Si, se puede! Yes we can

Here's a bit of what's going on in my corner.

1. I just found this in our local newspaper (online, of course): Mountain Lion Shot in Bismarck. Kind of spooky to think one could easily pass through our neighborhood, particularly since we're outside city limits. Last year or the year before that, one was killed just outside my hometown west of here.

2. Been subbing a couple of shorts--one flash and one novella. Rejectionitis hasn't been fun, but at least something is going out.

( projects, projects, more projects, and the horse too! )

• 09:19 Getting ready for the last kid to move in...again. It's going to be crowded and crazy and full of...conflict. I might hide under a rock. #
• 10:13 I just realized: I haven't done any more work on next year's whysper. o.O & I'm moving 2 domains on top of everything else! Crazy net time. #
• 10:16 Oh, and now I have an idea for a new blog too. lol But it can wait until the domain is moved. #
• 10:22 Need to work on my A.C. read through revision, my whysper layout, &, um, I'm sure there's something else. Oh, yes, dodging the cranky girls. #
• 10:57 & yet here I am, still exploring TasteSpotting and favoriting recipes. Course, still waiting for middle girl and her chaos to show up too. #
• 11:01 Writing w/someone moving in? Not happening until she's in. All the back & forth, being crazy about furniture, etc would be too distracting. #
• 13:32 Girl's stuff here, but she's off w/friends until tonight. Store run also done: Minnestrone next week! Should get to writing/revising, right? #

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Marked
P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast
YA fiction; fantasy; series
306 pages

Enter the dark, magical world of The House of Night, a world very much like our own, except here vampyres have always existed. Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird has just been Marked as a fledgling vampyre and joins the House of Night, a school where she will train to become an adult vampire. That is, if she makes it through the Change--and not all of those who are Marked do. It sucks to begin a new life, especially away from her friends, and on top of that, Zoey is no average fledgling. She has been chosen as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx. Zoey discovers she has amazing powers, but along with her powers come bloodlust and an unfortunate ability to Imprint her human ex-boyfriend. To add to her stress, she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers: When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite group, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

I was pleasantly surprised that I was so engrossed in the first book in the House of Night series. I really enjoyed the storyline and I really like the unique take on "vampyres" in this series. It does remind me a bit of Hogwarts, but to me, that is a positive thing. The only thing I did not care for is some of the immature language spouted off by some of the characters, but then again, this is written for a younger audtience than myself. However, I feel like as this series progresses, it will get even more darker and more interesting. I cannot wait to read the rest of the books.

Books read this year: 46/50.

It was another busy day. Some friends did stop by, but there were other things going on, too. The afternoon's big project was an idea my mom got out of some magazine for decorating cookies to look like turkeys:



( Click here for the finished product, and more! )

Mimi's family left for home tonight, but Chuck's family will still be here until Monday morning. I'm sure there will be more fun in store tomorrow.

Just got a publishing nibble on my steampunk western novel, "Spring Cleaning". You know, the one I'm working through another draft of, since I tend to blitz through writing the book and then go back and put more flesh on dem dere bones. You know, the one I was working on before I go for the sequel to WGACK and probably BoG?

A friendly email, a sample, and a response.

Well, more than a nibble.

As in, how fast can I get it finished and in for final consideration. Like, early 2010?

*thud*

2010 is going to be one busy year.

FIRE by Kristin Cashore
Fire, the last human monster, has the power to read and manipulate minds, but she doesn't want to become the monster her father was even if it could save a kingdom. I read to page 120 and by that point the plot wasn't clear, so I stopped reading. I really liked GRACELING, and the vivid, pretty writing is similar in FIRE, but I didn't connect as much with the mission or journey. I think others who just want to be immersed in KC's world will enjoy the whole book.

Here are today’s stats for the fabulous urban fantasy adventure about a neurotic vampire/thief and her wealthy blind client, now with Bonus! Cuban drag queen and military intrigue:

Project: Bloodshot
New Words Written: 4985 (Some added last night; only about 4000 today)
Present Total Word Count: 94,570 words
Goal: Draft Zero by December 12 -ACCOMPLISHED





Things Accomplished in Fiction: Wrapped it up, baby. Wrapped up all of it. This, ladies and gents and all others, is a Draft Zero.

Things Accomplished in Real Life: Virtually nothing. This has been eating my brain and I had to get it out, out, out. And now - best of all - I have almost 2 whole weeks to batter this puppy into a Draft One before sending it back to Anne! [:: does a little dance ::]

Reason for Stopping: BECAUSE I CAN.

