Busy, busy weekend! My goodness, me!

On Friday, I drove to CT and back. We left at 6 AM, and I was back in the late afternoon, which was great, because I didn’t expect to get back until the evening. And I even managed to stop at the Book Barn in Niantic and in Mystic to pick up a few things!

The Thursday night live chat with my year-long students, brainstorming about the round robin novella we’re doing, was fun. We got to be silly and throw out all manner of ideas, but out of that came some solid elements we can use as our foundation.

Saturday, it was pedal to the metal all day long, working with my students and starting the HEX BREAKER revisions. Driving back on Friday, I came up with some interesting marketing ideas — there’s Jain’s fan base, and that needs to expand. I know more people, and, with the deepening of her character that’s happening in these revisions, she’ll also appeal to a wider audience, without coming across as diluted to her loyal fans. Billy’s been a fan favorite since Day 1, so it will also be Billy-centric. I also worked on the revised outline for HEART-BINDER, did some work on HEART-BINDER, and I’m working on scenario ideas for a few other pieces for this other opportunity. I’ve got a start on one of them — if I can keep up a steady pace with that while not dropping any of the other balls, I should be able to hit a June deadline.

Sunday was my Day of Rest. I needed it. I was wiped out. Okay, so I did a bit of work on HEX BREAKER, and I read the assignment for Confidential Job #1, but I stayed offline! I also wrote about 2500 words on a piece that’s been gnawing at me for awhile, and the character said, “Either give me some attention, or I’m outta here.” So I gave her some attention. I’m hoping it will be a story in the 10-12K range, but we’ll see.

Read a delightful book called SHELF LIFE by Suzanne Strempek Shea, about a writer who takes a job in a bookshop. It’s an MA author talking about an MA bookshop — which, of course, now I want to visit! So well done, and it makes me want to read her novels, too.

Made banana pudding (still needs tweaking) and cooked a nice chicken-and-sage pasta. Sighed over gardening catalogues.

I’ve got a lot of admin work and bill paying to get done, and then it’s time to go get some cat food! Those little darlings have a low provisions in the cupboard, and they’re not happy about it.

All three cats are being very, very clingy lately.
Devon

Three tires.

Yup, yesterday, I had to buy three new tires at the servicing. I was ready to cry when they told me, but I’m also grateful that it was caught BEFORE I start the next six weeks of way too much driving, and nothing bad happened to me on the road. The mechanic gave me a very fair price, and I can trust his work, so I’m glad it all happened there and not at some anonymous place who-knows-where.

So, it was a shock, but it could have been much worse, and I’m grateful for the bits that worked.

Wanted to run some errands in Plymouth, but the whole thing took much less time than expected, so every place I needed was still closed. Came back to the Cape and ran errands here, including doing some market research at Barnes & Noble that made me decide to do this new, potentially lucrative project. I even managed to get 1K of it done yesterday.

Came home to the happy news that Cape Cod Women Online wants me to do a story for their spring issue — I was delighted to accept. Also saw the first pass at the cover art for the new HEX BREAKER — just needs a slight tweak, and it will be there. Much happier with this cover than the previous one. And had a good conversation with my editor. My first-round edits should come through today, so I’ll have to get to work on those, along with everything else. Figures that would all come through as soon as I made the decision to accept the other project!

Got my write-up out to Confidential Job #1, got out a guest blog post, finished critiquing a client’s manuscript and sent back the notes. Caught up with my students in both classes. The student with boundary issues left the class — but of course, I found out second hand. Then, this morning, I discover that individual’s tried to do an end run around me, going to administration to get them to intervene to change the parameters of the rest of the course just to suit this particular individual. Um, no. Again, an action that is completely out of bounds and unacceptable, shrouded in manipulative language. I worked with actors and television producers, some of the most skillful manipulators on the planet. I know manipulation when I see it. And such attempts piss me off, not make me cave.

Speaking of theatre, watched SMASH last night, since I’ve worked with some of the people on it! Production values are very well done, and it’s an interesting look into one view of the process, very different than anything we’ve seen. Theresa Rebeck, who’s a wonderful playwright AND television writer, is writing it, and the quality shows. Still not a fan of Katherine McPhee’s. I’ve always felt she works very hard at coming across as genuine instead of being genuine.

Anyway, my list of what has to get done today is very long, so I better get to it. Saturn goes retrograde today, which means any life lessons I didn’t learn last go-round will come back to kick me in the butt. I think I’ve made a lot of progress in the past year, so let’s hope I keep growing in the right directions!

Devon

Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Waxing Moon
Sunny and cold

Busy day yesterday. Worked on the book. Worked with my students. It amazes me that the ones who complained the loudest and made the most excuses about not writing their 1K/day because they were “working on the short story” or “working on the exercises” are now bitching and moaning because I stripped the January short story requirement and most of the exercises, so that all they’d have to do is focus on the novel with no distractions — they’re the ones now moaning that there’s no short story requirement and not enough exercises in the month. Just can’t win with some people. I have to remember the ones who are quietly working — who are, actually, the bulk of the class. The ones doing the work need the bulk of the attention, not the squawkers.

In any case, I’m juggling the classes, prepping for the Prompt Playground (which should be a ton of fun – a two-hour webinar, which I hope some of you can attend), etc. I’ve got some work to do for Confidential job #1, I’m still in negotiations for that other job, I’ve got to get OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK out to the publisher today, and I’m in the early stages of negotiation for a one-off editing job. Costume Imp and I also have to go to the grocery store for the Big Party Shop, and I’ve got to tackle my office, which looks like a tornado went through it. I’d love to blame the kitten, but it’s my fault, not the kitten’s.

Took my mom to acupuncture and then for her blood test. Costume Imp and I then went to Lavender Moon and got some great stuff (I bought a new tarot deck, yay). We went to lunch at the Beehive (yummy) and then did some grocery shopping. Imp baked a wonderful raspberry cake, and I made a beef stew for dinner.

All good.

Lots to do, RSVPs coming back in for the party — I think it’ll be fun. Somehow, it all gets done. I just have to tackle each piece and then let it fall into the puzzle, instead of running around thinking, “Oh, there’s so much to do, how will I ever get it done?” You get it all done by not dicking around and DOING it.

I’d love to just sit and read the other two Kevin Hearne books. I’m about half-way through HEXED, and thoroughly enjoying that, too.

Devon

Yep, it’s snowing agian. Just flurries, it’s pretty, but I am over it.

Unfocused day yesterday, although I managed to track down the address of someone I used to work with a long time ago and send him a “hey, how are you” missive. He’s been on my mind a lot lately, so I thought I’d reconnect and wish him well.

I didn’t post in the garden journal because “It’s snowing again” just didn’t seem worth a post.

I found some of the really intense, handwritten writer’s rough for CRAVE THE HUNT — thank goodness. I was worried I’d lost it. I still have to find the rest of it, which somehow got separated in the move, but at least I have this in hand, which will help with the next sections, and, if I have to, I can always rewrite the rest of the outline, because I remember where I was going with it. Once the first draft is written, I’ll probably have to do some massive cuts, but I’m just following all the threads here until I see what I have. It’s a complex story, and Billy Root’s fans will be thrilled with the way his character grows — plus there are great arcs for Jain and Wyatt, both as individuals and with their relationship.

Water coming into the basement via the bulkhead, so I had to put a tarp over the top of it, use the wet vac (which the owner left, fortunately), and check every few hours. Had to weight the tarp with the new planters — nice to know they can multi-task.

Found POWER OF WORDS, and re-read the parts of that I’ve written so far. It holds up better than I remembered, although it needs tweaking and cutting. Unfortunately, in the move, the 200+ pages of notes I’d written for it — which CAN’T be recreated — got separated — I’d gone as far as to mapping and the series arc of the piece they’re filming within the piece, and even production schedules, all of which I need handy in order to keep writing. So I can’t do much more on that until I find it in the boxes.

Got out a couple of queries yesterday, which was good, and got paid for an article (day after I sent the invoice — love that) and a workshop. That means I’ll be able to pay some bills before I leave on the site gigs.

Finished the reading for Confidential Job #1 (it’s wonderful); just have to do the write-up, send it off, and send off the invoice.

Decided that the exercises I created for the Setting as Character Workshop aren’t challenging enough, so I’m working on a new set.

Did some Tower of London research,and am finding ways to integrate some of the “fun facts” that even I didn’t know into the scene of the WIP.

My back is getting worse instead of better, which is worrisome. It’s annoying to be limited in what I can do, and being in pain drains away energy that needs to be used for writing. I might have to book an acupuncture appointment here and not wait until I see my regular acupuncturist in NY at the end of the month.

Watched HUMAN TARGET to get my Jackie Earle Haley fix. In spite of the problems with the series, he finds the core of his character, adds specific details, and stays true to the integrity of the character. He can do more with a tilt of the head or an inflection of a word than most people do with a whole page of dialogue, and in a way that enhances everyone’s performance around him, so it’s always worth tuning in for him. The show itself, though, is struggling, and it wouldn’t surprise me if next week’s season finale is also the series finale. The vision feels unclear, like there are too many notes coming in from too many different directions. Now that they’ve added two female series regulars, the writing for them is much weaker than the writing for the female guest stars last season (who were given stronger and more interesting characters to play–even on Monday’s episode, the female guest star had a better-written role than the series regulars, and her chemistry with Mark Valley was off the charts), the creators are not developing them, the creators are diluting the wonderful chemistry between the three male leads, and there’s a lack of balance between the A & B episode storylines and the overall series arcs. Last season definitely had its problems, but it also had an element of fun and a lot of potential; this season just feels unfocused and panicked from the creative aspect of it. I hurt for the people working on it — I’ve worked on shows that are struggling, and it is hard. You want it to work, you have a loyalty to it, you care about what you’re doing, but the people making the decisions and supplying the cash aren’t capable of making the types of decisions that would actually help the show. Every day you go in to work hoping there’s a breakthrough; every day, you get your heart broken. I certainly hope this experience doesn’t turn JEH off from doing television ever again.

