Hi.
How are you?
Weird? Me too.
I have lots of tiny things to talk about but none of them big enough for a real post but I’m also lonely so I figured I’d just write a post about little things as if we were old Victorian penpals. And you can leave any little bits of news in the comments and then I’ll feel like I’m not still stuck at home for the 8 billionth day in a row.
First up, next week I’m going to announce my virtual book tour for BROKEN and I’m both super excited about it (y’all, the moderators for each stop are AMAZING) and extremely worried about it because I’ve never done a virtual book tour and anything different is terrifying to me. Make sure you check back next week because it’s with some of my favorite shops and they’ll all include signed books with entry and you’ll get to go to a wonderful event and support a book store and not even have to leave your house or put on pants.
Also, I signed thousands and thousands of tip-in sheets that will be slipped into books – while watching so many seasons of Call the Midwife that I literally think I could deliver a baby now and also diagnose typhoid fever – so that I could send signed copies to bookshops all over so be sure to check your local bookshop in April. We’re so incredibly lucky at Nowhere to be doing really well (thank you!) but I know a lot of other bookshops are struggling so please spread the love. đ (Tip: If you go to Indiebound it’ll tell you what Independent bookshops are nearby.) Actually, a ton of amazing authors are sending first-edition signed copies to bookshops since they can’t tour so check your favorite store in person or online because there are some amazing signed books out now that are absolute collector’s treasures and make excellent gifts.
Speaking of Nowhere, I always go on Sunday when no one else is there. This Sunday is Valentine’s Day and if it wasn’t all covidy and we were able to actually open our doors to customers we’d be doing a Blind-Date-with-a-Book thing where we wrap books in butcher paper and write a small teaser on the front and you take a chance on love (in the form of a book) but since we aren’t open to people I thought maybe I’d do the same thing except that I’d use the slightly damaged books we can’t sell or the arcs that we’ve read and wrap them up with a teaser and place them outside for free for anyone who wants a nice surprise but the weather here is dreadful and I’m not sure it’ll be better by Sunday so we may have to postpone a week, which literally seems to be the goddam theme for the year. I’ll keep you posted on my instagram if you’re in San Antonio and want to stop by whenever we do it.
One of the things keeping me sane during quarantine is putting together these wooden kits that I’ve been doing forever. (I did a pegasus one online with the Fantastic Strangelings Bookclub and drank each time I fucked up, which ended up being a ridiculous but hilarious time and I’m surprised I was still standing at the end.) I finished this clockwork orrery last week:
(High-five to everyone who responded, “The Great conjunction is at hand!“)
I give away a ton of them but covid is keeping me inside and they were taking over the house so last night I put together a bookshelf ALL BY MYSELF LIKE SOME KIND OF GOD to get them off the table and I’m so proud of this small accomplishment that I have to share it.
(Tip #2: If you want to do these, just google “laser-cut wooden puzzles”. Etsy has lots. Ugears has good ones but I find them a bit hard because I always have to sand the pieces to make them fit. Rokr and Rolife are really good, as are Clockwork Dreams.)
So how are you? What things are going on in your life? How are you keeping sane?
Sending you hugs. I hope you can feel them.
