Yes! It came out earlier than expected! I thought it was coming out in September and instead -- I have it now!

I just placed a purchase suggestion for it through the Seattle Public Library website. Which probably means tomorrow some poor overworked librarian will open her email, and think, "Not that Susan W again, with her incessant requests for obscure books on the Peninsular Wars for her silly novel that we have to track down for Interlibrary Loan from random collegiate libraries, and always making us buy any books her little author friends write."

Now, now -- this is post-Peninsular War, I'm sure that will make ALL the difference.

At least I think it's set post-Peninsular War -- you know, because the British are making Grand Tours again.

Yeah, it's been so long since I read Sorcery & Cecelia that I can't remember what role, if any, Napoleon played in their version of the Regencyverse.

I've just gone from never using Interlibrary Loan or making purchase suggestions to doing one or both several times a month. I'm all, "Hey, library! You get my tax dollars, so you better put them to work. I want obscure out-of-print memoirs of the 95th Rifles, and I want them now! Not to mention this erudite analysis of the Siege of Badajoz. And WHY have you not ordered any copies of Marianne Stillings's debut book? People! She's a LOCAL AUTHOR." So I'm picturing librarians hating me.

My current favorite library thing is the fact that I can put books on hold from home, and they just show up at my branch! EXCEPT: I was there today, and I saw a book on the counter that I was pretty sure was for me, but I wasn't sure and didn't ask, so of course I just got the notice that it was mine after all. Ah well.

Oh, I love that, too. It's rare that the books I get are from my home branch. And I check my holds list several times a week to see what my next arrivals will be.

Susan, the librarians probably LOVE you. If my experience of librarians is anything to go by. They're going, "ooh, I wonder what she'll come up with next!"

OK, from now on I'll imagine them getting my requests and thinking "I bet this novel she's working on will be interesting," or "Where DOES she find out about all these interesting writers?"

Susan, the librarians probably LOVE you. If my experience of librarians is anything to go by. They're going, "ooh, I wonder what she'll come up with next!"

You're right, flea! Plus, then if they're good, we get to read them too (at home, at night, cause librarians don't get to read at work all day, contrary to popular opinion and all the advertising).

Plus, then if they're good, we get to read them too (at home, at night, cause librarians don't get to read at work all day, contrary to popular opinion and all the advertising).

What a rip off! You at least get to do that thing where you take off the glasses, and let down your hair, such that you're suddenly smokin', right?