So at this point I've pretty much moved into a coffee shop. A couple of them, actually. I rotate. And so, it seems, does the entire populace of Minneapolis. We've all crawled out from under winter, pale and blinking, and are crowding into the coffee shops for warmth. Today the sky spat down what's euphemistically called a "wintery mix." This means it's "raining slush." Everyone looks a little cross. Meanwhile, up in Fargo, the Red River--which, incidentally, runs south to north, for whatever reason--has risen way over its banks and is flooding the town, while thousands of volunteers stay up 24-7 sandbagging and building levees to try to prevent any further damage. It's a nightmare up there, by all reports. Thus, I am thankful all we've got down here is a "wintery mix."

Oof. I'm wiped out. It's been a mad, mad couple of work weeks, and at this point pretty much all that's left in my head is static. I wrapped up a major section of the novel, and that's now in editing; wrote and edited a piece for the Boston Globe, which runs next Sunday (April 5) in the Ideas Section; worked on a couple of chapters of another book I've got underway; gave three lectures; and so what happens, when I'm working like this, is that I start dreaming I'm writing. I go to sleep, and keep right on working. Sometimes (rarely) this results in actual work getting done in my sleep--I wake up, and there it is, some new thing. But most of the time, it's just a frantic dream scribbling. So frustrating. If I could sort out how to actually write in my sleep, I'd be thrilled. But I'm taking a real live vacation soon: a week from now, I'll be in New York with the infamous Lora, banging around town, haunting yet more coffee shops and probably talking too loud. I can't wait.

Oh! Madness comes out in paperback tomorrow. Officially. The cover is wonderful. Go check it out in stores or online, and spread the word!

Yesterday a friend of mine sent me two sonnets, unrhymed, and it's got me thinking about sonnets. Do you guys ever write or read the very formal stuff? I have a certain fondness for it. If I wasn't at a coffee shop right now, I'd post a favorite sonnet. But I am at said coffee shop, so I'm leaving it to you: what's your favorite sonnet, or other formal poem? Go to!

The other thing on my mind is community. How essential it is to our health and wellness, and how when we lack it we lack something big in our lives. What do you guys do for community? Who are your people? How do you keep yourself well in this way?

And with that, I've got to get back to a chapter. Thanks to all for the many wonderful letters recently--you guys warm my heart more than you know. I'm grateful to all of you.

Be well!
Marya