Graceling is a finalist for the 2009 SIBA Book Awards in the YA category, along with Sarah Dessen’s Lock & Key and Trenton Lee Stewart’s The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey. It is so nice to be honored by people you admire (indie booksellers!). Thank you so much to the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance! Go indies!

Speaking of the South, I would like to state for the record that Florida is the only place I’ve ever lived where I’ve needed to use sunglasses, a sun visor, a raincoat, rain boots, sunscreen (for the small portion of leg not covered by coat and boots), and a golf umbrella simultaneously. The river is high and the gutters have given up. Is it ever going to stop raining here in north Florida?

In other news, I promised a short post today, but is it cheating if I link you to a long interview? Follow that link to read my Summer Blog Blast Tour interview at Hip Writer Mama and/or to enter a giveaway of ten copies of Graceling. The deadline for the giveaway is Monday, June 1. Check it out — Vivian asks fun questions, like, “If you found a way to go back to your teen years as one of your characters, who would it be and why?”

Thanks, Vivian, for getting me thinking about how I’d like to be one of Po’s brothers. :o)

I’m a bit all over the place these days, what with BEA prep. If you’ve asked a question on my blog recently, I’ve added it to my list. And now I’m going to retreat and be overwhelmed in private.

Happy Monday, all!