A day of celebration

Okay, so my editor told me to take Tuesday off and do something fun to mark the on-sale date of The Assassin. Being a good little writer, I wasn't about to disobey. So I dragged out the lawn mower, the rake, a couple of shovels, and the super-duper pry bar that's as tall as I am (and feels about as heavy after a few minutes' use), and went to work on the yard. The wind was blowing about a hundred miles an hour up here on the hilltop, so when I finished mowing the clover that passes for a lawn, I was covered head to toe in green flecks, and liberally sprinkled with clods of dirt from the railroad ties that were used as edging twenty-some years ago when this house was built. Now I have deep trenches running along the sidewalk and around the crepe myrtle, muddy ties tossed hither and yon around said sidewalk, a pile of leaves that could pass as a small mountain, and no chance to clean it all up for at least a few more days.

But I was just doing as I was told, she says innocently.

Digging up and chopping down stuff is fun for me, but the real celebration came later, when my husband and I went to our favorite restaurant for our favorite food, sushi, followed by -- yep, I admit -- a trip to the two nearest bookstores to see the book in its temporary home. Silly, I know, but I just wanted to stand back and admire it there amongst its brethren. Of course, anyone who's reading this is welcome to take home as many copies as you can carry! I won't complain!

And the next part of the celebration came the next day, when my publisher sent flowers to mark the book's release. Beautiful Dutch tulips . . . I love flowers, and especially tulips. Too, too lovely. Rachel9:18 AM