Guest Post from Author Andrea Cremer

 

The Right Place and the Right Time

When I read The Eternal Ones I fell in love with the characters Kirsten created, but I was equally bewitched by the settings she created. I often talk about the wolf mythology of Nightshade deriving from my upbringing in Northern Wisconsin and a follow-up question I’ve encountered is: So why isn’t your book set in the woods of Wisconsin and Minnesota?

I believe place is as vital to a book’s life as much as any of its characters. I love my home territory, but it wouldn’t have worked for the world I built in Nightshade. First, I needed mountains. There are some lovely hills along the North Shore of Lake Superior. But they are hills, not mountains. They might want to be mountains, but real mountains laugh at them (sorry, Lutsen).

I needed the “Call of the Wild.” The forests I grew up near are most definitely wilderness, but American history has attached a specific mythology to the West. I wanted to build on that mythology. The West evokes a spirit of freedom, hardship, and discovery that doesn’t quite resonate with more easterly locations in the U.S.

Place becomes even more powerful in narratives if the book’s setting is in touch with its own history. Again, Kirsten did a marvelous job in carrying echoes of the past into the present in The Eternal Ones. Though Nightshade is set in present-day Colorado, I’ve tied the wildness of the West with the history of witchcraft and warfare of medieval Europe. The events affecting Calla and her pack connect to an unbroken line of conflicts stretching across centuries and an ocean.

Bringing together place and time adds depth to a world and further complicates the motivations and choices of its characters. I hope Nightshade’s readers will feel the push and pull of past and present, history and myth as they join Calla on her journey.

I Might Just Get an Eye Patch

(Above: Yes, I know that's not a pirate.)

The other day, I was reading about pirates (as I'm wont to do), and I came across an interesting "fact." Some pirate experts (can you imagine a better job?) claim that sailors may not have worn eye patches to look tough or to cover up injuries. Instead, the eye patch might have been a trade secret of sorts. If a sailor always kept one eye in the dark, that eye wouldn't need time to adjust when the sailor went below deck.

Interesting, right? (Perhaps you already knew?) Anyway, I was thinking that this might have a few practical applications for those of us who don't spend our days on the high seas. Perhaps you have some suggestions?

WHAT????

A bomb was just discovered in the Marble Cemetery! I'm not making this up. Check out the news report here!

Here's a little message for the person responsible. Soon, you will wake up in the middle of the night to find a pale, elfin girl with colorless hair staring down at you. Don't bother to beg for mercy.

(And I would just like to state for the record that I wrote the previous post long before I heard about this. What a bizarre coincidence!)

UPDATE: This report from the New York Times leads me to believe that the device was discovered at the OTHER Marble Cemetery. (Yes, there are two of them. They're about a block apart, and people tend to get them confused.)

It's Monday. Let's Take a Moment to Blow Some Stuff Up

(Thanks, Emily!)

What the Heck Is Happening in Upper Michigan?

Earlier this week, residents of upper Michigan reported hearing the sound of an explosion in the woods. When they investigated, they discovered a mysterious crevice had suddenly appeared. The crack was over 600 feet long and up to five feet deep in places. And it's growing. There have been no earthquakes in the area. So what do you suppose could have caused the fissure?

Anyone out there in Michigan feel like doing a little investigative reporting for Ananka's Diary?

Who Knew Carrots Could Be So Interesting?

I live in New York. I know nothing about horticulture or farming. So maybe you guys are already aware of the facts I plan to put forth in this post. But I gotta say, I just had my mind blown. By carrots.

Are you aware that carrots were purple before the 17th century? Yeah. Purple. Apparently the Dutch are responsible for their current color. (Did they breed orange carrots because they were tastier? Or to celebrate the powerful House of Orange? Who knows? The Dutch work in mysterious ways.)

Among the other things I recently learned about carrots. (All taken from this enlightening post.)

