So, oddly enough, even though I posted every day last week–which I never remember to do–I wasn’t even here! I was in the faraway land of New York City, and it was AWESOME. To be honest, I hated it the first day. It was outrageously hot and muggy and gross and not obviously sparkly and magical like I thought it would be. But I hate every new place the first day, so it doesn’t mean anything. I thought all the famous streets like Broadway or Fifth Ave would look *special,* but they looked like any other street, at least during the day. Broadway at night DOES sparkle–everything is lit up and beautiful and it’s always full of people and very amazing. The following picture doesn’t really do it justice, but it was the best I could get with my limited camera skillz.

From BEA 2010

I thought I would get lost in NYC, since I always get lost at home, but I was wrong! The streets of Manhattan are on a grid and I felt so independent because I could find anything and get anywhere under my own power. I was also the one in the group who was like, “Come on, guys, it’s only twenty or thirty blocks, LET’S JUST WALK.” I got a lot of walking done. It was this great primal, hunter/gatherer life of setting out each morning with miles and miles to walk throughout the day in search of food and socialization. And despite the heat and mugginess, I felt better and healthier than I have in a long time (and the humidity fixed most of my dry skin). It made me realize how dry it is where I live, despite the constant rain, and how I wish we had a little thing called sunlight.

From BEA 2010

Meeting up with people I’ve so far only known on the internet and finding out they’re even more fun to hang with in person was the best part of the trip. I met my agent, my editor, lots of other authors (mostly Tenners!) and bloggers. This pic is a bunch of us at the ill-fated Tenner lunch meet-up, where we walked several avenues in sweltering heat (and bad shoes), only to be turned away at the Burgers and Cupcakes place and have to hobble back to the Javits, where we ate a much needed food court lunch off on the floor.

From BEA 2010

One of the highlights of the trip for me was the signing I did at BEA. I got to the Javits (convention center where BEA was going on, aka giant glass building that someone told me leaks when it rains) at 10:00 unbreakfasted. I got breakfast at the food court, which was surprisingly grilled up right in front of me (and tasty and cheap) and then looked at my phone to see I only had 8 minutes to get to my publisher’s booth to be escorted to the autographing area. The exhibition hall was full of SLOW people who weren’t late to signings and apparently had all the time in the world to meander in front of me. (To my credit, I didn’t push anyone down or elbow anyone too hard.)

From BEA 2010

When I finally got to the Egmont booth, they told me my editor had already left, thinking I was there already. They said my fans were waiting, but when I got to the autographing area, all I saw was a couple stragglers for the people signing before me, and then empty space. I thought, “My fans are waiting, huh?” BUT it turns out there was so much empty space because they’d gated off the signing area until I was ready to start. In fact, it turned out there was a huge line waiting. O__o I later found out that Khy, Mitali, and Sarah had been camped out at the front of the line for half an hour. Probably a huge number of people in line were there on threat of death from Gail, who has been known to beat people with my book. (And now that it’s out in hardback, watch out!)

My editor had to ban anyone from taking pictures with me, because we didn’t have time, and he had to call for backup and implement the post-it notes system. It was only a half hour signing, and I signed as fast as I could, and we still had to turn a few people away at the end because there just wasn’t time. I was honestly not sure what to expect going into it. I knew at least some people would show up, because they told me they would, but I had no idea there would be such a large crowd!

This is a picture of the line, which I totally stole from Gail. They let me keep the poster, which I promptly framed. Best. Souvenir. Ever.

From BEA 2010

I stole this picture from Sarah. That’s me signing Mitali’s book, with my editor standing guard. (In Dia Reeve’s post, she referred to him as my “handler,” which made me feel like a wild animal. Or a spy. XD)

From BEA 2010

Since we were staying in Chelsea, everything was Chelsea ___, including this television studio. Since I’ve always wanted my own television studio, it was what I chose out of the many potential Chelsea items to capture on camera and take home with me.

