Meg Cabot, Princess of YA literature: Day 1

It's so hard to write about a good thing coming to an end, but this end, at least, comes with sparkly things.

Lots of girls fantasize about being a princess, but for somewhat average New York high school student Mia Thermopolis, that fantasy came to life. Meg Cabot wrote about Mia's transition to princesshood...not so easy when you're also trying to navigate boys, family, and high school...over nine books in the popular and acclaimed Princess Diaries series. The tenth book, Forever Princess, hit bookstores and libraries on Tuesday, so I'm celebrating with a few fun links.

What's the one can't-live-without princess accessory? A tiara, of course. Tiaras are easy enough to come by, sure, but if you're going to buy a tiara you should buy one that benefits the New York Public Library. They're beautiful AND the money goes to a good cause. Check these out:





The first one is the one designed by Sarah Dessen, the second by Meg herself. To see the rest of the tiaras and bid on them, go to the auction. It runs until January 31, so you still have time to bid. I love them all, but I think my personal favorites are the one designed by Vera Wang (for my ladylike side) and R.L. Stine (for my closeted goth).

Here's a clip from the press release about the tiara auction:

Befitting the myriad backgrounds of the decorators, the tiaras range from the artistic to the whimsical to the truly toothsome (Dylan’s Candy Bar’s candy tiara) to the fearsome (R. L. Stine’s dangling skeletons). In keeping with his character’s rebellious nature, Eloise illustrator Hilary Knight jettisoned the genteel tiara and substituted it with a “T-Hair-A”, two wild headpieces – a daytime and an evening version for Eloise. Julie Andrews’ tiara is as regal as the character, Queen Clarisse Renaldo (Princess Mia’s grandmother), whom she played in the two Princess Diaries movies that were based on the book series. Anyone wearing the Bobbi Brown tiara might not have the need to carry a purse as the tiara comes with her line of cosmetics, including lip gloss, eye shadow and an assortment of makeup brushes, attached to it!

Tiara decorators include actress/co-author Julie Andrews and her daughter and co-author Emma Walton Hamilton, TV personality Samantha Bee, author Judy Blume, cosmetics founder Bobbi Brown, author/illustrator Marc Brown, singer/actress Sabrina Bryan, author Meg Cabot, TV personality Lauren Conrad, author Sarah Dessen, Echo Design, designer Tommy Hilfiger, artist Karen Kilimnik, illustrator Hilary Knight, Dylan Lauren of Dylan’s Candy Bar, TV host Stacy London, illustrator Chesley McLaren, designer Nicole Miller, actress Julianne Moore, Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, actress AnnaSophia Robb, TV personality Mo Rocca, designer Austin Scarlett, Seventeen Editor-in-Chief Ann Shoket, author R.L. Stine, author/actress Meg Tilly, USA Weekend Magazine, author/illustrator Chris Van Allsburg, designer Vera Wang, and Wave Hill public garden.

The New York Public Library’s 87 branches serve a vital role for teenagers in New York City providing extra help for those struggling in school as well as offering a home to book lovers. Funds from the tiara online auction will go directly to support essential teen programs including homework help and tutoring, book discussion and teen advisory groups and special events such as author visits.

While you're twiddling your thumbs waiting to see if you've won the auction, you can read more about Forever Princess in the USA Today Books section.

If you like the tiaras, wait until you see what's coming on Meg Cabot, Princess of YA literature: Day 2!