i commissioned this portrait from phoenix lu. =)
her digital art work is nothing less than stunning.
i cannot wait for you to read zhong ye and silver
phoenix’s story in Fury of the Phoenix.

and YES! i am making postcards to give out as swag!!

just finishing up line edits and this commission
couldn’t have arrived at a better time as i’m working
on making the sequel better. =DD

this week’s links of interest:

*ai ling and bod owens (The Graveyard Book) are
battling for their lives at YA Fantasy Showdown
cage match! neil gaiman told me very graciously
via twitter yesterday that he voted for ai ling. haha!
that neil, such a charmer. it does make me a little
sad tho, as i love bod and both ai ling and he aren’t
violent by nature. but all’s fair in love and cage matches…

go vote if you think ai ling would win! (bottom of page.)

*i give some advice on college to diana dang
as well as a signed copy of Silver Phoenix and a
brush painting card of your choice from my etsy site!

*i interview dia reeves, author of Bleeding Violet, at the
enchanted inkpot!

so i didn’t have time to dwell or be too nervous
about the following morning. well. saturday morning
rolls around and i had a little anxiety dream about
the speech. then i started to get nervous an hour
before the speech at home! my heart was racing just
thinking about it.

i got onto campus and it was another gorgeous
day in san diego (a running joke among us locals,
as they almost always are gorgeous) and i found
liora, the acting dean of students and my mentor,
who had convinced me to give the talk. she introduced
me to all these fabulous current revelle students
and i had a great time chatting to them! it made
me feel like i was twenty all over again. =D

i have lots of fotos to share!!

liora chatting with some of the parents
and students waiting for the program to start.

talking with dr.don wayne, the new provost
at revelle. he’s from the department of literature
which is truly exciting as it is the first time in
revelle’s history that we’ve had a faculty from
the humanities lead the college. what are we talking
about? neil gaiman, of course. haha! first thing
dr.wayne asked was if i knew about the clarion west
program at ucsd. know about it?

when i heard about it, i was so excited to learn
that neil would be part of the faculty. at the time,
i was just beginning to query for Silver Phoenix and
wasn’t writing short stories (the program is specifically
for short story writers in speculative fiction) so i
was really sad i couldn’t apply.

it was really nice to chat to the new provost,
especially given his interest in writing and literature!

my speech was fifteen minutes which
included a short excerpt reading. that really
made me feel in my element, to be able to read
from Silver Phoenix. i read from one of my favorite
scenes–in the bamboo forest. it was also one of
the last scenes i wrote for the novel.

i asked for advice about the speech giving and
got great feed back. the most important thing
was to practice, which made me feel familiar and
comfortable. i wonder if i still spoke a little too
fast going in?

but honestly, i wasn’t at all as nervous as i thought
i would be before the fact. i said in my speech that
returning to campus was like going home. and it’s
true. i felt welcomed and comfortable immediately.

dr.ernest mort spoke after me. he was the provost
of our collge for more than two decades.

“the beat” an a capella group on campus.
they were really good! they’re singing the triton
(our mascot) song here! =D

the wu shu is another student group who perform
chinese martial arts which is fantastic to watch.
i loved it when they incorporated weapons too.

the hula girls from the hawaii group.
also a great performance!

i was given a revelle gift, which was a
complete surprise! love revelle goodies!!

the revelle students who helped out at the
parents weekend event. they were great and it
really makes me miss my college years to hang
out with them. =D (we laugh at the RESTROOM sign
above us.) the table was where i had a signing!

javier was my personal assistant!! talk
about feeling VIP. hee! he held my purse,
got me water, handled cash transactions during
my book signing, and toted my junk around
while escorting me to the cafe to buy a french
toast meal. =D javier rocked as personal assistant!

