More fun with cupcakes!

Videos courtesy of Simon and Schuster

When I was in New York City the end of June, I visited the S&S offices, and they took me into their studio and had me answer some questions.

Here are the results from that time in the studio!

Playing croquet with cupcakes

I had to be careful - didn't want to squish my friends!

More fun with cupcakes!

In case you missed it, every Tuesday and Thursday leading up to the release of Sprinkles and Secrets, I'm posting a video. Yes, a silly video with cupcakes.

What do we do when it gets hot?

Go swimming, of course!!

On buying books

Sometimes people make fun of me because when one of my favorite bands or singers has a new CD that comes out, I go to the store and I buy the CD.

Yes. I do.

Here is why. Buying the CD is the very best way I can support those bands and singers I love. I want them to keep making music. And although music is going more and more digital every day, CD sales still matter. And so, I want to do as much for them as I can. Buying the CD says - what you do matters to me. I value you as an artist.

The same can be said for books.

Yes, it's true, we may not get the same mileage out of books that we do out of a CD, since we usually are happy to listen to music over and over again and don't reread books like that. Although I will say, I have a lot of girls who have e-mailed me to tell me they've read my books many times. I think one girl told me she'd read It's Raining Cupcakes seventeen times. Wow!! Sometimes a good book feels like an old friend. I know people who pull out Harry Potter, for example, as a "comfort read."

Anyway, regardless of whether I'll read a book once or five times, I try to do my share of buying books. In fact, I have a book budget - every month, there is a certain amount of money set aside for me to spend on books. I don't always buy for myself - books make GREAT gifts. If I max out my budget, then I hold off and buy the books I really want the next month. And I may have to get a couple at the library.

But the important thing is that I'm buying books!

I've heard from so many people who are sad to see Borders go. If we want bookstores to stay in business, we HAVE to support them. That is, we have to go to the stores, and buy books. It's really that simple.

The same can be said for authors. If you want your favorite author to stay in business, to be able to keep writing books, you HAVE to support them. You have to buy their books.

So let's say you are one of those who says - I just don't have the money. And you may not. And if that's the case, then the library is your best friend. But some day, you will have money. And I hope when you do, you'll do as I do and allocate a certain amount of money every month to be spent on books.

Sometimes people complain about the cost of books. And I have to bite my tongue so I don't ask them the following questions:

How often do you spend $5.00 on a coffee drink?
How often do you spend $6.00 on a frozen yogurt?
How often do you spend $10.00 - $15.00 on a pizza?
How often do you spend $40.00 on a pair of shoes because they're "cute", when you don't really need them?

Three less coffee drinks a month, and you could buy a book.
One less pizza a month, and you could buy a book.
One less pair of cute shoes a month, and you could buy two or three or even four books (if they're paperback).

I hardly ever buy new clothes. I mean, I go shopping maybe twice a year, if that, and often, I shop at thrift stores.

That's what I give up in order to buy books. I wear the same things over and over until I can't stand it anymore, and then I try to find clothes that are cheap when I do shop.

So when you meet me, please, be kind in regard to my wardrobe, okay? I can't wear books, or I would be golden! Maybe I should just get a bunch of t-shirts that say "Buy Books" and wear those every where I go. Or something like this one would be good too.

I know I'm probably singing to the choir here, but every once in a while, I feel the need to do a post about buying books. Thanks for indulging me!!

And thank you to everyone who has bought my books - I appreciate it!

Only one more month!!

Today is August 20th, which means, just one more month until this book comes out!!!

I didn't have a second book planned. But when so many readers e-mailed me, asking if there would be another book, I decided to write one. This book is my gift to all of the fans of It's Raining Cupcakes, and I can't wait for you to read it!

If you are planning on getting it when it comes out, it would actually help me out a lot if you went to your local book store and pre-ordered it in the next couple of weeks. This means you buy it now, and when it comes in, they let you know it's in, and you have your very own copy, guaranteed. If a book gets a lot of pre-orders (at a bookstore), that's a good thing for an author, and they are likely to order more copies than they usually do. I've heard many people are saddened by the closing of Borders. The truth is, if we want book stores to stay in business, we must support them.

Anyway, I know some kids have been waiting a long time for September 20th to get here. I'm so happy it's almost here!! In a few weeks, I'll be announcing a special SURPRISE for everyone who gets the book and reads it in the first few weeks. There will be a special question you answer, via e-mail, and when you do, I send you something really fun!!

Fun with Cupcakes - It's Picnic Time!

When you take cupcakes on a picnic, you don't EAT them, do you???

Because, look, they really want to join in on the fun!