That changed (for today.) I got two of the four scenes in Broken Trail altered from Lainey’s POV to Scotch’s.  I have two more to go.  Then seven more scenes to write to complete the novel.  I’m hoping to finish it by the end of this month.

I’ve also started plugging in my Cyberpunk projects into Scrivener. There are three — the CyberEpic one I wish to revise, the Japanese one I got stuck on years ago, and a Hawaiian one I started with a friend a couple of years back. That doesn’t count the two or three other plots I have in mind for my version of the genre.

Finally caught up on my television last night.  Stargate Universe and Heroes.  Saw V on Wednesday (rare that I have a Wednesday off!) and enjoyed it.  I’d hoped for a more drawn out premiere — a two hour one — but wasn’t disappointed with the flow or the characters.  This means it probably won’t last long as a series… LOL!

Received a DVD from my father yesterday. He found some old 8mm film he’d taken (and his father had taken before that,) which he’d converted.  I was able to convert it to a format I could see…  Good gods!  I wore a frilly, pink dress that Christmas? And the living room!  It wasn’t THAT small, was it? It was fun to see my dapper young grandfather and his two little boys, too.  Thanks, Dad!

Finished The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz.  Three thousand miles on foot, through Siberia, the Gobi Desert, and the Himalayas?  Whoa!  The afterword states that he never saw the men who survived the trek with him again.  I simply can’t imagine…

My next book is A. Lincoln by Ronald C. White, Jr.

Had a blast last night on World of Warcraft (Steamwheedle Cartel.) Someone picked up an epic/elite dragon from a dungeon and somehow ported it to Ogrimmar.  While the tanks kept it occupied, about a hundred of us wailed on the thing for well over an hour.  Raised my dagger scores up almost to my max cap!  WOOT! A lot of people were able to get their unarmed combat achievement.

I think I’m going to start The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz today.  It’s about a group of prisoners escaping a Soviet labor camp in 1941.  They end up traveling hundreds of miles through Siberia, China, the Gobi Desert, and Tibet to find freedom.

Cold’s still dragging me down.  Still not able to concentrate worth a damn.  Instead, I used today’s work time to transfer documents and research into Scrivener projects.  Wrapped up all the short stories, Slow Movin’ series, and fodder/character sketches.  Also built the technical tables for my future Freya’s Tears space adventure, and transferred what little I already have there.

I’ve still got cyberpunk, Sanguire, and fantasy novels to transfer.  In all three cases, there are multiple novels for each world.  I’m not sure if I should make each book its own project file, or put each manuscript into the world project (if you catch my drift.)  Example: I’d have one Cyberpunk project with CyberEpic, Kou Itten, and another novel I’ve played with over the years.  Or I’d have a CyberEpic project, a Kou Itten project, etc.

Found a new band — Alter Bridge.  Myles Kennedy is the lead singer (and sounds like Chris Connelly,) and the majority of the band are former Creed members.  Love ‘em!

Finished Duma Key by Stephen King.  Pretty good book.  Not sure what I’ll pick up next.  My To Be Read pile is double sized and fills up half a bookshelf…

What with exhaustion, Poison Night, a six day stretch of Hel, and a mountain of unfinished chores, I haven’t actually written anything on Broken Trails.  I’ll work on it tomorrow before work.

Which is not to say I haven’t been productive in some manner.  I’ve recently discovered a new Mac program called Scrivener that’s an absolute wiz!  I’ve completed entering in data from my Orphan Maker project, and am now working on doing the same for Freya’s Tears (a space adventure.)  As I’ve mentioned on Facebook, I’ve been able to finally see the big picture of the novel’s plot, and have added some scenes to help flesh it out more.  The first draft is about three quarters finished, but has been sitting in limbo because that indefinable something was missing.

Caught the last episodes of Heroes and Stargate Universe last night.  I’m betting that on SGU, Destiny dipped into that gas giant to deploy its ramscoops — it was refueling.  Any takers?

Still reading Duma Key by Stephen King.  I only have time to read at work, and the last week hasn’t left me much opportunity.  I’m about a third of the way through it now.

Gina Torres is on ‘Flash Forward’??  All the more reason to watch, man!  WOOT!  I find it interesting that despite the obvious opportunities to change what they’ve seen in the future, those people who witnessed something dramatic that they might alter … don’t.  I mean, busting that fellah for drug paraphenalia would change the future, guaranteed.  But Demetrius didn’t do so.  Weird.

Still reading S.M. Stirling’s Conquistador.  It’s a book that’s interesting in concept, enjoyable in character and plot, but still easy to put down.  I’m only reading it at work for the most part…  I picked up Stephen King’s Dumas Key yesterday.  The first few pages intrigued me.  That’s next of my list.

