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Chill time

The good news is I got in a couple of hours of writing this morning.

The bad news is I hardly accomplished anything else I had planned because I spent three hours chiseling the ice of my dad’s driveway.

Some days you just gotta go with the flow. Or the ice floe.

In keeping with today’s zen attitude, here is some film I shot a few weeks ago. This is the southeastern edge of Lake Ontario, as both a storm was moving in and the sun was setting. Shot from inside my car because the wind was blowing so hard I could barely stand up.

Enjoy.

 

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Pigs DO Fly!

A lot of people have written to me in the last few months, asking what a typical book tour day is like.

Elizabeth Bluemle of Flying Pig Bookstore did a write-up of the day I spent in the Burlington, VT area. It gives you a pretty good picture of the day: three school visits, a late-afternoon public presentation, then a long car ride to Boston because my plane was canceled. It was a long and intense day, but I loved it, especially hanging out with the students.

There are many readers’ faces that I am going to remember for a long time after this tour. Like Clark Weathers, who showed me the comic book he was drawing  in his spiral notebook. I met him before I talked to the kids in his Austin, TX middle school. After my presentation, I made sure that Clark and his librarian had a chance to chat. She introduced him to a new term “graphic novel” and told him that the library had a lot of them. You should have see the excitement on his face!

Clark made this for me. Be sure you read the second sentence.

In other news, the sun was spotted in the Forest this afternoon for the first time since Saturday. In the extended forecast, they are calling for snow in the next 9 out of 10 days. I have a funny feeling I will soon be seized by an uncontrollable urge to bake gingerbread cookies.

And we’re getting our Christmas trees this weekend. I am taking bets on how long it takes the new dog, Thor, (AKA The Totally Insane Chimera Dog) to eat a few branches and then puke green.

PS – Looking for holiday shopping book suggestions?? Check out the Flying Pig’s newsletter!!

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Best Intentions

Remember when I used to blog? A lot? Well. I got out of the blogging habit during the FORGE booktour! ARGH! I’m sorry! I miss you guys!

So I am trying to get back into the habit.

Right now.

I think one of the things that has been holding me back (other than catching up on my sleep) is that I felt as if I had to write a gigunda blog post in which I would mention absolutely EVERYTHING that happened in the tour. And the mere thought of composing such a long post made me need another nap all over again.

So.

I’m going to sneak the highlights of the tour in gradually, if its OK with you. Like this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This mural graces the hall of one of the KIPP Academy schools I visited in Washington, DC courtesy of the completely amazing people at RIF.

(BTW – you’ve been looking for a reason to bug your Congressfolk, right? Some confused people running the country don’t want to continue to fund RIF, thereby depriving 4.4 million children of books!! YOU CAN HELP RIGHT NOW!)

I’m also going to get back to the regular blogging flow of life in the country, my writing process, my dogs, and whatever else strikes my fancy. So…

1. It has been snowing here since Saturday. This is a Good Thing because

2. I’m working on a new book, but I can’t tell you about it yet because I am superstitious and

3. The dogs say “Hi! Hi! Got a ball! I have a ball! In my mouth. It is big and red and slimy!! I want to put this ball in your hand. NO! I want to rub this ball in your hair so you’ll smell just like me!! Wait! Where you going?”

4. Tonight my heart is with the children of Elizabeth Edwards. They have been through more than their share of sadness.

And here endeth this post. As far as returns go, it’s a little uneven, but as with all writing, it will improve with some daily practice.

See you tomorrow.

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Feasting

I’m alive. I’m happy. I’m blessed.

And I have a LOT of catching up to do!

Look for news and stories next week. Until then, keep eating pie.

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In the Home Stretch…

Most of you know that Laurie is very into running; her enthusiasm for the sport even rubbed off on me and my sons when we ran in Paige’s Butterfly Run with her and Scot. (I was last out of the group, but I finished!)  Laurie and Scot will be running in the Philadelphia Half Marathon next weekend; and while thinking about this post and that run, I imagine that at this stage in the book tour Laurie would be in the home stretch to the finish line in a half marathon.  I also know from just running a 5K that the last mile, or home stretch, is the most surreal experience.  You are beyond tired, almost giddy; yet you are so pumped that you have come this far. And then… it’s over.

Laurie has a few more public events and lots of school visits in the last few miles of this marathon book tour.  Come on out and cheer her on!

Thank you to all the booksellers, teachers, librarians, author nannies, parents, and readers (and the behind the scenes peeps – Deb, Anna and Paul) who have made this book tour such a success.  You have carried Laurie through this marathon with your heartfelt stories and praise.  I can’t wait to meet her at the finish line!