My fun lunch was cancelled — the weather’s caused a domino effect, but I’ll have to get out when the roads de-ice a bit to get ink at Staples and print off those manuscripts. They need to go out the door tomorrow.

I’m going to try for a few really focused days at the page — I want the first draft of this book done before I head for CT, so I can spend time down there on revisions.

Back to the page — with an icepack against my back.

Devon

Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Dark Moon
Saturn Retrograde
Imbolc Eve
Snowing

Yep, it’s snowing. AGAIN. I’m a Winter Girl, and even I’m over it! We’re supposed to get two storms back-to-back, pounding us until tomorrow night, so I’m just sitting tight with a stack of good books, some wine, my writing, and the cats!

Yesterday, I ran some errands, had to go to both my little local library and the Cotuit Library to return books. I could have returned them all locally, but I wanted to see if Cotuit had a book on the Tower Of London, because all mine are still packed. They did, so I can use it to jog my memory of my own visit and write the scene for the book due at the end of February there.

Spent most of the day re-reading what I’ve got written on the third Jain Lazarus, CRAVE THE HUNT, and making some continuity notes on OLD-FASHIONED DETCTIVE WORK. They’re both holding up pretty well as far as character, dialogue, setting, plot, stand-alone arcs and series arcs. I need to smooth out some logisitics and get rid of some sloppy writing.

POWER OF WORDS is also giving its siren call, and wants some attention, but I have deadlines, and have to put CRAVE THE HUNT aside until the WIP and the upcoming play are done and out the door. OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK needs to be prepped and ready in the next few weeks, just in case.

I’m kind of using the Jain Lazarus books as my carrot — once I’ve finished my quota for the day, I get to work on them for a couple of hours.

Got some correspondence out and have another big pile on my desk to tackle. Have the possibility of an essay — if I can write it and get it out of the door by Feb. 15, it might be an interesting opportunity.

Did some marketing research for another project yesterday.

Read Susan Wittig Albert’s HOLLY BLUES yesterday, which was pretty good.

I’m hoping the snow will be light enough so I can use the electric shovel every few hours and save my back.

Hop on over to Goals, Dreams, and Resolutions — I’ve got my February To-Do List up there!

Back to the page.

Devon

Monday, January 31, 2011
Waning Moon
Saturn Retrograde
Sunny and cold

Intense weekend, but really worthwhile. Wrapped up the workshop; I’ll miss this batch. The ones that really buckled down and put in the work, I think, got quite a bit out of it.

I spent most of Saturday, twelve hours of it, in fact, revising HEX BREAKER in preparation for submission to a potential new publisher who may put it back in print. I’ve been away from Jain & Co. for awhile now, licking my wounds after the last publisher went out of business, and hadn’t realized how much I missed them. Twelve hours of intense work, some good tweaks, a solid cover letter. I wrote the synopsis on Sunday morning and got it out of the door. Then, I sat down to work on OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK, the second Jain Lazarus. I smoothed out some logistical errors, and, overall, it read better than I expected. I want to sit down and read it through again, in a few days, at a single sitting, so I can make sure there aren’t any holes. It also makes me see where I went off the rails a bit in CRAVE THE HUNT, toning Wyatt down too much. Even though it’s mostly Billy’s book, Wyatt’s too great a character to diminish in any way.

I worked on the Character Bible for the series. I’ve got all the characters from HEX BREAKER in there; I’ll be adding everyone from OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK shortly, and filling in continuity details.

I’ve got a writer’s rough for CRAVE THE HUNT, Book #3, and I know where I want to go with LOVE AND FURY, which is Book #4. I roughed out Books 5, 6, & 7, which is all I see in this tale, although if there’s enough interest, I may go back into Jain’s early days when she was training in Scotland with the close-knit group that she reconnects with as the series grows.

And if this publisher passes, I’ve explored some other opportunities for the series, too. Jain, Wyatt, and Billy are too important for me to just forget about because a company went under. It felt really good to work on that series again.

That’s pretty much all I did all weekend — workshop and revisions.

This morning, I have to get some correspondence finished, work on the book due at the end of February, and run some errands before the next storm hits. This weekend’s wasn’t as bad as they thought, so I’m hoping they’re wrong about the Tuesday/Wednesday blast.

I got my next assignment from Confidential Job #1 and I’m incredibly excited. I hope to dive into that later today, too.

It feels good to find a solid writing rhythm here, and I have such a lovely surrounding for it. The writing room is wonderful. Writing here makes a big difference. Yes, I CAN write anywhere I have to; I prefer writing here, in my own writing room.

Hop on over to Goals, Dreams, and Resolutions to see the January wrap-up.

Devon

Happy Chinese New Year (yesterday). We are now in the Year of the Tiger, and I am a tiger, so watch out!

Got out my deadlined piece by 3:30 on Friday afternoon. I was at a location with a great wireless connection. Even managed to pitch two jobs. Got a response from one almost immediately, and it’s a case where I tripped over my naivete and stubbed my soul. The fact that this ad circulates regularly should have tipped me off. When I got more details — let’s just say it would blow the credibility I’ve built in my review work, and I’ve refused it. I was very diplomatic (hey, I’ve got a learning curve), but firm in the refusal.

Got settled in to the site job, where I don’t have a wireless connection, and have to use their PC — which is fine, it’s just I’m totally spoiled now by the versatility of Mac. So I only use the PC if I have to go online,and I limit my online time — hop on to check messages and that’s about it. The PC is just very unwieldy and difficult for me compared to my Mac. How did I ever get anything done before the switch?

Technically, I had the Olympics on, but I couldn’t tell you a thing about the opening ceremonies. I was putting in the changes to the early chapters of ANGEL HUNT, comparing draft lengths and contents. It was technical work — I’d done the creative work — so I could have the TV on, but I might as well not have. I think I looked up once in four hours. In spite of all the major cuts I’ve made, I also wrote new chunks for the direction the piece took away from its serial plotlines. So I haven’t really cut that much. Re-reading some of the edits, I feel that I take awhile to get to the meat of the scene in some respect, and, in the next pass, I’ll have to strip each scene to its essence. As I worked on the climactic sequence (my first draft of that section), I realized that there’s a huge throughline I’ve ignored and will have to weave in — which means I’ll have to go back and create new sections — which also means cutting even more.

I want the book textured. I do not want it unwieldy.

I spent Saturday working on ANGEL HUNT. The first third of the book is in good shape now, although, in the next draft, I’m still going to go back and make cuts. They will be mostly internal cuts within the scenes — I think there are still a few places where they take too long to get to the point. While, in the original vision, one of the themes was Lianna taking awhile to catch on to certain things and wrestling with her values, there’s way to much going on now for us to see every moment of that struggle. We only need the highlights and lowlights, so to speak,and then we need to keep driving forward. There are sections where it bogs down, and I need to express the same information and emotion, but more succinctly.

I gutted most of Chapters Ten and Eleven, which bridge the first section into the second section, but I think they need more work. In the serial, the scenes in that section raised more questions. In the book, they need to provide revelations. Different formats, which is why adaptation is a challenge.

The second section of the book is pretty tight, and there was only room for some internal cuts. I need to make a few more, but it holds together pretty well. Gaston takes his place of importance, the relationship with Lachlan takes the unexpected turn, Zeke becomes both antagonist and addiction. I remember when I first wrote that pivotal Lianna-Lachlan scene — I was so surprised. I never saw it coming before the scene rolled onto the page, and there are editors who will have fits about it. But it’s integral to the characters and story. And the scenes between them are damned good, if I say so myself! (My crit partner agrees, although the big scene with Zeke in the climactic sequence is the favorite — my partner said it took a good 30 minutes to recover from that one, in the best possible way, so I figure I’m doing something right).

I also discovered why I’ve struggled with the climactic sequence moving forward. I was untrue to one of the antagonists — my choices for his choices in these scenes made him weak and cliched. I figured out how to fix it, which means pushing back the Lianna-Zeke scene by about ten or fifteen pages, but the payoff is worth it.

It also means I’ll have to find material to cut earlier in the book to make room for this sequence. But every other possibility I’ve explored for this antagonist winds up unfulfilling and leaving too many loose ends. I have to stay true to ALL the characters, not just my main and/or favorite ones!

I’m also frustrated because the rights reversion for the first two Jain Lazarus books are taking longer than they should, because the former publisher can’t be bothered to supply the correct legal paperwork. It makes the whole situation uglier, and necessitates me filing breach of contract documentation (I think, at last count, my lawyer and I counted 18 actual breaches), but I can’t offer the books to anyone for reprint rights without proper reversion documentation. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth and makes it harder to move forward with the series. And it hurts the momentum for CRAVE THE HUNT, although I have a publisher who’s interested in taking a look at it, once the damn thing is finished.

On the Olympic front, I was saddened by the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili, the luge athlete, and angered by the way the Olympic Committee was quick to blame the athlete and act like it was more of an inconvenience than anything else. It could have been handled with much more class. I thought Sven Kramer, from the Netherlands, was poetry in motion in long-track speed skating, and was delighted by Apolo Anton Ohno’s silver in the 1500m short track speed skating — I’ve been watching his work since his first Olympics. It’s been wonderful to watch him grow into himself as a person and an athlete. JR Celski’s bronze was pretty great, too. I’m disappointed that they didn’t show the Canadian women’s hockey, which started on Saturday night. Had it worked out for me to attend the games (as in the publications with whom I’d negotiated not gone under), I’d have covered Women’s Hockey and Men’s Hockey, with forays when I could over to snowboarding (which may have been too far away) and speed skating. I enjoy the alpine ski events, too, but they were too far from the rest of the events for me to cover; at least I can watch some of it on TV. The lack of coverage of women’s hockey, in general, frustrates me, which is why I’d so hoped to get to attend and cover these games with a lot of focus on women’s hockey.

