Jennifer Crusie's Blog, page 6

This is a Good Book Thursday: The Thrill of Preordering

I just got an e-mail from Amazon saying that my pre-order of the next Aaronovitch would be dropping in a couple of weeks. It’s like Christmas. The Rivers of London series has been going awhile, and it’s been getting harder to connect–I think Peter is just too powerful now, plus he’s the father of twins so he’s really settling down–but even lesser Aaronovitch is better than most writers’ best, so I’m sticking with him. Now all I need is a new Murderbot to look forward to. So instead, I’m reading old Nero Wolfe novellas. And the book we’re writing, of course.

What book thrilled you this week?

Working Wednesday: The Masterclass Edition

I’ve been having a heck of a time getting my head back in the writing game, so I decided to jumpstart it by watching some of the Duffer Brothers’ Masterclass. Masterclass is not cheap, but the wealth of programs available and the fact that I already had a subscription made me try their class, even though I’d never seen Stranger Things. And the classes I watched really were helpful at getting my head organized around the book. It wasn’t that I didn’t know a lot of it, it was that my mind was scattered, and watching the classes helped me focus. So this week I worked on focus.

What did you work on?

Happiness is a Plan

Sometimes I get overwhelmed. Okay, I often get overwhelmed. There’s this house that I still haven’t gotten sorted even though I’ve lived here for two years. And then there’s the book we’re working on, have been working on, have 50,000+ words done on, and when Bob said, in well controlled exasperation, “Well, what does Anna WANT?” I had no idea. However, whenever I have a plan, I’m fine. I’m much too scatter-brained and, at this point in my recovery, too tired to have a dog, but Johnny and I hit the road three times a day every day for at least fifteen minutes each time. Because he’ll explode if I don’t take him out, and I love him and want him to be happy. That’s a plan. So now all I need is a plan to keep my house and my heroine from exploding. I can do that. Planning makes me happy.

What made you happy this week?

VNF is Free, But Not For Long

Hey, Amazon is giving Very Nice Funerals away for free today. I think it’s just for today, though. (Nobody tells me nothin’.)

This is a Good Book Thursday: The Tough Guy Week

This week I read James Herriot and Rex Stout and watched Elementary. Yeah, comfort stuff.

What did you read this week?

Working Wednesday: One Day at a Time

Deb Blake let me know that I missed posting on Sunday, for which I thank her and apologize to you. Spring has been difficult here and I’m not connecting on all points these days. Bob is being patient and Krissie is checking in, so I’m fine, I’m just not hitting all my bases. I’m currently rewriting the first half of the current book since Bob and I did some heavy brainstorming already this week and we have brilliant new ideas, so I’m bringing the first half up to date while he pushes ahead into Act Three. In other news, I’m changing the sheets on my bed. Hey, it’s the little things.

What did you work on this week?

This is a Good Book Thursday: Who Knew It Was Thursday?

I read a James Herriot book because I needed to calm down.

What did you read this week?

Working Wednesday: Halfway There. Or One-Sixth

We’re about halfway through the first book in the new series (STILL no title) or about one-sixth of the way through the series. Advice: Do not have a heart attack while you’re writing a book. It slows you down.

What did you work on this week?

Wear the Lilac and Carry Your Towel!

I almost forgot: Today is Towel Day (don’t panic) Wear the Lilac Day, in honor of Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) and Terry Pratchett (the Discworld novels), both of them terrific writers tragically gone too soon. I am not panicking. I have my towel and a complete Discworld collection. Still every year when I write this post, my heart clutches a little at what we’ve lost with their deaths. But as Pratchett once wrote, “Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?” Their names are still spoken, their books are still cherished, and today is the day to remember them and read.

Go get their books. And a lilac towel. You won’t regret it.

Happiness is Lunch Plus with Friends

I have this friend, Cathy Maxwell. I adore her. I’ve never laughed as hard with anybody as I do with Max. And about once a month she drives in to see me because she’s that kind of friend, and we have lunch and then do something that amuses us both and it’s one of those perfect spaces of time that reminds you that life is really just about connecting with good people. Time before last, we went to an art gallery in town, really a craft gallery, and just oohed and ached. This time we went to a thrift store and she scored an insanely gorgeous teal coat. We oohed and ached over that, too. But the point is not the coat or the art, it’s talking to Cathy, leaning closer over the lunch table, laughing like loons, being appalled by the same things, discussing our dogs (hers is Tess and Tess is wonderful), and just being Cathy and Jenny.

Happiness is knowing that Cathy will be back in June, and that I’ve got lunch with Pat Gaffney this Thursday. (Yes, almost everyone I know is an author. I’ve spent most of the past thirty years either writing alone or going to writers’ conferences. That’s how I meet people. See also Krissie and Bob).

What made you happy this week?