I think I've hit a new record for the length of time between newsletters. In the past year, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter have become my outlets for daily comments and news. (You can view each by clicking on an icon at right.) But I do realize that not all of you are on these sites, and no wonder…they consume a good deal of time if you let them. So, to those of you not on these sites, my apologies for the long silence.

Spring arrived early in Ottawa this year, which was a treat—especially on the heels of a visit to the Tucson Festival of Books in March. MaryAnn and I adore Tucson and this year was no exception. We can't recommend the book festival highly enough. It's free, and with over 400 authors plus acres of book booths and a happy crowd of some 70,000 attendees, it's a reader's paradise. You can check it out here:

www.tucsonfestivalofbooks.org

This year at the festival I had the pleasure of being on a panel with my two favourite Hoffman gals: Alice and Nina Kiriki. We all went out to dinner later that night (thank you, Alice) and met some of Alice's musician friends, whom we ended up playing music with later in the week. Great fun.

We also got to introduce Nina to some of the wonders of Tucson, including a trip to the Sonoran Desert Museum, where we watched a raptors show featuring free-flying ravens and Harris hawks. Wonderful stuff. Plus we got to spend time with some other talented locals, including photographer/writer Stu Jenks, textile artist Annie Gordon, and authors Emma Bull, Will Shetterley, Midori Snyder, Dennis McKiernan and his lovely artist wife MarthaLee.

SEATTLE-BOUND

MaryAnn and I are off to Seattle this week, where I'm doing some school visits, public library appearances, a writers' workshop (full, I'm afraid) and a Q&A/signing/music at the University Bookstore. It would be great to meet some of you there.

Details can be found here.

BOOK NEWS

I must be the world's worst self-promoter, because since I last wrote, I've neglected to tell you about two books that have come out, as well as two others that are being published later this year:

MUSE AND REVERIE
(collection, Tor, December 2009)

EYES LIKE LEAVES
(early work, 1980 novel, Subterranean Press, February 2010)

And forthcoming:

THE VERY BEST OF CHARLES DE LINT
(collection, Tachyon Publications, summer 2010)

THE PAINTED BOY
(young adult novel, Viking, fall 2010)

OTHER BOOKS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

These days I'm working on a middle-grade book for Little, Brown and Company. I'm not one to discuss projects I'm working on because I like to find out about the story as it happens, but I'll be happy tell you more about it after it's been turned in and accepted. I will tell you that the inimitable Charles Vess is part of this project, so it's sure to be beautiful. If you haven't seen Charles' work in Instructions, his latest picture book with Neil Gaiman, point your browser to:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWRvqO1MjIs

And if you missed The Blueberry Girl by the same dynamic duo, take a look at:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKbyFrsQQ9w

Here is a map to get there.

TIS THE SEASON FOR OUR ANNUAL YARD SALE

As always, review books keep on coming and we need to find room in our house, so out they go at our annual book and yard sale. In view of the economy, we're selling them even cheaper this year. There'll be well over 1,000 books, plus all the treasures that MaryAnn puts out. So we hope you'll come and see us this year on Saturday, June 5th, weather permitting. Our rain date is Saturday, June 12th.

CLARE-BEAR & JOHNNY CASH

Our little ones, feline and canine, continue to provide us with heaps of love and affection. Clare supervises my daily writing output from her perch atop my bookcase, while Johnny patiently waits for his daily outing at Grasshopper Hill, our local dog park and forest. He's one cheerful pup, while her highness is as regal yet sweet as a kitty can be. I hope you have this much love in your lives.

cheers

Charles