Cherie Priest's Blog: It's awards season, so here comes the shameless self-promotion, page 40
March 11, 2013
You scream and you holla about my Chevy Impala
Here’s recent progress on my fin de siecle gothic epistolary about Lizzie Borden fighting Cthulhu with her trusty axe, now with Bonus! ghosts, guilt, girlfriends, arcane science, and an accidental villain who's losing his mind and his humanity in tandem:
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 2596
Present total word count: 58,321 words
Things accomplished in fiction: Well, the doctor wanted to know what was really going on. Now he knows at least as much as Lizzie does.
Next up: The doctor gets to fight his first monster.
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunts around the neighborhood with the dog; lots of housework including laundry after the cat barfed all over our bed; recorded a great couple of hours for the SF Squeecast with all the cool kids; got some clean-up work done in the yard in the landscaping lady's wake; repotted a Norfolk Pine my mother shipped to me, from Florida, which will make you laugh if you know anything about these things*; spent the day with an old friend, heading out for tea and then kicking back at her place, cleaning out the Awesome Dress-Up Things closet; took the kitty to the vet to have a suspicious growth on her back removed.
Other: Yeah, I know I've been bad about updating the last few days - even after I said I'd stop doing it on weekends, I still should've logged something for Friday. The truth is, the Write Every Damn Day streak got broken on Saturday, because sometimes having the flexibility to spend the day with a friend (on a weekend, even) is ultimately more healthy than a self-imposed death march. Or that's how I figure it. Anyway, this puts me a little behind my goal to average 1k/day for the weekend, but I'll catch up over the week. Or that's the plan.
Pet-related other: The kitty is fine. The vet knocked her out with some kind of gas, so she was fast to go under and fast to wake up again. The skin lesion in question is probably no big deal, but it was changing shape/color and causing a bald spot to appear around it ... so just like people-moles, you gotta get that shit checked out. The vet thinks it's probably no big deal.
Pet-related other, redux: The cat's stitches are purple, and need to come out next week. I tried to get a picture of the purple stitches, but my phone wasn't cooperating. Sorry.
TV-related other: The husband and I have picked up Ripper Street , as it came recommended when I was at AnachroCon a few weeks ago. Only a couple episodes in, but we're really enjoying it - despite my initial doubts that it was really too gimmicky to be great. Looking forward to more of it.
VideoGame-related other: Picked up the new Tomb Raider, in no small part due to the fact that so many people are speaking so well of it - despite the early rumors. I'm lead to understand that the incidence of "rapey bits" has been vastly overstated, and possibly made up entirely - assembled from the foot some PR guy put in his mouth. Anyway, we're going to give it a shot - and we've gotta play it now, because once Bioshock: Infinite comes out, that's pretty much all we're going to be doing for a while. We'll sit inside and play that thing until we look like cave fish.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 54,194
* They can't live outdoors anywhere in North America...except Florida, basically. It's okay, though. They seem to do well indoors.
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 2596
Present total word count: 58,321 words
Things accomplished in fiction: Well, the doctor wanted to know what was really going on. Now he knows at least as much as Lizzie does.
Next up: The doctor gets to fight his first monster.
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunts around the neighborhood with the dog; lots of housework including laundry after the cat barfed all over our bed; recorded a great couple of hours for the SF Squeecast with all the cool kids; got some clean-up work done in the yard in the landscaping lady's wake; repotted a Norfolk Pine my mother shipped to me, from Florida, which will make you laugh if you know anything about these things*; spent the day with an old friend, heading out for tea and then kicking back at her place, cleaning out the Awesome Dress-Up Things closet; took the kitty to the vet to have a suspicious growth on her back removed.
Other: Yeah, I know I've been bad about updating the last few days - even after I said I'd stop doing it on weekends, I still should've logged something for Friday. The truth is, the Write Every Damn Day streak got broken on Saturday, because sometimes having the flexibility to spend the day with a friend (on a weekend, even) is ultimately more healthy than a self-imposed death march. Or that's how I figure it. Anyway, this puts me a little behind my goal to average 1k/day for the weekend, but I'll catch up over the week. Or that's the plan.
