Here's a moment from the first time Buffy's mother, Joyce, officially meets Buffy's vampire nemesis, Spike:Joyce [pleasantly]: Have we met?
Spike: Um, you hit me with an axe one time.
[Joyce looks confused]
Spike: Remember? [helpfully brandishes imaginary axe] "Get the hell away from my daughter! Rawr!!!"
So, now and then I like to ask my readers to take a minute to introduce themselves. I expect I have a lot of regular readers who don't comment; I'm sure I have readers who're just passing through for the day; doubtless I have readers who got here by accident, having misspelled "Kristin Chenowith," and wish they'd never ended up here at all. :o)
Anyway, no pressure. But today I extend an invitation to all of you -- even the lurkers and the shy -- to tell me a little bit about yourself in a comment. You don't have to tell me your real name. But maybe you'd like to tell me where you are? What you do? What you feel like eating today? What TV show you like to watch? If you could be magically transported anywhere this moment, where would you choose?
Everyone is welcome! (Um, except for spammers.) Two friendly reminders. First, please be kind to other readers -- NO PLOT SPOILERS! Second, I'll only see your comment if you post it on my Blog Actual; I do not see comments posted on LJ, Amazon, etc.
The floor is yours!
236 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 236 of 236Oh CRUD.
Deepest apologies - Friday night typing is not my friend!
I simply typed as I thought and didn't even pause to CONSIDER before posting - certainly never intended launching a spoiler.
Eeek.
MC
MC, no worries, seriously! I know how easy it is to forget, and I don't mind people forgetting as long as they don't mind me militantly deleting! I always feel bad, because the comments tend to be full of so much other nice stuff. I wish I could revise comments -- i.e., just take out the spoiler line -- except that wouldn't be right, either, for the administrator of a blog to have the ability to revise comments.
Relatedly -- I'm seriously considering blogging a post that's a spoiler post, for people to comment whatever they want about the books with no fear of triggering my spoiler phobia.
hi, my name is Candy. i am 19 and live in little Adelaide, Australia. i am currently studying psychology and have discovered fire and graceling within the last few days :) loved them. please keep writing, i loved your prose..very easy and enjoyable to read :)
Hi Kristin,
Nice to meet you in this interesting way. I'm a 26 year old lawyer currently living in Omaha, Nebraska. I've loved reading since about 2:05 am, on a cold December night in Southern Califronia when I was ten years old and I first read Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising. Honestly, I think I've read every piece of children's or YA fantasy that has been published since then.
I've lived in six states as of now, but next month it will be seven. Personally, I like Wisconsin best of all.
Favorite writers other than yourself:
YA: Megan Wehlan Turner, Alison Croggon, and Tamora Peirce.
Modern Adult: Rohinton Mistry, Jane Smiley, Richard Russo.
Open forum: Maria Edgeworth, Jane Austin, and D.H. Lawrence. It's hard to limit this.
I secretly pick books based on how pretty the cover is. Your covers were very pretty. Fortunately, the insides were even better than the outsides. I love the world you have constructed.
I loved Fire. The writing was even better than Graceling and the plot remained just as compelling.
Hi, I'm Jen and I'm 33. I live in the California Bay Area and have read both your books. Fire is in my top 10 - it literally moves me to tears each time I read it; I can't wait for your next book. I'm an online book dealer and LOVE to read. I travel throughout the United States each year looking for inventory and more books to read. Favorite authors include you, Tamora Pierce, Suzanne Collins, Stephenie Meyer, John Marsden, Lois Bujold, lots more. I also read a ton of non-fiction. I've seen every episode of Buffy, and I love 24, Lost, Fringe and Top Chef. Favorite tv show of all time was Dead Like Me.
Thank you so much for writing Graceling and Fire and giving readers like me hours upon hours of enjoyment. You possess a stunning imaginiation Keep up the good work!
