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Here are some (shocking!) photos from our (alarming!) King's English launch party for (earth shattering!) calamity jack. Intrigued...? I thought so.

Dean, Nate, and I talked about making the book. Blah, blah, blah. Why does my husband's shirt have a bloody hand print? Because it's his Intermural Zombie Hunting League team shirt. Obviously.

 
Nate's awesome presentation on the making of a graphic novel. The cutie kids sat on the floor. Where they could better put their hands in front of the projector. Obviously. Nate made a graphical homage to this moment on his blog.

 
More talking. Questions answered. Two super secret projects revealed. Does Nate look like he's keeping his distance? Almost as if...he doesn't trust us, for some reason? Weird.

Through Interpretive Movement, Dean and I explain the process of Collaboration.

With a big finish!

Look at these cutie kids! Rapunzel is decked out from head to foot. Awesome! And cowboy little brother was definitely smiling on the inside.

Two Rapunzels show the world how to whip evil! A shout out to Mindy Hale who knit this unbelievable wig for me at the Rapunzel launch. It appeared on the Today Show even, the most famous wig in America! I should have just worn this wig the entire time. My other hair looked awful. Just texted my hair dresser: emergency!

Ch

This week (and probably into next) I'm being interviewed on The Yellowbelly Show. Nathan Hale (no relation) does his fabulous weekday webcomics, and this week Yellowbelly has his own show. The cartoon version of me really is saying the lines I gave him. I have to say, it's not easy to respond to Yellowbelly's questions. The stutters and pauses are quite real. (And the "poo" line is a nod to Dean and my appearance on The Today Show.) Nate continues to astound. We got high res proffs of calamity jack this week and they are GORGEOUS! He is an artist to be reckoned with.

I have new events up on my events page. The tour dates and locations are missing times--more info to come. Two upcoming events I want to pimp: Writing for Charity, round 2! Those who went last year can attest, it was pretty cool. And we've learned stuff from last year's, so it should be smoother. Northern Utahns rejoice, it will be in Ogden this year at the Treehouse Museum. Come for a halfday writing workshop with some pretty amazing authors, and know your money all goes to the Treehouse Museum's awesome community outreach and literacy programs. Register here.

Also, I'll be at the Orem B&N on August 26, 7pm. Come throw breadcrumbs at me and laugh. Okay, I have to go to the airport now and pick up Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, Robin Wasserman, and Jo Knowles. Was there a reason to say that? No, just wanted you to think I'm cool.

...Coraline! Ah, well. We feel very loved that rapunzel's revenge was nominated at all. And it reinforces two very important life rules to live by: 1. Never get involved in a land war in Asia, and 2. Never go up for an Eisner against Neil Gaiman.

Comic-con was huge and loud and crowed and hot and cool and crazy and fun too. I'm sorry I wasn't clear--I see from the comments that people were looking for me there! The truth is, I'm nobody at Comic-con. At bookseller conventions like BEA or librarian conventions like ALA I might be asked to do signings, talk on panels, be represented in a booth. But at Comic-con, I'm tiny potatoes. I was just there as a participant like everyone else, then attending the Eisner Awards Friday night.

At the Eisner gala, some of the tables were labeled "Nominees," but ours said "Eisner Staff." It was also the farthest one from the stage. We took it as an ill omen--we were not going to win. And we didn't, but then others from our table did win, so our paranoia was completely inaccurate. It was such an honor to be there with so many great writers and artists and comics folks. Amazing.

Ran into Jennifer Holm and Brandon Mull, and got to hang with Nathan and Mindy Hale. We didn't plan very well, so I didn't get to any writer panels. Got to see Holly Black and Tony DiTerrlizzi, but missed their talks. But got to a few others:

Batman: The Brave and the Bold - our favorite cartoon on TV now. Awesome! And they showed an episode that'll be on next season. It was so funny, so great. Imagine watching it in a room with thousands of fervent fans who laughed and cheered and at the end gave a spontaneous standing ovation. Awesome. The director, producer, and some of the voice talent were there.

