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Union Station, Los Angeles

Every once in a while we have business to catch up on. On which to catch up. Straggling details. Fragments.

The annual lighting ceremony on Christmas Tree Lane will be this Saturday at 6pm, preceded by a vendor fair in the Altadena Library parking lot at 2. Altadena craftspeople don't generally try to sell you potholders their kids made at school. We're talking fine stuff. I'm going.

I enjoy the Arroyo Verde Awards, presented each year by the Council of Arroyo Seco Organizations. The Council recognizes the year's heroes in the preservation of the Arroyo. This year the ceremony will be held on December 12th at 7pm, at La Casita del Arroyo. I don't know yet who all the awardees are, but I know that Dianne Patrizzi, Patrizzi Intergarlactica, Mademoiselle Gramophone, our Doo Dah Queen, who marched in the Doo Dah parade as Princess Haha (and I don't know how many other personalities she has but these are all good ones), will receive the award for Best Activist. You can come to the awards! It's low-key fun and I love seeing people recognized for their important work.

Friend and photographer Kevin McCollister has a post up at 591PhotographyBlog. If Kevin isn't the finest photographer working in LA today, it's because Ansel Adams came back to life and moved to a downtown loft.

Did I mention this? I have a new book review up at Hometown Pasadena, of Kim Fay's The Map of Lost Memories. I might have mentioned it. I'm on new migraine pills. They are my current excuse for everything.

Some Camelot & Vine news:

One:
I said I'd keep the Camelot Where You Are photo contest going until Camelot & Vine is published. As you may know, it's not published yet. Two contest entries wait in my inbox for a third and hopefully a fourth to join them in deadly friendly competition. Take a picture of Camelot Where You Are and send it in (details here). I post it on the blog, everybody votes, and if you win I'll send you a free copy of Camelot & Vine (when it's published, which it will be. See Two).

Two:
Camelot & Vine will be published dammit! (in case you were wondering). I had hoped to have it out in time for Christmas--hell, I had hoped to have it out in October--but obviously, I had no idea how long it would take. January? This is now the plan, and it seems doable (as did October and December, once upon a time). The book has been edited and typeset, the cover's almost ready, and I can't imagine what else will hold it back.

But what the hell, let's come up with some scenarios!

Camelot Where You Are #29, Rebecca

"This is a sports bar in Claremont where we live," says Rebecca M. of her entry. "I've never patronized the sports bar and have always been a little amused by it as I drove by.  When I heard of your contest, I went to snap a photo."

I'm glad you did, Rebecca. I don't spend a lot of time in sports bars myself, but I know enough to assume that sports are watched on TV there as opposed to played in person. Still, it's fun to imagine an arena inside, with beer-drinking revelers betting on the joust.

Thanks, Rebecca!

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Let's vote! Starting this evening, you can vote for your favorite of this week's Camelot Where You Are entries. The poll will be at the upper left corner of the blog all weekend. The winner receives a free copy of my new novel, Camelot & Vine, as soon as it's published.

Is there Camelot where you are? A castle, a knight, a...whatever you think Camelot looks like?
Take a picture of it and enter it in the Camelot Where You Are photo contest. Details are here.

Camelot Where You Are #28, Lisa D.

Lisa D. sent in this remarkable bulletin.

"I stumbled on what I thought was a romance wanted ad in a local convenience store, I posted the photo on my blog and a commenter led me to you and your contest. . ."

That commenter was the Chieftess, of Mammoth Lakes Daily Photo. I'm guessing Chieftess knows Lisa via Macro Monday, a worldwide photoblog meme hosted by Lisa herself at her fun blog, Lisa's Chaos.

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Is there Camelot where you are? A castle, a knight, a...whatever you think Camelot looks like? Take a picture of it and enter it in the Camelot Where You Are photo contest, to win a free copy of my new novel, Camelot & Vine. Details are here.

The pace of publication progress is picking up. I enjoyed this interview with Maurice Sendak where he called the publishing business "just stupid."
Agree or disagree, Sendak was always interesting.

