TACO PARTY
Since I busted the wall of secrecy on the YA Author Mansion a few days ago, I have been flooded with e-mails . . . AND the doorknob to my room “mysteriously fell off,” resulting in three days of captivity until someone took the door off the hinges and released me.
I don’t care. I won’t be silenced. And I’m going to answer your questions.
No. JK does not live in the mansion. Apparently, though, she knows where it is. At least, she knows where my room is. I don’t think she bothers the others. Alan Rickman, to our best knowledge, is still trapped in a compound in Edinburgh. FREE HIM!
No, but it has fountains out front and a sensory deprivation tank in the solarium.
Oh the hilarity of the pranks at the YA Author Mansion! Most of them have to do with stealing each other’s computers, which is really, really easy, because (as many people have pointed out) we all pretty much have the same one. Every YA author computer I’ve ever seen has been an Apple. So we just switch the computers around and mess up each other’s books, inserting all kinds of characters no one expects.
Someone got his hands on my computer the other day. I was reading through this scene from Suite Scarlett 2, and Scarlett and Mrs. Amberson were talking, and all of a sudden there was this werewolf lurking in the background, reading a copy of Vogue, and I was all like, ‘Where the #%&!$# did this werewolf come from?” I went through page after page after page and all the werewolf did was sit there and make witty remarks about fashion and wine, but then the sun went down and he got all feral and crashed though the window, after which I presume he ravaged Central Park . . .
Anyway, it took me all week to make that right, and THAT’S when I notice the hot air balloon full of monkeys that floated past the Hopewell Hotel window.
I have my suspicions about who this was, and let me just say . . . someone’s alternate military history adventure-romance is about to have an encounter with a harmonica-playing vampire whose major frustration in life is poking holes in his own instrument with his fangs, resulting in a wheezy noise when he tries to play. Oh, there is so much wheezy harmonica in your future, friend. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
I don’t know. You literally wake up in your room. I don’t even know for sure that Stephanie Meyer is in the Judy Blume wing. That’s just a rumor. We keep inviting her to our famous make-your-own-taco parties through intermansion mail, but we haven’t heard from her. Which is really no surprise when you see the guy who runs intermansion mail.
To be honest, I am kind of worried about her. They keep a pretty tight leash on all of us, but I think they might be really hard on Stephanie. It could be that someone is deliberately intercepting our taco party messages. Nothing would surprise me.
Maybe this is the only way I can get the word out: Stephanie, you are totally invited to make-your-own tacos. And if they’ve got you locked up in the house somewhere, give us a sign. We’ll get to you somehow with a taco, even if we have to send John Green through the air duct or make Justine Larbalestier rappel down the side of the building under the guise of “doing Australian exercises.” Let me know! You must be hungry! Say the word and the taco is YOURS. You can use any of the methods I laid out for Katie Holmes in the hamster-eating post.
See the next two comments.
I suspected as much.
Yeah, I’ll get right on that, Libba. How about as soon as you give me back my High School Musical matching underwear set? “Lost in the dryer” . . . .yeah, whatever.
TODAY’S INFLUENCE: LIBBA BRAY
Behold! The first of a TWO-PART video featuring LIBBA BRAY, who, when not stealing my HSM underwear, is my hero. Part two . . . coming soon!
TODAY’S PRIZES:
Today, I am handing out five sleep masks and a book. The sleep masks go to random commenters:
Ambeen
Ari :0)
Hurlax
Wonder-sauerkraut
Theater-love
The book challenge for today was to sign up and participate in the forum. The randomly chosen person who did this is . . . Brittany.
And today I am giving away a signed book to a random commenter, again! But you know what . . . I have some specific questions for YOU GUYS. Here are some things I want to know, in no specific order:
1. Someone told me I should post shorter posts more often. Do you guys like longer posts less frequently, or shorter and more frequent? It doesn’t mean that I will necessarily DO shorter posts more often, but I may TRY.
2. Do any of your live in or around GUILDFORD, ENGLAND?
3. I’ve gotten really interested in what you guys think the various characters in my books look like, especially Suite Scarlett. Do they remind you of any people, do you have any pictures? I WANT TO KNOW!
Also, feel free to tell me anything else that is on your mind. I am always eager to hear your thoughts.
I don’t care. I won’t be silenced. And I’m going to answer your questions.
bridget said...
MJ, I have a pressing question about the YA mansion...does JK live there also? Is she constantly barging in your room looking for snacks (is she the one with the dirty dishes)? More pressing, does that mean poor Alan Rickman is imprisoned somewhere in the vast awesomeness of the mansion? The horror. ;)
No. JK does not live in the mansion. Apparently, though, she knows where it is. At least, she knows where my room is. I don’t think she bothers the others. Alan Rickman, to our best knowledge, is still trapped in a compound in Edinburgh. FREE HIM!
cat said...
Does the mansion have a pool?
No, but it has fountains out front and a sensory deprivation tank in the solarium.
molly 18 said...
What are some of the pranks that you all have pulled on each other?
Oh the hilarity of the pranks at the YA Author Mansion! Most of them have to do with stealing each other’s computers, which is really, really easy, because (as many people have pointed out) we all pretty much have the same one. Every YA author computer I’ve ever seen has been an Apple. So we just switch the computers around and mess up each other’s books, inserting all kinds of characters no one expects.
Someone got his hands on my computer the other day. I was reading through this scene from Suite Scarlett 2, and Scarlett and Mrs. Amberson were talking, and all of a sudden there was this werewolf lurking in the background, reading a copy of Vogue, and I was all like, ‘Where the #%&!$# did this werewolf come from?” I went through page after page after page and all the werewolf did was sit there and make witty remarks about fashion and wine, but then the sun went down and he got all feral and crashed though the window, after which I presume he ravaged Central Park . . .
Anyway, it took me all week to make that right, and THAT’S when I notice the hot air balloon full of monkeys that floated past the Hopewell Hotel window.
I have my suspicions about who this was, and let me just say . . . someone’s alternate military history adventure-romance is about to have an encounter with a harmonica-playing vampire whose major frustration in life is poking holes in his own instrument with his fangs, resulting in a wheezy noise when he tries to play. Oh, there is so much wheezy harmonica in your future, friend. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
nicole s. said...
