Home and Two Exciting Things!

I did not disappear off the face of the earth. I simply went to warm and sunny Arizona with my family for spring break! We had a nice time and I'll post pictures soon. Did I mention WARM AND SUNNY? I'm glad to be home, but it is neither warm or sunny here. BOO!

A couple of things happened while I was gone that I want to mention.

First! A signed Advanced Review Copy of SPRINKLES AND SECRETS, the companion novel to IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES, is up for bid at the Kidlit4Japan auction. Kate Messner and Anne Marie Pace have both been bidding on it, and I'm so touched, if I had extra copies I'd send them one just for being awesome and bidding back and forth with each other! There are so many other great items - I hope you've checked out the list? I hope to find some time today to look and bid.

Here is the link to the ARC of SPRINKLES AND SECRETS. Please note this particular auction ends Tuesday, 3/29 at 11:00 AM EDT!

Here is the link to simply scroll down the list and see what's available.


Second! On Friday I was in my hotel room when my cell phone rang. I thought it was my husband who had went downstairs. But when I picked up my phone, I didn't recognize the number.

I said, "Hello?"
She said, "Is this Lisa Schroeder?"
I said, "Yes, this is she."
She said, "Hello, this is (Stephanie? I think? I should have written it down. Bad Lisa, Bad!) with Romance Writer's of America and I'm calling to let you know that you are a finalist for the 2011 young adult RITA award."

What did I say after that? I have no idea. I think something like, "Oh my gosh, this is so exciting!" And after that? I recall very little. I think she asked me if I would be attending the conference. I asked her when it will be and where it is, and she said the end of June in New York City. I said I wasn't sure. She told me a box would be arriving next week and I need to send them five copies of CHASING BROOKLYN and a head shot.

I managed to get a tweet or two out about it, touch base with my editor, and looked up the other finalists, and go OMG when I saw Cassandra Clare's name as well as Simone Elkeles (who won last year for PERFECT CHEMISTRY). And then I had to get back to vacationing, and that was that. This is all very new to me, so anyone who wants to enlighten me about any of this, please do!

Congratulations to all of the YA finalists:

• Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; Annette Pollert, editor)
• The Clearing by Heather Davis (Houghton Mifflin Graphia; Julie Tibbott, editor)
• Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; Karen Wojtyla, editor)
• I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan (Scholastic; Cheryl Klein, editor)
• The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (Harlequin Teen; Natashya Wilson, editor)
• Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles (Walker Publishing; Emily Easton, editor)
• The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells (Sourcebooks Fire; Deb Werksman)

And now I'm off to make tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch, because that is what I start to crave when I'm tired of looking at menus and am ready to get home.