1
PARK AVENUE PRINCESS
I PEERED OUT THE TINTED WINDOW OF HEATHER Fox’s Lincoln Town Car and stared up at her building on Park Avenue in NYC. Twenty-four hours ago I’d never imagined I’d be spending fall break with my former arch nemesis.
“Wow,” I said, turning to Heather. “You live here?”
She flicked her blond hair over her shoulder and rolled her eyes. “Don’t freak out, Silver. This is just the driveway. If you’re acting like this now, you might have a stroke when we get inside.”
This was where I’d be staying for Canterwood Crest’s weeklong fall break. Until last night I’d been supposed to stay with my best friend and roommate, Paige Parker, but . . . my thoughts stopped short. I didn’t want to think about my fight with Paige.
The driver, in a crisp black suit and red tie, halted the car. His brown hair was streaked with gray and he had been supernice to us on the ride from school. He got out of the car, opened Heather’s door, and offered her a hand. I scrambled out after her and she sighed.
“Paul was going to come around to your side next,” Heather said. “At least act like you’ve been to a real city before.”
“I have,” I said. “I—” I shook my head, not wanting to finish the sentence. The last time I’d been to NYC was when I’d visited Paige last summer. We’d been planning this fall break forever, until . . .
“Sasha!” Heather said, putting a hand on her hip. “Space much?”
“Sorry,” I said, directing my gaze back to the building. “Forgot what I was going to say.”
But there was no way I could forget. Not the awful fight Paige and I’d had last night at Friday’s Homecoming dance. In a flash of images I saw Paige and me standing in the bathroom just off the Canterwood Crest ballroom. Paige had accused me of being jealous that Ryan was her boyfriend because I didn’t have one. And I’d lost it. It had been too much after I’d suffered through Homecoming week—forced to do activities with Jacob (my ex-almost-boyfriend) and Eric (my ex-boyfriend). I’d wanted Paige to be more sensitive about everything. But instead she’d turned on me.
The trunk of the car slammed shut and an attendant came and picked up Heather’s and my suitcases, loading them onto a cart.
“C’mon,” Heather said. “Our stuff will be upstairs in a sec.”
I followed her as a doorman tipped his hat, opening the door to let us inside. “Miss Fox,” he said.
“Hi, Allen,” Heather said. She smiled at him and we walked into a lobby that looked like something out of a movie set. Nothing looked real.
“You have exactly two seconds to gawk before I shove you back in the car,” Heather said to me.
I couldn’t help it. The white-and-sandy-colored marble floors gleamed. A security guard monitored people heading for one of the six elevators. The gold elevators
It's time to draw the random winners of CITY SECRETS! There were sooo many entries and you guys are all sooo sparkly and amazing that I thought it would be a fun surprise to give away FOUR copies instead of three! Yaaaay! :)
I'm soooo excited to announce them!!! Eeeee! :)
The winners (all drawn at random) are:
Larah
Claire A.
Cassidy M.
Jamie P.
You'll all be getting e-mails as soon as this is posted, so check your inboxes!
Cassidy, I'm overlooking your email address (brain is warped from writing!) so I'm sending you your message via YouTube.
The sooner you get back to me, the faster you'll receive your book. So happy for everyone!
(Or, a totally random post on how I'm relaxing tonight . . .)
Watching New Moon
Doing my nails in Essie's "Bachelorette Party"
Then, reading Shadow Kissed
After that, I've got a list to make of things that need to be done before my Utah trip with K. Lots of things on the list. Starting with, obvi, writing. But tonight's for taking a break.
Although . . .
I'm getting superexcited about next month's release of City Secrets. It's crazy to think that it'll be my *ninth* book on shelves. It'll definitely be time for book-stalking when CS releases.
Happy Tuesday!
Hi, guys!
Wow, just *37* (July 6) days until CITY SECRETS (#9) comes out! Yaaay! :) :) Since the books usually ship early, I bet a lot of you will be letting me know that you've got an early copy in your hands. I can't wait for you all to read it.
