Favorite quote of recent memory:
(from my older son, who wants to run for President, to my younger son who doesn’t)
“There’s never been a Goodnight President, so what say we give it a go?”

This weekend, courtesy of my in-laws, we got to see Walking With Dinosaurs, a production involving life-size (or thereabouts) dinosaurs and the world changes that affected them. I was very impressed–not only with the enormous, mobile dinosaur models and costumes that worked like those designed for The Lion King, but the lighting and sound as well. They managed to create the feeling of fire and rain and seasons with different gels and spotlights. Really very entertaining–I’d recommend it for anyone fascinated by dinosaurs. My favorite was the stegosaurus, but the mama and baby T-rex stole the show.

My son and a friend have decided to write a series of books together, and the first one was about Walking With Dinosaurs, so obviously it made an impression.

I didn’t have my camera, and I hesitate to pilfer pictures, so instead, go here, here, or here to catch a glimpse.

Admittedly, I haven’t been posting much, but worse than that, I can’t remember the last time I posted about writing. Seeing as it’s listed in the title/description of the blog, I figure there should occassionally be an entry. So here it is…

I have (kinda/sorta) started an agent hunt. At this time, I’m only querying those agents who accept e-queries and are listed as being interested in seeing chick-lit. (If anyone has any suggestions, I’d welcome them…)

At the same time, I’m wondering if the agent route is really my best bet. Time from contract to publication is getting to be longer than a year, and Harper Collins is experimenting with an imprint with a striking resemblence to Print-On-Demand. So…I’m left to wonder over my options: whether I should fall back on my own personal block of ISBN’s, my own press, and all the hard-won knowledge that came from self-publishing in 2004 or to try my luck with the traditional route.

My book is not POD–I went through a printer, ordered in bulk, and am now the warehouser, publicist, marketer, contact person, and gopher for the book and my press. It’s been a lot of work. But… I’m in total control. Allowing for review copies and early reviews, I can get a book out in five months (or less) from the moment I decide I’m done. I control the cover, the content, and everything else. But that route takes a healthy amount of confidence (or maybe just courage). There’s no agent and no publisher standing behind me. It’s just me.

And so…I waffle. But while I waffle, I’m exploring my options.

Last December I posted about getting to go ‘behind the scenes’ with the white tigers at the Houston Aquarium, but this Sunday we got to do something even better!

The same friends with the white tiger connection got us up-close-and-personal with a 5-week-old lion cub! Her name was Indy (same as our new puppy!) and she was sooooo soft and cute and adorable. We got to pet her, and my boys followed her around on her exploration of our friends’ porch. I even got to hold her! She nipped my husband too, who’s now going around saying he survived the bite of a lion…