There's never any gopher barky barky when you need some...

Well, it's Bible School season and I'm sure a lot of you know what I mean by that.

Bible school was always a big deal when I was a kid because it meant store-bought cookies (which we NEVER had otherwise) and arts and crafts (at which my sister and I were so bad at our lame attempts are still commented upon), and, of course, big musical productions.

And since they are now officially evacuating part of my town due to flooding (luckily the part that's sheer across town from me), I can't seem to stop singing this particular blast from the past.

The Lord told Noah to build him an arky arky
The Lord told Noah to build him an arky arky
Build it out of
Gopher barky barky
Children of the Lord

The animals the animals they came in by twosies twosies
The animals the animals they came in by twosies twosies
Elephants and
Kanga Roosies Roosies
Children of the Lord

It rained and poured for forty daysies daysies
It rained and poured for forty daysies daysies
Almost drove those
Animals crazies crazies
Children of the Lord

(and then some more verses I can't seem to recall at the moment. Anyone out there know them? Amanda? Abby?)

Oh, and did I mention there were gestures? There were. Yes, we were THAT cute.

And by the way, that is one of the bad things about being a grown-up. There are entirely too few songs with gestures.



Happy weekend everyone. And stay dry!


Ally

(who is using this nice rainy weekend to 1. watch some DVDs from Netflix which I ordered to research my next book, and 2. read the new Janet Evanovich, and 3. re-caulk my bathtub. Who says authors don't lead glamorous lives?)

Utter yumminess!

I'm still a weight watcher.

I know I haven't posted about it in a while, but it's still going on (and some days it goes better than others.) As a whole I really like the program and can see it as something I can stick with long-term.

Especially when I find recipes like this...

(Note: I don't do many things well, but baking cookies is one of them. Frankly, cookie baking and sleeping are my two greatest gifts, but when I made these for our office staff meeting yesterday I wasn't sure if they would taste like diet cookies. Well, let me just say: they don't!)

Enjoy!


1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 ounces dark chocolate coarsely chopped
1/4 cups walnuts chopped and toasted
cooking spray.

Preheat oven to 350. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt.

In a separate bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Add brown sugar. Add egg and vanilla, beating until barely blended.

Gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture. Fold in chocolate and walnuts.

Spray cookie sheets with cooking spray and spoon batter by rounded teaspoons two inches apart.

Bake for 8-10 minutes (remove while still puffy).

(According to the recipe it's supposed to make four dozen, but I made TINY cookies and just got three dozen, so go figure.)

Anyway, they're very tasty and simple and just about 60 calories each!

Enjoy!

Ally

The Family Jewels

Today the CIA is releasing the family jewels--the files that until recently have been considered the agency's deepest, darkest secrets.

Now, as and American, I'm kind of shocked by some of this stuff. But as a writer, I am totally excited and plan to get ooodles of material from them.

In other news, many of you have written in emails or comments asking how you can find my adult books, CHEATING AT SOLITAIRE and LEARNING TO PLAY GIN.

Well, they're still in print, which means they still exist in the world. However, many bookstores don't keep older trade paperback books on the shelves for long so if your local store doesn't stock them (and please note they won't be shelved with LOVE YOU KILL YOU--they'll be in the "Adult Fiction" section), then you'll need to talk to one of the store employees about ordering a copy.

Most stores will custom order books for no additional charge--it'll just take a few days. Of course, another option is to order them online.

They are out there, though, if you really want to find them (and I'm so pleased you do!)

take care,
Ally

So much to look forward to

If you've been living under a rock, you may be interested to know that HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX will be coming to theaters on July 11!



And the final Harry Potter book will be in stores on July 21!

And then on August 3rd we get THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM (featuring the ONLY fictional spy guy the Gallagher Girls truly respect--don't think Cammie and Co. won't be standing in line for this!)



I get seven shades of giddy every time I watch that!!!

And then...hum....let it me see. I think there might be another book coming out that you guys might be interested in. What was that again?

So what about all of you? What are YOU looking forward to?

-Ally

Crossword, the answers

Across

1. HARDTARGET—A person (like Mr. Smith) who will be difficult to surveil

4. BLINDDATE—First meeting with an unknown agent (probably not dinner and a movie)

7. FBI—The US domestic counter-intelligence service

10. TRADECRAFT—The methods, tools, and tricks developed by intelligence operatives and taught by Mr. Solomon

11. DANGLEOPERATION—Practice of positioning a loyal agent in such a way that an enemy organization might lure him/her into being a doubleagent.

