A total of 10,802 words edited today! WOOT! Five chapters done and I'm into the last 18k to edit before this puppy's finished.

YAY ME!

1014 words of scene added. Enjoy…

In context, Anpo has returned Kathleen to her parents' homestead for a visit. Through miscommunication and cultural differences, it's thought she's returning Kathleen to her home permanently. In the native culture, however, the two women are married. It's just been very difficult for Kathleen to get that across to her family due to the stigma of homosexual relationships. Hence, no one knows but the women, and Kathleen has been less than supportive in her joy at seeing her family.

In native culture, 'throwing away' a woman meant divorce.

Stewart waited until he was on the porch to put on his boots, not wanting to rouse the rest of the family from slumber. False dawn crept across the sky, as he slipped his feet into the cold leather, stomping into the yard as he settled into them. Regardless of the early hour, he could not sleep, the excitement of having his sister home coupled with the unusual sounds of someone sleeping in the loft nearby. It had been far too long since he had had to share the space; five years or more since Kathleen had married and left for Stephen’s homestead.


He stretched with an audible groan, and hiked his suspenders over his shoulders before heading toward the barn. Da said the night before he had told that Indian to sleep there. He wondered if she had, or if she bunked down elsewhere. Besides, Stewart was eager to get a closer look at the ponies.


As he walked, he considered his sister’s odd behavior whenever the subject of Anpo came up. He had heard her words, plain as day, when the native said they were joined. He would be damned if he knew what that meant, but whatever it was could not be good. Kathleen blushed furiously, and changed the subject to something else. Stewart kind of felt sorry for the Indian, though. She seemed to be put out by his sister’s tactics.


Wonder what that means, though? Joined? Maybe it just meant they lived together to raise the boy. Or how about adopted? Now there was a thought, Kathleen adopted into an Indian family and all. And who was the father of Teca, anyway, some member of Anpo’s tribe? He discounted that thought almost as soon as it surfaced. The woman dressed in no recognizable style; she obviously came from far away.


The barn door stood slightly ajar, and Stewart pulled it further open. Just like a heathen, he mused. Not even enough sense to close the damned door. He shook the uncharitable thought from his mind. It was not Anpo’s fault she was an Indian, just an accident of birth. Besides, she had Kathleen’s friendship, so she could not be all bad.


The interior was murky, and he stood still to allow his eyes to adjust. Soon, he made out the stalls where the ponies stayed, and he eased closer. Somewhere in here was Anpo, and he did not want to scare her into something rash.


His fears were baseless, however, when he saw her watching him from the last stall. Her horse was saddled with one of those uncomfortable looking contraptions, her belongings tied in place. As his sight grew better, he realized she looked pretty ragged. Doesn’t look like she’s slept at all.


“Where is Ketlin?”


It took a moment before he recognized his sister’s name. “She’s still asleep,” he said, wondering at the hoarseness of her voice. If he did not know better, it appeared Anpo had had a really difficult night. Her eyes were reddened, her face looking gaunt and drawn. “Want me to wake her?”


“Hiya.” She made a sharp gesture with her thumb, and turned away.


Deciding her response was negative, Stewart leaned against one of the stalls and watched. Her movements were rigid, hard edged. He had no experience with her people, but he could almost swear the Indian was close to tears. Scoffing to himself, he put that thought out of his mind. From what he had heard over the years, these people did not cry or mourn, at least not in a way he was familiar with.


She bundled up a fur, lashing it tight to her saddle. Then she backed the pony out of the stall, leading it toward the door.


Stewart frowned and followed. “You going for a ride?” he asked. He would have thought she would stay around a little longer, at least to say good-bye to Kathleen.


“I am going back to my people.”


Not for the first time, he considered that these people were bizarre. Didn’t they have emotions like everybody else? Stewart could tell that Kathleen thought highly of Anpo; it was evident every time she looked at the native the day before. He had assumed Anpo felt the same way. If she did, she sure had a funny way of showing it, though.


They came out of the barn together. Stewart saw the yard clearly, the sky beginning to turn pink with dawn. Without further discussion, Anpo mounted her pony, pausing to stare at the cabin.


