He Talks to Angels

So last night I celebrated the awesome BLUE MOON news (see below!) by drinking champagne, having dinner, and then attending a James Van Praagh event with some friends. It was an amazing night--partly because we got an incredibly accurate and personal message from the beyond, but also because at the end of the night, just after I had him sign my copy of UNFINISHED BUSINESS his latest New York Times Best Selling book, I gave him a signed copy of EVERMORE (my own NYT best selling book!), since I thanked him in the acknowledgments (I'd taken a 3 day seminar of his about a year ago-and was blown away!) and wanted  a chance to thank him again in person. It was a really cool moment and I just love being able to do things like that, which is why the dedication and acknowledgments pages are always especially fun to write!

And while we're on the subject of giving thanks, check these out:

These were done by a reader named Haley, and, honestly, I'm just gobsmacked by how awesome they are! So huge glittery thanks to Haley for making such beautiful IMMORTALS art!

Also, I just wanted to shout out yet another thanks to all of YOU--because aside from debuting at #1 on the NYT list, and #14 on the USA Today list, I just learned that BLUE MOON also landed at #22 on the NCIBA list! So, once again:

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

And don't forget that tomorrow, Friday July 17th at 6:00 PM I'll be signing copies of BLUE MOON along with other titles of mine at:

Barnes & Noble

791 S. Main St. #100

Orange, CA 92868

And I hope to see YOU there!!

Have a great day everyone!

Alyson

xoxo

Weekend Update

So, I had a great time yesterday, participating in the Taft High School PASSPORT TO READING event


Where I caught up with friends, hung out with the funny, sweet, and talented, Debby Garfinkle, and spoke with some really great students about the publishing process. Everything that happens between the initial idea that sparks the story, to the final product--the book on the shelf-- with lots of visual aids to illustrate the journey.



After that I met up with the amazing, Jessica Brody, whose poised to make her author debut, and who also happens to be so cute, so talented, so sweet, so funny, so smart, so nice, so gifted, so genuine, you can't help but like her. I was lucky enough to get an early peek at her debut novel, THE FIDELITY FILES (coming June 10), and I'm telling you, it's so good-- I could barely put it down. It's about this girl who works as an infidelity inspector, and then, well, why not click HERE to watch the best book trailer you've ever seen (seriously), and read more about it!

Later that evening, my husband and I met up with some friends for a special premier screening of the TV show, GHOST WHISPERER, which was so fun to watch on a movie theater sized screen. Then after the credits rolled, the show's executive producers, writers, directors, costume designers, set designers, actors- including Camryn Manheim, David Conrad, and that hunky young new guy who plays Camryn's son (sorry, his name escapes me, but just know he's even hunkier in person), and, of course, the amazing James Van Praagh, took the stage where they engaged in a really fun and super informative Q&A.

And best of all--well, aside from hanging with friends and having fun, it totally qualified as research! I swear, ever since I started writing my EVERMORE books, the research gets better and better!

But since today is turning out to be far more humble, and hardly worth writing about, filled with all manner of laundry and other household "to-dos," I'll just go about my business, and try not to bore you with the details!

Happy Sunday everyone!
A

PS- Oh, and I wanted to add that for those of you looking for autographed copies, yesterday I stopped by the Barnes & Noble in the Westside Pavillion, chatted with the super friendly and knowledgeable staff (seriously, like the nicest, most helpful employees evah), and signed multiple copies of LAGUNA COVE, KISS & BLOG, and SAVING ZOE!

"Research"

For me, one of the best parts about working on a new book are the things I get to do under the guise of "research." And working on my new paranormal series, MY IMMORTAL (please note, title may change!), which I handed in today (yippee!), gave me the perfect excuse to delve into all sorts of interesting research type activities

Things like:

Spending the day at Santa Anita Race Track betting on the ponies while enjoying lunch at the Front Runner restaurant-- just like the characters in my book.




Undergoing a past life regression with the the best selling author of MANY LIVES, MANY MASTERS, the amazing Brian L. Weiss, M.D.-- a fascinating experience!




Slurping down a date malt (trust me, it's waaayyyy better than it sounds!) with gobs of whipped cream and a cherry on top at the beloved Crystal Cove haunt, the Shake Shack.



And taking a psychic/mediumship development class with the kind, compassionate, and very funny-- James Van Praagh.




And now I'm trying to drum up more "research" for book #2. . .


What about you, what sort of "research" do you engage in to assist your writing? Or, what's your dream research assignment?