Anna Frost's Blog, page 6
July 28, 2013
Life
Life has a way of upsetting carefully laid plans. Pikachu the chinchilla has been battling an infection for two months now. It's in her cheek and makes it hard for her to eat. For those two months, almost everything she ate came from my hand (a special liquid food for sick herbivores). Meds twice a day, feedings 4-6 times a day. It wasn't so bad when I thought we were making progress.
But we're not. The infection is surging back. Result: Pikachu is going into surgery tomorrow afternoon. Once she's drugged and out of it, they can really dig into the abscess and try to find out what's causing it. If this doesn't clear up with the next few weeks, I don't know if I can do Worldcon. The stress of being away when she's this sick would eat me up. At this point I can only hope everything will turn out okay. Fingers crossed.
To tie this into writing, let's just say I'm happy I'm not actively working on anything right now because I couldn't focus on it.
But we're not. The infection is surging back. Result: Pikachu is going into surgery tomorrow afternoon. Once she's drugged and out of it, they can really dig into the abscess and try to find out what's causing it. If this doesn't clear up with the next few weeks, I don't know if I can do Worldcon. The stress of being away when she's this sick would eat me up. At this point I can only hope everything will turn out okay. Fingers crossed.
To tie this into writing, let's just say I'm happy I'm not actively working on anything right now because I couldn't focus on it.
July 14, 2013
Summer Break
I have no idea how other writers manage to work full time AND write. Since my job is seasonal, I rarely work several full weeks in a row outside of the summer season--mid-July to mid-September. I don't do much writing during these three months. A little editing here and there, maybe an attempt at a short story.
Last summer I scribbled a short story that I think I might be able to spin into a full novel. I'm currently plotting, which for me means I'm writing down bits of ideas on paper and trying to figure out how to tie them together in a coherent plot. We'll see if it works out when I start writing it, sometime in the fall.
Last summer I scribbled a short story that I think I might be able to spin into a full novel. I'm currently plotting, which for me means I'm writing down bits of ideas on paper and trying to figure out how to tie them together in a coherent plot. We'll see if it works out when I start writing it, sometime in the fall.
July 4, 2013
Review and Interview with Speculating Canada
Derek from the blog Speculating Canada reviewed The Fox's Mask last week and will be posting an interview with me next Monday.
In other writerly news, I'm calling The Fox's God finished on my end. Publication will sadly have to be delayed until spring or thereabout, because I already have a release in the fall with Masque Books. I hope to throw out a short story before then to soften the wait. More news on that later.
In other writerly news, I'm calling The Fox's God finished on my end. Publication will sadly have to be delayed until spring or thereabout, because I already have a release in the fall with Masque Books. I hope to throw out a short story before then to soften the wait. More news on that later.
June 28, 2013
Fancy Announcement: Sold the Steampunk!
Masque Books, the brand new imprint at Prime Books, will be publishing my Japanese-steampunk-fantasy-with-queer-crossdressing-boy-MC in November 2013. The final name is undecided. I think we should go with Sea Serpents on an Airship. *grins*
I owe thanks to Lori and Marieke, who gracefully agreed to beta read and provide feedback (not all of which I was able to use, but all good to know nonetheless) at different points in the process. I'm also grateful to the agents who took the time to give me plot advice. The manuscript underwent a major rewrite after I heard similar comments from three excellent agents. This new version is the one that caught the attention of Masque's acquisition editor.
Moral of the story? It's important for a writer to be able to recognize good advice and use it to edit effectively. It leads to better stories and better stories lead to contracts. :)
I owe thanks to Lori and Marieke, who gracefully agreed to beta read and provide feedback (not all of which I was able to use, but all good to know nonetheless) at different points in the process. I'm also grateful to the agents who took the time to give me plot advice. The manuscript underwent a major rewrite after I heard similar comments from three excellent agents. This new version is the one that caught the attention of Masque's acquisition editor.
Moral of the story? It's important for a writer to be able to recognize good advice and use it to edit effectively. It leads to better stories and better stories lead to contracts. :)
June 22, 2013
Currently Free: First Frost
First Frost by Liz DeJesus is currently free on Amazon. I snagged it for later perusal. Since this is a book from my publisher, I'm especially interested in finding out how far up it'll go. It's currently ranked #194.
Blurb from Goodreads:
Fairytales aren’t real…yeah…that’s exactly what Bianca thought. She was wrong.
For generations, the Frost family has run the Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts, handing down guardianship from mother to daughter, always keeping their secrets to “family only.”