1. Carrot seeds are they key ingredient in an ancient concoction proven to counteract the effects of poison.

2. The Romans believed carrots were aphrodisiacs. Everyone in ancient Rome grew them.

3. That whole "carrots improve your eyesight" thing? It's an urban legend cooked up by the British government.

Reading Tomorrow!

Tomorrow evening, I’ll be reading from my new book, The Eternal Ones, at the Jefferson Market Library in Manhattan. So if you’re in town, come say hi. (And be sure to check out the other authors who will also be reading. See the list below!)

(6-7:30, Jefferson Market Branch of NYPL, 425 6th Ave, at 10th St.)

Maria Boyd, Will
Matt de la Pena, I Will Save You
Kirsten Miller, The Eternal Ones
Lauren Oliver, Before I Fall
Samantha Schutz, You Are Not Here
Suzanne Weyn, Empty
Lizabeth Zindel, A Girl, A Ghost, and the Hollywood Hills

The Breathless Books Commercial Is Up!

Check it out on MTV's Hollywood Crush Blog!!! And if you like it, please comment on the MTV site and let us know!!!!

(Don't forget to check out the blogs for the other four Breathless Books! The links are in the post below!)

And in case you're wondering the music is "Breathless" by Miggs, and it's available for download here, at the Breathless Books portal!)

Breathless Books

Imagine my glee when I learned that Penguin (my publisher) would be making a television ad featuring five of their books--including The Eternal Ones! It's like a dream come true. The picture above is a still from the ad. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?

I haven't seen the full commercial yet, but I have seen images created for the other four "Breathless Books." (I've read all of the Breathless Books, and they're amazing.) You can check out more stills by clicking the links below . . .

The Replacement

Nightshade

Matched

Sapphique

The full ad will premier Friday, OCTOBER FIRST, on MTV's Hollywood Crush Blog! Check back Friday for the direct link!

In the meantime, excerpts from all of the Breathless Books are available for download at breathlessreads.com!

So What Do You Think?

Does this guy get paid to scratch giant rodents--or is he a little eccentric?

Ninjabread Men

Do you like cookies? Do you like ninjas? Of COURSE you do! Who doesn't? Thankfully, a genius over at Instructables has come up with a handy guide for creating your own ninjabread men cookie cutters!

Just in time for the holidays!!! (Helpful hint: Why not make them ninjabread GIRL cookies? Or hey, why not IRREGULAR cookies? Just a thought.)

Anyone Up for a Visit to the Marble Cemetery?

I just realized that Manhattan's secret Marble Cemetery (you know the one!) is holding its annual open house on October 9th and 10th! Anyone interested in joining me for a visit? Send an email to kikistrike@gmail.com!

My Interview with Author Brenna Yovanoff!

1) The Replacement is one of the most original stories that I’ve read in recent years. Sometimes it’s easy to identify an author’s influences, but I must admit, I’m drawing a blank here. What was it that sparked the idea for this book?

First, I need to put this out there: I am a huge pack-rat. I try not to be messy about it (much), but I save everything, and everything seems interesting and fun and like it might come in handy someday. I think my influences function in sort of the same way. The Replacement owes a lot to Shirley Jackson's short story “The Lottery,” because I knew I wanted that same kind of creepy-town vibe, but it also draws a lot from punk music and Victorian culture and my abject terror of water I can't see the bottom of. (In light of this, it probably won't surprise you that I like making collages.)


2) Do you know (or have you known) any children that you secretly suspect might be changelings? (I have, but this is about YOU, not me. Haha.)

I have to say, as an inveterate babysitter, I have known some pretty weird kids. No changelings however, although one of my cousins had me worried for a while.


3) I love books and movies that scare the @$*& out of me. The Replacement certainly fits that bill. Do you enjoy having a good scream now and then? If so, which films or books would you recommend?

