:) The funny thing is, I am always reluctant to suggest that anyone else read her books because I'm always afraid they won't like them! Or at least, that they won't like them as much as I do. But if you were going to start reading her stuff...there are a couple of places you could start. Right now she's written three complete trilogies, one stand-alone novel, and the first two books of another trilogy. For you? I might actually recommend Survival, the first in her Species Imperative trilogy. Or, you can start with her first novel and one that I love despite (and occasionally because of) its obvious first-novel-ness, A Thousand Words for Stranger. The books I'm reading now are part of a prequel trilogy to this first work.

As for decal: definite meeting this weekend! Natalie said that Sunday afternoon worked best for her -- are you free? I'm doing absolutely nothing, in the best sense of that phrase.