PUB DAY!
Of course my appointment with Dentist from Tartarus this afternoon was more harrowing than it was supposed to be. Of course.* And I’m sitting here, feebly, feeling that a bull elephant in musth has been dancing on the left side of my face all day, and speaking onny out uf one side uf my mouf.
It’s still CHALICE’s official publication day.** And*** it seems to me a very good omen that my first advance copy of the new paper DRAGON arrived in the post today as well as a bundle of books for potential blogging purposes from a publisher friend.
And in pub day’s honour, I am going to give you another little piece of CHALICE, but because I am a cow,† I’m going to give you as tormenting, tantalising, must-rush-out-and-buy-the-book-so-can-find-out-what-happensing a piece as possible††. . . .
* * *
The night the Onoro Grove burned she had been sleeping fitfully, for there was a ferocious storm tearing at the landscape, and the earthlines were uneasy. When the lightning struck not far from her cottage, she was out of bed and dragging on her clothes before she had thought of anything she might do. Even after it had occurred to her that she needed to have thought of something to do–and could still think of nothing–she went anyway, snatching up the smallest and plainest of the Chalice cups off the shelf as she passed, one that had no specific meaning or duty, and stuffing it down one pocket in her cloak; a small jar of honey went into the pocket on the other side.
When she opened her door and stepped out the rain felt strangely warm against her face, but the wind buffeted her like a blow from a fist and she stumbled, holding on to her door-handle for balance. She scuttled down the path from her door, leaning against the blustering gusts. The wind was behind her as she turned onto the main path, which was wide and smooth enough for wagons, so she ran, clutching her skirt and the ends of her cloak against the force of the gale. The rain drove against her, through the cloak, through her clothing, to her skin. The sky was turning red as she sprinted toward the grove, and through the roar of the wind she began to hear the hissing of the rain-lashed fire. The wind slewed around and the fog billowed out to meet her; her lungs hurt from smoke as well as running.
She almost hurtled into the Master; in his black cloak he looked like more smoke and fog. She had not come far, but her legs were trembling with effort, and with fear. The Master was standing, apparently merely watching the fire; but he turned to her at once and said, “Good, you’re here,” as if he had been waiting for her–expecting her. “Can you bring me water from the stream?”
It should have been hard to hear him through the sound of wind, rain and fire, but it was not; and his voice sounded calm and strong. Bewilderedly she turned around, realised where she was, and went to the stream. It flickered a macabre, almost phosphorescent red; it did not look like water. Nor could she hear its usual cheerful murmur as it tumbled in its bed. She dipped a cupful up and returned to the Master.
“You have brought honey too?”
Wordlessly, she pulled out her jar. . . . she saw it, as she tugged the stopper out, as the tiny frail thing it was, absurdly so, to set against a forest fire. The flames were now leaping taller than the trees, seeming to erupt out of the strangling smoke, and the increasing heat, as close as they were, was no longer only heat but pressure, squeezing her like a giant’s hand. But she felt as if she were already on fire: the flick of her hair against her neck must be leaving welts; the brushing of her own fingers against her skin burned; she expected to see flames licking up the sides of her heavy, sweltering, rain-sodden cloak. But honey was the thing she could do, to mend a rent in the landscape, to put out a fire. . . .
After a moment’s hesitation, as she had not remembered to bring a spoon, she scooped up a little honey on one finger–it felt pleasantly cool–and stirred the finger through the water in the cup. Still wordlessly she held it out to him.
“Can you come any closer to the fire?” he said. “I can protect you, I think.”
It was a little like that day he had first said “stand by me,” the day he had healed her hand, when she had had to pull the bandage off quickly and hold her hand out toward him quickly, before she lost her nerve. Rain, wind and red fire-heat beat and tore at her; the last thing she wanted to do was go nearer the heart of the maelstrom. She knew that lightning fire was hot enough to burn, even through rain, but it felt all wrong–it felt like the end of the world. Was this what Elemental Fire was like–the end of the world?
She turned away from him and stumbled in the direction where the heat and redness were the most savage, with her wet and steaming hood pulled as far down as it would go over her face as protection against sparks, and her hands tucked under her cloak–one holding the cup and one covering the open top. She did not dare fall, and she could not see her way; her feet felt for each step blindly, and her heartbeat in her ears was almost louder than the fire. She had to open her mouth to breathe, but the smoke scorched her lungs, and her mouth felt as hot as if she were swallowing fire.
The Master walked behind her. She could not sense him doing anything, but when he said “this is far enough” and they halted, the fire was raging all around them, and either the rain had stopped or it was evaporating before it had a chance to fall. Her cloak and hood were dry, and despite the intense, aggressive heat she shivered as if she stood in a blizzard of snow, not fire. Everything around her was fire-red: the air, the earth, the sky, the poor burning trees–the Master himself was red, his black cloak as red as his red eyes.
No way out, she thought. The fire’s come round behind us, and there’s no way out.
* * *
* I was also a few minutes late. Three guesses why and the first two don’t count if they don’t involve eight legs and fur. So, my vet talked me into a course of antibiotics for hellhounds. The first check is that I’m supposed to give the pills three times a day with food. Hellhounds eat twice a day. Usually. And they only believe in ‘treats’, ie dried banana chips or cashews, on alternate Tuesdays when the moon is full. Sometimes. The vet said that if I could only do twice a day then twice a day would have to do. So it seems to me we’re already screwed. If whatever-it-is, let’s say campylobacter^, is as ferociously ineradicable as all that, you need to organise your attack to be as flawlessly efficient as you can. Which twice a day for an eight-hour-term antibiotic is not. So we began our crippled campaign last night, the point being that the course has already begun.
