"Research"

For me, one of the best parts about working on a new book are the things I get to do under the guise of "research." And working on my new paranormal series, MY IMMORTAL (please note, title may change!), which I handed in today (yippee!), gave me the perfect excuse to delve into all sorts of interesting research type activities

Things like:

Spending the day at Santa Anita Race Track betting on the ponies while enjoying lunch at the Front Runner restaurant-- just like the characters in my book.




Undergoing a past life regression with the the best selling author of MANY LIVES, MANY MASTERS, the amazing Brian L. Weiss, M.D.-- a fascinating experience!




Slurping down a date malt (trust me, it's waaayyyy better than it sounds!) with gobs of whipped cream and a cherry on top at the beloved Crystal Cove haunt, the Shake Shack.



And taking a psychic/mediumship development class with the kind, compassionate, and very funny-- James Van Praagh.




And now I'm trying to drum up more "research" for book #2. . .


What about you, what sort of "research" do you engage in to assist your writing? Or, what's your dream research assignment?

Your Life in 6 Words

So I get these e-mails from NPR that lately I just skim (if I'm lucky) since I'm a little pressed for time. But the last one had this story about the six word memoir that caught my eye. Then, yesterday, I took a little trip over to one of my very favorite blogs and saw that this amazing lady was in on it too.

And as I'm still on a time crunch (polishing the manuscript of MY IMMORTAL- though please note, the title may change)- six words seemed like just the right amount. So here's mine:

Well traveled in mind, body, spirit.

And if you want to play too, here are the rules:

1. Write your own six word memoir.

2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like.

3. Link to the person who tagged you in your post .

4. Tag five more blogs with links.

5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

Or, if you're like me and not all that big on rules, just leave me a comment with your 6 word memoir!

It's Official!

Okay, being the superstitious, jinx fearing person that I am-- I was truly chomping at the bit to tell you this-- yet knowing better than to put the cart before the horse or count those eggs before they hatch--I (not so) patiently waited for the official posting in Publisher's Marketplace--and since that just so happened to show up today-- here goes----(feel free to insert drum roll here):

I recently agreed to another two book deal with my awesome editor, Rose Hilliard, at St. Martin's Press!!!

Or, as officially stated in P.M.-

"FAKING 19 and SAVING ZOE author Alyson Noel's MY IMMORTAL, to Rose Hilliard at St. Martin's, in a two-book deal, by Kate Schafer at Janklow & Nesbit (NA).
Translation: kt literary"

Which translates to mean that I am writing a new paranormal series in which the first book will be titled MY IMMORTAL-- and I couldn't be more excited!

I've been interested in all things paranormal ever since I was a little kid (I know that probably sounds weird but I'm dead serious-- yes, pun most definitely intended!), and am actually kind of surprised that I waited this long to write one. But now that I am, I get to delve into all kinds of interesting activities--all under the guise of "research"--including a class with the amazing psychic/medium James Van Pragh!

Yippee!!!

Okay, and soon, very soon, I will post the cover for my next novel, CRUEL SUMMER, (May 2008). I hope you like it as much as I do!

Have a good day everyone!
Alyson