Sunday, November 3, 2013

Odds & Ends & A Wave.

Hello there, faithful blogettes.

Hm. That's kinda close to baguettes, huh?

Whatever. The point is...

Hi!

I hope you had a fun week, and lots of adventure on Sammy's favorite day. I have e-mailed all the book winners and want to thank everyone who participated. Loved the pictures and the creativity involved. The prize for "funniest" goes to a submission for "Lady Lana" on a tabletop holding her cheeks, with a mouse in the foreground. Cracked me up!

Our Halloween: We live off the beaten path, so Mark and I have taken to doing reverse trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. We head out with a bucket of candy and stop cars and adults and kids trick-or-treating and give them candy. And since it was a nice night out, we also threw handfuls up at people sitting on balconies sipping their adult beverages.

That was quite entertaining.

Switching subjects, I know there are questions out there.

Here are some answers.

Sammy movie news: Hope to have something for you by the end of the year.

Shoelaces: I haven't forgotten.

Contest for name in last Sammy: I haven't forgotten.

The picture on this post: Mark and I are playing around with images to wrap the van on our Epic Road Trip Adventure. We're thinking this would look good / funny / interesting on the back window. It would be in color, but Mark cobbled this together for tonight's post to give you an idea. Comments?

[OMG which way does our wiper go? I have to look. (You know, the wave?)]

That's all for now. As always, thanks for checking in. I'll see you in the comments!


17 comments:

Unknown said...

Ahh maannn I got sick this week and totally forgot! ( excuse me if that sounded like a Danny excuse...*shudders*)
I love that picture it looks really funny! And throwing candy at people drinking adult beverages sounds like great fun! Almost as good sounding as throwing pieces of candy at tourists (I live in tourist attracted town....we are known for our wine and getting people drunk, as I like to say)
The picture looks very interesting, is the plan still to make the van hot pink as I recall? There has to be some way it stands out so that us baguettes, and other book fans of Wendelin Van Draanen and Mark Parsons will know...;)

Kylie said...

Congrats to all the winners! The Lady Lana one sounds hilarious!

I loved the Halloween idea! My family doesn't get trick-or-treaters, but we will have to try this next year.

Sammy Movie News: I am excited for what ever news you have about it, no matter if it isn't until next year!

Shoelaces: Shoelaces? What? I am so lost. What am I forgetting!

Contest for name in last Sammy: I am so excited for this one! I love the aspect of naming. I have named 6 out of our 9 dogs. I am really looking forward to this contest!

The picture on this post: Love it! And I know you said it would be in color, but I love the coloring of it on here.

Have you made any more plans about the Epic Road Trip Adventure? You could abbreviate is as ERTA!

Kylie

Gabrielle said...

That sound like awesome trick or treating! I went trick or treating, but it was completely lame, I asked my mom if we could buy some candy because I got that little. It was still fun going with my friends, though! I'm excited for Sammy movie news! Is it going to be a series of movies or a tv show? Because I've heard both.
Congrats to the winners! That Lady Lana costume sounds funny!
I don't remember a thing about shoelaces...?
I can't wait for the the last SK naming contest! I've been wondering about that for a while... I wasn't sure if I missed it or not, but I didn't think you wouldn't let us know.
And the picture on this post is really cool! I like it! Can't wait for the Epic Roadtrip!! :D
Have a great week everybody!



Gabrielle

Kylie said...

Gabrielle- I am glad I am not the only one who is confused about the shoelaces!

Yusa said...

So of course i am confused about the shoelaces like everyone else...
The naming contest--- well i had no idea what you were talking about until i googled it and refreshed my memory. That was months ago and I had completely forgotten about it even though i commented on that post.
Movie: So movie or Tv show cuz yes i have also heard rumors of both.... either way i'm ready for either.

The picture is perfect and I can't wait for the roadtrip!

I really want to see the Lady Lana picture or any others that people submitted!
The reverse trick or treating is a really clever idea and you could even go door to door and brighten up the day of some people who arent out trick or treating. I know some teens get to a certain age and some stay at home, unwillingly. It's a cool idea!

I feel like next year is going to be really significant for us. Anyone agree? Hopefully the roadtrip and then the last Sammy Keyes, a TV or movie getting started maybe.... just so many emotions. It's been so long.

Forever following Sammy in her shortcuts
--Yusa

Unknown said...

