Spread The Word, Cat Follies, And Heaving Bosoms

So, good morning. It’s a bright sunny one out there. First though, the sad news. Comics creator Frank Frisina’s young niece has disappeared. (Hat tip to Neil Gaiman for the link; he tweeted about it and everyone promptly crashed the site. So if it’s not up, please be patient and refresh, or go to this alternate.) I mean, Christ. This is a parent’s nightmare. I just can’t imagine. I mean, you wonder about it as a parent, and it’s always a fear. But to have it actually happen…words fail me. So if you could please, especially if you live in Colorado or neighboring states, spread the word? Hopefully she’s safe and will be returned to her family soon.

On the lighter side, all three cats this morning were in a tizzy. We have three: the Ferret (he is long and lean), the Duck (he quacks when you pet him) and the Tuxedo (who is the sweetest of all, but he drools). The Ferret and the Duck contented themselves with dashing around the house as if something invisible was chasing them, while the Tuxedo earnestly drooled all over me, rubbing and miaowing and just generally making a fool of himself.

So I said, “Show me!” to the Tuxedo, and of course he led me self-importantly to the food bowls out in the sunroom.

Which were–brace yourselves for the shocking truth–only half-full. I rolled my eyes and refilled them, and all three cats were suddenly rubbing my legs, purring and making fools of themselves. I am no longer certain it is the cats who are domesticated in this household.

In other news, a couple of AmazonFail links. Yes, I know you’re sick of that by now. So am I.

But author Francine Saint Marie has evidence of Amazon deranking GLBT stuff on Kindle since January ‘08. (ETA: A reader just notified me that this page had been taken down. But Meta Writer has now reposted it, plus the original link works again.) I haven’t cross-checked her account yet, but it certainly sounds plausible–especially the part where she tweaks the category data for her books to ordinary romance instead of GLBT and gets sales rankings restored within 24 hours. Hmmm. I’m interested in knowing how many authors had this experience.

And the ABA warns bookstores who might think of “boycotting” Amazon. They have a valid point. However…jeez. I’m just gonna stop there.

Last but not least, Candy Tan’s signing at Powell’s last night for Beyond Heaving Bosoms was a total scream. Meljean Brook was there, as well as yours truly and Jay Scott, doing reporter at large duty for Bitten By Books. (Hello, Rachel!) Not to mention the very awesome Fiveandfour, the Martian Mooncrab, my good buddy Red Argyle and so many of Candy’s friends that I’d only heard about. (Lord. Some days my journal is full of so many privacy-protecting pseudonyms it feels like the Witness Protection Program.)

Candy read from the “Choose Your Own ManTitty” section (if you ever get to that part, the paranormal option is so hilariously filthy even Candy didn’t want to read it out loud in public, and Candy? I SEE WHAT YOU DID THAR.) and there was much laughter and heckling. The Q&A was also marvelous. What I love so much about Candy and Sarah is that they are both frighteningly, extremely smart. Those who do not look beyond the adult language miss out on very well-thought-out analysis. I always prefer my funny with a heavy dose of smart.

Anyway, was exhausted when I got home, and this morning the whole house is coming down with a cold and the cats are insane. But I have a whole day to write, which I’m going to start on in about two minutes or so.

After I go hug all my kids. Hard.

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