Stuff and bits

I worked out yesterday, cardio and upper body, and now I hurt. That’s what I get for not really working out for a month, I suppose…. Hopefully I’ll have time after the signing tomorrow to get there and do some leg work.

<>-<>-<>

The rest of the War went like this: Saturday morning we parked the car near the equestrian area and stopped by to see the horses, and I was thrilled to discover the Celtic Games were still going on. The gorgeous redhead who’d been giving the talk the day before was next. She’d unbound her hair, and it flowed down past her butt. She wore a brown leather vest and dark green, formfitting riding pants, and had blue streaks on her cheeks. She was a Celtic Horse Goddess, I’m telling you. And she rode beautifully (you got points if you did the games bareback). The tests were gathering golden apples, something with a lion (I couldn’t see the far end of the riding area), rescuing a stuffed sheep, gathering flags, and riding a winding, twisty course with a full goblet in one hand.

That day I bought the Gothic quatrefoil silver ring with an amethyst that I’d been ogling, and the dark blue plaid linen, and pins to go with the peplos I’ll make out of the linen, and remembered to order a commemorative GWW goblet from our friends Christel Illusions. More importantly, I got to hang out with Maren! Maren, whom I haven’t seen in a coon’s age! (What is a coon’s age, anyway? Far too long, that’s what I say.)

That night we went a-wandering, and I learned that the problem with ogling someone you don’t know at an event is that you never know when you’ll be hanging out with them the next day. Horse Guy’s name is Landon, , I believe, and he’s from Australia and is utterly charming, and the Celtic Goddess rider is Virginia, who thinks she’s seen me around a lot, was delighted to finally meet me, and gave me a big hug when we parted. Um. Maybe I have a doppelganger? Ken says it’s just because I’m a babe. Sheez.

We also ran into Simon, who was quite drunk, and Eilidh, who was also quite (and unusually) drunk, and many other fine folks in various stages of inebriation. I had a couple of drinks that I now can’t remember the name of, and they were tasty, but barely affected me.

On Sunday we packed up, wandered on site for a bit, then headed south to Alpine, CA (south of San Diego) for a Styx concert! But that’s a topic for another entry….

<>-<>-<>

Busy but fun day. Went grocery shopping, made another yummy sandwich for lunch (current fave: whole wheat and oat bread, a bit of ham and more of turkey, light mayo, mustard, Swiss, avocado, and pepperoncinis. Yesterday I toasted it. Today I didn’t.), then toddled over to help Morgana decorate her house for Halloween. (It’s her year to host the party and, as you all know, Halloween is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.) After that we went to the county shelter to see if a friend’s cat was there; she moved out of the area last month and one of her cats got out in the process, and there are two fitting the description at the shelter. Alas, the shelter closed an hour earlier than we thought, so we’ll go on Monday. On the way home (well, sort of. If you’re us.) we went to Big Lots and Michaels and one of the Halloween stores. Since I’ve been meaning to buy cat ears, I did so (black with boa feathery insides), along with a black boa so I can make a tail (I’m going to wear my see-through velvet burnout dress and satin waist cincher for the party, so I might as well add some sort of theme to it).

Then Morgana came over for dinner, and then I put together a little display for tomorrow’s book signing: a two-part folding frame that stands up, with one side being our New Author Spotlight ad from Romantic Times and the other side being the review of A Little Night Music.

In between that, Teresa called for a quick confab about the novella, which she’s now sent to me. So I must get to work.

---

Currently Reading: Ill Met by Moonlight, Sarah Hoyt
Lately Listened To: Chopin Interludes
Recently Watched: Without a Trace

Sunday's signing

Here's the lineup of authors for the book signing at the Barnes & Noble in Encino on Sunday from 12-2:

Eden Bradley
Leigh Court
Sarah Dale
Linda O. Johnson
Cheryl Holt
Carolyn Hughey
Cassidy Kent
Harley Jane Kozak
Kaitlin O'Riley
Brenda Scott Royce

Hope to see some friendly faces there! Remember, with the voucher, a portion of the proceeds of anything you buy will go towards the Los Angeles Romance Writers of America chapter...

Whether I want to or not

Over the last two days I have worked on the collab novella, brainstormed two ideas for an upcoming story, and begun fleshing out an outline for Teresa’s and my RWA 2008 workshop proposal.

I have also been struck with a brilliant idea for another novel, which I do not need right now. I can’t schedule it in until sometime next year. Argh! But it’s totally cool! And has, of all things, vampires in it!

Sigh.

All of this when the last thing I’ve wanted to do is actually write. Stubbornness and professionalism actually do prevail on occasion.

Today I’ve also taken a bath because my back hurt, made a tasty but lowfat chicken tetrazzini, gone to the Shire meeting, and curled up to watch TV with my beloved. E-mail…feh, let’s not talk about that.

Onwards.

---

Currently Reading: deciding on the next book (damn, but Robert B. Parker writes fast reads!)
Lately Listened To: uh?
Recently Watched: CSI: Miami, Supernatural

It's dangerous to be me sometimes

So tonight after dinner, we were finishing up the show we were watching (Pushing Daisies) when something onscreen made me think of mint chocolate chip ice cream. (I don’t think ice cream was actually onscreen, though. Work with me here.) So I said to Ken, “Oooh, mint chocolate chip ice cream!”

And we groaned, because there was no ice cream in the house. We contemplated walking to the store, but I’m resting my back today in the hopes of resuming the gym tomorrow. We continued on with our evening, both of us working on computers in the main office.

Then a journal I was reading sparked something in my brain.

“Oh no,” I said. “I’ve just had a very bad idea.”

“Oh?” Ken said. “Bad?”

“Very bad.”

Because Ken can read my mind, he said, “Does it involve ice cream?”*

I sighed. “Brownies.”

Ken laughed. “We can put mint chocolate chip ice cream on brownies,” he noted, because he is a wise and sage man.

So he trotted off to the store for more eggs (because I’d use them up in the recipe) and Ghirardelli bittersweet morsels (a must for my brownie recipe) and, of course, mint chocolate chip ice cream.

I ate too much of the batter and felt a little wibbly, but the brownies were awesome. A tasty end to a kind of weird, unbalanced day.

---

Currently Reading: Family Honor, Robert P. Parker (about to start)
Lately Listened To: uh?
Recently Watched: Bionic Woman, Pushing Daisies, CSI: NY

*Most of you were expecting something sex-related, weren’t you? Psych!

Diving into the wreck

So. After about a week or so of no writing, thanks to War prep and the War itself, I now have a nice full plate of projects. Which is good because after a week or so of no writing, I’m itching to dive in to something!

The projects this week include:

• A winter-themed novella with Teresa. It’s due 10/21, but we’re shooting to have it done by 10/14. It’s been accepted on proposal, but we haven’t seen a contract yet, so I really can’t say much more about it except that it’s very spiffy! We brainstormed the basic outline today, and I’m to write the first part and send it to her tonight. Fun!
  
• An outline of Teresa’s and my workshop proposal for the RWA 2008 National Conference. So many people asked us about how we collaborate at this year’s conference that we decided to do a workshop. The proposal is due 11/1, so we need to get started on this now. The first step is to make a list/outline of everything we’d want to cover.
  
• A short story for an editor who’s pitching an anthology to Cleis Press. The first two stories they get will be included in the proposal. I don’t need to be first, but the challenge excites me.
  

Next week involves these:

• Starting Designed for Love over with Sarah. She’s writing a new beginning, and we’ll go from there. Deadline is 12/31 because I want to hit the Beautiful Trophy Challenge and possibly the January Novel Workshop deadline.
  
• A lesbian ghost story for an anthology, due 11/1.
  

And what about High Spirits, you ask? I want to finish up the RWA outline and the first short story by Friday, so I can get back to work on HS over the weekend and continue to work on it when DFL is on Sarah’s plate. Deadline is still 12/31, for the same reasons at DFL (the trophy, at least. I can’t take two novels to the Novel Workshop, so I’ll have to choose).

<>-<>-<>

Here’s a great writing quote I found recently:

“Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” (E.L. Doctorow)

Yup. You just gotta trust that.