Dollhouse - Joss Whedon is one of my favorite living writers, and he's so funny and witty live. Eliza Dushku joined him, and they showed an amazing and totally different unaired episode of Dollhouse.

Cartoon Voice Talent - This was so fun. Six professional voice actors told anecdotes and did voices for us. Gave me an appreciation of that industry. I was laughing so hard at some of the stories. I wish I could retell them all. Chuck McCann is my new hero. Their stories reminded me that what it takes to succeed in any creative profession is a lot of perseverance, constantly working to improve your talent, willingness to make a fool of yourself and just go for it, and basic kindness and civility to others. Do what you love, people! Follow your passion! And be nice about it.

Quick draw - Several professional artists drew for us, their papers showing on big video screens. The host asked them questions like, "Draw what would be torture for you" or "Draw what you would be doing instead of hiking the Appalachian trail." They were so fast, clever, and talented. Loved this. Sergio Aragones is another new hero.

One-liners overheard at Comic-con:

"So, if anyone asks, I'm dressed as Rainbow Bright."

"What if you gave Darth Vader a basket of kittens and a basket of puppies? He wouldn't know what to do!"

"Star Trek fans and Star Wars fans can get along."

At the Batman panel, they introduced some of the voice talent. They said, "And now, Batman himself!" A regular guy came out on stage and everyone cheered, but a six-year-old girl behind us began to shout, "That's not Batman! That's not Batman!" She was so the girl that would have declared that the Emperor had no clothes.

Photos from the actor and the housewife release party at The King's English! My brother-in-law kindly took a bunch. Here's a random handful.

Three sexy ladies pose in their aprons next to Colin Firth, duly outfitted. Sexy lady on left gave me one of the aprons she made. It reads "Cullenary Expert" and has a black apple.

My cute mom and cute sister #3 (6-months prego). During the Q&A when someone asked me if I ever considered a second career as a stand-up comic, sister #3 shouted out, "Don't give her a big head." I assure you, my family will prevent that. Isn't that what families are for?

The illustrious Anne Holman from The King's English made me teary-eyed with her kind introduction. Love her. Love that store.

Look at the little cuties in their aprons! LOVE it.

Look how rapt and entertained they all look! I must be a fantastic speaker!

There's my cute hubbie. I'm glad we got a photo of his dalliance with chops. His razor broke when he was shaving, and we said, "Why not?" A couple weeks with chops can only improve the world.

Blah, blah, blah.

Some more apron-wearers in the back. I'm sad we didn't get a photo of all the apron contest winners. Some stayed up all night making an apron especially for the event, and they were darling.

Yay, karaoke ladies!

At the signing, with a cutie Rapunzel fan. Look at that smile. (hers, not mine)

These ladies are feeling the music. You go, girls. The sisters on the right drove up from Arizona. They were also volunteers at the Book Babe event. Awesome aprons.

The audience bears witness to the soulful karaoke performance.

These girls sport stylish aprons all their own.

Thanks to the King's English and everyone who made the event so fun. I had a blast and am so honored to have such kind, loving, intelligent, sporting fans. You guys rock!

I just peeked at Libba Bray's blog and saw a video link she posted that is so fabulous and is giving me wonderful flashbacks to our tour together. If you have 5 minutes to waste...and especially if you are a child of the 80s...it's worth checking out. (rated PG) Hysterical. I love you, Libba Bray! With a passionate love that will only end in ruin. And perhaps brownies.

To answer a couple of questions from the last blog post: This Saturday at the King's English (or really, at any book signing), will I sign books that people bring in?

The answer, for me, is always yes. I will sign any books you bring. But if you bring books from home to a signing at a book store, it's good manners to buy at least one book from the store. They're hosting the event, putting money into it, and their only take from it is book sales. It doesn't have to be one of my books, but I do ask that if you bring outside books, you support the book store by making a purchase. No one's going to check up on you, but I highly encourage it. Books don't have a high profit margin. A book store has to sell a lot of books to stay in business, and we NEED them to stay in business.

