From A to Z

Hi everyone! Long time no…blog? Well, I’m fixing that now. First, an update on book stuff.Looks like the Jeremy Fink movie should be out this summer, but I’ll post the official details as they become available. Meanwhile, keep checking the IMDB (internet movie database) page and feel free to start some discussions!

If you’d like autographed books for yourself, your school, as gifts, etc, I’m partnering up with Sparta Books, my wonderful local indie bookstore. If you call them and place an order and tell them you’d like them signed, I’ll go in and sign them, they’ll mail them out.  Voila!

13 Gifts is next book in the “Willow Falls” series, and it will be out in the fall. The book continues the adventures of Amanda and Leo from 11 Birthdays and Rory from Finally, and introduces soon-to-be-13-year-old Tara, who is being sent to Willow Falls to live with relatives she barely knows. What’s it about? Well, all I can tell you is Tara makes one big mistake, and has 13 chances to fix it. I’ve seen the initial cover concept and it’s very fun! I’ll post it when it’s ready.

I know it sounds far away, but a year from this summer (so summer 2012) I’m thrilled to announce the return of the Twice Upon a Time fairy tale series that began a few years ago with Rapunzel: The One with All the Hair, and Sleeping Beauty: The One Who Took the Really Long Nap. Next up is Beauty & the Beast, with a beast unlike any you’ve seen before. Look for the original titles (in shiny new editions) to hit the stores first, followed by B&B a few months later. Thank you to all the kids and teachers who wrote to request more books in this series—your voices have been heard!

And now I’m working on something I’ve never tried before. I call it “wacky science fiction” but there might be a real name for it that I don’t know about. With my editor’s blessing, I’m going to post the first draft of Chapter One at the end of this blog because I need your help to come up with a title. Some titles under consideration:

1.     It was originally called Making Apple Pie from Scratch, which came from this quote by famed astronomer Carl Sagan: “If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe.” This quote actually inspired the entire plot of the novel, and came to me from a class at Park Middle School in New Jersey, who presented me with a notebook full of letters and pictures and quotes, including the Sagan quote. I love you guys! This still might wind up being the title, but it seems like there are a lot of books with apple pie, or just pie, in the title.

2.     Pet Rocks and Cosmic Pie. Same pie issue, and now it seems like I can’t pass by a book without seeing cosmic in the title. Yes, there will be a pet rock in the book.

3.    How to Create the Universe in Two Weeks or Less

4.     Your Idea Here

If you post your title idea on the blog, and I wind up using it, I’ll name a character in the book after you. Or after anyone else you choose. Any names that Bart Simpson might suggest, however, are excluded. (Seymour Butts, this means you!). I know that one short chapter can’t give you the whole plot, but essentially, the universe was destroyed and our hero has two weeks to re-create it exactly as it was. For those of you who read a previous blog entry that included the first few pages of The Candymakers, you’ll know that first drafts change. In that case, even the title changed—it was originally The Candymaker’s Son. Hey, for kicks, feel free to compare that one to the final one in the actual book.

Now onto some randomness.

I find myself wondering, when did the term autobiography become memoir? Whatever you want to call it when someone tells you the story of their life, I’ve been reading a lot of them lately. Why do people want to read about other people’s experiences? Is it to learn from their successes? Their mistakes? To recognize ourselves in them, to feel more unique because we’re not them? It’s probably all these things, plus a certain fascination with things I will never be. I will never be a rock star, or a child actress. I will never climb Mt. Everest or fly to the moon or live for a year without buying anything. The list of things I will never be—and never do—is endless. I guess reading memoirs allows me to live vicariously through these people in a way that fiction doesn’t. I can’t imagine the courage it must take to write one, especially the really personal ones where someone really spills all their secrets, all their struggles. Since my usual answer is “Nothing” whenever my mom asks me what’s new (which drives her crazy), the thought of writing about myself for 300 pages makes me shudder. I guess that’s why my blog entries are so few and far between—I feel much more comfortable making up other people’s lives than talking about my own.

That said, I’ve just finished re-reading Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by the awesome Amy Krouse Rosenthal, who I’m excited be hanging out with this weekend at a conference in Ohio. Amy chose to use the encyclopedia’s alphabetical format to tell not so much the story of her life from A to Z, but to show the origins of her thoughts. I found it fascinating, and kept thinking, oh, I’m just like that. I, too, wore a Live Love Laugh necklace as a teenager. I, too, get annoyed when my husband sneezes a lot (in fact, I now only say Bless You to him once a year, on July 5th, and that has to hold him for all the other sneezes.) And then I’ll read something in her book where I’ll think, nope, I’m not like that, like when she talked about never wearing socks because she doesn’t like the way they feel. I’m never NOT wearing socks. The fluffier the better. Cashmere socks are always at the top of my Chanukah wish list, and I never get them. Not to digress too much, but can we talk about sneezes and Bless you for a minute? Seriously, why are we saying this at all? I remember learning it’s something about people used to believe a part of your soul leaves your body when you sneeze and blessing the person keeps them safe. Can’t we let this one go? Although i admit, I find it nice when a stranger says it when you sneeze in public, like even though they don’t know you at all, they care about your immortal soul.

Update on this post: I’m at the conference now. Amy had to borrow a sock (just one) to work out. This strikes me as hilarious and perfect, since i had just chosen to comment on the sock thing out of hundreds of entries in her book. See her thank you note below:

ANYWAY, reading Amy’s book reminded me that none of us are ordinary, that by opening up our lives, we are doing a service to people who feel closed in by their own. Seeing ourselves in other people reminds us how much more we have in common, than not. So today, in honor of my new friend, I’m forcing myself to try my hand at doing an alphabetical blog, associating random events or thoughts with the letters of the alphabet. Don’t expect anything too profound though, because I’m only giving myself a half hour to do this. I’ve got books to write, ya know. So here goes. Maybe you’ll try this yourself after.

