Hangovers

I feel bad about just popping up here with a few little links once a week, but I don't see time for much more until the big deadline is vanquished. Considering an Actual Hiatus, but, in the meantime, some things I've magpied during breaks lately:

• Some interesting thoughts on Amanda Palmer's TED talk from Chuck Wendig and Justine Musk (I still have to watch it, but am enjoying all the discussions here, there, and everywhere).
• Children's literature veterans share stories from back in the day at PW. Great stuff, and as proof a snippet from George Nicholson at Sterling Lord: "Together with other young editors and friends, we moved about the city in packs, reveling in 25-cent shots of rye from the many Irish bars then along Sixth Avenue in the 40s, all called we thought The Shamrock. When the work day was done we often gathered in hotel lobbies, checked the listing for professional organization cocktail parties upstairs and found that we could easily, with our fine wardrobes, pass for members of the Westchester Medical Association or the Plumbers Union or whoever was serving free drink and food. When discovered and politely asked to leave, we thanked our hosts and said we must have gotten the wrong ballroom."
• I really want to see this documentary about famous conjoined twins The Hilton Sisters.
• Virginia Morell on the latest research on what animals are thinking and feeling: "Through experiments and close observations, researchers have discovered that at least one species of ant engages in a form of teaching; parrots likely give names to their chicks (a finding which opens the door to the possibility that they are having some form of conversations); moths remember that they were caterpillars; whales and cows have regional accents; rats dream and laugh; cheetahs may die from being heartbroken; and cats can get their owners to jump to their feet and feed them by crying like a human infant."
• Also at Slate, an enticement to read Shirley Jackson, should you need one.
• The magical properties of mercury, an article filled with wonders like this: "The vapours given off by this extraordinary element are highly toxic. In the 19th century, a process called "carroting" was used in the making of felt hats. Animal skins were dipped in a solution of mercuric nitrate which turned the fur into a matted felt. The fumes given off by this process poisoned the brains of anyone in the vicinity, causing an epidemic of psychiatric problems among workers in the hat industry, hence the phrase "as mad as a hatter." " Bonus: alchemy talk.
• Carrie Frye and Maud Newton on Thelma and Louise. I love this SO much. Favorite thing.

Still crazy busy, swirling deadlines and revising going on, so just a few quick hangovers and then poof! I'm gone again for a bit.

• Locus has put together a cool new supplement that includes all the reviews for the books on its 2012 Recommended Reading List (including Blackwood, which is on the First Novels list). I believe this is the first time they've done this, and so I wanted to point to it, since I know plenty of librarians and booksellers drop by here from time time. You can get it from Amazon or direct from Locus as an epub or PDF for $2.99. Here's the description of the contents:

"A special supplement to the Locus 2012 Year in Review issue, the Year in Reviews features our list of recommended 2012 book titles — Science Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, and First Novels, plus Collections, and Anthologies — with their respective Locus reviews or write-ups from the magazine. The supplement includes reviews of nearly 150 recommended titles, linked directly from the Recommended List, to be used as a reference for readers, book buyers, booksellers, librarians, and collectors."

• The Oscars were so awful that I stopped watching not far in. The reasons why are pretty much nailed in this NYer piece. See also: Nora Jemisin's excellent post about the enraging reaction to the young, confident, fabulous Quvenzhané Wallis. And Ms. Libba Bray breaks down the humor and how the best aims higher.
• The Town That Spent 25 Years Underwater.
• Your brain on books. (Via Stacked.)
• Austin offers some thought-provoking–as ever–ruminations on the idea of artist disclosures about how it's not always going well all the time and 'the myth of artistic genius' and etcetera. (Trust me when I tell you: It's not always going well all the time. And etcetera.)
• Ancient magma oceans on Mercury.

Well, hello there. I did warn you I might fall off the face of the earth. Whole worlds–well, plots, lots of plots–have been constructed since my last post. Which is to say, Mexico was lovely and productive, as always. Just being in such a gorgeous place with some of my favorite brilliant, hilariously excellent people was reviving and sanity-saving, not to mention the margaritas and chocolate cake.

Anyway, I'll probably be scarce on the ground for a bit as I'm revising novel with deadline looming. (I've been tumbling more, because quick and easy, so catch some stuff there.) But! Now! Things!

