The proofs are here!

The uncorrected proof copies of The White Shadow arrived on Saturday! It's always such an exciting moment to see them in bookish form.



(A couple of people have asked - yes, the cover will change for the final book. You can see the final cover in the left-hand sidebar!)

Clearly this called for a celebratory burger.

Global Giving Challenge

Hi everyone! I just wanted to remind you about the Global Giving Challenge, run by the Zimbabwe Educational Trust, that aims to raise 2,000 pounds in a month to provide 40 Bulawayo orphans with legal help to get them enrolled in schools. Read more here, and find out about the founder of ZET below!

“My name is Vulindlela Mkandla. I grew up in Zimbabwe without my mother, who died when I was eight years old. After this, I helped my maternal grandmother to look after my younger sister and brothers as my father, who was a minister, had to go away for weeks at a time.

I worked hard at school. At the end of primary school I came top of my class in the exam, and was accepted at Goromonzi Secondary School, a government-run school for high achievers that allowed me to fulfil my potential.

As a young man I trained as a primary school teacher and worked for the Ministry of Education, and was appointed as Head Teacher, and then District Manager of Church Schools.

Eventually I was offered a place on an Educational Administration course in the UK. However, Ian Smith’s government was campaigning for independence at the time and I was refused study leave. I had to resign to travel to England.

After Zimbabwe achieved its independence in 1980, there was an explosion in the number of children attaining the secondary level of education. But many of these children, particularly those from disadvantaged family backgrounds, were unable to proceed to higher education, regardless of their potential. This inequality, together with a recognition that the new government could only go so far to satisfy the educational needs of its citizens, inspired me to set up ZET.

I believe that every child matters and that much is expected from those to whom much has been given. I believe that not only should we do no harm, and do as we would be done by, but we must do what is right. Children are a nation's future. They need education for a better chance in life, especially in Zimbabwe when there are so many challenges they will face in the future.”

- Vuli Mkandla, November 2011

Thanksgiving!

We got to share Christina and Scott's very first Thanksgiving with them - we celebrated with a feast at McCormick and Schmick's, followed by an epic nap (in my case) and then midnight Black Friday shopping, just to get the full American experience.

I hope you all had a wonderful day!

Happy holidays! (Y'all)

Our friends, Christina and Scott, are here from New Zealand for a couple of weeks - we're thrilled! We've been sightseeing for the past couple of days, and tomorrow we're celebrating Thanksgiving together. Have a wonderful day, everyone, however you're spending it, and I'll see you soon.


Misspelling at the train station.

Christina and Scott.

Squirrel!

Public Service Announcement.

Fran's Diner.

Our table at Magnolia Cafe.


A note on the wall at Big Top Soda Shop.
Inside Allen's Boots.

Zimbabwe Educational Trust

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you know about an amazing opportunity to make a difference. From Monday 21st November onwards, the Zimbabwe Educational Trust is running a Global Giving Challenge that aims to raise 2,000 pounds in a month to provide 40 Bulawayo orphans with legal help to get them enrolled in schools.

"Zimbabwe Educational Trust works with local partners in Zimbabwe to raise awareness and provide vulnerable communities with the facilities, funding and support they need to get children into school and out of poverty.

Between 21st November and 21st December we are taking part in a fundraising challenge with GlobalGivingUK. We aim to raise £2,000 in a month, which will pay for 40 orphans in Bulawayo to receive legal help in overcoming barriers to education.

Without a simple thing like a birth certificate, children who have already lost their parents stand to lose a lot more. Birth certificates are needed to enrol at school, enter exams, and access the inheritance and benefits these children need to escape poverty. But getting a birth certificate is not an easy task in a country disrupted by economic collapse and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and where traditional views on women’s rights continue to pose challenges.

For just £30, our team of solicitors can help an orphaned child locate their parental records, gather witnesses, and be given the birth certificate that allows them to live a better life."

It's such a worthwhile effort and will make such a huge and tangible difference. The Global Giving project will be live on Monday - if you are able to donate anything at all, I know it would be so helpful.

Their online shop is also a great place to find unusual Christmas presents, and 20% of what you spend goes directly to Zimbabwe.

Good luck, Diya! (And Tess event)

Diya in the Marie Claire closet.

Local fashion blogger and UT student, Diya Liu, is one of the finalists competing in the Marie Claire Front Row Challenge for an internship at the magazine. Impressive stuff - to be one of four finalists whittled down from the thousands who applied! (Find out more here.) As part of her assessment, Diya produced and styled a runway show at Mohawk last night. Such a huge undertaking, and she did a wonderful job!

I really hope that Diya wins. Quite apart from the fact that she is a lovely person and a great stylist, it would be wonderful to see someone from outside the world of fashion take on an internship like this (Diya is an engineer). Best of luck!


Cathy and I made the most of our standing-room-only position in the crowd.


Marie Claire style editor, Zanna Roberts, opening the show.




And, if you're free tonight, Tess Designs and Sikara Jewelry are having an exclusive meet-the-designers evening on 2nd Street (complete with local wines and cheeses).

Lunch meeting

Nothing nicer than a cup of soup on a cold day downtown!

Other people's words

"If fiction has a main theme, a primary character, an occupation, a methodology, a criterion, a standard, a purpose (is there anything left for fiction to have?), it would be time itself. One basic meaning of narrative, then: to create time where there was none. A fiction writer who tells stories is a maker of time." - Ben Marcus

A paw

Busy week! Mo wanted to say hello, though.

Here we go again

I follow a pattern when it comes to writing novels. I power ahead and write pretty much an entire first draft, then re-read it and think, "Ah. That's what I was really trying to say." Then I discard about four-fifths of all the work I have done, completely change direction and re-do the whole thing. The good part - or the irritating part, depending on how I'm feeling that day - is that I couldn't get to this clearer and better point without all those thousands and thousands of words of meandering and preamble. I wish I could, but it doesn't seem to be the way I work.

That is why I have decided to call my first draft a 'discovery' draft from now on. It is much more encouraging.

(And I'm at that point again now).

Bits and bobs

Our cousins are leaving tomorrow - we're really going to miss them! We've had such a wonderful time showing them around Austin. Still, we have a lot of great memories to enjoy - and a lot of great photos. Here are a few strays from various events of the past couple of weeks ...