On November 7, 2005, Dear Dumb Diary author Jamie Kelly participated in a chat with Scholastic students and teachers. Kelly’s books include Let's Pretend This Never Happened, My Pants are Haunted, Am I the Princess or the Frog? and the long-waited Never Do Anything, Ever.

Jamie Kelly: Hi, everyone!

Guest: Dear Jamie, I just wanted to ask you a bunch of questions but I am only going to ask you a little bit of questions. How old were you when you wrote this book? Will you ever write another book in the future?

Jamie Kelly: I'm in middle school. Sure, lots!

Guest: Where did you get the idea to keep a diary? How long have you been writing in a diary?

Jamie Kelly: I write in a diary so I can say things I am not allowed to say. I've been writing since I started middle school

Guest: How did you learn to draw so well?

Jamie Kelly: I draw everyday.

Jamie Kelly: Sooner or later you get better

Guest: What inspired you to publish a diary for the public to read? State: CA

Jamie Kelly: People are reading my diary?

Jamie Kelly: Who gave you permission to read my diary? Stop it!

Guest: I am a kind of girl who gets influenced easily. I want to start my own dumb diary. Would you have any tips on starting now? Thanks always, Alyssa. State: AZ

Jamie Kelly: First pick a place to hide you diary. Evidently people have been reading mine.

Guest: Where did you get your great hilarious ideas from?

Jamie Kelly: I guess everyone around me is just weird

Guest: Do you really think your diary is dumb? State: CA

Jamie Kelly: Yes

Guest: What is your favorite color?

Jamie Kelly: Kelly Green

Guest: are you and Angeline friends now?

Jamie Kelly: That's hard to say. Angeline would totally love to be my friend.
Guest: How did you and Isabella meet and become best friends?

Jamie Kelly: Isabella and I met in kindergarten. She was beating me up but she stopped and I thought that was nice

Guest: do you still like Hudson?

Jamie Kelly: How do you know about Hudson?!?

Jamie Kelly: Shut up

Guest: What is your favorite bacteria?

Jamie Kelly: Roquefort

Guest: where can I buy chocomint lipbalm?

Jamie Kelly: do not use chocomint lipbalm. That is Isabella's signature ointment

Guest: who is the cutest guy in your grade?

Jamie Kelly: Chip

Jamie Kelly: Shut up

Guest: when is your next book?

Jamie Kelly: May

Guest: how would you describe yourself, Angeline, and Isabella?

Jamie Kelly: Cool, fool, drool

Jamie Kelly: I meant cool, Isabella

Guest: Has your mom ever cooked anything good?

Jamie Kelly: she poured a glass of water once that was ok

Guest: What to do like to eat? State: MI

Jamie Kelly: chinese food, pizza, not meatloaf

Guest: When is your birthday?

Jamie Kelly: today. What did you get me?

Guest: What is your favorite thing about your dog Stinker?

Jamie Kelly: Once he ran away for a week. That was a good week

Guest: happy birthday

Jamie Kelly: thanks. What did you get me?

Guest: Do you have any other cousins, besides the one that looks like a troll?

Jamie Kelly: yes, but he's the best looking one

Jamie Kelly: and cleanest

Guest: do you think you are the princess or the frog?

Jamie Kelly: I think I am somebody the princess and the frog both know

Jamie Kelly: and talk about behind my back

Guest: how cool is it to have your diary's published?

Jamie Kelly: my diary's been published?!?

Jamie Kelly: STOP READING MY DIARY

Guest: Sometimes I say that something is unfair and then my parents say that life is unfair. What would you say back to them if you were me?

Jamie Kelly: Is this how your parents cheer you up?

Jamie Kelly: How about a bowl of ice cream?

Jamie Kelly: Maybe a trip to the movies?

Jamie Kelly: "Thanks mom for cheering me up"

Guest: if you were a tree what tree would you be

Jamie Kelly: What type of tree would YOU be?

Guest: an oak

Jamie Kelly: I always see myself more as the dog than the tree

Guest: Do you have another hobby other then writing?

Jamie Kelly: I am an expert at dancing

Jamie Kelly: also makeovers

Jamie Kelly: and I'm probably a princess or a movie star

Guest: what is your favorite dirty look?

Jamie Kelly: Dirty Look #9 (I'm doing it now)

Guest: What's your favorite school subject?

