Teen Reads just published an interview with the Teen Titans, aka Simon Cheshire, Jen Bryant, Tanya Lee Stone and me. In which I reveal myself to have a juvenile sense of humor (breast cupcakes!! heh heh heh) and command of words like "unilateral".

Thanks to Tanya for pointing out the link!

I am packing for BEA, which if you don't know what it is it's a giant book expo where publishers and authors hawk their wares to booksellers from around the nation, going on this weekend.
If you DO know what it is, and you're going, swing by my signing:

Saturday 11 AM Random House Booth.

Bookburger is a new teen literature site. I like it a lot! In fact, I'm going to be their first-ever author interview in their spankin' new newsletter. So go on over and sign up (it's on the right-hand side) and you'll get an exclusive interview with me plus other good book stuff when the newsletter's ready.

--E

The inimitable Professor Nana (Goddess of YA Literature) writes the first review of The Boy Book!

The professor is a little confused about my name, but I'll leave that a mystery. Besides, it's not her fault 'cuz some catalog copy was mixed up. Anyway, who am I to nitpick? She made my day with her cute list and lucious praise.

The book comes out in September, and when I get ORGANIZED I'll post a preview here.

--E

At long last, Melissa Kantor is on the web. And even myspace! She's the author of Confessions of a Not It Girl and If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince -- both extremely funny books. Go visit her.

Last Thursday I went to the Ezra Jack Keats awards. They celebrate and encourage new picture book artists. That is, they give an illustrator award and an author award each year to people who have only published three or fewer books and whose work incorporates the goals and values of Ezra Jack Keats as expressed in his multicultural books including: the universal qualities of childhood, a strong belief in family and community, and creativity and love of learning.

This year Mary Ann Rodman won the author award for MY BEST FRIEND (illustrated by E.B. Lewis) and Yunmee Kyong won the illustrator award for SILLY CHICKEN (written by Rukhsana Khan). Both are startlingly funny and true -- beautifully illustrated and child-friendly.

I was so glad I got to be there, eating guacamole and talking with these amazing children's book people! Also, the ceremony was in the Donnell library in Manhattan and I got to see the REAL Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger and Kanga. (Roo is lost). Also, MARY POPPINS' umbrella!
So it was like kids' book heaven.

The Keats award is one of the coolest awards in children's literature because it supports new artists AND considers the messages we send to the children we create books for. The books that have won are an unbelievably great list -- which you can see here (a pdf poster you can print out and hang up!) Past winners include Ruby's Wish, My Name is Yoon, Tar Beach and Elizabeti's Doll. So all you librarians and booksellers out there, get on it!

So,
while I was on tour, I found that my favorite piece of my own writing to read aloud was this story, "Bake Sale" which was published in Not Like I'm Jealous or Anything -- a story collection edited by Marissa Walsh.
I am actually really proud of it, and it's so much fun to read aloud.

It involves cupcakes in unmentionable shapes, and what happened when Roo volunteered for the Tate Prep Bake Sale with Heidi, Jackson's ex. It's kind of like a deleted scene from The Boyfriend List, only I wrote it entirely separately.

So.
I am sharing some of it with you! Right here! Preview the first bit!

Of course, I hope that you are immediately inspired to go get that book and read the rest.

There are stories in there by Jaclyn Moriarty (The Year of Secret Assignments, Feeling Sorry For Celia), Dyan Sheldon (Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen), Ned Vizzini (Be More Chill), and Susan Juby (Alice, I Think, etc.), among others. So it's well worth your time.

xo
E

Alison Pace, my friend and fellow GCC member, has a new book! Pug Hill!

It's about pugs! What more do you need to know??!?

Okay, Pug Hill in Central Park is a place for pugs and pug-lovers alike to bask in the camaraderie that comes from owning (or dreaming of owning) one of the world’s most cherished and irresistible dogs. Alison knows it inside out, and the book is the story of Hope McNeill, who works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art -- her flailing love affair, her unspeakable fear of public speaking, her major crush, and her love of small fat dogs.

I loved Alison's first novel, If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend, which is a romantic comedy set in the high-flying art world. And about Pug Hill, the fabuloso comic novelist Elinor Lipman says: "Pug Hill is all at once touching, witty, and so very smart. I love this nervous and self-deprecating narrator who makes low self-esteem not only funny and endearing but enviable. There’s a terrific comedic eye at work here and a tender heart—a most satisfying combination."

And because you KNOW you want to see them, here are pictures of Alison's dogs, from her blog.

And now, without further ado, Ms. Pace takes the Fly survey.

The Fly on the Wall Survey
questions by E. Lockhart, answers by Alison Pace

1)    If you could be a fly on the wall somewhere, anywhere – where? Right this second I might go with in the publicity department at my publisher?

2)    If you could have one superpower, what? To make myself invisible at will. I think a lot of good could come out of that.

3)    What is your superhero name? Why? Hmm, I guess I'd be Invisible Woman, wouldn't I?

4)    Who is your favorite superhero? Spidey

5)    Favorite non-super hero? Kermit the frog

6)    Recommend us a superhero movie. I love Sky High. Great music and I love the actor who has the lead. Not that I know his name, but I love him all the same.

7)    If you could turn in to any animal, what? Why? A pug. Of course a pug. So I could go to Pug Hill.

8) Do you (or have you ever) read comic books? What? When? I can't say I have...I'm guessing no, but does being obsessed with my smurf collection count?

P.S. Alison made us a "wish he were" boyfriend list, awhile back, when her book If Andy Warhol Had A Girlfriend came out. Check it out. Owen Wilson, Dave Eggers, Keith Partridge, and more!

I just finished The Queen of Cool by my friend Cecil Castellucci, and it is SO good. And I am not saying that only because she gave me Queen of Cool nail decals that match the book jacket. I am saying that because the book was AWESOME.

It's about Libby, a very imaginative, very popular girl who finds herself disillusioned with her It-crowd and its preoccupations. When she signs herself up for an internship at the LA zoo, she finds herself outside the social circle that traps her, and begins to see the world differently. There are wild animals! Crazy fashion choices! Romance and stargazing!
It's a very true, very honest book -- and also a fun, fun read. Yay Cecil!

Cecil's boyfriend list from last year is here, on her blog!

Forgive the shoddy scanning -- these are the covers for The Boyfriend List in Dutch and Italian!

--E

well, allright, if we're posting dolls, Ms. Zarr and Ms. Literaticat:

I made this last year, when I had time to kill.
I am not that scrawny, and the skirt is a bit short.
Note the tuxedo cat.
Loved seeing the others.

--E