I’m going to be at the B&N coffee area at the Creekside B&N in Roseville at 1:00 today. That’s the one by the Galleria. Come on in and visit if you get the chance and are in the area!

My mom is giving me her entire yarn stash. There’s a lot of it. I’m so happy. I’m such a yarn whore really. Now to start making stuff. A lot of it is pretty ordinary acrylic stuff, but there’s some really cool bits in there too. Now to figure out what to make. I need to learn to make more kinds of things. Though I did figure out fingerless gloves on the way out here.

Shadow City is official!!!!! I’m chewing my nails over it. I sooooo need and want it to do well. Have you told everybody you know about it? Please? It’s a referral business you know

In other news, despite the fact that I’m eating a lot out here in CA, my pants are loosening up. NOt sure what’s up with that. Not unhappy mind you.

One of the puppies got made at me and chewed on mom’s slipper. Luckily, not a great deal of damage was done, but still. And my mom’s corgi keeps instigating mine to bark in the house, something they don’t ordinarily do. Which is terribly annoying also.

I signed books at the Birdcage Barnes and Noble, so you can get signed copies there too.

As for a get together, I’m thinking possibly Friday, sometime like 1 p.m. Anybody up for that? At the Roseville Galleria BN coffeshop. Would anybody be up for that?

Wow. What a lovely Christmas we had. Did you? First we had my in-laws over for a brunch (post stocking opening). It was lovely. They never really have done Christmas, and all their kids have moved out of state. Add into that that my Mother In Law has dementia and is really forgetting a lot. She’s also got diabetes and some other issues. So it was really good for us to all be together and they got to participate in the present opening with the kids, which they really enjoyed. Plus the dogs cuddled up a bunch with my MIL and she was really happy. I think they are going to get another dog soon. They lost theirs awhile ago, but I think T’s dad is thinking it will be good for both of the. I made her a shawl out of very soft yarn and she loved it. She’s cold a lot.

After that, the horde that is my family descended and we had a great time. My chocolate bourbon pecan pie was a hit. Yum.

Now the bad news was that in the last couple of days the very very ancient bed we’d been sleeping on broke. The box spring. NOw when I say old, I mean that it was at least 45 years old, possibly older. I am not lying. It is also not comfortable. Wish we’d thought to break it long ago. Anyhow, mom and I went out and shopped for a new spare room bed for us to sleep on and while we were out, went to Barnes and Noble and they had copies of Shadow City already out!!!! So I signed them and my other books (at the Galleria Barnes and NOble in Roseville, folks). Tomorrow I might get to the Birdcage B&N. And any other bookstores I can find.

So now the bed is on order and will arrive about when we leave. Ah well. At least there will be one next year. I’ve been walking a lot. It’s green and warm here. I’m loving it. And so are the dogs and the man and the kids.

Is there any interest in any Roseville/Sacramento local types who might want to come hang out at at Starbucks at B&N or something one day? If there is, I’ll set it up.

Also, tomorrow (Tuesday) I’ve an interview up at the Quillery. It’s a fun one. Questions I haven’t had.

And, once again. please please please spread the word about Shadow City! Tell your friends, write on your blog, post reviews on Amazon or wherever (good or bad, I’ll still love you). And also, I want to hear what you think of the book. Seriously!

To all of you–friends and readers–my wish for you is that you have an absolutely gloriously happy day tomorrow and all through the New Year. May you enjoy your families and friends.

To one all all, present and absent this year, cheers.

Yep, we’ve arrived in CA. Yay! It’s green. There are flowers. I walked the dogs in shirtsleeves and went through this place with a bunch of oaks. It was fabulous.

The trip was long and luckily not a ton of ice, but it was -11 in Idaho the other morning.

We’re having fun. Trying to relax. But the kids of course are bouncing off the walls. Go figure.

Shadow City comes out in just four days. Four days!!! I’m both excited and panicking.

Oh! And here are 10 things Max is getting for Christmas. It’s fun!

