Resolution: Have More Grit
I just saw True Grit starring Matt Damon and Jeff Bridges and Josh Brolin. It was fantastic. But it made me realize how lacking I am in grit. Could you, like Mattie Ross (played by the amazing 14-year-old Hailee Steinfeld, the true star of the movie), endure hangings, gunfights, stabbings, having to sleep next to […]
Best of 2010!
Sure, 2010 had its downsides: the horrible economy, the earthquake in Haiti, the BP oil spill, just to name a few. The weather certainly could have been better. And what was with all those bedbugs? But in what other year has something touched all of us as deeply as the miraculous rescue of those Chileans […]
The Princess Thing
I went to see Tangled this weekend! It was really fun, but of course with the holidays and everything, it got me reflecting on “the princess thing.” Now that I have nieces and a lot of friends who have daughters, I’m always hearing about “the princess thing” from someone. “Please don’t get my daughter any […]
Awesome Gifts, Some of Which You Can Win
If you’re like me, you’re panicking right now, realizing how behind you are in everything, including your Christmas shopping (if you’re shopping for Hanukkah, you’re basically screwed). So here are some ideas for you (for gifts. If you, like me, had a book due last week, all I can say is, welcome to the club […]
The Mark Ruffalo Effect
If you’re like me, you probably spent the holiday weekend eating, shopping, and watching movies. I have to send most of what I bought back because of course I bought it online and it’s way too small (this probably would not be the case if I hadn’t also bought ten boxes of peppermint bark from […]
Giving Thanks
It’s that time of year again. The one where we cease all normal activity and are forced to sit at a dinner table with a bunch of people we probably don’t see that often (or sometimes even necessarily like all that much). In some households, we hold hands with these people, say a prayer, then […]
Combating the Crazies
First everything sucked. Now everything’s crazy! Case in point: Every time you turn on the news, there is some story about how at the airports, they want you to go through one of those X-ray scanners that take a picture of your naked bits! In my opinion, the fact that there might be a nude […]
Avalon High Disney Channel Movie Premiere
It’s finally here! Premiere night for the movie based on my book, Avalon High! And the best part is, this isn’t some snobby premiere out in Hollywood that only the stars are invited to . . . it’s a premiere we can ALL go to, right in our living rooms! Because it’s on Disney Channel, […]
Fight The Suckage
I’m going to make a general statement that some of you might not agree with, but I don’t care. Lately, things seem to suck. Maybe they’re going great for you and if that’s true, fantastic. But if you’re like a lot of people I know, it’s the opposite.
NaNoWriMo, Witchery, and Signs
I guess it’s time you all knew the truth . . . I AM a witch! Or at least I dressed as one for Halloween. I was a good witch, casting spells for peace and hope for everyone.
Sensational
Fall in New York City is always magical (even if none of the tourists seem to be heeding the advice of the fabulous Stefon on SNL), but I’m glad to be home, first of all because Henrietta missed me so much (she hasn’t stopped talking since I walked through the door) and second of all […]
Live from Austin!
I’m in Austin, Texas at the Texas Book Festival! The first thing that happened to me here was that I tried to make my hair really big because everything is big in Texas. Except, it turns out, hair. No one but me wears big hair in Texas anymore, especially in Austin. This ended up not […]
Bullies!
While I was on vacation last week (it turned out to be super nice, by the way) I had a lot of time to think about all this bullying going on. And I started wishing someone would do a poll to find out how many authors were bullied as kids. I bet the number would […]
New Avalon High Trailer, New Mediator Covers, New Everything!
All my husband wanted for his birthday was to relax, so we embarked on a quest to make that happen. But it’s super hard to relax when so much exciting stuff is going on. You know what I’m talking about: Bristol Palin on Dancing with the Stars. Someone finally figuring out an easy way to […]
I’ll Relax When I’m Dead
It’s He Who Shall Not Be Named In This Blog’s birthday next week, and he says all he wants for the big day is for me to relax. Apparently, my lying on the couch watching a ten-hour Say Yes To The Dress marathon does not count as “relaxing.” This, HWSNBNITB says, is “re-energizing.” Much in […]
Sleeping Cowgirls
Good Lord! It has been quite a week. It’s not even officially ALA’s Banned Books Week yet (Sept. 25-Oct.2), but already everywhere I go, all I hear is “This author’s books have been banned!” You can read my interview with the Story Snoops here, where I discuss my personal experiences with (and greatest fears about) […]
Princesses, Unicorns, and Zombies
I’m leaving today for my big signing in Denver (can’t believe it’s tomorrow . . . click here to find out all the juicy details!) to benefit Craig Hospital . . . . . . and also to sneak in a visit my brother (yes, the cop) and my nieces and my mom (who is […]
Nine Years Ago
I checked and it’s been a few years since I posted this. I don’t know how many of you know it, but my husband worked in an office across the street from the Twin Towers, and was sitting at his desk when the first plane hit on this morning nine years ago. He literally saw […]
Lock and Load
If I’ve seemed distant lately, I honestly do have a good reason. And it’s not because I’ve been on some glamorous book tour for Allie Finkle’s latest adventure, which is, believe it or not, in stores now. No, the truth is, my husband has left me.
