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Almost 43 years ago, Phil and I built this table top from assorted pieces of wood—burana, olive, rosewood, koa. It sat on two clay sewer pipes temporarily, until we could have legs made, and we made it big enough to seat all the children we thought we’d have. As it turned out, we chose to have one child and a lot of childish friends.  To celebrate our anniversary, we just had legs made and the top refinished—well, not refinished too much. I didn’t want to lose all the scars and scratches that held beloved memories.  

I am attempting to bend my historiclal-fiction mind into fantasy shape and so, to inspire me, I’ve been reading fantasy. The results? Feh, ugh, eww, eh, and, finally, wow! The wow book is Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey, and I loved it. It’s mysterious and romantic, about truth and friendship, loyalty, courage, and trust. Tess, half human and half fey, longs for her place in the world. She wants more than marriage and an ordinary life but what does she want? And then she runs afoul of the witch hunter…I enjoyed the book so much that I sought out Janet’s first dragon story, Dragon’s Keep, and I am gobbling that one up, too. Thank you, Janet. And to paraphrase Oliver Twist, may we have some more please?

We have been living in a winter wonderland. Today was the first day I left the house in a week. Snow that piled up on the driveway and the street kept us pretty much snowed in, and then freezing rain hit, but at least we had electricity. Without it, we would have no food, no heat, even no water since the well pump is electric. Luckily Washington winter only lasts a week or so. Any minute I’ll start seeing green shoots peek out of the ground. I do love the change of seasons (except when it turns hot). Happy winter to you all.

Here for your enjoyment is the cover art for Will Sparrow’s Road, due out in fall 2012. I think it’s quite wonderful and hope all you readers are intrigued enough to watch for the book. Will Sparrow, liar and thief, is running away—from the father who sold him for beer, from the innkeeper who threatened to sell him as a chimney sweep, from his whole sorry life. Barefoot and  penniless, without family or friends, Will is determined to avoid capture. “I care for no one but myself and nothing but my belly,” he says over and over. Will he ever find supper, boots, someone to trust, and a reason to stop running?

See, this is why I shouldn’t have a blog. I cannot be trusted to post with any regularity.  I hope you had a splendid holiday and that we all have a great New Year. 2012 is the year Will Sparrow’s Road will be published so I anticipate much excitement and quite a lot of anxiety during the months to come. Stay tuned for news of both.

Can you see the two deer in the yard? I couldn’t get closer without scaring them away. The island is home to many deer families. My favorite is a mother with her two fawns. We often see them at the side of the road and pray they avoid cars, bicycles, and people. Unfortunately deer like to eat what people like to grow. I have taken to planting only what deer won’t eat so we are on friendly terms at the moment. These deer were eating the weeds that we call “grass.” Deer are much more pleasant than power mowers, and they fertilize the ground at the same time.

I am sitting in the lobby of Chicago’s Palmer House, nursing a glass of wine and staring at this fabulous ceiling. There’s no way I can capture its glory. I’m in Chicago at the annual National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) conference, on a panel about revision with Randy Boomer and Nancy Roser from the University of Texas. We are looking at very early drafts of Catherine Called Birdy. Gulp. Alchemy and Meggy Swann was named an NCTE Notable Book, and we will celebrate that next. All in all, I am having a wonderful time, and there are no dishes or laundry to do. Ahhh.

The very awesome Linda Sue Park was in the neighborhood for an event and I was thrilled to have her come to the island for lunch and a catch up. She lives in Rochester, New York, almost as far away as one can get from Vashon Island, Washington, so we do not see each other nearly often enough. With her in the photo is Laurie Thompson of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, who kindly brought Linda out here. We writers sometimes lead very solitary lives, and it is very special when we can spend time with others experiencing the same joys and woes.

I am writing and rewriting the author’s note for Will Sparrow’s Road. It’s always something. But this is the view from the window in front of me so things are good. Otis the cat is not chuffed about the weather but he does like to sneak out once in a while between raindrops and drink from a puddle. I sure would like to see inside a cat’s brain sometime. Or maybe not. Happy autumn to you all.

Last weekend we went to the sheepdog trials here on Vashon Island. We sat in a light drizzle and watched gallant dogs try to direct stubborn sheep from one end of the field, through some gates, and into a pen at the other end. The sheep do not want to cooperate. One of them—tired of being pushed around, I guess—turned and went for the dog. Both were quickly escorted from the field. I tried to get a photo with my cell phone but from our perch on the hill, all you could see in the picture was a black dot following behind a bunch of white dots.  Here instead is the poster. If you live in or near the country, see if there are sheepdog trials near you. Watching them is relaxing, funny, exciting, and helps you forget about your real-life problems for a while.