Laura Anne Gilman's Blog, page 35
May 8, 2015
calling on the group mind...
Anyone in the Seattle/Portland area know of a reputable bear-repair shop? My beloved Teddy, who has been Adventuring with me for 40+ years now, has finally lost his grip (the cloth pads of his paws have all worn out), and he deserves the very best care…
May 7, 2015
Reason #toodamnmany why writers drink...
Original opening line of Book 2: "They’d left nothing alive.“
After an entire day of word-wrangling, the new opening line:
"Isobel had been riding for three days, two to her destination and then a turnaround, when she found the bodies."
Yeah, that works. But dogdamn it, it took me HOURS and BRAIN BLOOD (and at least one walk around the neighborhood) to get the opening pages to finally do what I wanted them to do.
On the plus side, it should get easier today.
Should.
Right?
Except we had a local market fail: they have semi-sweet chocolate-covered graham crackers, but no dark chocolate-covered graham crackers. How am I supposed to work under these conditions?!
After an entire day of word-wrangling, the new opening line:
"Isobel had been riding for three days, two to her destination and then a turnaround, when she found the bodies."
Yeah, that works. But dogdamn it, it took me HOURS and BRAIN BLOOD (and at least one walk around the neighborhood) to get the opening pages to finally do what I wanted them to do.
On the plus side, it should get easier today.
Should.
Right?
Except we had a local market fail: they have semi-sweet chocolate-covered graham crackers, but no dark chocolate-covered graham crackers. How am I supposed to work under these conditions?!
May 4, 2015
Monday Monday'd.
Today was my first of two days "on shift" at the tasting room. We had a visitor when we opened, and then a group just before close. In-between, I dealt with a woman who thought she'd left her credit card there (she called back later to say she'd found it), worked on my personal tasting notes for our wines (because being able to talk about the wines honestly, and not rely on someone else's notes, is important), and had various story-breakthroughs and working on responding to sundry emails.
(part of this gig is the ability to do other things when it's dead, so long as the space is properly maintained. Bless this gig.)
But tonight I am the sort of brain-tired and body-tired that is good, and am a lump at one with the sofa. And if the group of 20-somethings having what sounds like The Most Obnoxious Hipster Birthday Party in their building's backyard would remember to use their "not broadcasting to the entire neighborhood" voices (and stop chanting stupid camp-bus songs), I might even be in a good mood....
(as is it, the urge to start lobbing cat-poo at them from the balcony is rising..)
(part of this gig is the ability to do other things when it's dead, so long as the space is properly maintained. Bless this gig.)
But tonight I am the sort of brain-tired and body-tired that is good, and am a lump at one with the sofa. And if the group of 20-somethings having what sounds like The Most Obnoxious Hipster Birthday Party in their building's backyard would remember to use their "not broadcasting to the entire neighborhood" voices (and stop chanting stupid camp-bus songs), I might even be in a good mood....
(as is it, the urge to start lobbing cat-poo at them from the balcony is rising..)
Research RoadTrip 2015
I spent much of the weekend making plans for the research trip for the current WiP (Book 2 of The Devil’s West.). If nothing else, by the end of this series, I will know my country a hell of a lot better via boots-on-the-ground…
(we’ll be driving from Washington State to Wyoming via Idaho and Montana, adding to last year’s Missouri-to-Colorado trip across Kansas.)
If anyone out there happens to live between Spokane (WA) and Cody (WY) and would enjoy a drive-by of road-tripping writers, sing out! *g*
And meanwhile, a reminder that you can pre-order the first book, SILVER ON THE ROAD, to get ready.... *g*
(we’ll be driving from Washington State to Wyoming via Idaho and Montana, adding to last year’s Missouri-to-Colorado trip across Kansas.)
If anyone out there happens to live between Spokane (WA) and Cody (WY) and would enjoy a drive-by of road-tripping writers, sing out! *g*
And meanwhile, a reminder that you can pre-order the first book, SILVER ON THE ROAD, to get ready.... *g*
May 3, 2015
That was the weekend that was...something?
Spent some time this evening trying to remember what exactly I did all weekend. Which was harder than it should have been, not because I didn't do anything but because it was all in small bites here and there, necessary bits and pieces that didn't add up to a single whole.
I worked on the WiP, wrote an entry for an upcoming Mind Meld, and got halfway through my on-line MAST course, and prepped for next month's research trip, and paid bills, went to a plant sale and did grocery shopping, and watched another episode of Daredevil, and worked on a fic piece, and cooked, and cleaned, talked to people about Future Things, and switched out more of my warm weather wardrobe from storage, and -
Nope, still doesn't seem like a lot. Probably because progress on the second pass of the WiP is going so slowly. Here's hoping this week sees more steam pushing my wheels...
I worked on the WiP, wrote an entry for an upcoming Mind Meld, and got halfway through my on-line MAST course, and prepped for next month's research trip, and paid bills, went to a plant sale and did grocery shopping, and watched another episode of Daredevil, and worked on a fic piece, and cooked, and cleaned, talked to people about Future Things, and switched out more of my warm weather wardrobe from storage, and -
Nope, still doesn't seem like a lot. Probably because progress on the second pass of the WiP is going so slowly. Here's hoping this week sees more steam pushing my wheels...
May 2, 2015
Another in a series of meals that probably shouldn’t have worked but were yummy.