My weekend starts tomorrow!  YAY!

Watched Children of Men last night.  Loved the way it was filmed.  Michael Caine’s character was a hoot!  The scene with the soldiers and the baby made me cry.  This is the second time I’ve read/seen something with this sort of premise — namely, the lack of ability for the Human race to procreate.  Childhood’s End by Sir Arthur C. Clarke has a similar bent, though not for the same reasons.  In both cases, the adults become depressed and violent. It’s difficult for me to wrap my head around the cause of their acting out, having never wanted to have children myself.

Got some new Vans!  WOOT!  No more sandals in fifty degree weather!  In a couple of months, I’ll look for a decent cold weather jacket, too.  Mine bit the dust last year.

Broken Trails, chapters forty-one through forty-three completed today.  6151 word count.  The novel has broken the 102k mark.  Here’s hoping my publisher is willing to take it when it’s complete… With just the rest of the first draft added, it’ll top 125k.  And I’ve at least one or two more scenes to add later in the manuscript.

Got to see Stargate Universe last night.  SyFy (the idgits) won’t show a television show the night after its television airdate.  They want to wait a week and a day.  I was pretty bummed about that, but a friend (thank you, Stevie!!!) found it on Hulu.com.  WOOT!  Anyway, I love it, of course.  Wasn’t too hot on SG:Atlantis, but SGU looks cool.  It helps that I like the actor playing Dr. Rush.  Hope he’s not a bad apple that’ll end up being killed off this season for whatever reason…

Still working on Conquistador by S.M. Stirling.  It’s good.  I especially like the fan-geek stuff he sprinkles throughout his manuscripts.  An Italian feudal style family with a priest called Father Sarducci.  LOLOL!  Is his first name Guido??

I’m off to Clackamas Towne Center and the Vans store.  I desperately need shoes now that the weather’s getting cooler!

Three more chapters of Broken Trail edited. 6483 words. No significant changes to be had. I may read through those chapters on Saturday before the next round just to be sure I couldn’t have shoved some angst in there somewhere.

I finished the last of Tanya Huff’s Blood Books last night.  While I’d brought S.M. Stirling’s Conquistador to work to start, I found a book in the hotel gift shop I had to grab — The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. It starts off so:

My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973.

How could I pass up a book like THAT? Apparently, it’s a motion picture, but I’ve never heard of it.  Doubt I’ll actually watch the movie, either, but who knows…

Tonight is Poison Night, making tomorrow my day off of writing. With nothing to update, I probably won’t post tomorrow.

Found a new band – Delain.  I like ‘em.  (What’s not to like with a hot redhead as a lead singer??)  I’ve been focusing a lot on metal bands with women vocalists.  I think Beautiful Sin is my favorite — the lead singer’s voice is gritty and rough, just the way I like it. (Take that comment any way you see fit.  )

Almost finished with Blood Debt by Tanya Huff.  Not certain what I’ll be reading next.   S.M. Stirling’s Conquistador seems to beckoning, but we’ll see.

Started editing the next scene of that chapter, as well. Not finished yet. I need to show more of the residual awkwardness between Lainey and Thom Fuller, the result of Lainey’s drinking binge the previous month. I’ll continue on Saturday. (Tonight is Poison Night – arthritis meds – and I’m going to be worthless on Friday.  Friday will be my official day off of writing from here on out, I think.)

I’ve been reading the Blood Books by Tanya Huff lately.  Working on number four – Blood Pact.  I like them better than the television show they inspired.  (Was it True Blood? Don’t remember.)  Saw the first episode of that series and, while it followed the book quite well, I didn’t get into the characters or the sense of anticipation.  The book covers several days, so I think the loss came from cramming so much material into the one or two hour block required for TV.

Last night after work, I did some editing on my website.  I discovered that while there was a link to a short story called ‘Dancing,’ it had never been uploaded to the site.  The information page for On Azrael’s Wings also had the wrong excerpt (it showed Castle Walls, instead,) so I changed that, as well.

Snow in Portland, Oregon was actually fun the first day or so.  Haven’t seen a blizzard like that since I was living in Idaho as a child.  I’m glad I was home for the worst of the snow days.

Our Yule celebration began on Mother’s Night.  My wife and I lit our Yule candle at sunset (though you couldn’t tell it from the dark outside!)  We swapped our gifts that night, and had a quiet evening together.  I found a box of cards at Powell’s earlier in the month, and we went through them for a couple of hours.  It’s amazing how many surprises we had for each other after twenty years together.  (The number of questions we answered for each other wasn’t surprising.  LOL!)

