hello goodreads! hello elk!

Listening To: Old Pine by Ben Howard

Book Obsession: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. LOVED it. 

So I just got home from a roadtrip with The Rogue Accountant. At one point we were stalled, waiting for these slow-pokes to cross the road: 

Of course, my brother's reaction whenever a face-eating wild animal is in close proximity  is to roll down the window and say, “Take a picture.” 

Ever fearful for his safety, my response was, "Wait. I want one with my camera, too.” 

In the past few years, we've hit the road every summer. Quite honestly, I'm surprised he still asks me to go. Chase values solicitude and silence, especially while he’s enjoying the wild blue yonder. I, too, value nature, solicitude  and silence ... to an extent. But sometimes I get in Anne Shirley-mode and feel the need to chatter about everything. Everything. I don’t even know how I trail from one topic to the next. 

For example, at one point, while I was yammering my way down a myriad of verbal rabbit trails, I said: 

“Don’t you think it’d be fun of Rhianna and Drake got together?” 

And Chase was all, “WHAT ARE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT?!” 

*shrugs* I really have no clue. 

Now I'm home and getting excited about a fun post I get to write in the very near future. 

In the email abyss, and here in the comments, you’ve mentioned that you’d lurve to see the cover for A SNICKER OF MAGIC. I'm so excited about showing it to you. And I think we'll get to squeal over it together soon. 

My fabulous editor, Mallory (she's the lego-likeness who commandeered the sea vessel), is the boss of me when it comes to all things bookish and she hasn’t waved the checkered flag just yet for a cover reveal. But I found out today that I get to share the cover with you very, very soon. (I also found out galleys/ARC’s will be here VERY soon. Guh! :) 

If you’re down for fun clues, I think it’s okay to tell you this much: I was familiar with the illustrator’s work before I knew he'd be working on my cover. (Clue #2: He illustrated one of my favorite books, a book I’m pretty sure I’ve hocked on here a bunch.) I still can't believe he did my cover, too. I'm so excited.

In other news, I just realized today (thanks to Katie and Kara over on The Twitter!! :) that A SNICKER OF MAGIC is on Goodreads!  If you’d like to add it to your Goodreads stack, you can do that here. I rarely get on Goodreads (It's not always such an encouraging place for authors, know what I mean?), but I looked today. And it was so sweet to see SNICKER on a few shelves already. And to see the same names I see here in the comments :) Thank you so much for your excitement over the book. Thanks for being so awesome. If I could give you cupcakes, I would. Or maybe some flowers instead? 

One last thing about roadtrips: While we were traveling, Chase introduced me to Jason Isbell's album Southeastern. You guys ... the whole thing is spectacular. Download it, and then listen to it on the first day you feel fall in the air. You won't regret it. This song is my favorite: 



I would love to find some more new music. What are you listening to these days?