13. LAB—Liz's basement haven

14. GAP—When a surveillance target is out of sight for less than a minute he/she is "in the ____." (And she's probably not there to buy jeans.)

19. ELLENMOOREBALARZS—Dedication

20. EYEBALL—Opertive who has a surveillance target in his/her sight

22. BLACKBAG—spy's accessory during B&E jobs

23. LYKY—I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You (if you're in a hurry)

25. TINA—Gallagher Girl with the scoop

26. GARBOLOGY—Dirty science

28. LANGLEY—CIA HQ Hometown

31. SUBLEVELONE—Sophomores see it

34. SUZIE—A non-existant cat

37. DRYCLEANING—Spies do it to determine if they're under surveillance. And also when their clothes can't go in the washer.

40. RACHEL—Cam calls her Mom

42. BUGS—They're listening (like Rita Skeeter)

44. SLEEPER—Operative in deep cover who will only act in rare instances

45. NSA—Some people say it stands for No Such Agency

47. SOFTTARGET—The opposite of Mr. Smith

48. CIA—It calls Langley home

49. OSS—CIA, at first

50. TOASTY—an agenty who is about to get made may feel this way

51. SWORD—Electrified heirloom

52. POCKETLITTER—It's not trash--it's stuff that makes your cover more believable

Down

2. ABRAHAMLINCOLN—He should have kept Gilly around

3. MISIX—Maybe Bex will follow her parents here

4. BURNED—An operative who has been compromised and is now beyond toasty

5. THEFARM—Where the CIA "grows" spies

6. DEADLETTERDROP—Secret location where communications can be left between two operatives

8. RED—LYKY code color

9. OP—Observation Post, for short

12. FALSEFLAG—recruiting by posing as an agent of another country or organization

15. ASSET—A source or method--anything but a liability

16. ENCRYPTED—codes and boys can be this way sometimes

17. SENATOR—AKA Mr. McHenry

18. WALKIN—Operative who shows that he/she wishes to work for a rival organization by showing up on their doorstep. (Sydney Bristow was one in the Alias pilot.)

21. HONEYPOT—Gilly might have been the first

22. BRITISH—Bex, by birth

24. ALLY—A friendly operative. Or an author.

27. BANGANDBURN—Demolition and Sabotage operations

29. GENERALSUNTZU—He knew the art of war

30. COW—Mr. Smith's domain

32. REBECCABAXTER—Don't call her Duchess

33. WIND—When a surveillance team has lost their target, the subject is "in the ____".

35. GLARE—Gallagher Girls get this in town

36. NOC—CIA operative without an official cover

38. BRUSHPASS—A quick, clandestine way of passing something between two operatives

39. BONAFIDES—An operative's true identity

41. TEA—Maybe josh didn't drink it

43. SAFEHOUSE—Secure location

46. GAZEBO—Cam's deadletter drop was here

47. SPY—Agent of the clandestine services.

SHE'S BACK!!!!!!!!!!!

Brenda Leigh Johnson is back in action tonight! The Closer! New summer TV!!!

It's good to be Ally.

And in order to celebrate I give you hints--lots and lots of hints! (And I'll post the key in a day or two--as soon as I figure out the best way to do it.)

ACROSS

1. it's two words. And it's a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie.

22. it's one of many cool terms that are found here. Also, you guys helped me shop for one a few months ago.

26. it's in the book. And they had to wear gloves.

31. what part of the school do Gallagher Girls see when they become sophomores?

47. if you get 1 across, this is the opposite of that.

50. I can't think of a good clue so I'll just tell you: toasty



DOWN

12. This is defined here.

15. Spies use this term to describe things/people they have. So do accountants.

16. Another gimmee: Encrypted

29. Google "Art of War" and I'm pretty sure it'll come up.

47. It starts with S and ends in Y. I trust you can figure out the rest.

Three movies you probably haven't seen

In honor of summer, the season of lemonade, charcoal, and...most importantly...Netflix, I give you three movies you probably haven't seen.


Torn Curtain

Three Days of the Condor

How to Steal a Million.


Do yourself a favor and give these classic gems a shot.

In other news, I have things in the works--nothing I can (or will) talk about yet, but there will hopefully be new Ally Carter announcements in the next few weeks...

if I get back to work, that is.

So here I go.


Later,
Ally


ps....happy Father's Day, dads!

pps...do you guys need more crossword hints?

So what is Cross My Heart about?!?!?

I'm pleased to finally give you guys the official 'blurb' about the book--the stuff that will be printed on the cover.

