We have been living in a winter wonderland. Today was the first day I left the house in a week. Snow that piled up on the driveway and the street kept us pretty much snowed in, and then freezing rain hit, but at least we had electricity. Without it, we would have no food, no heat, even no water since the well pump is electric. Luckily Washington winter only lasts a week or so. Any minute I'll start seeing green shoots peek out of the ground. I do love the change of seasons (except when it turns hot). Happy winter to you all.

Here for your enjoyment is the cover art for Will Sparrow's Road, due out in fall 2012. I think it's quite wonderful and hope all you readers are intrigued enough to watch for the book. Will Sparrow, liar and thief, is running away—from the father who sold him for beer, from the innkeeper who threatened to sell him as a chimney sweep, from his whole sorry life. Barefoot and  penniless, without family or friends, Will is determined to avoid capture. "I care for no one but myself and nothing but my belly," he says over and over. Will he ever find supper, boots, someone to trust, and a reason to stop running?

See, this is why I don't have a blog. I cannot be trusted to post with any regularity.  I hope you had a splendid holiday and that we all have a great New Year. 2012 is the year Will Sparrow's Road will be published so I anticipate much excitement and quite a lot of anxiety during the months to come. Stay tuned for news of both.

Can you see the two deer in the yard? I couldn't get closer without scaring them away. The island is home to many deer families. My favorite is a mother with her two fawns. We often see them at the side of the road and pray they avoid cars, bicycles, and people. Unfortunately deer like to eat what people like to grow. I have taken to planting only what deer won't eat so we are on friendly terms at the moment. These deer were eating the weeds that we call “grass.” Deer are much more pleasant than power mowers, and they fertilize the ground at the same time.

I am sitting in the lobby of Chicago's Palmer House, nursing a glass of wine and staring at this fabulous ceiling. There's no way I can capture its glory. I'm in Chicago at the annual National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) conference, on a panel about revision with Randy Boomer and Nancy Roser from the University of Texas. We are looking at very early drafts of Catherine Called Birdy. Gulp. Alchemy and Meggy Swann was named an NCTE Notable Book, and we will celebrate that next. All in all, I am having a wonderful time, and there are no dishes or laundry to do. Ahhh.

The very awesome Linda Sue Park was in the neighborhood for an event and I was thrilled to have her come to the island for lunch and a catch up. She lives in Rochester, New York, almost as far away as one can get from Vashon Island, Washington, so we do not see each other nearly often enough. With her in the photo is Laurie Thompson of the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, who kindly brought Linda out here. We writers sometimes lead very solitary lives, and it is very special when we can spend time with others experiencing the same joys and woes.

I am writing and rewriting the author's note for Will Sparrow's Road. It's always something. But this is the view from the window in front of me so things are good. Otis the cat is not chuffed about the weather but he does like to sneak out once in a while between raindrops and drink from a puddle. I sure would like to see inside a cat's brain sometime. Or maybe not. Happy autumn to you all.

Last weekend we went to the sheepdog trials here on Vashon Island. We sat in a light drizzle and watched gallant dogs try to direct stubborn sheep from one end of the field, through some gates, and into a pen at the other end. The sheep do not want to cooperate. One of them—tired of being pushed around, I guess—turned and went for the dog. Both were quickly escorted from the field. I tried to get a photo with my cell phone but from our perch on the hill, all you could see in the picture was a black dot following behind a bunch of white dots.  Here instead is the poster. If you live in or near the country, see if there are sheepdog trials near you. Watching them is relaxing, funny, exciting, and helps you forget about your real-life problems for a while.

Jennifer Holm must have an enchanted computer. She uses it to create fabulous books, one after the other: Penny from Heaven, Turtle in Paradise, Our Only May Amelia, the Babymouse books, and my new favorite, the splendid The Trouble with May Amelia. May Amelia is twelve years old in 1900, living with her large Finnish family near the Columbia River in western Washington state. Life is hard but May Amelia's troubles make for very funny reading, whether she falls once again into the river or is overturned in an outhouse by an angry bull or is driving off her beloved teacher's would-be suitors. Father is convinced Girls Are Useless and brother Wilbert says she's “like the grain of sand in an oyster. Someday I will be a Pearl, but I will nag and irritate the poor oyster and everyone else up until then.” Readers will have no doubt that May Amelia's pearl days are coming soon. I urge you to find and read The Trouble with May Amelia. And I want to know where I can get me one of those enchanted computers.

I would like to do something different for my next book. What do you think about my writing a fantasy?  Light fantasy—maybe a weather witch and an enchantress, hedge witches and hags and the daughter of a wise woman. No vampires, no wizards, no walking dead. I am playing around with the idea but I hit a brick wall when I come to the fantasy stuff. Who knew I was so practical and literal? And I seem to be creating an evil force that can't be defeated. Hmmm. Maybe I should try a romance novel or a picture book instead.

I finally finished the revision of Will Sparrow's Road and sent it off to Dinah, my editor. She responded “You did it!” which I take to mean I am done done done except for miscellaneous jots and quibbles. It’s a relief to have Will gone but I also feel a bit lonely and at loose ends. I need to come up with another book to fill the emptiness he left. I have lots of ideas but nothing has taken me over yet. It’s sort of like floating in a space full of interesting sights and sounds but wanting only a safe place to land.

Today is Phil's 66th birthday. We have aged together and only grown closer. I had big plans to celebrate but he has come down with the flu so it's imaginary cake, imaginary champagne, and imaginary hoopla. Happy birthday anyway, sweetheart. I am so glad you were born.

I just painted one wall of my writing space red. It's actually a better red than in the photo but still might be too cherry for me. I love the idea and just wish I could see the wall from where I sit. I may have to paint all the walls red. I found a Benjamin Moore color called Bohemian Red. Doesn't that sound arty and creative? Maybe I'll try that—a Bohemian red room.

This is my daughter's cat, Murphy. She weighs five pounds and has very big feet. Murphy is fearless. I once saw her stalk and terrorize a dog that had the nerve to come into her house and make himself at home. Murphy is 17 this month. Happy birthday, Murphala, Murphyola, Murphbucket, Murphster, Murph the Smurf, the Murph! You are tiny but mighty and we love you.

Remember way last year when scientists discovered the blobfish? Well, this is how I feel these days. I am between books—Will Sparrow's Road is with Dinah, my editor, waiting for her comments (gulp) and I have no new idea knocking and calling. It is not a good place for me. I tend to turn into a blobfish. Alas, alas, I fear I will never have another idea and will never write again! I hope you are energetically jumping into the new year and not blobbish at all.