At least they showed the USA Women’s Hockey on Sunday afternoon, in their 12-1 victory over China. I felt sorry for the Chinese goalie — she was out there without help, and she did a damn good job.

I also got to see Nordic Combined, one of my favorite events — and kudos to Johnny Spillane for making that beautiful move near the end to get silver.

I wish they’d cover more of the international athletes. I’d like to see an interview with someone like the Italian Nordic Combined athlete Guiseppe Michelli. They mention the names, but, I remember when I watched the Olympics growing up, the broadcasters actually covered the games, not just the US athletes. And would the commentators shut up and let us enjoy the sport, already? The way they drone on about nothing all the time gets really annoying. I want to see the beauty of each sport and get to know the individuals behind them.

By Sunday afternoon, I was really tired and needed a break from Lianna, Zeke, Lachlan, et al. I considered going back to Eddie, but he’s sulking because I’m not giving in and making things easy for him, and I don’t have the patience to deal with him right now.

I was edgy and restless, lots of wandering and muttering. I worked on the essay that’s due today. I want to keep it around 800 words, but I’ve had to write about 3500 to find the right 800. I’ll finish, polish, and send that out today.

It kind of felt like I was waking up after an illness, with the past couple of — I don’t even know if it’s been days or weeks — focused on ANGEL HUNT and REDEMPTION KILL.

Then, there was the Cat Sitter Trauma. I went back home unexpectedly on Saturday to drop off some stuff I finished and didn’t want to have to haul back with me on Sunday. It was obvious the cat sitter hadn’t been there — the apartment was trashed, the food bowls empty, and the litter boxes hadn’t been cleaned. There were no calls from her, and she didn’t answer her cell. I was worried –at first. I fed them, cleaned up, left extra dry food in the self-feeder just in case. When I got back Sunday, it was still obvious she had never been there. Finally, I get a message on Sunday night, “Oh, I’m sorry I wasn’t there this weekend. My boyfriend and I are going through a rough patch; he surprised me with a trip for Valentine’s day to work things out and I went. I hope it wasn’t a problem.”

Um, YES, it was a problem, especially since she didn’t call. I understand that stuff comes up and sometimes one has to cancel, although, in my Lexicon of Responsibility, her excuse doesn’t cut it. A fight with the boyfriend doesn’t constitute “family emergency.” But whether I agree with the why or not, at least call and tell me, so I can make other arrangements. Not showing up is unacceptable — both for the worry caused and for the fact that there were three little beings who needed care. Fortunately, they were cats, not dogs, and have litter boxes and have self-feeders and waterers. But it’s still not acceptable.

I just called back and left a message on her cell saying,” Yes, it is a problem” and cancelling her for the next two weekends. I’ve already made other arrangements.

I was fortunate enough to wind up the gig mid-afternoon on Sunday, which meant I could go back early enough to put the apartment back to rights and also enjoy a nice, romantic Valentine’s evening. All good.

Eddie and I made up this morning, and I’m spending some time in his world today, and finishing the essay for my publisher. It will go up on that site on Thursday — I’ll make sure to post the link before I take off again. I’m unpacked and repacked for this coming weekend’s gig, and I have to go to Costco to pick up some stuff before the next snowstorm hits tonight.

Then, it’s back to the page, the essay and Eddie’s world. I’ll give myself a break on ANGEL HUNT until tomorrow or Wednesday, and then tackle the climactic sequence of the book.

Devon

Thursday, December 31, 2009
Full Moon
BLUE MOON
Mars Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Snowing!!!
New Year’s Eve

Holy crap, another year, another decade gone. Well, I’m ready for the next one. Oh, and by the way, I don’t have time for the world to end in 2012. I have too much to do, and the Apocalypse will have to make an appointment with me like everyone else! It’s really not going to work out until like 2075 or something, so just chill Horsemen, chill.

I would not want to be in Times Square for anything – can you imagine, no toilets? And they don’t let you out once you’re in? Ick. When I had the apartment a block away and could see the ball drop from my window, it was really cool, but as the years progressed, I couldn’t even give a party, much less get home after my show because the whole Square is in lock-down. I’d have to go OUT — which I hated — until 1 AM. I’m so glad I don’t have to do that any more.

It’s snowing like crasy — looks like someone dumped a truck of powdered sugar all over everything. Lovely, especially since I don’t have to go out in it!

Dashed out early to the grocery store, came back, cooked like a mad woman all morning (hush, I can hear the comments all the way over here), packed things up, and delivered where they needed to be delivered, packed in the fridge what’s needed for today and tomorrow, did the errands for my mom, picked up the rest of the ritual stuff, and was home by about 3 PM. Poured a glass of wine and just could NOT face going in to the kitchen to even heat anything up for dinner. I’d had a huge lunch — because I needed the space in the fridge!

I’ve posted my year-end wrap up on the Goals, Dreams, and Resolutions site. Not happy with my progress, but I feel I learned a lot, and if I apply it moving forward, it will have been worth it.

Forgot to mention I watched the Louisa May Alcott documentary/recreation on PBS the other night. Since Louisa is one of my heroines, and one of the reasons I’m a writer, I had to sit down and watch it. I enjoyed most of it, loved Elizabeth Marvel in it, but felt bad because it was obvious they were on a small budget, and those paper animation thingys just didn’t work for me. I feel bad about not loving the whole thing; after all, I know what it’s like to work on a shoestring production budget.

I ran into one of my best friend at, of all places, the gas station, on my way home from errands. Too funny! We both wanted to top off the tanks to start the new decade with full tanks.

My plans today are to stay home and read and write and do exactly as I please. Ritual tonight (blue moon/full moon, after all). Everything’s ready for that, food just has to be popped into the oven. We’ll toast in the New Year with some champagne, and I have to force down some herring before midnight (not fond of herring, but it’s a family tradition for good luck). Lots of yoga, too. I want it to be a peaceful crossing into the new decade!

If you haven’t downloaded “Just Jump in and Fly”, you only have a few more days. It won’t be available after January 6. If you didn’t get to read “First Feet” last year, it’s still available — a Jain Lazarus Adventure influenced by the first footing custom. It’s below the excerpt from OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK, so scroll down a bit. Enjoy!

Have a happy and safe New Year!

Devon

How to Deal with a Writing Saboteur:

Stranger: So, what do you do?

Me: I’m a writer.

Stranger: Oh, I love to read! I’ve always wanted to write, I have lots of great ideas, but I’ve never gotten around to it. What an easy way to make a living! All you do is sit around in your pajamas and make things up. I read all the time Would I have read anything of yours?

Me: I don’t know. What do you like to read?

Stranger: I read EVERYTHING.

Me: (reels off several of the names/titles/publications).

Stranger: You can’t be a REAL writer. I’ve never heard of any of those.

Me: Obviously, you don’t read that much or keep up with hot new releases.

There’s no need to be gracious to someone who tries to disguise jealousy with false enthusiasm.

Because if it’s someone who’s genuinely interested and excited about your work, the person will say, “Oh, I haven’t read any of that yet. Where can I find it?” THAT is an actual reader, someone worth the interaction.

Let’s face it, no matter how much any of us read, there will always be new-to-us authors. That’s part of the fun.

On to our regularly scheduled blogging:

It was really good to be offline for a couple of days. I think I’m going to have to do that more often, whether I’m working on a site or not. I checked email and visited a blog or two on Sunday after I got back, but that was it. Bliss.

I wrote an article on Friday morning before I had to leave for the job. I’ll polish it and send it off today.

The site job went well. The weather was great for the most part, so I got to spend time outside in the warm sunshine. By Sunday, instead of warm sunshine, we had cold rain, but that was fine.

Completed the assignment for Confidential Job #1, and will send it off this morning. It was fascinating. They’re giving me more challenging work lately, which I like.

Got some work done on CRAVE THE HUNT. I need to re-immerse myself in my Iceland trip to get the sensory details right for the Jain/Wyatt chapters set in Iceland – I think there will only be two, but it’s important to get them right. Coincidentally, negotiations have resumed about adapting one (or more) of the Icelandic myths for the stage, so I need to actually sit down and read that doorstop-weight of a book of the Icelandic Sagas over the next few months, taking notes – all 1800 pages of it.

Didn’t do any work on The Lucy Gothic, unfortunately. Mapped out a few other pieces. Had an idea in the car driving to the site for something – very strong opening scene, good characters, etc. The problem is that I don’t know why these characters are brought together or for what purpose. I’ve got a group of dynamic individuals in search of a plot, and, until I can figure out that plot, there’s nothing I can do, because it will just all fall apart. I jotted down some notes, and it’s put away.

Worked on a couple of outlines, which should be ready to go out the door this week. Went over a proposal I’ve got to submit today, and did the groundwork for another proposal I hope to get out this week. Worked on the newsletter — I’m combining March and April. I hope to get it out later today.

Also, once I got home, I managed to do some house-and-hearth stuff, including six loads of laundry and re-arranging some books. I’ve got some seeds to plant on Thursday, the next planting day on the lunar calendar. Someone moved in next door, into the apartment recently vacated by the Nasty Neighbor. I haven’t met the New Neighbor yet, but New Neighbor has a lot of bookcases and boxes of books, so I bet we’ll get along.

I re-read one of my favorite writing books, as fuel, one which I haven’t re-read in about two years. And was deeply disappointed. Whereas two years ago, although I didn’t find many of the techniques/exercises personally useful, I found the book detailing them fun and energetic. Now, I find it neurotic and filled with yet more ways to procrastinate. The words on the page haven’t changed, obviously, but where I am in my overall writing has changed a great deal. It’s interesting to see how much progress I’ve made on my own journey, but disheartening that I’ve “outgrown” this particular writer’s suggestions.