Pet-related other: The kitty is fine. The vet knocked her out with some kind of gas, so she was fast to go under and fast to wake up again. The skin lesion in question is probably no big deal, but it was changing shape/color and causing a bald spot to appear around it ... so just like people-moles, you gotta get that shit checked out. The vet thinks it's probably no big deal.
Pet-related other, redux: The cat's stitches are purple, and need to come out next week. I tried to get a picture of the purple stitches, but my phone wasn't cooperating. Sorry.
TV-related other: The husband and I have picked up Ripper Street , as it came recommended when I was at AnachroCon a few weeks ago. Only a couple episodes in, but we're really enjoying it - despite my initial doubts that it was really too gimmicky to be great. Looking forward to more of it.
VideoGame-related other: Picked up the new Tomb Raider, in no small part due to the fact that so many people are speaking so well of it - despite the early rumors. I'm lead to understand that the incidence of "rapey bits" has been vastly overstated, and possibly made up entirely - assembled from the foot some PR guy put in his mouth. Anyway, we're going to give it a shot - and we've gotta play it now, because once Bioshock: Infinite comes out, that's pretty much all we're going to be doing for a while. We'll sit inside and play that thing until we look like cave fish.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 54,194
* They can't live outdoors anywhere in North America...except Florida, basically. It's okay, though. They seem to do well indoors.
March 7, 2013
She got the power in her hand
Here’s today's progress on my fin de siecle gothic epistolary about Lizzie Borden fighting Cthulhu with her trusty axe, now with Bonus! ghosts, guilt, girlfriends, arcane science, and an accidental villain who's losing his mind and his humanity in tandem:
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 2178
Present total word count: 1443 words
Things accomplished in fiction: Plans and portents; sent for the doctor; hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.
Next up: Time to brief the doctor. He's already got an idea of what he's in for, but there's a lot of information to be exchanged. Better do it fast, because beyond this chapter there be monsters. (More of them, I mean.)
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunt around the neighborhood with the dog; went to lunch with husband; chatted with the landscaping lady, who is finally finished, yay! Now to go play in the yard, since the weather's nice.
Other: We had a retaining wall that had failed and become half eroded, and fixing that was a big priority before the spring rains really set in. Between that and HedgeHenge, it took awhile for everything to to get cleaned up, and now the yard looks a little naked, to be honest - but that's because (a). lots of dead stuff has been cut out, and (b). most of what we planted is still quite young and small. But when it all grows in/grows up, it's going to look great - and I'm really looking forward to finishing the rest myself. (We exhausted our budget for having the pro on-duty, alas.) Can't really plant what I'd like for another couple of weeks, but I can begin the rest of the clean-up, and so I shall.
Pet-related other: Now to try and convince Greyson to refrain from (a). digging anything up, (b). peeing on anything that's trying to take root and grow, and (c). nap atop any of the same.
TV-related other: OMG JUSTIFIED. Let the record reflect, I totally called it. My husband will back me up on this; I figured it out an episode or two ago. (We don't have cable, so we have to wait a couple of days before catching it.)
Number of fiction words so far this year: 51,598
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 2178
Present total word count: 1443 words
Things accomplished in fiction: Plans and portents; sent for the doctor; hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.
Next up: Time to brief the doctor. He's already got an idea of what he's in for, but there's a lot of information to be exchanged. Better do it fast, because beyond this chapter there be monsters. (More of them, I mean.)
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunt around the neighborhood with the dog; went to lunch with husband; chatted with the landscaping lady, who is finally finished, yay! Now to go play in the yard, since the weather's nice.
Other: We had a retaining wall that had failed and become half eroded, and fixing that was a big priority before the spring rains really set in. Between that and HedgeHenge, it took awhile for everything to to get cleaned up, and now the yard looks a little naked, to be honest - but that's because (a). lots of dead stuff has been cut out, and (b). most of what we planted is still quite young and small. But when it all grows in/grows up, it's going to look great - and I'm really looking forward to finishing the rest myself. (We exhausted our budget for having the pro on-duty, alas.) Can't really plant what I'd like for another couple of weeks, but I can begin the rest of the clean-up, and so I shall.
