Sooooooo . . . getting up at 4am sucks! Getting off work at 1 or 2 in the afternoon? Priceless.

No writing on Monday afternoon due to the apartment investigation. The one we were looking at has been rented . . . dammit. We don’t want any others, but the manager insisted that we get the preliminary paperwork done for the one acroos the hall from us. He said all the 2 bedroom apartments had the same floor plan and larger decks. On the way home from the complex office that afternoon, we wandered around the back side of our building to have a gander at that deck . . . don’t know what that guy’s been smoking, but the deck on that particular apartment is as small as our current one. (I’ll give him the benefit, though. The rest of them appear to be larger, if not as large as the one we’ve been lusting over.)

Anyhow, the people move out on the fifth, so we can’t actually look at it until after that. Doesn’t make any difference. We’ve decided to hold out for our dream apartment. Sooner or later whoever moves in there will leave and, since they have such a tough time selling 2 bedrooms, we’ll step up to the plate and slide right home. (Oh, and one of the maintenance guys is a friend of ours. He said that half the apartments they rent don’t get moved into. Maybe these folks will bail on the final paperwork and we’ll get in now!)

Wrote some yesterday. Only 505 words. Another flashback from the past, showing the escalation of skirmishes between the Riddicks and the townies. Riddick’s got a hard on for taking my MC, Loomis, down after her public win of their brawl. He’s not going to let it go.

And, received the next round of Tiopa edits. Haven’t looked at ‘em, yet. I know of at least one more to go through. (Have I mentioned edits SUCKETH MIGHTILY?? More than getting up at 4am!)

Last chapter Gwen stood up to Loomis’ bias about city kids having it easy and still failing to survive. This chapter was about the end of the day, giving the reader a glimpse into the Loomis household at story and bed time. Of course, Gwen is sleeping in Loomis’ room. And of course, there’s only a queen bed.

Next chapter is a blast from the past as I further the back story with Loomis’ evil arch nemesis, Riddick.

Enough About Me #12.5: In Which the Author Provides an Addendum, Allowing His Sources to Speak at Greater Length

Picked up from a link at tamboblog...

Enough About Me #12: In Which the Author Learns About Overworked Publicists and Nasty and Often Unrealistic Authors

(reprinted with permission)

“Couldn’t the novel simply focus on the love between Anpo and Kathleen…and the conflicts would arise from some of the cultural practices and how they (Anpo & Ketlin and the Lakota) deal with them. Throw in some suitors for Anpo and see what happens. Can both husband and wife take a second mate? Have there been exceptions to the rule? Anpo’s father didn’t “throw his wife away” so perhaps there were those who simply refused to take a second mate. Of course, I have no idea what I’m talking about as regards Lakota practices so please excuse my ignorance. But, there you see. Another reason to write the sequel….to educate people like me. It’s a lot more fun learning about other cultures when you can see the culture at work with characters you already love.”

My response:

The Lakota lifestyle is a live and let live sort of culture. There isn’t going to be much in the way of clash there, not as much as there was for Kathleen. Most of the conflict in the first book is from her Western upbringing, not the Lakota’s response to her.

That means that any conflict for a potential sequel would be an exterior one. And that’s what I’m finding difficult. It has to be something outside of their current situation that causes friction or there’s no story. I’ve done the research in the time period, and there’s mention of a white woman killed when Teca’s about fourteen years old.

In 1793, the Dakota see a white woman in proper European dress for the first time.

In 1794, one band says a white woman is killed at night and another says she was killed with an arrow.

In 1795, they saw a white man that came from an unknown place.

Two years later, in 1797, Little Beaver shows up in winter. Little Beaver was a white trader.

If I can figure out how to tie this all together, I’ll have a plot. But again, Anpo’s second wife would be a reality, and I’m fairly certain my readers will not be happy campers with her existence.

But here’s the link to the next installment of Iditarod. Enjoy.

Two Spirit people emerging as tales are told

You may have to register to see the article. It discusses the re-emergence of the two spirited Indians across the United States.

Thanks to MacD for the link!

. . . was 1551 words. I’ll have chapter seven finished before I even get my word count goal today. Woot!

Had some interesting questions emailed me yesterday. I thought some of you might want to hear the answers to them, and received permission to post them here.

Continue Reading…

Tiopa is back to the publisher. I’m told there’ll be another round of edits from a different set of eyes. Then we’ll begin working on Warlord Metal. (And I think that one’s going to need a little more work. The start is pretty slow. Don’t know how to beef it up, but there you are.)

I’m now 500 words into chapter seven of Orphan Maker, with a minimum of 500 to go. If I get into it enough, maybe I’ll finish it out today. I don’t know.

On the apartment front, the wife was able to sneak in (it’s good to have connections with the people working here.) She’s not particularly impressed with the place. We’re going to see if I can get inside for a look-see today. Then we’ll talk over the pros and cons. Maybe we won’t be moving the weekend of the fourth.

P.D. Publishing is proud to announce that we will be publishing the following books:

Castle Walls, 2nd edition by D. Jordan Redhawk, available in the Summer of 2006. Also from Redhawk, Tiopa Ki Lakota, 3rd edition and Warlord Metal, 2nd edition, both available Fall 2005.

Or yesterday . . .

Got Tiopa back from the publisher for a going over. I’m nearly done with that, but won’t finish until tomorrow.

Down the hall is a two bedroom apartment that’s opening up. We’ve already signed a year lease for the one we’re in, though. The wife spoke with the manager yesterday. We’re now schedule for a ‘transfer inspection’ sometime tomorrow or Friday. They’ll come in, check for holes in the walls, battered doors, and ripped up carpet. About the only thing they’ll find is the tub drain is kind of clogged.

If we pass the inspection, chances are good we’ll be moving over the fourth. Bigger place, cooler side of the building. Currently, we get full sunlight from eleven AM until sundown. Less privacy since we’ll be overlooking the courtyard (and all the neighbors’ balconies) but more security for the same reason. (Do you know how easy it is to scale to the second floor of a building?) All in all, it’ll be better. Wish us luck.

In any event, that means the bathroom cleaning really needs to be done before tomorrow. And the kitchen floor is a mess. So, my chores have overlapped today’s writing times.

1081.

Whew!

I settled in my chair, devoured a Bismark, and got myself set up to enjoy some Morrocan Mint tea while I hammered out another one thousand words.

Nothing.

Crap. Batteries are dead. And I don’t have any. Pack everything up, take my untasted tea (it was still too hot) out the door to Safeway and pick up batteries. Good sale on, too, so I buy two packs for future use. Return to Coffee People. My table’s still open! YAY! Sit down and pref again for another one thousand words.

Nothing.

WHAT?

So much for writing . . . I got about 300 words, hand written on my Palmie.

Got home. Played with the damned thing, took it apart, put it back together, blew out the nooks and crannies in case a stray hair or dust mote was messing things up.

Nothing.

Deleted the keyboard driver and loaded it back up again.

BINGO! We’re in business!

razzle frazzle

Got a call from the boss at the bright and cheery hour of 6am . . . the evening supervisor (who’s still new enough that he’s wet behind the ears,) didn’t tell her of the scheduling issue. She didn’t need me if I didn’t want to come in. DUH! So no work for me today! Woot!

Instead, I got two of my three chores done. I had planned on doing them today while the wife was gone, but figured they’d have to wait. Nope! The balcony is potting soil and cat fur free as well as reorganized. And the living room and bedroom have been vacuumed. I had planned on getting the kitchen and bathroom floors swept and mopped, but I think I’ve used too many spoons. Time to sit back and relax.

I’m off to the showers and then to Borders or Coffee People to finish the writing!