Tricks and Treats

This Friday is my last full-time day at my full-time job (I have several meetings and things scheduled for November, but for the most part I'll be on vacation next month): TREAT

Purchasing tons of Halloween candy one week before Halloween and then proceeding to eat said candy: TRICK

Ordering not one, not two, but five pairs of walking shoes online and having every last pair of them rub blisters on your feet: TRICK

Free return shipping on walking shoes ordered online: TREAT

Getting geared up for National Novel Writing month and having several scenes in mind that you just can't wait to write: TREAT

Knowing that there will also be scenes that won't be so fun to write--and you only have a month to write them: TRICK.

Having a group of amazing writer friends who are going to be going through the process alongside you: Big, big TREAT

Fearing that the aforementioned amazing writers will laugh at your terrible un-productivity: TRICK (but also a great motivational TREAT, so it goes both ways, I guess.)

OSU-TEXAS playing on ABC Saturday afternoon: TREAT

Knowing that OSU has a tendency to...well...choke against Texas: TRICK

Honestly believing that this team and these coaches know how good that they have the potential to be: TREAT

Cooler weather: TREAT

Not having a winter coat you really like: TRICK

Really good soup: TREAT

Realizing that you're soooooo addicted to your blackberry that as soon as you have to give yours back to the day-job people that you must rush out and get another one: TRICK

Being able to write full-time in the VERY near future: TREAT

Knowing that you'll be so busy writing an entire novel next month that you won't have time for really in-depth blogging: TRICK

Having your skin look the best it has ever looked in your whole, entire life (thanks to the world's best face moisturizer: Neutrogena Anti-Oxidant Age Reverse): TREAT.

Knowing there's no such thing as Neutrogena Butt-size Reverse: TRICK

Knowing that you'll probably also have a ton of leftover Halloween candy (and hopefully soon a good pair of walking shoes) to get me through: TREAT.



HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYONE!!!

Ally

MORE things I want...but technically don't need

--a really ultra-comfortable office-type chair for writing at my desk.

--and, while I'm at it, maybe an actual desk since up until now I've always written at my dining room table.

--a personal trainer (preferably one who can make me look like Jennifer Garner...or Jane Seymour who looks AMAZING on Dancing with the Stars)

--a miracle cure for three of my five semi-healthy houseplants

--a cupcake carrier from Crate and Barrel (for...you know...traveling cupcake emergencies)

--a luxury skybox at Boone Pickens Stadium

--a pair of perfect black socks

--walking shoes that won't rub my heels raw



That's it. I think. Although I'll no doubt think of more as soon as my next Pottery Barn catalog arrives.


Nighty night, everybody!

Ally

What will YOU do with your November?

Hey everyone!

I have sort of an announcement to make...no--strike that! A challenge!

November is coming, and all you writers (either aspiring or published) know what November is:

NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH!

I first heard of NaNoWriMo a few years ago, but this is the first time I've ever taken part. The mission of the program is to encourage people to write the first draft a 50,000 word novel between 12:01 a.m. November first and 11:59 p.m. November 30.

Can it be done? You bet.

Will your novel be perfect? Absolutely not.

Could there be some really good stuff in your first draft that you can make even better with your second? Almost always.

A lot of you write me emails or come up to me at conferences and say things like "I'd like to write a book someday, but every time I try it ends up sounding stupid." And you know what I have to say to that? Join the freaking club.

Seriously.

Every writer I know has a box of really bad books (or, in my case, screenplays) hidden under a bed or in the back of the closet or something. I mean it, guys--we ALL have them! I like to call them "the dirty water books."

What are the dirty water books, you might ask. Well, I'll tell you.

You know how when a garden hose lays outside for too long without being used and then one day you turn on the water? You know how the water that comes out first is always dirty and rusty looking and full of spiders and leaves and stuff?

Well guess what? Writing is exactly the same way. What comes out first is ALWAYS the dirty water--full of nonsense and trash.

How do you get to the clean water? You let it run.

Same with writing. The only way to get to the good stuff is to just let the water run and run and run until the words start coming better and the story makes more sense and you know who your characters really, truly are at their cores.

The only way to find the center of the story is to let the water run.