And Chaos refused lunch. Flatly, utterly, completely, unilaterally, absolutely. And I couldn’t hang around: I had to go the dentist. And knowing his attitude toward eating I flatly, utterly, completely, unilaterally and absolutely don’t dare give him antibiotics on an empty stomach: when he feels sick or queasy or off or whatever it is that he feels, his aversion to food reaches new heights of melodrama. I left the food down (Darkness had already eaten his) in the hopes that he might recover his appetite upon solitary contemplation of the oneness of the universe, and I could still get the first dose of antibiotics into him when I came home. No. He’s not exactly superbly interested in dinner either, but he ate enough that I could finally give him his pills.^^ His first dose of the day.
Kill me. Kill me now. Or at least send me to Arcturus^^^ in a cryogenic sleep. Then I won’t have to deal with hellhounds for the next fifteen years. Not to mention not go back to the dentist in three weeks.^^^^
^ Word objects to ‘Tartarus’ but does not object to ‘campylobacter’. Microsoft programmers’ liberal arts education is shockingly lacking.
^^ And yes, if this goes on, I will go back to the vet and ask them what they’ve got in injectables. It’s just that this is apparently the weapon of choice for campy.
^^^ Oh please. Now Word is objecting to ‘Arcturus’. Make up your minds, guys!
^^^^ It was supposed to be two weeks. Here’s another story about the dentist. So I staggered downstairs, clutching the wall, holding my face on with my other hand, and on my way out the door I thought it wouldn’t hurt to check my next appointment, which was made at the same time as today’s. Oh no, said the receptionist. The dentist isn’t here that day. –He what? You made this appointment! And if you were going to unmake it, wouldn’t have been a good idea to ring me?
** and champagne does not need chewing
*** dentists and hellhounds notwithstanding
† a cow, furthermore, who has had a very bad day
†† Those of you who have already read the book can smile in a superior fashion and go wash the dishes or save the universe or something.
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Please join the discussion at Robin McKinley's Web Forum.
*glares*
My copy from Amazon has shipped today. Doubtless on some sail-powered vessel that will take six weeks to travel from the Americas. Grrr.
Well at least it’s coming! :)
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True. I shall go and check if Amazon has a tracking thing so that I can watch as it floats gently towards me.
“a cow, furthermore, who has had a very bad day”
No cow at all. Most wonderful fabulous inspiring [insert other flattering AND TRUE] adjective here] person.
But I am very sorry that you had a bad day.
Hugs.
GLARES INTIMIDATINGLY at evil EVIL torturing BAD dentist.
I’d send you mine if I could– he isn’t bad at all- but I don’t know how he would feel being packed in a box and sent over to England. Hm. This is why someone needs to invent teleportation, please. Among other reasons.
Lots more hugs, admiration, sympathy, and good chocolate.
–Julia
I’m working on the good chocolate right now. :)
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:)
Oh good.
You deserve it!
–Julia
Yay!! Amazon.us sent me it and I got it TODAY!!
– photos here!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26303732@N02/
****Amazon.us sent me it and I got it TODAY!!
- photos here!!****
Hazel is immensely photogenic, isn’t she?
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- photos here!!****
********** No they aren’t???
Robin, I got Chalice today, it is as beautiful as you said it was. Thank you so much!!!!!
Thank YOU. :)
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I think it’s even MORE beautiful than you said it was! I can’t wait for the weekend when I’ll have time to devour it!
Doing the dishes in my house might just have a positive effect on the universe. It would certainly have a positive effect on the state of the counters.
Yes. I have counters like that. Really SHORT counters that kind of require attention regularly.
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HAPPY CHALICE DAY again!
Tapping foot, waiting for shipping truck to arrive…*
Wonderful bit from the book! I HATE fire, it scares the hell out of me–I had to read the fight between Aerin and the black dragon blindfolded. Sorta. This one will probably send me to therapy.
* Good foot.
And I walked around all curled up and crippled for WEEKS while I wrote and rewrote that bit of HERO.
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oh I can just imagine! every time I read that bit, and the part where Aerin has come back and the dragon’s head is in the castle, I get clutched up and tense inside.
that being said, I love fire. it can be scary but it is beautiful and cleansing and keeps us warm. – Kate
I like it in a *fireplace.* :)
Ooh, that was just mean. Mean and bad and bad and mean. Now that you’ve jerked us into the story already, why not just STOP GIVING US PLOT so that we thrash around until we reach the local Borders and have the book (with a beautiful cover, by the way) in our hands, just waiting for us to read it. And THEN (no doubt) the phone will ring and tell us we have an emergency dentist appointment and we need to be at the office right away or ELSE…
I’m a little bit excited to read Chalice. Just a little bit.
Good luck with Chaos!
A little bit is good! :)
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Oh, you are so cruel, you know we have to wait five more days here in Canada, don’t you? (Also, I have no money and am behind on all my interest payments, but even at 24-almost-25 I still have faith that my adorable pout – and my impending quarter-life birthday – will work in my favour*).
*also, I just remembered that I have some money hidden in one of your books**
** this still doesn’t solve my agonizing wait of Five more days!
woohoo! Have just discovered that my local (UK) library took seriously the suggestion slips, and appears to have ordered both Dragonhaven and Chalice :) I do like libraries with online catalog and reservation systems.
I shall of course have to request them both so that they know ppl are going to read them…though I’m not sure I can wait that long ;)
My copy of Chalice arrived in the mail today and I am trying as hard as possible not to read it TOO fast because then it will be over and I won’t have anymore Chalice to read!
::sigh:: Another tiny morsel to help stave off starvation before it arrives here….