Camelot Where You Are #27, JB

JB took this picture in Shaker Village, New Hampshire. I'm not sure how he got there, but he's a worldly guy. He and Ms. JB live part of the year in Mainz, Germany and part of the year in New Zealand, and the rest of the time they're away.

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The Camelot Where You Are photo contest returns! We have a guest author tomorrow (yay!), then more entries Thursday and Friday. 

The rate of entries has slowed but the contest is still open, so if you'd like to enter I'd love it if you did. Please read the rules here then send in your photo.

I still don't have a publication date for Camelot & Vine. I appreciate you all being so patient with me. I step on the rug and it moves, 

but it doesn't get pulled out from under me, so I keep on stepping. To quote Kat Ward, owner of Hometown Pasadena and author of Amy's Own: 

"Publishing is like construction; it always takes longer than you think (and can cost more, too). Hang in there!"

Camelot Where You Are #26, Margaret

"What says Camelot more than Legos, a girl, and an imagination?"

So says Margaret of her daughter Mary's latest castle.

I agree. I built my Camelot with different materials, but the girl and the imagination were indispensable parts.

Thank you, Margaret (and Mary!).


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Thanks for playing this week, everyone! Here's the latest poop:

Be sure to vote this weekend for your favorite Camelot Where You Are entry from this week. The poll will appear at the upper left side of the blog tonight (as late as I can manage to stay up) and will remain there until midnight Sunday night.

I have two more entries for the contest so far, so while we await a full complement we'll have a regular blog week next week. Is there a bit of Camelot where you are? Take a photo and enter it! The details are here. Each weekly winner receives a free copy of my new novel, Camelot & Vine, IF AND WHEN I EVER GET THE THING PUBLISHED.

And I will! It's just taking a little longer than I'd hoped. That, my friends, simply means more winners and more free books. So send in your entry!

Camelot Where You Are #25, Speedway

"I finally got to my Camelot," says Speedway, "a White Castle fast food hamburger stand at the corner of 16th and Illinois in downtown Indy. It's one of those regional chains that's been around for many years. Many people who've moved away from Indy get a hankerin' for the little sliders and have relatives send them a box. It was such a phenomenon that White Castle has made cartons of the frozen burgers available for purchase in many groceries.

"I can't stand them myself and don't ever buy them. The little beef patties are square, with holes punctured in them. They're grilled then steamed (the reason for the holes) with chopped onions on a small steamed roll.

"White Castle is, I found out, the oldest hamburger chain in the country, having been founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas. As you no doubt will notice, my 'castle' comes complete with crenelations." Speedway mentions the dumpsters have crenelations, too.

We had White Castle in my Illinois hometown. You?

Thanks for entering, Speedway!


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Camelot & Vine updates here!
Camelot Where You Are contest details here!

Voting this weekend, so stick around!

Camelot Where You Are #24, Susan

Susan and Tommy did some research for their entry.

"Forbes considers Silver Lake America’s hippest hipster neighborhood," says Susan. "So perhaps it’s no surprise that’s where you’ll find Camelot Kids preschool.

"I moved away from this area a few years ago, but I still use my Silver Lake mechanic. When I picked up my car a few weeks ago, I drove right past Camelot Kids. I felt like I was witnessing a miracle, I was so excited to see it! I didn’t have time to take a photo, so I went back with my model, Tommy, who’ll do anything for a treat and the Camelot cause."

Thank you, Susan, and thank you, Tommy, for believing this is a cause!


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Camelot & Vine updates here!
Camelot Where You Are contest details here!

Voting this weekend, so stick around!

Camelot Where You Are #23, Julie

I'm all for a trip to London, aren't you?

Julie sent in her entry, saying, "I was in London this summer for the Olympics and when I saw your photo contest I just knew I had to have at least one picture from my trip that fit the bill.

"Since the Tower of London was already entered, I decided to go a different route. I can't remember where exactly this picture was taken (my friend actually snapped the picture, must give credit where it's due!), but attached you'll find a picture of a dragon statuette somewhere in downtown London.

"A dragon in the middle of Britain? What's more Camelot than that!?"

