November and Suzanne Collins

(This post was written on November 6) Sunrise was at 8:01, sunset will be at 5:44. So perfect, the darkness in the morning at this time of year.

This last week was a study in many contrasts as far as the weather was concerned: Gorgeous, blue skies, bright orange leaves, temperatures into the 70's, Indian summer in November. And: deluges of rain, record setting falls of water, record setting temperatures, emptying trees, fog, flood warnings. Fidgety weather, can't dress for it, can't decide what to do in it.

Yesterday, I worked in the yard,weeding, raking, cutting branches back. The weather was perfect for sweats and a sweatshirt, overcast and warm, and just cool enough to relish the heat of working muscles. By late afternoon, the wind had come up, temperatures dropped and it started to pour.

I'm glad I got the raking done I did then. Today, the maple leaves once again cover the sidewalk underneath and I should go and spread them out over the places that need mulching.

I will be heading out for work in an hour or so for the Suzanne Collins Mockingjay event at the store. Should be quite exciting! But first, the Ducks vs. Huskies at Autzen Stadium! Go Ducks!

Here are some pics from the event. The people in the line to meet here were so excited. They'd get to the front of the line and you'd hear, "There she is! I can see her!" One girl said her legs were shaking and she thought she'd have to sit down.

Suzanne was very accommodating and anyone who brought a camera got a picture, books were "signed" (you may be able to see that she's wearing a brace so she stamped books with a specially made stamp), and feelings were exultant!
These young women were the first group to come to the release date party we threw in August so kids could pick up her book and have a place to read until they had to go home. They made a banner and were also the first in line to meet Suzanne.

And this is what seems to be most of our staff: Back row: Me, Wendy (our events coordinator), Jessica, Joyce, Judy (our children's book buyer), Chris (our Scholastic Book rep); front row: Rene, Suzanne Collins, and Kestrel.

(PS: If you haven't read Suzanne's books, Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay, you are in for a great week of books. This is a good series for ages 11 and up. There are younger kids reading it, but I'm not sure they should be. It's violent and children are killing other children. If you want something a little less violent but by no means less well-written and gripping, try her Gregor the Overlander series. Gregor is an 11 year-old boy who chases his sister, Boots, into the Underland, a whole world under Manhattan, carved out of the rock. It is filled with all kinds of creatures, cockroaches the size of horses, bats that are psychically and physically bound to their humans, and a wonderful epic poem that seems to be all about Gregor, his sister, his missing father, and the fate of the world. So good. Good for both boys and girls, adults who want a really great read, 8 year-old readers and older.)