Tales from the Real OC (Really!)

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noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 22:22:00 +0000

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Tangled up in Blue

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:09:00 +0000

(Blog title courtesy of Bob Dylan)

Taking a break from the Bring Me to Life copy edits to make a few, somewhat random, announcements, like:

ATTENTION MISSYLOVE you have won the signed copy of SHADOWLAND and the infinity bracelet so please get in touch with me at: alyson @ alysonnoel dot com as soon as you can, so I can send it out pronto!! Congrats!

EVERMORE, also known as ETERNIDADE in Portugal has an awesome new book trailer you can see HERE!

And speaking of videos . . . I really hope I can go to Brazil someday and meet the awesome readers who made THIS VIDEO for me!!

Also EVERMORE was nominated for the Illinois 2011 Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award

it also made the Top 100 titles in the NYPL "Stuff for the Teen Age" list- you can see the full list HERE!

*Oh, and 5,500 lucky UK readers will receive the awesome BLUE MOON nail tattoos (as pictured above!) in their books!!

* And last but not least, I'm thrilled to be taking part in the MADE FROM AWESOME online chat on April 14th from 9 pm - 11 -m (EST) alongside such awesome authors as: Melissa Marr, AS King, Becca Fitzpatrick, Lisa McMann, Ellen Hopkins, Carrie Ryan, & Margaret Stohl! All you have to do to learn more is click HERE!!

Hope to see you there!!

Okay, back to work for me--Have a great day, Everyone!

BLUE MOON in Germany!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:27:00 +0000

Hey Everyone-

I'm so excited to share with you the new German website that just launched for THE IMMORTALS series!!

BLUE MOON was released there this week, and they've got all kinds of fun stuff going in, including interviews with Damen & Ever, interviews with moi, they even have a forum, so make sure you stop by!! Oh, and they'll be adding more, so make sure you bookmark it so you can check back.

It's all happening HERE!!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Alyson

xoxo

BLUE MOON in the UK!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:16:00 +0000

Hello UK Readers!!!

A lot of you have asked me when BLUE MOON will be released over on your side of the pond and the answer is it's in stores now!! And I just learned that it's already a bestseller--so thank you thank you thank you for all of your support--I really appreciate it!!

Also, I'm told there are some TV ads for it as well--so if you want to catch one, it's showing on Channel E4, during these times:

Wed:

16:10 During Veronica Mars

19:26 During Hollyoaks

20:45 During Friends

Thurs:

13:20 During Scrubs

15:50 Duringe Gilmore Girls

Fri:

13:20 During Scrubs

Sat:

14:05 During How to Look Good Naked

15:50 During Hollyoaks

Sun:

18:16 During Scrubs

20:45 During Friends

Or, if you can't make any of those, you can always see it HERE!

Thanks again, everyone!

Have a great day!

Alyson

The Smart Chicks Tour!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:25:00 +0000

When Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong first approached me to take part in the Smart Chicks Tour, well, I can't even tell you how excited and flattered and just downright giddy I was!! I'm such a huge fan of their work that I jumped at the chance to tour with them, and thanks to their hard work, it's grown into such an amazing group of authors and cities that I can hardly wait to get started!!

So, without further ado, here are the finalized details for the Smart Chicks Tour--and needless to say, I really, really hope to see YOU there!

September 13th—Tour launches at Book People in Austin, Texas w Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Rachel Caine , & Cassandra Clare 7:00 pm BOOKPEOPLE BOOKSTORE

September 14th—B&N The Woodlands in Houston, TX w Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, & Rachel Vincent. 7:00 pm B&N, THE WOODLANDS 1201 Lake Woodlands Drive The Woodlands, TX 77380

September 15th—Blue Willow in Houston, TX w Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Sarah Rees Brennan, & Cassandra Clare 7:00 pm Remote location details to come Off site event hosted by: BLUE WILLOW

September 16th—Lemuria Jackson, MS w Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, & Sarah Rees Brennan 6:00 pm LEMURIA BOOKS 202 Banner Hall 4465 I-55 North Jackson, MS 39206

September 17th—Poisoned Pen Phoenix, AZ w Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Holly Black, Sarah Rees Brennan, Kimberly Derting, and Becca Fitzpatrick 7:00 pm POISONED PEN 4014 N. Goldwater Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Remote location details to come

September 18th—Keplers & Library SF, CA w Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa de la Cruz,, Becca Fitzpatrick, & Rachel Vincent KEPLERS and MENLO PARK LIBRARY

