I would be remiss in my author-ly duties if I did not point out to you that I was asked to do a Christmas post on some of my favourite things in one of my favourite book blogs, and that post is here.

I show myself to be a person of pretty low moral character, willing to commit murder for Megan Whalen Turner and everything.

I also talk about some of my favourite books of the past year and some in the year to come, and discuss the issue of reading books by people you know, which is something that happens more and more often when you do the writer thing.

You meet people! As for instance this small interlude in a cafe the summer before last.

CASSIE: Hi everyone, Sarah's turned up again, oh cupcakes. Sarah, have you met Maureen Johnson?
SARAH: ... Maureen Johnson...
CASSIE: Do you need me to open that bottle for you?
SARAH: ... Maureen Johnson...
MAUREEN: Um. Hi.
SARAH: *hearts in eyes*
MAUREEN: How're you doing?
SARAH: YOU DAZZLE ME.

I like Maureen's books a lot, okay? As you can see from this small bit of conversation, I am always super smooth when I meet awesome people. (There is one Famous and Acclaimed Author I hit in the head with a breakfast pastry. But I will never reveal which one! NEVER.)

But anyway, yes, reading books by people you know - scary, yet reassuring, sometimes like having a conversation with your friend. Sometimes like being DAZZLED by your friend! It is complicated.

Speaking of conversations with one's friends, I was having an interesting one with Justine Larbalestier yesterday.

Now we all know about fictional couples who we want to get together in books. (Mary and Colin from The Secret Garden got married when they grew up. Yes they did. It is a truth! A truth of my heart.)

But what about fictional couples who get together and who we don't believe in? Who you look at together and go 'Nah... it'll never last.' I've got to say, for me Jane Eyre and Rochester, they are going to break up. (Well, probably not given the time they were in, but I don't think they're going to be happy. Because they have a lot of chemistry, but Rochester is a crazy liar, y'all.)

ROCHESTER: Gosh, I have a crazy wife hidden in the attic who occasionally breaks out and sets fires. And I'd like to bigamously marry my governess. You know what this situation needs?
AUDIENCE: ... what?
ROCHESTER: MORE COMPLICATIONS! I think I'll have a house party and have a fake engagement to a third lady. AS WELL as the secret crazy wife. And the bigamous marriage.
AUDIENCE: ... what?
ROCHESTER: You're RIGHT! I'm not giving this a hundred per cent! What if I dress up as a gypsy woman and tell fake fortunes?

I'm just saying, Jane will come home one day and Rochester will have sold the children to pirates.

Justine believes in even fewer couples than I do. Which fictional couples do you guys think are doomed never to last?

It has been in some respects a tough year (though in other respects a truly marvellous and spiffy and amazing year) so I admit I have had a few thoughts about ringing in the changes in some sort of new and excellent way. So I have this page open which lists awesome cheap flights at all times. But, you know, I secretly knew that I was going to be home for New Year's because I hadn't made any proper plans yet.

Then yesterday I saw amazingly inexpensive flights to Boston. But I didn't really plan to go. I planned to consult with sensible friends.

PLANNED CONVERSATION!

SARAH: Should I go to Boston?
HOLLY: No, that seems unwise.
SARAH: You are right, what was I thinking? I am such a ninnyhammer.

ACTUAL CONVERSATION!

SARAH: Should I go to Boston?
HOLLY: Yes, good idea!
SARAH: Can I come see you as well?
HOLLY: Yes, I am very valiant and can put up with you! Bring a mask.
SARAH: ... Why?
HOLLY: I cannot reveal that at this time.
SARAH: WOW I SEEM TO BE ACTUALLY GOING TO BOSTON? I wonder what I will do there! Perhaps I will have an adventure?

I think I will have an adventure, you guys.

I have never been to Boston before! I am going to take notes on it for Secret Reasons. Can you, oh wise internet, tell me awesome things to do in Boston?

