DRINK SLAY LOVE Movie!!!

So excited to share the news that my book DRINK SLAY LOVE is going to be a TV movie!!!!!  It will star Cierra Ramirez (Freeform's The Fosters) and Gregg Sulkin (MTV's Faking It) with Bella Thorne serving as co-executive producer!  Sepia Films and Just Singer Entertainment started filming this week, and the movie will air on Lifetime in 2017!  Eeeep!!!!!!!

Here are some articles covering the announcement:

http://www.ew.com/article/2016/08/24/bella-thorne-produce-lifetime-vampire-flick

http://deadline.com/2016/08/bella-thorne-drink-slay-love-lifetime-movie-cierra-ramirez-star-ya-vampire-1201807510/

http://www.teenvogue.com/story/bella-thorne-gregg-sulkin-post-breakup-movie

http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/bella-thorne-lifetime-drink-slay-love-1201843752/

http://www.avclub.com/article/lifetime-thirsts-more-teen-vampire-and-robert-durs-241611

http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/bella-thorne-to-produce-the-ya-vampire-flick-drink-slay-love-133

http://www.bustle.com/articles/180545-bella-thorne-will-produce-a-vampire-film-featuring-a-female-edward-cullen-type-im-totally

http://www.justjaredjr.com/2016/08/24/cierra-ramirez-bella-thorne-to-produce/

http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/185026/bella-thorne-producing-lifetime-adaptation-drink-slay-love/ 

Tangled and Princeton Book Signing

I love Disney.

Just the silhouette of mouse ears makes me smile. I think it's because so many of my favorite memories -- family vacations where we laughed so much our cheeks hurt -- took place in Disney World. For me, it is the happiest place on Earth.

Also, it's so very clean. You drop a straw wrapper, and Cinderella's mice pop out of the sewers and sweep it away. Little birdies assist with your personal hygiene. And woodland creatures select your wardrobe.

Combine my Disney obsession with the fact that my debut novel (Into the Wild) is about Rapunzel's daughter, and of course I had to see the movie Tangled.

Overall, I loved it. The use of her hair was magnificent (also the use of frying pans). I adored the montage of Rapunzel's torn emotions when she leaves the tower. The floating lanterns were lovely. And the horse was awesome.

But I can't help thinking that Disney missed an opportunity with the witch Gothel. If she had genuinely loved Rapunzel (rather than only using her for the regenerative properties of her hair), it would have instantly deepened and complicated the story. She could have been an overprotective parent gone wrong, which would have been interesting. Maybe it would have made the story too dark, though.

I also saw Harry Potter 7 (part 1) this weekend, which was plenty dark, both in plot and palette.

In addition to seeing movies this weekend, I also did two book signings at the Borders in Meriden, CT, and the Borders in Stony Brook, NY, and I had a great time at both. Thank you to everyone who stopped by! It was great talking with you!

If you happen to be anywhere near Princeton, NJ, this Wednesday Dec 1st..... I will be signing books at the Barnes & Noble at Princeton Market Fair starting at 6:30pm. A portion of sales will benefit The Pennington School's book fair. Since Princeton University is the setting for my latest book, Enchanted Ivy, I am hoping that numerous gargoyles and were-tigers will be in attendance. Hope to see you there too!

Jedi Fireworks

Only thing I don't like about Return of the Jedi: the fireworks.

In a galaxy far, far away, why would the fireworks look like 1990s Earth fireworks? Fireworks technology changes. Also, why does everyone have fireworks displays at the ready? It was a surprise attack by the Rebels (or it was supposed to be). Have they been keeping the fireworks prepared for the last few decades? Seems a bit optimistic of them. Like keeping confetti in your pocket for years in case you find yourself in the middle of an unexpected surprise party.

Aside from that... BEST MOVIES EVER.

I hear a single line of dialogue from Star Wars, and I feel instantly comforted, as if I've bitten into a chocolate chip cookie or sunk into a bed with a dozen pillows. The first movie in particular (A New Hope, of course, NOT Phantom Menace) is, for me, the ultimate in storytelling and the obvious answer to "What's your favorite movie?"

I also like The Princess Bride, The Dark Crystal, and Labyrinth. But really, Star Wars tops them all. And for the record, Han MUST shoot first.

The trilogy was on TV last night as I was working on polishing my Top Sekrit Project. I'm at the scrutinize-every-sentence-for-clarity-and-poetry stage, which is one of my favorite stages because I love playing with language. Only thing I don't like about this stage is that I means I'll be done soon.

I used to look forward to finishing a novel, thinking there would be some great sense of accomplishment. Or a parade. Or at least a few elephants in fancy hula outfits. But after writing several novels, I now know that I feel a bit bereft after I finish. I miss my characters. I miss my world. I miss writing the novel that I've been immersed in. So I've stopped looking forward to finishing and have just been enjoying being immersed in the novel.

I think there's some deep life lesson in this: enjoy the ride or it's all about the journey or keep the fireworks ready or whatever.