i’m back from my weekend at ala chicago.
it was incredible. filled with so many unforgettable
firsts for this debut author! i came home pretty
much shattered as i was so excited and inspired
after the newbery banquet that i couldn’t sleep until
4am. the house is a mess! i have yet to unpack.
this morning, i spent 9.30am – 2pm working on
my sequel. i would have started at 9am when the
love took the bubs to summer camp, only i was
looking for my disposable contacts. i had a follow
up appt and needed to wear them, but for the life
of me could not find them. so i canceled the appt.
tonight, while making dinner, i found them in the
pot drawer. haha! yes. welcome to my life. and yes,
i did put them there!
just back from my critique meeting. i love my
critique group! you guys are awesome! they are a
talented, encouraging, amazing bunch. so only a
brief update tonight…
here’s something you may not know about me.
i’m good at keeping secrets. if you
tell me a secret, i basically won’t tell anyone.
ever. even if you didn’t really mean for it to be a
secret secret. well, i’m like a vault.
i’m also good with keeping my own secrets.
i usually don’t like to divulge anything until after
i’ve accomplished it. (altho i was always very
forthright about writing a novel and the entire
journey to publication–because i wanted to be
held accountable for that goal i set.) well, in these
past two months, i’ve been painting lotus diligently
so i can give it as a gift to neil gaiman.
*a new day for neil gaiman.
i spent a long time painting perfect parts but
never a perfect whole. usually, it’s the composition
that is off (the angle of a stem, the way a leaf
unfurls). when i finally had a kingfisher and lotus
painting i was happy with, i realized it was all too–
bright and pink. at least, for neil gaiman.
so on the last week before the conference, i painted
him a more “masculine” interpretation of the lotus.
that is a lotus pod and a more muted kingfisher, with
a dash of gray at his breast. i admit it is my favorite
(and perhaps best) lotus painting to date. i couldn’t
be happier to give it to him!
on saturday, i queued up with 300 of his other
fans and waited about two hours to get the graveyard
book signed. then i showed him the painting…
cindy : it’s supposed to be a kingfisher.
NG : of course it’s a kingfisher.
he said it was beautiful. *beams*
then gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. eeeeee!
you can stop staring daggers through the screen
cause i can feel them. ha!
to say i was giddy is an understatement. 8)
and the weekend only got better from there!
highlights in order :
1. meeting my fantabulous editor, virginia, and other
greenwillowites, david m gill, marybeth kelsey, and steve.
seriously my favorite part of the conference! which
is saying a lot considering….
2. neil gaiman. we adore him for all the right reasons!
i shared a taxi ride with two women during this conference
(hi bonnie and linda!) both doing great things and involved
in many organizations and committees, and our conversations
would inevitably center on our admiration of NG. ha! i loved it!
3. an amazing newbery banquet that brought me to my
feet multiple times and tears to my eyes. and me near
front and center of the stage!!
4. my first signing at ala, meeting fellow YA authors, teens
who have read and enjoyed Silver Phoenix, as well as YA
bloggers, librarians and teachers. i wanted to give everyone cupcakes!
5. free arcs!
that is all for now. i’m on a tight deadline
but will try and update when i can!! xo
also, it’s the debs giveaway day!!
30 Comments
I sooooooooooooooo am jealous of that Neil Gaiman kiss! Yes me staring daggers at you!!!!
And the lotus and the kingfisher are absolutely fabulous! DAmn I wish I could paint so I can give Neil Gaiman a painting and get a kiss!!!!!
ell, haha! it was wonderful!! the conference i mean, but of course, the kiss on the cheek too! eeeeeeee!
*sigh* I can’t even be jealous. It’s all just so magical and sweet.
Have you washed your cheek yet?
What a beautiful painting!
How wonderful, like Bryn, I can’t even be jealous. I am absolutely thrilled for you, you deserve it.
OMG! Kissed by Neil Gaiman. Could be a book, ya know!
Love, love, LOVE the painting you gave him! You are so talented!
Sounds like a wonderful, magical time! I’m not jealous either–just happy for you since I know how much you love NG :)
And that painting is gorgeous–he’s lucky to be the recipient!
What a perfect painting for him! I’m not really jealous, except that you got to be there in the first place. Sounds like a great time!
rose, *touches cheek* i have! but no matter. i’ll always remember! ;*)
you guys are so sweet. thank you!!!
Yay, thanks for sharing about the awesomness!
I think even my husband is a little jealous about the NG kiss on the cheek ;). Oh, and the painting is great too! Great idea, by the way. I AM proud of your stalking ;)!
rebecca, you’re welcome! and i love that your hub is a NG fan too! =DD
Simply allow me to become the echo of your “Eeeee~!!” ♥ ♥ ♥
philomela — eeeeeeee!!!! =DDD
Awesome, awesome, awesome Cindy! I can’t believe you’ve met Neil Gaiman twice this year!!!
I’m glad you had such an awesome time!! And about your deadline? How tight is tight?
Beautiful King Fisher. And what luck!
julia, thank you! i had such fun!!
kim, yay!
barrie, not as tight as yours was. i have
a few weeks, but only a rough
is expected.
Sounds like you had a great time!
Your contacts in the pot drawer cracked me up. I’ve left the phone in the fridge a number of times so I can relate, lol.
Hey, Cindy! I don’t think I have your email? Could you email me. I have a question. Or two. Or a million. barrieDOTsummyATgmailDOTcom
Muchos thanks!
omg Neil Gaiman. omg. he kissed you? may I touch your cheek?
also yay keep working on that sequel! ;)
barrie, got it!!
grace, i know, can you believe it? *swoons* =DD and thanks for the sequel well wishes. augh!
i LOVE the kingfisher!!!!
Which do you love more… Neil Gaiman or baked goods???
Yeah, I admit it….I was staring some of those daggers, too.
It’s just that darn Graveyard Book….it’s just sooooo…..sigh…..
Jealously yours,
Shelley
sheri, that is just cruel and wrong. like asking me to pick between two children! i choose eating baked goods with NG. what can i say, i’m a greedy girl. haha!
shelley, i felt your daggers. i understand. =)
shelley, look at your alien. hahahaha! i love it!
moonie, thank you! your alien is SO CUTE! like you. ;*)
Sounds like you’ve been having a blast! And yes, deeply jealous of the Neil Gaiman kiss – and LOVE the painting you did for him – it has a touch of fantasy and whimsy about it, which is just gorgeous.
And as for losing things – I found my car keys in the fridge the other day…
;-) xxx
nicky, it was so so awesome! amazing and surreal. couldn’t have enjoyed myself more. thank you!
and yes, i put strange things in the fridge too. augh! xx =D
Wow! You painted a picture and met Neil! I’m so amazed and jealous (of him). What a great experience.
it truly was amazing!