I'm still working today and have just about enough time to post this link..

if you're coming to Book Expo America at the end of May-- also known as BEA -- we'll hope you be able to join us! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10201241356981066&set=a.1345425000774.2051284.1385731027&type=1&theater

Thank you all for asking!

By popular demand - A Socks Defense Fund. You may see this multiple times as we get the news out. Thanks very much! http://sharonleewriter.com/the-socks-defense-fund/

As Socks is my co-pilot today, some days are rougher than others.

And so, yes, issues and problems happen. And so, yes, I'm at a point where the world is too much with me, late and soon, and will be taking a break from the daily nets for a few days. A few updates, and then to meditate and work and have some time with Socks. I may drop in but will not be working in the flow as I often do. I will be away for a few days.

That Jethri book? Still not done. Once more a changing about of chapters and an adjustment of endings. So I'm doing what I can there. See "be away for a few days". above.

Also, there's Socks, who now has a co-pilot cat-quilt in my room where the co-pilot chair usually sits. Usually I know he's there because he has coon cat breathing, which often sounds suspiciously like a snore, and I can feel the high-grade coon cat sleep rays bouncing (or not!) off the side of my head as I write.

The Socks situation has been clarified with the latest tests and it is clear he's too fragile to consider the operation we were looking at; in fact it appears that there's not much we can do in the way of intervention aside from continuing to be with him, to provide food and water for as long as he'll take them, to give him antibiotics as long as they work, and make sure he's as comfortable as may be, for as long as possible.

We're looking to provide what stability we may and the vet's office is unable to suggest if that's likely to be a week, a month, or a year. There's an underlying kidney abnormality we're dealing with -- in the words of the vet "According to ultrasound, Socks has an old cat's kidneys." In terms of keeping him hydrated, Sharon will be taking lessons RSN in administering subcutaneous fluids. In terms of food we're feeding him the good stuff. In terms of rest, he sleeps where and when he wants to.

We want to thank everyone who has donated or offered to donate money toward Socks and we're in the curious position of saying that short of a feline kidney transplant (apparently that doesn't happen on the East Coast and we're not sure he'd be up to it if did) that there's a limit to what money can do here.
We don't want to accumulate a large Socks Defense Fund for a cause which most likely in the long run, is a short run.

Sharon will be discussing a few more details in her blog, as I understand it: http://rolanni.livejournal.com/

So I'll be away from the web for a few days, starting about now. Thanks for being along for the ride and I look forward to catching up sometime next week.

Book Day:

And so this is Book Day for Lee & Miller's Necessity's Child.Guess What? Audible's got it for sale today, too!


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/necessitys-child-sharon-lee/1112033151?ean=9781451638875

http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B00BAVT0MW&qid=1360078404&sr=1-1

Uncle Hugos has signed copies: http://www.unclehugo.com/prod/ah-lee-miller.php

Amazon has it, Borderland should have it, Children's Book Cellar in Waterville can get it signed for you ...

and there's lots of other place to buy it around the world. Tell your friends!

SFSite has opened the voting for Readers Choice for Best Read of 2012. Last year, the Top Read, according to the readers of SFSite was Ghost Ship, by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Lots of good books came out in 2012 (including Dragon Ship by Lee and Miller), and you can nominate up to 10. The rules are right here: http://www.sfsite.com/columns/neil384.htm

Just in time for holiday gift giving!

The entire Baen ebook backlist is *now* in the Kindle store.  This includes all of the Liaden Universe(R) novels, through Dragon Ship; the Fey Duology; and Carousel Tides, as well as fine novels by Lois McMaster Bujold, Dave Freer, Spider Robinson, Jerry Pournelle, David Weber and all the rest of our Baen colleagues.

Those who have been used to buying their ebooks directly from Baen (http://www.baenebooks.com) may continue to do so, the arrangement with Amazon is *in addition to* the Baen direct sales. Of course, all Baen ebooks are DRM-free.

Ms. Weisskopf at Baen has said that the company continues to work with other ebook distributors, in addition to Amazon.  Those who have ereaders other than Kindles may, as always, download ebooks directly from baenebooks.com in the platform of their choice.

There'll be a Liaden Universe® Silver Anniversary gig at Boskone 50;  who can help us logistically, or to occupy the party-floor room?

On the morrow -- we select a winner.

Thanks to everyone for playing!

Well gang,

a couple topics, delivered (I hope) briefly.

For one: You have until midnight tonight Maine time! ARC giveaway for Necessity's Child http://t.co/D3xwtSGN Last chance, since Sharon's giveaway is already over!

Next -- it looks like we're doing a book launch for Necessity's Child at Boskone -- with all kinds of anniversary overtones. It'll be within hours of 25 years (Silver Anniversary, that would be) of the original publication date for Agent of Change -- so 25 years of the Liaden Universe. On top of that, it'll be my Coral or Jade Anniversary for my first pro fiction publication in Amazing -- while "Charioteer" wasn't by any means my first paid fiction piece it was my first story to meet SFWA guidelines... and by the time the first story appeared I'd already sold more to Ted White.

So -- we're working up details for that book launch in February -- bookmarks and some other giveaways are expected, but we have no details other than the convention stuff here: http://www.nesfa.org/boskone/

Hope we'll see some of you there ...