I decided that in 2015, I was going to read more.

This might seem a little bizarre, since most people assume that since I write books I also read books constantly. And there was a time when I did- but when there were deadlines or meetings or book tours or dinners I found myself thinking of reading more and more as a “leisure” activity, akin to ( Read more... )

I keep thinking I’ll find a way to turn them into whole blog posts, but then I don’t because there’s stuff to do and books to write and cats to feed. So here are some words of wisdom that I think are worth sharing just because.

1) Stop buying crap products from the drugstore and go to the dermatologist. Look, I swear we’ll get to the Deep and ( Read more... )

THERE’S A DOG GUYS


( Read more... )

Public speaking is hard, guys. It takes practice, and work, and it can be really scary, especially if you’re new at it. When you research public speaking, you get a lot of results that encourage you to picture the audience in their underwear (uh, creepy), or memorize your notes, or pause two seconds at each period. Which is all well and good, but ( Read more... )

You: *get on elevator*
Fancy Editor from Fancy Publishing House: *gets on elevator*
*Doors close*
*You turn to the Editor. She is yours for the next eight seconds. There is no escape. This is an elevator, after all.*
You: Hi there. I’ve written a book.
Editor: Oh? Tell me about it.
You: Well, it’s sort of a transformation themed love story. See ( Read more... )

OMG it is 2015.

Actually 2015. Which means it’s the year of middle grade, for me. In April, my co-written book (with Maggie Stiefvater), PIP BARTLETT’S GUIDE TO MAGICAL CREATURES releases. And in July, the super-fun-heisty-delightful first book in my new spy series releases- THE DOUBLECROSS (and other skills I learned as a superspy).

Here’s what it ( Read more... )

OMG I am excited.

I am so excited. Here are some gifs to convey my excitement because AHHHH.


( Read more... )

So, I am pretty horrified (like most acceptable humans are) by this whole Sam Pepper thing. If you don’t know what that is, see below:

Click to view

I’ll totally admit that as I’ve stepped back from the YouTube community in the past year due to time restraints, I totally missed that stuff like this is a THING. Like, I had no idea people DID THIS and put it on ( Read more... )

As always, here’s my 9/11 video that I made a few years ago. I know a lot of readers are too young to have memories of 9/11, which might mean this day is a little weird for you. I get that. But I think it’s important you listen- that we all listen- because empathy is what will always, always bring us together, no matter how hard hate tries to drive ( Read more... )

I AM SO EXCITED.

SERIOUSLY I AM SO EXCITED.

Do you know what THE DOUBLECROSS is? Allow me to tell you, in this hastily-written (sorry) blurb:

Everyone in Hale’s family is a spy, going way back. His great grandfather. His grandmother. Both his parents. They’ve all worked for the Sub Rosa Society, an elite, top secret organization-so top secret that ( Read more... )