I notice that Hazel has claimed southdowner’s copy. I think she may have to invest in a new one…. ;)
****** I notice that Hazel has claimed southdowner’s copy. I think she may have to invest in a new one…. ;)
No! (puff, pant) It’s mine! (wrestling noises in background.) I WILL get it back! (sound of Hazel running into distance with footsteps pounding after…)
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Oh now, that just isn’t fair. I tried not to read it, but it kept catching at my eyeballs. So I just got taunting little bits of it.
I did order my copy ages ago counting on its timely arrival. Now I’m going to have to stop at the (ick, corporate behemoth) Barnes & Noble (across the street from my library, if you can believe THAT) and try to get it on my way home so I can start it tonight.
So I guess I’ll be contributing at least 2 copies to the 3rd house renovation!
(BTW, “pub day” in my lexicon generally means tying one on. For a moment I wondered if that meant your visit to the dentist was extremely pleasant or terribly wretched!)
p.s. I’m kind of hoping that the delay obtaining this book is because demand has been so much higher than anyone expected, I’d moderate the grumbling if that’s the case ;)
Well, I’ve had rumblings that it’s selling faster than anticipated. I wouldn’t MIND if they ahd to go back for a reprint immediately. . . .
So I guess I’ll be contributing at least 2 copies to the 3rd house renovation!
********** Thank you!
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on my way to books-a-million in 3, 2, 1…..
Congratulations on the Book being Published.
Felicitations on having survived the dentist.
Condolences for having to go again.
Sympathy for the suffering hellhounds and concomittant Hellgoddess pains.
I will not read this excerpt. I await the book. I am not patient not even slightly. And in addition there is some taunting by the fortunate (whose copies have arrive). Even Southdowner’s dog has a copy. http://www.flickr.com/photos/26303732@N02/2867065603/
Greece is too far away.
OH GODS. I WANT THAT PHOTO. SOUTHDOWNER, WHERE ARE YOU??? CAN YOU SEND ME A COPY *I* CAN USE???
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****** OH GODS. I WANT THAT PHOTO. SOUTHDOWNER
I posted yesterday, and wordpress ate it!! I have 6 CHALICE party photos,
(here http://www.flickr.com/photos/26303732@N02/ )
which you are most welcome to – Heck if you can’t pictures after writing the whole darn book, what’s a person got to do?
when I got in to the bookstore this morning, Chalice was in and on display, and my copy was waiting for me! I started it on my break, and now I am finished, and it is BEAUTIFUL!!! *swirls with happiness* such an awesome book. congratulations on pub day (although really it’s thank you for pub day) and a fervent Well Done!
now I have to scour your blog for news of current projects. I haven’t had enough time in eons to get all my blog reading done, so it tends to get done in fitful gobbles. in the meantime, I am sorry to hear that your teeth and the Hellhounds are unwell. all the best! – Kate
Yay for Chalice! Mine arrived today from amazon and I played hooky from work (well I work at home so that’s not hard) to start it… and thus made my whole afternoon miles and miles and miles better than my morning.
My copy shipped from Amazon Tuesday, and I was all excited, because there’s an Amazon warehouse here in town and I thought I’d have it today.
And then they shipped it from Cincinnati instead, so I might get the book tomorrow. At least I’ll have it over the weekend. Maybe.
Poor hellpups. Do they get yogurt while they have antibiotics, or rather, if they take the antibiotics? Does it help at all?
Does the dental work at least provide an excuse to eat something good?
I just got an odd error message while trying to post…no idea if the first attempt went through or not.
(wailing) No fair! My pre-ordered copy has not yet com ein at our local indie bookseller. She just frowned a bit and said “Hmmm, usually they ship them to me early. Try again tomorrow. Or the day after.”
Sadness.
Gloom.
Bummed.
Especially after that second installment. Wow! I spent the better part of a day on the run from a wildfire and it still wakes me up with the sweats. I know I’ll look forward to Chalice, because *this* time it will be happening to someone else.
Sending you best wishes on the dental stuff and getting the hellhounds to (1) eat and (20 down their antibiotics.
Wow. Big fires scare the —- out of me.
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Me too. Never again. They really are alive. And scary.
And … no book again today. *wail* She has promised to start a book trace if its not there tomorrow, but that does not help me today.
So I planted some things that will attract more bees to our garden.
I think I will log on to our library’s website, and suggest they stock this most excellent book.
Hi, I found your blog on this new directory of WordPress Blogs at blackhatbootcamp.com/listofwordpressblogs. I dont know how your blog came up, must have been a typo, i duno. Anyways, I just clicked it and here I am. Your blog looks good. Have a nice day. James.
Thank you, you too!
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A request from someone who really hates to read little bits of a book I can’t finish and who lives several weeks postage from a source of said book ( mine did ship several days ago, but I expect it in 3 weeks if I am lucky) Could you put excerpts in a different colour? That way I can whiz past them to read the bits that are not torturous. I don’t want to miss news of hellhounds or other details, in my hasty dodging of plot pre-exposure.
*Taps foot impatiently at slow postal systems*
The best thing about e-books is the instant gratification, paper books are nicer, but postage is *so much* slower than a download.
I am waiting on my husband to pick his book so that we can order from Amazon… Chalice is already in the shopping cart. I am having trouble waiting. I am not a patient person. Must. Control. Clicking. Finger. I promised I would wait… promised… It won’t come until next week anyway… maybe I should just pop out to the local bookstore tomorrow morning… early… very early…
And funny, like the last time you posted an excerpt, I am also supposed to be writing an essay tonight. The excerpt is so much more interesting than writing an essay. Speculating on how soon I can get Chalice is also more interesting.