Johnny Has Feelings
So while I was busy not keeping my promise to blog every day (ha, THAT was stupid) some stuff went on. Here’s what: I saw the movie The Ghost Writer, in which very bad things happen to not one, but TWO writers who are hired to write ghost write a politician’s memoirs. Though I’m not […]
Weather Girl
Like every woman in America this week I had to go see the movie of Eat Pray Love. I will admit I had a little bit of a hard time getting into the book (it’s not my fault. I only have one ovary) but I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, especially the food parts and the […]
Back to School Contest For Teachers/Librarians!
Remember how I said I was going to blog every day? Well, I totally meant to keep that promise. But then someone gave me a case of Back To School Stomach Flu (don’t even ask why this happens every time I go on a plane). Anyway, I’ve spent the past two days with a salad […]
Live from Harry Potter! Arcade Fire! RWA! and More!
More Reports From the Front Lines Okay, so I’m definitely no Christiane Amanpour because I’m finally home and I know I did a horrible job of reporting from the front lines (except for the occasional Tweet/Facebook update). Which sucks because there’s so much I meant to tell you guys (especially those of you who want […]
Reporting live from the front lines of RWA
Hi, it’s me, reporting live from the front lines here at the 30th annual Romance Writers of America conference, where can I just tell you the air is tingling with the excitement of the pre-published waiting to snag a meeting with an editor or agent . . . not to mention the already published hoping […]
Gossip, Lindsay, Covers, and RWA
It’s that time of year again, the time when most of us are off to camp or vacation (or, if you’re Lindsay Lohan, jail). Well, writers aren’t any different. I’m off to Orlando for the ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA NATIONAL CONVENTION. (Yeah, I did get a little excited writing that, thanks.) I’m especially excited to […]
The Palatine Guard Human Resources Handbook
Here are some facts that may have escaped your notice until now, but of which I feel you CANNOT go into the holiday weekend without being made aware: If you hold a sparkler to a mannequin’s dress, it WILL catch on fire. If you go away for the holiday weekend, some kids might make a […]
Reviews
This past weekend He Who Shall Not Be Not Named In This Blog found out his father has to have open heart surgery. Then the US got knocked out of the World Cup (but congrats, Brazil)! Then I couldn’t remember where I was when Michael Jackson died, and everyone on the news kept saying NO […]
Giving Back: Or, You’re Probably Fine
OK, yours are way better than mine. I loved hearing back from so many of you about your secret heart’s desires! One thing about secret heart’s desires, though (besides the fact that they’re supposed to be a secret. So no one has to know that you to want to be, oh, I don’t know, a […]
Secret Heart’s Desire
What’s your secret heart’s desire? I know you have one. We all do (beyond our basic human need for food, shelter, and companionship). Mine’s to find a dead body (NOT someone I know). I know that’s totally gross. But I love the show Law and Order, and I’ve lived in New York City for years […]
Cheese, Eggs, and The Truth
Okay. So this week alone: 1. I had a new book come out. 2. I had an article on Huffington Post. 3. I had to remind myself of the famous Janeane Garofalo quote from The Truth About Cats & Dogs:“You can love your pets. But just don’t loooooove your pets…” 4. Glee had its season […]
Grandmas Have Taken Charge
He Who Shall Not Be Named In This Blog took me to see Killers the other night. (I’ve been feeling a little down about the oil. Who hasn’t been? It’s not here yet in Key West, but according to this map, it’s coming eventually). To my surprise, I left the movies feeling less horrible, which […]
Vampires: Don’t try it at home
I don’t know what you were doing this past Saturday, but I went to my first ever co-ed baby shower. There was beer. Also, gambling (on how much the baby would weigh at birth). At the shower people told me they had just seen John Searles from Cosmopolitan hosting the “Summer Reads Round-Up” on NBC […]
Memorial Day/Insatiable Page
Memorial Day Weekend! Official start of summer! Barbecues, beach, movies, and BOOKS (to be read for fun, not school). I was supposed to get a pool/hot tub combo for my birthday (back in February). Will the new one be ready in time to use this weekend? We’ll see. But something that IS ready? The all […]
Is Your Boyfriend A Vampire?