Maureen, how are the authors placed in the different wings? why was it decided that Stephenie would be in Judy Blume's wing?
I don’t know. You literally wake up in your room. I don’t even know for sure that Stephanie Meyer is in the Judy Blume wing. That’s just a rumor. We keep inviting her to our famous make-your-own-taco parties through intermansion mail, but we haven’t heard from her. Which is really no surprise when you see the guy who runs intermansion mail.
To be honest, I am kind of worried about her. They keep a pretty tight leash on all of us, but I think they might be really hard on Stephanie. It could be that someone is deliberately intercepting our taco party messages. Nothing would surprise me.
Maybe this is the only way I can get the word out: Stephanie, you are totally invited to make-your-own tacos. And if they’ve got you locked up in the house somewhere, give us a sign. We’ll get to you somehow with a taco, even if we have to send John Green through the air duct or make Justine Larbalestier rappel down the side of the building under the guise of “doing Australian exercises.” Let me know! You must be hungry! Say the word and the taco is YOURS. You can use any of the methods I laid out for Katie Holmes in the hamster-eating post.
katie said...
about the mansion: do any of the other authors steal your clothes?
See the next two comments.
e. lockhart said...
Maureen, It wasn't me who borrowed your Wonder Woman costume. It was John Green. E. Lockhart
I suspected as much.
Libba bray said . . .
Maureen, could you please stop taking my Spongebob Squarepants toothbrush? I forgave you for sticking my hand in a glass of water last week and making me pee my pants, but this is really too far. We have standards at the YA Mansion. That's all I'm saying. xo Libba
Yeah, I’ll get right on that, Libba. How about as soon as you give me back my High School Musical matching underwear set? “Lost in the dryer” . . . .yeah, whatever.
TODAY’S INFLUENCE: LIBBA BRAY
Behold! The first of a TWO-PART video featuring LIBBA BRAY, who, when not stealing my HSM underwear, is my hero. Part two . . . coming soon!
TODAY’S PRIZES:
Today, I am handing out five sleep masks and a book. The sleep masks go to random commenters:
Ambeen
Ari :0)
Hurlax
Wonder-sauerkraut
Theater-love
The book challenge for today was to sign up and participate in the forum. The randomly chosen person who did this is . . . Brittany.
And today I am giving away a signed book to a random commenter, again! But you know what . . . I have some specific questions for YOU GUYS. Here are some things I want to know, in no specific order:
1. Someone told me I should post shorter posts more often. Do you guys like longer posts less frequently, or shorter and more frequent? It doesn’t mean that I will necessarily DO shorter posts more often, but I may TRY.
2. Do any of your live in or around GUILDFORD, ENGLAND?
3. I’ve gotten really interested in what you guys think the various characters in my books look like, especially Suite Scarlett. Do they remind you of any people, do you have any pictures? I WANT TO KNOW!
Also, feel free to tell me anything else that is on your mind. I am always eager to hear your thoughts.
posted by Maureen at
10:47 PM
111 Comments:
I like long posts less frequently- it's nicer to have some more to read, and makes posts more re-readable.
And I apparently live 58.4 miles away from Guildford- this surprised me. Guildford is the sort of thing you hear about, but always think will only happen to other people.
Rob
You should definitely do longer posts more frequently. :-P
I like the longer posts less frequently, personally. Especially if they are the size of novels. And it takes a week to read them. And then the next week comes and a new novel is out. And that one takes a week to read. *is really optimistic*
1. Shorter posts more often. I have a short attention span, but I love reading your blog.
2. No.
3. I haven't read Suite Scarlett, and I'm dying. It would be cool if I won, because then I'd be able to answer your question. And I wouldn't die.
WAIT! I forgot. I have a question. Is there an assigned date at the YA Author Mansion for blog updates? Because you, Meg Cabot, and Libba Bray all seem to update your blogs on the same day. Just wondering.
Okay, I know this is totally on the wrong blog page but I figured... well okay I didn't really think. But ANYWAY. I just wanted to say thanks for coming back to the HS (I was there) and such. Don't worry. We just had elections for a new SC pres., so you were safe. :) And.. you might enjoy this, I felt guilty for only reading devilish so I went out and bought the rest of your books. Suite Scarlett was amazing! :D
....so... I think that's it. :)
1. I like the longer post less frequent they are always really funny and I look forward to them.
2. No sadly I live nowhere near Guildford, England.
3. Unfortunantly I haven't read Suite Scarlett yet. I would love to win it. I'm working on getting it hopefully soon. =D
1.I like longer posts less frequently....
2.Sadly I do not live near Guildford....or England in general, although I certainally wish I did because it's a pretty sweet country....
3.Suite Scarlett.....I loved it.....let's see give me a minute and I'm sure I'll have some random comments about it.... Well for one I loved all the theater characters in Suite Scarlett, I'm a violinist and constantly a theater rat since that's where our orchestra spends time, therefore I also love theater and love random theater traditions and old theater people like Mrs. A.....
Also I like Eric and I think he's cute but am pretty upset waiting for the sequel to find out what happens <3 but alas maureen I will wait because I have all of your books and love them!
Oh yeah I like Scarlett a ton too, I like to see myself in her at times in the story, she's even my age, and I love that she herself isn't an actor because even though I love the theater I personally have never really been the spotlight at least not for theater....music is a different story....
sorry for the long comment :)
Oh also Maureen I was wondering I'm a relative newbie to your blog so I don't know if you've already answered this way before but I was just wondering if there was a specific character in one of your books that totally reminds you of yourself and you feel like you're living life through her occasionally.....it's a bit of a weird idea but I was just contemplating it.....
I like your longer posts. A lot. I don't live anywhere near Guilford, England unfortunately. I guess it's unfortunate, we really don't know why you want to know *shifty eyes*. I would LOVE to tell you what I think of the characters in Suite Scarlett, but I sadly do not have a copy yet.
Haikus every few hours.
1. I like all your posts. They make me laugh out loud, even if I don't feel like anything will make me laugh. (Seriously, whenever I need a boost, I read the How to Write a Book Post--it's a classic.) My multimodal theories teacher would tell you to write shorter posts more frequently, b/c internet readers expect shorter things. However, I think you're one of the few who can get away with writing longer posts without losing yoru readers.