I'm busy writing in Canterwood land and wanted to let you know that your support and love for Team Canterwood has NOT gone unnoticed or unappreciated. So . . . I did something a little special for you all in CITY SECRETS. You'll find it in the first few pages of the book, so look for it there. <3
Happy long weekend! Go have fun!
Thanks so much to everyone who celebrated the release of HOME SWEET DRAMA with me! :D It's sooo cool to have it out now and I hope everyone's enjoying it. I'm already counting down the days till July 6 when CITY SECRETS comes out.
I want to confirm an announcement that was discussed on the Canterwood forum. I addressed the rumor there (check out the link to see the discussion), but wanted to say on my blog that it IS true--the 12th Canterwood book (UNFRIENDLY COMPETITION) will be the last with Sasha as the narrator. The reasoning is explained on the forum, so check there for my response. Sasha will still be around for books 13-16, I promise! It's going to be fun and exciting to write from a different character's POV and I'm thrilled to keep Canterwood going. :)
The rumors in the previous post ARE true! The covers were posted on the Simon & Schuster Website. As soon as I get the files, I'll post the large version so you guys can see them up close. I'm so excited to see Paige on the cover of CITY SECRETS.
And on ELITE AMBITION, we've got the new mystery girl and Callie. I'll post the full size covers as soon as I get them--promise! :)
It's soo cool that some of you have already found copies of RIVAL REVENGE. Yaay! I need to get to my local B&N and check to see if it's there. Maybe I could sneak a vlog from inside the store...or end up getting thrown out. LOL. I could try.
Next week, I'll put up a post for you guys to chat about RR if you want.
I'm working all weekend on CITY SECRETS, so happy weekend, girlies! :)
I'm going to reveal the cover for CITY SECRETS (CC #9), which comes out in July 2010. :) It's the book I'm working on right now while I, erm, watch VH1's Top 20 Countdown.
Can't wait for you guys to see it! Yay!
It is the moment we have all been waiting for! It is time to announce the winner of the Books for Books Blog Contest!
Drumroll please! And the winner is . . . Ingrid Hawkinson for her comment about A Natural History of Western Trees by Donald Culross Peattie. Not only is this book overlooked, but her beautiful description of the book as “part field guide, part history book” truly captures the book’s essence. Congratulations Ingrid and thanks for your comment!
Now, for those of you who did not win, don’t fret! We are all winners. We have been able to share memories of our favorite overlooked and not-so-overlooked books. More importantly, thanks to everyone’s participation, we received a total of 280 comments and Fang Duff Kahn Publishers will donate 500 books to kids that need them most!
Thanks again to everyone who participated in the Books for Books Blog Contest. With your help, we are helping children in need experience the magic of owning their very own book.
We are just a few comments away from donating 500 books to children who need them most! Help us reach 250 comments in our Books for Books Blog Contest and, thanks to Fang Duff Kahn Publishers, you could win a copy of the latest title in the City Secret series–Books: The Essential Insider’s Guide.
Read more about the contest and share your favorite lessen-known book here. The winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon, so go ahead–post now!
By: Becky H.,
on 11/12/2009
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Remember that off-the-beaten-path, Mom and Pop restaurant that a friend of a friend told you about? Chances are it was the best meal of your life.
In support of life’s little known treasures, Fang Duff Kahn Publishers created the newest addition of their City Secrets series, Books: The Essential Insider’s Guide, a book to help you find those unsung books you might otherwise never discover.
Books: The Essential Insider’s Guide features book 
recommendations from an all-star lineup of authors, editors, and humorists, including Pulitzer Prize-winning Oscar Hijuelos and Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter. These fabulous in-the-know contributors present to you a list of underappreciated books from every genre imaginable: fiction, memoirs, and yes, even crime—writing. No more book store bumbling! No more bestseller boredom! A whole world of literary magic awaits you…
And now . . . (drumroll, please) . . . the best part! For every copy of Books: The Essential Insider’s Guide sold, Fang Duff Kahn will donate 2% of the purchase price to First Book, and help put a book directly in the hands of a child in need.
