Randomness

I'm blogging over at the Teen Fiction Cafe today about all manner of randomness. So if you've got the time, try to stop by and say HI!

Have a good weekend everyone!

Finally ,Fontana!

So, awhile back I promised to post some photos of my Lewis Library and Technology Center Book Talk in Fontana, CA, and I finally got them all uploaded so I can share them with you!

As mentioned in my last post, this is a brand-spanking-new facility, and I was amazed by the amount of awesomeness it contained. Seriously. At over 93,000 square fee, with over 200 computers, a children's library, an adult library, and a young adult library featuring computer pods with a race-car inspired theme, it's a long way from the boring beige house of books I grew up with. Oh, and did I mention the coffee bar???

Anyway, I had a great time! And was overwhelmed by the amount of time and care they put into my program. Everything from a beautiful display of my books in the front entrance:


To awesome signage:



They even put together a craft table where readers could make their own diaries just like the ones in SAVING ZOE. I mean, seriously, how cool is that??



But, as always, the best part was talking with the readers, answering their insightful questions, and getting to know them while signing books. (Below is the original cover for CRUEL SUMMER-the male model was overwhelmingly vetoed for looking too wimpy!).




All in all a really fun day!

Oh, and speaking of fun, I did an interview over at SLICE OF ORANGE, the Orange County, CA RWA blog! So, if you've got the time, drop by and say hi!

Tomorrow I'm off to BEA-- can't wait!

Have a good day everyone!

F. Harry Stowe

A big thank you or should I say, efcharisto, (see pronunciation above), to those of you who've written to tell me that you already read and enjoyed CRUEL SUMMER. Your kind words mean more to me than you probably realize!

And speaking of- I just learned that CRUEL SUMMER received a 5 star review from the awesome website- TeensReadtoo! Reviewer Cana Rensberger writes:


" . . .Teen girls will totally love CRUEL SUMMER by Alyson Noël. The story is told using letters home, the journal her mother gave her, “Colby’s Journal For Desperate Times…,” and her new blog. The range of emotions, devastating lows to breathtaking highs, and the intense feeling that everything affects her is so authentic. The reader will relate to her habit of over-thinking every comment, gesture, or word of an email, and the insecurity she feels around Yannis. I loved this book and totally devoured it. For this reason, I give it five stars!"

To read the entire review, click HERE.

Have a good day everyone!

CRUEL SUMMER -- in stores now!!

Today's the day! CRUEL SUMMER is officially in a store near YOU!

And in case you haven't heard, it's the story of Colby Catherine Cavendish, a seventeen year old girl on the verge of the best summer of her life--when her parents decide to divorce and ship her off to a tiny Greek island to live with her "crazy" aunt. And just when she thinks her life can't possibly get any worse, she meets Yannis, a cute Greek local who makes her see her life in a whole new way . . .

The story unfolds in letters, blog posts, and journal entries, and I had a lot of fun writing it, drawing on my many years of living in Mykonos, Greece as a reference!  So I really hope you enjoy reading it too!

If you want to read an excerpt, or watch the trailer, just click HERE.

Thanks so much-- and have a good day everyone!

B-day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Alyson

Viva France!

I always get excited when the foreign editions of my books are released. Not that I can actually read them or anything, since my four years of high school French doesn't stretch that far. It's more the covers that amaze me-- the colors they choose, the images they use--and of course there's the thrill of imagining readers in some of my favorite places (like PARIS!) picking up a copy to read in a cafe or on le metro!

So, I was really excited when I saw the cover for the French version of FLY ME TO THE MOON has just been released! You can check out the link here!

And even though in all my years as a flight attendant I never got to wear a hat as cute as that, and never would've even considered those stilettos- it does accurately portray the way I'd hoped the job would be--which is so much better (and more glamorous!) than the polyester wearing, bunion producing reality!

Happy Friday Everyone!

Fontana Library Redux

So, just wanted to drop in and say what a FABULOUS time I had at the Fontana Library yesterday! I met a slew of interesting people--librarians, avid readers, writers, artists, myspace friends-- you name it! Signed a ton of books, gave away bookmarks, and yes, even took pictures that I promise to share with you soon--very soon! 

But if you are anywhere near the area- then I strongly urge you to stop by and see for yourself. Because simply put, it is the nicest library I've EVER been to!  Seriously high tech and comfortable with a coffee bar and all kinds of cool features- not at all the stodgy hall of silence they built back in my day! This is a fun destination for the whole family, and from the looks of the crowd yesterday, the Fontana residents have already caught on!

Okay, back to figuring out how to download those photos onto this laptop . . .

Fontana Library

Hey Everyone-
Just back from the desert where it was H-O-T. Topping out around 106 degrees!
But now I'm back in Laguna Beach, appreciating that cool ocean breeze more than ever, and gearing up for my visit to the Fontana Library on Wednesday, May 21 at 4:00 pm.

I'll be speaking about my books, signing copies, answering questions, etc. And I'm especially excited since it will all take place in a brand-spanking-new facility, and I'm the second author to appear there! (Paula Poundstone was the first).

It's located at:

Lewis Library and Technology Center
8437 Sierra Avenue
Fontana, CA

So if you're anywhere near the area, I hope you'll drop by and say hi!

And if you're not in the area, then stop by their website and take the awesome virtual tour. This library is simply TDF!

Safety Dress

So last night I stopped by the Katharine Story boutique in Laguna Beach to do a little browsing, a little chatting, and a little gawking--see below:




Those are photos of a gorgeous model wearing a condom dress which was auctioned off in support of health education programs for Orange County and San Bernardino. And while I didn't go home with the dress (wasn't sure where I would wear it), I did go home with one of Katharine Story's amazing designs!

