WEEKEND UPDATE

It’s become very quiet in Bartlesville.

Too quiet.

I don’t know what’s going on there, friends. No one is talking. I have a feeling that all of a sudden I’m going to hear some news, and then we’ll be right off to the races again. I sleep with one eye open, never fear. If you want to hear me talk about it--or if you just want to hear what I sound like on the phone--you can listen to this podcast. Or you can read this article on the banning by Little Willow.



My team and I are monitoring the situation.

In the meantime, here is a little update on the weekend.

First, I was at the Nebula Awards. My personal reason for being there was because Devilish was nominated for the Andre Norton Award, a fact which astonished me from the very first moment I heard it. I was on the same list as Scott Westerfeld (for Peeps and Midnighters) and Justine Larbalestier (for Magic or Madness). Not only are Scott and Justine my friends—I’m a huge fan.

I am beyond pleased to tell you that Justine won! I screamed. We cried. I texted them in Australia and my phone kept going off and I thought the woman behind me was going to hit me with her robot (we all got robots and they are AWESOME—Free Monkey has already claimed it as his).

PLEASE READ MAGIC OR MADNESS. I AM BEGGING YOU.

Thank you.

I have also been going through the dozens and dozens of comments from the last few posts, and I wanted to take a moment to respond to just a few of them.

liz said...
Fake irish food sucks, too.

Finally! While everybody is yammering on about the “friendship” and the “romance” in Bermudez, Liz has correctly summed up what the book is REALLY about. It is my manifesto against chain restaurants! While Bennigan’s is the specific target, any chain restaurant that pretends to be representative of another country (I’m talking to you, Outback Steakhouse) can be substituted.

anonymous said...
Many of you are ridiculing the parents for signing a petition without reading the book. While at the same time, many of you are ridiculing the Bible - - - -have you read it?? The Bible does speak of many horrible acts because it is explaining to us what happens when we turn our backs on God and God's truth. Try reading the book- - -it might change your life!!

I have read the Bible. Cover to cover. On multiple occasions. In multiple editions. I had to sit through religion classes for four years in high school. Half the year was Bible study and church history, and half the year in religious life class, like my senior year marriage class (which was taught by a nun and featured prom lessons). Then I continued reading it in college as part of the Biblical and classical literature component of my major, which did not have marriage or prom classes.

You’ve missed the point, anonymous. The people who have commented here are pointing out the fact that if we start banning books, the Bible is in as much danger as everything else.

(An aside: did I ever tell you the story about the time my friend Betty Vox and I had to run from a nun and how it was all my fault? I don’t think I did. Please indicate if you would like to hear it.)

anonymous said...
can free monkey travel overseas- i.e. England?

YES! In fact, Free Monkey will be visiting England in July. Please feel free to submit your proposal to him! He loves traveling in his home country.

anonymous said...
Jesus said the world would hate Christians because it hates him (John 15:18-21) People hate Jesus because his very name convicts them of their sin even if they can't fully articulate that.

There are a lot of Christians reading this site who, I am sure, are wondering why you think this is about hating Christianity. It’s not. Nothing could be further from the truth. Realize that many Christians are not on board with hateful condemnations of others. It’s against their religion.

cecil castellucci said...
I am going to the 4 day Star Wars Celebration event here in LA in two weeks. I'm sure there will be a store called "SLAVE LEIA OUTFITS 'R US" and I will get you an order form.

I'm not even kidding. 

I've said it before, I'll say it again. "Maureen, I've got your (princess leia) back."

Thank you, Miss Cecil! You guys know Cecil, right? You have read her new book, Beige, haven’t you?

You have, right? Because I can wait.

Let me know if they have forms. I don’t want to end up making my own gold slave bikini, because that will NOT end well.

kiersten said...
wait so what are the honkers? the alien guys are the yip-yips, right? so the honkers are...what? and also, is free monkey a guy or a girl? dont know why its important i just was wondering.

I always thought these guys were called the Honkers, but I was wrong. They are Yip-Yips. How did I live before Wikipedia?

Free Monkey is a boy, but mainly, he’s a monkey.

He’s been very impressed with the World Tour submissions so far. Remember, the deadline is May 23rd! In the meantime, I have to get ready for the release . . . and be on the lookout for a secret sister Brotherhood2.0 video later this week. John has put out the call for people to help editing his wikipedia page and Hank’s wikipedia page. Now, that’s worth a few minutes of your time.