penbitten.com

how is it possible I've not posted this?

2008-08-25T13:55:29Z

Er...announcing HarryAHistory.com, the official site for my book!

Which has been up for awhile now. Er. Sorry.

TOO MANY BLOGS. No idea what to post where!

Weekend pics

2008-08-25T04:13:01Z

Went to DC this weekend and saw David and Kathleen, before David leaves tomorrow for his first day at Harvard Law (I know!):

Kathleen works at Hyde Elementary and is DC's reigning Teacher of the Year:

We helped set up her classroom for the start of school tomorrow. You have to remember to form your letters correctly when writing things down for first-graders. I hope I don't confuse little Raya with the script "R" at the front of her name on her workbook...

David and Kathleen:

We went to co co. sala and had a truly unreasonable volume of chocolate:

Paid for it later with choco-drugged exhaustion:

Had deep talk over sticky rice:

And the rest of the time wished we remembered to bring our real cameras.

Terminus Reading

2008-08-21T18:10:05Z

(I moved this over here from HarryAHistory.com because I feel like it fits better here.)

The reading of my book at Terminus was one of the best nights of my life. It immediately followed a live PotterCast - one which was two hours and one before which I drank far too much water. Even after all the normal melee that accompanies the end of a podcast, I had a trip to make. So I was very late. I also hadn't eaten in hours, and a miraculous Lizzie, reading my mind as usual, shoved a bag of pretzels in my hand. It was about then that Brian of Draco and the Malfoys noticed I was shaking and dropping things. He walked with me to the ladies' room, waited outside for me, all the while talking in this slow, calming voice as though talking a person off a ledge. When we finally got to the room to find it full, I started to walk to the front. Until I realized I didn't have my book. There was Lizzie again, handing it to me. And I dropped it. Someone gave me water and I dropped that; I handed off my bag to a waiting staffer, but not before I dropped it. It was a farce.

I knew I'd be nervous, just not crushingly so. Still, it got better once I got up there, and, well, the rest of it is on YouTube somewhere if you're interested (and don't mind a very fast-talking author; I swear I'll slow down in the future). In my head a brilliant response to the reading would have been some laughs and good applause when I was through; so, when I looked up from the last line to see the room rising, the crowd looking like a wave coming to crash at my feet, I got a physical check, an actual stagger. It's very good that I was already sitting.

(Also, thank you to the people who extended the flattery to an even higher level by hanging with me in the elevator lobby and talking; I wanted to extend the night as much as you guys did, and it was such a wonderful come-down, cool-off, to have most of my nerves expunged and have a nice, calm chat with awesome Potter fans. Thank you.)

note

2008-07-15T18:36:50Z

Note to self: Do not listen to Oliver Boyd and the Remembrall's "End of an Era" while leafing through the just-arrived proofs of your book. Oy vey.

leakies

2008-07-09T14:20:36Z

This is for my Leakies; I get to see about a quarter of them in a month and I'm losing my mind with anticipation.

Yet, whether Leaky or not, everyone needs a little Bonnie Tyler:

twins

2008-07-08T19:53:24Z

I love Improv Everywhere:

But make sure you catch the Guitar Hero, Rock Band and DDR concert in DC:

two things

2008-06-29T16:13:37Z

1. TODAY IS LIZZIE KEIPER'S BIRTHDAY! ALL SHALL LOVE HER AND DESPAIR.

Yeah, that's right, he might kill me for posting that, go to 3:36 to see what I'm talking about. Uh huh. If you ever wanted proof of just how far Leaky staffers will go to express their love for each other, or how deep the bonds truly go, or the awesomeinsanofest that Terminus and LeakyCon will be, or how hilarious and insane this staff is, watch that.

3:36. Go there. Now.

Sorry Josh.

old pic of the day

2008-06-23T17:50:12Z

On the Friends set in California, just missing a Frak. Where he at?

There he at! And check what he brought in (it's on the counter).

she really is too cute sometimes

2008-06-21T14:42:16Z

How Moochka sleeps:

wrock the vote

2008-06-19T00:45:24Z

No matter whom you vote for, VOTE:

Remember what JK Rowling said to the Harvard students: "Even your nationality sets you apart. The great majority of you belong to the world's only remaining superpower. The way you vote, the way you live, the way you protest, the pressure you bring to bear on your government, has an impact way beyond your borders. That is your privilege, and your burden."

chartreuse

2008-06-14T01:57:30Z

First, my Bahamas pictures are online. Here are some of my favorites:

The view of the parachute as I parasailed:

And the view downwards, plus a foot and a dress (both mine):

The view from my room at night:

Seahorses, hanging onto each other:

Now, the chartreuse problem:

Since I was seven, when I came into ownership of a 124-color Crayola set, I have thought that chartreuse was accurately represented there: that it was a bright, nearly fluorescent yellow (it is apparently the 'electric lime' on this page). I have just learned (in the course of copy-editing) that it's actually a yellowish-green. This demonstration of editing tedium (sorry Cheryl) aside, I wondered how many other people were under delusions about chartreuse. Last night, after my friend Matt's show at the Sidewalk Cafe in NY, I asked him, Brian and Bradley (ie the Whomping Willows and Draco and the Malfoys) what they thought of when they heard 'chartreuse.'