[Crossposted to/from my website. If you'd like to comment, you can do so either here or there.]

Up early to prepare our personal Thanksgiving Day, just me, the resident of the back bedroom and the hubby. Green bean casserole, fresh (and sugar fee) cranberry sauce, turkey, mashed potatoes. Nothing fancy--just comfort holiday food and a chance for us to share a quiet meal. Now the resident is making a sandwich (we ate at lunch, another tradition) and hubby is working a dit-dot contest (he is a ham radio operator) and Scout is sleeping off his share of the turkey. Me? I read a book for a VOYA review called UNDEAD MUCH? by Stacey Jay. Think of it as Gossip Girls meet Thriller. Basic plot: one of the pom squad is a zombie fighter at her high school. Lots of blood and gore combined with make up, hairdos, and making out scenes in the back seat of the car. Should be immensely popular. Here is the cover:






Now it is time for some down time in front of the TV.

HAVEN by Beverly Patt
After Rudy's family takes has 14-year-old Ward-of-the-State Latonya over for Christmas dinner, Rudy finds himself and his best friend fixing an old ATV that he'll get to keep if he helps Latonya run away -- if he can go through with it. This book reminded me of "A Christmas Story" mixed with THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER. Each character was fully developed, and the story of Rudy's best friend was as driving as his own and Latonya's. The subject had an original spin for an upper-MG, and the voice and setting were well-done. Recommended MG.

I hope you all are enjoying your leftovers. I'm still working on mine. Even the dogs are getting sick of turkey.



Just kidding.

It was a first for us - the_webmeister and I attempted to cook a Thompson Turkey for the first time. TWM's dad always used to make one for Thanksgiving and it remained a fond gastric and familial memory for TWM. So since we were going to be cooking for 13 people, why not try a recipe that is vastly complicated, has about a zillion ingredients and takes forever?

"Maybe we should have a backup plan...like meatloaf" The Webmeister said a day or two before Turkey.

But I'm made of sterner stuff. You know how they say you should never try a new recipe when you're entertaining? That's the only time I ever try new recipes. "Backup plans are for wimps."

Fortunately for all concerned, everything turned out deliciously:



This despite my extreme nervousness. Because on also on Thanksgiving Day, I spoke to host Neil Conan and StoryCorps founder Dave Isay on NPR's Talk of the Nation as part of their segment on interviewing your loved ones on the National Day of Listening which is a new annual tradition the day after Thanksgiving. You can listen to the full segment here. My bit is about 30 minutes in. I was so nervous before the interview that as soon as it was over, asked The Webmeister if we could open a bottle of wine. I think by the time we sat down for Thankgiving dinner, both the turkey and I were well basted.

I have so much to be grateful for this year - not least of which is a wonderful community of writers online from whom I learn so much about the craft I love. Thank you, thank you!

And on the subject of writing...moments before I started preparing the turkey, I finished the pass of revisions on WANT TO GO PRIVATE? After Thanksgiving, I'll start the next pass, which will hopefully get it in shape to send to my editor.

But I've realized how neglectful I've been of this blog, so I've set myself the goal of blogging at least twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays starting next week.

See you soon!

http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/11/28/nano-tip-no-28-take-care-of-yourself/

http://justinelarbalestier.com/?p=6958

It’s my second last NaNoWriMo post! Wow, that went fast. You’ve all been at it for 28 days now.¹ Which leads me to suspect that some of you may be feeling quite sore about now.

Writing, like any job that involves spending hours in front of a computer, has a high injury rate. Almost every pro writer I know has some kind of neck/back/wrist problem. Carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive strain injury are very common.

At the end of almost every first draft deadline, when I’ve been writing every day for weeks and weeks on end, and my writing days have stretched out from four hours to twelve or longer, my upper back and/or neck packs it in. I then have to get emergency work so that I can, you know, move my neck.

Once I recognised this pattern,² I made a whole bunch of changes to stop it happening again. If you’re serious about writing, the time to start with good habits is now, before you become a crippled wreck unable to sign books for your fans.

Here are the changes I made:

• I changed my work set up. No more writing slumped on the couch. All ergonomic all the time for me!
• I started exercising more. I now work out at the gym with a trainer³ a minimum of three times a week. I also try to fit in a long walk at the end of each writing day. And lindy hop when possible.
• I increased the number of breaks I took. I tried one of those programmes that beeps at you every thirty minutes but it kept beeping just as I was nailing a scene or right when I’d finally gotten into the flow of things that I came to loathe the bloody smiling beepy monster and harboured fantasies of ripping its throat out. So I switched to drinking even more water which ensures frequent loo breaks.
• I take a few minutes to stretch my back, neck, wrists and arms every time I get up from the computer.
• I get a weekly massage. It sounds indulgent but truly it’s maintenance. If I’m being massaged weekly as the deadline approaches my body doesn’t pack it in, which works out cheaper than getting all that work when my body is broken.

