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If you run any kind of distance in the summer, or just sweat profusely, you know what I’m talking about. I was out doing a loop this morning in Central Park and it was hot and humid. Naturally, I started to sweat. Well, the sweat had to go somewhere, and in a truly horrifying nexus of human anatomy, particle physics, and poorly designed running gear, it seems every blasted drop of sweat pooled down the front and back of my shorts. The only real cure is to keep running until your shorts are totally soaked, but I swear these things only show water in the most embarrassing places. Maybe if I buy vertically stripped shorts or really long shirts…

Ok, when they said podcast I thought they meant video and audio. I went into S&S today to do the interview and due to the heat I thoughtfully brought along an extra shirt and comb so that I wouldn’t look all sweaty and disheveled for the interview. Brilliant. I was shown into the recording booth and sat down in front of a mike on a table. I didn’t actually ask ‘where’s the camera?’ but I came close before I clued in. It was a lot of fun. Amre of S&S audio asked me the questions while Terry, the sound engineer, handled the technical side. And I managed to answer everything in one take…maybe two…ok, no more than five. Terry assured me he’d make it sound great, so I imagine they’ll bring a voice actor in later to redub the whole thing.

Just got back into the city a couple of hours ago from my trip to Stackpole. Three days of meetings, lunches, dinners and my first official book store event. Huge thanks to Jeff Young, the asst store manager, for setting everything up and giving me a wonderful reception. Thanks, too, to my many co-workers at Stackpole who came out to see what I’d been up to in my spare time. Col. Robert Black and his wife, my second mom, Carolyn, were kind enough to put me up, feed me (glorious home cooking!) and treat me like family and for that I am touched and honored.

I wish I knew how to post photos here because OMG (yeah, I said it, OMG) Janelle Bender and Mark Zug created the t-shirt of all t-shirts and IT ROCKS!

There’s tons more, but I’ve got to get some rest so that I look halfway presentable for my podcast tomorrow. I think it will wind up on S&S’s site, but I’ll find out for sure tomorrow.

I’m in Pennsylvania at the moment visiting the Stackpole Books home office. While here I’ll also be doing my first signing and talk at the Camp Hill B&N tomorrow night, Wednesday, at 7pm. I’ve been told that if I’m nervous I should just imagine everyone naked, but that kind of thinking just gets you into all sorts of trouble…or so I’ve heard.

I also heard some wicked cool news about A Darkness Forged in Fire in Australia that I’m almost certain I can’t divulge, but my desire to go Down Under just went Way Up!

I can divulge that I just received my first ever starred review from the very nice folks (well, after giving me a star how can they not be?) at the Library Journal.

…is a bustling restaurant in Chinatown here in New York City. I met friends there for lunch this afternoon. The specialty is dim sum, and the dishes are wheeled around on carts by waitresses. You simply hail one over to your table, point to the dishes or corresponding photos helpfully pasted on the front of the cart and your order is served. The great fun was in trying to get something off of every cart. I counted at least seven and each one specialized in different areas. I know we had shrimp dumpling, bean curd, some kind of steamed, leafy vegetable, some kind of pork…something, and other items I have no idea at all, but everything tasted wonderful. I went chopsticks all the way and got at least 87% of my food to my mouth, a new record. If you haven’t tried dim sum it’s a lot of fun. And the Golden Unicorn is well worth the wait to get in should you ever find yourself in New York and hungry.