This Is My Secret: The Blog and Website of Writer Kristin Cashore

Before I get to the FAQs:Check out readergirlz tomorrow; Graceling is the featured book in September.

Okay, here goes.

1. Does Katsa loiter? Does she lurk in the corner of your mind and say things like, "That is so not how I would do it!" (for example)?
*smile* No, she really doesn't. None of my characters do. There is a very clear line between me/my life and my characters/their lives, and when I think about my characters, they're always in their own world, not mine. I wish this did happen now and then, though. There are plenty of times when my characters would make better decisions about how to handle certain situations than I would. I could really use some tips from them :o)

2. I'm writing a book. It's slow going at times to try to keep my focus. I feel like I can see ahead to more exciting parts of the story, while right now I'm trying to set up the setting, which can be tedious. Do you have any suggestions for this? Should I skip ahead and wri…

When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is ______________.

My answer: go into the room where all the plants are and adjust the curtains so that they'll be happy with the light.

Your answer? (Don't forget, I only see comments made at my Blog Actual.)

On Monday, I hope to answer a few FAQs!

Sarah Miller posted this poem on her lovely blog last January and it wowed me so much that I printed it out and stuck it on my wall. Sarah, thanks for introducing me to a poem that I love every single day.

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door, laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

- Rumi

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Feel free to leave a favorite poem in the comments. :)

Extra points if you recognize today's title.

WARNING: Today's post is all business, so if you don't want to read about release dates, my blog tour, my regular tour, reviews (with stars upon thars), interviews, how to read the first 3 chapters of Fire online, etc., etc., please just skip this BORING post and scroll down to read about cool stuff like babies and translations or to vote in my extremely relevant birthday poll.

Okay, here goes! Firstly, I am proud to report that Fire has received starred reviews from The Horn Book, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal, and a gold star from the Romantic Times. *blushes* I've finally gotten around to creating a page of Fire review excerpts; see the link on the left or just click here. (BTW. If you notice that it or any of my other Quick Links are dated 2/28/08... that's just the date I randomly give Quick Link posts, so that they don't pop up as new posts and clog people's read…

Step 1: Open up a new tab and get this song playing on youtube ("C'est la Vie", by Cameroonian artist Henri Dikongué).

Step 2: Come back here, and, unless you speak French ^_^, check out the English translation of the lyrics.

A birth, a cry
A pain, a noise
A body so soft, my friend
A heart that beats, life

I would like to stop
On this happy moment that you have given me
This bursting forth of your fragility
Does not cease to amaze me
Sweeping, sweeping, sweeping
Leave my distress behind
Everything seems beautiful, everything seems light
As if the world has changed

(2x) That's life, life
Life oh, life eh
It is good, divine friend
We look it over and we smile

A caress, a joy
A smile, a voice
A trembling hand and me
A soul that lives from you

I would like to say thank you
For this moment you have granted me
It is as if I were never born
Before this infant, newborn
Sweeping, sweeping, sweeping
The wounds of my past
Everything seems beautiful, everything seems light
As if the world had changed

That…

This article makes me sad. And mad.

Changing topic... I've been having some great exchanges with my Korean translator for Graceling, Yoon Hoh, as she works through some of the trickiest parts to translate. At a certain point, I realized that you guys might find this stuff interesting, so I asked her permission to share some of it. I never really thought about the challenges of translating before, but... well, here are some examples:

First, there are the words I made up for the book. The first time Yoon contacted me, it was to ask me to explain what "borderlords" and "underlords" are.

I was able to explain borderlords pretty easily -- they're lords who live on a kingdom's border, i.e., Lord Davit is a Middluns borderlord because his Middluns estate is right near the Nanderan and Estillan borders.

But... underlords? *...* What the hell is an underlord, and why did I make up such a silly word? I had to go back to the text -- thank goodness, I have the pdf…

It's my birthday week!

If you were around for my last birthday, you may recognize this poll, so forgive me for the repeat. I have a lot more readers now than I did then, and how could I waste an excellent birthday poll?

Please vote; and if you're someplace other than my site and can't see the poll, just click here.


What would make the best birthday present?(answers)

Check out my young pal, secret codename: Morgan.



(Now is probably an appropriate time to let you all know that it's not a real sword!)

So, my friend aroraborealis does a cool thing now and then on her blog -- a fill-in-the-blank sort of thing -- and I always enjoy it, so I'm going to copy her here.

Fill in the blank, guys!

I ______________, therefore I am.

(Reminder: I don't see comments left on LJ, Amazon, etc. Please comment on my Blog Actual.)

I'm going to share one of my all-time favorite passages from Pride and Prejudice. Some context: Lizzy is excited about her upcoming tour of the Lakes with her aunt and uncle, but wishes her sister Jane could come along.

"But it is fortunate,” thought she, “that I have something to wish for. Were the whole arrangement complete, my disappointment would be certain. But here, by carrying with me one ceaseless source of regret in my sister’s absence, I may reasonably hope to have all my expectations of pleasure realized. A scheme of which every part promises delight, can never be successful; and general disappointment is only warded off by the defense of some little peculiar vexation."

I think about that passage whenever my perfect peace is ruined by "little peculiar vexations." The vexations help me keep perspective, yanno? I just moved into a new home. I LOVE IT. But it's not perfect, and right now, the little vexation that annoys me and kicks me into reali…