Okay, so I just might have drumrolled too early, because I forgot to mention the other best part: our Books for Books Blog Contest! By participating in our blog contest, you can help get even more books to kids and inspire little readers everywhere. Here’s how it works:
- Respond to this blog post between November 12th and December 1st by answering “What is your favorite overlooked book?”
- Then, link this blog to Twitter, Facebook, send it over listservs, tell your friends (and maybe even your enemies too) because . . . if we can reach 250 comments, then Fang Duff Kahn Publishers will donate 500 BOOKS, to the kids that need them most.
- Still not convinced? The person who posts the most overlooked book will win their very own copy of Books: The Essential Insider’s Guide. On December 1st we will announce the lucky winner right here on the First Book Blog.
“But,” you say, “I don’t have a favorite almost forgotten, underappreciated book!” Well, that’s okay (although if that is true you should highly consider buying Books: The Essential Insider’s Guide)! You can feel free to talk about your favorite, better known book as well.
So don’t even think about clicking that back button on your browser! Help children in need experience the magic of their very first book!
Hey guys!
I've been getting so many awesome notes about when the cover for CITY SECRETS will be revealed. The answer? Not sure yet. It's almost done and as soon as I get the okay to post it, you know I will! I can't wait for you all to see it--it's so gorgeous and fun!
Plus, there's a twist to this book that'll make it unlike any other Canterwood book before it. :)
Cool! I can't wait to find out who the mystery girl is! Callie is really pretty in the cover
LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!! OOOOOOO!!!! Mystery girl!
Omg!!! Who's the mystery girl??? lol give me a hint ppl!! sooo cool!!
those r sooo cool. awesome, jess! but whos that "mystery girl" as some people call her???? LOL :P
These covers look SO fake!!! They look childish and cheesy.
The cover are sort of cute. Not as great and sophisticated as the last few ones. The grass does look a little to green, though. Can't wait to see who the mystery girl is!!!!!!!!!! Will u please post i, jess?
I 4got 2 ask... WHY DO THESE BOOKS COST MORE?????
I love the covers and i can't wait to read about the mystery girl.
Anon these covers aren't childish and fake and cheesy. So if you don't like them don't post and go someplace else.
These covers are SOOO cute! I CAN'T WAIT to see the full sized ones. I really want 2 know who the mystery girl is!!!! Please give us her name, Jess!!!
Great covers!!! Can't wait to meet the mystery girl!!!!
Hey!
Is Sasha on the the cover w/ Paige?
Who is the *mystery girl*?
eek thats so cool! I was really excited whnen I saw that the covers were on. They're so cool! I can't wait to see them bigger!! :0) One of the books comes out two days before my bday. Thats cool!! July 8 is my bday.
now that I look at it, they ARE a little cheesier than the other ones. I hate to admit it. :0( But they are still pretty cool. Just not as good as the other ones. And on the one with Paige, the other girls pants are WAY too tight!!! How does she move? Did she spray paint them on. Nothing against you Jess at all. I'm just against uber tight pants.
I can't wait to read who the mystery girl is. I just ordered #s 3 and 4 so they should be coming soon. So I'll only have to get 3 more books to catch up. :0).
And what a great present City Secrets would be for my birthday ;0) lol. With that cute cover!! :0) Seriously it IS cute, just not as good as the other ones. The other ones are really good!
Yeah, I am going to admit it now. Don't think I'm being mean Jess, I'm not! :0( I just have to admit that it does look kinda fake and photoshopped. . . It looks sorta barbieish if you you know what I mean.
:0( sorry!!!
the pants are riding jods there supposed to be tight.
There cool. Sort of
I KNOW WHO THE MYSTERY GIRL IS REMEBER IN THE FIRST BOOK LAUREN THATS WHO IT IS!
how do you know? did jess tell you. What page is she mentioned on. And if she is mentioned in the first i don't think she would be the mystery character.
OMG jess you got me soooo excited. btw i didnt think the covers were cheesy- i thought they are soo cool. and did you know people judge by the covers? they sometimes wont even give it a try. oh and my guy friend was like "that girl on the cover is hot" and i was cracking up!
