So the whack factor ran a little higher yesterday. All to the good. After sleeping quite late (by my standards) and a morning workout, I met up with @howardtayler for a leisurely lunch off-site. We had a terrific conversation about writing, life and the value of kindness. Howard also did nifty caricatures of both our waitress and her manager. It was hilariously fun to watch them react with such delight.
Walking back from lunch, we passed a pretty radical steampunked car.
More photos later when I have the bandwidth to upload them. (That would not be right now, unfortunately.)
Back inside, I hooked up with Ellie Copperbottom of the League of S.T.E.A.M. to host a High Tea. Which was a blast, and very odd at the same time. After that, I recorded a brief podcast interview with them. Then I wound up down in the Vendor Room signing books, where we all but sold out of my stock at the table of Off the Beaten Path Books. Gail Carriger and I crossed paths there again.
Dinner consisted of me and a very helpful concom rep making a White Castle run. Sixty dollars later, the League and I were pigging out hard. From there, things devolved into an evening of music, hot tubbing (well, warm tubbing), drinking, and electroshock therapy. I managed to enjoy an electric kiss with a lovely young woman, as well as try out the new sport of electric motorboating. Plus people were doing shots off Boba Fett's icy head, but I eschewed that particular pursuit.
Today I have an author panel and a reading and a day of hanging out.
So, yeah. A lot of fun here. A lot of fun.
Photo © 2012 Howard Tayler, used with permission.
Walking back from lunch, we passed a pretty radical steampunked car.
More photos later when I have the bandwidth to upload them. (That would not be right now, unfortunately.)
Back inside, I hooked up with Ellie Copperbottom of the League of S.T.E.A.M. to host a High Tea. Which was a blast, and very odd at the same time. After that, I recorded a brief podcast interview with them. Then I wound up down in the Vendor Room signing books, where we all but sold out of my stock at the table of Off the Beaten Path Books. Gail Carriger and I crossed paths there again.
Dinner consisted of me and a very helpful concom rep making a White Castle run. Sixty dollars later, the League and I were pigging out hard. From there, things devolved into an evening of music, hot tubbing (well, warm tubbing), drinking, and electroshock therapy. I managed to enjoy an electric kiss with a lovely young woman, as well as try out the new sport of electric motorboating. Plus people were doing shots off Boba Fett's icy head, but I eschewed that particular pursuit.
Today I have an author panel and a reading and a day of hanging out.
So, yeah. A lot of fun here. A lot of fun.
Photo © 2012 Howard Tayler, used with permission.
Your Sunday moment of zen.
San Francisco houses, 2006. © 2006, 2012, Joseph E. Lake, Jr.
The current photo series is from my 'favorites' file, hence the dates jumping about
This work by Joseph E. Lake, Jr. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
San Francisco houses, 2006. © 2006, 2012, Joseph E. Lake, Jr.
The current photo series is from my 'favorites' file, hence the dates jumping about
This work by Joseph E. Lake, Jr. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Easter Island statues had bodies — Did no one ever think to look?
CSR project aims to create a high-speed, carbon-neutral steam-powered locomotive — Oh, cool. (Thanks to David E. Vincent.)
Egos and Immorality — Paul Krugman on the Wall Street fairy tale.
Scientist: Evolution debate will soon be history — This is stupid. The evolution debate has been history for a long time. What you have today is a combination of religious willful ignorance and conservative political opportunism. It's not a "debate" in any meaningful sense of the word, as the anti-evolution side has no evidence, logic or credibility.
Conservatives used to care about community. What happened? — They lost their fucking minds.
?otd: Ever been electric motorboated?
5/27/2012
Writing time yesterday: 0.0 hours (Con time)
Body movement: 30 minute stationary bike ride
Hours slept: 6.5 (solid)
Weight: n/a
Currently reading: Shattering the Ley by Benjamin Tate; Of Blood and Honey by Stina Leicht
CSR project aims to create a high-speed, carbon-neutral steam-powered locomotive — Oh, cool. (Thanks to David E. Vincent.)
Egos and Immorality — Paul Krugman on the Wall Street fairy tale.
Scientist: Evolution debate will soon be history — This is stupid. The evolution debate has been history for a long time. What you have today is a combination of religious willful ignorance and conservative political opportunism. It's not a "debate" in any meaningful sense of the word, as the anti-evolution side has no evidence, logic or credibility.
Conservatives used to care about community. What happened? — They lost their fucking minds.
?otd: Ever been electric motorboated?
