Kristin Cashore's Blog, page 44

Okay, maybe I have time for one political post

Links for a Sunday

As we move nervously toward election Tuesday, I've got no juice for the post I would like to write.  Chances are, a lot of you have no juice to read it, so maybe it's for the best.

Here's what I do have: a beautiful photo of the recent Hunter's Moon rising above the Alps.

And, ala author Cindy Pon (thanks, Cindy!), this article: "Skeleton of hero World War II carrier pigeon found in chimney with a secret message still attached to its leg (and now Bletchley Park are trying to crack the code)." 

Also, I'm very grateful that Bitterblue is a Publisher's Weekly Best Book of 2012 -- along with esteemed company.  Thank you, PW!

Randutiae Whilst Transcribing. Or Whilst Not Transcribing. GROUCHY RANDUTIAE TO AVOID TRANSCRIBING

I seem unable to stop listening to Led Zeppelin's "The Battle of Evermore." I think the mandolin has ensorcelled me. Send help.

******

The Cambridge Public Library recently changed their lending policies. Instead of a three-week lending period with the possibility of three renewals (12 weeks total), now they've got a four-week lending period with the possibility of two renewals (also 12 weeks total). It's a disaster. I never know when anything is due, I never turn anything in on time, and I never read anything. It turns out that apparently I need more, and more frequent, reminders that my time is nearly up in order to read. Today I'm returning nine library books. I've only read two, all of them are late, and I owe almost $10. So much for my spotless library record. Thank goodness codename: Cordelia doesn't read my blog; otherwise, I'd never hear the end of it.

******

You may have heard by now about the proposed merger of Random House and Penguin. I have lots of thoughts and questions about it. The only thing I'm up for blogging today, however, is my disappointment in the name they're choosing for the new company: Penguin Random House.  Seriously? When, as David and Margo suggested, they could have called it Random Penguin? Or, as Deborah suggested, Penguin House, or even Random Penguin House?  Or, as Aaron suggested, House of the Random Penguin?  (My favorite, even though I've had "House of the Rising Sun" in my head ever since he suggested it.  Maybe that's why I'm listening to so much Led Zeppelin: to clean out my head.  It's not working.)

******

I am home.

Austin Ceilings and Floors

As a writer, I'm a trained expert at anticipating what readers desire. This is how I know you've all been anxiously waiting for me to post pictures from the dome in the Texas Capitol building rotunda.



 
 
Also, the ceilings at the Driskill Hotel.    

Notes from Austin

I'm highly suspicious of the JetBlue flight status page that tells me I'm going to be flying to Boston tomorrow evening.

In the meantime, some notes from Austin.

I was intrigued by this enormous and peculiar magnifying glass in the author reception area of the Texas Capitol building.



So I took an experimental picture of Jasper Fforde through it.



Perhaps I'll never, ever post a picture on my blog of an author you can actually see.

Okay, fine.



Here's me, author Cinda Williams Chima, children's editor for Kirkus Reviews Vicky Smith, and author Jasper Fforde. Our fantasy panel was packed with people and frankly one of the most fun panels I've ever been on.

Speaking of fun, you need to look at the Halloween costumes picture book artist Tad Hills makes for his kids.

It's Hard to Leave Texas (At Least, in This Dimension)

I mean that in the physical sense. Last time I was trying to leave Texas, I sprained my ankle. This time I'm trying to leave Texas and this mega-storm has pretty much canceled every flight to the East Coast until at least Tuesday.

I'm actually rather cheerful about it. I'm fortunate in that my only plans were to go home, then be at home, writing, having my normal life. Of course I have sympathy for everyone for whom this creates serious problems – it totally sucks (and seriously, why are flights canceled today to places where landfall isn't expected until tomorrow?). But I feel like I've been given this little gift of time, in a sunny place, with other stranded friends on hand, on some sort of plane (not the flying kind) outside my regular life.

One small thing was worrying me – I didn't bring my calendar to Austin, and without my calendar in front of me, I can never remember my plans or my to-do list. But my dear darling friend B just went to my house, unearthed my calendar, and read me my entire week, so now I can relax and stop worrying I'm forgetting to do something. I must say I've never realized how my calendar might seem to other people. Just one example of several: "On Monday," she said to me, "you've written 'interdimensional hitchhiking'." Oh, right. I would hate to have to postpone that; thank goodness I can hitchhike interdimensionally from Austin just as easily as I can from Boston.

(It was a writing note/reminder ^_^)

Dear Teen Me Panel update

A quick note to any readers who were hoping to see me or get books signed by me at the Dear Teen Me panel this evening: a conflict has come up and I'm no longer going to be able to join the panel. (The panel will go on; go see all the other great authors!) I will be signing books at my other events – a signing this morning and my panel this afternoon with Cinda Williams Chima and Jasper Fforde – click on my Appearance Schedule to the left for more details.

Pretty Drinks in Austin

David Levithan, Margo Rabb, Rebecca Stead, and me. Cucumber martini, Lobo Texas lager, pomegranate margarita, and straight vodka. I'll leave it to you to guess who drank what. (And just kidding about that vodka. That's a glass of water ^_^.) I wanted a picture of all the drinks, but David and Margo didn't want to be in the picture. This was their graceful solution.


We're all at the Texas Book Festival, by the way.

An Important Reminder

For those mornings when you wake up and find yourself wondering, Hmm, what strange thing happened to me overnight? Weirdness and worry, you are welcome in my day: come on in.

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door, laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

- Rumi

It's Fall in Mt Auburn Cemetery

Many more behind this cut, but only click if you're okay with getting leafed out.  My favorite place to visit on a sunny day in October! Click on any pic to enbiggen.
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