Chance encounters

I think I walked into The King's English bookstore for the first time during the mid-80's. I can still remember chatting with Betsy about books, basset hounds, and the Marmalade District where we both lived at the time. A few years later, shortly after CAL CAMERON was published, she asked me to work occasionally in the kids' room, and I have worked (off and on) (also occasionally) ever since.

Who knew what that would lead to.

What did it lead to, you ask? Friendship. Some of the people I love most in this world are there. I was reminded of that again last Friday when the staff threw me a little surprise party to celebrate the fact that SOPHIE'S FISH (due out March 15th) received a starred review from Kirkus.

Thank you, guys. Wearing the star necklace as we speak.

Re-launch for CHARLOTTE'S ROSE

Hey, guys, first thanks for your feedback about NaNoWriMo. I very much appreciate it. Not quite sure what I'm gonna do. I did remember that in the middle of the month, I will be blissfully visiting a new granddaughter in North Carolina, so that may influence my decision this year.

(MEMO TO JULIE AND DYLAN: hurry up and have that baby, okay?)

Meanwhile, I'd love to see you at the launch for CHARLOTTE'S ROSE if you're in the area--TKE (15h East and 15th South) on Saturday November 5 at 2:00.

Should be fun. The women at TKE know how to make a party happen!

Eleven

Sally at TKE loaned me an ARC called ELEVEN by English comedian Mark Watson. Early reviewers compare the book to novels by Nick Hornby, whom I adore. NICK HORNBY! I ADORE YOU! Anyhoo, I was waaaaaaaaay excited to read it--which is why I probably ended up liking ELEVEN as opposed to loving it. Sometimes it's hard for a book or a movie to live up to our desires for it.

Still, I appreciated the book's cleverness--Watson takes a handful of random characters and shows how they are connected in surprisingly profound ways even though they don't realize it. He also demonstrates how lives influence one another--how the human community is just one big giant organism. And the last scene? Truly moving.

It's snowing today. Gotta find myself another book. Would you mind posting suggestions? What's the last book you read that you really loved?

THE EVENT: a report

It was pretty much just awesome-ness all the way, kids! From the bomb-sniffing dog to the cute guys in uniforms to the stoic-faced secret service persons to the good-natured customers who stood in line and turned it into a party to the super efficient TKE employees to the fabulous and unflaggingly gracious Mr. Carter himself, the whole day just rocked.

I AM SO PROUD OF US. GO TEAM US!

In particular Jenny, Rachel and Anne should be proud of themselves. What super-cool organizing and arranging and possibly even secret ninja-like skills they all have! And let me give a shout out to Sally L. who was so impressive that an actual secret service person pulled Sally away from her post and asked her to shuffle people into the next room because she was just such an authoritative-do-not-mess-with-me presence. From here on out, Sally L. will only answer to the name THE OFFICIAL ENFORCER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Chihuahua Trailer

Hey! So cute Julie Olson made this trailer for our Chihuahua book! I'm looking forward to seeing her in the flesh Saturday at the TKE launch party at 5:00!

Enjoy! While I figure out more ways to use an exclamation point!