Jamie Kelly: art

Guest: i love makeovers

Jamie Kelly: do one on your dad

Guest: what is your true inner beauty?

Jamie Kelly: I'm an excelllent spelar

Jamie Kelly: speller

Guest: if u were a dog what dog would you be?

Jamie Kelly: a fabulous glamorous poodle

Jamie Kelly: that could dance

Jamie Kelly: better than you

Guest: dog.......terrier

Guest: Do you still have Stinker

Jamie Kelly: yup, want him?

Guest: what is your favorite clothing item you possess.

Jamie Kelly: these jeans I wanna buy

Guest: my fav dirty look is #6

Jamie Kelly: do it now

Jamie Kelly: well done

Guest: i did and scared my mom

Jamie Kelly: tell her life's unfair

Guest: I like a boy, and I'm not sure if he likes me back. What should I do?

Jamie Kelly: ask your best friend to ask his friend if he could ask his brother if maybe his friend . . . . I've lost my train of thought on this

Jamie Kelly: maybe throw something at him

Guest: Why do U want 2 blackmail Angeline's permanent record? State: NY

Jamie Kelly: I really just wanted to see it

Jamie Kelly: have you seen it?

Guest: Will my crush A.K.A Brenton EVER ask me out? State: MO

Jamie Kelly: he's right here, let me ask him

Jamie Kelly: j/k

Guest: How old were you when you got Stinker? Why did you get a beagle?

Jamie Kelly: there was a sale

Jamie Kelly: I was 1

Guest: I like Isabella’s metric system of dorkology

Jamie Kelly: Isabella is quite a scientist

Guest: do u love stinker?

Jamie Kelly: kind of

Guest: Hey Jamie can you tell me what A.K.A. stands for.....I just want to see if you know...

Jamie Kelly: you mean like Brenton's first name?

Jamie Kelly: it means "I need a better first name"

Guest: :)

Guest: After what happened, would you ever try dying your hair again?

Jamie Kelly: I think I'll probably have to try dying my hair again

Guest: Sooooo, what’s it like to be you?

Jamie Kelly: bad sometimes, worse other times, good a couple times

Guest: are you at an 8 at the popularity scale yet?

Jamie Kelly: Isabella says I'm a 4

Jamie Kelly: but I think I'm a 9

Guest: are you and Isabella going to go to college together?

Jamie Kelly: maybe after actress/model school

Guest: u r so not a 4

Jamie Kelly: U R an 8 for saying so

Guest: do u like your hair

Jamie Kelly: nobody likes my hair

Guest: you are not an old shoe

Jamie Kelly: if you say so

Guest: who does your hair

Jamie Kelly: the wind

Jamie Kelly: gravity

Jamie Kelly: chromosome problem

Guest: i'm starting middle school next year, do you have any advice for me?

Jamie Kelly: RUN, RUN, ESCAPE NOW!!!!!!

Jamie Kelly: j/k

Jamie Kelly: you'll be fine

Guest: Since her food is so bad, have you ever thought about helping your mom cook?

Jamie Kelly: like order a pizza?

Jamie Kelly: I could do THAT

Guest: what advice do u have 4 people in middle school?

Jamie Kelly: don't worry, high school will be much easier

Guest: What grade does middle school start? I think I’m in it but I don’t know because I’m being home schooled (ewww)

Jamie Kelly: usually 6, 7, 8

Guest: do u have any other friends besides Isabella

Jamie Kelly: yeah, yeah a few

Jamie Kelly: but Isabella is BFF

Guest: if you could start over again at a new school, would you want to do that?

Jamie Kelly: like that home school?

Guest: I think u r a 9 on the popularity scale

Jamie Kelly: U R an 11

Guest: what is your fav song?

Jamie Kelly: Happy Birthday

Jamie Kelly: Aren't you supposed to be singing that to me now?

Guest: Do you have a cell phone? State: TX

Jamie Kelly: no, but tell my dumb mom I need one

Guest: What color is your bedroom?

Jamie Kelly: pink

Jamie Kelly: pink, with dog hair

Guest: Dear Jamie, Has your beagle-like thing always been vengeful? Has it ever been sweet? From Caroline M. State: OH

Jamie Kelly: no, Stinker has been mean since the day he was spawned

Guest: Do you think you or Isabella is going to have a boyfriend first? If it is Isabella, would you be jealous?