Must. Be. Patient.
. . . This is a great problem with assigned essays. I have similar feelings about writing speeches.
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This is SO my week. First I discovered your blog, which, glory be, feels like stumbling on a decade’s worth of misplaced birthday cards from a fabulous aunt. (All those archives to read!) And then to find you have another book out, well, that’s a 6-year old’s Christmas morning.
::sending many thank yous::
[sending many you're welcomes] :)
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I’m smiling in a superior manner :)…I got the book the other day, barnes and nobles shipped a lil bit early..read it today. I love your books Robin…write more ok? LOL
Lynn
LOL! working on it! Thank you!
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“but because I am a cow,† I’m going to give you as tormenting, tantalising, must-rush-out-and-buy-the-book-so-can-find-out-what-happensing a piece as possible”
That’s not being a cow. That’s being a good advertiser for your own work.
*raises chai in lieu of champagne* Happy Chalice day!
That’s being a good advertiser for your own work.
********** THANK YOU. Yes, that’s the IDEA.
(I **loved** chai when I still drank milk. . . . )
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It’s still CHALICE’s official publication day.**
And I went out this morning and bought it. Borders didn’t even have it off the cart and onto the shelf, but I found the cart and snagged my copy and carried it away, clutching it to my bosom. I’m sure the clerk thought I was nuts…
Now I just need to find time to read.
Best wishes on pilling the hellhounds, and good luck with the dental torture.
[Sends hugs and virtual goodies for all of you]
I’m sure the clerk thought I was nuts…
********** In that case s/he has no business in a bookstore. This is HOW PEOPLE BEHAVE with a new book they’ve been longing for. Feh.
(Thank you!)
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I even skipped a little bit, going out to the car. At my age. Hee.
Borders is not known for hiring people who read. My personal (least) favorite was asking after Raymond Chandler’s Los Angeles (a book of photographs of Chandler locales). The clerk’s response was “Who’s Raymond Chandler?” We’re in Southern California, and the little nit doesn’t know who Chandler is? I got the book through Amazon.
I ordered Chalice from Borders weeks ago, and they said they have to *ship* it to me. I’m not going to get to see it for at least a week. I may go mad waiting.
But I know it will be worth it. Maybe I can convince my professors that this book is more important than the essays they want me to write….
But I know it will be worth it. Maybe I can convince my professors that this book is more important than the essays they want me to write….
********* If you make this stick, be SURE to post the story. :)
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You’re more likely to hear about how I failed my English class at last, but it was Worth It. My teacher hates us all.
Grrr. GrrrrrrRRRRR!!! I went to my local bookstore earlier this week, to make sure they were going to get Chalice in on the 18th. Oh yes, the clerk told me with a smile, we’re getting it, and it’s coming on Thursday. So, I go in today – having made a special trip from school to the bookstore on my lunch break. And there’s no Chalice. I checked every possible place in the store. Went back to the Information counter. Today, the young lady there couldn’t find anything on the computer, called the stock room person, and then told me she would have to order the book, they never received it. GGGGRRRRRRRR.
Did what I shoulda done a week ago, and ordered it online. I thought I would try to help the local economy. Didn’t work. So now I have to wait. Probably won’t get it until after the weekend. *sigh*
I won’t read those snippets you posted. They’re pure torture.
And all of this is nothing compared to your dealing with hellhounds and the dentist. Still lighting candles and sending up prayers for all of you.
Well *I’m* lighting candles for expedited shipping. Way too many of you are posting about delays. ARRRRRGH.
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Happy Happy Happy Chalice Day! In honor of this grand occasion, I went to the farmers market and bought 6 pounds of their best wildflower local honey (yum!!! Colorado’s got lots of wildflowers). I had to do something; Amazon says that my pre-ordered copy of Chalice* should arrive between Oct 1 and Oct 7. Whaaaaa! What do they have to do? Send it here by wagon train? Float it down the Amazon because of their name? Anyway, now I’m even more anxious to read it after your tease/torture!
I used some of the honey in my nanking cherry puree to make fruit leather; I’ll probably have some in a cup of tea later while I’m whining about not having Chalice yet.
*I’m so poor that I had to buy your book with money from our coin jar; that’s where we add up loose change until the jar is full and then we get to do something fun with it (like buy a book from our favorite author).
Erika in Colorado
*I’m so poor that I had to buy your book with money from our coin jar; that’s where we add up loose change until the jar is full and then we get to do something fun with it (like buy a book from our favorite author).
******* LOL! My equivalent is the money we get for ringing weddings. I’m planning to take Peter out for a really nice dinner soon–it’s been a good summer for weddings that want bells.
. . . I sure don’t get these late shipping deals. The book is BRAND NEW. It should be shipping like mad.
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You are a cruel Robin. I am SO not reading that. I’ll wait for my copy of the book. (Which is not flying to me. No. I will go to a store and get one, and if they don’t have it, I will attack salespeople with other books and papercut them until they order it for me. But I suspect they will have a copy and I will not have to resort to violence. I’m bringing lemon juice for the paper cuts, just in case.)
Well, maybe I’ll read just a little of that… *scrolling up*
Careful . . . you don’t want BLOOD on the pages. . . . :) (Oh, okay, double purpose lemon juice . . . )
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Careful . . . you don’t want BLOOD on the pages. . . . :) (Oh, okay, double purpose lemon juice . . . )
Well, obviously I wouldn’t use your books for cutting. I’d find a book I don’t like and use that. And papercuts are shallow. I bet they’d mostly just sting.
MINE bleed. And when they hand over your book?????
