Lilith Saintcrow's Blog, page 205

Slow And Steady

Wow. Are we really just a week and change away from the Jealousy release? How time flies. Seriously, it seems like just a couple weeks ago I was finishing the first book in the series and gnashing my teeth wondering if I could pull the second one off the way I wanted to.

It's a gray morning, and there's a lot of work ahead of me. Which is the way I like it, and the way I like it. I like summer just fine, but the 90-100+ weather we had last year really put a dent in me. A nice cloudy morning...

"Artist" Is Not A Dirty Word

Just a few thoughts today, since true to form, the feast part of "feast or famine" has just hit and I've more work than even I know what to do with. This is a happy state of affairs, however, and one I wish to continue. So it's time to put my head down and chew away at the problems one at a time.

* Slushpile.net on Outdated, Stodgy Ivory-Tower Attitudes That Cripple Writers:

But, if you're a writer who wants to be taken seriously by your peers? Then you'd better not do a damn thing other than...

Braincramp!

The Essay of DOOOM is now finished. My brain can uncramp and return to normal functioning. Well, normal-for-me functioning, I guess. Part of being under a tight, tight deadline is that once one has managed the impossible, it takes a while for the twitching and frothing to die down. So I should really get on the wordcount I need to be cranking out, and take another look at that edit letter, and there's the hoovering to be done, and more dishes, and…

…you know what? I'm going to set the timer...

Jealousy Winners!

I've been hard at work on a project that's under tight deadline–you know, when you get invited in because you're someone's Only Hope, things can get crazy. As Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi both found out. Heh.

So, first of all, I'm announcing the winners of the two signed copies of Jealousy! With the help of Random.org, I picked two commenters. The books go to:

#33, KLD, who said: So, so, so, so, so excited for Jealousy to come out! Huzzah!

And #67, A. Rick, who said: I am so excited for...

Winning Is Just Showing Up, and Jealousy Giveaway!

Crossposted to the Deadline Dames.

It's been a rough year. To say the least. Major Life Changes, some I talk about here and some I don't, have come thick and fast. Eight months ago I wasn't sure I'd make it. Three months ago I saw light at the end of the tunnel. A month ago I decided I was, in fact, okay and going to stay that way.

I've been writing all the while.

On Wednesday I finished the zero draft of the fifth Strange Angels book. I never leave the keyboard after I finish something...

Zero Draft, Jealousy Giveaway, And Snapback

How can I have a cold when it's a hundred degrees outside? I ask you, how? Maybe it's the mosquitoes. Several people have mentioned how the little buggers seem to be particularly bad this year. I believe the term used was "MUTANT ZOMBIE MOSQUITOES FROM HELL, Jesus!" And I heartily agree. I'm welted up all over.

Anyway, I have great news and some links.

I've officially finished the zero draft for Strange Angels 5. This is the end of the series, and I cried like a baby last night when I wrote...

Independent Chains

The smoke has cleared and everyone I see looks like they have a hangover. Yes, the Fourth is over.

I spent Independence Day down at Fort Vancouver with the kids. There were vendors, stages, all sorts of booths, enough greasy food to make all of us gleefully sick, and the old fort itself was a wonderland for the little ones. The blacksmith's shop was the hit of the day, with the carpenter's shop a close second. I particularly enjoyed the guy in the carpenter shop talking about 19th-century...

By Yourself

Crossposted to the Deadline Dames. Check out Readers On Deadline and Dame Toni's excellent post this past week!

Writing is a lonely job.

Yes, you have to deal with people. You have to be personable and professional. You do have to know how to deal with editors, agents, fellow writers, and fans. You go to conventions, you go to signings, you use social-networking because marketing means you must. But that's only a small (albeit significant) part of a writer's career. The icing on the cupcake...

Ham Death, Marketing, Win Some, Lose Some

This book is trying to kill me. Yes, it's Dru 5. I even have a tentative title: Sacrifice. Chills the blood, doesn't it? This morning I realized I had to answer a thorny question about What Happened To One Particular Character, and internal consistency demanded I go for a transfusion instead of an aesthetically-pleasing biting scene. *sigh* Plus, I'm in the "this book sucks so hard nobody will ever want to read it, woe is me" phase. The only cure is completing the damn thing and putting it...

Declaration, Bullying, And Doing The Math

I have three scenes to get through today to set me up for the Epic!Battle! at the end of Dru 5. I am going to kick this book's ass today, I swear. So this will be short.

* The Copenhagen Declaration on Religion in Public Life. I take this as a step forward. I have a close personal relationship with my gods, but I don't like other peoples' gods shoved down my throat, I do not require anyone else take my word for the existence of my gods, and I am still undecided on the question of whether or...