Laura Anne Gilman's Blog, page 58
August 18, 2014
If you're going to be in upper New York State (or thereabouts) this September 27-28...
You might want to check out RoberCon in Binghamton, NY
Why?
Because - in addition to being what sounds like a very nice, local SF convention that's focused on combining interest with affordability - they've foolishly asked me to be a featured Guest.
So there will be Hijinks. Minion Ribbons. And possibly an attendees-only surprise.... :-)
Why?
Because - in addition to being what sounds like a very nice, local SF convention that's focused on combining interest with affordability - they've foolishly asked me to be a featured Guest.
So there will be Hijinks. Minion Ribbons. And possibly an attendees-only surprise.... :-)
August 16, 2014
whoops, I forgot!
that Ms. Kornetsky was up at XOXOAfterDark yesterday!
(I'm blaming the old and the new fridge for me being...distracted)
(I'm blaming the old and the new fridge for me being...distracted)
Saturday Dilemma
Trying to decide between hauling down to the greenmarket for fresh veggies and fresh air and exercise, or curling up on the sofa with the manuscript revisions and Netflix, and having reheated home-made pizza for breakfast.
And that sort of sums up my life, right there.
And that sort of sums up my life, right there.
August 14, 2014
I haz a new fridge.
Or I haz paid for a fridge, anyway. Will have it tomorrow.
That's it. That's been the day.
(okay, I had lunch with the folks and helped them with tech stuff. That was also the day)
The next six days are for nothing but work. Damn it.
That's it. That's been the day.
(okay, I had lunch with the folks and helped them with tech stuff. That was also the day)
The next six days are for nothing but work. Damn it.
August 13, 2014
My to-do list for the rest of August
Revise CLAWED (G&T #4)
Write a (very rough) draft of "An Interrupted Cry" (Sylvan Investigations #4)
Shamrokon
turn 47
Dragoncon
polish and send short story to Kickstarter backers
edit a client's manuscript
and, y'know, various and sundry laundry and grocery shopping and occasional sleeping....
Midweek State of the Meerkat
Yesterday was a less-than-fabulous day at Chateau Felidae, for reasons that were utterly out of my control but I feel responsible for nonetheless.
In annoyances I can talk about, I'm about thirty-five seconds away from giving up on Facebook except as a portal through which to share relevant links, because they've screwed with their whatsis again and now none of my lists will tell me when they've updated, instead defaulting me to what Facebook thinks I should be seeing. Yeah, no. If I wanted a random assortment of crap thrown at me, I'd still have an OKCupid account.
So if I haven't responded to something you posted there, it's not you. It's not me. It's fuckyoubook.
I probably need to get back to blogging more. Yeah, add that to the list...
On the plus side, CatofSize has started leaping up onto things again, something he stopped doing when the neuropathy did a number on his hind legs earlier this year. He's still wobbly, but he's coming back a little. On the other hand, he's now trying to leap onto ledges and he still doesn't have full co-ordination or control back yet, so... things have been dicey here, trying to keep an eye on him.
Today it is cool and lightly raining, and I have a pot of fresh coffee to drink with my bagel. Therefore, today will be a better day. I have so decreed it.
And in the non-news...a number of BNT (big name troublemakers) seem to have decided that Robin William' suicide was because of some political agenda, or because he was selfish, or weak, or whatever. I'm not going to name names, and I'm not going to try to explain why these BNTs are - equally - ignorant and heartless. Because they're not doing it to make a point, they're doing it to get their names mentioned, and good people riled up.
Instead, I'm going to quote Mr. Williams himself: "There was an old, crazy dude who used to live a long time ago. His name was Lord Buckley. And he said, a long time ago, he said, 'People--they're kinda like flowers, and it's been a privilege walking in your garden.' My love goes with you."
In annoyances I can talk about, I'm about thirty-five seconds away from giving up on Facebook except as a portal through which to share relevant links, because they've screwed with their whatsis again and now none of my lists will tell me when they've updated, instead defaulting me to what Facebook thinks I should be seeing. Yeah, no. If I wanted a random assortment of crap thrown at me, I'd still have an OKCupid account.
So if I haven't responded to something you posted there, it's not you. It's not me. It's fuckyoubook.
I probably need to get back to blogging more. Yeah, add that to the list...
