Sarah Mlynowski has hung out with the readergirlz on more than one occasion. She participated in 31 Flavorites in October 2007 (and also dropped in to say hi to Lauren Myracle during Lauren's chat). She shared the story behind the cover of her book Gimme a Call with rgz diva Melissa Walker. Little Willow met her in person when E. Lockhart, Lauren Myracle, and Sarah Mlynowski were promoting their book How to Be Bad. (LW adds: That was an awesome day, y'all.)
Today, Sarah's new book DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT is available everywhere. Everywhere! In honor of the rgz anniversary and in honor of the book's release, here are 7 things you didn't know about Sarah Mlynowski... until now.
1. I bite my nails.
2. My little sister is a reality TV show producer.
3. The only sports team I was ever on was the newcomball team at sleepaway camp. What is newcomball? It’s like volleyball, except you catch the ball before throwing it over the net. I’m not sure it’s a real sport. Maybe I shouldn’t be too excited that I won the MIP (Most Improved Player) award in 1988.
4. Gordon Kormon spoke at my school when I was in third grade. (I know that makes him sound old, but he was only 15 at the time.)
5. After Gordon’s visit I decided to write my own book, Lizzie Forshort. It’s about a girl whose name is Elizabeth but is called Lizzie...for short! My mom typed up the manuscript for me and we sent it to Bantam Books. And that’s the story of very first rejection letter.
6. My husband proposed in Queenstown, New Zealand, in 2003. We’d started dating in1994 when we were seventeen. Took him long enough.
7. My five-year old daughter is a better cook than I am. Last week she made a purée and a meatloaf. Last week I made toast and a cup of coffee.
Sarah Mlynowski's
Gimme a Call is a magical summer read! When Devi drops her phone in the mail fountain, she fishes it out to discover that it only calls one number: her number. At age 14, three years ago. The back-and-forth between past and present Devi is quick and funny as she tries to figure out if her fate is changeable. Loved this one!
And the cover is way cute, so here's Sarah to talk about how it came about:
"Have you seen the hardcover of GOOD GIRLS by Laura Ruby? With the cool reappearing girl on the cell phone? (below)
That's how I pictured the GIMME A CALL cover. Except with alternating Devis--one at fourteen and one at seventeen.
"When I first saw my cover, I loved it. I loved how clean it looked. Loved the type. Loved the glossy phone. It was a big departure from the Magic in Manhattan covers but I thought it was gorgeous.
"There were earlier cover concepts, which didn't make the final cut. The art director (Kenny Holcomb) was amazing--he wouldn't stop until he got it right. Some of them included..."
Check out the rest of Sarah's Cover Story, including a Disney-esque version, at
melissacwalker.com.
For those of you who don't know - Sarah Mylnowski's new book Gimmee a Break has just been released.
This book's premise is awesome. Basically, right before Senior Prom, Devi drops her cell phone in a fountain. ItJust her luck's it's broken and only calls one number...her number.
At age fourteen, three years ago!
Now, she can tell herself all the right things to do because she's already done the wrong ones.
On Twitter, Sarah was asking people what they would tell their High School self.
Here are my top 10 pieces of advice:
1. When you and your friends want to see what it's like to drink beer and cheer... trust me when I say - it' not fun nor worth the backlash. Just say no!
2. Never ever perm naturally curly hair, crimped bangs don't look good, Sun-In is not good for your hair, and don't use baby oil on your skin in the sun (it is true, the sun causes wrinkles and it will matter later!)
3. Parachute pants, Jammers, fingerless gloves, leg warmers, jelly bracelets, swatches, shoulder pads, stirrup pants, bright blue mascara, yellow eyeshadow, & anything neon are NEVER...EVER cool!
4. Duran Duran will not be the next Rolling Stones. Ralph Macchio doesn't look as good through adult eyes. Appolonia is not as cool as you think she is. Prince forgets his name. Miami Vice dudes are not nearly as hot as you think. And, even Bon Jovi realizes his hair is too big.
5. CB is not the only guy you will ever love. But I think you should stay away from anyone else who comes along before the age of 21 (especially the guy in your 8th grade Home Ec class because that will be the biggest heartbreka of your life. Oh yeah, and it DOES NOT work out. Just know you will find the one and you will get married. Contrary to what yo believe, you will not be a spinster or alone FOREVER.![]()
.jpg?picon=590)
.jpeg?picon=2058)
I followed a bit of this on twitter last night. Very interesting!! A great concept for a book, and for marketing the book!
I think advice is wasted on the young. :) They have to learn it themselves. But I would tell myself that I end up okay...happy, married, published. I don't think it would take away the heartache, but I think it might give me hope that those heartaches aren't forever. Sometimes when you're young you forget that. :)
great post--i'm laughing about ralph macchio! what would i tell my high school self? hmm. tough one. maybe that at some point in TIME, it will actually be preferable to be a bit absurd!