Read Colleen Gleason’s WHEN TWILIGHT BURNS, one of her Gardella Vampire Chronicles. I’d never read any of her books before. I enjoyed it – the contrast between Regency lifestyle and vampire hunting is strong. I like the characters a lot. I kind of felt like I was dumped in the middle of the wilderness without a map at times because it’s several books into the series. There were hints of what happened in previous books, so I think I’ve figured the overall series arc to this point, at least the basics; when I read the other books, I’ll find out whether or not I’m right. I liked the choice of not putting too much information about the previous books in it, and the way tidbits were woven in organically — I just felt I missed a lot. Part of it was reading when tired, but that’s the way it was. Characters are great, it’s well-plotted, the pace is good, the storylines are well-woven. All in all, I enjoyed it a lot, and I look forward to reading the other books in the series. The only thing that irked me was it’s yet another depiction of Lilith in a particular way. I’ve got a very different view of the Lilith myth, so every time I see this choice, especially in a book written by a woman, it puts me off a bit. But that’s a personal interpretation choice, which has nothing to do with the high quality of the writing. She’s got the right to create any mythology she wants (and she does it well), and it’s up to me how I respond.

I booked another job for next weekend, which will be tons of fun. Plus, the place I stay when I’m on that particular site has a fabulous kitchen, so I get to do some serious cooking along with everything else – there’s a great grocery store nearby, so I can stock up on my way in.

I have to be focused and productive this week, juggling my deadlines with client projects, but I’m looking forward to a productive week without too much paperwork B.S. I do have to have an unpleasant conversation with one of my editors at some point, but I’m being jerked around and I don’t cave to emotional blackmail; I’d rather get this sorted out sooner rather than later. I fulfill my contracts to the letter, and I expect the same from the other side of the table.

I also have to take my car in at some point for the state inspection. March is nearly over!

I will be offline on Wednesday, April 1. Not only do I loathe April Fool’s Day (the majority of so-called “jokes” usually have an undercurrent of cruelty to them, which I find inexcusable), that’s the day the Conficker worm is rumored to unleash, infecting millions of computers. And, since we know I can’t trust McAfee to do what I pay them to do and actually protect me, and since I tend to have computer problems anyway, I’m staying offline. This morning, McAfee is, of course, totally out of control. Again. And heaven forbid customer service or even the executive office can bother with the basic courtesy of a response to my numerous complaints.

When I return to the online world (hopefully, if the computer doesn’t self-destruct the following day as soon as I try to connect to the internet, which is a possibility), it will be the Sixth Anniversary of Ink in My Coffee. I can hardly believe it.

I expect to be online tomorrow.

Devon

I started work on the anthology story to replace the anthology story that didn’t fit the guidelines. I checked the website, and nearly had a fit at first – it looked like they’d changed the guidelines since last week for something due before April 1. Reading the site more closely, I realized that they now list calls for two very similar anthologies with dates very close together.

However, I’m not sure I want to participate. Something feels off. So I think I’ll pass. What a relief! If all of these characters call strongly to me, I will probably write their stories anyway at some point, but I just don’t feel that now is the right time for them. And something about this particular anthology set off warning bells, although I can’t put my finger on it.

I immediately felt better. It’s not under contract, so I’m not breaking any promises. Sometimes one focuses so much on getting work out there when one needs to prioritize what that work consists of.

I made solid progress on the first act of FEMME FATALE. It’s much darker than I expected, and I have to go back and brighten it a bit. This is supposed to be COMIC noir mystery, after all. I’m making it happen with five characters instead of six, which creates an interesting dynamic.

Ran some errands. Picked up a stack of books at a library sale – nothing like walking off with 8 books, some of them hardcovers, for only $2 to make you feel like a smart shopper! Read one of them, another Donna Leon, SUFFER THE SMALL CHILDREN, last night. I love her books. If you like well-crafted mysteries and/or are interested in contemporary Venice, these books are fabulous.

Got some work done on Chapter 13 of CRAVE THE HUNT this morning. I don’t want to get too far back into it, since I won’t be able to work on it all weekend. But I set up a few things that will be supported later. Just a few tight pages, but necessary. Now, I can move on to Chapter 14, with Jain and Wyatt in Iceland, while things start to spin out of control for Billy in Scotland.

I’m packed. I’ve got a couple of things to do this morning, a few bits to clear off and maybe get a bit done on FEMME FATALE. After lunch, I head to the site job. I’ll be offline probably until Monday. I may get back online at some point on Sunday, but I doubt I’ll post anything new until Monday.

In addition to the work I’m paid to do on site, I hope to have time to work on The Lucy Gothic a bit, sort out the dream from the other night into a viable outline, and figure out a couple of other pieces. Of course, I’m taking the yoga mat with me. And the assignment for Confidential Job #1.

I’ve sorted out the article in my head, so I may start it this morning and then polish it when I get back, so it can go off first thing Monday. It’s supposed to be a lovely weekend, so I hope to spend a little time outside as well.

McAfee, is, of course, out of control again this morning, so I don’t know how much I’ll actually get done. I loathe McAfee, Dell, and Microsoft. They’re all hateful, and, in my experience, committed to wringing as much money out of their customers as possible without providing the services for which they are paid.

Have a good one, everybody!

Devon

Visit the SDR Blog site, where I’ve got an article up about “Bringing Back the Joy”. We get caught up in the “have-tos” of the business aspects. It’s important to remember why we started down this path in the first place, and keep balance with “want-tos”.

And don’t worry – of course Elsa got some roast chicken! So did the twins. Believe it or not, I actually have a couple of cat cookbooks (as in, preparing cat food – remember the contaminated pet food scare a couple of years ago?) and plain roast chicken is high on their list.

I had to switch Elsa’s follow-up vet appointment from today until Monday because we’re still digging out from the storm. And let me tell you, digging out the car was no fun!

More a business-oriented day than a creative day yesterday. Got out some pitches, got a lead on teaching job, so I have to get that proposal out soon. Worked on some corporate proposals, some client projects, etc. Even though I’m juggling a good roster of work right now, I’m determined to keep up the pitching/marketing. One of my biggest weaknesses is to drop off on the pitching/marketing when I’m busy, which means there are draughts – draughts I certainly can’t afford right now. So, I just keep at it, while knowing that I don’t have to be frantic and just take anything. For instance, I got a quick response to one of the pitches I sent out. The response sent up red flags. The way it was worded indicated to me that my original materials were not read, and also, I have a feeling that this client wants someone to work for free (in spite of what was promised in the ad), because, after all, this is “art.” I paid those dues when I started out in the business, I am paid for my work now. Period. When I want to do pro bono work, I go out there and work with an organization about which I am passionate. Not with an individual of whom I’ve never heard. The insinuations and talking around topic angered me. I’m also feeling a little run down, so I’m going to take it fairly easy over the next few days and not push too hard.

Another wrench was thrown into the schedule when some paperwork came up in connection with my grandmother’s death. Some of that spills over into today. I’m lucky I have a quick learning curve or I’d be completely confused, but it also brings up the sadness at her loss. I’d much rather have her here, healthy, and happy.

Got the grocery shopping done – I’d run out of coffee, among other things. Fortunately, I had some iced coffee tucked in the fridge, or yesterday morning would have been a crisis. This morning, I have a nice, hot cup of coffee next to me (I drink a whole pot in the morning), and I’m feeling fairly coherent, although I didn’t get much sleep.

Elsa had a rough night last night, which meant I had a rough night last night. She seems a little better this morning, but we’re both exhausted.

In the half-daze between sleeping and waking throughout the night, I came up with some more scenes for the Billy Root story. Now I have to figure out where to put them. And, one of these days, I need to come up with a kick-ass title. I’ve got the title for the fourth book already – and Jain crosses some serious lines in that one. But we’re still in this book, Billy’s book, and Billy’s got quite a journey still to travel.

So, back to Billy. And then back to the plays and the revisions on ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT, and the client projects that need attention today.

Devon

Sorry for the link problem in yesterday’s post. I have a separate post under this one with the full and direct link.

Lara, do you mean refunds? The tax return is the paperwork WE send to THEM. It would be great if tax RETURNS were cancelled this year, but I don’t think any of us will get that lucky. Some states have told their residents that they won’t receive a refund this year on the STATE level – remember, on the FEDERAL level, all those new tax cuts as part of the stimulus (I’m not sure which tax cuts take effect when – haven’t read the bill that far). The feds HAVE to give us those. The law differs from state to state, but I believe citizens can challenge the legality of withholding state tax refunds. If citizens have overpaid their taxes, the state can’t just say “too damn bad, we’re keeping your money because we were too stupid and corrupt to manage our budget.” Whether anyone will bother to challenge this is a different story. States are receiving billions of dollars in money from the federal government – so there’s definitely a case to be made. But nothing will happen if the rank and file citizens – EVERY rank and file citizen – can’t be bothered to take fifteen minutes to tell their representatives the way it’s going to be. They are OUR employees – especially now, with this stimulus package signed into law – not the other way around.

The morning was frantic yesterday, mostly because the computer ran like crap and McAfee kept hijacking it and crashing it – yeah, eventually, I’m going to have to hire someone to come in here and surgically remove it, because it refused to uninstall or let me put in any other antivirus protection. But I got a lot done, and got out the door a little after 10:30.

Did the errands, got the assignment out to Confidential Job #1, did the grocery shopping, had lunch with my mom, spent the afternoon at a friend’s doing laundry, listening to Mozart, and reading THE NEW YORKER, then cooked dinner there for us, and headed back home to get the bag packed for today.

