7 Things You Don't Know About Sarah Mlynowski

Sarah Mlynowski has hung out with the readergirlz on more than one occasion. She participated in 31 Flavorites in October 2007 (and also dropped in to say hi to Lauren Myracle during Lauren's chat). She shared the story behind the cover of her book Gimme a Call with rgz diva Melissa Walker. Little Willow met her in person when E. Lockhart, Lauren Myracle, and Sarah Mlynowski were promoting their book How to Be Bad. (LW adds: That was an awesome day, y'all.)

Today, Sarah's new book DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT is available everywhere. Everywhere! In honor of the rgz anniversary and in honor of the book's release, here are 7 things you didn't know about Sarah Mlynowski... until now.
 
1. I bite my nails.
2. My little sister is a reality TV show producer.
3. The only sports team I was ever on was the newcomball team at sleepaway camp. What is newcomball? It’s like volleyball, except you catch the ball before throwing it over the net. I’m not sure it’s a real sport. Maybe I shouldn’t be too excited that I won the MIP (Most Improved Player) award in 1988.
4. Gordon Kormon spoke at my school when I was in third grade. (I know that makes him sound old, but he was only 15 at the time.)
5. After Gordon’s visit I decided to write my own book, Lizzie Forshort. It’s about a girl whose name is Elizabeth but is called Lizzie...for short! My mom typed up the manuscript for me and we sent it to Bantam Books. And that’s the story of very first rejection letter.
6. My husband proposed in Queenstown, New Zealand, in 2003. We’d started dating in1994 when we were seventeen. Took him long enough.
7. My five-year old daughter is a better cook than I am. Last week she made a purée and a meatloaf. Last week I made toast and a cup of coffee.

Rock the Drop: Photo Op!

Awesome author Sarah Mlynowski rocked the drop...

Rocked the drop in Tribeca outside Washington Market Park on the ALICE ON THE WALL mural!
XO
Sarah

Rock the Drop: Photo Op!

Cover Stories: Gimme a Call by Sarah Mlynowski

Sarah Mlynowski's Gimme a Call is a magical summer read! When Devi drops her phone in the mail fountain, she fishes it out to discover that it only calls one number: her number. At age 14, three years ago. The back-and-forth between past and present Devi is quick and funny as she tries to figure out if her fate is changeable. Loved this one!

And the cover is way cute, so here's Sarah to talk about how it came about:

"Have you seen the hardcover of GOOD GIRLS by Laura Ruby? With the cool reappearing girl on the cell phone? (below)

That's how I pictured the GIMME A CALL cover. Except with alternating Devis--one at fourteen and one at seventeen.

"When I first saw my cover, I loved it. I loved how clean it looked. Loved the type. Loved the glossy phone. It was a big departure from the Magic in Manhattan covers but I thought it was gorgeous.

"There were earlier cover concepts, which didn't make the final cut. The art director (Kenny Holcomb) was amazing--he wouldn't stop until he got it right. Some of them included..."

Check out the rest of Sarah's Cover Story, including a Disney-esque version, at melissacwalker.com.

Rgz Street Team: Vanessa Reviews Vacations From Hell

The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.

Today, Vanessa reviews Vacations From Hell by Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Claudia Gray, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Mlynowski:

"Not every vacation is just a walk in the park. We find that out firsthand with these tales of terror by five exceptional authors of today. Starting out with Sarah Mlynowski's "Crusin" -- a story of two girls on a cruise that is more than anyone bargained for -- this book dives in with a captivating opening. Convinced she is ready for big things this vacation season, Kristin asks her friend Liz to help her meet the perfect guy. Upon finding him, Kristin throws caution to the waves...

Meanwhile in "I Don't Like Your Girlfriend" Claudia Gray introduces us to Cecily Harper, a young witch heading off for her annual family vacation with her mom's coven from college. Unfortunately, Cecily has to deal with her life-long enemy who has brought a surprisingly attractive boyfriend along this year. It's up to Cecily to decide what she's willing to risk for someone else's boyfriend...

In Maureen Johnson's "The Law of Suspects," sisters Charlotte and Mary Louise head to France to meet their mother's cousins. Unfortunately the cousins are nowhere to be found, leaving Mary Louise and Charlotte to fend for themselves in a quiet house in the middle of nowhere...

And these are only three of the five stories included in this terrifically terrifying anthology. With this book in hand, being bored on vacation is no longer an option this year. Let the summer begin!