On The Road Hangovers

Clearing out tabs annnnd go:

• A conversation with Cassie Clare and her dad Richard Rumelt; a fun read, and one with important takeaways about thinking strategically.
• Cynthia Leitich Smith has great tips for public speaking and panels.
• Katherine Ashe with a great guest post on the literary merit of romance.
• Cheryl Klein with a smart writing tip from the creators of South Park.
• Photos from the 1970s country music scene (Dolly!).
• My Bookish Ways top 25 most anticipated releases for September (which kindly includes Blackwood).

And a couple more Blackwood reviews–both from UK bloggers–that made me radioactively pleased:

• From Cara at the Tattooed Book (and Waterstones bookseller): "Blackwood is excellent, intelligent, YA aimed fantasy. For anyone struggling to keep a teenager engrossed in reading, or maybe even tempt them back after they've had a break, this is the kind of story that will reel them right back in!" (Yay!)
• And from Beth Kemp at Thoughts from the Hearthfire: "I picked the book up to have a quick flick through the beginning and rapidly found myself deep enough in to need to finish it (ahead of other review books that had arrived sooner – argh!). Thank goodness books don't feel jealousy!" (I would marry this review if I could! It describes exactly the book I wanted to write.)

Aside: I really love all the UK blogs I've discovered this year, and these two are both fab.

Okay, off to Chicago for things! Launch day nigh!