On the plus side, CatofSize has started leaping up onto things again, something he stopped doing when the neuropathy did a number on his hind legs earlier this year. He's still wobbly, but he's coming back a little. On the other hand, he's now trying to leap onto ledges and he still doesn't have full co-ordination or control back yet, so... things have been dicey here, trying to keep an eye on him.
Today it is cool and lightly raining, and I have a pot of fresh coffee to drink with my bagel. Therefore, today will be a better day. I have so decreed it.
And in the non-news...a number of BNT (big name troublemakers) seem to have decided that Robin William' suicide was because of some political agenda, or because he was selfish, or weak, or whatever. I'm not going to name names, and I'm not going to try to explain why these BNTs are - equally - ignorant and heartless. Because they're not doing it to make a point, they're doing it to get their names mentioned, and good people riled up.
Instead, I'm going to quote Mr. Williams himself: "There was an old, crazy dude who used to live a long time ago. His name was Lord Buckley. And he said, a long time ago, he said, 'People--they're kinda like flowers, and it's been a privilege walking in your garden.' My love goes with you."
August 12, 2014
Read in 2014
* means it was on my #TBRin2014 list
And I remembered the book I'd read that I forgot to write down! Conveniently enough, it's also out soon so you can go pre-order it, too! (and if you like steampunk-y adventure and slightly-damaged-but-competent characters, you should buy it.)
15. Untitled Manuscript, Dana Stabenow (client editing)
14. THE CLOCKWORK DAGGER, Beth Cato
13. *THE BIG KNOCKOVER, Dashiell Hammett (story collection)
12. CLIENT MANUSCRIPT, Unidentified Client
11. MEMORY OF WATER, Emmi Itärata
10. WATSON AND HOLMES: A STUDY IN BLACK, Karl Bollers, Rick Leonardi, Larry Stroman (graphic novel)
9. CLIENT MANUSCRIPT, Unidentified Client
8. *GARMENT OF SHADOWS, Laurie King
7. *THE LIVES OF TAO, Wes Chu
6. THE GOD OF THE HIVE, Laurie King (re-read)
5. SPIRAL PATH, Katharine Eliska Kimbriel (pre-pub)
4. CLIENT MANUSCRIPT, Unidentified Client
3. *EIFELHEIM, Michael Flynn
2. KNOWN DEVIL, Justin Gustainis
1. *INK, Amanda Sun
And I remembered the book I'd read that I forgot to write down! Conveniently enough, it's also out soon so you can go pre-order it, too! (and if you like steampunk-y adventure and slightly-damaged-but-competent characters, you should buy it.)
15. Untitled Manuscript, Dana Stabenow (client editing)
14. THE CLOCKWORK DAGGER, Beth Cato
13. *THE BIG KNOCKOVER, Dashiell Hammett (story collection)
12. CLIENT MANUSCRIPT, Unidentified Client
11. MEMORY OF WATER, Emmi Itärata
10. WATSON AND HOLMES: A STUDY IN BLACK, Karl Bollers, Rick Leonardi, Larry Stroman (graphic novel)
9. CLIENT MANUSCRIPT, Unidentified Client
8. *GARMENT OF SHADOWS, Laurie King
7. *THE LIVES OF TAO, Wes Chu
6. THE GOD OF THE HIVE, Laurie King (re-read)
5. SPIRAL PATH, Katharine Eliska Kimbriel (pre-pub)
4. CLIENT MANUSCRIPT, Unidentified Client
3. *EIFELHEIM, Michael Flynn
2. KNOWN DEVIL, Justin Gustainis
1. *INK, Amanda Sun
August 11, 2014
Robin Williams, RIP
Well, fuck. I know there were some folk who did not love him, and looking back now some of his routines make one cringe, but at a time when I was unutterably depressed, his comedy shows could make me laugh, and got me through the night.
Suicide is not confirmed, but yeah, based on his history, odds are it was. How many comedians do we lose either to suicide or self-immolation? Why is the cost of laughter so often so much darkness?
I support a person's right to chose the time and place of their ending, if that's their wish, but it should not be for those reasons. Not for depression or despair.
Thank you, sir. Whatever demons you battled, I hope you knew you brought light into the world, too.
http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/08/11/robin-williams-dead-at-63/
Suicide is not confirmed, but yeah, based on his history, odds are it was. How many comedians do we lose either to suicide or self-immolation? Why is the cost of laughter so often so much darkness?