“Are you sure you don’t need anything? I know da wouldn’t mind giving you supplies for your trip.”


“You have nothing I need.”


The voice was icy, and Stewart felt a wave of anger. Ungrateful animal, he thought. “Then maybe you have a message for Kathleen?” he asked, his voice echoing Anpo’s. He must have hit a nerve because she froze, hardly breathing, and her dark skin paled. Shocked, he wondered if she was going to faint.


“Tell her-” Anpo’s voice broke.


Stewart stared at the emotion running just beneath the stoic surface. Good heavens, she’s really torn up about leaving. He urged himself to step forward, to offer consolation to this stranger who had helped his sister survive.


Before he could act, Anpo regained control of herself. She dug into a pouch attached to her saddle, pulling out a tin whistle. The instrument had been decorated with leather and feathers. She held it out to Stewart.


He stepped forward, reaching for the toy, barely catching it as it tumbled from Anpo’s hand.


“Tell her I throw her away,” she said, jaw clenching.


Before Stewart could get her to clarify her statement, she wheeled her pony and rode away from the cabin.


“Throw her away?” he questioned the empty dooryard. “What the hell does that mean?” A horse nickered in the barn, and he shook his head. He would ask Kathleen when she woke. For now, he pocketed the whistle and returned to the animals, remembering his desire to get a closer look at the ponies left behind.

I'm at the scene where Kathleen wakes up in her parents' cabin, wanders out to the barn, and speaks with her brother Stewart. This is where she discovers Anpo has left her there, divorced her.

The scene is only just over 1k long and I need to stretch it to 2k to make it chapter length. (Yeah, I know. It doesn't have to be 2k by anybody's standards but my own.) Should I add the scene of Stewart meeting Anpo in the morning? Show the scene where she tells him she throws Kathleen away?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Hope everybody who celebrated the holiday had a good one. Those of you who don’t, hope you had a good couple of days, regardless.

Thursday, ‘dinner’ was on the table by 10am. Spent the entire day munching down and watching movies. It was a mellow day.

I also finished reading Of Drag Kings and the Wheel of Fate, and it’s sequel, Drag King: The Burning Dream. Good stuff, Maynard. Smitty rocks. It’s been awhile since I’ve read either, and I’d forgotten the quality of the writing. (My bad!) I just might have to buy the books. She’s a major poet in her prose with a heavy mystical bent that just flat out makes sense. Love it!

I was fortunate to meet Smitty a couple of years ago at the first Orlando Bardcon. She did a reading at a lesbian bar where we had a signing. She’s a sweetheart.

Friday was leftover day where we ate pretty much everything from the day before that hadn’t been finished. Nummy! Another day spent watching movies and reading. Rented … from Netflix. It was fun.

I also listened to my editor’s advice. I had picked up and put aside Lorimal’s Chalice by Jane Fletcher. Looked like a typical ‘woman from female dominated society forced into a male dominated society’ kinda thing. Promptly put it down before I’d gotten through the first chapter. (This isn’t the first time I’ve tried to read that one, either.) Cindy told me it wasn’t like that at all, that Fletcher goes in a completely different direction than what you expect. So I picked it up again.

DAY-UUUMM! I’m not even halfway through the thing and I love it! I really recommend it! (Oh, and Cindy was right! LOL!)

Today, just finished editing two chapters of Tiopa Ki Lakota. Tomorrow I’ll be working on the first meeting between brother Stewart and the strange Indian woman his sister’s gotten involved with. The end is in sight!

5602 words today, three chapters done. I'm almost to the end of section 8 with only four more to go! YAY!

Just checked the remainder of the old manuscript . . . I've only got 29k left to slog through.

3156 words of editing, over three quarters finished with Tiopa Ki Lakota!

About 1k in plot for the next Sanguire novel. Forty scenes right now, and I'm filling in the details I want to visit in each scene.

Not a bad day for my first day off! Here's hoping the next three or just as productive!

I've got the next 4 days off. Woot!

Wrote a smutlet the other night. Couldn't get the damned thing out of my mind all day, so I had to toss it out there. Everybody on my mailing list got a welcome (and very warm) surprise.

