Cherie Priest's Blog: It's awards season, so here comes the shameless self-promotion, page 29
February 18, 2014
They say that things can just get better, and they probably will
Here's today's progress on my witchy art-deco horror novel about Lizzie Borden thirty years after her parents' deaths - now featuring ghosts and non-ghosts alike, anti-Catholic conspiracy nuts, supernatural political shenanigans, the mafia, and a Bonus! space-worshiping murder cult hiding behind the KKK:
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 2619 (good)
Present total word count: 30,168
Things accomplished in fiction: Something strange is going on in storage room number six.
Next up: Something uncanny has been sitting in the old file room, for lo these many years. It's a familiar face, and it shouldn't be there. It shouldn't be anywhere.
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunt with dog; lunch with husband; not much else. But we're about to take Greyson to the dog park, so there's that.
Other: Here's what Amazing Stories had to say about Fiddlehead . It's so flattering as to be almost embarrassing...not like that will stop me from sharing it, natch.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 63,579
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 2619 (good)
Present total word count: 30,168
Things accomplished in fiction: Something strange is going on in storage room number six.
Next up: Something uncanny has been sitting in the old file room, for lo these many years. It's a familiar face, and it shouldn't be there. It shouldn't be anywhere.
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunt with dog; lunch with husband; not much else. But we're about to take Greyson to the dog park, so there's that.
Other: Here's what Amazing Stories had to say about Fiddlehead . It's so flattering as to be almost embarrassing...not like that will stop me from sharing it, natch.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 63,579
February 17, 2014
It's the king of nothing and the queen of rage
Here's recent progress on my witchy art-deco horror novel about Lizzie Borden thirty years after her parents' deaths - now featuring ghosts and non-ghosts alike, anti-Catholic conspiracy nuts, supernatural political shenanigans, the mafia, and a Bonus! space-worshiping murder cult hiding behind the KKK:
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 5054 (meh)
Present total word count: 27,549
Things accomplished in fiction: Awkward supper; signs and portents; met one of the villains; got smoke blown up our skirt. So to speak.
Next up: In the basement there's a storage area. An angry man is waiting there.
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunts with dog; laundry by the pound; grocery shopping; housework; went to the bank; went to Target; went to Walgreens.
Other: Not a huge word count for four days - but I had to cut about a thousand words loose after I realized they were total crap. I got bogged down in a weird little chapter, and didn't figure out what was wrong in time to write something better. Ah, well. It's fixed now, but it means that my total isn't quite as fat as I'd prefer.
Other, besides: Haters gonna hate.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 60,960
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 5054 (meh)
Present total word count: 27,549
Things accomplished in fiction: Awkward supper; signs and portents; met one of the villains; got smoke blown up our skirt. So to speak.
Next up: In the basement there's a storage area. An angry man is waiting there.
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunts with dog; laundry by the pound; grocery shopping; housework; went to the bank; went to Target; went to Walgreens.
Other: Not a huge word count for four days - but I had to cut about a thousand words loose after I realized they were total crap. I got bogged down in a weird little chapter, and didn't figure out what was wrong in time to write something better. Ah, well. It's fixed now, but it means that my total isn't quite as fat as I'd prefer.
Other, besides: Haters gonna hate.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 60,960
February 12, 2014
They're always waiting for a thing like this
Here's today's progress on my witchy art-deco horror novel about Lizzie Borden thirty years after her parents' deaths - now featuring ghosts and non-ghosts alike, anti-Catholic conspiracy nuts, supernatural political shenanigans, the mafia, and a Bonus! space-worshiping murder cult hiding behind the KKK:
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 2402 (good)
Present total word count: 22,495
Things accomplished in fiction: A little more back-fill and juggling; this one opens from several POVs in three different places ... trying to streamline without cheating. But now I'm moving forward again - to an awkward supper where the hostess is in hiding, and might be going mad.
Next up: The inspector milks the hostess for information - about the axe murders, yes. There's got to be a concrete link to the strange church out at Chapelwood, and he's determined to sniff it out.
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunt with dog in the snow; cooked a hell of a lunch; printed and sent off a reprint contract; emptied my inbox; not much else - but the day is young.
Other: I'm stopping a little early, because I have several loads of laundry and a few other household-maintenance-type things to do this afternoon. Such is life. I got a good wordcount in, so I'm at peace with it.
Snowdog other:
Number of fiction words so far this year: 55,906
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 2402 (good)
Present total word count: 22,495
Things accomplished in fiction: A little more back-fill and juggling; this one opens from several POVs in three different places ... trying to streamline without cheating. But now I'm moving forward again - to an awkward supper where the hostess is in hiding, and might be going mad.
