Thank you to everyone who commented on my new site and first blog. I really appreciate the kind words. My sister Allison says I should write about the time she put a big garbage bag full of hand-me-down baby clothes in the backseat of my car as a surprise, but realized 10 hours later she had actually put her GARBAGE in my car, since they were both by her front door.
Imagine my surprise when I opened my car (which had been sitting in the sun all day) and was greeted by the smell of cat litter and rotten eggs. Good thing I love my sister.
So I just discovered in my diary that there was a point in my life I didn’t like reading! I couldn’t believe it. Here’s what I wrote on February 14th, when I was ten years old:
“Today was pretty great. I got 11 valentines, and Miss Goodman gave out big heart shaped lollypops, were they ever delicious! We also didn’t have reading witch I’m glad about. We had science. I love science! It’s so neat! I pulled a fast one on Mrs. Lahm in piano. I said I had my report on Beethoven in my Chord Speller, but I also forgot my Chord Speller! From, Wendy.”
I love the fact that I spelled Beethoven correctly, but messed up on witch/which! The very next day I apparently had a change of heart. You’ll notice below that my best friend was also named Wendy, except her last name started with a “B”. A lot of the stories in Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall were inspired by our “misadventures”. Wendy really helped a lot with the end of the book, too. She’s a very deep person. She’s probably never even HEARD of American Idol. Which I’m about to go watch as soon as I finish this. But I digress.
February 15
“Lunch time was the best! Me and Wendy B. got to stay in Mrs. Horey’s room and look through magazines for a picture of a typewriter for the talent show. I found one, but Wendy B. found two and Mrs. Horey took hers. We did have reading today. It really wasn’t that bad. I think I’m beginning to like it. After school I played with Robin. It was fun. Allison said Bobby smiled at me. I don’t know if I should believe her. From, Wendy”
I seem to remember that back in 5th grade when I wrote these things, “reading” meant reading out loud, not reading to ourselves. I was very nervous having to read in front of people. I’m glad it didn’t scare me away from reading on my own, because I can’t even imagine my life without books in it. Although there would be a lot more room in my house!
Check out my Author Pals section for some new photos from this weekend. And below is a sneak peek of the cover for my next book, Every Soul a Star. It’s not coming out until September but I really love the cover and couldn’t wait to share it.

Parting thought: “We do not see things as they are. We see them as WE are.” - Kare Anderson
Cheers,
Wendy

Comments (8)
The new site is great. I love the quotes from your childhood diary. I have one from when I was extremely young and the things I wrote are so funny that I end up crying from laughter when I read it. Hey, since you are big on titles, here's one for you. My soon to be brother-in-law wrote a book called The Loser Magnet. I love that title. Keep up the good work!
Posted by Kelly Bradley | February 1, 2008 3:30 PM
Posted on February 1, 2008 15:30
HI. I love your blogs. I have always tried to keep a diary, but I always forget to write in it. Once I opened a notebook and there was a diary entry from a year ago that I forgot about. I love to read. Especially your books.
Posted by Claire | February 5, 2008 6:08 PM
Posted on February 5, 2008 18:08
Cool blog, i loved how you put in your entry about your diary. Unfourtunatly i can't keep one because: Reason 1. I always forget to write in it daily. Reason 2. I ALWAYS hide it too good and I never end up finding it. Anyways, keep up the good work!
p.s. I am really looking up to reading your new book! =)
Posted by Bianca Y. | February 5, 2008 9:12 PM
Posted on February 5, 2008 21:12
HI again. I read all of your site and i really love it. Do you know how I can get in touch with some synesthetes because you got me really interested. I am upset because 'synesthete' isn't recognized in the dictionary. I love your blog!
Posted by Claire F-T | February 6, 2008 7:38 PM
Posted on February 6, 2008 19:38
I just love the way you write. I found my diary and it said: I'm in my room because my stupid mom sent me here. I'm really mad :o(
I love to read that.
Posted by Miles Cooper | February 13, 2008 4:15 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 16:15
hi i really like your blog!! I know i sound like every one else but its true! When i was in 5th grade, my friend kept a diary and decorated the cover. i thought it looked really cool and decided to make my own. Since i have next to none artistic talent (I used to think it was because I and a lefty but I resently met a girl who is a lefty and is brillient at art, but we both decided that we can spell because of the lefty thing!!) it came out looking... well bad to say the least so i took my english report and glued it to the cover, at least i got a good grade on it!! But anyways, i resently opened it up and I had wrote a WHOLE PAGE on how much i hated my teacher, and this year i have her again and i LOVE her!! weird isnt it? umm if Kelly Bradley ever reads this, I love that title!!!! thanks again Wendy for the GREAT blog and the GREAT books!!
Posted by Rivkah | February 24, 2008 8:36 PM
Posted on February 24, 2008 20:36
hi,
I know that probally no one exept for me reads the old posts but anyways, i made a mistake when i wrote last time, i said me and my friend CAN spell and i ment CANT sorry!!!
ps i always wounder how old the people are so jfyi, im 14- my birthday is december 28th 1993 and im a girl. Wendy, can you post more please? cuz i LOVE reading your posts and im REALLY good in the art of procrastinating so insted of doing my homework i check this thing and there is 3 post for the past few weeks. (well week and a half!!) But if your too busy writing new books thats great too.
Posted by rivkah | March 6, 2008 8:13 PM
Posted on March 6, 2008 20:13
Hi! I have just recently finished reading A Mango Shaped Space, and I
Posted by Natalie | April 18, 2008 10:35 AM
Posted on April 18, 2008 10:35