Laura Anne Gilman's Blog, page 46
January 7, 2015
meep and meh
Among and amid all the various frustrations and tensions of life, I now am being asked to compile a blurbage wishlist for SILVER ON THE ROAD.
And I am hit with a massive sense of "who am I to ask these amazing and talented people to read my piece of shite work?"
(Knowing that this is part and parcel of writing and etc and if I hadn't been ambitious with this book I would't feel so nervous, etc and odds are good not everyone who tells me the book's really good is lying, etc.... none of that helps, nope.)
And I am hit with a massive sense of "who am I to ask these amazing and talented people to read my piece of shite work?"
(Knowing that this is part and parcel of writing and etc and if I hadn't been ambitious with this book I would't feel so nervous, etc and odds are good not everyone who tells me the book's really good is lying, etc.... none of that helps, nope.)
January 6, 2015
We have been to see the new vet, and the vet has seen us
Although we'd been scheduled to do a full glucose curve today (and by 'we' I mean Boomer), after the initial exam, and a close study of the records the old vet sent over, it was determined that we should try changing his eating habits/food for a few weeks, and then see if that fixes things.
So we've made an appointment for three weeks from today, and I have a new set of prescription foods to try him on, with instructions to let him eat pretty much as much as he wants, rather than restricting his access. The new vet's feeling is that he'd rather Boomer be slightly overweight than hungry, with a risk of sugar drops.
Since this might also solve the "mommy it's 4am and I'm HUUUUUNGRY" issue that's recently become a problem, I am 100% behind this idea.
Also, the vet seemed to think that 18.5 pound was perfectly fine on the Boomerster, so if he does put on a little more weight, it's not a huge concern (heh. huge). It wasn't a very thorough exam, but the vet did seem to be paying attention and he had, as I siad, read the full fille, including his most recent checkup only a few months ago.
Overall, the new vet's office - which specializes in felines - is getting high marks for cleanliness, promptness, and generally nice forward-facing staff. So that's good.
And, in closing, tonight's sunset, courtesy of fog and sun.
So we've made an appointment for three weeks from today, and I have a new set of prescription foods to try him on, with instructions to let him eat pretty much as much as he wants, rather than restricting his access. The new vet's feeling is that he'd rather Boomer be slightly overweight than hungry, with a risk of sugar drops.
Since this might also solve the "mommy it's 4am and I'm HUUUUUNGRY" issue that's recently become a problem, I am 100% behind this idea.
Also, the vet seemed to think that 18.5 pound was perfectly fine on the Boomerster, so if he does put on a little more weight, it's not a huge concern (heh. huge). It wasn't a very thorough exam, but the vet did seem to be paying attention and he had, as I siad, read the full fille, including his most recent checkup only a few months ago.
Overall, the new vet's office - which specializes in felines - is getting high marks for cleanliness, promptness, and generally nice forward-facing staff. So that's good.
And, in closing, tonight's sunset, courtesy of fog and sun.
Tuesday Sitrep
I have things I need to do (upload this month's Westward Bound post to Book View Cafe, answer emails, write many many words, start reading the new massive reference book I picked up yesterday), but first I have to pick up the rental car, then put the cat into the rental car, then take the cat to their new vet and leave them there for a day's worth of glucose curve testing.
During which I will probably be checking out the local-to-the-vet cafe that seems to have Real Proper NY Bagels. Report to come.
During which I will probably be checking out the local-to-the-vet cafe that seems to have Real Proper NY Bagels. Report to come.
January 5, 2015
vent the package so it doesn't implode
and on this first Monday of the new year, I am thiscloseto drawing the final line on people who say yes of course when they really mean maybe-evenually-at-the-bottom-of-my-someday-get-to-it..
As I said over this weekend, I have a very long fuse, but it's attached to a very large box o' dry gunpowder.
As I said over this weekend, I have a very long fuse, but it's attached to a very large box o' dry gunpowder.
The first Monday of the New Year is for doing EVERYTHING. It says so right on this calendar.
This morning I dealt with a feline sugar crash (perfect timing cat, you couldn't have done that while at the vet's tomorrow?) and then delicately hammered out my daily dose of new words-
But right now, I need to put on my editor hat and knock other people into shape. Cabana boy, where's my wine and lash?
Brassy child, he muttered, not first the first time since she’d issued that threat. His own fault for teaching her to tie knots, and to praise her for learning them so well.
- and then to Ikea to return a thing, and theb my twinling and I sat down, as we oft do - though now in the flesh rather than Skype! - and bemoaned the current state of our PiSS (projects in stalled stasis). And in the bemoaning, as we oft do, we able to fix each other - or at least give ourselves a new and more profitable direction in which to go.
But right now, I need to put on my editor hat and knock other people into shape. Cabana boy, where's my wine and lash?