Hope you like it as much as I do!

CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY

After staking out, obtaining, and then being forced to give up her first boyfriend, Josh, all Cammie Morgan wants is a peaceful semester at school. But that's easier said than done when you're a CIA legacy and go to the premier school in the world...for spies.

Cammie may have a genius IQ, but as she starts the spring semester of her sophomore year there are a lot of things she doesn't know. Like, will her ex-boyfriend even remember she exists? And how much trouble is she really in after what happened last semester? And most of all, exactly why is her mother acting so strangely?

Despite Cammie's best intentions to be a normal student, trouble crops up quickly. She and her best friends learn that the school is expecting to play host to some mysterious guests--code name Blackthorne. Then Cammie is blamed for a security breach that leaves the school's top-secret status at risk.

Soon, Cammie and her friends are crawling through the walls and staking out her school to learn the truth behind Blackthorne and clear Cammie's name. Even though they're confident about their spy skills (as if they haven't done it before), this time the targets are tougher (and hotter), the playing field is level, and the stakes for Cammie's heart--and her beloved school-are higher than ever....

coming to a bookstore near you October 1, 2007!



--Ally


ps...Today's crossword clue: Sometimes I find really good stuff here.

More clues and a total gimmee

10 Across is TRADECRAFT

39 Down is a real spy term that I found here.

44 Across ends in R. Also, Jen Barnes and I would be excellent as being one of these.

There's going to be a new show starting in a few weeks onthe USA network about an agent who has been (4 Down).


Have fun!

ally

Is it fall yet?

Is it fall yet? When will the new TV shows start?

Really, Rescue Me is back tonight and The Closer will be here soon, but seriously, a girl cannot live on a diet of reality TV and the Home and Garden network.

Sigh.

In other news I'm happy to give the FIRST crossword puzzle clue!

My sister and brother-in-law met on one of these (four across). And remember, some of the clues refer to stuff from the book but some (like this one) are just general spy terms that (so far) I haven't been able to use otherwise.

More clues tomorrow!

-Ally

Crossword!

We've got some good news and some bad news here at Ally Carter central today.

The good news: Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy is so fun-looking and highly anticipated that every single one of the Advanced Reading Copies were grabbed up at Book Expo America.

The bad news: there are no extra Advanced Reading Copies anywhere for me to give as prizes to you guys. Bummer.

The good news: I've already done all the hard work to create a crossword puzzle for the next contest, so I'm going to go ahead and post it anyway!

The bad news: There won't be cool advanced reading copies of the books for prizes.


So...without further delay, I give you...

CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY, the crossword.

Note: the clues and terms used here are either REAL spy terms or things that come from I'D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU BUT THEN I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU.

Be warned, it's not easy. In fact, parts of it might be kinda hard. But hopefully it's a lot of fun. (And we all know I can't resist giving hints.)

So enjoy summer, everyone. Print off a copy and work on it by the pool (just as long as you're wearing at least an SPF 30, remember!)

And have fun!

Ally


(HINT: Click on the images to see them really big and print off your own copy!)

Sneak Peek!!!

Hey everyone!

Just in case you're wondering (and I highly suspect some of you are) I've just added a sneak peek of CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY to my MySpace page.

Well, actually, it's me reading from CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY.

Check it out!

http://www.myspace.com/allycarter

Ally

Check it out

Hey Everyone,

If you haven't cruised through AllyCarter.com in a while you may want to check it out. We've been busy, adding lots of new stuff...

--a "for writers" section

--some info about Cross My Heart

--some stuff that might be handy for book reports

--a link where you can buy the audiobook of Love You Kill You

and probably some other cool things.

I'm still working on the big crossword contest and might be posting it as early as next week!



Take care, everyone!
Ally

Ally Carter: criminal mastermind

I'm still mad. Like when I think about it I start shaking, mad. But I guess I should blog about it so here goes.

I went to see Knocked Up last night.

(That's not the part that makes me mad.)

I arrived at the theater about ten minutes early (which I never do--usually I'm rolling in during the previews), but last night I had time to use the bathroom and buy popcorn. I even got to pull my Blackberry out and do email while waiting for the previews.

And that's where my problems started.

The lights go out. The previews roll. And just as the opening credits start a bright light blinds me over my shoulder and I hear a deep voice say, "Ma'am, I'm going to need you to get your things and come outside."

And then I see the badge.

A cop! There is a uniformed police officer who is ordering me out of the theater.

Him: "Where's the camera, ma'am?"