So that's what I'll be doing this November. I plan on turning on the tap on November 1 and I expect a lot of trash to come out--but that's okay.

A lot of extremely talented writers are going to be doing this with me, and if you want to join then I think that would be great as well. Sign up is free at www.nanowrimo.org.

AND...they have a junior NaNo program this year for you teens and pre-teens so...

Let that water run!

Oh, and just in case you're wondering, I'll be writing a little book called Gallagher Girls 3, so if you sign up and take part...we would technically be writing our books together.

Just in case you're interested.


--Ally

Missing Pages

I'm sorry that so many of you have gotten stuck with "bad" copies of the paperback of I'D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU BUT THEN I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU--you know the ones that are missing page 254.

Believe me, I feel your pain!

If this happens to you, you should feel free to return the book to the store where you purchased it and ask a sales associate to replace your book with a "good" copy.

If that doesn't work, you can call HarperCollins Customer Service, 800/242-7737. (But please try going to the store first.)

In the meantime, though, for those of you who just can't wait, I've scanned a version of those same pages into the computer and they're available here. (Please note that the pages don't line up exactly because they're from different versions, but this should let you know what that missing page says.)

Again, I'm very sorry for the inconvenience, and I sincerely hope this matter is resolved in the very near future.

happy reading,
Ally

A blog in bullets

Hi everyone,

It's time for another blog in bullets, I believe. Because I can't seem to string together a blog that makes any long-run sense. So we're focusing on the short-run, people.

And that's not necessarily a bad thing.


* I made some major progress yesterday evening on the "email replying" front. I'm still not finished by a long-shot, but I'm getting there!

*I have a paper cut on my finger.

* It really, really hurts.

* Which wouldn't ordinarily bother a person.

* But I'm a wuss.

* And speaking of wusses, I think I'm kind of sick.

* And speaking of sick, does anyone have a REALLY good broccoli/cheese soup recipe you could email me or leave in the comments? That would rock.

* And speaking of recipes here, it's about popcorn ball time again. Do you guys have any idea how many people find this website by searching for "popcorn ball"? It's kinda scary.

* Like the number of trick-or-treaters I get at my house every Halloween. Like an INSANE number of trick-or-treaters. Like I open the door and there will be a dozen kids on my porch. All night long.

* And do you know what else is scary? Moving. Which I'm going to be doing soon. But first I have to find a house and I think that might be really, really, really hard because...


THINGS I NEED (AND/OR REALLY, REALLY WANT) IN A NEW HOUSE

* High ceilings. Seriously. My current house has 10 foot ceilings and anything lower than 9 now feels cave-like to me. I'm incredibly spoiled.

* Either an AWESOME kitchen or an utterly awful kitchen I won't feel guilty about tearing out and re-doing

* A washer/dryer that is NOT in the basement (and preferably really near the master bedroom)

* A "writing room"

* A office

* NOTE: the writing room and the office are two very different rooms since one will have internet access and one WILL NOT!

* A good place for my treadmill

* A good street

* Close proximity to my sister and brother-in-law's house so that when Niece #1 decides to run away she won't have to go too far to reach a safe place

* Preferably at least on bedroom on the first floor

* The writing room should be a looooooong way from the kitchen

* Oh, and a garage. Preferably an ATTACHED garage.


So see...

I'm totally going to be homeless....

But at least I should soon know how to make broccoli/cheese soup and popcorn balls.


-Ally

NY Times List...how it happens

Hey everyone,

It seems like lately (for obvious reasons) I'm getting asked A LOT of questions about how the New York Times Bestseller list is tabulated/determined/chosen. Whatever.

Well the truth is that it's, for the most part, a mystery how the Times list is determined. After all, if people knew exactly how books make it on the list then people would be able to manipulate the system.

But...today I ran across this great article that talks about the process. It doesn't say exactly how the list comes about (and for good reason), but it does break down some of the old myths.


Later,
Ally

Bad, bad blogger. And emailer.

Hey everyone,

My name is Ally Carter

And I'm a very, very bad blogger.

I know that you guys are coming here, looking for something funny or wise or embarrassing, or something. But instead you've been getting squat.

Because I'm a very, very bad blogger.

