Last weekend I hopped on the Metro with some buddies and took the Orange Line to Arlington, VA, where two of my friends were throwing a party to celebrate their 21st birthdays. I was unaware of the late night wait at subway platforms; trains navigating the Orange Line appeared at Metro Center every twenty minutes, slouching up to the platform like kids who had just been caught skipping school. I probably spent more time on the Metro than I did at the party, but the night turned out well in the end. I'm driving up to James Madison University tomorrow to visit two more friends who--you guessed it--are turning 21. Guys, if you're reading this post, please stop having birthdays. I need to get some writing done.

The highlight of my week was seeing Stomp, a live performance of coordinated percussion, at the Warner Theatre in DC. The show, by turns mesmerizing and comical, was a class act, one that left the audience on their feet laughing, cheering, and roaring with approval. Performers produced beats with Zippos and trash can lids, if that tells you anything.

As for The Tower of Shadows, there's an article about the book up @ The Gazette. And another review just came in, this one from Library Journal:

"College sophmore Bowling's first novel, begun while he was still in high school, spins a tale of high fantasy on the surface, but deeper down it explores the struggles of youth coming into adulthood and the need to bridge the gap between the generations in order to win safety for the world. This standalone tale leaves room for further adventures and is a good choice for adult and YA readers. Recommended for most libraries."

On that note, I'm off to find my copy of Un Lun Dun, which I'm about to finish reading and will shortly review.

Drew