A: Audiobooks. I became addicted to them after hearing Jim Dale bring the Harry Potter series to life. Nathaniel Parker does an equally brilliant job with the Artemis Fowl books. Currently on my iPod are: At Home by Bill Bryson, Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer, Mini-Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella, One Day by David Nicholls, Uncharted TerriTori by Tori Spelling, This Time Together by Carol Burnett, The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean, A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, and The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

B: Baby. My five year old announced last night that she “can’t wait to have a baby in her belly.” No more watching “16 and Pregnant” for her! Her daddy responded to her announcement by looking up the care and feeding of attack dogs. (ps. you know she doesn’t really watch that show, right?)

C: Car. My car is always so messy that I can’t have anyone in it. Last year I took it to the car wash for a full detailing and told myself that from now on, I’d pretend that at any minute, I might be called upon to pick up a foreign dignitary at the airport and HAD to keep it clean. That lasted two days. Good thing I have yet to get that call.

D: Dream On by Aerosmith. This is the song currently playing on the radio as I write this. Without even thinking about it, I can recite every word. If everything we learned in school were set to music, we’d remember things a lot better. Jack and Diane comes on next and I am instantly transported back to the school bus sophomore year, hearing it and telling myself to “hold onto 16 as long as you can”. Because it’s true, changes do come around real soon and make us women and men.

E: Elevators. I once rode up an elevator with the mom from The Partridge Family and realized when in close quarters with a celebrity that they know you know who they are but you can’t really say anything to them without sounding like a dork. Although I was once walking out of a store in LA and bumped (literally) into Jason Alexander who was currently playing George on Seinfeld, and I knew I recognized him, but thought it was from my real life and said, “Hey i know you, did we go to camp together?” He quickly shook his head, smiled, and went on his way. In the car home i realized who he was and felt, well, super dorky. Too bad I didn’t say, “Hey, did we grow up in the same town?” Because that would have been true!

F: Fax Machines. I remember the first time I saw one, my very first day on the job post-college. I was like, “You mean I can draw this picture, put it in this slot, enter a phone number, and someone else will get MY PICTURE on the other end? Seriously?” I now feel that same amazement with skype.

G: Gadgets. If I were a superhero, I would be Gadget Girl. I can trace my love of gadgets back to my comic book reading days. There was always something fun to order from the back of them that promised to do three amazing things at once. Some of the gadgets I’ve owned: a spy watch that takes photos, a pocket printer that can print them wirelessly, a device that will change your voice when you answer the phone. I was the first on my block to get Tivo, back when it was Replay TV. Every day I’d hear, “What do you mean, you can pause live TV?” The list of things currently on my Tivo: Mike & Molly, 4 episodes of Chuck, How I Met Your Mother, 3 episodes of The Office, The Big Bang Theory, Hot in Cleveland, 2 episodes of Glee, a documentary called The Wonders of the Solar System, 6 episodes of The Universe, 4 episodes of Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking, and a documentary called The Oprah Effect that’s been sitting on there for over a year but I’m sure one of these days i’ll get to it.  The last batch are all research for my science fiction book. I plan to base the book on science fact.

H: Hope. Every morning when I wake up I hope I’m around to go to bed that night. One day we’ll have woken up for the last time. This thought often keeps me awake at night.

I: iPhone for Verizon. Mine arrived last night. Already put on the app where you can point it at the night sky and it tells you what is above you. I plan to be obsessed with my new gadget.

J: Jennifer. There are TWELVE Jennifers in my email address book. This is far and away more than any other name.

K: Karate. Something i always wish I knew how to do. I’d like to feel really strong and somewhat dangerous.

L: Libraries. The first thing I’ve always done upon moving to a new town is to get a library card. Something about having all the familiar books around me, but in a new place, makes that new place feel more like home. Last week I cried happy tears when my 5-year-olds got their first library cards.

M: Mass. According to family lore (and the computers at Ellis Island), my last name is derived from the Hebrew word for bookseller. I like to think this has shaped the course of my life.

N: Nails. Every time I do a book signing, I look down at my broken nails and tell myself that I should really act like a grownup and get a manicure, but I never do.

O: Opulence. I love visiting really opulent places (hotels, homes, palaces, castles) and dream of living in one. I would be right at home at the Palace of Versailles or Joan River’s NYC apartment. Must first win the lottery. Must first play the lottery.

P: Princess Bride. The perfect movie.

Q: Seriously, I’m supposed to come up with a Q word? I feel Queasy with the effort.

R: Rolos. Hubby just bought me a pack, which I will be saving for the weekend. In order to cut down on all the candy eating, I am limiting myself to only eating it from Friday eve through Sunday. (You didn’t think I could write a book called The Candymakers without loving candy, did ya? I just heard the book was in a batch presented to President Obama by the board of the American Booksellers Association for the White House library. How fun is that? I hope the girls like it!

S: Social Media. Whenever I hear the term, I can’t help but think of the line from The Breakfast Club where Judd Nelson’s character says, “So it’s social. Demented and sad, but social.” I like Facebook as a way to catch up with friends and make new ones, but I can’t really get into Twitter. Following it always makes me feel like I’m not doing enough interesting things, reading enough things, writing enough things. Like I can’t keep up.

