Category Archives: give back

March 1, 2011

Juvenile Arthritis & My Fleeting Love Affair with Baltimore

By Sarah MacLean

On Friday, I donned my little black dress and my cherry red Fluevogs and moussed my hair for the trip down to Baltimore, where I had the pleasure of joining the fabulous Sophia Nash to benefit the Sixth Annual Jennifer Vido Author Dinner for Juvenile Arthritis.

Every year, author and reviewer Jennifer Vido, who was diagnosed with Arthritis at the age of eight, brings two authors to Baltimore to speak with the wonderful donors and staff of the Arthritis Foundation about writing.  I was honored to be asked, and I came away from the evening so very inspired.

First, Sophia Nash is amazing…she’s fun and funny and she drives a fast car. She told a beautiful story about her coming to be a writer at the insistence of her father, who never had a chance to see her first book published, but who I am certain is one very very proud papa these days.  And let’s just say this…if you have to choose someone with whom to share a Maryland crabcake sometime…choose Sophia. She’s so fun.

Second, I’ll confess to never having thought of Juvenile Arthritis before, but after hearing Jen’s amazing stories about not only her own struggles with the disease, but also those of the more than 300,000 kids living with JA now, I’m so happy to have had a chance to be a part of this fundraiser. Sophia and I helped to raise nearly $10,000 to help send kids around Maryland to a summer camp specifically for children with JA, and I’m really touched to have been asked to be there.

Now…I’ll admit that since watching the first episode of The Wire, I’ve had a bit of an obsession with Baltimore (I mean, have you seen Dominic West read Pride & Prejudice?) But, unfortunately, Friday’s trip was a quickie…down and back in six hours, and I only saw the train station and a few blocks of a neighborhood that I’m pretty sure inspired parts of Season One. That said, after spending an evening with the fabulous ladies of Baltimore, I am now determined to get myself back for a weekend.

Of course, I couldn’t leave the event without getting Sophia to sign me a copy of Love With the Perfect Scoundrel, which I’m now giving away to you! Comment below and tell me the one place you’ve been where you feel you didn’t get enough time…and I’ll choose a winner on Friday for Sophia’s book!

Don’t forget to leave your email so I can contact you if you win! xo

20 comments | posted in bookshelf, contests and giveaways, give back, on romance, the writer's life

July 26, 2010

RWA, News and Goodies…

By Sarah MacLean

It’s about 900 degrees in Brooklyn and I’m trying to avoid a much-needed, long-overdue trip to the post office…with much-needed, long-overdue blogging!

So much going on this week, I don’t know what to do with myself!

I’ll start with the biggest…I’m right now packing for the Romance Writers of America convention, which begins Wednesday in Orlando at the Disney Swan & Dolphin Resort (Or is it Dolphin & Swan?)…I’ve never been to Disney World, and I’m told Epcot is awesomesauce…AND my publisher, Avon, is having a party over there, so I’m pretty excited.

If you’re an Orlandinian…or Orlandan…or Orlandoite…or whatever…please come to the 2010 Readers for Life Literacy Autographing (open to the public!) and say hi! I’ll be signing both Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake and The Season thanks to the generous donations of Avon & Scholastic. For the record, the literacy autographing is AMAZING…500 Romance Authors all in one place, along with their books! I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s AWESOME and worth every second of waiting in line.

Still not convinced? How about I sweeten the deal? Stop by my table, pick up a brand-spanking-new Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord bookmark, and put your name in the pot for a chance to win a Nine Rules totebag (see above)! I’ll pick the winner at random, using the “close your eyes and point” method, right after the signing!

Not going to Orlando? No worries…I’ll be hosting another giveaway on the blog starting on Wednesday, so make sure to come back and check it out!

Other than that…I’m up to my eyeballs in Juliana’s book, which I’m really loving right now…she’s such a fun character to hang out with, and every time she says something crazy and Italian, I think of my insane Italian family, so she keeps me laughing! As I’m writing her book, it’s hard to even consider the next project, but I hope you’ll be happy to knowthat there will be a next project!

This announcement was made today:

NYT and USA Today bestseller Sarah MacLean’s next four Regency romances, to Carrie Feron at Avon, in a significant deal, by Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Trident Media Group (World).

I’m still pinching myself! There will, of course, be more news on those books and Juliana’s to come…so stay tuned!

.

16 comments | posted in 9 rules, contests and giveaways, give back, in the news, meet someone cool, new project, on romance, readings and visitations, the season, things that are awesome

May 6, 2010

Give to a Good Cause. Get Something Fab!