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Currently Reading: R is for Ricochet, Sue Grafton
Lately Listened To: various Marillion
Recently Watched: Heroes

Hide and Seek

Over at Lust Bites today, the luscious Alison Tyler is talking about a new anthology edited by herself and Rachel Kramer Bussel, Hide and Seek. I note this because both Teresa and I have stories in the anthology, and it's quite a delectable book! So if you get the chance, check out the column…and pick up the book! It's in stores now. You know you want to....

Edited to add: Lust Bites contains salacious images and naughty language. Peruse at your own risk!

The minutiae of war

Have we already been at War two days? How did that happen?

So, it’s dangerous being right by the Merchant area. I’ve already come away with a purple lace parasol for Goth/Victorian/faerie outfits (I want to add black fringe around the edge) and a pair of amber earrings to go with a necklace I have (the latter were actually on my To Buy list). I’m seriously considering a ring and some dark blue plaid linen to make a peplos, and Ken’s got his eye on two books, one about period maps and one a serious of essays about Da Vinci and Italy. Ack. And that’s before we discuss the fact that the four of us don’t have nearly enough lanterns for our encampment….

We watched some equestrian stuff today, and Morgana and I lusted after a gorgeous rider in a short Romanesque tunic, leather armbands, black hair, dimples, and a British accent. Oh, the horses were gorgeous, too… Ken and I worked a shift at Gate, and would have worked a second shift except a fresh wave of volunteers showed up. For lunch today we ate at a food merchant who made awesome garlic fries, and I made nom nom nom noises as I ate them. I took pictures of decorative painting on pavilions, the tasty equestrian rider, and the pink clouds of the sunset.

The best part, of course, has been seeing friends we haven’t seen in awhile due to Ken being gone so much and me being so busy and unable to drive at night, etc. We’ve had to endure numerous hugs and various squeals of delight. It’s a tough life…

And, of course, it wouldn’t be an SCA event without someone trying to talk me into taking on a volunteer position. A Society-wide volunteer job, no less. It’s a huge compliment to be thought of as having the skills, of course, but…augh!

---

Currently Reading: R is for Ricochet, Sue Grafton
Lately Listened To: drumming, and lots of it
Recently Watched: thoroughly yummy horse guy

To war, to war!

I know, I know, so remiss about keeping in touch. Can I say it’s because we’ve been so busy? Just reacclimatizing to have Ken home is work. (Good work, yes. Fantastic and amazingly wonderful. But it still, weirdly, takes a little work.)

Oddly enough, we’re in a hotel, and I’m snagging a few minutes while Ken’s in the shower. We went to a Queensrÿche concert last night, then drove up to Bakersfield. We’ll be gallivanting around Great Western War for the next few days. Today is Pirate Day! Arr! (Okay, it’s Pirate Day for Morgana and I, because we wanted an excuse to wear our pirate outfits again, and for anyone else who chooses to join us. But it’s not official Pirate Day where GWW is concerned.) I forgot all my piratical jewelry. So I guess I’ll be shopping today!

The Queensrÿche concert was fantastic. The Canyon Club normally has long dinner tables in front of the stage, but for some reason they didn’t have them there tonight (people who came for dinner ate at the round tables that usually flank the long ones). So when the GA crowd (including us) got in, we pretty much walked right up to the stage. Ken and I were four or five rows back. We had a blast talking to a wonderful family: Mom Monica, Dad Matt, and 16-year-old Daughter Holly. (Hi, if you’re reading this!) They were a blast, so enthusiastic and fun. Holly’s a Styx fan, too, and I had my “concert purse,” so I amused her by pulling out confetti and buttons and a Ricky pick and, of course, the Lawrence wrist cuff.

A higher percentage of Queensrÿche fans are male, so it was harder to see. (The guy directly in front of me for part of the show had long dark hair that he kept flipping back, not realizing he was brushing against my face. But his hair smelled good, which I figured was a nice bonus.) A little crazier and drunker, but nowhere near a mosh-pit-type situation. I discovered that while I pretty much know all of their music from their first EP through Promised Land (after that their albums are kind of…not quite great), I only actually know lyrics to songs from Empire and Promised Land. I had no idea I didn’t know the lyrics to so much of their stuff! (Then again, Sarah and I were driving around this summer listening to a Gowan CD, and realized we didn’t know half the lyrics. How utterly embarrassing.)

So, GWW-ing (it’s a verb if I say so) for the next few days, and then on Sunday, after a bit of War, we’ll jump in the car and essentially head to San Diego (close enough) for a Styx concert! Yay, Styx concert! And all Styx, not with Foreigner and Def Leppard glomming up all that stage time!

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Currently Reading: The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold (just finished); R is for Ricochet, Sue Grafton (about to start)
Lately Listened To: Lullagoodbye, Taylor Mills
Recently Watched: Ghost Hunters (hey—it’s research!), Torchwood

Book signing!

I'll be participating in a group book signing on October 14 at the Barnes & Noble in Encino, sponsored by the Los Angeles Romance Writers of America chapter (LARA). I'd love to see some friendly familiar faces there!

Best of all, when you buy books that day and present a voucher when you pay, a portion of that money will go towards supporting LARA. (And it's tax-deductible, too!)

Here's the info:

Date: Sunday, October 14
Time: 12-2 p.m.

Barnes & Noble
16461 Ventura Boulevard
Encino CA 91436

Downloadable vouchers and flyers about the event can be found here. Or, if you prefer, drop me a note and I'll send them to you as e-mail attachments.

Hope to see you there!

Huntington Gardens

I've finally uploaded the photos of our Herbal Guild's field trip to the Huntington Gardens back in July.

Photo of haircut! With Bonus: Tommy Shaw!

Not the greatest picture, but you can sort of see it. I'm entirely annoyed that one of my earrings flipped over.

But this is why I love living in Southern California...



EDITED to add: Full set of photos (not many) can be found here.

The art of levitation

Wednesday, Grimoire needed to be at the vet between 7 and 8 a.m. for his comprehensive exam (vaccines, etc.) and dental work. So Tuesday night, before I went to bed, I put the tray of food and water (all the bowls are on a baking sheet to minimize food spewage) up on the plastic bin of food (because Grimoire can drill through a bag of food in no time), which is on top of a yard-high cabinet (which is completely covered with stuff). I set the alarm for 7 a.m., figuring I’d just throw on clothes, throw in my contacts, take him in, come home, and go back to bed.

The crash sounded at 6 a.m. Apparently my 20-lb cat has the superpower of levitation, because somehow he vaulted 4 feet into the air to obtain foodstuffs. So at 6 a.m. I had to clean up dry food that had sprayed from the bathroom to the washer and dryer, along with water, which made the dry food soggy and mushy on the bottom of my feet.

It wasn’t worth going back to bed.

I tried to sleep after I took him in, but it wasn’t very restful. That night, I slept on the sofa because it’s lower and he was all wibbly but he could still jump up on it, as opposed to the high bed. I was too cold, then too hot, and the pillow was all wrong, and I had to help him out of the litter box, and… Not the best night’s sleep then, either.

Thursday afternoon I tried to give him his antibiotics and he aspirated the liquid and lay on the sofa drooling and wheezing and completely limp and I thought he was going to die. He didn’t (he’s entirely fine), but it didn’t allow my brain access to creative or productive areas.

Last night I slept for 9 hours and was still tired when I woke up. But I got things done—even went to the gym for the first time in a month, since I’m (a) not on vacation and (b) not entirely hacking up a lung.

Writing continues apace, slow but steady. And I can live with that right now—the steady part, at least. Progress looks like this:

24271 / 70000 words. 35% done!

One rejection this week, a Sophie story from Rachel Kramer Bussel’s rubber anthology, although she accepted solo stories from both Teresa and I (pending publisher approval of the TOC). And I received my comp copy of The Mammoth Book of Best Lesbian Erotica, which has a Sophie story as well as one of Teresa’s. (All the ones of mine I sent were too recent—in the US, the best-ofs are of recent stories, but in the UK apparently they’re just…any story, as long as it’s not recent.)

Tonight I had dinner with Morgana and Brian, and they came over to watch the second Harriet Vane miniseries, “Have His Carcase.” Brilliant. I realized that in my less-sane moments, I want Harriet’s 1920s hair, but I imagine it would actually be too much work.

Ken will be home tomorrow! Calloo callay!

So, the tally:

Writing—good.
Family and friends—fabby.
Cats—adorable.
Health—improving.
Life—mostly harmless—no, wait, very good!

---

Currently Reading: Ill Wind, Rachel Caine
Lately Listened To: Lullagoodbye, Taylor Mills
Recently Watched: Ghost Hunters (hey—it’s research!)

In lieu of actual content...

High Spirits
23117 / 70000 (33.02%)

<>-<>-<>

Linkety-links

For writers: Does this sound familiar? For non-writers: this is kind of what goes on in my head while I’m brainstorming. Honest.

I’ve poked around a read a few concert riders (the contracts about what a venue has to provide the band), and most have been mildly interesting/amusing, but Iggy Pop’s is just brilliant. I mean, I knew he was strange, but this…

“Lots & lots of clean ice. Not ice that a polar bear has been standing on, with its big mucky feet.”

(Warning: Scary picture of Iggy Pop on the first page. He is just a freakish-looking man.)

---

Currently Reading: Ill Wind, Rachel Caine
Lately Listened To: Lullagoodbye, Taylor Mills
Recently Watched: Doctor Who (“Blink”—augh!), Torchwood (“Day One”—oooh!)

No reading, alas

Just to let you know, I've had to cancel my participation in the reading. I still sound like I'm hacking up a lung, which just isn't sexy.

If you were planning on going, I encourage you to still do so and support the other writers. Thanks!

Thingie-things

You know the world is strange when you get an e-mail with this subject line—“Slave Cylinder Weep Hole Kit”—and it’s not spam. (Ken is selling old motorcycle parts. I…don’t ask.)

<>-<>-<>

Had an utterly fabby time with the local RWA-ers, and high tea was again exquisite, and everybody wants to do this monthly! Given how hard it is to get us all in the same place at the same time (we managed 5 out of 6 of us this time), we may not make it monthly, but we can always try.

Proving that I am still muzzy-headed from this cold, I managed to send out Ken’s birthday party invitation without actually mentioning the date. Sheez.

Four stories in the mail today. Go me!

And over 1K on High Spirits, which isn’t the best daily wordcount overall, but is the best I’ve done since I’ve been back home and stricken with this cursed cold. Last night’s brainstorming is serving me well, and I’m looking forward to getting back to things tomorrow.

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Currently Reading: Ill Wind, Rachel Caine
Lately Listened To: gods, I really haven’t been listening to anything much
Recently Watched: Medium (finished last season!), The Graham Norton Show

Storms in the brain

Okay, I lied. Or maybe my body lied to me. Or maybe I overestimated my body. In any case, I’m not better. I’m still coughing and stuffed up and have digestive issues. For the latter, I’m self-medicating with pasta and cheese and pizza. For the other two…I’d hoped to skip the Nyquil tonight, but we’ll see.

It’s bad enough that I not only cancelled our dinner with Morgana and Brian tonight (new Lebanese place in town! I have no idea what Lebanese food is like, but it sounds interesting!), and I e-mailed the woman in charge of Monday night’s reading to warn her that I might cancel out. I haven’t even been able to practice reading my story, because of all the coughing.

I’m pretty determined to go for high tea tomorrow with my fellow local RWA-ers, because it’s just a couple blocks away (in the historic Woolworth’s building) and tea is always good. The LARA meeting Sunday is questionable, though.

<>-<>-<>

Sat down tonight and just brainstormed on High Spirits. Reminded myself what the external and internal conflicts were, then just spewed out ideas for scenes. Eventually things coalesced a little, and I figured out the next three or four probable scenes. (Since I’m an organic writer, that’s subject to change. But usually I know what the next few scenes are going to be.)

So that’s good, at least.

---

Currently Reading: Ill Wind, Rachel Caine
Lately Listened To: my own coughing and sniffling
Recently Watched: Medium, Cities of the Underworld

Pondering tresses

I had every expectation of getting a lot done yesterday. The cold is on its downward slide; still annoying, but not quite so energy-draining. I had a chiro appt in the morning and plans for the quarterly birthday dinner with local friends (with 26 expected to show up), and that was it. We’d run errands, I’d cross things off my To Do list…

After my chiro appt we went grocery shopping, and my fabulous gay hairdresser called to say he had a cancellation today and was trying to consolidate tomorrow’s appts into today, and could I come in? Sure, says I, so once we’d unpacked the groceries, I was off.

Now. I’ve been itching for a change, not sure if it was just the lingering cold and a general grumpiness about everything or whether it really was time. So I sat down and said, “So, given the state of my hair (thinning, although it’s bounced back a bit, although it’s somewhat hereditary so I’m never going to have thick, lush tresses again) and my face shape (rather more oval now that I’ve lost weight) and my hair care routine (as little as possible; I’ll use a blowdryer for a few minutes if I must), what would you do with my hair, FGH?”

And FGH practically fell over in shock and delight.

We talked, and I perused many hair magazines while my vibrant color was cooking under the dryer, and I decided that (a) I was just picking shorter versions of my own hairstyle and/or (b) I didn’t know if my hair would do the things in the hairstyles I liked, and (c) I should stop looking at the super-short cuts with the spikey tops because I would regret that. So back at the chair, I asked him to show me pictures of what he thought, but they didn’t help because he’d say “Well, like this, only not with this part,” which meant it wasn’t like the picture at all and how was I supposed to visualize it.

So I said “Fine. Do what you think is best. I trust you.”

I now have five inches less hair and a different shape, and the jury’s still out. I got a lot of compliments last night, but two people called me cute, which made me want to weep and go back and get the spikey cut (with purple highlights or something). (One person did backpedal upon my wail and suggest the alternate “sexy and adorable,” which mollified me somewhat.)

I’ll decide after I have a chance to play with it, because my lack of serious hair-care routine will make it look different than FGH’s mad coiffing.

Anyway. After that I picked Ken up at the bike dealer where he’d dropped off the GT for servicing, and then we went to Costco and Jo-Anns, and then we unpacked everything, and an hour later it was time to leave for dinner. Ken, Thomasina, and I all ordered different sushi so we could mix and match, and we were deliciously stuffed by the end of it. Mmmm, suuuushi. Sushisushisushi. Food of the gods. How did I live half my life not knowing about this delicacy? Now I can’t live without it.

We staggered home, watched Eureka, did some computer work, and then Ken went to bed and I got a little writing done (610 words—although I haven’t gotten close to my needed daily count since I got sick, I have managed 500+ words every day, and I’m very happy about that) and then I chugged my blessed Nyquil and slept the Nyquil-Drugged Sleep of the Damned.

Today, though. Today I will get some things crossed off my To Do list. Before my massage therapist comes to work on both of us.

Honest.

<>-<>-<>

Update: Today I discovered that I can pull my hair into two low pigtails. It’s okay to call me cute when I wear my hair like this, because I’m being deliberately cute. My massage therapist wanted me to dress in a Daisy Duke outfit and Ken wanted me to dress in a Mary Anne outfit. I’d say this is positive progress.

Less than 500 words today; I hit the end of a scene last night and realized today that I don’t know what happens next. It’s often suggested that at a moment like that, you have men with guns burst in. I considered that option, but they really don’t fit in this type of book. I thought of someone else coming to the door, who might throw another obstacle into my heroine’s life, but I don’t know why they’re there. Someone would have to have suggested a problem (which doesn’t exist), and I’m not sure who. Yet. I’ll sleep on it.

<>-<>-<>

Phaedra is looking for black bunny slippers, to no avail. Anyone know of a source?

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Currently Reading: Kiss and Tell, Linda Howard
Lately Listened To: my own coughing and sniffling
Recently Watched: Eureka, CSI: NY

Ooh! Shiny!

Check out our new banner!

The four-star review

I have in my hot little hands the issue of Romantic Times with our four-star review in it, and I'm assuming it's okay to trumpet the review text to the world:

"Dale's story is a strong romance with a bit of angst and some well-executed character development. The characters engage in sexual antics, including consensual bondage and sex toys, and secondary characters help the plot develop."

(I admit I had to giggle a little at "engage in sexual antics"—I mean, it is an erotic romance, so what do you expect!—but I'm thrilled overall. The summary of the book nails the characters and conflict, too.)

This issue (October 2007) also has our New Author Spotlight ad in it! Check it out if you get the chance!

