Books and Squirrel

[jimhines]

Two new books out today from friends of mine.

Comments

[mtlawson]

My kids would be so jealous if they saw that pic, Jim!

[jimhines]

Bring 'em to MSU! There's an entire subspecies of semi-tame college squirrels living on campus.

[mtlawson]

Oh, we've got our collection in the backyard. Not that tame, however; they have to go visit my wife's family for that.

Now the jays, on the other hand...

[melissajm]

My "college squirrel" was Tasslehoff. I loved having him around-until he caught sight of the bag of bread behind me. The heck with the little chunks- he wanted the mother lode! He tried to leap into the room, and I had to wrap my hand in a curtain and shove him out. The little fuzzball was GROWLING!

[jhetley]

Back in the Middle Ages, the fox squirrels in Ann Arbor would mug you for a peanut. Clara is lucky she got her hand back.

[jimhines]

They can get scary in East Lansing, too. Back when I was a student, I swear I saw a group of young black-furred squirrels practicing their ninja training by the library. But when I looked again, they had vanished into the shadows...

[anonymous]

Oh no--naming wild animals! That's dangerous! ;-) Recently, we had a wild gray mouse on our driveway. It wasn't afraid of us at all. Since it was charcoal colored, I took to calling it "Kingsford." I, too, was wondering if it would be a boy or girl, so maybe it should be "Queensford"?
Laura (mtlawson's wife)

[jimhines]

Oh, I know. But I *think* the kids both understand we're not getting any more animals. 3 cats, 2 dogs, a hamster, and a bunch of fish are more than enough.

Those are great names for the mouse! :-)

[seanan_mcguire]

It's a totally open pseudonym. They even list the Toby books in the front of Feed, under "Mira Grant writing as Seanan McGuire." I feel very quantum.

You should bring Clara to visit Northern California. We can head to Santa Cruz, land of small frogs, butterfly migrations, and electric yellow slugs the length of your forearm.

[jimhines]

I figured if you were posting on LJ and Twitter about the book, then it was safe to reveal your not-so-secret identity :-)

Not sure what Clara would think of the slugs, but she'd love the frogs and the butterflies!

[seanan_mcguire]

There's a grove in Santa Cruz where the trees are covered in these weird brown leaves at certain times of the year.

And then the leaves open their wings, and you're standing in a cathedral made of butterflies.

[furikku]

That picture is the cutest picture.

[jimhines]

Thanks! Both kids were highly photogenic that day :-)

[threeoutside]

I *especially* love her solemnity. No teeth showing. 8^D