Awesome Thing One: The LINGER cover. Isn't it lovely? Matches the first so well, and also automatically bring to mind the warmer spring, but loss as well. <3

And here's the first paragraphs of LINGER:

• grace •

This is the story of a boy who used to be a wolf and a girl who was becoming one.

Just a few months ago, it was Sam who was the mythical creature. His was the disease we couldn’t cure. His was the good-bye that meant the most. He had the body that was a mystery, too strange and wonderful and terrifying to comprehend.

But now it is spring. With the heat, the remaining wolves will soon be falling out of their wolf pelts and back into their human bodies. Sam stays Sam, and Cole stays Cole, and it’s only me who’s not firmly in my own skin.

Having read the whole book in its entirety, I can say it isn't about what you think it's about, and it only gets better.

Awesome Thing Two: The HILARIOUS John Green on NaNoWriMo.



NaNoWriMo, also known as National Novel Writing Month where a bunch of crazy people sign up to write 50k in 30 days. I am doing it with Book Two (which I'm unoffically calling Crow Magic), but I didn't sign up since I'm expecting Blood Magic revision notes AT ANY MOMENT. That said, I'm on day 4, and have 5,755 words. Today's goal is a mere 6,668. I'm hoping to power through and build up some safety words.

Should-Have-Been Awesome Thing: Anniversary of Obama's election to office.

Last year today, I worked the polls. I'd spent 8 months being excited and blissful and terrified, volunteering and writing essays about my personal emotional journey in step with the election season (yes, they're all in my blog archives). I was so happy with the results, unbelieving yet also awash with all that jazzy community regard, love, and of course, hope.

It's been quite a year for me, personally. The highest of highs, balanced with a few extreme lows. Pretty much exactly what a year should be. I'm headed exactly where I want to be going. I wanted to be thrilled a year later, too, with the way our country is headed. And for the most part, I've been content. I know change takes a long time, and I'm willing to give Obama the benefit of the doubt. He's got a few years (hopefully eight) and the place our country was after the previous administration is a mire that even the most radically pro-active president would have a hard time dragging us out of. There are so many little positive signs

This morning, though, as I read about the wave of anti-gay referendums, I feel exactly the way I did so many mornings pre-Obama. It was silly to expect it, I know, but I didn't want to feel this sinking hurt and painful disappointment again. The right to love shouldn't be based on a popular vote.

Today, a year after I breathed hope like it had transformed into golden oxygen, I'm having a difficult time seeing it anywhere at all.

But Mr. President, I'm looking for it.