Gathered within museum’s walls is a collection dedicated to the Grimm fairy tales and to the rare items the family has acquired: Cinderella’s glass slipper, Snow White’s poisoned apple, the evil queen’s magic mirror, Sleeping Beauty’s enchanted spinning wheel…
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Frost wants none of it, dreaming instead of a career in art or photography or…well, anything except working in the family’s museum. She knows the items in the glass display cases are fakes because, of course, magic doesn’t really exist.
She’s about to find out how wrong she is.
Blurb from Goodreads:Fairytales aren’t real…yeah…that’s exactly what Bianca thought. She was wrong.
For generations, the Frost family has run the Museum of Magical and Rare Artifacts, handing down guardianship from mother to daughter, always keeping their secrets to “family only.”
Gathered within museum’s walls is a collection dedicated to the Grimm fairy tales and to the rare items the family has acquired: Cinderella’s glass slipper, Snow White’s poisoned apple, the evil queen’s magic mirror, Sleeping Beauty’s enchanted spinning wheel…
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Frost wants none of it, dreaming instead of a career in art or photography or…well, anything except working in the family’s museum. She knows the items in the glass display cases are fakes because, of course, magic doesn’t really exist.
She’s about to find out how wrong she is.
June 18, 2013
Spring Season Anime
I'm not terribly impressed by the shows this season. There's only two I follow.
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet a sci-fi series taking place far, far in the future. Ledo is a soldier of the Alliance, his entire life devoted to annihilating an alien species with which humans have been at war with ever since they left Earth (they left because of a new ice age and no longer know where it is). During a losing battle, Ledo and his AI mecha go astray in the escape wormhole. They end up on a strange planet. Surprise, they've found Earth again!
Turns out the ice age has ended, the entire planet is covered in water, and surviving humans have built a ship-based society. The first episodes follow Ledo's struggle to understand a society that isn't based on constant warfare.
I'm finding this show a bit uneven. I was interested at first, then I got bored, now I'm interested again following an interesting plot twist in episode 9. Since it's only a 13-ep series, I might as well stick with it till the end.
I rarely enjoy contemp series, but this one is alright. Hachiman Hikigaya is a cynical high school boy who believes being a loner is the easiest way to get through life. A teacher forces him join a small school club that has for goal to help people who seek assistance with certain problems.
Here's the reason I watched past the first episode: Hiki's voice is awesome. His inner monologues are often hilarious as he ponders school and relationships. He's not bullied (or not actively), but he's more lonely than he's willing to admit.
I'm a little disappointed by the direction the plot is taking in the latest episodes. It's starting to look like yet another romance triangle and there's fewer of those hilarious cynical monologues.
This show is based on a book series. I wish I could read the original and find out what Hiki's voice is like on paper.
Both shows are available with English subtitles on Crunchyroll.com.
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet a sci-fi series taking place far, far in the future. Ledo is a soldier of the Alliance, his entire life devoted to annihilating an alien species with which humans have been at war with ever since they left Earth (they left because of a new ice age and no longer know where it is). During a losing battle, Ledo and his AI mecha go astray in the escape wormhole. They end up on a strange planet. Surprise, they've found Earth again!Turns out the ice age has ended, the entire planet is covered in water, and surviving humans have built a ship-based society. The first episodes follow Ledo's struggle to understand a society that isn't based on constant warfare.
I'm finding this show a bit uneven. I was interested at first, then I got bored, now I'm interested again following an interesting plot twist in episode 9. Since it's only a 13-ep series, I might as well stick with it till the end.
I rarely enjoy contemp series, but this one is alright. Hachiman Hikigaya is a cynical high school boy who believes being a loner is the easiest way to get through life. A teacher forces him join a small school club that has for goal to help people who seek assistance with certain problems.Here's the reason I watched past the first episode: Hiki's voice is awesome. His inner monologues are often hilarious as he ponders school and relationships. He's not bullied (or not actively), but he's more lonely than he's willing to admit.
I'm a little disappointed by the direction the plot is taking in the latest episodes. It's starting to look like yet another romance triangle and there's fewer of those hilarious cynical monologues.
This show is based on a book series. I wish I could read the original and find out what Hiki's voice is like on paper.
Both shows are available with English subtitles on Crunchyroll.com.
Summer Season Anime
I'm not terribly impressed by the shows this season. There's only two I follow.
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet a sci-fi series taking place far, far in the future. Ledo is a soldier of the Alliance, his entire life devoted to annihilating an alien species with which humans have been at war with ever since they left Earth (they left because of a new ice age and no longer know where it is). During a losing battle, Ledo and his AI mecha go astray in the escape wormhole. They end up on a strange planet. Surprise, they've found Earth again!