Oh, I am so obsessed with scary movies! The last movie that really, really got to me, and I can't even explain why, was the Spanish film The Orphanage. Something about the cinematography, plus the storyline, plus the setting just completely terrified me. And I'd be remiss if I didn't confess that to this day, Pet Sematary by Stephen King is, without a doubt, the scariest book I've ever read.


4) In your novel, some very small children find themselves in terrible trouble. (I won’t say any more.) As the mother of a very small child, I found this ABSOLUTELY HORRIFYING. Do you have children? If so, how could you imagine such things?

While I don't have kids, I really like them and I come from a big extended family, so I've always spent a lot of time with them. The idea of something bad happening to anyone defenseless, whether children or animals, scares me to no end. Which, come to think of it, is the common thread between The Orphanage and Pet Sematary!


5) There’s no way that a person who writes books like The Replacement can be just another average Jane. Are you as interesting in real life as I imagine you might be?

Well, that certainly depends on what you're imagining! I like to tell people that I have two different speeds. One speed is leisurely. When that's my general setting, I like sewing, cooking, gardening, and drinking tea. Also, babies, puppies, scrapbooks, and mittens. The other speed is how I actually get stuff done. It usually involves contact sports, too much eyeliner, pulling all-nighters, and climbing things I'm not supposed to be climbing.

6) Let’s talk about The Lady. She’s one of the more unforgettable characters I’ve encountered. (Along with the Morrigan.) Out of which dark, desolate corner of your brain did you drag HER?

The Lady is interesting because when I think about her now, she seems very Dickensian, but while I was writing, I had no idea where she was coming from. Looking back, she really owes a lot to Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities, though. Both those books have these very vengeful, self-righteous villains, and I can definitely see that at work with in her character.

7) I have a hunch we might see more of Mackie and Tate. Am I on to something? Will there be a sequel?

I actually don't have anything special planned for them right now. There's definitely potential for a sequel, but right now, I'm working on another standalone. We don't have a title yet, but I can say that it will feature demons, monsters, kissing, and probably something on fire.

Thanks so much for having me, Kirsten!

Guest Post from Author Brenna Yovanoff

Hi, everyone,

I'm really excited to be guest-posting here on Kirsten's blog!

Last month, I was lucky enough to have Kirsten as a guest on my own blog, and I got to ask her a few questions. In the Eternal Ones, main character Haven Moore and her good friend Beau run a very successful business making formal dresses for their classmates, so naturally I wanted to know if Kirsten was a whiz with the sewing machine. (I'm an incredibly nosy person and I always want to find out if authors really are skilled in the pursuits they write about.)

In my novel The Replacement, which just came out on Tuesday—holy surrealism, there is a lot of music-talk. Mackie loves music. He loves listening to music and going to shows, and he particularly loves playing the bass. And lately, I've been discovering that there are other people out there who are just as curious/nosy as I am. They read about Mackie, and then want to know if I play any instruments.

Now it's time for a confession: I'm terrible at music. And I don't mean in that tone-deaf, when-I-sing-karaoke-your-ears-bleed kind of way. Although, that too. I mean, I'm really terrible at music—terrible on a fundamental level. I simply Don't Get It.

How bad, you might ask? Well, I will tell you. I'm so bad that I actually failed my introductory music class in high school. Not just “didn't do that well,” but failed it. I didn't even have the self-possession to be upset, because I was so confused. It was the first time in my life that I had ever failed something where I tried really hard and showed up every day. Also, if high school had taught me anything, it was that if you try really, really hard, they will probably give you a pity grade. Nope, no pity grade. Just a big fat F.

So when people ask me if the scenes where Mackie talks about music are based on personal experience, the answer is no, no, and absolutely no flipping way. Luckily for me, there's fiction, and the great thing about fiction is, no matter how slim the odds are of you ever playing a really rocking solo, it lets you pretend.

Thanks for having me, Kirsten!

