WOW. I knew I coud throw a party. And I knew the Snow Ball would be a blast. But I had NO IDEA it would be THAT much fun!!! Pics absolutely cannot do this justice, but I had my sister snap off a few for this blog (thanks, Dawn!), until the really good pics come back from the photographer, just so I could show you all the awesomeness that was the Snow Ball.

First off, I’ve been told that there was a line outside the door starting a half hour before doors were set to open. You Minions must have been anxious! But I wouldn’t know. Because from about a half hour before until about 20 mins. after the doors opened, I was sitting in a back, dark, lonely lil room, waiting for my big rock n roll entrance to begin.

And then it did.

My lovely assistant/husband, Paul, rallied up the crowd to the tune of “Headfirst for Halos” by MCR (one of my FAVE songs), and after he announced “Auntie Heather Brewer!!”, my son Jacob (who was totally Vlad!) opened the door and I came out to so much applause and screams that I nearly cried. After a few high fives, I thanked everyone for coming and read from ELEVENTH GRADE BURNS. Just look at all these adoring faces:

And then…it was time to get down to business. It was party time.

We ate great food. I signed people, stuff, and books (which are like stuff, but not quite). The room (which you can’t see well in pics) was covered in snow and ice. Even the cake was all snowflakes (and you can’t see it in the pics, but the cake maker, Dahlia, painted little Vlad Marks all around the base – and the big Vlad smiley at the top was covered with actual silver leaf). By the time the cake cutting commenced, I was sooooo tempted to hack and slash it to pieces in a psycho move…but I held back, so everyone could enjoy it.

So after the cake, there was more signing. Here’s a quick peek at PART of the line (which went on forever and never shrank. Seriously. The only time I had away from signing was for filming suff with the videographers. But it was so amazing, I didn’t care.)

And the Minions danced the night away!!

But no worries. It wasn’t ALL signing. Just before midnight, Paul got me on the dance floor.

It was amazing, and I’m so blessed to have spent that evening with so many Minions. THANK YOU!

And if you missed the Snow Ball, but you live in or near Sattle (or are willing to travel), come see me tomorrow night!!! I’ll be at Secret Garden Bookshop at 7pm.

Tomorrow’s the big day, Minion Horde. ELEVENTH GRADE BURNS is about to be unleashed!!!

EDITED TO ADD:
As requested, here’s a pic of my son, Jacob, and the lovely Mina Lovett!

Oh, Minions. Minions, Minions, Minions. We have so much to talk about! And so little time to talk and jabber and SQUEE about it all!

First, let me catch you up on the craziness that is my life. I just handed in TWELFTH GRADE KILLS. My editor (new editor, actually) is reading and loving it. AND…I just saw the cover for 12th! So, I’m all happyhappyjoyjoy about that right now. As I type this, I’m sitting here with purple goop in my hair. (After all…re-purplizing is important to the awesomeness that is my hair.) I have a list of fourteen different tasks to take care of today, and tomorrow, I jump on a plane to Michigan, to ready the last minute details of the Snow Ball!!!

Now, if you ARE going to the Snow Ball: bring your fangs, get pumped, and feel free to bring along books for me to autograph. Books will be available for purchase. HOWEVER, ELEVENTH GRADE BURNS will NOT be available to buy that night. You’ll get your copy that’s part of your ticket purchase, but the book isn’t officially being released until February 9th, so it’s a big deal that any early copies are getting out at all. BUT! EIGHTH GRADE BITES, NINTH GRADE SLAYS, and TENTH GRADE BLEEDS will be available for purchase, so bring your cash too, if you’d like to buy copies there. Also…leave a little extra room in your suitcase if you’re flying in from out of state, as there will be many FANGtastic prizes. And if you haven’t done so yet, please read my last blog entry and don’t forget to bring along your signed release form!

If you are NOT going to the Snow Ball: I sincerely hope that I will see you somewhere on my tour (click the Appearances link at the top of the page to see if I’m coming near you!). Please call ahead and ask the stores if it’s okay to bring books from home, but even if they say it is, please pick up a copy from the store itself, as they’re nice enough to bring me out to see all of you – it’s a cool way to say ‘thank you’. Feel free to dress in vampire finery, to don your Vlad smiley proudly, and bring all of your friends!

If you will NOT see me while I’m on tour: Hold a Vlad party! Get friends together, raid the nearest bookstore, snatch up copies of ELEVENTH GRADE BURNS and have a read-in (like a lock-in, but with reading). Make vampire cupcakes, take pics in the cemetery, do something cool…and then tell Auntie Heather all about it.

And if you plan on going to Books & Books in Coral Gables, FL to see me…you’ll want to check this out.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited and nervous and anxious in my life, Minions. I’ve packed/unpacked/repacked three times each, and I’m still not ready. But I am excited that I’ll have the opportunity to see so many of my Minions. I feel like we should have a secret handshake or something!!!

But then…in a way…we do. I can always recognize members of the Minion Horde, and – thanks to the purple hair and plans for world domination – I think you can always recognize me. So…if you see me wandering around any of the towns on my tour, looking a little lost, feel free to stop me and say hi. Because Auntie Heather loves you, Minions!

I fly out on Monday to begin my tour. And I plan to blog about it. With pics. So….see you soon, Minion Horde!