Hello! I'm Shannon, a writer/mother/photographer (not necessarily in that order) from Perth, Australia. I haven't read Fire yet - it's been sitting on my bookshelf waiting for me to get a day where there is no children or housework because I know I wont put it down! I loved Graceling (read that in one sitting too)
Hi All,
I'm Rach, 32, from New Zealand where we're heading into Summer... YAY. I see lots of reading books on the beach in my future.
I have only just discovered Kristin's books (where have I been?) and can't put Graceling down.
I'll pretty much read anything but I started reading fantasy novels when I was 12 or 13. The first two authors I fell in love with were Anne McCaffrey and Tamora Pierce, closely followed by Melanie Rawn.
My all time favourite book is The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons.
I'm in the travel industry, and really love to travel. I'm also studying extramurally for a BA in English & Social Anthropology.
My New Years resolution is to write something - anything - all 365 days of 2010. (It's not a leap year is it?). ha ha
Hello everyone! I'm still here, still reading! I just read 30 new comments, including the one in which my own sister exclaims her shock at my popularity. Thanks, sis. :o)
Hello to readers in Mexico, the north of England, Wales, London, Vienna, and Hamburg!
Hello to readers in Adelaide and Bremen -- two cities far away from each other that I have visited! I spent several weeks with family friends in Delmenhorst one summer when I was very young. And I studied abroad in Sydney in college and did a lot of traveling in Australia. It's especially nice to hear from both of those towns!
Hello to readers in MN, NC, CA, RI, rural TX, OH, AR, SC, upstate NY, and hello to book lovers in the NM desert! Hello to Wyoming Seminary -- I sat in your auditorium once and took the SATs! :o)
Brenda: yay for Kathy! :D
Hello to Colbert-report-watchers, reading buddies, teachers, cellists/knitters/bellydancers, jewelry-makers, fellow tea- and orchid-lovers. I also loved the BtVS episode "Hush" and can't wait to watch Season 6.
I would like to announce that I have a quibble with the NaNoWrMo terminology. Writers: IMO, if you didn't manage to write 50,000 words in November, that does not mean you are not a winner! The fastest I've ever written 50,000 words is in about 8 months! Be kind to yourselves :o)
Red high heels -- yay!
Cows peering into windows -- HA HA HA HA
loulabelle13: ♥. Hang in there. You will get through this.
If I could be transported anywhere, I would be in the Seven Kingdoms orr I would be in the Vamipre Diaires TV show and be with Stefan.
Hi Kristin,
I'm Kim and from NZ. My job involves selling your book (amongst others of course) and you have growing number of fans here including myself. I felt like sushi for lunch, so I had it. My favourite TV shows include 30 Rock and Gavin & Stacey, which if you haven't seen you should check out. Hilarious. You may struggle with the Welsh accent (which I love) and some of the colloquialisms but it would be well worth the effort. Keep up the fantastic work. One thing I've always wondered is how writers find time to blog? I would have thought writing books would use up all your keyboard stamina.
Cheers
Kim
Howdy,
My name is Tara. I am 22 and working as a barista right now. I am currently waiting to hear back from some police departments I have applied to, so far it's a no go. Apparently this recession is kind of a big deal. Any who, just wanted to tell you that your books are super shweet and that I really enjoy the character Katsa. I am interested to see what Bitterblue's story is going to be about and hopefully we will find out why it is that her father wanted her so much. Keep up the good work and have a most lovely day.
Constance
I just happened to be reading some of these posts and saw that you live in Asheville and are part of a book group. I also live in Asheville and would love more info on the book group if you are accepting new members! I'm working on writing a YA urban fantasy and 2 children's series' and meeting other people who are reading and writing the same kinds of things I am would be great!
I'm so, so happy to see a comment from a reader in Tasmania. As I said in my previous comment, I did a fair amount of traveling in Australia, and the whole country is gorgeous and amazing, but Tasmania was my favorite stop -- took my breath away.
