GIMME GIMME GIMME A BOOK DEADLINE
Has it really been twelve days since I posted? Because it feels like ten minutes. That is because I have been working on Suite Scarlett 2, and when you are on deadline, time gets all funny. Weekday, weekend, day, night . . . it all gets blurry.
Have you noticed something on many YA author blogs recently? Many of us are on deadline. That is because it is book planting season! We are hard at work on the YA farm, making the books. Summer is for planting. Fall is for harvesting! That means fall is for FINAL DRAFTS, which are infinitely worse than first drafts.
To give you some idea of what it’s been like, here is a sample exchange between me and my beloved agent, Daphne Unfeasible. Note how things progress as we approach the deadline.
May, 2008
ME
Things are going really well with the book. I really have a grip on this one.
DAPHNE
I am glad to hear it. I assume you will be having your normal meltdown in a few weeks, though, when you get closer to the deadline.
ME
I’m not that predictable, you know.
DAPHNE
Yes you are. You always have it under control, and you always have the meltdown anyway. I look forward to your meltdown. It’s like the first snowfall of the season.
ME
I can’t believe you are saying this! I am not going to have a meltdown!
Late June, 2008
DAPHNE
How is the book coming, beloved client?
ME
Go away.
DAPHNE
What’s wrong?
ME
Everything. Nothing. Stop pressuring me.
DAPHNE
You were happy a few weeks ago. You said it was all under control, and I said you would have your normal meltdown.
ME
This is not a meltdown. Do I sound unreasonable? Do I sound crazy?
DAPHNE
No, but you sound a bit grouchy. This is how the meltdown always starts.
ME
Stop talking about this “meltdown”! Maybe that happened, like, once, with the first book.
DAPHNE
Would you like me to send some e-mails from the past? The 13 Little Blue Envelopes ones are among my favorites. But those 3AM phone calls from Devilish were also good.
ME
I don’t remember any of that. This book is different.
DAPHNE
I’m only telling you this so when the panic DOES hit, you’ll remember that you have done this before, and you always make it.
ME
Lies!
DAPHNE
You documented it!
ME
As a JOKE. My blog readers are so much smarter than that! They know that’s not true!
July 2nd
DAPHNE
How is the writing going today?
ME
Great! I went to the zoo!
DAPHNE
What? Why? Your book has nothing to do with the zoo.
ME
It’s all part of the process!
DAPHNE
I feel like you are stalling. The book is due in two weeks, you know.
ME
You understand NOTHING about writing. Writing is a super-magical process that only writers understand and no one else does and mine involves going to the zoo and seeing ALL THE MONKEYS. It’s where I meet my muse.
DAPHNE
I thought you were staunchly anti-muse. I thought you believed that writing is a craft that you learn through practice and devotion and it’s counterproductive and actually insulting to suggest that imaginary creatures have anything to do with it.
ME
Fine. I just need the monkeys.
DAPHNE
You’re sure you’re not just procrastinating because it’s getting hard?
ME
Leave me alone! You are destroying the aura I’ve created! YOU ARE MAKING THE MONKEYS ANGRY!
July 7th
ME
As my legal representative in all things literary on earth, I command you to come to my house and kill me with a brick.
DAPHNE
You know I love to oblige your every whim, but I fear I cannot help you. Looking forward to reading the book!
ME
YOU NEVER HELP ME WHEN I NEED YOU.
DAPHNE
There, there. Why don’t you Swifter around your desk for a little while? That usually relaxes you.
ME
I feel better. The book is not so bad.
July 9th
ME
I AM GOING TO GO INTO OUTER SPACE AND NEVER COME BACK.
DAPHNE
I’m not worried. You would never go into space. You won’t even wade into four feet of ocean. Finish your book.
ME
Untrue! Untrue! I once jumped off a boat and swam to an island! I am a very good swimmer!
DAPHNE
This is not a discussion about your swimming ability. It’s a discussion about your cowardice. You jumped off that boat because the man running it pulled out a net and said it was for catching jellyfish and that he already had a bunch of them in a bucket, and then he opened that bucket to show you, and you jumped off and swam to shore . . . which, if I remember correctly, you said was about thirty feet away.
Actually, this is a discussion about your writing. Finish your book.
