TWO!

Two. We're already at number two! That's a really, really, really low number countdown-wise. (In case you guys hadn't figured that out yet.)

TWO GREATEST BOOKS EVER (IN MY OPINION)

1....TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Will this book ever have an equal? I don't think so. At least not for me. It's one of the rare books that I read as a teenager that, when I re-read it now, I love it even more. It speaks to you in very different ways at different points of your life. It is a classic for a reason.


2...PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. I have to admit that I discovered this one relatively late in life. I read it for the first time after the BBC miniseries brought it back into the limelight. And oh am I glad it did. There's just something so utterly perfect about every character in that book. The squealing Mrs. Bennett, Mr. Bingley's snobby sister, the mumbling, pretentious Mr. Collins... Even though those characters were set a few hundred years ago in a completely different country I still felt like I know them. Oh heck, I DO know them--or people just like them--and that's why P&P will always be at the top of my list.


So what about you guys? What are your favorite books ever?


-Ally

The countdown...gimme a three!

THREE (NON-BOOK) THINGS WITH WHICH I AM OFFICIALLY OBSESSED

1...Shoebuy.com. I know. This is a strange one for me, right? After all, I am so not a shoe girl that they almost kicked me out of the Chick Lit Writers of America. But while I'm not a shoe girl in the truest sense, I do however have feet. And therefore a need for shoes. And while I don't looooove shoes. There's something I do love: OPTIONS!

That's right. Why go to a store and try on dozens of pairs of shoes and have a salesperson stand there, staring at you, silently wishing you'd make a decision or drop dead and distinguishing between the two less every second when there's a website that offers free to and from shipping and a 60 day return window?

Even as I write this I'm wearing a size 7 black mary jane on my right foot and a 7 1/2 on my right. In a few minutes I intend to switch. Because I'm crazy like that.



2...HGTV...I know this is not really a new obsession, but the lackluster summer TV season has made me more devoted than ever to shows like SELL THIS HOUSE (why people, in this day and age, don't already know to take their commemorative dolls/plates/thimbles/etc. off the walls before they try to sell their houses I will never know!)

Also, I simply can't get enough of MY HOUSE IS WORTH WHAT? Which, personally, the wording of that title disturbs me for some reason, but that doesn't mean I don't shout price estimates at the TV as loudly as I can. Really, it's like real estate "the Price is Right" that way. So what's not to obsess about?


3...Laptops. I lied. So this is probably a little bit writing-related. But not entirely. I simply have to find and purchase a new laptop, but...see #1 above. Somehow I don't think they'll let me bring a few home and try them on before I buy one.




have a great Saturday, everyone. I'll be back tomorrow for day two. That's right: DAY TWO. That's one day away from DAY ONE. And that's one day away from...

Day four!

FOUR REASONS THIS POST IS KINDA LAME

1...Driving...sooo long...so much driving.

2...TV...soooo good...so many good shows starting.

3...Laptop...soooooooo dead...must find new laptop.

4...Nerves...sooooooooooo multiplying...must beg readers to buy books.


nighty night everyone!

-Ally

Countdown continues...day five

FIVE WRITING QUESTIONS I GET ALL THE TIME

1...How old do you have to be to have your book published?

I get this question almost weekly from all of you young writers who are worried that no one in the publishing industry will take you seriously. Well, I have one name for you: S.E. Hinton.

Yep. The author of THE OUTSIDERS wrote that book when she was a teenager. Did that stop her? No.

The only thing people in the publishing business care about is the quality of your book--they won't treat you any better or worse if you're a teenager. What does that mean? Your book has to be good! Do that, and you'll be far ahead of the pack.



2...Where do you get your ideas?

Ideas are everywhere--all the time. I've chronicled the complete "stories behind the stories" on the pages of this website dedicated to my books. CHEATING AT SOLITAIRE came to me while I was cooking spaghetti. I got the idea of the Gallagher Girls while watching TV.

The key, I think, is always being open to ideas and then learning how to think constructively about them to figure out which ones you should use and which should be tossed back.