Me: "The what? What's going on?"

Him: "I need you to step outside, ma'am."

Meanwhile, all the people in the theater are staring as this cop is ushering me to the lobby!

Me: "Is this some kind of joke?"

Him: "We've had a report that you were videotaping the movie."

Well, first of all, the movie had JUST started! And second of all, I WASN'T doing anything of the kind.

Well, we reach the lobby and there's the theater manager standing there, saying, "One of our employees saw you with a video camera. That's against the law."

Me: "I don't have a video camera!"

Cop: 'What do you have in your purse?"

Me: "A Blackberry, a wallet, sunglasses, lipstick..."

Cop (picking up Blackberry): "What does this do?"

Me: "It's a cell phone and email thing."

Cop (huffy): "Well, does it take video?"

Me: "No!"

So then the cop goes back to where I was seated and takes his flashlight and goes all over the seats and the floor looking for the nonexistent video camera because, evidently, I had taken a bootleg video of the annoying local commercials that they run before the movie but I'd abandoned the camera before the movie itself.

I thought that once they'd found NO camera that would be the end of it, but no. Then the cop comes back and says, "I need to see some ID for you, ma'am," so I have to hand over my drivers license while he calls in a check on me. Meanwhile, the theater manager is standing there, feeling the dagger-like stares I'm giving her.

Me: "Do you know how ludicrous this is?"

Her: "It's company policy. Whenever we see someone who might be taping a movie we call the cops."

Me: "Well, your company policy might also want to include exercising some common sense before treating people like criminals for the shear act of HOLDING A CELL PHONE before a movie even starts!'

Cop: "Ma'am. Ma'am."

Me: "I'm missing my movie."

And then I went and tried to laugh at the very crude humor that is Knocked Up, but it's hard when you're expecting a SWAT team to descend around you at any moment.

When the movie was over another manager-type person met me and gave me a free pass and apologized, but I was really past the point of listening. I was SO mad!

I'm STILL mad!

Can you tell?

Ally

BEA, in pictures

Wow! What a week. I'm tired and still kind of excited, but the adrenalin is wearing off, so I'd better get this up before I crash on the couch for weeks.

So, I give you. . . the highlights!


There are some pretty great feelings when you're a writer--writing a great scene, landing an agent, signing contracts or holding a finished book for the very first time, but seeing this...




...well a HUGE blowup of your book cover--in LIGHTS--at BEA is a certainly one of the best feelings there is.

Also, seeing a BIG box of your ARCs is pretty good, too.



And then there's the joy of walking around the enormous exhibition hall and having a group of amazingly fun librarians come up to you and say "My friend said that she'd tell you she loved your book, but then she'd have to kill you"--which is a great feeling.

But it's even better when one of them is Liz Burns--one of the absolute best library bloggers! And the real highlight was when I asked Liz how she recognized me and she said, "We knew that was the winning outfit!"



(Note: it's a testament to how much I like Liz that I'm willing to post this doublechinrific picture for the world to see.)


I also got to spend some great time with my agent, Kristin Nelson, basking in the glow of everything--literally.




And, of course, there was the signing which was AMAZING! There were so many sweet and fabulous librarians, booksellers, and book lovers in general who braved the crowds and stood in line just to get a sneak peek at the new book. So let me take this chance to thank EVERYONE and pray that they like the book.




One of the freakishly cool things about BEA is that everywhere you turn there are writers you LOVE. I won't even go into full-on name dropping mode (although I could--I REALLY really could. Really. People would gag on their jealousy. So I won't.) But I will say that I got to see the ubercool Maggie Marr signing her new book Hollywood Girls' Club.



Also, I cruised the floor with my new favorite people E. Lockhart and MaryRose Wood and we snatched copies of Carolyn Mackler's new book Guyaholic!




Most of all, I want to thank the AMAZING, FABULOUS, WONDERFUL, SMART, and generous people at Hyperion Books for Children. I can't imagine working with a more passionate group of professionals.

Or with professionals who have cuter bags (5000 of them!)




And finally I wanted to say thanks to Donna Bray, the best editor in the business.



WE MADE IT!!!!



-Ally

Longest, busiest, fastest, funnest, most swag-filled day ever

That's right. My official BEA duties are finally over. Today I signed ARCs of CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY, met fabulous librarians, booksellers, and Gallagher Girls of all ages. And it was every bit as exciting as I'd hoped.

And now... I sleep.

Pictures, details, and oodles of name-dropping to follow.

Thanks to everyone for making the last few days so great...
Ally