I meant to blog last week, but I found the Virginia Tech shootings so upsetting that I could not think of a thing to say that didn’t feel cheap and meaningless. So many promising lives cut short.

I was also saddened to see that Kurt Vonnegut died. RIP, Mr. Vonnegut.

Some people have asked what’s up with the book/movie/glass eye, and I so I thought I might do a general round up.

The Sweet Far Thing: Some of you may have noticed that the third book has a new release date. It will now be published in December instead of September. I would have dearly loved to have gotten it out in September, but doing a third revision on 1,000 pages in just three weeks proved…how should I put this…oh yeah, insane. I was excited about the direction the second draft took–all the new things that popped up in the writing of it–and I wanted more time to really develop those ideas, to write the best possible book. And Random House was nice enough to support me in that. So, we bought a little more time in the schedule. Not much, but some. I’m back to writing every day. I just rewrote the first six chapters and felt very good about them. Added a new prologue. (I had written no less than four different prologues and didn’t quite “feel” any of them. Then I tried it without a prologue and didn’t like that either. Now, just like Goldilocks, this one feels “just right.”) Anyway, it’s nice to be back to it and it will be hard to say goodbye to these characters.

The Movie: So I met with my film agent, the lovely Lindsay, who gave me the update that there is a finished script. So, hooray! There is a script! And now you know everything that I do. (I promise I will post the minute I hear more.)

The glass eye: Yes, it’s true. I have a glass eye. Well, technically it’s plastic. I always wanted a bionic one. Or maybe an eye with attachments, kind of like a Swiss Army Knife body part. Maybe it could have a little flashlight for those times I’m looking in the pantry for paper towels but can’t find anything because it’s too dark in there. Or maybe…no, maybe I should stop coming up with stuff and get back to the writing.

Kartik and Gemma: Yes, much K/G action in new book, and I’m going to give you some teasers right here. Ready? I particularly like the part where Gemma says, “I love you” and Kartik answers, “I know” just before he’s frozen in Carbonite. Oh wait. That’s “The Empire Strikes Back.” Sorry. But it is cool when Kartik kisses Gemma and she becomes an ogre just like him and…hmmm. Oh, oh, how about when Gemma shows up in black leather pants and says, “Tell me about it, stud,” and Kartik’s eyes get really big and he starts singing, “I got chills, they’re multiplyin’ and I’m losing control…” No? Well, um, stuff happens.

There is kissing, though. Promise.

And that is all for now.