T: Tori Amos. She’s been my favorite singer/songwriter since 1992, when I heard her first single off the Little Earthquakes album while living in Los Angeles and waiting for a friend outside a Chinese Restaurant. I’ve seen her in concert 18 times, all across the country. I often have dreams where we’re friends and hang out doing stuff.  Met her once and gave her a copy of 11 Birthdays for her daughter. Felt like a dork but did it anyway.

U: Umbrella song by Rihannah. Newest addition to my iPod. I love how music can make you feel things. Happy, sad, inspired, moved. I wish I could sing or play an instrument and experience what it must be like to be a part of that. Maybe it’s not too late (well, probably for the singing).

V: Valentine’s Day. My best one was freshman year of college. Got a dozen red roses from two different guys, and a fake champagne bottle filled with real chocolate corks from my mom. The corks were made from a type of chocolate called gianduja, which, from that moment on, became my favorite type. I will go to great lengths to find it.

W: Wendy. I recently found a whole bunch of old school notebooks. It is alarming how every page is covered in doodles of my name, usually in bubble letters.

X: X-rays. I am very squeamish about anything inside the human body. In high school biology class the teacher wheeled out one of those plastic skeletons and I ran out of the room and threw up in the nearest water fountain. I also nearly passed out when we had to stick our fingers with a pin to discover our blood type. I don’t think they do that at schools any more. I’ll never forget a Ray Bradbury story I read years ago, where a guy realizes that he’s carrying around a skeleton inside his own body. We all are. This horrifies me to no end.

Y: Yellow. The walls of my childhood bedroom were bright yellow. This color always makes me feel good. My old bedroom is now my stepfather’s office and whenever I go in there I feel disoriented. The walls are no longer yellow although the rainbow sticker is still on the window.

Z: Zero. The amount of things I can think of to associate with this letter.

Phew! I’m done! It took slightly longer than a half hour but wasn’t as painful as I feared. Your turn!

Click Making Apple Pie to read Chapter One of the un-named work-in-progress.

97 Comments

  1. Sammie on February 25, 2011 at 8:00 pm

    I cannot wait for the new book to come out!!!!! It sounds cool. I haven’t read 11 Birthdays yet, but I’ve read Finally. It was so good!
    And did you read my Every Soul a Star sequel plot in a comment on your last post yet? You don’t have to like it, but I kind of want to see if you do…

  2. Anisha on February 25, 2011 at 10:58 pm

    There’s going to be a sequel? That’s AWESOME! I can’t wait!

  3. Gracie on February 27, 2011 at 8:39 pm

    I CANNOT wait for the new books!!! I will suggest a title for the book as soon as the link is posted. I’m also gonna try to write a random, short autobiography using the alphabet. And still, I can’t wait for the new books! I’m going crazy with impatience! But first, I have to finish all the other Wendy Mass books. Next is Leap Day, then A Mango Shaped Space, then the Candymakers, then Finally. But I have to save up some money cuz the Wendy Mass books are really good and I like to buy the books I really enjoy.

    • Sarah on March 8, 2011 at 4:42 pm

      Omg same here! I read like the first chapter of leap day and my mom kept calling me but i was soo into the book! its soo good so far! i heard from my friends a mango shaped space and candymakers are like realllyyy realllyy good! Wendy Mass came to our school for author day and it was AWESOME!! She is like my favorite author!!! one of them… lol

    • Gracie on March 11, 2011 at 3:55 pm

      Okay, so I checked back for days and days waiting for the link to the chapter 1, and read it. Now I’ve got an idea for the title:
      The Multiverse Bound Together by Pie

    • Gracie on March 14, 2011 at 10:48 pm

      I finished every Wendy Mass book except Leap Day and the Twice Upon a Time series, and the new books, of course. I’m so excited for the new ones, and I’m gonna pre-order 13 Gifts!!

  4. Lydia on February 28, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    That is so fun wendy! I am totally going to try to do an A-Z thing. That would be a really cool book if each chapter was a letter, and then something that happened in your life that starts with that letter. VERY cool! can’t WAIT to see Jeremy Fink the movie!!!
    Your little 5 year old is so CUTE!!! give them my congrads on the library cards 🙂

  5. Courtney Sheinmel on February 28, 2011 at 5:29 pm

    How have we not talked about “H” before … and I’m bitter about “I.”

    LOVED THIS POST!!!

  6. Olivia/Lara on March 1, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    Wendy Mass has awesome books and I love them all! I have never read a book better then hers. I love Candy so I love the book Candymakers….

  7. Alexis on March 1, 2011 at 10:22 pm

    I am very excited for your books to come out! So looking forward to it! 😀 You inspire me, Wendy, and I’m sure I’ll love them!

  8. Maddz on March 4, 2011 at 10:43 am

    I love your blogs 😀
    THey’re pretty rare, but so much fun!
    Very excited for your new books (especially the fairy-tale ones!!!!)

    -Maddz

  9. Rory on March 4, 2011 at 8:00 pm

    Will there be movies for the Willow Falls series?