Press Release: Best Lesbian Bondage Erotica

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Reading in Los Angeles

I'll be participating in a group reading (and, I assume, booksigning) in Hollywood on 9/17. I realize that getting to Hollywood on a Monday night isn't the easiest thing, and also that lesbian erotica may not be your cup of tea! But if you CAN make it, it would mean a lot to me. While I don't have a particular problem speaking in public, I've never done a reading of my own work before, and yeah, that makes me a little nervous... =8-0

Here's the info:

Monday, September 17
7:30 p.m.
A Different Light
8853 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood CA 90069
310-854-6601

Feel free to cross-post/forward as you see fit. No need to respond (unless you want to let me know you're coming and will be bringing a paper bag in case I hypeventilate... ;-) ). Hope you see some of you there!

Contest deadline extended!

If you're anything like me, you've spent the last week staggering around wondering how it got to be the beginning of September already.

So I've decided to extend the contest deadline for How Many Styx and SRP References Can You Find in A Little Night Music to Sunday at midnight. Rules are at my website. I know some of you are already working on it (I've received several entries already!), and I hope you're having fun with it!

You are getting sleeeeeepy...

Had a great chiro appt this morning, and my massage therapist should be arriving in less than an hour. However, that vague pain and minor swollen feeling in the back of my throat better the hell not be a sore throat, or heads will roll. [scowls] I don’t have time to be sick!




Busy day. I got four stories back in the mail:

• ”Dreamseer” to Black Gate
  
• ”Queen of Hearts, Hand of Fate” to Clarkesworld
  
• ”Testing the Waters” to Cemetery Dance
  
• ”Proof of Devotion” (which will appear in Fabulous Whitby very soon!) to Best New Paranormal Romance 3.
  

I also confirmed with two editors that it’s okay to simultaneously submit a story that editor #2 requested after I’d already sent it to editor #1. Editor #1 says it’ll be in one of two anthos; editor #2 says it’s a strong possibility for hers.

I didn’t get my 2K done last night (it was just shy of 1400 words when I called it quits), but I haven’t glued my butt to the writing chair yet. Gack!

<>-<>-<>

Update: Apparently I am coming down with a cold, if this sore throat and general muzziness is to be heeded. Crap. Here I wanted to push and hit 5K each day this weekend, and now I might be sidelined. I got only my minimum 500 words done tonight, and now I’m heading to the bedroom to fall over.

So that’s it. If anyone tells you the life of a writer is glamorous, they’re lying through their teeth.

Either that, or I’m doing something wrong…

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Currently Reading: Trixie Belden and The Mystery at Bob-White Cave, Kathryn Kenny
Lately Listened To: the purring of cats happy that I’m home
Recently Watched: Eureka, CSI: NY

Sorting the mail

Apparently the end of August is “clean out your slush pile” time, because I’ve received a flurry of rejections over the past few days (sigh):

• Multiple rejections from Best Lesbian Erotica 2008 because I’d sent a number of my own stories as well as Sophie stories. Oh well!
  
• Rejection from Clockwork Phoenix for “Berengere.”
  
• Rejection from Weird Tales for “Queen of Hearts, Hand of Fate”
  
• Dark Regions passed on “Testing the Waters,” but asked if I had some shorter works (alas, I don’t have much in the way of dark fantasy or horror…).
  
• IGMS may have rejected “Soulsearching,” the submission currently with them, but the e-mail says “Seeds of Hope,” which they rejected back in July. I’m following up.
  
• Black Gate apologized for taking so long to pass on “Berengere,” citing a possible glitch.
  
• Yellow form of promise from Realms of Fantasy for “Dreamseer.”
  
• A pass on an anthology story, but the editor wants to know if another story (that she accepted for an anthology that never got published) is still available. It’s with another editor now, but I’m going to see if the two editors are cool with one version being a reprint.
  

Despite no acceptances, there were some exciting things in the mail:

• Payment for “The Witch of Venice,” to appear in Screaming Orgasms and Sex on the Beach, plus a note from the editor saying that my story rocks. :-)
  
• Payment for my half of “Stranger to my Shores,” which appeared in Love on the Dark Side.
  
• Comp copies ofCrossdressing: Erotic Stories, containing “I Need a Man” (inspired in part by the Eurythmics song and Annie Lennox)
  
• Comp copies of Best Lesbian Bondage Erotica, containing a reprint of one of my favorite stories, “Frozen.”
  

And this one has to be a separate paragraph, not part of the list, because it’s so cool! I received a comp copies of the German edition of Cat Scratch Fever! That’s the picture above. The German title translates to Sharp Claws, which I think is amusingly appropriate.

German edition! Squee bouncity!

Homing

Welcome to DFW, where I was a mere month and a half ago leaving RWA Nationals. Possibly the same exact gate. Weird. I’m early, since Ken has to get a new rear tire on the bike before he continues on (and his trip includes a detour to Louisiana for a back rest for the bike; the only shop that does it hasn’t been able to get their hands on a 2007 model of his bike, so he’s their guinea pig in exchange for a discount).

There are no plugs in this airport, but there is a charging station where I can plug my laptop in for $6.95/hour. I think not. They don’t have free wireless here, either. Poopyheads.

So unless/until I run out of power, my goal is to get a few thousand words done on High Spirits today, before I get home tonight.

On Sunday we swung into Little Rock to see Little Rock Central High School, where the famous desegregation of schools occurred, before heading down to Hot Springs. We spent a few days with Ken’s grandmother, and his aunt came by for most of that time as well. On our way out, we stopped by the museum dedicated to the heyday of the hot spring spas and baths; next time, we swear we’re going to have a soak in the last remaining historic bath. There are some utterly gorgeous Victorian and Craftsman homes in the area, too… Then we wandered through Texas to Ken’s brother’s house, where I fell all over myself because of Dennis’ three kittens.

It’s been a good, full, fun vacation, but it’s going to be good to be home, too.

<>-<>-<>

There. Over 2K, which is more than I’ve written in one sitting in longer than I care to think about. Now all I have to do is keep that momentum up (kicking it up a few notches) for the rest of the month….

14,000 / 70,000 (20.0%)

<>-<>-<>

So, on a recent flight home (maybe from Oregon in May? Not sure.), the flight attendant on the Oxnard flight told me about a recent night flight where the plane couldn't land and had to go back to LAX and everyone had to be shuttled to Oxnard.

You know where this is going. Except for the shuttle part. Oh noooo, they wouldn't do that for us. It was either pay for a hotel at our own expense and take a morning flight, or we were on our own. Well, I looked at my fellow passengers (with whom I'd been chatting on the plane) and said "Who's going in with me on a rental car?" Three other passengers signed up, and one guy used his Hertz platinum card, and we all chipped in, and I was home just before midnight.

But after the Virginia kerfluffle, this is clearly a sign that I should refrain from flying for a while…

---

Currently Reading: Silk, Caitlín R. Kiernan
Lately Listened To: just about every Styx album in existence
Recently Watched: CNN’s on a screen in front of me, but I’m mostly ignoring it

Cross-eyed

What month is it already?! [staggers about like a drunken monkey]

Let’s see. When we last left our intrepid travelers, they were drinking and being geeky. That was Wednesday night. Thursday morning, Ken and I reluctantly hauled ourselves out of bed and took a self-defense class, which was fantastic. I can take you down now, suckers, so watch out. (And it’s a reasonably non-physical form of defense, in that my back will not get tweaked. The instructor has taught it to a woman in a wheelchair. So there. You have been warned.)

The instructor doesn’t allow married couples to pair up during the practices (after a couple had to be separated due to a sudden desire to work out some, ah, differences), so I paired up with a friend I’d met at CCR two years ago. We kept cracking up because we are such girls. Me: “Okay, come at me.” Her: “Ow, ow!” Me: “Omigod I’m sorry!” Her: “No, no, you did really good!”

We had a lazy afternoon. We wandered the vendors and I picked up two more moisture-wicking shirts for riding. After I went back to the room to work for a bit, Ken found the bike wash, which is traditionally done by HS students as a fund-raiser. This year it was a chorus that’s one of eight in the U.S. chosen to perform at Carnegie Hall. So what does Ken do? Ask them if they know any Styx. Apparently they do sing “Show Me the Way.” So he wants to send them a copy of the CYO DVD. I love my husband. :-)

There was a banquet that night, and the silent auction, and I won a cooling vest (you soak it with water for hot, dry rides and it keeps you cool. I have a neck wrap of the same type, and it’s awesome.), and then we hung out at the Booze Brothers party. Since the theme of the banquet was the Blues Brothers (because of the soul/funk band that played after dinner), many of us had scarfed the hats and were walking around wearing sunglasses. Amusing pictures will be shared upon our return home.