liora! we put four semi-formals together,
worked on one summer orientation and
graduation committee plus many other fun events
on campus! and got me to give my first official
speech. =D

after the parent weekend event, i went
straight to del mar for a signing by a fellow
brush artist friend. jann is a music professor
at ucsd and her newest book (over twenty
years of research!) COMPOSING THE CITIZEN
is out with uc press.

she had the san diego symphony quartet
play at her signing. a debussy piece from
the late 1800’s. it was absolutely gorgeous.
i don’t listen or know much about classical
music–tho i have started to listen to it more
while writing the sequel.

some of my brush artist friends!
jann, the author, is in the navy dress
in the middle.

after the signing, we took the bublets
to the pumpkin patch to enjoy some rides,
jumpy houses, giant slides, and to pick
out two overpriced pumpkins. =D

it was a very full day of great company,
celebration and fun.

currently reading :

crown duel by sherwood smith

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!

last week started badly. i found out i needed
to drive near two hours to the court up in OC
for my speeding ticket. while spending too
many hours on hold to try and understand the
situation, my website got hacked. thankfully,
it didn’t seem to be malicious (so we hope!) but
more vanity related.

honestly, i feared for my trip to nyc. i was
afraid my bad mojo would follow me like the
pungent scent of durian. but the day started
wonderfully when i got an email from one of
my favorite authors, megan whalen turner, that
she had just finished silver phoenix and really
enjoyed it. of course, i squeed and wished i
could throw cupcakes at her.

then i got picked up for the airport but instead
of the 10 person shuttle i had hired, i got my
own personal town car!! free upgrade! wOOt!
i even forgave the driver for opening the window
and shouting MORON at a pedestrian when we
got to the airport. =O

couldn’t have had better weather when i arrived.
had just missed the showers. loved my room in
the murray hill boutique hotel (tho i didn’t take
a foto of it, boo!). on friday morning, bright and
early, i wondered out at 10.30am (ha!) to go pick
up some treats for my visit to harpercollins and
meeting the greenwillowites who worked so
hard on my debut in one aspect or another.

my writing friend wendy had recommended
crumbs and what a great rec that was! the
day was gorgeous and i really enjoyed walking–
something i don’t do enough in san diego.

i was so excited to visit my publisher that
i totally failed to take ANY fotos. haha! i got
a grand tour, saw my book in a case with
neil gaiman’s (eee!) and had lunch with everyone
at greenwillow. we intently discussed bunnies,
flowers and cupcakes–important topics in
children’s publishing. 8)

i also got a very very early glimpse of possible
ideas for the sequel’s cover. no matter what,
i know that chris will do a fantastic job with it!
very exciting!!

i then went to the silk spa near union square
for a massage! it was a very nice spa and i’d
highly recommend it. then i toodled over a few
streets east and had dinner with my friend, chris.
then groom to be, now a married man. and his
honey. i’ve known chris since i was fifteen so
over two decades. his now wife, lane,
had recommended ippudo which was DELICIOUS!
see for yourself!

pork buns! like cha shu!

my personal favorite–agedashi tofu!

deep fried potatoes with a delicious
dipping sauce.

i ordered the miso ramen. SO GOOD!
very hearty and def comfort food.
lane got the same.

chris ordered the special, wasabi ramen!

i then went to visit their new home in
williamsburg, brooklyn.

the next morning, stumbled out of the hotel
again bright and early at 10.30am (ha!). i
had a date with my friend juliet and had chosen
to meet at the le pain on 84th and madison. this
is one that the love and i used to walk to and
was a favorite place of ours to eat.

we started with a bread basket and i slathered
everything i ate in a nutella equivalent spread. YUM!

we also shared a fruit salad and a veggie quiche,
but we were so engrossed in chatting i forgot to
take fotos! =O

they have amazing breads and pastries as
well as soup, salads and sandwiches!

i really really really wanted to buy one
of their pastries but knew i had a brunch
date the next morning and all my other meals
set. *stares longingly at foto*

ten fotos and that is my first day and a half
back in new york city since 2000–when i
graduated from nyu! more posts and fotos
to follow!! =D

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!!