Another question: does this event have a theme? YES! Aprons and pies. You heard right. Wear an apron in solidarity to housewives everywhere and come eat pie. I'll give a book to the awesome person who dons the most fabulous apron. The King's English in Salt Lake City, Utah, 5 pm on June 13.

And now for news that's so exciting to me but probably won't really matter to anyone else (except my mom...hi Mom!)...the actor and the housewife is an Indie Next Pick for July! Indie Bound (formerly BookSense) is basically the United Federation of Independent Booksellers in the US (and Canada? I'm not sure about that...) Each month the booksellers select stand out titles to recommend to customers. This is a huge hug for the book and I'm so thrilled.

I can't believe the wait is almost up! Next Saturday, June 13, at 5 pm, is the release party for the actor and the housewife! The King's English, of course, is hosting here in Salt Lake City, Utah. There will be karaoke and pie. And books. What more could anyone desire? I'll speak at 5 and stay until all books are signed. I'm starting to get reports that the books are out there in some places, though the official release is next Tuesday. Here's a piece of dialog from early in the book my mom just read aloud to me (she's rereading the book now):

    “Hmm. So.” He paused. “My wife Celeste and I are taking a skiing holiday out your way, spending the third weekend in February in Park City. We thought we might…” he cleared his throat, “we might meet up with you. And your husband. For dinner.”
    Becky didn’t say anything for some time.
    “I think you’re still there,” he said. “I think you’re shocked.”
    “Sort of. Sort of still here. Sort of shocked.”
    “Dinner is always a shocking proposition.”
    “That’s the truth. Lunch, supper, after school snack--all respectable and appropriate sessions of nutritional intake--”
    “Whilst dinner is practically neanderthal.”
    “I couldn’t agree more.”

Yesterday in the mail someone sent me a copy of a new book of Jane Austen quotes, Remarkably Jane, edited by Jennifer Adams. I was expecting a book of her quotes, which is always fun, but this was quotes about her by other writers and notables. First let me say that the book is gorgeous. Small, compact, in black and green, with leafy prints on each page. The beauty got me to open it up and then I kept reading. It's sort of marvelous to see a couple centuries of thinkers try to reason out why we love Jane Austen and how she does what she does. I kept coming across quotes that I wanted to quote on the blog, finally deciding just to recommend it here so you can see it all. Most surprising and interesting to me was the section at the end filled with quotes from her critics. Yes, even Austen had haters. I found it so encouraging just now! Truly. And imagine my surprise to come across my own self quoted there. Don't I feel all scholarly and important? (I'm in my pajamas, my son snuggled up next to me, leaning on my typing arm, my little girl has just started to call to me from her crib, and today I'm in charge of a church activity for 220 kids, so fortunately I have a few things to keep me from letting it go to my head.)

 It's clearly designed as a gift book, but buy it and read it first before passing it along.

Also, I've had some inquiries about our rapunzel's revenge book trailer contest. We decided to postpone the deadline to coincide with the release of the sequel, calamity jack, in January '10. So there's plenty of time! More on that later, but I promise to make the box o' books prize mouthwatering.

Also, also, Catching Fire is just as captivating and un-put-downable as The Hunger Games.

Prepare yourselves for long post, many photos, little sense.

My awesome helper Debbie. The event had over 70 volunteers helping behind the scenes. Debbie was assigned to me. I gave her my camera and she saved the day, snapping some awesome photos. Thanks to Debbie and her cute sister Connie!

 
We had a lot of signing to do. Each of us signed about 150 books for giveaways and 1000 posters. (Stephenie signed 600 books). Here are Janette Rallison, James Owen, and Dean Lorey hard at work. Huge thanks to Bloomsbury and Walker who donated all of Janette's and my books for the event! BLOOMSBURY ROCKS!

 
I emceed with J.S. Lewis. We managed to keep each other laughing, which felt good.

