thoughtfulIt has been some time since I last wrote to you, but you have never been far from my thoughts. I just figured you could use a break. Since our last correspondence, I have refrained from starting any riots or overthrowing any governments. I have been kind to my friends, and relatively merciful to my enemies. I have offered friendship and support to those around me. I have given people cupcakes. I have not brought forth the end of days, nor capered gleefully by the bloody light of an apocalypse moon. I have continued to make all my deadlines, even the ones I most wanted to avoid. I have not talked about parasites at the dinner table. Much. So obviously, I have been quite well-behaved, especially considering my nature.
Today, Great Pumpkin, I am asking for the following gifts:
* A smooth and successful release for An Artificial Night, with books shipping when they're meant to ship, stores putting them out when they're supposed to put them out, and reviews that are accurate, insightful, and capable of steering people who will enjoy my book to read it. Please, Great Pumpkin, show mercy on your loving Pumpkin Princess of the West, and let it all be wonderful. I'm not asking you to make it easy, Great Pumpkin, but I'm asking you to make it good.
* Please help me finish the revisions to Late Eclipses in a smooth, satisfying, timely way, hopefully including a minimum number of typographical and factual errors, plus a maximum level of awesome and win. I'm about halfway through, which is wonderful—I'm almost done!—and terrifying—soon I won't be able to make changes anymore!—at the same time. I want to bring this book to a close, so I can get back to work on the fifth Toby book and the third Newsflesh book. What I have is good. Please let the rest be amazing.
* Since I'm being a Greedy Greta today, please let me swing back into The Brightest Fell with speed and elan, overcoming all challenges in my pursuit of the perfect ending. Thanks to changes in the book's overall plot, I no longer know for sure whether book six will be Ashes of Honor or One Salt Sea, and I'd really like to figure that one out. Please let the book be good, and please let the book be easy on my sanity. The more time I have to spend stressing out over this book, the less time I spend preaching your gospel to the unenlightened, or lurking in corn mazes scaring the living crap out of tourists. You like it when I scare the crap out of tourists, don't you, Great Pumpkin?
* I thank you once again for my cats, Great Pumpkin, who are wonderful and beautiful and a comfort beyond all measure. Alice is huge, puffy, and utterly without dignity. Lilly is sleek, smug, and satisfied with herself. Both are glorious representatives of their breed, and now, as I look to adding a third member to the family, I turn to you. Please make sure I find the right kitten, Great Pumpkin, the one which will enrich and benefit my feline family in ways that I haven't even thought of yet. Keep them healthy, keep them happy, and keep them exactly as they are.
* Please help me write a successful, smooth, and most of all, correct conclusion for the "Sparrow Hill Road" series of stories. It's been exciting and educational, and I've enjoyed the process of delving into Rose's world, but as I start moving toward the end of this particular journey, I start worrying about my ability to stick the landing. Please help me stick the landing, Great Pumpkin. Rose has waited a long time for her story to be told in a truthful, respectful manner, and she deserves a narrative that gets her all the way to the last exit on the ghostroads.
* I haven't said anything up to now about what I really want this year, Great Pumpkin, but...you know I've been nominated for the Campbell Award. You know that if I win, I'll be given a tiara, in Australia. You know that this is essentially what I've wanted my whole life. Some little girls want to be Prom Queen; I wanted to be Princess of the Kingdom of Poison and Flame. Please shine your holy candle upon the Campbell, Great Pumpkin, and, if you see fit, I will thank you in any speeches I have to give (which might be worth it right there).
I remain your faithful Halloween girl,
Seanan.
PS: While you're at it, can you please turn your graces on InCryptid? I really love these books. I want to be able to write more of them.
KITTY!
July 14 2010, 19:21:59 UTC 6 years ago
I know you're pro-adoption, and if you get a cat from a breeder, your reasons will be sound and caring. I vote for a sphinx, because I think you need a little more nekkid alien in your life (who doesn't?).
And for what it's worth, I am one Grace already turned on InCryptid! (I love my name. So very many puns.)
Re: KITTY!
July 14 2010, 19:42:43 UTC 6 years ago
Re: KITTY!
July 14 2010, 22:15:54 UTC 6 years ago
If you see my comment below, you'll know I understand the importance of a good breeder, and I also understand why you personally choose purebreds over rescues. I was born into rescuing, it's a part of who I am. I've personally rescued and rehomed a number of cats so large I don't mention it publicly, and it's rare that I get to see things from the other side, the wanted-cat, healthy-cat side.
Thank you for reminding me that it exists.
Re: KITTY!
July 15 2010, 14:40:14 UTC 6 years ago
If I ruled the world, everyone who wasn't a licensed breeder would have to spay/neuter, and there would be huge fines for failure. Breeders would be required to prove that they were breeding for health, not for some extreme standard that doesn't serve the cat. And there would be breeders specifically breeding American shorthairs, so that we didn't lose the hybrid vigor.