Pet-related other: Now to try and convince Greyson to refrain from (a). digging anything up, (b). peeing on anything that's trying to take root and grow, and (c). nap atop any of the same.
TV-related other: OMG JUSTIFIED. Let the record reflect, I totally called it. My husband will back me up on this; I figured it out an episode or two ago. (We don't have cable, so we have to wait a couple of days before catching it.)
Number of fiction words so far this year: 51,598
March 6, 2013
Pick up the receiver I'll make you a believer
Here’s today's progress on my fin de siecle gothic epistolary about Lizzie Borden fighting Cthulhu with her trusty axe, now with Bonus! ghosts, guilt, girlfriends, arcane science, and an accidental villain who's losing his mind and his humanity in tandem:
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 2178
Present total word count: 54,282 words
Things accomplished in fiction: Girlfriend in a coma.
Next up: Call the doctor, wake him up and say, "Doctor, is there something I can take?"
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunt around the neighborhood with the dog; paid some bills; tidied the house a little; started some laundry; answered some emails that had been kicking around my inbox for a bit.
Other: I got nothin'.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 50,155
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 2178
Present total word count: 54,282 words
Things accomplished in fiction: Girlfriend in a coma.
Next up: Call the doctor, wake him up and say, "Doctor, is there something I can take?"
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunt around the neighborhood with the dog; paid some bills; tidied the house a little; started some laundry; answered some emails that had been kicking around my inbox for a bit.
Other: I got nothin'.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 50,155
March 5, 2013
Flesh and bone by the telephone
Here’s today's progress on my fin de siecle gothic epistolary about Lizzie Borden fighting Cthulhu with her trusty axe, now with Bonus! ghosts, guilt, girlfriends, arcane science, and an accidental villain who's losing his mind and his humanity in tandem:
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 1598
Present total word count: 52,104 words
Things accomplished in fiction: Well, the villain's now a villain - and not just an aggrieved university professor with a smelly science project. Killing spree, wee!
Next up: Back to our good guys. Lizzie's POV, I think - discovering (and being forced to manage) her girlfriend's semi-unwitting treachery.
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunt around the neighborhood with the dog; made an elaborate but delicious lunch; two cups of tea; playtime with the dog (who was feeling restless - it's been a stormy day, and he's been mostly stuck indoors); went to grocery store; paid some bills.
Other: Dreadnought is going to Turkey! [:: confetti bomb ::] I love foreign rights sales. It's free money, is what it is.
Pet-related Other: Spainy's trip to the vet was ultimately uneventful. She's healthy as can be, except for that one little skin problem ... but we're waiting on one more test, to make sure her thyroid is 100% good. She's lost some weight lately - and in a cat her age, you want to rule these things out. Personally, I think she's been getting more exercise, living in a much larger space than she's been accustomed to over the last ten years. Besides that, bossing a puppy around can really burn calories. Anyway. Once all's officially sorted, we'll take her back to have the little spot removed. No big whoop. Or so I certainly hope.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 47,977
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 1598
Present total word count: 52,104 words
Things accomplished in fiction: Well, the villain's now a villain - and not just an aggrieved university professor with a smelly science project. Killing spree, wee!
Next up: Back to our good guys. Lizzie's POV, I think - discovering (and being forced to manage) her girlfriend's semi-unwitting treachery.
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunt around the neighborhood with the dog; made an elaborate but delicious lunch; two cups of tea; playtime with the dog (who was feeling restless - it's been a stormy day, and he's been mostly stuck indoors); went to grocery store; paid some bills.
Other: Dreadnought is going to Turkey! [:: confetti bomb ::] I love foreign rights sales. It's free money, is what it is.
