woot-woot

Ok. If anyone sees me poking around online between now and next Wednesday, tell me to get back to work. I have a research paper, a research proposal, and an annotated bibliography to get done between now and then, so... yeah.

I'm just sayin', I have the focus of a goldfish. I'm blonde. (yes I'm falling back on the blonde trope, stfu)

Happy Good News Tuesday! My good news for the week is that Me and My Shadow is making the usual bestseller lists already, which means I owe you all lots and lots of thanks for being so good as to trot out and pick up the book. Mwahs to everyone!

My other good news is that the new vampire/intro to new series book (aka Ben and Fran grow up) is going really well, probably because the Viking ghosts marched in and took over a scene that I had intended go in an entirely different direction. Ah well, when it comes to Vikings, I've found it's best to let them have their way.

I have a task for all of you. I have a handful of Steamed ARCs to give away--just a handful, because some of them are already spoken for by the winners of the big Steampunk contest I ran earlier this year--but my brain is busy doing things like writing a new book, and it refuses to lend itself to thoughts of a new contest.

So here's your chance to suggest a contest that will give away ARCs. I will pick a couple of the most viable ideas and offer them up for vote by readers, with the winner getting an ARC...so yes, it's really a contest of a contest. Confusing, eh? Just remember that the most successful contests are those that allow everyone to enter, so requiring someone to write a sonnet to the glory that is Steampunk probably isn't going to float people's boats.

To submit a contest idea, simply send me a private message or e-mail (katie@katiemacalister.com) with:

• your name
• your e-mail addy
• your contest idea

The contest idea doesn't have to deal with steampunk, although people might like that since it's new and different. You've got until the end of the week to come up with a brilliant idea, bwahahah.

I bet you guys thought I'd forgotten about Dishy Guy Monday, eh? Well, the truth is I was writing, and I've learned that when my muse agrees to plop her butt in the chair and write, I shouldn't stall her by going off to look for dishy guy pictures. Thus there are times when DGM is lateish.

Today's DG is Felix the model.



Let's see...he's wet, has manly stubble, a jawline that would drop me at fifty paces (you guys know how I am about jaws), and has that intense look down pat. Yup. It's time to swoon.



He's also blond and blue-eyed. Did I mention he's wet? And in black leather?



So what do we think? Dragon? Dark One? Demon lord? 

The excitement of release day is slowly winding down, and with it returns sanity to my mundane little life. I'd like to thank everyone who did the happy release dance with me--you guys are the best. I'm never so grateful as when people understand the new book excitement.

And speaking of that--the official book discussion is underway at my message forum. If you have questions or comments about Me and My Shadow, or future books, that's the place to ask them. We have some lively discussions of what happened, so you're welcome to join the fun.

While I'm thinking of it--a box of Steamed ARCs arrived yesterday. You all know what that means--it'll be ARC contest time! I'll have to think of a contest worthy of the ARCs, so stay tuned for further info about that. Those of you who won an ARC in the big steampunk contest earlier this year should be seeing yours shortly. I hope to get them mailed out in the next few days.

My muse kicked up a bit of a fuss this morning when I plopped my butt down into the computer chair to start the new book. I don't know why it is, but I always have to have a bit of a scene when starting a book. This time my scene consisted of whining to my friend Manny, grumbling to myself about wanting time off, and procrastinating as long as I possibly could. At last she buckled down and I got my wad written, which is a relief. Now that the dreaded first day is done, I am hoping the rest of the book goes easier. I'm sure everyone who sees me whining on Twitter hopes that as well...

You wouldn't think a release day would be horribly busy, would you? After all, my part in the path of the book's publication was done months ago...today is simply the day that bookstores make sure the book hits the shelves. But in reality, release days are always super busy days.

Why? Well, I have a tradition (mostly due to laziness) that I don't write the release newsletter until the morning of the pub day. Those newsletters may look like quick reads, but they take me a couple of hours to get coded and spiffed up with proper links, etc. Then there are the official discussion threads that have to be innaugurated on the message forum, and I have to make sure that both websites are up to date and ready for the people who will be visiting looking for book info.

People are always excited on release day, and send me copious e-mails, messages and Twitters to celebrate that fact. Some people need help finding the newsletter, which means I must figure out what's going on with their subscription (or just send them links to the online version).

Then there are the interview requests that always come zipping in on release day--I'm always happy to do what I can to promote the book, so those requests have to be scheduled. There are always a flurry of e-mails on release day between my darling agent Michelle, Editor Laura, and myself (usually with me doing my traditional release day panic). And then there are the usual things I need to do, like write (today was plotting, which I really dislike), coping with the most urgent of e-mails (request from my German publisher was dealt with early on), and little things, like doing a "hey, it's a book day" blog post.

So yes, release days are always a little wild and wacky and intense, but I love 'em nonetheless. And I'm hoping everyone else is just as excited as I am to take the latest reading adventure!

I'm baaaaaaack! Or rather, Dishy Guy Monday is baaaaaaaaaack!



Say hello to Michael. Go ahead, I'll wait.



Doesn't he have nice arms? I think he has nice arms. And dear heavens, a dimple! Now, if he just had hair on his chest, we'd have a hat trick...





*thud*

How exciting is this--an actual blog post, one that doesn't involve me whining about swineyness! I know! I'm amazed, too.


Vampire Slug has reminded me to thank everyone who has sent get well warm fuzzies. Mr. Katie and I both appreciate them, as well as all the advice for kicking this dratted Evil Flu. Vampire Slug was a bit miffed that no one remembered him, but I told him firmly to stop waving his eye stalks in such an agitated manner, and that he'd have his day tomorrow, when he gets to sit in the window and stare at everyone passing by the house.

Now that my brain has cleared from all the flu fumes, I noticed that it's almost release time for Me and My Shadow. Those of you who are holding up your copies of the book purchased early, waving them around and saying you already have it, can just pretend you don't have it yet.

Let us turn our bright, shining faces toward Tuesday, which is the publication day. Let us anticipate Katie releasing her Me and My Shadow newsletter on that day, filled to the brim with interesting Me and My Shadow tidbits, behind the scenes gossip, news of the official Me and My Shadow chat, and in general, all sorts of witty bits that I have no idea how I'm going to write before Tuesday when I still have to get the adult Ben and Fran book plotted.

So, are you all ready for the third silver dragon book? Are you ready to see what happens to May and her dragon shard? How Gabriel will cope with having Magoth always underfoot? Whether Drake goes technically insane as Aisling gives birth? I hope so. It's all waiting for you...on Tuesday.

As most of you have guessed, I'm not online much due to the swineage that my husband gave me. I do appreciate all the warm fuzzies that people have sent, as does the hub. I'm hoping to be back to normal by next week, but until then, wash your hands! And stay healthy.