Where have you been?

Hi! Did you miss me?
Sorry for the prolonged absence last week. What have I been doing you ask?
Well, I was at BookExpo. The annual orgy of upcoming books. This year it happened to be in Los Angeles. So I was off picking up all sorts of fabulous new books. That won't be in book stores for months.
I had the pleasure of hanging out with Wendy, the Super Librarian. As well as some of the wonderful staff from the Tech Services Department at Columbus Metropolitan Library.
And the wonderful people at Library Journal never told me I was being a pest, no matter how many times I bopped in and out of the Librarian's Lounge. (Let's just say it was a lot and leave it at that.) ;-)
There were many terrific authors there as well. And as always, I turned into an inarticulate goof.
Rick Riordan, who writes really fun books for kids about the modern offspring of the Greek Gods.
Brad Meltzer - who, when I asked him to sign the book to me said, "Shayera, like Hawkgirl?"
The very wonderful Julia Quinn, who is sweet and generous as well as being a terrific writer.
And the terrific John Scalzi. Every year I seem to end up running into one author constantly over and over again throughout the Show. This year it was John. Thursday night he spoke at a dinner I was invited to. Friday he was on a panel I attended. Saturday was the only day I didn't inflict myself on him. But I made up for it on Sunday. First I was in his autographing line. And then I saw him in the Macmillan booth. Sorry John.

But I was lucky enough to score a copy of Zoe's Tale, his absolutely fabulous new book that's coming out August 19, 2008.
Seriously. I just finished reading it. I laughed, I cried (more than once), I even snorted with laughter a couple times. I had to hide in my office so the staff wouldn't see me crying. 'Cause it's impossible not to cry when you read this book.
What's it about? It's the story of Zoe Boutin-Perry, who was a secondary character in The Ghost Brigades and The Last Colony. She's 15. The story is a parallel story to the one in The Last Colony (Hugo nominated). Seriously. If you like Science Fiction, go find these books.

And many other wonderful people I'm way too tired to look up and link tonight. My ankles are no longer on speaking terms with the rest of my body. But my calves are thrilled.
I drove right by the big fire at Universal.
I spent way too much on parking and mediocre food. But got cake. Missed out on the cupcakes. Which seemed to be everywhere.
I saw Ted Turner. But I didn't see Salman Rushdie. I did see John Hodgman. Who apparently charmed everyone waiting in line for his autograph.
I loved talking to the publishers. Some are nicer than others. Can I just point out that I help spend a multi MILLION dollar budget. And we don't do returns. Some of you publishers might want to be bothered to give me the time of day. Just saying.