The View from the Club House

Sadly, we have not gone fishing. Or, golfing, as this picture was taken from the 18th hole of a gorgeous golf club a couple hours north of the city. Unfortunately, we are not goofing off. (Much.)

Work is taking place this summer, and we are plotting our Next Big Things.

Brilliant discussion is going on other places in the blogosphere - we've been thinking about The Boy Thing. David Elzey has some good things to say about writing fiction for gents -- and the idea that the main character does not define the audience is probably a new one for a lot of people, but really resonated with us, as do author Hannah Moskowitz's thoughts -- she who says we as writers have stereotyped, sanitized and stripped boys of substance. Our imaginary Them is pretty pale and wan. Word.

Jacket Whys and Jacknet Knack are two of our favorite YA kidlit cover trendspotting blogs -- and now ShelfTalker is joining in the fun. As amusing as all of these trends are, it still bugs both of us that so many book covers look almost exactly the same. What's up with that? Why does publishing try so hard on the surface to avoid original content? Trends, schmends.

We are SO JEALOUS OF MELISSA WILEY AT COMIC-CON.
In the nicest, Bonny Glen sort of way, but jealous nonetheless. We are jealous of the rest of you who went, too.

That is all.