September 20th—Vroman’s w Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, Melissa de la Cruz, & Mary Pearson 6:00 pm VROMANS BOOKSTORE

September 21st —Mysterious Galaxy w Melissa Marr, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Mary Pearson, Rachel Caine, & Carrie Ryan Time & Remote location details to come

September 22nd —Anderson’s Chicago w w Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Jackson Pearce, Jennifer Barnes, & Carrie Ryan 7:00 pm ANDERSON'S BOOKSHOPS 123 West Jefferson Avenue Naperville, IL 60567-3832

September 23rd —Dayton w Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Jackson Pearce, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, & Kami Garcia 7:00 pm “BOOKS & CO: AT THE GREENE”

September 24th —Cincy w Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Jessica Verday, Jeri Smith-Ready, & Margaret Stohl 7:00 pm JOSEPH BETH

September 25th —Toronto w Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Melissa Marr, Jeri Smith-Ready, Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl 2:00 pm CHAPTERS BRAMPTON 52 Quarry Edge Drive, Brampton, ON

Fun, Prizes, & More!!

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:40:00 +0000

Hey Everyone-

Just wanted to let you know that we are celebrating 3 awesome years of the Teen Fiction Cafe being open for business by reflecting back on our careers and giving away some awesome prizes!!

I'm giving away a signed copy of SHADOWLAND along with an infinity bracelet and all you have to do for your chance to win is to leave a comment HERE and a winner will be chosen at random and announced on March 15!!!

Also, yesterday I learned that BLUE MOON is a finalist for the Children's Book Council's "Best Teen Book of 2009" Award--news that makes me extremely happy!! So thanks so much to all of you who voted for it! To see the full list of finalists, click HERE.

Have a great day!

Everybody Knows

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:29:00 +0000

(blog title courtesy of Ryan Adams)

Hey Everyone-

Still mired down deep in deadline muckiness, but I just wanted to share the following:

This week marks the 3 year anniversary over at The Teen Fiction Cafe, and we are celebrating with stories, prizes, and fun--so be sure to join us by clicking HERE!!

Also, over at The Marvelous Marketer, the fabulous Melissa Marr, Kelley Armstrong, et moi are talking, er, marketing!! You can read all about it HERE!!

Oh, and The Immortals has a website in Brazil! Check it out HERE, so cool!

Okay, that's it for me--hope you all have a great day!

Alyson

When The Stars Go Blue

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:41:00 +0000

(Blog title courtesy of Bono & The Corrs)

Still in the thick of deadline madness and the messages are piling up!! And while I won't be getting to them anytime soon, I figured I'd answer a few of the more commonly asked questions here:

Q. When will Dark Flame be in stores?

A. June 22, 1010

Q. When will you post the first chapter of Dark Flame so we can read it?

A. As soon as my publisher gives me the okay!

Q. Is Dark Flame the last book in The Immortals series?

A. No. It's the 4th book. The 5th book is Night Star (I'm working on it now!), and the 6th book is, as of yet, untitled.

Q. When will Radiance be in stores?

A. August 31, 2010

Q. Is Radiance part of The Immortals series?

A. It's a spin-off of the series, starring Ever's ghostly little sister, Riley & her dog Buttercup. It's about her adventures in the afterlife!

Q. Are you going to make a movie of The Immortals?

A. No. Hollywood makes the movies, I just write the books. Though, the dramatic rights were optioned by a producer so I'm hopeful that someday a movie will be made! My fingers are crossed--which makes for some very awkward typing . . .

Q. Can I audition for the movie? I would be a perfect: Ever, Haven, Riley, (insert character here).

A. I'm afraid I will have as little control over that as I do over whether or not it actually becomes a movie. It's all in the hands of Hollywood now . . .

Q. Are you doing any book signings?

A. Yes! You can find more on that HERE and HERE!

Q. When can we see the cover of Night Star?

A. As soon as it's finalized. But I saw an early mock-up and it's really, really pretty!

Q. I heard you have a story in the upcoming Kisses From Hell anthology--is that true?

A. Yes, it's called Bring Me to Life (after the Evanescence song) and it was really fun to write! It'll be in stores in September!!

