About bicycles

Did I mention that while I am trying to finish this manuscript, my husband is RIDING HIS BIKE ACROSS AMERICA? You heard me. The man is, well, as crazy as his wife :)

Here's his cute picture:

And, if you can't get enough Kehoe family insanity from my blog, you can follow him at his: A LAWYER ON A BIKE.

Why I Love Banned Books Week

Because those lists are filled with books I have loved so,
you know, they're useful :)

Some of my must-reads on the banned list are LOOKING FOR ALASKA, THIRTEEN REASONS WHY, THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN and, a personal favorite CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS (I mean, really?). Head over to the Academy of American Poets longer list of banned books and you'll also find GRENDEL, JUNIE B. JONES (yep), A WRINKLE IN TIME, THE BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA and so many other examples of powerful, thought-provoking BOOKS PEOPLE SHOULD READ!

Even more telling than the titles to which people have chose to object are the REASONS they don't like the books--from homophobia to objection to a particular religious viewpoint to what seems to me to be nothing less than ignorant misinterpretation of what an author is trying to do.

I know authors who wear their "bans" like badges of pride and others who are deeply hurt at being misunderstood. I feel for both types. And I am NOT a fan of people who put other people on lists and those who elect themselves arbiters of their community's morals.

Pop on over to the BANNED BOOKS WEEK website and see if you agree.

So, about that blog break... And something oddly cool

I am discovering that drafting a quick blog post helps me warm up to write fiction or get focused for freelance work or other "author business." Hmmm...

On another procrastinatory ('cuz that's a word) note, I was checking my B&N presence and noticed something cool: If you search for "The Sound of Letting Go," my book turns up first and the movie adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's amazing novel, "Never Let Me Go," is next. Why should it delight me that my lovely cover sits right beside close-ups of Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield? I don't know...but it does :)

 

PS: Should this post inspire you to pre-order my novel, let me know by midnight (Friday 9/27) Pacific Time and I will SEND YOU A PACK OF TSoLG sticky notes. Unless you live outside the US. Then I can't afford it. But I'll be super-grateful and will happily do an email interview no matter where you live in non-virtual space!

Ways I Waste Time

 

Stopping to look at beautiful things.

 

Making breakfast for my kids.

 

Reading the morning paper.

 

Sending silly texts to my husband when he's traveling.

 

Shopping for Christmas presents all year round.

 

Hanging out with my little sister.

 

No, I'm not sorry.