Artwork

Today my editor sent me a sneak preview of the artwork for my new book, Rodney Robbins and the Rainy-day Pond. It is fantastic! I don't think I'm supposed to reveal who the artist is, but I will say that the style is just exactly what the story needs. I'm thrilled to finally see Mr. Hamilton and Rodney come alive. All artwork is supposed to be finished by the end of December for a January 2010 book launch. That should translate into a late-Spring book in hand. Marketing is hoping to get the book on some summer reading lists.

Last week I sent October Bell out to five more publishers. We'll see what happens with this batch. Somewhere out there is a publisher who is just right for that story.

Two Roads

Okay, so this isn't a running blog, but I must report that I ran my fourth marathon on Saturday. Twenty-mile-per-hour winds were a definite factor as was the reality that I would be running the distance by myself (oh, and 1499 other runners) due to my running buddy's having begged off four weeks previously. At the starting gun, I choked back tears: the last thing I was looking to do was run for nearly five hours in my Polartec mittens. (It was 37 degrees.) Instead I desperately wanted to return to our suite at the hotel and drink coffee and watch HGTV. But alas, there was a 26.2-mile job to be done. Two roads diverged in the Huntsville dawn. I took the one traveled by crazy people. And that has made all the difference.

Here's a little unsolicited praise for Mumsi Meets a Lion from someone I don't even know in Texas:

"As part of the teaching process, we were to bring in a picture of a lion or some video footage to help understand how big they are, etc. So I brought her book about Mumsi--the kids loved it!"

It's always nice when someone else loves your baby.

What's Up

Not much going on these days other than final training runs for my December 12 marathon. I am trying to work steadily on the information needed for a new website, filling in a Google doc a little at a time.

I recently read Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. I'd heard so much about it, and in many ways it didn't disappoint. The strengths for me were the pacing and drive of the story. Each event propelled you to the next--not in a cheap thrills, cliff-hanger sort of way but in an adrenaline-charged, curiosity-killed-the-cat ride. The style was solid and non-cliched, unforced and comfortable. Perhaps if I'd read it before Gilead, I'd have been more taken with it. Don't get me wrong--I'd highly recommend it.