Turns out the ice age has ended, the entire planet is covered in water, and surviving humans have built a ship-based society. The first episodes follow Ledo's struggle to understand a society that isn't based on constant warfare.
I'm finding this show a bit uneven. I was interested at first, then I got bored, now I'm interested again following an interesting plot twist in episode 9. Since it's only a 13-ep series, I might as well stick with it till the end.
I rarely enjoy contemp series, but this one is alright. Hachiman Hikigaya is a cynical high school boy who believes being a loner is the easiest way to get through life. A teacher forces him join a small school club that has for goal to help people who seek assistance with certain problems.
Here's the reason I watched past the first episode: Hiki's voice is awesome. His inner monologues are often hilarious as he ponders school and relationships. He's not bullied (or not actively), but he's more lonely than he's willing to admit.
I'm a little disappointed by the direction the plot is taking in the latest episodes. It's starting to look like yet another romance triangle and there's fewer of those hilarious cynical monologues.
This show is based on a book series. I wish I could read the original and find out what Hiki's voice is like on paper.
Both shows are available with English subtitles on Crunchyroll.com.
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet a sci-fi series taking place far, far in the future. Ledo is a soldier of the Alliance, his entire life devoted to annihilating an alien species with which humans have been at war with ever since they left Earth (they left because of a new ice age and no longer know where it is). During a losing battle, Ledo and his AI mecha go astray in the escape wormhole. They end up on a strange planet. Surprise, they've found Earth again!Turns out the ice age has ended, the entire planet is covered in water, and surviving humans have built a ship-based society. The first episodes follow Ledo's struggle to understand a society that isn't based on constant warfare.
I'm finding this show a bit uneven. I was interested at first, then I got bored, now I'm interested again following an interesting plot twist in episode 9. Since it's only a 13-ep series, I might as well stick with it till the end.
I rarely enjoy contemp series, but this one is alright. Hachiman Hikigaya is a cynical high school boy who believes being a loner is the easiest way to get through life. A teacher forces him join a small school club that has for goal to help people who seek assistance with certain problems.Here's the reason I watched past the first episode: Hiki's voice is awesome. His inner monologues are often hilarious as he ponders school and relationships. He's not bullied (or not actively), but he's more lonely than he's willing to admit.
I'm a little disappointed by the direction the plot is taking in the latest episodes. It's starting to look like yet another romance triangle and there's fewer of those hilarious cynical monologues.
This show is based on a book series. I wish I could read the original and find out what Hiki's voice is like on paper.
Both shows are available with English subtitles on Crunchyroll.com.
June 11, 2013
Toyama Bay's Firefly Squids
This is so cool. There's this tiny species of glow-in-the-dark squid that comes up from the depths in the spring to mate and die in Toyama Bay. They wash up on shore as they die, glowing blue in the night.
This is also a short and busy fishing season as the Japanese consider the squid a delicacy. I'd try it, though so far I've never met a squid I like eating. I'm more a lobster and shrimp girl. :)
Have a video. The second half has the pretty views.
This is also a short and busy fishing season as the Japanese consider the squid a delicacy. I'd try it, though so far I've never met a squid I like eating. I'm more a lobster and shrimp girl. :)
Have a video. The second half has the pretty views.
June 6, 2013
Find of the Day: Megitsune
Kitsune means fox, and megitsune means a female fox specifically. This song is a mix of pop music and metal sounds, with traditional elements on top. I love the fox masks. :)
June 2, 2013
Results of Goodreads Giveaway #3
This round's stats:
1 copy
14 days
1130 sign ups
400'to-read' additions (approximate)
That's 200 more signups than last time. I was very careful about picking an end date with fewer competitors (June 2, which was near-empty because everybody else had picked May 31 or June 1). I also suspect that the more people add your book or review/rate it, the more priority you get over other giveaways ending the same day. With my current totals, I got top slot in the lists for giveaways ending the same day as mine.
Giveaway One Stats
Giveaway Two Stats
1 copy
14 days
1130 sign ups
400'to-read' additions (approximate)
That's 200 more signups than last time. I was very careful about picking an end date with fewer competitors (June 2, which was near-empty because everybody else had picked May 31 or June 1). I also suspect that the more people add your book or review/rate it, the more priority you get over other giveaways ending the same day. With my current totals, I got top slot in the lists for giveaways ending the same day as mine.
Giveaway One Stats
Giveaway Two Stats
