When I was in fifth grade, all the popular girls wore Coca-Cola shirts, Guess jeans, and Reebok high-top sneakers (preferably pink ones). I was certain that once I procured this particular ensemble, world domination would be mine.

A few Christmases and birthdays went by, and I finally had all the requisite pieces. I stepped out in my outfit, which was teetering on the edge of out-of-date. As I walked down the hall past the popular girls, I heard the Queen Bee say, “Look, even Sarah has Guess jeans now.”

“They must not be cool anymore,” was the reply from one of her minions.

Ouch.

I haven’t said much about my new novel on this blog, but I’m the process of finishing a second draft (the first draft was not pretty, people). I’m still not ready to reveal too much about the book, but basically, it’s about a girl who spends a summer waiting tables at a resort when she’d rather be playing her cello at orchestra camp. Complications ensue.

It’s taken me forever to think of a decent title (I’m not revealing my current favorite because it may not fly in the end). Along the way, I’ve thought of many heinous titles, with some help from my husband. He’s good at that sort of thing. Here they are:

1. Mah Cello and Mah Fellow

2. Mo’ Music, Mo’ Problems

3. The Summer of Lies!!!

4. I Can Haz Beethoven?

5. Mean Girls Minus Lindsay Lohan

6. I Only Get Cell Reception Behind the Tool Shed

7. I Frickin’ Hate It Up Here

8. Stop Patting My Butt, You Dirty Old Man

9. Play Me Like A Cello!

10. Like Twilight, But At A Resort

Daisy Whitney, author of The Mockingbirds, a fab-sounding YA book due out next year, is offering up a signed copy of TMI. Watch her video blog for more details!

Do you live in the San Francisco Bay Area? Planning a visit there in the next week? Then come meet me! I’ve got five, count ‘em FIVE, appearances scheduled in the next two weeks. And at four of these events, I’ll be in the excellent company of several other young adult authors:

Lauren Bjorkman (My Invented Life)
Cheryl Renee Herbsman (Breathing)
Malinda Lo (Ash)
C. Lee McKenzie (Sliding on the Edge)
J.A. Yang (Exclusively Chloe)

I’ve read and enjoyed all of their books, so if you’re looking for a gift for your favorite YA fan this holiday season, consider these my picks (along with TMI, of course).

Note: Books will be for sale at each of these events. The Barnes and Noble venue was recently switched from Colma, CA, to San Bruno, CA.

December 5, 2009, 3-4 PM

Book signing with Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, and J.A. Yang

Borders
588 Francisco Blvd. West
San Rafael, CA

December 8, 2009, 7 PM

Young adult author panel with Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, C. Lee McKenzie, and J.A. Yang

Menlo Park Public Library
800 Alma St.
Menlo Park, CA

December 9, 2009, 12 PM

Young adult author panel with Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, and J.A. Yang

Petaluma High School
201 Fair St.
Petaluma, CA

Note: This event is open to the public, but visitors should check in at the school office when arriving.

December 12, 2009, 2-4 PM

Book signing with Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, C. Lee McKenzie, and J.A. Yang

Barnes and Noble
The Shops at Tanforan
1150 El Camino Real
San Bruno, CA

January 29, 2010, 6 PM

Young adult book club with lil ol’ me and no one else

Borders
Stonestown Galleria
3251 20th Ave.
San Francisco, CA

P.S. What’s that? You’re not lucky enough to be in the Bay Area this week and you still want to meet some cool authors? Done! Check out the other author events happening in New York, Chicago, and Toronto for Holidaze with the Debs.

In seventh grade, I was standing in line with my friend, Janie, in the cafeteria. As we neared the kitchen, we noticed an object hanging from the doorknob.

“It kind of looks like a balloon,” Janie said.

I squinted and peered closer. “Yeah, only it’s sort of clear. And the shape is weird.”

Janie and I fingered the mysterious balloon for a few moments and walked away, shrugging.

It wasn’t until years later that I realized we’d been touching a condom.