Marjorie M. Liu's Blog, page 20
July 7, 2012
San Diego, here I come…
Had barbecue this morning (brisket, corn, salad, beans), and have spent the rest of the day doing research for the next Hunter Kiss book, which I’m hard at work on. I’ve been asked if this will be the last book in the series, and chances are good it will be. I’m certainly treating it like that, just in case. It’s definitely going to be the most wrenching of them.
Onward, though, to Comic Con. Yes, it’s that time of year again. I wasn’t certain I’d be able to go, for the same reason that I had...
July 4, 2012
Chinese Passports for Poodles
No, really. Daisy had a Chinese passport. Something we found in a drawer yesterday.
Happy July 4th, everyone! I hope you have a safe, wonderful day — eat good food, and enjoy some fireworks tonight!
July 3, 2012
Memory, Bunny X, & Books
“I don’t like to miss anything, but I’m designed to miss almost everything — to see one center of one universe when really there are billions, to live through less than one-hundred of countless Januaries, to turn down only one street in New York City when there are so many streets all over the world, to miss moments with people because I’m looking at one thing instead of at another, noticing one thing instead of another, holding on to an idea.”
– From a really lovely essay called Erasure: Read...
July 2, 2012
The reason I’m not at Clarion…
I was supposed to be in San Diego this week teaching at Clarion, but my partner-in-crime had a rather serious surgery — and family and loved ones always come first. My apologies to those who I missed teaching, as well as the program itself. And a heartfelt thank you to the lovely, brilliant, Delia Sherman, who stepped in to take my place at the last minute.
***
Check out this very motivating article about the importance of competition, called “Someone Is Coming To Eat You”:
The reward for winnin...
July 1, 2012
Rituals, comforts, barbecue.
I’ve been living in Boston, off and on, since January — and since then, little rituals have evolved. One of them exists only in the summer, on Saturdays, and involves the spectacular barbecue at Formaggio’s — located near Harvard Square. The guys don’t start serving until around 11 am, but the line gets long by 10:45. And since we take food very seriously, we usually arrive well before that to stake out our spot.
The best part, though, is the friends who show up to join us. That’s the beauty o...
June 30, 2012
Thoughts on reading…
I haven’t been reading much lately — and shame on me. I could name a number of excuses, but none of them hold real water. I remember what I used to be like — I’d carve time for a book even if it meant chiseling stone with my teeth.
Fortunately, I get to keep my teeth. I’ve got a stack of books in front of me — romances, thrillers, YA, non-fiction — and I’m settling in for a long book retreat to put the taste of words back inside me.
***
Here’s a great two part interview with Junot Diaz, called T...
June 29, 2012
What freaks writers, is good.
I’m living in a classic older building in Boston, the kind with spiral staircases and spooky halls, and a room in the basement (off the laundry, off the mailboxes) where everyone leaves their trash and recycling. Which is what I did this afternoon.
So, picture this:
Me, shoving a pizza box into a bin.
Me, looking down as a rat runs past.
Me, screaming my head off.
I love animals. I really love animals. And I’m typically a calm, collected, gal. But seeing that black blur streak past my foot and scu...
June 28, 2012
June 27, 2012
The latest + book recommendations
Had a great signing on Saturday at Comicopia — with many thanks to Matt, Angela, and Maggie for hosting such a wonderful event. Lots of highlights, but this was one of them.
Working hard on the next Hunter Kiss book, which means long hours indoors, wearing headphones and crashing on music from the 80′s.
Also, I can’t believe July is almost here.
I read an extraordinary novel last week: Between Shades of Gray, which might just be my favorite read of the year, so far. It has nothing to do with ano...
June 22, 2012
Not over, but we continue on.
I flew back from Vancouver only to find myself in the inferno that is Boston. I think the temperatures are supposed to break by Sunday, but we spent yesterday morning installing a new air conditioner (blasting now on high), and basically just taking it easy.
Thank you so much for all the kind words regarding my grandmother. I appreciate them more than I can say. The service was small, but beautiful, and there was a great deal of love throughout the day.
Tomorrow I have a signing here in Boston...
