Nope, I'm not dead, it's just been one of those...well, summers as it turns out. My dad had cataract surgery this week on his left eye. Since he lost most of his vision in his right eye due to several retinal detachments, this was an incredibly stressful event. But I'm happy to say everything went fine and dad can now see beautifully through the good eye. There have been other medical issues in the family, but so far they too have turned out for the best, thank God, and since I don't want to turn this into a medical-dominated post, I'll move on to the much better news.

As per the title of this post, it's finally happened. After many many years of spreading geekdom in the States, I'm taking the boys (specifically the husband, the brother and the Todd) across the pond to London and Paris for vacation this fall. Hang on a second... *squeal of girly delight* Ahem, anyway, this trip has been a few years in the making, but we're finally going to pull it off this September. Four days London, then the train to Paris for another four. I've been attempting to learn a little French through Rosetta Stone, but it's slow going. So far I can order bread, coffee, a book and I can say "What is that??" Also if I need to tell anyone that I'm going swimming, I'm covered there too. And Christopher, if you're reading this, my brother is chomping at the bit to visit the Shakespeare & Co. bookstore, so you're not alone with the Hemingway fascination.

Unfortunately, the length of this trip means that we had to cut other trips short, namely Gen Con. I'll absolutely still be at the convention, but only Friday to Sunday. This is the first time I won't be there on Wednesday for...wow, probably ten years. But, I am incredibly excited about September. More updates as things are finalized.

No news on the writing front as far as new projects, as I'm currently knee-deep in editing a couple of pre-existing ones. The suck removal continues.

So, how is everyone else's summer going?

We have progress--a profile exists with photos and everything. So if you want to add me as a friend, feel free. At this rate, I might even have a MySpace page by July. ;)

I'm trying to get an account going, everyone says I should be on, and I know I have friend requests I haven't responded to, it's just every time I start to fill out the information I have this terrible sensation like I'm signing away my soul to another time suck. This is not unlike the feeling I get when signing on to another MMORPG. Maybe I should twitter (tweet??) instead.

J is very indecisive.

J would like an aspirin for her headache.

J will poll for the answer.

Do my readers (there must be one or two of you lurking out there somewhere) prefer looking up authors via website, blog, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, or some combination of the above in order to connect? And if you prefer one over another, why?

J will now go contemplate her options.

I'm in the midst of packing for a mini vacation this weekend *spontaneous excited dance* and as always there's the dilemma of what books to take and how many. Probably just one this time as we have Caprica for the plane, but in considering books and my summer reading list I realized how totally remiss in blogging I've been, but I refuse to let the opportunity to promote these two shinies pass me by. Both novels are on my summer reading pile and since I consider both authors to be good friends, reading their work is often like renewing our acquaintances.


Downshadow by Erik Scott de Bie
I must call special attention to this book in the Ed Greenwood Presents Waterdeep series. Waterdeep is an iconic city, and Erik is an amazing writer with a knack for creating characters that you won't soon forget. I have no doubt that the combination of the two means readers are in for a treat. Beyond that, Erik's love for the Realms is clear in everything he writes, so pick this one up for sure, and when you're done romping in the urban landscape, consider...


The Restless Shore by James P. Davis
If you're not already familiar with James and his writing, it is of the kind that you sink into and not simply read. Which is not surprising considering James is an artist as well as a writer; his descriptions literally float off the page. Revel in the details and enjoy the ride with this one. I know I certainly will.

There you go, you have your assignments, now get reading. My preference is outside (weather permitting) on a comfy chair with a cold drink at hand. I've entered many different worlds that way. ;)

It has been a unique couple of weeks since last post. I've gone from working almost every waking moment to suddenly NOTHING. This has had an...interesting effect. I now know what writers mean when they talk about the fallout after a long stretch of working or the end of a particularly difficult project. I'm finding myself incapable of doing much of anything beyond watching television (I'm developing a taste for playoff hockey, courtesy of husband) or reading books or sleeping. Actually when I do either of the former it inevitably turns into the latter. But I did recently finish The Stepsister Scheme, by Jim Hines, which I had actually started reading during the latter half of tax season just to have something fun to keep me sane. Turns out I chose well, as this is a wonderful book. I kept thinking as I read it that this, THIS, was the kind of book I was looking for when I couldn't find enough heroines who were the stars of the show. Now Jim's given me three for the price of one. I think Snow was my favorite character--with a finger crook she could rule the world. ;) And the fairy tale lore, that was something I wasn't expecting. For a long time I've collected books of fairy tales, so it was great to see the spirit of them recreated in Jim's detailed world. Every bargain a price, every curse has the weight of life and death. That's what I remember about those old tales, and Jim is faithful to them here. I highly recommend this one.

Travel plans for the summer are taking shape, but that's a whole other entry. Thankfully I have all summer to learn the language. :)

*collapses*

Thank the gods.

I'm spent.

Unfortunately, that's about all I have time to report. I'm REALLY going to need a vacation after this.

We're having our first sunny day in a week and I've been alternating between writing and burning music onto iPod Nano. My little purple wonder is going to save me this tax season. Sometimes I love to listen to music while I write, and sometimes I need to work in total silence, but when I'm running the numbers, it's pure chocolate to have music going in the background. And since not everyone shares my wacky taste in music or cares to hear a succession of broadway hits, soundtracks, angry Linkin Park tunes or Indie crooners, the ear buds are a good plan. I'm always on the lookout for new stuff too, so if you have a recommendation for a lover of Neko Case, Feist, Matt Bauer or Vienna Teng, or just something you're loving right now and dying to share, send the artist's name my way. Discovering is the best part.