Jamie Kelly: I will be first

Jamie Kelly: and Isabella’s boyfriend will be my boyfriend's brother

Jamie Kelly: even if they have to adopt

Guest: do u still like Mr. Prince?

Jamie Kelly: I've moved on

Guest: is Mr. Prince and the art teacher still together?

Jamie Kelly: nope

Guest: my dog is so FAT! is stinker

Jamie Kelly: how fat is he?

Jamie Kelly: Stinker is so fat . . . that he has a regular sized beagle in orbit around him

Guest: Are you ever going to try zone shampooing on your own?

Jamie Kelly: I try it every day

Guest: Hello Jamie Kelly, I wanted to know how you go through crushes at school? State: GA

Jamie Kelly: 3 or 4 at a time

Guest: why did u kiss your arm?

Jamie Kelly: to practice kissing

Jamie Kelly: Shut up

Jamie Kelly: lots of people do that

Jamie Kelly: so shut up

Guest: have you ever wanted to have gorgeous hair like Angeline?

Jamie Kelly: yes wouldn't you?

Jamie Kelly: not that anybody cares about Angeline's hair

Guest: have u ever kissed a guy and who was he

Jamie Kelly: is a beagle a guy?

Jamie Kelly: I’m just asking

Jamie Kelly: I don't mean me

Guest: I want to get a cat. Would you rather have a cat or Stinker

Jamie Kelly: I would rather have a cat box than Stinker

Guest: what kind of music do you like to listen to?

Jamie Kelly: dance hits

Jamie Kelly: cuz my moves are righteous

Jamie Kelly: I’m busting one now

Guest: if you and Angeline turn into friends, do you think Isabella would be jealous?

Jamie Kelly: Isabella is jealous of everything, so yes

Jamie Kelly: but that's not going to happen

Jamie Kelly: you hear me, Angeline?

Guest: I have better hair than Angeline

Jamie Kelly: yeah right

Guest: Do you want to be friends Jamie? If it helps I think your a 15 on a coolness chart. That’s over the top!

Jamie Kelly: sounds a little needy, but ok

Guest: what’s worse, have no hair, or go head first in water

Jamie Kelly: have no hair, I guess

Guest: Does Isabella still use the cafeteria meat loaf for lip balm?

Jamie Kelly: no, she found a source for chocomint in Eastern Russia

Guest: Do you tell your diary EVERYTHING?

Jamie Kelly: yes

Jamie Kelly: it's not like anyone's ever going to read it

Guest: Is there anyone you would ever show your diary to?

Jamie Kelly: no

Guest: my hair color beautiful heavenly sunshine of goddess

Jamie Kelly: tell me where you got your dye

Guest: Did you dress up for Halloween this year? If so, what was your costume?

Jamie Kelly: I was a princess vampire

Guest: my hair is natural

Jamie Kelly: give it time

Guest: what if Hudson Rivers asks to read your diary?

Jamie Kelly: I'll stay up all night and make a fake one

Guest: the whole world has read your diary. Isabella photo copied it and made it a book

Jamie Kelly: get out!

Jamie Kelly: Isabella would never do something mean to me

Guest: What is your mom going to cook for Thanksgiving? What if it's bad? Do you still eat it?

Jamie Kelly: She'll probably make a lump w/ lump dressing and lumps on the side

Jamie Kelly: with lump gravy

Jamie Kelly: she'll make me eat it

Guest: yum

Guest: Who's an example of someone who is the lowest of the low on Isabella's Loser Scale?

Jamie Kelly: Tukwnif

Jamie Kelly: "that ugly kid who's name I forget"

Guest: How many piercings do you have?

Jamie Kelly: my mom won't let me get any piercings

Jamie Kelly: so I drew earrings on

Guest: have you ever been to France? lots of people wear berets there.

Jamie Kelly: I've seen London, I've seen France . . .

Guest: I'm dressing up as Angeline for Halloween

Jamie Kelly: that should be scary

Jamie Kelly: getting an early start on next year?

Guest: will you ever be on chat again

Jamie Kelly: sure

Jamie Kelly: but now I have to go

Jamie Kelly: Stinker cut one

Jamie Kelly: and I can't stay in the room

Jamie Kelly: MUST

Jamie Kelly: GET

Jamie Kelly: OUT