Tuesday, June 02, 2009

I [cupcake] New York!


No really, I do [cupcake] New York. Each time we go (and this is only our third trip), we like it more, to the point that this time we could squint and visualize ourselves actually living there . . . well, sort of. No plans to move, of course, but I would love to be able to visit every year, and have enough time to see more of the city each visit: more museums, neighborhoods, restaurants. (Someone told us that if you ate out three meals a day, a different restaurant every meal, a lifetime would still not be enough to eat at every restaurant in New York City!) This trip was such a whirlwind we didn't explore much, though we did spend a morning walking around in Soho and Greenwich Village (though we spent too much of that time in "the skeleton store"!). That was one highlight of the long weekend.

Other highlights were: BookExpo America, obviously! Specifically: sitting in the front row while Arthur Levine "buzzed" my book to a big crowd and made it sound so awesome; signing ARCs in the Scholastic booth and seeing the line stretch all the way down the aisle and out of sight. WOW! (If you were in that line, thank you so much!) A big beautiful light box of the Lips Touch cover prominently featured in the Scholastic booth:
The great Arthur Levine with the light box:

Besides BEA itself . . .
. . . the highlights were all people. I met my favorite young reader in person for the first time, and we got to see many of the wonderful authors, editors, bloggers, art directors, and other book people we've come to love over the last few years, plus meeting new ones, especially the fabulous team at Scholastic who made our trip such a special event.

Here is the first highlight of the trip -- and the very first photo of the trip: being met at JFK by a driver, which was a first for us:
Hee hee, I felt famous. Speaking of famous, of actual famous, by the way: Leonardo DiCaprio was on our flight from LA to NY. I actually stood right next to him in the Hudson News and thought, "Hm, is that Leonardo DiCaprio under that ball cap and sunglasses?" And it was. Minor celeb sightings at LAX and JFK included the dad from 7th Heaven and the chef "Molto Mario" who was wearing orange crocs. And then I washed my hands beside Julie Andrews in the bathroom at the Javitz Center! Really! I didn't attempt to speak to her, though. What's to say? "I just loved you in "The Sound of Music"? ha ha!

We did speak to Meg Cabot though:
I don't recall what we said, but it must have been coherent enough for a photograph to result from it! That's Sarah Beth Durst with us. Our first books came out on the same day two years ago, and now our third books are coming out on -- I think -- the same day in October (at least the same month)! Cool! Hers is Ice an updated retelling of "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" that I can't wait to read, though I did not score an ARC of it this weekend, drat! I did, however, manage to get ARCs of Catching Fire (which I read on the plane and it ROCKS!!!), Beautiful Creatures, Shiver, Forest Born, The Sweetheart of Prosper County, The Devil's Kiss, and more!

Well, I don't have the time to do all these days and all these people justice with a massive post right now, alas, so I'll just put up this little bit for now and hope I can find some time to organize in a few days. Wah! There's never enough time!

Hope you're all well!
:-)

19 comments:

tone almhjell said...

Oh, I love New York, too! I wish I could go there every year.

And may I venture to say that I also love Leonardo DiCaprio. I had the biggest crush on him after Romeo and Juliet, and my Pan looks like him. Only better <3

And I love cupcakes. And the cover of your book, which I can't wait to read.

How's the belly? All bubble gummy, like mine?

Big hug for you.

Kiersten White said...

Super jealous. Both of your Catching Fire ARC, and anyone who got the Lips Touch ARC. Glad you had a good time, though ; )

Stephanie Perkins said...

Eek!!! You had a LIGHT BOX! AND A HUUUUGE LINE! AND BUZZ FROM ARTHUR LEVINE!!!!

It couldn't go to anyone more deserving :) I can't WAIT to hear all of the glowing reviews for you & Jim that will pour across the Internet now that everyone has your fabulous ARC!

What a happy post. Cupcakes & Meg & skeletons! (And Forest Born! AHHH!) Fun fun fun!

Natalie Whipple said...

Wow, that sounds like way too much fun! Also way jealous of Catching Fire. My stomach aches just thinking about what'll happen in that book!

And talk about buzz! Dude. How exciting.

Emilie said...

I must express overwhelming envy for anyone who gets within hand-washing distance of Julie Andrews:

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The rest sounds cool too:) Glad you had such a good time!

-Emilie-

Amber Lough said...

I would have peed my pants if I found myself washing hands next to Julie Andrews.

Megsie said...

Sounds like you had so much fun :) I haven't been to New York in so long. I can't wait to go back.

BJW said...

Sounds like a really cool trip and everything surrounding it is so sweet. You and your hubby are two of the most down-to-earth talented and passionate people in this industry. Very happy to see the successes that will only multiply.

I read my signed copy of Blackbringer and was deeply impressed. What a brilliant creative and UNIQUE fantasy. Can't wait for many more, especially the two new books. Bravo.

Long ago I found your Not A Robot writing thoughts incredibly helpful. I start every day with my work doc. Thank you! I'm following your blog now and enjoy it, good luck with Professor.

jaecy bells said...

Cool. Lexi told me about it. Wouldn't that be weird to randomly meet some blogger buddy you had never seen in real life? Maybe you would recognize them from their souls shining through.
Holy Shizznugget, I am turning that into a story.
But no one can steal it! It's mine.

myrna said...

I loved the light box and that you had such a great trip! Thank you for sharing.

Jaime Temairik said...

Eeeeeeee!!!!!!!
Such deserving buzz, I know we'll all agree! We all cupcake you and Jim. Congrats on such a sweet BEA!

Lexi said...

:)

Kim Baker said...

What a fantastic trip! I LOVE the light box, and I'm so happy you found Evolution (unless there's another skeleton store in Soho I haven't discovered yet). That store has you two written all over it.
So excited for you!!

Amber said...

WOW WOW! What a WONDERFUL trip! I am so happy for you guys. Seeing your cover like that is SO COOL! And you look adorable. :)

I have to ask, was Leo cute in person? I have such a thing for him. So talented...I might have "accidently" groped him, if I were you. *cough*

And yes. All was well here in Boringland. lol We did buy a house, finally!

:) ox

Christine Fletcher said...

Fabulous from beginning to end--way to take BEA (and NY) by storm! So glad you had a great time, Laini. Welcome home!

Robin Mellom said...

You had your own driver! Rock star!!!
Love hearing about your trip...and you look fab, mama!
:-)

Jeanne said...

I had Lips Touch recommended to me in a signing line by a total stranger who had been at the Buzz talk (talking to people in line is one of the best parts of BEA) so I made sure to score a galley. I finished it last night and LOVED IT. I'm a teen librarian, and I will be putting this in teen hands, you can be sure. It reminds me in the best possible way of Tanith Lee's Flat Earth series (I hope you don't mind the comparison). Also, I picked up The Drowned immediately at my local independent bookseller!

Katie Anderson said...

Wow. What a trip!!

Jordan E. Rosenfeld said...

You have got the best maternity frocks ever!

What a grand time you had!

J