I stayed up the entire night on vigil, mostly reading.  I’ve found a new post-apocalyptic series my S.M. Stirling that takes place in Oregon.  The Emberverse series.  Very cool.  I highly recommend them.   When not reading, I downloaded music from iTunes with my gift cards.  WOOT!
The next day — with the worst of the snow coming down — was the feast.  Oddly enough, we had quite a few show up, despite the weather.  We thought we’d only have those invited within the apartment complex, but one showed up from several blocks away, and another couple drove in the white stuff to get there.  We watched lots of movies, visited with friends, and everyone left stuffed to the gills.
~~~
The next two weeks in my neck of the woods were chaotic at best.  When not snowed in at home, I was snowed in at work.  (Thank the gods I work in the hotel industry!) All I could do at work was wish I was home, and at home stare out the window wishing I could leave the house and do something.
As a result, I’m about two weeks behind on my edits.  I’m still working on repeated words — the current one I’m working on is ‘was’.  Ugh!  It’s only used 868 times according to Concorder!  I’m only on page sixteen of the Sanguire manuscript, and have pared the couple dozen down to three…  Only three hundred pages to go!

Speaking of which, I should get back to work…

For those of you who don’t know the story, a short synopsis; A serial killer stalks the police officer that almost brought him to justice. Haunted by her failure, Detective Abby Stanfield retreats to a mountain resort where she meets Sarah Murphy, the beautiful woman in the cabin next door. What follows is a string of events that will have both women fighting for their love and their very survival.

CL Hart

www.clhart.com

The Lakota Dictionary, compiled and edited by Eugene Buechel and Paul Manhart.

I’m in love! * SQUEE! *

Just finished reading another Ender book, Speaker For The Dead.  Now that I’ve read the parallel novels (Shadow of the Hegemon,) I see the Ender novels a little differently.  I like it.

I still want to find out what happened to Bean, though . . .

Now that I’m managing all sorts of crap, I need to organize myself better, and Backpack is the way to go for me.  With an eMac at home, an iBook for roaming, and a PC at work, this web application has already gone way past its worth in monthly payments.  I can log in anywhere to access lists, notes, files, etc.  I’m also using it to organize my personal and home life, as well. (Yes, and writing.)

Still doing lots of reading, as evidenced by my Now Reading list.  Once things settle at work, I think I’ll be able to get back to writing again.  Both Iditarod and Sanguire edits await.

Been reading . . . a LOT, as can be seen by my Now Reading column to the right on my homepage. I have a vague sense of guilt for not writing or editing anything, but there’s no urgency, no inspiration. I’ve got a list of thirty plus ideas to work on, but none have really caught my eye.

Oh, yeah, a reminder for those of you involved in the Sanguire reading – you’ve got a week until the deadline. (That’s a laugh. Like I’m going to rush to deal with it . . .)

Still on the train. I’m writing on my iBook to keep things fresh in my mind, and I’ll be posting them at the time and date stamp I’ve written them.

We’re about 4 hours behind schedule. I love the train, but this is one thing I’m not too keen on. A couple of years ago, we went to New Orleans from Los Angeles on Amtrak. We arrived eight hours late. Fortunately our hotel was already paid for, so they didn’t sell our rooms. It’s no different now. Every time a freight train has to pass, we end up pulling aside for ten, twenty, forty minutes until it passes. That’s what slows us up. Freight has priority over passengers.

I have a sneaky suspicion that my friends are counting the hours before our arrival. Here’s hoping they took my advice and are checking the Amtrak website. LOL! Their going to be mighty surprised if they don’t!

I’ve finished reading Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Now I have a full day of train riding to get through, so I’m pulling out a copy of Iditarod to edit.

Iditarod will be a much different story. I only wanted to write about the race when I penned it. Reading over the email responses I’ve received (yes, I saved those! Thanks to everyone for writing!), the only major complaint are that the characters have no growth or development. That’s going to change. Lainey’s alcohol problem will be much more dominant, and Scotch has her own dark history to contend with, one that her family is fully cognizant of and somewhat helpless to assist her with.

(insert ominous music here.)

My gallery is still offline because it takes forever and a day to upload it. I hope to get that done by next Monday at the latest. (Other than a couple of errands then, it’s the first day of vacation and I’ll have all day long to mess around.)

On the convention front, it sounds like some folks had a decent time at the GCLS con in Atlanta last weekend. I’m sorry to have missed hanging with my buddies. Scrolling through the offerings for panels, though, I’m glad I didn’t pay the money.

But major props to my buddy, Blayne Cooper, for her award in lesbian romance! WOOT!

Wednesday through Friday I rested up from Hel Month at work. Ran a few errands but mostly hung out at home with The Song of Ice and Fire series previously mentioned. Just started book four and have heard that the author plans seven. Good series if you like gritty realism in your fantasy tales.