Hello to everyone, including Ireland, Holland, and my own Boston! :o) Hi to Simmons people and Sirens people... and it really does seem like a whole lot of you are going to have a great reunion at Hogwarts some day. Hello to tea and toast people, to people finishing up their semesters at school, to knitters, coffee-drinkers, editors and marketers... hey! 59 is not ancient! :D I've really, really got to read more DWJ, don't I. And, finally, to those sending me good luck wishes for my own writing: thank you! I'll take them!
Still more comments to read -- who knew that I'd be giving myself so much fun reading when I wrote this post!!!??? I've been using it as a relaxing break from work now and then.
hello miss cashore,
I'm J. I'm a Canadian teen, and found Graceling almost by accident. I read it in a single day (and night), stopping only when I had to. I was actually going to re-read it for an english assignment, so I went online and looked you up online again. I squealed (loudly) in the middle of class when I saw 'Fire' and bought it yesterday. Thank you so much for the great read! I aspire to write as amazingly as you one day. Now I get to make a collage for it (along with writing my book report, and I'm actually excited for the work)
<3
Hi, Kristin! I'm so excited to find your blog! Graceling is one of my all time favorite books, I really loved the characters Katsa and Po. I can't wait to read Fire!!
Hello to Alaska, hello to Edinburgh, hello to Brisbane, and hello to places closer to home! Hello again to Adelaide, and hello to New Zealand, where I'm determined to go some day! Hello to Canada, which I love :o). Hello to Perth, where I have been, and which is a strange and amazing place! Hello (and thank you) to booksellers.
And with that, I have read all the introductions so far. Thank you to everyone for giving me such good reading this past week.
My name is Angela and I live in the Seattle area of Washington State. I am 25 and still in love with YA books. When I was about 15 I started reading Tamora Pierce books and got hooked on YA fantasy. Recently I cant seem to find anything to read. I find books like Graceling and Hunger Games and they are sooo good and then I try to find other treasures and cants seem to get anything I like.
Sooooo I started writing my own. Let me just say I have never even thought of writing but I am enjoying it so much! My characters are turning out to be awsome. Its so strange to stumble across something I could actually be good at. I let my cousin read what I have written so far and he was actually impressed. (He reads all the same type of books I do)
I actually started a blog on here because as soon as I decided to start a book the ideas just came rushing in. I just went on a cruise last week and brought my laptop. I wrote 5 chapters! Its like my characters have a story to tell and wont let me go until its done. So fun!
Kristin thank you, you were part of my inspiration to start writing.
My sister loved her bday present (Fire) which you signed for her at the Harvard Bookstore earlier this month. I like my present to myself, my signed copy of Graceling.
Thanks again!
Hi!
I'm a fantasy geek from the Berkshires, (Google it)
I own many furry and feathered pets, and plan on becoming anything that involves animals
(from a dolphin trainer at SeaWorld to a protester of the wild animal trade in South America)
Monarcha
Hi Kristin,
I'm Kat. I'm a nerdy, genderqueer, tea-addicted, fairy tale-obsessed student of English in New York City. I'm living the dream interning at a literary agency and hope to end up an editor for a YA imprint. (Or maybe an agent. Only time will tell.)
Books have had an enormous impact on my life. All of the people I admire most are authors who have somehow played a role in my development through their writing. I want to be able to look back some day and say that I too played a role in bringing books that have changed people's lives to the world.
I really admire what you do. You are a hero; every author is a hero for doing what they do. Thank you for making the world a bigger, more inspiring place. And thank you for writing Katsa who is a breath of fresh air in fantasy YA.
Peace
Hi Kristin!
I hate talking about me, but for you, I will.... I'm a happily single mom of 2 daughters, work in human resources, read like I have nothing else to do, usually read 2-3 books at a time, always read books twice, raised in St. Louis MO now living in Petoskey, MI, and have 5 cats. (I don't think that's crazy cat lady numbers, but I could be wrong..) One interesting fact about me: I become a rock star when I have a few cocktails at karaoke night.
