I found out today that Salma Hayek has joined the cast of the Cirque Du Freak movie -- cause for celebration, in my opinion!!! I think Hayek is a rarity in the acting world -- a beautiful woman who is also a very strong actress. She will be playing Truska, the bearded lady, a role that has been expanded from the books -- she'll be a more important character in the film, with more to do. If it goes well, I suspect beards may become the de rigeur fashion accessory for high society women next year -- my advice to all you ladies is to buy yours now, before prices sky-rocket!!! 

I edited another 50 pages of City of the Snakes -- I'm hoping to finish it over the weekend, although it might trickle over into Monday. I also finally finished packaging all of the prizes for the competition I ran on the Shanville Monthly in December -- I've been working on those all week, a few every night!!! Contrary to what many of you might think, I don't have a secretary. The redoubtable Pablo collects all of my mail for me, and writes the addresses on the return envelopes before passing them on to me, but I do everything else myself, from filing all my paperwork to checking emails from fans to updating my web site to packaging and posting prizes in competitions that I run. (I'm big into recycling, so all of the books are sent out in recycled envelopes or boxes -- of course, I have to peel off the old address stickers from them first, which can often take a few minutes, and then sellotape them shut.) I probably should have somebody doing all of that stuff for me, leaving me free just to write. But ... well ... I like doing it!!! It can be annoying and dull at times, but I think it's kind of cool. If I was a kid writing to one of my favourite authors, I'd love to think of them personally sending a book to me, and picking at a Play.com sticker and cursing because the damn things are so securely stuck on and they're just trimmed their fingernails!! It's very easy to let yourself be separated from your fanbase if you enjoy a little success, but I think that's a bad thing. If it ever becomes unavoidable -- if the books get so popular that I'm receiving more mail than I can cope with, or if my personal life changes (e.g. if I have kids, or my health deteriorates) and it proves too much a of a hassle, then obviously I'll hire in some help. But as long as I can, I want to struggle on by myself. Bridging the gap between myself and you lot just tickles my fancy!!!!!

Have a great weekend, y'all -- and ladies, I'm serious about those beards!!!!!