*foto courtesy of k!

i failed to mention a few weeks back that
my lotus painting with the delicate dragonfly
(the one featured on my bookmark!) won the
third place ribbon at the fair this year. yay!

and here’s an anecdote to go with that winning.
all artists were invited to a reception to preview
the exhibit before the fair opened–it was also
when they’d announce the ribbon winners. i commuted
with my fellow brush art friend and we were a little
late. we climbed up to the second floor and queued up
with everyone else, writing our names on stickies
only to realize it was for the photography exhibit.

whoops! so we climbed another two floors to the
fine arts ceremony. we were barely there ten minutes
when they announced the winners for asian art, with
me being the first one called. as background, i had
entered the lotus painting and my most adored bunny
painting and called them “untilted I” and “untitled II”.
only because i had an art show when i had to submit
my entries and didn’t know which paintings i would
put in the county fair.

so when i won the white ribbon for “untitled I”,
i didn’t know which painting it was for. i was hoping
for my back garden bunny. =)

we all converged downstairs on the ground floor
to view the exhibit after the cermony. i was standing
in front of my paintings with some other people when
one man pointed at the sticker on my shirt (because being
cindy, i thought it’d be cute to leave it on, why not? no
one else had one.)

man : you’re cindy pon! *pointing at my name
tag then at my bunny*

cpon : yes! that’s me! and look! i won the ribbon for
the lotus painting too!

the man is with an attractive, petite blonde with
curls piled up on her head.

i go on to explain how much i adored my bunny
painting and it visits every day and i feed it carrots
and it was my muse and inspired my fantastic painting
and it’s going in my picture book coming out with
harpercollins, etc etc. and i couldn’t remember which
one was “untitled I” and was hoping it was the bunny
that had won the ribbon.

and the blonde woman turned to me and said :

do you know why i gave the lotus the ribbon instead?

cpon : =O

JUDGE : i gave the lotus the ribbon because it had
more components, it was more complex.

cpon : *taking foot out of mouth* YOU gave me
the ribbon?!?

JUDGE : i judged this category.

so i went on to say why yes, the lotus painting is
lovely (and truly, it is, i love it) and yes it does have
many more components and thank you for giving
me the ribbon, etc etc.

haha! it’d only happen to me, i tell you.

but psst!! between you and me…
the bunny was A LOT HARDER to paint.

i’ve got two interested buyers for the lotus
and one buyer who would like both paintings.
and usually, i’m not one to be sentimental. i’ll
definitely favor some paintings, but if a person
is willing to pay for my art, (there’s something
wonderful in that because the only reason they
are buying it is because it brings them joy in
some way–art is an absolutely frivolous purchase–
altho i’d argue that it feeds the soul) i’ll sell
it 95% of the time.

but i don’t think i can part with my bunny!!
not yet anyway.

i’m off to chicago on friday! it’ll be my first time
on a plane by myself since i’ve had the bubs! it’s
going to be a packed weekend and i’m super
excited to meet my editor as well as toast neil
gaiman on his newbery medal! eeee!!!! i’ll be
signing this saturday.

ala chicago signing
saturday 7/11/09 @10am
harpercollins children’s booth #2011

also got confirmation on my comicon panel today!

comicon san diego panel / signing
thursday 7/23/09 @3.30pm in room 3
THE EVOLUTION OF FANTASY
signing immediately after one hour panel
in the autograph area. book also avaiable
at mysterious galaxy booth #1119 in the
exhibit hall and at their website!
Panelists: Jacqueline Carey (Naamah’s Kiss);
Lynn Flewelling (Shadows Return);
Patrick Rothfuss (The Name Of The Wind);
Thomas Sniegoski (The Fallen);
Greg Van Eekhout (Norse Code) and
Cindy Pon (Silver Phoenix : Beyond the Kingdom of Xia).
Moderator: Lev Grossman (The Magicians)

and heather z interviews me over at
her blog (full of spoilers!). i answer why i wrote
the ending that i did for Silver Phoenix and also
get the recipe for one of my favorite chinese dishes!