3...How long does it take to write a book?

To my knowledge, there's no specific answer to that question. Personally, I've done it as quickly as a few months and I've also had books that have taken more than a year.

No two writers are the same, so the best thing is to just commit to a project and stick it out however long it takes to finish.


4...How do you get a book published and how much does it cost?

Okay. Listen up, folks and listen well. If you're paying to have your book published you're doing what's called "self publishing." There are a few reasons why some people choose to do this, but it's not really the avenue that most of you are really wanting, I'm willing to bet.

My publisher pays me to publish my book--not the other way around. And that's the way it is for almost every author that you've ever heard of.

Now for the larger question of how do you get a book published.

First things first, you have to write a really great book. Not just a "finished" book. Not an okay book. Not a "my mom says it's good" book. Nope. It's got to be a truly amazing book in every way and people who don't already know and love you have to agree.

Next step: you should start researching literary agents. These are the people who take your book to publishing houses and negotiate deals on your behalf.

You can find out about agents in many ways.

--research your favorite authors and find out who their agents are then visit those agents' websites.

--sign up for pulisher's lunch and lunch weekly--two industry e-newsletters that you can find at www.publishersmarketplace.com. Lunch Weekly lists publishing deals and the agents who are making them happen.

--While you're at publishersmarketplace.com, you might sign up for their service that allows you to research a database of publishing deals.

--And finally you can go to agentquery.com and research there as well.

Then you should research the agents that you're interested in and follow their submission guidelines to the letter.

A lot of people think there's a trick to getting a literary agent. And that's true. The trick is writing a really, spectacularly good book. If you can do that you'll have agents fighting over you. I swear.



5...what's the best part about being a writer?

That's an easy one. You guys. You're the best part.




Day five, people!


--Ally

A special, mini-post

This isn't a real post. It's a mini-post because I'm dying to know if any of you have actually seen CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY for sale anywhere yet?

Usually bookstores receive their new books before their official "lay-down date" (by the way: I really, truly felt like a publishing insider the first time I ever used the phrase "lay-down date!"

Anyway...a lot of the time they'll go ahead and put new releases on shelves early, but I haven't heard of any Cross My Heart sightings so far...which is unusual. But good. Since that makes next week even better!

So if you guys see copies for sale you'll let me know, right?

Thanks bunches,
Ally

Day 6...and counting

A few weeks ago my friend Jennifer Lynn Barnes did a really cool thing to count down to the launch of her newest book, Platinum.

It was a sort of 12-days-of-Christmas thing.

And I am now going to steal it.

So without further ado:

SIX THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME REALLY, REALLY GIDDY

1. thanks to all of your very well-thought out and beautifully articulated arguments in regard to yesterday's post, I called my favorite bakery in Tulsa this morning and ordered two dozen white cupcakes, one dozen chocolate cupcakes, and three dozen cookies in assorted flavors.

2. Just because it bears repeating: THREE DOZEN CUPCAKES and THREE DOZEN COOKIES, people!

3. Tonight is the debut of LIFE on NBC. Life stars Damian Lewis who played Major Winters on the BAND OF BROTHERS miniseries. Have I mentioned lately how much I loooooved the BAND OF BROTHERS miniseries?

4. Dancing with the Stars is perhaps the best show ever for walking on the treadmill.

5. So far I've heard from a lot of friends and relatives who are planning on attending the launch party at the Barnes and Noble on 41st in Tulsa, OK next Tuesday (Oct. 2) night at 7:00. And, by the way, you guys know that you're invited, right? I mean, could I conceivably have a party without you? Uh? Don't think so.

6. Oh yeah...it's just SIX days until CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY comes out!!!!!!!!!


So that's day 6.

What about you guys? What's making YOU giddy these days?


-Ally

A truly important question

Okay guys, I need your advice on a very serious issue...

What is better for a book launch party--cake, cupcakes, or cookies?

All this time I've been thinking cake since a cake with the CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY bookjacket made entirely out of icing would probably be the most awesome thing in the universe.