Next up: The inspector milks the hostess for information - about the axe murders, yes. There's got to be a concrete link to the strange church out at Chapelwood, and he's determined to sniff it out.
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunt with dog in the snow; cooked a hell of a lunch; printed and sent off a reprint contract; emptied my inbox; not much else - but the day is young.
Other: I'm stopping a little early, because I have several loads of laundry and a few other household-maintenance-type things to do this afternoon. Such is life. I got a good wordcount in, so I'm at peace with it.
Snowdog other:
Number of fiction words so far this year: 55,906
February 11, 2014
Your pretty face and electric soul
Here's today's progress on my witchy art-deco horror novel about Lizzie Borden thirty years after her parents' deaths - now featuring ghosts and non-ghosts alike, anti-Catholic conspiracy nuts, supernatural political shenanigans, the mafia, and a Bonus! space-worshiping murder cult hiding behind the KKK:
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 2814 (good)
Present total word count: 20,093
Things accomplished in fiction: Rearranged some narratives, and did some backfill. Basically, I realized I needed to start the story just a smidge earlier - and include another POV (while killing off another one, heh).
Next up: What did the girl see when the thing touched her? What did it tell her, to make her run?
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunt with dog; went to the bank; went to the grocery store; went to the liquor store (look, it's supposed to snow tonight/tomorrow, okay?); returned a wayward beagle puppy to my neighbors; lots of emails, because the emails never end.
Other: As you know, Bob - I don't often plug Kickstarters. But I'm plugging this one . Go check it out - the author is a local(ish) friend of mine; she's a hell of a writer, and this is a hell of a project.
Kitty other:
Number of fiction words so far this year: 53,504
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 2814 (good)
Present total word count: 20,093
Things accomplished in fiction: Rearranged some narratives, and did some backfill. Basically, I realized I needed to start the story just a smidge earlier - and include another POV (while killing off another one, heh).
Next up: What did the girl see when the thing touched her? What did it tell her, to make her run?
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunt with dog; went to the bank; went to the grocery store; went to the liquor store (look, it's supposed to snow tonight/tomorrow, okay?); returned a wayward beagle puppy to my neighbors; lots of emails, because the emails never end.
Other: As you know, Bob - I don't often plug Kickstarters. But I'm plugging this one . Go check it out - the author is a local(ish) friend of mine; she's a hell of a writer, and this is a hell of a project.
Kitty other:
Number of fiction words so far this year: 53,504
February 10, 2014
We're changing our ways, taking different roads
Here's recent progress on my witchy art-deco horror novel about Lizzie Borden thirty years after her parents' deaths - now featuring ghosts and non-ghosts alike, anti-Catholic conspiracy nuts, supernatural political shenanigans, the mafia, and a Bonus! space-worshiping murder cult hiding behind the KKK:
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 7221 (weekend + today)
Present total word count: 17,279
Things accomplished in fiction: Chatted with the out-going police chief; picked up a bunch of articles and newspapers, and thereby learned much about the weird church at Chapelwood; met the daughter of a murderer - a girl who barely escaped him, herself.
Next up: Finish off a letter to the priest (sent before he died); send word to Lizzie in New England, and see if she's free to come out and lend Wolf a hand.
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunts with dog; grocery store; laundry; cleaned house; went to lunch with husband for the first time in ages; did lunch with new tax guy; chased down some paperwork here and there; processed many emails.
Other: Want to watch me be chatty and goofy with the inimitable Jim Hall of Cult-Pop? YOU KNOW YOU DO. In that-there interview, we chat about the Clockwork Century and a few new things, too - so go watch it and see!
Self-satisfied other: Managed to keep the streak running, even over the weekend. GO ME.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 50,690
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 7221 (weekend + today)
Present total word count: 17,279
Things accomplished in fiction: Chatted with the out-going police chief; picked up a bunch of articles and newspapers, and thereby learned much about the weird church at Chapelwood; met the daughter of a murderer - a girl who barely escaped him, herself.
Next up: Finish off a letter to the priest (sent before he died); send word to Lizzie in New England, and see if she's free to come out and lend Wolf a hand.
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunts with dog; grocery store; laundry; cleaned house; went to lunch with husband for the first time in ages; did lunch with new tax guy; chased down some paperwork here and there; processed many emails.
Other: Want to watch me be chatty and goofy with the inimitable Jim Hall of Cult-Pop? YOU KNOW YOU DO. In that-there interview, we chat about the Clockwork Century and a few new things, too - so go watch it and see!