Pet-related Other: Spainy's trip to the vet was ultimately uneventful. She's healthy as can be, except for that one little skin problem ... but we're waiting on one more test, to make sure her thyroid is 100% good. She's lost some weight lately - and in a cat her age, you want to rule these things out. Personally, I think she's been getting more exercise, living in a much larger space than she's been accustomed to over the last ten years. Besides that, bossing a puppy around can really burn calories. Anyway. Once all's officially sorted, we'll take her back to have the little spot removed. No big whoop. Or so I certainly hope.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 47,977
March 4, 2013
I don't want to start any blasphemous rumors
Here’s recent progress on my fin de siecle gothic epistolary about Lizzie Borden fighting Cthulhu with her trusty axe, now with Bonus! ghosts, guilt, girlfriends, arcane science, and an accidental villain who's losing his mind and his humanity in tandem:
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 3226
Present total word count: 50,506 words
Things accomplished in fiction: Returned to our villain, whose narrative thread I'd been skipping for a bit. I'm writing these threads in fits and starts, from character to character; and his has gone un-fiddled-with for too long. I'm in the process of fixing that.
Next up: A killing spree, wee!
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunt around the neighborhood with the dog; field trip with the landscaping lady; anniversary lunch with husband (today is our 7th); housework; laundry; shopping spree that was long overdue.
Other: I'm going to quit updating on weekends. Oh, I'll still be racking up the word count, but I have to cut myself some kind of slack, right?
Other redux: It's not a great word count, but I'm still averaging 1k a day. A bunch of little things kept popping up and getting in the way, but that's just how it goes sometimes. I'm hitting a good, meaty stretch, though - I can feel it. Barring unforeseen catastrophe, I think the next few days will offer better tallies.
Pet-related Other: Quitting the word count early today, as I must pack up the kitty and take her to the vet. No big deal - just that minor skin issue I mentioned on Friday; but it needs to get checked out, and her appointment is at three.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 46,379
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 3226
Present total word count: 50,506 words
Things accomplished in fiction: Returned to our villain, whose narrative thread I'd been skipping for a bit. I'm writing these threads in fits and starts, from character to character; and his has gone un-fiddled-with for too long. I'm in the process of fixing that.
Next up: A killing spree, wee!
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunt around the neighborhood with the dog; field trip with the landscaping lady; anniversary lunch with husband (today is our 7th); housework; laundry; shopping spree that was long overdue.
Other: I'm going to quit updating on weekends. Oh, I'll still be racking up the word count, but I have to cut myself some kind of slack, right?
Other redux: It's not a great word count, but I'm still averaging 1k a day. A bunch of little things kept popping up and getting in the way, but that's just how it goes sometimes. I'm hitting a good, meaty stretch, though - I can feel it. Barring unforeseen catastrophe, I think the next few days will offer better tallies.
Pet-related Other: Quitting the word count early today, as I must pack up the kitty and take her to the vet. No big deal - just that minor skin issue I mentioned on Friday; but it needs to get checked out, and her appointment is at three.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 46,379
March 1, 2013
From a little shell at the bottom of the sea
Here’s today's progress on my fin de siecle gothic epistolary about Lizzie Borden fighting Cthulhu with her trusty axe, now with Bonus! ghosts, guilt, girlfriends, arcane science, and an accidental villain who's losing his mind and his humanity in tandem:
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 1434
Present total word count: 47,280 words
Things accomplished in fiction: Something is calling from the cellar, and it's not just a lure - it's offering instructions.
Next up: Girlfriend gets her way and sneaks into the cellar. Havoc likely ensues.
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunt around the neighborhood with the dog; not much else, for it's still early - but I need to do laundry and clean house. Friday is house-cleaning day, and a week got skipped while I was at AnachroCon. The husband will help, yes - but not of his own volition if I'm not here, apparently.
Other: The city came and collected the oh, approximately ONE CUBIC MILE of brush we've accumulated during all this yardwork/cleanup over here. Call me cynical, but I was kind of surprised. I mean, you enter your info into a form online, tell the city where your brush pile is, give 'em a couple of business days...and they just send a bulldozer and a dump truck to collect it? WHAT IS THE CATCH? But, well, the public works folks were here today and they even raked/swept up. Hot damn.