2. In my dreams I live in England. Hahahahaha.
3. I only see fully-formed characters in my head if I really make an effort, and even then I have difficulty getting a clear picture of what they look like. I find this very strange, but I've never been able to construct a picture of a character without a concerted effort.
Anything else that is on my mind....uhhhhh....crackers. That is all.
Shorter blogs more often. I usually use the computer once or twice a day in shortish amounts of time. So yeah.
I do not live anywhere near Guildford, England.
1) Longer posts less frequently. That way, when I try to procrastinate things like Model UN, Honors English, or passing biology, I'm able to check every place on the internet three times, and then, if you have a post up, I can procrastinate for that much longer.
2) If I lived around Guildford, England, I would be a much happier person. Unfortunately, I'm getting sunburned in southern California.
3) Uh...hmm. I always imagined Mrs. Amberson to look like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nekomama7/218206776/
(yes, that was a joke. kinda.)
Your glasses are pretty much the best thing ever. In the history of the world. And before the world was ever created. Onto the questions!
1. Medium-sized posts medium-often.
2. I regret to say that Katy, Texas is no where near Guildford, England.
3. I have yet to read Suite Scarlett. Why, why won't anyone take me to BAM?
By the way, a pink stun-gun would only help you in getting Stephenie Meyer to the taco parties. Shock all the guards/large rocks/etc. blocking the door and get her out of there!
I vote for longer posts less frequently. They're fun to read!
Mrs Amberson definitely looks like this: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afbeelding:Madonna_by_David_Shankbone.jpg
and Marlene like this: http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/040624/104747__vampire_l.jpg
Oh yes. Loved that book, by the way. Read it breathlessly, while have a huge cross-eyed headache but I was not to be stopped, must read. Thank you for rescuing me from the vortex of dreaded pain, Maureen Johnson! So looking forward to part II. And I've got Girl at Sea lined up too, yay.
Longer posts are way way better. And no I do not live near Guildford, England!
Also, I loved the video. I think I was crying, laughing.
Hey, Astor Place. That's one of my favorite parts of New York. The Strand in one direction and 7A in the other. Have you ever eaten at 7A? I rarely fail to eat there when I am in Manhattan.
1. I'm surprised no one has suggested longer posts, more often. That is my vote.
2. According to Google Maps, I live 3572.263 miles from Guildford.
3.Though I carry vivid pictures in my head while I read a story, they are hard for me to put back into words. It's like typing English into an online translator, and then re-translating the result into English.
1. long posts less frequently cuz then it's more fun to read
2. srry MJ, nada on the England, i live in the great northeast of NEW England here in the US, but not the country of England.
3. honestly, Spencer from Suite Scarlett slightly reminds me of a character on a t.v. show. ever hear of iCarly on Nick? ironically, the character's name is also Spencer. so there you go. googling should probably work if you haven't heard of it.
love the forum!!
*Emilee
1. Personally, I love the long posts. As rancor said, they are like novels. Really, really, really awesome novels.
2. Is an ocean and half a country away considered "around"? If so--I do!
3. Alas, I still have to read Suite Scarlett. So far I do not know any living versions of your characters. :/
P.S. The Libba-Bray-snorting-her-drink clip completely made my day. (Kinda makes doing the same thing a few weeks ago seem a lil' more awesome.)
1. the same size posts more often (i know its not a choice but it should be)
2. no, should i
3. ive never read any of your books because 1)you havent given me one 2) im to cheep to buy one 3)im too lazy to order it from the library
is the mistake product placemnet, i highly doubt it is but yeah i now know where you get coffe/tea starbuucks i am going to stalk you now to because you know how few mny starbuckes there are
and do you know anyone with a z for an s on your keyboard because there mathbook killed your a and s keys so they poped off their z key and poped it on their s key spot so they now have an empty z and a spot that are really anoying
1) I have to agree with Jessica-ca-ca... medium posts, medium often. Although long posts are wonderful, and often is wonderful, I would feel guilty if anything else of yours were snatched out of the dryer while you were distracted writing us lengthy blogs all the time.
2) Um. No. I have to say not. :(
3) I'd love to answer! ...after I've read Suite Scarlett, that is.
1. longer less frequently.
2. I live extremely far away from England. I wish I lived there, because then i'd have a cool accent. But at the moment all I have is a Boston accent, which people make fun of. Especially my frequent use of the word wicked.
3. I just finished Suite Scarlett and it was amazing!!! Unfortunately, i don't think about what the character's look like all that much...but Marlene reminded me of my own little sister. a lot.
I prefer longer posts more frequently. =)
I particularly enjoyed your mistake that Meg Cabot wrote Star Wars. Because, as everyone know, she wrote Star TREK. Worry not, the two are often confused. :)
I'm with rancor. longer posts more frequently. the more we hear from you the better.
but in all honesty, i prefer the longer posts because they give me more to read, provide more laughs, and more satisfaction. Sometimes short posts just feel--lacking.
I live far from England...sadly
Of course, I ADORE your characters, but no one i know really seems to act like them. Quite a pity. I could use more theater in my life. :)
hey, i just finished suite scarrlett and it was AMAZING! oh, and i love the YA mansion. so cool and funny. i absolutely loved suite scarrlett! i read it in a night and a day!
I would prefer longer posts more often, like someone else suggested. But, aside from that, longer posts less often would be fine too. I just like your longer posts. There's more funny in each entry that way!!
Also, I see that someone else has beat me to the punch in regards to the video mistake. But, like that other person, I will comfort you with the thought that it is a simple mistake to make. They both have the word "Star" in them and the second word in each of them has 4 letters. They also both have the letter R in the second word. So don't worry about the mistake- everyone makes it sometime.
Oh, and if by "live in or around" you mean "on the other side of the Atlantic", then I offer you a resounding "YES!" to that question.
1. Shorter posts more often.
2. No, I wish I lived in England though.
3. I haven't read Suite Scarlett yet, so I couldn't tell you who the characters reminded me of. Maybe if I won a copy, I would be able to tell you. (why yes that was a big fat hint that I want a Suite Scarlett copy)
1. I like long posts I can look forward to
2.Alas, no
3. Your characters remind me of what brilliance would look like if it was people. >_>
I really would adore a book.. I even walked a mile or so to Indigo to buy it... and then I remembered it's Victoria Day.. a Holiday.. Nothing is open.. So I sadly dragged my feet back home.. uphill this time : C
I love frequent long posts, but I wouldn't be sad if you posted, let's say, a short post every single day, and then a long post every few days. It would give me something to look forward to :-) I would also love to look forward to a signed copy of Suite Scarlett *wink wink*
question 1: i would rather longer posts less frequently. they tend to go the longer, the funnier.
