Anybody familiar with Los Angeles?

I’ll be in the LA area at the end of March visiting schools. I’ll also be doing a presentation to the public at the Cerritos Library, the evening of March 24th.

Two of the schools had to cancel, so I am left with a hole in the schedule. I wish I could use it for sightseeing, but we all know I have a Deadline Dragon’s claws firmly implanted in my neck, and all free time until the fall must be spent writing.

I am looking for a safe, clean, affordable (yeah, I know, that’s the kicker) hotel or B&B to stay in that is between Palos Verdes and Cerritos. Can anyone recommend a place?

And now, more mail. This first note is rather enthusiastic.

Brittany writes: Hey! My name is Brittany! I’m 13 years old! I just recently read your book Fever 1793. I shared it with my grandmother. We both just loved it! She is an RN and she explanined a lot of stuff in your book! Fever 1793 is the first book of yours that I’ve read, but now that I’ve read it. I want to also read your book Speak. Well I just thought I would email you, if you can please email me back! My email is (removed) or (removed) is fine too! Well if I don’t get an email back its okay because I know you’re really busy! Hope you write lots more GREAT books!
Sincerely, Brittany and grandmother Sondra!

Major props to grandmother Sondra for sharing books. Thanks, Brittany!!!!!!

Emily writes; Hello! I read your book, Fever 1793. It was a wonderful book and I love the style you write with. I think it would be a great movie to make. You should seriously consider having it made into a movie. I would love to be a part of it. I am just like Matilda.

I am always surprised at how many people think that authors control the process that turns books into movies. We don’t. The movie people do. I agree – I think Fever would be a slam dunk movie… and Philly has exactly the resources needed to pull it off. If you know any movie people, please tell them about this book.

Tuyen writes: … I am currently a student in the seventh grade at Indian Valley Middle school. I am sending you this email on the behalf of my reading class where we are doing author study. I chose you because your type of writing has grabbed my attention.
I read in an interview that you wrote when the world turns on you and I felt the same way, but wanted to know why you didn’t just write poems but chose to write books which took a longer time to write. Also in another part of the article I read that your character’s behavior comes from feelings of your own and I wanted to ask you why do you chose to put your problems into the world of your character’s.
Words become short so I’ll end my email saying that I really did enjoy a lot of your books, especially “Fever 1973” and “Speak”.
P.S. You are a great writer so continue what you do best
P.P.S Thanks for reading

I do write poetry, but it is private. Well, so far it’s been private. Poetry is the form I turn to when I am depressed or afraid. I’ve thought about writing a novel in verse (who hasn’t at this point?) but I am not sure I have the skill to pull it off. Putting my problems into the life of a character helps me look at the problem from a new point of view and helps me learn about myself.

Kayla writes: I loved your book speak it was hard to listen to in class because when the book cursed everyone would laugh like they never heard a curse word when the cuss everyday. Well i thought i would let you know i loved the book. Cant wait until we read the next one if we do.

Cuss words are funny. I must write an essay about them someday… after I slay the Deadline Dragon

Caitlyn (age 11) writes: I have read all of your books even though u havenโ€™t made any more books I still appreciate that u wrote all of those books and everyone is wonderful they inspire me to be a writer .

Lisa writes: HEY LAURIE…I’M LISA AND IM IN THE SEVENTH GRADE I LIVE IN CHICAGO. IM READING PROM RIGHT NOW AND I THINK IT IS VERY GOOD. OUR TEACHER ORDERED SPEAK AS A CLASS NOVEL ANDD I CANT WAIT TO READ IT. NICE TALKIN TO U BYE BYE

Nice talking to you, too!

19 Replies to “Anybody familiar with Los Angeles?”

  1. “I am always surprised at how many people think that authors control the process that turns books into movies.”

    Me too! I don’t how many kids have written to me wanting to audition for the role of Willow in my book. ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. “I am always surprised at how many people think that authors control the process that turns books into movies.”

    Me too! I don’t how many kids have written to me wanting to audition for the role of Willow in my book. ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. The town that is smack in between Cerritos and Palos Verdes is LONG BEACH. (Which happens to be where I grew up, too bad my mom moved to Hawaii or you could stay at her house!)