People of the world, I know you’re sick of vampires. But if we’re going to survive as a species, we’ve got to stop living in denial and face this simple fact: Vampires are real!* You know it’s true. It’s why you’ve been feeling so tired lately. A vampire secretly sucked out a little bit of […]
Insatiable Book Trailer/PW Review
I can’t believe it’s less than three weeks until Insatiable comes out! I’m super excited about it. Because in times like these—when volcanic ash is spewing all over one part of the world, and oil is gushing up from the ocean in another, and we’re apparently going to be without new episodes of Law and […]
Insatiable on the Bidding Block
Now you have a chance to bid on an exclusive sneak peek (and autographed) copy of my new book for adult readers, Insatiable (my first paranormal for adults, not due in stores until June 8), AND do some good for the flooded city of Nashville! Just go here and bid!
Cool Stuff Moms (and you) Will Like
Whether you’re a mom, have a mom, support a mom, or just act like a mom by bossing all your friends around, Mother’s Day is a good day to remember all the comforting things that make us feel happy and good inside, the way moms do (unless they’re that horrible mom from Precious who tried […]
Q and A
I’ve been getting tons of questions recently—everything from “Should I go to the prom even though prom sucks?” to “Does my liking Taylor Swift make me not a feminist?” to “Can I get a copy of your new book Insatiable to review for my book site?” to “Is it true that blond girl from Life […]
Blooper Video/Author’s Guild/Princess Mia
People often ask, “How do you come up with your book trailers?” I thought a look behind the scenes might give you a few hints. Check out my book trailer blooper reel!
FAQs from the Book Festival
Did I have an amazing time in California at the LA Times Festival of Books? Why yes, I did . . . . . . until the tacos I had the other night came back up in the airport security line yesterday morning at LAX. I had them at a really fancy restaurant so I […]
LA Times Festival of Books/TMZ/Girl Gothic
I’m having the best time on my book tour in SoCal (even if I did bring three bathing suits and it’s been too cold so far to go outside in them). But today was the first day of the LA Times Book Festival . . . and it was warm enough for kids to sprawl […]
Runaway Book Tour, Day 1
I’m posting this as I jet across the country toward LA, tens of thousands of feet in the air, thanks to my Go Go in-flight Wi Fi service, which better work because I paid $12.95 for it, and my in-seat TV is broken, which is typical of my day so far, since I woke at […]
Ash Cloud vs. Al Roker
In case you haven’t heard (how could you not have?) a giant cloud of volcanic ash is consuming most of the air space over Europe. Do you think if instead of being all, “It’s so COOL to read about a world where there isn’t enough food to go around and everything sucks. I wish that […]
Stark, Seventeen, Insatiable
Hi. I’m posting this while on the run from Stark Corporate.
Taylor Swift, Scarlett Johansson, and Me
Oh, you didn’t know Taylor, Scarlett, and me hang out together? Well, our shoes do, anyway.
Meg’s Do’s and Don’ts for a Long-Lasting Relationship
Happy Easter and Passover! And of course to those of you who celebrate the NCAA (as at least one person has been doing in my house all weekend), happy that, too! For those of you who missed it, on April 1 I celebrated my 17th wedding anniversary (obviously, I was a child bride). Many have […]
Runaway: Win The Book! See The Video! Check Out The Tour!
In my new book, Runaway, Em Watts is on the run from people who want her out of the way . . . permanently. I feel a bit like I’m on the run myself right now (not from people who want to kill me, so much as from bronchitis), there’s so much going on! But […]
Writer’s Block
I was having the best time in NYC, helping friends to celebrate their birthdays (click here if you missed it), and shopping until I literally dropped, when I was felled by an insidious bronchial infection that was obviously released here in the city by that same terrorist cell that’s been doing such a good job […]
Survivor
What a crazy couple of weeks! And not just because of the Health Care vote, or because I have a new book out, or because of what’s happening to poor Sandra (though I’m still crossing my fingers that the rumors aren’t true, and maybe this is all just one of those celebrity shakedowns that have […]
Get Glitter Girled!
Ladies (and some of you gentlemen). I know what you want. It’s what we all want. What we’ve all been wanting for some time: And that’s to get Glitter Girled! Well, tomorrow, your Glitter Girl dreams will come true:
Keeper Shelf: Albatross by Josie Bloss
Warning: Don’t read Josie Bloss’s new book Albatross unless you have no other plans for the night.* * Edited later to add: Want to win a free copy of this book? Go here. Because when I received a copy of Albatross, He Who Shall Not Be Not In This Blog and I were supposed to […]
Best Movie Of All Time, Oscar Edition!