2)No but I live around chez Johnson.
3) I relate almost every character i read to someone I know. The ones that stuck out the most for me were Aidan (a compilation of many people), Avery Dekker (my best friend Heather), Mel Forrest (my cousin,Becca. Strangely, I went to school with a Mel Forrest), Nina (My other best friend Cara), Mrs. A (Jk Rowling), Owen (a freshman I knew from my school's play who I amost dated but he was too shy and I was too... mto do anything), and Spencer (A mixture of my friends steve, mike, and pat with a little bit of buster keaton). I WISH I knew someone like Keith Dobson! (Keith and Spencer are tied for best male character in any of your books.) I think I'm most like a mix of Scarlett (up for an adventure), Jane Jarvis (snarky and sarcastic), and Lanalee (>.< who's not a little devilish though?)
1. I love long posts. Most writers don't have too much time to write a lot -and though you don't post super often, I really enjoy the long posts. It makes me feel like you are making time to talk to us personally.
2. Nope.
3. I can't say that anyone reminded me of a particular character, except my friend Rosalie did remind me of the Bermudez Triangle book as a whole, because she was unsure of her sexuality and by the way - that book was beautiful and I loved it.
Your hair looks nice in that video.
And you know, it is amazingly hard to win things. I've never been good at winning things by luck or chance, and I'm not starting now, I guess. It's alright though, no hard feelings.
even though i know he looks nothing of the sort, whenever i think of spencer martin i think of my friend spencer myler...he's tall and gangly and has hazel eyes and spiky dirty blond hair and a very pronounced Adam's apple.
i will post a picture of him on my blog. my name is a link to it.
for the first question, i prefer shorter posts more often. not those 1- or 2- sentence posts, but maybe a paragraph or two to read every couple days instead of a long post every week or so.
as for what's on my mind... chocolate peanut butter. There was this guy selling homemade peanut butter with chocolate chips at the bottom, which you then stick in the microwave and melt and mix together... soooooooo good :)
1. I like longer posts more often! just kidding. actually i wasn't. but i do prefer longer posts.
2. noperooo, wish i did though. boston for me.
3. I LOVVED SUITE SCARLETTTTT!!!!!! i finished it 5 minutes ago! it took me like a day!!! it was fantastic!!! yeah, so anyways.... i think keith in 13 little blue envelopes looks like Ron from harry potter. so cute. red head. brit. actor. it goes. and eric looks like my friend henry, but that really doesn't help you. He's very cute =) Spencer was really tall and skinny and realllly cute. longish hair. and mrs. amberson had shortish dark brown hair and a dancers body (long and lean and skinny) and didn't have any wrinkles cuz of botox. but she still looked old. heee. yeah thats really it. lola, a supermodel. idk about scarlett. i'm still trying to figure her out.
so anyways....I LOVED ITTTT!!!!!!!!! i can't wait for the next one!!! oh my friend had a singing recital and she sang take a chance on me by ABBA and i got really excited.
I like longer posts less often.
Most definately longer posts more often. I mean, I know life in the mansion is busy but it would be nice of you to show your face more often.
Oh, and Oklahoma is where it's at.
You know, it being cows.
1) I definitely prefer longer posts less frequently. They're like a gift when they do come. Have I said lately how much I love your posts, and how they always cheer me up and make me smile? You really do have a gift for humour.
2) No (apparently I live 3325 miles away). I wish I did, though! I would love to be in England right now, for many reasons.
3) This is an interesting question - when I read books, I usually have an exact picture in my mind of the setting. For example, I have vivid images of what I think the hotel looks like (down to each room, the layout, and the lobby). However, I never have a clear physical description of the characters in my mind - I always think of them in terms of energy, movement, or thought, like I am inside them looking out. So I guess I can't help you with this question. Sorry!
Also, I finally got to read Suite Scarlett and I LOVED it - a separate email may be coming your way... (as if you're not bogged down enough with email lately, now that you blew the YA Mansion's cover. :))
1) no. I love your long posts, shortere ones wouldn't be as funny
2) no, unfortunatley i've never been to europe, except in books (13 little blue envelopes...)
3) I picture Scarlett like on the book cover, Lola kinda like that really skinny really white girl on the lastest ANTM, i 4get her name, spencer, um, not really anyone, maybe a younger Orlando Bloom, Marelene a young Dakota Fanning. No one else really.
I just want to say also that your blogs are hilarious and I love reading them! they are just about the highlight of my day!
Ooh and I'd LOVE a signed Suite Scarlett, but get it if I don't ;D
oh sry also if i do win, (mayb...) where do i send you my address?
1. Both! I like variety.
2. No, but I am willing to relocate if your next giveaway happens to be a one-way ticket to Guildford, England.
3. I cannot answer this until a. I win a copy, or b. the library gets a copy (and since they just unbanned me -- I have trouble with returning things in a timely manner -- I don't think they'll be eager to listen to my recommendations for what books they should add to their collection).
- Celeste
1. i think i like the longer posts. but i would also be ok with the medium posts medium often idea.
2. sadly, i have never been to england, even though it is a short 13 hour plane ride from here. i have always wanted to be british so i could say "wanker" and sound like i am intelligent rather than a wanker.
3. here is the thing that struck me about scarlett's appearance: the way you describe how her hair becomes anti-gravitational as soon as the calendar turns to june. my own curly hair shows the same flagrant disregard for the laws of gravity come summer when it's short, and has my whole life, as evidenced in this picture taken circa 1991. i hope you don't have to ask if i am the girl on the right or the left. also, notice how all of my hair isn't even in the picture. the top is cut off. a 4x6 picture could not contain the grandiosity that is my hair. when it is long, my hair tends to fall flat on top, and grows out instead down, creating something of a triangle effect. an upside-down yield sign, if you will. i have lots and lots of pictures of this as well, but i think i'll spare you!
p.s. your "funny as a dialysis machine" line was inspired. i think i may have to borrow in reference to myself, because that is about how funny i am.
p.p.s. i love the nerd glasses. and the obama shirt!
