Kristin Cashore's Blog, page 86

Fabulous News and a Pretty Picture

Hi all!  
The news:
Graceling is a finalist for the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy (the SFWA's award for YA given concurrently with the Nebulas).  Its fellow finalists are Lamplighter, by D.M. Cornish; Savvy, by Ingrid Law; The Adoration of Jenna Fox, by Mary E. Pearson; and, with the best title ever (in my opinion), Flora’s Dare: How a Girl of Spirit Gambles All to Expand Her Vocabulary, Confront a Bouncing Boy Terror, and Try to Save Califa from a Shaky Doom (Desp

On Originality; On Freaking Out; and On the Universe

I guest-posted at Magical Musings on the topic of originality a few days ago.  For my post today, I'm referring you to what I wrote over there.
In case that bores you, this weekend's This American Life explained the banking crisis in a simple and understandable way that was funny, kind, and only slightly COMPLETELY FRAKKING TERRIFYING. It's here if you're interested.  I'm pretty sure their link to listen to the whole episode free online will be up by the time this posts, but if not, check back wi

Stranded on a Desert Island: a Poll

Quick news: Graceling has a Korean publisher, Moonhak Soochup.  Also, Hörbuch Hamburg will be producing a German audio version, to be released in Fall 2009, which is, I believe, also when the German print version will be released.  yAt!  
Also: I've been getting some questions about ARCs for Fire.  No, the Fire ARCs are not out yet.  What's out now are reduced bound manuscripts in a very limited circulation.  (I don't even have one.)  I believe the ARCs will be distributed in March or April.  (To

"Where Thou art -- that -- is Home"

(Thus spake Emily Dickinson.)

So, moving is not one of my favorite activities.  And finding a home in a place that is 1,158 miles from my current home, well, that's stressful, because, you know, I'm down here, not up there, and I'm not sure when I'm going to be able to get up there, so really, couldn't some person up there who lives in the perfect place call me and say, "Here you go, it's yours for free, and I'll send my Learjet tonight to pick you up so you can come take a quick look.  Also, I'm

Books in Threes

The To Be Read pile on my bedside table is the size of Mount Vesuvius -- an apt metaphor, as I believe it may be about to blow.  It is 33 books high.  I need to find a better way to stack it before I get brained in the night.
Here's my own variation on a meme I saw at The Longstockings the other day:

THREE BOOKS I RECENTLY FINISHED READING

              

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  Loved it and could not put it down.  I'm a Katniss fangirl.
2. A Dictionary of the English Language, by Sam

Explaining Graceling, Fire, Bitterblue, prequels, sequels, companion books, and all the others ways I'm confusing people :o)

Starting with newsy bits of newsy news:Graceling is on the 2009 Amelia Bloomer List (Recommended Feminist Literature for Birth through 18).  What an awesome list to be on.  Thank you!
It's also on the Locus Magazine 2008 Recommended Reading List, in the First Novels category.In case you're interested, the February issue of the magazine SFX contains a profile of me and a super-nice review.  It's the issue with Wolverine on the cover.  :o)I'll be a guest of honor, along with Tamora Pierce and Sherw

February 14: Interplanetary Be Who You Are Day

So, there are a lot of things I don't like about Valentine's Day.  For example, where our roses and diamonds come from.  But less urgent, and closer to home, here's something else I don't like about Valentine's Day: it tries to divide people up into two neat categories.  (1) People who are madly in love and happy.  (2) People who are single, sad, and pathetic.
C'mon!  That's so reductive!  There are a bajillion kinds of people; there are a bajillion ways to live; there isn't one good, happy way t

A Palamino Poem for Winter

I subscribed recently to NPR's Writer's Almanac, and have been enjoying reading one poem a day.  I haven't posted a poem in a while, so here's a recent favorite:
The Palamino Stallionby Alden Nowlan
Though the barn is so warm
that the oats in his manger,
the straw in his bed
seem to give off smoke —

though the wind is so cold,
the snow in the pasture
so deep he'd fall down
and freeze in an hour —

the eleven-month-old 
palomino stallion
has gone almost crazy
fighting and pleading 
to be let out. 
******Have a p

Stuff; a Cover; and, a Question about Writing and Fear

First, a friendly reminder to anyone reading my blog on LiveJournal or at Amazon or, really, anywhere other than at my actual blogger blog: I won't see your comments unless you come to my Blog Actual to leave them.  Sorry for the confusion.  Syndication complicates the world!

La la la.  Next up, behold my cover for the German edition of Graceling!

♥.  And I don't just love the image; I love the title.  Die Beschenkte basically means "One Who Has Been Given a Gift," more or less, except all in one