  10. Rae on March 4, 2011 at 10:42 pm

    ms. mass, i feel like you write your books about me i relate to them so much! seriously all this stuff from your books has happened to me:
    1)Rory’s little shaving accident. i shave my legs fine, but last week i decided my underarm was to hairy… lets just say i now have a scabby armpit! [note from wendy–i feel your pain!!]
    2)fighting with my bff on her 10th birthday and making up on her 11th
    3)realizing other people have weird thoughts. i doubt they are weirder then mine though, yesterday i thought entirely in free verse poetry all day!!!
    4)destroying my my phone, i have put it in my pocket with a magnet, dropped in the mud, lost it on the street, dropped it off a 3 story high building, and more before it finally broke! =(
    5)thinking i found an alien. it turned out i was dreaming.
    6)LUCID DREAMS! i had them all the time when i was younger, and sometimes now.
    7)freaking out because i was home alone. i heard footsteps upstairs and FREAKED OUT and called my mom, but turns out she never left and they were her footsteps. lol
    8)had a “list” of things i can do, mine is more like goals, for me to before i get to be to old to do them.
    9)had an existential (did i spell that right) crisis

    thats a lot of stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i can’t wait 4 the 13 one to come out, and i deffinatly want to try and figure out a name for your new book!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Rachel on March 18, 2011 at 12:36 pm

      WOOW! thts REALLY cool!!

    • Rae on April 18, 2011 at 10:29 pm

      o yeah, also had the same phone # as someone. not a pizza store (thankfully) but an old lady who had no memory.

  11. azaan on March 5, 2011 at 7:21 pm

    I am so excited about your sequel of 13 Gifts in the “Willow Falls” series that continues 11 Birthdays and Finally. Also I was reading Finally and on page 104, line 19 it says, “No one else on line has theirs.” (Rory is talking about her backpack). Wouldn’t it be “No one else in line has theirs” Change the on to in.
    Your number 1 fan,
    Azaan Moledina

  12. Kelly Hitt on March 6, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    Looking forward to the first chapter posting.
    (Personally, as a teacher/librarian I say, “Cover your nose and mouth!!” when someone sneezes. Usually a student at school.)
    I’m new to your books but love dearly and promote them widely.
    You’re a wonderful inspiration; write on!

  13. citygirl on March 6, 2011 at 2:23 pm

    As all of the comments before mine say, I’m thrilled for the third book in the series!! I’m sure I’ll love the new sequel to the idea of “wacky birthdays” in Willow Falls. I’m also excited about the Jeremy Fink movie… I have read the book, and am a huge fan~ I hope the movie will end up as good as the book was 🙂

  14. Haley on March 6, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    Hey Wendy really excited for the movie! Can’t wait!! 🙂

    • Katie on March 15, 2011 at 4:12 pm

      I can’t believe there actually making a movie soooooo excited 🙂

  15. Adriana on March 9, 2011 at 11:26 pm

    I LOVE YOUR BOOKS! I have only read like 4 books of yours but, they are great You are now my favorite author. I loved your books Finaly and A Mango Shaped Space-They were really good. They are my favorite books. I am really looking forward to your new book in the Willow Falls series. I am also looking forward to the Jeremy Fink movie( I am reading the book now-It is really good)

  16. Julia on March 10, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    Hi, Wendy!
    I’m in love with your book, A Mango-Shaped Space. I swear, it was written about me. My crazy family and stray kitten who has a cough, an adopted looking for love and definitely something to get in the way of keep pulling me back to reality..
    And of course, I have synesthesia. I’m just kind of sending you some fan mail.. 🙂 But also, I was wondering.. do you have synesthesia?
    Julia

    Note from Wendy: Nope, but I wish i did! I hope your new kitty gets well soooon! :O)

  17. Joshua on March 12, 2011 at 8:10 pm

    I’m 10 years old and I love your books! Although I’ve only read one of your books, which is the CandyMakers (only 10 more pages), I have proof because I inroduced my classmates to your books and they love them! I think a good title is “The Pie is the Limit”. Also I like making books and I’d like to know how to get them published?

  18. Rae on March 13, 2011 at 3:10 pm

    here are a few possible names for the pie/space book
    1) pie: the secret to the universe
    2) how to create the universe using pie
    3) how to bake a pie (and create the universe to)
    4) apple pie and the universe
    5) how i re created the universe
    6) why the universe needs pie

    i hope you like them! 5 is my favorite.
    -Rae

  19. Joshua on March 13, 2011 at 6:45 pm

    I finished the CandyMakers! It was awesome! Today I went to Barnes and Noble and I got Jeremy Fink and Mango Shaped Space. I’m so excited to read them!

  20. Katie on March 15, 2011 at 4:09 pm

    Dear Wendy,
    In School we are doing an Auther study project and i choose you as my auther. I love your books the are amazing!!! I haven’t read all of them but i will!! Also, I hope you write many more

    • goddessgirl on May 2, 2012 at 6:26 pm

      I am doing Wendy Mass for an Author Study to!!

  21. Adriana on March 15, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    Ideas for the title:
    1) Pie and Creating the Universe
    2) Joss,Pie,and the Universe (or what his name is-I think it’s Joss)
    3)PBT Headquarters and Pie?
    4)The Universe and Pie? or The universe and Pie (w/out a “?”)
    5)What is PBT Headqarters is doing with Pie?

  22. Kaitlyn on March 16, 2011 at 7:10 pm

    Here are lots of different ideas for the title:
    1)Why Pies are Important
    2)Baking Pies (and of course, Recreating the Universe)
    3)Not Just Any Apple Pie
    4)Not Your Normal Pies (Or, Not Your Normal Apple Pies)
    5)Joss’s Cosmic Pies
    6)My Pies Hold Together the Universe
    7)I Deliver Cosmic Pies
    8)Two Weeks to Recreate the Universe?
    9)I’m 12 and I have to Recreate the Universe?
    10)Making Apple Pies and Remaking the Universe
    I know it’s a lot, but I just loved every one of them! Anyways, I hope you like them. Oh, and I can’t wait for the movie!
    ~Kaitlyn

  23. Leah Severson on March 17, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    My daughter loves your books – can’t wait til the next comes out. Thanks for writing them.

