MONDAY: How do you goof off?

Sage and Song, Chapter 4: The Wrong Turn ASKED: Are your books inspired by you...

MONDAY: How do you goof off?

After clearing a couple of projects off my desk, I was able to goof off a little this last week. For me, that often means adding used books to my teetering To Read pile, poking through the stacks at my local library, playing word games like Bananagrams�� and Scrabble��, and sneaking over to my favorite place to buy boba smoothies. This week’s chit-chat includes a bit of nostalgia, an informal survey, review copies of Meadowsweet, and library-related news.

Symphony. Back in college, I used to take my afternoon’s reading or some handwork to a set of benches near the choir room. They usually practiced with the doors open, and the hall would ring with the eight-part harmonies of choral pieces, often in Latin, always glorious. ‘Twas a feast for the soul.�� I’m experiencing a reprise on Saturday mornings, but of a slightly different genre. One of my daughters has joined a youth symphony, and I get to sit in on rehearsals. Violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, clarinet, oboe��this is my kind of bliss! ��

Informal Survey. I’m curious how many of you are following Deuce, the newly begun serial over on my other blog.

Without warning, a blade flashed past Aurelius��s ear, clattering against the wall behind him Another glittering dagger was already poised between the girl��s fingertips. ��excerpted from Deuce

Have you also read Meadowsweet? If not, are you interested? I’ll make a couple of review copies available. [I would gift the first book in the Galleries of Stone trilogy to you via Amazon; in exchange, you agree to post an honest review.] Email me if you’re interested: christa [dot] kinde [at] gmail [dot] com.

SDPL logo Local Author Exhibit. The San Diego Public Library celebrates local authors every year with a huge exhibit in the main library downtown. Authors are invited to enter books that were published in the past year, and they go on display for the month of February. This year, my contribution was Book 4 in the Threshold Series. I’m looking forward to the big party they throw for the unveiling of the displays. I’ll bring my camera and my +1 and nab some pictures for y’all. The Garden Gate released on January 28, 2014, which means we’re coming up on a milestone very soon! More about that on another day.