This one's by Shanna G!

And I promise I'll upload the rest of my backlog of fan art in the next day or so.

Oh! Also! Congratulations to the book giveaway winners Hannah Suckle and Kerry-Ann McDade! Your ARCs will be sent out soon. The rest of you (and the winners, too, really) can still pre-order the nice, shiny hardback or ebook, though, or just wait like patient little elves (are elves patient? I don't know) for August 23rd. Only a couple of months away!

You did? Hooray! Now on to the info. Several of you have asked questions about the book, so here are a few answers! 

1. Where can I pre-order the book?

Most places! Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell's and iBooks are just a few examples. Check with your favorite book store.

2. Will it be available in my country?

It'll be available worldwide. I wish I had more specific info, but it should be available online at the very least for most of you.

3. Will there be a Kindle edition?

Yes! And Apple, too!

4. Will it be in stores or only online?

As far as I know, it will also be in stores. If nothing else, you can ask your bookseller to order one for you.

5. Is it illustrated? Did you do the drawings?

Yes and yes. I painted the full-color cover and drew all of the black and white interiors in pencil (well, one of them's in crayon).

6. So... is it a picture book or a chapter book or graphic novel or what?

Chapter book with lots of illustrations.

7. What age is this book for? Will it be okay for kids? Will *I* like it?

This is a children's novel aimed at grades 3-7, but I kept all of you in mind, too! So, basically, it's safe for the young'uns but nothing less than what you'd expect from me regardless of age group. (All right, so there's no evisceration.) The publisher's catalog says that if you liked the Lemony Snicket books, you'll like this too. But if you didn't like the Lemony Snicket books, forget the publisher's catalog. *Jedi wave*

8. Can I get a signed copy? Will you be doing a book tour?

I don't have a lot of info on this one, but there will be a way to get your copy signed *somehow*. I will not be selling copies directly from my site or anything, though.

9. Is that Ida on the cover?

No. That's Beatrice. Same hair style. Different person. When this story takes place, Ida hasn't even been born yet. ;-)

10. When does this story take place?

1924.

11. What about "Boy"? (This one's not about the book, but I get this question every time, no matter what.)

I'm still working on it. That's going to be my answer until it actually comes out. Writing a book and maintaining a website and putting up drawings so you all have something to look at is a lot of work! But I know you want to see it!

I've written a book.

GUESS WHAT ELSE.

I've gotten a deal with the Knopf imprint of Random House for two middle grade children's novels.

GUESS WHAT ELSE ELSE.

I'm illustrating them too.

This, of course, means you'll have to read them or, at the very least, put them out on the coffee table for company. But that day is still some time off - possibly in the fall of 2011 for the first one - so here's a little info to salivate over in the mean time.

The first book is tentatively titled Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow. It's not quite finished, but I can tell you with certainty that it will fulfill your wishes for disappearing people, frightful things in the woods, cursed towns and dark, dark times. And then there are the children.

The children in this tale are a bit different from the Childrin you're used to; they're older for one thing, and they've got a whole new kind of oddness about them. Oh, but I think you'll like them. I'm not sure I'd want to cross their paths if you didn't is all I'm saying.

As I mentioned above, you've still got quite a wait ahead of you, but you'll undoubtedly hear me talking about it here, there and everywhere along the way. You're welcome to talk about it here, there and everywhere along the way too! I wouldn't dare stop you.

(You know where else to find updates, don't you? Of course you do. It's only for those other people that I'm mentioning Twitter and Facebook)