My Review of The Replacement

This week, I'm going to be spending some quality blog time with Brenna Yovanoff, author of the fabulous new book, The Replacement. Below, you'll find my review (though it's probably pretty clear by now that I really enjoyed it). In the days to come, I'll be posting my interview with Brenna, and she'll also be paying a visit to this very site!

So, without further ado, here is my review of The Replacement . . .

I’m afraid most novels don’t stay with me for long. I usually gobble one up, wipe my mouth on my sleeve, and move on to the next one. But occasionally I’ll come across a flavor so unique that it lingers for months—even years.

I read The Replacement ages ago, and I swear I can still taste it. (The flavor it left behind? A mixture of rusty iron, human blood, and holy ground. Rather delightful, I’d say.)

The Replacement is the story of a boy named Mackie Doyle who has grown up in a town that isn’t quite what it pretends to be. Prosperous Gentry, with its minivans and golden retrievers, may seem like the ideal place to raise a family. But once in a while, a child dies inexplicably, and the whole town chooses to look in the opposite direction.

Mackie might be the sort to search for the truth—if he weren’t hiding a few secrets of his own. He’s always been painfully aware that he doesn't belong with the people of Gentry. His eyes are too dark. His skin is too pale. And he suffers from a painful, embarrassing allergy to anything made out of iron.

It all adds up to something quite sinister, but Mackie’s parents refuse to discuss their son’s origins. Instead, they simply urge him to fit in at all costs. So Mackie has spent his entire life trying to avoid being outed as a freak. Now that he’s reached high school, he seems to have finally succeeded. He has friends, a social life—even girls who are dying to kiss him.

It’s the very worst time for his allergy to grow life-threatening. Suddenly, a whiff of iron-filled blood makes him faint. A car ride nearly kills him. That’s when a strange man appears with a message. Mackie’s suffering is a sign—a sign that it’s time to finally go home.

Beneath a slag heap on the edge of his neighborhood, Mackie discovers the dark world that created him—and the secrets that Gentry has been desperate to hide. And he’s finds himself faced with a choice. He can save his town from the horrible beings who live beneath it—or he can choose to save himself.

Months after I finished The Replacement, I still find myself following Mackie into the underworld beneath Gentry. It’s unlike any land I’ve ever visited, and the creatures Mackie meets there are among the most horrifying ever imagined. I love a good scare (I think most of us do), and The Replacement certainly did not disappoint. But it was the original idea at the core of the novel that impressed me the most. This isn't one of those books that borrows from other novels or tries to ride a trend. This story is completely unique and unpredictable. I can think of no higher praise.

If I'm being a bit vague, you must forgive me. I don't want to give too much away. There are a few characters, for instance, that you should meet on your own. And a few sinister secrets I'd rather not spoil. But I will make you one promise: You’ve never read anything quite like The Replacement before.

If you’re looking for a book to take you somewhere new, The Replacement will do it. Just make sure you pack a good flashlight. It's awfully dark down there.

Check out Brenna's blog here.

The Strange Face in the Mirror

(Above: What do you think she saw?)

Here's a fun experiment. All you need is a mirror and a dimly-lit room. Sit with your face about a foot and a half from the mirror. Stare at your own reflection. In about a minute, you may begin to see something unusual.

Here's what other people have reported seeing:

Strange changes to one's own face
A parent's face
The face of an unknown person
The face of an animal
The face of a monstrous being

Creepy! So try it, and report back! (More information available here!)

Smart Young Adult Books!

The Eternal Ones is #1 on the Daily Beast's list of "Smart Young Adult Books!" I've never been #1 before!

Check out the list here! I need to order eight of these books ASAP. (I've already read Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall, which was amazing.)

I Survived a Tornado!

That's right. I don't care what the National Weather Service says. (They haven't reached any conclusions yet.) I am 100% positive that a tornado passed over or near my house last night!