5/27/2012
Writing time yesterday: 0.0 hours (Con time)
Body movement: 30 minute stationary bike ride
Hours slept: 6.5 (solid)
Weight: n/a
Currently reading: Shattering the Ley by Benjamin Tate; Of Blood and Honey by Stina Leicht
This is one of those weekends where everyone is off at a con having fun without us. I did see Men in Black III and enjoyed it a bunch. It was a huge lot of fun. It made a nice antidote for The Woman in Black which we rented and watched Friday night, and which was a very well-made, gorgeously filmed movie which I disliked so intensely it upset my stomach.
Question answers:
Brennan Griffin asked
Gate of Gods trilogy
Do you have any plans to re-visit the Ile-Rien world? You may have addressed this somewhere else, but I thought that Gate of Gods did not get nearly the shelf-space it deserved, and I'd definitely like to see more.
Not to say that I'm not enjoying your Cloud Roads sequence! And I quite liked the Wheel of the Infinite as well.
Thank you! The third book in the trilogy, The Gate of Gods, definitely did not show up in most bookstores and I've talked to many people who read the first two books (The Wizard Hunters and The Ships of Air) and never saw the third. The first two books didn't sell as well as the publisher wanted, so they didn't put much effort into getting the third out there. Technically, they are all three still in print, but you have to order them online. They are available as ebooks, too.
I did originally start a prequel novel about Giliead and Ilias, but the publisher wasn't interested in it, so I just turned it into a series of short stories which were eventually published by Black Gate Magazine. (Three of them are on my web site now: Holy Places, Houses of the Dead, and Reflections. There's one more that hasn't been published yet.) At this point, it's been so long I kind of doubt whether I would ever go back to that world. I haven't completely ruled it out, though.
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.1)
desertport asked I have been wondering this for a little while: What is the ultimate fate of the Ravenna? Does she end up a museum or sink fantastically? Something else?
I always imagined her becoming a floating museum, kind of like the Queen Mary, but more honored and better maintained.
If anyone has anymore questions (about my books or about writing or publishing in general or about what I'm doing today (hint: it's boring)) go ahead and ask.
Question answers:
Brennan Griffin asked
Gate of Gods trilogy
Do you have any plans to re-visit the Ile-Rien world? You may have addressed this somewhere else, but I thought that Gate of Gods did not get nearly the shelf-space it deserved, and I'd definitely like to see more.
Not to say that I'm not enjoying your Cloud Roads sequence! And I quite liked the Wheel of the Infinite as well.
Thank you! The third book in the trilogy, The Gate of Gods, definitely did not show up in most bookstores and I've talked to many people who read the first two books (The Wizard Hunters and The Ships of Air) and never saw the third. The first two books didn't sell as well as the publisher wanted, so they didn't put much effort into getting the third out there. Technically, they are all three still in print, but you have to order them online. They are available as ebooks, too.
I did originally start a prequel novel about Giliead and Ilias, but the publisher wasn't interested in it, so I just turned it into a series of short stories which were eventually published by Black Gate Magazine. (Three of them are on my web site now: Holy Places, Houses of the Dead, and Reflections. There's one more that hasn't been published yet.) At this point, it's been so long I kind of doubt whether I would ever go back to that world. I haven't completely ruled it out, though.
desertport asked I have been wondering this for a little while: What is the ultimate fate of the Ravenna? Does she end up a museum or sink fantastically? Something else?I always imagined her becoming a floating museum, kind of like the Queen Mary, but more honored and better maintained.
If anyone has anymore questions (about my books or about writing or publishing in general or about what I'm doing today (hint: it's boring)) go ahead and ask.
Hullo all!
Submissions Guidelines for Issue Three of Cabinet des Fees's Demeter's Spicebox are now up!
We have chosen the Aarne-Thompson type 2031C, The Mouse Who Was To Marry The Sun for Issue Three, do refer to the guidelines for the additional prompts!
Reading Period: 5 APRIL 2012 onwards (until we get the perfect two stories for the next issue).
Do bear in mind that you will need to read the stories from Issue One and Issue Two, as this is a storytelling project and the prompts reflect this. DS runs in Volumes of four issues each, and each Volume will start with a fresh set of prompts.
If you have any questions or doubts, feel free to email us at demeterspice (gmail) in April!
Best,
Nin Harris
Submissions Guidelines for Issue Three of Cabinet des Fees's Demeter's Spicebox are now up!
We have chosen the Aarne-Thompson type 2031C, The Mouse Who Was To Marry The Sun for Issue Three, do refer to the guidelines for the additional prompts!
Reading Period: 5 APRIL 2012 onwards (until we get the perfect two stories for the next issue).
Do bear in mind that you will need to read the stories from Issue One and Issue Two, as this is a storytelling project and the prompts reflect this. DS runs in Volumes of four issues each, and each Volume will start with a fresh set of prompts.
