… transforming to fit the various roles our lives require of us. But there is more, aren’t we all, each and every one of us, more than we seem? We are all enchanted creatures. As C.S. Lewis so wisely says, “Remember your fairytales. Spells are used for breaking enchantments as well as inducing them. And you and I are in need of the strongest spell that can be found to wake us…” (Lewis, “The Weight of Glory, 5)

Shapeshifter by Maureen McQuerry

Caught in the Fall Doldrums? (I personally love Fall, but my husband finds it a precursor to death!) The Nature of Words is coming to Portland November 5-9, 2008. It has enough energy to keep you inspired through the entire Northwest grey season. 

Bend, Oregon. October 18, 2008. Do you have a yen to write for magazines? Or want to gain insights into fiction writing from award-winning authors? Are you an aspiring nature or historical writer or closet poet? Maybe you don’t write, but want to learn the art of being a better reader. Whatever motivates you to enjoy writing and reading, there’s a workshop for you at The Nature of Words, Central Oregon’s premier literary event. Enroll now to guarantee you can participate in the workshops of your choice on November 7 and 8. Small group sessions give you an opportunity to talk with and learn from award-winning authors and poets.

 Suzanne Lieurance talks with authors about their latest books and their writing processes, every day at 2pm (CST ) on Book Bites for Kids . You can hear my interview live today or catch up on it later in the archives. Scroll through the line up of authors and you have feast on your hands!

The live show is part of the National Writing for Children Center, which offers a wealth of information for readers and writers of all ages.

Inside Story

If you’re in Seattle this weekend and you love books, you don’t want to miss this event. Meet the new releases and their authors. See you there!

Sunday, October 5, 2008
from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
University Book Store
990 102nd Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 462-4500
http://www.bookstore.washington.edu

Yesterday had two of those nice surprises hidden in it–like the  candy in the center of a tootsie pop or a really funny fortune in your generic at-the-end-of-Chinese-meal fortune cookie.  I was checking out the Cybil Award nominations and found that someone from Virginia, which is a long way from WA State, nominated Travelers’ Market! This on a day when I was feeling very discouraged,  thinking that I could never keep up with all the stuff in the blogosphere that I was supposed to do if I wanted anyone other than a handful of Northwesterners to read my books. All I could say was thanks!

If you’re not familiar with the Cybils—they are reader nominated awards for the best in children/YA literature for the year. Bloggers read the nominated books, and in their wise and bloggerly fashion, choose winners. “We wanted a literary competition that combined the freewheeling democracy of the Internet with the thoughtfulness of a book club.” Anne Levy

The other surprise, which was much better than even winning a Cybil, is that my sweet mother told me that she has a wonderful daughter who always knows just what she wants. This may not sound amazing to you, but my mother is in the late stages of Alzheimers disease. She knows me, she loves me. How can I be anything but grateful? And it took writing this post to make me realize it.