Is the mistake in the video that there is no mistake? And did you steal Hank Greens awesome glasses?
*sleep mask*
1. Please stick to long hilarious posts, even if we only get them once in a blue moon, MJ. Please. How else will we get the scoop on the YA Author Mansion? Many of us hope to live there too someday--we need to know all we can. (I'll bring my taco supplies if I ever get in, and coerce Stephenie Meyer into having some tacos as well....Unless, and I don't know if these has crossed your mind yet, but Stephenie might be a vampire and not particularly into tacos. Vampires tend to have an aversion to cooked meat, y'know. I'm just sayin'.)
2. I am just as far from Guildford, England as you are, ma'am, living here in NY, and all.
3. Well, I'm currently in love with Spencer from Suite Scarlett...to me he looks rather like Luke Barats from the YouTube comedy duo Barats and Bereta (search for them if you haven't yet, Maureen. They're awesome.).
That's it. :D
1)No, keep the long and infrequent posts, they a little spice to my life, what with me wondering if MJ posted today or not, and then forgetting for a whole week and come to find out she posted THREE times while was gone! It makes my days happier.
2)No.
3)Scarlett looks just like Scarlett. Probably because she's been staring at me for 5 months. Spencer is kind of a blur still. Mrs. Amberson reminds me of an older non-tattoed, taller version of Kat Von D. DON'T AKS ME WHY?
Is the mistake the fact that you don't wear glasses, or that those look like John Green's glasses. Did you steal those in retaliation to his stealing of your Wonder Woman costume?
1. I like the longer posts, but don't be afraid to make short ones! If you have a mini-idea for a post, go for it! It's like doing a doodle instead of a full-out drawing. Doodles can be awesome in a way completed pieces of art cannot! Or, to put it into author-y terms, it's like doing a short story instead of a novel. Not all ideas can become novels! Some are short stories and that's all there is to it!
1. I like long posts! they're more time consuming and more fun to read.
2. I do not live in or around Guildford, England.
3. no one really looks like anything, except for Spencer, who looks like a younger version of Jim from The Office. mostly because I started reading Suite Scarlett after I watched the Office. I love Spencer. :)
honestly mj, I just like it when you post. Would I like them more often? Sure. But I think I appreciate the long ones more. So yes. Just keep on keepin' on :D
p.s.
Maureen Johnson, you are my hero.
1. I like both. Both are amazing.
2. No, I do not.
3. I haven't read it, yet.
Hey MJ,
How do you come up with the names for your characters? Do you say KAZAM and they pop into your had just like that...or do you spend days thinking about them? Do you start working on the plot or name your main character first?
oh yeah...about your characters.
you know, it's weird, I just recalled reading 13 little blue cuz that was the first book of yours I read, and I had a really hard time picturing Keith. Like I pictured him opposite of what you described him as, like, skinny and tall...I can't really describe what I thought he looked like but yeah....
I haven't read Suite Scarlett yet but it's up there on my summer reading list! ;)
i like your long posts! i think long posts slightly less frequently is better ... there's the delight of anticipation as opposed to the instant gratification.
I do not live around Guildford, England ...
Currently I'm slowly but surely working my way through all of your books. I've read "The Keys to the Golden Firebird" (i cried finishing this one), "Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes" and I'm working on both "Devilish" and "The Bermudez Triangle"
So far my favorite character has been Ginny. She's just so spunky-yet-naive-and-slightly-paranoid. Actually she reminds me a bit of me, which is why I suppose I like her so much. Anyway, I imagine her to look quite a bit like Emma Roberts, only with straight hair.
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2784270080/nm0731075
I picture Keith as looking quite a bit like William Mosely of Narnia fame, only with redder hair. and freckles.
I imagine Mel from "The Bermudez Triangle" to look like a younger version of Rachel Leigh Cook, only with long, pale orange hair.
http://www.hairfinder.com/celebrityhairstyles/rachelleighcook.jpg
If I'd read Suite Scarlett yet, i'd be able to say something about how i visualize those characters ... but I haven't, and my library won't get it in for a while. I may go buy it at borders if my name isn't drawn from this random pool of commenters. I don't know yet. It's a tie between Suite Scarlett and The Host by Stephenie Meyer.
Anyway, right now I'm reading the Bermudez Triangle and loving it. It covers some fairly non-fluffy subject matter, but you get quite a bit of humor in without making the book seem just a bundle of fluff. By the way, it is a rare book that makes me laugh out loud. So far ALL your books have gotten MAJOR laugh out loud points!
The mistake in your video ... Meg Cabot wrote Star Wars?
hmm, is that too obvious?
Anyway, I am spreading the word about Alan Rickman and his plight, ignoring the "she's finally lost it" look i get when i start talking with a perfectly straight face about how he's being fed only jam ...
What's on my mind is sleeeep right now. Off to study the inside of my eyelids.
A question: Where did you find those AWESOME glasses from the video? They are fantastically wonderful!
1) I think you should post incredibly long posts every other day. I know that's asking a lot when you have John stealing your clothes and hair accessories (yeah, I know about that) but it would make for the BEST couple of months EVER. Also, I think you should kidnap John's dog. That's completely unrelated, but he's real cute. And maybe you could get your stuff back if you sent him ransom notes.
2) Uh. No. This makes me sad.
3)I think that Spencer reminds me of my perfect man. I relate well with Scarlett, which makes the whole in love with Spencer thing pretty creepy, and I wish I had someone as cool as Mrs. Amberson in my life.
P.S. WRITE MORE NOT LESS.
i like reading your long blogs its how i pass computer class, like right now i am suppose to be creating a website, but this is better. I'm probably a trillion miles from Guildford,England but I have a giant jar of MARMITE. Does that count?
ALSO in my biology class we all exempted out of finals, so my biology teacher is teaching ZOMBIE LESSONS! last class we created a zombie escape plan (ours was to be surrounded by a group of real people so they could take one for the team if we were detected. and feral cats. lots of them)NEXT class we are learning how to dance to THRILLER!!!!!!!!!!!
did you also know that crazy ants are invading texas?
lanalee and the cupcakes are my favorite. sorry about all the comments but i have to close out every time my teacher walks by.
