In other news, I decided on this vacation that I should be better about blogging, FB-ing, Tweeting. It seems to be what YA authors do these days. I have to admit, it makes me squirm to post about my kids, my life, the mess that is my desk. But I suppose I can talk about all the exciting things that are happening with TANGLED. So much in the works…it’s hard to keep it all straight. I always make a list when my brain is jumbled (often these days). Perhaps a list will do:

1. The wonderful new teen/writing website, Inkpop, is hosting a month of “Ask Carolyn Mackler Anything in the World.” Amy Schroeder, goddess of Inkpop, came up with this idea. You just have to join Inkpop, submit a question, and she’ll handpick one for me to answer every Friday in April.
2. I think there are free books involved as well.
3. I’ll be signing Tangled at Book Expo in NYC on Wednesday, May 26 at 10am.
4. I’ll be appearing at ALA in DC in late June. More TBD
5. I’ll be giving a keynote speech at SCBWI in LA in early August.
6. And more travel! I’ve agreed to speak at NCTE/ALAN in Orlando in late November.

I will – gulp – be travelling with my infant. He’s too tiny to leave behind. And he flew (relatively) well to Captiva and back. I was crazy with the Purell and wipes (insert *husband patiently rolling his eyes* here). So off we go to all these book events. I suppose my baby will get used to the author’s life nice and early.

Speaking of The Author’s Life, here’s a funny one: I recently got an email from the editor of the Horn Book confirming that I am a vegetarian. (Yes - have been since I was four). Turns out they’re doing an article (in the current issue, I believe), about the VAST number of children’s authors who are veg. It’s true. There are so many of us. I recently had dinner with a group of amazing YA writers in NYC – me, E. Lockhart, Coe Booth, Jenny Han, Julia DeVillers, Rachel Vail, Mariah Fredericks. Turns out almost half of us are vegetarian. We ate at Blossom, a vegan place on the Upper West Side. Perhaps I was delirious from all the menu choices because I look way goofy peeking up from the rear of this picture.

Oh! And HUGE congrats to Lauren Oliver on hitting the NYT bestseller list!! I read BEFORE I FALL in galley form, and even gave a blurb on the back. I am so excited about the success of this wonderful novel.