Ann Benjamin's Blog, page 241

Week by numbers.

Happy New Year!

I hope yours is off to an amazing start.  I’ve managed to make a bit of progress so far.  Some numbers, you ask?

108 pages edited out of 214 pages (for the Queen sequel).
67,277 words.  In case you’re keeping track, I’ve added about 5,000 words from the rough draft.  Given how much I’ve also cut out, things are exactly about where I thought they would be at this point…which would have the book finish directly next to Book #1 (75K exactly).  Knowing I have some scenes I still need to write, it’s definitely not easy going, but it’s been great to cut things that didn’t work and add in more exciting scenes (ahem air battles ahem).
0 drinks I’ve had so far this year.  This will go out the window tonight, as Hubs and I head out for a fancy French meal, but at least I’ve stayed true to my ‘only drink when reviewing’ plan.  Let’s see how long it lasts!
1, visit to spin class (with another scheduled for Saturday).
20 episodes of Chopped I’ve seen (it’s my new obsession…but really I’m just trying to better understand how to talk about food).
50, meters in the sky I’ll be dining at next Monday, as part of the media launch (lunch?) for Dinner in the Sky (Dubai).
1, excellent concert attended.  Thanks to Coldplay for a perfect intro to 2017.
90, minutes (at least) stood waiting and walking and trying to find a taxi post-concert.  Less learned — going out on New Year’s absolutely requires advance booking for return trips (no matter where in the world you are celebrating)!
1, almost trip to the States that happened to protest P-E Trump’s inauguration.  #notmypresident

What’s going on with you?  Anything you’re looking forward to in 2017?

 

2017 Reading Challenge.

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I always love these challenges!  Maybe one year when I’m not working on a novel (or 3), I’ll be able to commit to them.

In case you’re looking for some matches with the above list, might I offer the following?

A book by an author who uses a pseudonym.  Look no further than Ann Benjamin (I also publish under my real name, Courtney Brandt).
A book involving travel.  While technically Room 702 stays in one place it could count, but Life After Joe is all about a road trip, so I think it definitely ticks the box.
A book that’s published in 2017.  The Queen of England: Coronation is definitely coming out next year.  Actual release date: TBD.
A book involving a mythical creature, kind of a 2 for 1 with above.  There is a unicorn involved.
A steampunk novel.  Yay, this makes the Queen 3 for 3.
A book with a title with title that’s a character’s name.  See, Life After Joe.
A book set in a hotel.   Room 702 is completely set in a hotel.

And there you have it!  Lots of good choices this year.

Did you complete the challenge in 2016 or another year?

Sunday Sentence.

I was, in my heart, a reader, which really, then, was the beginning of it all, since writers are just readers who need a job.” — Carolynn Carreño, author of the forthcoming cookbook Bowls of Plenty

It’s still Sunday in the States!  My mother in law sent this to me (as part of a larger quote) and it struck a chord with me.  The reference ‘reading’ above is EB White, one of the authors I first fell in love with when I started reading (and haven’t looked back).

Week by numbers.

As we rush to the end of the year…A busy week!

33 pages — I’ve made some great progress in the Queen sequel, including:

1, new subplot introduced.
1, old subplot dispatched of.


63,854, current word count.
A few, glasses of personal vintage champagne I tried last night (more on that experience shortly).
1, article published with Matador (ongoing coverage of being an American expat).
1, article published with A Luxury Travel Blog (and I’m working on my next one now).  Sorry, the link is being weird.
1, meeting I had with some of the tourism professionals from Florida.
1, spin class complete (yay!).
A lot, of packages that are arriving.  I’m getting to be friends with our Aramex delivery guy.

Also, I loved this skit from SNL.

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Action of the day.

Why I haven’t been sharing things we can do to stop Trump on a daily basis I’m not sure, but here’s one to start, and I’m always open to suggestions.

*****

If you want to support Senator Warren’s request to audit President-Elect Trump’s finances for conflicts of interest, the most effective way to be sure your support is noted is to email two administrators, Katherine Siggerud and Timothy Minnelli.

Their email addresses are siggerudk@gao.gov, minellit@gao.gov. There is a third email, congrel@gao.gov, through which they are tracking people who were urging support for an audit.

You can send one email addressed to:

siggerudk@gao.gov, minellit@gao.gov, congrel@gao.gov

Subject line: Re: Audit for President-Elect Trump’s financial concerns

Dear Ms. Siggerud and Mr. Minnelli,

I’m writing in support of Senator Elizabeth Warren’s request for an audit of our incoming President-Elect Trump’s finances, to prohibit conflicts of interest that would prevent him from carrying out the responsibilities of the office without corrupt influence.

Sincerely,

Sunday Sentence.

You will feel better once you have watered your pillow.”

Fairchild by Jaima Fixsen

I don’t know why, but I loved the imagery of this!  The book was so so, but I think there is something redeeming in every novel I read.

Week by numbers.

Hey there — long time, no see!

1, novel finished (hand edits).  As you may or may not be aware, the Queen of England: Coronation is done (and has been done) for awhile.  However, it still doesn’t feel 100% ready.  I believe that’s because events that will take place in Book #2 will have an impact on Book #1.  So, now that I’ve bled red ink all over the draft, the real work sets in.  Or maybe I’m just being super precious, we’ll never know.
61,976, words in the Queen 2 manuscript (at the start of moving from the rough draft to the first draft).  I anticipate the number to go up, but I’ve also planned to cut quite a bit…so…
200 pages, in case you were wondering what that looks like in Microsoft Word.
1, trip to spin class after a three-month break.  Surprisingly, I didn’t do so bad!
0 trips to Socotra, more on that later.
2, great books I’ve read recently (the Six of Crows duoulogy is definitely worth picking up).
AED2300, the cost of a shot of the most expensive whiskey I’ve ever seen.  Witnessed at the Red Bar, at Desert Palm per AQUUM.

What have you been up to?

On slumps.

Although I’ve been fortunate recently and seemed to have snapped out of mine, for those who are in a slump…

http://fuckyeahcharacterdevelopment.tumblr.com/post/153478245313/slump-got-you-down

Sunday Sentence.

“And to all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.”

Hillary Clinton

I’m not even close to getting over what happened last week and what is continuing to happen in the States right now.  #ImStillWithHer

If you witness Islamophobic harassment.

There are dark times ahead.  Here is a technique to help our Muslim brothers and sisters.

http://divisiveindecisive.tumblr.com/post/152989093432/maeril-hi-everyone-this-is-an-illustrated