Hangovers

Hey, look at this, a blog post about Other Things. Have I mentioned how much calmer I feel after just three days back into the routine of early morning writing? I LOVE the book I'm working on (though also heart-clenching terror I won't be able to do it justice, etc., as per usual). So all to the good. But now closing some tabs:

• I know I'm constantly saying what a great literary culture Lexington has–and particularly how fortunate we are in terms of bookstores and booksellers–but now I have proof I can point you to. Author Holly Goddard Jones is doing some interviews with some of our most fabulous bookstore people about what makes Lexington so special, as well as their experience in terms of events, the importance of handselling, etc. So far she's talked with Brooke Raby from Joseph-Beth Booksellers and Wyn Morris from Morris Book Shop. I adore them both. (Next up is Crystal Wilkinson from the Wild Fig–who's not only a bookstore owner, but an amazing writer.) These interviews are must-reads for authors, I think, or anyone who cares about books, really. I would have told you, pre-book coming out how important I thought booksellers are in the whole literary continuum, and that would have been EXTREMELY…but now having had a book come out, even still in the early stages, I realize they are Even More Important Than That. All the love for you, booksellers.
• If you haven't checked out Sara Zarr's podcast on and called The Creative Life, well, why not? Also, give her a nice ranking while you're at it. She'd like to expand to include artists and creative peeps from other disciplines, but she needs to establish a bigger following first.
• Andrew Karre saying very smart things–as usual–about the YA boom from an editorial perspective over at Mitali Perkins' blog. Snippet: "For me, genres are campfires around which artists gather, not ways of understanding an audience for art or entertainment."
• io9 covers The Great Geek Sexism Debate. Nora Jemisin also has a fantastic post. See also: Genevieve gives an important update on the fallout post-Readercon harassment; I am so proud this woman is my friend. She rocks.
• Catherine Linka on the importance of hooks. In stories, not clothing, natch.
• A tour de force piece of fashion writing from Movie Star Makeover on the pencil skirt. I loved this.
• Flying Parisian Houses at Messy Nessy Chic.

Clearing out tabs annnnd go:

• A conversation with Cassie Clare and her dad Richard Rumelt; a fun read, and one with important takeaways about thinking strategically.
• Cynthia Leitich Smith has great tips for public speaking and panels.
• Katherine Ashe with a great guest post on the literary merit of romance.
• Cheryl Klein with a smart writing tip from the creators of South Park.
• Photos from the 1970s country music scene (Dolly!).
• My Bookish Ways top 25 most anticipated releases for September (which kindly includes Blackwood).

And a couple more Blackwood reviews–both from UK bloggers–that made me radioactively pleased:

• From Cara at the Tattooed Book (and Waterstones bookseller): "Blackwood is excellent, intelligent, YA aimed fantasy. For anyone struggling to keep a teenager engrossed in reading, or maybe even tempt them back after they've had a break, this is the kind of story that will reel them right back in!" (Yay!)
• And from Beth Kemp at Thoughts from the Hearthfire: "I picked the book up to have a quick flick through the beginning and rapidly found myself deep enough in to need to finish it (ahead of other review books that had arrived sooner – argh!). Thank goodness books don't feel jealousy!" (I would marry this review if I could! It describes exactly the book I wanted to write.)

Aside: I really love all the UK blogs I've discovered this year, and these two are both fab.

Okay, off to Chicago for things! Launch day nigh!