ME
I really don’t think the distance from the shore makes any difference.
DAPHNE
You’re right. It doesn’t. Finish your book.
July 11th
ME
I am baking you a cake! It’s in the oven RIGHT NOW!
DAPHNE
Thank you for the cake. You are a very good baker, and I certainly appreciate it. But perhaps this week I can just go and buy myself a cake, and you and I can eat it when you FINISH YOUR BOOK.
ME
It’s not the same if it comes from a store. My cake is made with love.
DAPHNE
I know you love me. As you should. But if you really wanted to show it, you would give me a book.
ME
I don’t think you are showing me proper respect. I am an AUTHOR. I am THE TALENT. Why aren’t you GROVELING MORE? Maybe I will throw a huge tantrum and never show you my book! DO NOT MAKE THE TALENT GO ALL DIVA ON YOU!
DAPHNE
Yes, yes, little pineapple. Grovel, grovel.
ME
That was totally sarcastic and not at all groveling! You have it so easy! I could be throwing cell phones at staff members in airports and wandering around the streets in a drug-induced haze, you know. I could shave off all my hair in public and make videos where I talk to baby mice. I could make you bail me out of jail at four in the morning. You could have it a lot worse! You should count your lucky stars that I am so EASY TO DEAL WITH!
DAPHNE
I count them every day.
July 15th
ME
lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
DAPHNE
What are you laughing at?
ME
A juicebox!
July 17th
ME
Here you go. Scarlett Fever.
DAPHNE
How are you?
ME
Fine. Why?
Yes! The first draft of the book is in! And did you see that? I just slipped the title in there. The second Scarlett book is called Scarlett Fever!
SCARLETT FEVER! There’s even a version of the cover all ready to go! (Sekrit. Cannot show you yet.) There’s still loads of work to do yet. This was just a first draft. But the book is coming your way soon, and it’s bigger and more insane than the first. Spencer, in particular, goes through the wringer in this one. I wish I could tell you all about it, but I cannot give spoilers. But there are BIG THINGS AFOOT!
Okay, one spoiler. There’s a dance number. And amazingly, many of you have been suggesting things about Spencer that you were probably joking about but actually happen! Think FOOD.
Now, MANY of you have been asking—not reasonably—if I am excited for the Mamma Mia movie.
Am I excited about the Mamma Mia movie. . . .
In my mind, it is NO CONICIDENCE that Mamma Mia is coming out JUST AS THE BOOK IS DUE. And I don’t want to be all “I told you so,” but I have been expounding the virtues of Abba forever, and now everyone is all Abba, Abba, Abba. I do not resent this. I am glad that everyone is catching on!
IN FACT . . . when I was at the Gay Pride Parade here in NYC a few weeks ago (when I was in the parade, riding at the top of the Google double-decker bus), the very first person I ran into walked up to me reached into a bag and said, “Would you like a Mamma Mia, Gimme Gimme Gimme A Man After Midnight fan to beat the heat?”
And I said, “Marry me.”
He said, “Alas, I cannot. I am gay. But I will do a dance with you.”
And we did a dance.
My Mamma Mia fan.
In fact, I am so excited to see Mamma Mia that I invite ALL OF YOU to come! I am going tomorrow night. Now, I know a lot of you are not in New York. That is upsetting. The quickest way to fix this is by hitting the banner just to the right and entering the Suite Scarlett Sweepstakes! Win that trip to NYC and we will meet and do ABBA DANCES together!
To get us all ready, here is the trailer!
Even better . . . here is Abba performing the title song! Notice the filming techniques taken right from fellow Swede Ingmar Bergman! Notice the dancing that even I can do!
You know what I am thinking, actually? I am thinking I should write to the people who run the Abba Museum or Her Serene Highness Princess Anni-Frid Reuss, Countess of Plauen to ask if I could be made the official Abba YA ambassador for the United States. (Which is something I just made up but think I would be very good at. If I did so, would you support me? What do you guys think?)
Okay, book time. The winner of today’s book is Chelsea! Also, the winner of the contest for guessing the title of the new book was cweed105. So both of you . . . drop me a line for your PRIZES!
I will be blogging MUCH MORE this week, so get those comments in, because I am still giving away books!
