I was recently reminded through the MWA that back in June there was a lot of flooding in Iowa, as some of you may recall. In the rising water, one of the things that was lost was the A-rated Central Library of the city of Cedar Rapids. The building's still there, but it's in bad shape and the nearly-300,000 volumes in it were pretty much a total loss. This is considered the worst disaster in the history of American libraries. That may not sound too awful at first, but considering the current state of libraries in the US, to lose such a jewel is a heavy blow.

While FEMA will provide funds to rehabilitate the building, there is no money for books. So while the library is currently operating out of the Westdale Mall with the remains of their collection and donated volumes, some friends of the library are seeking donations to buy books. But they don't just want your cash, if you're a writer, they want your books, ephemera, archives, etc.

Mystery Cat Books is acting as the central donation center for signed books, CDs, DVDs, manuscripts and other items that can be auctioned or sold on the Internet to raise funds for the library's book fund. Mystery Cat will provide mylar covers and framing for items that require it. If you want to donate to help the Cedar Rapids Central Library, contact:

Mystery Cat Books
112 32nd St Dr SE
Cedar Rapids Iowa 52403
(319) 363-2179

Yes, I know, yet another call for your resources at holiday time, but if you're a book fiend, this is would be a big shiny present for a lot of other readers. If you have the First Editions or special items to spare, please consider the library.

World Building 101--as the program called it--went smashingly! The crowd (about 24 which is great for a last-minute class) plus some observers and a few people who had to dive out for appointments with agents and editors, was enthusiastic, once we got them warmed up and they seemed to have a great time making up their worlds on the spot. Some really ingenious ideas came out and everyone seemed to walk away pleased that they came. We did!

And here we are, Team Seattle, in our little workshop room (photo care of MWA Northwest Newsletter editor Dave Bara):

From Left to Right: Richelle Mead, Caitlin Kittredge, Cherie Priest, me, and Mark Henry, who was our "Vanna White" and wrote down the strategy and development prompts as we went.

Loads of fun were had (except for the fish dinner afterward, but that's another story.) And the MWA table did very well with collecting names and new members and giving away nifty lanyards and books. We must do it again!

Score for me: I met the fabulously funny Heather Osborn from Tor afterward--she's a gas! So a great pay off for the stress of last week. Yay!


Oh yeah: Dave pointed out that the ladies of Team Seattle have great taste in shoes (well... except for me, cause Mark and I were both wearing sneakers.) Caitlin has the coolest Pink pumps ever!

Alright, so.... Went to friends' party and had a lovely time for NYE--moderate drinking only and plenty of good company.  We made lists of every thing in 2007 that "sucked out loud" (mine was really long) then burned them and had a huge, noisy send-off to the old year with about 400 holiday poppers--the house was awash in a confetti tide by the time we left.  Excellent time had.

Slow, relaxing morning on the First and a lot of playing World of Warcraft with the Hubby.

This morning, off to get the periodontal stitches removed--feels strange to have no Bondo-like glop covering my lower teeth or sutures wiggling like seaweed on the roof of my mouth.  Have to go back later in the year for more work--this was just the first stage--but it's done for now!  Yay!

Got a note from a blog reader on the WordPress who was annoyed that I'd posted a photo of his (technically, I linked to  his site, but it's a very gray area) so I removed the link and apologized.  He felt I was "demeaning" the subject, which wasn't my intent.  Sorry guys, no more lederhosen pics.  But it did take him a year to say anything, so I scratch my head a bit on this one.

AND my first book signing of the year is Tomorrow, 7 p.m. at the University Bookstore in Seattle's U District.  W00t!

ALSO In a week and a half--Jan 12--the regional MWA group will be meeting to hear one of my favorite Seattle Crime writers, Curt Colbert, speak on the subjects of historical research and using it in your (crime) fiction.  He'll also discuss some famous and not-so-famous historical crimes and his new project editing an upcoming Seattle Noir anthology from Akashick books!  Writers showing up for the event (Dinner time at the Northgate Marie Callender's) will be able to get the skinny on how to get a shot at having a story in the anthology.  Tres cool, yes?

Not a bad start to 2008 after a crappy 2007.  Hoping yours is wonderful!