March 31 Snowmelt Report

We are making progress, though not as quickly as we would like...

Chisago Lakes

Yesterday I enjoyed a lovely visit to the Chisago Lakes area, about 45 minutes north of the Twin Cities.  I spent a couple of hours at the high school (Go Wildcats!), and did a late afternoon program at the Chisago Lakes Area Library.  






Below, a picture of me holding an invisible basketball.

And here I am with media specialist Mary Berning.








The visits were funded by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment for Clean Water, Outdoor Heritage, Parks and Trails and Arts and Cultural Heritage.  This great program is bringing authors and other artists to regional libraries all across Minnesota, and I'm proud to be among the authors involved.

My Mom Will Be Watching

I will be appearing on Almanac tonight to talk books with Cathy Wurzer. 7:00, tpt channel 2 if you're in the Twin Cities area.  If not, I think you can stream it.

March 23 Snowfall Report

March 21 Snowmelt Report

Mary is getting impatient!  First full day of spring and you still can't see our house (behind the right side of the snowbank).  Our neighbor's roof is showing, though.  And green spears of iris are poking up on the south side of the house.

In other news, for those of you in the Twin Cities area, I will be appearing on Almanac (tpt channel 2) this Friday evening to talk about books, including The Big Crunch and Blank Confession.  It will probably be snowing outside.  Good night to sit in front of the TV.

March 18th Snowmelt Report

The Twilight Saga: I think this abridgment is brilliant...

...and I've had it floating around on my desktop for the past year or two. I would like to see more of this cartoonist's work, but I don't remember where I got it, and I don't know who she is.  Anybody recognize her work?  Help!

(click for bigger)

UPDATE!  I have been informed that the artist is Lucy Kinsley.  She's good.

"Certain Time-Traveling Cybernetic Organisms"

I've mentioned before that I often make crude little sketches for visualization purposes.  The SF trilogy I'm now working on, The Klaatu Diskos, features certain time-traveling cybernetic organisms known as "maggots." Here's a preview.

Speaking of visual aids, here's one for those of you who live in the snowless south: a shot of Mary standing in front of the snow pile across the street from us, in the church parking lot.

We are taking bets on when it will completely melt.  My guess is April 16th. Which is also the date of the Minnesota Book Awards.  Blank Confession is one of the finalists.  I have some tough competition, though:

Misc. Book News

The Big Crunch, I'm pleased to say, has been receiving more than its share of excellent reviews. I just read one on the Kirkus Reviews website that is particularly nice.

In other news, The Obsidian Blade (the first book in "The Klaatu Diskos" trilogy) has been delivered to Candlewick Press. We're looking at an early 2012 publication date. I'm deep into book two now, trying to tie together human sacrifice, post-physical intelligences, Amish Jews, the origins of Christianity, and tomato hornworms. Have faith.