Q. Is Bring Me to Life about Ever & Damen?

A. No. It's an entirely new story, a gothic romance, with entirely new characters!

Q. Why did you name this blog post When The Stars Go Blue?

A. Two reasons.

1. Because I recently got a sneak peek at Caridad Ferrer's upcoming YA of the same name and LOVED it!

2. Because it's an awesome song.

Q. Did you really get braces?

A. Yes.

Q. Why?

A. I ask myself that same question every single day!

Q. Is it true that you're sitting on some exciting news you can't wait to tell us?

A. Yes. it's true. But for now, I am bound to both secrecy and the powers of Jinx!

Okay, back to work . . .

Have a good day all!

Instant Karma

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:09:00 +0000

(blog title courtesy of John Lennon--again!)

While I thought about writing a nice, long, quite possibly meandering, introduction to this trailer, I soon realized it pretty much speaks for itself.

So, in brief, allow me to say:

THIS IS HANDS DOWN THE BEST BOOK TRAILER YOU EVER WILL SEE!!

And, as I was lucky enough to get an early read on KARMA CLUB I can definitely say that anyone who reads it is in for a treat!

So without further ado, please sit back and enjoy the latest from fellow author, friend, and book trailer producing powerhouse-- Ms. Jessica Brody!!

Imagine

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:53:00 +0000

(blog title courtesy of John Lennon)

Hey Everyone-

Wow, I can hardly believe almost a week has passed since my last blog entry, but the truth is there's a very good chance this could happen again as I'm careening toward the deadline for NIGHT STAR (formerly known as Untitled Immortals Book #5), which makes for such crazy-making times that the normal, daily activities like eating & showering are reduced to two more annoying items on the "To Do" list, while blogging definitely takes a back seat.

Though before I jump back into the world of Ever & Damen, I thought I'd take this rare moment of ~~procrastination~~ free time to catch you up on a few "newsy" type things:

1. RADIANCE: I just learned that foreign rights to Riley's series, beginning with RADIANCE, have sold to both France & the UK!!! I am very, very excited about this!

2. KISSES FROM HELL- an anthology: will be in stores September 1, 2010, and I'm thrilled to be included along with such amazing authors Kelley Armstrong, Francesca Lia Block, Kristin Cast, & Richelle Mead. I had a blast writing my story, a gothic romance titled, BRING ME TO LIFE, and I really hope you enjoy it too!

3. The Smart Girls Kick it Tour: Big things happening on the tour front- we've got the Smart Girls Facebook page HERE & The Smart Girls Twitter feed HERE

And a whole line up of awesome authors and exciting cities lined up!

The tour is set to begin mid-September, so stay tuned for more details coming soon . . .

4. And in case you missed it last time, the release of DARK FLAME has moved up to:

June 22, 2010!!

While RADIANCE will be in stores on:

August 31, 2010!!

5. And . . . well, there's actually more to share . . . and as soon as I get the okay, I will . . .

That's it for now-- Happy President's Day everyone!

And, we have title . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:11:00 +0000

Hey Everyone-

Just wanted to let you know that we've finally decided on a title for the 5th Immortals book!

What was previously (and affectionately!) referred to as UNTITLED IMMORTALS #5 is now officially:

(insert drum roll here . . .)

NIGHT STAR

!!!!!

Now all I have to do is finish it . . .

Have a good day everyone!

Alyson

xoxo

Lune Bleue!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:19:00 +0000

It's a working Saturday for me, but I just wanted to take some time out to share the French cover of BLUE MOON--or LUNE BLEUE as they're calling it in those parts!!

Have a great day everyone!

Alyson

XOXO

Don't Stop Believin'

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:46:00 +0000

(Blog title courtesy of Journey)

So last night, my husband & I decided to celebrate The Immortals hitting their 52nd consecutive week on the New York Times Best Sellers list by dining at the same restaurant Ever dined at with Sabine on page 38 in Evermore.

The one Riley called, "ChiChi."

(For those of you who don't have your book handy, that restaurant is HERE.)

And after enjoying an awesomely "ChiChi" meal with probably just a bit too much wine & champagne, served by our awesome waiter with the world's coolest name (shout out to Metro!)--it suddenly hit me:

Six years ago --to the day!-- I was in Las Vegas with my husband (a business conference for him), it was our last night on the town and I gave myself a stern talking to I'll never forget.

You see, my then agent had been shopping my debut novel, FAKING 19, and all we seemed to be getting for our efforts was a nice big stack of rejections. Months had passed, and not one publisher was biting, and I was starting to doubt that they ever would.