If you have any questions or doubts, feel free to email us at demeterspice (gmail) in April!
Best,
Nin Harris
Made it to KC fine. Meeting Sis for breakfast and mom to shop.
Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.
Our Olympic Torch Relay linked celebration of the British Isles and its GLBTQ fiction links carries on apace, through surprisngly sunny Wales. Today is one of my legs, and I've been talking about the links between Wales and the British Flash free anthology. Come and see what I've been writing (and have a look at the previous days, all of which feature great posts and stunning pictures!)
I've just sent out the first round of the new short story sub - if anyone has signed up and NOT received it, please let me know and I will send you your fiction asap.
*
In other news, it is exceptionally hot. The Levels are lovely - covered in cow parsley and charnock, and there are cuckoos. The house is in some disarray, since Pickle the elder cat (I think) managed to kick a tin of red paint off the shelf, and Lily trod in it, with all 4 paws, then ran through the kitchen. I have just found Pickle sitting in the frying pan.
*
In other news, it is exceptionally hot. The Levels are lovely - covered in cow parsley and charnock, and there are cuckoos. The house is in some disarray, since Pickle the elder cat (I think) managed to kick a tin of red paint off the shelf, and Lily trod in it, with all 4 paws, then ran through the kitchen. I have just found Pickle sitting in the frying pan.
spiffikins asked:Looking back at our own efforts, we had lots of battles :) I've love to hear how you applied these rules to situations where your son didn't want to do something, like have his bath or get dressed/put his shoes on for school or participate in the day to day activities of helping out (setting the table, doing dishes, doing homework) - it seems we always had conflict, and the majority of it with my brother was getting him to do something that he didn't want to do, but that needed to be done.
I’ve been thinking about this today while at work shelving books - which hopefully will not result in too many mis-shelved novels.
( This answer was too long for the comment thread, which is why it’s a post. )
http://pbackwriter.blogspot.com/2012/05/w
I always have at least one reward waiting for me at the novel finish line, and this time around it's Lucidity, our blogpal Raine Weaver's latest release, which is available in most e-book formats at all the major online retailers (also currently on sale at Samhain for $3.15.)
Here's the official copy:
He’s found the woman of his dreams—in the midst of his worst nightmare.
Carlotta Phelps never considered herself special, except for a peculiar ability to control the course of her dreams. Other than being a handy cure for nightmares, it’s a pretty worthless talent. Until she’s recruited for the One Hundred, a team of lucid dreamers whose combined visualizations have been proven to affect reality.
With a giant asteroid hurtling straight toward Earth and the scientific technology to avert it uncertain, the dreamers are the fallback—the last line of defense. And the man who’s been assigned as her bodyguard is messing with her focus, big time.
Ex-Special Ops soldier Parker Munroe has no idea why he’s been assigned to protect the luscious, gentle-eyed Carly. She’s a frustrating temptation, but he’s a hard-core realist. The only power he believes in is brute force.
Then he learns that his charge, who practically lives in lacy negligees, wields an awesome power—and an even bigger responsibility. She and her kind are being hunted by an enemy he can’t even identify, against which all his skill with weaponry is useless. If he can’t find a way to protect her, the world is as doomed as the heart he’s already lost.
This one had me at Hello. I mean, come on -- a lucid dreamer, an ex-spec ops bodyguard, and a planet-killer asteroid hurtling toward Earth? I am so reading this.
Also, I don't know who is doing Samhain's art lately, but whoever is responsible for putting together this gorgeous, classy cover should be given a raise. A very large one.
Thank you to everyone who weighed in on the name change question. I'm afraid some of you will be disappointed, though. I can't let Varis and Vargas appear multiple times on the same page (much as I couldn't handle Kieran and Kiril), but there will not be any cute in-text reasons for this. (Okay, I say that now, but I may think of one later.) I just have to change it. The first reader who actually notices will get a cookie.
The true lesson to be learned from this is: there's no such thing as a throwaway name. At least if one is writing a series, anyway. One never knows when Random Character Bob will show up again, and when he does, you may regret naming him Bob.
In other news, Agent F just passed out while watching Animal Planet an hour before her bedtime. This is an unlooked for windfall of writing time, if I can manage not to pass out.
The true lesson to be learned from this is: there's no such thing as a throwaway name. At least if one is writing a series, anyway. One never knows when Random Character Bob will show up again, and when he does, you may regret naming him Bob.
In other news, Agent F just passed out while watching Animal Planet an hour before her bedtime. This is an unlooked for windfall of writing time, if I can manage not to pass out.
- Mood:
tired
Words: 2264
Total words: 5764
Files: 3
Tea: White Orchard
Music: Three Double Concertos, arguably the best music of all time ever.
