Last night I had the sincere (and surreal) pleasure of speaking at the Delta Gamma house at UC Berkeley, the same house where I myself lived way back when.

Wow.

Speaking to the girls about my book and how I ended up writing it was a lot of fun, and it was extremely rewarding to feel their genuine enthusiam as they listened to my story and then asked me several questions after I was done. But walking around the house afterwards was what I’ll remember most about the visit– seeing the rooms I used to live in, the living room we used to crowd into to watch 90210 and Melrose Place, the kitchen where we used to beg for food after dinner was officially over, etc. etc. And THEN running into the DG composite picture from my senior year, just hanging there on a wall of the hallway on the third floor.

As I looked at that picture and all the familiar faces on it, for a moment it was like I had gone back in time and was still living there, still 21 years old, still not sure who I was or what I wanted to be when I grew up.

Until I noticed my big hair and snapped out of it.

I may still not know what I want to be when I grow up, but at least I know I do not want big hair.

ITB and Go Bears!

Ok so it’s not the Pulitzer Prize, but check out what The Blue Archipelago recently posted!

Last night I met an actual fan- it was so nice! She had emailed me to tell me how much she loved my book and that she’d love to meet me sometime. So I said sure- and it was really quite amazing to be honest. Here’s this sweet girl, fresh out of college and new to San Francisco, asking me all sorts of questions about Waverly and writing and dating and life in general. She said my book really rung true for her, and she honestly seemed thrilled to meet me. Me. Me! Wow.

Besides the time I saw a random girl reading my book at the cafe in Whole Foods (and I nearly had a heart attack), I think last night was the coolest thing that’s happened around this book so far.

I was in Chicago Sunday and yesterday to speak to the DGs at DePaul University– about 60 of them! I was a little nervous to speak to such a large group, but I had a good time. They were a sweet, receptive bunch, and several of the girls told me I was an inspiration to them, which made the long yet short trip worthwhile. I also visited the Northwestern campus and picked up a Northwestern soccer t-shirt and hat to remind me of the good ‘ol days way back when. Btw purple didn’t look good on anyone then and it doesn’t now, but what can you do….