From BEA 2010

And of course there was this lovely billboard across from the theater where we saw Promises, Promises. Apparently New York has bedbugs, and it’s a serious problem. If someone you love has been plagued by bedbugs, make sure you get them the help they need. /sarcasm

From BEA 2010

And since I don’t want to end this post with a picture of bedbugs, here’s a pic of the one and only Vordak.

From BEA 2010

Last but not least on Egmont Debut Week is Alexandra Bracken, author of Brightly Woven.

Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him.

In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers.

Along with the strangely powerful quakes and storms that trace their path across the kingdom, other wizards begin to take an inexplicable interest in her as well, resulting in a series of deadly duels. Against a backdrop of war and uncertainty, Sydelle is faced with the growing awareness that these events aren’t as random as she had believed—that no curse, not even that of Wayland North, is quite as terrible as the one she herself may carry.

BIO: Alexandra Bracken wrote Brightly Woven as a birthday present for a friend, and the story grew and flourished during a year of unpredictable, wild weather. A native of Arizona, she is a recent graduate of the College of William and Mary, where she majored in History and English. She now lives in New York City.

INTERVIEW
1. If you could meet any author in the world, living or dead, who would it be? What would you say to them?

JK Rowling for sure, though I honestly have no idea what I would say to her. I think I’d probably just start blubbering, and then the tears, meaningless hand gestures and squeaking noises would come and I’d have to run away in shame.

2. What’s your favorite dinosaur? How do you feel about the Brontosaurus being an accidental mix-up of bones and not a real dinosaur?

WAIT. WHAT? Chelsea, you have just rocked my world. Are you telling me my second grade teacher lied to me? Why did the Museum of Natural History have one out on display?? CHILDHOOD OF LIES!!! I think I need a minute…

3. Do you have any “guilty pleasure” shows you watch? If so, what are they and what makes them irresistible?

I can’t decide if Doctor Who should be counted as a “guilty pleasure” show or not—I think it’s a little too awesome and popular to be considered a “guilty pleasure,” but only in the UK. So… probably The Jersey Shore. That one is DEFINITELY guilty.

Today’s interview is with Kristina McBride, author of The Tension of Opposites!

Two years ago Noelle disappeared. Two long years of no leads, no word, no body. Since the abduction, Tessa, her best friend, has lived in a state of suspended animation. She has some friends, but keeps them distant. Some interests, but she won’t allow herself to become passionate about them. And guys? She can’t get close—she knows what it is like to really lose someone she cared for.

And then, one day, the telephone rings. Noelle is alive. And maybe, just maybe, Tess can start to live again, too.

A haunting psychological thriller taken straight from the headlines, The Tension of Opposites is a striking debut that explores the emotional aftermath a kidnapping can have on the victim, and on the people she left behind.

BIO: Kristina McBride, a former high-school English teacher and yearbook advisor, wrote The Tension of Opposites in response to the safe return of a child who was kidnapped while riding his bike to a friend’s house. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two young children. This is her first novel. Visit her online at www.kristinamcbride.com.

And because it’s so awesome, the trailer for The Tension of Opposites:

Order Now From Your Choice of Online Retailers

INTERVIEW
1. If you could meet any author in the world, living or dead, who would it be? What would you say to them?

I cannot name just one! I feel like I’d be betraying some of my closest friends. I’ll list a few, if that’s okay. Nathaniel Hawthorne is an author I’ve had a crush on since college. His short stories, Rappaccini’s Daughter and The Artist of the Beautiful spurned my imaginary romance. I think I’d just like to stare at him, which might make my husband a little jealous, so it’s good Nate is dead (yes, I call him Nate). I would give just about anything to hang out with Laura Ingalls Wilder. Need I say more? As for current authors, I’d love to spend some time with Laurie Halse Anderson or John Green. How cool are they? I would like to think that I’d be cool and reserved if I ever met these authors, able to explain my admiration of their talent, and ask all kinds of smart writerly questions. But I’d probably just stutter around until they decided it best to walk away from me.

2. What’s your favorite dinosaur? How do you feel about the Brontosaurus being an accidental mix-up of bones and not a real dinosaur?

What? The Brontosaurus isn’t a real dinosaur? I’m shocked! I have to admit here that I’m not all that up on my dinosaur trivia. I really liked the one from Jurassic Park that spit toxic, killing juice. I would’ve enjoyed having that ability a few times while I was a high school English teacher. (Just kidding people, I really loved my students!)

3. Do you have any “guilty pleasure” shows you watch? If so, what are they and what makes them irresistible?

Oh dear, there are so many. I love several teen shows: Gossip Girl, Glee, The Vampire Diaries. I’m a reality show girl too: Survivor, Project Runway, Big Brother. And while I hate the idea of soap operas, I’m kind of addicted to The Young and the Restless. I think the thing that makes any of these shows irresistible is that when I sit down to watch them, I can totally forget about all the things I have to do in my real life – TV in general gives me a much needed break!

Today’s debut Egmont author interview is with Lindsay Eland, author of Scones and Sensibility. Lindsay’s also giving away a vintage lace handkerchief to one lucky winner!

Overly-romantic and overly-dramatic 12-year-old, Polly Madassa, decides to matchmake for the people in her small beach town…whether they want to be or not.

BIO: Lindsay Eland lives in the mountains of Colorado with her husband, their four kids, one dog, three rats, and the various other foxes, bears, and elk that venture into their backyard.

INTERVIEW

1. If you could meet any author in the world, living or dead, who would it be? What would you say to them?

I have to choose just one? I’m terrible at making big decisions like this, Chelsea! But, for you, I will try…I think above everyone else (like Roald Dahl, Polly Horvath, Shannon Hale, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and Charles Dickens) I’d want to meet Kate Dicamillo because really…she’s just completely and absolutely brilliant. And when I got over the shock of meeting her and she got over her shock at having me standing there shocked in front of her, I’d probably say something interesting and filled with adverbs like, “You are so completely and absolutely brilliant.”

2. What’s your favorite dinosaur? How do you feel about the Brontosaurus being an accidental mix-up of bones and not a real dinosaur?

I have to say that sadly the Brontosauras was my favorite dinosaur and I’m very distraught that it isn’t really one. But then seriously, I think dinosaurs were real, but how can they really know what dinosaurs looked like? I have a feeling that half of the dinosaurs are probably just jumbled up and we’ll eventually find out that they really looked like massive unicorns or something like that.

3. Do you have any “guilty pleasure” shows you watch? If so, what are they and what makes them irresistible?

We don’t have cable at our house, just a DVD player and a TV to watch movies. But when I go to my parents house where there is at least 2000 channels (which are mostly filled with men putting together ridiculously big cars or people redoing their houses or rooms or clothes) I do love myself a little Dog Whisperer…yeah, I know, I’m that pathetic. Still, I think Cesear is amazing and I love, love, love watching it. That show or the one show about people with addictions. It’s either pure innocence or plain old dirt with me, baby.

GIVEAWAY
Lindsay’s giving away a vintage lace handkerchief! How awesome is that? To enter, answer this question in the comments: if you could be any one baked good, what would it be and why? Contest is open to US/CANADA and ends June 2nd.

For day two of Egmont Debut Week, I interviewed Bree Despain, author of The Dark Divine.
Check out the interview and then enter to win a bottle of The Dark Divine nail polish!

A prodigal son

A dangerous love

A deadly secret . . .

I stood back and watched his movements. Daniel had that way about him that could shut me down in an instant. . . . I kicked the gravel a couple of times and worked up my courage again. “Tell me . . . I mean . . . why did you come back? Why now, after all this time?”
Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel’s dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

BIO: Bree rediscovered her childhood love for creating stories when she took a semester off college to write and direct plays for at-risk, inner-city teens from Philadelphia and New York. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband, two young sons, and her beloved TiVo. The Dark Divine is Bree’s debut novel.

INTERVIEW
1. If you could meet any author in the world, living or dead, who would it be? What would you say to them?

Harper Lee. I’d ask her why she stopped writing novels and if she had any other books she wants to write and share with the world.

2. What’s your favorite dinosaur? How do you feel about the Brontosaurus being an accidental mix-up of bones and not a real dinosaur?

Dude, my favorite dinosaur as a kid was always the Brontosaurus! I kept wondering why I never see it in any books or movies now days. My current favorite is the Stygimoloch—but mostly because I love hearing my little 4 year old pronounce its name. (He totally gets it right!)

3. Do you have any “guilty pleasure” shows you watch? If so, what are they and what makes them irresistible?

I think all my television viewing could be considered a guilty pleasure. Right now my faves are THE VAMPIRE DIARIES. Why: Damon and Stefan. And FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. Why: Tim Riggins and um, Tim Riggins. I also love CHUCK and CASTLE because of Chuck and Castle.

GIVEAWAY
Bree has been kind enough to donate a bottle of The Dark Divine nail polish to one lucky winner.

To enter, leave a comment telling me your favorite first kiss in a YA novel. The contest is US/CANADA only and runs from now until June 1st, when I’ll pick a random winner.

This week a few Egmont authors and I have banded together to present a series of short interviews. First up is Kay Cassidy, author of The Cinderella Society. I asked Kay a few VERY IMPORTANT, life changing questions, and not only has she answered them, but she’s also giving away a Cinderella Society glass slipper bookmark!

What a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore?

Sixteen year old Jess Parker has always been an outsider. So when she receives an invitation to join The Cinderella Society, a secret society of the most popular girls in school, it’s like something out of a fairy tale. Swept up by the Cindys’ magical world of makeovers, and catching the eye of her Prince Charming, Jess feels like she’s finally found her chance to fit in.

Then the Wickeds–led by Jess’s arch-enemy–begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers there’s more to being a Cindy than reinventing yourself on the outside. She has unknowingly become part of a centuries-old battle of good vs. evil, and now the Cindys in charge need Jess for a mission that could change everything.

Overwhelmed, Jess wonders if The Cinderella Society made a mistake in choosing her. Is it a coincidence her new boyfriend doesn’t want to be seen with her in public? And is this glamorous, secret life even what she wants, or will she risk her own happy ending to live up to the expectations of her new sisters?

BIO: Kay Cassidy is the author of teen fiction she wishes was based on her real life. She is the founder of the national Great Scavenger Hunt ContestTM reading program for kids and teens and the host of the inspirational Living Your FiveTM web project. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, movies, music, and reading. Lots and lots of reading. She hopes her debut YA novel, THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY (April 13, 2010 – Egmont), will help girls embrace their inner Cindy.

INTERVIEW
1. If you could meet any author in the world, living or dead, who would it be? What would you say to them?

It would have to be J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter is my favorite series of all time and I would love to chat with her about how she sees the HP world in her mind. I’m sure there are so many things she knows about the world and its history that never made it into a book. I could be a sponge for that for hours. I would even bring cupcakes.

2. What’s your favorite dinosaur? How do you feel about the Brontosaurus being an accidental mix-up of bones and not a real dinosaur?

Fun! Hmm… I’ve always thought a stegosaurus was pretty cool. But it’s funny… I would’ve said a Brontosaurus until I read your follow-up question! I just had to go google that. NO. WAY. Then there really is no giant, sweet, veggie eater? Oh wait, I guess that’s the Apatosaurus then? So yeah, probably that. But I’m still super sad about the Brontosaurus!

3. Do you have any “guilty pleasure” shows you watch? If so, what are they and what makes them irresistible?

I love love LOVE Glee. Partly because it’s so horrible and politically incorrect (read: Sue Sylvester) that you can’t even fathom half the stuff that comes of their mouths (again, Sue) and partly because the music absolutely knocks my socks off. Although I will admit the last few weeks have been a bit old-fashioned in their song choices for me. I really loved the first half of the season’s music like Defying Gravity and the episode where they sang with the deaf show choir. I also love how Glee can make me laugh, cry, and get my musical mojo on all in a single episode. That is just plain brilliant. The scene where Emma is accepting Coach’s proposal with a thousand restrictions and he says quietly, “That’s a better deal than I thought I’d get” just broke me heart.