• It's been too me-me-me around here lately (okay, so this is my place, but STILL), so first off some links to elseplaces I've been collecting. (And then another me-me-me post. SORRY. It's book launch time. *runs around with hair on fire*)
• A fascinating map of Europe's "typogeography"  circa 1901.
• The most excellent Austin Kleon at PW on how his book tour made him fall in love with independent bookstores: "It took me going on this tour and discovering what independent bookstores have to offer to learn this lesson: the best salespeople are the ones who are in love. Whether they’re yours or not, if you love books, you can’t help selling them."
• And via Austin's tumblr, an interesting collection of "15 Rules for Success by Creative Industry Insiders." Good stuff there.
• Zoë Marriott with a typically great post on writing, this time tackling "rules" about pacing and other things that may lead to watered-down–rather than good–writing.
• "Everything is Fiction" by Keith Ridgway at the New Yorker: "I need to care about what I’m writing—whether about the characters, or about what they’re getting up to, or about the way they feel or experience their world. I know that my job is to create a perspective. And to impose it on the reader. And I know that in order to do that with any success at all I must in some mysterious way risk everything. If I don’t break my own heart in the writing of a book then I know I’ve done it wrong. I’m not entirely sure what that means. But I know what it feels like."
• Sara Zarr continues to share her journey in admirably open, honest fashion.
• Two links about Angry Robot's Clonefiles experiment, partnering with an independent bookstore in England to offer customers who buy Angry Robot physical copies a free digital copy, and the results: at FutureBook and the Digital Reader. I was particularly struck by the comments from the bookseller perspective, from Mark Thornton:"Suddenly indies are able to take their traditional strengths – edited and curated choice, personal service and recommends – and stick a 'plus digital' on the end. It is genuinely a game-changer. … But Clonefiles has been much more important than that. It has allowed us to engage with customers and break the 'ereader taboo' with people coming into the shop." If you care about these things, well worth reading the whole pieces.
• And some good advice, as usual, from Gretchen Rubin:

• Four more Margaret Mahy tributes that are not to be missed: from Elizabeth Knox (who also did a long-form documentary interview with Mahy a few years back);  from Kristin Cashore; from Karen Healey; and from Jolisa Gracewood. Alarmingly, I've seen several people say various brilliant works by Mahy are out of print here. U.S. publishers, get cracking.
• Love this cartoon advice at the Guardian from Tom Gauld on how to cope in these tough times.
• New Katherine Mansfield manuscript discovered.

And a few promo-type things:

• I started a pinterest board for Blackwood, if you're interested in seeing some of the history and real-world haunts therein. It will grow a bit more, and I'm going to make ones for the main characters–Phillips and Miranda–as well, over the next month. Pinning is a little bit addictive, but guessing you already knew that.
• Also, I'm SUPEREXCITED that I'm going to be heading down to Roanoke Island for a Blackwood pre-release signing on August 16 at Duck's Cottage Downtown Books in Manteo. The exact times are still being nailed down, but I'm hoping to be hanging out there most of the day, and there's an art festival going on too–so if you're nearby, day trip! Come and say hi and get an early copy of the book. There may be some other events added to the calendar soon. And I plan to pick up some excellent swag for a few extra-special release giveaways. *rubs hands together*
• And speaking of Strange Chemistry…since not everyone can make it to the August 23 official launch at the British Library (fancy, right?), they're running an online launch competition. You can get the details at this post, but basically all you have to do to enter is review, highlight, interview, etcetera, etcetera someone or something to do with the first batch of SC books and add the link to the Mister Linky. The winner will get their choice of a kindle or 12 months of free Strange Chemistry titles. You can't beat that.

• Haven't watched the new Bunheads yet, but this week's discussion thread is here.
• "The mysterious coffins of Arthur's Seat."
• Lauren DeStefano on giving the kindness of respect.
• Erin Bowman on different types of cliffhangers and the purposes they can serve.
• Mette Harrison collects some pieces of wisdom from WIFYR 2012. All good stuff, and several bits of pure genius from Cynthia Leitich Smith, including: "Remember when Jennifer Grey fixed her nose and became as good-looking as every other actress? Don't take all the flaws out of a manuscript."
• Mary Robinette Kowal guests on the SFWA blog with a smart piece about outlining.
• An interesting post on metadata. (Via Sarah Rettger.)
• Matt Cheney serves up a brilliant setdown to Dwight Allen on that obnoxious piece about Stephen King with "Re: Your Stephen King Problem."
• Myra McEntire has put her fabulous UtopYA keynote address up: "That’s what writing is really about. You, and the page.  What you can produce, what you have the imagination to create, and what you have the dedication to perfect." Read the whole thing.
• Leila has started making a list of YA featuring alchemy; a topic near and dear to my heart, obviously. Go Team Alchemy.
• Serendipity Reviews profiles Strange Chemistry, including comments from editor Amanda Rutter and a bunch of us Strange Chemists on how much we love our robot/chemist overlords.
• For now, I leave you with Biodome Lynx Kitty.

