My Birthday!

I'm officially old.
I'm old enough that people sent me gag gifts to underline how old I am.
I'm old enough that I'm not going to mention my actual age.
I'm old.

BUT--I did get the coolest birthday presents! Meet Ophelia and King Lear, my two new peafowl--obviously white ones (there are lots of types, click on the "white" link for more info).


Current Pet Total:
Dogs: 4
Cats: 7
Guineas: 6
Peafowl: 6
Chickens: 37

Current Works In Progress
L.O.S.T. III: Witch Circle (NOT my turn to write a chapter--ha!)
Wizards of the Gate: Blademage
Horse (title will definintely change, this one's new)
Firesinger
and some romance stuff...

Current Houseguest:
None

Upcoming Trip: Missouri, in April 2006!

Person Who Hasn't Written Me Back Yet: Libby

Person I Haven't Written Back Yet: Bonnie V. and my editor (I need to email her some stuff)

New York Trip III

Today, I didn't have any meetings, so I slept late, did my morning Yoga, and headed out for another total New York day.

First, I went down to Ground Zero, where reconstruction continues. I was amazed by the huge area, and the memorials, and the number of other people visiting, speaking all different languages. All respectful. All awed, like me.

After that, I ate lunch in the Crystal Room at Tavern on the Green, which was wonderful and relaxing, except for the big gorilla made out of leaves about to bang on the glass windows. No, really. Here's a picture.

See the monkey dude? Looks like he's going to bash right through. You can't really see it, but there's a seal playing with a ball further off to the right. All in all, strange lunch companions...but fun!





Then I had to do a totally New York thing--a ride through Central Park in a horse and carriage. Here's the horse, of course. His name is Calypso, and I thought he was just beautiful. The driver was kind, and told me lots of history about buildings and sites we passed.

After Calypso and I parted company, I went back to Times Square, to 42nd Street, the Loew's Theater, where I saw History of Violence on the third floor. I've never been to a movie theater with more than one story! I'm such a country girl. Anyway, I give the theater an A+, and the movie a solid B. Viggo always brings a presence to a film, for sure.

Now, I'm sitting in LaGuardia at American Gate C-8, waiting for my flight home, which is of course delayed. I have very bad luck flying. I'm going to stop writing now and listen to the last of Eldest.

New York Trip II

I met with my editor and lots of wonderful people at Bloomsbury! I'm through chewing my nails now. Very, very nice folks. And seeing an actual publisher was a real experience. Boy are they ever busy. Manuscripts and books everywhere, and cover art, and books. Lots of books. Did I mention books? I'm really looking forward to seeing the cover for my next book, Trigger. I'm also hoping I can get pictures of my previous covers in-progress, so I can show all of you would-be artists a little bit about that process. My editor Victoria Wells-Arms also promised to email me a rejected cover for Trigger soon, maybe after we get the real one.

After I ate lunch with Victoria and my agent Erin Murphy, I went to Broadway! To the Minskoff Theater, where I saw a matinee of Fiddler on the Roof with Harvey Fierstein and Rosie O'Donnell (who has a great blog, you should check it out). I enjoyed that a LOT. That's where I took this picture, of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company and Times Square, out of the Minskoff Theater third floor window, during intermission.

Later that night, we ate at the Algonquin to soak up a little literary history, and went to an evening show of Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang at the Hilton Theater. Then my friend just had to have a cookie--and not just any cookie, but a cookie that called to her. So we went wandering around the Upper East Side in the middle of the night until we found an all-night bakery, and she got her special cookie thank God. I got a Napolean and some cheese cake, and we went back to our wonderful bed and breakfast, 1871 House (we stayed in the Parlor Room). After pigging out on sweets, we collapsed.

More tomorrow, about Susan's Great New York Adventure!

New York Trip

I don't have internet access during my trip to New York, so I'm going to write these and store 'em up and post 'em all at once when I get home.

Anyway, I'm in New York! And I'm writing in a coffee shop full of mirrors, after spending fifteen minutes trying to figure out what kind of coffee I wanted to order. I think I ended up with something called a cafrelatte, if that's even a word. Sounds like what she said. I wanted a mocha latte, but my southern accent vs. her NOT southern accent, we ended up with cafrelatte. Okay, fine. It tastes good. I just got through meeting with Susan Raab, a very nice lady and wonderful publicist, from what I see. We had breakfast at a very New York place, where I got an omlette with cheese and lots of spinach. Now the cafrelatte. My stomach may never be the same. In a few hours, I meet with my editor at Bloomsbury!

After that, I'm hoping to see a Broadway show and do some sightseeing. And of course, more blogging. With photos soon, too.

Touching Death's Elbow

Always a tricky proposition, but my son is a stalwart warrior. This picture, now this is blackmail fodder. I shall save it always and one day show his children. Don't your parents have blackmail photos on you? I have an even worse pic of my son, a school pic, but he'd slaughter me if I posted it. I made him pay money for us not to buy it and send it to all of his relatives. I am evil.

Elaine, however, is NOT evil. Elaine is a cool reader I met at the Southern Festival of Books. She wrote me to tell me she enjoyed Stormwitch. A big thank you to Elaine.

Today I *finally* wrote another chapter of Witch Circle and got it off to Bren. I mean Debbie. She hates me because of where I stranded her. Bwahahahahaaa.....

I need to write back Missy from the CW list (not my cousin Missy, two different people) and "Lou" from Fat Tuesday.

And my pet total may change very soon...it's almost my birthday!

Death's Elbow

Yeah, so, if anybody sees my cousin Missy who lives in Meridian, Mississippi, or my cousin Camille who lives in Oxford, Mississippi, tell them Death's getting lonely. They haven't left any comments. Sooner or later, Death will get offended. It's not a good thing to offend Death.

Anyway, my friend and writing partner Debbie Federici and I just finished working our booth at the Southern Festival of Books. What a great event! We met lots of people, and I bought way, way too many books. Way too many.

I met lots of cool readers, too. If some of them will write me and tell me their names, I'll put their names in my blog. If they send their photos, I'll put those up, too! That way, the world will be put on warning--these kids will probably shake up the social order and change the world as they get older. Really. They will.

Right now, I'm so tired I'm forgetting how to spell everything, so I should go to bed.

Current Pet Total: Unchanged (thank God)
Current Work In Progress (well, the one I'm working on most): L.O.S.T. III: Witch Circle--and it's MY turn to write a chapter. Sigh.
Current Houseguest: Debbie Federici, best writing partner in the whole world, except she gets up too danged early. She likes sauerkraut a lot. How weird is that? But then, I like it, too, so...
Upcoming Trip: New York! Next Week! Time to collect more editorial and agently skulls to add to my collection. Bwahahahaahahaaaa!
Person Who Hasn't Written Me Back Yet: Well, two of them. Missy and Bonnie V. Fingers on the keyboard, ladies.
Person I Haven't Written Back Yet: Libby. AKA Lou. AKA Libby-Lou. AKA lots of other stuff I'm probably forgetting. Soon, I promise!

Secrets Revealed

So, my secrets have been revealed (see comments on Chance, By God! Chance!, September 29). I live in a lair. I have metal-toothed henchemen who eat a lot. Trap doors, dungeons, cellars, torture chambers, morbid decorations--well, you get the idea.

And this...this is perhaps my masterpiece.

Another secret revealed.

Now you'll know why editors seem to change houses fast and vanish suddenly. It's my fault. This is what I've done with all the editors who have dared to reject me.

(Please note: No actual editors were harmed in the making of this photo.)