How many of the 10 nominees for Best Picture have you seen this year? I’ve seen nine out of ten (that’s because I belong to the Screenwriters Guild, so I get sent some of the DVDs for the best original and adapted screenplay category). Which movies did I vote for? Well…
Movie News: Avalon High and The Mediator
As we gear up for Oscar night (I’ve seen 8 of the 10 Best Picture nominees, and am about to see #9! How about you? Best Movie Ever, Oscar Edition, coming to this blog soon!), I just got movie news of my very own. Read it here first… (…or not because it was already in […]
Thanks, Olympics
Dear Olympics, Now that our relationship is coming to an end, I just want to thank you. I will admit that things got off to a rocky start between us. All I really knew about you at first was that you were going to pre-empt a lot of my favorite shows (30 Rock, Mercy, etc), […]
Are you there God? Margaret’s Not OK for Tweens
Playboy! Kissing! Emerging sexuality! Would you buy a book for your eleven old you thought was about these things? Probably not. But if parents go to Judy Blume’s newly updated Barnes and Noble page for Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, that’s exactly what they’re going to find out that the book has in […]
Newsflash
I finally turned in all my revisions (and the copyedits of those revisions)! While I’m adjusting to life back on Planet What Passes For Normal Around Here, I’d like to take a few moments to say:
So You Want To Be Published
Well, now’s your chance! Because you’re going to write an original audiobook story on Twitter! And it’s GOING to get published.
Your Valentine’s Day Mission
Happy Valentine’s Day! So that’s one Valentine you’ve just gotten. And not to give anything anyway, but if you subscribe to my e-newsletter, I know of at least one more you’re going to be getting (it’s not too late to sign up)! I’m always torn about whether to participate in February 14th festivities. Valentine’s Day […]
Keeper Shelf Monday: Fat Cat by Robin Brande
A while ago I started hearing all this buzz about this book, Fat Cat by Robin Brande. Full of romance and comedy and cool science….OK, I’ll bite. But then I heard that it also involved a heroine’s experience being “the fat girl” as well as her experience trying to get healthy. That’s when I REALLY […]
Crisis Intervention
When your husband has a mystery illness (first the broken ankle, now the kidney stones…come on, all you amateur Camerons from House: get to work and figure out what he has!), plus you have multiple manuscripts to edit, you need a little something to take the edge off. And obviously, we’ve seen on Intervention what […]
Birthday Thanks
Thanks to everyone who emailed, Tweeted, and sent me birthday greetings today! You’re all the best! Seriously, that was so sweet of you! I was going to celebrate by going see Avatar because I’m the only person in the ENTIRE WORLD who hasn’t seen it yet and I feel like I’ve fallen behind on my […]
Sometimes, Bad Can Be Good
This past week He Who Shall Not Be Named In This Blog has been passing a bunch of kidney stones. He already has a broken ankle. So, living with him has been a little bit like living with one of those monkeys at the zoo. You know, the ones who look all cute and cuddly […]
Keeper Shelf Monday: Laini Taylor
The thing I think is so cool about the author of today’s book for Keeper Shelf Monday is that she started out as an artist making her own line of cool greeting cards (something I’ve always dreamed of doing!). And then she got a got book published! Plus, she has pink hair! How cool is […]
Picture Books by Meg!
Let’s just concede that 2010 hasn’t gotten off to a very propitious start. Haiti. Authors dying left and right. The entire world (NBC, the Internet, Wall Street, what have you) appearing to have gone insane. My husband still being on crutches. But it isn’t all bad, you guys. Because it’s just been reported that Madonna […]
Robert B Parker
Robert B Parker, one of my favorite writers and creator of the Spenser series, just passed away (rumor has it at his desk, writing) at age 77. If you’re a Spenser fan, you know why I’m so bummed about that. No more Spenser, Hawk, and Susan to look forward to.
Making Fetch Happen
I’m so out of the loop trying to finish my next Allie book, I actually can’t keep track of anything anymore! Like, I didn’t even realize this book was out yet. But it is!
God
When I was a kid, and things like this horrible earthquake in Haiti would happen, I would get really mad at God. Because I used to think God was a kindly old man with a long white beard who lived up in heaven (just like they told us in Sunday school), and who, like me […]
Keeper Shelf Monday
I know you still have money leftover from all those gift certificates you got for Christmas/Hanukkah. Or maybe—like me—you have a winter birthday, and are going to be getting even MORE gift certificates soon (hint). In any case, here’s a book that you’ll want to add to your keeper shelf (in between the Agatha Christies, […]
Precious, District 9, and Alice, I Have Been
It’s cold. Seriously, even the iguanas here in Florida are going into hibernation and falling out of the palms trees onto unsuspecting people’s heads. (OK, it’s not really that cold in Key West. But tomorrow it’s supposed to be going down into the 40s at night!) Obviously, since many Floridians don’t even have heat, during […]
One Minute Movie Reviews
What did you do during this past holiday weekend? Go to the movies? Me, too! I haven’t seen Avatar yet because there aren’t any 3-D screens in my area, and all my friends who’ve seen it say you have to see Avatar in 3-D (on an Imax screen). But I DID see the following:
