In just a couple of months, it will be the one-year birthday of Still Life Las Vegas, and what better way to celebrate that milestone (a little prematurely) than by a trip to New York City to see friends & family and attend the Lammy Awards?

New  York obliged resplendently, gracing us with warm but breezy weather and the merest of spring showers. I got a chance to hike along the length of Central Park, all 50 blocks worth, and discovered sites both beautiful and mysterious.

I kept waiting for Mr. Tumnus the faun to appear.

21,000 steps in one day!

That concluded the healthy part of the trip.

I also ate. And ate. And ate. If I wanted to have a breakfast of charsu bao, thick pork dumplings and a sesame bagel with a schmear, followed by a Balducci café latte, who could blame me?

All within three blocks!

Too many delicacies, too little time.

By the way, when did Times Square become this?

It’s like Panera outdoor seating—for blocks!

The Lambda Literary Awards were a bit intimidating, but fortified by my agent, my editor, and my husband, I enjoyed myself immensely.

Kate Clinton rocked.

The best part of the evening was meeting some truly stellar authors also nominated (interestingly, all in the same YA category):

The ultra-cool Sarah McCarry, nominated for her book About a Girl;

The Invention of Hugo Cabret and The Marvels author and illustrator Brian Selznick, who, rather unfairly, can not only write and draw with elegance but is drop-dead gorgeous in a suit;

And Becky Albertalli, author of one of my favorite books of last year, Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, with whom I have been carrying on a torrid love affair via emails this entire year.

No, I didn’t win in my best gay fiction category this year, but then again, neither did Truman Capote, so there’s that. And by way of consolation, the next night…

Don’t hate me. It was stunning. I literally had to hold my breath for the entire second act so I wouldn’t snuffle too loudly.

And just like that, it was over, like a wondrous, bagel-filled dream.

This weekend I return to the scene of the crime, Las Vegas, to participate in Barnes & Noble’s B-Fest for teens. If you’re around, drop by the Summerlin B&N between 12-1 on Saturday, June 11. Looks like the birthday celebration continues!