I grew up in North Carolina, where the storms can be extremely fierce. (And, after Florida, NC leads the nation in lightening-related deaths.) But I have NEVER seen anything like the storm that hit New York City last night. The wind and hail were battering my building with such force that I was certain my skylights would be destroyed.

See some pictures on the New York Times website.

Places to Avoid: Shijiao

"Residents of a township in southwest China have been running scared after more than 160 cobras escaped from an illegal breeding laboratory, state media said Thursday.

People in Shijiao township in the huge Chongqing municipality have found the deadly snakes in outdoor toilets, kitchens and on the streets since they escaped earlier this month."

More here.

The Best Laugh I've Had All Week

"The vampire craze in teen literature – exemplified by the "Twilight" book series – could be affecting the dynamic workings of the teenage brain in ways scientists don't yet understand."

This was the conclusion of a conference of scientists, authors, and educators that convened at Cambridge University earlier this month.

Maria Nikolajeva, a professor of literature at Cambridge had this to say about the Twilight series, "If you look very, very clearly at what kind of values the 'Twilight' books propagate, these are very conservative values that do not in any way endorse independent thinking or personal development or a woman's position as an independent creature. That's quite depressing."

Okay, let's stop for a moment and chat. I'll set aside my personal feelings about Twilight. (For the record, I've read the entire series and enjoyed every page of it.) Nikolajeva seems to be implying that there are certain books that are "dangerous" for teens. The books she deems dangerous appear to be those that don't jive with her personal values.

So the brains of young women (and men) could be damaged unless they're force-fed a diet of novels featuring strong heroines and feminist values? This is the most ridiculous bunk I've come across in ages. It's essentially the same argument that was used to ban comic books in the fifties. (All that violence would warp young minds.) Or attack the Harry Potter books. (All that whimsical witchcraft would lead impressionable young people to ride broomsticks and join covens.) Or censor books with a little bit of lovin' in them. (All that romance would lead to generations of wanton teen girls.)

Science has shown that the brain continues to develop during the teen years. I'm not going to dispute that. However, a developing brain does not mean that your mind can be warped by exposure to values that haven't been sanctioned by the Cambridge literature department.

Here's my advice to teenagers. Read EVERYTHING. And avoid anyone who suggests that books like Twilight can be dangerous.

Read more about the conference here.

Octopus Cake and a Video

(Above: The work of master baker Karen Portaleo)

Last night I was on This Week in Books! Check out my interview here!

I've Seen the Future: Poo-Powered Street Lights!

If you've got a dog, you've got poo. The question is: What should you do with it? There are many, many options available to you. (All of which I will leave to the imagination for now.) However, if you're ecologically-minded, you might try using it as fuel.

A dog park in Cambridge, MA, has recently installed a "methane digester," which takes unwanted pooch poo and uses it to power street lights, a tea cart, and a popcorn machine. (Not sure how I feel about that last one.)

Apparently it's a pretty easy process turning poo into power. (You can read more about it here.) Which makes me think . . .

This Is the First and the Last Time I Will Say This: OMG!

(Above: May I have a glass of that, please?)

There are SHRIMP in New York City's drinking water! Tiny, microscopic crustaceans! The clear-thinking folks at National Geographic have tried their best to assure the water-drinking public that the wee beasties aren't dangerous (and they ARE kosher). But OMG! There are SHRIMP in New York City's drinking water. I LOVE shrimp!

Well Hello There!

So I'm back in Brooklyn after a week in Georgia. I had a fabulous time at the Decatur Book Festival. The highlight? Meeting blog regular EQ! Thanks so much for coming, EQ. You're every bit as dangerous as I expected you to be!

(By the way, I'll post a full list of my trips soon. And yes, I will be in Chicago in the near future!)

Now back to business. I've been meaning to post about the ring shown above. It was made from a copy of Sherlock Holmes! (Not sure which book, though.) Artist Jeremy May has been fashioning rings from a wide range of classic novels. (See them here.) Now if only I could get my hands on a Kiki Strike ring. (Which should come with a secret compartment for hiding poisons, small documents, or Liquid Roadkill.)