Self-satisfied other: Managed to keep the streak running, even over the weekend. GO ME.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 50,690
February 6, 2014
You're going straight to hell for wanted acts of sin
Here's today's progress on my witchy art-deco horror novel about Lizzie Borden thirty years after her parents' deaths - now featuring ghosts and non-ghosts alike, anti-Catholic conspiracy nuts, supernatural political shenanigans, the mafia, and a Bonus! space-worshiping murder cult hiding behind the KKK:
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 2230 (good)
Present total word count: 10,058
Things accomplished in fiction: Got about halfway through a very interesting conversation. Stopped where I did, because it'll be easy to pick it back up tomorrow, and also I'm hella-tired.
Next up: Finish the story of the good priest's murder, and visit his grave.
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunt with dog; lots of email; some boring writer business; went to the post office; went to the bank; went to Walgreens to pick up some prescriptions; went to the grocery store; nabbed lunch at Taco Bell because I deserved it.
Other: Today sucks. I pulled something in my neck a couple of days ago, and last night it was really bad. I spent half the night popping Advil and lying on a heating pad - and barely slept at all. It's better this morning, but I'm absolutely wiped out and frankly, it's a miracle I got this much done.
Upshot other: But it's another good word count, keeping me above water on my 1k/day average goals - and bringing me up to 10k for the week, which would be amazing if I could keep it up. Life gets in the way sometimes, so I can't count on it every week, but I'll take it when I can get it.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 43,469
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 2230 (good)
Present total word count: 10,058
Things accomplished in fiction: Got about halfway through a very interesting conversation. Stopped where I did, because it'll be easy to pick it back up tomorrow, and also I'm hella-tired.
Next up: Finish the story of the good priest's murder, and visit his grave.
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunt with dog; lots of email; some boring writer business; went to the post office; went to the bank; went to Walgreens to pick up some prescriptions; went to the grocery store; nabbed lunch at Taco Bell because I deserved it.
Other: Today sucks. I pulled something in my neck a couple of days ago, and last night it was really bad. I spent half the night popping Advil and lying on a heating pad - and barely slept at all. It's better this morning, but I'm absolutely wiped out and frankly, it's a miracle I got this much done.
Upshot other: But it's another good word count, keeping me above water on my 1k/day average goals - and bringing me up to 10k for the week, which would be amazing if I could keep it up. Life gets in the way sometimes, so I can't count on it every week, but I'll take it when I can get it.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 43,469
February 5, 2014
I'm coming for you when the sun goes down
Here's today's progress on my witchy art-deco horror novel about Lizzie Borden thirty years after her parents' deaths - now featuring ghosts and non-ghosts alike, anti-Catholic conspiracy nuts, supernatural political shenanigans, the mafia, and a Bonus! space-worshiping murder cult hiding behind the KKK:
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 2853 (good)
Present total word count: 7828
Things accomplished in fiction: Introduced two of our new heroes, who are beginning to realize they're up against worse than small-city dirty politics.
Next up: Back to our Boston inspector, who's arrived in Birmingham. His credentials will get him an audience with all the usual official folks - but he's walked into the aftermath of a local election, and who's in charge of what is suddenly unclear.
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunt with dog; lots of email, but achieved inbox zero; started some boring writer business.
Other: Now I need to sit down and write an emails asking for favors. It never really gets any easier, I tell you.
Aggravated other: Why the hell do Person of Interest and Justified have to come on at the same damn time every week? I mean really. (Watched Justified, will have to catch up on Person later. I hate catching up on things later.)
Dubious other: I did Maplecroft on about 1200 words a day...and it really felt good, like I was taking my time and the pace was right. This one's moving faster, and I hope I'm not rushing anything.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 41,239
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 2853 (good)
Present total word count: 7828
Things accomplished in fiction: Introduced two of our new heroes, who are beginning to realize they're up against worse than small-city dirty politics.
Next up: Back to our Boston inspector, who's arrived in Birmingham. His credentials will get him an audience with all the usual official folks - but he's walked into the aftermath of a local election, and who's in charge of what is suddenly unclear.
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunt with dog; lots of email, but achieved inbox zero; started some boring writer business.
Other: Now I need to sit down and write an emails asking for favors. It never really gets any easier, I tell you.
Aggravated other: Why the hell do Person of Interest and Justified have to come on at the same damn time every week? I mean really. (Watched Justified, will have to catch up on Person later. I hate catching up on things later.)