• Members of SFWA, your nominations for the Nebulas and the Norton (the YA SFF award) are due by midnight tomorrow PST. (I really can't bring myself to do a separate post about this, but Blackwood, yes, is Norton eligible. And my beloved Christopher Rowe's "The Contrary Gardener" is eligible in the Nebula novelette category. If you included either of these in your ballot, I'd be happy. But, as ever and always, nominate what you like best. /end obligatory cringe-inducingness) 
• Dogs who don't know their own size. 
• Champagne cocktails.
• Love this 1930 photo of Miss Hera Roberts and the story behind it (and her).
• Pablo Neruda to be exhumed.
• Resurfaced files raise questions about Capote's In Cold Blood. One of my favorite books when I was in high school, and a belief in its perfect veracity was never why.
• Omnivoracious made a supercute map of American love stories for today, speaking of which…
• Happy Valentine's Day! I have my issues with this holiday, but I still enjoy the years I get it together enough to send crappy drugstore valentines to friends (this was not one of those years! next year!). So virtual duct tape roses and real wishes of loveliness to you all.

• Trying not to disappear, but no time for a real post either. So, some hangovers.
• Chicago's decaying movie palaces. (Via Daniel Kraus.)
• Marie Lu on the rejection all authors have to prepare for at Pub Crawl: "No agent or publisher will ever write you a rejection as blunt as some readers will write."
• The Theology of Angel at the Awl. (Also at the Awl, Carrie highlights Victoria Grayson's triumphs, er, or mishaps, as Hamptons hostess.)
• Cory Doctorow writes in very clear terms about piracy and the impacts of publishing mergers and related things.
• Fab Onion AV Club interview with Amy Sherman-Palladino (Bunheads feels like it has truly clicked in these last couple eps–and, yes, it's back). Snippet: "So it’s not that you don’t want notes as a writer. What you don’t want is: You’re given a note, and for whatever reason you do not agree with that note. But it is not taken as, “This is a creative debate. We’re debating this, and in the end what’s best for the show is going to win.” There’s a feeling in a lot of these situations where the network gives notes, the studio give the notes, and if the writer does not simply take those notes, the writer is viewed as disrespectful—and that is the problem."
• Release the Kraken. They found one. NIGHTMARES.
• Thanks to Jeffrey Scott Holland for giving me and Blackwood a shout-out over at Kentucky Forward in his latest column there.
• Daniel Defoe as the original Lemony Snicket? Or something like that. Fascinating. (Via Gabrielle Gantz.)
• R.L. LaFevers has a great new column at Writer Unboxed: Embrace the Naked.
• Katherine Langrish on the mythology of white ladies (supernatural variety): "Ghost stories often come complete with ‘explanations’ for the apparition – explanations which usually feel contrived.  Frequently they involve some sort of crime: the ghost is unable to rest because it is either the victim or the perpetrator.  White ladies are often described as murdered brides or sweethearts, or else girls who have drowned themselves for love. They are frequently associated with water."
• My agent Jennifer Laughran guest blogs for Amy Spalding and writes about…Annie! I was somewhat obsessed with the movie as a child. (Read: completely.) Snippet: "Despite the fact that I was white-blonde, afraid of dogs, a decent but not great voice, two left feet, and showed no particular signs of any other talent, when I was like 6 I became completely obsessed with some rumor I’d heard, or invented, that there was soon going to be an Annie 2, and if I could get to the audition, I would get my turn as the red-headed, dog-loving, singing, tapping star." This is my favorite thing this week. I'm calling it. Go read the whole thing, and watch the clips. (And see the commemorative plates!)

• Just a few little links of note to pass on, for those of you lounging, feeling superior because you've done all your shopping, made all your plans, finished your novels, and lectures, and reading commitments… Where was I? Right. Links.
• Casey Wilson does the math on gender dominance and the NYT bestseller lists for children's and YA. Interesting findings. 
• Genevieve Valentine's next novel will be Glad Rags, out from Atria in 2014. *flapper confetti canons* Go congratulate her. 
• And speaking of friends with good news, have you congratulated Mr. Barzak on his first novel being made into a movie yet? Get to it.
• An old, but well-worth-your-time entry from Toby Buckell on piracy and being a writer. (Argh, matey.)
• Jincy Willett shares Microsoft's suggestions for spelling corrections for her new novel.
• And, finally, the top 25 zooborns of all time. For me, it's all about number 6. 
• Happy holidays or holidaze, whichever the case may be.