Pet-related Other: Our kitty has developed a little bald spot on her back, around a mole she's had for years. All seems fine and we're not too worked up about it (like I said, we've been watching it for years) ... but she has a Monday afternoon vet appointment anyway. I'm sure that will be an "adventure."
Catula Other: My new shirt arrived. Heh.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 43,153
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 1434
Present total word count: 47,280 words
Things accomplished in fiction: Something is calling from the cellar, and it's not just a lure - it's offering instructions.
Next up: Girlfriend gets her way and sneaks into the cellar. Havoc likely ensues.
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunt around the neighborhood with the dog; not much else, for it's still early - but I need to do laundry and clean house. Friday is house-cleaning day, and a week got skipped while I was at AnachroCon. The husband will help, yes - but not of his own volition if I'm not here, apparently.
Other: The city came and collected the oh, approximately ONE CUBIC MILE of brush we've accumulated during all this yardwork/cleanup over here. Call me cynical, but I was kind of surprised. I mean, you enter your info into a form online, tell the city where your brush pile is, give 'em a couple of business days...and they just send a bulldozer and a dump truck to collect it? WHAT IS THE CATCH? But, well, the public works folks were here today and they even raked/swept up. Hot damn.
Pet-related Other: Our kitty has developed a little bald spot on her back, around a mole she's had for years. All seems fine and we're not too worked up about it (like I said, we've been watching it for years) ... but she has a Monday afternoon vet appointment anyway. I'm sure that will be an "adventure."
Catula Other: My new shirt arrived. Heh.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 43,153
February 28, 2013
And if these four walls tumble down I'll see you
I didn't update yesterday, but I did write. Not much, but yeah, well. Yesterday was kind of a mess.
Long story short, right around lunchtime Greyson broke loose, running off to play with a couple of neighborhood dogs. (They live around here somewhere - I've seen them before, and they're quite friendly.) He achieved this free-form party-time by launching himself off a curb and over my shoulder, over/through/past the back yard gate ... when I tried to gently corral the two wandering pooches inside our yard.
All three dogs took off like wildly happy bottle rockets. I went bananas, shouted myself hoarse, and ran so hard/fast/desperately that my whole body aches today. But with the help of the husband, several neighbors, and the landscaping lady - we eventually chased them all down and retrieved Greyson. Thank God.
(We temporarily nabbed one of the other dogs, but she escaped our neighbor's yard and is on the loose once again, now hanging with a new third dog - if neighborhood reports can be believed. Everyone's keeping an eye out for them, and trying to snare the whole batch of wanderers ... and that's one really nice thing about this neighborhood. But the major not-nice thing about this neighborhood: There's a state highway running through it. So I had my reasons for trying to bring the two interlopers in off the street, and for having a good hysterical panic when Greyson took off after them.)
Anyway. I've done literally everything I can to help the loose canons, and Greyson is home safe - and undergoing a fresh round of obedience training. He's never been very good about coming when he's called, and no, I'm not asking for pointers. He's young and stubborn, and highly distracted by other dogs. We know what we need to do, and we're working on it, thanks.*
So. Yeah.
Like I said - not a huge word count yesterday, and the total was basically halved when I sat down to work this morning. However... here’s recent progress on my fin de siecle gothic epistolary about Lizzie Borden fighting Cthulhu with her trusty axe, now with Bonus! ghosts, guilt, girlfriends, arcane science, and an accidental villain who's losing his mind and his humanity in tandem:
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 3243 (2-day total, but not terrible)
Present total word count: 45,846 words
Things accomplished in fiction: The adorable girlfriend has discovered her inner treacherous liar. Well, she's kind of being manipulated by forces beyond her ken or control - so it's really not personal.
Next up: Deciding the adorable girlfriend's fate.
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunt around the neighborhood with the dog; went to the post office to mail off contracts re: Jacaranda for Subterranean; drove out to ACE to pick up supplies for the yard; went to drinks/supper last night with old friends, which took the edge off a terrible day.
