_

It is a week for book-related events, and this one was completely different from, and as amazing as, Westerfeld's talk on Wednesday.  I have returned from seeing Seanan McGuire and the Traveling Circus and Snake-Handling Show at Borderlands Books.  Seanan's events are always a rollicking good time--Deadline's release party revealed many and sundry interesting tidbits about the Newsflesh universe (with which I am obsessed) as well as disease, pandemics, and zombies in general.  Tonight's featured songs about how cats trained us to do their bidding, Q&A about all of Seanan McGuire (and Mira Grant)'s universes, a raffle in which tickets I held were chosen not once, not twice, but three times (yes, I am a Leprechaun.  No, I won't tell you where my gold is), and the most squeeful part of the evening, READING FROM DISCOUNT ARMAGEDDON!!!

I am so looking forward to her new series that I can't even tell y'all.  Today's event was to celebrate the release of One Salt Sea, the fifth and latest October Daye book (which I picked up the first time one of my numbers was called in the raffle, and which I haven't finished yet), so I was expecting to hear something from that book.  This would've been fine with me--I'm up on all the published Tobyverse stories, except for the short in Home Improvement: Undead Edition--but I was THRILLED to hear from Discount Armageddon.  It's the first in her new InCryptid series, debuting in March, and she just posted the cover on her blog on Friday.  This reading did not lessen my enthusiasm any!  It might have increased it!  I haven't been this excited about an upcoming series since Tamora Piece announced Terrier (which, Mastiff should be soon, and I think I'm going to a Piece event sometime in October--stay tuned), or possibly since I found out Scott Westerfeld was writing steampunk.

So next year should bring us Discount Armageddon in March, first of the InCryptid books, Blackout in May (June?), final book in the Newflesh triology, and Ashes of Honor, book six for October Daye.  Unless other unavoidable stuff happens in my life, this blog will likely cover release parties for all of those, but especially Discount Armageddon and Blackout.  (I might take the day off work when Blackout comes out.  I was useless when Deadline hit the shelves.  Since my brain's not going to be at work, why should my body go?)

In conclusion: kickass music, hilarious and interactive audience, prizes galore (no, I did not claim prizes for the other two tickets.  I got my copy of One Salt Sea and passed on the second two.  Nevertheless, tonight I was apparently magic), and surprise reading from Discount Armageddon.  Success!

Tonight I ventured forth from the apartment (where I have begun the werewolf book!  I will tell you all about it later, probably ad nauseum) and saw Neal Schusterman, writer of speculative YA novels, at a reading/signing for his new book Everfound (third in the Skinjackers series).

I have to admit that I've only read one of Schusterman's books, and it was a while ago.  But he is the favorite author of someone I know and love, so off I went to the reading and to pick up a signed book for a present.

There weren't too many of us there, which was baffling in some ways (Neal Schusterman!) and nice in others (I met and talked with people, including someone who has a local children's book event e-mail list, which I promptly signed up for).  The reading was fantastic.  He read a few scenes from the Skinjackers books, told good stories about where the ideas for those and some of his other books came from, and talked a little bit about his philosophy behind what he writes and why he writes it.  Schusterman is a good reader and a solid storyteller, in print and in person.

I had a good time, and one of the scenes he read made me cry (for those of you who've read Everlost--the first book--it's the scene that introduces the towers.  Oh, man, did that hurt), and all in all it was a pleasant evening.

The person I'm giving the book to isn't in the same state, so sadly I won't get to see his expression when he opens up the surprise package, but I can imagine it and it is sweet.

Patricia Polacco, who writes and illustrates wonderful children's books, came to my local public library and gave a reading of sorts--she didn't just read from her book, actually, she stood in front of a few dozen schoolkids and a double handful of adults and told stories.  Stories from her books, her childhood, her family's history and her town's history.

This lady is a fantastic speaker, great with kids, and suits actions to her words.  I stayed behind afterward, and she talked about supporting her local library and helping open a safe space in her community.

I wanted to track down some of her books--my library owns quite a few--but (predictably) they were largely checked out today!  Maybe next time I go I'll check out a few.