Have you noticed something on many YA author blogs recently? Many of us are on deadline. That is because it is book planting season! We are hard at work on the YA farm, making the books. Summer is for planting. Fall is for harvesting! That means fall is for FINAL DRAFTS, which are infinitely worse than first drafts.
To give you some idea of what it’s been like, here is a sample exchange between me and my beloved agent, Daphne Unfeasible. Note how things progress as we approach the deadline.
May, 2008
ME
Things are going really well with the book. I really have a grip on this one.
DAPHNE
I am glad to hear it. I assume you will be having your normal meltdown in a few weeks, though, when you get closer to the deadline.
ME
I’m not that predictable, you know.
DAPHNE
Yes you are. You always have it under control, and you always have the meltdown anyway. I look forward to your meltdown. It’s like the first snowfall of the season.
ME
I can’t believe you are saying this! I am not going to have a meltdown!
Late June, 2008
DAPHNE
How is the book coming, beloved client?
ME
Go away.
DAPHNE
What’s wrong?
ME
Everything. Nothing. Stop pressuring me.
DAPHNE
You were happy a few weeks ago. You said it was all under control, and I said you would have your normal meltdown.
ME
This is not a meltdown. Do I sound unreasonable? Do I sound crazy?
DAPHNE
No, but you sound a bit grouchy. This is how the meltdown always starts.
ME
Stop talking about this “meltdown”! Maybe that happened, like, once, with the first book.
DAPHNE
Would you like me to send some e-mails from the past? The 13 Little Blue Envelopes ones are among my favorites. But those 3AM phone calls from Devilish were also good.
ME
I don’t remember any of that. This book is different.
DAPHNE
I’m only telling you this so when the panic DOES hit, you’ll remember that you have done this before, and you always make it.
ME
Lies!
DAPHNE
You documented it!
ME
As a JOKE. My blog readers are so much smarter than that! They know that’s not true!
July 2nd
DAPHNE
How is the writing going today?
ME
Great! I went to the zoo!
DAPHNE
What? Why? Your book has nothing to do with the zoo.
ME
It’s all part of the process!
DAPHNE
I feel like you are stalling. The book is due in two weeks, you know.
ME
You understand NOTHING about writing. Writing is a super-magical process that only writers understand and no one else does and mine involves going to the zoo and seeing ALL THE MONKEYS. It’s where I meet my muse.
DAPHNE
I thought you were staunchly anti-muse. I thought you believed that writing is a craft that you learn through practice and devotion and it’s counterproductive and actually insulting to suggest that imaginary creatures have anything to do with it.
ME
Fine. I just need the monkeys.
DAPHNE
You’re sure you’re not just procrastinating because it’s getting hard?
ME
Leave me alone! You are destroying the aura I’ve created! YOU ARE MAKING THE MONKEYS ANGRY!
July 7th
ME
As my legal representative in all things literary on earth, I command you to come to my house and kill me with a brick.
DAPHNE
You know I love to oblige your every whim, but I fear I cannot help you. Looking forward to reading the book!
ME
YOU NEVER HELP ME WHEN I NEED YOU.
DAPHNE
There, there. Why don’t you Swifter around your desk for a little while? That usually relaxes you.
ME
I feel better. The book is not so bad.
July 9th
ME
I AM GOING TO GO INTO OUTER SPACE AND NEVER COME BACK.
DAPHNE
I’m not worried. You would never go into space. You won’t even wade into four feet of ocean. Finish your book.
ME
Untrue! Untrue! I once jumped off a boat and swam to an island! I am a very good swimmer!
DAPHNE
This is not a discussion about your swimming ability. It’s a discussion about your cowardice. You jumped off that boat because the man running it pulled out a net and said it was for catching jellyfish and that he already had a bunch of them in a bucket, and then he opened that bucket to show you, and you jumped off and swam to shore . . . which, if I remember correctly, you said was about thirty feet away.
Actually, this is a discussion about your writing. Finish your book.
ME
I really don’t think the distance from the shore makes any difference.
DAPHNE
You’re right. It doesn’t. Finish your book.
July 11th
ME
I am baking you a cake! It’s in the oven RIGHT NOW!