I have not been perfect at implementing my system. While on tour this year there were no massages, no exercise and I spent a lot of time slumped over my computer in hotels and airports, which led to a recurrence of my neck/upper back injury, which led to emergency cupping:

Not pretty, is it?

You’ve been warned!

Good luck with your last few days.

And don’t forget to check out Scott’s tips. His last one is tomorrow.

1. Unless you haven’t started today’s writing.
2. And when I say “I” I mean Scott.
3. Why with a trainer? Cause I find gyms unspeakably boring and I last about ten minutes in them by myself. But three years ago I started working out with a wonderful trainer who has made going to the gym fun. I’m fitter and happier. There are much cheaper ways to stay fit. Like running. Which tragically I cannot do because of various injuries. Have I ever mentioned my sports curse? *Heh hem.* I digress. If you have not already I’m sure you’ll find a method of staying fit that works for you.

I've never been about the turkey or the ham at a big holiday meal. Me, I like the side dishes. Mashed potatoes and gravy! Green bean casserole! From-scratch yeast rolls. Scalloped potatoes with cheese! (Have I mentioned how much I love potatoes?)

Just like I like side dishes, I like side projects. I often have a main book I'm working on, plus a little something on the side. I wrote Learning to Fly: A Thriller as a side project. Until then, I had only written series mysteries. It ended up being my best reviewed book to date, and for a long time was my best selling.

I wrote Girl, Stolen, which will be a lead title next fall from Holt, when it seemed possible, even likely, that no one would buy it.

I had an idea for a book the other day. But it involved a paranormal element (not werewolves, vampires, fairies, or fallen angels. More of a special power). My agent and YA editor agree that I should be building my brand as a YA thriller author. And they are right. So I prepared to shelve my cool book idea.

But you know what? I decided this morning I'm going to keep it as a side project and work on it here and there. It might take me a long time to write a book that way, especially since I'm also working on one adult mystery and one YA thriller a year, but there's no hurry.

Besides, I like side dishes.

Well, here we are at another Orycon. We turned up on Thursday night and nothing was quite ready (Thursday having been Thanksgiving, of course, and everything having been predicated on that) but that was okay - we were kinda early, after all.

Friday morning we came down to breakfast, said hi to a couple of people we knew, had breakfast, and went in search of important things like programs so that we could figure out where to go and what to do - but the Green Room people shrugged helplessly and said, "You'll have 'em when we get 'em..." - which finally happened a little later, AFTER the programming had already started, leaving the first few panels out there in something of a limbo - the panelists knew where they were supposed to be, because their name tents gave their itineraries and locations, but nobody ELSE knew anything about the panels or who was on them or where they were supposed to be and this year it was a new hotel anyway so even having a room name was no guarantee whatsoever of knowing its location (which could be in any of three separate wings of the hotel...) But we finally got hold of a program booklet, and it was off and running.

My first panel was at 3 PM, about "Alternative History" - and it was in what fellow panelist Michael Ehart called the "grown-ups room" - one of the ballrooms, a huge place with LOTS of chairs which made the panelists wonder whether we'd have an echo in the place if not enough people turned up to fill them - but the panel was surprisingly well attended and very lively (and Robin Hobb actually recommended my book to the audience, which was REALLY cool!) After that, straight after that at 4 PM, I had a panel I was supposed to be moderating, on whether artists and writers were "wired differently" and were moderately nuts, as it were, by definition. We had three writers, two artists, and a Jungian psychologist on the panel - and maybe as many people again, or even maybe fewer, in the audience. We decided that we were mostly just fine, thank you very much, and sometimes the rest of the world just needed to catch up with us dreamers while we ran on ahead and tasted the winds that blow sweet and terrible out of the sunrise... and I'm sure we gave that psychologist enough material to run a conference with...

After that, social time - dinner with a bunch of friends, and then lots of parties up on the party floor afterwards. We were moderate in our partygoing, and collapsoed into bed at around midnight.

8:30 this morning it was breakfast with Brenda Cooper, and then we picked up an entourage and made our way into the Green Room asking everyone we met, "excuse me, but do you know where the autograph tables are?" because in the program it said, helpfully, that authors would be signing at Table 1 or Table 2 but nowhere was the location of said tables actually specified. Some of our number so equipped and inclined even resorted to Twitter to try and find things out, and the plaintive, "Excuse me but does anyone know where the autograph tables are?" went out into the ether. (Yes. We found out. Eventually. Everything is fine now.)