1) Long posts. They're nice to read and stuff.
2) I live in Singapore.
3) It isn't here at Singapore. I asked everwhere! :(
More PICTURES. Aha, I'm weird...
Hard questions... I think that no matter how often you post, people will always be waiting for it. And it is much more fun to read a long post after waiting than to wait and wait, just for a short one.
It's sunny outside! Sooo sunny! And I should be studying math. ._. But I simply must have a walk outside first! ^^
I don't like short posts! Short posts make me feel deprived. It's a sad feeling. I get emotional.
I live near Guildord if by "near" you mean "other side of the world." Which I don't think you do. Unless you are being sneaky.
Usually when I picture characters in my head... they don't look anything like what anyone else would ever imagine. Even when the characters are described I think of them differently. IE, short redhead with freckles becomes blonde, afro and tan. But I decided to do some research on what Scarlett's little sister looks like to me. I can't remember what you described her as, but this is what she looks like in my head: http://blogs.tampabay.com/movies/images/2007/09/10/abby.jpg Except a little bit more round and a surly frown and long, stringy brown hair. (And when I was looking pictures up, I found this link, too. http://www.spout.com/Avatars/Members/14671.jpg I don't know why that came up when I typed in pre-teen girls, but it did. Is she a vampire? Is this what the book series is really going to be about?)
Oh! And, are you a vegetarian? Because I've been skimming through your entries and you mentioned that hummus is to you what hamsters are to Zac Efron... and Tofuti ice cream! And I don't know any omnivores who would touch Tofuti with a ten foot pole. Are you a vegetarian or just a really awesome omnivore?
1) Definitely longer posts. Longer is always better (well, not really, but in your blog it is). Also I would love to see more videos, they're always hilarious.
2) Nope, I do live in the same continent though
3) I haven't read Suite Scarlett yet, unfortunately, because I can't buy it in Norway (where I live) and I don't have money to buy it of Amazon right now. So basically, I think you should send me a copy (if you send to other countries)
Erm, I live in New England. That's almost the same, right?
YA mansion! Does this mean that when I become a super-famous author for some awesomely-incredible book I automatically get invited/kidnapped into the YA-Mansion-Society?
1) I don't really have a preference; it'd all work out to the same volume of postage overall, wouldn't it? So either way I'd be happy. :D
2) I live in London, and Dad says that Guildford is less than 40 miles from here. I'm going to take his word for it, because my knowledge of geography is unbelievably bad.
3) None of your characters look like any real people I know of. I could try drawing pictures for you, but my drawing skills aren't really up to it... :/ Apart from their hairstyles, everyone would look the same.
I love the longer posts. They always provide a hilarious break during the day. As to the character question (btw I absolutely loved Suite Scarlett), I know it completely doesn't match the description in the book, but for some reason I thought of the actor Jackson Rathbone as Eric while reading. I have no idea why.
1. I like longer posts as much as possible. If they were shorter posts more often, I would definitely fail my exams; now I'm only probably not going to do quite so well because if you start procrastinating, you can't stop!
2. Yes I do! I'm about 25 miles from there, and I went to see Harry and the Potters play there. Plus the Spectrum is where everyone goes to ice skate when it's not Winter (so no Hampton Court Palace/Somerset House/Kew Gardens ice rink, sadly; not that I even ice skate because I'm too scared of the whole falling on the ice and getting a limb sliced open by a malevolent skater thing) and it has cheap shops.
3. I've not read Suite Scarlett, much to my distress, but I did find 13 Little Blue Envelopes in Waterstones the other day and will read it the second aforementioned exams are over (i.e. Friday evening, :D yeah!).
Have a nice day!
Since you brought up the hamster-eating thing again, I would just like to point out I might not be Katie Holmes. According to a quick google search of the name Katie H, I'm also a sportfishing boat from New Jersey, a fifth grader at Main Elementary school, and a girl who reviews local business's in Chicago.
Anyway...
1. I like longer posts less often. I read approximately 96, 342 author blogs, so if you don't have a new post that day, its likely someone else will, so its not like I'll feel lonely and unloved all day.
2. Not at all.
3. I haven't read SS yet, but a lot of the characters in The Bermudez Triangle remind me of friends of mine in kind of a creepy way. Like Steve reminds me of this girl I know. Odd, I know, because Steve is most certainly a boy, but he reminds me of her.
Also, a question: When do authors move into the YA mansion? Does the publisher tell you to do it? Or is there a team of mobsters who comes to your house after your first books is published, blindfolds you, and takes you away? The world wants to know.
LOL...Meg Cabot wrote Star Wars!!! I love it!!!
1. Long posts are better I think
2. No
3. I have trouble picturing real people as characters in books...
i'm digging the obama shirt, it's super groovy and i want one now. :]
YOU AND JOHN GREEN HAVE TWIN GLASSES!!! i'll admit, thats all i was thinking about when i watched your video. Long posts EVERY DAY!! oohh that would be great lol.. but then you might run out of awesome things to talk about, and that wouldn't be so great. So how about every other day??
DFTBA!!!
-becky
Okay, so amazing video btw. Onto your questions:
I am a HUGE fan of short frequent posts. I am not a writer of short and frequent posts on my personal blog (though I used to be). I understand how difficult they can be, but they are so much easier to get excited for. Instead of randomly hyping up one day, they hype up entire weeks with anticipation!
No, I don't live in England. I live in NYC, just like you! Yay!
And I haven't read Suite Scarlett yet, so I'm not sure what she's even described to look like . . . which reminds me, I'd love to be the winner of a free copy!!
Thanks :D
Maureen, I'm hungry and would like some ice cream.
Well that, and what does Libba Bray have to hide her face for? Is she going to be locked up forever in the YA Mansion if she shows her face in public? WHAT IS IT???
1.I think your long posts are great!They pretty much make my day!
2.I wish I lived in England!!!I live in New Mexico where things are dead and dry.
3.I still haven't read Suite Scarlett!!It is making me CRAZY!
I think Ginny would look sort of like Rachel Bilson.
Brooks to me looks kind like Blake Lively.
Mel reminds me of Olivia Thirlby.
I don't know about the rest of your characters.Now I have something to think about!1
Definitely keep the long posts, mj.
