Mary-Kate and Ashley attended the Book Expo America to advertise their book Influence, available from October. You can see the cover behind them, it looks gorgeous! Can’t wait for the pictures (I’m also studying for my exam, and writing my thesis, so I’m not at home and that’s why updates are far and between)

Olsens use their ‘Influence’

Young stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen mingled with 70 booksellers at a party in West Hollywood to promote their glossy October book, Influence. The bash wasn’t open to reporters, but Mary-Kate got on the phone later to talk about the project and why the twins wanted the word out early. “It was the first party to launch the book, and we just wanted booksellers to know that we’re really excited about it,” says Olsen, 21. “We worked so hard on it.”

In the photo-heavy Influence (Razorbill, $35), Mary-Kate and Ashley together and separately interview 22 actors, designers and photographers they consider influential, including Karl Lagerfeld, Lauren Hutton, Diane von Furstenberg and Margherita Missoni. There will be two jackets, with a different Olsen on each front cover and the other on the back.

“We wanted it to be an inspiring book about people who are successful,” Olsen says. “Sometimes we all get lost in the process of our lives, and it’s inspiring to hear others’ stories and to know there will be ups and downs and to hear how they got through it.”

Does Mary-Kate, who describes herself as a perfectionist, think she is an influential fashion icon? “You would have to ask someone else that,” she demurred.

— J.M.

Source: USA Today

There’s also another article about Influence available here.