Laura Anne Gilman's Blog, page 42
February 11, 2015
in passing...
They're pushing Valentine's Day as the official release date for Fifty Shades of Grey. But it's actually opening on Friday the 13th.
Think about it.
(in case you've missed the noise: "Fifty Shades of Grey" is pushing itself as a sexxxxxxy movie about BDSM. It's actually a rather horrifying portrayal of an emotionally and sexually abusive relationship that has about as much in common with a safe, sane and consensual kink relationship as a battleship has with a tuba.)
Think about it.
(in case you've missed the noise: "Fifty Shades of Grey" is pushing itself as a sexxxxxxy movie about BDSM. It's actually a rather horrifying portrayal of an emotionally and sexually abusive relationship that has about as much in common with a safe, sane and consensual kink relationship as a battleship has with a tuba.)
Midweekery update
This has been one of those weeks, so far, where things get done but very little of it is the stuff you had planned to get done. Still, progress is progress.
And speaking of progress, we now have pre-order links for SILVER from Amazon, iTunes, and Kobo. No B&N yet, which is making me slightly fretful...
This morning we are moderately socked in with fog, which is pretty to look at from up here (it started low on the water and then rose up to obscure the mountains), but isn't helping me shake the brain fog. Putting aside writing and revising in favor of research and website work (slowly, the Devil's West portion of the site comes into being....).
Working my way through the selection of under-$15 bottles of wine I picked up at Total Wine. So far, a grand total of two have made me think "yeah, I might buy this again" rather than "meh, it was drinkable." Probably proof that there are plenty of decent $15 wines, but my tastebuds have $25 tastes.
On the non-work side, I'm just going to say that if you gripe or sulk about the fact that I have to schedule my social life around the fact that my cat needs an insulin shot, odds are that you're not making me want to spend more time with you. And people who are cool with the feline schedule needs are among my favorite people in the world rght now.
The "acceptable" reds were Phenolia Red Blend 2013 ($12) and Apex Cellars The Catalyst 2012 ($15). Neither blew me out of the water, but I didn't regret spending the money on them, either. The fact that both are blends is not a surprise - that's how you get a better cheap wine, rather than relying on a single varietal.
And speaking of progress, we now have pre-order links for SILVER from Amazon, iTunes, and Kobo. No B&N yet, which is making me slightly fretful...
This morning we are moderately socked in with fog, which is pretty to look at from up here (it started low on the water and then rose up to obscure the mountains), but isn't helping me shake the brain fog. Putting aside writing and revising in favor of research and website work (slowly, the Devil's West portion of the site comes into being....).
Working my way through the selection of under-$15 bottles of wine I picked up at Total Wine. So far, a grand total of two have made me think "yeah, I might buy this again" rather than "meh, it was drinkable." Probably proof that there are plenty of decent $15 wines, but my tastebuds have $25 tastes.
On the non-work side, I'm just going to say that if you gripe or sulk about the fact that I have to schedule my social life around the fact that my cat needs an insulin shot, odds are that you're not making me want to spend more time with you. And people who are cool with the feline schedule needs are among my favorite people in the world rght now.
The "acceptable" reds were Phenolia Red Blend 2013 ($12) and Apex Cellars The Catalyst 2012 ($15). Neither blew me out of the water, but I didn't regret spending the money on them, either. The fact that both are blends is not a surprise - that's how you get a better cheap wine, rather than relying on a single varietal.
February 8, 2015
So this is happening...
I'm over at Charlie Stross' place right now, guest-blogging about writing American history that isn't my history.... or is it?
Meanwhile, the topic of that blog, SILVER ON THE ROAD, is starting to propagate pre-order links, although there's no cover or copy available yet. Shall we see how high we can push it before they even give us details?
Kindle US
Kindle UK
Amazon Hardcover
Amazon UK Hardcover (tk)
B&N print (tk)
B&N Nook (tk)
(updates as they roll out)
Meanwhile, the topic of that blog, SILVER ON THE ROAD, is starting to propagate pre-order links, although there's no cover or copy available yet. Shall we see how high we can push it before they even give us details?
Kindle US
Kindle UK
Amazon Hardcover
Amazon UK Hardcover (tk)
B&N print (tk)
B&N Nook (tk)
(updates as they roll out)
What She Watched 2015 and To Be Read 2015
Books:
4. THE CLOCKWORK CROWN, Beth Cato (ARC)
3. UNTITLED, client manuscript
2. TAINTED WATERS, Leah Cutter (beta-read)
1. FOXGLOVE SUMMER, Ben Aaronovitch
Movies:
9. Divergent
8. Jack the Giant-Killer (glad I didn't spend money seeing this in the theater, but good to watch while sorting tax paperwork...)
