'Gimme A Call' Author Sarah Mlynowski Shares Her Embarrassing Summer Memories

Young adult author Sarah Mlynowski's latest book, "Gimme a Call," is about a high school senior who accidentally drops her cell phone into a fountain while wishing she could change her past. After fishing it out, she discovers that the only person she can call is herself — as a high school freshman, at age 14. It's the kind of premise that can get you fantasizing a lot about your own life — and one good enough to catch the eye of execs at Paramount who optioned it in May. In honor of summer vacations past and present, and in honor of the cute new book trailer her publisher sent us, we asked Sarah to share with us about a summer memory she might want to alter if she gave us a chance.

The following are Sarah's words:
Since publishing "Gimme a Call," naturally, people have been asking me which event in my past I'd change if I could. So here it is. My most embarrassing moment. Picture it: Pripstein's Camp. The summer I was 14. I agreed to be in the camp play, "42nd Street."

I was an extra and had one line. One single line. Seven words. I rehearsed with my friends on the beach; I rehearsed by myself in the shower. Finally it was the big night. Then it was one act until my line, and then it was one scene until my line ... and then it was time for my line. My line? Unfortunately, my mind was suddenly wiped clean. I just stared at the audience. Blinking. I prayed I would wake up and be in my bed. Or at school. Or getting a tooth pulled. Getting all my teeth pulled. Finally, after about 10 minutes of excruciatingly painful silence, I was ushered offstage and my castmates continued with the scene.

If I had the opportunity for a redo?

Two options:

1. Skip the tryouts! I'd hide out in the arts and crafts room and make myself yet another lanyard bracelet. Oh, wait! Even better — I'd sign up for sailing. Flirting with hot boating instructors + sun = tanned and happy 14-year-old me.

2. Cheat sheet! I'd write the line on my hand in black marker. I bet just knowing it was there would give me the courage to dazzle the audience with my acting chops. The following summer I'd land the lead in "Hair," which (obviously) would lead to a career on Broadway.

Sigh. There is a third option. Even though it was embarrassing, probably the most humiliating event of my entire life (up there with my bikini top flying away during a waterskiing attempt, and the time I accidentally waxed off half my left eyebrow), I'd choose not to redo a thing. Yes, my stage fright was mortifying, but now that I'm a novelist, I draw on real-life cringe-inducing moments when I'm trying to make my characters' emotions believable. In fact, I draw on this particular experience all the time.

Sorry, 14-year-old me. I know I'm throwing you under the camp Greyhound here, but you're going to have to take one for the team. I promise you this, though: I — you — will never, ever, be in a play again.

What would you tell your past self if you could call her? And have you read "Gimme a Call"? Talk about it in the comments below!

Tags Book Report, Books, Gimmie A Call, Sarah Mlynowski, Trailers, Video