Saturday my dad came for a visit from Idaho. He’s moving to Texas in a few months. I visit Idaho once every 5 years (if that.) Maybe he’s worried he’ll never see me again . . . LOL! We had a wonderful time roaming downtown. My dad’s a retired computer programmer analyst who will NEVER switch to a Mac. But I got him into an Apple store! LOLOL! Damn! Wish I had a camera so I could blackmail him with my brothers.

Sunday was my wife’s birthday, and I read, watched DVDs, and ran out to get her a speaker system for her iPod. Then I consolidated our music selections on her computer and transferred her iPod to her iBook instead of her eMac. The eMac will soon be on its way to parts unknown since she uses the iBook much more frequently.

Today I wrote the new intro to chapter nineteen of Born of Silence. Then edited like a mad woman. Whipped out four chapters of edits to the tune of 11,884 words. (Kids, don’t try this at home.) The next ten scenes are flat out edits. Then one more scene with some serious changes before I wing my way through the last nine scenes.

Anybody out there haven’t read any of my Sanguire stories? I’m going to need a first reader or six to tell me if it all goes together and works or not.

I’ve got almost a week off, however, due to the holiday and lack of business demands. YAY!

So, yesterday, I tweaked my website a bit. Added book covers to the random quotes box on the upper left of the sidebar. (We’ll see if that drums up sales or not.) Also, added a couple of links to programs I’ve been playing with. One is a gallery, to which I’ve added a few pics. Nothing major, but I thought it’d be fun. The other is a calendar program to show future plans. I think I’m going to also put my wordcount and writing progress here for those of you who are interested.

Today I’ve been trying to figure out the php for the gallery program. There’s no link back to the main site, and for the life of me I can’t locate the right data in the forums to figure out how to add one. Someday, I’m sure. Until then, folks will just have to use their browser’s back button.

I’ve also got about a third of the house clean. Bathroom sink and toilet are a mess, but the floor’s swept and mopped. Sheets changed on the bed, bedroom dusted, last year’s paperwork finally filed into the closet, and vacuuming done. Now I have to get the kitchen and dishes done, the kitchen floor mopped, the livingroom cleaned and dusted, and then vacuumed.

Figure if I do it now, I won’t have to do it again for a bit and can enjoy my days off!

On the book front, I blew a hundred fifty bucks on books over my birthday weekend. I’ve read the RV book, Fried Green Tomatos, a field guide on the Apple iBook, and the second in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice series. (I’m over halfway through the third, now.)

I think that’s all.

When to my rhematologist last week . . . No more Plaquanel. YAY!

I have the next two days off. YAY!

I’ve been reading and not writing. BOO! George R. R. Martin’s latest installment finally came out last year, and my wife got me all four books for Yule. I really haven’t had much time to read. (Even with the flu, I was too miserable to do more than stare at the television.) I’ve just completed the first book, A Game of Thrones. It’s been awhile since I’ve read them, but… oh, the memories.

Can I just say that Sansa Stark is an idiot bubblehead?

Thank you.

Tomorrow I plan to revisit my new writing haunt, the Urban Grind, for a mocha and some quality time with the Born of Silence manuscript. Maybe I can get my butt back on track and finish this puppy once and for all.

I found a website called BookFinder.com . . . On a lark, I plugged in my name. Came up with both PD Publishing titles. So I clicked one. Then I frantically back tracked and clicked the other.

BOTH of my books are at Powell’s! The King of bookstores! Here! In MY town! Mere blocks away!

Good gods! I have to go to Powell’s tomorrow just to be able to see my books on the shelves!

Today, however, has been quite productive.

Chapter nine has been restructured and rewritten. Changed the place, added in bits and pieces that have happened to Whiskey, had her best friend realize Whiskey was involved in the rumored beating of a streetkid, showed off Whiskey’s new tattoo… that has mysteriously healed after less than twelve hours. 1965 words.

Chapter ten was a rehash of the previous version’s second chapter. About the only changes made here were deletions of descriptions I’d already conveyed in the newer version, and changing references to Whiskey’s nickname. (Originally, she was known by her first and last initials – J.D.) 2848 words.

The next scene is a brand new one that I need time to consider before writing. So today’s (and ths week’s) total is 4813. I’ve got to go into the second manuscript and read Dorst’s initial meeting with Whiskey. I expect some of it to change since I’m introducing him so much earlier this time.

Other than working, I’ve been reading the Ukiah Oregon series by Wen Spencer. If you’re into SF, I’d recommend it. She’s got a hel of a premise for the lead character, a found feral child with lesbians for adoptive parents. He’s an adult in the series, and very different from other feral children in that he’s learned to be civilized and use language. He’s working as a private investigator, putting his nose to the trail of missing persons . . . literally.

