Sunday, March 20, 2011

Explore Everything

My new credo:




Found by Jim on the side of a phone box in Parliament Square.







We're back from a fabulous and BRIEF trip to London, and I have this to say: 

London = amazing. I honestly don't know why I haven't given it much thought in the past however many years. I'd been as a teenager and loved it, but when I travel-daydreamed, I just didn't really think of it. But . . . we loved it. So much. Before we'd even seen any of it, we loved it. Before we even stepped out of the car, and had yet seen nothing of particular grandeur. Just a beautiful street that the driver said was "dangerous," and a church that, when I asked what it was, he shrugged and said, "Just a church." *blanch.* Here, "just churches" don't come like that!

The beauty, the extreme . . . grandeur . . . (I repeat myself from sheer flummoxedness) even of the ordinary things are enough to make you stop in your paces. And then you see Parliament. Ha ha. Flummox away.

We are scheming our way back for a more substantial exploration. Right here, on our first day, we are already scheming. And also pretending to pose for an album cover.


photo by my awesome friend Lori, on whom more later


We loved it. Love.

And I have to admit that London had a bit of help. It wasn't just its Londonness that made me love it so much. It was a particular group of people at the publishing house of Hodder & Stoughton that made the experience so extraordinary. Honestly, they could make a visit to the Emirate of Armpit special!

Last spring, when my agent Jane Putch was shopping the manuscript of Daughter of Smoke and Bone to publishers, she held back the UK/Commonwealth rights. (One of the many things an agent negotiates is which rights are being purchased; my previous books had all sold World Rights, meaning it's up to the publisher's rights department to sell any foreign rights. In this case, Jane wanted to sell UK/Commonwealth herself.) Well, I didn't think too much of it, as I don't know anything about that sort of business strategy. None of my previous books have been published in the UK, so I guess I thought it would be like it has been with my other few foreign publications: I would hear and know nothing apart from getting an edition in the mail (maybe) well down the road.

It has not been like that. It has been . . . awesome. A doubling of the awesomeness of the whole Daughter of Smoke and Bone experience so far.

(On a side note, Clementine has begun to say "awesome" in exactly my inflection, leading me to realize I use this word a lot. But that's not so bad, right? It's better than if she were repeating misery or dyspepsia* :-)

My next whole post will be about Hodder and the reason they invited me out to London. For now, just a peek. Remember how I had to take my measurements last week? Well . . . 




WHAT is going on HERE?

Hm.




To be revealed . . .








*dyspepsia - "deranged digestion." Isn't that an image?

13 comments:

Camille said...

I'm so glad you liked London although I'm sorry I missed You. I can't wait for your next post, to hear what that picture is about. I want want want to know.

Q said...

You terrible tease! If you're not taking care of Clementine or writing a book, you should be writing your next blog post. :)

Amber said...

I love these pictures of you guys! Ha! So cute.

I also say awesome a lot, and so do my kids. But it is better than other things I say alot, that they could say. But are too smart. So they just say, "What the BEEP?!" LOL!

:)

Jennifer Morian Frye said...

So intriguing!

Hello Hoobubby / Alexandra said...

Awesome horns Fattae! Did you get to bring those home with you???

Stephanie Perkins said...

More more more more more more more more I want more!

I am greedy like that. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh, I dunno, I bet Clementine saying dyspepsia would be pretty darn cute. HAVING dyspepsia, maybe not so much.

Commander Kip said...

I knew it! Epic space suit! The horns are particularly epic.

Msb said...

Finally, accoutrements and make-up that stand up to the brilliance of your hair. It's about time.

tone almhjell said...

1. I would totally buy that album.

2. If you go back to London, you're GOING TO make a teensy detour to Norway. One hour forty-five minutes by plane, and the tickets are cheap.

3. And come on - next post, next post!!

Laini Taylor said...

MacDougal, ha ha. I know I don't rock the hair enough. It's too much work :-) I rely on the hair to do my rocking!

Tone, that sounds like a fabulous plan. We also want to get to Amsterdam on that trip, and I can't tell how much time we'll have, but I would LOVE to orchestrate a long enough trip to hit London-Amsterdam-Oslo in the fall! Dream dream!

Anonymous said...

First thought: wicked marionette!

Goblinmerchant said...

Liani, you seem to have found one of my stickers - I am so happy you have taken on the credo! Keep searching the city, you will find them in the most unlikely place... Much love from London!

Bradley - Place Hacking

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