Friday, November 24, 2006

Sprechen zie deutsche??

I apologize to my German friends if that's not how you spell it! Because I have to admit that I do not sprechen zie deutsche, though maybe I will learn since my upcoming novel, FLY ME TO THE MOON, will be translated into German sometime in 2008!

Romantic Times gave it 4 stars!

And Publisher's Weekly calls it- "Sex in the City at 37,000 feet."

It's scheduled for take off on 12/26/06- so be sure to check it out!

Also, don't forget to check out the Teens Read Too 31 Days of Giving- beginning December 1, for your chance to win awesome prizes all month long! I'm giving away autographed copies of Faking 19, Art Geeks and Prom Queens, and Laguna Cove as well as a Sephora gift certificate! I'm Day 19. . .

Okay, I'm off to make my day after turkey sandwich breakfast-

Have a good weekend everyone!

Alyson

Monday, November 13, 2006

Save the Date!!


Just wanted to spread the word that I'll be signing copies of my books at the awesome Laguna Beach bookstore, Latitude 33, on Sunday, December 10, 2006 at 1:00 pm. There will be music, refreshments, and hopefully YOU!

It's located in downtown Laguna Beach at:

311 Ocean Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA

tel- 949.494.5403

Hope you can make it!

Alyson

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Coincidence?


Call me crazy (and believe me, you may want to after this post!), but ever since my Dwight Schrute bobble-head doll arrived, my life has taken an interesting turn.

Now, for all of you who (gasp!) don't watch The Office, I'll just say that Dwight is the overly anal, extremely weird, yet highly watchable Assistant (to the) Regional Manger with a penchant for brown suits and mustard colored shirts.

I'm not a collector of bobble-heads, and I've never purchased anything from a TV show before, but when I saw the Dwight doll I just knew- I definitely had to get me one of those.

The moment it arrived I pulled it out of the box, removed the bubble wrap noose from his thin, fragile neck, then I placed him on my desk, in the enviable spot right next to the screen.

And that's when the magic began.

Since Dwight's arrival:

- Brazilian rights were sold on my upcoming book, Fly Me to the Moon
- Laguna Cove was chosen as a Barnes & Noble Recommended Holiday Gift
- Art Geeks and Prom Queens is nominated for the NYLA Book for All Seasons Award
- I'm buzzing right through the writing of my seventh book that's not due until 7/07 (must be the influence of Dwight's amazing work ethic)
- My husband woke up yesterday morning, and with absolutely no prompting from me, started fixing the bubbled, peeling, water damaged wall in my office that's been bugging me since the day it happened.

Coincidence?? I think not. I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring!
_

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Suffragette City


In case you've been living under a rock, let me remind you that today is election day. And though I won't be so presumptious as to tell you how to vote (though I do have strong opinions on the matter!), I will urge you to get out there and do it. To head for your nearest polling place, cast your ballot, and wear your little "I Voted" sticker for the rest of the day!

It wasn't so long ago that women weren't allowed that kind of say. And it was years of struggle and sacrifice to finally earn the right.

During the last presidential election I was watching the news, one of those candid, person on the street interview pieces. They stopped this twenty-something woman and asked if she planned to vote. She smiled adorably at the camera, then mumbled something about having a nail appointment, doubting she could fit it all in.

Since I don't know her I can't say for sure, but I'm willing to bet that the most she got out of those shiny new nails were ten, maybe twelve decent days. But the decisions made by our elected officials have repercussions that last decades.

So why not honor your sisters who paved the way? Grab a ballot, and go excercise your right!


Monday, November 06, 2006

The Real, Real OC (really!)


I have a confession to make. Back when I was a teen, Orange County was not considered cool. And it certainly never had a jazzy little nickname, like the OC. People referred to it as The Orange Curtain, and, um, a few other things, but mostly they didn't refer to it at all.

Oh sure, Newport Beach was cool, as was Laguna Beach, and Huntington Beach and just about any other town that's name ended in "Beach." But I didn't live at the beach. I lived inland. And, sorry fellow Yorba Lindians, but inland was definitely not cool.

Back then all of the attention was focused on 90210 and Melrose Place. And so I spent countless hours (when I should have been in school) making that long, traffic clogged, freeway commute just so I could loiter on Melrose Avenue and then sneak into a Beverly Hills club where this group of uber glamorous British guys hung (Britian was undisputably cool), just hoping some of that hip LA vibe would survive the long trip home.

The second I graduated high school I hopped on a plane and headed for London. Then I came back for one year before doing it again, eventually ending up in Greece, on the island of Mykonos, where I spent several years. And after that came New York, a place I thought I'd never want to leave, but then, wouldn't you know it, I met my future husband who just happened to live in the OC. And before I realized what hit me, I was officially back.

It's nice to be part of this moment, even if this new found popularity has made finding an available parking space about as statistically improbable as winning the Power Ball. But as a houseguest of mine recently said as we headed up Niguel Road-"Jeez, even the gas stations are nicer here."

And the weather, don't forget the weather!




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