But please believe me when I say that I've been crazy busy with a bunch of really random stuff. However, this week things should slow down quite a bit and I vow to return to blogging as usual. Seriously. I mean it.

Also, I'm sooooooooo happy to report that I think I finally have my computer situation resolved!!!! Which means that this week I hope to finally get back to answering reader emails!!!!!!!!!! So if you've written to me lately and I haven't written back, hopefully that will be resolved within the next week or so.


So...in conclusion:

1. I'm a bad blogger

2. I'm a bad email replier

3. This week I vow to be better at both 1 and 2

4. Oklahoma State University won a REALLY big game last Saturday!!!!

5. I'm fully aware that 4 doesn't really pertain to 1 or 2 or, by extension, 3

6. But 4 makes me happy and therefore unaffected by 5

7. And if you can't embrace the 6s in life then...heck.


8. Good night.

9. Ally

A birthday blog

Three of my favorite people IN THE WORLD are having birthdays today!

So...Dad, Jen, and Beth, I hope you're having a good one!



-Ally

The news, the whole news, and nothing but the news

Hey everyone,

I want to start by saying THANK YOU to all of you who have bought, read, and written to tell me you've enjoyed the books. It means more than you will ever know.

And now I have a lot of news to share and not a lot of time to share it cleverly, so I'm just going to put it out there if that's okay.


1. We got word yesterday that CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY will be on the NY Times Bestseller list again next week! How happy does that make me? So insanely, giddy happy.

2. I can FINALLY tell you guys officially that yes, there will be a third Gallagher Girls book! We just finalized the deal, and I'm thrilled to be continuing the series with Hyperion, my publishing home.

However, I can't tell you any details about the book or even what the official title will be (we're calling it GG3 for now.) I don't know an exact publication date yet but it will (sadly) probably be AT LEAST a year away (and likely longer).

3. Not only have I sold GG3, but I'm also over-the-moon excited about Project K!

What is Project K? Well, it's the codename I gave for a new project I was working on a few weeks ago, but since the project has been sold I now consider it declassified, so you guys can read all about it!

Project K isn't really the title (I was just using that for blogging purposes.) In truth, it doesn't have a title yet, but I call it KAT.

Why? Because it's about a girl named Kat.

Who is a thief.

It's hopefully the first book in a new series pitched as Ocean's 11 meets Veronica Mars, about a girl from a family of high-end conmen who must choose between leaving the family business or saving her art thief father by pulling one last heist.

I'm excited about Kat. I mean...really, really excited. And I hope you guys are as well.


3. And I guess my final piece of news is that in the very near future I'll be quitting my day job in order to write full-time! Yay. It's not often a person gets to do what they wanted to do when they were 12.

And very soon I'll be one of those people.


The last thing I'll say is that I know you guys have TONS of questions about the girls. And the boys. And the history of Cammie's family. And Cammie's future.

Well, let me just say that all of those questions have answers, but I don't think you want to know them...not yet.

I mean, do you really want to know if/when Bella from the Twilight books will become a vampire? Or if Princess Mia from the Princess Diaries will end up with her high school boyfriend, Michael? Or if Stephanie Plum (from Janet Evanovich's amazingly funny series) will marry Morelli or Ranger?

Sure...we may WANT to know those things, but do we really want them TOLD to us? Outright? Ruined?

Or would you rather keep reading?

I don't think you REALLY want the answers to those questions, so that's why I'm not going to give them to you.

I will, however, say that I do plan to do several more books and that each one of those books will be important in answering all of those questions. And more.

You guys will just have to trust me when I tell you that the Gallagher Girls have only just begun to fight.


Good night, everyone. And happy reading!

Ally

Tomorrow night...all will be revealed

Okay. Not "all" all. But a lot--a whole lot--of questions finally have answers and tomorrow night I'm hoping to have time to share them.

So...

Nighty night!

Ally

Signing tomorrow night--Manhattan, Kansas

Do you live in/near the "little Apple?"

Are you going to be in/near Manhattan, Kansas on Tuesday night of Teen Reads Week? (aka, THIS week!)

Do you want to come hang out at the Manhattan, Kansas Public Library with me and talk about books and writing and snag your very own personalized copies of the Gallagher Girls books?