I’m on site job today – should be fun, won’t be online until tomorrow. I should be able to get some writing squeezed into the day, which is good, but probably won’t get back until 10 or 11 tonight.

The cats are not amused.

I’m excited about the Billy Root story again – there’s a really interesting plot twist that just came up that opens a whole new realm of possibilities for Billy. This morning’s session on the story was on fire – over 2K. I definitely have to go back and plant a few things in previous chapters, but now I see the overall arc, how it fits into the whole Jain Lazarus mythology, and how the two sections of this book fit together. Plus, Billy’s growth in the book is enormous.

Off to work. Have a great weekend!

Devon

21 / 60 (35.0%)

Billy Root story – 21,571 words out of est. 60,00

Promised links pertaining to current events:
Several people wanted to know where they could get some unvarnished content on the stimulus bill. It’s up at the Government Printing Office:

http://www.gpo.gov

with the direct link to the text of the bill here:

http://fdsys.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-111hr1ENR/pdf/BILLS-111hr1ENR.pdf

Yes, I will be reading it in its entirety. If there’s something worth saying about it here, I will. It’ll take awhile, it’s long, but, reading a few pages at a time, I will read it in its entirety, because only then do I have the information to responsibly comment on it. Of course, one of the bonehead representatives claimed it was “over 1100 pages” and that “nobody read it”. Um, then, why was ANYONE voting on it? We pay these people enough so that they can sit down and read the frigging legislation before voting, not spread lies from the sound bytes put together on a partisan level. And you know what? The people I pay to represent me actually DID read the plan before voting. Someone had to read it because someone had to write it and argue about it. It’s only 407 pages in the PDF format (only! Ha!), but the print is pretty tiny, so I suggest viewing it at 125%. I skimmed the first few pages, because I’d heard complaints that it was difficult to understand. I know five year olds who could read and comprehend the first couple of pages. But, of course, you can’t understand something you haven’t read.

You can also track the budget here:

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/index.html

and if you want to track how the specific stimulus money is being spent and compare it to what’s laid out in the bill, so you can let your representatives and senators know what you agree and disagree with, so that they can actually represent you, the link is here:

http://www.recovery.gov/

And if you want to track how your representatives vote, to make sure they aren’t doing one thing in Congress and coming home to spread yet more mis-information, you can go to the website for Congress and find records of the roll call votes in each house. Not every vote is a roll call vote; quite a few are by voice. But on major issues, someone usually demands a roll call vote so that it’s a matter of public record where each person stands and how they voted.

http://www.congress.org

The media’s giving me a headache about it all, no matter what side they’re spinning, and I’d rather use these resources to get my own information and make my own decisions. And then make my views known to the people who represent me. I’m not allowing the government to destroy everything I spent my life building, the way they tried over the past eight years.

Life, writing, etc.:
When is an apology not an apology? When it’s an editorial in the NY POST. What a joke. If you say you’re going to stand behind something, even against opposition, then do it. Don’t pretend you’re maybe sorta apologizing for something for which you aren’t in the least sorry. I have to say, I was curious about the whole protest-at-the-Post thing. The Post is a TABLOID, not in just the shape the newsprint they use, but in content. Controversy is their crack. If people want to send the POST a message, not buying the POST sends a much stronger one.

I have to say I’m glad that those NYU students have locked themselves into the cafeteria as a protest about – well, heck, whatever it is that they’re protesting. The news has been rather vague. It’s nice to see some social activism happening again, but they need to communicate their position clearly, and somehow, I don’t think those You Tube videos are necessarily going to do it. NYU is, of course, handling it with its usual lumbering lack of anything resembling grace or intelligence. I had some great times at NYU, I had some great teachers (some of whom I’m still in contact with 20 years later). But the administration is just eye-rollingly out of touch with reality, and has been as long as I’ve known the institution.

Too bad more people aren’t protesting, especially against the banks.

Just an aside on the Government Printing Office. I first heard about them in elementary school, when we took a trip to the United Nations (one could still listen in at the General Assembly sessions then, dialing the headphones to all the different languages), and I saw the stacks and stacks of publications on various topics. I used to use them to write papers throughout elementary and high school – topics like NASA, aviation, geography, agriculture, etc., etc. So, if you have kids who have to write reports, it’s a pretty wonderful resource. And, of course, for writers, it’s a great resource. The publications can point you towards hundreds of primary sources for your work.

I felt about as creative as wilted lettuce yesterday. I managed to get some work done on the revision of ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT, incorporating the last few days’ research into the piece. Now, I’m struggling with inconsistent points of view. Odd numbered chapters need to be from Morag’s POV, even from Simon’s. But I’m finding a lot of inconsistencies, and I have to fix them. Otherwise, I’m jumping around heads too much, and it doesn’t work. I can also see where each day’s work stopped, because there’s a lot of choppiness in the first draft. It’s an excellent learning experience to break it apart and make it work, but it’s much more complex than I originally thought.

Finished the assignment for Confidential Job #1. Will polish the write up and send it off this morning.

Did some research for the Billy Root story (yes, there are times where I have to research). I still haven’t quite figured out how to bridge the two sections of the book, but I think, in the next couple of scenes, I can put in a few things that seem like fleshing out the time and place, but are really setting up the second half of the book.

Couldn’t get the knot out of my shoulder. Weight training last night helped – I had a great work out session of weight training and then yoga. But I would up taking a couple of valerian root capsules and using a heating pad. That helped a lot, but it’s still not completely released, and it’s affecting my neck and head.

New Jersey had three earthquakes in the past three weeks, and now has reports of red lights dancing in the sky that no one can figure out.

I got to watch BURN NOTICE last night. I enjoy that show so much – it’s clever and I love the cast, although I wish they’d change up the weekly structure a bit. I’m starting to get ahead of it, and can predict what will happen by looking at the clock. I’m learning a lot about script structure, though.

LOST just makes me roll my eyes. I’ve tried to watch the new season, because I like the actors and their scene work, in spite of feeling that the creators mess with the audience just to mess with them. I keep saying, “oh, no, they’re NOT going down that road, they’re just NOT” and then they do. I’m ahead of it all the time. They’re supposed to surprise me and they don’t. I stopped watching the show because I felt the creators were messing with the audience and because, of the three possible roads they could have chosen at the end of whatever season it was (I think it was Season 2), they chose the one I disliked the most strongly. I really like the cast, I really like the individual scenes, but overall, the show just isn’t working for me. I realize I’m in the minority, and I’m glad so many people love it (hey, it’s keeping a couple of hundred people employed in this economy, which is a good thing), but I want to be surprised and engaged in the overall piece, not just because I like the actors, and I’m not.

Today’s agenda includes: Errands , bills to pay, groceries to buy, laundry to do, some time spent outside. So I better have a really, really, REALLY productive early morning stint, because that’s my only shot at the computer all day.

Hope you all have a great weekend. And, if you haven’t stopped by The Urban Muse to read my article and comment, please do. Last time I checked, no one left a comment, and I’m feeling abandoned.

Devon

Billy Root story – 19,348 words out of est. 60,000

19 / 60 (31.7%)

So, yesterday was the celebration of the 200th birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin. Both men were typical Aquarians – independent thinkers.

Today is my debut as a contributor on Sole Struck Fashions. Unfortunately, I couldn’t post because of some sort of error, but I sent the post to my editor, so hopefully she can get it up soon. It’s a piece called “Don’t Throw That Out!”

Woke up this morning to the news of that horrible plane crash into a house outside of Buffalo. Everyone on board the plane is reported dead, as well as one person on the ground, in the house into which the plane hit. Those poor people, those poor families, and that neighborhood! What bothers me about the coverage, on every single station around here is they all refer to the “female pilot”. The pilot is the PILOT – stop making an issue of gender. The plane didn’t crash because the pilot was female. We don’t yet know why the plane crashed, but I seriously doubt it had anything to do with the pilot’s gender. We’re supposed to have evolved beyond that kind of casual sexism.

I expect more from people who have the reputation for being journalists with integrity. I guess I shouldn’t.

Brenda, to answer your question, I got my information from The Senator I Trust. New York has two senators, One I Trust and One I Do Not Trust. I had questions for the Senator I Trust and got response. I still want to read the bill in total and make my own decisions and ask more questions. (Gee, you think I’ll have questions or disagreements with pieces of it? ) As of last night, when I had to get off line (in the middle of something, no less), it was not yet posted because they’re still working on language. I believe it will be up on the White House Site, but if not, the bills eventually end up on the Government Printing Office site. There are a lot of excerpts that have been circulating and misquoted. When I do have a legitimate link to an unvarnished copy of the legislation, I will post it.

What’s frustrating is that I want to read legislation BEFORE it’s passed, so I can make my opinions known to those I pay to represent me. Sometimes, that means poking around the Congressional Site, especially the pages for my representatives. There must be a site that simply posts bills that are in legislation, before passage, but I’m not sure what it is. YET.

Today, unfortunately, is not the day I have to track it down.

Living in the Land of Just Not Getting It: Someone on one of the boards I frequent mentioned disappointment that her blog wasn’t getting lots of traffic and wanted people to stop by. I clicked over, only to see it posted that this person “doesn’t have time” to blog until April. Um, so why should we come by NOW? And keep coming by if there isn’t any new content until April? Honey, you claim to be a writer who uses your blog as a marketing tool. That means MAKING time to regularly update the blog as part of your JOB if you expect to build and hold an audience.

Work was fine yesterday. Got a lot done on The Lucy Gothic. Had a lot of interruptions all day, as I expected, but it was fine and all worked out.

The wind storms around here were terrible, and resulted in several fatalities. In my location, there was a partially glassed in ceiling, and it was rather frightening to watch the trees bend as far as they did and sway. At one point, I had to drive about fifteen minutes to pick up something and bring it back. The drive took nearly an hour because I had to keep stopping the car to drag tree limbs out of the road. Fortunately, it was all stuff I could move.

