It's Like a Birthday, but Weirder

Today, Tuesday, July 26, 2011 is the official pub date of

And Then Things Fall Apart.

I'm getting ready for the book launch and thought I should toss something at my very own blog...

Thanks to everyone and when I'm not so harried and emotional, I will post a real entry.

And thanks too for all the following and insane love on Twitter! It's like getting love notes tossed at my desk all day long... (@ArlainaT)

To tide you over, my pal Nova Ren Suma has an interview she did with me up on her blog.

And me talking about influential YA books over at Alisia Leavitt's cool blog too!

XOXOXO

Blog Tour! So Far!

And Then Things Fall Apart

by Arlaina Tibensky
July 18th - August 12th

• Monday, July 18: Diana at Books by their Story
• Wednesday, July 20: Ivy at Ivy Reads
• Friday, July 22: Jenny C at Mimosa Stimulus
• Monday, July 25: Rummanah at Books in the Spotlight
• Tuesday, July 26: Alisia at Alisa Leavitt
• Thursday, July 28: Patricia at Patricia's Particularity
• Friday, July 29: Kari at A Good Addiction
• Monday, August 1: LiLi at Chica Reader
• Wednesday, August 3: Cass at C A Marshall
• Friday, August 5: Danielle B at Frenzy of Noise
• Monday, August 8: Hannah at Paperback Treasures
• Tuesday, August 9: Erica at The Book Cellar
• Thursday, August 11: Julie at That’s Swell
• Friday, August 12: Jen D at What's On the Bookshelf

These feature anything from interviews with me, interviews with Keek, playlist commentary and/or me, basically going on and on and on about writing and my book and Sylvia Plath. I know! You can't get ENOUGH of the self promotion...

Well, I do love the book and I really want it to get in as many hands as possible. Thank you so much for the love and support and for recommending AND THEN THINGS FALL APART to all the coolest teenagers (and adults!) you know...

Reviews are coming soon... Also, some great YA authors and colleagues have interviewed me too and those will be up when Things Get Pulled Together. I will so totally let you know.

xxoo-

-Arlaina

WHAT A BIZARRE AND LOVELY COINCIDENCE!

So. On the cover of AND THEN THINGS FALL APART there is a typewriter. And not just any typewriter, a Smith Corona Corsair that is also blue and has a dual black and red ribbon.

Would you be surprised if I told you that I already had this EXACT same typewriter in my possession?

I got it home and lugged it to the typewriter hospital, AKA the Gramercy Office Equipment Company on 5th Avenue and 23rd street. I bought a ribbon and they oiled it for me and let me tell you I SWOONED when I found the place.

Here's some great shots of the joint. I shall be bringing this very same typewriter to the LAUNCH so that everyone can behold the magnificence of this machine and have some good clean fun with real type... And when I say everyone, I secretly mean: YOU!

Books of Wonder! Tuesday, July 26, 6pm

Just a friendly reminder about the LAUNCH PARTY. I keep typing "lunch party" which is something else all together...)

The Above the Bridge Reading was a blast last night. Today we frolicked in the kiddie pool, I got my hair cut, ordered cupcakes and fiddled with Facebook pages.

What I'm trying to say is that I am in the Z O N E and can't wait to see you next Tuesday at

B O O K S of W O N D E R!

xxoo

UPTOWN LOVE! Tonight! 8-10pm Above the Bridge Summer Book Party

Special Event!

Monday, July 18th @ 8PM

Summer Book Party!

Featuring the Books of

Neighborhood Authors

Including such literary luminaries as

• Julia Attaway!
• Lola Koundakjian!
• Angela Lovell!
• Jeanine McAdam!

and...

• Arlaina Tibensky!

@ The Red Room Lounge

1 Bennett Ave @181st Street

$5 cover (cash only)

It's one of the best and only reading series in the Heights!

I'll be reading from And Then Things Fall Apart...

...and passing out bookmarks and invitations to the Books of Wonder Launch.