I forgot about shoe laces as well, but maybe they have to do with The Running Dream, as in running shoes, or maybe Casey's good luck charm on Sammy's shoes, but I don't know any questions that could go with that.
And Yusa i agree that next year their will be a lot going on! I'm especially excited to see the voice that kiss goodbye is written in, and I can't wait to read marks new book!

Wendelin Van Draanen said...

Nicely put perspective, Yusa--next year does feel significant when you look at it that way.

Shoelaces! I SO want to do this (and was told by Nancy that it was a possibility, so I hope we can get it done...) For Kiss Goodbye I want to get shoelaces (like, for hightops or lows) that have all the titles of the Sammy Keyes books on them. So it's something cool that anyone wearing them will understand, but not in-your-face (on-your-feet?) advertising-y. It's been a long time since I put it on the blog, so I don't blame people for forgetting! But I haven't! :-)

Jessica said...

I remembered the shoelaces, but not the naming-the-character contest. Which are both awesome.

I love the picture (and I agree -- the current coloring is awesome); your personalities really shine through.

Since I left my parents', I've never lived someplace that got trick-or-treaters. My first apartment post-college, they gave us little please-disturb signs to hang on our doorknobs, so I bought two giant bags of Reese's. My first (and only) ToTers were 3 teens at 8:55pm. Their eyes bugged out when each got a giant handful. I looked at the bowl I still had left, and called them back for another handful each. And still had too much candy to eat on my own. So now I don't even buy candy. But next year, I'm reverse TOTing! And then going home when I have a "reasonable" amount left.

Kylie said...

I love the shoelaces idea! I can't believe I don't remember it. I can tell you right now that I would totally buy them!

Optimistic4ever said...

Ahhh I've been so busy, I completely forgot to check in!

I'm so excited for everything. Like everyone else, I was rly confused by the shoelace part until I read the comments. I would definitely buy those!



Jessica said...

Guess who's leaving the house right now to go pick up Killer Cruise from the library? (Yes, it took a whole week for them to actually deliver it to my branch...)

Jessica said...

Okay, I just got to the end of Chapter 19, and this is already my favorite Sammy Keyes ever. I'm not sure I'm going to solve this mystery before Sammy because I'm rushing to find out what happens next. And my cheeks already hurt from laughing. How did you make this so funny and so thrilling at the same time?

Wendelin Van Draanen said...

Jessica: So happy you finally got your hands on the book. And THANK YOU for the comment. I've been (very pleasantly) surprised by how many people have told me KC is their favorite. How many series authors get that at book 17? So my cheeks are hurting from smiling at your remarks. Now get back to the book! (Thank you :-) )

Jessica said...

Finished! Yep, as rollicking a good time as Dead Giveaway, but the pacing was impeccable, flying back and forth between mystery and shenanigans and tender moments.

I actually suspected the ending pretty early on (partly because I'd managed to crack the code before I started reading), but it was just one of a few theories -- the suspense stayed until the reveal, and there were a few twists I didn't see.

A few reactions: 1) My birthday was last week, and tonight felt like my private birthday celebration, especially with PKQ being the free book Friday book, and KC starting off with recalling the 2nd 13th birthday and celebrating the 14th birthday, plus all the chemistry puns (I was a chemistry major). 2) I loved how you incorporated all our shoe quotes! 3) Doing all the birthday math made me realize I'm now older than Lana (and presumably Sammy's dad... are we allowed to name him yet?) -- and it kind of freaked me out a bit to think what it'd be like to suddenly find out I have a 14-year-old kid (obviously impossible since I'm a woman, but still...) 4) Sue Taylor! I kept thinking she was you, and it turns out I was kind of right! (hope this isn't considered a spoiler) 5) Did you just make me almost want to go on a cruise? I've always been like Sammy when it comes to both Vegas and cruises -- just give me something simple, with the symphony of nature (but nothing cooling its heels!).

Kylie said...

Wasn't the book fantastic Jessica! I am so glad that you finally got to read it! My favorite moments were Sammy and her Dad moments. They are just so cute! And Happy Late Birthday Jessica!

Ky

Bethany said...

Wait, does this mean that Sammy Keys is going to appear on television?
*does a 360 in the air and starts throwing up rainbows*

Isabel said...

Oh dear, i missed too much!
CONGRATS TO ALL THE WINNERS!
Shoelaces....okay then.
Can't wait for the show either!
And if I see that picture on the back of a van, I'll have my mom honk!