For awhile, the sky took on that greenish-gray-yellow tinge that does not bode well, and I wondered if we’d have to scamper into the cellar for awhile. It’s not usually tornado country around here, but the way the air and clouds were moving, it looked like a possibility. Fortunately, it all smoothed out. But it was scary driving home late last night. It also didn’t help that the majority of drivers around here (mostly in SUVs, I might add), in this densely populated area, seem to think it’s fine to use their fog lights in traffic. Uh, no, it’s against the law, and it causes accidents. So that made the drive back even more challenging.

Got home later than I expected, and was too tired to do much except unpack the food that needed to go back into the refrigerator and get to bed.

I have a lot to do today, since it’s my one day at the home computer for the next several days, and, of course, the computer is not cooperating. Typical. The McAfee is the biggest problem – again – hijacking, freezing, and crashing the computer while it “updates” – for about four hours. That’s been the average daily update lately – four hours, with no way to override it. And heaven forbid that McAfee actually provides the customer service to fix it. After all, who am I? Only a customer who PAYS for their service. I’m looking into some of the other virus protectors that readers have suggested – thank you. I’m hoping that, when I get my new computer, it will be close to the end of the McAfee subscription anyway, and I can just dump it. Meanwhile, I’m tracking the time and money they cost me every day.

I’ve got a bunch of correspondence to get out, some pitches to send, and some proposals for workshops to prepare, all of which need to go out today. Then I have to unpack and repack for the weekend. I thought I was leaving at noon tomorrow, but now it looks more like around 10 AM – and no computer/internet access until I get back, so I’ve got to get a lot done.

I hoped to get some work done on the Billy Root story, but didn’t this morning, so I doubt it will happen. I’m having a relationship dilemma about him – he’s supposed to be torn between two women, but I’m not sure how far to take the relationship with each of them – and a completely different woman, who is a fairly important character, seems to emerge as a better choice for him. The only way I’m going to figure this out is to write my way through it and worry about what the editor will think later. The editor’s not every going to see it until a few drafts in, when it will be quite different from anything I’m currently thinking.

I’ve already got the title for the fourth book, and a rough outline. It will focus on Jain and Wyatt, tying up some unfinished business begun in the book about to release and taking their relationship to a whole new level.

With any luck, I can be focused this morning and get some work done on the revisions for ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT this afternoon.

I’m back into the groove with The Lucy Gothic, I think, which is good. I was worried I’d lost the thread, there, for awhile. I’m behind in the typing – I’ve got over 110 pages in longhand, I’m well into Chapter Seven, but only have the first two chapters typed.

And somewhere in all of this, the plays need attention.

I really want a day off, but that’s not going to happen for awhile. This is one of those cases where, in spite of being a freelancer, I don’t get to take a day off because I want to. Things need to get done first and THEN, maybe some time next week, I’ll take a day and just BE. I prefer doing that during the week, because everyone’s trapped in their cubicles, and it’s easier to hang out. Then I can stay in and write while everyone else frantically rushes around all weekend getting caught up on everything they couldn’t do all week.

Today, for your amusement, I do my imitation of a Hamster on a Treadmill. Wish me luck!

Fortunately, I LOVE Friday the 13th, I think it’s a fun, wonderful, positive day, so in spite of all the “have to’s”, I intend to have some fun this evening. And how great is it that there’s a Friday leading into Valentine’s Day?

Valentine’s Day, to me, is more than just commercialized push at romance. It’s a chance to say to people that they matter.

So, in case you feel I haven’t appreciated you lately – Hey, You Matter!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Back to the page.

Devon

Yesterday was a slow writing day, but a decent one. I got some work done on The Lucy Gothic; I got some work done on the Ocean Fantasy, especially when it comes to outlining. I’ve got this amazing world, strong characters, and I have only the vaguest idea of what’s going on IN it. I wrote the prologue for it, I’ve got part of the first scene, now I have to do some plotting before I can actually write. I worked on the monologues — I may toss a lot of them and start over when I get home.

I got my errands done, checked on the cats, got back before the storm hit. Since the storm hit hours later than predicted, it really wasn’t that bad, thank goodness.

Received the next assignment for Confidential Job #1 and started it — will try to turn it around this weekend. So far, it’s really fascinating.

Found some jobs to pitch, but can’t do that until I’m home tomorrow, because I can’t use my flash drive here.

Great yoga sessions last night and this morning. I did an immunity-boosting sequence last night, because with the weather fluctuation and me being run down, I started to feel like something was gathering that shouldn’t. And I think I’ve gotten rid of it.

Today will be a day of interruptions, but then I get to go home late tonight and be home for a whole day tomorrow, before heading off to another site job for the weekend (without internet access).

I’m hoping it will be a good writing day, and that I can pack a lot into tomorrow at home.

I’ve really enjoyed this gig, but I’m ready to be home. And back to the plays. They’re tugging at me, wanting attention.

The stimulus package is going to help New York enormously and quickly, including saving several hundred jobs in the teaching and health care fields, and there are infrastructure projects ready to go that just need the funding greenlight, which will create thousands of jobs with additional support jobs, which then also mean people go to delis and stores on their breaks, which means people in those delis and stores keep their jobs and don’t lose their stores. The MTA is getting some funding, too, which means maybe they won’t make a 25% rate hike in June, which would prevent a lot of people from getting to job interviews, if not the actual jobs. A 25% hike on my train fare means, for instance, that it costs too much for me to go in and work a single day on a Broadway show. If this stimulus plan works the way it’s intended, it will actually make it possible for me to work shows occasionally — once something comes in on which to work. THIRTEEN shows have now closed.

I still want to read the whole bill — and I’m going to do it from the Congressional website, where it’s actually accurate, not from a pundit site that pulls out bits and pieces to illustrate whatever point it’s trying to make.

I want to read the straight text, not excerpts with editorial comments.

Because if there’s stuff in there I don’t like, those I pay to represent me will hear about it! And they’ll also get a thank you for the stuff that I like. Because then, yes, they truly are representing me, and they should know it.

Back to the page.

Devon

PS I saw the rough of the cover art for OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK. I love it, love it, love it! Wow! I’m thrilled. Will share it as soon as it gets final approval.

I forgot to mention, earlier this week, that we’re getting into Chinese New Year, and that it’s Year of the Ox! Happy New Year! I could use a little oxen strength right about now.

Pitched for four jobs yesterday, caught up on a lot of business stuff, spent a good portion of the day trying not to get annoyed by the renovations they’re doing in other apartments in this section. Because you all know by now how I react to repetitive noise. “Not well” is an understatement. However, between the yoga and the MP3 player, I’m getting by.

I think I want to do some more work on ELUSIVE PRAYERS, not just the tweak at the end. I think I can take it farther, make it much more than it is. What I want to do is refrain from taking too much focus from Brother Joseph. I need to go back and re-read some of the WIDOW’S CHAMBER episodes to recapture some of his raffishness. He’s much more focused and more pious in this story, and I’m not sure it serves him well.

I found an interesting market for some of my work, but their guidelines contradict themselves. I sent them an email pointing it out and asking which I should follow – which could knock me out of contention should I submit, for the mere audacity of questioning, but if that’s the case, we shouldn’t be working together, right? Better to know now than later.

Start putting together your wrap-up for the January GDRS and putting together your list for February, then come visit over the weekend on the site.

I’m actually pretty happy with what I got done on my list.

The weather was dreadful, so I just stayed tucked in at home, getting things done. Today’s weather is a bit better, so I will venture out to do a thing or two.

Read Edward Marston’s THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE yesterday, a mystery set in London during the reconstruction after the Great Fire. I enjoyed it, it was interesting, the historical detail was good, but I kept getting ahead of it.

Got to put a polish on the work for Confidential Job #1, and then it’s back to the page. I had a really good morning’s work on the Billy Root story. I’m getting into the flow of it again, and figuring out how to tie the two separate sections together.

Devon

Billy Root story (Jain Lazarus Adventures) – 12,939 words out of est. 60,000

12 / 60 (20.0%)

So Mercury IS retrograde, which explains just oh, so much.

I felt so badly for the lovely people at my local pharmacy yesterday. I tried calling in a refill for one of my mom’s prescriptions in the morning. Couldn’t get through. Called the main number to let them know, and they were nice enough to take it down on that line. When I went to pick it up, they couldn’t find it, even though the record was noted as “completed.” I told them to take a breath and not worry, a few minutes’ wait while they looked for it was no big deal. They were really scrambling with everything, which is completely unusual, because they’re always organized. And they’re always NICE, which means when they have their designated Rough Day, one cuts them slack. They’ve earned it. They eventually found the order, and it was all good.

Ran around and did all the necessary errands I would have normally spread out over the week, since we’re supposed to get another 3-6 inches of snow tonight into tomorrow. So, if it’s nasty out, I don’t HAVE to go anywhere.

The publisher told me to figure on a late summer release date for DIXIE DUST RUMORS, which sounds PERFECT.

I’m seriously thinking about joining SCBWI. Those of you who are members, would you share the positives and negatives with me?

I pitched for two jobs yesterday that, should I get them, would be tons of fun. If the money sucks, I’ll have to say no, but if the money is decent . . .tons of fun. I heard from one of the jobs this morning – they filled it, and now wished they hadn’t, because they think I’m better qualified; so we’re going to keep in touch and if something opens in the future, we’ll talk again.