Novel Progress

83,079 / 90,000 (92.3%)

And everyone travel safely if you have to travel over the next few days. This Midwesterner is very tired of freezing rain and snow.

Novel Progress

68,352 / 90,000 (75.9%)

Note to self: Remember it always sucks less on the rewrite...always sucks less on the rewrite

Because I have no actual time for, you know, a real entry, I give you this to prove that I have been up to things of substance and have not been neglecting this blog on purpose.

Novel Progress

50,059 / 90,000 (55.6%)

Christmas Shopping

98 / 100 (98.0%)

Holiday Parties

0 / 3 (0.0%)

Holiday Decorating

100 / 100 (100.0%)

Presents Wrapped

97 / 100 (97.0%)

Days to Christmas: 11
Days to tax season: 21
Days to April 15th: 123
Days to summer: Too many

Exercise: Moderate (Treadmill + DDR)
Baking: Nil (Cookies forthcoming)
Reading: 1 book (A Moveable Feast)
Writing research: slaughterhouses
Latest ipod acquisitions: Muse, Twilight score
Coffee: Swiss Hazelnut with homemade biscotti (Not made by me)

So there you have it. How are the rest of you doing?

I like to celebrate my birthday in whole week increments. Yes, even the 30th, which wasn't nearly as traumatic as I expected. Went to see Twilight and Bolt over the weekend, so I guess I'm in no immediate danger of growing up, thank goodness. ;) Loved them both, by the way. A lot of people can go either way on the Twilight series, me included. I enjoyed the first two books in the series a great deal, the last two not so much. I am Team Jacob, I can't help it. But oh yeah, the movie. I think it actually improved on Twilight the book in several ways, but most notably I liked the way Kristen Stewart played Bella in the movie. She seemed stronger, more able to handle Edward. And Rob Pattinson did an excellent job as Edward. The boy has a hell of an angst face, that's all I have to say. ;) Also great soundtrack, which I will be downloading and putting on my new birthday friend, iPod Nano. Now to design the writing playlists....hmmm.....

Novel Project

16,129 / 90,000 (17.9%)

Must...not...give in...must...work.

New Novel Progress

2,007 / 90,000 (2.2%)

Where was I the night we elected Barack Obama? At home, sick with a cold/flu/virus/whatever it is that's making me not want to be up and mobile for more than a half hour at a time. Time to check out for the week, I think, and get some rest.

And the line was shockingly not long at all. The polling place had already had two hundred plus people come through by the time we got there early this morning, and everything appeared to be running smoothly. So don't let the threat of a line stop you today. You might be surprised. Now Starbucks, surrender my free coffee!!!!

149 trick-or-treaters...a new record, and we didn't run out of candy this year, which is good because I think 7 bags is my limit. Most popular costumes: Iron Man, Hannah Montana, Batman, Darth Vader, fairy princesses and ninjas. Also stepped up my devil costume this year by adding black jeans and more sequins. The devil is shiny and still trades bubble gum for souls. ;)

No, not from the Wii, although I do have to say, DDR was worth the wait. How I survived all those years in the anime wilderness never having embraced the Dance Dance Revolution is a mystery. Actually, I've come off a week long writing stint. The day job shut down for a week and I was able to pretend to be a full-time writer. This was an interesting experience in that I was able to really punch out some serious narrative work since I could get into the story for long stretches without interruption, but it also resulted in the story being so much in my head at any given moment that there was the serious threat of explosion. A couple times I was staring off into space so hard my husband wanted to know if I was trying to melt furniture with eye lasers. But, pros and cons aside, the results are Project Venice = complete. Huge sigh of relief. Next up is one short story that's been banging around in my head, then on to the next novel. Hopefully the former will be finished and the latter will be well on the way to completion by the time the holidays are over. But, we'll see. For now, a little rest and, if I get the urge, dance!!

Project Venice

100,000 / 100,000 (100.0%)

...today my husband brought home a Wii. I wonder, will I ever write again? ;) Perhaps, when I've gotten back feeling in my arm.

I'll be away from cyberspace until Wednesday, so if anyone drops an email and doesn't get a response, that's why. Doesn't mean I don't love ya. I'll be back at it next week, though, so try not to miss me too much. ;)

Mondays are often filled with both. Brian Thomsen has passed away. I met and spoke with him at Gen Con this year and at Gen Con in Milwaukee more than a decade prior. In both instances he was very sweet and cordial to me. In a world where people are often neither, this made an impression on my younger self that carried through to the older one, and now makes me very sad that he is no longer with us. He will be greatly missed.

The good stuff is that some of the other sweet and cordial folks around the internet have been saying nice things about me, or rather, about Mistshore. Beezer gave me a sweet review, Jim Hines liked the lepers, and the sociopathic tendencies, and thankfully doesn't mind being teased. ;) Erik Scott de Bie makes me blush, as only one writer speaking to another can.

And lastly, Erin reminds me that what constitutes a bad day can often be adjusted by adding a little perspective. She gives me that, to good effect. You should all be reading her blog. I'm the funny papers; she's the meat.

Flames Rising has posted an interview with me, so you can read about Mistshore and get all the latest dirt on moi right here. Many thanks to Jeremy and the site for a lovely interview. These are a great and professional bunch of folks. You should really check them out.

In other news...writing...writing...writing...the usual. ;)