i’m making steady progress on the sequel. only wish
i could write faster. am not bringing the laptop to
chicago–i’ll probably be too busy to write. but i’m
bringing the good old notebook, if i really need to
write. i hope that i do!

also, my eternal love for pulp of 1995. it always
plops me right back in london with the love. me
at barely 21, he at 25. a different class album is
pure genius.

do you remember the first time? by pulp

this entry wins for MOST TAGS EVER! =D

fotos galore! but i neglected to take a picture of
the cupcakes–from sweet things recommended by
my friend at 6togo as well as martha!

kara and her husband, greg, flew all the way
from arizona to come attend my signing–their very
first book signing. kara already read my book and i was
so happy to see her. we know each other from…the baby
boards! both our munchkins are close in age! kara also took
the majority of my fotos with friends. =D

i look constipated here. this
is no reflection on kara–or me. i hope. ha!!

the fabulous martha! we are in an embrace!
jennifer l who ran the event brought gorgeous
flowers for my signing table!

NINJALICIOUS NANCY is part of the word ninjas, ink
group that i recently joined. she was so kind to bring her
friend and goddaughter, anna, a teen reader! the perfect
person for my book. thanks so much for coming!!

mary who runs the awesome site kidlit!
i’ll see you in los angeles, mary!! =D

jon yang, who’s own YA debut, EXCLUSIVELY CHLOE
released today! congrats, jon! cannot wait to read this!

sarina took the day off to come in from sacramento.
we’ve been online friends for nearly a decade, i’d say.
but first time we’ve met! it was such a highlight! she
gave me a present, which i didn’t open until after the signing.
it’s a lovely leather bound journal with my name engraved
on it. thank you so much for such a thoughtful gift, sarina!
and for celebrating my release with me!

fellow 09 debs malinda lo and cheryl herbsman attended!
cheryl’s debut, breathing just released as well. we traded
author copies and i’m very excited to read it!

m lo’s debut, ash, a lesbian retelling of cinderella
will be out later this year. aren’t both these covers
so gorgeous and evocative?

christine came with her honey in tow
(i gave her cute honey a thumbs up! ha!)
another online friend whom it was so much
fun to meet in person!

the beautiful edna! we first met at the scbwi conference
last summer and she’s been such a fantastic resource
and friend since. i also met her lovely “daughter” who
is in college. yeah. i don’t believe it either.

the books inc at laurel village was perfect for
my signing. it was a store with a very cozy and
welcoming feel, with lots of parking in the back.
i did a question and answer session, coaxed by
jennifer l–hey, i may actually read the third time
around! and just had a fabulous time. it never ceases
to make my heart full when i see old friends and
new come out to support me.

sweet pea showing you who’s boss.
(we fight a lot. we both want to be boss.
i don’t know what will happen in ten years’
time. haha!) but she was my little helper
handing me bookmarks to give to people.
where was munchkin? running around like
a rabid monkey upstairs and stuffing cupcakes
down his trap. =D

now onto silver phoenix news!!
i spent the majority of yesterday in dire need
of a sound proof padded room as i wanted to bounce
off the walls literally finding out my debut was named
one of the top ten fantasy novels for youth by booklist!
gaiman, pratchett and … pon? i still can’t get over it.

never in my dreams did i think i’d be on any type of
list with neil g–not even coolest dark wavy hair category.
haha! i seriously feel like the kid who crashed the
grand ball and crawled under the table sneaking sweets. =p~

speaking of which, a signing time for ALA CHICAGO in
july has been set. i’ll be signing on saturday, JULY 11th
at 10am along with fellow debut author extraordinaire
and greenwillowite partner in crime, david m. gill!

