Just found out (seconds ago!) that The Knife of Never Letting Go has been longlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize, which is a most excellent prize indeed.  It's the first year they've even published their longlist, so very nifty to be on it, I must say.  Several of the books that I'm on the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize longlist with are on there, so tough competition for both.  Very pleasing, as I work my fingers to the bone finishing up the sequel...

But a good music day yesterday.  New albums by both Jim Moray and Liam Finn, both of which are might excellent.  Jim Moray's even got a sea-shanty cover of All You Pretty Girls.  Bliss.  And Liam (son of Neil) is an amazing combo of his father and Elliott Smith.  I couldn't be happier.

And I just finished a great book, too, a few years after everyone else.  The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard.  Won the National Book Award and the Miles Franklin and is incredibly moving.  Everything here is highly recommended, now, isn't it?