So Citigroup got $45 billion in TARP money, none of which has gone to help consumers; instead, they’re spending $50 million on a new luxury corporate jet. I urge everyone to take the 5 minutes it takes to send an email to your senators and representatives to demand action on this. Citigroup should not get ONE PENNY more of bail-out money; not only that, this action should forfeit the money received, and they should be forced to return it. They shouldn’t have ANY corporate jets; let them take mass transit. This notion corporate executives have of their inflated importance, and that they must fly in private jets in case of terrorist attack, is ridiculous. No one wants ANYONE to die in another terrorist attack, but let’s face it, separate from that fact, if these corporate types do, the only ones who will mourn them are their friends and family – just like any other death. All of these companies will continue to run – and some will run better – without these top executives. Getting killed in a terrorist attack is not the way anyone wants to see them removed from their positions, but that fear and inflated sense of importance does not justify a $50 million jet. Citigroup cannot be allowed to get away with this.

These people can take the MegaBus for five bucks, just like everybody else. They’re worth the least of anyone in the company, actually, because they’re the cause of the problem, not the solution.

Finally finished Chapter 4 on the Billy Root story. It needs a lot of work in the rewrite, but at least the first draft is out, the information that needed to be communicated is on the page, and I can move on to more interesting parts of the story. I’ll probably rip it apart in the revision and figure out how to drop in nuggets of this info elsewhere, but for now, I needed it out on the page.

Back to CHANNELLING JIM MORRISON, and whatever else needs to be done today.

Abby, I answered your Mercury Retrograde questions in the comments section under the post. Amy, yes, Merc Ret affects travel – leave yourself lots of extra time for travel, expect screw-ups, be meticulous with your documents, and pack an extra book for waiting times. Diane, according to my calendar, Mercury goes direct on February 1, which is really unusual, because it’s usually about a three week retrograde. Because it’s so short this time, maybe that’s why it’s so intense.

Devon

Billy Root story – 10,083 words out of est. 60,000

10 / 60 (16.7%)

Back home, phew! Sunday was a quiet work day, much appreciated. I got a nice chunk of work done on The Lucy Gothic – I’ve written almost all the scenes I outlined. Now I have to percolate the next section of the book before I can go much farther. Did some more planning on both the third and fourth Jain Lazarus books. Did a nice, big chunk of work on the assignment for Confidential Job #1, which I think I can finish by tomorrow (it’s due on Thursday).

Was able to leave the site early, which meant I could get home early, always a pleasure. The cats were both relieved that I was home and angry because I left in the first place.

Started back in the Billy Root story this morning. Chapter Four really sucks. I’m going to have to do something about that in the rewrite, but, for now, I’m just trying to get through it.

I’ve got some errands to run, some more business correspondence to handle, job boards to search, pitches to write, and I need to get some work done this week on both CHANNELING JIM MORRISON and some monologues.

And I need ink. I’m out of ink.

I’m eager to get back to the revisions of ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT. As I mentioned a few days ago, it definitely needs work, but the meat of it is marketable, and, with the right revisions, I should be able to get it out on submission in the next couple of months.

The signed contract arrived for DIXIE DUST RUMORS, so I can start building the Jenny Storm web presences, do the photo shoot for the icon, and get going on that. It’s a relief to know that I’ve got two books coming out this year, and two plays slated for production (one currently running, one set to run in the fall). The fall play is already partially cast.

Devon

Either I’m allergic to Manhattan or I’m coming down with a cold. I think it’s closer to the former — I’m not used to the lack of air quality.

Yesterday was fine. Busy site day, but hey, that’s why I’m paid, right? It was fun, so that’s all good. I managed to get out and walk around a bit — went down to Vosges for my drinking chocolate — Chocolat Parisienne, dark drinking chocolate with steamed milk served in a flute. They use a machine very similar to an espresso machine to prepare it. And it’s delicious.

Encountered more spoiled upper east side brats who did nothing to lessen my contempt for them. I stopped in at one boutique because a garment caught my attention and (wardrobe person I am) I wanted to see how it was put together. They had a statue inside and people left coins for good luck. A woman was talking to a clerk, trying to decide between two multi-garment pieces, each costing several thousand dollars. Meanwhile, the expensively dressed little girl (who resembled her, so I assume it’s her daughter), swept all the coins around the statue into her coat pocket. Her mother looked at her and said, “Oh, don’t do that; people will think we’re POOR.” Yet, she did not make the kid return the coins, which I thought was telling. There was also the girl who threw a tantrum in the middle of Lexington Avenue because she wanted candy NOW, not when she got to the party and various other children crying and whining at their parents around the 92nd St. Y.

I did encounter one kid, probably about 12, walking the family’s cocker spaniel, who seemed to have a brain, a heart — and a sense of humor. At the corner, both disgusted by the displays around us, we exchanged one of those looks you sometimes share with a stranger, where you know you’re both thinking the exact same thing.

It’s interesting how differently — in general — kids behave in the different neighborhoods. You’ve got these Upper East Side examples from the past few days. A lot of the kids I’ve come across on the Uppper West Side may be bratty and entitled in their own ways, but they tend to me more indepedent. It’s more “I do” than “Do for me.” And in Greenwich Village, even with rising prices and neighborhood changes, they tend to be the children of artists and writers and actors and teachers, people who encourage reading and education (actual education, not just the name of a school) and social activisim. So they tend to be sophisticated for their age, well-read, and interested in what’s around them than just themselves. These are, of course, generalizations based on my experiences. There must be intelligent, compassionate kids on the Upper East Side and narcissitic brats in the Village — I’m speaking in overall terms, on the law of averages I’ve personally experienced.

Did a little bit of work on The Lucy Gothic and hope to get more done on it today. I leave tonight to head back home to the cats. This job has been fine, and I’ve certainly collected plenty of material for future writing, but I’m looking forward to being home for a week before the craziness of February begins.

I’ve actually almost plotted out the whole fourth Jain Lazarus Adventure — which focuses on Jain and Wyatt and ties up some loose ends from Book 2, set to release in spring. Now, maybe, I can go back and finish plotting Book 3.

Devon

I got over myself yesterday after awhile and went back to work.

Yesterday was spent putting the changes into the final polish of the manuscript. Since it’s only about 30 words shy of 100K, it took all day. The chapters for the submission package are in their file. I’ll do a polish on the outline, synopsis, one paragraph summary and logline today and it’s ready to go.

To answer Chad’s question, yes, it’s a manuscript that I’ve discussed here a lot, especially in the writing process. I’ve got interest in it now, even before the official query process has begun, and didn’t want to sit on it any longer, so I just sat down and did the final polish. Now, no matter what combination of submission materials any of the interested parties ask for (should the initial submission package not hit its mark), all I have to do is attach the correct file and hit “send”, which is the professional way to submit. You query, they ask for materials, you send it in the return mail. Don’t start querying until everything is DONE, or it will bite you in the butt. I don’t want to discuss it too much, because I don’t want to jinx it – so keep your fingers crossed.

However, spending a few days on a 100K manuscript is not something I’d avoid mentioning, since it took the bulk of those days!

It took all damned day, but it feels good to really have this piece in submission shape. I’m very enthusiastic about this piece, and hope it finds a home soon. The only real break was when U-Haul started their monthly harassment yet again – before eight o’clock in the morning, which is totally inappropriate – and I had to take a couple of hours in the afternoon to file some paperwork so that this will stop. As soon as I can afford to move everything out of my remaining unit I will, but right now, it costs just as much to move it to another unit in the good place, near me, as it does to move it to another state. And, since there’s furniture involved, I can’t do it myself or fit it all in my car. I’m looking for financially viable ways to get it done, but so far the expense is too high.

And that was my day, that and working out last night to get the kinks out from being huddled over the computer for most of the day, with the computer getting crankier and crankier as the day wore on. I was ridiculously paranoid about backing up.

This morning, I wrote an article and did a final cross-check on two articles about to go live.

If I can get to my friend’s place (the ice is really, really, REALLY bad), I’m going to go over and do laundry – let’s just say we’ve hit the point where it’s quite necessary. Can’t wait to have my own washer and dryer when I have a house!

I’ll pack a writing bag and maybe do some work on The Lucy Gothic while I’m there.

I did some overall plotting for the Jain Lazarus books – I’ve got an idea of the trajectory of the next four books, although I don’t have all the plot details down, and, while each will stand alone, they feed into the overall arc.

I re-read what I’ve got for THE BALTHAZAAR TREASURE last night (the second Gwen/Justin book). I’m throwing it out and starting over. It’s got some good ideas, but it’s reading more like a treatment or outline than an actual manuscript. There are ideas and situations, but no spark. One thing the Gwen/Justin books are good at is the whole spark effect. So, when I go back to it, at some point later this year, I’ll start over. It’s darker than the first one, with the third book being the darkest, and then the prequel (Gwen/Karl) is much more light-hearted, but you still see what caused the breach between them that’s discussed so much in TRACKING MEDUSA. Again, all four books will stand alone, but they feed into an overall arc.

Got to pack my writing bag and play with the cats for a bit before I attempt the ice-slicked roads of CT.

Devon

Next year, I’m putting “taking down the decorations” on my GDR To-Do list, so I get to cross it off when I’m done. I should get a prize, or at least combat pay. My goodness me!

Hop on over to the SDR Blog to see my tough-love stance on New Year’s Resolutions, especially in relation to writing, “Resolutions Are Not For Wimps”.

U-Haul is making my life hell. Again. Since I’m contemplating legal action, that’s all I’m going to say.

Slow day on the Billy Root story. I’ve hit the point where I need to stop and figure out a few things before I can write any more. One of the main themes of this book is how Billy’s emotional age catches up to his chronological age over the course of the story. So, I’ll do that today, along with (against my better judgment) providing a test piece for a potential job – with a clause included that I retain copyright until paid for the content, and if I’m not paid, they cannot use said content.

Then, it’s off to take care of some more business stuff, search the job boards, and buckle down to the rewrite of THE MATILDA MURDERS, which is due – well, I have to look it up, but I know it’s in the next couple of weeks.

They said we’d have a bad snow/ice storm today; so far it’s rain, and I hope that’s the way it stays.