MINE bleed. And when they hand over your book?????
Oh, I won’t let them touch it. Not if they’re bleeding. I will have them point to where it is, and then I will take it with my clean hands.
And perhaps…the salespeople who don’t make it will serve as warnings to the others. This is what happens when you don’t order the books I want. Papercuts. Lemon juice. General disgruntlement and oozing blood.
*doesn’t play around when it comes to books*
;)
I can’t remember a BUFFY episode about bookstores and papercuts, can you? :)
I can’t remember a BUFFY episode about bookstores and papercuts, can you? :)
Hmm, not right off, but, as we all know, there’s a Buffy episode for everything.
There was the time Buffy couldn’t reach the textbook she needed in the university bookstore, and dropped it on Riley’s head. I don’t recall papercuts in that one, but maybe Riley got a papercut on his head and just forgot to say.
You….you…dammit, the bookstore told me today they won’t have it for a WEEK! The excerpt could have at least followed the last one!
*breaks down, moaning*
“Pub Day!” the head line says. And my brain creates a picture of Robin sitting comfortably in a cozy pub, taking care of a lovely pint of whatever strikes her fancy. As I begin to read I transition into, “Oh, good, she got to relax a bit at a pub after the problem with the hellhounds and the abuse by the dentist.”
Then I read on and realize that “pub day” means “publication day”!
Well, enjoy a pint in honor of that. Perhaps your face and the hellhounds will feel better for it.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!
*sulks and stamps feet!*
Flipping Amazon!! I ordered Chalice from the UK site back in June. My account page is still listing it as ‘estimated shipping date 18th Sept’. Amazon UK do not appear to be stocking Chalice now (very helpful of them…)
Okay, fine, but it would be helpful if they sent me an email saying ‘sorry we’re not stocking this title, please look elsewhere.’
Anyway, I’ve ordered from Amazon.com now, and paid the extra 6 dollars for expedited shipping (I could have paid $45 to have it couriered, but it struck me as extortion to pay nearly 4 times the price of the book in shipping – well, actually I accidentally ordered two copies, but I can always give the second copy to a friend for christmas) and it gives an expected delivery date of Oct 10th.
If anyone wants me I shall be over there in the corner, sulking and knitting socks….
And now I’ve finished my strop… Congratulations on a successful publication, and commiserations and hugs for trip to the devils’ spawn dentist and the Hellhounds digestions.
*leaves a (big) bar of Green and Blacks*
I think we’d better SHARE it.
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**I think we’d better SHARE it.**
Well, it would be churlish of me to decline an offer of chocolate…;-)
I lent one of my copies of Beauty (my ultimate comfort read!) to a friend a few weeks ago, when she was recovering from a burst appendix, I retrieved it today, and she loved it (which was a relief, because I always worry about lending a book I love to someone in case they hate it, because if they do, it hurts me.) But yes, she loved it, so I will now be bombarding her with the rest of your books, and spreading the love! :-)
Chalice! Chalice! Chalice!
It’s heavenly to come home from work to a new book–a new book by you to be exact.
Do go drink champagne. Don’t know if the hellhounds can drink it too–grew up with a mad terrier who liked champagne, but he can’t really be taken as proof of anything, except perhaps that dogs hallucinate.
Mazel tov!
I have been looking forward to reading Chalice since I first read about it on your blog. And every night after work this week, I have been disappointed not to find a box from Amazon waiting for me at home.(I saw the book at Borders Monday night, so I hoped Amazon might be early too.) But today it came, and I’ve just finished it! I liked Mirasol and the other main characters immediately and was pulling for them the whole way. Thank you for another lovely book.
Talking points for Tonight’s Blog:
1) I really enjoyed the excerpt from Chalice. Too bad I’ve been working 7 am to 11 pm and haven’t had a chance to go to the bookstore yet. (It closes at 11 pm – drat!)
2) Although you are indeed a COW, I still wouldn’t wish that dentist on you. Or his receptionist. I hope the freely flowing champagne from the Chalice celebration was more than enough to dull the pain.
3) I don’t know if they do this where you are but I have noticed that the doctors and dentists where I am have taken to charging people a fee if they fail to cancel without at least 24 hours notice. I had one office say that’ll be $85, thank you very much! (And it was their fault because I cancelled the appointment THREE months in advance but THEY forgot to take it off their calendar) AND YET, these people think nothing of keeping us patients waiting for hours if necessary. Or apparently cancelling without notice in your case. I think we should start submitting bills ourselves for our lost work time. I can see the conversation now: Hi Doc! Here’s my bill for $600. That’s $300/hour for the two hours you kept me waiting!
4) Congratulations on the big day! And, feel better! All 3 of you!
LOL! works for me!!!
Thank you!
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I have been to three bookstores looking for Chalice and none of them had it. (Of course, she muttered, this may have had something to do with the fact that I went to two of them yesterday by mistake. Edumacation, I has it.) Tomorrow. Tomorrow I will find a copy if I have to… to… uh, do something drastic.
I’m so sorry the dentist visit was so dire. Here’s hoping you mend quickly.
When you say injectables do you mean syringe and needle type or the paste? The reason i ask is one of my cats can appear to swallow a pill but doesnt and spits it out at some later point, and when he got an eye infection I had the choice of pill or paste in a tube, and got the paste and that worked a treat for getting it in.
And a trick I learnt with my horse when worming which may or may not work with hellhounds, if you grab the tongue and pull to the side, they cant close their mouth, and if you pop the pill in, it gets taken in when they retract the tongue.
Apologies if I am telling you how to suck eggs and good luck with the treatment!
And HAPPY CHALICE DAY!