DAPHNE
Thank you for the cake. You are a very good baker, and I certainly appreciate it. But perhaps this week I can just go and buy myself a cake, and you and I can eat it when you FINISH YOUR BOOK.
ME
It’s not the same if it comes from a store. My cake is made with love.
DAPHNE
I know you love me. As you should. But if you really wanted to show it, you would give me a book.
ME
I don’t think you are showing me proper respect. I am an AUTHOR. I am THE TALENT. Why aren’t you GROVELING MORE? Maybe I will throw a huge tantrum and never show you my book! DO NOT MAKE THE TALENT GO ALL DIVA ON YOU!
DAPHNE
Yes, yes, little pineapple. Grovel, grovel.
ME
That was totally sarcastic and not at all groveling! You have it so easy! I could be throwing cell phones at staff members in airports and wandering around the streets in a drug-induced haze, you know. I could shave off all my hair in public and make videos where I talk to baby mice. I could make you bail me out of jail at four in the morning. You could have it a lot worse! You should count your lucky stars that I am so EASY TO DEAL WITH!
DAPHNE
I count them every day.
July 15th
ME
lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
DAPHNE
What are you laughing at?
ME
A juicebox!
July 17th
ME
Here you go. Scarlett Fever.
DAPHNE
How are you?
ME
Fine. Why?
Yes! The first draft of the book is in! And did you see that? I just slipped the title in there. The second Scarlett book is called Scarlett Fever!
SCARLETT FEVER! There’s even a version of the cover all ready to go! (Sekrit. Cannot show you yet.) There’s still loads of work to do yet. This was just a first draft. But the book is coming your way soon, and it’s bigger and more insane than the first. Spencer, in particular, goes through the wringer in this one. I wish I could tell you all about it, but I cannot give spoilers. But there are BIG THINGS AFOOT!
Okay, one spoiler. There’s a dance number. And amazingly, many of you have been suggesting things about Spencer that you were probably joking about but actually happen! Think FOOD.
Now, MANY of you have been asking—not reasonably—if I am excited for the Mamma Mia movie.
Am I excited about the Mamma Mia movie. . . .
In my mind, it is NO CONICIDENCE that Mamma Mia is coming out JUST AS THE BOOK IS DUE. And I don’t want to be all “I told you so,” but I have been expounding the virtues of Abba forever, and now everyone is all Abba, Abba, Abba. I do not resent this. I am glad that everyone is catching on!
IN FACT . . . when I was at the Gay Pride Parade here in NYC a few weeks ago (when I was in the parade, riding at the top of the Google double-decker bus), the very first person I ran into walked up to me reached into a bag and said, “Would you like a Mamma Mia, Gimme Gimme Gimme A Man After Midnight fan to beat the heat?”
And I said, “Marry me.”
He said, “Alas, I cannot. I am gay. But I will do a dance with you.”
And we did a dance.
In fact, I am so excited to see Mamma Mia that I invite ALL OF YOU to come! I am going tomorrow night. Now, I know a lot of you are not in New York. That is upsetting. The quickest way to fix this is by hitting the banner just to the right and entering the Suite Scarlett Sweepstakes! Win that trip to NYC and we will meet and do ABBA DANCES together!
To get us all ready, here is the trailer!
Even better . . . here is Abba performing the title song! Notice the filming techniques taken right from fellow Swede Ingmar Bergman! Notice the dancing that even I can do!
You know what I am thinking, actually? I am thinking I should write to the people who run the Abba Museum or Her Serene Highness Princess Anni-Frid Reuss, Countess of Plauen to ask if I could be made the official Abba YA ambassador for the United States. (Which is something I just made up but think I would be very good at. If I did so, would you support me? What do you guys think?)
Okay, book time. The winner of today’s book is Chelsea! Also, the winner of the contest for guessing the title of the new book was cweed105. So both of you . . . drop me a line for your PRIZES!
I will be blogging MUCH MORE this week, so get those comments in, because I am still giving away books!
Labels: juiceboxes, Scarlett Fever, Suite Scarlett
posted by Maureen at
12:43 AM
84 Comments:
as the person who first told you about the Mamma Mia movie extraordinaire, I am very disappointed that I am not in New York to see it with you, but alas me and my best friend are going to the first showing tomorrow morning!
