On the day of I SO DON'T DO SPOOKY's release...the unexpected happens

Yesterday, i so don't do spooky was unpacked and set up on shelves in bookstores all over the U.S. and Canada. No doubt the unpacking will continue the rest of this week (maybe Random House releases books on Tuesdays so that they're out of boxes and ready to be bought by Saturday?). Nonetheless, Sherry and company were out and about in the world yesterday, and I'd planned a nice day to celebrate.

First, I had breakfast with my writing critique group, and you know how much I love them. Next, I bought a beautiful gold stamp pad to use with the new acrylic stamp (cute robot) that I'll use at signings. Then, a couple of bookstores emailed to ask me to come in and sign stock. Which I happily did. Very fun.

And then I picked up Child #3 and drove him to the high school for his math class. (Remember he's my brilliant 8th grader who inherited his father's math gene and goes to high school for math). Child #3 asked me to wait in the parking lot for him as a treat so that he didn't have to walk back to middle school. I had my laptop and had left Sherry and Josh in a bit of an argument, so was glad to sit in my van and write for an hour.

Which turned into more than an hour BECAUSE THE HIGH SCHOOL WAS PLACED UNDER LOCKDOWN!!! Two men were burglarizing a nearby house. The owner came home, interrupted them. They stabbed him, then ran out. At least one of the suspects, THE ONE WITH A GUN, ran onto the high school campus!

Child #3 was barely in the classroom, when the door was locked behind him. Which means my curly, blond-haired angel was walking outside on campus at the exact same time as a crazy criminal with a gun! Yikes. Yikes. Yikes.

Anyway....no students were injured. I'm not sure about the condition of the homeowner, but I think he's okay based on the wording of last night's news report. The suspects are still at large.

And that, my dear bloggy friends, is story of i so don't do spooky's release day!!!

Now, on a happy note, please pop over to Shelf Elf's blog where she has a delightful interview with me. Seriously, she asked some very fun, very different questions. And she still has falling snow!

Oh, and Happy Birthday to my sister!

Bah Humbug!

Oh, bah humbug.

I am so grumpy today.

Child #4 has gone off to Girl Scout camp for the weekend. She was ready to go. Alas, her mother was not so ready.

This evening is dh's office holiday party. I am not the least bit interested. I just want to stay in my own little home and have take-out sushi. And wear my jeans and a soft sweatshirt. And continue reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Which I am enjoying muchly.

But Dh is refusing to let me back out.

I'm not feeling the love for a holiday party. Even with my sequined black dress, chosen for me by Child #3 a few years ago.

I'm still not feeling the love. Even with my tacky dangly candy-cane earrings.

Oh, oh, oh! Wait! There is a very, very lovely review of i so don't do spooky by the one and only Shelf Elf! That elf has such a way with words; I love to read her reviews. Also, there is falling snow on her blog!

I'm off to get ready for the party. And who knows? I might actually have a fine time!

How the World is One Big Shrinky Dink

You may or may not know that I was recently in Toronto. Of course, you know! I was there for FOUR WHOLE WEEKS and blasted you with blogs and My Town Mondays from there.

Anyway, while in Toronto, I visited The Flying Dragon Bookshop, located on Bayview near Eglinton. I realize that tossing off the street names means little to most of you reading this blog. BUT, as someone who is SEVERELY directionally challenged, I'm thrilled that I can actually remember this detail!


The Flying Dragon is this really amazing independent bookstore with a great kids' section. And, well, a great adult section too. And, well a great...Actually, it's an all round great bookstore. Besides the wonderful selection of books, here's an interesting tidbit: The Flying Dragon puts together themed book baskets. A COMPLETELY RANDOM example: if you wanted a mystery book basket, they might include a copy of I So Don't Do Mysteries. Ha! Anyway, themed book baskets. What a novel (pun intended!) idea!

Back to the story. I stop in at The Flying Dragon Bookshop to meet Cathy Francis, the proprietor, and to drop off an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) and some bookmarks.

Cathy and me, sitting in the brand new Author's Chair! (Why don't I ever remember to push up my glasses?!)

So, I'm chatting with Cathy (who is very friendly and fun and knowledgeable). We're talking about blogging and online stuff and I pull out the Class of 2k8's very cute brochure. The convo goes more or less like this.

"Oh, I know about the Class of 2k8," Cathy says.

"Wow. That's great," I say. "How?"

"One of my Saturday employees is a blogger and she told all of us here about you guys."

"Which blogger?"

"Shelf Elf."

Oh my gosh!!! So, Shelf Elf, a terrific kidlit blogger, works Saturdays at The Flying Dragon Bookshop!

I squeal (professionally, of course!), then race back to my car to grab an ARC for Shelf Elf.

And guess what? Shelf Elf read the ARC right away. And posted a lovely lovely review.

You can read the review here.

To recap: I wander into a bookstore in Toronto, learn that a kidlit blogger works there on the weekends, leave said blogger a surprise ARC and, voila, a book review!

That, my dear blogging friends, is why I say the world is one big shrinky dink. Who knows when or where or how we'll meet up with each other.