Freya and TRAM

Freya weighs 132 lb. She's a big 10-month-old puppy.

I'm going to do TRAM again this year and I'm starting to raise money for MS through this venutre--The Ride Across Minnesota. Stay tuned!

(I'll miss Freya!)

A good writing day...

Actually, a great writing day. Got tons done at our writing reatreat. I don't know if I've ever written nineteen new pages in a day before. They may suck, but they're written. Feels good anyway.

Best Birthday ever

Best birtnday ever. I had this feeling...great bike ride, good karma....the contract for Chasing AllieCat arrived today! It's a deal! FLUX Books is really truly going to publsih it!!!!!!!!!

From The Writer's Almanac...I'm not alone...

It's the birthday of novelist Gail Godwin, (books by this author) born in Birmingham, Alabama (1937). She's the author of A Mother and Two Daughters (1982) and The Good Husband (1994). Gail Godwin said: "I work continuously within the shadow of failure. For every novel that makes it to my publisher's desk, there are at least five or six that died on the way."

Floyd once more

So...I saw and met Floyd Landis. he signed my shirt. I'm a happy camper. With all the scandal surrounding his doping while winning the Tour de France, he's been sort of villified. It was nice to see fans waiting to talk to him, to take pictures, etc. I got my picture taken with him, but we haven't been able to upload it. Oh, well.

FLOYD LANDIS will be racing in MANKATO tomorrow!!!! He won the Tour De France in 2006. He raced on the Postal team with Lance. He was convicted of doping and got honors stripped from him, but HOLY SMOKE! He's a big gun, no matter what. I get to see him race. I'm so, so excited.

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_12524069

Also, Kristin Armstrong, Olympic champion, world champion and returng Nature Valley Grand Prix champion is riding again. She's a wonder to watch.

If you've never seen a bike race, come to Mankato on Saturday. It'll be CRAZY.

Friday Freya

Freya, the goofy Newfy, likes to sleep outside in the summer (well, she likes it all year, but particularly in the summer when it's cool outside). Last night she ragged her water dish out in the middle of the night. I heard this strange shuffling sound thought she was just pushing the water dish around the garage. I woke, and it was thirty feet away, in the grass.

Thursday. June. It's almost heaven, isn't it?

I could use a little sunshine, but I can't complain. It's June. It's summer. No school.
This Saturday is the Nature Valley Grand Prix Bike Race in Mankato. I'll be volunteering. If you've never watched a pro bike race, you need to come see this. It's crazy and exciting.

Monday, Monday

One of the best things about summer is that I love Sunday nights, and Monday mornings mean I get to write! And outside my window this morning, in my yard at all the same time sere six pairs of goldfinches, a bluebird, and a house wren. Color galore. Worth sitting to watch.

Sunday

Agray,wet day
I wanted to bike, but I'm not sure I'm in the mood to face how wet and cold it will be.

Freya likes it. She lies outside in the misty rain, then comes inside like a big wet bear.

I keep posting photos of Ireland. My computer takes forever.

It is as beautiful and green as anyone could imagine.

I fell in love with England, too. More on that later!

Gotta get back to writing.

Freya, my muse

As I type this, Freya is under my computer table, licking my toes. I neve knew a muse to be so huge and furry, but she is indeed, and a wonderful muse.

George and Erica (my agent and his assistant) say they're in the very last stages of negotiationg the contract for Chasing AllieCat, my next YA novel. I can't wait to have something in place and certain.

Meanwhile, other projects are calling, and it's SUMMER, so I'm WRITING and RIDING my BIKE!
I am happy!