casa del lobos

When I was your age, television was called books.

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I am determined to get this blog entry written before the end of 2010, and so here goes.

Philadelphia was a wonderful whirlwind. The reading at Moonstone Arts Center (aka Robin’s Books) was a small but enthusiastic audience. It was also broadcast live, so my kids got a chance to see their mama on the computer, which was a thrill for them back at home in Chicago.

I am grateful to Kyle Cassidy and Trillian Stars for their support, hospitality, and efforts to spread the word about the reading.

Reading at Robin's. Photo by Kyle Cassidy.

A big thank you to the folks who came. I’m so happy to have met you, and I hope to see you again in Philly. My only regret is that I didn’t get a chance to have my cards read by the lovely Amy. Next time for sure!

I nearly didn’t make it home due to blustery weather in Chicago that caused my flight to be canceled. As luck (or quite possibly by invoking the magical flight mojo of the infamous Lorraine) would have it, I was the last stand by called to board the final flight to Chicago. Came home to sick kids and snowy weather.  Ah the glamorous life. 😉

Then school parties, holiday parties, family gatherings. All lovely and filled with people I love. We decorated Casa del Lobos, baked cookies, wrapped presents, unwrapped presents, sang, danced, watched holiday specials and read holiday books.

Now a week of winter break remains. We’re planning a movie marathon with the kids for New Year’s Eve that includes some of our favorite 1980s fantasy films: Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, NeverEnding Story, Princess Bride, Ladyhawke, Muppet Movie. We’ll see what else is added to the list.

Suggestions?

Stop

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It’s a quiet, rainy Fall morning at Casa del Lobos.

I love this weather, this time of year. Life is busy but good–full of people I love, activities I enjoy, events I believe in. My only concern is that it’s a bit too full, too hectic. I feel like I’m missing moments and instead am being pulled along by the strong current. Soon I will need to stop, to have a series of quiet, rainy days full of small moments of kids and husband and writing, to enjoy meals and play and watching the leaves fall.

In the meantime, there are books and writers and artists and fashion and varenyky/pierogis and coffee. Always coffee.

In a few minutes, I need to make phone calls and figure out details for the book signing on Saturday, October 23. I haven’t mentioned it yet, but there will be free pierogis and a fabulous vorozhka/fortuneteller doing complimentary tarot readings. If you’re in the Chicago area, come to Lincoln Square and stop by the Book Cellar, 7-9pm. There will be quite a party if the facebook responses can be trusted.

We’re starting to put other cities on the tour schedule, finalizing details with book stores. It’s all rather surreal, this business of sharing my book, The Silence of Trees, with the world.

I had dinner with some friends last night (or rather some fiends *wink*), and the conversation turned to The Silence of Trees. I felt shy.

I rarely feel shy, but finally sharing this book has made me feel vulnerable. Maybe it will be like that with every book? Maybe not. I guess I’ll just have to keep writing and publishing to find out. (I’ll keep you posted.)

It’s interesting because I made my peace with being a “public” person when I began actively engaging people and communities online, back around the time of the Amazon ABNA contest. I grew up with a father in the Illinois Senate, a very public personality, so this is not new to me. I know this blog is online and available to people. However none of that has made me feel as exposed as the reality of my book published and out in the world.

There’s thunder now, and lightning. At 8:42 am! I missed Chicago thunderstorms when we lived in Germany. I always feel like they help to clear my head.

Much of my time over the last few weeks has been filled with literary business: the book launch and also the Induction Ceremony for the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. I need to write more about that; it deserves its own post. In the meantime, mark the date: Saturday, November 20, 2010. I invite you to join me at Northeastern Illinois University. Drinks, hors d’œuvre, and desserts are included in the $45 ticket price ($35 for students).

I’ll follow up with a more detailed post. It’s going to be a fantastic event, and I hope that you can come out and celebrate Chicago’s literary history with me! (I’m going to be wearing a fabulous new hat!)

That’s a good beginning to the update. There so much more to write: Cabaret, wine with writers, cocktails & conversations with the cast, Amanda Palmer, and Neil Gaiman, creative collaboration…

Until then, enjoy the rain if you have it.
xxo

Iguanas, bushes, and bees

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This was exactly the kind of Monday morning I needed: I had a full pot of coffee, the day was gray and cool, and my youngest slept in until almost 10am, allowing me to have 1 1/2 blissful hours of quiet all to myself. So very grateful.

This weekend I met up with my friend Alla (of Prairie Sunshine Yoga) and her daughter, my goddaughter Ksenia, for a delicious dinner at West Town Tavern, followed by crepes and coffee at The Iguana Cafe (with a real iguana!). The “European-style cafe” has a diverse crowd (which makes for great people-watching) and awesome crepes.

Sunday we spent shopping for bushes and trees for the front lawn, and then planting. The kid were (mostly) cooperative. Fuzzy photo taken on the laptop before we left to go shopping:

It felt so good to dig in the dirt, to begin to reshape the landscape around Casa del Lobos! Of course the shrubs are small and still overpowered by the house, but that’s part of the fun of it–watching everything grow over time. I haven’t really minded leaving any of the homes we previously  lived in, but I have always missed the flowers, bushes, and trees.
And speaking of nature, I found a bee in the girls’ closet today.
A bee! In the closet.
The door was shut; the closet is on the second floor; and we haven’t had the windows in their room or closet (yes, there are windows in the closet) open yet this Spring. It’s another Casa del Lobos mystery, like the hole in the basement.
I’m a bit concerned about a potential hive up in the attic, but I also choose to take it as a good omen: bees figure prominently in the book I’m working on at the moment. So I caught this little bee and set him free outside.
If he was sent by my muse, I get the hint. I’m going to hurry up and finish editing this book.