Another crazy week, another crop of quick links.

• "25 Bone-Chilling Photos of Abandoned Places." (via Dave Schwartz, I think.)
• Want to age well? Letting go of regrets may be the key: "Perhaps it might be better for us to feel the pain of such missed opportunities when we are younger so that we learn from them and make better choices in the future.  But when we are older, the future gets smaller, and so do the opportunities to correct previous missteps.  So, as we age a more effective strategy is to let go of the things we’ll have little opportunity to fix."
• Oh, Nora Ephron, your wit and heart and writing will be missed. The NYT obituary (now that's a life) and some of her writing from the New Yorker. She was a big part of my discovering old movies when I was younger; I still remember staying up late to watch An Affair to Remember after seeing Sleepless in Seattle. And I love so many of her movies. Sadness, but, again, what a life.
• An interview with the ever-fascinating Junot Diaz. 
• Kelly posts at Stacked about ALA and ARCs, sparking a raging discussion in the comments and on twitter. Well worth following, though I'm sad the tone seems to be taking a turn for the dismaying.
• Sarah Maas makes a compelling Pinterest argument. Anyone got an invite to scoot my way? *makes productive procrastination-y eyes*
• An analysis of how starred reviews tally among Printz winners and honors, and how often the stars align with each other. Charts! Math! Very interesting.

• Nora Jemisin on magic not always needing to be rigidly codified, since it's, y'know, magic. Snippet: "Magic is the mysteries, into which not everyone is so lucky, or unlucky, as to be initiated. It can be affected by belief, the whims of the unseen, harsh language. And it is not. Supposed. To make. Sense. In fact, I think it’s coolest when it doesn’t."
• Holly Black on the write faster project's early results. Also: I bookmarked the recipe for red wine pasta, which sounds delish.
• A goodreads case study of book discovery.
• In praise of a good literary slap. (Via Leila.)
• NPR wants your nominations for best YA novels.
• G. Willow Wilson does a Book Notes for Alif the Unseen, one of my favorite novels of 2012 thus far, and a great one to pair with Matt Ruff's fabulous thriller The Mirage. (I also did a short interview with her about Alif for PW earlier this year.)
• Revision tips from Kristin Cashore.
• The one and only Ursula Le Guin on literature vs. genre. Snippet: "Anybody who reads a lot is, if you like, an addict. The people who put their initials on the fly-leaf of a library copy of a mystery so that they won’t keep checking the same book out over and over are story addicts. So is the ten-year-old with his nose in The Hobbit, oblivious to dinnertime or cataclysm. So is the old woman rereading War and Peace for the eighth time. So is the scholar who studies the Odyssey for forty years. The very quality of story is to hold, to fascinate. Ask the Wedding Guest to stop listening once the Ancient Mariner gets going. He can’t. He’s hooked. Sometimes you get hooked on mere plot, sometimes on mere familiarity and predictability, sometimes you get hooked on great stuff."

• A nice piece in the Courier-Press about Ursula Nordstrom and Maurice Sendak's editorial relationship.
• A book a year is slacking? (*cries quietly*)
• A great post by Coe Booth over at the VCFA faculty blog, about the "fragile stage" when a project is new. (Via Cynthia Leitich Smith on twitter.)
• New study suggests readers engage in "experience-taking": "Kaufman and his co-author Lisa Libby of Ohio State University suspected that when people read a fictional story they vicariously experience their favorite character’s emotions, thoughts and beliefs in a process that’s been dubbed “experience-taking.” Now they're researching how long and profound that effect may be.
• Could I love Tim Gunn anymore? No. But this post from Janet Reid just confirmed that again.
• Robin LaFevers on the process of going deeper as a writer.
• Gavin sends out an alert that the very funny UK TV show, The Book Group (which we actually only saw originally because he and Kelly showed it to us, bless them) is now on hulu. Go watch.
• A great feature on Lexington's plethora of great used bookstores. 
• Baby rhino.

(*crawls slowly back into writer cave* Behind on email, but hoping to catch up soon!)