Can you believe this is the last weekend of summer? Wha…? When…? How…?
Where does the time go? Does it have a condo in Boca? Maybe it’s in line at the grocery store? (There’s a lot of time there.) Is it getting its hair done for a Dolly Parton look-a-like contest? Well, wherever time goes, it goes in a hurry, because I still don’t know what happened to July, much less August.

But yes, we are in September, and that means making sure The Boy has school clothes and a backpack and all summer assignments have been completed. It means purging the closets (even though it is 4,000 degrees outside) and covering up the BBQ grill. It means no more really awesome corn on cob or watermelon. *Sigh* But truthfully, fall is my favorite season, and I always eagerly await the donning of sweaters and boots and scarves.

But there are things to tell! Things! To tell! So many appearances in September. I hope to see you at any or all of them.

Saturday, September 11th, 2:00 PM
NYPL, Stephen A. Schwarzman Bldg., Children’s Center @ 42nd Street
http://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2010/09/11/childrens-literary-salon-bringing-funny
“Bringing the Funny” with Libba Bray & Mike Reiss, hosted by Betsy Bird

Join me, picture book (and Simpsons!) writer Mike Reiss, and fab-uber librarian and blogger, Betsy Bird, for a discussion of humor in YA and children’s lit. It’s called “Bringing the Funny,” which we’ll try to do, so you don’t have to. Just one more service we provide. You’re welcome.

Sunday, September 12th, 5:00 PM
BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL now with the power of TIGER BEAT!

That’s right–the world’s only YA author band (Daniel Ehrenhaft, Barnabas Miller, Natalie Standiford, Libba Bray) will bring their inspired musical lunacy to the Youth Stoop at the Brooklyn Book Festival. http://www.brooklynbookfestival.org/BrooklynBookFestival/youth.html
There will be props! And medley madness! And guitar solos! Come and live the rock for yourselves! You may never be the same again. No, really. You might not. So I hope you are insured.

Monday, September 13th, 6:30-8:30 PM
Tribeca B&N, 97 Warren Street, NYC
BARNES & NOBLE BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH, featuring Tiger Beat, with special guests David Levithan, Eliot Schrefer, and Eireann Corrigan

It’s a musical-literary mash-up. What? That’s CRAAAAAZY talk! And you can get yourself a pumpkin latte.
Slam. And. Dunk. People, we’re only thinking of you. All the time. Like a stalker. With duct tape, night vision goggles, and a badly typed manifesto. Show us some love.

Thursday, September 23rd, 6:00 PM
Symphony Space,
Thalia Book Club presents: ZOMBIES vs. UNICORNS!
http://www.symphonyspace.org/event/6379-thalia-kids-book-club-zombies-vs-unicorns-?source=calendar

It’s an age-old debate: Who is better–zombies or unicorns? And now, it is a fabulous new anthology of stories edited by Holly Black (Team Unicorn) and Justine Larbalestier (Team Zombie). Come for the debate of the century as YA authors Holly, Justine, Scott Westerfeld, Maureen Johnson, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Naomi Novik, and yours truly fluff their manes, shamble and stagger, and throw down. Team Zombie FTW!!!

Have a great Labor Day weekend, everyone.