  24. Rachel on March 18, 2011 at 12:45 pm

    Wendy Mass i LOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVEEEE your books! I COULDN’T put them down!!!!! my Favortie book is Finally and i CANT wait for the NEW book!!!!! I REALLY REALLY wish i could meet you!!!! DONT EVER stop making books!!!! You are my inspiration!!!!! Thank you SOOOO much for writing books!!! im gonna get EVERY BOOK YOU wrote!!!!!! i REALLY CANT wait for the new books!!

  25. Rachel on March 18, 2011 at 12:54 pm

    AND i Cant wait for the movie! I know its gonna be GREAT!! 🙂

  26. THE samy on March 18, 2011 at 10:47 pm

    i read the first chapter of your new book wendy and here is my ideas on wht u should call it

    the seventh universe

    the life of a cosmic pie leader

    the universe’s pie deliverer

    the seventh pie

    the universe .vs. pie

    living in a pie filled, constantly planet changing, broken and needed to be fixed universe

    broken universe for sale

    living the seventh and delivering the pie

    living the sevent and delivering the fresh

  27. Ingrid H. on March 22, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    Hi Wendy,
    So excited for your new books! Congratz on all the new ideas 🙂

    Some ideas for a title:
    1. Pie in the Sky
    2. The Seventh Son’s Cosmos
    3. A Slice of the Universe
    Good luck!

  28. Adriana on March 22, 2011 at 9:05 pm

    I have some more ideas for the title:
    1) The Pie Deliverer
    2)Delivering Pie
    3)Pie
    4) Joss and Pie ( or what his name is-i think its Joss)

  29. Erin on March 22, 2011 at 11:09 pm

    I have been checking periodically to see if you would ever continue your “Twice Upon a Time Series” I loved them as a preteen (bought them both with my own money) and have secretly been thinking you would be the most brilliant author ever to take on Beauty and the Beast! I never really liked fairy tales as much until I read Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty; I’ll have to check out some of your other novels!

  30. Talia on March 23, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    Your books are so amazing and inspiring!! Thank you for teaching me so much. I am so excited for 13 Gifts; will the wiggling duck on Angelina’s cheek be in it? 😀 I hope so
    Your writing is so exciting and riveting.
    For your science fiction book, you said you liked Carl Sagan’s quote, I found a link with his quotes: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/carl_sagan.html
    I have a few title options for your book:
    1. Fixing the universe with Pie
    2. Who doesn’t love pie? (strait from your chapter!! :D)
    3. Pie fixes everything
    4. Pie
    5. The Recipe for the Universe
    6. The Pie Recipe for the Universe
    7. Universe Flavored Pie
    8. Pie Flavored Universe

    #5 is my favorite
    I hope you like them

    Your biggest fan,

    Talia

  31. Talia on March 23, 2011 at 8:56 pm

    I thought of one more title:
    Universal Pie 😀

    • Talia on April 10, 2011 at 7:38 pm

      I thought of one more!!
      Sorry I keep saying this but this one is probably my favorite 😀

      Start from Scratch

      hope you like it 😀 thanks

  32. disha on March 23, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    Dear Mrs. mass
    first of all omg omg i luv all ur books
    second i cant believe u r going to read this
    im just so happy my first book was 11 birthdays then finally
    and im on the epolouge every soul a star i reserved all ur books from library i think a title that is good is THE GREAT PIE BATTLE

  33. Alma on March 24, 2011 at 11:27 am

    Hi wendy! I’ve read all your books (except Twice upon a Time, which I plan on reading soon) and they were all amazing! It’s really hard for me to say which one I liked best, but I really liked A mango-shaped Space! my favorite character from all your books is either Leo from eleven birthdays and Finally or Lizzy from Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life. i think a great title for your new book would be Life, The Universe, and Everything (Made of Pie). or something like that. anyways, i’m in the sixth grade at Baker School in Brookline, Massachusetts- I hope you can visit there or at a nearby library/bookstore someday, all my friends love your books!

  34. Alexis on March 25, 2011 at 6:02 pm

    Dear Wendy,
    Hi there again 😀 I have a question for you. I’m inspired by your writing, so I’ve tried to write books but I never get good ideas. How do you get your ideas, or what inspires YOU?

  35. Brittney on March 26, 2011 at 3:00 pm

    I really liked a mango shaped space so while I was seeing if there was a sequel I found this and i read the first chapter. It was awesome. I have a couple ideas:
    1) how to save the world
    2) how to save the world with pie
    3) the world in my hands
    4) the world in the pie deliverers hands
    5) pie and the world
    6) pieneverse
    7) the world’s keeper’s sons

  36. sanjana on March 26, 2011 at 9:04 pm

    hello!!!!!!!
    I love Wendy Mass!!!!!! Her books are awesome!!!!!! I’ve read them all!!!!!! Well most of them anyways!
    I have a suggestion (sorry I suck at spelling) for the book
    how about
    HOW I SAVED THE UNIVERSE DELIVERING PIE
    it’s all I have so far if I have another idea I’ll post it!

  37. sabrina on March 26, 2011 at 9:54 pm

    Please please please make a movie for the candymakers in animated picture or use real people but please make the candymakers as a movie its the best the book you made!

