Created for Necessity, Employed for Passion

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet"

Let's build a world. Explore what we believe by writing. In many ways my characters’ experiences with fate, destiny and free-will mirror my own. What is up to us and what isn’t? It’s one of the great questions of the human experience, I think. But no matter what is for us to control, we must own the identity. You’re a writer if you write. Period. Writing is a lovely way to spend one’s time. Enjoy it. And I hope you enjoy my writing here.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Ephron and Kaling

Hey you guys,

My dearest darling friend Hannah sent me this article from 2010 this morning. Mindy Kaling watches You've Got Mail...could there be anything better?

http://www.vulture.com/2010/09/watch_youve_got_mail_with_mind.html

I was, and will always be, a huge Nora Ephron fan. When Harry Met Sally was the first movie I saw that spoke to me in a way I didn't know movies could. Her wit was remarkable, her timing unparalleled.  She was, in my humble opinion, the most delightful of combinations...a pragmatic woman with a romantic's heart. I think it's something that Kaling shares, and one of the reasons I adore her.

Read the piece, it's wonderful, and take a little time to remember Nora. If heaven is anything like the Upper West Side I'm sure there is a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils waiting for her.

Lots of love,

R

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

ALA and Updates!

Hey All!

Sorry I've been MIA lately. It's been a packed week! I got back from my first-ever ALA in Anaheim last night and it was so much fun! I met so many INCREDIBLE librarians and my own personal literary hero...Deb Caletti! She hosted a debut panel I was on and I totally fangirled out on her for a full fifteen minutes. She was so gracious, though, and so lovely, and shares so many of my thoughts about writing...and being a writer.

Anyway, please allow me to catch you up in pictures! After all a snapshot is worth a thousand words, right? And I should probably be putting my daily quota into that new manuscript...


First things first I went on an AWESOME boat ride the day before I left for LA...look at Manhattan all tiny and adorable!


Kissy Kissy



Defy the stars!!!! (I so wish I had better handwriting) 


Debut author panel--- we had such a blast! 


Yup...that's me and Deb! You know, just chillin. Me and Deb. Besties. 



Hope you are all enjoying the SUMMER!

Lots of love!

R

Monday, June 18, 2012

The Vampire Diaries or The Story of How I Lost A Week Of My Life

Hey. Hey! You! I AM TALKING TO YOU.

Yes, that's right-- you! You are all responsible for this. The insane up all night can't sleep can't work can't think obsession of the last week.

GUYS, The Vampire Diaries is AMAZING. I totally went on a TV bender. I started the series Tuesday and finished today--- 3 season- you do the math (it makes me nauseous to do it myself). A lot of TV. Too much TV. And yet, and yet---

Let me start off by saying I am (obvs) I huge Kevin Williamson fan. Dawson's Creek basically WAS my childhood. But for whatever reason (work. pride) I hadn't seen one single episode of The Vampire Diaries until last week. But you all changed that. You all with your tweets and "Team Damon!" and "best show on television!"and I was all nuh uh. I saw Twilight, okay? I DO NOT CARE ABOUT TEENAGE VAMPIRES. Now please leave me alone so I can write about some. *That was a joke. Everyone calm down.

But then I watched and...hold on. Can we take a moment to discuss how perfect Nina Dobrev's hair is? Like what is she using on that? Can someone tweet her?

Honestly, the show is a lesson in plotting because WTF OMG HOW DID THEY DO THAT???? IT IS A REAL LOVE TRIANGLE. Like freals, no bs, I switched teams, and now I am lost, and I'm going to need a little time to process what just happened because I think someone compelled me-- get it?

Best line of the series: "I don't want to be a vampire!"

Bella, are you out there? Can you hear us?

ANNOUNCEMENT: I know you all luvvvvv Pretty Little Liars. And Revenge. And True Blood (please please please just STOP), but that is my TV limit for the summer. I have had my fill, and now I must diet. No carbs, people. It's time to get serious.

Because you all want me to write another book...right?

Thanks for the vacation. It was a lot of fun.

XOXO,

Gossip Girl

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Love Triangles

My friend who shall remain nameless because I currently want to kill her (lack of sleep), introduced me to The Vampire Diaries last night. Holy mother of CW this show is amazing--- Kevin Williamson, how did I ever leave you? Oh right, because Dawson's ended up on Netflix.