1. Make arborio rice with ¼ of the water replaced by (boxed) butternut soup.
2. Add sweet curry powder, onion powder, and garlic powder to the rice as it cooks.
Eat half for breakfast (shut up it’s a perfectly good breakfast) and set aside a cup (or more) in the fridge.
3. Within a day or two, season halibut (or another firm white fish) filet with the same spices, then cook in frying pan over low heat. When fish is no longer translucent, add the rice to the pan, add some minced red bell pepper, break up the fillet, and cover until the pepper starts to sweat and soften and the rice is warm.
Serve. Works surprisingly well with a soft red wine (take that, white-with-fish purists!)
2. Add sweet curry powder, onion powder, and garlic powder to the rice as it cooks.
Eat half for breakfast (shut up it’s a perfectly good breakfast) and set aside a cup (or more) in the fridge.
3. Within a day or two, season halibut (or another firm white fish) filet with the same spices, then cook in frying pan over low heat. When fish is no longer translucent, add the rice to the pan, add some minced red bell pepper, break up the fillet, and cover until the pepper starts to sweat and soften and the rice is warm.
Serve. Works surprisingly well with a soft red wine (take that, white-with-fish purists!)
May 1, 2015
Today I got a reader email....
That has left me more than a little verklempt.
That sort of thing isn't why I write - I write to tell a story, and hopefully insert a few long-acting shards of thinking-cooties into people's brains and hearts, but I never expect to get feedback on what those shards can do.
So yeah, all the stress and crap of this week? Totally washed away, right now.
That sort of thing isn't why I write - I write to tell a story, and hopefully insert a few long-acting shards of thinking-cooties into people's brains and hearts, but I never expect to get feedback on what those shards can do.
So yeah, all the stress and crap of this week? Totally washed away, right now.
What She Read, 2015
10. THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS, Aliette de Bodard (ARC)
9. UNTITLED, client manuscript
8. UNTITLED, client manuscript
7. DOWN TO AGINCOURT (Books 1-3), Sepirs
6. DEJA DEAD, Kathy Reichs
5. UNTITLED, client manuscript
4. THE CLOCKWORK CROWN, Beth Cato (ARC)
3. UNTITLED, client manuscript
2. TAINTED WATERS, Leah Cutter (beta-read)
1. FOXGLOVE SUMMER, Ben Aaronovitch
9. UNTITLED, client manuscript
8. UNTITLED, client manuscript
7. DOWN TO AGINCOURT (Books 1-3), Sepirs
6. DEJA DEAD, Kathy Reichs
5. UNTITLED, client manuscript
4. THE CLOCKWORK CROWN, Beth Cato (ARC)
3. UNTITLED, client manuscript
2. TAINTED WATERS, Leah Cutter (beta-read)
1. FOXGLOVE SUMMER, Ben Aaronovitch
April 27, 2015
Clawing our way into the work week...
Oh hey, Monday. A Monday I actually have to think about the fact that it' a Monday! This "days of the work week" thing is going to take some getting re-used to...
Meanwhile, have I reminded you recently that CLAWED, the 4th Gin & Tonic mystery, is coming out next month? I haven't? Well. Silly me...
CLAWED at B&N
CLAWED at Amazon
And CLAWED for all your indiebound needs (and so Maryelizabeth Hart doesn't puppy-eye me)
Or, you could just go to my website and make the click to your Store of Choice from there...
Meanwhile, have I reminded you recently that CLAWED, the 4th Gin & Tonic mystery, is coming out next month? I haven't? Well. Silly me...
CLAWED at B&N
CLAWED at Amazon
And CLAWED for all your indiebound needs (and so Maryelizabeth Hart doesn't puppy-eye me)
Or, you could just go to my website and make the click to your Store of Choice from there...
April 26, 2015
The Plan Commences (for the usual fee, plus expenses)
The Plan, as I've been calling it, has been several years in the making, and is comprised of several phases.
Phase 1: Move to the west coast.
Phase 2: Take over the wine industry.
Okay, so it's wee baby steps to taking over the wine industry. But I've been offered a part-time job helping run the wine-tasting room for Market Vineyard, a boutique winery, in Woodinville (about 20 miles northeast of Seattle). And I officially started on Friday.
Basically, I'm representing the winery to folk who come in for tastings, answering questions and pouring samples, and doing the odd bit of Tourism Aid (suggesting other wineries and restaurants, etc). Since I really like the wines I'm pouring, and I'm learning the local wineries and restaurants myself, this is under the heading of "work I enjoy and enjoy learning more."
Phase 1: Move to the west coast.
Phase 2: Take over the wine industry.
Okay, so it's wee baby steps to taking over the wine industry. But I've been offered a part-time job helping run the wine-tasting room for Market Vineyard, a boutique winery, in Woodinville (about 20 miles northeast of Seattle). And I officially started on Friday.
Basically, I'm representing the winery to folk who come in for tastings, answering questions and pouring samples, and doing the odd bit of Tourism Aid (suggesting other wineries and restaurants, etc). Since I really like the wines I'm pouring, and I'm learning the local wineries and restaurants myself, this is under the heading of "work I enjoy and enjoy learning more."
No, I'm not giving up writing. But the past few years I've been aware that I really missed being on the trade side of the wine industry as well as being a consumer. And this way I get to bring people to wine (either as a new discovery or an old friend) in a much more convivial atmosphere than a wine store, and with fewer actual drunks than working in a bar. :-)
And who knows, maybe another Lands Vin story will come out of it!
So if you happen to be in Woodinville, WA and don't have other plans...stop by!
(Phase 3 still has a while before rollout)