Its International Nude Talk Like a Pirate Day here LOL
****** Its International Nude Talk Like a Pirate Day here LOL
?????????
Please tell more!!
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My.
Bookstore.
Has.
Not.
Received.
The.
Shipment.
From.
The.
Publisher.
….
….
….
Sad.
Awwwwwww. . . .
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I am completely tantalized! I’m picking my copy up today. I am assuming that bit is from the MIDDLE of the book, so I know they will survive. It is, isn’t it?
I don’t mind fire so much as I mind underwater bits. I have to hold my breath through them, so as not to drown.
Keep reading! :)
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I think i will be the greater cow and say that seeing as how it was available in Stores Tuesday, I’ve already had the book in my hot little hands for 3 days, and have read it fully, and am rereading particularly choice selections (if which that is one) because that is how we roll.
(And just to point out things already pointed out – the book design is beautiful. The writing is better than the book design, and I rather think that of all the people whose voices Robin has heard, Mirasol has more of Robin-as-we-know-her in her than any other character. )
Well, she’s certainly high on the list. But if you’d ‘known’ me thirty years ago you might have said that about Harry and Aerin. But I have had people who know me in real life remark on the parallels of Mirasol’s experience of grappling with Chalicehood and mine of grappling with homeopathy.
Thank you!
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Bother upon bother. that last bit regarding having already go the book and the beautiful design .. it was me, not anonymous. You’d think I’d have this all igured out by now, but I don’t. Don’t judge, please! it’s early AM here!
It’s never judging! I don’t judge ANYONE on computer follies! I just ask for user names when they don’t appear!
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WANT. (wantwantwantwantwantwant)
I ordered the book from the local bookstore last week, and the lovely lady behind the counter said, “It’ll be in a couple days after Wednesday. We’ll call you.” It’s Friday. *stares meaningfully at phone*
Thank you for posting the excerpt! I can’t wait to read the book!!!!!
And I’m sorry to hear about the dentist appointment, and hope the hellhounds ate today…
-Nema
I ran home and devoured my beautiful new copy of Chalice last night. And I do mean DEVOURED. The sensation of reading this was something like eating an entire plateful of some yummy gourmet chocolately delightful concotion of the sort that Sunshine would create. (Chocolate and honey, of course!) I flipped pages and savoured words and hugged myself with sheer delight. Comfort food for my soul.
Completely satisfying… and infinitely better for me than an entire plateful of something chocolately. I kind of wanted to lick my fingers when I was done.
I love many many things about this book but I think that at the top of the list has to be the depth of it. Some writers just write at one level. You write at, oh, about 50. This is why I love your work. I can read it and read it and read it over and over and always get something new from it. On one hand, it’s a “comfort book”…… on the other I think a college professor could cheerfully assign students a paper on the mythologies and symbolism in Chalice and other such fun topics.
I have the strangest craving for honey now, I can’t imagine why.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
YOU’RE WELCOME YOU’RE WELCOME YOU’RE WELCOME. :)
Some writers just write at one level. You write at, oh, about 50
********* LOL! But yes, I always hope there’s, you know, RESONANCE.
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Ran out to get Chalice Wednesday night (yes one day early – i got mixed up), came home disappointed but with another book (well that’s kind of a given), ran out Thursday noon and DID GET CHALICE, and I read it all day yesterday, much to my children’s chagrin.
LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT.
I hope your day is better today – although I don’t see how you can do better than releasing a perfectly wonderful book into the world. Congratulations!
“must-rush-out-and-buy-the-book-so-can-find-out-what-happening a piece as possible…”
Yes, that would be how I felt after reading the piece. Very nicely chosen. Hmmm … wonder when it will get to my local bookstore? Soon I hope!
Love the teaser!!! As soon as my current client pays the two outstanding invoices I’ll push that “Buy Now” button on my Amazon account!
Don’t know if this will work with hellhounds. But when I want to get nasty meds down my Abby, I bury the pills in small bits of something yummy (cheese works for her…the idea is soft and totally irresistable, suspending normal nutritional rules if necessary. I then have more bits than I have pills, and each time I give her a tidbit I show her the next one. The result is she’s always focused on the NEXT treat and not the one in her mouth, which may or may not be spiked. Obviously, I end up with unspiked treats so that when she finally focuses on the taste of the final bit it’s completely kosher. I end up with slobbery fingers, but its still a lot more pleasant for all concerned than shoving the things down her throat.
Abby is a Rottie not a hell-hound (read greedy-guts), but she still has standards when it comes to bribery and corruption. I found that cheese was the preferred currency when we were in school and she was presented with wierd and scary agility equipment (ie anything that wasn’t a jump). The see-saw was the crux…small biccy bits were not sufficient inducement. But for cheese or hotdogs (which I don’t eat, but the kosher ones are not too scary to use for short-term, high-value training treats), she would consider the proposition and was willing to keep at it as long as it was clear that I had MORE!
There are NO reliable ‘treats’ that work for hellhounds. And even the ones that work sometimes only work once or twice in a row.
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****There are NO reliable ‘treats’ that work for hellhounds.****
If they don’t have to have the meds with an entire meal, but just with a little something, you might try enclosing the pills in cream cheese. Even if they don’t take it as a treat, it is sticky enough to stay in their mouths but still slippery enough to go right down the gullet. Makes it impossible for them to hide the pill in their lip and spit it out later, too. I am lucky that the Alpha Bitch thinks cream cheese is the food of the gods, because she is terrible with unaccompanied pills.
It is totally lovely that Chalice is out. And it makes me infinitely sad that I will not be able to purchase it and read it until next month. It feels like *forever*. And the teaser you just posted is cruel. But utterly lovely at the same time. I look forward to Chalice.
