Randomly...

• Tour: Tonight a panel of Writer's Digest Market Books editors will appear at Books & Co. in the Dayton, Ohio area, at 7 p.m.--it's at the store's old location. Please come out for a lively discussion on writing and publishing. There's always a great crowd at this store and many, many good questions. It's rainy and nasty outside in this neck of the woods--so it's the perfect time to schlep through the rain and go to a bookstore, where everything is dry and sunny. I won't be at this event because today is Murray's birthday. (More on that later.)
• More on That: Today is my son Murray's second birthday. He actually sort of gets the concept of birthdays: people give him stuff; there are cupcakes. My house is now overrun with toys, trucks and trains. Alas, no one got him a book. Does that happen with those of you booklover/author types who have kids? I think everyone thinks I'm picky (I am) and don't know what to pick out (they don't) so they're afraid to buy books for the little guy.
• First Books: I'm up to my eyeballs in wonderful debut authors, so please, don't send me any more first books emails, lest the difficult job will just get difficult-er. I promise to decide on my lineup before the end of the week. There. I've said it in public, to the whole world. Now I have to do it.