Dubious other: I did Maplecroft on about 1200 words a day...and it really felt good, like I was taking my time and the pace was right. This one's moving faster, and I hope I'm not rushing anything.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 41,239
February 4, 2014
It's cold and lonely in the deep dark night
Here's today's progress on my witchy art-deco horror novel about Lizzie Borden thirty years after her parents' deaths - now featuring ghosts and non-ghosts alike, anti-Catholic conspiracy nuts, supernatural political shenanigans, the mafia, and a Bonus! space-worshiping murder cult hiding behind the KKK:
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 2192
Present total word count: 4975
Things accomplished in fiction: Reintroduced another familiar face, an inspector from Boston who's about to take a road trip to see if he can't solve an old friend's murder.
Next up: Local politician sees the light at the end of the tunnel, and it's definitely a train. Forces are aligning against this dude and his police chief, in a very, very bad way.
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunt with dog; helpful email exchanges; tidied house; cooked lunch; not much else - it's been a long day that got off to a slow start.
Other: Christopher Golden is a prince among men. Because of reasons.
Cheerful other: Still trucking for 2014 - holding steady above that 1k/day average. [:: fistpump ::] I'd like to pull Chapelwood together a little faster than Maplecroft without driving myself bananas on a death march - partly because production is about to drop on another book, and next month I need to start rewrites on Jacaranda. I want to get ahead while I can, you know?
Number of fiction words so far this year: 38,386
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 2192
Present total word count: 4975
Things accomplished in fiction: Reintroduced another familiar face, an inspector from Boston who's about to take a road trip to see if he can't solve an old friend's murder.
Next up: Local politician sees the light at the end of the tunnel, and it's definitely a train. Forces are aligning against this dude and his police chief, in a very, very bad way.
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunt with dog; helpful email exchanges; tidied house; cooked lunch; not much else - it's been a long day that got off to a slow start.
Other: Christopher Golden is a prince among men. Because of reasons.
Cheerful other: Still trucking for 2014 - holding steady above that 1k/day average. [:: fistpump ::] I'd like to pull Chapelwood together a little faster than Maplecroft without driving myself bananas on a death march - partly because production is about to drop on another book, and next month I need to start rewrites on Jacaranda. I want to get ahead while I can, you know?
Number of fiction words so far this year: 38,386
February 3, 2014
I am a master of a nothing place
I'm back! Not only from the weekend, but from a totally cracked-out rabbithole of research I fell down, in preparation for the Maplecroft followup. This followup is based loosely (oh, so very loosely) around some events that happened in Birmingham, Alabama, in the late teens/early 1920s ... and it turns out that I only loosely (oh, so very loosely) had any idea how crazypants the whole thing really was.
Now I have a better idea, and it's probably still just the tip of the iceberg - but hey, it's gotten me up and running, so I'll take it. I now have both a title, and a whole lot of messed-up history to mine. Two of my favorite things!
And oh yes ... I also have a beginning.
BEHOLD.
Here's today's progress on my witchy art-deco horror novel about Lizzie Borden thirty years after her parents' deaths - now featuring ghosts and non-ghosts alike, anti-Catholic conspiracy nuts, supernatural political shenanigans, the mafia, and a Bonus! space-worshiping murder cult hiding behind the KKK:
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 2783
Present total word count: 2738
Things accomplished in fiction: Got a solid start on reintroducing Lizbeth and recapping a bit re: what's happened since the events of Maplecroft. NO I WON'T TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE. You'll have to wait for September for that.
Bonus accomplishment note: Did I mention the Official Publication Date yet? No? In my defense, I only just learned it the other day - so now let it be official: henceforth September 2 shall be known as Maplecroft Day. Mark your calendars! Or don't bother if you don't want to, because I will be reminding the crap out of you between now and then.
Next up: A letter from an old acquaintance with a favor to ask. Out of the blue, or so it seems...but Our Heroine is ready for it anyway, and her bags are already packed.
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunt with dog; exchange with editor that culminated in me getting a sneak peek at something awesome but ARGH I'M NOT ALLOWED TO SHARE IT YET so that kind of was awesome, yet sucked; did a little grocery shopping; went to lunch.
Other: As per usual, the estimated final word count is just that - an estimate - and I will probably undershoot it at first, then overshoot it later. Or something like that. I'm actually pretty happy that I got such a good start on it today; usually, I find beginnings very difficult. I'm often lucky to get a thousand words down before I walk away, in order to try again tomorrow.
Encouraging other: LET IT BEGIN!
Number of fiction words so far this year: 36,194
Now I have a better idea, and it's probably still just the tip of the iceberg - but hey, it's gotten me up and running, so I'll take it. I now have both a title, and a whole lot of messed-up history to mine. Two of my favorite things!
And oh yes ... I also have a beginning.
BEHOLD.
