So David Levithan, YA guru and all-around great guy, has organized a NYC Teen Author Festival this year (see schedule below). I'll be taking part in the The Biggest Teen Author Signing EVER on Sunday, March 22 at 4pm at Books of Wonder. Come on down (or up, over, across town)! If you don't see me near my stack of books, it's because I'm chasing down all my favorite YA authors for signatures of my own.

Check out the schedule below. Wow.

Love,
C

Juvenalia Smackdown Monday, 3/16, 4-6pm, Tompkins Square Park branch of the NYPL, 331 E. 10th Street Join Holly Black, Alaya Johnson, Justine Larbalestier, David Levithan, Diana Peterfruend, Scott Westerfeld as they read some of their (ahem) less accomplished work from their middle school and high school years. Hosted by Libba Bray.

I Have Seen the Future…and It Sounds Like This Wednesday, 3/18, Mulberry Street Branch of the NYPL Teen authors are notoriously stingy about reading from their works-in-progress. But for Guest of Honor Joe Monti, authors Libba Bray, Rachel Cohn, Eireann Corrigan, Justine Larbalestier, Barry Lyga, and Scott Westerfeld are willing to share a little bit from their future books. Hosted by David Levithan.

The Five-Borough Read Thursday, 3/19 BROOKLYN: Central Library, Dweck Center, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn 10-11am Gayle Forman Jenny Han Leslie Margolis Abby Sher Matthue Roth Robin Wasserman BRONX: Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Road, Bronx 4-5pm Coe Booth Madeleine George Paul Griffin Brian Sloan Melissa Walker MANHATTAN: Countee Cullen Branch, 104 W 136th St 4-5pm Matt de la Pena Daphne Grab Mary Hogan Bill Konigsburg Barry Lyga Carolyn MacCullough MANHATTAN: Jefferson Market Branch, 425 Avenue of the Americas 4-5pm David Levithan Bennett Madison Laura McLaughlin Billy Merrell Marie Rutkoski MANHATTAN: Webster Branch, 1465 York Avenue 4-5pm Lisa Ann Sandell Courtney Sheinmel Rachel Vail Cecily Von Ziegesar Martin Wilson QUEENS: Far Rockaway Branch, 2002 Cornaga Ave, Queens 4-5pm Tara Altebrando Laura Dower Heather Duffy-Stone Aimee Friedman Eliot Schrefer Siobhan Vivian Rita Williams-Garcia STATEN ISLAND: St. George Library Center, 5 Central Avenue 4-5pm Kate Brian Judy Goldschmidt Michael Northrop Micol Ostow Lynn Weingarten

Rock Out with TIGER BEAT! Thursday, 3/19, 6pm at Books of Wonder By day, Libba Bray, Daniel Ehrenhaft, Barney Miller, and Natalie Standiford are upstanding authors. But by night, they turn into … TIGER BEAT, the first ever YA author rock band. Tonight is their debut public performance … and it’s sure to go down in legend. With opening act The Infinite Playlists (Rachel Cohn and David Levithan reading a litany of musical references, but mercifully not singing).

I Love You, New York: Teen Lit in the City Friday, 3/20, 6pm, NYPL, 42nd Street, Court Room Join authors Coe Booth, Paul Griffin, Maureen Johnson, David Levithan, Cecily von Ziegesar, and Rita Williams-Garcia in a spirited reading and discussion about teen novels set in New York City – from the glamour of the gossip girls to the grit of the Bronx projects, from the everyday battles of the high school halls to the extraordinary events of 9/11.

Stuff for the Teen Age Ceremony Saturday, 3/21, 1pm, NYPL, 42nd Street, Celeste Bartos Forum This new list only has the best of the best, and includes books, music, movies, and video games. Featuring a keynote by Walter Dean Myers

Teen Authors Celebrate Teen Readers Sunday, 3/22, NYPL, 42nd Street, Trustees Room, 1pm Over a dozen authors salute teen readers and teen advisory board members from around the city, including Blake Nelson, reading from his upcoming novel Destroy All Cars.