By Sarah MacLean

There are lots of cool things about being a romance novelist: publishing with a company you’ve been logo stalking for your whole life; becoming friends with romance novelists you’ve admired for ages (I’m looking at you Sophie Jordan); oh, yeah…writing books for a living…

But today I’m feeling particularly happy to be a part of a huge community of writers, agents, editors and others in romance who have come together to raise money for an important cause – Diabetes research.  The incredible Brenda Novak runs an annual online auction to raise money for a cure for diabetes.  Her ridiculously adorable son (see photo – I mean, come on, is that kid cute or WHAT?!) was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes several years ago, and Brenda marshalled the troops–and these are some top-notch troops!

Authors, editors, celebs and others donate everything from books to goodies to meals to manuscript critiques to the auction…as of last year, Brenda raised more than $700,000 during the six years she’s been running the fundraiser.  This year, the goal is to top $1,000,000.  To do that, she needs you.

Here are some things you can bid on that sound particularly awesome:

1. OMG LUNCH WITH ELOISA JAMES. A-hem. Yes. You can have lunch with the fab Eloisa James at RWA this year.  If you win, can you ask her if the Earl of Mayne is based on someone real? Because I honestly would leave my husband for him. No. I’m kidding.  Not really. Yes. Really. Mayne, call me. 

2. Career counseling (for you and three friends) with Elizabeth Hoyt. Uhm. If I had Elizabeth Hoyt’s career, I would be very very happy.  So, yeah.  You want this. I’m assuming this is particularly good if you want to be a romance novelist.  Not, like, a dental hygienist. 

3. A Star Trek photo, autographed by William Shatner!!! Ok, I know it’s weird.  But I seriously LOVE William Shatner.  Love him. This makes me all fangirly.  It should make you fangirly, too.  

4. Evaluation of a Proposal by the amazing Tessa Woodward at Avon Books… Tessa is amazing… and I know from personal experience that she also happens to be brilliant. If you’re serious about your work, she’s the person to share it with. 

5. This one sounds so fun!  A Victorian Tea Leaf reading set from Deanna Raybourn…including everything you need to prognosticate with the leaves in your favorite cup.  

And, yes…I’m in the mix, too.  I’m happy to offer a 50-page manuscript critique to anyone who thinks my two cents are worth…well…more than two cents.

It’s a great cause, y’all.

Get out there. Bid. Change the world.

1 comment | posted in bookshelf, give back, on writing, people i want to be when i grow up

April 15, 2010

Operation Teen Book Drop!

By Sarah MacLean

Oh, it’s on, y’all.

Today is Operation Teen Book Drop–one of my favorite days of the year…thousands of librarians, authors and teens will be leaving YA titles in places around their community to share their love of the genre.

I’ve got a sack of books ready for empty subway seats, park benches, SoHo coffee shops and more.  If you have a YA title in your house that you are willing to share, go to the TBD Website to download a bookplate or a bookmark, and be a part of Teen Book Drop!

Teen Book Drop is the joint creation of Readergirlz, GuysLitWire and, special 2010 guests, If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything, a national reading club for Native American Children.

Bottom line?  Getting books into the hands of kids is a good thing. Today, you have a reason to make sure it happens.  So go book drop!

Leave a comment | posted in bookshelf, give back, things that are awesome, why ya is awesome

October 10, 2009

On Beauty.

By Sarah MacLean

My fabulous editor shared this on her FB profile, and I had to share here.

I am such a huge fan of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty…it’s so hard to remember that beauty is defined in so many more ways than what’s on billboards and television screens…this helps though…

Even as I wonder how I can learn to Photoshop myself like this!

1 comment | posted in give back, health, the internets, the world as we know it

April 29, 2009

Cause of the Day – Feel Your Boobies

By Sarah MacLean

Feel Your Boobies® was founded in 2004 after Leigh Hurst was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33. What originally started as a few fun t-shirts designed to remind her friends in a fun way about something that had saved Leigh’s life has evolved into non-profit Foundation focused on spreading this life saving message to young women using unexpected and unconventional methods.

Many young women tune out messages about breast cancer because they don’t believe they are at risk. Here at Boobies Central, we know that research shows that simply “feeling your boobies” (aka “breast awareness) is just as effective at identifying lumps or other breast changes as the traditional step-by-step process of “breast self-exams”. And that’s exactly why we’re here — to give you “a friendly reminder when you least expect it”. So get feeling girls, and remind a friend to do the same.

Self exams are important, girls. Learn more here.

Leave a comment | posted in give back