 
Back stage, the goddess Megan and I help Dean Lorey into Stephenie's Eclipse prom dress...

 
...so he could model it on stage for the audience. PJ Haarsma is his handsome escort. Can I tell you how seriously awesome these guys are? Everyone was awesome. I'd say, "Hey guys, how about we do ___" and they'd say, "Sure, why not?" I was in heaven.

 
Here I read a poem written for the event by Laura Middleton, limericist extraordinaire. She made references to all the attending authors in there.

Twelve authors, reclusively hiding,
Were quietly doing their writing,
But when cancer messed
With their Book Babe's breast,
They emerged from their caves to go fighting.

They unsheathe their pens for this battle,
And cages of monsters they rattle.
So, cancer beware,
You haven't a prayer
Against Janette's cheerleader's prattle.

The robot dog's up for a scuffle,
The playing card soldiers, a shuffle.
Even Morgan LaFey
Gets into the fray.
And what could survive this kerfuffle?

Oh, cancer, the West Wind is blowing.
The dragons and gorgons are lowing.
You cannot unhinge
Rapunzel's revenge,
And that rascal Edward is glowing.

The cancer has got to be shrinking
In fear that a Softwire is linking.
Mull and his ilk
Sip magical milk,
And guess what the vampire's drinking.

Then after this awesome poem, Brandon Mull added:

Roses are red
Violets are blue
Cancer sucks

 
Backstage, we found ourselves huddled in a perfect circle, circle, so why not do an Eight is Enough shot? Clockwise from the pink: Laini Taylor, Brandon Mull, Chris Gall, Janette Rallison, Stephenie Meyer, Shannon Hale, Dean Lorey, PJ Haarsma, & Jon Lewis. Hey, we make nostrils look good!

 
After hearing Adam Kump's wonderful set, Jon and I felt inspired to serenade Faith, aka the Book Babe. We chose Islands in the Stream. It wasn't going well, so we called in backup...

 
James Owen on lead, we did Aretha Franklin's "Baby I Love You," with Laini, Janette, and Brandon joining Jon and I on back up. Let me preface by saying, we had never rehearsed all together, the backup dancers had never heard that version of the music before, and we couldn't hear the music for most of the dance. It rocked.

 
Can you shimmy? Oh baby.

 
Hey, who's back there dancing across the stage?

 
James Owen, first runner-up in Finland's 2008 Aretha Franklin look-alike contest.

 
Jon totally gave his all with the low dip followed by slow up slide. Look at the concentration on his face. A true professional.

 
Here Brandon thinks we've reached the end and our "free dance" portion too early. He was going wild then after a moment said, "Isn't this the free dance?" We shook our heads. It was awesome.

 
NOW is the free dance. For Bailey, Jon Lewis's little girl, I go down into my Joan Jett.

 
I scraped up my knees. All for you, Faith!

 
Check out my dance mates! They trip the light fantastic, baby. Hats off to Brandon, Janette, and Jon, and especially Laini who was shaking it up five months pregnant.

These are the beautiful posters we signed for many of the attendees. Frank Beddor didn't make it from California as his kids were very sick, but Dean Lorey, not pictured, came.

 
After the Adam Watts Band and their amazing set, I introduced the authors. Apparently they all called each other and said, "What are you wearing? Jeans and a dark shirt? Okay, I will too." Here I believe Brandon and Jon are doing a chest butt? Probably?

 
I'd introduced everyone and we were moving on, getting ready to start the authors' panel, when Jon said, "Haven't you forgotten someone?" I looked at my list--no, I was sure I'd announced everyone. He pointed at the empty spot at the table and the name STEPHENIE MEYER. Oh. Whoops. Yeah...so, I'd forgotten Stephenie, who was waiting patiently in the wings to hear her name. I could not stop laughing, as you can see. She had to wait a while longer.

 
Chris, PJ, me, Jon, and the top of Dean's head.