I don't know if Mamma Mia is going to play at my local theature. Let me go check... Darn, it isn't. I guess that is what I get for visiting my parents for the summer. They live in a town with only a two screen theature.
I love the name for Suite Scarlett 2!!
Ah, this was motivating.
I'm under my own book deadline at this moment - August 25 - and am at the stage where I begin to braid my dog's hair. Not fun.
And I'm so looking forward to using Mamma Mia as a distraction tomorrow!
Juiceboxes are, in fact made of awesome.
Also, thanks for stopping by the chat earlier this month, or whenever that was. It was a little, ok a lot, overwhelming, but also epically fantastic.
I've loved ABBA since watching S Club seven sing their songs. hehehehehe. Alas, I can not make it the movie. It is very hard to convince my friends to go with me to new york and see the movie when I live in california. Also none of the movie theater within a 1 hr radius of me has the movie playing. *wails, tears, sighs* LOVE the title. Now you are making me antsy for it to come out. Darn you and John Green. Why do you have to be so good writers and make me want to read your books? huh, what give you the right to make me want to read!!!
Scarlett Fever I was so thinking that :P
ABBA ABBA ABBA ABBA. I must admit, I only found out about them b/c I was a closet A*Teens fan in seventh grade. In fact, rumor has it I'm still an A*Teens fan....er, I mean....look, it's Alan Rickman!
Anyways. ABBA!!!! YAY!!!! And I think you'd make a great Abba YA ambassador.
Oh yeah....CONGRATS ON FINISHING THE BOOK!!!! :D :D :D :D
I am very excited fo rthe movie, but I've already seen the play, so I kind of already know everything that happens, but I'm sure tons of other people do too... I am interested to see how they compair.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Can't wait for Scarlett Fever!! I can see how much you struggle with the writing process....
Wow, the conversations you have with Daphne are similar to my mum trying to convince me to do homework. Also, I saw the Mamma Mia movie last Saturday (it came out earlier in Australia) and I want to see it again every time I see the trailer.
dude. me and my friend did a lip sync for this song in like grade 4 and we had better moves than this haha. although we were definitely missing the mouth close-ups, so i guess it all evens out ;)
I love your blog! And Suite Scarlett! I can't wait for the next book. That's an awesome title. I just found your blog about 2 weeks ago and since then I have been going back and reading all your posts!They're so funny and awesome. My favorites include the YA Mansion and the Rabbits. Just wondering...have you read any of Stephenie Meyer's books??? Also are there any more recent books you would suggest???
Deadlines in general are a very stressful thing indeed. The end of November sees the downfall of many an otherwise decent mind.(NaNoWriMo)
Also, there SHOULD be a YA farm.
A place to write YA fiction. With lots of comfy chairs, and an enormous supply of chick flicks and popcorn.
I would definitely support you in pretty much everything you do because you just do everything you do so awesomely and enthusiastically. plus ABBA definitely neds a YA Ambassador for the US. You'd be great at it!
I would fully support you as YA ambassador!
Like rebecca above, I was also an A*Teens fan. I may or may not still have one of their CDs...
I have found that dividing random numbers into terminating decimals and fractions, while not exactly bringing joy to my heart, serves as a useful distraction.
Anyways, congragulations on the draft of Suite Scarlett 2. Scarlett Fever is a totally awesome title. Yay!
I can't wait for Scarlet Fever! I'm currently reading Suite Scarlet and I'm enjoying it.
You know, ever since I started reading your blog (awhile back) I've been singing more and more ABBA songs...
MJ, you and my mother have turned me into an Abba fan. I broke out in song immediately upon reading the title. (And I am not a break-out-in-song person.)
An Abba YA ambassador sounds exciting. What Abba costume would you suggest be your uniform? They are all so spiffy.
I had not previously seen the Mamma Mia preview and so was not going to go see it, but now I DEFINITELY AM! This is the power you wield, Maureen. And you would wield even more as the Abba YA Ambassador. I fully support this endeavor. Still hoping for a book!
I love the monkeys.
Also, 'little pineapple' is my new favorite term of endearment.
I was out of the country all last week, so I am here officially submitting my entry for a copy of Suite Scarlett. :]
Dear Mj,
I watched Singin' in the Rain the other day and remembered Scarlett mentioned Spencer was in it. I imagined him playing Cosmo. Who *did* he play in it?
