MeiLin Miranda's Blog, page 51
May 27, 2011
I have ruined Velvet Ackbar's internal soundtrack forever
Open Letter to Audible

Dear Audible.com,
I realize, having managed a tech support department myself, that users are often Lusers. Nevertheless, I am not fantasizing when I say that SOMEONE at Audible.com knows how to authorize a Sansa Clip MP3 player from a Mac--without iTunes. REALLY. Because someone did it before with our last Sansa Clip from a Mac. Which means someone can do it again.
The poor little gal trying to help me tonight did her best--it's not her fault--but I'm very disappointed that Audible.com cares so little about its non-Windows customers. Don't give me that "we can't support all platforms." Macs are not unusual. Non-iPod MP3 players are not unusual. I'm not asking you to authorize a freakin' Otis from a Linux box. (I have an Otis. I've been with Audible that long.) I'm asking for help authorizing the very un-exotic Sansa Clip from a very un-exotic MacBook.
I would love it if someone at Audible could help me with this. The poor little gal took my email address and said you'd write if you discovered something. I'm not optimistic--not because it can't be done, BECAUSE IT CAN. I just doubt the company cares at this point.
Sincerely,
Me
Chapter 11 Part 5 | Lovers and Beloveds | IHGK Book 1
In Greenflower Street, Maleen Polls stood before an already-overloaded hackney. Workers loaded trunk after trunk on the carriage under her man Deck's eye, until the springs wheezed in protest and the coachman advised her to hire a second carriage. "I'm in a hurry," snapped Maleen. "I must be aboard the Crescent Moon as fast as I can, and if you take much longer I'll walk!"
"Will you ever explain to me why you're leaving so hastily? You never showed the slightest inclination to sell, though I've asked you a thousand times," said the tall blonde woman standing beside her.
"I am tired, and I've always wanted to see Sairland. I know I've left the House in good hands, Diria." Maleen caught curious eyes peeping from behind the windows' heavy curtains. Shouldn't she be sadder about leaving? No, not with the Strange Gentleman on her trail.
May 24, 2011
In which I decide to stop pulling out my hair

Some news:
1. I'm taking a short break from working on book two. I'm at the point where I've lost focus and I'm banging my head against the wall. By "short" I mean a week or two, just long enough for things to settle down and for me to find my way out of the labyrinth and back on the road. I'm a long ways into things. I'm not talking about ditching the whole damn thing, I'm talking about focus.
Part of what I need to UNfocus on is my own expectations for book two. Good reviews are starting to pile up--RAVE reviews--and yesterday I woke up to something astonishing: Someone had gotten the book for free, stayed up all night reading it and went and sent me the $5 the book normally costs even though she legally got the book for free.
This puts pressure on a girl.
2. I'm going to work on some other stuff in the interim as a way to clear my head.
3. One of those things I am pretty sure will be the story of Finnia, which was a bonus story Back In The Day. This will be released as an ebook short as well as put in the Patron area.
4. Speaking of which, I'll be putting up "The Gratification Engine" in the Patron area pretty quick here--today or tomorrow. Should have put it up there to begin with, I apologize, patrons. If any of you want your $$ back, let me know and I'll refund. Happy to do it.
5. One of the other things I'm strongly considering picking up again is the Gulch. Right now it's stopped at the April Fools piece and it's giving people the impression that's the end of the serial. aaaaaaghitsaysaprilfoolsrightonitwtf...
So that's where I am and that's what's going on. Love you all madly.
May 23, 2011
Chapter 11 Part 4 | Lovers and Beloveds | IHGK Book 1
"Maman worked for Mistress Polls, and owed her a great deal of money when she died. Mistress Polls made us work it off," murmured Allis.
"Couldn't you have done something else there?" Temmin said to the floor. "Cleaned? Run errands? Washed dishes?"
"Don't you think we would have if we could have?" said Issak. "We were worth too much." Temmin looked up from beneath his golden brows to meet Issak's intense stare. "Do you know how much our virginities brought, Your Highness?"
"Virginities?" he faltered. "But you were only ten, who would--"
"A thousand gold apiece is what she sold them for," said Issak. "After that, clients had us both, or separately, or watched us together. You look a little ill, Your Highness. Didn't you know some men enjoy the company of children? How old do you think we were when this happened? We turn twenty-one this year."
May 20, 2011
"Accounts: An IHGK Story Collection"
Allis and Issak Obby, the twin children of a prostitute, have lived in the House of Polls all their short lives. When their mother dies and leaves behind a large debt, the madam decides to use them to pay it. But a mysterious figure with ties to the Gods known as the Lovers has other ideas and will stop at nothing to rescue and avenge them.
A stand-alone set of short story prequels to the novel "Lovers and Beloveds (An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom #1)."
$0.99
Quantity:
Chapter 11 Part 3 | Lovers and Beloveds | IHGK Book 1
The Guards saw him coming. They shouted for him to please wait, Your Highness, you must have a detail with you, sir, please, sir, slow down! But he showed no signs of doing so. The Guards managed to open the gates enough for a single rider, and he thundered past. If he saw a gateminder gallop off toward the Guards' compound, he paid him no mind.
Snow melt swelled the Feather River; its roar swallowed the sound of Jeb's hooves as they pounded across Kingsbridge into Old Town. Traffic brought his pace to a trot, giving the crowds a chance to recognize him. He heard the now-familiar cheers, and a path cleared enough for him to reach the Promenade without slowing to a walk.
May 19, 2011
Two 4-star reviews in one week!

Boy, this has been a week of good reviews. First, Indie Paranormal Reviews gave "Lovers and Beloveds" four stars, and then today Frida Fantastic Indie Speculative Fiction Reviews essentially raved:
May 16, 2011
Chapter 11 Part 2 | Lovers and Beloveds | IHGK Book 1
Once in his rooms Temmin spent a restless evening, pacing about his study and running his hands through his hair, to the point that Jenks enquired after his trouble. Temmin refused to answer and tried to dismiss the valet early, but Jenks insisted on preparing him for bed. "If I don't, sir, I'll come back in the morning to your clothes all over the bedchamber and the bathroom turned inside out."
"I'm not a child! I don't need a keeper, or a nurse, or a valet, or anyone. I order you to leave!"
May 15, 2011
A Request: Please Tag My Books on Amazon

It has been brought to my attention at Kindleboards that having your books tagged at Amazon increases your visibility. So I'm askin': Please tag my books!