January 4, 2015
oh, and also, dear
Okay, so apparently this is a serious question: how many of you would be willing to support, on an ongoing basis (either via tip jar or patreon), a slightly cracky noir detective story serial featuring cats?
(I lied about the 'slightly cracky' part. I suspect it will be DEEPLY cracky)
Opening line: "The first time I met the tom, I knew he was going to be trouble."
(I lied about the 'slightly cracky' part. I suspect it will be DEEPLY cracky)
Opening line: "The first time I met the tom, I knew he was going to be trouble."
A glimpse into my head, if you dare...
I’ve decided my personal writeup for SILVER ON THE ROAD is: ”the story of a young woman, the guy who makes the mistake of offering to help, and the maybe-all-powerful-maybe-just-a-jerk creature who manipulates them for the greater good. Plus psychotics, obsessives, and the just plain delusional, with added snake.”
I either need more coffee, or a lot less.
I either need more coffee, or a lot less.
January 3, 2015
Why I'm me, and not someone else...
Fascinating, and rather depressing conversation happening on Twitter right now about the Great Mostly White Male "most anticipated fantasy books of 2015" lists dropping now. (the females seen on these lists? Robin Hobb and Kameron Hurley. Both potentially gender-neutral names, and Kameron says she specifically requested that they not put an author photo on the book cover).
I admit - I considered going with a male pseudonym for SILVER ON THE ROAD. I'm pretty damn sure that if I had, the book would be getting more attention, pre-pub, because the brutal truth is that male-name writers get more ink, especially but not exclusively from male reviewers. Especially if the books in question are epic (non-romantic) fantasies. In terms of sales alone, choosing to publish under a female name is established idiocy.
And yet... this is my book. The thought of having to hide behind another name, of not being able to talk publicly about the book except through the scrim of that name, or a stand-in... to buy into the "only men write epic fantasy worth talking about" game...
Fuck that.
Hi, my name is Laura Anne Gilman, and I write some damn good epic fantasy. And yeah, I'm female. If that makes you shy away from a book, then you're the idiot, not me.
/vent
I admit - I considered going with a male pseudonym for SILVER ON THE ROAD. I'm pretty damn sure that if I had, the book would be getting more attention, pre-pub, because the brutal truth is that male-name writers get more ink, especially but not exclusively from male reviewers. Especially if the books in question are epic (non-romantic) fantasies. In terms of sales alone, choosing to publish under a female name is established idiocy.
And yet... this is my book. The thought of having to hide behind another name, of not being able to talk publicly about the book except through the scrim of that name, or a stand-in... to buy into the "only men write epic fantasy worth talking about" game...
Fuck that.
Hi, my name is Laura Anne Gilman, and I write some damn good epic fantasy. And yeah, I'm female. If that makes you shy away from a book, then you're the idiot, not me.
/vent
January 2, 2015
five things make the first workday of 2015....
Things researched: buzzard vs vulture, the weight of a saddle, sleepwalking, bison maturity.
Favorite bit written: She couldn’t promise any more, not faithfully. But as the words left her mouth, one of the buzzards lifted its head and swiveled its neck to look directly at her, and the cold sting in her palm faded.
Whoops: escarpment is not the same thing as an encampment.
New words written: 1750
Clients dealt with: two (one finishing up, one beginning)
And now I am going to be a post-NYE slug on a Friday night and curl up with the cats, a plate of pasta, a glass of wine, and the DVDs of NERO WOLFE (the Tim Hutton version). Which, BTW, is TOTALLY research.
Favorite bit written: She couldn’t promise any more, not faithfully. But as the words left her mouth, one of the buzzards lifted its head and swiveled its neck to look directly at her, and the cold sting in her palm faded.
Whoops: escarpment is not the same thing as an encampment.
New words written: 1750
Clients dealt with: two (one finishing up, one beginning)
And now I am going to be a post-NYE slug on a Friday night and curl up with the cats, a plate of pasta, a glass of wine, and the DVDs of NERO WOLFE (the Tim Hutton version). Which, BTW, is TOTALLY research.
New story! and subject to size...
The #willwrite2feedothers story is live! If you like it, great, yay! :-) If you don't like it.... did you donate to #willwrite2feedothers? I'm sorry and I'll try better next year. You didn't contribute to #willwrite2feedothers? Enjoy your story earned by others. :-P
Meanwhile, due to the downsizing of my live/work space, there is no longer a do-board.
Instead, I have a Do-Book.
It may not be as environmentally correct, but it's also a hell of a lot more portable. I'm not sure if having a record of past days (rather than wiping them out at the end of the day) is going to be a plus or a minus. I guess I'll find out....
Meanwhile, due to the downsizing of my live/work space, there is no longer a do-board.
Instead, I have a Do-Book.
It may not be as environmentally correct, but it's also a hell of a lot more portable. I'm not sure if having a record of past days (rather than wiping them out at the end of the day) is going to be a plus or a minus. I guess I'll find out....