Friday we headed back to St. Louis for the IBR banquet, and then I hung out in the room while Ken kicked metaphorical tires with rally guys, and we had a quiet evening. It was weird not being at the CCR rally, but Ernie called Ken as soon as the announcement was made about next year’s venue: Zermatt, Utah. Coolness! The area is gorgeous for riding, and a lot closer to home. The resort itself looks like it belongs in Switzerland, and we’ll have the whole thing to ourselves.

After I had another awesome Chesterfield Skillet for breakfast, we headed out on the road again. First stop was the World Bird Sanctuary (quite near the wild canid center, in fact). They had the most adorable little owl that I wanted to scoop up and take home with me. He was just so tiny and talkative. Thank goodness he was locked in a cage or he’d be tucked in my jacket right now. They also had a little kestrel, which are so cute because they want to be like the big birds, but they’re just not. He was all puffed up trying to look important, but he just wasn’t big enough… And there was an eagle and a spectacled owl and a couple of red-tailed hawks and… There were a ton of birds, and yet they said a lot were out at a Renaissance Faire! I bought a little stuffed peregrine falcon that makes an authentic cry. It’s part of a series, and I want to collect all of the birds of prey; I already have the red-tailed hawk.

They also had some animal displays in the gift shop—a variety of snakes and lizards, and a pair of opossums. I had no idea opossums were so big…or so cute! The handler who was cleaning their enclosure let them wander, and one toddled out to explore the nearby area. He was cross-eyed! Utterly adorable.

We headed south after that, avoiding freeways and taking the more scenic highways through Missouri and into Arkansas. We stopped in a small town for dinner, choosing a local BBQ joint over the sad plethora of fast food chains (they well outnumbered the local choices that we could find, sad to say). We’re spending the night just outside of Little Rock, and tomorrow we’ll get to Ken’s grandmother’s in Hot Springs.

<>-<>-<>

After much debate, I’ve come to the difficult decision of not going to the Book-in-a-Week and Novel Workshop in Oregon in October. It’s a matter of time, money, travel, etc.; the stars just don’t seem to be aligning. That said, I’m still making it a goal to finish the novel I’m working on (working title: High Spirits) by the end of September to get my trophy, which I’ll do as long as I send out some query letters.

The final quarter of the year will involve a new novel with Sarah (based on the 40K or so contemporary erotic romance I started last year), a revision High Spirits, and a long-overdue revision of An Ever-Turning Wheel with the goal of getting that one in the mail by the end of the year. That’ll make four novels in the mail this year, which ain’t too shabby…

Spelunked

Yesterday Ken did an advanced rider course and I failed to get anything noteworthy accomplished. I did tweak and mail a short story, and work out (in our room, with exercise bands), but no significant writing. It didn’t help that Ernie and Pauline had shown up late the night before and on Tuesday joined me in the suite and then dragged me off to lunch. Ken’s course finished early, and we eventually all toddled off to a group CCR dinner, after which Ken and Ernie wandered off for a bit while Pauline and I came back to the suite and continued drinking…

Today Ken and I had a leisurely morning (shall we say), then finally forced ourselves out to explore. We went to Ha Ha Tonka State Park, where we explored castle ruins, hiked under a natural bridge and to a cave entrance, and watched a hawk (or possibly a turkey vulture) soar lazily overhead. Then we collected Ernie and Pauline and went to Bridal Cave, one of the area’s biggest caverns. While we were waiting in the gift shop (where I bought an adorable little faerie tree made out of amethyst chips) to start our tour, the sky glowered and darkened, lightning flashed, thunder boomed, and suddenly there was a deluge so strong we couldn’t see the other side of the cove. The little hummingbird outside the window vanished somewhere safe as giant drops of rain and even a bit of hail swept by. Glorious!

Then we spelunked our way into the cave, where we saw the most adorable little bat and of course wandered through all sorts of gorgeous cave rooms. I love caverns. Our tour guide was pretty funny, too. I think our favorite part was when he turned out all the lights so we could experience real, full dark…and when the lights came back on, Ken and were caught kissing. :-)

Our tour guide had said the storm would be past by the time we finished our tour, and sure enough, the sun was back out—and ‘though it was still pretty humid, it was noticeably cooler (thank goodness!). We stumbled upon a German restaurant near the cavern and had a lovely meal (I went for weinerschitzel and spätzel and a glass of Chardonnay), picked up some more groceries, and now we’re hanging out in the suite drinking (is this becoming a theme?) and geeking out on various computers. Although I just made Pauline laugh so hard her face got as red as the sunburn on her chest. Go me!

Four stars!

Squee! I just got word from a friend that Romantic Times has given A Little Night Music four stars!

It's up on their website, but I don't have access to subscriber areas (never signed up, even though I get the magazine), so I don't know what the review says, but four stars!

[cue mad dancing and flailing about the room]

(And in another major incident of the stars converging, Amazon.com's "buy this book with this other one and get a discount" is pairing our book with...Chuck Panozzo's biography. Holy crap.)

So I had this weird dream, see....

Friday was a lazy day. Ken didn’t have bike work to do ‘til the afternoon, so we slept in and squeaked in for a late breakfast at one of the hotel’s restaurants. I had the most amazing “skillet” dish. For “veggies,” I expected onions and peppers. Nope, there were perfectly steamed carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower, and the hash browns were light and nongreasy, and the eggs were lovely. Best. Skillet. Ever.

In the early afternoon we went down to the fitness center and health spa, and Ken got a massage while I worked out. The exercise area was huge and very well-equipped. I listened to a Rockline with Styx from 2005 on my iPod and nearly fell off the elliptical a couple of times.

When Ken went off to be pit crew, I sat down to write. Hah. I kept turning into the Tasmanian Devil; I’d type a few words and then my head would spin around and weird noises would gurgle out of me, and I’d get up and do something else. Like wander down to the little shop and get Cheez-Its and gummi bears. It’s been years since I’ve eaten gummi bears. Gotta love those little chewy ursine bits of sugar. In sum, I didn’t get a lot of writing done, much to my chagrin. But by the gods, I cleaned out my e-mail In Box!

We had a late dinner with another bike guy, and then we spent the rest of the night repacking all our stuff, because there’s only so much room on the bike… Well, Ken packed. I lounged on the bed and read a book.

The Wild Canid Survival and Research Center (despite the web address, it’s not a sanctuary) was awesome. They have five types of canids there—Mexican grey wolves, maned wolves, African wild dogs, swift foxes, and red wolves—and we saw all five, which they said wasn’t usual. Such beautiful creatures. Smaller than I realized—I guess I think they’re big and bulky like huskies, when in fact they’re smaller, leaner. Simply gorgeous. The African wild dogs were particularly striking with their multicolored coats, and the maned wolf has this lush, thick red fur…

We grabbed lunch after that, then got on the road to Hope and Bob’s. On the way, I saw a red hawk in a tree right next to the on ramp we were on, and then, when we got there, I heard a red hawk call and saw one waaaaay up in the sky. I was quite chuffed to have recognized its call before I even spotted it.

We were immediately set upon by Hope and Bob’s kids, Sam (9) and Jessie (3). Sam remembered us from CA, but Jessie didn’t, given that when she left, she was still essentially a baby, and now she’s this little person. I don’t know about you, but I really didn’t expect a 3-year-old to walk up to me 10 minutes after I arrived and say (and this is pretty close to a direct quote), “Hey. I had a really weird dream the other night. You wanna hear it?” (Of course I said yes. I had to know what constitutes a weird dream for a 3-year-old. All told, it didn’t sound any weirder than any of my weird dreams…)

We all went out to a brew pub for dinner, and then they took us to a hot air balloon festival. Pictures will ensue.

Sunday was quiet; Bob had to leave in the afternoon to travel to a work site, so we took Hope and the kids out to dinner (excellent barbeque), and then we curled up and watched Wallace & Gromit and the Curse of the Were-Rabbit, because after a “Cheese, Gromit!” moment in the car, it came to light that Ken and I hadn’t seen the movie yet. Much amusement was had by all.

