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| Around 600 words on The White City today, and still waiting for it to tell me how it goes. I wrote the last scene (denouement), and the closing sentence, but I'm missing like four scenes that comprise the climax.
It's interesting writing Sebastien in a situation where he is NOT in charge.
Tomorrow is a work day. God damn it. I will have focus and I will get somewhere.
Well, time to stare at it for a while again. | |
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|  Teacup today: cabbage roses, a gift from ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) ctwriter. Tea today: Mokalbari East Temperature this morning: a balmy fiftyish Sebastien is having a fraught conversation with somebody he's never met before, who knows him uncomfortably well. I have just skipped the climax and am working on the denouement. ETA: And a very brave neighborhood cat is apparently using our back porch as a base of operations, as there are two Green Bits (TM) on the steps. I wonder if that was the end of our Kitchen Smouse. | |
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|  Finished candles. I really like the blue one. I should eat something and work for a bit before it's time to go climbing with buymeaclue, The Jeff, and TBRE. In other news, the rain and warmth came overnight, and now the snow is gone. It was a special delivery, just for Christmas. - Tags:chandlery
- Mood:relaxed
 - Music:Wait Wait Don't Tell Me
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| Dear Reader: if you have to ask me "is this the first book in the series" when the cover clearly states BOOK ONE? I'm just not going to respect you at all. And my first instinctive response (unsent) is going to be homagawd snarky. Just sayin'. In other news, I have now seen Avatar, and so can post an actual Informed Opinion. And my AIO is ( not really a spoiler, but... )After, we ended up at a new-to-me restaurant -- Whym. American comfort food, and we were mightily comforted. They have a small but acceptable scotch list, but I went with the mood of the group and had a mojito instead. I had two, in fact, which is my limit for mojitos (do not let them fool you. They are things of great and terrible evil, and if I have three, I become a force of great and terrible evil. Or at least later embarrassment.) Oh, and I also picked up a new cookbook, while wandering through the B&N. *looks innocent and helpless and it totally mugged me, I swear...* | |
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| I have, over the past couple days, read Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock books, SKINWALKER and BLOOD CROSS.
They’re the most enjoyable urban fantasy I’ve read since I started writing it myself, so basically they’re the best urban fantasy I’ve read in ten years. This is not *only* because Joanne Walker and Jane Yellowrock would get on like a house on fire, although that doesn’t hurt. It’s not just that they’re wonderfully well-researched–which, given that Jane is a skinwalker (ie, shapeshifter) of Cherokee descent, was exceedingly likely to run up against my own research and my own ideas on how I’d do things and clash, but didn’t. It’s not only that the world is well-developed with hints of interesting things around the corners. It’s not just that the writing style, which is invariably one of my problems with urban fantasy, didn’t once catch me out. It’s not just that Hunter’s knack for description makes me want to weep in despair. It’s all of those things put together to make a couple of really great stories, and this is how much I liked them:
They made me want to write Joanne Walker-Jane Yellowrock crossover fan fiction.
In fact, I may have even started a lil’ story that I sent to Faith, which I will perhaps post if she says it’s okay. :)
Anyway, the point really is that if you like the Walker Papers at all, I cannot imagine that you would not thoroughly enjoy the Jane Yellowrock books. SKINWALKER is out, and BLOOD CROSS is out on January 5th (which surprised me, I had no idea I’d gotten an early copy!), so basically you have exactly enough time to dash out, buy SKINWALKER, read it, and make sure your local bookstore will be ordering BLOOD CROSS for release day when you can buy it and make Faith’s numbers look good so there will be more Jane Yellowrock books. :)
(x-posted from the essential kit) | |
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| Just finished and filed my review of Sherlock Holmes for Tor.com (short version: it was awful and I loved it), and before that, I made some candles. See, I used to commit chandlery fairly often but had fallen out of the habit, and yesterday cristalia mentioned she was thinking of taking it up, which inspired me to break out the wax and crayons.  I'm still staring meaningfully at The White City, trying to figure out how the damed thing works. It would be nice if I could finish it by year's-end. But it all depends on if the story tells me how it ends. I guess tomorrow I start rereading it again. It's finally raining out there, and the wind is gusting fiercely, but it's 41 degrees, which seems positively balmly. | |
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| My mom made me a totally awesome pair of pink and purple socks!  I guess now I get to sit and stare and think about how to fix The White City so it works. Maybe I will spin and listen to NPR. That seems a sitting and staring sort of occupation. So close to the end. So close. Two ot three days' work, if I can just figure out what the work should be.