1. post when you wish however you like but keep posting
2. yes I do
3. I have never read any of your books only your blog but I think you should send the free book on offer to that person in Norway.
I saw that in the video you were wearing an Obama T-shirt. I live in Portland, Or. and got to see him speak last Sunday. I got a really bad sunburn but it was awesome anyway.
Is the mistake in the video that you were wearing glasses?
A little off-topic, (but intertextual!) I was reading John Green's Question Tuesday blog entry, where one of the questions addresses the fact that many YA authors use macs, and among the many reasons John gives for why macs rule is because "there are really cool Mac-specific writing project managers that people like Maureen Johnson and Scott Westerfeld swear by."
What, praytell, are these programs? Just out of curiosity?
P.S. I prefer longer posts less frequently.
1. Given a choice I prefer shorter posts more often as, like renata said, they're easier to get excited for.
2. I live about 200 miles away from Guildford so it's not DEAD near. But as England's so small, everything's quite near each other and so I don't live really far away from it either.
3. I don't think any of your characters remind me of famous people etc.
I have a math test tomorrow! D: About analytical (?) geometry. And I just tried to study for it, and I realized that I know nothing about analytical geometry... :S Okay, maybe something, but nothing hard.
I don't know what the name of the math thing really is in English, I just translated it like it is in Finnish. But it's math with x:s and y:s and points and lines and circles and hyperbolas and stuff. In other words, math about things that exist only in the world of coordinate systems, not here. >.< I've never seen a hyperbola outside the mathbook in my life!
Don't get me wrong, I like math, in a way. But not the day before test.
You promised that I could tell what's in my mind. Now I have. Thank you. :)
1. All posts superb.
2. Yes, very close to Guildford near Alton (bumpkinland).
3. Characters in head usually made up.
1. Longer posts. Shorter posts would not do your brilliance well.
2. Sorry, I have been there though. Go to Lazerquest!
3. I've only read 13LBE, so I can only say something about that. if I have to picture Keith like someone it would be like a younger and less dead version of Mason of Dead Like Me (and probably better dressed, without holes in his underwear =P). I don't know why really, maybe because of some similarities in their characters.
1. Posts of any length all the time
2. No, but I'd certainly like to.
3. THey look a bit like people
Questions:
1. Do Justine and Scott get to share a room in the YA author mansion...you know, since they're married?
2. Do you all have some sort of Hogwarts-esque spell to keep the mansion secret?
I, for one, prefer longer posts less often; I fall behind otherwise. Also, longer blogs tend to be more entertaining.
Sadly, I live in Alaska, not England. Or, perhaps, not so sadly. I rather like Alaska.
And, I finally aquired a copy of Suite Scarlett, and as soon as I read it, it dissapeared; it's being passed on to my other friends. I can only hope that I see it again eventually...
1. Definitely the long posts, otherwise much amusingness would be lost.
2. I am oh so very close to Guildford, England for about half the year. For the other half of the year I'm off at university. But back home = 10 minutes train ride from Guildford, and since I live in a small village, I go to Guildford any time I need to shop. Especially if I need to shop for books (although I'm sad since they closed one of the big bookshops and turned it into a Monsoon instead). Oh, and I went to school there. I must also concur with Tobias when he tells you to go to laserquest (the one by the Friary bus station, not the one in the Spectrum) since it is made of awesome, and he knows this even though I personally kicked his arse both times he went there ;)
3. I have a very clear mental image of Jane Jarvis, but I can't think who she resembles. Her hair is impossibly blonde though (a sort of bleached-to-almost-white colour). And thanks to your blog, the Spencer in my brain now looks like that guy from the video.
1) Long posts are more fun to read. Because there's more awesomeness.
2) No...although that sounds like a very nice place.
3) Unfortunately I haven't read Suite Scarlett, because my library is seriously messed up and doensn't have it. And I haven't been able to buy one, which is driving me crazy because everyone except me is reading it and enjoying its awesomeness and I'm not.
Yay for fountains and sensory deprivation tanks.
I <3 both you and LB!!!! You're both so hilarious, it makes me laugh so hard I cry...
okay done crying. Blog MORE!!!
lmao, oh, you and libba should write a book together like rachel cohn and david levithan. it would be so funny tina fey would go extinct. funny stuff, funny stuff.
what was that last song you used btw?
i still have yet to get suite scarlett. i saw it in b&n the other day but i was out of money. and seeing that my name is winona, i don't think shoplifting would be such an idea seeing what happened to winona ryder...i would however love to win a copy...lol.
and it doesnt matter what type of posts you write. they're all funny. i like when you show lots of pictures explaining your random train of thoughts.
MJ
I've had a long week and I can tell you have lots of long comments so Ill save the details and go into a summery... it should only take an hour to read!
1)my partner in crime at school has been gone all week except yesterday but that ended in doing the mile run in p&e and that didn't help her
2) i've read barly any of suite scarlett cause my teachers have been piling on the Home work
3) cant think of a third reason but i'll get back to you on that
the cooolest thing is that my brother got home from Hippie School University and my Voice teacher told me that she's going to start teaching me how to sing in differentd languages and prepare me for if I ever get to sing a duet w/Josh Groban i just needed to vent all that now i'll answer ur ?
1) you should have the same size posts more often:)
2)I wished i lived in england and had an awesome acent (its all about the acent
3) My family is all about theater so I love spencer(hope thats spelled right
i really have nothing else to say except
do they give you free food in the YA house thing
1. No! I like the longer posts! They're worth waiting for!
2. No again, though I wish I did.
3. Hmm...well, Lola is my friend's cats name, and my friends cat shares a lot of the same characteristics as your Lola. Like, she's very poised and refined, and stuff. And she's sorta slinky. And Spencer reminds me of a guy friend of mine.
4. Tacos.
-Jacleen
1) Honestly, whatever's easiest for you. Between writing and trying to dodge pranks from all the writers, it's a wonder how you find time to blog at all!
2) I don't live anywhere near Guildford, England. I do want to go to England some day though.
3) I haven't read Suite Scarlett yet (hoping to win a copy), but I've read Girl At Sea (which is awesome! I want to buy it asap), and for some reason I picture Clio as Emma Watson. (link to a picture: http://i.d.com.com/i/dl/media/dlimage/15/92/55/159255_large.jpeg ) I haven't read it in a while, so I don't know if their eyes match, but that's who I picture for Clio.