Today we made our way leisurely to Tan-Tar-A and checked in to our condo at the resort. It’s so pretty here, the hills covered with trees and the lake glimmering through the leaves, which we can see from our deck. We said hi to a lot of friends, had dinner (I had shrimp and pasta to do for), and popped out to get groceries before coming back to spend a quiet night in. Pictures of the area will be forthcoming when we get home!

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Currently Reading: The Wizard’s Daughter, Barbara Michaels
Lately Listened To: The Serpent Is Rising, Styx
Recently Watched: Missouri scenery

Howl of joy!

Squee! We’re going on a wolf tour tomorrow!

I’ve read about it in Laurell K. Hamilton’s blog ages ago, and totally didn’t process that it was here. Doi. Ken found the info, and now I’m bouncing around the room and squeeing. Only very quietly, because he’s on the phone making the reservation.

Where are we going?...

…How do I get there?/What should I bring along?*

Welcome to LAX, where there are not enough outlets near actual seats—and my back really can’t take sitting on the floor. It’s probably wrong and bad for me to resent people sitting near those outlets and not using them, huh?

I’m off on another adventure! I thought I’d rambled about this before, but folks have asked, so probably that rambling was all in my head. So here’s the scoop.

We’re going on our annual bike trip to Curve Cowboy Reunion (CCR), which this year is being held at the Tan-Tar-A Resort in Missouri. CCR has little in common with Harley rallies like Sturgis. For example, we have whiskey tastings. Oh, and financial seminars… Anyway, it’s held in a different place every year—we’ve been to Tennessee, Colorado, and Wyoming, but we missed Atlanta last year due to Ken’s work. There are usually about 500 riders/passengers and 300 bikes, mostly BMW K12s and other BMW bikes. (Ken’s riding a GT now.)

As you know (Bob), Ken’s been doing a lot of distance riding/rallies, with his ultimate goal being the Iron Butt Rally, held every other year. This year, the starting, midpoint, and end point is St. Louis, and Ken’s helping out one of the riders by changing his tires, doing a tune-up, etc., at the midpoint.

Ken left for Missouri Sunday night/Monday morning (to miss the worst heat of the desert), and is closing in on the state as I type. For a variety of reasons, including my trip to Virginia happening right before this one, I’m flying out and meeting Ken there. (Plus there’s that “avoid riding through the desert in August” factor.) Tomorrow I’ll hang out in the hotel room and work while Ken kicks tires with the riders. On Saturday, we’re heading to visit our friends Hope" and Bob, who moved to Missouri from southern California last year. We’ll stay with them through Sunday.

Monday we head to Tan-Tar-A (which in my head becomes “ta-ran-ta-ra, ta-ran-ta-ra,” thank you Gilbert & Sullivan), where we’ll be sharing a cottage/townhouse/something-or-other with another couple. From then ‘til Friday, we’ll be riding through the Ozarks, exploring caverns, visiting a Victorian castle ruin, hanging out with friends, taking an advanced riders course (Ken) and a self-defense class (both of us)…. And I’ll be working as much as I can.

Friday we’ll go back to St. Louis for the IBR finish and banquet. On Saturday, we’ll head to Arkansas to visit Ken’s 93-year-old grandmother and aunt. At some point after that, we’re going to Texas to visit Ken’s brother, and then I fly home Wednesday.

So, that’s the scoop. You have been illuminated.

<>-<>-<>

Scored an outlet—twelve minutes ‘til boarding. I’ll take what I can get. :-)

<>-<>-<>

The Denver airport notes that the ladies’ rooms are also tornado shelters. I don’t know whether to be disturbed or relieved.

That said, this is the first airport I’ve been in that has visible, clear clocks.

<>-<>-<>

Ken says that while he was riding, he had the iPod on random album shuffle. As he pulled up in front of the hotel, a new album started, with a crowd cheering.

And then Tommy Shaw shouted, “Hello, St. Louis!”

I cannot stop giggling about this…

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Currently Reading: Shadow Game, Christine Feehan
Lately Listened To: airport announcements
Recently Watched: Painkiller Jane, Graham Norton

*Bonus points to anyone who can ID this song!

Maybe the plane is invisible?

I’m on the plane to Los Angeles. I don’t know if I can adequately express how happy that makes me. Even if something messes up the flight to Oxnard, I’m still close enough to get home.

It was a little touch-and-go there, though.

We got to the airport at 5 a.m. today, and the check-in line was unhappily long, plus there was only one person working. I tried to use the express check-in kiosk, but it couldn’t find me, probably because it’s a rescheduled flight. So, finally finally finally I get up there (they’d added a second person by then, and also were asking folks on the 6 a.m. flight to come up first), and I get my boarding passes, and I turn in my suitcase, and I hug Sarah goodbye…

…and I get upstairs to discover the line for security is out the hallway to the gates, and edging down the hallway to other gates. This is not a large airport. I gaped. But I figured I was checked in, I had a little time, etc. Then, while standing in that interminable line, I looked at my boarding passes to discover that all I actually had was a boarding pass for the Chicago to LA flight, and the other two things were some other sort of flight document.

That other thingie got me through security, at least, but as I was waiting for my stuff to come through the screening machine, I heard them call final boarding for my flight. I grabbed my stuff, including my shoes, and ran. And ran. And thanked the gods for my personal trainer and my chiropractor and my massage therapist, even though I thought I was going to pass out. A few months ago, there was no way I could have even tried. As I ran, they made the “…and everybody should now be on board” announcement, and I ran and ran, and they accepted my flight document and gave me a boarding pass and told me to go out that door there and down the stairs to the “silver plane.”

So now I have barrelled out onto the tarmac, in the heat and dark, in my socks, and I cannot find the plane.

There’s a United plane in front of me, but the door’s closed and the stair ramp moved away. There’s a larger ramp to my right with no plane attached. There’s a Delta plane farther to my left. I’m having trouble processing this (as I gasp and wheeze and stare). Would they have given me the boarding pass and sent me out the door if the plane’s door was closed? Would they send me out this door if the plane was somewhere else? I was about to turn around and go back in and cry at the nearest United agent, when a baggage woman across the way shouted at me. I assumed she was telling me to get the hell off the runway, but I said “What?” and she said something along the lines of “It’s that other plane,” pointing at another United plane way behind the one in front of me.

So I ran across the tarmac in my socks and fell up the stairs, and, barely able to breathe because all the moisture has been sucked from my mouth, I gasp an inquiry as to whether this is the plane to Chicago, and it is, and I collapse in my seat and wait for my heart to stop pounding. As it turned out, I wasn’t even the last person to board.

Some time after that, it occurred to me that this was so going in a story someday.

I then had 10 minutes to switch terminals in Chicago, but a lot of people were in the same boat as me. I’m in an exit row, which just feels like the world’s biggest perk to this otherwise insane experience.

Okay, and now I’ve eaten for the first time in six hours. Life is definitely looking up. And I have a massage tonight, which will go a long way towards restoring my sanity.

Ken will be picking me up from the airport! Poor guy rushed home to be able to do that on Sunday. He’s leaving tonight, though, to start heading to Missouri. He was going to do a timed coast-to-coast ride, but decided he’d rather be more prepared. Plus he misses me. So he’ll wait ‘til after dark, when it’s cooler and the traffic has died down, to get through LA and the desert. I turn around and fly back out on Thursday morning. Ack.

The person who was happiest about this whole delay thing was Fiona, Sarah’s daughter. She was just over the moon that she got to spend more time with me. Sarah and I were happy about spending more time with each other, sure, but we also sat around Sunday evening and most of Monday feeling confused, like we were waiting for something, but we weren’t sure what…

<>-<>-<>

Sarah’s and my book signing for A Little Night Music went smashingly. We sold over half the stock ordered by the store, and were the third best-selling book for the store that week! Go us!

I’ve been working away at my urban fantasy novel, which I really have to ramp up progress on if I’m going to get it done by the end of September. I’ve also started an anthology story that I’ll finish off in the next day or two.

<>-<>-<>

Well, I almost missed my Oxnard flight because I went to the bathroom and they boarded the plane in the two and a half minutes I was gone. But I hopped on, and then we were in Oxnard, and Ken was waiting with kisses and Baja Fresh.