I'm not going to quibble. If I remember correctly (and I may or may not), there's a dragon or two in Le Morte d'Artur, or at least the Mabinogion. No? Yes? It matters not a whit.

Thank you, Julie!

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Camelot & Vine updates here!

Camelot Where You Are contest details here!

Voting this weekend!

Exclamation points!

Camelot Where You Are, #22

GinaB has this, and only this, to say about her entry:

"Abundance of brief shining moments for sale in Plano, TX."

Those of us who went to the movies over and over again in 1967, every time we'd saved enough allowance and could get a ride, know the reference. It is a fond memory.

Thank you, GinaB!

(Full disclosure: GinaB is my sister. She and I took a look at the rules and couldn't find any prohibitions against family entering the contest. I don't get to vote, so we figure GinaB gets to enter.)

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It's no secret that I'm publicizing the release of my new novel, Camelot & Vine, and (you're helping me!) 

with the Camelot Where You Are photo contest.

 

Enter a picture of Camelot where you are. 

It can be anything--a suit of armor, a suit of clothes, a suite of rooms--whatever your imagination tells you.

It's easy to enter and anyone can do it.

Entry details are here.

 

Then be sure to vote THIS WEEKEND, starting tonight, for your favorite of this week's entries. 

Each weekly winner receives a free copy of Camelot & Vine upon publication.

Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day for entries.

 

Next week we'll be taking a hiatus from contest entries, but keep on entering and we'll get back to it!

Camelot Where You Are, #21

Today's entry is from Gina, the Book Dragon, "because books are a treasure worth protecting." I don't know anybody who reads as much as Gina does.

"My daughter and I had spent the day shopping," she says. "One of our stops was a bookstore, of course, where I found my Camelot. I ended up not purchasing the book so it still has the price sticker on it.

"I've had fun looking for Camelot!"

Thank you, Gina!

**********

It's no secret that I'm publicizing the release of my new novel, Camelot & Vine, and (you're helping me!) with the Camelot Where You Are photo contest.

Enter a picture of Camelot where you are. 

It can be anything--a book, a building, a barbute--whatever your imagination tells you.

It's easy to enter and anyone can do it.

Entry details are here.

Then be sure to vote over the coming weekend for your favorite of this week's entries. 

Each weekly winner receives a free copy of Camelot & Vine upon publication.

Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day for entries.

Next week we'll take a hiatus from contest entries to take care of some business!

Camelot Where You Are, #20

King Arthur’s lost throne," says Michele Zack of her entry, "... and his international guard of Masai and Sarawaki warriors have also gone missing! They may be found in Altadena’s eternal foothills."

I should say so!

Thank you, Michele!

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Enter the Camelot Where You Are contest by sending in a picture of Camelot where you are. 

It can be anything--furniture, food, flora--whatever your imagination tells you.

It's easy to enter and anyone can do it.

Entry details are here.

Then be sure to vote over the coming weekend for your favorite of this week's entries. 

Each weekly winner receives a free copy of my new novel, Camelot & Vine, upon publication.

Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day for entries.

Next week we'll take a hiatus from posting contest entries to take care of some business!

Camelot Where You Are, #19

We return to the Camelot Where You Are photo contest (details below) with this entry from Ann Erdman:

"This is a knight in shining armor in my sister and brother-in-law's home in Bella Vista, Arkansas. I was inspired...to take a photo of the knight...with Lake Avalon in the background since Avalon plays such a strong role in the legend of King Arthur. The name of the lake is fitting because Avalon is where King Arthur's sword Excalibur was forged."

Thank you, Ann! (The lake and its mysterious island figure into many stories of Camelot, including mine).

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Enter the Camelot Where You Are photo contest by sending in a picture of your interpretation of Camelot where you are. 

It can be anything--a sign, a symbol, a plaything--whatever your imagination tells you.

It's easy to enter and anyone can do it.

Entry details are here.

Send in your photo, then be sure to vote over the coming weekend for your favorite of this week's entries. 

Each weekly winner receives a free copy of my new novel, Camelot & Vine, upon publication in October. 

Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day for entries. 

Next week we'll take a short hiatus from posting contest entries to do a regular blog week, 

host a guest author, and take care of business. 

Zen Monday: #215

Zen Monday returns!

Zen Monday is the day when you tell us what the photo's about, rather than me telling you. For newcomers: the idea is loosely (very loosely) based on the Zen practice of teaching and learning through action and example, rather than through didactic lectures.

So basically, you already know what this photo's about. Just say what comes to mind.

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Here's the latest on the Camelot Where You Are photo contest:

The winner of last week's round is Katie, with #15, House of Shields!
(You are a bunch of lushes, aren't you?)

Congratulations, Katie! Thank you all so much for entering. Every photo last week was imaginative, beautiful and spectacular.

The contest returns tomorrow, with four entries this week. The rate of receipt of entries is diminishing so we might take next week off. According to the contest rules, I'm accepting entries until the date of publication. So far the rules are working, so I'm sticking to them.

I still don't have a definite publication date, so the contest continues!

Camelot Where You Are, #18

Anthony went to a bit of trouble to create his entry.

"This castle is the Chateau de Bon Reve in Sulphur, Louisiana," he says. I worked very hard and hope you enjoy my entry! :)"

Anthony told me that because the Chateau is private property he had some explaining to do in order to gain entry and take the pictures. I'm glad the owners were nice about it! He got two shots on the property. Since only one entry is allowed per person, he chose this as is his contest entry, and allowed me to post the other on my website.

Thank you for your entry, Anthony!

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Are you ready for the weekend? It's almost time to vote. The poll will appear at upper left tonight, before I go to bed. Be sure to vote over the weekend for your favorite of this week's entries. Each weekly winner receives a free copy of Camelot & Vine upon publication this month. Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day for entries.

Then enter the Camelot Where You Are photo contest.

It's easy to enter and anyone can do it. Entry details are here.

The last date for entries will be publication day, but now's the time to send in your photo because the rate of entries is winding down. Camelot Where You Are can be anything--a sign, a symbol, a plaything--whatever your imagination sees.

Enter! We're having fun!

Camelot Where You Are, #17

"Couldn't resist taking a picture of this sign for your competition," says Deb of Ginnels Gates and Ghosts, the daily photo blog in York, England. "I came across it completely by accident as I was driving home by a very roundabout route this week. Merlin International Trading Limited will apparently service your car as if by magic! Their company sign is the man himself, looking I must say rather sinister as he strikes sparks off a car wheel."

Thank you, Deb!

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Enter the Camelot Where You Are photo contest by sending in a picture of your interpretation of Camelot where you are. It can be anything--a sign, a symbol, a plaything--whatever your imagination tells you.

It's easy to enter and anyone can do it.  

Entry details are here.

Send in your photo, then be sure to vote over the coming weekend for your favorite of this week's entries. Each weekly winner receives a free copy of Camelot & Vine upon publication in October. Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day for entries.

Camelot Where You Are, #16

Chieftess didn't say much about her entry when she sent it in. But I know a few things about it because she posted it along with another photo on her blog, Mammoth Lakes Daily Photo, asking readers to help choose her entry by voting.

"...being in the mountains," says Chieftess, "there's not much in the way of castles, or knights, or shields, or really much of anything that could 

depict Camelot...But w-a-i-t!!! We've got majestic mountains!!!"

They sure do. Thank you, Chieftess.

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It's easy to enter the Camelot Where You Are photo contest, and anyone can do it. Entry details are here.

Send in a picture of your interpretation of Camelot where you are. It can be anything--a building, a toy, a work of nature--whatever your imagination tells you.

Then be sure to vote over the weekend for your favorite of this week's entries. Each weekly winner receives a free copy of Camelot & Vine upon publication this month. Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day for entries.

Camelot Where You Are, #15

Katie's entry is the House of Shields.

"Camelot needs an official cocktail lounge," says Katie, "so I suggest House of Shields in San Francisco, California. Although this bar is new by some standards (it dates from 1908), it's actually timeless as there are no clocks or TVs inside! Click on the gallery link at the website to see the beautiful vintage wooden bar, and the gorgeous original mosaic floor that would be right at home in any castle. I was here recently and noticed there was definitely a place for knights to leave their armor while having a drink!"

