Does anyone else remember when Blue October was just a local Houston band snagging gigs at landmark fall-down dives in the Heights? Good times. And good on them for being awesome and making it.

Does anyone else sometimes feel so overwhelmed by work that they just can’t imagine how they’re going to get through the next week or two? Good times. (Not really, but it’s a finite problem. See also: “next week or two.”)

You know what’s helping me get through things right now? Looking forward to stuff, like having a day off on the 22nd to just chill, like valentines day coming up this week, and like BrazCon on Saturday the 15th, where I’ll be meeting readers and selling books and answering questions on a panel and and and and AND giving away copies of the first chapter of my new book Homecoming, for free! BrazCon is free, but you do need a ticket, and it’s completely family-friendly. Imagine a cross between Comicpalooza and TeenBookCon but on a manageable, see-it-all-in-one-day scale — and you get the idea. This will be my third year at BrazCon, and I admit it’s one of my favorite author events every February!

Homecoming is the second book in my Animal Affinities series, after Finis. (the first book). On Saturday I will also have Finis., The Sharp Edges of Water, and The Milk of Female Kindness available — as well as maybe some other nifty surprises, too. You should come see me.

Also, I love this song.