a new world, with new characters I’m just getting to know.  It’s kind of like starting a new school.  And it’s made me want to start over in other areas of my life – namely, taking care of myself.  Most of the time, I do a good job, but there is always room for improvement, right?  Like exercise.  As a writer, I spend a LOT of time in a chair, and as a Los Angeles resident, a LOT of time in a car.   I walk with Edie every day, but that’s barely walking — more like standing in place over and over again!  And I take yoga, but that’s not quite a cardio sitch.

So today I tore myself away from my computer and went for a brisk walk.  Sounds simple, I know, but for some reason it felt incredibly indulgent.  A walk – not even at a gym!  And without the dog!  After fifteen minutes, I could definitely feel it, and so could my legs.  A sign, I think, that I could be in better shape.  And I read recently that a brisk walk for thirty minutes five times a week cuts your risk of breast cancer by up to 40%.  Pretty incredible, right? So that’s one of my new resolutions.

And I’ve also started cooking!  While I was home in NY I saw a copy of Gwyneth Paltrow’s cookbook in my mom’s kitchen, and I couldn’t put it down.  The photography was beautiful, and the recipes seemed to be challenging but easy enough for a semi-advanced beginner like me.  Last week I cooked three nights out of the week – a true record.  Of course, two of them were the same recipe, but I’m trying, okay??

So that’s what’s going on here!  As soon as I’m out of the rabbit hole, I’ll be posting more. But I hope that the new season finds you excited about a new start in your life.  And to those of you who just finished another school year – CONGRATULATIONS!  Now go have some fun!

xoxo

Joanna

I’m finally back from my week-long trip back to NYC, and I loved every minute of it!  The first morning I went for a walk-slash-run in Central Park, and just about keeled over…. not from the exercise (which I badly needed) but from the gorgeous weather. Turns out it had magically changed from rainy and dreary to cloudless and balmy, overnight.  And it stayed like that, the ENTIRE TIME.  People were practically dancing in the streets.  The city never looked more beautiful.  I have to admit,  I had to ask myself a few times: Um, why did I leave here again??

But the best part of the day was later that afternoon, when I went out to Merrick, Long Island to speak at the Merrick Library and kick off their summer Beach Bag Book Club author series.  Jen Calonita, the author of the wonderful Secrets of My Hollywood Life series, as well as Reality Check and Sleepaway Camp, hosts the Book Club every summer, which meets four times a season and features a different young-adult author.  (Jen also leads a writing workshop for teens done through the library, each school semester – um, can we say superhero?) Anyway, I rushed into the room, flustered at being late, and my mouth dropped open: they’d decorated an enormous cake with the cover of The Daughters Take the Stage!

It was absolutely delicious, too.  And I still have no idea how they did that!

After speaking I signed books and met some great teen readers, like these girls here:

And of course I had a great time talking with Jen, and hearing about her new series, BELLES, which will be coming out next year and sounds so juicy and fun!  Thanks for having me, Jen!

And then the next day it was time for the BEA – the Book Expo of America.  I’d never been, and I was picturing this crazy crowded scene with publishers hawking galleys and people doing urgent deals in every corner… turns out it was extremely civilized, and carpeted!  Who knew?  I sat down at one in a line of tables and signed, signed, signed!  It was only afterwards that I realized I matched my book cover:

With work stuff over on Friday, I got to spend the rest of the trip catching up with friends, spending good quality time with my parents, and doing some work on a new idea.  And yes, I saw the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Met.  May I say… wow.  From the first dress on display – made of red medical slides and ostrich feathers – to one of the last – a dress entirely embroidered with real (!) flowers – the show was stunning.  McQueen was a true genius.  Please, if you visit New York this summer, run don’t walk over to the third floor of the Met.  You will NOT be disappointed.

Meanwhile, Edie was back at home with the dogsitter, making lots of new friends, or at least, other dogs that tolerated her:

Now we’re settling in, and trying to adjust to reality once again.  I guess all good things must come to an end.  But I definitely plan to be back.  Soon.  You can take the girl out of New York, but you can’t….. Well, you know how that ends, right?

Take care everyone and have a great weekend!

xo Joanna

I hope you guys had a good week!   Mine was spent working on a couple of new ideas, catching up with some friends, and spending time with Edie, who was a little ticked off at being left behind when I went on my mini-book tour.  (I’m happy to say she has since forgiven me. )  But today has been a whirlwind of errands and laundry and bill-paying, because I’m off again – to New York!

I’m so so SO excited!  New York is where I grew up and where I’ve spent most of my life, and I always look forward to going back.  This time I’m going for work, but I’ll be jamming in as many catch-up lunches, coffees, and dinners as I can with friends.  AND  some of my favorite New York things:

• Walking through Central Park and checking out the tourists and musicians at Bethesda Fountain
• Browsing at my two fave bookstore: Crawford Doyle and Bookberries, on the Upper East Side
• Having a slice (or two) of Ray’s Pizza
• Going to the Met (dying to see the Alexander McQueen show)
• Riding the subway to Grand Central and just before I grab a train, staring up at the constellation ceiling
• Looking at all the overripe vegetables and gorgeous flowers in Union Square
• Having one of the amazingly gooey chocolate chip cookies at City Bakery
• Swimming in the lap pool at my old gym (if I can sneak back in…)

But my main reason for heading back East is to promote The Daughters Take the Stage!  Last year I had the pleasure of meeting Jen Calonita, the very funny, warm, and prolific author of the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series. She’s invited me to speak at the book club she hosts every summer out on Long Island called The Beach Bag Book Club. Pretty cute, huh?  Get this: they have an author come speak, answer questions, and sign books, which they sell at a discount!  So basically, everybody wins. I’ll be speaking and signing books at the Merrick Library on Long Island this Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.  If you want to come, please sign up beforehand by calling this number: 516-377-6112. More info is available on my events page on my website!

And I’ll be signing books at the Book Expo of America at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC on Thursday at 11 a.m.! For years, I’ve heard about the BEA – where booksellers, publisher, and authors all converge for three days of signings, panels, and sneak peeks at the fall’s hottest books.  As someone who used to hyperventilate when my parents took me to the library, I’m pretty excited to see it in person.

I’ll make sure to take photos and post them here when I’m back.  In the meantime, I hope you guys have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, and if you’re in the NYC area, come say hi on Wednesday!

xoxo

Joanna