However, (as my very wise sister pointed out) do you really want to mess with cutting and serving cake at the launch party? I mean, seriously. I have personally been the official "cake server" at about two dozen weddings and it's a pretty icky job. And then you have to make sure there are plates...and forks... And it's really hard to party-hardy when you're worried about stocking the fork supply!

So that brings us to my good friend, the cupcake. All the delicious icy-ness of cake, but in a convenient paper wrapper. Of course it's probably not possible to have a Gallagher Girl on every single cupcake, but it's also not necessary to be on fork patrol either.

However, with cake, if there's a much larger-than-anticipated crowd you can cut the pieces smaller. With cupcakes, you're locked in to a number. Even if you've got people (and yes, Mom, I'm talking to you) who will only eat a half bite of a cupcake and then "be so full" (note to self: be more like your mother), so cupcakes can, on occasion, be sort of wasteful.

Which brings us to, perhaps, my favorite combo ever: the cupcake AND cookie tray option. You get cupcakes and their advantages and also cookies which can come in a variety of sizes and flavors. And, let's face it, most people will always pick up and enjoy a cookie.

But I can't decide!

Help!

Ally


ps....it's ONE WEEK AND COUNTING, by the way. That's seven days, people.

pps...I'm STILL freaking out!!!!

Hard drives and harsh realities

Not that anyone cares...but it appears the laptop may be dead. Officially. Our tech guy has assured me I did nothing wrong, but I don't believe him. Surely I'm to blame in some way. I'm ALWAYS to blame!

But no.

In good news, last week I purchased an external hard drive and BACKED UP the laptop! Oh yeah, who's looking like a genius now? (answer: me. I'm a genius.) So while this whole crash thing is highly disturbing I'm not crying on the floor in the fetal position like I would have been if not for the geniusly-timed laptop backup.

In other new, tomorrow kicks off the one-week countdown to the release of CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my gosh, I got nervous just typing that.

You guys want to know a secret? This one freaks me out. Not in a bad way--in a good way. And it's all your fault! That's right. Every time one of you writes or comments about how you're going to buy the book and all of your friends are going to buy the book my expectations creep up a little bit higher.

But do you know what happens every I have high expectations about anything (the Buffy series finale, the overall funness of every party I've ever tried to host, every pair of "perfect for curvy figures" jeans I've ever tried on)? My expectations inevitably get hammered into nothingness.

So really...expectations--not my friends.

And if you guys really want to help me out you'll tell me how much you're not looking forward to the book. I mean not at all. Honestly, people, that would help bunches (because whenever I go into something with low expectations I'm always pleasantly surprised.)

You could say things like "Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy? Might as well be Cross My Heart and Hope Not to Die of boredom!" You could tell me that the only reason you would buy it would be because it's the perfect height to fix a wobbly table you've got--that would help me feel better. Cause seriously, all this "I can't wait!" business is keeping me up nights and let's just say Ally needs her beauty sleep.


later gators

-Ally

In the meantime...

I know I'm getting sooooooo excited about the debut of CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY (Oct. 2nd at a store near you!), and I hope you're excited too. But in the meantime here are some super cool books from some super cool ladies that you may want to check out.

PLATINUM, the sequel to the uber-cool GOLDEN by my good buddy Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

EIGHTH GRADE BITES by Heather Brewer.

EVERY CROOKED POT by Renee Rosen.

THE SECOND VIRGINITY OF SUZY GREEN by Sara Hantz.

And last but certainly not least, VIOLET ON THE RUNWAY by Melissa Walker.

If you get the chance, visit these ladies' websites, please take the time to read about their books and give them a shot.

Take care and have a great weekend!

Ally

ATTENTION: Anna B.

Hey Anna,

I'm afraid my laptop CRASHED at 3:00 this afternoon taking your email address and phone number with it. I'm afraid I don't know how to call you for our interview at 7:00.

If you get this, please email me (ally (at symbol) allycarter.com) with your contact info and, if it's after 7:00, a time when we can reschedule.

