Making Up My Own Latin

Went to my 20th college reunion this weekend, had so much fun. Marched in the Ivy Day parade with my friends and my daughter. Everyone sang Gaudemus igitur, which we always did at college events. My daughter takes latin and turned to me and said, "The title of this song means 'Let's Party,' why are they singing it so slow and depressing?"

I never took Latin. I had no idea what the heck we were singing about. It just sounded very collegiate. And I always sort of made up my own words, anyway. Turns out, the title means 'Let's Rejoice,' but I guess party/rejoice are similar.

I looked up the lyrics. The first part goes like this (but in Latin):

Let us rejoice therefore

While we are young.

After a pleasant youth

After a troubling old age

The earth will have us.

Jeez. That's totally depressing. Is it wrong that in my head I always think Guadeamus igitur sounds like Guido is an ignoramus and I sing it as such? Makes it way less depressing and a lot more fun. And there's usually so many other people singing no one can hear what words I'm singing anyway.

Get Yourself Some SHADE

Love ties them together.
Death can't tear them apart.

How awesome does that sound? If, like me, you think it sounds pretty darn good, then check out Jeri Smith-Ready's new book, SHADE. Want to know more about the story? Then read on...

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift.

It feels like summer is finally here. I've never written a book during the summer before. I'm more of a fall/winter writer. Cannot get motivated to sit indoors and write when it's nice out.

I remember writing the Island Summer series (LOCAL GIRLS and RICH BOYS) from September - January. It was cold and yucky out and I was writing about the summer on Martha's Vineyard. It was so nice to imagine the beach and the sunshine and how green everything is on the island during the summer. Ironically, this weekend when it was in the 80's and sunny I was writing about December and snow and Christmas for my next book. Gotta admit, not nearly as much fun, considering I'm so glad that winter seems to be over.

Brenda Novak's Diabates Auction... It's that time of year again!!

Every year I participate in Brenda Novak's Diabetes Auction. Last year the auction raised nearly $280,000.

This year I donated 4 signed books - PLAN B, THE BOOK OF LUKE, LOCAL GIRLS and RICH BOYS. You can bid on them here, or just check out the other YA books up for auction.

There are amazing things to bid on - from critiques with agents, to signed books to editor evaluations and so much more. And all of the money raised goes to a great cause. My grandmother had diabetes so this cause is near and dear to my heart. Take a look, maybe there's something you'd love to bid on and help a great cause at the same time.

I have a special fondness for Jessica Brody because we both went to the same college. And I'm always pulling for my friends to succeed (even just those who I've emailed back and forth with because we went to the same colege). So today I'm going to hope you all check out Jessica's new book THE KARMA CLUB.

And just to give you a little nudge, and to celebrate the release of THE KARMA, Jessica is giving away FOUR Flip Video Cameras (as well as TONS of other cool prizes!) on her site. Visit her website for all the details and to enter to win! And while your there make sure you watch her very cool book trailer.

When you mess with Karma, Karma messes back...

Madison Kasparkova always thought she understood how Karma works. Do good things and you'll be rewarded, do something bad and Karma will make sure you get what you deserve. But when Maddy’s boyfriend cheats on her, nothing bad comes his way. That’s why Maddy starts the Karma Club, to clean up the messes that the universe has left behind and get back at the people who have wronged them. Sometimes, though, it isn’t wise to meddle with the universe. It turns out Karma often has plans of its own.

When I was growing up I loved big dresses, the kind with HUGE skirts that swish around your ankles. Of course, one of the only times a girl gets to wear such a dress, her wedding, is when I decided not to go the big poufy dress route but the slim, straight skirt way instead. And so, I still crave an occasion when I can wear a Cinderella dress. Which brings me to Kay Cassidy's new book, THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY.

Talk abou fun! Kay's new book takes a modern twist on an age old fairy tale. Check it out:

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?

Magic #6

I've finished the first six chapters of my next book and sent them off to my agent. And he loves them.

While it felt great to send them to him, now that he likes them I have to finish the whole book. All of it. Everything. And that feels like starting over, now that I met my "six chapters" goal. Next goal: finish book. Not nearly as easy as six chapters. Ugh.