Here's today's progress on my witchy art-deco horror novel about Lizzie Borden thirty years after her parents' deaths - now featuring ghosts and non-ghosts alike, anti-Catholic conspiracy nuts, supernatural political shenanigans, the mafia, and a Bonus! space-worshiping murder cult hiding behind the KKK:
Project: Chapelwood
Deadline: October 1, 2014
New words written: 2783
Present total word count: 2738
Things accomplished in fiction: Got a solid start on reintroducing Lizbeth and recapping a bit re: what's happened since the events of Maplecroft. NO I WON'T TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE. You'll have to wait for September for that.
Bonus accomplishment note: Did I mention the Official Publication Date yet? No? In my defense, I only just learned it the other day - so now let it be official: henceforth September 2 shall be known as Maplecroft Day. Mark your calendars! Or don't bother if you don't want to, because I will be reminding the crap out of you between now and then.
Next up: A letter from an old acquaintance with a favor to ask. Out of the blue, or so it seems...but Our Heroine is ready for it anyway, and her bags are already packed.
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunt with dog; exchange with editor that culminated in me getting a sneak peek at something awesome but ARGH I'M NOT ALLOWED TO SHARE IT YET so that kind of was awesome, yet sucked; did a little grocery shopping; went to lunch.
Other: As per usual, the estimated final word count is just that - an estimate - and I will probably undershoot it at first, then overshoot it later. Or something like that. I'm actually pretty happy that I got such a good start on it today; usually, I find beginnings very difficult. I'm often lucky to get a thousand words down before I walk away, in order to try again tomorrow.
Encouraging other: LET IT BEGIN!
Number of fiction words so far this year: 36,194
January 30, 2014
It's fear of god that brought us to that state
Here's today's progress on my poltergeist-plagued hotel horror story, wherein everyone’s favorite steampunk Texas Ranger joins forces with a goth-as-hell gunslinger-turned-padre who may (or may not) have supernatural powers:
Project: Jacaranda
Deadline: March 31, 2014
New words written: 1683 (DRAFT ZERO, Y'ALL)
Present total word count: 41,036
Things accomplished in fiction: I found the end! Things happened, and were duly wrapped up! NO MORE DEATH MARCH. Not on this project, anyway. [:: cues Hallelujah chorus ::] [:: balloons drop from the sky ::]
Darling du jour: "But hell is hot and wet - and we who remain here forever gasp, but never drown..."
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunt with dog; some important emails sorted out re: future convention appearances (some established, some tentative).
Other: I told you it'd fall short of the goal - but likewise, I promise that it'll plump up a bit in the rewrites. I've already got another scene or two in mind (and I've put in note-to-self placeholders), but for now the thing is whole and complete, and I need to put it down to let it cool off for a month or so.
Other, and then some: Really, my composition count is about twice what I've cited above ... but I did a crap-ton of pruning/trimming/tweaking on the last couple of chapter segments, and cost myself the word tally. That's okay. Those words weren't the right words, so there was no point in keeping them around. I'll come up with better ones later.
Other, furthermore: Next up - errand running, and over the weekend I start mapping out the Maplecroft follow-up ... which I really should've gotten underway around New Year's. But. ONWARD. UPWARD. SO FORTH.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 33,456
Project: Jacaranda
Deadline: March 31, 2014
New words written: 1683 (DRAFT ZERO, Y'ALL)
Present total word count: 41,036
Things accomplished in fiction: I found the end! Things happened, and were duly wrapped up! NO MORE DEATH MARCH. Not on this project, anyway. [:: cues Hallelujah chorus ::] [:: balloons drop from the sky ::]
Darling du jour: "But hell is hot and wet - and we who remain here forever gasp, but never drown..."
Things accomplished in real life: Neighborhood jaunt with dog; some important emails sorted out re: future convention appearances (some established, some tentative).
Other: I told you it'd fall short of the goal - but likewise, I promise that it'll plump up a bit in the rewrites. I've already got another scene or two in mind (and I've put in note-to-self placeholders), but for now the thing is whole and complete, and I need to put it down to let it cool off for a month or so.
Other, and then some: Really, my composition count is about twice what I've cited above ... but I did a crap-ton of pruning/trimming/tweaking on the last couple of chapter segments, and cost myself the word tally. That's okay. Those words weren't the right words, so there was no point in keeping them around. I'll come up with better ones later.
Other, furthermore: Next up - errand running, and over the weekend I start mapping out the Maplecroft follow-up ... which I really should've gotten underway around New Year's. But. ONWARD. UPWARD. SO FORTH.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 33,456
It's awards season, so here comes the shameless self-promotion
Hello everyone! It's awards season and this is my job, so please click through and take a peek if you are so inclined. Don't worry - it's short! I only published a couple of things this year, and I in
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