This Will Be the Last Post on Ananka's Diary

Hi Everyone! As you may have noticed, I have stopped posting on Ananka's Diary. Going forward, all new posts can be read at my new blog, Bank St. Irregular. (Why did I create a new blog? Click here for the explanation.)

A few of you have told me that you have a sentimental attachment to Ananka's Diary and its black template. So I'm going to find a way to preserve it somewhere on the Kiki Strike website. But it only serve as an archive of posts from 2006-2010.

I hope you all will join me over at Bank Irregular!

Kirsten

A Note to Russian Readers

1. Have you ever seen a wild hamster?

2. Sorry about the video. I have a very good friend who speaks Russian, and I should have asked him to look at it before I posted.

3. Have you seen the Russian edition of The Empress's Tomb? I haven't seen the cover, and I can't find a pic online. If you can find a photo, please send it to kikistrike@gmail.com. I'm really curious to take a peek, since the Russian Kiki Strike had the best cover EVER!

Take a Look at the New Blog!

It's still a work in progress, so let me know what you think! I haven't published all the old posts from Ananka's Diary yet, but I promise they'll be there soon.

What do you think?

I'll Have More to Say on the Subject of Hamsters Soon

UPDATE #2: Even bigger thanks to deepasm for sending me a link to the crazy hamster video without the soundtrack! ENJOY!!!



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UPDATE: Thanks to Russian-speaking reader deepasm, I have discovered that the video I posted here contains colorful language. To put it mildly. (I should have known.) If you listened closely, you might have learned every Russian curse word. Now I'll admit, I've also been known to curse when attacked by wild hamsters. But I hope no Russian readers were offended by the language in the video. (Which was apparently, really, REALLY colorful.) So I'm trying to do one of the following: disable audio on the original video, find a new video, or post screen shots. Back to you soon!

In the meantime, please enjoy my favorite poem.



(Thank you, deepasm!! I didn't post your translation for obvious reasons, but I am forever in your debt!)

But I wanted to post this video right away. One of the many great things about Russia? Wild hamsters.

I may be ready to share my blog improvements soon! Cross your fingers. My computer is about 100 years old, and it's very temperamental.

On a Lighter Note (Maybe)

All I will say is this: I was truly touched by this video. And I wonder how many works of genius are hidden away in storage facilities across the US.

I Hate Snow

(Above: A lighthouse in Ohio, completely encased in ice.)

I'm going on the record. Yeah, I know it's pretty (for a little while). But I'm sick to death of snow. Did you hear about the blizzard that hit New York the day after Christmas? (Yes, I know it hit other places, too.) It took THREE DAYS for the city to plow the street in front of my house. And thanks to Brooklyn's dog population, most of the snow was neon yellow by the time it was finally cleared away.

Now there's another snow storm headed in our direction. My parents, who live down south, just had 18 inches dumped on their doorstep. (I'm glad you're enjoying it, EQ.) I can't even imagine what's in store for New York.

OK, Canadians, this is your chance to tell me that I'm being a ninny. (Goodness knows I got enough grief when I posted about the Brooklyn tornado.)

Oh well, maybe I'll just go outside and make an "Oscar-worthy video" (see below).

Idiot With A Tripod from Gothamist on Vimeo.

Well Hello There!

It's been a while, hasn't it? Some (but probably not all) of you may be wondering what I've been up to for the past few weeks. Well here's a little list (‘cause you know how much I love lists):

1. I've been working on Kiki 3, The Darkness Dwellers. It's almost finished. Every day I receive emails asking WHEN IS IT GOING TO BE OUT?!?!? I must admit that I don't know the release date yet, but I will post it on this blog THE SECOND I find out what it will be!

2. I finished the sequel to The Eternal Ones, which will (almost certainly) be called All You Desire. Right now, it's looking like it might be on shelves in August, but once again, I will post the release date when I have it.

3. I read the Hunger Games trilogy. I only intended to read the first book, but I devoured the entire series in four days. I thought it was amazing (and I hear I'm not alone).

4. I watched True Grit. I've always steered clear of westerns—whether movies or books—so I wasn't aware that the hero of True Grit is a fourteen-year-old girl. Smart, savvy, and a good shot, Mattie Ross is everything a girl should be. In fact, she reminded me of Luz Lopez (one of my seven favorite Irregulars). The movie is quite violent, (though The Hunger Games makes it look like Mary Poppins). If you're cool with blood and guts, I think you might enjoy it.

5. I’ve been contemplating some improvements to my blogs. (Yes, I have more than one. That’s the problem.) Over the next couple of weeks, you’ll start to see a few changes. Don’t worry, though. I’ll keep posting about all the weird and wonderful subjects that have captured my imagination. (And I’ll be posting MORE OFTEN than I have in the recent past.) But the blog’s name might change, and there will be more ways to access it. I’ll also be on Twitter, so you can follow me there (or on Facebook) if you prefer.

BTW, I have a new name in mind for the blog. But if any of you have a suggestion, feel free to post it in the comments!

So that’s about it. The next time I disappear for a few weeks, this is where I’ll be.