Kim Harrison's Blog, page 76

Special Q&A at FB on Friday

I’ll be doing a special Q&A over at the Harper FB page on Friday, from 2-3 EST where I’ll take your EVER AFTER spoiler questions! Don’t drop them on their page yet. Wait for it! I’ll be there “live.”

https://www.facebook.com/HarperVoyagerBooksUS

Miles to go before I sleep

Found these brave little crocus starting to peep above the ground this week when the earth thawed. It’s cold and bitter again, but they will survive and bloom even in snow. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.I’ve only got one place in my yard that needs more plants, (which should take me all of a weekend to fix) but I’m already planning out another summer-long project within a very small space. I’d like to make a veg garden there since it is sunny and hot, but a patio would be cleaner and make more sense. We’ll see. I’ve got time yet.

Radio spot today at WYSO

I’ve got a radio spot today at 1:30 EST on WYSO. You can listen in by internet at the link below. If you miss it, no worries. They will archive it at some point, and I’ll repost.  The Listen Now link is at the top of the page to the right after you get to their main page. Enjoy!

http://www.wyso.org/programs/book-nook

As if I don’t have enough bunnies

A while back I mentioned that one of the things I like to do when I’m not at the keyboard, in the garden, or with my elbows up to flour, is to knit. Knitting ticks a lot of boxes for me. It’s satisfying with a quick result, something my daily works lacks. It’s methodical, with an almost zen like om to it with the back and forth pattern to help me separate from the story. It involves texture and color, something I can only think about when I write, not experience, and if you pick the right pattern, it’s a challenge, forcing me to learn new things and keep the brain making new connections. (Don’t laugh, learning new things keeps you smart.)

I’ve been knitting and crocheting since I was 12, though there was a long dry spell in there when I found out what guys were good for, and then a family, and then the task of becoming published. I had even given my needles to my mom.

But once you see the beauty of the knitted piece–feel the connection from present to past, know that thousands have turned a heel thinking of the one they are making comfort for–the yarn never quite untangles from your soul.  I got my needles back from my mom a few years ago, unearthed my crochet needles, and my yarn and cord stash has since become sort of scary.

Even so, I was too embarrassed to bring it up until I realized there were 24 year olds standing in the yarn aisles doing the same thing I was. Knitting is cool, like bow ties. -smirk-

While I was out on tour, a reader brought me a skien of wool that she had hand dyed and named Pixy Steel. I thought it perfect for making bunnies out of, and so I took a break from the scarf and knitted one up with a pattern I’d not yet tried before. I think I’ll add a soft eye, but other than that, I think he turned out rather well for a first go.  :-) Next one will be in a fuzzier wool without quite so much stretch . . .

Banana Joe wins Westminster!

Congrats to Banana Joe, an Affenpincher,who took the ribbons and trophy at Westminster this year after two nights of trials. Guy and I had a great early Valentines day in front of the tube watching. And I am left scratching my head once again as to how Alex got there to congratulate the impish dog. She gets around almost as much as me. Click to get to Westminster’s website and the real picture.

 

I couldn’t help but notice that though the dogs were varied and a celebration of wonderful diversity, there was only one kind of person on the carpet there at the end. Must have been a dozen people out there getting their picture taken in a nice row, and they all had the same standard. Maybe things changed when the cameras went off. I don’t go looking for stuff like this, but it was so in you face I couldn’t help but notice.

Cover to Cover in Cincinnati

I’ve been home now for almost a week, and the first of the radio spots that I did while traveling from one side of the US to the other are starting to come in! The latest is Cover to Cover, which I did with Mark while in Cincinnati. This is the third time I interviewed with Mark, and it’s a real pleasure as he and his family actually read the series. (You don’t always get that kind of response, and it always surprises me when a reporter/interviewer is familiar with my work.) It is almost 30 minutes, so bookmark it if you can’t watch right away. I also have a list going of the archived media I did on the front page of the website.

