Katie MacAlister

FTF

2008-05-09T16:10:53Z

Today's field trip is courtesy of an e-mail that's being passed around showing the absolutely amazing body painting work of Guido Daniele. I'm just in awe of his abilities to paint hands to resemble various animals.

Guido's site in English

In addition, I wanted to mention that Brenda Novak's yearly auction for diabetes research is now in full swing, and there are many fabulous items available. This year, I'm donating all the profits I would have seen from a master class at Writer University, which will be held (I believe) in January 2009. Since Mr. Katie used to have diabetes, I'm a big supporter of Brenda's auction. Which reminds me I need to go browse some of the offerings again...

Kinda groovy

2008-05-09T03:05:07Z

Penguin Putnam put an ad in today's USA Today newspaper. Geek that I am, I saved a copy. My husband says I squealed when I saw it, but I maintain I was dignity personified.

Squee!

[Thumbnail links to a bigger picture]

Gah!

2008-05-07T15:29:15Z

Thank you all for the lovely supportive comments yesterday in the face of my angsting over Playing With Fire being out early in some stores. I much appreciate all the warm fuzzies, not to mention the kind comments about the book itself. I’m so tickled it’s finally out and I can talk about it, since I love and adore the dragons, and am having more fun with them than I can possibly explain. I’m just thrilled that May is now out there starting to tell her story, and that Gabriel is getting his time in the sun. So to speak.

Today I really, really, really need to get cracking on the next vamp book, which will follow Zen and the Art of Vampires. I’m still waiting to hear from my editor about Zen, however, and that’s causing me to drag my feet a bit. I’d hate to start writing this beast only to find out my editor objected to some thread in the first book. I don’t think she’s likely to, but hey, I’m Irish–we worry a lot. It’s our job, and dammit, we do it well.

Whilst I am off worrying and angsting, and trying to wake my muse up and get her back to work, here’s a hump day question for you all: what’s your current favorite breakfast food?

Good News Tuesday

2008-05-06T13:27:11Z

My good news is going to be rather obvious--it's release day for Playing With Fire! Hurrah for Gabriel finally having his turn in the limelight.

I just sent out the official release newsletter (which you can find online if you haven't subscribed to the newsletter, although I have to raise an eyebrow at the very idea of not subscribing), so now the official "waiting to see how it will do on the bestseller lists" angsting can begin. That's opposed to the unofficial angsting, which is a general state of affairs here at Rancho Doghair.

Given that the book has been out early at some bookstores - causing much rending of clothing, general wailing, and muttered dark threats - I assume that the pre-release sales will significantly lessen the impact it will have on the bestseller lists. And while it's true that the lists are really only ego fodder (although the marketing folk like good hits, since they use them to get the big book buying accounts excited about subsequent releases), it has made for a frustrating few weeks here while the publisher tried to figure out just why the book was being sold ahead of time.

Regardless of all that, it's pub day, and that's always a time of celebration. In recognition of this event, I hereby give you leave to celebrate all day. And share your good news, too - because what's a celebration without good news?

Dishy Wet Guy Monday

2008-05-05T15:00:45Z

Erik is a model. He’s a tad too skinny for my taste–I prefer men with a bit of bulk to them, so that should I fling myself upon them, they would be able to survive without toppling over backward–but I can only assume that he will fill out as he gets older.

Field Trip Friday

2008-05-02T15:00:05Z

I'm going to have the refrain "Can I get a napkin, please?" going through my head all day, I just know it. And since I must share my torment, here's a link to Food Court Musical.

The janitor is definitely my favorite.

Happy Friday everyone! It's the end of my last week of non-writing, so I'm going to do nothing but play today. Well, and update my website, and deal with some reader mail, and try to update my spreadsheet o' contract info, and brace myself for edits on Zen and the Art of Vampires, which should be hitting me any minute...ugh. Maybe I'll just play.

More Foreign Cover Fun

2008-05-01T19:25:27Z

I’ve been trying to update my records with a list of what books are published where (since April saw the publication of the German version of Sex, Lies, and Vampires, and May will bring with it the UK version of Sex and the Single Vampire), and after much investigative work…well, OK, I made my darling agent Michelle get a list from my publishers…I ran to earth a couple of foreign edition covers I hadn’t seen before.

I won’t tell you which is which, although the first one ought to be easy enough to guess.

[This is published in the Czech Republic, BTW]

Russian vamp book

Another Russian vamp book. OK, it’s one that follows the previous cover. That’s all the hint you’re getting from me!

And last but not least, because how could 1980s classic romance cover be least? I mean, seriously! Look at that faaaabulous artwork. *cough*

Good News Tuesday

2008-04-29T13:01:37Z

We’re a week away from official pub date of Playing With Fire, and I’m celebrating that with a book video that Justin, my web designer, whipped up.