In Take the Reins it says Lauren has long brown hair. Is the mystery girl's hair brown or black?
LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!
omg they're amazing i love them!!! can't wait to find out who mystery girl is!!!!!!!!!!
jodhpurs are supposed to be tighter. they're riding pants. it's easier to wear them than regular pants.
i like these covers a lot actually. they dont look fake imo, and i really like them. it makes it seem horseier. but i liked the other ones too. i like them all!! lol
I like them! I'm not tryin to be mean and I know this isn't your fault Jess, but the grass does look a little too green and they kind of do look photo shopped and not as sophisticated as the others. They are pretty though, I just don't like them as much as the others. But I know they'll both be awesome books and they'll probably look better up close when you get the files. :) :) :)
Cool!! The covers are cute, although they are a little too touched up. The fence on Elite Ambition was originally just brown wood (you can tell from some pics Jess posted from the photo shoot) and in my opinion, they shouldn't have added the black fence. The grass is also a little too green and 'perfect' for grass. Not trying to be mean or anything, but this isn't the sophisticated cover I was expecting. But still, can't wait to see the back of these covers AND the back of Home Sweet Drama!
Ok, so while everyone else doesnt like the covers, I LOVE them! i think they look awesome!and a mystery girl? at first when my bff saw it and told me at school, it thought it was Suichin(paige and sasha's floor mate) but now that i see it, i know its not because she's not a rider. and i cant wait for full size covers!and i am pretty shure its not lauren.... but wait i remember that she had a gray welsh pony...so maybe it is!
anyway, luv the covers and i am DYING b/c my RR hasnt come yet!
OMG I LOVE THEM SOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!! CANT WAIT TO READ THEM!!!!
the new covers are not that great city secrets looks okay but EA looks totally fake. i hate how the horses ears are never up they look asleep!
but RR was amazing best book yet..
The grass and stone in the Elite Ambition civer look SOOOO fake!!!!! I had pretty high standards for the covers set after seeing the 8 amazing covers of the first 8 books of the CC series, but i'm sorry, these were not a hit. City Secrets looks better, but the whole backround/foreground thing was so not working for me. Everything was swallowed up in insanely perfect green grass!!! I also would not have done black fences in the Elite Ambition cover. I guess I just expected more :(
They are so PRETTY! I love them, great job!!!
Also, I still haven't gotten RR..... ?
<3 Olivia
OMG!! I love the covers. OOOOhhhh new mystery girl I can't wait. I LOVE THEM SOOO MUCH AMAZING!!
Wow, I can't wait to read them. My teacher and I made a pact that if I got an A in her class, she would buy me a book. Once I do that, I'll get Rival Revenge. I can't wait to read that, that's why I didn't want to read the spoilers. Can't wait to see who the mystery girl is. :D
hmmm.. you guys might be right.. it might be lauren.. but why would she come in the middle of the year? its seems kinda silly.. well, the covers do look kinda fake, but there cute at the same time. mystery girl..not so much. lol! but i bet there gonna be AMAZING!!!!
ummm.. ya, they actually do look kinda fake. sort of as if u just placed them in a background pic.
Mystery girl's horse looks like Jellybean from the new Saddle Clubs.
I like how the covers are, it seems fancy and Canterwood Cresty. It doesn't seem fake to me. Sasha does say "Manicured lawns" in the books.
i love them! hey jess- could you show us the back of the books?? i hope so!!!!
i LOVE the new covers but sadly, i do have to agree that they look a bit too photoshopped. :( they just look a tiny bit too perfect and not as sophisticated as the other ones, but overall, i still LOVE them!!!
I thought there were 12 books. Jess only put 1-10 on her blog. Oh well. I know the names to the 11th bk, but what is the 12th?