I’m exhausted, but I’ve gotten a lot done: unpacked, caught up (mostly) on e-mail, sorted mail, paid bills, done some prep work for our trip. Ken leaves in a few hours. Wah.

Oh, and my massage therapist thought I was going to be away this week, but we’ve rescheduled for tomorrow evening. Phew!

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Currently Reading: Summer Knight, Jim Butcher
Lately Listened To: Bloodletting, Concrete Blonde
Recently Watched: Gowan concert and videos (Still, so shocking.)

Where I'm not

100 for 100
35 / 100 (35.00%)
In the "I could laugh or I could cry" category of life, I'm choosing to laugh about the fact that I should be on the first leg of my flight home right now, but all flights have been cancelled due to the weather, and the first flight they could book me on was Tuesday morning. At least I get in before 1 p.m. local time, so I'll have a day and a half before I leave for Missouri. But I'm pretty sure Ken, who's on his way home right now, will have to leave for Missouri before I actually get home. That's really the truly sucky thing about this. I can cancel my appointments, the cat sitters can continue for a few more days. I just really fucking miss Ken right now.

Oh, and have I mentioned recently how much I love Styx? I love the fact that I can be in the fourth row on the wrong side and at least four band members will spot me and smile at me in a "Hi, you're here!" way, and that Tommy will run out onto Def Leppard's catwalk to hurl a (new! exciting! think green!) tote bag at me. Yup. I love this band.

Outside, in the rain

Hello from sultry Virginia! It’s been warm here, but tonight there are glorious thunderstorms, the likes of which we just don’t get in southern California. Occasionally, briefly, but that’s it. We get a fair amount of winter/spring rain on the coast, but it’s cold and grey. Here, the water droplets are fat and warm, and I kept going outside into the dark night and just standing, smiling, exulting. Amazing cloud-to-cloud lightning, with the storm’s center about 3 miles away. The air hummed with energy; the energy hummed through me.

This evening, before the storms, Sarah and I escaped to a Starbuck’s and plotted out our next two novels as well as figured out how to expand an existing story for another market. Our next collab book will be Designed for Love, the contemporary erotic romance I got 40K into before just losing the threads. I think the problem is the hero; Sarah agrees. It won’t take incredibly much to tweak him, and much of what I’ve written can stay. We hope to finish this in the fourth quarter of the year, for the January 2008 novel workshop in Oregon. (I’m trying to write my urban fantasy, tentatively titled High Spirits, for the October workshop.) I also brainstormed a couple of short story ideas.

Tomorrow we’re either off to the zoo (if it cools down a bit) or a museum. We decided not to try for the caverns, which are 3.5 hours away. Saturday is our book signing and the Styx/Foreigner/Def Leppard concert, and then Sunday afternoon I head home. Ken may actually be there to greet me. I can’t think of anything better. Except that then we’re going to Missouri, where we will explore caverns, as well as visit friends and go to our annual bike get-together, and then we’ll hit Arkansas to visit Ken’s 93-year-old grandmother and Texas to visit his brother before heading home.

I’m going to read for a few minutes now, then turn off the light and listen to the distant thunder…

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Currently Reading: Hell With the Ladies, Julie Kenner, Kathleen O’Reilly, Dee Davis
Lately Listened To: Greatest Hits, Eurythmics
Recently Watched: Gowan concert and videos (I know. Shocking.)

For another 100 days...

30 / 100 (30.0%)

Somehow, I’ve always thought Monday the 13th should be scarier than Friday the 13th…

So, many of the workshops I took at RWA had titles like Killing Your Inner Critic and Figuring Out Your Creative Process and Overcoming Discouragement. I was in a weird place, because in the past I’ve never had a problem with the inner critic/internal editor/etc. But, anyway.

One of the ideas that sparked with me was the “100 For 100” challenge: a minimum of 100 words a day for 100 days. I know that the longer I go without writing, the easier it is not to write (until, at least, I hit the point where I’ve turned into the snarling Tasmanian Devil because I’m not writing). I started this personal challenge the day I came home from RWA.

Now, someone said to me, “I have to write a hell of a lot more than 100 words in a day!” Yes, absolutely, so do I! But the minimum challenge was to get my butt in front of the computer. I was rather surprised to discover how well this challenge works for me. If I set one that’s “I need to write 1000 words a day to finish this novel by X date,” it’s easy enough to miss a day (or a full day, and write something less than 1000 words) because I can make it up later, right? Whereas this challenge, if I miss a day, I have to start over.

Hell, no!

That's apparently my trigger. Who knew? Starting over is just not acceptable.

I started a concurrent challenge to further push myself, 500 words in 50 days, although I’ve missed that once already and have had to start over, which is truly irksome. But my stats for the basic challenge are above, so go me!

<>-<>-<>

I’m off to Virginia tomorrow for a book signing with Sarah, and a plotting of our next novel, and my only Styx concert of the summer (damn those Def Leppard fans stealing all the good tickets!). We’re also going to caves! Caverns! Underground goodness!

<>-<>-<>

Recent writing stats:

• Received comp copies of H is for Hardcore, which contains the Sophie story “Don’t Move” as well as a solo story of Teresa’s. These are the cutest damn books I’ve ever seen. I’m going to have to buy all the ones I’m not in because I must have the full set.
  
• Received the contract for “Party Favor,” which will appear in Dirty Girls.
  
• Submitted a number of returned stories.
  
• Received payment for “Behind the Masque” in Sex With Strangers and for the reprint of “Slow Burn” in Black Lace Quickies 2.
  
• Received a rejection from e-Spice for “Memories for Sale.” I have a couple other stories to shoot out to them, but they all have to be tweaked a little. [Adds note to To Do list.]
  

<>-<>-<>

Thanks to everyone who’ve sent e-mails telling me how much they’re enjoying A Little Night Music!

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Currently Reading: just finished a book, ready to dive into a new one!
Lately Listened To: The Wedding Album, Duran Duran
Recently Watched: Masters of Science Fiction

This summer a star falls. The chase begins.

Stardust was everything I hoped for, and more.

I ended up mostly playing hooky today. Saw the matinee of Stardust with Morgana, Brian, and Tomi. Afterwards, Brian went off to a Heroscape gaming marathon, so the rest of us went to an early dinner at a new steakhouse near the theatre, then Morgana and I wandered back here and hung out 'til nearly midnight. I did get my minimum writing done, but that's it. I'll go back to work tomorrow. Today was play, and that's all good. Especially when Stardust was part of it.

The great contest begins!

The official rules for How Many Styx References Can You Find in A Little Night Music have been posted on the Contests page at my website!

Best of luck, everyone! And have fun!

Earthquake!

A 4.5 in the Chatsworth area, definitely felt here. (Although I might have slept through it if I'd actually gone to bed and been asleep.) The cats didn't notice. Sheez.

I immediately went online and filled out the official form.

When it was happening, I waited to see if it would get worse (sometimes they ramp up), and then, just to be safe, I moved to a doorway. At which point all I could hear was comedian Paula Poundstone's riff, "Oh, like after an earthquake, it's rubble...doorway...rubble...doorway..." Hee!

Anybody else out there feel it?

Happy ALNM US Release Day

A Little Night Music makes its US debut today!

Waasaabii

I was looking for something different for a veg with dinner, and decided to try coleslaw. Last year, we stayed at a Red Lion in Eugene, OR, for Faeriewords, and they had this wasabi cole slaw that was to die for. I wanted them to just bring me a vat of it and back away slowly. But that slaw had mayo in it, and I was looking to make something a wee bit healthier.

I looked up some recipes online, tweaked them to taste, and came up with the following. Which I lurve. Happily, I can make a vat of it and nobody has to back away slowly.

Wasabi Cole Slaw

3 cups shredded cabbage/carrots (I used the bagged stuff, but if I have time I'll shred red cabbage, because it's healthier)
3 tbsp white balsamic vinegar (most recipes call for rice vinegar, but I had the white balsamic on hand)
2 tbsp oil (sesame oil might also be good)
2 tsp brown sugar (most recipes called for more, but that made it too sweet. Bleah.)
wasabi to taste (if wasabi powder, mix w/water)
sesame seeds (optional)
green onions, thinly sliced (optional)

Whisk together vinegar, oil, brown sugar, wasabi.

Toss with cabbage.