Meanwhile, today's teacup is one sent to me by stwish, made by his friends at Earthbound Arts (I also have a mermaid and a faerie queene--ornaments--from there, and both are lovely) And today's tea is the last of the crepe faire from Stash--the last crepe faire ever, I suspect, as they've discontinued the flavor.  | |
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| I have read and edited that which I have written of The White City. And wonder of wonder, I like it. A lot, actually.
And still I have no idea at all how to end it. I mean, I know who the killer is and stuff. But I don't know how to build the climax and a thematic resolution that will make a satisfying finish to the story. Also, I have to go back and put in some more clues who the killer is. Making things feel inevitable and not arbitrary is a significant portion of the storyteller's craft.
I sense a lot of staring and pacing in my life for the next week or so.
"No really. I am working!"
Pursuant to the spinning, I'm thinking again about the stuff we strive to get right in fantasy. So much of the work set in the past, or alternate pasts, gets the details of life so very wrong. People have no trades, or if they do they are desperate to escape them. And actually, people who work with their hands often like what they do. Making stuff, after all, is quite satisfying.
Some authors do this very well--Connie Willis, Barbara Hambly. People work in their books, and the worlds feel real.
Another thing that always seems to fall out of fantasy written by modern authors is how integrated life was. People did not have work and leisure; everything ran together. You sat and spun while someone told stories, or you sang songs and worked the winch, or talked and shucked peas. And good tradesmen were respected in direct proportion to their indispensibility. A village blacksmith or potter is a hard thing to live without.
Our modern emphasis on book learning, I think, creeps in there and corrupts how we talks about other cultures. | |
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| The subject line sounds like a killer opening line, doesn't it? But it's nothing but the unvarnished truth. The slightly varnished truth would include the dancing, the bowling, and the lesson about not ordering doubles just 'cause the bar service was slow. And it would also talk about the fact that, when you go to bed at 3am, getting up at 8 is just damned painful. Somehow, those same five hours are easier to take when they're 1am to 6am, and I don't know why. Yet, we did wake [and as much as I love my apartment, I have to admit that living in the East 20's has its definite charms], and we did make it to the morning showing of Sherlock Holmes. ( not exactly spoilery, but some thoughts on the movie itself )We also saw a number of previews, including Iron Man 2 (I cringe from how bad it might be, but will be there anyway) and the remake of Clash of the Titans, which looks to be another stunning leap forward in FX, if nothing else. And then I met up with family for the Obligatory Chinese food. We noted, with much dismay, that there are an awful lot of Gentiles having dinner in Chinatown on Christmas Day, these days. Goose wasn't enough, you had to have Peking duck, too? And now I am home, for a few hours anyway, before heading back downtown tomorrow to see Avatar with friends (in 3D. I am talked into these things...how? Must be Sekrit Coastie Mind Tricks). And then more Holiday Socializing, leading into First Night. But first, must finish freelance gig. And short story revisions. And author proofs for HARD MAGIC. And look longingly at the TBR 2010 pile that's already starting to build.... I hope y'all had a good day, however you spent it! | |
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| My poor nondog.
Still no idea about how to be a dog.
I gave him his holiday dinner, which is canned dog food (he has never had it before) and he's still trying to figure out what to do with it.
He is starting to think it might taste REALLY good, though.
(Technically speaking, it's dessert: he had his regular dinner about an hour ago.)
He does not know how to be a dog, but he is learning. He actually stole something out of the recycling bin the other day to lick, which is a first. It was a chicken broth container.
