Advice from Carol on coming out of the attic

[W]e’ve got to blurt — [...] blurt bravely and get some words on paper and have lots of conversations with lots of people. I think that’s very important — connecting and having conversations, that’s a huge part of my life. Being interested. Somehow, I’ve been able to remain interested in everything that’s happening, and you want to hang on to that as long as you can.

–Carol Shields quoted in an interview with Eleanor Wachtel in January 2002. This was her last interview with Carol before she passed on in the Summer of 2003. This interview is recorded in a lovely new book: Random Illuminations.

I’m alive — just barely — but am consumed with the work of writing and grading. Conference experience was good — check out In the Middle or Literature Compass for more on the proceedings at Kzoo. I didn’t get to have all the authorship conversations I wanted to, which was frustrating since I went out on a limb (again) and stepped outside my primary field (even though some people keep telling me I’m really a medievalist, even though I’m not so much). I did hear several good papers/conversations on queer theory and medieval lit, which was helpful. Saw some friends and profs that I wouldn’t normally get to visit with. Also went to the famous “dance” and did some mean MC Hammer moves with my old super-brilliant college pal. Had an all around a good time but now I have to finish everything up for the term so I can move onto other things.