Well, then why don't you?

That's right, folks, tomorrow night at 7:00 I'll be celebrating Teen Reads Week with the super fantastic folks at the Manhattan, KS Public Library!

I hope to see you there!


-Ally

Happy TEEN READS week!

Big news, everybody. It is officially TEEN READS WEEK! Yay!

What this means, exactly, I'm not sure since every week in Allyville is pretty much Teen Reads Week (have I mentioned lately that Allyville is a very happening place?)

But in any case, I think it would be great if everyone would celebrate young adult literature this week by referring their favorite YA novels to someone they know.

I'll start.

Right now I'm really loving the Kiki Strike books by Kirsten Miller. They're probably technically for pre-teens, but if you love the Gallagher Girls then you should really give the Irregulars a shot.


And there's a new book hitting shelves this week that I'm absolutely over-the-moon excited about. Something Rotten by Alan Gratz is a new twist on Hamlet, and I can't wait to dive in.



Personally, I'm getting ready to finally read Eclipse, the latest volume in Stephenie Meyer's uber-successful TWILIGHT series. (Broody vampires in love...what's not to like about that?)



I also recently finished TWISTED from the supremely talented Laurie Halse Anderson. (Oh, and while you're in the Halse Anderson section of your library and/or bookstore you can pretty much pick up anything by her because she pretty much rocks.)




So see... there are SO MANY great books and I've only just gotten started! So if you're an adult and you haven't been around a teen book since...I don't know...Sweet Valley High, then please pick up one of these (or another amazing YA book) and see why I now swear that YA fiction (in general) kicks adult fiction's butt.

(That's right. I said butt. Because I'm totally PG-13 that way!)

It's not that I don't really love amazing adult fiction (just look at my overwhelming love for all things Dennis Lehane if you don't believe me), but I have to stand behind what I said: that YA fiction on the whole is better. Sorry folks. But if you doubt me, you know how to prove me wrong...READ A YA BOOK THIS WEEK!

In fact, if you ask me the only bad thing about Teen Reads Week is that the best YA book I've read this year won't be available in stores until next year. It's E. Lockhart's THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS and it's utterly amazing. It's also utterly unavailable, so I guess you're going to have to read one of E.'s other awesome books instead.

So that's my take on Teen Reads week, and it's radical: read a teen book this week--or a lot of teen books, if you're feeling kinda crazy.

Oh, and you know what else you can do? You can COME SEE ME AT THE MANHATTAN, KANSAS PUBLIC LIBRARY AT 7:00 ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

You can do that, too.


Take care everyone. And happy (teen) reading!

Ally


ps...if your local bookstore is out of copies of CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY all you have to do is ask a sales associate (politely) to order more. Seriously. That's the best thing you can do for yourself and for me because that lets the store know what books real readers would like them to stock.


pps...speaking of Dennis Lehane, GONE BABY GONE is finally in theaters this weekend!


ppps...I keep getting emails that tell me that the bad copies of the paperback of Love You Kill You (the version that's missing page 254) are still making their way into readers' hands. If you have one of these bad copies you should be able to return it to the store and receive a "good" copy in exchange. In the meantime, I'm going to try to scan and post page 254, but it might take me a few days.

Secrets, emails, and laptop disasters

Many, many thanks to everyone who has written in the last few days to tell me that you enjoyed CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY or to congratulate me on making the NY Times list or to ask if/when I will have another book out.

Seriously. THANK YOU!

And I have every intention of replying to each and every one of you in the very near future...but not today. Because...

1. the laptop crash has cause all kinds of havoc because first I didn't have a laptop and then I bought a laptop but then I had to take it back and then I had to order another laptop and then it came but it's running Vista and all the software that I have doesn't run Vista so I'm going to have to deal with getting Vista-compatible email software that's good for logging and chronicling my email correspondence (which is ESSENTIAL because otherwise I always end up answering the same emails multiple times).

So see. I'm dealing with a lot of issues just on the laptop front alone.

And then there's reason #2: I can't say anything. Not yet. About some VERY BIG things, and I know if I started answering emails I'd start letting little things slip out and that wouldn't be very professional of me.

So there. I've got secrets. And emails. And laptops. Oh my.

