Lessons from Pandemonium: Things I Learned while On Tour

1--Groups do it better. I was with two fabulous authors, Dan Wells (author of Partials) and Claudia Gray (author of the Evernight series and most recently Balthazar), and I discovered that nothing helps you survive 6 a.m. wakeup calls, cramped airline seating, over-enthusiastic TSA employees and staggeringly long check-in lines than the companionship of a Few Good People. Thanks, C and D! Until next year.

2--I am not a morning person. Okay, admittedly I knew this, but it was REAFFIRMED. After a week of 6 am wakeup calls, I could barely form a coherent sentence, much less make it past 11 a.m. without a steady caffeine drip. I'm sorry, but anything earlier than 7:30 a.m. is not morning--if the only other people awake are marathon runners and crackheads, IT DOESN'T COUNT.

3--when you are on tour, there may not be time for a sitdown meal, a bathroom break, or a phone call home...but there is always time for more stock signing.

4--Miami is awesome. I kind of had always associated Miami with spring break and bad music videos (not that there's anything wrong with either), but I was really impressed by the downtown area, which was architecturally dazzling and just plain beautiful, and also by the INCREDIBLE bookstore, Books and Books, which hosted our Friday event. The bookstore encircles an open-air courtyard and restaurant (with delicious hummus), thereby combining my all-time favorite things: food and reading. I swear, if Books and Books sold condos, I'd buy in an instant!




5--The Cheesecake Factory has a new low-fat menu that is actually really good. This requires no elaboration; it's just a new fact I discovered, to my pleasant surprise.


6--I like being on TV! I had such a fabulous time on Good Day NY and Good Day LA, and I totally caught the TV bug. So if any producers are scoping this blog and looking for a new star...I'm your girl! (I can sing, too. Just sayin'.)

7--My fans are adorable and ask really cute questions. My favorite this tour came from a preteen (who was probably twelve) who stood up and, while holding a copy of Delirium, said: "Lauren, are you PRO-love or ANTI-love?...because this book really confused me!" LOVE that, for sure.

8--Bloggers make REALLY good seven-layer dip. Okay, I just re-read that and it sounds like I'm saying if you make bloggers INTO seven-layer dip it's really good, which is NOT what I meant to say AT ALL. What I meant is: I was lucky enough, while on tour, to enjoy several meals with several different groups of bloggers. On Sunday night, I was even invited to a fab potluck hosted by Thefandom.net, in honor of the imminent release of The Hunger Games. THERE, in addition to meeting some great people from all over the country, I ALSO had some really good seven-layer dip. Yum!