I support a person's right to chose the time and place of their ending, if that's their wish, but it should not be for those reasons. Not for depression or despair.
Thank you, sir. Whatever demons you battled, I hope you knew you brought light into the world, too.
http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/08/11/robin-williams-dead-at-63/
To Change or Not To Change...
So originally I named this account "suricattus" because, well, "LAGilman" and variations of that sort are me being Professional, while "suricattus" is personal/professional getting tipsy together at the bar.
But it has been suggested by Some that maybe it would be better - and make it easier for people to find me - if I changed both LJ and Tumblr names to the more identifiable Gilman variants, and just accepted that my entire personality is personal and professional getting tipsy together at the bar....
(I cannot say they are wrong. not-alas.)
Anyone have any strong feelings about this? Anyone have any feelings at all about this?
But it has been suggested by Some that maybe it would be better - and make it easier for people to find me - if I changed both LJ and Tumblr names to the more identifiable Gilman variants, and just accepted that my entire personality is personal and professional getting tipsy together at the bar....
(I cannot say they are wrong. not-alas.)
Anyone have any strong feelings about this? Anyone have any feelings at all about this?
Ah Monday. I thought I recognized you when you came in the door...
After the insanity that was last week's GISHWHES, I'm back on the pony...mostly.
Writing:
The draft of WORK OF HUNTERS is with the editor, and I have the revisions letter for CLAWED (Gin & Tonic #4) on my desk. The revisions letter for SILVER ON THE ROAD is supposed to hit on Friday (more likely next Monday, I suspect). I'm also working on a short story, and fine-tuning the plot for the next SI novella. I think that's enough? Yeah, that's enough. And August was the light work-month.
Editorial:
Finished up one client's manuscript and sent her editorial letter out last night; another client's manuscript lands today, plus two shorts to edit for Buzzy Mag. I may or may not have slots open in October/November, depending on what the email brings in the next week... (but I do have slots open for December/January right now...)
Conventions & Travel:
Shamrokon in Dublin, August 21-24. (reminder to self: sort out the currencies drawer and check the pound vs euros situation!) Spending my birthday weekend in a foreign city with friends and friends-to-be-made and readers... yeah, that's about as good as it gets. :-) My schedule's here.
DragonCon: August 29-September 1. Atlanta in the summer. If I didn't love DragonCon so much..... But I do. My schedule's here.
RoberCon (Binghamton, NY), September 27-28th. New and small, but it's got good bones, so if you're in the area, check it out! There will likely be hijinks...
Reading at WORD (Brooklyn, NY) October 1 (as L.A. Kornetsky, with Nick Kaufman and Laird Barron)
World Fantasy (Washington DC) November 6-9. The usual suspects plus new suspects...
And at some point between October and December, I will be in Seattle again. Alerts will go out when that's finalized....
Writing:
The draft of WORK OF HUNTERS is with the editor, and I have the revisions letter for CLAWED (Gin & Tonic #4) on my desk. The revisions letter for SILVER ON THE ROAD is supposed to hit on Friday (more likely next Monday, I suspect). I'm also working on a short story, and fine-tuning the plot for the next SI novella. I think that's enough? Yeah, that's enough. And August was the light work-month.
Editorial:
Finished up one client's manuscript and sent her editorial letter out last night; another client's manuscript lands today, plus two shorts to edit for Buzzy Mag. I may or may not have slots open in October/November, depending on what the email brings in the next week... (but I do have slots open for December/January right now...)
Conventions & Travel:
Shamrokon in Dublin, August 21-24. (reminder to self: sort out the currencies drawer and check the pound vs euros situation!) Spending my birthday weekend in a foreign city with friends and friends-to-be-made and readers... yeah, that's about as good as it gets. :-) My schedule's here.
DragonCon: August 29-September 1. Atlanta in the summer. If I didn't love DragonCon so much..... But I do. My schedule's here.
RoberCon (Binghamton, NY), September 27-28th. New and small, but it's got good bones, so if you're in the area, check it out! There will likely be hijinks...
Reading at WORD (Brooklyn, NY) October 1 (as L.A. Kornetsky, with Nick Kaufman and Laird Barron)
World Fantasy (Washington DC) November 6-9. The usual suspects plus new suspects...
And at some point between October and December, I will be in Seattle again. Alerts will go out when that's finalized....