I’ve spent the last couple of days writing what has become chapter four of Born of Silence. Originally, it was chapter three, but I decided to incorporate a scene from the previous draft ahead of it.

So, Thursday’s tally was a mere 55o words, yesterday came in at 1193, and today I’ve logged in 56 official new words and 2315 edited. Despite the elevated word count for today, I’m aiming for a minimum of 1000 words today. If the momentum remains strong, I’ll keep going until the next scene is complete.

That book I was reading, The Captive, was a damned good one. Brought up all sorts of nifty thoughts and feelings. Maybe it’ll amount to something in the future, who knows?

Today I got in another 2214 words. Born of Silence, chapter two is complete. Four more new scenes to write before I get into the meat of the editing itself. I expect it’ll go a little faster when I get to the pink Post It notes. (Marble blue are the new scenes, plain blue the edited scenes, and pink the ones basically remaining the same.)

One major change will be the location of the story. I’ve decided to place it in Seattle. It’s not the Portland isn’t ‘city’ enough for what I’m writing, but a larger Human population would support a larger Sanguire population. Considering I want to eventually relocate the European Sanguire to the Pacific northwest, there definitely needs to be a greater . . . herd to feed from. LOL!

Now I’m off to read my new book, The Captured, by Scott Zesch. It’s about a distant relative of his who was captured by Indians as a child and never returned to a normal life when he was returned. I’m only two chapters in, but it’s a good one.

Slept eight hours, spent the morning cruising the blogs I read and transferring my wife’s iTunes files to her new hard drive. Then I had a three hour nap and am feeling pretty good (other than the sore feet and creaky joints.)

Now it’s time to get this chapter of Orphan Maker finished.

—– mere seconds later —–

Whoops! Dishwasher just melted a plastic lid. Phew!

—– later —–

2181 words. Chapter eighteen complete. I was beginning to despair that I’d get in my word count today. (Come to think of it, I usually do, don’t I? Go figure.) The bombshell has been dropped, at least as far as Gwen is concerned. She’s having a serious d’oh moment. Of course, now that she thinks about it, she has a pretty good idea what happened to Loomis to cause those nightmares.

Now I’m going to get some reading done. Tipping the Velvet for those interested. It’s still one of my all time favorites. I think when I’m done I’m going to begin rereading the Harry Potter series.

Fingersmith rocks! Just finished it. I have to admit to feeling dread in part one. It seemed to be just like Affinity, only from the swindler’s POV. It was a slow motion train wreck to read. However, it redeemed itself by the halfway point, and definitely kept me turning the pages until the end. Two thumbs and two big toes up!

Still have a couple of chores to do and an hour and a half before leaving for work.

Don’t wanna.

Unfortunately, I tend to daydream a bit about the upcoming scene (which is why I try to complete one scene at a sitting. Gives me an opportunity to look ahead to the next.) Not having been able to do that here, I haven’t ‘seen’ the scene to write it. Ah, well, at least I know what scene it is now!

I’ll be revealing a bit of information that I’ve been holding back. My friend is still annoyed she hasn’t figured it out. Apparently, it’s a fifty-fifty thing, because someone else reading it has. (Nyah, nyah, Shawnee.) Considering this other person gave me two or three different theories and then asked me not to tell her which was correct, I’m keeping mum until the chapter is finished.

I’ve been reading Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. After Affinity, I wasn’t too sure I wanted to read anything more of hers. So depressing! I’ve heard Fingersmith is, as well, but thought it was time to give it a shot.

I didn’t write on Thursday and Friday due to my downfall. Yes, I succumbed to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. At least it only took a day and a half to read. (Damned work kept getting in the way!)

Cut the hel out of myself this morning. It’s been about 22 year since I learned my lesson about trash cans. You know the one . . . don’t force things down in the garbage because of can lids sticking up at odd angles? Yup. I hope this means it’ll be another 22 years before the next time. Still have the scar from that last one. Two fingers down, six more and two thumbs to go!

Been without DSL for almost a week, then had to spend an hour on the phone with support to get it back up and running. Sheesh. I’ve spent the last two days doing nothing but wallowing on the web. Now I know why relapsing heroin addicts invariably OD . . .

Yesterday, I read a couple of online fics that were . . . fantastic! I’m gobsmacked! (And I ain’t English!) Go! Read! Both of them! (And thanks, ! Your review is what sent me there!)

It occurred to me this morning that Castle Walls is due to be sent to the publisher by August 1st . . . and I haven’t even touched it since we negotiated the contract. Oops! Guess what Redhawk’s doing this morning?

And lastly, I’ve uploaded the next to chapters of the Iditarod tale. Enjoy!

