Parenthetical

What I didn’t want to announce when I read the first Bartimaeus (because it was still in the works) was that I read it in preparation for a school visit from its author! He was here yesterday, signing loads of books and talking to my middle schoolers about the writing process.

He read to us from the first book he ever wrote (an adorable pasted-together tale about a jewel thief), showed us the wildly different UK, American, and German covers for his new book Heroes of the Valley, and generally dazzled my girls with his good humor and excellent British accent. I’m told that many an IM status was changed to “quite right” last night.

Fortunately I don’t have to go into more detail than that, because Alison at the Wellesley Booksmith (our hookup for all great author events) did it for me! Thanks for the write-up and photo essay, Alison! (That’s me over by the computer, looking rapt.)

When the whole thing was over, he took the time to talk to each girl individually as she got her book signed, asking her what she liked to read and making suggestions. He was unfailingly generous and friendly, and overall a fabulous guest speaker. Thanks for taking the time to visit us, Jonathan!

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