So sorry. The tech guy is supposed to look at it on Monday, so hopefully things can be repaired. Otherwise, I'm afraid there are going to be A LOT of messages like this!


--Ally

The countdown continues!!!

Yesterday morning I woke up, got dressed, came to the office, sat down, and thought...

WHY AM I SO NERVOUS?

I mean seriously, people, I was really freaking nervous and I couldn't imagine why. And then...I remembered.

IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY TO COME OUT!!!!!

I was kinda nervous when my very first book, CHEATING AT SOLITAIRE (may it rest in peace) came out. And then I was a lot more nervous when LOVE YOU, KILL YOU came out.

But Cross My Heart is my fourth book! The nerves are supposed to be gone by now, but let me tell you, if anything, they've multiplied!

What if people hate it?

What if no one buys it?

What if the Oct. 2nd launch party at the Barnes and Noble on 41st Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma is reminiscent of the opening scene in Looking For Alaska and nobody comes?

What if some evil supervillain takes over the printing company and injects a rare but toxic chemical into the ink that makes every Gallagher Girl-fan in the world actually become the anti-Gallagher Girl?

Those things would all be bad.

I mean, you guys ARE going to buy it, aren't you? Because if you're lying to me about that...well...that's just mean.

And to tempt you even further into buying it, I'm going to go ahead and give you the rest of chapter one.

Enjoy!

Ally

CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY
Chapter One
Part 3

(May I suggest you begin by reading
Part 1 here and Part 2 here)

“My name is Cammie.”

“No, what’s your full name?” asked the man in front of the Polygraph machine as if I wasn’t wearing the aforementioned (and supposedly non-explosive) name badge.

I thought about my mother’s words of wisdom, took a deep breath and said, “Cameron Ann Morgan,” and hoped that would be good enough.

The room around me was bare, empty, with a stainless steel table and mirror made of one-way glass. I probably wasn’t the first Gallagher Girl to sit in that sterile room--after all, de-briefs are a part of the covert operations package. Still, I couldn’t help squirming in the hard metal chair—maybe because it was cold in there, maybe because I was nervous, maybe because I was experiencing a slight underwear situation. (Note to self: research the wedgie theory of interrogation—there could totally be something to it!) But the efficient looking man in the wire rim glasses was too busy twisting knobs and punching keys, trying to figure out what the truth sounded like coming from me, to care.

“The Gallagher Academy doesn’t teach interrogation procedures until we’re juniors, you know?” I said, but the man just muttered, “Uh huh.”

“And I’m just a sophomore, so you shouldn’t worry about the results coming out all screwy or anything. I’m not immune to your powers of interrogation.” Yet.

“Good to know,” he mumbled but his eyes never left the three screens that surrounded him.

“I know it’s just standard protocol, so just…ask away,” I said, knowing I was babbling but I couldn’t stop myself. “Really,” I said. “Just whatever you need to know, just--”

But then he looked at me and blurted, “Do you attend the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women?” and for reasons I will never understand I said, “Uh…yes?” as if it might be a trick question.

“Have you ever studied the subject of Covert Operations?”

“Yes,” I said again, feeling my confidence, or maybe just my training, coming back to me.

“Did your Covert Operations coursework ever take you to the town of Roseville, Virginia?”

Even in that hollow, sterile room beneath Washington, D.C. I could almost feel the hot humid night last September. I could almost hear the band and smell the corndogs.

My stomach growled as I said, “Yes.”

Polygraph Guy made precise notes and stared at the bank of monitors and didn’t even blink when he asked, “And that is when you first noticed The Subject?”

Here’s the thing about being a spy in love: your boyfriend never has a name. People like Polygraph Guy were never going to call him Josh. He would always The Subject, a person of interest. Taking away his name was their way of taking away what was left of him. So I said, “Yes,” and tried not to let my voice crack.

“And you utilized your training to develop a relationship with The Subject?”

“Gee, when you say it like that—"

“Yes or no, Ms.--"

“Yes!”