Heaven, I'm in Heaven

I just came across a sweet little shop selling some interesting stuff.

There are special drops that will temporarily turn a person's teeth a terrible yellow if added to hot liquids like coffee. (Love that one.) Powders that can set off a sneezing fit. Mists so foul-smelling they can knock your enemy off her feet. And of course . . . "Liquid Roadkill."

While I REALLY don't recommend trying these out in real life (and I doubt you can purchase them if you're under 18), it IS nice to dream.

On the Road

Any of you guys live near Decatur, Georgia? If so, come on down to the Decatur Book Festival this weekend! I'll be there on Sunday, September 5th, talking about my many butt-kicking heroines.

Hmmm. I Wonder Where These Girls Got the Idea

Two Swedish schoolgirls were recently fined $270 when it was discovered they had bugged the teachers' lounge at their school. Figuring a little insider information might come in handy some day, they planned to listen in on a conference in which students' grades were decided.

Too bad one of them had the brilliant idea of posting the details of their plot on Facebook.

I hope the rest of you use your powers for good--not evil! Ha.

I Can't Help Myself

Not only are they faster than us, they're cleaner, too.

Our Ancestors Sure Were Tacky

(Above: The color-reconstructed Alexander Sarcophagus. Below: The "original.")

Okay, they're not my ancestors, and they're probably not yours. But you get the idea.

So all those beautiful white Greek and Roman statues you see in museums? They weren't always so classy. No, back in the day, they were garishly painted. (So were all those lovely temples, I'm afraid.) This isn't news to me, and it may not be news for you. But it's still a bit shocking to see color reconstructions of ancient artworks.

Or maybe it's just me. What do you think?

See more examples here

Watch Out, Laura!

Apparently squid can FLY! This is a truly terrifying turn of events. (Thanks, RL!!)

Laura Dekker Sails!

Fourteen-year-old Laura Dekker may soon be the youngest person to sail solo around the world! As many of you know, the Dutch government tried to prevent Laura from living her dream. (And let's be honest, it is pretty darn risky.) For months she was forced to live under the guardianship of Dutch child protective agencies. But now she's free, and her boat, the Guppy, set sail from Gibraltar on Saturday!

You can read more here, and FOLLOW THE GUPPY on its way around the world on Laura's website!

Bon voyage, Laura! The Irregulars are with you in spirit!

Thanks to everyone who sent me links and updates on Laura!

Humans vs Rats

OK, Explain This

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVu4Me_n91Y&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1]

This is a three-year-old boy reciting a thirty-line poem by Billy Collins. What's most interesting is how he seems to understand much of what he's saying.

Tell me this kid wasn't a poet or professor in a previous life.

Horseshoe Crabs Freak Me Out

OK, so this is the National Geographic photo of the day, and they'll probably hunt me down and riddle my body with elephant tranquilizer darts if they find out I posted it.

But I just had to ask . . . Do you find horseshoe crabs as creepy as I do?

I've heard hundreds of thousands of them swarm certain beaches in New York Harbor every spring. I gotta go see that sometime.

The Eternal Ones is Out in the UK and Australia!

Yay! That is an emu, isn't it?

The Eternal Ones is Out in the UK and Australia

I know there are quite a few Aussies who read my blogs (hi guys)--and I have family in the UK (hi Francesca). So it gives me great pleasure to announce that my new book should be on bookstore shelves!

Here's an interview I did with Spinebreakers in the UK! (There are some pretty amazing authors interviewed on the site, in case you're tired of me.)

And an interview with the wonderful Sarah's Random Musings. (Love that name.)

A quick chat with Shooting Stars Mag!

And another interview with The AnaRissa Chronicles!

Thirteen-Year-Old Conquers the Fashion World

Here's something I've been meaning to write about for ages. Did you know that one of the most popular and influential fashion blogs on the Internet is written by a thirteen-year-old girl?