That’s the latest. Not much to report.

Devon

Billy Root story – 6,402 words out of est. 60,000

6 / 60 (10.0%)

Billy Root story — 2,838 words out of est. 60,000

2 / 60 (3.3%)

Computer Hell

Deadlines

Errands

See you tomorrow!

Devon

“First Feet”, the Jain Lazarus adventure, unfortunately, won’t be up today. Due to computer glitches which, because I have to leave, I can’t fix this morning, it probably won’t go up until Friday, January 2. My apologies. It’s got a lot more comedy than “The Possession of Nattie Filmore” – I think you’ll enjoy it. It will be a free download once it’s up, and it deals with the New Year’s tradition of “first footing” – but I can’t get it up today.

Buckle up, bunnies. Saturn went retrograde today, to kick your butt into the new year. If you continue to make the same mistakes and refuse to learn life lessons in the coming months, you will get your butt kicked.

Every time Saturn goes retrograde, I get an “offer” from a former job making it sound like they’re doing me this huge favor by taking me back.

Only, I’ve learned, thanks to Saturn, that it’s no good for me to keep putting myself into the situation, and I’m sticking to “no” as my answer.

I had a GREAT day yesterday. I got the cake in to the show safely. I received gifts from my colleagues. We exchanged greetings.

Costume Imp met me at the theatre. On the spur of the moment, we decided to visit the Angel Tree up at the Met – the tree I keep talking about and putting into my stories! We took the bus up Madison Avenue and got into the Met.

It was packed. And, because they’re “renovating” nearly a third of their galleries, there was no flow. So we were trapped in the Metropolitan Museum of Art for hours, always coming up against dead ends, not being able to GET OUT.

It was very frustrating, and it was STUPID on their part, to shut things down like that during their busiest season. Ever hear of planning, people? The Met should know better. It’s not like they’ve never done this before.

On top of it, they’ve renovated the Hatshepsut exhibit, taken out her sphinx, put it in the Temple of Dendur – without a plaque – and crammed her room so they could use the second room for the jewelry of some PRINCESS. The arrangement felt completely wrong and I felt bad for my pal Hattie.

Not to mention it screws up the way I wrote the chase scene in TRACKING MEDUSA. I’ll have to put an author’s note in the book when it’s published. Because I like the way it used to flow, and the way the scene worked, and I’m not changing it because the museum makes “improvements” that aren’t really improvements.

By accident, we landed in the Asian wing, and the Shoan room and tea gardens are beautiful. Only we couldn’t get out. We finally managed to find the Love and Art in the Italian Renaissance exhibit. With all the beautiful art for that period, why does the representative poster show Cupid giving Venus a golden shower through a laurel wreath?

When we finally escaped the museum (we had to stand in line to GET OUT), we hurried down E. 83rd St. to a place that is now on my favorite reasons to visit the Upper East Side (and there are very few of those): Vosges Haut Chocolate.

Yes, a chocolate shop. Our original intent upon meeting was to catch up over hot chocolate. Well, we caught up over HAUTE hot chocolate, a “Pariseienne” as it was called, which is dark drinking chocolate mixed with steamed milk, served in a flute.

Heaven. Complete and utter heaven.

And our server was adorable, too.

After we took our time recovering from the Met debacle over Chocolat Parisienne, we wandered down Madison Avenue. These boutiques expect people to come in a drop obscene amounts of money on their clothes. Unfortunately, the current designs are appallingly ugly, and there was obviously no thought put into the windows to create an enticing display. You can be creative and create a beautiful window without spending money if you use CREATIVITY. Unfortunately, most of these high-end boutiques lack that. I won’t be sad as they continue to close.

We stopped at the bookstore and got books. I bought Terry Pratchett’s MAKING MONEY and Elizabeth Bear’s HELL AND EARTH, which juxtaposes Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth with Queen Mab. I can’t wait.

Home a little after six, did some work, had computer problems, packed.

They said it would snow all night and be done by noon. It didn’t start until 8:30 this morning. So I’m packing up things now and trying to get out of the storm before noon.

Fingers crossed.

I’ll be offline until the 2nd – hopefully, by the time you hear from me again, I’ll have the link up to the “First Feet” download. Again, my apologies.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Devon

I’m about to hit the “send” button on the final (for now) revision of OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK. That’s always terrifying, for some reason.

I had a good weekend of work. The site jobs between which I bounced back and forth were busy, but also fun. And I got a LOT of writing done – another complete revision and polish on OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK, the Jain Lazarus’ New Year’s story, a partial outline for something I’ve nicknamed “The Lucy Gothic” until I can think of a better name for it, and about 1700 words on that. I need to write my way into it for a bit before I can finish the outline.

OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK is now 65K, which means I took my editor’s advice to expand the piece and added about 10K. It’s much deeper and sharper, and also gives more information about both Wyatt’s past and Jain’s past, and how they tie into their future together. I did something in the final revision (before the polish) I’ve never done before – I worked backwards, starting with the last chapter, and revising chapter-by-chapter, from back to front. It made a huge, positive difference, and caused me to catch a bunch of things I missed in the previous revisions by working continually front-to-back. It’s a technique I’ll employ in novels during late revisions from now on.

I feel good about the book (although I’d keep rewriting it for the next ten years, given the chance); Wyatt, Jain and the gang are amongst my favorite characters ever, and I’m still nervous about hitting the “send” button.

We had a few dodgy moments last night, as I neared the end of the final polish and the computer started going wonky again. If I lost all that work, I’d have gone ballistic. Fortunately, I made it through to the end, made several back-ups and stashed them safely, and, by midnight, it was done.

Out it goes today.

The enhanced productivity I had this weekend made me realize how much time I fritter away in my home office, and I have to figure out a way to cut back on it. The work completed in three and a half days on site equaled about a week’s worth or more that I get done at the home office. And here I thought I was such an efficient time manager. Always room for improvement, I guess. And I’m determined to improve.

I’ve got to frost the cake for the show and get that done, then transport the cake into Manhattan on the train and get it to the theatre intact. I’m meeting Costume Imp there for a quick catch-up before I head back to prepare for tomorrow, and he heads home to prepare for the next leg of his tour.

I’m so deep into the world of Jain and Wyatt, and so deep into the unique world of the Lucy Gothic that dealing with actual reality is a shock.

When I get back, I’ve got to do more work on an article that’s due (I’m having a hell of a time with the file), get the Jain Lazarus New Year’s story into the computer and up, and pack for the New Year’s escapade. I’m going to a different location this year, and, although yoga will be a huge part of it, I’m in charge of the food. Mostly because I’ve eaten the cooking by the others included, and, well, I’d rather be in charge of the food. I found a good price on a duck yesterday, so that’s the big meal for New Year’s Day, and I’ll poach salmon fillets in a white wine and mustard sauce for the Eve, along with a variety of h’ors d’oeuvres.

In any case, I’ve got to get this cake frosted and head into Manhattan. I hope you had a lovely weekend.

Devon

I’m doing a wrap-up on A Biblio Paradise today, so cruise on over if you get a chance.
These past couple of weeks, hosting the diverse authors met through the Infinite Worlds of Fantasy group have been fascinating.

It snowed most of the day yesterday. I think we’ve got about eight inches of snow, which has quickly turned to ice. I’m not looking forward to digging out the car later today, but, since we’re supposed to get another big storm starting this afternoon, I better do it.

It’s beautiful, though, and I did some errands on foot yesterday in it, practically dancing down the main street of town, which people found amusing. I wouldn’t have been so delighted if I’d had to drive in it, but maneuvering on foot wasn’t bad.

Did some more work on the Aunt Doris/Cassio story. It’s been so long since I was in the world of Congress Corners, I’m having a bit of trouble getting its rhythm. I’m getting there, though, and one doesn’t need to have read the previous stories in order to enjoy this one. It stands alone. I’m determined to keep it SHORT, and I want to have it ready for Christmas Eve.

A film company for whom I do some work occasionally sent me both a poster and the DVD of a piece on which I’d done some work last year – it was sweet of them to include me, since what I did was for-hire and not credited (but paid).

Started re-reading Beverley Nichols’s book MERRY HALL. He was a well-known writer in the 1940s – and a bit before and after. He’s one of those people with whom I don’t think I would have gotten along in person, but I enjoy his garden writing. The book makes me laugh out loud, and the cats stare at me as though I’ve lost my mind.

Baked more bread yesterday – another loaf of rye and a loaf of Vineyard Portuguese Sweet Bread – one of the few white breads I still eat. The latter is from THE NEW ENGLAD COOKBOOK, and my favorite bread recipe ever – it’s a sweet, light, soft white bread that isn’t like wet cardboard, the way store-bought whites are. I used to buy it from the family-owned Portuguese bakeries on the Cape all the time, and I was thrilled to find the recipe in this book.

I got my column done and out yesterday. The focus today, once I’ve got the car dug out, is to work on the article that’s due and spend a lot of time on the revisions.

I find I miss the mystery, which is a good thing – I look forward to going back to it once OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK is finished and with the publisher, alternating the work on that and on the third Jain Lazarus, which I will start shortly after the new year – this one will be from Billy’s point of view, and take place mostly in Scotland.

That’s pretty much it. I’m staying as tucked in as possible during the bad weather. When the roads are clear enough, I have one more gift to get for my mom, but everything else is done and out. I can focus on writing and then enjoy the holiday, and then go off to my site work.

I’ve refrained from physically packing, because it’s a week until I leave, but I’m mentally packing – bet you anything that I pack on the day before Christmas Eve, because I always like to have everything packed far in advance, and just leave the writing bag to pack for the night before.

The Jain Lazarus New Year’s story is almost complete in my head, so as soon as I finish the Aunt Doris/Cassio Christmas story, I can actually put the New Year’s story on paper.

Back to the page.

Devon