Which I would like to point out is not nearly as bad as it sounds since, for example, you don’t need a search warrant to go through someone’s trash. Seriously. Once it hits the curb it is totally fair game—you can look it up.

But somehow I knew that the Office of Operative Development and Human Intelligence was probably far less concerned about the trash thing than they were about what came after the trash thing. So I was fully prepared when Polygraph Guy said, “Did The Subject follow you to your Covert Operations Final Examination?”

I thought about Josh appearing in the abandoned warehouse during finals week, bursting through walls and commandeering forklifts to “save” me, so I swallowed hard as I said, “Yes.”

“And was The Subject given memory-modification tea to erase the events of that night?”

It sounded so easy coming from him, so black and white. Sure, my mom gave Josh some tea that’s supposed to wipe a person’s memory blank, erase a few hours of their life and give everyone a second chance at a clean slate. But clean slates are a rare thing in any life—especially a spy’s life—so I didn’t let myself wonder for the millionth time if what Josh remembered about that night, about me. I didn’t torture myself with any of the questions that might never have answers as I sat there, knowing there is no such thing as black and white—remembering that my whole life is, by definition, a little bit gray.

I nodded, then muttered, “Yes,” because like it or not, I knew I had to say the word out loud.

He made some more notes, punched some keys, and said, “Are you currently involved with The Subject in any way?”

“No,” I blurted because I knew that much was true. I hadn’t seen Josh, hadn’t spoken to him, hadn’t even hacked into his email account over winter break which, given present circumstances, seemed like a pretty good idea. (Plus, I had spent the last two weeks in Nebraska with Grandma and Grandpa Morgan, and they have dial-up which takes forever!)

The man in the wire-rimmed glasses looked away from the screen then. He stared at me. “And do you intend to reinitiate contact with The Subject despite strict rules prohibiting such a relationship?”

There it was: the question I’d carried for weeks.

There I was: Cammie the Chameleon—the Gallagher Girl who had risked the most sacred sisterhood in the history of espionage. For a boy.

“Ms. Morgan,” Polygraph Guy said, growing impatient. “Are you going to reinitiate contact with The Subject?”

“No,” I said softly.

Then I glanced back at the screen to see if I was lying.

Tips for writers

It seems like a lot of you are interested in being writers--that's awesome! But I know as well as anyone that it's a tough industry to learn about from the outside looking in.

How do you know if your idea is good enough? How do you get started writing a book? What do you do once it's finished?

Well...there are no easy answers to these questions except maybe "you just do it." (By the way, is "just do it" still the Nike slogan? Am I totally dating myself with that one?)

There are some great articles online, however, that can really help give you some great hints. I've listed a few here, and I just found this awesome article by NY Times Bestseller Carly Phillips here.

So if you want to be a writer, it starts with the writing. But a little research is probably a good idea too.


later gators,
Ally

Three Weeks and Counting

I can't believe it. I just can't believe it.

In three short weeks CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY will be in stores... It will be "out there"... On its own...

This is very scary.

Of course the book has been finished for a long time which is a good thing because otherwise I probably would be frantically rewriting the entire thing right now instead of moving on, but still...

Scary.

So how should I mark the countdown? When my first couple of books came out I did the "I've got to promote myself because no one is going to do it for me" thing that all new authors do. Well...let's just say I'm now older and hopefully wiser.

But still scared.

So what is a girl to do? Hum.... Let... Me.... Think....

Well, I guess I could remind everyone that the opening pages are listed on my website here.

But who am I kidding? The hard-core fans have already found that. So what could I possibly give them instead?

Maybe a sneak peek at the next pages?!?!

So that's what I'll do. Today I'm proud to give you Chapter 1, Part 2. Maybe next week if you want I can give you part three. And then, the week after that, if you're so inclined you can mosey (note to self: try to bring back the word mosey) down to your local bookstore and pick up a copy of the whole thing.

So, it's my pleasure to give you...

CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY
Chapter One
Part Two
(read Part One here first)

The walls rose as the floor sank. Bright lights flashed white, burning my eyes, filling every inch of the elevator-slash-dressing room, as I reached dizzily for my mother’s arm.