It was making me sad, depressed, filled with self-doubt, and probably not all that fun to live with. So, that night, I made a vow to myself to release it. To stop focusing on it, obsessing over it, and worrying about an outcome I had absolutely no control over whatsoever.

I decided to just let it be and turn my focus to something else.

I wasn't necessarily giving up on the book, and I definitely wasn't giving up on my dream of being published, but I was giving up on all of that energy I'd spent freaking out over its unsold state.

Moments after I'd made that commitment, I felt better. Lighter. Less burdened. And I decided that as soon as I returned home the next day, I would pick up where I left off on that "other" book idea I'd kinda started (aka-ART GEEKS & PROM QUEENS).

So, cut to the very next day, February 4, 2004, I've pushed Faking 19 totally out of my mind, and am thinking up new plot ideas for my other book, while returning the rental car to the airport, when my agent calls to tell me that St. Martin's Press just offered me a deal for FAKING 19 and "whatever else I was working on."

Yep, less than 24 hours after releasing my obsession, it all just sort of happened on its own.

Last year on this date, when I first hit the NYT list, I couldn't help but notice the coincidence in the dates, and I'm sure I blogged about it then too.

This year, after being on the list for a year straight (something I never even dreamed of!), and with the milestone hitting on the same date, well, sorry for the redundancy, but I couldn't help but blog about it again.

I guess what I'm really trying to say here is that if you really, really want something you cannot give up on the dream itself--though you can (and should) give up on the negative emotions that tend to crop up when that dream is temporarily thwarted.

Don't give in to the self-doubt and that little voice in your head that just loves the words like "Can't" and "No" and "Sorry, not for you!"

Just keep learning, doing, improving, and moving forward--and don't forget to take time to enjoy the journey, because even though it's not always pleasant while you're down in the muck of it--looking back on all the rough bits you survived sure makes it feel sweeter once you've arrived!

Have a good day everyone!

Maybe I'm Amazed

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:00:00 +0000

(Blog title courtesy of Paul McCartney)

Wow-Wow-WOW!!!

I just leaned that THE IMMORTALS Series has made the New York Times Children's Best Sellers list for its 52nd week straight!!!

That's one solid year on the list!!

And I owe it all to YOU.

Yes, YOU!!!

Thank you so much to all of my readers for your amazing supply of enthusiasm and support. Your messages, art work, kindness, and generosity never cease to amaze me.

You are the reason I do what I do.

And I can't thank you enough for helping to make my most far fetched dreams come true!

Cheers Everyone!

Alyson

xoxo

R.I.P.

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:52:00 +0000

"What I was really hanging around for, I was trying to feel some kind of a good-by. I mean I've left schools and places I didn't even know I was leaving them. I hate that. I don't care if it's a sad good-by or a bad good-by, but when I leave a place I like to know I'm leaving it. If you don't, you feel even worse."

J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger

1919-2010

Rest in Peace

RADIANCE!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:20:00 +0000

Book 1 in The Immortals spin-off series featuring Riley Bloom

(and Buttercup!)!

On sale 08.31.10!!!

Read the summary HERE!

DARK FLAME!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:50:00 +0000

On sale 07.06.10

Read the summary HERE!!!

Pride (In the Name of Love)

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:15:00 +0000

(blog title courtesy of U2)

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. "-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Have a good day everyone!

Q & A!!

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:38:00 +0000

So here's the thing--last time I checked my unanswered messages were hovering somewhere around the neighborhood of 300 plus. And with the 5th IMMORTALS book due in 2 months, the copy-edit on RADIANCE (the first book in the Riley series) also due soon, and the revision on BRING ME TO LIFE (a story in the KISSES FROM HELL anthology coming this fall) due at the end of this month, there is no way I'm going to get to it now. And with this entire scenario repeating itself every three months for the rest of the year (only the story titles will change!) I may not get to it ever.

And, the truth is, I feel awful about it.

Just awful.

Because I really do enjoy communicating with you all. But, the deadlines pay the bills and cannot be ignored, so I thought I'd try to answer some of your most frequently asked questions, in blog form, starting here:

1. Is SHADOWLAND the last book in THE IMMORTALS series?

No. DARK FLAME follows SHADOWLAND and it will be out sometime in spring/summer 2010.

2. How many books will there be in the series?

There will be six books in total. I am working on Book #5 now!

3. Do you know the release date for DARK FLAME?

They release date has not yet been determined, but I will announce it as soon as it is!