Ok, enough rambling about me.
Hi. I'm 16. Living in Perth, Australia. Working as a receptionist for a new business and have too much spare time since I left school this year. I love the book Graceling but haven't been able to read Fire yet because it's not out here yet unfortunately.
Hi Kristin,
I have been following your blog since last spring.
I am a 'thirty-something' mom of two fantastic kids, wife to the world's most amazing guy, and pediatrician. I am an avid reader, and as of this year, writer (I have written 2 novels, which my sweet closest friends have read, and I am working on a third - we'll see if I'll ever share more widely - privately, I'm having a BLAST).
I LOVED Graceling (fantastic story, and unbelievably amazing female character who I can't wait to share with my 9 year old daughter, also an avid reader - I think she's finally ready). I shared it with a friend's daughter who said it was her favorite book ever! :o)
I LOVED Fire too!!!
I find your blog informative and inspirational, and it has become part of my regular routine. Unlike other blogs I have perused, yours doesn't feel in the least bit preachy, but rather as though I am listening to a great friend. Thank you!
I can't wait for Bitter Blue...
D
Hey, Kristin. I tried to post on your Labor Day rant, which you linked to in your most recent post, earlier today; but I managed to skip over the word verification box and lost my message, which made me very sad because I spent a lot of time on that message, at which point I spontaneously decided to set up my own blog which I doubt will ever have any readers because I am not famous in any way shape or form. But I'm rambling. Heck, there's little chance you'll ever see this, anyway. But what is there to lose in trying? Anyway, I'm in a spontaneous mood today.
I'm Emily, I'm 13, and I'm a student with no particular profession. I do have a passion for writing - and the most amazing friend in the world to thank for helping me discover that passion - and I've read EASILY 2,000 books in my currently-short lifetime. Besides my love of language in general, I'm very inspired by music (isn't everybody?) and liable to gush about my current favorite song, which changes often, on any given day. I've read your blog on and off ever since, with Graceling and Fire, you earned a spot on my list of favorite authors (of which there are currently two); but I plan on reading more frequently from now on (after you come back from your winter hiatus, of course).
Emily, you sound like my kind of person. I am also 13 and also love to read and write.
Hello,
I'm a lurker from Maine. I'm a children's librarian. I really enjoy your blog (and your books.) I bugged my teen librarian for an ARC of Fire for weeks and she handed me Catching Fire one day and thought I would be excited. While it was good, it wasn't what I wanted!
Anyway, the other thing I wanted to say is that I've been watching Buffy for the first time and I couldn't understand why you (and many others) liked Spike so much. Having just finished season five, I now understand completely and he has become my favorite character. Thanks for the early preview of his awesomeness!
I'm late. That's not my name, it is my state of being. I hope you don't mind. My name is Jenna and I am 35 and I am a teen services librarian in Colorado. I *adored* Graceling and it was my favorite book of the year last year, beating out even Hunger Games (which came in a very close second but the cliffhanger ending distressed me so much it couldn't win) because we all know that what book is my favorite of the year is the MOST IMPORTANT award a book could possibly win. Spike was always my favorite vampire but mostly I'm just a Joss fan, because Firefly is my not-so-secret favorite. I don't have TV since the whole HD converter box thing but I do watch a few shows online: True Blood, HIMYM, Big Bang Theory, Castle, and Glee.
I really, really hope that you can be a keynote speaker for the Colorado Teen Literature Conference at some point in the future because then I would get to meet you.
Thanks for asking. :)
Hi, Kristin,
I'm an avid reader (and writer for spending extra time I couldn't use by reading). I'm 14 years old (recently) and live near St. Louis, Missouri. I recently just found your blog a few minutes ago, but I was one of those "devoted fans" who counted down the days to Fire's release.