Jess Im sorry these book covers look so stupid i liked your other books but now i am not going to read them any more if you dont fix the covers
Um, I've seen other pants like that and they were never THAT tight. Look at the second book. Those pants are pretty decent. (not being mean just defending myself) :0)
anonymous before me. No offense, but that is lame!! Why would you judge a book by its cover? That makes no sense. Oh that sounds perfectly "intelligent" *oh! I'm not gonna read them anymore cuz I don't like the covers* RIGHT. Good luck with that. ;0 /
Yeah ok guys can we stop with the OMG these covers are so fake and cheesy crud please. If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all...cause no one wants to hear it. O yea and by the way...the pants are supposed to be tight their ,like DD, said jods so..... I like the covers....although I don't know if I will ever be able to make the connection between that Paige and my Paige even though I do think she is pretty. Sasha and Callie look very pretty. The mystery girl is mysterious although I think your right I think the mystery girl might be Lauren. Again the covers I think are pretty and cute.
I LOOOOOVE THEM! I have no idea why everyone is being so harsh! I think they look great!
I am soo disappointed in some of you guys...quit dissing on the covers would ya it's so stupid. And OMG anonymous are you kiddddding me...oh I'm not gonna read these books if the covers aren't absolutley completley perfect...come on...don't be a jerk. Fine don't read them no one cares...you won't be hurting anyone but yourself...I'm pretty sure Jess won't care she has plenty of fans to help cushion the blow of you leaving mrs. priss...and on top of that she would probably be happier without all these negative bloggers anyways so be my guest and don't read the books
Ya! I totally agree with the last Anonymous! If you don't want to read the books, then fine, but go post somewhere else, please.
I LOOOOVE the covers, Jess!
Alright, we all KNOW these covers look sort f fake and they are a *little* bit cheesy. Everyone has to admit that. And anons, you're the people who should go post somewhere else and go bother other people, cause you're not making things any better if you are bashing other people. Everyone has the right to voice their opinion, and if you happen to disagree with that, you should just keep your opinion to yourself and deal. THEY ARE NOT 'NEGATIVE BLOGGERS' BECAUSE THEY DO NOT LIKE THE COVERS. So chill!! and BTW, you're being the negative blogger if you call people names and bashing other people's opinions. I mean, really? 'Miss Priss'? could you come up with a lamer insult? My point is- just stop with the dissing!!! And Jess has NOTHING to do with the covers, AND she can't change them. Jess posted these covers because she WANTED to hear other people's opinions. You can't argue with that.
Hey, girlies--let's keep it cool on the comments, okay? I really don't want to have to moderate.
PS--Everyone's totally entitled to her option, but bashing each other isn't cool. Okay? :)
TBstar ir right, canterwood is suppossed to look that way. and since everyone is arguing this isnt fun. com on guys, lets stop fighting and talk about something else.(ok i know i know i sound like my hippie religion teacher giving a lessonbut i dont like fighting, who does?) like, who's the mystery girl. i think its lauren, for reasons i said in my earlier post and to whoever asked why would lauren come in the middle of the year, if you remember the first book, it said that lauren would have started cc in 6th grade, but she just wasnt ready for the change. what do y'all think?
o and jess, i was looking at your old blog and saw that you read the cat who... series and i am reading that series right now! is there a special one that you thought was the best?
Haha, yeah I agree. We don't need to have all this fighting. Sorry Jess. I'm sure its awful reading some of these comments. You were so excited to see the covers and then people go and make fun of them. I hope I didn't seem like I was totally saying they were awful. They're not! They're just not as good as they could be and the previous ones. Stop the fighting and stop saying the covers are awful. They're really not that bad. :0)
And ok, enough with everyone telling me about the pants. I just think that girl shouldn't be wearing those pants. Oh, i'm sorry PAINTS. lol, just joking girlies! :0)
Jess!
If you replied to my email, I wouldn't know. 'Cause it wont let me get on it right now....
So if you could email me on the barkingpaw one that would be great. Thanks!
<3 Olivia
Hmmm.... I wonder who the mystery girl is... Any ideas? I guess it could be Lauren...
Hey Jess I didn't get my signed copy of RR yet. :( Please email me at [email protected] or in Facebook.Please send me a message back.
Thanks,
Alicia
You guys should not not read the books if u dont like the cover. Never judge a book by its cover!
The mystery girl who has red hair is Pagie.