• I feel bad that I seem to hardly ever post about what I'm reading these days, but I'll try do better next year. I do my best to update the reading list with recommendations, though I feel like my reading has suffered this year numbers-wise. Anyway, two amazing books I've finished recently about which I'll have more to say here or there (there being Locus), when I have a little more time: Bennett Madison's September Girls (Outer Banks-set, which you obviously know I love, and mermaids, which are usually a hard sell for me…but these are not the usual mermaids; a new book from Bennett is always a treat and this one is delicious) and Laini Taylor's Days of Blood & Starlight (amazingAHmazing, even better than Daughter of Smoke & Bone–wrenching, beautiful, special, and fearless).
• Seanan McGuire with a thoughtful take on the digital divide, considering e-book access and poverty.
• Kate Elliott has some interesting meditations on reviews and on our more linked-up world of readers. 
• Among the best of lists I like to keep an eye on this time of year are the romance ones. Eloisa James picks her faves of the year for NPR and I already see two of my favorite writers there–Ilona Andrews (Steel's Edge is in my stack) and Meljean Brook (whose Riveted I thought was wonderful)–so I'll have to check out the others.
• The University of Chicago's Indiana Jones mystery has been solved, but oh, what a great story it is.
• A fascinating interview with Junot Diaz at Lightspeed, where many topics are discussed, including genre hierarchies and Bradbury's "All Summer in a Day."
• Lee Child on creating suspense. (Hat tip to Kim.)
• Sara Zarr on a year of podcasting. You are checking this one out, right?
• Special mummy ray gun design flaw.
• Fancy writers are coming to guest at the Bluegrass Writer's Studio MFA program residency, complete with public readings, and the Herald-Leader reports. I am not (even anywhere close to) the fanciest, but I will be a guest and my reading is at 7:30 on Saturday, Jan. 5, at the Hilton Downtown, and–bonus–my divine agent Jennifer Laughran will also be there, as she's coming in to do a joint panel session with me earlier in the day for students. The reading is open to the public. So come, local peeps. I'll read something new. (And I'll remind you again closer to the date.)
• As many of you know, I love Miss Universe. I love the National Costume portion best of all. And it's time, friends. Genevieve has helpfully pulled out the…best…and provided commentary. Happiness.

• The wonderful Cynthia Leitich Smith on paying it forward and supporting new voices. This is such a great post, and from someone who truly practices this. I am so grateful for all Cyn's–and everyone else's–support this crazy debut year (and throughout my writing life). It has made a world of difference. And I try to pay back that karma whenever I can. Love y'all.
• Terri Windling has a big holiday print sale going on. These make great presents–for yourself or for someone else. We have several of Terri's pieces, and looking at them never fails to make me happy.
• Justine Musk has a brilliant post on process over perfection, and the power risking imperfection can bestow.
• Gillian Berry offers a report on a recent YA panel on gender in YA fantasy. 
• Agent Michael Bourret on the changing YA/children's NYT bestseller lists.
• TCM's video tribute to movie professionals who passed away in 2012. We lost some greats this year.
• Austin Kleon's year in reading; full of interesting stuff. I just started the David Byrne book.
• Tansy Rayner Roberts rounds up some more gender and historical accuracy in fantasy-related posts.
• And over at the Midnyte Reader you can read all about Libba's and my event at Oblong Books and win signed goodies. Go forth and enter.

• Novel draft currently sitting at 323 pages with about three or so chapters to finish, which means it will be the longest book I've written. My goal is to get the last chapters all drafted by Sunday afternoon so that I can cart my print out along for the polish and read-through pass next week, which is a flurry of travel and things, ending up with a whirlwind trip to NYC and out to Rhinebeck for the Oblong Books event (preorders available if you want a signed copy but can't make it). Anyway, I love this weird crazy book but am nervous as hell about it, and will be glad when it is complete and out of my hands for a bit. (No, this isn't The Woken Gods. This is secret book.) (NYC peeps, I hope to see some of you–will be in touch.)
• I can't remember if I've mentioned this here, but I am SO excited to have an essay (mine's called "Asking for a Friend") in the upcoming collection of essays about The Mortal Instruments series from Smart Pop Books, Shadowhunters and Downworlders. Here's the TOC and some info from Cassie, as well as a link to her introduction. Check it out.
• Malinda Lo has a couple of must-read posts this week: Heteronormativity, fantasy, and Bitterblue Pt. 1 and Pt. 2.
• "The Rise of the Backdoor Fantasy Story" by Annalee Newitz; I love these kinds of books.
• Helen Lowe talks with one of my favoritefavorite authors Elizabeth Knox at SF Signal.
• A really interesting profile of the generally delightful Tavi Gevinson. I do wish she seemed to like or read modern YA–though perhaps sentimentally, because her inspiration for Rookie was Sassy, which introduced me to the Weetzie Bat books (and many other wonders). Still: Rookie is great.
• RT rounds up some page to screen deals, including Blackwood (which makes me happy because I adore RT). 
• Fabulous keynote address text from Beth Kephart at Publishing Perspectives: "Lamp Lighters and Seed Sowers: Tomorrow's YA."
• "Derelict to Divine: Charlie Chaplin's London Water Tower Home."
• Skulls carved from books. And, on that note, happy weekending.