1. An interview with me which includes discussion of Ray Bradbury and a dead frozen seal. Seriously.

2. And if you are a fan of ZYZZYVA be sure to check out the brand new winter issue which includes an edited version of a chapter from my book, called "The Truth About Flying"- as in the truth about Alaskan flying. (Follow the link to download the piece.) This is also the last issue for editor Howard Junker who was truly lovely to work with; I wish him all the best.

3. Prepare to be terrified (and nauseated): Perez Hilton has a children's book coming next fall under a Penguin imprint: The Boy With Pink Hair. And yet again I feel compelled to bang my head against the wall in writerly fury. (I would link to it but there's nothing online yet - I saw it in the summer 2011 catalog.)

4. Doret raises some valid questions about all these "Best of" lists and whether there is some social responsibility that comes with declaring the year's best if you're voicing them from a place like NPR (or declaring them the year's best in the first place).

5. The Readergirlz have linked up with First Book and want to give away a lot of books (we're talking 125,00) to needy teens. You can get the whole scoop at their site. What they are looking for are groups that can be nominated to receive the loot, so go, read, and help get those books on the way out the door.

6. Slightly Foxed is the brilliant British literary magazine that I have been in love with from the very first edition. Every year they sell a special seasonal title referred to as "Christmas Foxes". These are gift-sized books, exquisitely designed and this year they have a short story, "Between The Lines" by Linda Leatherbarrow. Brief description: "featuring Rose, a recently retired museum curator, her landlord Mr Aldridge, Mr Aldridge's cat Izzy, and the changes wrought in all their lives when Rose, on impulse, acquires some old wooden type and Mr Aldridge begins reliving his past in the print business."

Anyway, there is a contest to win a free copy. Head over to The Dabbler, read the rules (which involve identifying the artist behind a certain illustration) and get yourself something truly lovely. (Or just buy a copy of Slightly Foxed and see what I'm so jazzed about!)

7. Every Monday, Wednesday & Friday, a new page goes up for ZAHRA'S PARADISE, the web comic about contemporary Iran. Presented by the always impressive First Second Books, it tells the story of what the world missed in the aftermath of the disputed Iranian elections of 2008. I review a lot of political books for Booklist (mostly Iraq and Afghanistan) and can not think of a more worthy topic than this one and I'm quite pleased to see it in such a reader-friendly format. Go. Read. Learn. This is how America gets smarter and smart is what we want.

8. Oh - and while you're getting smarter please email your Senators and ask them to ratify the START treaty. Because really, it is just the lamest thing in the world this is being held up to embarrass the President.

9. In case you missed it, Lauren Hillenbrand on the resurgence of her Chronic Fatigue Syndrome after SEA BISCUIT was published. She is amazing.

10. Richard Holmes on the many woefully overlooked female Victorian scientists. The best part about this interesting article is at the very end where we find out he has a book on the subject (THE LOST WOMEN OF VICTORIAN SCIENCE) due out next year. Huzzah!

11. Don't forget the cover contest announcement at Leila's and details on the upcoming Alt Hist/Steampunk Week. The more the merrier when it comes to posting! Be sure to drop me an email with your urls.

12. And....next week is the Winter Blog Blast Tour! (How do all these things happen at once?!) Good stuff, planned - be sure to check out the Master Schedule late this week.