Hiding from St. Anthony

I live in the North End now, which is the Italian district of Boston. And this weekend is St. Anthony's feast. I'm not entirely positive who St. Anthony was, but evidently he was a popular guy, judging by how many people have shown up to his feast. (Or maybe it's just all that yummy Italian food up for grabs!) The streets are packed. The Italian music (and of course the Sinatra) is blaring. The smells are overwhelmingly good. And everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) is out and about.

Except me.

Okay, I have gone out and walked around for a bit last night and tonight. Ate some food. Checked out the sights and sounds and the giant Turkey Hill ice cream cow. ("Giant Cows are cool!") But after ten minutes or so I was more than happy to head back and hole up in my apartment and play online videogames with a far away friend (last night) and cuddle with my dog to watch movies (tonight). I don't know why, exactly, but I'm feeling a bit antisocial as of late. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, maybe antisocial is the wrong word all together. Maybe it's me finding peace and contentment with myself. Or maybe my mind/body just needs some downtime from this "go, go, go" lifestyle I usually throw myself into. Maybe I just need a little "me" time after all that's happened.

Also, I'm 31, not 18. I shouldn't feel guilty staying in on a weekend night, right?

Today was actually pretty productive writing wise. I did all the copy edits for my Berkley book "Boys that Bite." I worked on my current WIP, "What, No Roses?" And I even started writing up a proposal for a brand new project I'm hoping to pitch soon. (Which, sadly, I can't tell you about yet, but it's really, really cool!!! (um, if I do say so myself...))

Oh and speaking of writing---I found out I got a Romantic Times 4 Star review for my October YA book "Sk8er Boy"!!! Woot!!!! I'm so thrilled. It's a great review too:

Young Adult (12 & up)
SK8ER BOY
Mari Mancusi
Smooch HHHH

Bored by her shopping-obsessed friends and overwhelmed by the nonstop extracurriculars her parents are convinced she needs to get into Harvard, 15-year-old Dawn Miller decides she needs a change when she meets new girl Starr.

Now, instead of going to yearbook committee and Japanese lessons, she's hanging out with Starr downtown watching skateboarders in a parking garage and praying she doesn't get caught by "The Evil Ones"--aka, her parents.

But even getting caught would be worth it once she meets super-hot "Sk8er Boy" Sean McNally, who's smart and sweet and totally gets her. But she¹s not allowed to date yet, and her parents will never go for a boy from the wrong side of town.

Mancusi has scored a hit. Dawn is likeable, and any teen girl--wealthy or not--should identify with her typical problems. From boys to friends to parents, the author covers it all. She even manages to include one or two deeper messages in the form of "straight edge" teens and a "perfect" wealthy boy who turns out to be a real jerk. (Oct., 208pp., $5.99) Alexandra Kay

Pretty cool, huh? I'm so excited to get such a great review. Now, I just can't wait to see what actual kids think of it!!! :)

Happy Saturday!
Marianne