 
And the rest of the panel, as named. I think this may have been my favorite authors' panel I've ever done. We all agreed beforehand, "No long rambling stories, keep it quick and light and fun." And we sincerely had fun. No obnoxious self-promoters here. Every single author was a sincerely nice, generous person. We laughed a lot. What fun.

 
Jim Blasingame, YA lit titan, was our wonderful moderator. Behind him, you can see one of our lovely interpreters for the deaf.

And on to the raffle. All the authors had donated at least two signed items. Lots of books, some prints. Dean Lorey blew me away by raffling Nightmare Academy 3 manuscripts, an early draft and a final draft. The book isn't published yet. Talk about a sneak peek! At one point (I can't remember why) I mentioned how difficult it was for Stephenie to have to go to the New Moon set and observe the wolf pack, who occasionally do push-ups before going on camera.

 
Without hesitation, Jon dropped and gave us 20. Or two. Who's counting?

 
Stephenie gives him the thumb's up. Surely Jon will be considered for the understudy for Taylor Lautner.

 
I'm holding an early manuscript of Eclipse, one of the items auctioned. I had a pin-on mic, so Stephenie was talking to my collar bone.

 
I breathe on the Host skateboard deck to increase its value. Jon's looking around, trying to figure out what was going. The audience had started to laugh hysterically and with some alarm. We finally found out that Adam Kump and his bandmate were helping to throw Hoto Skate t-shirts into the audience, and one had pelted a baby in the head. I guess you had to be there.

 
Jon was the auctioneer, and he was so overwhelmed by the generosity of the winners, he just had to give them hugs. The auction blew us away. Here was the going price for the fantastic items Stephenie donated:

Twilight ARC - $1500 (I think)
The Host skateboard deck - $1200 (I think)
I can't remember how much the marked early ms of The Host and Eclispe went for
Forever Dawn epilogue - $5100
Eclipse prom dress - $5500
Lunch with Stephenie (not at Taco Time) - $6500 (two winners)

 
At the end, we wanted to leave the audience with a story, so we improvised one, each of the authors taking one sentence (most definitely unrehearsed, if there was any doubt). The audience gave us the title "Stephenie's Dress" and the genre "horror." Let's just say that story will never be published, but we made ourselves laugh anyway. Here Brandon finishes it off with aplomb.

 
We are somewhat aghast at the direction of the story. I just love this woman.

 
Group photo! All the authors gather around the person that brought us together--the book babe, Faith Hochhalter. Here we are instructed to look right.

 
Look left.

 
Look straight. We're good at following directions apparently...except Laini. Look at her in each photo. This is a woman with her own agenda. Beware the seemingly sweet pink-haired one! Beware!

 
I gave Faith a rare Shannon Hale lipstick kiss. We should have auctioned that!

 
Laini poses with Janette's book My Fair Godmother, as she and the cover model both sport rosy locks. Laini really is a darling, kind, sweet, wonderful person. I was kidding about the caution earlier. (No, really...BEWARE!)

Thank you a TON to everyone who pulled off this feat! As emcee, I was up in front and it might have looked like I was leading the pack, but that was not the case. I was honored to be included, and there were dozens of people off-stage contributing tons of time and talent. And it paid off. We raised a significant sum of money for our friend. The online auction is in full force. New items are put up every few days. I have four items that will make an appearance, so keep watch. Thanks all!

Guess what? There are still tickets available to the Book Babe Event in Mesa, Arizona on April 4. When the platinum level seats sold out the first hour, it appears many people thought the whole event was sold out. But fear not! There are tickets still available. This is going to be three hours of music, comedy, and art, including an author panel with eleven really cool authors (including very cool yours truly). We have a ton of amazing prizes to raffle (books, art, memorabilia), and Stephenie Meyer is going to auction some jaw-dropping stuff at the event only. All the proceeds go to help our friend and all around book babe, Faith Hochhalter, in her fight with cancer. Everybody who attends the event will walk away with, at the very least, a signed book from someone on the author panel. Some of you will walk away with much more.