RSI: Forgot that line, didn't I? Well, reminded of it now.
Reason for stopping: end of chapter.
I'm two chapters in, and these people are five courses through a twelve course lunch? Seriously? Oh well, we've also had a lot of backstory. It'll work out.
Anybody know anything about ballet that they didn't get from Noel Streatfeild and Rumer Godden? Any recommendations for ballet blogs?
Total words: 5764
Files: 3
Tea: White Orchard
Music: Three Double Concertos, arguably the best music of all time ever.
RSI: Forgot that line, didn't I? Well, reminded of it now.
Reason for stopping: end of chapter.
I'm two chapters in, and these people are five courses through a twelve course lunch? Seriously? Oh well, we've also had a lot of backstory. It'll work out.
Anybody know anything about ballet that they didn't get from Noel Streatfeild and Rumer Godden? Any recommendations for ballet blogs?
Posted by Victoria Strauss for Writer Beware
Two fascinating surveys appeared this week. They look at opposite ends of the writing business, but dovetail in interesting ways. (This is going to be a long post, so please bear with me.)
The Writers' Workshop Survey of Professional Authors
In March, the Writers' Workshop, a UK-based writers' consultancy, launched a survey of traditionally published authors. The aim: to discover how authors feel about their publishers in a time of rapid change, where "it has become possible – arguably for the first time in history – for authors to detach themselves from publishers."
The survey results were posted this week, and they make for interesting reading. Authors are generally happy with a number of aspects of the traditional publishing process--notably, the editing they receive.
And while there is much grumbling in the writing community about the lack of publisher loyalty, with publishers no longer willing to stick with writers over several books while they build an audience, authors are just as fickle. 40% of survey respondents said they'd move to another house if given the chance. 22% weren't sure.
Two fascinating surveys appeared this week. They look at opposite ends of the writing business, but dovetail in interesting ways. (This is going to be a long post, so please bear with me.)The Writers' Workshop Survey of Professional Authors
In March, the Writers' Workshop, a UK-based writers' consultancy, launched a survey of traditionally published authors. The aim: to discover how authors feel about their publishers in a time of rapid change, where "it has become possible – arguably for the first time in history – for authors to detach themselves from publishers."
The survey results were posted this week, and they make for interesting reading. Authors are generally happy with a number of aspects of the traditional publishing process--notably, the editing they receive.
Around 75% of authors rated their editorial input as having been good or (more commonly) excellent. Just 14% disagreed...Marketing, however, was a different story. A majority of authors felt they weren't adequately consulted on their publishers' marketing plans, that their skills and strengths weren't adequately utilized, and that they had little input or control (ah yes--I know the feeling). About half the respondents felt that communication by the publisher was poor, and nearly half said that their publishers never sought feedback from them.
Similarly – and again contrary to many stories about declining standards – authors rate their publishers extremely highly on copy-editing, proof-reading, page design and so forth. More than 80% of authors regarded their publishers as being good-to-excellent in these areas...
On the matters of cover design and jacket copy, authors remained broadly positive. About three-fifths of authors were highly satisfied with the way these things turned out. The remainder were, on the whole, ‘somewhat’ satisfied.
And while there is much grumbling in the writing community about the lack of publisher loyalty, with publishers no longer willing to stick with writers over several books while they build an audience, authors are just as fickle. 40% of survey respondents said they'd move to another house if given the chance. 22% weren't sure.Mirrored from SFWA | Comment at SFWA
I'm hearing from people who've found early copies of Casket of Souls, so I'm setting up the usual space for conversing, with the caveat that THERE WILL BE SPOILERS most likely, so if you haven't read the book, don't come in!
Patrick Swenson at Fairwood Press has posted the cover for my new collection, Flying in the Heart of the Lafayette Escadrille. He found this spot-on image for it, but the artist was Russian, and it took a bit to contact her to negotiate the rights. Thank goodness we were able to, because the art is perfect for the cover story. The collection should be out in October.
- Mood:
chipper
Hello~
I’m currently attending Miscon and it’s slightly overcase, a bit sprinkly, and tons of fun.
It’s also very crowded. This is what happens when GRRM attends a con. The unhappy news is that Patty and Mike Briggs both came down with a nasty bug and aren’t able to attend. So I’m missing seeing them. However there are a ton of other old and new friends that I’m getting to see and that’s hugely enjoyable.
