"The rest is still unwritten. ..."
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www.blogspot/eurogirl1
Europe is amazing! We got to Italy yesterday, first stop Venice, and everything is even more beautiful than I had imagined. R. and I are having too much fun. This afternoon we went on a gondola ride, where the gondolier was actually wearing a red-and-white-striped shirt and a silly black hat. R. joined in the singing, of course, which was hilarious, if not melodic. I'm currently typing from a Venetian Internet cafe. Did you know they have Internet here now? I had wondered how they'd get the wires through those canals, but apparently my notions are silly and outdated. Italy is just like home, except the pizza is better.
E. is having a blast at Princeton. She's already in the best eating club and is hard at work on her next collection--preppie basics! Of course. Guess she's taking inspiration from her surroundings. She and J. are going strong and have already booked the church for 2012. Here's hoping she designs the bridesmaids' gowns.
J. is dating P. at NYU and modeling on the side. They're planning to meet us in Paris for spring break so J. can go to some look-sees (and eat some escargot, obv.). She's been doing a lot of commercial work since the September Vogue came out--but, she assures me, only as much as doesn't interfere with her classes.
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And in really exciting news, my blog is going to become a book! It sold to a big publishing house that wants to publish next summer. I'm so excited I don't know what to do with myself. My first novel! I even decided on a title yesterday: The Au Pairs. I want the cover to have three girls in bikinis. I know, I know. No sign of the children anywhere. But really--the book is more about the friendships I found there than about the kids or the partying. And, of course, the great guy who made every summer special.
Till next time,
Eurogirh
PS--And no, I still don't have a webcam!
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Acknowledgments
The Au Pairs was a great ride, and I'd like to thank everyone who made it a possibility. Writing this book series changed my life, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who made it happen. Emily Meehan and Josh Bank for being the books' godparents. All my fabulous current (and former) editors at Alloy who had a hand in making it wonderful: Sara Shandler, Ben Schrank, Siobhan Vivian, and Joelle Hobeika (thanks especially to Joelle for being so patient with the Crazy Hot drafts!). Thank you to Les Morgenstein for everything. Deep gratitude to Richard Abate and Josie Friedman at ICM who have my back. And Niki Castle, Karen Kenyon, and Colin Graham who help Richard and Josie have my back. Thanks especially to everyone at S&S who were such big cheerleaders for the series: Rick Richter, Elizabeth Law, Jen Bergstrom, Bethany Buck, Carolyn Pohmer and Courtney Bongiolatti. It means so much to me to be part of the S&S family. Thank you to my dear friend Tom Dolby for his steadfast friendship and support. Thanks, Tom, for being so patient with
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me while I finished this book. We can work on our project now. Thank you to all my friends in New York and Los Angeles. I love you all.
Thank you to all my dear readers from all over the U.S. and the world (all the way from Sweden, Germany, Poland, and the U.K.) who e-mail, blog and MySpace-friend me. You guys are the best! I love hearing from you, so please keep in touch by writing me at [email protected] .
Thank you to my amazing family--the DLCs: Mommy, Papa, and Chito. The Greens: Aina, Steve, Nicholas, and Joseph. The Johnstons: Mom J., Dad J., John, Anji, Alex, Tim, Rob, Jenn, Val, and Lily. The Gaisanos: Tita Odette, Isabelle, and Tina. The Torres family: Tita Sony, Tito Badong, Mandy, Stevie, and Miggy. And all the Ongs and de la Cruzes who are too numerous to mention, but especially my nieces Mica Calangi and Bianca Ong, who are big fans of the books!
Thank you to Nubia Alvarez, who helps me be a working mom.
And most importantly, thank you to the loves of my life, Mike Johnston and Mattie Johnston. I thought of you every minute I was writing this book.
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Don't miss this sizzling read by Melissa de la Cruz
Angels on sunset Boulevard
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FROM ABOVE THEY LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE A MASS OF
buzzing locusts, swelling in a faceless, amorphous, intolerable hunger, growing louder and larger every minute. Taj continued to peek out of the curtains of the topmost penthouse of the Chateau Marmont to get a better look. She bit the top of her thumb anxiously. This was totally out of control. They were chanting his name. Screaming it, even.
"Johnny! Johnny! Johnny!