Kristin Butcher... has novel ideas

The Egyptologist has finally finished vetting my book on ancient Egypt, and when the editor said he was couriering the manuscript to me to make the changes a.s.a.p., I have to admit I was a bit nervous. I had no idea what to expect. I had visions of LIAR, LIAR, LIAR!!! scrawled across the whole thing in bright red ink. Not that I knowingly lied, but I'm not generally a writer of non-fiction, and I suspected that my natural bent to make stuff up might have pushed its way into the manuscript without me realizing it.

I'm not a good traveller. I hate being trapped in a cramped airplane seat for even an hour. I hate living out of a suitcase and donning wrinkled clothes that I know I ironed before I left home. I hate forgetting my hair dryer or a pair of earrings. I hate being without a vehicle. I'm not crazy about hotel rooms either -- they are boring, and unless I'm sightseeing, there is often nothing to do. Then, of course, there are passports, vaccinations -- oh, yes, and the cost of travelling. I don't even want to think about that.

Okay, I know it's been forever since I wrote in my blog (or anywhere else for that matter), but I'm officially finished procrastinating, holidaying, slacking-off, playing hooky, etc., and I'm back at the helm, so look for more regular blog entries from me in the future.

For starters, here's a collage of photos from my Zach & Zoe and the Bank Robber book launch. It was great fun, and as a result of all the wonderful people who bought copies of the book, the novel is currently on Coho Books bestsellers list.

Multi-tasking -- that is one of the buzz words of our time. Can you simultaneously walk and talk? Then you are multi-tasking. Watch television, file your nails, and drink a cup of tea? Multi-tasking. Run the dishwasher, heat a muffin in the microwave, play a CD, and brew a pot of coffee. Now you're really multi-tasking.

Everyone multi-tasks. Even me -- except I do it one task at a time.

Take today, for instance. I turned on the computer to find a raft of emails in my in-box. I knew I had to deal with them, but first I had to do my daily jigsaw. There is no way I can think about working until I get that puzzle out of the way. My husband delivered my coffee, so I didn't even have to worry about that.

Today I abandoned my computer and spent the day roaming the quiet country roads of Quadra Island in search of artists' studios. It wasn't that difficult a task, partly because a friend acted as navigator and partly because this was an organized tour, so the studios were clearly marked with signs, AND we had a map. The studios were open to the public from 10 until 4 -- which we had thought would be plenty of time -- but even with six hours, we still didn't get to a Native carver, a glass blower, a plaster sculptor, a guitar maker, a photographer, and a couple of painters. Next year, for sure.

... a rose by any other name would smell as sweet ...

Well, I'm over halfway through the first draft of the second book in the Zach and Zoe series, and I'm quite pleased with the way the story is unfolding. It's not actually presenting itself in strict accordance with the outline, but that happens -- in fact, it's a good thing when that happens, because it means I'm allowing the story to move forward naturally instead of pushing it.

No, they're not. I lied. Sorry. I couldn't help myself. It's just that I'm as excited as Steve Martin in whatever movie that was where he jumps around, ecstatic ('E' word) that the new phone books have arrived. The new books are indeed here, but they aren't phone books -- not a single yellow page in the works. I'm talking about Zach & Zoe and the Bank Robber. Yay! It's here at last.

This is my twelfth published book, but holding that first copy in my hand never gets old. It feels great -- better than great -- it's magic.

At my River Writers gathering the other night, we were extolling the musical sound of 'E' words. Okay, I was doing the extolling; the rest of the group was sitting back, laughing at me. What can I say? I am drawn to words beginning with 'E' -- egregious, epistle, eulogy, emote, ephemeral, enclave, enigmatic, ensconce, etcetera.

The second annual Spring Book Hatching is coming up on June 14th at the Vancouver Public Library. It's a great opportunity to meet about thirty of B.C.'s authors and illustrators of children's books. Blackberry Books will be on hand with copies of all the titles being hatched, so buy your favourites and get them autographed right there.

For more information, check out the CWILL blog.