So my lovely people, I hope you are having an awesome run-up to Christmas! I also hope you will tell me awesome things to do in Boston, tell me about fictional couples you think are doomed, and most of all that you will like the Extra Christmas Bonus Excerpt of Demon's Covenant in my BookSmugglers post. (Oh, Nick. Of all the tall dark heroes in the world, you have the distinction of being the least charming of them all...)

if you are in dallas i will be there seeing family for christmas and doing a signing at lonestar comics on dec. 23rd. okay

i will be closing book orders on thursday morning i think so i can finish shipping and not think about that over christmas. i will reopen them early january

animal tropical - 20 miles

You will have to excuse me, you guys. It feels weird and awesome to have a cover for The Demon's Covenant to show you all. The new book, my brain is rejoicing. I get to have more than one! (My brain can be a little slow.)

Anyway, so: this is the UK cover for The Demon's Covenant. And I love eeet.

My publishers are so good, y'all. Because they are very kind to me, and because my UK covers are drawn and not photographic, I kept emailing them and saying 'Oh, could we have - could we change - could we fix-' and now I have this cover and they did not hire ninja assassins to come kill me with poison darts even once.

The title is going to be SILVER and it's going to be even more beautiful when it is REAL but for now - look, there's my girl! And I love it. I hope you love it too!

( The Demon's Covenant UK Cover )

This is me (apparently a flat-chested version of me - where did my boobies go?!?!) and my doggie.

He's my Prince. His name is Fred. His nose is always cold, he slobbers, he likes nothing more than to jump his total 62lbs in my lab, woof at random nothings and sleep on my side of the bed.

So I worry about presents.

I used to worry about presents so much that I had to get them out of the way early. In the July sales, you would see little Sarah with her bowl haircut, solemnly shopping for Christmas presents. Had I waited for winter, I would have gone into a spiral of agony and self-doubt.

Much taller Sarah with much longer hair, i.e. me of the present day, does not have the organisational skills or the storage space to shop for Christmas presents in July. But I do generally spend November and December making anxious calls.

SARAH: Why can't you just tell me what you want! Anything! I'll buy you anything!
MY LITTLE BROTHER SAUL: Oh. Hmm. I'll have a... Well now. Okay. Give me a moment. Maybe-
SARAH: Yes? YES?
SAUL: Maybe I'll have to call you back.
MY LITTLE SISTER GENEVIEVE: But I've told you what I want. I keep telling you what I want.
SARAH: No, you haven't.
GENEVIEVE: I want a Team Jacob hoodie.
SARAH: I don't know why I keep forgetting that.
GENEVIEVE: If it's because you're Team Edward, you are NOT WELCOME HOME this Christmas.

My sister the ingrate aside, I had a much more important present to give out this year.

Obviously, all those who have read my book are my most favourite people in the world. This only makes sense. My most favourite people in the world deserve presents. Also very logical!

However I cannot find them all and ask for their addresses. So clearly a story present, then.

But! I worried to myself. When would be a good time to give them the story present? Obviously not on Christmas Day, as people would have better things to do than reading internet presents, like unwrapping their real presents and going 'A titanium suit of armour with inbuilt time-travel device! Awesome!' So I asked twitter, and they seemed to feel the thirteenth was a good day.

Today is the thirteenth.

So, this is a present for those who have already read The Demon's Lexicon: it is set eleven years before the book, but there are hints of things to come. So if someone hasn't read the book and hates spoilers, probably best to avoid. If one doesn't mind them and is minded to try the story (with a view to later reading The Demon's Lexicon and thus achieving the status of one of my most favourite people in the world) then they may go right ahead!

Should you guys like it, spread it 'round: I would like everyone who might enjoy it to read it, so my present reaches all those who want it.

And in Christmas and Demon's Lexicon news, people in the UK might be interested to know there is a Demon's Lexicon fan meet-up in London going on. I won't be there, but I will be sending presents!

For now, though, this present is for everyone.

And it comes with an illustration: the illustration is done by Entropy_Incarnate and not specifically for this story, but it does show the main characters as kids and thus I feel is appropriate!

( Tiny Baby Cuteness! With Knives )

This one's for my most favourite people in the world. I very much hope you enjoy it.

Nick's First Word: A Christmas Story.