4. When can we see the cover for DARK FLAME?

As soon as I get the okay!

5. When will you post the first 2 chapters of DARK FLAME?

Well, it's still being copy-edited, so it might be a while . . .

6. What will DARK FLAME be about?

It will pick up right where SHADOWLAND left off. That's all I can tell you for now!

7. Will DARK FLAME be in Damen's point of view?

No, all of the books will be in Ever's point of view.

8. Is it true that Riley is getting her own series?

Yes! The first book is called RADIANCE and it will be in stores on September 4, 2010!!! The cover is absolutely gorgeous--the art department really outdid themselves--and I can't wait 'til I can show it to you!

9. I just read FAKING 19, ART GEEKS & PROM QUEENS, LAGUNA COVE, FLY ME TO THE MOON, KISS & BLOG, SAVING ZOE, and/or CRUEL SUMMER and was wondering if you will ever write a sequel to these books?

Probably not. I'm so busy with THE IMMORTALS series and the RILEY books that I just can't fit it in. Also I feel pretty good about where those stories left off. Everyone is living Happily Ever After for sure!

10. Will you come to my town for a book signing?

Well, I will be touring this September for The Smart Girls Tour, and not all of the cities have been set yet, but you can learn more here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Smart-Chicks-Kick-It-Tour/231876740525

11. Have you ever thought about making a movie of THE IMMORTALS?

All the time--it would be a dream come true! But in the end, it's really up to Hollywood, not me. Though a producer Spring Creek Productions, has optioned the dramatic rights so my fingers are crossed!

12. I think I would make a perfect Ever-Riley-Haven-Miles-insert character here- can I send you my photo/where do I audition?

If there is a movie version, I will have nothing to do with the casting. They hire professionals for that sort of thing!

13. Are Ever and Damen going to get married/have babies?

Well, at the moment my main concern is just getting them through high school!

14. When will SHADOWLAND be published in paperback?

Sometime in Fall 2010.

15. Can you use my name in one of your books?

All of the names for my next several books are already chosen.

16. I'm working on a book, will you read it when it's finished and tell me what you think?

I'm sorry but I can't. For legal reasons, I'm not allowed to read unpublished works. And for time reasons, I barely have enough for my own books!

17. I'm a young writer, do you have any advice for me?

I am in the process of a major, website overhaul where I will have a page dedicated to this, but until then, I've recently run across this site for young writers, run by the editors at Harper Collins:

http://inkpop.com/

18. When will BLUE MOON be published in my country?

Each country has it's own publisher, and it's own time line, so I'm afraid I don't know!

19. Do you have any random news to share with us?

Why yes--thanks for asking! I recently learned that BLUE MOON has been nominated for the "Children's Choice Book Awards Best Books of 2009"--!!! You can see the full list, and vote for your favorite HERE!

And SHADOWLAND has been nominated for RT magazine's "Reviewer's Choice Award" for Best Paranormal/Fantasy Young Adult Novel"-!!!

And EVERMORE has been on the German Hardcover Fiction Bestsellers list for 7 weeks! You can see it HERE.

Okay, back to work for me!!

Have a great day, everyone!

Alyson

Top Ten Reasons Why I Heart my Snuggie

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:30:00 +0000

10. It fits—and there’s room to grow!

9. I really can wear it to a sporting event (though I probably won’t)!

8. It’s open in the back—just like a hospital gown!

7. It’s warm like a blanket

6. But unlike a blanket, it has sleeves, which make it superior for tasks like controlling the remote control!

5. It’s like a little black dress for couch potatoes—it can be dressed up or down!

4. It’s delightfully unisex—something the whole family can enjoy!

3. Even your dog can get in on the fun!

2. It promotes reading—it comes with a book light!

The #1 reason why I ¤ my SNuggie—it was given to me by a reader!! Thanks again, Christina!!

Secret Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:15:00 +0000

(Blog title courtesy of The Boss--Bruce Springsteen!)

(Summerland--as imagined by Skyrose--isn't it lovely?!!)

So, the ringing in of a new decade got me thinking a lot about how I spent the last one, and I have to say, that if nothing else, it's been one of great change. Containing some of the hardest, most difficult hurdles I've ever faced, and yet those very same hurdles ended up providing not only great opportunity for learning and growth, but the chance to build something positive from them.