Other: Quitting the fiction composition early today, partly because it's been an excellent writing day. (About 3k of the net came from today's session.) And partly because I have other things to square away this afternoon. And partly because I'm really tired, and one of those things might turn out to be a nap.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 41,719
* It's worth noting that when I finally located him and caught up, I shouted his name and told him to "STOP." Reluctantly, looking longingly over his shoulder at the other dogs who were running off without him ... he did in fact stop - and let me bring him home. And there, he received many hugs, snuggles, and cookies because coming home should ALWAYS be nice, and not filled with yelling or recriminations.
Long story short, right around lunchtime Greyson broke loose, running off to play with a couple of neighborhood dogs. (They live around here somewhere - I've seen them before, and they're quite friendly.) He achieved this free-form party-time by launching himself off a curb and over my shoulder, over/through/past the back yard gate ... when I tried to gently corral the two wandering pooches inside our yard.
All three dogs took off like wildly happy bottle rockets. I went bananas, shouted myself hoarse, and ran so hard/fast/desperately that my whole body aches today. But with the help of the husband, several neighbors, and the landscaping lady - we eventually chased them all down and retrieved Greyson. Thank God.
(We temporarily nabbed one of the other dogs, but she escaped our neighbor's yard and is on the loose once again, now hanging with a new third dog - if neighborhood reports can be believed. Everyone's keeping an eye out for them, and trying to snare the whole batch of wanderers ... and that's one really nice thing about this neighborhood. But the major not-nice thing about this neighborhood: There's a state highway running through it. So I had my reasons for trying to bring the two interlopers in off the street, and for having a good hysterical panic when Greyson took off after them.)
Anyway. I've done literally everything I can to help the loose canons, and Greyson is home safe - and undergoing a fresh round of obedience training. He's never been very good about coming when he's called, and no, I'm not asking for pointers. He's young and stubborn, and highly distracted by other dogs. We know what we need to do, and we're working on it, thanks.*
So. Yeah.
Like I said - not a huge word count yesterday, and the total was basically halved when I sat down to work this morning. However... here’s recent progress on my fin de siecle gothic epistolary about Lizzie Borden fighting Cthulhu with her trusty axe, now with Bonus! ghosts, guilt, girlfriends, arcane science, and an accidental villain who's losing his mind and his humanity in tandem:
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 3243 (2-day total, but not terrible)
Present total word count: 45,846 words
Things accomplished in fiction: The adorable girlfriend has discovered her inner treacherous liar. Well, she's kind of being manipulated by forces beyond her ken or control - so it's really not personal.
Next up: Deciding the adorable girlfriend's fate.
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunt around the neighborhood with the dog; went to the post office to mail off contracts re: Jacaranda for Subterranean; drove out to ACE to pick up supplies for the yard; went to drinks/supper last night with old friends, which took the edge off a terrible day.
Other: Quitting the fiction composition early today, partly because it's been an excellent writing day. (About 3k of the net came from today's session.) And partly because I have other things to square away this afternoon. And partly because I'm really tired, and one of those things might turn out to be a nap.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 41,719
* It's worth noting that when I finally located him and caught up, I shouted his name and told him to "STOP." Reluctantly, looking longingly over his shoulder at the other dogs who were running off without him ... he did in fact stop - and let me bring him home. And there, he received many hugs, snuggles, and cookies because coming home should ALWAYS be nice, and not filled with yelling or recriminations.
February 26, 2013
Open the sky and let her come down
Here’s today's progress on my fin de siecle gothic epistolary about Lizzie Borden fighting Cthulhu with her trusty axe, now with Bonus! ghosts, guilt, girlfriends, arcane science, and an accidental villain who's losing his mind and his humanity in tandem:
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 1447
Present total word count: 42,603 words
Things accomplished in fiction: Lizzie's adorable girlfriend is really getting underfoot.
Next up: Figure out some way to get the girlfriend out of the house. Maybe out of town, before she gets herself killed.
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunt around the neighborhood with the dog; went to the post office to mail off French contracts on some of the Clockwork Century books; TOTALLY ANNOUNCED A KICKASS NEW PROJECT by which I mean THIS ONE HAHAHAHA; went through all my clothes and did a major cull for donation as I got the drawers and closet set up for spring. Because I find such activity therapeutic and calming, that's why.