Then we went to listen to radconbob read a short story which he is currently working on, which was a treat because we don't often get to see him wearing his writer's hat, he's always too busy doing organizational stuff or being goofy at parties (you know what's fun? As I type this, in the cybercafe here at Orycon, he himself is sitting right next to me and has no idea that I am talking about him... hi, Bob!!! [grin]) and after that it was my turn to read, and I actually had about seven people at the reading, which is not to be sneezed at, and a couple of them were even complete strangers who wandered in to listen TO ME and then left straight afterwards which made it evident that they had specially come there to listen to me. Which was rather nice...

Another panel in an hour, and then another, after that - and then lunch with some friends - and then I have an autographing at those mythical tables in the afternoon, followed by my appearance as the visiting pro at the Writers' Workshop where I'm to critique a couple of new writers' novels-in-progress. And after THAT, it's a question of find something to eat (probably accreting company on the way, as these cons are wont to go) and then more parties...

And then, Sunday, I have a nice lazy day, a concert I want to go to in the morning, and the Powells signing in the afternoon.

And then, Monday morning, we leave the hotel, hit the railway station, have some lunch in that nice little restaurant in the railway station building where we have yet to have a bad meal, and catching the afternoon train back home. Factoring in everything, home by 10, hopefully. (I miss my catses...)

And then I have a novel to finish...

But I'm running ahead of myself again. I have a panel in half an hour. About building a balanced mythos. I have to get my balance in order.

See y'all later. Maybe.

:-)

Oh my gosh, I can't believe December 1 is in just a few more days!!!!

Are you all writing madly? Brilliantly? At least a little?

Don't forget to come here on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 for our final check in!!

Congrats to everyone. I know so many of you have been working steadily, and that's what it's all about.

See you all here in a couple of days!!!

Originally published at Karen Kincy. You can comment here or there.

You may have already heard of the 2010 Debut Author Challenge by The Story Siren. If not, definitely check it out! More info, snatched from Kristi:

What will be happening during the challenge?

This year I’ve planned ways to get more “interactive” participation.

• I’ll have a post every month were participants can enter links to their reviews to gain entries for some fantastic prizes.
• I’ll be spotlighting authors, with interviews and guest posts throughout the month. If you comment on any of these posts you will also gain you an entry into the monthly prize packs!
• I’ll be featuring a list of 2010 debut novels each month, for their releases. 
• And of course I’ll be posting reviews of my own for the challenge. If you comment on any of these you can also gain an extra entry into the monthly prize packs!

I’m seeing my debut Other on quite a few lists so far…  from Tattooed Books to Mindful Musings to Black and Blue Ink, to name a few. Thanks so much, guys!

I haven't taken an extended break from Internetty networky things since summer 08. I am ready! I was thinking December, generally, but since tomorrow is the first Sunday in Advent, it seems a good time to start. And Epiphany, January 6, seems like a good time to stop.

All social networking notifications will be off. If you need or want to reach me and are used to doing it via Facebook or Twitter or the like, I'll be available via email. The address is easily found on this site. If you have my phone number, you could even call me! (gasp!) I'll keep updating my calendar if a new appearance comes up. It's not like I'll be on another planet or even going offline---just not living through the o'sphere for awhile. (After, perhaps, a frenzy of activity today!)

You are welcome to join me in this break. Think about it.

I love you! I'll miss you! Happy, blessed holidays, secular and sacred. See you in 2010.

Yesterday I had the privilege of seeing the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. If you don't know who they are, they take classic music, including (this time of year) Christmas music, and turn it hard rock. The concert itself was over two hours, and even then, no one was ready to go home. I'm not sure how many other people felt the way I did about it, but it struck a deep chord in me.

About half way into Silent Night, my husband said, "They've done what my mother (a driven Catholic her entire life) would have said couldn't be done--Silent Night as heavy metal. And it's beautiful." Beyond that, they took a story about an angel circumnavigating the world on Christmas Eve, and used it as a framework for incredible rock music. The narrator was an old guy, in a bar, sipping whiskey. "Carol of the Bells" was played to a backdrop of war, decrying "killing in the name of God," and reflecting on "scars upon the dreams." It struck me that many so-called Christians would be offended. And yet, in a moment of transcendence and clarity, I knew God was very pleased.