I really do like the covers! I think they look just as good as the other ones. It's probably the size you see on your computer or Iphone. Im sure the bigger ones will look AWSOME!
Wow, anons, talk about judging a book by it's cover. Everyone really needs 2 chillax
Jessica-I love Canterwood Crest books! I also really like the new covers and titles-they are so intriguing! Will you say anything about the mystery character? Thanks! Good luck with City Secrets! P.S. I can't wait to get Rival Revenge!
This is just something quick but...are comments being moderated now? Because I'm pretty sure that when I tried to post something on the LWL thread, it said I had to wait for "blog owner approval" before the comment showed up.
Never mind about my last post! It's probably just that thread where I got that reaction! Sorry!
umm.. anon, its not like its up to u 2 b dissapointed in us. ure just another reader. jees, ok- but not u!
I can't wait to get a copy of RR!!!!! I think the covers are amazing! Can you give us any hints about the "Mystery Girl", Jess?
The covers are cool.....a little fake looking or not as sophisticated as Anon said but i still like them a lot and yeah! who is the "mystery girl" ? hehe, please Jess give a hint on who she is. cant wait to see the covers up close :D.
I love the covers! They *are* kind of fake, but I love them anyway. P.S. I'm glad we can all stop fighting over our opinions. And to Anonymous who said they wouldn't read the books if the covers were not perfect, I think that's kind of unfair to the author. I mean, Jessica has control over writing great books, not making great covers! And if you *don't* read every book with a less-than-perfect cover, you might miss out on some awesome books.
PEOPLES!!! Stop fighting!! They're book covers. my opinion is, I like them. Everyone has their own opinion it is no one's business to judge/bash/or be rude about it. Some people like them others don't. no need to be rude or mean. This blog was made for people to voice comments and opinions. No one wants comments moderated, right? Canterwood Crest is fancy and perfect why wouldn't the covers be??
Hey Jess, I was just wondering if maybe all the Canterwood girls could be on the last book cover? if it would even work, and if you havent already done a photo shoot for the last book, i just thought that it would be cool, just an idea. :0)
Ellie-I don't know what Jessica thinks, but I love that idea! It could be a really dramatic cover and super fun! But..I'm pretty sure they already shot the cover for CC #12.
I love seeing the covers but soon I will be sad because..NOW THERE ARE ONLY TWO COVERS AND A TITLE LEFT TO REVEAL! It's okay, I just love the excitement of seeing these little sneak peeks, so when there are no sneak peeks left I will be a teeny bit disappointed. Really, I guess I just don't want the Canterwood books to end! :)
Ellie-Jess said on a different thread that the CC #12 cover has been shot. Oh well. u had a really good idea though!
I really hope that Jess does more books...I mean twelve is a big series but I read the Thourghbred series and it had 72 books so nothing is impossible...that is if you can come up with 72 ideas...
hey i just wanted to say that i LOVE the covers and yeah-dnt judge book by its cover. jess' books have been amazing so far and i can guess that these will be just as great. and about the mystery girl- who is lauren again? mind bank ;)
Hey Jess! I think it would be really cool to have some guys on the cover. Though if you have already shot all the cover its okay. Paige on the cover of city secrets and elite ambition is really cool too! And i can't wait to see who mystery girl is!
I found a story in Young Rider that Jess wrote. I forget what is was called but it was good. It was in the July/August issue.
oh, thanks Holly, but we never know maybe they all are on the last book, and same here! i dont want the CC books to end! but yeah with all of them on the last book cover i just thought it would kinda be like a last hooray for the books. :0)
Was it the July/August issue of last year or before that cause I think I have two July/August issues so far......
Jess, I think that you should have a place where we can read an excerpt from HSD on the website because I search around every couple of days trying to find an excerpt but I come to this site everyday and it would be easy to find. Shoot!!! I was going to say something else but....I forgot. I HATE when that happens.
Okay, now I know I answered my own question Jasmine left...good or bad hmmmmm......but anyways it says it on the back of HSD.
Hey I love the covers!!!!! They are not cheesey wat so ever! They rock! and I love the boooks please tell us who the mystery girl is I wanta know!!!!!