On the Millennium New Year's Eve, I was in Stockholm Sweden on a four day layover (I was working as a NYC based flight attendant back then), and a trip like that was pretty much the same as getting paid to vacation in a gorgeous (and cold!!) city. And, as I was still dating my soon-to-be husband, I took him along and we had an amazing time!

Fast forward to 2001, we got married in May, and by September, when 9/11 hit, I was suddenly faced with a 40% pay cut and the additional duty of performing early morning bomb checks. And as horrible and tragic as that day was, as much as that moment of watching those planes fly into the towers will forever be sealed in my mind, it also served as the impetus to finally stop talking about my dream of being a writer, and actually start, well, writing!

So, I dusted off the story I'd started nearly a decade before, finished it, sent it off to a slew of publishers (erroneously thinking I didn't need an agent--wrong!), only to get a slew of rejections for my efforts. And yet, as much as it hurt to be rejected by everyone, in the end it just made me try harder. I took classes, revised my manuscript over and over again, and by 2003 I had an agent, and by Feb 4, 2004 I was offered a two-book deal with St. Martin's Press!

But before we'd even finished celebrating, we were hit with tragedy as every member of my husband's immediate family was diagnosed with cancer within months of each other--including my husband.

By 2005, when my debut novel, FAKING 19, was released we'd already lost his mother, and a very, dear, old friend of mine (my first love!), suddenly passed away too. By the time my second book was released, my husband lost his twin brother, and by the time my third book was released, I was on the verge of losing my husband as well.

But, he pulled through, and what was truly the absolute darkest phase of my life, ultimately shifted into something else. And I soon realized that If I hadn't experienced that--if I hadn't gone through a grief so deep I could barely get off the couch--I wouldn't have been able to write Saving Zoe, Cruel Summer, or any of the books in The Immortals series. Those stories were a direct result of where I'd been and who I'd become because of it. Writing them helped me to make better sense of the world.

2009 has brought some amazing opportunities my way, and to say that I'm grateful hardly seems sufficient. And even though I have no idea what 2010 will bring--I can't wait to get started! If nothing else, I think I've finally learned that no matter how dire something may seem on the surface, if you go deep (very, very deep!), there's a message, an opportunity for growth, and maybe even a chance to turn it into something better.

The other night I watched "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" (original version) on TV, and at the very end, in Charlie's "all is lost" moment, when Wonka tells him that he failed the test and to go away, Charlie reaches into his pocket and hands over the gum he'd taken earlier. Only to have Wonka look at him, eyes shining as he says:

"So shines a good dead in a weary world."

And then hands him the keys to the kingdom.

I hope you all shine just as bright (if not brighter!) in 2010!!

Alyson

xoxo

Blue Moon

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:22:00 +0000

Blue Moon

You saw me standing alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

Blue Moon

You know just what I was there for

You heard me saying a prayer for

Someone I really could care for

And then there suddenly appeared before me

The only one my arms will hold

I heard somebody whisper please adore me

And when I looked to the moon it turned to gold

Blue Moon

Now I'm no longer alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

(lyrics by Richard Rogers & Lorenz Hart)

Just wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year and all the best in 2010!!! And, as these things go, this particular New Year's Eve just happens to be a BLUE MOON--how cool is that?!

Celebrate and be safe!

Alyson

x0x0

The Girl With the Broken Smile

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:07:00 +0000

(blog title courtesy of Maroon 5's "She Will Be Loved")

The image above was sent to me by Thais, one of my Brazilian readers!!

Wow, I just realized it's been two weeks since my last blog post, and it's entirely due to the whole mouth trauma thing that's been going on (braces, bone removal, bone grafting, gum stippling, gum suturing--feeling queasy yet??!), and since it's best not to blog while under the influence of pain meds, well, I figured a little blog silence was in order!

But even though it's not over yet (the stitches don't come out for another 2 weeks and my cheeks still look as though I'm storing nuts for the winter!), I thought I'd drop in long enough to say THANKS for all of your comments and support! This year has exceeded all of my writerly dreams and I owe it all to YOU!!!

Also, I wanted to wish you all a warm and wonderful holiday and all good things in the New Year!!

Oh, and just so you know, I'm over at Living Your Five today talking about how I'm living my Holiday Five--you can read all about it HERE!

And, funnily enough, just after I made my donation to Heifer International this morning, I read literary agent, Nathan Bransford's blog and saw that he is donating $1 to Heifer International for every comment left at his blog (up to $1000!!!!), so hurry on over and leave your comment HERE!