I made a couple of decisions. You can take 'em or leave 'em, because they're mine. First, I'm reclaiming the term Christmas. December 25th is Christmas. You don't have to be a Christian to celebrate it,and if you're of a different faith (or no faith at all) you are welcome to join this celebration or not. My Lutheran church holds Seder dinners every year, in honor of our Jewish brothers and sisters. We are not offended that they (or you) hold different beliefs. Why should you be offended if I offer you a "Merry Christmas?" This is not meant as a slight. It is simply an invitation to share my joy.

I am also reclaiming the word Christian. Over the past few years, in reaction to the vocal minority on the far right who call themselves Christians while acting like anything but, I have divorced myself from the term to a large degree. I do not want to be seen as someone who holds narrow views, or who doesn't accept people different than me. But yesterday it struck me, while listening to hard rock Christmas songs, that I am more representative of Christ than those who think only straight, white right-wingers qualify for Heaven.

"Christ" is the core of "Christianity." Jesus ministered to the poor, cared for the disenfranchised. He embraced all races, homosexuals, prostitutes, believers, non-believers, old people and children. He healed the sick, cared for those in need. Central to his teaching was the concept that "God is love," and so he brought love to people who needed it most. As the TSO lead singer sang, accompanied by blues and hard rock, "Every man is your brother. Every child is ours." Jesus Christ would agree.

People often ask why I write about people on the edge--why I care about the disenfranchised. Every man, every child, deserves understanding, compassion and love. I hope my books help accomplish that. And, whatever your own belief system, I hope you'll help accomplish that, too.

• 08:00 I crashed very early last night (in a lot of pain from o/doing it: all that baking in one day was a bit much), so now I'm up too damn early. #
• 08:18 @shade53 Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwww! #
• 08:21 Starting read through revision of the last section of A.C. It's nice & quiet (no one else is up) so no distractions. Won't last long though! #
• 08:41 Three pages in and I want to go back to sleeping all ready. Okay, the number of pages have nothing to do with it: it's just too early! :P #
• 11:58 Hubs is making a VERY late brunch—his classic hash browns, omelet, muffins. Once he's out of the kitchen, the kids get sandwiches for lunch. #
• 12:02 @shallowend I want a Christmas tree but have to wait&see if we still have a place to live before we put it up. I missed doing it last night. #
• 15:48 TasteSpotting annoys me. Newest image/recipe was sharp & pretty; they rejected it as "not sharp". I've asked what that means, no response. #
• 16:28 @tastespotting All I want to know is what "Not sharp" means. I can't fix it if I don't understand it. I've had 2 subs rejected for this rsn #
• 16:42 Hubs just renamed Tidus in FFX Risotto! LOL! #
• 17:31 More b.s. in the quest to receive unemployment. Company provided the Dept of Labor paperwork hubs has never SEEN & claims he refused to sign #
• 17:43 We are sooooo screwed. #
• 22:38 Up a bit late tonight to clear dishes so hubs can fabricate a chicken tomorrow morning. Also have 2nd girl moving back in. Going to be busy! #
• 23:37 Okay, off to make PB cookies and do dishes then bed. Need to be up at a reasonable time earlier than 11 AM. lol #

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...but it was Friday at the Black house. Since we were all traveling yesterday, it was time for the big Thanksgiving dinner today.



It went well for the most part, too. No major spilling disasters - that's always a plus.

In the morning, Marina and Leyna sat down to make the next generation of turkey place cards. They had a fabulous example of the 1960s original to guide them:



( More photos here )

I'm not sure yet about what's going on tomorrow. Some old friends are dropping by, but we may go out somewhere for a while, too. Time will tell.

Here are today’s stats for the fabulous urban fantasy adventure about a neurotic vampire/thief and her wealthy blind client, now with Bonus! Cuban drag queen and military intrigue:

Project: Bloodshot
New Words Written: 6680 (YES. THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKIN’ ‘BOUT)
Present Total Word Count: 89,685 words
Goal: 95,000 words by December 12





Things Accomplished in Fiction: Raised a little hell. Not literally. This time.

Things Accomplished in Real Life: Day-job work; further adventures of Thanksgiving clean-up; laundry including bedding. That’s pretty much it, but in my defense, hey — did you SEE that word count? It’s amazing I even had time to brush my teeth.

Reason for Stopping: Time to go get the laundry out of the dryer, make up the bed again, fold all the clean clothes and put them away … and if this all gets done before the hubs gets home, maybe try to write YES A FEW MORE WORDS it could totally happen, you never know.

[Crossposted to/from my website. If you'd like to comment, you can do so either here or there.]