Yet, whether Leaky or not, everyone needs a little Bonnie Tyler:

But make sure you catch the Guitar Hero, Rock Band and DDR concert in DC:

2.

Yeah, that's right, he might kill me for posting that, go to 3:36 to see what I'm talking about. Uh huh. If you ever wanted proof of just how far Leaky staffers will go to express their love for each other, or how deep the bonds truly go, or the awesomeinsanofest that Terminus and LeakyCon will be, or how hilarious and insane this staff is, watch that.

3:36. Go there. Now.

Sorry Josh.

On the Friends set in California, just missing a Frak. Where he at?

There he at! And check what he brought in (it's on the counter).

Remember what JK Rowling said to the Harvard students: "Even your nationality sets you apart. The great majority of you belong to the world's only remaining superpower. The way you vote, the way you live, the way you protest, the pressure you bring to bear on your government, has an impact way beyond your borders. That is your privilege, and your burden."

The view of the parachute as I parasailed:

And the view downwards, plus a foot and a dress (both mine):

The view from my room at night:

Seahorses, hanging onto each other:

Now, the chartreuse problem:

Since I was seven, when I came into ownership of a 124-color Crayola set, I have thought that chartreuse was accurately represented there: that it was a bright, nearly fluorescent yellow (it is apparently the 'electric lime' on this page). I have just learned (in the course of copy-editing) that it's actually a yellowish-green. This demonstration of editing tedium (sorry Cheryl) aside, I wondered how many other people were under delusions about chartreuse. Last night, after my friend Matt's show at the Sidewalk Cafe in NY, I asked him, Brian and Bradley (ie the Whomping Willows and Draco and the Malfoys) what they thought of when they heard 'chartreuse.'

Matt: Reddish purple?
Brad: Yellow? Green? Oh! I know, it's a really deep green.
Brian: I think...whatever you think I'm thinking right now.

It's a big Crayola confusion conspiracy. Any other confused colorers out there?

Sorry it's been awhile, but there's a lot going on: in a little while I'll be going on my first non-Harry-related trip in oh, five years. Just me and some dolphins and unfinished books and fresh notebooks, four days of bliss. NO COMPUTER. I completely refuse to take it. I'll have my phone, of course. I haven't gone insane in the interim.

Things are starting to happen book-wise, as we're very close to a finished cover and that excites me more than I can say. Actually the cover is for all intents and purposes finished, but little things have to be rearranged and clarified, I believe, before it can be posted on Amazon or the like. My chest did that wonderful lift when I saw it: It's elegant, and striking, and respectful, and true to the spirit and feel of the book, and all the wonderful things. My mother has had a full-on attack about it. I told her I didn't want the unfinished proof spread around in e-mail, so she printed it out and has been driving it around to people's houses to show them. Seriously, I walked into a funeral home two weeks ago and the funeral director walked up and congratulated me on my book. Our dry cleaners have offered congratulations. The little printout she carries around is so beaten and torn that I've promised to make her a shiny new one. I don't think there's a person she has ever met, yet, that she has not shown this cover to. It's the cutest, most wonderful thing, and for all we tease her about it, all authors should be this lucky to have such support. All of them.

Anyway, I can't wait to share it. Other things are moving along too: Frak is going to help me design a Web site for it, and it will be a frequently updated blog with extra materials (the name for the section of which comes via my brilliant Sue), pictures, news updates, and more. I can't wait to get that going. We'll link to it from Leaky (and obviously here). There's going to be a lot of fun extra bits.

I feel like for all I've said about this book, I've said very little. I have a few announcements, which will probably be coming simultaneously. I haven't even ever formally announced this book on Leaky, only ever talked about it on PotterCast; I want to wait to do that so that there's not a multitude of postings where one will suffice. Lord knows I'll make enough noise when there's news. :) My staff have been so incredibly supportive of it. I'm very fortunate.

Other than that, there's not much more to tell: I'm in this strange put-my-life-together-again pattern. I really look forward to, one day, achieving the work-life balance. I can't let things get this topsy turvy every time I finish a work. It's just not productive when this is to be my life from now on. I guess it's what everyone looks for: The ability to live the separate parts of your life fully, with health and balance. Working on it!

Quick random story: Yesterday my sister got stopped on the street in NJ by John Travolta, who wanted to know if there was a car wash nearby. She has been hilariously gushy since. I would be, too; I'm a big fan. I think her version of the story should include him whistling at her, but hey, what do I know. ;)

LOST finale tonight, SATC with my sister after. Is there ANYTHING better?

Luckily, despite most of the weekend being taken up by another loved one's loss, I was still able to get to the Harry and the Potters show at the NY Public Library (the one with the LIONS), in a gorgeous paneled room and featuring a horn section like at last summer's Astoria Beer Garden show. I mean, playing here is what playing at Madison Square Garden would be for any other band, for Harry and the Potters, who have made rocking libraries an art from. So, without a doubt, it was one of their best ever (and I've seen way too many of their shows: I find them reaffirming, when the fandom acts up and gets you down. They remind you of your pure love for Harry Potter and the core messages of the books; it's a wonderful reminder that can really give you a lift. Very happy.)

Paul and Joe could not stop grinning and geeking out onstage, about being in that library, with that horn section, with Fortitude the Lion roaming around the room and taking their picture. It even caused a total meltdown during Song for the Death Eaters, but in their defense, my brain froze too; as they stared at each other in funny panic, trying to figure out the verse, I and Chaya were trying to remember the lyrics and came up blank, too. It's one of my favorite songs. Maybe someone cast a charm. :) Anyway, the whole thing was pretty amazing. Watch the joy:

Save Ginny:

And because SOMEONE had to capture this, The Lion Jams to the Weapon - sadly I missed the air guitar portion:

Also pics are here on flickr.

And also watch Alex and Sam's re-enactment of Prophecy, because I laughed all the way through it.

ps: Alex, Sam, best dance party ever EXCEPT for the one in January thanks. :)

My sister ordered three already. I wonder how many she'll buy before November.

ETA: And now my mother and my father are doing the same. If they have it their way this book will be a bestseller before I'm done editing it.

LOL - look how right I was - between my family and Leaky staff, and everyone they're tellng, the book only took a few hours to shave 1,517,000 posts off its ranking. HAH! I'm sure it will be back to normal tomorrow but still, I'm finding it hilarious. Of course, dropping the last 3,000 numbers, that's the hard part. LOL. You're all too funny. For a minute there we were hotter than Roget's Thesaurus. Whoooa, dude. Cool.

Jon Stewart has also been particularly hilarious lately: watch at the web site.

Also, best SNL clip ever?