also, i’ll be flying out to nyc for a wedding the weekend
of september 18th and will  be doing a signing in
nyc as well. details are forthcoming. i’m very excited–i’ve
not been since i graduated from nyu with my masters back
in may 2000! it’s been too long, new york, new york!

finally, want another chance to win a signed copy of
silver phoenix? jordyn is doing a give away on her blog!
there is ONE PERSON participating so, um, your chances
are good currently. =D

also, please don’t forget to comment on my own
silver phoenix contest. i’ve seen A LOT of linky love
and reviews, but if you don’t comment with link in that
actual post, it’s impossible for me to keep track. i’m running
on 2 brain cells at the moment! i think if we hit 200 comments
with links, i’d feel obliged to give out TWO prizes. weeee!
contest runs through JUNE 8th so there is plenty of time!

off to pick up sweet pea from kindy now!

honestly, if you asked me to tell you in chronological
order what happened at my first book launch party–
i wouldn’t do a very good job of it. i know in the beginning,
marie (from the blueboards!) arrived early with her lovely
daughter. i was so surprised as she lives in los angeles.

i’m wearing the gold and green qi pao also seen
in my author foto and on the book jacket. and my
horrific 4 inch jessica simpson heels — painful, but
they go well with the dress!

actually, i think khy was the first to arrive! she even
tweeted about sighting cindy pon and was “approaching”. like
i was some sort of alien species or rabid gorilla. it made
me laugh.

khy is a hs freshman and most def has awesome bangs
and cool glasses to boot. i think she’s absolutely fabulous!
she even wore a chiense themed shirt for the occasion. yes,
i do want to shrink khy and keep her in my pocket! =D
she was there to film a “documentary” of my first signing along
with partner in crime, jordyn. i’ve yet to see footage. eee! ha!

jordyn is “old” at almost twenty. hee!
it’s funny because i remember my teen years so well.
gosh. why am i surprised i wrote YA by “accident”?
they were the perfect video accomplices and it was a lot
of fun to have them there as they hung out the entire time,
browsing through the bookstore and (i hope!) eating
lots of yummy desserts! like these…

i catered using (what else?) extraordinary desserts
and went with mini choccie cupcakes, brownie bites,
macaroons, creme brulee, fruit tarts and mini carrot
cake cupcakes. alas, a book signing is very much like a
wedding banquet–i didn’t have any time to eat. (i made
for a very grouchy bride! but i was in better humor at
the book signing? maybe i’ve matured? *nods* ha!)

and then, well, then things started getting a little crazy.
people came in, i sat down, and didn’t stop signing or
taking fotos with my friends until the very end.  i saw
this most of the time.

[many of these fotos courtesy of daddy khy--who stayed the
entire time after driving two hours to the signing. what an awesome
dad!!]

what were you thinking, cindy?
i was thinking, please spell everything right.
please don’t write too messy. there were many people
who i had not seen in a while and wanted to chat to, but
most of the time, it was them chatting and me nodding cause
anything more and i would have kapooted.

i was also thinking : how the heck does neil g do this and
make it look so easy?

and i was also also thinking : are they eating the desserts?
did i order enough? will there be any left for me? =p~

[some of my lovely critique group friends : kirsten, amber,
baby henry and eveie!]

one of the biggest surprise was amber flying all the way
out from maryland with 5 month old henry to come to my
signing. she moved away over a year ago and when she came
up to say “hi” while i was signing, her presence just could not
register. ha! i almost cried! and i hate crying!!
the “surprise” was outed several times via email but i hadn’t
really caught on! thank you amber! i can’t wait to see you again
at a conference next year or at YOUR book signing. =D

[the brat pack! =D connor, amy, me, heather and aaron!]

these are my buddies from my 9 – 5 days! we do lunch
every month and the best thing is? i got them hooked onto
young adult books! hee! and yes, this was also the prom girls
and we may very well have to meet edward at the theatres in
fancy dress for new moon viewing.