    I have never stayed in a hotel there, and I don’t know what you would consider affordable. I poked around on Hotels.Com and it seems to me that the decent ones are all about $89-$109. You DO NOT want to stay in Carson, most of San Pedro, etc. You DO want things that are IN Long Beach, preferably with a name like “spinnaker” or “seashore”.

    B&Bs: B&Bs!
    More B&B!

    Stay on the Queen Mary!

    Very Nice, or at least it seemed that way when I was a kid!

    Have fun, if you want more info I will ask my mom what she would recommend (she might have more insight than I do).

  4. The town that is smack in between Cerritos and Palos Verdes is LONG BEACH. (Which happens to be where I grew up, too bad my mom moved to Hawaii or you could stay at her house!)

    I have never stayed in a hotel there, and I don’t know what you would consider affordable. I poked around on Hotels.Com and it seems to me that the decent ones are all about $89-$109. You DO NOT want to stay in Carson, most of San Pedro, etc. You DO want things that are IN Long Beach, preferably with a name like “spinnaker” or “seashore”.

    B&Bs: B&Bs!
    More B&B!

    Stay on the Queen Mary!

    Very Nice, or at least it seemed that way when I was a kid!

    Have fun, if you want more info I will ask my mom what she would recommend (she might have more insight than I do).

  5. I do write poetry, but it is private. Well, so far it’s been private. Poetry is the form I turn to when I am depressed or afraid.
    ah, finally someone who understands! I’ve shown a few close friends my poetry, and they encourage me to share it with more people or enter it in contests. They don’t seem to get how personal my poems are to me, and how difficult it is to share them. I don’t write poetry for the world; I write it for myself. Selfish? maybe. But it’s how I deal with things.

  6. I do write poetry, but it is private. Well, so far it’s been private. Poetry is the form I turn to when I am depressed or afraid.
    ah, finally someone who understands! I’ve shown a few close friends my poetry, and they encourage me to share it with more people or enter it in contests. They don’t seem to get how personal my poems are to me, and how difficult it is to share them. I don’t write poetry for the world; I write it for myself. Selfish? maybe. But it’s how I deal with things.

  7. Thank You

    Dear Ms. Anderson (Mrs? Ms. Laurie? Lil’ LHA? Whatever you go by…”,

    Thank you so much for writing speak and catalyst. I really could relate to some of the characters, and these books inspired me to start writing more, and to reach out to students who seem to be left behind in the dust from the Mac trucks of cliques, a prejudice culture, and selfishness. You are so skilled at getting in the mind of a teenagers, and it seems like your characters could be someone I know. Thank you so much!

    Rachel

  8. Thank You

    Dear Ms. Anderson (Mrs? Ms. Laurie? Lil’ LHA? Whatever you go by…”,

    Thank you so much for writing speak and catalyst. I really could relate to some of the characters, and these books inspired me to start writing more, and to reach out to students who seem to be left behind in the dust from the Mac trucks of cliques, a prejudice culture, and selfishness. You are so skilled at getting in the mind of a teenagers, and it seems like your characters could be someone I know. Thank you so much!

    Rachel

  9. I remember when I was younger and I’d want to write to all the people I admired, but I was afraid that they’d think that it was stupid or too kiddish. When I was in the 7th grade, I finally sent off a letter to my favourite actress, and she sent back a reply on a postcard– it made my year. I still have it.

    Although I do remember being a bit annoyed about the fact that she wrote “your” instead of “you’re.”

    I remember that it took me days to write. So the fact that you take the time to reply to these kids is just awesome. Yay you!

  10. I remember when I was younger and I’d want to write to all the people I admired, but I was afraid that they’d think that it was stupid or too kiddish. When I was in the 7th grade, I finally sent off a letter to my favourite actress, and she sent back a reply on a postcard– it made my year. I still have it.

    Although I do remember being a bit annoyed about the fact that she wrote “your” instead of “you’re.”

    I remember that it took me days to write. So the fact that you take the time to reply to these kids is just awesome. Yay you!

  11. havent commented for awhile.

    It would be interesting if you did a book in verse.

    i’m not too fond of the types of books written with Instant Messages, like two screen names and the convo, those types of books dont flow for me.

  12. havent commented for awhile.

    It would be interesting if you did a book in verse.

    i’m not too fond of the types of books written with Instant Messages, like two screen names and the convo, those types of books dont flow for me.

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