Copyright © 2007 Marjorie M. Liu, All Rights Reserved | Website Design by Marjorie Liu | Hosting by Dreamhost

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new york times bestselling author

First of all, the winners of the EVERMORE drawing are:

Tracie Snider
Leiha
Aki Kamozawa

Congratulations!  I know you’ll love the series, and I’ll be emailing you soon for your contact information.

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Now, finally, on to Xi’an.

Here’s the dramatic description:  If China was a tree, Beijing would be the crown -- but Xi’an...well, that city forms the deep roots.   More than 6000 years old, Xi’an is one of the most ancient capitals in the world, and is the birthplace of civilization in the Yellow River basin.  The city served as the capital for twelve dynasties, with a historical and archaeological significance on par with Athens, Cairo, and Rome.  Xi’an was also the Eastern terminus for the Silk Road, and a diverse center of communications with foreign countries, a place that traded ideas and religion, as much as material goods.

Those are the dry facts, but honestly, there’s no good way in this small space to convey just how mind blowing and profound the history of Xi’an is.  And to see those relics, to be around the evidence of ancient artists and soldiers, afforded just a glimmer of a glimpse into the lives of men and women who died so long ago...it is an incredible experience.

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DAY ONE

Appropriately enough, there is a drum museum in the Drum Tower (see an example of a bronze drum in the photo below, which does little justice to the intricate and breathtaking engravings that covered its surface), along with a shadow puppet museum on the top floor. 

The Drum Tower sits on the back end of the Islamic Quarter -- one street in particular, which is just slightly touristy, but nonetheless, has some good eats (thank goodness, because I don’t chow down when I fly -- I mean, lots of things make me hurl, but an airplane + food = ruuur-arrrh!) and I was starving by the time we hit the little food stalls. 

Deep fried persimmons - a local delicacy. 

My dad and I had a great time moseying around, but we faced an unforeseen problem when we were finally ready to leave the area and go back to the hotel.

No cabs.  Or rather, a lot of cabs, but a) already with passengers, or b) snatched up before we could get close to them. Teeming crowds of people, all of them wanting a ride.  Survival of the fittest.  But here’s the trick:

1. •Do not waste your time “hailing” a cab.  You will feel ever so polite in doing so, but you’ll also be standing on the street for the rest of the night and will either have to sleep on the sidewalk or walk back to your hotel -- if you can find it. 
   

2. •There will be a lot of people who want the same thing you do.  Do not stand with that crowd jutting out into the street, all of whom suppose that sheer mass will halt a cab.  No!  The cab will not be able to park amongst the sheep, and so will have to drive just a bit farther down to the area with less people.  Lone wolves, as usual, have the advantage.
   

3. •As the cab passes you to park, begin running with it.  Run like the wind, little friend, run like the wind -- and keep your eyes on the front passenger side door handle (the front seat is usually empty). 
   

4. •Do not worry if you look like a desperate idiot.  There are about fifty other desperate idiots hot on your heels, all doing the same thing.  And honey, if you ain’t first, you’re last. 
   

5. •As the cab comes to a screeching halt, your hand should already be on the door handle.  Wrench open the door, and slam your backside down into the seat.  Ignore protests and queries from the cab driver.  If you have a family member who is slightly slower in following you, do not close the door, but leave it open as the universal sign of marked territory and smile sweetly at all the other hungry and sore-footed slow-pokes who are staring and growling -- and protesting far more colorfully than the cab driver.
   

6. •Wait for other passengers -- still in the cab -- to exit, and once your family is safely tucked inside the warm aromatic interior of your prey, be on your way! 
   

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So ends the abbreviated version of DAY ONE in Xi’an.  More tomorrow, this time with the Terracotta Warriors! 

Some views from around the tower...

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A close up shot of one of the drums...

There is a little market just behind the Drum Tower, before you enter “eat street,” and what you can see above is just one stall among many, all selling dried fruit -- dried kiwi, persimmon, etc. -- along with nuts, another snack foods, and some trinkets. 

My dad and I sampled some of the famous local dishes.  

An old tree that had cracked at some point, and then was packed full of bricks and concrete to hold it together.  Which...totally worked. 

I saw a lot of cats -- and birds -- which I am fairly certain is an unfortunate combination...

Sorry about the lapse in blogging, but as usual, the story commands and I am neck deep in the middle of it.  Interesting encounter, however:  I saw a man carrying about a hundred baby bunnies and hamsters the other day.  Tiny cages lashed together and hanging from the ends of a long stick balanced on his shoulders.  Wish I had my camera (the one time I forgot it!).  Not something that is easy to describe.  Or forget.

In THE LAST TWILIGHT, Amiri is sent to the Congo to act as a bodyguard for Doctor Rikki Kinn, a virus hunter for the CDC who finds herself pursued by mercenaries, terrorists, and some old enemies whom Amiri would rather not have to deal with ever again. 

I loved writing this book.  Which isn’t to say that I don’t always love creating each book, but the process for THE LAST TWILIGHT -- even though it wasn’t always easy -- was extremely enjoyable, due in part to how much I loved (and still love) the characters.

Anyway, I’ll be doing a Q&A about the book, and welcome questions, if you have them.  Send an email to marjoriemliu@gowebway.com with DIRK & STEELE in the subject line and I’ll get to it within the next week or so, posted as one big interview.  And if you repost the interview at your blog or site before or on the release date of January 29th, simply let me know, and I’ll send you a signed book (something from the Dirk & Steele series) when I return home to the states. 

Thank you so much for your support!  Here is a new excerpt, as well.  I hope you enjoy it, and please, send me some questions!  My wonderful buzz campaigners are hard at work, but I need all the help I can get in promoting this book! 

(Western media loved the entire African continent like some good crack, but only the parts that were hurting.  It was what had surprised Rikki the most during her first six months on the job...)