We just got back to Sydney, and I have some more Thailand pix to post.
But first . . . a bit of news for those of you in and around NYC. There’s a completely awesome reading tomorrow (Tuesday) at Books of Wonder. It includes this stunning cast:
Coe Booth
I haven’t read her debut novel Tyrrel yet, but it’s been getting screamingly good reviews. Plus she’s a terrific performer, not to be missed.
John Green
I just finished An Abundance of Katherines, which is very funny and will be loved by Dess fans, because it’s full of mathy goodness. And anagrams. And footnotes.
David Levithan
Recently flew through David’s novel Wide Awake, about a political movement that springs to life after a contested election. An immensely appealing political fantasy, full of hope and that lovely feeling that us regular folks can change things . . . plus a road trip!
E. Lockhart
Haven’t yet read her new one, The Boy Book: A Study of Habits and Behaviors, Plus Techniques for Taming Them, but Justine says it’s great. E. is always funny, and BB also has footnotes! (Plus a great title.)
Maureen Johnson
Earlier this year I read Devlish, Maureen’s hilarious demon-posing-as-a-Catholic-schoolgirl novel. Totally enjoyed it, as I blogged here.
I hear from David that they have secret and amusing plans for a bit of performance art. So you should go if you can.
Books of Wonder
18 W 18th St (between 5th & 6th)
Tuesday, December 5
starting at 5pm, wrapped up by 7pm
And now, some photos from Thailand! We spent a lot of time on the Phraya River, which carries tons of cargo and millions of commuters through the Bangkok area.
First, the mighty longboats, tuk-tuks of the waterways!
The coolest thing about longboats is their HUGE engines. Which shows how much weight you can move around with proper leverage:
Note the engine-person ratio. Like gondeliers, but with V-8s.
And now a more zen view of the river:
You see Buddhist monks everywhere in Bangkok. They wear saffron (orange) robes, and generally look pretty, um, chill. I’m on a crowded commuter boat here at rush hour, and the monks are standing under a sign that says, “SAVE THIS SPACE FOR MONKS.”
So I did.
The architecture in Bangkok is so beautiful that I didn’t take many pictures of it. I leave the photographing of actual beauty to the experts (and mostly take pix of funny stuff). But here . . .
The moody light and gray weather were really elegant. Plus, everything is more mystical when you see it from the water.
So do any of you have Halloween pictures of yourselves as Westerfeldian characters? That might be fun.
December 5th, 2006 09:24
No way first comment! Hehe. It looks like it was a ton of fun. I’m glad you got back safely. Come to DC! Please?
December 5th, 2006 12:00
Ah, monks getting their own space on boats. They deserve it. Sounds like tons more fun than here — all we’ve had is snow and ice and rain and generally a boring old Seattle kind of time. Ergh.
December 5th, 2006 12:03
Oh yeah. And I was going to ask for The Boy Book for a Christmas present (I have *20* books on my list…), but then my mom came up behind me and said something along the lines of “The Boy Book? Who would be stupid enough to read that? I hope you don’t want to!” And then walked off. Leaving me and the Borders staff utterly mystefied. Or not, but that’s not the point, is it? Oh well. The library has a wonderous assortment, does it not?
December 5th, 2006 12:25
like capt said wether sucks by portland (and seatle) my library has ONLY 1 westerfeld book it makes me sad:(
December 5th, 2006 12:25
sadly, i was not that for Halloween. i was Freddy Couger’s daughter w/ plastic surgery (cuz i’m much prettier!)
December 5th, 2006 12:26
i made my friend read peeps she was reluctant but i made her she likes it but she thinks its weird but she’s almost done
December 5th, 2006 12:31
i wasnt one either i was a princess (it was interesting) i hadnt read a westerfeld book but ive read 4 ind less than 2 weeks
December 5th, 2006 18:04
heh. i just bought the boyfriend list. haven’t read it yet (FINALS = DEATH) but will soon come winter hols.
i have no halloween pix. 
i was a schoolgirl.
December 5th, 2006 18:49
Yes, I know what you mean capt! It is cold, wet and mushy here in Seattle and it is not at all fun. The ground is so gross and soggy.