Am cruising the Academy (actually the Uber list) for . . . stuff. Just finished reading Linda Crist's Bluest Eyes of Texas and Meg Ryan's 'The Deal.' Don't know where I'll end up next. I'm going alphabetically, of course.

Also completed a rousing discussion about politics from my poli sci wife. Getting a keener picture of the Sanguire's political structure. And the issues Jenna's going to have to deal with as she gains control. Whew! I think there's a lot more fodder for stories after I finish this trilogy. Criminy!

Another story idea came to mind. You know my MC? Jenna? Orphan, foster child, street kid, suddenly shoved into the limelight as vasilissa of the Sanguire? The only thing that's made the transition easier is the extra memories (past life recollections) of her predecessor, Elisibet the Tyrannos. Well, a thought occurred to me the other day . . .

What if Jenna got injured and lost her memory? Yet, the memories of Elisibet were just fine?

Jenna the Tyrannos, anyone?

cackle

The responses regarding the Roman Senate were helpful. After I had some sleep (and my eyes uncrossed,) I read the posts. I think I've got this Sanguire political structure licked.

My problem is that they're so spread out. With Human law (and the need to blend in with Human prey) I couldn't see Sanguire having laws all that dissimilar to Humans. On the other hand, they're hunters, predators. There are several manners of behavior that wouldn't be punished or even though of as odd.

The Vasilissa (Empress) runs the show. She has her privately picked advisors (Margaurethe, Valmont, Castillo) and the Symbouhera (Lionel, Aiden, Ernst, Bertrada, and Samuel.) Additionally, the world will be divided into regions. One Sanguire (Senator?) is chosen for these regions to keep things on an even keel in relation to Sanguire law. (Haven't come up with a title for that person yet.) They'll run things as they see fit, whether it be democratically or a bit more tyranical.

Now I've got to figure out some sort of police force for the Vasilissa. Not just the Royal Guard, but a military arm that can sneak in and sneak out to take care of Sanguire law breakers. It can't be a standing army. Humans would notice it far too easily. It has to be a Special Ops sort of thing.

And Reynhard Dorst's spy ring will be the eyes and ears of the Vasilissa.

Does all that make sense? Am I forgetting something?

Originally, Elisibet the Tyrannos' laws were restrictive and violent. Of course, she lived in medieval times and the Sanguire had their own base, so to speak, a homeland. Since Elisibet's assassination, the Symbouhera has rescinded many of the 'laws' she put into effect. Hence, it'll be a softer and gentler Sanguire nation . . . LOL! So long as you don't cross 'em, anyway.

Anybody know ancient Roman law? Criminy, I hate politics!

Were the Senators in Rome elected? When Emperors came into power, what the hel did Senators do? The Emporer had all the legislative and judicial powers. What was their purpose except to debate the finer points of silly little laws and take up the tax dollars? Huh? I ask ya!

1400 words of editing today on Tiopa. YAY! No writing done . . . gotta go to work.

Still fleshing out the next Sanguire outline. I've suddenly discovered I need to pay very close attention to the politics. Yuck. I hate politics. I have a monarch, a council of five, and now local authorities in the various places Sanguire congregate. How'd they get there? Were they assigned or voted in? How the hel is Bertrada going to get Jenna where she wants her? There has to be a rite of challenge or something. What do the rules of challenge say? How are laws made? Who can recind them? Does the monarchy have all the power and the council none? Or is it the other way around? Or a mix of both?

ARGH!

Stephen King calls for support for pop fiction writers in accepting award

Canadian Press

Thursday, November 20, 2003

King said he has no patience "for those who make a point of pride in saying they have never read anything by John Grisham, Tom Clancy, Mary Higgins Clark or any other popular writer."

"What do you think?" King asked.

"You get social academic brownie points for deliberately staying out of touch with your own culture?"

Chapter 23 complete. Teca has arrived and Nupa woos the beautiful sister of Anpo. 2698 words of editing today. Next up is a family dinner to show the differences between Anpo's activities compared to other men and women, to show how a wicakte does things so much differently from others . . . and gets away with it because of her status.