I'd tell myself to let go. Too many things held me back, and now I'm trying to make up for it.
What fun blurbs! Awesome concept for a book.
I would tell myself to be less shy and to be nicer to my family. Weren't we all little brats back then? :)
I would tell myself to relax - it's not as BIG and CRITICAL as I think it all is.
Damn, I had an idea about a person mentoring a younger self, too. Guess it's too late to write that one!
It is so true that your high school self wouldn't have listened. Or at least wouldn't have believed you.
BTW, I disagree about Ralph Macchio. He's still a cutie. Well, at least his younger self is. I haven't seen him as an old guy.
Dear me,
rethink that hair wall. =)
Awesome post Shelli!
Shelli,
Love your blog. But I have to say that as a current math teacher, you really do use Algebra and Trig, even if you don't always recognize it.
You may not use the equations, but your brain definitely uses the logical thinking patterns it developed in those classes.
Kim
Duran Duran > The Rolling Stones... ok maybe not. But why hate on the band that makes us hungry like the wolves?
OMG what a great idea for a book!!! What would I tell myself...hmmm...
I think I'd eat more donuts, I'd be a better friend, and I'd take time to appreciate how worry-free my life was. When I think back on it now, with a mortgage and all this responsibility, I can't believe some of the things I worried about. Well, I guess I did need to worry about some things like the pontiac not making it into the school parking lot without stalling, lol. But basically, life was worry-free.
Hah! What a great--and very traumatic--storyline!! Re-visiting myself at age fourteen. (Shaking my head so violently, giving myself a headache.) LOL.
HA! What a GREAT post. Seriously awesome. I agree with all the high school things you mentioned...took me back just reading them all. And how right that our high school selves would never have listened. I might just have to read this book. Thanks for the much needed laugh and break!!!
Happy Wednesday!
busted by the math teacher :) sorry kim! I love math teachers just not math! ;)
I love Sarah Mylnowski. Her prose is so fact-paced & enjoyable. I read her years ago - had no idea she became so successful in the meantime.
As for the high school advice, I'd say, "Everyone else is as self-conscious as you are. Kindness works."
Too fun, Shelli! I was wondering what that was all about on FB last night!
I agree with most things that you said, except the part of Duran Duran. I still and always will love them! :)
I actually wouldn't tell myself to change too much, because I love how my life turned out. I wouldn't want to accidentally alter the pathway there!
What a cool concept for a book!
My high school self would snort, roll her eyes, and say, "Yeah. Whatever, old lady!" And then she would do the same stupid stuff she did the first time around.
And you know what? I'm not one of those, "Oh no! I'd never change anything b/c it's made me who I am" types of people (Helloooo, teenage self: LAY OFF THE TWEEZERS!) But ... If my less-than-wise self hadn't done these things when she was younger, maybe I would've done them later (not realizing just how much of an asshat I was being) and made an even bigger fool of myself.
And that would've sucked something awful.
That sounds like a great book.
I love Your English tip (I never did pay attention in class) and I would probably tell myself tell myself to stay away from my friends 18th... I think I could do without the knowledge of what the back of a police padiwagon looks like (long story).
I'd probably tell myself not to be so stingy with the ladyshave...I'm very dark haired and extremely light skinned so NO - I couldn't get away with the once a month leg shave that most of my blonde friends did...OOPS....so THAT'S WHY the boys called me "soldier legs"
If only I could go back and change that....
Oh, but Duran Duran was sooo pretty.
What an awesome premise for a book!
I love your list too. :)
If I could send back a message to myself it would be to be braver, talk to more people, take more risks and to just relax!!
I so love this idea. I wish wish wish I could tell my high school self to get over the crush I had for 4 whole years that made me ignore all the boys who might have been nice! Oh, and keep writing. ;)
In the end, all this would not matter. Because my HS self would never have listened anyway.
This is so very true for all of us...and unfortunately our kids right now. :)
Let's see.... I'd tell my HS self to quit smoking right then because the family history of heart disease would catch up to me later. (And not smoking might have postponed or prevented that.)
I'd tell myself to not be so obsessive-complusive and such a worrier. Life's too short to worry about stuff you can't change and later on, you'll wonder WHY you were so compulsive or obsessed over things!
I'd tell myself not to obsess about getting married; life is fine and joyful even if you're still single later in life!
And I'd tell myself not to hate writing so much because later in life you will love it and want to get your books published!!!
i'd tell myself that psychology is NOT the route to take when English is true love, and that it'll cost way too much money to go to a private school for 2 yrs just to end up, much MUCH happier, at a state university. you'll meet awesome people, make some interesting friends, lose and love and lose and love, but in the end, it'll all be worth it. there IS a point to all the BS.
I love those 'tips' and pictures. Reminds me of the day....
Advice to myself? Maybe to keep writing and not to give up so easily. If I'd kept up with my writing, I'd have been a lot futher along than I am now!