Okay, back to the couch for another round of HGTV and a warm compress!!

Hope your day is pure magick!

xoxo

Baby It's Cold Outside!

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:24:00 +0000

(blog title courtesy of-well, many have sung it through the years!)

So, with the rain pounding outside my window, and the sky turned bleary and grey, there's just no mistaking it--winter is definitely upon us! And though it seems it arrived a bit early this year here in (not-so) Sunny California, being the complete and total weather wimp that I am, I'm making the most of it by staying inside where I plan to tackle The Riley Book revisions (they're light revisions-yippee!) and begin the note-taking, plot-planning process of the 5th Immortals book (and try to drum up a better title than 5th Immortals Book!). And, of course, I plan to do all of it while listening to my FREE iTunes Holiday Sampler, which, if you haven't downloaded yet, you can do so HERE!

Yep, even though THIS has just been released (though not in a theatre near me!):

I'm still staying in!

And even though I'd be totally happy just to watch the trailer of THIS play over and over again:

(Er, I actually meant to post the Up in the Air photo, but you get the gist!)

I'm determined to work!

And if you're planning to stay inside too, and like me, are nowhere near The Lovely Bones limited release theaters, and you want to take a break from George Clooney gazing, well, you can never go wrong with a good book or HGTV (I swear, I'm addicted!), or, if you're interested, you can check out an interview I did HERE where I talk about my most enjoyable character to write, and what I would give Haven for Christmas! Or you can even watch this example of screenwriting guru, Blake Snyder's, SAVE THE CAT method at work and see why it's so important in making a character instantly more likable! Also, Blake's new (and sadly, last) book, SAVE THE CAT STRIKES BACK, is available now--and I highly recommend it for anyone struggling to finish their story, revise their story, or sell their story, as Blake reveals his own, incredibly inspiring tale of how he made the transition from struggling screenwriter to one of the most successful spec screenwriters in Hollywood!

Or, you tell me! What's your favorite way to spend a cold and rainy day?!!

Stay warm!

Alyson

Pictures of You Me

noreply@blogger.com (Alyson Noel) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:02:00 +0000

(blog title courtesy of The Cure)

(Art work courtesy of Estefanie--isn't it awesome??!!!)

So yesterday I did something I've been putting off for ages--or, to be more precise, since March of 2005, which pretty much marks the time when my debut novel, Faking 19, hit the stores.

I finally got a professional author photo taken.

I know, I know, how could I let this drag on for so long, you ask? (and even if you didn't please play along!)

Well, the truth is, while I'm always up for the spontaneous, candid, party or vacay photo, the idea of posing before a photographer in a studio totally freaks me out. Just the thought of it was enough to inspire no less than a gazillion excuses as to why I couldn't possibly get around to scheduling it.

I'm on deadline.

I will be on deadline at some point in the near future.

I don't like what my hair is doing this week.

I feel puffy.

I have a zit.

The list goes on . . .

Which is also why I've sported the same photo on the back of nine of my novels so far--the one taken by my husband just seconds after checking into The Wynn hotel in Las Vegas after the 4 hour drive from Laguna Beach. The one where most, if not all, of my makeup was melted away, and I was just really glad to finally be there. While Faking 19 features the photo my husband took the time I joined him on a business trip to Ohio, back when I was experimenting with darker hair. An experiment that ended shortly after the photo was taken and hasn't been revisited since.

But with my big date with braces and gum surgery looming next week (!), I finally bit the bullet and made an appointment at Crush Studios, where I was made up by the beautiful, sweet, and amazingly talented owner of Addiction Cosmetics, Noel Sweeny, who gave me a smoky eye I could hardly believe and left my lips glossy and pink, before Crush owner and photographer extraordinaire, Nancy Villere, went to work and got me laughing so easily I actually caught myself doing the one thing I was sure that I wouldn't --having fun!.

And when it was over, not wanting to waste the smoky eyes I could never replicate on my own, my husband and I went to one of our favorite local restaurants, Vine in San Clemente, and celebrated The Immortals spending a 3rd week on the NYT series list (making for 44 weeks on the list in general!)!

(end of the night at Vine- look at that pretty kaleidoscope effect)

And now, today, I'm back to the barefaced, sweat pants wearing me . . . those dark, smoky eyes reduced to a distant memory-or at least until I pick out my photos next week!

What about you? Do you enjoy posing for photos? Or do you head for the hills when a camera is pointed your way?