Playing With Fire Book Video

Your turn to share with the good news!

katiemacalister @ 2008-04-28T06:54:00

2008-04-28T13:55:23Z

This Monday brings with it Dustin.

Ignoring the odd wrinkle of his ab muscles (they look fine in other pictures, so I think it's just his odd position that makes them look so strange), I have to admit to admiring him.

I mean, how can you help but like a guy who rolls around in the sand? Or at least allows a photographer's assistant to artfully dab sand about his person.

I wonder where I can get a job as a photographer's assistant...

Field Trip Friday

2008-04-25T16:44:53Z

It’s Friday again, and given that I’ve spent my entire morning fighting with a new skin for my message forum (now disabled, since I can’t get the blasted thing to work properly), I am desirous of some entertainment that doesn’t in any way involve me figuring out CSS.

Luckily, I have my friends Brian and Tobias, both of whom sent me amusing links. Brian’s offering was a news story about penis theft, which is evidently rampant in parts of the Congo. Who knew?

Tobias’s link is definitely Not Safe For Work or Young Eyes Let Alone Those Who Are Easily Shocked, and is for the 10 Funniest Typos Ever. I dunno if that title is correct, but I have to admit to giggling at a lot of them.

Good Newsy Stuff

2008-04-22T14:14:56Z

While I may not have any extraordinary good news, the morning has started out sunny, and that always gives my spirits a boost. I know other people are similarly affected by sunlight in that way--sunny days always make me feel more energetic, happier, and ultimately, more productive--which is rather unfortunate given that I live in an area known for its endless days of grey drizzle and cold.

Perhaps that just makes me cherish the sunny days all that much more...that and my SADD light which I must turn to in the depths of winter to keep from having the winter blues.

But today is sunny, and hopefully will continue to remain that way, and that is going to qualify as my good news. My intention is to put all the sunshine-related energy to work on answering some of the questions sent me for the most recent Pick Katie's Brain, and possibly even (gasp!) answering reader mail.

And you all? What good news are you celebrating?

Dish Guy (Katie Can't Resist Stubble) Monday

2008-04-21T17:34:15Z

I'm weak, I admit it. When I saw this picture of Demtrios...

...I was in stubble and manly chin heaven. Then I saw a close up, and melted completely.

Must...resist...chin...

Weirdest. Weather. Ever.

2008-04-19T11:17:07Z

Seriously–we in the Pacific Northwest are having completely bizarre weather. Not only did we have a record-breaking hot day a week ago (it hit 82 at our house), but yesterday it started snowing. In April. In Seattle. The city that freaks out whenever an inch falls.

This was the view that greeted me this morning.

Note the forlorn little bottle of deck cleaner (guess the hub gets out of that duty this weekend) and poor overwhelmed railing planter.

I figure we’re due for an earthquake or volcano eruption next. Just to keep us all on our toes…

FTF

2008-04-18T15:32:06Z

It's Friday, Mr. Katie's birthday, and thus I declare it official Be Silly day (Mr. Katie has spent the morning playing with his Area 51 Ooze). To that end, today's field trip is to a very silly site: Monty Python's Spamalot games!

And as a bonus FTF, I bring you a video that gives me no end of enjoyment: Christopher Walken and Fatboy Slim!

Best Intentions and All That Crap

2008-04-17T16:44:51Z

Today, after dealing with some of the reader snail mails which have been collecting in a large wicker basket I use for just such a purpose, I decided, being all virtuous 'n stuff, to do a Pick Katie's Brain session and answer some reader questions which you folk have so kindly sent me. I toyed with the idea of even making a podcast out of it, such was my mood.

Imagine my distress when I went to load up my folder of PKB questions, and found that the whole damned thing was gone. Somehow, somewhere, at some time, an evil fairy logged onto my computer and deleted that folder, because it's sure as shootin' gone, and I don't remember doing it.

This, then, is a call for another round of Pick Katie's Brain questions. You can repeat prior ones you sent in if I never got to it, or you can come up with all new fabulous Things You Want Katie to Answer. As before, I retain the right to gently set aside any questions which deal with subjects covered in upcoming books, which might give away plot points, or which are clearly intended to show my ignorance of all things quantum physics (I distinctly remember attending quantum physics classes when I went to my local university, but I'll be damned if I can remember much from them).

You may either post questions here, or e-mail them to me. If you do the latter, please put some sort of an indicator in the subject line that it's a Pick Katie's Brain question, else it'll get stuck in the E-Mail Queue of Hell.

And speaking of that, I'm off to beat my way through the e-mail queue (now at October 2007!) since I am positively glowing with righteousness.

Hump Day Q

2008-04-16T18:21:45Z

Here we are at Wednesday again. How the week does pass when one's time is spent in frivolous pursuits, rather than gainful employ. I've enjoyed every minute of it, however, but that's neither here nor there. Your question of the week: what frightens you?

