Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire

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Cupcakes, bookstores, good things, and a Mary.

maryrobinette is in town for this month's SF in SF—which I will regrettably be missing, due to having a prior engagement—and I managed to catch her on chat this morning and arrange for an afternoon meeting to hang out. This delighted me utterly, because I adore Mary, and don't get to see her often. (For those of you who need a footnote: Mary Robinette is the "voice" of the October Daye series, as she reads them in audio book form. She's also a puppeteer, an author, and the 2008 recipient of the Campbell Award. Girl's got game.)

Since the first thing I do with any out-of-town guest is take 'em for cupcakes, I arranged to have Mary meet me at Cups and Cakes Bakery. Yes, I am the devil. She was properly delighted by the palace of sugary delights, and consumed a peanut butter cup (chocolate cake, peanut butter frosting, dipped in chocolate ganache) and a red velvet, while I, being a pretty pink princess, ate a Pretty Pretty Princess (strawberry cake with strawberry frosting). Yum, all the way around.

You can't hang out in a bakery forever, so I asked Mary if she'd like to walk over to Borderlands. She was game for this adventure, and I've walked that route so many times now that I don't really need to pay attention anymore. Gleeful chattering and wandering ensued, culminating in our arrival at the bookstore, where we found Jude, Alan, and—eventually—Jeremy.

Jeremy had a box.

Inside the box was the new Night Shade Press anthology, The Living Dead 2. This is a big, handsome book, with a gorgeous cover, and a great table of contents. Said table of contents includes Kelley Armstrong, Max Brooks, David Wellington...and Mira Grant.

Oh, wait. That's me.

Oxygen is hard.

The story, "Everglades," is set on the U.C. Berkeley campus during the Rising. It's sad and wistful and tragic, and you should totally read it. I mean, you should totally buy this anthology if you like zombies, even a little, because it's gorgeous, but really? My story. In a book. With all these amazing people.

I managed a) not to break Jeremy's fingers snatching the book away, and b) to stay and keep talking for a while, because running cackling into the night would have been rude. We eventually shifted to the cafe, where I hugged Cole, hugged Mary goodbye, and departed for home, taking my book with me.

My book. You cannot have it. Get your own. MINE.

Damn, this was a surprisingly good day.
Tags: friends rock, going for walks, good things, mira grant, short fiction, support local bookstores, zombies
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  • 37 comments
Just think, someday Stephen King can say, "I got to have a story of mine in an anthology with Mira Grant!"
OMG.
Oh my god.

Since I now believe this is an actual possibility. . . please do not hyperventilate until you die.

That said, congratulations! I would love to pre-order it, but given I have only a debit/fake credit card, and can't guarantee the funds will be there the day it ships....I'll just have to lurk.

In the meanwhile, you might be amused to know that multiple of my friends have now added "oxygen is hard" as an away message for their AIM.
Your friends are SO CORRECT.
Congratulations! That is possibly the most awesome thing I have heard in a very long...no, wait. Ever. Yes, that's it.

If I had ever managed to get a bit of my writing in an anthology with Stephen King, autographed copies would be very hard to comeby, as I'd have had a stroke and died. Double congrats to you for surviving that shock :D

I would send you the brain-shaped chocolates/candies I am making this weekend, but that might seem, oh, I don't know, really creepy and kind of threatening to find those randomly in your mail, no?
I can't stop thinking about brain shaped chocolate covered cherries, and I really want some... *wanders off*

seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

*squee* for you! Also congratulations and WOW That is The Coolest Thing! Wow You! I can't actually stop thinking Wow over and over. *happy dance for you*
*dance dance dance*
Hurrraaaaaah!

I will see Mary tomorrow!
Did you enjoy seeing Mary?

spectralbovine

6 years ago

Ooh, Rising story.
Yes!
AWESOME! I am sososososo happy and thrilled for your off-the-charts-with-fabulousness inclusion in an anthology that has something by Stephen King. I can only bow before the man's writing prowess, so if you're in there, too, that can only mean you possess bow-worthy prowess as well. *bowbowbow*

hoppytoad79

6 years ago

seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

Because it cannot be said enough, WOW.

First time I've ever had vicarious giggles. Thank you for sharing your supremely cool life.
Very welcome!
We have a 'pupcake' (what Lady K calls them) place we love to go, not as cool named as yours, but yummy gourmet 'pupcakes' all the same. Wondeful bagels, too, so something for everyone.

I have got to go find the series now in audio!
Hooray!
After I heard Mary Robinette Kowal was doing the Toby Audiobooks I decided to check out some of her writing, and was very impressed. I especially liked First Flight and Evil Robot Monkey.

Congrats on seeing more evidence that this "writing thing" is working.
You are a consummate hostess.

But you forgot the bit where you were explaining to me that the Pretty, Pretty Princess was like eating a My Little Pony and you made one of the bakers expire with laughter behind the counter.

I loved that.
Well it is!

Thanks for hanging out.
So cool about the anthology! Is "Everglades" set in the Newsflesh-verse?

I got to meet maryrobinette briefly at KGB Fantastic Fiction last week. The awesomeness she radiated could be felt clear across the room, and I suspect it could penetrate a six-foot-thick lead shield without difficulty. Also, she was happy to sign a book and take a photo with the Avon Walks bear for Books for Boobs, which always endears an author to me. I can't wait to read her book!
Yes, it is; it's on U.C. Berkeley campus during the early days of the Rising.

Wait, if taking a picture with Bear endears an author to you, and I'm two people, am I doubly endeared?

priscellie

6 years ago

seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

"You can't hang out in a bakery forever"

Why not? Sounds like a good idea to me...

Yay books!
No Internet.
Congrats! Is The Living Dead 2 available at Amazon or B&N?

I just finished listening to the Rosemary and Rue CD. Your words and Mary Robinette's voice are a totally winning combination. What's funny is that I now find myself unconsciously adopting Toby's speech pattern and tones of voice.
Yup! You can order it now.
I managed a) not to break Jeremy's fingers snatching the book away, and b) to stay and keep talking for a while, because running cackling into the night would have been rude.

Miss Manners would be SO proud!!

Congrats!!
I rather thought she would be. :)