First, thanks to everyone who has participated in the latest What a Girl Wants discussion. I've been thinking lately just what it means to be "white" and it's not as obvious as you might think. More on that next week though, when I've had a chance to collect my thoughts.

Yesterday I had a long conversation with my agent, Michele Rubin, who reaffirmed her total coolness yet again. The Map of My Dead Pilots is still out there, sitting on the desks of editors everywhere, waiting for them to spend a couple of hours turning its pages. Everything continues to move slow in the industry, both the reading and the deciding. I, of course, have no choice but to wait and see. On the plus side, Michele remains committed to this book and the flying novel as well. There is really nothing I could do any differently at this point and so I remain patient and hopeful.

Most importantly, Michele says it will sell. If I'm still posting entries like this a year from now I hope all of you will remind me.

Beyond selling the book and what the hell is going on with my dear governor (I hope the Lower 48 is ready to enjoy her as much as we Alaskans have been) we talked about wilderness. I have to move on to the next project with the two Alaska books as done as I can make them without the further direction of an editor. I've written a short story, I've outlined the YA book and am starting on that but I like to do two things at once (always have), especially fiction and NF. Sometimes one project will sit for some time while the other hums along but if I get stuck on something then I like to have another place to go and move forward. I like to have something else to think about. It could be that one project stalls for quite some time but at least it is there always waiting.

But the NF is the one to move on.

So wilderness and what we want from it and what we think about those who go into it and gloriously die there vs those who come back. Which means finally - FINALLY - I can say what I think of Jon Krakauer and Chris McCandless and suicide by wild. And maybe some of what we think Thoreau meant and Michael Rockefeller and even maybe Kerouac. There will be mountain climbers and explorers and Scott and Amundsen and those who set out to find something and those who just set out. I'm still building this one on paper and there is more research that needs to be done before I can really begin. But I had this idea and I told Michele and she thought it sounded great. So that means I'm not crazy at least.

It's always good to know that you're not crazy.

The next What a Girl Wants post will be in ten days with another following the week after that (so two more in July). Don't forget the One Shot SE Asia in August. I'll be back next week with discussion of many books I've been reading and how all of them are fabulous. Have you heard of Binnie Kirshenbaum? I'm reading The Scenic Route right now and it is really good - highly recommended. Kind of a less intimidating Sebald if that makes any sense. (I have struggled with Sebald - I think I need to give him another shot; I don't think I was focused enough on him in the past.) Anyway, Kirshenbaum rocks and you totally need to check out this book. I will be reading her others for sure as well.