    • sabrina on March 26, 2011 at 10:03 pm

      Ialmost forgot to say if you agree or your are going to make a movie please please leave a reply

  38. elena on March 26, 2011 at 10:46 pm

    just saying… A MANGO SHAPED SPACE IS MY FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME. i wish i had synestia :[. its sounds so COOL. also, i’m getting the nook, and my first step is downloading all the books by you! i’m probably like ur #1 fan. :]

  39. sanjana on March 27, 2011 at 3:32 am

    okay I have one more
    Saving the universe one pie at a time

  40. Peri on March 28, 2011 at 7:58 pm

    Dear Wendy Mass and fellow Wendy Mass readers!
    I saw that you ( Wendy Mass) wrote about posting a title and that you may end up using for your book, and I swore that my heart dropped into my stomach! The first title that came into my mind was
    1) Universal Pie.
    Then I thought about it for a while and came up with…
    2) Supreme Overlord of the Universe likes his Pie
    3) The Powers That Be and their Pies
    4) Have a Pie!
    5)The 7th son Delivers Pie
    6)How the Pie Deliver Saved the Universe
    7)The Telescopic Disaster
    8 And Bring the Pie!
    I will most DEFINITELY send more titles in when I come up with them!

  41. Cassidy on March 28, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    Hi Wendy!

    I have 2 ideas for the title

    1. Delivering the universe
    2. Start from Scratch

    I know their not that good! By the way I am super excited for the Jeremy Fink movie! I love all your books!

    Thanks,
    Cassidy

  42. Betsy on March 30, 2011 at 6:36 pm

    Hi there. My bookclub meeting is in like 3 days or so and we will be discussing your book, A Mango Shaped Space. It’s a wonderful book, thanks for writing it. 🙂

  43. Reina on March 31, 2011 at 7:12 pm

    WENDY MASS!!! OMG! I LOVE YOUR BOOKS SO MUCH!!!

  44. sophie on March 31, 2011 at 9:32 pm

    I just loved your books. They capture me truthfully! Anyways heres some ideas for your book title!
    1) Have some pie. (:
    2. Slice of wonder. [;
    3) Slices of delieciousness. (:

  45. Brittney on April 1, 2011 at 11:43 am

    I thought of another one

    From the kitchen of Joss: world saving pie… Or something along those lines!!

  46. BROOKLYN on April 1, 2011 at 7:23 pm

    omg wendy mass u r my hero til the end…..!!!!!! i have a goal to read every book u write. i have read every1 of your books except a mango shaped space and jeremy fink and the meaning of life. but those r the next books im ordering from my library. my favorite book has GOT to be the candymakers OR rapunzel the 1 with all the hair.i hope youve got 10000000000 more ideas for books!
    God bless u!!
    your biggest fan brooklyn or Boo (nickname) ;);););)

  47. Tuna on April 2, 2011 at 11:05 am

    Hello!
    It’s Tuna…again.
    I loved the first chapter of the new book.
    My idea for a title is…

    The Pastry of the Universe

    Is that good?
    I really liked the chapter because it makes everything (the universe, Earth, space) seem really big and really small at the same time.

    Bye!

  48. Nia on April 3, 2011 at 6:52 pm

    Hi Wendy, My name is Antonia and I have to do an Isp (independant study project). This year I really wanted to do my Isp on synesthesia and I was wondering if you could help me a little. It would really help me if you could tell me some of the sources you used for research to write the book a mango shaped space. I also need to do an interactive activity with my class so if you have an ideas please email me back (no need to rush the project is spread out through one month).
    Thank you.
    P.s I loved your book a mango shaped space.

    • Wendy Mass on August 2, 2022 at 2:12 pm

      JUST found this un-seen/un-posted comment!!! ACK! You probably won’t see this, but I hope you were able to do your project or reached me another way. xo

  49. Bridget on April 5, 2011 at 5:39 pm

    Hi Wendy,

    I am so excited for your new book to come out. My friends and I have already planned to see the movie when it comes our as well!

    Suggestion for Title:
    Dear Pie Lovers

    -Bridget

  50. Heather on April 5, 2011 at 9:02 pm

    Hello!
    My mom and I always look forward to your blog posts–they’re so much fun!
    I don’t know if this has already been suggested, but how about this title? (if it’s not too late)
    “A Slice of the Universe”
    I turned 13 a few months ago and I’m really looking forward to 13 Gifts (and, of course, any new books). My friend and I are excited for the Jeremy Fink movie, too. She loved the book! (I’ve been lending out my books to my friends and they’re in agreement–your books are awesome!)
    Every Soul a Star, Jeremy Fink, A Mango-Shaped Space, and. . .actually, all of your books are my favorites! I hope you can come to my local bookstore (Hicklebee’s, San Jose, CA) sometime!
    Love from your California bookworm,
    Heather <3

  51. Jessica Wisniewski on April 6, 2011 at 2:46 pm

    Wendy-

    Some Pie in the Sky Title Ideas:

    1) A Pie-Flavored Universe
    2) Carl Sagan’s Secret Recipe for Apple Pie
    3) A Universal Overlord’s Guide to Pie-Making
    4) A Flaky, Fruit-Filled Cosmos
    5) Aunt Mae’s Cosmic Cookbook
    6) Joss the Overlord’s Cosmic Baking Guide
    7) Baking the Perfect Flaky Universe
    8) Heroic Bakers of the Universe, Part One
    9) Outer Space, Inner Pie
    10) (a shout out to Douglas Adams): So Long and Thanks for All the Pie!

