In what will undoubtedly be more exciting news for me than for you: I have FINALLY acquired the domain skary.com! So, any day now, you'll be able to tell people to go to skary.com, and you won't have to text them later to say, "My bad. It's skary dot NET," and all those blogs that have been getting it wrong for eight years now will not have to do a darned thing.
In celebration, here's a totally unrelated illustration of what Doctor Who would be like if Tom Waits were the Doctor.
Doc Waits
Lots of you have asked me how to get your copies of Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow signed, which makes me smile from ear to ear, and smiling that wide makes my face hurt. But enough of you have asked that I thought it high time I just posted the info publicly so that you have quicker access to it.
If you've got a copy of the book, and you'd like to have it signed by me, here's what you do:
1. Mail your copy of the book to me along with a prepaid self-addressed envelope that's big enough to hold the book. If you're in the US, it's easiest if you use a Priority Mail flat rate envelope. Send it to:
Katy Towell
PO Box 56372
Sherman Oaks, CA 91413
USA
2. Email me to let me know you've sent me something so that I'll know to go and actually, you know, check my mail. If you don't do this, you're at the mercy of my laziness.
3. Be sure to let me know what name to sign the book to and if there's any special message you want me to write. Otherwise, I'll just make out the inscription to the name on your return address.
And that's it! Easy, isn't it?
I'm a little late to this one, but check out this review of Carousel from 6th grader Tam! My favorite line: "Maggie, on the other hand is uncomfortably strong. I'm talking strong as in she can carry a whole mantelpiece jam-packed of enormous heavy dictionaries in one hand, and without breaking a sweat either." So true!
Goodness gracious! It's 2012 already! And I have such things planned for this year. Boy will absolutely be out, hopefully earlier rather than later. I'm working on a new book. There will be new illustrations up on the site soon. I'm working on all sorts of things, really. I can't believe this is my seventh? Eighth? year of working on Skary! Let's make this the best one yet, eh?
Merry Skary Christmas, everyone! I hope that all of you are having a marvelous day, whether you celebrate or not. Now *drumroll* for the winner of the contest to win a signed copy of my book: *more drumrolling* BRYAN CALLAGHAN and his daughter. Bryan, send me an email at http://skary.net/contact and tell me where to send the book and to what name I should write the inscription. :)
Polish fan Joanna sent me a photo of her Nepenthes Rebecca Soper, which is a carnivorous pitcher plant. And, as many of you know, I have a particular fondness for plants that eat living things!
Pitcher plants work by attracting insects - and sometimes small rodents in some of the larger plants! - to their sticky sweet fluid. Once the prey falls into the liquid, it drowns, and the liquid breaks the body down to the nutrients the plant needs to survive. Delightfully diabolical, no?
What's the one thing you want for Christmas more than anything? Well, I'm afraid I can't give you a unicorn that transforms into the Batmobile on command, but I can give you the next best thing: a signed copy of Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow! All you have to do is comment on my Facebook or Google+, OR follow and tweet @katytowell on Twitter, telling me why you want this book. You can enter to win it for yourself or gift it to someone you love! Send your comments today through Christmas Eve (until 11:59pm Pacific, December 24th)! The (one) winner will be picked and announced some time on Christmas Day. The contest is open to anyone in any country, and the book will be mailed to the winner after the announced winner sends me his/her/their giftee's mailing address. Happy holidays from the Childrin!
This is the kind of email (okay, so there are many kinds, but this is definitely one of them) that makes me smile.
From: Mrs. Corcoran's class
We have been reading aloud your story for the last 2 months.We feel that it is exciting, scary, and a little disgusting. Whenever our teacher reads, we are completely enthralled by the story line. We just found your website and wondered if you are planning to make a movie in the future? Please contact us.
Hello, Mrs. Corcoran's class!
It's the holiday season in the US and many places around the world. It's also getting pretty cold in the US and many places around the world! Then again, it's also neither in many places around the world. But every place has children in need, and you can help them out while getting a little something for yourself.
Now that 31 Days of Halloween 2011: The Truth About the Glass has finally ended, you have a chance to bid on all the illustrations. All of them! For you (if you win)! Signed, too, if you like. And 100% of the winning bid will go to Children International.
Click here to bid. The auction ends in ten days!