Her name is Tavi Gevinson, and she started The Style Rookie when she was eleven. Today, her blog is read by designers, magazine editors, and anyone else who takes fashion seriously. (I like to think of her as a real-life Betty Bent.)

When The Style Rookie first began attracting tens of thousands of readers, many accused Tavi of being a fraud. The observations and writing were too sophisticated and clever to be the musings of a young girl, they said. ("They" being people who hadn't met many thirteen-year-old girls.)

These days, the diva who describes herself as a "tiny 13-year-old dork that sits inside all day wearing awkward jackets and pretty hats" can be seen on the front row of many a fashion show. And she's proof of just how much can be accomplished if you ignore all the naysayers and just do what you love!

Read more about Tavi here.

New York Times Best Seller!

Oh wow. The Eternal Ones just made the New York Times Best Sellers List! (Week of 8/29)

I can't quite believe it! Thanks to everyone who bought the book!

Late At Night, He Practices Without the Gym Mats and Safety Gear

Thirteen-year-old Hibiki Kono lives in Cambridge, England. In this video, he demonstrates the use of his latest invention. Going by all the safety gear on display, I'm guessing the film was made at Hibiki's school.

Here's my question: So where does Hibiki go when no one is watching?

Public Service Announcement

Think your school day starts way too early? You may be right! Take this article to your principal!

Am I Sick, or Is This Funny?

Google Street View is a never-ending source of entertainment. And TERROR! Recently, people viewing the English town of Worcester were horrified to see the motionless body of a girl lying face-down in the road! Had the Google Street Van captured the evidence of a terrible crime/accident?

Shocked good Samaritans all over the world insisted on an investigation.

Here's what they uncovered . . . the body belonged to a 10-year-old girl named Azura Beebeejaun. And she couldn't be more alive. Here's what she told a British newspaper . . .

"I fell over while I was playing with my friend and thought it would be funny to play dead. I'm quite chuffed I'm on the Internet."

And a STAR! Azura, you deserve to be in show biz!

See the image that started the controversy here. And be sure to check out the other amazing Google Street View finds listed at the bottom of the article. My favorite? The Man in White.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Day Has Arrived!

Don't walk, don't run, SPRINT to your local bookstore! Kidding, of course! I'm trying to think of something I can do to celebrate. You know what? I think I'll have hot dogs for lunch. Cause that's the kind of classy chick I am. (No. I am not joking. Sorry vegans. There's a really awesome hot dog restaurant near my house. See, that's why New York is great. We have restaurants exclusively devoted to gourmet hot dogs.) Then, maybe I'll walk on over to the local bookstore and see if there are any bright red books on display. (Or maybe not. That kind of thing makes me anxious.) If any of you have a suggestion for my day of leisure, please don't hesitate to send it in.

I've linked to a number of new interviews below. And please, now that you know everything about me, don't assume my identity. Unless you have a really good idea for a novel you'd like to write. In that case, feel free to be me for a while.

Check out author Ally Condie's blog! She'll have a review of TEO and possibly even an interview with moi! Those of you who can't stomach another word about me, you should definitely read up on Ally's upcoming book, Matched. It is awesome. Truly awesome.

Here's my interview with Hope's Bookshelf!

My interview with The Story Siren!

My interview with Bookworming in the 21st Century!

(By the way, these are all wonderful book blogs for those of you who are into the whole reading thing.)

And last, but certainly not least, I've been told that my guest post on Montana Irregulars awesome blog (which is devoted to the weird and wonderful) will be up later today!

I think I'm up to date, but if I've missed anyone, please write in and yell at me. (Tomorrow, please. Today is my special day!)

The Eternal Ones is Out Tomorrow!

