Goodness! I have a lot of things to update. Here’s me downloading my thoughts to get them off my mind and on my blog.
one
I have spent the last two weeks in loungewear, lying around and reading books while my family did all the cooking, cleaning, and laundry. If I did go somewhere, my husband drove me and carried any bags I might have. (Thank you, Walt. Let’s stay married forever.)
Doesn’t that sound like heaven?
You’d think, but no. I have reached my limit on post-surgical rest.
Someone must have cut the “Fall Risk” bracelet off while I slept the day after surgery. I was very concerned that it had disappeared without my knowledge. Also without my (lucid) knowledge? A couple of hospital selfies I discovered on my phone, just now, as I was looking for this photo. Who knows what other mischief I got up to under the influence of heavy narcotic pain meds?
Thankfully, I am feeling better every day. Today I even got to drive myself to the grocery store (but I left the groceries in the car for Walt to bring in when he got home).
Thank you to those of you who have so kindly checked up on me.
two
We had a lovely Christmas at home. (Walt did everything while I lounged around opening presents. Seriously, that man.) Here we are in our new Christmas Eve jammies—or at least, Hannah and I. Walt hadn’t changed yet. Probably too busy cooking and cleaning. (I like him.) Hannah’s pjs are under her new Harry Potter snuggie.
We always open new pjs and new books on Christmas Eve, right before making a super fancy dinner of hotdogs or chicken apple sausages, roasted in the wood stove. (The next day Walt made a prime rib dinner. I’m renewing his contract for another year.)
I like the way we do things around here.
two-point-two-five
We spent days doing this puzzle.
There ended up being three two pieces missing. A third was found in the dog’s mouth.
Though the journey was enjoyable, that destination was quite unsatisfying. We never got to put in that final piece!
Agony.
three
If you received a bookstore gift card as a holiday gift, and need help deciding what to buy, here is a handful of my favorite books from this year. This is off the top of my head, and not at all exhaustive. If you want more recommendations, check out my Goodreads page.
- I Am Otter, picture book
- The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, picture book
- Shooting at the Stars, picture book
- The Book with No Pictures, picture book (or rather, pictureless picture book)
- Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times, middle grade fiction, fantasy
- The Only Thing Worse Than Witches, middle grade fiction, fantasy
- Lockwood and Co. #1, The Screaming Staircase, middle grade fiction, fantasy
- Hope is a Ferris Wheel, middle grade fiction, contemporary
- All Four Stars, middle grade fiction, contemporary
- Trust Me, I’m Lying, young adult fiction, contemporary
- Noggin, young adult fiction, contemporary with a slight sci-fi bent
- The Cure for Dreaming, young adult fiction, historical with a paranormal bent
- We Were Liars, young adult fiction, contemporary
- Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Other Lessons from the Crematory, adult non-fiction, memoir
- The Golem and the Jinni, adult fiction, fantasy
You could also just go ahead and order Hook’s Revenge, if you haven’t already. I mean. If you want.
four
Last month I did wonderful events at Rediscovered Books and the Library! in Boise, Idaho and the Miami Book Fair in Miami, Florida. Each one deserves its own blog post, but this is the best I can offer at the moment. I am, however, very grateful to have been invited.
four-point-one
I went to a party in Miami. Judy Blume was there. No big deal. (OH MY GOSH SUCH A HUGE DEAL!) I didn’t talk to her, but I was almost close enough to smell her hair.
No, you’re creepy! No you!
five
I thought I was done thinking about Serial, but then Jay did an interview and now I’m thinking about it all over again.
What’s on your mind today?
P.S. I was interviewed last month on the Kirkus blog about Jocelyn, fairytales, and whether girls need rescuing.
Betsy Bird named Hook’s Revenge a favorite debut of 2014 on the School Library Journal Blog.
And, Hook’s Revenge was named one of the top 100 books of 2014 by the New York Public Library. (!!!!)
