Neil Gaiman just asked when we'd like to do the Q & A

[Allison]

*beams at being one of Kathy's favorite people*

[Allison]

glad to see you here too! Took you long enough to get over here :) hehe.

[Kathy]

Allison wrote: "glad to see you here too! Took you long enough to get over here :) hehe."

Well, I have some catching up to do, don't I? I hope to finish Laurie R. King's The Language of Bees by tonight and then start Gaiman's The Graveyard Book. I feel like I've found a great gathering place for my YA reading here.

[Kathy]

Fiona wrote: "This is a great little gathering, if I say so myself! Believe it or not we have only existed since about April the 28th or so. Not even a month!"

Well, that makes me feel a little better about not finding the group before now, Fiona. I meant to add that Laura, your co-moderator is another of my favorites. I don't want to leave anyone out, and now I feel like I should stop before I hurt anyone's feelings that I don't single out as a favorite. I'm sure there are more in this group, though, and, of course, I know there will be more new favorites found here.

[Laura]

Thanks Kathy, glad you found us! So many familiar faces here, and lots of new ones too, and some great discussions going on as well.

[Jackie]

I wanna one of Kathy's favorites *pouts*

[Laura]

*waves wand, and makes Jackie a Kathy favorite too*

[Kathy]

Jackie wrote: "I wanna one of Kathy's favorites *pouts*"

LOL! Didn't I say Jackie? Of course, you're a favorite. Ah, the power of the favorites. I must use it wisely. He, he, he, he, he.

[Kathy]

Laura wrote: "*waves wand, and makes Jackie a Kathy favorite too*

"

Oh, you posted while I was still typing, you clever girl. OMG, a wand. I want a wand. All I have is my daddy's old divining rod, so all I can do is find water. Anyone for a drink?

[Laura]

I'll take an apricot sour, thanks!

[K.S.R.]

Wow, you've all been talking up a storm! I've been away from the computer for a morning and look what happens. :) I think the idea of posting an event is better than inviting people from my list. I frankly don't have time to pick and choose which one's to invite! Who should announce the event? Also, thanks for sharing the NG story.

[Kathy]

Laura wrote: "I'll take an apricot sour, thanks!"

At the risk of encouraging all of you to place a drink order, I must say you are a girl after my own heart, Laura. After I typed in "anyone for a drink," the thought ran through my mind, "yeah, but not water, maybe something a little stronger." You didn't disappoint, Laura. Now I promise to be quiet for a bit. I've been on the computer a large part of today paying bills and other stuff, so I kept checking in my new favorite spot. Do you think I overuse the word "favorite?" Oh well, maybe I'll go have that drink now. I mean it is close to cocktail hour, right? Whatever happened to the good old fifties when mom and dad had a cocktail before supper? OK, now I am digressing now. Walk dog, then drink, eat supper, then watch the Dancing with the Stars finale, then finish The Language of Bees. Life is indeed good.

[Laura]

Fiona wrote: "Laura may announce, once everything is confirmed and set in stone of course. Have we set a date yet? Would be nice if it could be in the first week or second of June."


Karey, I prefer the second week of June (or later), my daughter graduates high school the first week and I'll be an emotional jellyroll, so that week would be YUK for me.

[Beth]

Awww. That was me two years ago!

[Laura]

Beth I'm gonna need help on Friday June 5. I am dreading that day with all my heart. Seriously. I'm wondering if I can get thru it.

:(

[K.S.R.]

OK, I'll mention it, Fiona. Thanks for letting me know! Your daughter is graduating? Congratulations to YOU, Mom. :) That's a lot of mom hours.

So what are you dreading? I'm guessing it's that putting your child on the bus on the first day of school feeling, a sending part of yourself off into a future you'll never know feeling--a part of yourself that you can't see because that part of you is someone else you raised, who never was a part of you, even though you thought they were, almost like another limb. Then you discover that they're their own person, and that you were there to guide, teach, nurture, protect. The feeling that they are completely their own person, without you.