7. Duma
6. Mirror, Mirror (after a while I just had it on for the pretty, I freely admit)
5. Over the Hedge (I'd never actually watched it through to the end, before)
4. Now You See Me
3. The Other Woman
2. Nanny McPhee
1. Grand Budapest Hotel
4. THE CLOCKWORK CROWN, Beth Cato (ARC)
3. UNTITLED, client manuscript
2. TAINTED WATERS, Leah Cutter (beta-read)
1. FOXGLOVE SUMMER, Ben Aaronovitch
Movies:
9. Divergent
8. Jack the Giant-Killer (glad I didn't spend money seeing this in the theater, but good to watch while sorting tax paperwork...)
7. Duma
6. Mirror, Mirror (after a while I just had it on for the pretty, I freely admit)
5. Over the Hedge (I'd never actually watched it through to the end, before)
4. Now You See Me
3. The Other Woman
2. Nanny McPhee
1. Grand Budapest Hotel
February 6, 2015
Too many years in the time machine
The thing about waiting is that you can't just wait: You have to be waiting while in the process of doing (something else).
This is true of writing, and of living.
---------------------------------------------
Occasionally I look back through my archives here, look at who I was, where I was. A reality check, a map-correction? A reminder. A time machine.
This, from a little over ten years ago:
"on the reading of not waving, but drowning"
tempest-toss'd
breath caught, choking, in iron-banded chest;
the waves take me under.
I am, quoth Stevie, not waving, but drowning.
and from another entry that same year, in conversation about a conversation between myself and my therapist:
He's of the opinion that I've been repressing anything that isn't deemed (by me) "good" and "helpful" and "socially acceptable to people whose good will I want" since I was fourteen. So we're going to be breaking down those barriers and seeing what comes up to play.
That was a miserable time in my life. Looking hard at yourself, at the choices made and why those choices were made? An emotional UFYH? Bleah.
I'm not that person any more. I remember her, I feel empathy and sympathy for her, I don't know even now if she made the right decisions or not. But I'm not her any more.
It does get better. Sometimes it gets immeasurably worse, first, but it does get better.
This is true of writing, and of living.
---------------------------------------------
Occasionally I look back through my archives here, look at who I was, where I was. A reality check, a map-correction? A reminder. A time machine.
This, from a little over ten years ago:
"on the reading of not waving, but drowning"
tempest-toss'd
breath caught, choking, in iron-banded chest;
the waves take me under.
I am, quoth Stevie, not waving, but drowning.
and from another entry that same year, in conversation about a conversation between myself and my therapist:
He's of the opinion that I've been repressing anything that isn't deemed (by me) "good" and "helpful" and "socially acceptable to people whose good will I want" since I was fourteen. So we're going to be breaking down those barriers and seeing what comes up to play.
That was a miserable time in my life. Looking hard at yourself, at the choices made and why those choices were made? An emotional UFYH? Bleah.
I'm not that person any more. I remember her, I feel empathy and sympathy for her, I don't know even now if she made the right decisions or not. But I'm not her any more.
It does get better. Sometimes it gets immeasurably worse, first, but it does get better.
February 5, 2015
TBT
From the dark ages of the early 1980's...
There's long been a deeply held suspicion among some of my friends that I don't actually age. I...begin to understand why they think that.
(there's less baby-cheek and more laugh lines, now. Plus, silver replacing the blonde...)
There's long been a deeply held suspicion among some of my friends that I don't actually age. I...begin to understand why they think that.
(there's less baby-cheek and more laugh lines, now. Plus, silver replacing the blonde...)
PSA FYI
So..... if you're signed up for the Gilman Quarterly? You'll get to sneak-peak the cover for SILVER ON THE ROAD before anyone else....
(but you have to pinky-swear not to tell anyone I showed it to you...)
http://www.lauraannegilman.net/publicity/mailing-list/
(but you have to pinky-swear not to tell anyone I showed it to you...)
http://www.lauraannegilman.net/publicity/mailing-list/
February 4, 2015
I already regret this, but.....
I need suggestions for characters from televised media (ideally television, movies are good too) who would qualify, either self-described or otherwise, as "functional alcoholics."
Go.
Go.
Feline Updatery: the other details
Because I forgot to do it last week when Mercury was busy tangling up my life: the blood work came back on CatofSize, and I'm pleased to say that his kidneys, liver and other internals all look good. In fact, if it weren't for his not-yet-controlled diabetes, he'd be disgustingly healthy for a middle-aged cat.
He's also put some weight back, but this vet doesn't think it's a concern - he's nowhere near his top weight, and with The Kitten of Thursday around to keep him on his toes, probably never will be again...
He's also put some weight back, but this vet doesn't think it's a concern - he's nowhere near his top weight, and with The Kitten of Thursday around to keep him on his toes, probably never will be again...
What She Watched 2015
7. Duma
6. Mirror, Mirror (after a while I just had it on for the pretty, I freely admit)
5. Over the Hedge (I'd never actually watched it through to the end, before)
4. Now You See Me
3. The Other Woman
2. Nanny McPhee
1. Grand Budapest Hotel
6. Mirror, Mirror (after a while I just had it on for the pretty, I freely admit)
5. Over the Hedge (I'd never actually watched it through to the end, before)
4. Now You See Me
3. The Other Woman
2. Nanny McPhee
1. Grand Budapest Hotel
