New Year Resolutions from the Augustine Sisters

I feel like almost everyone I know is really excited about 2013, including me. For some reason, this feels like  the beginning of a truly new year. Of course, a lot of my excitement centers around my new book, CRIMINAL, which will be released in May. But there’s also new WIPs being developed, and opportunities to speak at schools, plus exercise goals, new recipes, plans for adventures with friends, not to mention trips with my husband, growing out my hair, new photos with Blythe, and the paperback release of Being Friends With Boys . . .

So since there’s so much I’m looking forward to in 2013, I thought I’d check in with Charlotte and her sisters (from Being Friends With Boys) to see what they’re excited about. Here’s what they had to say:

Jilly: It feels like 2012 was all about college. Whether it was winding down my senior year, meeting my roommate, choosing my classes, learning the campus and then finally getting there and learning everything there is to know about college life . . . college just seemed to dominate everything. I hope 2013 will help me get back to my original roots a bit more: calling my family on a regular basis, getting back into running . . . just doing the things that make me feel more me, now that I understand me here at school.

Gretchen:  I just want to stop feeling like I look ugly in photos.

Darby:  You’re not ugly in photos.

Charlotte:  Yeah, Gretch, you are so not ugly. You want ugly? Let me show you this—-

Gretchen [annoyed]: It’s not about whether not I’m actually ugly in photos.  I just want to stop feeling ugly. Maybe that means I walk more, or eat less, or gain some general acceptance about who I am and what I look like, or whatever, but I’m tired of looking at photos and being like, “Sheesh.”

Darby:  Well, don’t go thinking you’re changing my A-#1 resolution to convince mom that I need hair extensions. Because there’s no way this dumb bob is growing out before Prom. And getting invited to Prom as a freshman is my #2 resolution, so.

Charlotte:  Heh. Good luck with that.

Jilly, poking Charlotte in the leg:  What about you? This year was pretty monumental I’d say.

Charlotte, blushing: Well, there was a lot that happened this year for me, and though some of it was really hard, I have to say now I’m really glad about all of it. In some ways I hope 2013 is less eventful, you know? At least less dramatic.

Darby:  There was certainly enough drama, let me say.

Charlotte:  But in other ways I feel like the events of this year have just set me up for even more spectacular things in the new one. Like, this year was just about me getting positioned. So, if that’s true, I guess I hope I can merely keep riding that wave. I want to use what I’ve learned this year to help me stay open to more new things in my life. New friends. New connections. New songs. New experiences.  Maybe, if I do that, even more cool things will happen. You know? I mean, it’s not like I’m greedy, because I loved so much of this year and I’m really grateful, but now I feel open and ready. For whatever’s next.

Darby:  Bring it, 2013!

Jilly:  Yeah, bring it!

Gretchen:  And let’s make sure we take good pictures during it all too, eh?