I'm not far enough into season 1 to know this, yet, but I'm told this show features a true Love Triangle--- like legit, you guys. Which prompted me to start thinking about love triangles in general. It's a nifty trick, I will tell you--- one I employ in my books quite regularly. You set the tension spinning with one and then you up it with another--- it's a way to have anticipation and pay off at the same time-- and to always be building to something (with uncertainty). But is a love triangle ever ACTUALLY a love triangle?

Take the classic Kev example-- Dawson-Joey-Pacey. I don't want to offend people, but was anyone out there actually Team Dawson? Did such a thing exist? Similarly I look at Edward-Bella-Jacob. Team Jacob, can you hear me? Are you out there?

My point: love triangles seemed to weighted in one direction. Heavily. We know who we want, we know who SHE/HE wants, it just takes awhile to get there.

BUT-- glorious but! I have been told The Vampire Diaries is a real, legit, keep-surprising-you-you-have-no-idea-who-you-want love triangle. I am excited! This could be a first.

Tell me--- what is your favorite love triangle? And guys: NO VAMPIRE DIARIES SPOILERS!!!

XOXO,

R

Friday, June 8, 2012

BEA RECAP!!!

Hey guys! Well, BEA is officially over and it was one. awesome. week. So awesome, in fact, that I am spending today in bed sipping on Kombucha and promising my body I will not go to the cupcake place again! It was totally worth it, tho.

I thought I'd give you guys a little recap... in photos!

Okay, so, full confession: I slid into BEA week off a weekend in Miami with my girlfriends. See pics below:

and


It was super fun but I needed a lot of this when I returned:


Green juice!


Anyway... then it was BEA.

Tuesday was crazy busy and crazy fun. I woke up in the morning to do a radio interview--- I think it was, like, 6 am.

Then in the afternoon I had cocktails with the folks at my fabulous publisher, Simon and Schuster. It was fun but then I had to run to the Teen Author Carnival!

I did two panels--- one called "What's In A Name?" (Wonder where they got that title, huh?) and another on "keeping it realistic." It was super good times but alas, I have no pics!

Then it was off to my agency, Foundry's, party in Greenpoint--- and oh man, was that a par-tay. There were girls on roller skates and a huge projection screen with vintage Coppola. Here is a pic of me and my bestie Hannah:



WEDNESDAY was the AMAZING blogger event with The Reading Teen! I have never in my life seen such a magnificent view of Manhattan. Check it out, you guys:


New York was so sparkly!

I had an awesome time with my friends Jenny Han and Julia Devillers:


And my lovely Jess Rothenberg!



I signed all the giftbag books of When You Were Mine--- 60 total!



COOLEST THING EVER: I won these flowers that were HAND CRAFTED by Amy at Reading Teen and made completely out of Wuthering Heights and Harry Potter which you KNOW are my two lucky books! I nearly died and now they are in the most specialist spot in my apartment:


THURSDAY was a debut author event at the lovely Books of Wonder! I got to meet all kinds of fabulous new authors and readers. Here I am with the ever hilarious Meredith Zeitlin:



And here I am NOW. Friday am, sunglasses in bed, no plans on leaving:


Until TOMORROW-- SATURDAY--- When I am going to Books of Wonder with the wonderful Lauren Oliver and our other friends! Please, please come visit us. Here are the event details:

http://www.booksofwonder.com/events060912.asp


Hope you all had a great week and it was SO lovely to see so many of your smiling faces.

XOXOXO

R

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Books of Wonder TONIGHT

Come see me TONIGHT at Books of Wonder at 6! Meet the class of 2012-- lots of awesome debut authors. It will be super fun, I promise.

Full details here: http://www.booksofwonder.com/events060712.asp

Total BEA report tomorrow! xoxoxoxo

R

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Don't Go, Please Stay


This weekend my girlfriends and I took to Miami to celebrate our dear friend's engagement. The weekend was, ahem, fun-- I shall leave it at that. But it came with a bittersweet end. Another best friend has moved from New York, and while we traveled to Miami together, this morning we said goodbye at the airport--- she to LA, for good, and me back to ol' Manhattan.

My friends and I have a long-standing history of hysterical airport goodbyes (in college we nearly stopped traffic on the curb), and this morning was no exception. I love New York. I love that new people come into my life all the time-- but I also hate that many, inevitably, leave.

Melissa, my love, I wish you didn't have to go. The city already sparkless less without you here.

But next week is BEA (Yay!) and we soldier on. Stay tuned tomorrow for my panel list, and tell me--- who is in town and what are you all up to?!

XO,

R