Cover to Cover Mark Dewitt interviews Kim Harrison

But if you’re pinched for time, I’ve got a six minute live TV interview I did while in Denver. I really enjoyed talking to Denise on Colorado and Company. She hadn’t read the books, but she seemed genuinely interested in them, going outside and beyond the original “script.” I hope I can go back again next year.

Denise interviews Kim Harrison on Colorado and Company

It’s almost Valentines day!

Flowers, no. Card, no. Box of candy . . . no. Jewelry, no. 

Hamburger, check. Corn chips, check. Tomatoes, check. Cheese to shred, check. Cushy pillows and couch . . . check and check.

It’s nearing Valentines day, which means two things at our house: nachos, and the Westminster dog show!

If you’ve been lurking on my drama box for longer than a year, you probably already know about Guy’s and my tradition of watching the dog show and eating nachos, a remake, if you will, of our first date 27 years ago. Though to be honest, I don’t think we really watched the dog show much that first year. We have gotten to know some of the dogs who compete year after year, watch the new breeds, and wish the retiring animals happy trails. It’s one of the few sporting events (besides the super bowl) that we organize our week around, and I’m so glad to be home for it. It’s a two night event, and how many people can say they celebrate Valentines day for two, er, nights.

Westminster dog show 2013

I’ve also got for you today the pictures up from the last official event out at Schulers Books and Music. The bunny cam died during the signing (imager went out) so we have very few bunny cam shots. Fortunately we got the family photo before it died. (you should be able to click and get to a higher res picture, but if not, just jump over to the website for it and the rest of the photos. Schulers photos

So it was a fabulous tour, very even with the number of people at each event (lots) and good weather, which I can now say seeing as I’m home and I can’t jinx it. If you are still pining for a signed book, I left tons of them at Mysterious Galaxy (west of the Mississippi) and even more at Nicola’s (east of the Mississippi and my home store.) I’ll be going back in sometime this week to sign stock at Nicola’s, so if you’re in any doubt, order from them.

Order a signed book from Mysterious Galaxy

Order a signed book from Nicola’s

Kim’s spot on Colorado and Co and final tour stop?

I’ll be signing tonight in snowy Michigan, more specifically Schulers Books and Music in Lansing from about 6-8 I’m guessing. We got about four inches last night, and with the salt trucks and plows, I don’t see a problem getting to the event, so if you’re in the area, come on in! We’re going to try to give away a few one-of-a-kind shirts, so sharpen up on your Hollows trivia.

Schulers Books and Music will be my last stop for a while, but I am going to get out a few more times before it’s all over. I’ve got a stop or two in Florida March 16 at the Southwest Florida Reading Festival in Fort Myers River District, and then another in Virginia, Charlottesville, for the Festival of the Book, March 22-23

The book festivals tend to be more intimate and relaxed, and it’s a great way to get your books signed and questions answered without the crush and rush of the regular tour, so if you’re in Florida or Virginia, this might be the closest I get to you for a while.

But if that’s still not your thing and you want a signed book, Nicola’s still has them.

order a signed book from Nicola’s

Also, just found the archived podcast of me on Colorado and Co that I did while in Denver. Yep, they got me on TV! Colorado and Co

Joseph Beth event pictures

I’m traveling home today for one last event at Schulers Books and Music, so a quick update before I get in the air.

Last night’s pictures are up at the website! Click to check them out! Joseph Beth pictures

Malaprops Books in Asheville

Malaprops! I’d never been to Asheville, so I didn’t know what to expect, especially on a chilly Monday. The back room was very cool with more pictures of critters. This guy was too cool to resist.

And when I got out to the event, it just got better! Most of the people in the crowd hadn’t been to one of my events before, so the Q&A was lively and the questions were great.

We even had more than a few tour shirts for the “family photo!” Thanks, Guys for coming out on a Monday. It was a great event! If you’re looking for the higher resolution picture, or just the rest of the pictures, click: Malaprops Books, Asheville