la_marquise

Today, you can find me over at the website of the very talented Mary Robinette Kowal, guesting on her regular slot My Favourite Bit, wherein writers talk about what they love most about their books. I'm talking about my shape-shifting ferret twins, Yelena and Julana. Many thanks to Mary for hosting me.

Current Mood: busy

I have the honour and privilege of blogging today on the Big Idea feature on John Scalzi's website, Whatever. I'm talking about banned books and printing and Antwerp: do come by and take a look. And many, many thanks to Mr Scalzi.

Elsewhere, I'm preparing my talk for Congenial, writing about musketeers, pondering my new book idea and wondering what the cats are doing. How are your days going so far?

Skirt of the day: blue cotton.

Current Mood: busy

And it's New Book Day. The Grass King's Concubine is released today and should be, I hope, available from all good book outlets. I really hope you all like it.

Grass King's Concubine-1small

Less than 24 hours to go until new book day. Colour me nervous. I really hope you're going to like it.
Meanwhile, I have three of my silly promotional pens to give away. Leave me a comment and I'll pick out winners from a hat tomorrow.

Skirt of the day: patchwork silk wrap.

EDIT: and it's Tuesday.

queenoftheskies,

princejvstin and

steepholm, you have each won a pen.

Current Mood: anxious

First of all, you still have two days to win one of

jemck's wonderful Hadrumal Crisis novels: the marquis and I will be selecting the two winners on Tuesday. The details are here

Secondly, it's just over two weeks until the official publication date for The Grass King's Concubine but I have two advance copies to give away. This time, it's a Musketeers'-related trivia quiz.

There's a two-part question, plus a special bonus question for a mystery prize. I will be screening replies until Wednesday, when I'll put all the answers into a hat and draw the two winners.

Here's the main question: you need to answer both parts

What is Aramis's real name according to Alexandre Dumas pere? And what is the name of the historical figure on whom he was based?

The bonus question, for the mystery prize (you don't have to get the other question right to win this one): in The Three Musketeers, Dumas tells us that Athos is the pseudonym for the Comte de la Fere. Elsewhere in his writings, Dumas also gave Athos a first name. What is it?