“Just a body scan,” I heard her say as the elevator continued its descent farther and farther beneath the city. A wave of hot air blasted in my face like the world’s biggest hair dryer, but Mom said, “Biohazard detectors,” and we continued our smooth, quick ride.

Time seemed to stand still, and yet I knew to count the seconds. One minute. Two minutes…

“Almost there,” Mom soothed as we descended through a thin laser beam that read our retinal images, and moments later, a bright orange light pulsed and I felt the elevator stop. The doors slid open.

And then my mouth went slack.

Tiles made of black granite and white marble stretched across the floor of the cavernous space like a life-sized chess board. Twin staircases twisted from opposite corners of the massive room, spiraling forty feet to the second story, framing the granite wall that stood between them, bearing the silver seal of the CIA and the motto I know by heart.

For you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.

As I stepped forward I saw elevators--dozens of them--lining the wall that curved behind us. Stainless steel letters above the elevator from which we’d just emerged spelled out, “Women’s Wear, Mall”. To the right, another was labeled “Men’s Room, Roslyn Metro Station”.

A screen atop the elevator flashed with our names. “Rachel Morgan, Department of Operative Development.” I glanced at Mom as the screen changed. “Cameron Morgan, Temporary Guest.”

There was a loud ding and soon “David Duncan, Identifying Characteristics Removal Division” was emerging from the elevator labeled “St. Sebastian Confessional,” at which point I totally started freaking out—but not in the oh my gosh I’m in a top secret facility that’s three times more secure than the White House sense. No, my freak-out-ed-ness was purely of the this is the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me sense, because despite three and a half years of training, I’d temporarily forgotten why we were there.

“Come on, sweetie,” Mom said, taking my hand, pulling me through the atrium where people climbed purposefully up the spiraling stairs; they carried newspapers and chatted over cups of coffee. It was almost…normal. But then Mom approached a desk and a guard who was missing half his nose and one ear and I remembered that, when you’re a Gallagher Girl, normal is a completely relative thing.

“Welcome ladies,” the guard said. “Place your palms here.” He indicated the smooth counter, and as soon as we touched the surface I felt the heat of the scanner that memorized my prints. A mechanical printer sprang to life somewhere and he leaned down to retrieve two badges.

“Well, Rachel Morgan,” he said, looking at my mother as if she hadn’t been standing right in front of him for a full minute. “Welcome back! And this must be little…" then the older man squinted, trying to read my badge.

“This is my daughter, Cameron,” Mom said.

“Of course she is! She looks just like you.” Which just proved that whatever terrible nose incident he’d experience had no doubt affected his eyes, too, because while Rachel Morgan has frequently been described as beautiful, I have been described as non-descript. “Strap this on, young lady,” the guard said, handing me an ID badge. “And don’t lose it—it’s loaded with a tracking chip and a half milligram of C-4. If you try to remove it or enter an unauthorized area it’ll detonate.” He stared at me. “And then you’ll die.”

I swallowed hard then suddenly understood why take your daughter to work day was never really an option in the Morgan family.

“Okay,” I muttered as I gingerly took the badge, but then the man slapped the counter, and spy training or not—I jumped.

“Ha!” the guard let out a sharp, quick laugh and leaned closer to my mother. “The Gallagher Academy is growing them more gullible than it did in my day, Rachel,” he teased then winked at me. “Spy humor.”

Which, personally, I didn’t think was all that funny, but my mother was smiling, taking my arm, saying, “Come on, kiddo, you don’t want to be late.”

She led me down a sunny corridor that made it almost impossible to believe we were underground. Bright, cool light splashed upon the gray walls and reminded me of Sublevel One at school… Which reminded me of my Covert Operations class… Which reminded me of finals week… Which reminded me of...

Josh.

We passed the Office of Guerilla Warfare but didn’t slow down. Two women waved to my mother outside the Department of Cover, Concealment, and Office of Clandestine Services, but we didn’t say hi.