  52. Michaela on April 6, 2011 at 8:01 pm

    I’ve got some good ideas for the new book title. They are: The Universe Surrounded By Pie. A Mix of Pie and the Universe. The Pie Slice of the Universe. All of your books are so amazing. I have always wanted to just become one of the characters and go through their experiences, especially Mia from A Mango Shaped Space. You also inspire me to create my own writing and come up with a story of my own. Great work!

  53. Kate on April 8, 2011 at 3:41 pm

    One of my ideas for the novel title is The Big Bang Pastry, or A Homemade Pastry: How it Caused the Big Bang.

  54. greer on April 12, 2011 at 8:10 pm

    Today my mom went to a special thing at borders and got to meet you i really wanted to go, (because you are my favorite author!!)But it was for adults only. My mom said she has a good conversation with you and that you told me to comment on your blog. I have never cried in a book before, but last year after reading a mango shaped space i cried for 30 minutes! It was a touching book… And so are all of your books, i have read all of them and i cant wait for the jermy fink and the meaning of life movie to come out! I also cant wait for your next book. Thanks for signing my every soul a star!

    Note from wendy: Hi G! It was great meeting your mom today and hearing about you! I’m sure we’ll meet one day! Thank you for your kind words above (sorry mango made you cry! i’ll be very dorky and tell you i cried while writing it!).
    :o)

  55. Maria on April 13, 2011 at 6:31 am

    I’m reading the Candymakers right now, LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I can’t weight for the books to come out!

    for the book title, they all are awesome, but i like #4 the best. here are some of my own suggestion:

    1) Pie, the Universe, and Everything
    2) The Universe’s Main Ingredient and How it’s Delivered
    3) Making the Universe in Under 2 Weeks, Pie Included
    4) Pie and it’s Obscure Uses, Such as Saving the Universe

    the first chapter was awesome, cant weight to read the rest!

  56. Alexis on April 16, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    Hi….Again 🙂
    I cant help but keep checking on your website to see if there’s any news about your upcoming books 🙂 I’m sooo excited for them to ocme out! All of your books are special in there own way 😀 Finally is my favorite book ever, and the rest of your books come close. One thing I like about is your descritpions; especially in The Candymakers! I loves eating skittles while reading about the Life Is Sweet candy factory and all the delicious candy made in it ^_^ I also really liked A Mango-Shaped space and Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall. Every Soul a Star got me interested in constellations and astronomy…I could go on an on about your wonderful books, but I think I’ll stop there 🙂 Thank you for writing your awesome books 😀

  57. Oscar on April 17, 2011 at 6:30 pm

    hey Wendy!

    the first chapter is AWESOME 😀 i can tell that your new book is going to be amazing!!! anyway, you were asking what we thought the title might be and from the first chapter this is what i came up with:

    1. If Only Aunt Mae Could Hear…
    2. It’s the Pie’s Fault

    i know you didn’t want the word “pie” in it but i couldn’t think of anything else. hope this helps!!! 😀 😀 😀

    ~Oscar

  58. B-A-M on April 18, 2011 at 11:01 am

    Hi Wendy!

    We are 3 best friends who can’t wait to see your movie!

    Idea for Title:
    Do You Know how Much Pie Matters?

  59. Hannah on April 19, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    Names 4 the book:
    Destroying and rebuilding (like how he destroys the universe)
    The food the UNIVERSE loves…pie
    Recreating the world

    you can also name a charaterone of these names:
    eden
    aeden
    andrew
    molly
    keera
    or just my name hannah

    PS: i consider myself ur biggest fan ever!!! i have read everyone of ur books and i am waiting to read more to come. please publish them soon..ur books r my favorite books, and they mean a lot 2 me!!

  60. Oscar on April 20, 2011 at 4:23 pm

    i just got another idea:

    3. Joss’s Ultimate Guide to Saving the Universe: Everything from Pie to Pet Rocks

  61. Peri on April 20, 2011 at 8:33 pm

    Hi again! I thought of 3 more titles… :o)

    The Boy Who saved the universe

    The Boy Who Delivered Pie

    P is for Pie

    Slice of Life

    Wait thats 4! Oh well!

    Hope these help!
    -Peri

  62. Natalia on April 27, 2011 at 9:10 pm

    Here’s my title:
    And Bring the Pie

  63. Liz on May 5, 2011 at 5:04 pm

    These are the ones I thought of:

    Not-So-Easy As Pie

    A Slice of The Sweet Life

    As Sweet As An Apple Pie

    A Slice of Heaven

    An Adventure Filled with Danger like a Pie is Filled with Fruity Filling

    Hello? Are You There Universe?

    Pie Time

    Saving The Universe Is Something I Do Everyday

    Peace, Pie, and Pet Rocks

    Order Up!

    Who Ordered Pie, Pet Rocks, and Saving The Universe?

    Cooking up a Cosmic Mess

    Baking The Universe Again

    2 Weeks. One Boy. A WHOLE Lotta Universe To Save.

    Pies Control The Universe

    Perfection Can’t Be Rushed

    PTB- Pies, little Time, and a Boy.

    ^^Just some ideas. I hope you like them! :3I know one of your books already has a “Lizzy”, so if you don’t wanna use my name if I win, I can give you another name.

  64. Sarah on May 5, 2011 at 5:14 pm

    Hey hey! I love all of Wendy’s books (especially 11 Birthdays & Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life) so I decided I’m going to take a chance and enter this contest! Who knows, anyone can win! Here it goes…
    1) Pie-Maker Son of the Supreme Overlord
    2) Universal Pie-Maker
    3) Pies, Pet Rocks, and All Things Important
    4) The Supreme Overload is My Father
    5) Lucky Number Seven
    6) Misguided Misadventures of a Missing Pie-Maker
    7) Danger: This Book Contains Pies

    Haha these are just ideas! I’m just guessing on the titles. Even if they get the wheels turning in your head, and you don’t use any of ’em, that’s okay! 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to read this! :DDDD If my name (Sarah) doesn’t work I’ll be happy to give you any other ones!