Sprinkle on sesame seeds and green onion slices.

(Another recipe calls for lime juice; could be a tasty addition but I haven’t tried it.)

We only bite when requested...

Take a wander over to Lust Bites today to check out an excerpt of Sarah's and my forthcoming book A Little Night Music!

Labyrinthine

Morgana, Brian, Ken, and I went to the Nuart Theatre in LA to see Labyrinth (witness the amazing Goblin War Mullet!) on the big screen again, because the Frouds were going to do a Q&A after the showing. Above is a picture of Morgana and I with Wendy, Toby (the baby in the movie!), and Brian Froud. (They all signed my copy of the DVD.)

Writing bits and bobs

A reader named Emily took the time to send me (well, Sophie, actually!) this e-mail (and gave me the okay to repost it here):

“I read your story in Best Women's Erotica 07 and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to google your pen name, in an attempt to find an email contact. Your story was great for it's purpose (as erotic fiction) but it was also a story I deeply related to. I was particularly moved by the character's struggle with her body image and how her dance class affected that. I look forward to reading more of your writing in the future. Thank you for your story!”

We all write for different reasons. To get the stories out, to get the words out of our heads. For the thrill of seeing our names on the book covers in stores. The money’s nice; the acceptances are always joyful, perhaps even a validation.

Every author I’ve met has pretty much said, though, that even if they knew they’d never see their name in print again, they’d still keep writing.

Striving for publication, though, is another matter. And I can tell you that one of the things we all really want there is communication. To know what we’ve written has reached a reader. (If that weren’t true, whyfore the proliferation of blogs?)

Acceptances: fantastic. Checks: sweet. But a reader taking the time to say “I read your work, and it meant something to me.”?

Priceless. The best gift a writer can receive.

<>-<>-<>

Some recent writing stats, from the last month or so. I’ll try to keep more current on these!

• Submitted lots of stories.
  
• Received the second half of my advance for A Little Night Music.
  
• Received the contract for “In Flight” to appear in Best Lesbian Love Stories: Summer Flings.
  
• Received payment for “Mrs. Claus and the Night Elf,” which appeared in The MILF Anthology.
  
• Received comp copy of Love on the Dark Side, which includes the Sophie story “Stranger to my Shores” as well as a story of Teresa’s.
  
• Received comp copies of Iridescence: Sensuous Shades of Lesbian Erotica and payment for my story, “Just Be.”
  
• Received the contract and proofed story for “The Witch of Venice,” to appear in Screaming Orgasms and Sex on the Beach.
  
• Received the contract for the reprint of “Frozen” to appear in Best Lesbian Bondage Erotica.
  
• Rejection from Kensington for Waking the Witch.
  
• Rejection from Heliotrope for “What Price Beauty?”
  
• Rejection from Clarkesworld for “Heaven Has Eyes.”
  

(And may I just say, it’s exceedingly cool to link to all of those books and think, “Hey, I’m in all of those!”)

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Currently Reading: Wraith, Phaedra Weldon (yes, I know I was a first reader on this manuscript. But the book is different, and I’m gearing up to be a first reader on book two, and it’s a kick-ass fabulous book!)
Lately Listened To: Division Bell, Pink Floyd
Recently Watched: Northern Exposure

Norilana Books

The inimitable Vera Nazarian of Norliana Books has asked friends to put out a plug for said publishing company, which Vera herself started. Seeing as Norliana Books is reviving the Sword & Sorceress series of anthologies, and seeing as Vera did a lovely interview of me in her blog, how am I to say no?

So. Check out this reprint of romance Evermore by Modean Moon, which got a thumbs-up from La Nora herself…

Slosh

Well, not the spiffiest of days. My back continued to hurt, and thus I was out of sorts. Plus, this: Since October of last year, when I read about it in the Endicott Studio blog, I’ve been looking forward—no, craving—to see the Pre-Raphaelite exhibit when I heard it would be coming to the San Diego Museum of Art in May. Of course I planned to see it with my Pre-Raphaelite partner in crime, Morgana, but she and Brian had a busy summer, so there was a lot of shuffling and planning and whatnot. Finally we decided on the weekend of Faeriewords, since they felt they couldn’t shoehorn Faerieworlds into their schedule. Unfortunately, we then had a mis-meeting of minds, with me assuming it would be a day trip and them assuming it would be a weekend jaunt. By the time we realized this last week, there was no way I could take a whole weekend away, especially after a week away at RWA.

So yeah, it hasn’t been the best of days.

On the plus side, I’ve been strangely compelled to do various organizational things, like rearranging the TBR bookcase to fit all the new books from RWA, and putting away all the sewing trim we’re keeping (we’re purging about half of our original stash), and mending, and filing, and story submissions… Oh, and baths with copious amounts of Epsom salts are excellent for catching up with one’s reading. Exactly why don’t I do this every day?

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Currently Reading: Lying in Mid-Air (ARC), Anne Tourney
Lately Listened To: cats purring
Recently Watched: Graham Norton, Painkiller Jane

There is no pain, you are receding...

My darling Meglet visited for a couple of days, and of course I got almost nothing done (because when Meg and I get to talking…). As a result, I’m a bit behind and a bit fretful. Add to that the fact that my back was hurting so much today that I cancelled my appointment with my trainer and went back to my chiropractor for the second time, and the day was largely a bust. Especially because the chiropractor said my muscles were spasming and pulling the bones out of alignment, and I should take a bath with Epsom salts, so I did, but not before popping half of a prescription muscle relaxant from last year.

It’s been a nice, floaty evening, let me just say.

That said, I’ve gotten a wee bit of writing done, and a lot of reading, and tomorrow is another day.

Before I forget, though, go check out the recent Lust Bites review of RWA Nationals, written by myself, Teresa, Kate, Deanna, and Anne.

More tomorrow. For now, I’m taking my loopy self off to bed.

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Currently Reading: Lying in Mid-Air (ARC), Anne Tourney
Lately Listened To: “Hm, what?” she asks dreamily
Recently Watched: Eureka, Painkiller Jane

Pirate Tourney!

Pictures can be found here!

RWA away away (and back again)

Unsurprisingly, I’m writing this on yet another plane. This time I’m on the way home from RWA Nationals, where I’ve been since Tuesday. Dudes. My brain is full. Six days of workshops, 2000 writers (95% female—woah, the estrogen levels in that hotel!), an abundance of food and drink, and not a whole lot of sleep. I met so many wonderful people and reconnected with so many more.

I roomed with the fabulous Christine, the other half of my brain Phaedra, my coauthor Teresa, which was a blast. I was the only one who knew any of them—I was the pivot point friend—but as I suspected, they all got along famously. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time…

I spent some quality time with Teresa’s and Sarah’s and my editor, Adam. Fascinating man, and lots of fun.

I hung out with fellow Lust Biters Kate Pearce, Anne Tourney, Deanna Ashford, and Deanna’s daughter (also a Kate), as well as Michelle M. Pillow and Mandy Roth (a fellow ‘80s aficionado!). I also got to meet the amazing Emma Holly.

Thanks to Phaedra, who took me as her date, I got to go to the Berkley/Penguin/Ace party. Fantastic hors d’ouvres, free wine and champagne, and oh my gods squeak I’m at a party with Nora Roberts!

I took mostly workshops on creativity, on re-finding the joy and refilling the well, although also a few on structure and whatnot. Much of the former was stuff I already knew, but needed to be reminded of, needed to get it to sink back into my subconscious. During one workshop I did have a lovely (dark and sad, though) epiphany about the book I’ve just started. It breaks my heart to do it to my heroine, but I can’t shy away from it.

I’ve been in a writing slump for a while, and just before the conference, when I started to haul myself out of it, I realized I’ve been mildly depressed overall. I didn’t want to write, but I didn’t want to do much of anything, except maybe costuming. As I started to come back to my normal self, I decided to start a new project, go in a different direction to clear out my brain. (Phae, what did you call it? Something about coffee?) Cleanse the palate. So I’m working on an urban fantasy, and it’s different that what I’ve been doing, and I’m enjoying it. I need to just play with it, not worry about whether it’s “right,” explore and learn the book while I’m writing it.

Pictures can be found here—enjoy!

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Currently Reading: Dime Story Magic, Kelley Armstrong
Lately Listened To: the buzzing in my brain
Recently Watched: Dr Who