I can see her point, honestly. Fortitude didn’t pay her for storage and, when the company folded, ignored the legal notices sent to them to take care of the remaining product. The woman does have a valid reason for doing this to receive some sort of compensation since the former CEO appears to have washed her hands of the issue.

But let’s get something perfectly clear. Several months ago, I was told by this person that she would be discussing various avenues with the authors involved in liquidating the stock once all legal hoops were jumped through. Then, last week, I received an email telling me the same thing she’s posted on various lists in the ‘verse – that she was selling it off on her own, to defray costs of storage and in lieu of paying another company to haul it to the landfill. There was no discussion to be had.

According to my contracts with Fortitude, royalties will not be paid in the event that the company dissolves. So what she’s doing is legal (which I never doubted.) Unfortunately, all three of my titles are going to be republished through PD Publishing . . . both Tiopa Ki Lakota and Warlord Metal will be coming out by around Orlando Bardcon. Castle Walls will be out sometime next year.

So, if you absolutely must have those first two titles, knock yourself out. Or you can wait a few more months and see them in all their shining glory with the nifty new covers done by Steph Solomon-Lopez. (I think you know which I’d prefer! LOL!) I know that Tiopa hasn’t changed significantly from the second edition, but haven’t begun editing Warlord, yet.

Edit to add:

I’ve been reminded that no agreement between Fortitude and the individual in question was made regarding storage of product. It was only after the company folded that storage fees were demanded and refused.

Additionally, this person was a corporate officer of the company, not an employee. Her actions do represent the company (and our contractual agreement) as opposed to someone trying to see compensation for money spent.

So . . . legal or not? I don’t know. It’s in the gray area. Technically, Fortitude no longer exists, my contracts are defunct, and no royalties are due. But she’s not selling second hand books – she’s selling unsold copies – and she was a corporate member of the company.

Anyhow, just thought I’d clarify the muddy waters for folks. We all do what we need to do in life. You make your own choices.

Off to continue reading At All Costs, the Honor Harrington advanced reader copy. I’m only on chapter 32, which means I have 40 more to go! WOOT!

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

Met today. Had a wonderful chat about books, covers, and writing in general. I’m glad to have finally met her (even though she doesn’t look like a techno geek to me.) We discussed my future endeavors . . . CyberEpic came up in conversation. A lot . . . LOL!

On the way home, I picked up a CD – We Are Not Alone by Breaking Benjamin – and two books. Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn and If Angels Burn by Lynn Viehl. The first is a Japanese historical based fantasy and the second a paranormal romance. Anybody who’s read Stardoc will understand why I picked it up . . . they’re by the same author.

Now I’m writing my words for the day. Only got about four hundred in at Coffee People before showed up. If I’m fortunate, I’ll finish the chapter today. If not, then it won’t be finished until Tuesday.

Gods, I’ve got to get through this book!

FOUR copies remain of Warlord Metal for those intrepid souls still out there…

Had an indecisive moment as I considered who’s POV to use for her arrival in Nome. Hers or Scotch’s? While it was nice to consider Scotch’s POV (not to mention refreshing since the last two hundred chapters have been all from Lainey’s POV,) it was suggested to me by a friend that I should stick with Lainey a little longer. Then I can compare it to her first Iditarod the previous year as she stood on the sidelines, shivering and wondering about all these crazy people out in the Alaskan wilderness in the dead of winter.

Now that she’s there, the second half of the chapter will be Scotch’s POV – getting Lainey to the dog lot and into a shower. And into BED!

Work schedule’s screwed up a bit from what I was hoping for. Morning shift followed by two noon shifts. That cuts into my writing time considerably. Which means I have to finish this baby by Friday evening if I’m going to finish it by the time we leave for Seattle next week.

Speaking of which, while I’m not attending the Cremation con in Seattle, I will be there. Attending Lucy’s show on Saturday night and may hang out in the con hotel bar at some point.

The sale goes on . . . only five or six copies left of Warlord Metal and Castle Walls. Thanks to everyone who’s already purchased one. I’m heading for the post office on Friday.

Cheeee-rist, will this book never end?? I had hoped to have Lainey at the finish line by now, but instead she’s eighteen miles from Nome at the Safety checkpoint.

Sheesh!

Again, I predict two more chapters and an epilogue. (I’ve said that the last three chapters, I think . . .)

Castle Walls and Warlord Metal are still available for sale! Contact me through my website for details!

There are still 9 copies of Warlord Metal and 7 of Castle Walls at $10 each.

The sale is still on, people. I’ve had no takers so there’s still plenty to go around.