He's really quite ludicrous, and I love him very much. - Tags:giant ridiculous dog
- Mood:loved
 - Music:The Derek Trucks Band - Sweet Inspiration (Radio Paradise - DJ-mixed modern & classic rock, world, e
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| Christmas pronounced a success. (My immediate local family--none of us are actually Christians, but we celebrate a secular Christmas anyway, and often these days it even falls on the actual day. It didn't always, because my mom was a hospital employee for 25 years.)(See above, December Non-Denominational Gift-Giving Day.)  We made out first ever Yorkshire puddings, which came out awesome and we were all boggled at just how easy it is. Next time, a little longer in the oven, and we will use a metal muffin tin instead of the silicon muffin cups, because, well, the silicon cups were too slippery and the puddings just levitated themselves out of the cups rather than getting tall. Not enough friction! (The muffin cups were a gift from truepenny: this was their inaugural run. Thank you!!!) Here are the socks and the blanket my mom knitted me, because I promised to brag about them. And here is my first ever hank of yarn, which I gave to my mother. It's "art yarn," which is to say it's not art yarn at all. It just sucks. But hey, it's mine and I made it. We tried the prime rib recipe from Cook's Illustrated, and came to the conclusion that while it is good, our family recipe process is better. (We were all actually capable of stopping eating after one slice. Which never happens the way we usually do it.) However, their au jus recipe rocked, though next year we're leaving out the wine. And Yorkshire puddings are a permanent addition. In two years, they'll be an ancient family tradition. And then I beat the freezing rain home and let the dog out. Now I'm going to make some tea and put on my wrist braces and go sit under my new blanket and work on The White City, because TBRE is out in the world tonight and I have the whole luxurious house to myself. Oh, and gotta water the tree. - Tags:quotidiana
- Mood:content
- Music:Lucho Bermudez - Fiesta de Negritos (Radio Paradise - DJ-mixed modern & classic rock, world, electro
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| It’s a white Christmas here in Ireland, and I cannot tell you how happy that makes me. And Ted got me my very favorite Disney movie ever, so that makes me happy too. All is well in Kit World. *beams*
Merry Christmas, everyone! *beams more*
(x-posted from the essential kit) | |
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| Your December Non-Denominational Gift-Giving Day Present from the Shadow Unit crew: "On Faith."Come and get it. - Tags:shadow unit, wtf
- Mood:cheerful
 - Music:the dog that barks in the night
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| Thank you to everyone who participated in my blog challenge to benefit Heifer International. Thanks to you, I ended up donating $60. Some of the challenges are still ongoing, so please stop by Nathan Bransford's blog if you haven't already, to click through the links and leave comments on the participating blogs. I must say, participating in the challenge and giving and receiving those lovely comments really helped put me in the Christmas spirit. Today, if you're in a humorous mood, I suggest Karen Healey's post, "Back away from the novelist, buddy," for a look at what it's like to have your family members read your work through copy-editor spectacles. If you're more into homemade cookies and holiday wishes, see Lisa Schroeder's Little Corner of the Internet.If you'd like to watch the new Tenners trailer, follow this link.If you just want to gaze at a pretty picture, here you go:  Wishing you peace and joy in the coming days, however you spend them. | |
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| It's a December Non-Denominational-Gift-Giving Day miracle! Two much-delayed checks have arrived today, along with a copy of the Russian SF magazine Esli, with truepenny-n-my space pirate story "Boojum" innit. woot! And now time to start that haaaaaaaaaaaaaaam. As soon as I find the recipe... - Mood:grateful
 - Music:Sinead O'Connor - Sacrifice
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| ...and there was nobody there to tell me that i couldn't keep her. And this is why the Inauthentic Borscht recipe calls for grating the beets in a clean sink. (I pour boiling water into mine to rinse after I scrub it down, before using it as a food prep surface. Mmm. Beets. | |
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| Watching the giant Wookiee muppet dog run around the back yard gives me a very good idea of what the hair movement on a sasquatch would look like. | |
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Merry/Happy Christmas, to those who observe. I hope your day is filled with Christmassy delight (and no obnoxious relatives, drunken or otherwise)
Me, I'm off to go dancing/socializing tonight, followed by the Obligatory Movie & Chinese food tomorrow. Twenty-four hours of Social Behavior, and no writing. My wrist -- after 48 hours and thirty+ pages of new material -- will be grateful to do the raise drink/lower drink movement instead....