Next up, I've decided to trash my original Slow Movin' Valentine story. Not completely, mind you. I just think the bit of fluff wanted by the Academy will be easier to do than what I originally had in mind for the series of short stories. Also, if I want to publish the short stories, I can't have one of them hosted at a site other than my own. It's a pain in the arse for the webmaster to take down links and stories every time some author gets into a snit, and I don't want to be the one . . . snitting! LOL!

So, I've devised a different story, one that stands alone and will not be included in my original plan of ten shorts in an anthology. Rest assured, there will be a new Slow Movin' tale, one that'll never be published.

Off to get my 1k of writing done!

A few days ago, we were given our official 24 hour notice that maintenance would be entering our apartment today. They're replacing the hall carpet, and needed to access the threshold to rip it out as well as tack down the new one. Fortunately, I was off today (my wife has a heavy load of classes on Tyr's Days and Thor's Days.) So, rather than put my headphones on and listen to mood music while I edit and write, I read today.

No body showed up. In fact, the carpet they pulled up yesterday was never replaced today. We called management. They had no idea these guys weren't doing the job today. We told them we wanted another 24 hour notice. If anybody shows up in our apartment tomorrow, there's gonna be hel to pay. My wife had a crappy day in algebra and she's looking for a fight.

No editing done. No writing done. Had to keep an ear open for the door, and be certain the boys (Lester and Shade) didn't make too much noice while they were locked in the bedroom for 8 hours. Besides, I have hearing aids. Can't listen to tunage without taking the aids out and putting on headphones. No aids, no hearing the knock on the door.

Instead I read. Born of Silence and Angels Deserve to Die. Born starts off a bit sketchy, but the flow picks up about halfway through. I can tell where I stopped gauging my production by ‘I’ll write half a scene today’ to ‘I’ll write one thousand words today.’ The words are much smoother in the latter half.

Also brought up a lot of questions, a lot of reminders of things I need to take care of in the third installment. As of right now, I have about 20 major scenes sketched out. That should stretch to 35 or so, once I take each scene and expand on it. (i.e. “Jenna finally discovers which Phyle she belongs to” will flesh out to three or four supporting and linking scenes to flesh out the book.)

Things to look forward in False Side of Shadow:

1.Why didn't the Symbouhera just put someone else on the throne after Elisibet's assassination?

2.Margaurethe's mother really hated Elisibet, and that's translated over to Jenna. (Mother-in-law problems. Why not?)

3.The Symbouhera arrives to settle into their new digs in Portland. Five pissed off Sanguire, two of which want Jenna dead. Fun, fun, fun!

4.Jenna has an official debutante ball at Tribulations! LOL!

5. Bertrada Nijmege and Jenna have their final showdown.

I'm liking it. Anybody out there on my mailing list who's read these? Got any questions I left unanswered? (I mean, other than the MAJOR ones, like who's the mysterious councilor hiring assassins.)

Chapter 22 complete. Kathleen's first sun dance is done. Had to do some fast rewriting at the end of this chapter.

Originally, Anpo's family stops Kathleen from interrupting the sun dance when Anpo collapses in the circle. But the Lakota would not do such a thing. They believe that every person from the time they're five or so are able to make their own decisions. She would not have been stopped from making the choice to interrupt, at least not by those around her.

So, she did break away from Hca, and burst into the circle to save Anpo. Didn't get far, because a spiritual leader of the people – namely, Inyan the shaman – interceded on behalf of the spirits. She realized the severity of her faux pas, and returned to her place, much as it pained her to do so.

2081 words edited today. Won't get any writing done tomorrow. I work graveyard tonight and have to turn around and be back at 3pm for tomorrow afternoon. Ah, well. Weekend's coming soon.

1588 words today. I forgot to mention yesterday that I'm officially at the halfway point with the edits. Part 6, Chapter 21. Yup! WOO HOO!

Another long night at work. Better than my shift leader. F decided he wanted more hours, so he's helping Banquets serve breakfast. He was back at 10am, will work at 2pm until midnight or so (depends on when we finish the job,) and then turn around and be back to do it again on Friday. He's trying to con the manager into letting him come in on Saturday . . . after working until 1am Saturday morning and knowing he'll be back for a graveyard shift that night. HAH! Silly man!