Today I’m off work and finished another chapter! I estimate at least two more to go, perhaps an epilogue at the end. I just have to get Lainey over Topkok summit, the worst section of trail in the entire race.

And the sale is still on, folks.

Castle Walls, $15 US

Warlord Metal, $15 US

Tiopa Ki Lakota, 2nd edition, $20 US

It’s on a first come, first serve basis and the transaction will take place via Paypal. Contact me for details.

Unless she or Scotch gives up something . . .

Today’s a windy, rainy day, but we braved it to pick up our gallon jar of carrot honey at Saturday Market. We ordered it three weeks ago, forgot the next weekend, it rained horribly last weekend and by the time I got there they had already left. I’m glad we caught them today.

The reason for the honey? We’re down to the last few pots of coffee. After that, we’re going to drink tea instead. My friend (who’s recently been diagnosed diabetic) has been doing research into ‘good for you’ foods. Tea is one of them. I mean, what the hel, we’re already 50% decaf. Why not go herbal instead?

Off to spend the rest of this rainy day lounging in my sweat pants and reading the Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan. After this, I’ll be into unknown waters, since this is as far as I’ve ever read in the series. I’m looking forward to discovering what happens next!

Did them early because this is the first weekend of Portland Saturday Market. Wandered over there for a breakfast of chicken from an Egyptian place and an apple butter elephant ear.

Then I went to Powell’s bookstore. You see, I finished the second book of the Wheel of Time series and became panicky. I mean, I only have up to number four here! What’ll happen if I read through them at the speed of light? Huh? Huh? So I got numbers five and six. Would have gotten seven, but I found a book called The Hand-Sculpted House and bought it instead. We’re seriously thinking about building a Cob house when we get our property in the future.

Wow. This is a mighty link heavy post, isn’t it?

On the home front, our hermit crabs have locked themselves out of their house . . . LOL! There’s an empty shell in their tank for when they decide to discard the ones they’re wearing. Sam is curled up on the driftwood piece, sort of lodged in the corner as he sleeps. And the empty shell is parked half inside the coconut shell they use for a house. We thought that Hermie had pulled it in after him to block the opening, but my wife just discovered Hermie snoozing by the water dish. Seems whoever moved the furniture last night really screwed things up! Heh.

Last time I took a nap I had every intention of getting another thousand words in when I got up. I don’t think I’m going to try it today. Maybe that’ll get me going, but I’ve started rereading Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, and am becoming engrossed anew. (I gave up after the seventh book because I got sick and tired of having to reread the entire series when a new book came out . . . so much real time had passed between new installments that I forgot half the characters or what they were supposed to be doing when I last read them.)

In any case, this means rearranging my corner of the living room and unloading the desk and bookshelf into the bedroom for the time being in preparation.

On that note, I’m working my way through the non-fiction shelf and discovered A Fan’s Guide to the Iditarod by Mary H. Hood. Whoa! I’d forgotten I had that. I’ve borrowed so many books about the race from the library, I thought that this had been one of them. WOOT! I was just thinking yesterday that I wish I had this book in my possession again! The disir around here are going to get an extra helping of dinner this week!

Alright. Back to work!

So that’s what I’ve been doing on my winter vacation! I’ve only kept up on my email. Haven’t looked at LiveJournal or much of anything else in a couple of weeks. (My apologies for being so woefully lax!)

Yule rocked, the Feast Day was a wild success (with a dozen people crammed into our tiny one bedroom apartment,) and New Year’s Eve was mellow.

Tonight is Twelfth Night, the true beginning of the coming year. What’s said and done today has extreme weight on what happens in the course of next year.
In the year 2005 I resolve to:
Stop smoking pot by taking up crack instead.
So, I’m getting my ass in gear. I plan on a minimum four hours of writing time (even though I’m typing one-handed) starting as soon as this is posted. My 2004 goals went mostly unachieved . . . it’s time to write a new list for 2005.

Later this evening, we’ll have a private little symbel to toast the gods, our friends, family, and ancestors. Then my wife will do a couple of rune readings for the coming year.

*raises virtual horn of mead* To you! May the gods support you in a spectacular new year!

On Forward Motion, there’s a discussion regarding small press. Someone asked the following:

How about the rest of you? Do you have any favorite small press companies where you either go to find books or where you are either published or would like to be published?

My response is:

I’m a small press kinda gal, partially because of the genre I write – lesbian romance. (Not a lot of major publishing houses are willing to focus on that.) As Wen Spencer stated, it does have the benefit of lots of warm fuzzies and a sense of fun and friendship that can’t be had at the bigger presses.