Good Gnus Tuesday

2008-04-15T15:22:25Z

My apologies for missing yesterday's Dishy Guy. Life was a wee bit hectic around Rancho Doghair, and it just slipped past me. Looking past my slacker ways, let's focus on something good.

My good news is that I may have something to announce soon about the Ben and Fran books. Although it might not be quite what everyone is expecting.

Other than that, I got my taxes done, and am almost through the latest batch of reader letters requesting goodies and such. Yay for reclaiming my dining room table again!

Your turn to belly up to the bar with good news.

Field Trip Friday

2008-04-11T16:52:48Z

Hee hee hee. I'm giggling over the Low Budget Star Wars link someone sent me. The space battle scenes had me snorting so loud the dogs gave me the eye.

That quickly changed to woofing (the dogs, not me) when the Fed Ex lady brought me Playing With Fire author copies.

The cover is full foil, which is just so pretty I had to grab a picture of a couple of the books. And yes, they're resting on the copy edits for Up In Smoke, which I'm about to mail back to the production folk at NAL.

[My blog tends to crop the pictures I stuff in it--you can see the full thing here.]

Yay for a little time

2008-04-10T16:55:07Z

I'm late as always, but I finally got the Ghost of the Chance podcast done. Now I can get back to answering some of the Pick Katie's Brain questions...

HDQ

2008-04-09T16:57:20Z

It’s that time again–humpy day questions and answers! Your question today: do you feel you are creative, and if so, in what capacity?

I ask this because although I feel I have literary creativity, I sure seem to lack it in other artistic senses. My mother and my sister both paint (you can see some of my sister’s works online), but although I used to dabble in art eons ago, I haven’t so much as even glanced at a paintbrush in at least twenty years.

I guess we just have to go with what we’re good at. Or at least what we’re comfortable doing, which for me means indulging in my warped sense of humor.

Good News Tuesday

2008-04-08T15:13:22Z

Yes, it's Tuesday again, the day when we all trot forth our various and sundry tidbits of good news, and attempt to look modest and humble and as if we in no way deserve such good news, when the truth is we secretly know we not only deserve it, but really should have much, much more. Quite possibly something involving large quantities of chocolate, money, and well-oiled men, but we won't go into specifics here.

My good news for the week is that I'm indulging myself while I slave over hot copy edits. My indulgence includes a couple of visits to Audible.com, and one to the BBC America shop. And I did my Mother's Day shopping early!

And now it's your turn--spill with all your good news!

Hee Hee Hee DGM

2008-04-07T16:55:55Z

So, I was out and about looking for a DGM picture for today, and I ran across this one.

And all I could think of was, “What the hell is the photographer thinking having him pose like that?”

Alas, poor Ben is too young and too skinny for me, but I figured some of the younger set might like him. And those of you with some years on you can stand in the back with me and giggle.

FTF Fun

2008-04-04T16:47:58Z

I would say it's a sad commentary on my artistic abilities that the elephants featured at the Asian Elephant Art and Conservation Project can paint better than me, but since the paintings go to raise money for the conservation, I shall gloss over that and simply say hurrah for painting pachyderms.

You can see videos of the elephants painting at the site above, browse individual artists' works for sale, and get all the poop (not literally, I hope) on how project itself. There's also further info at the Snopes site, for those of you who, like me, tend to be skeptical of such things.

Hump Day Silliness

2008-04-02T14:48:59Z

I am clearly having one of those days in which I play a character in a slapstick comedy. I say this after having an episode in the bathroom in which I managed to spread cinnamon-flavored toothpaste on the sink, counter, myself, and amazingly enough, toilet seat. It was only by a dint of superhuman abilities that I managed to get some into my mouth.

Thank you all for the good wishes regarding Migraine From Hell. I am pleased (and very relieved) to say that after a nap and a second application of ibuprofen, it faded away to nothingness, leaving my brain to feel as if it had just suffered through a lengthy battle. I don’t often get migraines (for which I’m intensely grateful), but the few that I get are enough to stir my utmost sympathy for those of you who do.

And now for your hump day question, based on my recent experience: do you have slapstick days, and if so, what did you do in your most recent one?

GNT

2008-04-01T15:11:23Z

My good news is a bit twitchy today, since I am recovering from Migraine From Hell (I know, all migraines are from hell, but I get them so rarely I am always deeply offended when my body basically shuts down while I curl into a ball and sob softly to myself), but it is good news nonetheless.

Mmm. I'm looking around my room office to make my abused brain think of some good news, and nothing in particular is occurring to me. I guess we'll just go with the fact that the migraine seems to be abating, and I can now move without screaming. Yay for happy blood vessels and all that!

Please feel free to share your own good news so that I can point out to my errant brain what sorts of things it's missing by requiring me to curl up in a chair for three hours with a comfy blanky and a Zen full of Sherlock Holmes radio serials.