Just a little reminder to all and sundry that our Vancouver launch party is tomorrow evening, 7pm, at Kidsbooks in Kitsilano. I will read, answer questions, and sign books, and there will be cake. Other snacks, too, I mean, but cake is the fa-la-la of foods. It’s how you know you’re having a good time.

And then Wednesday evening – the very next evening! – at 7pm, I will be appearing with the legendary Tamora Pierce and Lish McBride (author of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, and other hilarious books) at University Book Store in Seattle.

I just leap from one amazing thing to the next. It’s going to give me whiplash. NICE whiplash, I mean, if there is such a thing.

A big thank-you to everyone who’s made all this possible: my agent, Dan Lazar; my at-large editor, Jim Thomas; my in-house editorial and advocacy squad, Mallory Loehr, Jenna Lettice, and Michelle Nagler; my hard-working publicist, Josh Redlich; the Canadian team, including Lynne Missen, Evan Munday, and Trish Kells; transcendent cover artist, Simon Prades; Phyllis Simon and all her amazing staff at Kidsbooks; my intrepid beta-readers, who helped me out of a hole; and of course my lovely, patient family.

Here’s a family member now, the loveliest, although possibly the least patient. Una says, “Leap after that book! Chase it down, and when you catch it, SHAKE IT SHAKE IT SHAKE IT!”          Photo credit: B. Oser