I like the Buddhist saying, "Hold that which you love with an open hand. It will always come back to you."

[Laura]

Oh, now you're making me cry. Not hard to do these days! It's complicated, but you summed up most of it! Can certainly tell you're a writer, Miss!

[Beth]

Very well said! It's hard but you'll make it, believe it or not. I had a very hard time when we dropped Aaron off at college. I'll never forget the look on his face as we were pulling out of the parking lot. I sort of felt like I was throwing him to the wolves. I worried about whether he would eat well enough and if he'd wake up for classes on time, but once I saw he was fine I was fine.

[Alexis]

Kathy wrote: "Walk dog, then drink, eat supper, then watch the Dancing with the Stars finale..."

I missed most of it. :( I caught Melissa and Gilles' last dances, but I'm sorry I missed Shawn's.

I FINALLY looked into getting The Graveyard Book as an e-book from my library and it worked! I'll have to read it on the computer, but it's a middle grade book so it shouldn't be too bad.

Congrats to your daughter, Laura! I didn't go away to school but I did move out at 19. Not far, though, just to Brooklyn from the Bronx. I still see my parents a lot.

[Kathy]

Laura, hang in there, girl. I've been through two, thought I would be a mess with emotions, but surprisingly enough (really surprisingly) I did fine. Of course, there with my first one, my daughter, I do remember the Phil Collins song something about "I'll be in your heart always" coming on the radio while I was driving and bawling. But other than that it's been a whole new chapter in my life with both kids graduated from high school and in college and now my daughter married and expecting my first grandchild (yipee!). I'm not saying that I didn't have moments of parental yearning to protect and comfort when they weren't here to watch over, but on the whole it has been a growing experience for us all. I was so focused on my children, who were everything to me, and now I've reconnected more with friends and doing activities with them. It seems to work out for both parents and kids is what I'm saying. But don't hesitate to have that good cry. And, congratulations to your daughter. She is entering such an exciting time in her life.

Alexis, Shawn's free dance was awesome, the best of the three. I thought Melissa's and Gilles' free dances fell short, which was disappointing because I was pulling for Melissa. Results tonight.

[K.S.R.]

Here's a thought for Laura-or for any of us when we need something to bring us back into gratitude: "I breathe in and my body is filled with peace. I breathe out and a smile forms on my face." It's from one of Thich Nat Hanh's books, and I've used it for years. It works!

And FYI: I messaged Neil Gaiman yesterday to let him know we're looking at any time after the second week in June. Ta ta!

[Beth]

Thanks for doing this for us! So awesome!!!!!

[Kathy]

Karey, I like your breathing suggestion and your Buddhist wisdom (both do work). I'm so glad you're arranging the Neil Gaiman visit. I was reading his blog on "entitlement" this morning about readers expectations of writers and deadlines and such. I thoroughly enjoyed it and gained some perspective, too. I just think Gaiman is so interesting as a person as well as a writer. Thanks for your work on this event.

[Jamie]

Kathy wrote: "Alexis, Shawn's free dance was awesome, the best of the three. I thought Melissa's and Gilles' free dances fell short, which was disappointing because I was pulling for Melissa. Results tonight.

My thoughts exactly. I can't wait until So You Think You Can Dance starts on Thursday, though - it's my favorite show ever!

[Kathy]

Jamie, I'll have to check out So You Think You Can Dance. I used to complain about all the reality shows on, and now I find myself watching some of them. Of course, it could be that's because that's most of what's on.

[Becky]

I LOVE SYTYCD! Thank you for the reminder, I will have to set my DVR to record it since I will be at work.

[Alexis]

I would never have watched any of DWTS if not for getting DVR a couple months ago. I love it! I also record every episode of What Not to Wear that comes on, so I always have something like 15 episodes to chose from when I want to watch it.

