One of our readers, Samara, was lucky enough to meet and chat with Dan as he was heading into the Tony Awards gala last evening in New York, and she kindly sent in her photos and story for all of us to enjoy. See her pictures here: 

TA1 - TA2 - TA3 - TA4 - TA5 

And read about Samara's encounter with Dan by clicking on the 'Read more' link below. Enjoy!

I'm sure you were all just as fascinated as I was by Tim Hailand talking about his Photos Re-photographed Series in this morning's video - although you didn't all have a tiny toy rabbit (called 'Richard', but after Richard de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, not Richard III) that you'd take with you on holiday and position somewhere in the shot when you were taking photographs - like in the fork of a tree in front of York city walls...

...so you wouldn't have found yourself losing your marbles and sharing this information with a professional photographer...

But what a coincidence - look at the re-photographed photograph he has used to make a special Thank You card for all of us who have supported the book project...

Thank You Card

We know, you have been on tenterhooks¹ waiting for the final total on the Demelza House Birthday Collection.

And then there were all the fabulous Words you submitted, for the birthday project.

The Project was on the same sever as the late lamented Forum, and were both wiped out.

Eaten. 

So, while Jenna apologises for not having the new Forum in place, yet - she is working on it - she has the following treat for us, courtesy of the talented Juliet, the sites graphic designer, depicting the amount raised for Demelza House for Dan's birthday along with a summary of the birthday project definitions that people sent in.

Birthday Project

Also, consider this a pre-warning that Jenna will be organising a general Demelza fund-raiser for Christmas soon, with our traditional fan messages.

¹tenterhooks (OK, that has nothing to do with the post, I just used the expression and had no idea where it came from, and felt I needed to look it up, and then felt I needed to share...)

UPDATE : Jenna just raised a finely sculpted eyebrow and reminded me to let you know that Dan was very appreciative of the amount raised for Demelza House - he was kept up to date at the New York premiere for HBP, before final totals were even... totalled...

I believe Jenna still intends on posting a write-up of our red carpet experience at the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince premiere in New York City earlier this month, but seeing she has major issues with her computer right now, we thought it would be best to go ahead and post our video clips from the event now. There is nothing very consequential in any of them, unfortunately, as we were standing towards the end of the line, before the artists reached the actual theatre where the screening of the movie was being held, so by the time they got to us they were in a bit of a rush and not even Jenna's request of a quick card trick could keep Dan in place for us. She later spoke to him again in the lobby of the theatre, and apparently he was thrilled when she told him about the very successful sale of the autographed Equus caricature  for the Demelza House fundraiser. He also promised another interview at a later time.  

Dan, Emma, Rupert, Tom and Bonnie   

Hear the camera clicking away at top speed? That was yours truly!