[and for those of you who need to reach me about ongoing social plans, the phone will be faster than texting/e-mail for the next 36+ hours. Yes, shocking, I know...]
*taken from one of my favorite-this-year holiday cards, because it really does sum up my feelings about people who insist that everyone is Just Like Them, or unhappy that they're not
EtA: I note that the number of e-cards vs traditional cards was about even this year, but it was only a few of the e-cards that had an overtly Christmas feel (incl Christmas trees, Santas, angels and etc). And those came from people who really should have known better. The traditonal carsd were all seasonal, not holiday-specific. Indicative of the people, or the availability of season-general e-cards? I
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| Over on Magical Words, the group writing blog I’m a part of, we’re running a book give-away contest this week. Head on over to participate in my contest–for which the prize is a signed copy of one of my books, or a copy of “Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight”, the Old Races novella I wrote this summer which has only been available to subscribers. While the novella will be available again to buy in February, this is your one and only chance to possibly win it for free. (And I’ll also send the winner one of the Ireland 2010 calendars that I did, if you take the “Hot Time” option.)
The contest ends Wednesday, December 30th, and the winner will be announced New Year’s Eve.
Merry Christmas Eve, everybody!
(x-posted from the essential kit) | |
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|  So there's my 1.5 attempt at spinning. The outside is better than the inside, but still very very erratic. And now I have to figure out when the spindle is full, and how to ply it.... (This is lovely wool that asciikitty sent. It's more teal than blue in person.) It's the 1.5 because here is the .5 attempt, with combed 100% virgin silver Briard:  That's the belly of the GRD's stuffed lion, if you want to know. *g* | |
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| 1) Tomorrow, at some point, there will be a new episode of Shadow Unit. I can't tell you when exactly, but it's called "On Faith" and it is our Very Special Holiday Episode. It was written by Sarah Monette, and don't forget to check for easter eggs. *g* There might also be a S3 trailer. Maybe. 2) Good climbing night tonight. I only did four walls, but one was a new 5.8 on the 45-foot overhand, which includes a little roof--and I didthe first thirty feet of it in one big push, which made me feel really good about myself. Two other routes were 5.9s on the slab that had previously eluded me. I didn't do 'em clean or neat, but I did 'em. And next time I will do better. (I also sent a 5.8 I have gotten before.) Joy was redoubled by listening to two nice climber boys from Colorado bitch about how our 5.8s are like everybody else's 5.10s. I mean, I know it, but it's nice to have confirmed. 3) I am making borscht tomorrow, dammit. TBRE and I are both giving blood. We have an excuse to need beets and beef. (It was also a good excuse for steak tonight.) 4) I'm on page 57 of rereading The White City and it hasn't fallen apart on me yet. There's always the next bit, of course... 5) Crowded House's "Transit Lounge" is so a gamma song. | |
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| We have accomplished two weeks’ worth of going to the gym now. It was less difficult to get up at 7am this week, possibly because I was going to bed at Very Sensible Hours, but also possibly because I was slightly more used to it. But although for the rest of the year when the gym is open, it’s not open until noon, I still should really get up at 7 and go write until half eleven and then go to the gym to…weightlift, probably, because I suspect the pool will, for its opening hours, be full of screaming children. Actually, that’s fine. It’s the locker room being full of screaming children I’m less keen on. That, and the bitterness of having to share lanes with several other swimmers who are really bad at lane-sharing, since possibly everybody will be trying to get their laps in during the limited opening hours. (Not looking forward to January and the New Year’s Resolution group.)
On the plus side, though, we did learn that our regular cabbie starts work at 7am, so when gym hours go back to normal we’ll just have him get us. That’s nice, then. :)
Today was a busy day, although I didn’t get all that much writing done. Swam, went to the store, made coconut joys, wrote a little, made dinner, watched NCIS, made marshmallow creme in preparation for making fudge tomorrow…heck fire, no wonder I’m sleepy. Off to bed with me!
The Road Home: miles to Isengard: 16.4
ytd km swum: 50.5
ytd wordcount: 272,700
(x-posted from the essential kit) | |
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