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So, here’s the thing – if you want to live in an area with great bookstores, move here. These were outstanding bookstores.

I could leave it at that, but I promised I’d post photos, so here goes.

a small part of the group at Regulator Bookshop in Durham. Many thanks to the women of Durham Academy who turned up with teachers in tow, and the other teens who came even though they were on spring break. (We even had a teacher from Ohio who came on break!)

Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh was packed!!

One of my best buddies, Marnie, came out and brought me a corsage. *blush*

In a humbling and somehow appropriate display, Quail Ridge hangs nicely framed photos of authors who have visited their store in the bathroom. The tiny (yet powerful) sales rep you see is Doni Kay, who made my day fly with great conversation.

I have to wake up in five hours. Ack. I have set three alarms, and my BH has promised a back-up wake-up call so I don’t have another Kalamistake.

This is where you can find me tomorrow.

5:30am in line at coffee shop in airport.

3-5pm Dandy Tales, 13 South Ave., New Canaan CT, 203-966-7713

7-9 pm Diane’s Books, 8A Grigg St., Greenwich, CT, 203-869-1515

On Thursday, I’ll be in Naperville, IL, and Notre Dame, IN.

Like to write? Want to win a boat-load of books or $$$ for a DJ for your 2006 school prom? Then listen up.

The nice people at Baker & Taylor just announced a fanfiction contest for stories based on my new novel, PROM!!!

Basically, you have to write a 1,500 word (or less) prequel, sequel, or alternate ending to PROM. These stories will be evaluated by a group of B&T and Penguin folks. I’ll help choose the finalists. The contest runs from now through December 31, 2005. (It’s only open to readers aged 12-18, BTW)

The Grand Prize winner gets either $500 worth of Penguin books, or $500 towards a DJ to play at the winner’s prom in 2006, and the winning story will be posted on writerlady.com (my website) for everyone to enjoy. Also, I will visit the winner’s school or public library in 2006, and an additional $500 of books will be donated to that school or library.

Two First Prize winners will also have their stories showcased on my website and will win a complete, signed set of my novels.

Go here and click on official Contest Rules for all the details and fine print.

I leave for the airport and North Carolina in a couple of minutes. I am feeling very optimistic today and am leaving my winter jacket at home. This means a freak snowstorm will probably hit the Raleigh/Durham region by dinnertime. You heard it here first.

I found the lost Easter egg!!

(Go me-e! Go me-e!)

In previous years, it took four and then six months to find the Easter egg (yes, a real hard-boiled egg) that I oh-so, oh-too cleverly hid. And for the past 24 hours my family has been mercilessly teasing me because yep, I did it again. At the end of the Easter egg hunt we were one egg short and for the life of me I could not remember where it was.

But – ha! Ha! I say, ha! to all you doubters whom I birthed or married. Because I just found it….

…hidden in the box of Diet Mountain Dew soda.

And no, I did not include it in the deviled eggs we ate for dinner. Because I am not spiteful. I am sweet and forgiving, if a bit scatterbrained.

*caution – sighing and pouting ahead*

The weekend was a blast. We laughed, we ate, we made fun of each other, we walked the dog – perfect family get-together. The only problem was that it ended. Stef went back to college last night. BH and the CWF have to leave today. I’m on my way to New Jersey to sign books at the wholesalers’ warehouses. Tomorrow morning I get back on an airplane for Prom Tour, Pt. 2.

I really wish this could have been an eight-day weekend. I don’t like it when everybody has to leave.

If any of you live in North Carolina, come out and play tomorrow. Here’s the schedule:

3pm Regulator Bookshop, 720 9th Street, Durham, NC 919-286-2700

7:00 – 9:00 PM Quail Ridge Books, 3522 Wade Ave, Raleigh, NC, 919-828-1588

Wednesday is Connecticut.

What else? It’s raining. Oh – Michigan St. played an amazing game and beat Kentucky last night.

And for the third year in a row, I forgot where I hid all the Easter eggs. I’m not too worried. I’m moving out of here in four months. It will turn up when we’re packing.

Aaahh, the bickering, the squabbles, the minor, constant, petty irritations. And the fangs. Stef and Mer are home at the same time.

But don’t worry, the fangs belong to the dog, not the daughters.

It’s actually really nice to have almost everyone here (the other two kids are up in New York) – loud and wonderful nice. And soon we’re going to color eggs, which I secretly love doing. So this is a really short post.

Before I go, I promised pictures of Kezzie, aka the Creature With Fangs, and Scot, my Beloved Husband.

Honest, they were having fun.

Awwwww…….