I'm sad. Your conversations skipped July 10th. And that IS the best day ever, for I was born. Congrats on finishing it!
I like the name of the new Scarlett book!
Also, is little pineapple just a random name? I mean, is there a reason you are called it? Haha, you seem very lucky to have Daphne.
Thanks so much for the book. I actually happy danced.
I think you would be the most amazing official Abba YA ambassador for the United States EVER.
I'm so excited for Scarlett Fever!
I think you'd be good at it! I still want a book.
I can't wait for Scarlett Fever, I love the title. I can't wait to see Mamma Mia but idk if i'll have anybody to see it with. =(
maaaaaaaan I hope I win the Suite Scarlett Sweepstakes. that would be the most amazing thing ever!!
Ooh, I just got back from the movies where I saw...Mamma Mia! It was fabulous! Make sure you stick around at the end for the dance numbers. The thing that would absolutely make my week, aside from having just seen Mamma Mia? Winning a copy of Suite Scarlett!
Abba. What is there really to say about Abba. Other then they were the Nerdfighters of their time.
I want to go see Mamma Mia so bad and my mom is all for it but I have two brothers and they will never let us go without taking them. And last time we saw a musical with them in the same room. Let’s just say I can never watch Moulin Rogue without wanting to throw up. There is something about seeing your 14 year old brother and 17 year old brother dance and sing to Like a Virgin. I don't think I will ever be the same.
I am so proud of you for not dropping your basket and going crazy over getting the first draft in. The monkeys are my favorite animal at the zoo. Our zoo has this tiger also that has a habit of peeing on young boys. My brother got peed on when he was little there.
way to go with the first draft! Glad to see the monkey is off your back! err... have your sanity return? um.. Good to have you back in our world!
congrats on finishing the first draft of scarlett feva'! are editors really that persistent and annoying? if so i'm really glad i don't have an editor, if i did they would be ready to murder me. although my writer buddies are kinda like editors, they would always somehow mangage to find me and threaten me. then i would tell them that the reason i didnt write was obvious! the writers strike! and then they would hit me and tell me the strike was over
I would most certainly support you in your quest (campaign?) to become official YA ambassador for the United States, even if such a position doesn't exist. I suppose that just means that you need more support, which I will happily give (and I don't even like ABBA - this is how much your fans love you, Ms. Maureen).
I do have a question, though: Does your new focus on the Scarlett books mean that you're abandoning independent book projects?
"DO NOT MAKE THE TALENT GO ALL DIVA ON YOU!"
That line was so funny...I laughed so hard I couldn't stop for a few minutes...I'm glad I was home alone! I must somehow work that quote into conversation at my job today!!!
Oh, and I'd support you for official Abba YA ambassador for the United States. You'd be good at it!!! :)
Can't wait to read the new book!!!
Could those monkeys at the zoo be your...dundun*dun!*...BRAIN MONKEYS?!
I saw Mamma Mia at midnight last night!! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did :) I did a happy dance in my chair while thinking of you :)
Scarlet Fever is such an awesome name. Now I'm really excited for it!
Oh pooh- age limits on winning a trip to NYC. Now I am sad.
Mamma Mia was the very first musical I saw, and it was great, so I hope that the movie is just as good!
I just want to say I'm loving the cover of Scarlett Fever, but it's so small! Can't see details!
I happen to have caught Abba fever as well, and their songs are quite addictive. And I can tell, because they make me dance like Scott Westerfeild(Zane killer) and forget all about Zac Efron eating my hamsters. But Zac is still cool, because he sometimes dances along with me...when he is not hiding under the dryer
I love the new Scarlett title. Now I can run around at the time of the release date screaming, "I've got Scarlett Fever!!!" I am so buying that book. I need to buy Suite Scarlett too...but I'm hoping to win one so I don't have to spend my whole paycheck on books like I did last week (once I buy ONE book I must buy a million others.).
You sound hilariously awesome while having meltdowns. I'm jealous of Daphne Unfeasible. You should call me up when you have meltdowns!
Hi! Scarlett Fever sounds exciting! I love the title!
I also can't wait to see Mamma Mia! The movie looks like a hoot!
