Blah blah links, blah blah drowning, blah blah I wanna go watch iCarly with the cats. So here is your super-rapid-fire review roundup, mostly Feed, some others.

On the Brink of Insanity has posted a Feed review, and says, "The science level explanations for the virus is amazingly well done. Grant made the possibility of a viral outbreak that actually creates zombies seem very real. I also really enjoyed the details given about the character's living conditions and the new technology and how one goes about surviving in a nation filled with zombies and what freedoms people are willing to give up to stay alive."

Dawn of the Lead has also reviewed Feed, and says, "For me, World War Z has always—since I read it, that is—been THE zombie novel. That position is now heavily contested by Mira Grant's Feed, the first part of her Newsflesh trilogy." Dude, win.

Post Whatever has posted a Feed review, and says, "Feed bucked my vision of what a zombie story would be. Sure, there were gory undead running around, along with super-charged security to help keep the living alive, but I didn’t expect to find a political campaign and an engaging conspiracy theory inside this book, regardless of what the cover blurb said."

Remember Sparrow Hill Road? Well, Rise Reviews has reviewed the last issue of The Edge of Propinquity to feature our darling Rose, and says, "'Thunder Road' of Seanan McGuire's Sparrow Hill Road series is far and away the best piece in this issue of TEOP. And for anyone who enjoys darkly all-American fare, this series is very satisfying to read." All of Sparrow Hill is available to read for free, in the archives!

Here's something you haven't seen in a while: a review of A Local Habitation, posted by Lesley W.'s Book Nook. Lesley says, "I loved this. Not quite as much as the first in the series, but it's definitely one of my favorite books of the year. October is an imperfect heroine. She makes mistakes, she's obtuse about some things. I think she wants to do the right thing, though, but she knows that that can come with a heavy price." Rock on!

That's about what I have time for right now. I'm going to go feed the cats.

Words: 10,302.
Total words: 24,343.
Reason for stopping: chapter five is finished! And everyone rejoices.
Music: mostly my own latest album. I'm not sick of it yet, which is a good sign.
Cats: Alice, eating; Lilly, in my underwear drawer; Thomas, making chirping noises at me.

I'm done with chapter five! More importantly, I've broken 20,000 words, and I'm rapidly approaching the magic 100 page mark! For me, that's when a book stops messing around, and shit starts getting real in a big, big hurry.

This book is moving more slowly than I expected, because it's a big jigsaw of loose ends and necessary connections, and I absolutely want to stick this landing. I don't think I've ever wanted a book to be amazing quite as much as I want this one to be amazing. I want to finish the first draft and go "Whoa, did I write that?" I want to love it, because it's the last block of time I get to spend with the Masons. This is where it ends. This is where I put my huge, messed-up zombies-and-politics epic to bed.

And to think it all started in Micheal's kitchen.

Thanks, Michael.

With two books coming out soon (and one of them being the sequel to Feed), I'm getting a lot of contacts, in a lot of forums. So here's the periodic reminder about reaching me:

1) My website has a "contact" form. Actually, both of them do. You can contact Seanan-me or Mira-me, and both of them go straight to me. I answer Seanan-mail a little faster, because it dumps into my main inbox, but either one will do the job.

2) My LJ is paid! Which means you can email me @livejournal.com. It's true! That, too, will drop you into my main inbox, which is a warm, comfortable place to be. You should try it.

3) Sending me messages through the LJ inbox, on the other hand, makes me sad inside. I'm serious. If I could block it without screwing up my comment notifications, I would. As it stands, I make absolutely no guarantees about answering you. Ever. Messages sent to inboxes I've asked not be used are the only ones I don't feel obligated to reply to.

4) The same goes for Facebook. I use Facebook to play stupid clicky games and occasionally check on my friends. I do not use it for mail. So if you send me messages there? I may never get back to you.

So seriously, if you need me? Email. Email is the ONLY WAY I can guarantee a reply. Even there, please be aware that I am about twenty feet underwater at all times right now; it may take several days, or even weeks, before I reply, unless your message is somehow time sensitive (like "Please come over here and eat this cupcake").

Thank you!