I’m also a huge fan of Flash Forward. The plotting and twisting and character development is unreal. I didn’t realize until a few weeks in that it’s based on a book. I wanted to go buy it, but didn’t want to spoil the series, so I didn’t. And then I heard that the show is more using the premise of the book than the plot of the book. But I still don’t want to read it for fear of giving away an upcoming twist.

GIVEAWAY
As I mentioned above, Kay has been kind enough to donate a Cinderella Society glass slipper bookmark to one lucky winner!
Just post in the comments between now and May 31st and tell me three words that describe your ideal Prince (or Princess) Charming. The giveaway is open to US/CANADA only, and the winner will be drawn randomly.

The local indie, Village Books, had three copies of my book, face out!

From Drop Box

I worked up enough courage to ask to sign them. The lady there was really nice, so I’m glad I asked. Here they are back on the shelf with little “signed by author” tags sticking out of them.

From Drop Box

From Drop Box

W00T! To the world, The Rise of Renegade X is now 0, but to me it’s more like 3. Weird, no? Now you can buy it IN THE STORE.

To celebrate, I’m revealing this lovely artwork made by the fabulous Laura Freeman. It makes a great tiled wallpaper:

From Drop Box

Those of you who have read the book will probably recognize this scene. I love their expressions, especially Kat’s! They look like they’re ready for anything. I also love the shark peeking out from behind them.

Since there are quite a few expletives that have to do with bodily functions, today I ask, why not barfing? It seems to me it’s been overlooked.

Like, you could say, “Who left this barfing skateboard on the stairs?! I could have broken my barfing neck!” Or “I have to go to the barfing grocery store AGAIN. It’s the fifth barfing time this week.”

And instead of WTF or WTH, we could have WTB–what the barf? “What the barf are these toadstools doing growing in my yard?!” (I barfing hate those things. *shudder*)

It could also be an insult, like, “You know that guy on American Idol last night? What a barfer!” And, for a full strength insult, there’s always “motherbarfer.” “Those barfing kids better get their motherbarfing toys off of my lawn!”

All in all, I think the English language is ripe for a fresh expletive, and it’s time for barfing to stand up and fill that role.

Yes, I know this is a pressing question on everyone’s mind. Or at least it was on my mind the other day when I started wondering what happened after the Odyssey ended and if Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, ever did anything cool. WELL. It turns on Odysseus had another son with Circe, due to his affair he had with her while trying to get home, and his name was Telegonus, and eventually he came to visit Odysseus or something, after his Circe told him who his father was, and it didn’t go well. He accidentally fights Odysseus to the death, not realizing he’s his father. AND THEN Telegonus, his half brother Telemachus, and Penelope, Telemachus’ mother/Odysseus’ wife, all go live with Circe. (???) And then Telegonus MARRIES Penelope, his half brother’s mother/his father’s wife (ew), and Telemachus marries Circe, his half brother’s mother/his father’s mistress (double ew), THE END. Oh, wait, and Circe makes them all immortal.

Needless to say, this was not the tale of adventure and coolness I was hoping for, and I was kind of grossed out and disappointed. Though this story came later, I think, and isn’t supposed to be Homeric, so we can all go, “Well, I’m choosing to believe it’s not cannon,” just like with the last to Pirates movies and move on.

More importantly, today I saw a sugary blue sheet cake with–wait for it–a picture from Avatar printed on the frosting. o__O They also had cupcakes, but the cupcakes weren’t big enough to print on, so they just had pictures printed on paper sticking out of them. At first I saw this display of all blue cakes and was like, “What holiday is it? What’s going on?” and then it wasn’t a holiday at all, just, you know, Avatar.