The Biggest Teen Author Signing EVER Sunday, 3/22, Books of Wonder, 4pm Join over 40 authors for a signing extravaganza as they take over Books of Wonder, sign books, and converse with fans new and old. An incredible event that is sure to go down in book-signing history. Authors include: Nora Baskin Jessica Blank Judy Blundell Coe Booth Elise Broach Susanne Colasanti Sarah Darer-Littman Matt de la Pena Heather Duffy-Stone Gayle Forman Aimee Friedman Madeleine George Maureen Johnson Kristen Kemp Justine Larbalestier David Levithan E. Lockhart Barry Lyga Carolyn Mackler Sarah MacLean Megan McCafferty Laura McLaughlin Neesha Meminger Billy Merrell Blake Nelson Micol Ostow Matthue Roth Marie Rutkoski Lisa Ann Sandell Courtney Sheinmel Abby Sher Brian Sloan Rachel Vail David Van Etten Ned Vizzini Adrienne Maria Vrettos Cecily von Ziegesar Melissa Walker Robin Wasserman Scott Westerfeld Suzanne Weyn Maryrose Wood Lizabeth Zindel

Actually, I can't even call myself a blogger because I NEVER WRITE!

I just looked up and realized it's been, like, over five months since I've posted a blog entry. Whoa, where have I been? And why am I such a blog-absentee (blabsentee?). Well, here goes:

1. I've been working on my new novel. I LOVE IT. More on that soon. (Funny, some characters in my novel are bloggers and THEY keep up). Oh, well.

2. I've been trying to cook more. It just feels good, you know? I'm a vegetarian, so I've become obsessed with roasting vegetables. I seriously think my roasted vegetables rock.

3. I've been spending quality time with my husband and son. We went on a vacation recently. We go for walks. We go out to eat. We bond. They beg for non-roasted vegetables.

4. I've been reading. Yes, reading. I was asked to be a judge for this year's National Book Award!!! For the young people's literature category, of course. Between now and September I'll be reading about 250 books. My head spins with the math (250? 250?) but I'm actually having a blast with the reading.

So there's my teeny little update. Hopefully it won't take me five months to write another.

Love,
Carolyn

Okay, I'll admit it. I've been woefully absent from the blogosphere. But I have good reason! I'm hard at work on my new book. Yes, I'm really doing it. I'm halfway through and aiming to finish a draft by January. Wish me luck!

So I've come up for air to say two things: First, thanks to all of you who are writing to tell me that you love Guyaholic! You have no idea how much that means to me.

And also, I'm signing at a Barnes and Noble in New York City's Greenwich Village tomorrow (Saturday, December 1) at 3pm. If you're in the neighborhood and feel like saying hi, please drop by! I'm signing as part of this Behind the Book event - great organization that brings authors into underprivileged schools. All book sales tomorrow benefit Behind the Book. Here are the details:

Barnes & Noble, Greenwich Village location -396 Ave of the Americas at 8th Street

Hope to see some NYC readers tomorrow!

Love,
Carolyn

Hi all-

First of all, I apologize for the complete and total silence. I've been on a book deadline (still on it), so whenever I have a moment to write, I work on the novel. The book is due in January. Then I'll have a lot more time. Then maybe I'll get some new clothes, too. I've been wearing the SAME pair of jeans all fall.

In much more exciting news, I will be reading from/signing Guyaholic on Monday, October 15 at 6pm at Borders Columbus Circle in NYC.

http://www.shopsatcolumbuscircle.com/scs/user/eventDetails.aspx?EventID=EV-00587

The very best part is that I'll be appearing with three of my all-time favorite authors: Megan McCafferty (Fourth Comings) and Rachel Cohn & David Levithan (Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List). So please come out and see us and say hi and ask lots of questions. If you can't find me, that's because I'll be waiting in line to get books signed by Megan, Rachel, and David.

Hope to see my New York readers on Monday! And now, back to writing...

Love,
Carolyn