Fiction author Robin Brande talks about writing, reading, and other vital matters

My book: I got an e-mail from my editor at Knopf saying the production schedule for my novel THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION has been sped up, so the novel will come out in summer, 2007. Hurray!! Fall, 2007 was sounding SO far away. Now the book will be out just in time for the school year. Since the novel is about the fight over teaching evolution in a high school, I’m looking forward to some visits to schools and libraries (not to mention book stores). I have the feeling the book will incite some lively debate. That’s always fun.

The dogs: Bear has been enjoying a kayaking holiday with my husband the past few days. Yesterday, though, the agenda included an emergency trip to the vet when Bear managed to get a fish hook stuck in his lip (don’t ask). I’m kind of disappointed I wasn’t there for that, because one of the cool skills we learned in Wilderness First Responder training was how to remove a fish hook from body parts without ripping, tearing, or otherwise goring up the whole business.

I just finished reading another wonderful essay by Pam Houston, this time in Women’s Adventure, a magazine I highly recommend. The essay is about the joy of playing outdoors with our dogs, and how sometimes we’ll push a little further down the trail–or even go on a hike to begin with–just because our dog has given us “that look.”

So true. We’re planning a backpacking trip this summer just so Bear can get out of the city and frolic in the mountains. It’s his first summer as a full-grown dog–he’ll be turning one in June–so he’s ready to carry his own dog pack (filled with kibble on the way in, garbage on the way out). Although some would argue I’m already there, I plan on falling deeply in love with Bear on that trip. As anyone who backpacks with dogs will tell you, we can’t help it. There’s something so bonding about grinding up and down hills all day, then relaxing around camp at night until it’s time to snuggle up in the tent. Life is good with a big, solid, snoring dog stretched out next to you on top of your sleeping bag. It makes my eyes water just to think of it.

As for Blue, his days of long hikes are over. Poor guy can barely lift his leg to pee anymore. And yet–I’m both happy and disgusted to report–he’s back in good form. Today’s baby bird score: Blue 2, Robin 0.

Good news: The FBI is finally taking the whole Colorado City situation seriously. Warren Jeffs, the leader of the polygamist society there, is now on the run. Hope they find him and deal with him appropriately (although my ideas about what that entails might be different from law enforcement’s). I don’t know, I just have something against people trying to force 13-year-old girls to marry old men. Maybe it’s just me.

Bad news, and why I still read the comics first: A 13-year-old Illinois girl tells her pastor she was sexually molested by a relative, and the pastor beats her with a board.

Free chocolate: On a happier note, you guys are doing much better this month at getting in your entries. Keep them coming, though. It’s more fun when there are lots of names to draw from.

That’s enough for now. More updates to follow.

Technorati Tags: Writing, Author, Publishing, Books, Knopf, Random House, Theory of Evolution, Evolution, Creationism, Intelligent Design, Darwinism, Religion, Dogs, Hiking, Backpacking, Pam Houston, Polygamy, Free Chocolate

Posted on Sunday, May 14th, 2006 at 11:24 pm under Chocolate, Dogs, Life, Reading, Religion, Writing . Subscribe to responses: RSS 2.0 Comment Feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.