Come on up! A train to 181.

It's always a fun and slightly boozy night... I mean, you know what I mean...

See you tonight?

xoxo

Reading tonight! At WordUp Community Pop-Up Bookstore...

Come on uptown! There will be amazing literary uptown teens, an open mike, a mini-workshop to stretch your creative brain like chewing gum and me at 5pm, talking about my love of Sylvia Plath as a teen and reading from AND THEN THINGS FALL APART. I will be giving away a book! And bookmarks! And invitations to the Books of Wonder book launch on Tuesday July 26th!

Word Up, at 4157 Broadway near 176th Street, is open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6
MIERCOLES, JULIO 6
4-5pm
Open Mike with Teens
Mariecarmen Hernandez,local teen poet will read from her collection of poems. Other teens are welcome to read their poems and prose on this special open mike reading featuring local teen writers.

5-6pm
Arlaina Tibensky, local writer will be reading from her forthcoming young adult novel

And Then Things Fall Apart (Simon & Schuster) – available July 26^thin bookstores.

Q&A to follow reading.

6pm - 7:30pm
Ezra Wolkenfeld will lead an open exercise in creative writing. All ages are welcome to participate in this event.

It's going to be great! So happy to be able to contribute to the store and the community and meet real live teenagers in the Heights!

xx

see you there?

Junior Library Guild Selection for Spring 2011

Are you sitting down?

This is, word for word, minus some social networking business, a lovely letter I got from The Junior Library Guild.

Please note the words BELLWETHER, LAPEL PIN and SUITABLE FOR FRAMING (and feel, if you will, my delight, pride, and astonishment...)

Dear Arlaina Tibensky,

Congratulations! In keeping with our goal of providing extraordinary reading experiences for children and young adults, And Then Things Fall Apart has been awarded the designation, "A Junior Library Guild Selection" for Spring 2011.

The Junior Library Guild Selection designation is unique in that it is typically awarded so early, often in advance of publication. With its distinction as one of the first awards given, it is often viewed as a bellwether of future success.

It is our pleasure to provide you with the enclosed awards packet: a JLG lapel pin and a certificate suitable for framing.

...

Again, congratulations, and we wish you much success with And then Things Fall Apart.

Best regards,

....

I KNOW!! And believe me, I am sofa king wearing the crap out of that lapel pin!! (I am wearing it now!)

I'm Reading at the WordUp Community Pop-up Bookstore in The Heights!

"Word Up is a month-long bookshop coming to Northern Manhattan, beginning during the Uptown Arts Stroll/Paseo de las Artes. Sponsored by Vantage Residential and Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance, and coordinated Fractious Press and Seven StoriesInstitute, Word Up will have readings, performances, workshops, talks, and more, with local writers and presses. We hope thatthe idea of a multi-language, general-interest bookstore in the center of the neighbourhood takes hold and that the space—whether this one, or another like it—can continue through and beond the summer.

From June 14 to July 14, shop hours will beweekdays 4-9pm, weekends 12-4pm, with some adjustments for special events. The address is4157 Broadway @ 175 Street."

It is so punkrock DIY with graffitied walls and bilingual books and hipsters and kids and grandmas and Russian Artists leading book making workshops. So up my alley.

On Wednesday, July 6 I'll be reading some stuff from And Then Things Fall Apart as part of their Teen night. 4pm-7:30pm. Mariecarmen Hernandez local teen poet will read from her collection of poems. There's going to be a special open mike reading featuring local teen writers, and an open exercise in creative writing led by Ezra Wolkenfeld.

Me? I'm going to talk about Sylvia Plath, read some of Keek's poems and then a passage that talks about the impact of literature that is also very sexy hot, with Matt and Keek making out AND some Plath references... Should be fun! I might even give a book away! And for sure tons of bookmarks...

Please come!

Tell your fiends.

Tweet at will. It's going to be some anti-establishment good times!

I'm off to buy Sharpies- the kind with a cord so I can wear it around my neck.