There’s a new interview and Seraphina giveaway up at Mostly Reviews today. Thanks, Veronica, for inviting me to do this!

In other news, I am working super hard, writing like a writing fiend, revising the sequel. I think it’s going well. I’m certainly enjoying it more than the first time through.

I will be at Calgary WordFest next week. Expect posting to be light.

I’ve been nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award!

For the non-Canadians among you, that’s a Canadian award. The Governor General is the Queen’s representative in the Canadian government, a ceremonial and Constitutional position. Here’s the Wikipedia article, which explains the office in more depth than I’m prepared to.

Of course, my husband and I had a good deal of fun this morning imagining what would happen if I won. I’m still pretty new at being Canadian. I assume one dresses up to meet the GG, but then what? Do I curtsey? What if my latent southern accent pops out, as it sometimes does when I’m nervous? I almost feel like Seraphina herself, worried about my manners.

But! Let us not count chickens before they hatch! It is a huge honour just to be nominated, and I say that with gratitude and proper Canadian spelling.

Ah, it’s good to be back! The leaves started changing in my absence, and it’s nice and cool (compared with LA!). My son and dog are glad to see me – can’t speak for the frog or ‘mander – and my husband managed to leave Japan before the typhoon hit. All’s well.

Can’t quite relax yet, though! This afternoon at 2pm, I am appearing in the Authors Tent at Word on the Street, an annual celebration of books and literacy. The Authors Tent is on Homer, across from the library. If you’re available, come one down!

I’ll be at the Santa Monica Barnes & Noble tonight at 7pm!

And then tomorrow I go home. I’m ready to be home, friends, although in some ways it feels like this tour has zipped by at lightspeed. It’s been exciting and exhausting, together.

Thanks again to all the wonderful bookstores, schools, libraries, author escorts, the good folks at Random House, and above all the amazing READERS who listened so attentively and came out to see me in five cities. Y’all were great, and I appreciate your time and enthusiasm.

And hey, Vancouver: I’m coming for you! I will be reading at Word on the Street on Sunday! The US tour may be finished, but I have a several Canadian events coming up in October, in Calgary and at home. I’ll keep you posted as they become finalized.

Hi, all! I know it’s been a few days since I checked in, but I was so busy in San Francisco that I really didn’t have time to sit down and post very much. I gave talks at two lovely schools in Petaluma, and then had a pizza party at Copperfield’s Books on the first day. I want to give a big shout-out to all my new friends in Mr. K’s class, who drove all the way down from Santa Rosa just to eat pizza and ask awesomely intelligent questions!

Then the next day I gave talks in two more schools, Crocker and North Shoreview, and ate excellent Mexican food with some new friends from Books Inc. I signed stock at Booksmith and also at Alexander Book Co, where a very special Seraphina fan had baked me some cookies (delicious!). After that, we were off to Barnes & Noble El Cerrito for a store event. We had a good crowd there, who also asked some wonderful questions.

My flight to LA got me in rather late (well, late for me; I am old). I was up at 6am, after (not quite) enough sleep, and then off to Adams Middle School for two presentations. These were extra special: I got to meet fellow YA author Wendy Delsol, and we conversed about our books, our inspirations, our convoluted roads to publication, and whatever else the kids asked about. It made a welcome change from the speech I’ve been giving for the last two weeks, and it’s always great to learn about someone else’s experiences.

Tonight: I’m appearing with Wendy Delsol at Mysterious Galaxy, Redondo Beach, at 7:30. Tomorrow: Barnes & Noble, Santa Monica, 7:00 pm.

Chicagoland, you were wonderful. I spoke at four Naperville middle schools and was so moved and awed by the kids’ enthusiasm. They asked wonderful questions. At one school they lined the hallway with pictures of dragons in my honour. I was really touched.

Events at Warren-Newport library, Anderson’s Book Shop, and B&N Old Orchard went beautifully and were excellent good fun. Thank you, thank you, to all the librarians and bookstore staff who made these happen. I felt so very welcomed, and again, it was so lovely to meet people who’d read and enjoyed the book.

Today, I fly to Seattle! Tonight’s event is at 6pm, at the Seattle Public Library, Northeast Branch. Dragons welcome!

Hello darlings! I’m on tour. Please do check the “Appearances” tab, above, to see where I’m going to pop up next! (hint: Chicagoland!)

I hit the ground running yesterday, starting with two school talks. To my new friends at Haverford High School and Radnor Middle School, thank you so much for having me. You were wonderful listeners, and asked good questions. And I do believe I glimpsed some future writers out there in the audience. It takes one to know one; I recognized that look. I look forward to reading your books someday.

Then last night I did an appearance at Children’s Book World in Haverford, PA, the store where I used to work. In fact, I was working there when I first began writing Seraphina. I formed a small writing group with some friends, and the first chapters of the first draft were written for that group.

It was so nice to be able to start the tour among dear old friends. The wonderful ladies at CBW know how to throw a good party, so while it stormed outside (did it ever!) we ate cake and gathered around for a question-and-answer session and book signing. A million thanks again to Hannah, Heather, Sara, Ann, and all the gang there!

That was a single-day stop. I’m in the Chicago area for the next three days before moving on to Seattle.