I got here yesterday with the kids and set about getting ensconced in the hotel and getting registered. Then I went to the writers workshop meet and greet, followed by a panel on Mystery crossing over into Genre. On that panel was Maggie Bonham, Steve Fahnestalk, JA Pitts, and me. It was a good panel, though it felt a bit meandery. Then we went to dinner with a bunch of friends at the Irish place a couple of parkinglots away. It was excellent food and conversation and I got to see S.A. Bolich and Andrea and Jeff How, all of which I haven’t seen in at least a year, and Brenda Carre, who I haven’t seen since . . . well, it’s been a few years. I tried to absorbe some house selling vibes from her, since she just sold hers.
Then it was back to the hotel room where the kids, the man, the dogs and I goofed off and eventually slept. Both dogs and the girlie ended up in bed with me. How does that happen? So I’m dragging.
Then up early for breakfast and for the writers workshop. It was a really good group. And then I snuck out for a bite and came back and did a panel on writing realistic languages in fantasy and sf with George RR Martin, and Jim Glass. That was fun. George is very funny. Next up is a panel on Urban Fantasy Noir, and then the next is on Monsters, both of which will be very very cool. I’m doing my level best to stay out of the dealer’s room, but I hear things calling my name. I’m so trying not to answer.
Hope you’re having a great weekend!
Originally published at www.dianapfrancis.com. You can comment here or there.
Not that little, actually. That's my Blackberry Case tossed on the ground (but not tooo close) for an idea of size.
Today at the dog park:
Today at the dog park:
Please read the following text. I've written it with help of the official list of terms the NOC uses when "monitoring social media sites to provide situational awareness and establish a common operating picture". Then guess how many of the words I used are on this "black list". OK? Then let's get started:
Story 1:
Currently, I'm working on a fic featuring Norrington. The plot: Port Royal is destroyed by an earthquake, but this doesn't keep Norrington and the RN from go after the pirates under command of Blackbeard. Norrington refuses to listen to Gillette's warning about an upcoming storm, and so the Dauntless is destroyed in a hurricane. Stranded on a desert island by a kindly wave, they wait for help. Can Gillette cross this bridge and forgive his captain, or will he continue to be cold as ice towards him?
Story 2:
Work is hell at the moment. First I caught that bloody virus that was doing the rounds and had to call in sick for a week. Back at the office, the day started with all our data having disappeared from iPad cloud. Then there was a computer crash, and of course none of my team was taking the initiative. Rather than giving me the number of the tech guy, they were updating their various social media sites. I hope I'll get a response from IT soon and that recovery of the data is possible. It's a toxic environment; I hope I'll find something else soon; they make me feel like such a failure.
Story 3:
First I had a pork sandwich at Subway's, then I went shopping at Target.
Story 4:
We went to the first screening of Police Academy XI, and it was a riot! The plot was actually quite smart, not what I'd expected.
Story 5:
I heard there were delays at San Diego airport today. There was a leak, a worker had damaged a water pipe with a power dril.
( Dangerous words ahead... )
I'm not an expert, but... this doesn't look very effective to me? I'm curious what filters they use for this to make any sense (my guess it that it doesn't.)
Molly originally posted this entry at http://joyful-molly.dreamwidth.org/37707
Story 1:
Currently, I'm working on a fic featuring Norrington. The plot: Port Royal is destroyed by an earthquake, but this doesn't keep Norrington and the RN from go after the pirates under command of Blackbeard. Norrington refuses to listen to Gillette's warning about an upcoming storm, and so the Dauntless is destroyed in a hurricane. Stranded on a desert island by a kindly wave, they wait for help. Can Gillette cross this bridge and forgive his captain, or will he continue to be cold as ice towards him?
Story 2:
Work is hell at the moment. First I caught that bloody virus that was doing the rounds and had to call in sick for a week. Back at the office, the day started with all our data having disappeared from iPad cloud. Then there was a computer crash, and of course none of my team was taking the initiative. Rather than giving me the number of the tech guy, they were updating their various social media sites. I hope I'll get a response from IT soon and that recovery of the data is possible. It's a toxic environment; I hope I'll find something else soon; they make me feel like such a failure.
Story 3:
First I had a pork sandwich at Subway's, then I went shopping at Target.
Story 4:
We went to the first screening of Police Academy XI, and it was a riot! The plot was actually quite smart, not what I'd expected.
Story 5:
I heard there were delays at San Diego airport today. There was a leak, a worker had damaged a water pipe with a power dril.
( Dangerous words ahead... )
I'm not an expert, but... this doesn't look very effective to me? I'm curious what filters they use for this to make any sense (my guess it that it doesn't.)
Molly originally posted this entry at http://joyful-molly.dreamwidth.org/37707
- Mood:
curious
Not so much working a lot as...well, working hard at finding ways to stop working so much.
