awesomesauce

saw neil gaiman do a reading from american gods and then answer questions in a q&a this evening. was great! really wish i could someday pick his brain about character, world, and story building. doubt i'll ever get the chance, but tonight was amazing. hearing him read live was really something...i got chills during the first selection especially. lots of great stories and peeks into his mind during the q&a. :) came away with four signed books, too! (had bought the 10th anniversary author's preferred text version of american gods, then bought fragile things, the graveyard book, and odd and the frost giants.)

rip dwj

it's amazing that the thing to make me cry for the first time in over a year is this blog post by neil gaiman about the passing of diana wynne jones. i never knew her personally, i wish that i could have. i've one of her books that's been sitting here waiting for me to read it for a bit now, in fact. her books have always been inspired and inspiring and she has been one of my favorite authors to read (and re-read) since i was young. her passing marks the close of yet another chapter in the tome of great authors.

rest in peace, diana. i hope that whatever afterlife you believed in has welcomed you warmly. know that the little pieces of yourself that you have shared with the world will continue to blossom and spread dreams in the minds of those they touch. you inspired at least one young girl to dream of magic and to believe that even the outcasts can be heroes after all. thank you. <3

some authors

so, i told a friend i'd put up a list of authors that i like. here is a list in no particular order and just off the top of my head (for the most part).

.:more after the jump:.