But if I were not, I’d be heading to this place:

Because on Monday 28th June at 5.45pm, the fabulous bookshop Tales On Moon Lane are hosting a teen fiction event at Dulwich Library. Check out the line-up:

Luisa Plaja, author of Split By A Kiss, Extreme Kissing, and Swapped By A Kiss (and some other top secret books – Luisa is prolific, in fact she’s my personal Queen of Teen).

Keris Stainton, author of the recently published Della Says: OMG (which has had all manner of superb reviews) and such a fabulous blogger that I’d call her my inspiration for starting Doing The Compossible a few years ago.

Simmone Howell, author of Everything Beautiful and Notes From The Teenage Underground, who is so effortlessly cool and talented and is a fellow resident of Melbourne (though didn’t require the rigorous medical or madness-inducing forms that I had to suffer to get here…).

Sarra Manning, author of Nobody’s Girl and Let’s Get Lost and more besides, and if Wikipedia is telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth she also went to the same uni and did the same degree as me…hmm, maybe I should have gone to a few more lectures after all…

I’ve been lucky enough to meet 75% of this line-up already (one of the perks of the job…we need perks, they don’t pay us much y’know) and give you my personal solid-gold 5-year warranty guarantee that this event is going to be enormous fun and an inspiration. Or your money back. (The event is free but places are limited so call Tales on Moon Lane on 0207 274 5759, email them on info@talesonmoonlane.co.uk or pop into the shop or Dulwich Library.)

But there’s more! If you’ve ever met me, you’ll know I often bang on about the experience of moving from London to Melbourne and how one of the best aspects of that move was discovering all the Australian literature I’d been missing out on. So to one lucky person who attends my launch I’ll be giving a fabulous prize to celebrate some of my favourite teen fiction of recent years written by British and Australian authors – my Brits Meet Aussies ideal reading pack, containing SIGNED copies of these books (plus a bunch of other gorgeous stuff that I’ll let you see in a few days):

THE BRITS

If you haven't laughed within the first ten pages, see a doctor.

Funny, heart-warming and feel-good. Best concept ever.

So page-turning you'll get RSI. Sequel on its way!

Lucy Christopher grew up in Australia but currently lives in the UK.

Whereas I grew up in the UK but currently live in Australia! Swapped, much?

THE AUSSIES

The latest story from the first author who inspired me to write a teen novel.

Finely written, schmaltz-free goodness from Simmone Howell.

A real weepy, beautifully written.

(Hmm, having some technical issues with the sizing there – rest assured that all the books I’m giving away are the usual size!)

You know what you have to do to win: BE THERE!

And the reason for my dancing?

See here, where fellow YA author Cat Clarke on her blog “This Counts as Writing, Right?” comes up with five reasons to read Girl, Aloud (Cat’s debut will be published by Quercus…see her blog to find out more).

and also here, where one of my writing heroes, Luisa Plaja, of the brilliant “Chicklish”, calls my book “a wonderfully-observed, realistic and moving mix of relationship drama and gentle comedy”. This is very special because Luisa is one of the reasons I started writing Girl, Aloud back in 2006. If you don’t know her work (shame on you!) do check out Split By A Kiss (very soon to be followed by Swapped By A Kiss, which I’m dying to read).

and finally here, where author, bookseller, reviewer, supremo Litopia podcaster (yep, she’s a busy woman) Eve Harvey of Vulpes Libris describes it as “a dark comedy full of bittersweet self-effacing humour” and claims I nearly made her cry (only nearly? Hmm, more work on that needed! I’ll get ya good n proper next time, Eve).

Don’t forget to enter my competition to win a copy of Girl, Aloud – open to all! Winner to be drawn on Friday 4th December. See here.