This is taking up lots of mental space and most of my time. It involves EFT tapping (self-administered and professional), some healthcare (like a neck and head massage to loosen up the jaw whose rigid clenched-ness is preventing me from progressing in my voice lessons), and heavy use of the Internet Anagram Server*.
So I'm sitting on the porch with my sis late yesterday, musing on the extraordinary changes she's making in her life and groping my way to similar changes in my own, and there's thunder a-rumbling in the black sky to the east, and suddenly...
Rainbow pizza!
Yesterday in Portland.
Then we went to IKEA and I bought a dish brush.
*There is probably a separate post in that.
Crossposted from Dreamwidth, where there are
comments. | Comment at Dreamwidth.
This is taking up lots of mental space and most of my time. It involves EFT tapping (self-administered and professional), some healthcare (like a neck and head massage to loosen up the jaw whose rigid clenched-ness is preventing me from progressing in my voice lessons), and heavy use of the Internet Anagram Server*.
So I'm sitting on the porch with my sis late yesterday, musing on the extraordinary changes she's making in her life and groping my way to similar changes in my own, and there's thunder a-rumbling in the black sky to the east, and suddenly...
Rainbow pizza!
Yesterday in Portland.
Then we went to IKEA and I bought a dish brush.
*There is probably a separate post in that.
Crossposted from Dreamwidth, where there are
The past week, foreshortened by recovery and then my mom's birthday dinner and the lecture, has been much about me utterly unable to focus. I didn't know why - my brain WANTED to work, and there is, dog knows, enough work for me to be doing....
And then I thought about what I'd said in an earlier entry, how my apartment didn't seem quite 'right' to me when I got back, and thought about past periods of distraction, and went "oh." Because I'm very smart, but sometimes not so bright.
So today - in between passes of writing - has been all about cleaning and sorting and the usual summertime rearranging of furniture (moving the sofa so it doesn't block the AC, etc). Because I am very fond of CatSitter B, but her staying here had made it not-quite-so-much-my-own-place. And now it's mine again, properly sorted and everything where I want it to be.
I suspect the focus will be much more, well, focused, going forward.
(it had BETTER be. So damn much to do OMG)
And then I thought about what I'd said in an earlier entry, how my apartment didn't seem quite 'right' to me when I got back, and thought about past periods of distraction, and went "oh." Because I'm very smart, but sometimes not so bright.
So today - in between passes of writing - has been all about cleaning and sorting and the usual summertime rearranging of furniture (moving the sofa so it doesn't block the AC, etc). Because I am very fond of CatSitter B, but her staying here had made it not-quite-so-much-my-own-place. And now it's mine again, properly sorted and everything where I want it to be.
I suspect the focus will be much more, well, focused, going forward.
(it had BETTER be. So damn much to do OMG)
First, you people who recommended The Exotic Marigold Hotel film, two thumbs up! I went last night with some of my Jane Austen discussion group. We all loved it.
Tonight: Avengers with the family.
A juicy discussion of fanfiction and literature byalecaustin here.
Tonight: Avengers with the family.
A juicy discussion of fanfiction and literature by
alecaustin here.Yesterday was even more entertaining that Thursday. I cracked my happy ass out of bed extremely late by my own standards, hit the health club for some time on the stationary bike, then caught breakfast in the Green Room. After some bloggery and email time and whatnot, I had my massage — And how cool is it that World Steam Expo has a masseur on retainer for the pros!? — and then went exploring. This eventually involved use of the hot tub, among other things.
I spent a decent chunk of the day hanging out with the inestimable Howard Tayler, who created a truly impressive steampunk caricature of me. (When I get home, I shall scan and post this, but at the moment it is my badge art.) Howard is his own self hanging out in the Aegis room, which is basically a camp for combat geeks. Inside the Con hotel, these cats have a rappelling tower, weapons training with actual pointy objects, a bunch of Nerf weapons, and a Victorian encampment. They are pretty much a real life incarnation of the Black Briar group in J.A. Pitt's Black Blade Blues [ Powells | BN ]. The Aegis group helped me make a notable entrance to opening ceremonies.
Also spent a lot more time partying with The League of S.T.E.A.M. and a whole bunch of other folks, including briefly running across the few people besides Howard that I actually knew before I turned up here. Specifically, Gail Carriger, G.D. Falksen (who has an important planet named after him in the Sunspin universe) and Evelyn Kriete (who is responsible for me being invited to this convention). I caught the last part of the The Men That Will Not be Blamed for Nothing concert.
I even got a bit more work done on Going to Extremes.
Today I have lunch with Howard, a High Tea to host, and a plan to hear some more excellent performances. A bit more programming tomorrow.