Argh! I’ve got Chalice on order, but somehow I thought it would be clever to save on shipping costs by letting them WAIT to ship it until ALL of the other things I ordered are available. DOUBLE ARGH.
Well it is the 19th as I post this, so happy belated publication day! If I were a successful author I would develop some sort of ritual celebration for days such as these. It would most likely involve chocolate, champagne, and the company of my cat, George. He’s highly literate, for a cat. I’m sure my husband would fit in there, somehow, as well. He usually does. :)
Yes, I am a hermit, therefore my celebrations tend to resemble normal weekends, just with more victuals.
Yes, I am a hermit, therefore my celebrations tend to resemble normal weekends, just with more victuals.
******** Yup. I’m there. :)
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You’re so cruel…
Gasoline? or Chalice?
Must… go buy… Chalice…
Damn my obsession with your books*
I can’t wait to go buy it! I’ll get it as soon as my next check comes in… *rolls eyes*…
*So obsessed, that when my copies of “A Clockwork Orange” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” ** came in, I put them aside to re-read “Rose Daughter” for the two hundredth time… I only meant to read a page or two… <.<… Ah well. It’s not a loss, I can’t make heads or tails of “A Clockwork Orange” anyways… But if I get “Chalice”, I’ll never read it!
Meh. Who cares?
Hooray for new books!
**which i had been waiting about a week for
Gasoline? or Chalice?
********* LOL! Just a *little* gas–?
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I was one of the lucky ones whose Amazon copy shipped early so it would arrive on publication day. I spent two hours reading last night and only stopped because it had been a 17-hour day at that point and I couldn’t keep my eyes open and was starting to miss paragraphs. I have never been so annoyed to have to go to sleep in my life.
I am loving it and also loving the fact that this is starting to develop into a tradition: at the beginning of a new fall semester at law school you publish a new book and I get behind in my homework because your book is so much beyond merely better than law school that I can’t describe it. Thank you so much for Chalice and Dragonhaven and the preservation of my sanity! (I hope to finish Chalice tonight!)
My sister has bought me Chalice for my birthday, but for some reason Amazon says it’s not mailing it out until OCTOBER. I had her check when I didn’t get it yesterday. Probably something to do with living in Alaska…
Cannot wait that long. Cannot. Trying to ignore the existence of the bookstore two blocks up that claims to have plenty of copies.
Hope your tooth/mouth feels better today.
Not mailing till OCTOBER? WHY?
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If I knew, I would share.
I am heartbroken and having very bitter feelings about Amazon.
Thank you, thank you!!!! I just received Chalice and hour ago at work (the apartment that I live in cannot receive packages, so I get them sent to work). I picked it up on my first break and could hardly stand to put it down. The temptation to read is enormous! I’m deeply curious about the chalice used in the welcoming ceremony.
I got the book and shut my door at work (well, they’re already letting me go, so why not) and READ THE WHOLE THING AND IT WAS GREAT, YAY!!!!
THANKS!
Received Chalice LAST NIGHT! I was so fatigued from work that i couldn’t bare the injustice of reading a new McKinley book while TIRED. So I’m reading it today, refreshed, and off work for 3 days!! I can already hear the crack of the spine… ;) Glad the female heroine is back! (i’m partial to your female heroines…) Love the new Sunshine covers, but I loved the old one too! BTW, have you watched the new show True Blood on cable? (Don’t know if you have it where you are, but it’s pretty good, and has a neat take on urban vampires…) I’m not normally a vampire-watcher, and Sunshine was the only vampire book I ever read (and ADORED), but the show is not half bad. Going to visit your imaginary world now, and start Chalice.. :)
I like baring injustices. More injustices *should* be bared.
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I have my copy of Chalice now! I couldn’t stand the evil suspense and stopped at Borders on my way home this afternoon…
I’m on page 26 and trying to pace myself because I hated when I got to the end of Bell at Sealey Head because then the New McKillip wasn’t New anymore, it was just kinda new… So I’m trying to pace myself on Chalice so the New McKinley doesn’t vanish as quickly as the New McKillip did…
They had two copies of it on the shelf, which I was impressed at after my search to find Dragonhaven…
I also got a call this morning about a Dentist appointment on Monday. Yay… or not.
“a cow, furthermore, who has had a very bad day”
Yes. THIS IS NOT HELPING THE PATIENCE AT ALL. but as I’ve said before… please don’t stop :-D
Sorry about the very bad day. I hope that the injection did not leave your lips numb enough that half of the champagne dripped.
*hands over anyway*
and because I’m a cow too, the chocolate will come later, after the injection wears off and you won’t bite your own lip. (been there, done that, ASTONISHINGLY loud and man hurts like anything)
*lights candle for dentistry to be OVER. SOON.*
LOL! Thank you!
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*****Those of you who have already read the book can smile in a superior fashion and go wash the dishes or save the universe or something.*****
My copy came last night. I had to force myself to go to bed halfway through because I had to go to work today and there was simply no way I could finish the whole book and still get up and go to work.
Oh, Robin. It’s beautiful. There is no way anyone else could possibly have written that book. I can’t wait to finish it (and I have to get up early tomorrow, too, damn it).
Judith
*****I can’t wait to finish it*****
Finished it last night. Wonderful beyond words….
Judith
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But I just bought Sunshine last week! Oh well, another excuse to spend enough on Amazon that I don’t have to pay for shipping…
I read it in two big gulps. It was a wonderful story, the language was positively magical and I loved it. THANK YOU!
