the where of it

powder day!

• Posted by Summer Wood on December 8th, 2009 filed in books
• 4 Comments »

The last blog post I planned to write was on how you could tell it was fall in northern New Mexico by the procession of big, hairy tarantulas crossing the road. Instead I looked out the window this morning to find a white-out. Kind of Rip van Winkle, you know?

Paul Moody's snowstorm

It’s not that I missed the fall entirely. Kathy and I had a glorious day up Columbine Canyon, the aspens in full golden glory. I caught a few glimpses of the fog that clings to the Rio Grande on fine October mornings. But I passed too many days inside, my nose to the grindstone, while outdoors the temperature teased with lingering warmth that promised to last forever even as the days shortened and the trees shed their leaves and the chamisa flowers grew bleached and brittle.

Today, there’s no question: winter’s here for good. The mountains are shrouded and the dog and I got lapped by three separate snowplows as we made a circuit of the neighborhood. It’s a powder day in Taos. But if I don’t pick up my head and pay attention, it’ll be spring before I know it.

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Got some good news to share with you all. WRECKER, my second novel, is slated for publication in winter 2011 by Bloomsbury USA and Bloomsbury UK.

Can we pause for a moment of silence? And then… A DEAFENING ERUPTION OF CHEERS AND CATCALLS? Whistles? Maybe a kazoo?

I’m thrilled, to say the least. And overwhelmingly grateful to (and humbled by) the deep list of people who have contributed to this moment.

And I’m excited about what’s to come. The US editor, the fabulous Kathy Belden, says she thinks WRECKER’s “got legs.” As in … go the distance.

Hell, yeah! I didn’t raise that boy to give up early!

Seriously, I can’t wait to hear what you all think of it.

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More news? The Taos Big Read – during which, for the month of November, a whole lot of people up here read BLESS ME, ULTIMA – has come to an official close. November 20^th was “Big Read Day” by official proclamation of the mayor. (How many of you picture a Dr. Seuss-style Burgher-Meister-Meister-Burgher ahem-ing over a scroll? Is it just me? – Our Darren C. is much hipper than that.) You can read “Crack a Book for Big Read Day”, my opinion piece for The Taos News, if you like.

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One more thing. When you’re shopping for presents, don’t forget your local bookstore. And if you’re not sure what to buy, let me give you a hint. It’s called MORE OF THIS WORLD OR MAYBE ANOTHER, the breathtaking debut by AROHO’s Fifth Gift of Freedom Recipient, Barb Johnson. I’ll talk with Barb in a later post, but for now, take my word for it: these are gorgeous stories guaranteed to grow your heart. (Rough it up a bit, too – but isn’t that part of the process?) And for only ten bucks. What else can you buy for that that’s one tenth as good?

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Sooner, I promise. Now I’m going outside to enjoy the snow.