[my buddies from AW forums! shweta, sharon, deborah
and zac looking cool in the back! g cropped out for privacy!]

i had met shweta, sharon and zac at the neil g signing and
it was such a pleasure to see them again. and so nice of everyone
from online to come and support me.

i also love this foto with shweta and her lucky hippo friend!

cami is also a long time online friend. when i first began reading
her blog, she hadn’t even graduated from college yet. of course, that
doesn’t give you much to go on cause she still looks 22. ha!

and last but not least, kiersten took time out of her busy day
(i know how hectic weekends are for all families!) to come to
the signing. i wish i had more time to chat!! i wish it so for everyone!

kiersten is every bit as sunshiny and beautiful in person!

loveliness only rivaled by her mini-me, who was
adorable! when i spelled out kiersten’s name first
to make sure i got it right, her sweet pea said, mommy
she’s GOOD at that. hee! and i’m 5.11 in my heels so i’m
towering over most everyone. =O

so there you have it!
my very first official launch party as a verifiable
honest to goodness my license and certificates are
in a cheap frame hanging askew on the walls AUTHOR!
yay!!!

thank you so much to everyone who has entered my
contest. it’s not too late–you have until june 8 to do
one or all on the list to earn raffles! i’m off to san francisco
in a few days for my northern cali launch party–and
will be meeting many people for the first time up there.
really looking forward to it!

i shall leave you with another signed SILVER PHOENIX giveaway,
kindly hosted over at martha flynn’s site! all you need to do
is comment with a favorite asian actor, film or book to win.
contest runs through MAY 7th.
i’ll see you in a few days in san fran, martha!! =D

yesterday morning i woke feeling full of
life and optimism, grateful for everything
i have and each day’s little blessings. i often
get this joyful feeling in random moments,
where my chest fills with happiness and i wish
i could expand and encompass the world in it.
i attempted to describe this feeling in my novel.

i meant to update the blog yesterday.
but after returning from a delicious italian
lunch (i had homemade gnocchi with italian
spicy sausage and a cannoli) with my friend, v,
i found some proofreading / editorial questions
for SILVER PHOENIX. the ARC is out, but yes,
i’m still making minor changes!

a writing friend asked if i found all this
revising tiresome. and honestly, i don’t.
i’m grateful for everyone behind the
scenes working hard to make my novel better!
in the end, it’ll just be my name on the cover–
but it’s truly amazing how many
people have been involved to bring this to
life. it’s a team effort and it’s inspiring.

chinese new year at sweet pea’s kindy
was a success! the kids loved the red envelope
and treats, and sweet pea looked adorable in
her red and gold brocaded dress. i’ve booked
munchkin’s big birthday party (he’s turning 4!)
and he’s requested a “garbage” or “bad guys”
theme for the celebration. i had to get clarification
that he meant “garbage trucks”. ha!
hmm. i’m pretty sure i won’t be able to find
either themes at party city. but perhaps
i can get creative? 8)

i am very much the anti-hostess.
so throwing these shin digs is not my
idea of “fun”. but the look of exultation
and wonder on their faces makes it worthwhile.
and we always have ice cream cake!

a rushed post as the sooner i finish, the
sooner i can return to reading the graveyard
book by neil gaiman. if you’ve somehow been
hiding beneath a rock, he received the newbery
medal on monday (lunar new year!) for this
novel. i couldn’t be more thrilled for him. i’m
only a few pages in and feel pulled by the story
already. congratulations, neil! (i am a puddle
of fan girl!) read his winning the medal post here
and a follow up with great links here.

linky love :

elise, awesome keeper of goats
and other frisky farm animals, was kind
enough to interview me for her blog!
i really want to thank the readers and writing
friends who have asked me!! xie xie!

and shelli interviews our very own martha
mihalick, an editor at greenwillow books.
thanks for letting me know, jkb! =D