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The BannedWagon
 Hey there! Sorry for the blogging delay. I've been working on my new novel. I've promised my editor I'll have 50 pages to her by October 10th (I say as I do the Edvard Munch "Scream" thing). Aaaaaah. So I'm in total writing mode. In the old days, before I had a child, I used to Go Underground (no email, no phone, no life) when I was working on a book. But now it's much harder to escape like that. So I'm trying to maintain a bit more of a balance these days. Brush hair. Wear clean jeans. Make sure my son eats fruits and veggies. Things like that. Plus, there's Banned Book Week coming up: September 29-October 6, 2007! As some of you may know, The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things was the fourth most challenged book in the USA last year. Since I'm completely opposed to kicking books out of schools and libraries, I respond to every invitation to speak about being a banned author. So my next big stop on the BannedWagon is Chicago! As If! (Authors Support Intellectual Freedom) has posted a link to another great YouTube ad about Chicago right here: And here's something funny. My husband just emailed me this article today. It sounds like the author thinks The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things should win an award for being the banned book with the best title. Hmmmmm. And, finally, I was delighted and thrilled to see that Guyaholic was reviewed in the New York Times Book Review this past weekend. Here's my favorite line: "Mackler's unsentimental feel for how kids think and talk, and how they go about entering the grown-up world, makes V's journey engrossing." And speaking of novels, I need a teensy bit of help for my new one. If you have a favorite quote about anything (life, love, inspiration, heartbreak), email it to me: carolyn@carolynmackler.com That's all I'll say for now. Oh, and thanks! Love,
Carolyn
MeTube
I'm now on YouTube! Yes, my very first YouTube appearance (at least as far as I know...). Last week, I got an email from the American Library Association asking if I'd film a commercial for them promoting this amazing Banned Book Read-Out event in Chicago on September 29. I will be there - along with several other banned authors - reading from our scandalous books. I seriously do not understand this, but The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things was the 4th most challenged book in America in 2006. I was SHOCKED when I found out because I get so many emails from readers telling me that my book helped them feel better about themselves, stop hurting their bodies, etc. Who'd want to ban that? So of course my inner diva freaked out and was like OF COURSE I'LL FILM A COMMERCIAL FOR YOU!!! But then real life hit and I realized we don't have a video camera. I borrowed one from my friend Jhoanna, but at the last minute my husband did it with our digital camera. It took a lot of takes because, even though I'm an inner diva, I'm a dork in real life and have very little camera-ready poise. For the first few takes, according to Jonas, I was batting my head this way and that (huh?). So then I tried to fuse my skull to my neck, but then I cracked up because our son was talking in the background. FINALLY we got something passable: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px07Pr05UUkSo there's my debut on YouTube (that's our bookshelf in the background). In other news, Guyaholic is going to get a small (but very cool!) review in the New York Times Book Review this weekend! Yahoooooo. I will try not to bat my head too much. Love, Carolyn
Guyaholic reading tomorrow in NYC
We're back from a lovely and relaxing vacation in the Adirondacks where I swam, read, cooked, and did absolutely no work on my new book. And I'm totally stressing about it because I have so many ideas...I just need to find the time to write. I'm waiting for those wide open stretches time that I used to have pre-baby, but that's ancient history. Phew. Wish me luck. The big and exciting news around our house (well, apartment...but we call it a house) is that my son is starting a new pre-pre-school tomorrow morning. He has new sneakers and a new haircut and he's very excited to see what toys will be in store for him. I get to attend WITH him for the first few days! So exciting. I love watching him do his thing in the world. And then, after a morning in pre-pre-school, we're headed to my dad's apartment (not sure why, but I never call this one a house). He lives nearby and he's going to rescue us tomorrow because we have a contractor tearing apart our bedroom. And then, after a packed afternoon, I'm going to un-frizz my hair and dig through my backpack for something clean to wear (yes, I'm living out of a backpack tomorrow) and hand off my son to my husband and then I'm scurrying to a downtown train bound for...
My First NYC Reading of Guyaholic!!Yes, it is THE MOST HECTIC DAY IN THE WORLD. My head spins just thinking about it. And, typical me, I keep wondering how/where I'll be able to eat. But I guess the good news is that I'm not obsessing (too much) about the Guyaholic reading. If I think about it I'll get nervous, butterflies, the whole thing. I'll wonder what I should wear (cool jeans and a top? new brown dress?). And I'll wonder, even after seven years and four books, what to say BEFORE I begin reading. "Hi, I'm Carolyn?" (they know I'm Carolyn). "Hey, y'all?" (I'm so not southern). "Howdy, this here is my new book" (Duh). Hopefully I'll think of something between now and tomorrow. If you have a good idea, email me, okay? FYI, if you live in NYC and want to come to the reading, here are the details: Wednesday, September 5 - Teen Author Reading Night (6-7:30, the Tompkins Square Branch of the NYPL, 331 E. 10th Street, off of Ave B)Okay, off to dig through piles for the new brown dress (or cool jeans and a top?). I'll let you know what I decide. Love, Carolyn PS Speaking of NYC events, I'd like to put in an extra-special plug for my extra-special friend, Megan McCafferty, author of the bestselling Fourth Comings. She'll be reading/speaking/signing in NYC on Thursday, September 6 (6-8pm Borders, Columbus Circle). For more info on Megan's event, check out www.meganmccafferty.com. I'll be there too!
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