"This one's for you. With you know what, and you probably know why."

Yesterday, I was in such a state of hand-related self pity that I forgot to post this beauty of a dedication page.

As I've mentioned before, Neil Gaiman is my current favorite author (replacing my high school favorite, Thoreau, and my college favorite, Eliot).

Gaiman's the man behind my favorite comic book series, Sandman. But he also wrote Coraline. And American Gods. And Good Omens. If you haven't read Good Omens, move it to the top of your list. It's in my Top 5 favorite novels of all time.

So when I heard in July that Gaiman's next novel, Anansi Boys, was scheduled for a September release, I was all over it like flies on poo. (Whee! Flies on poo!!) I pre-ordered it, but then a better deal came along: Why buy my regular old pre-ordered copy of Anansi Boys when Smacky could snag me an autographed copy?!

The package came yesterday.

I now hold in my hands the latest hardcover from my favorite author, with his John Hancock scrawled on the dedication page. I'm ecstatic to the nth degree. ::grins:: If I were any closer to Smacky, I'd run up to him on the street and give him a big kiss on the cheek. But since I've never met him in person, he (and his wife) might find it kind of strange ... so I'll refrain.

So thanks, Neil, for sparking my creativity and drawing me into your own Anansi web. And thank you, Smacky, for taking the time and effort to send me the book. You rock. :)