Oh, I have a question for you. Ally Carter is currently blogging about her new pantry and the installation of her cabinets and new front door. Is this a bluff and she also lives in the mansion, or is she one of the free ones? Does she need a body guard?
1. Longer but less frequently. The posts are much more interesting that way (not that i don't think you could do funny short posts - but I like to laugh for a while, not laugh for two second - and stop - then laugh again for another two seconds. Does this make sense?)
2. Nope.
3. Normally, I just make up how the characters look in my head. This is probably an annoying answer because there are no pictures. Sorry.
Hello, it's me again. I just wondered, do you have to like English (the subject, at school I mean) to become a writer? Okay, that sounded funny... But please try to understand what I'm trying to say. ^^ I mean... Is it more common that writers have been in love with English lessons or that they haven't? Is loving English same as loving writing?
My head's a bit fuzzy today, sorry.
1) Nah, I like the longer posts.
2) No, but I wish I did. I've never even been outside the country.
3) Um, not really. Palmer kind of reminds me of my ex-neighbor who I haven't seen in like 7 years.
1. I like the it when you make them long. Long is good. Wait, that wasn't supposed to be so dirty.
2. Not that I know of.
3. No, not really. Everyone I know is kinda dull, unlike the people you write about. Now that I think about it, my aunt kinda looks like you.
1.Long, funny, entertaining comments are the bomb! Keep doing what you're doing!
2.No, not at all.
3.No, my life is absolutely non-book related. Nobody is at all half as amazing as any one of your characters. You'd think that I'm exaggerating, but I'm not.
free mask plz!
You want to know what is on my mind? Fine, here goes.
So, today during field day some of my friends and I were having a peace rally.
Gym teacher: STOP HITTING THAT STUPID TAMBOURINE! STOP WITH THE TRIANGLE TOO! STOOOP!
Us: We'll stop when war stops!
*proceeds to get hit by war lovers armed with small rocks*
Did the hippies have to deal with this? *sigh* There really is something irresistable about a lost cause. ~~ ahaha. You can't not like Jacob...seriously.
Hey Maureen!!
I would like to answer your questions to be entered to win a book... so here i go:
#1 I like any post any time :) #2no i dont live anywhere near "GUILDFORD, ENGLAND" (im canadian,... yeah!.. Eh!)#3 and lastly i havent read Suite Scarlett so i dont have any idea of what she might look like and for your other books im not really sure...
id love to have a signed book :)
nice talking to you and answering your questions
-Amani
I don't think I've left a comment yet. If I have, I'm sorry for leaving another.
I like the longer posts less frequently. Its nice to be able to sit and read a long post. Thats my opinion anyway.
I haven't read Suite Scarlett yet so I don't have any opinions on what your characters in that book look like. As soon as I read it though, I'm sure I'll have some ideas.
I received my copy of Suite Scarlett today! Thank you so much! I was so excited to come home and find it sitting on the table. I can't wait to read it!
Oh and I'd love a sleep mask =)
-Breanna
Question: Do you ever have any conflicts over what music is played, and at what volume, when writing a book? What songs are generally played in the Writer Mansion?
1: I just like posts, to be honest. I lovelovelove your long ones, but if shorter ones mean you post more, then go for it, I guess!
2: Any of us? Probably. Me? No. Sadly. Aw. If only I were an Englishman...
3: I dunno. I'm not a very visual person, to be honest. But this what all characters look like, in various forms, to me. Just so you know. (How cute!)
I went to DC these past few days. And you know what I realized? The entire city is based around a big stick (the Washington Monument). How fun.
hola!
1)i say, choose a happy medium. You can afford to make them a bit shorter, while posting them a tad more often. :)
2)i'm not entitled to say...but...no.
3)*sniff* i haven't read it yet SORRY!
4)oh...there's no four.
huh.
Have a lovely day! I know i'm enjoying my first day of summer. :)
Hey MJ. I'm sorry, but this has nothing to do with blog posts. It is, however, a crucial question.
Do you like the song Shoes by Kelly?
I personally love it. Love it to the point of listening to it every day before I get out of bed, singing it on american idol, just loving it loving it. In fact, this could be my theme song.
And if you don't like it, (because it does have some profanity, okay, a little bit more than some--you can get the clean version) do you have another song you like more? A theme song, perhaps?
Please tell.
Ciao for Now
Katie
1. Shorter posts, more frequent. It allows you to be more spontaneous, quirky and random; less concerned with composing a article, rather than a bit of your recent thoughts.
2. No
3. A friend just recently recommended your books, and this site, so still pending.
One time Arthur stepped on a rake in his backyard so that he could test out cartoon physics. The physics were accurate, and he's an idiot. That has nothing to do with anything here, but I though I would leave this on an anecdote.
-Arthur & Amy
*an article
1. I like the long posts! But whatever's easier for you, in the end!
2. no I don't
3. I don't have it yet!!!!
Care to explain where your next post is????
Waiting...
Still waiting... :)
Whoever said to do haikus- that's a good idea, but do them with your posts. they can be surprisingly fun especially if you do not know anyone with a sharp sword who is a stickler for following the haiku's rules exactly.
I wouldn't mind reading a nice signed copy of Suite Scarlett.
Meg Cabot? Star Wars? that is a disturbing idea and I'm not even a Star Wars fan.
My vote is for longer posts less frequently, because they make the wait worth it. Although, I certainly wouldn't object to longer posts more often either, that would be made of lots of awesome! ;)
Hi, again.
I was reading Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl in English. I've never read his books in English before, so this is the first time I noticed something. Your blog is very much like Roald Dahl's books! In a good way. I love Roald Dahl. ^^
Is it just me, or does someone else see the similarity, too?
Perhaps the YA Mansion needs a watchdog named JK Howling.
1. I most definately like long posts, pretty often. I'm demanding like that, but it's the worst with you because you're some sort of super human hilarity machine, designed to make me spit out my ramen all over the computer desk in a fit of giggles.
2. Yeah, no. I can't say I do. I live in Lincoln, Nebraska. -waggles eyebrows-
3. I'd launch into a full scale comparison here on one of my friends who especially reminds me of Scarlett, but it's almost one in the morning here my time. So meh. I guess I won't.
:]]
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