[Jamie]

No problem, Becky! I've been anxiously awaiting this year's premiere, but I'm happy DWTS and America's Next Best Dance Crew fill in the rest of the year.

Kathy and Alexis - I hope you will watch SYTYCD. If you enjoy DWTS, you should love it! There are always some really amazing, quality dancers on the show - like Lacey, Chelsie, and Dmitry who later moved on to DWTS.

Sorry for going off-topic, though!

[Kathy]

Yesterday, I started listening to Neil Gaiman's M Is for Magic, collection of short stories on CD, in the car. It is narrated by Gaiman, so I thought it would be great to listen to. I was right. His short stories just beg to be listened to and he is the perfect reader for them. I love his introduction to the stories. I had wanted to listen to some of The Graveyard Book, but the library copy was checked out, so I went with M is for Magic.

[Laura]

BTW, everyone, thanks for your support, I'm sure it will be much easier than I think it will, and I appreciate the kind words.

Yeah, I think Neil does all of his own books maybe on audio? And he does a great job. You can't say that about every author. I've actually dropped audiobooks that were done by authors who were great writers, and terribly monotonous speakers.

[Laura]

Oops, but not Anansi Boys. Lenny Henry did that one. There may be others Neil hasn't done.

[Becky]

Laura, I have done the same thing... I generally do not like when authors read their own books for audio, as generally they are must better writers than they are readers. For instance, Stephen King is my favorite author, but I do not like listening to him read. He has a nasally voice that is not exactly suited for audio. Gaiman did an excellent job with TGB though, I loved it. He has a very smooth and charming voice that just begs to be listened to!

[K.S.R.]

Kathy wrote: "Karey, I like your breathing suggestion and your Buddhist wisdom (both do work). I'm so glad you're arranging the Neil Gaiman visit. I was reading his blog on "entitlement" this morning about rea..."

You're welcome, Kathy. I'm looking forward to it, whenever it might be. :)

[Jackie]

Becky wrote: "Laura, I have done the same thing... I generally do not like when authors read their own books for audio, as generally they are must better writers than they are readers. For instance, Stephen King..."


Make that three agrees! I listen to Graveyard and have since moved onto Caroline. He's voice definitely made Graveyard more interesting. I loved the way he was able to transition into the different voices and give everyone accents. Made it so easy to listen too and get into the story.

[Luann]

I listened to Neverwhere: A Novel narrated by Neil Gaiman and it was fabulous. I never thought to check out some of his others on audio, though. I might have to revisit The Graveyard Book one of these days - this time on audio!

[Kathy]

Now that I've finished The Graveyard Book and loved it, I will have to listen to Gaiman read some of it.

[Jackie]

Kathy I posted a link in the no spoilers thread in which you can hear him. He did a video tour of him reading Graveyard.

[Kathy]

Jackie wrote: "Kathy I posted a link in the no spoilers thread in which you can hear him. He did a video tour of him reading Graveyard. "

Thanks, Jackie.

[Laura]

Yeah, he's terrific reading his own stuff. I love his voice, and he reads slowly too, so you can really concentrate. He can sound really spooky when he wants to too!

[K.S.R.]

I just listened to part of Chapter One. It's wonderful! I've been away from goodreads for a few days while I've been working on stuff, and I was thinking I might have heard back from Wild Man Neil by now, but like the rest of us, he's busy. I'll check back in a few days and keep you posted. Sound good? A big wave *bye*.

Karey

[Laura]

Thank you Karey, we SO appreciate it!

[K.S.R.]

My pleasure!

[Alexander]

hi every one im new to this group

[Kathy]

In reading Neil Gaiman's blog, I came across his tour of reading The Graveyard Book one chapter at a time. It is available to listen to in a video form at http://www.mousecircus.com/videotour....
It's great to be able to watch Neil read it.

[K.S.R.]

And don't forget to check out the fun Sudoku-like game at the same website above!