I want to know where the knights leave their armor, don't you?

Thank you, Katie!

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Enter the Camelot Where You Are photo contest by sending in a picture of Camelot where you are. It can be anything--a sign, a symbol, a plaything--whatever your imagination tells you. It's easy to enter and anyone can do it. Entry details are here.

Then be sure to vote over the coming weekend for your favorite of this week's entries. Each weekly winner receives a free copy of Camelot & Vine upon publication later this month. Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day for entries.

We have three winners so far! Keep 'em coming!

Camelot Where You Are, #14

We're back to the contest! Details after the row of asterisks below.

From Gerald of Hyde Daily Photo comes this bit of history and charm:

"This  castellated folly castle overlooking Godley Brook lies in the back garden of Brookbank House. The house was built in 1837 by Joseph Hibbert, the sixth of fourteen children of Randal Hibbert. The Hibbert family of Godley played an important part in the history of Hyde and its neighbourhood, figuring amongst the pioneers of the cotton industry.

"The castle folly was probably built around the mid part of the 19th century. In the mid-1990s there were plans by the then owners to restore the building and open it up to the public.

"Now it belongs to the Brookbank Day Nursery and public access to the folly is not permitted. It can however be viewed from the footpath on the North side of the Godley Brook."

Thank you, Gerald!

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WELL.

Way past coffee time, sorry about that. Long story.

Drum roll....

 And last week's winner is lucky #13, Virginia, with Quinlan Castle in Birmingham, Alabama! Virginia wins a free copy of my new novel, Camelot & Vine, as soon as it's published. Thank you, Virginia, and thank you all, for your wonderful entries!

Here's the poll:

Today is also theme day at City Daily Photo, but I decided to continue the Camelot Where You Are photo contest because it's going so well. If you're planning to enter, now's the time! Send in a photo of the Camelot you find in your life. It can be a toy. It can be a building or an event, a shield, a maiden, a sword...anything! (I found Avalon cream rinse in my shower the other day). Contest details are here.

Each weekly winner receives a free copy of my new novel, Camelot & Vine, which is coming out this month. I think! I hope to have more specific news about that very soon.

Camelot Where You Are, #13

From Virginia Jones we present Quinlan Castle, Birmingham.

Alabama, that is.

Birmingham has its own wiki and of course there's an article about this slightly notorious building, which was built in 1927 and has had its ups and downs preservation-wise.

Virginia has two blogs, both of them daily! Check out Birmingham, Alabama Daily Photo and Paris Through My Lens. Ooh! La! La!

Thank you for your entry, Missy!

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Are you ready? The weekend approaches and it's time to vote. The poll will appear at upper left late tonight or early tomorrow, depending on how late I can stay up. Be sure to vote over the weekend for your favorite of this week's entries. Each weekly winner receives a free copy of Camelot & Vine upon publication in October. Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day for entries.

Then enter the Camelot Where You Are photo contest by sending in a picture of your interpretation of Camelot where you are. It can be anything--a sign, a symbol, a plaything--whatever your imagination sees.

It's easy to enter and anyone can do it. 

Entry details are here. Enter! We're having fun!

Camelot Where You Are, #12

There are castles all over Pasadena's City Hall, but I never noticed them until I toured the place with former Public Information Officer Ann Erdman. This castle tops the lantern in the front entry breezeway. I posted a photo of it the day after the tour. Sort of.

Mister Earl took the bait. But I'm telling you, there's more where that came from.

Thank you, Mister Earl!

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Get ready to vote this weekend for your favorite entry in this week's installment of the Camelot Where you Are photo contest! We've been having a blast and we've got more photos coming next week.

Each weekly winner receives a free copy of Camelot & Vine upon publication, which I plan/hope/expect will be in October. Publication day, whatever day it turns out to be, will be the final day for entries. 

Send in your pic now! It's easy to enter and anyone can do it.  

Entry details are here.