But hopefully in the VERY NEAR future all of those things won't be problems anymore.

Take care, everyone! And have a great weekend!

Ally

A day in the life of a NYT Bestseller!

I'm supposed to feel different, am I not? I mean, it's supposed to feel REAL but it keeps feeling surreal. Even after seeing the whole official list and MY book there at #8.

I'M A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



This is soooooo weird. Good. But weird.

And the only thing I really, truly know and understand at the moment is that you guys made this happen. And I love you every one.


-Ally

POP QUIZ

Hey everyone,

A lot is going on here at the Gallagher Academy these days...I mean A LOT, a lot. But that doesn't mean we should let our educational endeavors slide, so I thought this might be a good time for a POP QUIZ!


1. Where might you find a Gallagher Girl?

a. undercover in a terrorist organization
b. serving in foreign embassies around the world
c. on the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list.
d. all of the above


2. What can Gallagher Girls do if they set their minds to it?

a. develop amazing technology that changes the world
b. cure terrible diseases
c. put a book on the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list.
d. all of the above



3. What things make a Gallagher Girl feel appreciated?

a. receiving a call from the director of the CIA, thanking her for preventing an international incident.
b. seeing the look in a person's eye when she saves their life
c. finding her story on the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list.
d. all of the above


4. What makes a Gallagher Girl feel blessed?

a. having the best friends in the world
b. being able to learn from the best teachers in the world in an environment that's totally free of petty jealousy
c. being on the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list.
d. all of the above



(Hint: the answer to all of the above is D).

WE DID IT, Gallagher Girls. We absolutely, positively did it! And that's not even the BIG news (it's gonna have to wait a day or two.)


Thanks everyone!

Love,
Ally

Story of a National Book Award finalist!

Oh my gosh! I'm soooo happy.

The National Book Award finalists were announced today and one of my absolute favorite books of the year is on the list!




Yay STORY OF A GIRL!

Yay Sara Zarr!

Yay me for having such awesome taste!

And big yay to all the finalists!

Have you guys read this amazing book yet? If not--get thee to a library or bookstore ASAP.


later gators,
Ally

A list of things I *could* blog about except...on their own..they're not all that blog-worthy

We've been getting TONS of hits here in the last week. Which is AWESOME. But I feel somehow like I have to keep blogging because if I stop...poof...all of you amazing people might vanish. And that would be very, very sad.

...like how skewed I've become because for about three days last week CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY's BN.com ranking was TWO DIGITS!!! That's TWO DIGITS people. As in less than a hundred. As in it was in the top 100 books Barnes and Noble was selling. As in I was FREAKING OUT. But now it's down to three digits which...let's face it...still pretty much rocks.

...like FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. I'm sooooo glad that super authors Meg Cabot and Sarah Dessen have taken up the cause of this show because it's beyond good...

...like soup. Why do I wake up every morning craving soup? And soup tureens like they have in the Crate and Barrel catalog. And also cheese dip which is totally crazy because I'm still technically doing Weight Watchers which, thanks for asking, isn't going that well, but that's okay because I'm now better equipped than I was before since I have new tools.

....like a laptop. Yes. I FINALLY got a new laptop which means I can access the internet much more easily and log onto Weight Watchers. com and also do other incredibly important things

...like plan conferences. That's right. It's a biiiiig week for me because this conference that I run is happening and it's busy. Crazy busy. But I've been this way before

...like last year when I was trying soooooo hard to finish Cross My Heart that I actually didn't even go home for Thanksgiving. Do you guys remember that? But it was worth it, right? Because the book is finished--I know. I've seen it. It's prompted many fun exchanges.

...like this one:

Very Cool Independent Bookstore Owner (VCIBO): Oh my gosh! We love it when your books come out.

Me: THANK YOU!

VCIBO: No, thank you! It's always so fun because you've got the cutest readers and they always make our day when they come in to buy your book.

ME: I KNOW! My readers ARE the cutest, aren't they?

VCIBO: They're totally adorable!

ME: Yes! They ARE!


Note: that was not verbatim, but it was pretty darn close to an actual conversation I had over the weekend. Actually, TWO conversations now that I think about it. Which makes me happy...