There will also be an online auction separate from the event, which will open any day. I've added an item that I will be auctioning: an ARC of forest born. Yes, I now have more than one copy in my hot little hands and I intend to use them well. So in celebration I'm going to give away TWO copies to my blog readers. You heard right! What do you have to do to enter? Just post a comment on this blog post. In four days, again I'll have Dean randomly give me two numbers, and those commenters will win the book, which of course I'll sign to you. No age limit for participants, but if you're a minor, I will need to get your mailing address from your parent/guardian.

To give you something to talk about, I'll reveal for the first time the cover for forest born. (In the US anyway, I haven't seen the UK cover yet.) There will be no Alison Jay cover. I am very sorry about that. I know that many of you collect the books in hardcover and this one won't match. Fingers crossed that you still like this cover for what it is. Ta-da!

Registration for the Project Book Babe event on April 4 in Phoenix will open today at 9 am. A few more details:

• Many of you have asked if you could donate even if you can't attend. There is a donate button on the site.
• The auction will be online! And there's going to be some amazing stuff. Some is listed, but much more to come. I've got an ARC of the actor and the housewife, among other things. Stephenie has some uber-cool stuff, including her dress from the Eclipse prom that I so want.
• You've been kind to praise me for being involved in this, but I want to clarify that I was invited to come and can't claim credit. Several of the other authors hatched the plan and have been working  hard to carry it out. I know J.S. Lewis has done loads.
• Given the size of the event, this is not a signing event. Everyone who attends will walk away with at least one signed book, but we won't be able to sign books brought in. Only those buying the Platinum tickets will attend a reception after with the authors and get personalized books.
• I was asked to emcee the event. Which means I've begun to hatch plans...(oh, those poor, poor authors)

Hope to see some of you there!

On April 4, I'm taking part in a really miraculous event. Faith Hochhalter, former book buyer for Changing Hands books and all around book babe, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. A flurry of authors surrounded her and declared war in her favor. I'm honored to be a part of Save the Book Babe project, a fundraiser to earn money for Faith so she can sit back and fight that nasty cancer in peace. You think you can intimidate our friend? HA! You ain't seen nothing yet!

See the Book Babe website for details. The event will be in Phoenix. Tickets and auction items are not yet up, but I imagine they will be any day, and I wanted to give my Arizona readers a head start, because these tickets will go quickly. Like within hours, I imagine. So keep an eye out, and I'll post when I know more.

And in other updates: Today Nathan Hale completed the 144 full color pages for the rapunzel's revenge sequel, calamity jack. Go Nate! Go go go! You rock, baby. You hear me? You ROCK!

Also today, I got the first ARC for forest born. (squee!) I'll see some of you at UVU on Thursday. At my keynote I'll be giving out prizes. (no, not the ARC. Sorry, I only have one. For now...)

Dean, Nate and I will be at All Tucked In, in Bountiful, Utah this Saturday at 11 am for a Rapunzel's Revenge event. Wigs will be worn.

I got some photos from our event at The Purple Cow in Tooele.

Dean and I talking about collaboration and being on the Today show.

Sew Sweet quilting shop did a Goose Girl-inspired design for this quilt. I'm wearing a Tooele High sweatshirt, class of '39, which belonged to Dean's grandma, Lorraine Stonebreaker. First female student body VP!

The Teague girls made us homemade cookies. Dolls!

The Wadsworth family came in from Nevada.

The Purple Cow had a poster made just for the event--their signature spokescow in Rapunzel attire. How cool is that?

As we sign books.

Look at these great photo of a group of girls reading after getting their books. This is what it's all about!

I hate to interrupt the flow of these conversations, but I wanted to mention that Dean and I are leaving tomorrow for New York and we'll be on NBC's Today on Friday morning. I'm told it will be around 9:30 am for both eastern and mountain time. (This appearance is for rapunzel's revenge, our new graphic novel for young readers.) All I hear about Al Roker is that he's a completely wonderful and genuine person. Fingers crossed that Al will be willing to wear the fabulous Rapunzel braids wig that Mindy Hale made. What a photo op.