And today I went to South Gate High School where I spoke with some wonderful students, hung out with teacher extraordinaire- Ms. Benn, and had so much fun I forgot to take pictures

:-(

And even though I forgot to document it, the students couldn't have been nicer or more attentive! And so I donated signed copies of FAKING 19, ART GEEKS AND PROM QUEENS, LAGUNA COVE, KISS & BLOG, SAVING ZOE, and even a copy of CRUELSUMMER (which isn't even in stores yet--though it will be soon- May 27!) to the school library. All in all a great day!

Have a fun weekend everyone!

Room With a View

Just got home from an amazing week in Kauai. And as much as I love Laguna Beach, I was still a little reluctant to return.

And this is why:





That was the view from our room at the Princeville Resort (rainbows included!). And even though we had a great time snorkeling, lying by the pool, touring the island (by car, foot, and helicopter!), and eating at several great restaurants, I would've been just as happy gazing out the window.

The last night was spent in Honolulu on Waikiki, where we had another great view:



Which makes me wonder if there are any bad views in Hawaii (I think not).

And then, when I got home, I found two, early, hot off the press copies of CRUEL SUMMER on my doorstep-- which means release day is just 12 days away!!!



Speaking of release days, Linda Gerber's awesome DEATH BY BIKINI is available now!! So head on over to her blog to take part in her week long party- and your chance to win some great prizes!

And tomorrow I'll be talking with the students of South Gate High School-- can't wait!

Have a good day everyone!

Gone Snorkling . . .

So, it seems I've been tagged by Ms. Keri Mikulski. And the tag rules are:

1. Pick up the nearest book.

2. Open to page 123.

3. Find the fifth sentence.

4. Post the next three sentences.

5. Tag five people and post a comment to the person who tagged you once you posted your three sentences.

And, while I was going to use a scene from CRUEL SUMMER, when I read it, I realized it could be considered a spoiler. So I grabbed the next nearest book, YOU ARE PSYCHIC! by Pete A Sanders, Jr. (and no, for the record, my psychic abilities aren't all that--it's research for my paranormal, EVERMORE!)

So here goes- p 123, sentences 6, 7, & 8:

"The wonderful thing about dreams is that the psychic messages they carry are captured and encapsulated like mental crystals. You can go back and interpret any dream at any time. All you need to do is remember the dream, shift to you Vision Psychic Reception Area to rescan it, and tune in to your other psychic senses while you review the images.You now know how to do all of this. No longer need your dreams remain mysteries."

And now that that's done, I'm off to celebrate seven years of being married to my best friend and soul mate!

Enjoy the rest of the week everyone!

How to Save a Life

Yesterday, my husband and I were in the desert, driving around in a rented U-haul with a very long to do list, when the damn thing just died. Though it's not like we were all that surprised since it died not long after we picked it up. And it continued to die five times after that.

But we weren't all that worried, because we came prepared. We had a portable charger with us. So we both hopped out, assumed our positions, and waited for the engine to turn.

Only this time it didn't.

So we tried again.

And again.

And when we finally realized it wasn't going to happen, my husband called U-haul, who proceeded to jack us around for 2.5 hours, when they had a facility less than ten miles away. Apparently, we were told, it is not their policy to give the customer a new truck that works when the old one breaks down. Instead they locate a mechanic who comes to your location, pokes around, and eventually tries to fix it (while you sit in a very hot parking lot losing daylight). But this being Sunday and all, that mechanic was so not happening.

Needless to say, our nerves were fried, our unhappiness declared, threats to contact corporate headquarters leveled, and then my husband looked at me and said- Forget this. I'm calling AAA. Ten minutes later they arrived, and 30 seconds later, the engine was humming again. All on our dime, but hey, we had a list to complete.

So we climbed back in, completed our tasks, dropped the U-haul off, and were in the middle of reliving the event, cursing U-haul and the entire customer service department, while verbally composing the letter we'd write to the top brass--when we stopped at a light and saw the cutest little mixed breed on the planet-- wandering dangerously close to the curb of a heavily trafficked, 4 stop intersection.

I think I said--Oh no!

As my husband said- We've got to save him!

And I jumped out of our car, called the pup to me, and checked out his tag.

His name was Fluffy. Though they must have named him in the winter since he'd been recently shaved down for the summer and there was nothing fluffy about him. But the good news was, he had a home. And while my husband called the owners, I stood on the curb, cuddling the little pooch and letting him drink from my water bottle.

And the funny thing was- nearly everyone who drove by yelled stuff like-- Way to go! Good for you! Oh, I'm so glad you saved him! And then a firetruck drove by and all of the firemen gave me the thumbs up.

And when the owners arrived and the little boys eyes lit up when he saw Fluffy, I realized how the entire mood had been lifted. How we were able to get out of our negative energy U-haul fiasco, simply by helping someone else.

And, as it is with karma, the rest of the day was awesome.

Any karma tales you're willing to share? I'd love to hear them!

Like A (Rock) Star

It's music week over at the cafe, so drop by and tell me who you want to be in your next life? (It'll make sense when you get there!)

Just click HERE

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Going up???

No matter what you've done in the past, it's no worries from here on out. Starting now, you can save your eternal soul at: reserveaspotinheaven. com. For less than the cost of a cool new pair of purple Havianas you get an all access pass to the good life behind those pearly gates. And if you want to make sure your posse goes with you, they offer a group discount for parties larger than 10.

Or, if you'd rather, you're also free to sign up for a one-way ticket to, um, that other place at reserveaspotinhell.com.
where they will issue a one-way free fall ticket.


The choice is yours!
(But then, wasn't it always?)

KISS & BLOG Giveaway!

The awesome Keri Mikulski, author of SCREWBALL is giving away a copy of KISS & BLOG today! For your chance to win, click HERE.