...like as happy as a person with a really, really high Barnes and Noble ranking sitting in front of her new laptop eating soup.

And that's pretty darn happy.


--Ally

I'm back!

Hi all!

I'm back from my big mega-book weekend. The Kansas Book Festival was fab and the Midwest Booksellers' Association meeting was full of totally awesome booksellers--some of whom were teens themselves (hi Go-Go, Emily, and Hannah!)

But it's late now. And I'm sleepy. So I'm going to have to wait to tomorrow to tell the tale!


later gators,
Ally

THANK YOU!

Hi everyone!

I SO want to go into details, thanking everyone who has been so awesome in the past few days (like Anna who sent me FLOWERS!!! and CANDY!!! and Ren who came to the signing and took pictures and is going to write an article/review about the book, and Amanda for being a Super Librarian, and Trisha and Kelsey and everyone else for braving the rain last night!)

Oh, and Jeff and every at BN for setting the whole thing up to begin with!

And all of my friends and family who came...

And Merritts bakery for making the yummiest cupcakes EVER!

And let's not forget all of you who have already bought the book!!!!

ESPECIALLY those of you who have already READ the book and are already writing, asking about book 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(note to self: don't tell anyone that book 3 is your favorite plot yet--that might freak them out too much)

But I'm tired, gang. And I've got a lot of stuff left this week...

Like the Kansas Book Festival, this Friday, October 5, in Wichita.

And the Midwest Booksellers Association Trade Show in Minneapolis on Sunday...

So I won't go into details. Not right now.

But I will say this:

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.


Happy reading, everyone.

-Ally

One

This post is a lot later today than I'd intended because...well...on the day when I only have one slot, I also have so, so much to say.

ONE

One thing I'm grateful for: my family who always cares.

One thing that makes me proud: that I finished this book--even when I thought I couldn't/wouldn't/shouldn't ever write again.

One thing that worries me: wondering if anyone will like it as much as they liked the first one, and...if they do...how can I make the next one even better?

One thing that excites me: the look on any reader's face when they see a book they've been waiting for.

One thing that scares me: snakes.

One thing that haunts me: the very real possibility that this has all been an elaborate hoax and someday someone's going to tell me that all this is supposed to be happening to some other Ally Carter.

One thing about Cross My Heart I absolutely love: the Mall scenes.

One thing about Cross My Heart I absolutely hate: that it took me sooooo long to find the truest fiction possible.

One thing I'll never do again: fight--instead of follow--the story.

One thing this year has taught me: following your dreams isn't for wusses.

One thing I wish everyone knew about me: when I say thank you for buying my books, I really, really, really, really mean it.

One thing that makes me sad: when people write off books by and about women and call them fluff. Personally, I think LYKY is about predestination and who we would be if we could make up our own identities versus living the lives other people have set for us. But it's got pink on the cover, so of course it can't be about all that.

One thing I really miss: Veronica Mars.

One thing no one knows about this series (yet): where the Gallagher Girls have been is no comparison to where the Gallagher Girls are going.

One thing I'm going to do more of in the future: laugh.

One thing I'm going to do less of: eat.

One thing I hope I never forget how to do: play.

One thing I can't say enough: I have the best editors and agent in the world.

One thing I say too much: I can't do this.

One thing I should never forget: I get paid to do this. I'm the luckiest person in the world.

One thing I hope everyone does tomorrow: honor the Gallagher Girls by being a Gallagher Girl--tell your friends you love them; thank your mom for being your hero; hug your dad; listen to your teachers...and spy on some boy.

One thing that took a year and a half of my life and tested me, and stressed me, and enlightened me, and stretched me, and made me better, hopefully, in many, many ways:



One thing tomorrow means: my work with this book is finished.

One thing the day after tomorrow means: It's time to start all over again.


Thanks, again, everyone for being so kind, supportive, funny, caring, and good. I hope to see you all at the official launch party tomorrow night (Oct. 2, 2007; 7:00; Barnes and Noble, 41st Street; Tulsa, Oklahoma).

In the meantime, good night! And happy reading!

Ally


ps...super big thanks to Kelly for sending me this awesome pic of Cross My Heart on shelves at her local Borders!