I did sort of dress up as a peep, but I was sick on Halloween so I only dressed up for fun, thusly my costume was pretty pathetic. But my little sister liked it! Though she thought I was a zombie…
December 5th, 2006 20:05
I do indeed have a Midnighters costume for you! (I was also a Newsie and a haunted house roamer that night.) I’ll try to get it to you asap.
December 5th, 2006 23:32
i hate you, scott. i was just AT that bookstore this weekend. and now i’m not there. how sad-making.
well, i don’t really hate you…
where would you like the halloween pics of us as crims?
December 6th, 2006 07:44
Hi I dont know where or how to contact your. I had a few questions about you. Like where do you get your ideas on writing your stories? Which of all your books and short stories do you like the best? Do you put anything that has happened to you in your books? If you could please answer these questions for me. I have a 4-5 page report due about our favorite author and I would like to know more about your work.
Thanks,
Felecia(ashland,OH)
December 7th, 2006 02:26
Ooh, look what I found! Now I should start editing my novel…
“The key idea to remember is that fixing a broken novel is liked organizing an overstuffed closet: things get messier before they get better. You have to pull everything out before you can get it straightened up, which looks (and feels) like a disaster when you’re in the middle of the operation. Deal with that, the psychological fact that you’re eviscerating first, fixing later, and you’ll go a long way toward meaningful editing, as opposed to rearranging deck chairs on the Hindenburg.”
–Scott Westerfeld is the author of Uglies, Pretties, Specials, So Yesterday, Midnighters, and many other novels.
December 7th, 2006 07:13
I was a pretty with my friend, but unfortunately i don’t have a picture : (
We were going to be midnighters but we didn’t think people would get it and they would just think we were goths.
And I was just wondering if your going to be in the DC area any time soon?
December 7th, 2006 16:18
Aw! I wish I had known about this, Scott! Capt. and I were so pretty-ful at our school dance (her as a Peep and me as Shay). Too bad no one took pics.
Oh well. Maybe next year
December 7th, 2006 16:41
people look at the “the secret hour” cove and think the rain drops are eyes(people are stupid) and i say you should come to portland (totaly not where i live)no realy
December 8th, 2006 12:07
Topaz, I told you you should have brought your camera! Gosh.
December 11th, 2006 04:13
hey scott! sorry, i was in such a rush this year ate halloween that, no, i did not have such a cool costume as a pretty or likewise.
i just finished peeps this morning, and the uglies trilogy last week.
and also, i think you’ll be pleased to know that you have a fansite on myspace!
http://www.myspace.com/westerfeld
yep, they’re my friend on there, and you might want to look at it. the creator would probably be thrilled to pieces if he knew you looked at it!
December 11th, 2006 04:21
oh… and i saw that felicia is from ashland, and i think we’d both love it if you were to come to a borders or waldenbooks in:
Ashtabula:
Waldenbooks
3045 Northridge East
Ashtabula, OH 44004
Phone: 440.998.1992
Canton:
6751 Strip Avenue NW
North Canton, OH 44720
Phone: 330.494.4776
Cleveland Heights:
3466 Mayfield Rd.
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
Phone: 216.291.8605
Cuyahoga Falls:
335 Howe Avenue
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
Phone: 330.945.7683
or Niles:
2102 Niles-Cortland Rd. SE
Niles, OH 44484
Phone: 330.544.1761
hehe… yeah, it would be really great to see you in person!
December 13th, 2006 23:51
no. definitely philly, scott. you need to come. you bring…uh, yourself, and i shall bring followers.
December 14th, 2006 09:41
Didn’t Scott say he couldn’t go anywhere else for a while? Oh well. You just have to be PERSISTANT, and talk about the weather in your home town (e.g. the famous Seattle Rain which is so cool. Except it really isn’t.). Weather is good. Well, sometimes it is.
December 20th, 2006 11:05
I have, uh, gorgeous weather. Just beautiful. Lots of, um, snow in the winter. And you can see the Liberty Bell. And the, uh, Ben Franklin Bridge.
December 21st, 2006 17:48
it seems that lots of people on this bordishthing live in or near seatle WA you should go there i live and portland and i would begg my mom to let me go ut there to see you
March 29th, 2007 02:18
I loved David Levithan’s books! Especially Boy Meets Boy!
April 5th, 2007 13:33
I like the zen view of the river.