I wondered if it was set in the same world as The Water Horse (from the WATER collection) though that setting is an island if I remember correctly (I can’t check my copy as it’s on loan at the moment.) I don’t want to say much about WHY I wondered this until more people on the blog have read it, but I’m curious what you’ll say.
I don’t know! But I can see some parallels. Hmm. Interesting.
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I read it! I won’t discuss it here except to say that I stayed up all night reading and it was absolutely lovely. I wish you wrote faster (but I can console myself with re-reading Sunshine. Because of course I’m going to have to buy the new edition. Not to read, just to have.)
Thank you!
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I CAN’T HEAR YOU, WOMAN! My face is buried in mine-my-own-my-precious Chalice and I REFUSE TO READ AHEAD!!! Tempt me at your own peril!
****** It’s still CHALICE’s official publication day.
I did post yesterday but it seems to have been swallowed, so I’m trying again… I got CHALICE on Thursday, and Hazel helped me have an opening celebration! Pictures were taken!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26303732@N02/
We’re both very happy – except I haven’t finished it yet because I’m sooo busy Waaah!
Chalice hasn’t arrived here yet. I’ve got horses to work with on the weekend anyway so no time for reading. (Must have enough time to read in one hit!!)
Charlie is doing better. :)
Charlie is doing better. :)
******** YAAAY. You’re feeding him Guiness, right? Guiness is very nourishing. :)
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LOL! No. No Guiness! I started him from scratch on colostrum and now weak milk.
I suppose I should clarify that and say I *restarted* him on colostrum. And very small feeds.
Will it still, you know, *work* after he’s how many days old? Windows of opportunity for little growing things are sometimes really SMALL. Or are you trying to kickstart something, or–? (I know NOTHING about sheep.)
It’s not that the colostrum at that age would be of benefit in terms of immunity (probably) but more so that it is energy dense and the ultimate ‘baby food’ for his sore tummy. I’ve never used it before like that but desperation produces inspiration…… ! Techincally it is not really “milk”. I only gave him the one feed of it (about 50ml). It seemed to do the trick as he is now drinking like a champion. (TAKE NOTE CHAOS!! lol)
Well, I’ve tried everything else . . . sigh . . .
****** It seemed to do the trick as he is now drinking like a champion.
YAY Charlie! Congrats (and relief) :)
I feel kind of bad about posting, seeing as you have 102 comments… But I just couldn’t resist this:
**^ Word objects to ‘Tartarus’ but does not object to ‘campylobacter’. Microsoft programmers’ liberal arts education is shockingly lacking.*
*Microsoft* is shockingly lacking, but we don’t have any quick and easy alternatives. Unfortunately.
As I read Chalice, I’m craving a good recipe for honey-glazed anything! Hmm… maybe a future blog?? (Like when I read Sunshine, I couldn’t stop thinking about cinnamon rolls for DAYS..) haha…
Hmmm–I was here much earlier and left comments that WordPress has apparently eaten. So–belated congrats for Pub Day, and I wish I could say I had my copy of CHALICE in my hot little hand, but I was practicing Thrift–a wildly overrated habit, when you come right down to it–when I pre-ordered, and added another pre-order to get free shipping, and the second one won’t be here until the end of the month. Dissatisfaction and disappointment often result from Thrift, alas; I should know that, at my age. So yes, it was LOW to post a teaser. I suppose I shall now go and reread WATER HORSE so I’ll know what Lusty Librarian is talking about.
I hope the elephant has left your face by this time and that all goes well with the ringing and the wedding.
And I’m VERY sorry to hear about Chaos’ food phobia (:: lights candle for Chaos and one for Darkness too ::) and hope that he’s now eating. I find that enclosing a pill in a lump of cream cheese is very useful. The Alpha Bitch thinks cream cheese is the food of the gods, so no problem there; the Tripod didn’t like it, but it is sticky enough to keep the pill surrounded so it can’t be hidden and spit out later, while being slippery enough to slide right down the gullet when you give it a push, so the pills got into him anyway. Have you ever tried B12 injections as an appetite stimulant? They didn’t work for me when I tried them with Alba, but I know they can be effective for a lot of critters.
Well, I’ll try again to post this–now that it’s 2:00 a.m., it might be successful!
It’s easier to poke the naked pills down, and–I repeat–there is NOTHING hellhounds reliably regard as an edible treat. No B12 doesn’t work either–or rather it works ONCE and you can’t give jabs twice a day. . . .
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Finished Chalice this morning- BRILLIANT. Your anxious readers will not be disappointed. Beautiful story, wonderfully woven. THANK YOU SO MUCH! In the meantime, I will have a cup of honey tea and patiently await the next great THUMP by the Story Council. =)
I think this is the place for the chai question?
Put water and a vanilla pod in a pot to boil for 5 minutes. Remove pod (dry and store in sugar for next time – creating vanilla sugar as a bonus). Add:
fresh ginger
a few whole allspice
one clove
a peppercorn or two
one or two cardomon pods
small piece cinnamon bark
Boil for 5 minutes. Add orange peel and stand for 5 minutes. Strain.
Serve with honey and grated nutmeg to taste.
Utterly yummy. As a bonus, will help to get rid of colds (add a bit of chilli and increase ginger and cinnamon for that) All amounts may be adjusted to taste – this usually makes a fair amount which can be reheated as needed through the day. ADD HONEY & NUTMEG TO CUP ONLY – DO NOT REHEAT.
Oh! The chai I used to know had black tea and milk in it. I will try this!!!! Thank you!
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I finished it. Absolutely beautiful. I don’t want to read anything else for a while because I don’t want wash the taste out of my mouth. Thank you!