Thanks for writing for us... I love reading YA books (even if I have a very limited choice of them in Arad, Israel...)
:)
I want to see Mamma Mia but I'm not sure if I can stand to sit through a whole movie with Meryl Streep in it. She gets on my nerves for some reason. lol
Scarlett Fever's ready? All big and Spencery? <3 You are my hero! Should I start saving money for it already... It wouldn't be nice to be broke when it comes out.
I do that too, start baking when I least have time for it. ;)
Oh, and I finished reading Suite Scarlett. It made me happy! I like that in a book. That book really looks like you, you know. And I don't mean that you are red and made of paper. You know what I mean. ^^'
Congratulations on finishing the first draft of your book! Hope you have fabulous time at Mama Mia! :o)
hey i don't blame you. juice boxes are FUNNY.
I was in NYC today, and I was like HEY I'm in the vicinity of MJ! Cool! So, I thought I would let you know. thanksbye.
i would very much appreciate a book :D
Maureen. You are hilarious!
you have an obscene amount of need to give away things, don't you? Oh well, that's fine with me! (book, please?)
And also. You are hilarious. Seriously. I'm looked at like a crazy person if I start reading any of your posts. I laugh like a maniacal child. In a straight jacket.
But anyway...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The only thing that could make ABBA more amazing is if you were the YA ambassador for them. Just saying.
I'm extremely sad that I won't be able to get to Mamma Mia in theatres, because I am on vacation. It's cruel, cruel injustice!
And I can't wait for Scarlett Fever!
(Oh. I wouldn't mind if I was the random book winner, either!)
A) I would support your being the ABBA YA U.S. ambassador.
B) I would love to dance with you in NYC.
C) I thought you'd like to know that two of your books have been feuding with John Green's two books on my shelves and I actually coaught them overthrowing Deb Calletti the other day but they've now resolved all conflict and are chatting happily with Jo Rowling, Sarah Dessen, and Elie Wisel.
D) I'm procrastinating.
Maureen you would be the perfect ABBA YA ambassador!!!!!!!
LOVE the title for Scarlett two, Scarlett Foever!!!!
Must go ask the people at my local book store to order it for me.
I have to say I first became an ABBA fan because of A*Teens too. Can't wait to see Mamma Mia the Movie, I saw the musical/theater version last Spring with my best friend. So awesome.
lol!!! can't wait for Scarlett Fever!!! I bet it's going to be great and it will all be worth it. Hope you loved Mamma Mia, I can't wait to go!
I can't wait to see Mamma Mia, and I would most certainly vote for you!
wow. that's sweet. Scarlett Fever. Wonder what the cover will look like??
How do you feel about Twilight.
Oh dear. I've been a lover of ABBA for quite awhile. Thank you for turning me on to the music videos. They do make my day. However, I must comment on our dear Anni-Frid. Frida, Frida... did you have to perm your hair?
I do sincerely wish I was in NY with you. If I don't see it with you, I'll be seeing it with my mother and two sisters. I swore them to it via secret death glare maneuvers. They can't see it without me, unless I see it with you, in which case I will ditch them happily. They would understand.
As for recreatable dance moves, I love them. I've been dancing them while I do my hair and listen to ABBA on my iPod. Wielding a hairdryer and doing Anni-Frid moves is tough, but I've survived so far. I'm not so sure about my hair, though...
Sorry. That was my first comment for you. It's been storing up for quite awhile.
BTW, what will your title as ABBA Ambassador be? It might be something like "The Diva Disseminator of All Things ABBA". What do you think it should be?
Monkeys!
i will be (eventually) seeing Mamm Mia wiht my friend. hopefully before it comes out on DVD. anyway, yes, i think you would make a great Abba YA ambassador for the US. i mean, i honestly do not know anyone else who likes Abba as much as you do. and hey, you're the one who came up with the idea, right?
exactly.
*Emilee
I want to see Mama Mia very badly!!! However, I ended up seeing The Dark Knight yesterday instead. Which was really good!!! Will you go see it?