The puppies are wildly happy not to be in the truck. One of them chose to sleep in the bed with me and my son in the hotel the other night. He went down to the bottom under the covers, then back up and put his head on my pillow and snuggled up to my back, and then moved around the bed all night. But the boy . . . twitchy kid. Drove me nuts.

So how do you feel about mentioning my books to at least three people in the next day or so? Up for it? Tell the bookstores, tell your blogs and tweet it. I would so appreciate it. Seriously.

Can anyone explain to me who goes door to door at night selling meat? Is this an occupation? How does one get into such a line of work? yes, someone tonight came by our house selling beef, pork and chicken. I was startled, to say the least. I mean, door to door meat?

Which reminds me of Terry Bisson’s They’re Made Out of Meat. You really have to read it if you haven’t. It’s short and one of my favorites. Especially the singing by squirting through meat.

I’ve also been having very strange dreams. Not exactly nightmares, but still the sort of thing that wakes you up and makes you think–WTF just ran over me?

The first reviews are coming in on Shadow City. They are really great. (see author to happy dance!!!) But be warned, there are some spoilers. But if you want to read them anyhow, here you go:

http://www.smexybooks.com/2011/12/review-shadow-city-by-diana-pharaoh-francis.html

http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blogspot.com/2011/12/early-review-shadow-city-by-diana.html

http://addicted2heroines.blogspot.com/2011/12/early-review-shadow-city-horngate.html

http://ziarias.blogspot.com/2011/12/shadow-city-blog-tour-december-19-2011.html

http://www.seducedbyabook.com/2011/12/early-review-of-shadow-city-horngate.html

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/248868766

I saw this and it is seriously the coolest thing ever.

In order to exercise, I tell myself to do 10 minutes. I do this knowing full well that I will try to go past that. But I will do 10 minutes and stop if I want. So I start. And then when 10 is up, I tell myself 5 more. And then 5 more. And so on. Until I hopefully get at least to 30 or more. What funny is I’m fully aware that I’m telling myself all these things and I’m allowing myself to believe I’ll be doing just 10 minutes. It’s a mental con game. I know some people just like to go exercise, but I ain’t one. Okay, I would like to ride my bike, and swim, and walk the doggies, but it’s the dead of winter. So it’s the elliptical. Anyhow, I feel a bit gullible that I can mess with my own head that way.

I’m trying to figure out how to apply rhinestones and such to wood/paper for a project. I do not know what’s the best method. Does anybody have advice? Glue gun? Elmers? Something else? maybe dot some glue on with a toothpick? Help?

Since May, I’ve managed to lose 16.5 pounds since May. I’m not entirely sure how. It’s been a struggle of the ups and the downs. The holidays will be murder. On the other hand, I’m back on the exercise road. Mostly because it will boost my immune system and maybe keep me healthier. One can hope. I’ve also been not drinking Diet Coke for 4 weeks and not eating splenda. Trying to reduce the artificial sugars. I don’t entirely know what effect that is having. I went through a bought of a nasty cold a couple of weeks ago and it resulted in a lot of fatigue, plus I was only drinking tea and had gone way off Diet Coke.

Right now, I’m finding a little bit of energy (hence exercise) and that may be because of the cold is losing hold and my body’s adjusted to no DC and no artificial crap and lots of tea. I’m also craving chocolate. And weirdly, craving milk chocolate, which is no longer my favorite. So it’s all very odd.

Getting ready to go visit family in a week. Looking forward to it. Should be a lot of fun. And hopefully relaxing. Most definitely it will be warmer. It’s also the the end of the semester next week, so lotsa grading. It will be . . . busy. The between semester break is much shorter than normal–about half. So that’s annoying. But I am looking forward to next semester. I’m teaching some fun courses.

Think i can keep losing weight over the holidays? I think I’d be happy just not gaining. Course I found this recipe for a chocolate bourbon pecan pie. I must make it. Must.

What are your plans for Christmas/holidays? I’d love to hear.