Regardless, I don’t plan on remaining a small press author. (Which is not to say I won’t continue writing lesbian romance! That’ll never change!) Someday I’d like to break into the major markets, to be able to see my books on the shelf at Powell’s and Borders, to reach a larger audience.

I figure if I get a decent contract with a large company, I’ll still pen lesbian romances on the side as a hobby. It’s not much money, but if I were in it to get rich, I’d be writing thrillers and watching the market reports a whole lot more.

As for favorites, my publishing company used to be. Unfortunately, Fortitude Press has closed its doors, and my books are no longer available. I’ve been looking at the available small presses and haven’t come to a decision of where to go. That’s the downside of the warm fuzzies. I feel like I’ve lost a friend. Seems rather callus to rush out and find a replacement, and comparisons with other companies only serve to highlight what I perceive they do differently than Fortitude did.

*sigh*

I’m sitting it out through the holidays. At the beginning of the year, I’ll give it another scrutiny.

All of my titles are now officially out of print.

At this time, I don’t know whether or not I’ll be able to afford picking up the remainders of my titles. Chances are good that I won’t. Them’s the breaks. As things occur, I’ll post here to keep you notified.

After dinner, the wife and I watched Gothika. It was pretty cool though I don’t see how Halle Berry escaped a prison sentence, regardless of what her old man was up to.

I started reading The War of the Flowers by Tad Williams. I haven’t gotten very far but it’s very reminiscent of his Otherland series. Looking at the size of the book (600 plus pages,) something occurred to me, though:

I could jam all the Sanguire stories into one volume . . .

Food for thought.

The only thing harder than writing a sex scene is editing one. When I wrote the initial scene of Azrael and Ursula, I was still mixing my points of view with some frequency. Now I find myself in the position of dividing the scene into two points of view.

By the time it was appropriate to leave, the sun had set. Torches lit the courtyard when Azrael and her entourage sauntered out of the hall. Atol and Razzu had elected to stay, one for feminine conquest and the other to hear more about a new strain of flower. Azrael thought it best, really. Tenango and Suma appeared connected at the hip; that discussion with Razzu might need to be implemented sooner than expected. Their horses were delivered by stable boys, and they mounted.

Azrael had worn a light cloak for the expected evening coolness. Once Ursula was seated across her lap, she wrapped both of them with it. She slid her hand across the silk of Ursula’s dress as they rode through town, idly stroking legs and belly. Her thoughts worried her conversation with the magistrate, her caresses absent minded.

She could make no sense of her thoughts, unable to understand the purpose of his warnings or the rumor from the king’s court. Was this an instance where her political incapacity was a liability? Give her a sword and she led with swift and terrible results, her army nearly fanatical in their loyalty. Give her a shovel and she made her estate, Wrendon, flourish. But politics, with its conspiracies, maneuvering for power, and slippery deceit was beyond her abilities. Her cunning was on the battlefield, not a council room.

Azrael sighed as they neared the gates, her concerns giving her a headache. Idonatra, somewhat drunk, sang a drinking song under his breath. Tenango and Suma rode close, their heads bent together in quiet speech. In her arms, Ursula trembled.

The dinner had had its high points, Azrael mused. She leaned close, nuzzling the hair at nape of Ursula’s neck, her hand tucked beneath a warm breast. Did the woman feel so safe in a room full of people that she could tease her mistress with impunity? Had the slave been more experienced, she might have been in for quite a surprise; Azrael’s threshold of modesty was probably far lower than Ursula, born and raised in small villages. Still, it had been intriguing to be the recipient of Ursula’s initial forays into flirtation. Midia must have spoken to her while they had been shopping.

The guards ushered them through the gate without preamble. Their eyes took a moment to adjust from the torches at the gate to the subtle glow of moonlight, as they ambled down the road.
Azrael felt a shaking hand upon hers in the darkness, guiding her to cover Ursula’s breast. Thoughts of portly magistrates, political subterfuge, and shy flirtations disappeared in a flash of lust.

Cupping the rounded flesh, she focused on Ursula whose hand remained hot against hers. The woman’s eyes were downcast, her teeth biting at her lower lip in a way that Azrael associated with serious contemplation. It was at expression she was swiftly finding adorable. She was conscious of Ursula’s rapid breathing, and debated her next move. Was this a stepping stone on the path of desire? Or would Ursula stumble and fall off the path again?

In answer to her question, Ursula squeezed her hand, forcing her to do the same. To reward the bold behavior, Azrael repeated the action without prompting, thumb slowly rubbing a swollen nipple. The woman in her arms arched subtly, a sigh escaping her lips. Pleased Ursula did not pull away, Azrael pinched the nipple between thumb and forefinger. Ursula’s grip on her hand clutched in desire as she emitted a surprised gasp.