Love the title! Suite Scarlett was amazing and I can't wait to read the sequel. Mamma Mia looks like so much fun. I finally get to see it this weekend after selling tickets at the movie theatre to Batman for 3 days straight. Also, you should totally be the official YA ABBA representative for the US...possibly we should start a new Facebook group to campaign for it? :)
I would like [random giveaway here]! Because I love Maureen Johnson and all things to do with her! I was in a bookstore yesterday and I saw a whole bunch of your books, which made me quite excited. And I bought the first Libba Bray book, who I only know of because of your fabulous interview. I'm really enjoying it so far!
Have a good day, or week, or however long it will be until you write another fantastic blog entery :D
Maureen! I don't know if you frequent postsecret.com or not, but there's a secret on there now that reminds me of you. It has to do with ABBA. And while I don't think it APPLIES to you, it just made me think of you.
Could i have a book? :)
Scarlett Fever... i like it :)
Hey, MJ!
I just got back from a week long teenage writing workshop (life is changed), and I was wondering if you had ever gone to a writing camp or class when you were an under 20 MJ?
I didn't think that I could love ABBA anymore. I was wrong. Seeing Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan singing SOS just made my day. :]
I had just gotten off a cruise yesterday, read this blog and freak out.
They had shows on the ship, many shows with girls in show-girl outfits and stripping police officers, one show as Rocking down broadway. In the smack-dab middle of the show a giant metal iron work sign popped down, the words "ABBA" in glitterly gold letters posted on it. "Mamma Mia" began to play, and I danced...in my seat as my dinner buddies staired at me like I had a chicken on my head.
i simply replied
"MAUREEEENN JOHNSON MUST KNOWWWW! She's an author, and she likes ABBA, alot...and because of her I know ABBA..and yeah..."
Then you posted this blog, and I wigged out.
Even Carnival Liberty loves ABBA.
Random question time....
What is your opinion on fanfiction in general?
And by the way, TOTALLY going to see Mama Mia and the new Batman tomorrow. Not sure what I'm more excited over....>.<
~Chelsea Roberts
HAHAHHAA You and Daphne must be great together! OMG I WANT TO SEE MAMMA MIA!
And I also want a book. PLEASE!
I'm going to see mama Mia on Tuesday and I'm SO EXCITED! Should be fun!
One of these days, your blog is gonna make me pee in my pants against my own will. Please. Stop. My Sides. And all of that ABBA and Mamma Mia is enough to give me breathing problems. I should stop complaining, because your blog is, afterall, usually the highlight of my week.
Random Question:
How do you potty train a rabbit?
I assume you know, cuz, you are, like, 'the rabbit queen.' Or, so, I hear...
Colin Firth and Meryl Streep singing and dancing? How on earth did I not know about this? What rock have I been hiding under? HOW SOON CAN I GO SEE THIS MOVIE?
MJ, while I fully support your being the official Abba YA ambassador to the US, I feel I must warn you that my Aunt Joan in NJ possibly already has the job. And will fight to the death to keep it. With a toothbrush. Just saying.
I actually e-mailed her a few days before Friday, and I was teasing her about her obsessiveness for Mamma Mia (she has seen it on Broadway upward of ten times) and I asked if she was camped out in front of the theater. All she said was, "22 hours, 7 minutes, 48 seconds."
So...you have been warned.
I saw Mamma Mia yesterday.
And it's amazing. I love it.
I'm so excited for Scarlett Fever! Great title.
i want to see mama mia soooo bad and i am really excited for scarlett fever
karozo
i can't wait to see mama mia =)
Hilarious post! My kids are sleeping in the next room, so I had to keep from laughing too loud. :)
Scarlett Fever! Why didn't I think of that?! Mama Mia was good. I never knew that 'Dancing Queen' had such a profound effect on Grecian women.
so ... does that mean the movie Mamma Mia! is officially on the "MJ and Spencer's Guide to Your Summer Movies"?
may i ask which slot is goes in? numero uno, perhaps?
i have yet to see it, but everywhere i go, it is getting great reviews.
*Emilee
ps- you were not by chance, in ocean city, maryland this past week, were you? if not, i think the zombies are at it again.
http://bp0.blogger.com/_a7jkcMVp5Vg/SIKaBAyofZI/AAAAAAAAFgs/bAG_iBWFXiI/s1600-h/abba.jpg
As an avid PostSecret reader, I felt I needed to show you this link.
=)
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