Interestingly, I am way off my normal schedule here, even my normal convention schedule. I'm not sure what clock I'm living on, but it's neither Jay time nor Con time. I'm just going with the flow. Which it turns out is remarkably difficult for me to do. I feel twitchy about not being up at 5 am exercising (hard to do when you're going to bed at 2 am) and why I'm not writing more.
But I'm here to have fun, which I am decidedly doing; and to see and be seen, which I am decidedly doing.
Is this what time off feels like?
I spent a decent chunk of the day hanging out with the inestimable Howard Tayler, who created a truly impressive steampunk caricature of me. (When I get home, I shall scan and post this, but at the moment it is my badge art.) Howard is his own self hanging out in the Aegis room, which is basically a camp for combat geeks. Inside the Con hotel, these cats have a rappelling tower, weapons training with actual pointy objects, a bunch of Nerf weapons, and a Victorian encampment. They are pretty much a real life incarnation of the Black Briar group in J.A. Pitt's Black Blade Blues [ Powells | BN ]. The Aegis group helped me make a notable entrance to opening ceremonies.
Also spent a lot more time partying with The League of S.T.E.A.M. and a whole bunch of other folks, including briefly running across the few people besides Howard that I actually knew before I turned up here. Specifically, Gail Carriger, G.D. Falksen (who has an important planet named after him in the Sunspin universe) and Evelyn Kriete (who is responsible for me being invited to this convention). I caught the last part of the The Men That Will Not be Blamed for Nothing concert.
I even got a bit more work done on Going to Extremes.
Today I have lunch with Howard, a High Tea to host, and a plan to hear some more excellent performances. A bit more programming tomorrow.
Interestingly, I am way off my normal schedule here, even my normal convention schedule. I'm not sure what clock I'm living on, but it's neither Jay time nor Con time. I'm just going with the flow. Which it turns out is remarkably difficult for me to do. I feel twitchy about not being up at 5 am exercising (hard to do when you're going to bed at 2 am) and why I'm not writing more.
But I'm here to have fun, which I am decidedly doing; and to see and be seen, which I am decidedly doing.
Is this what time off feels like?
Your Saturday moment of zen.
Playground equipment, 2006. © 2006, 2012, Joseph E. Lake, Jr.
The current photo series is from my 'favorites' file, hence the dates jumping about
This work by Joseph E. Lake, Jr. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Playground equipment, 2006. © 2006, 2012, Joseph E. Lake, Jr.
The current photo series is from my 'favorites' file, hence the dates jumping about
This work by Joseph E. Lake, Jr. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Book Review: Grants Pass, edited by Jennifer Brozek and Amanda Pillar — A review that includes an interesting comment on my story "Black Heart, White Mourning".
The Nebula Awards 2012: A Look Back And A Look Forward — James Patrick Kelly and John Kessel in HuffPo.
Calvin and Hobbes on unfettered creativity as a writer — Hahaha.
War of the Worlds: The True Story — A new indie flick coming out that looks pretty cool.
Star Wars Turns 35: How Time Covered the Film Phenomenon
Red Planet Becomes Blue In New Mars Image
Astronauts enter world’s first private supply ship
Impacts Spreading Life through the Cosmos?
Colonel Sanders resembles Confucius — Chicken, anyone?
?otd: Charles Darwin: Man or monkey?
5/26/2012
Writing time yesterday: 0.5 hours (Going to Extremes proposal)
Body movement: 30 minute stationary bike ride
Hours slept: 7.0 (solid)
Weight: n/a
Currently reading: Shattering the Ley by Benjamin Tate; Of Blood and Honey by Stina Leicht
The Nebula Awards 2012: A Look Back And A Look Forward — James Patrick Kelly and John Kessel in HuffPo.
Calvin and Hobbes on unfettered creativity as a writer — Hahaha.
War of the Worlds: The True Story — A new indie flick coming out that looks pretty cool.
Star Wars Turns 35: How Time Covered the Film Phenomenon
Red Planet Becomes Blue In New Mars Image
Astronauts enter world’s first private supply ship
Impacts Spreading Life through the Cosmos?
Colonel Sanders resembles Confucius — Chicken, anyone?
?otd: Charles Darwin: Man or monkey?
5/26/2012
Writing time yesterday: 0.5 hours (Going to Extremes proposal)
Body movement: 30 minute stationary bike ride
Hours slept: 7.0 (solid)
Weight: n/a
Currently reading: Shattering the Ley by Benjamin Tate; Of Blood and Honey by Stina Leicht
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/05/journey-t
Welcome to Journey to Planet JoCo, an interview series where science fiction and sometimes fantasy author John Scalzi talks to musician Jonathan Coulton about science fiction and science fiction songs.