Other: Not a huge word count, no - but on a day with news such as this? Ha! It's a wonder I got anything done at all. And oh, hey - now I can start being more specific about what's going on in the daily progress notes; I was being cagey about the details because the premise was so ... um ... specifically weird. But now the cat's out of the bag, so, yeah. Here you go!
Number of fiction words so far this year: 38,476
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 1447
Present total word count: 42,603 words
Things accomplished in fiction: Lizzie's adorable girlfriend is really getting underfoot.
Next up: Figure out some way to get the girlfriend out of the house. Maybe out of town, before she gets herself killed.
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunt around the neighborhood with the dog; went to the post office to mail off French contracts on some of the Clockwork Century books; TOTALLY ANNOUNCED A KICKASS NEW PROJECT by which I mean THIS ONE HAHAHAHA; went through all my clothes and did a major cull for donation as I got the drawers and closet set up for spring. Because I find such activity therapeutic and calming, that's why.
Other: Not a huge word count, no - but on a day with news such as this? Ha! It's a wonder I got anything done at all. And oh, hey - now I can start being more specific about what's going on in the daily progress notes; I was being cagey about the details because the premise was so ... um ... specifically weird. But now the cat's out of the bag, so, yeah. Here you go!
Number of fiction words so far this year: 38,476
Big Announcement #2: MAPLECROFT
Several years ago, I was lightning-struck by an idea for a novel. It was my favorite kind of lightning strike - a giddy collision of ideas so utterly ludicrous that it could only result in awesomeness, or that's how it felt at the time. I'd been itching to get back to my horror roots, and steampunk had given me a fondness for 19th century drama ... so whipping up a good old-fashioned Victorian gothic sounded like more fun than it had any right to be.
I noodled together an outline and got started ... and then I got distracted, heading down the steampunk rabbit-hole for awhile. I did a lot of touring, and bought a house and moved a couple thousand miles, adopted a dog, rewrote Inexplicables, wrote Fiddlehead and ... and ... and.
One thing after another, really.
But things calmed down last year, we settled down into the house, and the steampunk series started to wind down, too ... leaving me free to return my attention to Maplecroft. And much to my delight, I realized that it really was exactly what I wanted to write right now.
Therefore, it is with great pleasure that I announce Maplecroft has been purchased by Ace Books, to be issued through their Roc imprint!
[:: WILDLY FLINGS CONFETTI ::]
(I totally ordered a fresh batch the other day. You saw me do it.)
I'm not sure what the projected release date will be, and I'm still fiddling with ideas for a follow-up (this is a 2-book deal) - for all of this is very fresh, and I'm still learning the particulars. But suffice it to say, I am immensely grateful for all the hard work from wonder-agent Jennifer Jackson - and for the confidence of editor Anne Sowards, who believed in my crazypants little project!
So...what's my crazypants little project about? Well, the short answer is that it's about Lizzie Borden fighting Cthulhu with an ax.
The longer answer is that it's a gothic epistolary novel about a woman chasing down arcane science for answers - desperate to save the town that shuns her.
It's also about her sister, Emma - a brilliant invalid some years her senior, who masquerades as a man in order to publish in scientific journals; Doctor Seabury, the physician who defended Lizzie during her trial, and now sees better than anyone that the creeping threat is hideously unnatural; and her young lover Nance O'Neil, a stunning stage actress whose stubborn devotion will take her closer to the truth than she ever wanted to come.
It's also about a villain who doesn't know he's a villain. Of course, by the time he reaches Fall River, he doesn't even know he's human.
ANYWAY.
There you have it!
I'll release details as I learn them, and you may continue to expect the daily word metrics posts - because I am absolutely standing by my commitment to Write Every Damn Day ... and Maplecroft's deadline is first up.
So thanks for reading, and stay tuned!
I noodled together an outline and got started ... and then I got distracted, heading down the steampunk rabbit-hole for awhile. I did a lot of touring, and bought a house and moved a couple thousand miles, adopted a dog, rewrote Inexplicables, wrote Fiddlehead and ... and ... and.
