I've been hard at work the last few days on another edit of a 300pp kids horror/fantasy/adventure book that I put to the side for a while, after I left my last publisher. As I mentioned earlier in the week, I have a shot at something or other with a new agent, so I'm also sending the two parts to The Skin of my Soul (posted in this blog), as well as an already-written (and halfway done-being-illustrated) sequel to the first book I have out there, plus the novel with some art, PLUS a new idea or two. Maybe I'll even teach a squirrel some shit he can do on video, and I'll send that too.

I'm hoping I hit some gold in this possible NEW AGENT scenario. Of course, I'm not guaranteed a damn thing just because A knows B and told them that I was Jiminy Cheeze. But I moved to the city in 1998, and I done grew my fins there; I hain't no stranger to what an opportunity a good phone number, or the right connection can be. We'll wait and see. I better not dream it up too big. Usually I feel like those kids that just came into town on a lion's exhalation, looking for the signs. Can't miss the signs! There's something happening. If that ain't the door, I know I'll look around and find a ladder!

Meanwhile, I've been sweating over a better intro, and first chapter—which I think I've done—so now just have to weave it back into the narrative seamlessly. Je-je! That's all! I've got the weekend to tie that up, it has to ship Monday. Cross your buns for me. Something like that. Hot cross buns? Whatever. Cross your fingers.

While you're baking (or crossing), I'll be working on that book and printing everything out to send, and hitting a local celebration/fair called ¡Fiesta Latina! tomorrow. So that's my weekend. Hope yours goes swimmingly. I mean that literally. I hope you swim this weekend.

This is perhaps my most favorite mask of all so far, an original created from tempera paint and papier mache by the one and only Rainsong (my oldest daughter), now 13, made when she was about half that age, perhaps. This particular masterpiece is called "Orange Cat of the Wild," and nothing speeds up your day in the waiting room more than when you wear one of these to the hospital! Word. I've done it like three times, now.

And there, my friends, be ya friday night cat bloggin'! I hope it lasts you a long time, because I don't have any more cat masks.