Every morning at 9 AM from now to May 29, John will talk to Jonathan about one of JoCo’s songs, getting in-depth — and possibly out of his depth — about the inspiration and construction behind them. Which ones? You’ll have to come back every morning to see!
Today John talks to Jon about “I Crush Everything.” Audio and the chat transcript are below.
[Read more]
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/05/saturda
Abigail: A young girl meets with her war council after being sent to her room one too many times. (1:52 minutes)
Alma: A young girl finds the doll she’s always wanted. (5:14 minutes)
[Watch the films after the jump]
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WriterUnb
http://writerunboxed.com/?p=14571
It pains me to think of the changes sweeping through our leather-patched, tweed-ridden, and chalk-dusty world…In short they are obsolete. I wonder how they will take the news. Marshall McLuhan, January 4, 1961 The Practical Side of Marshall McLuhan From Marshall & Me Proposition: Practically speaking, it’s hard to speak practically on our social [...]http://www.paksworld.com/blog/?p=1592
Remember how I said I was impressed and grateful that NewEditor (hereinafter known as Editor) had read through the whole monster pile of the preceding books? The proof is in the editorial letter I just received this afternoon. WOW. As in, I have landed in the lap (OK, laptop or desktop or whatever) of another great editor. An editor who is going to help me make LIMITS and Book V better than I could possibly make them on my own.
It’s not that I doubted her editorial skills before, especially since (like anyone who’s been in the business this long) I inquired delicately of people who’d worked with her and got rave responses. But with so much backstory to get through, and all her other work, I wondered how much she could grasp of the whole Paksworld mythos, having to read at top speed. And there’s also the chemistry thing. Sometimes it’s not the book, the writer, or the editor…but just a lack of spark between editor and book, or editor and writer.
I actually felt better when she moved the book’s pub date (and had clearly moved it already–I think that email just did a dive into electronic limbo) because to me that meant she wasn’t rushing. And now…now I’m sitting here having thought (before I opened the email) that I was just too tired to face anyone’s editorial letter this evening…and once I’d read it bouncing a little and thinking “I should get right to this…and this…and this other…”
I’m not knocking FormerEditor off her pedestal in my mind…after all, she edited the first Paks books and taught me a lot in the process, and working with her again was sheer delight. I credit her with a lot of my success. Nothing will change my opinion of FormerEditor.
But Editor clearly has a feel for the project, cares about the project, and also has the clear-sightedness and…um…guts to see what’s not working, what’s tangled, and (in one case) what Needs to Go Away. (You will not miss it. Trust me on this. I won’t miss it. The scales have fallen, and now I can see the cheap gold paint is peeling, the plaster beneath has cracked, and the “rubies” aren’t even glass, just plastic. We all have bad days. That’s why Editors are so important.
Also on the good news front today, the green socks are off the needles and on my feet.
Profile
- feed_your_muse
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Page Summary
- jaylake : [conventions] World Steam Expo, Day Two [+0]
- jaylake : [photos] Your Sunday moment of zen [+0]
- jaylake : [links] Link salad parties with the dangerous punks [+1]
- marthawells : More Question Answers [+0]
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specficmarkets :: ninharris : Call for Submissions: Issue Three of Demeter's Spicebox [+0] - specficmarkets :: marycatelli : Airships & Automatons [+0]
- valarltd : Travel [+0]
- charliecochrane : My turn to carry the torch [+0]
- mevennen : Short stories and other [+0]
- msagara : Answering a question about household disagreements [+2]
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pbackwriterfeed : Waiting at the Finish Line [+0] - stillsostrange : It isn't just one of your holiday games [+3]
- papersky : Thud: Turnover [+20]
- sfwa :: sfwa_admin : Two Surveys [+0]
- otterdance : The Chat Room: There will be spoilers [+11]
- jimvanpelt : New Collection Cover Art [+2]
- difrancis : Greetings from Miscon [+4]
- storm_grant : Snappy little turtle [+4]
- joyful_molly : Do the Paranoia Quizz [+6]
- emeraldsedai : Thing 3 of 100 Things [+0]
- suricattus : ah, the Virgo writerbrain. [+0]
- sartorias : Two things [+22]
- erastes : Merchant of Venice [+4]
- jaylake : [conventions] World Steam Expo, Day One [+4]
- jaylake : [photos] Your Saturday moment of zen [+0]
- jaylake : [links] Link salad will not be blamed for nothing [+4]
- tordotcom : Journey to Planet JoCo: “I Crush Everything” [+0]
- tordotcom : Saturday Morning Cartoons: “Abigail” and “Alma” [+0]
- writerunboxed : ‘Social’ Mediation: A Weekend Hunker [+0]
- paksblog : Editor’s Letter Arrives: Much Rejoicing [+0]
