i turned in my brave little imperfect
sequel late sunday night. i don’t think
any novel can be perfect, tho editor and
author always strive for it. i believe in
writing novels i love and can stand by. you
have to–once it goes out to the big bad
world of readers. 8)
i really wanted to read and revise
yesterday. feeling slightly bereft shut out from
the world and characters in my head.
but i think a little distance is good.
i’m definitely going to be *thinking* about
the novel. percolating for sure.
i do have many things to keep me
occupied in the meantime! including
four library visits in the upcoming weeks!
but first, i wanted to finally post the
banquet dinner at ala chicago this past july.
probably the most memorable night for me
this year, if not many years!
since neil won the newbery, harpercollins had
some prime real estate at the huge banquet.
(i believe there were at least one thousand people
in attendance?) tho he looks small here, i was
pretty close to the stage and a puddle of fangirl
squee. ha!
of course, i had to take fotos of our three
course dinner. it was pretty good, altho there
were some mixture of flavors that were…
interesting. =)
you get a recording of all the speeches
given that night to take away with you.
there’s a glimpse of it in the salad foto.
i bought this on sale from anthropologie!
it’s anna sui (?) and was the first time i wore
it. i got compliments but really, it makes me
look pregnant doesn’t it? (perhaps poofy
is a better word?) haha! i think it’s the
cut of the waistline.
i asked neil how he felt the speech went and
he said really well. (and it was!) he then said
that he hadn’t looked at the speech until that day,
because he was afraid he’d feel compelled to change
things, and he had already recorded it.
also, he wanted it to be fresh.
he did a fantastic job! everyone who received
an award greeted all guests who were willing to
stand in line and give their congratulations.
i had fotos with others but can’t find them
on my computer now. =(
i was lucky enough to sit at the same table
with neil’s publicist and he handed her his
“important stuff” before getting into the reception
line. the important stuff happens to include
his newbery medal!!!!
posted with permission from the winner. =)
and here are my upcoming library panels :
encinitas library YA panel / discussion
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16 @ 3.30pm
Encinitas Branch Library
540 Cornish Drive
Encinitas, CA 92024
(760) 753-7376
poway library YA panel / discussion
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 @ 2pm
Poway Branch Library
13137 Poway Road
Poway, CA 92064
(858) 513-2900
teen book club discussion
san diego county library, solana beach
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009 @ 11am
157 Stevens Ave
Solana Beach, CA 92075-2038
(858) 755-1404
santee library YA panel / discussion
san diego county library, santee
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009 @5.30pm
9225 Carlton Hills Blvd # 17
Santee, CA 92071-7902
(619) 448-1863
currently thinking of re-reading megan
whalen turner!
27 Comments
Congrats on turning in your sequel! Now you get a couple of weeks to just breathe, right?
I think you look beautiful in your dress in the pic with NG. My first reaction was, “that woman hits the gym”, lol.
aww, thanks jen! bff!!! =DDD
i’m really looking forward to revising with my editor on the sequel! i’m excited by it!
Oh my gosh! To be that close to the medal! I would have been fogging it up with my breath, I would have been so close to it!!!!
And good for you for sending it out. I’ve got a little more line editing to do before submissions, but at least I feel like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! I’ll email you the details!
ello, you crack me up! sending bootay shakes and great revision thoughts to you! you will be so thrilled when you are done! you’ve worked hard!!
and yes, that night was amazing. so inspiring!
Congratulations Ms. Pon on finishing the sequel. You continue to inspire. And isn’t that your third photo with Mr. Gaiman? The tabloids are gonna talk.
thank you jason! are you implying i shouldn’t post the other foto i have with him? haha! i think it only proves what a great stalker i am–but no one is surprised there! ha!
Brilliant! I love the photo of you and Mr. G. That man just seems like a proper gent. :)
You crack me up with your food photos, missus. Love ‘em.
I’m so excited for your sequel! I so get that struggle to let go of your characters. I always want to go back and visit!
Wow, you did sit so close! And the medal! What an unforgettable night.
I can’t believe you actually got to a) talk to b) touch Neil Gaiman! :D EEK! So much awesome, it’s hard to believe.
Also, congratulations on turning in your sequel! It’s been so cool to see your process through this whole journey. Thank you for sharing with us! :)
First thought- Neil! Lucky!(you have to say that in a Napoleon Dynamite voice)
Second- he was in Chicago on the one weekend in the past two months when I didn’t have to head down there for some reason. Of course.
You look gorgeous. And so poised!
Agh. This is killing me. I grew up in Poway and used to go to the library all the time. Ah well. Maybe you’ll have a panel in NorCal sometime. ;)
sue, he’s super nice!
natalie, thank you!!! i know you totally get into your writing immersive bot mode! =D
rebecca, i should have titled the blog post “neil stalk 1009″ but don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea. ;*)
jacqui, thank you wifey! i don’t think anyone has ever called me poised!
4th breakfast, aww! it’s a panel too, with other YA authors! very exciting!
Very very cool that you got to be part of that! And I like that you turned in your “imperfect sequel” because I’m about to turn in a book that I feel is imperfect, but also am afraid to overwork. Courage…
ooooooooooooooooooooooh my TWO author hotties in ONE picture!! plus food porn!! all together! watch out, i’m afraid your blog is turning the corner into a DIFFERENT kind of fantasy!
Ooooh, thanks for posting this, Cindy. I almost feel like I was there …
And yay for finishing your sequel!
L.K.
food looks good! you look cute!
moonie! <3 no, it’s not mr.chabon! hee!
thanks, lisa!!!
shelli, aww, thank you!
Congrats on getting that sequel turned in! Enjoy the short period of calm before it all begins again.
Love the photos, as always. :)
Cindy, you always look fabulous. And, um, Neil Gaiman has his hand on your neck.
I remember attending the ALA here in Chicago, but the line was so long for Mr. Awesome Gaiman that I just couldn’t do it.
Oh well.
Looks like it was an incredible evening.
Love Silver Phoenix and looking forward to the next!
ron, i waited in that line for two hours, i think. haha! and he totally has his hand on my neck! he was holding me up. HAHAHA!
and ron, thank you for the lovely words! <3
It’s a toss up …
I’m not sure if I was more interested in reading about Gaiman, the medal or the food. But I’m leaning toward the food. ;-)
My eyes are bulging.
His hand. Your neck. Oh heavens.
Congratulations on the wonderful evening. You look so pretty! And NEIL GAIMAN TOUCHED YOU.
stephanie, haha! weeeeeEEeeeEEEEE! =DDD
ty–and in the end, he chose food. i love it! haha! my kind of writer, you are! =D
omg steph, your alien is AWESOME! haha!