    Have a fun-tastic day,

    Sarah 🙂

  65. Jesse on May 5, 2011 at 5:26 pm

    Oh my gosh, I love your books! You are an amazing author! You inspire me so much (: Okay… yeah… so I hope you like my titles!

    1) Pie: The Food That Holds The Universe Together
    2) Delivering Pie Isn’t Easy
    3) Pie, Pet Rocks, and Pretty Interesting Adventures
    4) The Seventh Son

    **By the way, I’m a girl even though I spell my name the boy way!!**

  66. Ak on May 6, 2011 at 9:18 pm

    what about:
    The Universe depends on good apple pie!!

    and you probably wot pick this but if you do you should use the name ariana ARIANA !!!! one n. no d. just 3 a. 1 i. 1r. 1 n. got that????

  67. Miriam on May 14, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    Hey wendy I have a few suggestions for your new book

    Recipe for disaster
    bye bye universe hello pie.
    Thx

    Miriam

  68. olivia on May 15, 2011 at 6:53 pm

    Hi my name is Olivia Fisher and i LOVE your books i just got Finally from my school book fair and I finished reading it and i LOVED it.I was wondering where did you get your idea for your books and is the charcter from Finally based on you?
    please get back!

    your fan
    Olivia

    • Kenzie on July 24, 2011 at 10:13 pm

      i got that book from my school book fair too! and it is amazing :)i was wondering the same thing.

  69. soph on June 2, 2011 at 6:52 am

    I love you books!!!!!!! I have a title for you and it is “The universe ivolves around me”

  70. Kenzie on July 24, 2011 at 10:11 pm

    I just finished reading Finally!!! It was so good 🙂 I can’t wait to read more of your books. I just turned 12, so it really impacted me and kept me interested. I just couldn’t put the book down 🙂

  71. sasha on July 25, 2011 at 3:07 pm

    fall is taking forever i can’t wait tht long i’ve read 11 birthdays and finally and those books are grea!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  72. sasha on July 25, 2011 at 3:09 pm

    i can’t wait for fall i reely want read that book i’ve read 11 birthdays and finally and they were great!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  73. Kyra Bowlby on August 3, 2011 at 6:22 pm

    -Wendy-
    I can’t wait to read that book you were talking about. I haven’t been on ur site that much because I’m at a camp, (except we don’t stay at the Junior High very long AND we don’t spend the nite there) I love to read books to, there very calm and peaceful. I actually have shelfs after shelfs

    of my books… I JUST LOVE THEM!!!!, I probably won’t be on ur site tommorrow because I’ll be SUPER tired and focusing
    on /Jeremy Fink and busy practicing a flip on the trampoline!
    -Kyra

    • Wendy Mass on August 2, 2022 at 2:30 pm

      Hi Kyra!! Loooong time, you’re probably not flipping n the trampoline anymore ;o) but I wanted to say hi and thank you for writing to ma all those years ago!! I hope you’re doing well!! xo, Wendy

  74. megan on May 4, 2012 at 8:35 pm

    i absolutly LOVE your book 11 birthdays!!!!!!! litterally best book i have ever read!!!!!!!! wendy you are a true artist!!!!! and i think it is funny because i am about to turn 11 myself!!! love you wendy!!!!! :):):):):)

    • Wendy Mass on December 10, 2022 at 11:45 am

      Thank YOU for reaching out all these moons ago!! xo Wendy

  75. Pallas chou on June 27, 2012 at 10:49 am

    For the authors award in california ,every soul a star won for the tween range(of course I voted for it)

    • Wendy Mass on August 25, 2016 at 11:04 pm

      Thank you!! You are awesomesauce!

  76. luke on March 5, 2016 at 10:35 pm

    id like to be abel to read the hole book

    • Wendy Mass on March 8, 2016 at 1:44 pm

      Finishing a book is a great accomplishment! Try setting a goal for each day of reading for 20 minutes and ta da you have finished a book!

  77. Sydney G Speare on January 1, 2017 at 4:32 pm

    Hi Mrs.Mass I am doing a project on you in my class and I am doing it on your current life and I don’t know your 2 cats names. I also wanted to say I am a very big fan your books. I am from the Millbrook Central school District you are supposed to come to our school in the spring I can’t wait to see you

    • Wendy Mass on December 4, 2022 at 7:42 pm

      Hi! I hope I got to see you at school to answer that question–my cats have included Fang, Nemo, S’mores and Bubba! (and Muffin growing up :o).

  78. Clarise on November 3, 2018 at 9:43 am

    I have read 11 Birthdays, 12 Finally, 13 Gifts, and I am reading The Last Present. I also have Graceful, but before I read it I have to finish The Last Present. I can never put it down! Thank you Wendy Mass for an AMAZING book series.

    • Wendy Mass on October 27, 2020 at 5:27 pm

      Aw thank you so much, that’s so sweet. I do miss writing those books, I’m sure by now you’ve finished Graceful and I hope you like the way it was tied up. It was hard to figure out how to end it. Thanks again for visiting Willow Falls 🙂 Wendy

  79. Cora (A reader) on October 21, 2020 at 4:11 pm

    I love a Mango Shaped Space!

    • Wendy Mass on October 23, 2020 at 2:10 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Hugs, Wendy

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