We walked faster, our momentum taking us deeper and deeper into that labyrinth of secrets until the corridor branched, and we could either go left, toward the Department of Sabotage and Seemingly Accidental Explosions, or right to the Office of Operative Development and Human Intelligence. And despite the Flame-resistant body suits mandatory beyond this point sign I wanted to hang a left, to turn around, to go back.

Because even though the truth can set you free, that doesn’t mean it won’t be painful.

CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY
On sale everyone October 2, 2007!

Project K

So I have a big secret. Sort of. Actually, it's a secret project (which is the best kind of secret). But I can't talk about it (thus the secrecy), and yet all I want to do is talk about it (thus a great deal of irony.)

We'll call it PROJECT K.

And I sincerely hope it rocks.

And there's nothing more I would love to do than talk ALL about it here and everywhere and have people tell me that yes, it does in fact rock.

And yet I can't.

Because PROJECT K is a secret.

Sigh.

But it's close--I mean REALLY REALLY close--to being to the point where I can hopefully talk about it a little. Which is probably a good thing for my good writer buddy Jennifer Lynn Barnes who is no doubt sick of getting emails about it from me since she came and stayed with me a couple of days and, therefore, was "read in" to Project K (as we say in the CIA).

So that's it. My big secret. That hopefully rocks.

And that's not even counting the OTHER secret, PROJECT GG3.


-Ally

R.I.P Cheating at Solitaire

There are many ups and downs when you're an author.

Having a new book come out? UP.

Getting the word that your book is being remaindered? DOWN.

What does being remaindered mean? Well, basically, it means that your publisher is no longer going to keep your book in their warehouses and stores won't be keeping it on shelves and it's either going to be sold in bargain bins or recycled.

So what does this mean? Roughly that the clock is ticking. If you want "the complete Ally Carter" collection you'd better order a copy of CHEATING AT SOLITAIRE pronto before they're all turned to pulp.


Later gators!
Ally

Fashion emergency---this just in

This just in, folks. I will not be naked at my upcoming book appearances. Yes. It's true. We have narrowly avoided that terrible, terrible (Weight Watchers is SUCH a scam...and...uh...I guess maybe it might work if you follow the rules) emergency.

I have found and purchased book-cover-coordinating sweaters. Two of them.

So rest easy, America. We dodged a bullet this time.

-Ally (who actually braved the big, scary mall today even though it's been YEARS since she's been anywhere near that mall because it's big. And scary. But not "people will stab you" scary just "you may NEVER find your car again" scary.)


So what about you guys? Any fun back-to-school shopping tales and bargains?

Happy Birthday, Amy!

Hi everyone!

Well, today is my big sis's birthday. Since you guys did such an awesome job with the anniversary shout-outs for Mom and Dad, I was hoping you could give Amy your best birthday wishes.

She was a pretty good big sister...

When she wasn't stealing the covers and kicking me when we were forced to sleep together on family vacations.

And when she wasn't achieving absolutely freakish GPAs that I was then expected to duplicate.

And when she wasn't trying to get me in trouble during long roadtrips.

And, of course, thanks to her, I never even got to TRY pre-school since she pretty much ruined the whole family on the concept.

So, like I said, she was a pretty good big sister.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

-kid

The preschool report

She wasn't kicked out!

-Ally

Preschool Day 1

Today is niece #1's first day of preschool and, let's just say, we're all a little on-edge.

Possibly it's because this is the first sign our little 3-yr-old is growing up...

But more likely it's because both her mother AND her father were kicked out of their respective preschools. That's right, folks. Both my sister and my brother-in-law were preschool dropouts.

She was asked to leave after one day because she not only refused to take a nap but she also insisted on crawling around, liberating the other children by informing them that they didn't have to take naps either!

He was unable to use scissors.

So see...my poor niece doesn't have the best genetic track record in all things preschool related (they both went on to do VERY well in real school and post-school, so all was not lost.)

Still, we're keeping our fingers crossed until 2:30.

-Ally