on writing, interviews, and cake!

Dear neighbours
I haven't been here for a while, I've been so busy -and a little down for health reasons which I hope will be all sorted very soon. I need to chill out in my little purple house on Blogland Lane for a while so please join me - the kettle is on and I've just baked a cake... um... OK, I've just unwrapped a cake.
I haven't been completely idle while I've been away. The MS for my second book, ROAD CLOSED, is now finally done and is on course for publication in June. I'm now working on the third in my series, and my publisher have just approached my agent for a fourth...
And to finish on a cheerful note, please take a look at this interview on The Literary Project. I'm rather proud of it! See the post dated 19th March.
http://theliteraryproject.blogspot.com/
Must go - someone's at the door. I hope it's you!

Guess Who Had a Nice Tropical Vacation?

Love

kj

Renee is now free

I could not let the day pass without letting all the Blogland residents know that we lost one of our citizens today. The beautiful and wonderful Renee, lost her battle with cancer last night. I know we are all happy that she is no longer in pain. She is dancing with the angels right now, she is free. Renee, was a special woman and she taught us so much. Many in the blogging community are grieving right now. I know she is watching and wanting us to be happy. Sending hugs and love to all who miss her. xoxo

The Latest(s)

Hey BlogLanders! Warm greetings to all of you! I hope my neighbours are doing quite fine and I feel quite guilty that I can't make my way here frequently! But I didn't forget my place here at all! It's #602, the little nest. Hope you guys also remember! :)

The Latest(s):
Spring has come to the flowers of my country. The sky seems quite awesome. I like the way the clouds play with the moon now. They play 'hide n' seek' but it seems like they are in the same team as if we are their opponents! Let me share a nice poem about Spring!

THE SEASON OF SPRING
by Mencita (Carmen) Monoi Angel

"the season of spring
weather seems to sing
lovely lovely days
are coming our ways

the season of spring
blooming blossoming
of nature of all kind
let roots unbind

the season of spring
birds unfold their wings
diving high into sky
wish one could fly

the season of spring
careful hearts love sting
reaching out towards others
some persons might bother

the season of spring
nice sound bells ring
new wave new style
faces have on a smile

the season of spring
an new awakening
busy humanity on earth
as if it’s a new birth

listen listen to my words
the season of spring is near
now a look into your lovely eyes
and one can see spring is already here"

Isn't the poem cute? I hope you like it guys!

I'm on a short vacation now. I don't understand why all the vacations have to be short! Strange! Good times are always short! :P I study in Dhaka (capital of Bangladesh) and my home is in Chittagong. I travel by train most of the time in between these two cities. There is always shortage of tickets. You won't believe that I have to manage return ticket to Dhaka first before I think of visiting home! This time when our train stopped at the station of Chittagong I had to buy the return ticket before I could even see my home! Whatever... the good thing about me is I never get tired of journey. I love traveling. I'm on my final year of graduation. In last three years I have visited my home almost every two weekends of each month! You know I consider almost 12 hours of journey each time and most of the time I can stay home only for 1 or 2 nights!

I want to give you a information about Bangladeshi people. We are never free. We never take rest. We are always busy. You know why? The mosquitoes keep us busy all the time! Right now I feel like they are able to help me fly... You have got to guess their quantity around me!

Happy weekend ahead guys! Stop by at my place @602, I will be glad to have a tea partner. Cheers! :)

[photo source: ruslou]

Untitled!

Hello neighbors! Our vigil for our beloved Renee continues and I'm alternating between being thankful for knowing her and keeping busy. I've recorated my living room here on Blogland Lane and I'm cooking cheese enchiladas tonight for dinner. Anyone who wants to drop in is welcome.

Meanwhile, I'm still rereading poems I've written over the past few years. Here's one that was a sad lament when I wrote it, and might still be, but for some reason I like the energy of it.

.

Can’t Do
.
Could you?
I’m at the beginning:
Accept, Accelerate, Acquiesce,
and sprinting to the L’s,
Long, Loosen, Lighten up,
Onto to the T’s:
Trust, Turn in, Truncate,
Then to the final stop:
Zero. Zilch. Zenith.
I am plucking words,
Seeking sounds,
And mixing colors
To explain why oh why
You are there
And I am here
And the in-between
Is alphabetically and phonetically speaking
All Wrong.

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Here's wishing you a good day,

.

Love

kj

Life as an author

It's such a long time since I've posted here, I thought I should drop my Blogland Lane neighbours a line. Life's been very busy. CUT SHORT has now been reprinted and I'm back book signing again, booked every Saturday until June, with invitations starting now to sign on Sundays. I am passionately committed to supporting real bookshops, but I have to keep one day a week free for writing!
ROAD CLOSED, the second in my series, will be published in June. It has already been selling on amazon - it reached 10,000 on amazon sales ratings. With so many people preordering, I felt like Dan Brown!
I'm now working on DEAD END, my third book, which will be out in June 2011. And after that... well, my publisher have already approached me for a fourth book, but that's one to think about next year.
If anyone on Blogland Lane would like a scanned signature, just drop me an email.
You can see photos of my recent events on my author blog http://leighrussell.blogspot.com
I'll be back here on Blogland Lane again soon, to spend some time in my little purple house on the hill overlooking the sea.

The Most Beautiful Forest

I just feel like sharing on of my favorite photos tonight. It was given to me by my blogfriend Human Being, who lives in Iran and struggles because she cannot live in freedom in her country.

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This is a BIRCH forest. I thought it was bamboo but my friend Laurel straightened me out. And I think I'm a gardener, which I am. It seems Trees 101 is a different course! In any case, blow this image up and you will see how very beautiful it is.

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My thoughts and prayers are with Renee. And if you have a moment, please pray for Human Being. She is the most amazing poet trying to keep her spirits up with oppression all around her. I was surprised to learn how rich and beautiful the nation of Iran really is.