Updates! We've Got Updates!

Three great updates on this Friday afternoon:

1. As I've posted before, I'm moderating a National Book Critics Circle panel at in Philadelphia on February 27. I'm happy to announce that we've just added Ben Yagoda as our fifth panelist. The book dork in me is jumping for joy. I reviewed Yagoda's When You Catch an Adjective, Kill It: The Parts of Speech, for Better And/Or Worsefor the newsletter of the American Society of Journalists, and I love his work, which you can read about here. He's a great addition to our panel, which also includes poet and PEW fellow Daisy Fried; retired-as-of-5pm-today Philadelphia Inquirer book review editor Frank Wilson; author of In the Shadow of the Law: A Novel Kermit Roosevelt; and me. Just another reason to come out to this free -- yes, free -- event. Mark it: February 27 at 7pm, Friends Select (17th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway) in Philadelphia.

2. Speaking of Philadelphia, I've scheduled another signing! On May 10, I'm going to be part of Manayunk's Second Saturday event. Not sure where I'll be signing just yet, but I'm going to be part of it so all you shore fans on the other side of the river can get a signed copy of my book, too. For a run down of my other scheduled signings, click here.

3. And most importantly...the Upcakes are here.



I'm not taking them out of the box -- not even taking the plastic off -- until later tonight. Otherwise I know I'm going to eat one, and what kind of hostess would I be then?