We'll be at The Purple Cow bookstore in Tooele, Utah on Saturday, and after we get back, I'll continue with part 4 (and 5?). You're all being so indulgent of me. It's been nice to get down in writing things I've been thinking about for the last few years and to hear your thoughts.

And in celebration of our newest baby, I leave you with a rapunzel's revenge-inspired limerick by Laura Middleton.

A Plea from Rapunzel

Oh, my! To be tied I am fitted.
That witch should be gagged and committed.
I plead with each Hale,
Write me out of this tale;
That pretty-faced prince is dim-witted.

I know what you're thinking--"I like going to book events, I enjoy a quality local signing, but there generally just aren't enough carnival games or live music."

Well, mourn no longer, my toe-tapping friend! The rapunzel's revenge launch on August 23 will be a party like no other--games for the kids, live bluegrass band, and yes, a book signing to boot (cowboy boot, that is).

Still not enough to intrigue you? Add to that Dean, Shannon, and Nate Hale will be speaking about collaboration, wicked-cool cowgirls, and why Rapunzel is the most irritating fairy tale of all time, performing a brief but hugely entertaining readers theater from the book, and then staying as long as it takes to sign your goods. Still not enough? Well, how's about we throw in six additional award-winning and critically acclaimed young adult authors who will also sign their books as well as cool, collectible autograph keepers for the kids, turning it all into a bona-fide Authorpalooza? Keep your fingers crossed, and said authors might show up dressed awkwardly in cowboy attire solely for your amusement.

Let me sum up:

• games
• live bluegrass band concert by The Stormy Mountain Boys
• authorpalooza mass signing
• Hale (3) talk and answer your most burning questions
• signed copies of the hottest graphic novel of the year
• fabulous prizes
• admission and entertainment FREE FREE FREE!

Still not enough? You are one tough customer. But I think I have something that will tip this over the edge: Dean will be awarding one lucky winner a free piggy-back ride. Yes, you heard right.

See you on the 23rd.

Details:

1 pm at Anderson-Foothill Branch Library, 1135 South 2100 East, Salt Lake City, Utah

Most activities will be indoors, but the band will be outside. If you want to sit and listen, don't forget your sun hat, sunscreen, beach umbrella, or whatever you like to stay cool, though perhaps toting along a portable swimming pool might be a tad awkward.

Authorpalooza authors include: Ann Cannon (The Loser's Guide to Life and Love), James Dashner (The 13th Reality), Jessica Day George (Dragon Flight), Mette Ivie Harrison (The Princess and the Hound), Kimberly Heuston (The Book of Jude), and Sara Zarr (Sweethearts).

For the first time in forever, I sat down and wrote something today. It's 400 words of . . . well, I'm not sure what. Maybe a picture book. It was nice to be creating something, to write something that wasn't comments on someone else's work. I like editing, but some days it gets depressing to read other people's ingenious writing and then have your cleverest thought of the day be, "does this sentence really need that adverb?" That's what it felt like yesterday when I spent 5, yes 5, hours plugging in copyedit changes into a layout. It took so long because it was a 300 page novel that had been reformatted so that the hardcopy that had been CEed didn't match the electronic copy I was trying to fix. I had to visually locate every sentence that needed changing. And there was one on nearly every page.

But writing today helped bring back my creative equilibrium. Still, even as I was typing away, I couldn't help but wonder to myself, what are you writing? I have that thesis I need to finish. I'm supposed to write a second Fergus picture book. I'm trying to develop a rhyming picture book about llamas for Regan. And instead I spend 45 minutes creating this quiet little 400 word picture book thing about a girl's search for the definition of a word and whether or not she wants to accept this word as a definition of herself. And I don't know what to do with it now. I couldn't even think of a title. If it were someone else, I would reccommend they take it to their critique group and then consider submitting to appropriate houses and/or agents. Perhaps someday I'll take my own advice.