Deep breath. There have been times when I thought the day would never come, but tomorrow The Eternal Ones will be in stores everywhere. I posted the photo below (scroll down) as a way of communicating how I've felt for the past few days. (Because sometimes even writers find themselves at a loss for words.) In case it wasn't clear, I feel humbled, excited, terrified, and somewhat worried that I might get eaten. (Which you know is my personal phobia if you've been following my interviews.)

So many people have put so much work into The Eternal Ones. Just check out amazing website for the book--or the website for the Ouroboros Society. Of course that's just the stuff you can see. Much of the work was done behind the scenes. I'm sure even I witnessed a very small part of it. But I am truly grateful for everything.

Thanks so much to the brilliant ladies and gentlemen at Razorbill and Penguin. Thank you to all the bloggers who have featured The Eternal Ones (yes, ALL of you). And thank you to the Kiki Strike fans whose encouragement has kept me writing for the past five years.

I hope you all enjoy The Eternal Ones!

The Eternal Ones Comes Out TOMORROW!

Wow. It's hard to believe that the day is finally here! It feels like The Eternal Ones has been in the works for ages. And now it will be on bookstore shelves. I'm thrilled and terrified! (Forget that. I'm not scared of ANYTHING! Ha.)

I would like to thank my Kiki Strike blog readers. I'm sure you're all eager for The Darkness Dwellers (Kiki 3), but you should know that you help make ALL of my books possible. Writing can be a very lonely profession, but I've always been able to stop by Ananka's Diary for a visit with a few hundred of my closest friends. (And yes, I do consider you all friends!) Your support is incredibly important to me--both personally and professionally.

As for the few of you who have been with the blog since its early days (Kitty, Falcon, Jin Ai, BL--sorry if I've missed anyone), I just want you guys to know that I'm truly in your debt.

So thanks again, everyone!

Insect Sushi

(Photos of more tasty treats here!)

Got a dinner party coming up? Interested in learning how to craft such culinary delights for your friends and family? Check out Japanese author Shoichi Uchiyama's book of 79 insect recipes. According to the Telegraph . . .

The onset of autumn in Japan means that spiders are presently Shoichi Uchiyama's preferred insect dish, gently boiled and served on a bed of rice. The meat, he said, is soft and reminiscent of simmered soy beans.

"Domestic spiders are large at this time of year and the females are carrying their young in their stomachs, so they're both tasty and healthy."

You know, I find insects and spiders as unappetizing as most Americans. But I have a feeling we'll all be eating them in the future. They're cheap, plentiful, and packed with nutrients. And farming insects would be much easier on the environment than raising cattle, pigs, or poultry.

So all I can say is **holding nose** bon appetit!

Monstrous Wildlife

Monstrous Wildlife from Frank Robnik on Vimeo.

Stay out of Nevada!

Possum Pedicure

Words fail me. Thanks, Kitty!

Soon You Will Know Everything About Me

The lovely, charming, and talented Andrea Cremer has been hosting me on her blog this week! Click here for an interview, a guest post, and Andrea's review of The Eternal Ones. Thanks so much, Andrea! (And be sure to check back in October when I host Andrea and review her novel Nightshade, which features one of the most kick-butt heroines since . . . well since Kiki Strike. Ha!)

I've Finally Found the Perfect Sport

I'm happy to hear that competitive lockpicking (called "locksport") is becoming more and more popular . . .

Locksport fans compete in several formats, including head-to-head contests that determine the fastest lock picker. In the so-called Locksport Wizard, each contestant is given a burlap sack containing an identical set of locks and is required to blindly pick them using only tools they have put in the sack.

In other challenges, participants have to pick their way out of handcuffs before attempting to defeat a set of locks. There also are competitions to disassemble locks and reassemble them properly.

This sounds like just the kind of exercise I've been looking for! Maybe I should start my own club.

Read more here.

Adorable . . . or Disgusting?

Baby tarantulas!

From Tunedbeat, who has some amazing spider photos.

Here's something else I just found . . .