One thing after another, really.
But things calmed down last year, we settled down into the house, and the steampunk series started to wind down, too ... leaving me free to return my attention to Maplecroft. And much to my delight, I realized that it really was exactly what I wanted to write right now.
Therefore, it is with great pleasure that I announce Maplecroft has been purchased by Ace Books, to be issued through their Roc imprint!
[:: WILDLY FLINGS CONFETTI ::]
(I totally ordered a fresh batch the other day. You saw me do it.)
I'm not sure what the projected release date will be, and I'm still fiddling with ideas for a follow-up (this is a 2-book deal) - for all of this is very fresh, and I'm still learning the particulars. But suffice it to say, I am immensely grateful for all the hard work from wonder-agent Jennifer Jackson - and for the confidence of editor Anne Sowards, who believed in my crazypants little project!
So...what's my crazypants little project about? Well, the short answer is that it's about Lizzie Borden fighting Cthulhu with an ax.
The longer answer is that it's a gothic epistolary novel about a woman chasing down arcane science for answers - desperate to save the town that shuns her.
It's also about her sister, Emma - a brilliant invalid some years her senior, who masquerades as a man in order to publish in scientific journals; Doctor Seabury, the physician who defended Lizzie during her trial, and now sees better than anyone that the creeping threat is hideously unnatural; and her young lover Nance O'Neil, a stunning stage actress whose stubborn devotion will take her closer to the truth than she ever wanted to come.
It's also about a villain who doesn't know he's a villain. Of course, by the time he reaches Fall River, he doesn't even know he's human.
ANYWAY.
There you have it!
I'll release details as I learn them, and you may continue to expect the daily word metrics posts - because I am absolutely standing by my commitment to Write Every Damn Day ... and Maplecroft's deadline is first up.
So thanks for reading, and stay tuned!
February 25, 2013
Here comes the zoo
Here’s today's progress on my fin de siecle gothic epistolary, now with Bonus! ghosts, guilt, and the threat of elder gods in the aftermath of two gruesome unsolved murders:
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 1246
Present total word count: 41,156 words
Things accomplished in fiction: The murderess learns that the doctor has been protecting her for years, and now it's time to return the favor.
Next up: Some giddy planning of very gross, very scary things.
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunt around the neighborhood with the dog; consultation with the nice landscaping lady, who is almost finished with HedgeHenge and on Wednesday, will get started on the retaining wall; went grocery shopping; went to the bank to deposit a check for a short story; got some AMAZING NEWS that I will announce first thing in the morning.
Other: AMAZING NEWS. FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. Whenever that turns out to be, given that the Dog Alarm Clock has been a little "iffy" these last few days. STAY YE TUNED. DO NOT ASK FOR HINTS. There are hints enough in this post.
Love in a Time of Other: Just now realized I've had "2012" as a hypothetical deadline for this project, all this time. Because I am a moron. Oh well, it's fixed now.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 37,029
Project: Maplecroft
Deadline: October 15, 2013
New words written: 1246
Present total word count: 41,156 words
Things accomplished in fiction: The murderess learns that the doctor has been protecting her for years, and now it's time to return the favor.
Next up: Some giddy planning of very gross, very scary things.
Things accomplished in real life: Daily jaunt around the neighborhood with the dog; consultation with the nice landscaping lady, who is almost finished with HedgeHenge and on Wednesday, will get started on the retaining wall; went grocery shopping; went to the bank to deposit a check for a short story; got some AMAZING NEWS that I will announce first thing in the morning.
Other: AMAZING NEWS. FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. Whenever that turns out to be, given that the Dog Alarm Clock has been a little "iffy" these last few days. STAY YE TUNED. DO NOT ASK FOR HINTS. There are hints enough in this post.
Love in a Time of Other: Just now realized I've had "2012" as a hypothetical deadline for this project, all this time. Because I am a moron. Oh well, it's fixed now.
Number of fiction words so far this year: 37,029
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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