Matt: Reddish purple?
Brad: Yellow? Green? Oh! I know, it's a really deep green.
Brian: I think...whatever you think I'm thinking right now.

It's a big Crayola confusion conspiracy. Any other confused colorers out there?

Bahamas preview

2008-06-07T04:56:33Z

random updates

2008-05-29T17:10:14Z

Hello peoples!

Sorry it's been awhile, but there's a lot going on: in a little while I'll be going on my first non-Harry-related trip in oh, five years. Just me and some dolphins and unfinished books and fresh notebooks, four days of bliss. NO COMPUTER. I completely refuse to take it. I'll have my phone, of course. I haven't gone insane in the interim.

Things are starting to happen book-wise, as we're very close to a finished cover and that excites me more than I can say. Actually the cover is for all intents and purposes finished, but little things have to be rearranged and clarified, I believe, before it can be posted on Amazon or the like. My chest did that wonderful lift when I saw it: It's elegant, and striking, and respectful, and true to the spirit and feel of the book, and all the wonderful things. My mother has had a full-on attack about it. I told her I didn't want the unfinished proof spread around in e-mail, so she printed it out and has been driving it around to people's houses to show them. Seriously, I walked into a funeral home two weeks ago and the funeral director walked up and congratulated me on my book. Our dry cleaners have offered congratulations. The little printout she carries around is so beaten and torn that I've promised to make her a shiny new one. I don't think there's a person she has ever met, yet, that she has not shown this cover to. It's the cutest, most wonderful thing, and for all we tease her about it, all authors should be this lucky to have such support. All of them.

Anyway, I can't wait to share it. Other things are moving along too: Frak is going to help me design a Web site for it, and it will be a frequently updated blog with extra materials (the name for the section of which comes via my brilliant Sue), pictures, news updates, and more. I can't wait to get that going. We'll link to it from Leaky (and obviously here). There's going to be a lot of fun extra bits.

I feel like for all I've said about this book, I've said very little. I have a few announcements, which will probably be coming simultaneously. I haven't even ever formally announced this book on Leaky, only ever talked about it on PotterCast; I want to wait to do that so that there's not a multitude of postings where one will suffice. Lord knows I'll make enough noise when there's news. :) My staff have been so incredibly supportive of it. I'm very fortunate.

Other than that, there's not much more to tell: I'm in this strange put-my-life-together-again pattern. I really look forward to, one day, achieving the work-life balance. I can't let things get this topsy turvy every time I finish a work. It's just not productive when this is to be my life from now on. I guess it's what everyone looks for: The ability to live the separate parts of your life fully, with health and balance. Working on it!

Quick random story: Yesterday my sister got stopped on the street in NJ by John Travolta, who wanted to know if there was a car wash nearby. She has been hilariously gushy since. I would be, too; I'm a big fan. I think her version of the story should include him whistling at her, but hey, what do I know. ;)

LOST finale tonight, SATC with my sister after. Is there ANYTHING better?

Good end to weird week

2008-05-11T08:59:38Z

After a week that started with shenanigans and ended in three funerals, tonight was pretty great. I was supposed to go out of town but sadly my trip had to be canceled because of a dear friend's loss.

Luckily, despite most of the weekend being taken up by another loved one's loss, I was still able to get to the Harry and the Potters show at the NY Public Library (the one with the LIONS), in a gorgeous paneled room and featuring a horn section like at last summer's Astoria Beer Garden show. I mean, playing here is what playing at Madison Square Garden would be for any other band, for Harry and the Potters, who have made rocking libraries an art from. So, without a doubt, it was one of their best ever (and I've seen way too many of their shows: I find them reaffirming, when the fandom acts up and gets you down. They remind you of your pure love for Harry Potter and the core messages of the books; it's a wonderful reminder that can really give you a lift. Very happy.)

Paul and Joe could not stop grinning and geeking out onstage, about being in that library, with that horn section, with Fortitude the Lion roaming around the room and taking their picture. It even caused a total meltdown during Song for the Death Eaters, but in their defense, my brain froze too; as they stared at each other in funny panic, trying to figure out the verse, I and Chaya were trying to remember the lyrics and came up blank, too. It's one of my favorite songs. Maybe someone cast a charm. :) Anyway, the whole thing was pretty amazing. Watch the joy:

Save Ginny:

And because SOMEONE had to capture this, The Lion Jams to the Weapon - sadly I missed the air guitar portion:

Also pics are here on flickr.

sparkles

2008-04-24T20:11:21Z

just cause: