Just spent a good hour or so working on the novel, in the afternoon -- with the windows open, even -- instead of at the crack of dawn, so I feel like I've accomplished something today.

It sure is nice having temps in the low 70s instead of the low 100s.

This morning Lizzie finished reading the last Harry Potter, and I pummeled her with questions over lunch, so now I know ALL THE ANSWERS!!! And I won't have to read those big-ass books. Gives me more time to read Tim Powers (though I'm still waiting for Amazon to ship me his Drawing of the Dark so I can read his novels in chronological order).

Yesterday's mail did bring my contributor's copy of Heroes in Training, which I think I need to sit down and start reading -- lots of cool stories in there (not counting my story "Drinker," of course, which is a prequel to my Wannoshay alien novel and stories).

Speaking of The Wannoshay Cycle (was that a smoooth seque or what?), I'm gearing up to add some freebies to my site to promote the book's arrival in January. Right now I know I'll have the first chapter available, and maybe even an MP3 people can listen to of that chapter. And any other odds and ends I can come up with in the meantime... (Any suggestions?)

I also wanted to link to a nifty interview with fellow writing pal Sarah Prineas, the first of many, I'm sure, as the first awesome book of her fantasy series gets ready to hit bookstores early next year as well. There's also a nifty photo of her loading a Barbie head into a trebuchet! Ca-chang! Go SarahP! (And hey, she hasn't read all of Harry Potter either, so there.)

Have a great rest o' the weekend. Later!