I have been at my current job for about nine years; full-time school, and promoted to eighth grade last August (it's really funny to treat school like a paying job that I actually chose). But, I have later hopes to get a job in something like computer animation or editing, and writing on the side (for the fun of it).
It's only a determined blogger who wants to know more about their readers. I hope there isn't too many posts to read!
Alex B. (I guess I should mention I'm a girl . . . There's too many guys named Alex for me to forget to say so.)
Hey!
Call me Feather. I'm nearly 16. I live in a small town you have probably never heard of in NSW, Australia. I read Graceling last week, and started Fire yesterday. You are an amazing writer. I have to keep slapping my wrist for fantasising about Po. My conscious mind keeps reminding my unconscious that i am not Katsa. I enjoy writing (when i'm not studying) and hope to one day publish a novel. I think you need to plan a trip to Australia. Preferably Canberra, because it's the cloesest "major" city. ;-)Keep blogging. I enjoy reading your blog almost as much as your novels. =)
Feather xx
I`m currently reading Fire and enjoying it immensely!! I finished Graceling a couple of day ago and I loved it!! Kristen, you are now on my fav. author list along with Meg Gail Carson Levine and Tamora Pierce.
Hi Kristin,
My name is Keerin and I'm 16. I live in Texas. I got your first book 2 days ago and finished it yesterday morning. My favorite character is Po. But I just thought I should vaguely share that I have a great dislike for the end, though I really, really loved the book. I like your blog, too. :)I am currently on break from school, but I'll be going back soon. I can't wait to read Fire, and I can't wait for Bitterblue! Thank you for your contributions to the literature community. I too, hope to be a writer of fiction some day, if I can overcome my ADD when it comes to writing long stories. Beautiful job!! Keep it up!
-Keerin
Hello, Ms. Cashore. I'm Clara, I'm barely 12 years old, and I was born and live in Austin, Texas. I <3 Graceling and when I first went through this blog I found it amazing that wonderful authors could have a sense of humor, too. This may seem a little crazy to you, but I've never really met an author, even though I've always wanted to be one.
My name is Erica. My friend Sarah handed me Fire and told me to read it, and when I spilled tomato sauce on a page of her copy, I went out and bought her a new one, bought myself a copy of Graceling, and kept her old copy of Fire.
I read Fire first, which made reading Graceling very different than it could have been, I think. No spoilers, as you said, but I was greatly disturbed by things going on in Graceling before the book made it evident that something was terribly wrong.
I like the themes of young woman struggling with themselves and who they are, and coming to terms with it. I want children but I respect the characters of Fire and Katsa for their reasons to not have any, and Fire especially made me nearly cry over this. I like Fire best because I understand, although not to the same degree, what it's like to have a family member who you love and hate and can't resolve your feelings over all at the same time.
Thank you very much for the wonderful stories, and I look forward to your next book.
Hi Kristin!
I just started reading your blog and decided to leave a comment here to say hi :D I just finished reading Fire, and I loved it. I read it before Graceling (which will be my next read) and I am definitely a fan.
Oh wait. I'm Tina, 23, from the faraway land of the Philippines in Asia. :) Yes, you have fans here now. :D
Happy New Year! :)
Tina
My name is Eden and I live near of Portland, OR, but I'm across the river in Washington state. The Northwest in the most beautiful place on earth. I'm thirty years old, married and work in a clinic. I'm also a part-time student studying biology. My favorite TV show (right now) is LOST. My husband might say that I'm obsessed because I read all the theory blogs and whatnot. My favorite show of all time is The Wonder Years.
I just recently got in to young adult fiction after reading the Harry Potter and Twilight series. Now I'm full force gale in to the genre! I loved Graceling and Fire so much. They are stories of many different kinds of power and many different forms of surrender. I can't tell you how many times I cried while reading them. You are so gifted and truly BORN TO WRITE. Thanks for sharing your stories with us. -Eden
Oh, and I would love to be transported to a Tuscan villa on a warm day, drinking wine and eating with friends.
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