It's been a while since I've posted anything here, and a reader question kind of reminded me of that. I'm so happy that winter is finally over and we're moving into the hazy, lazy days of summer.
Ha! I almost believed myself with "lazy" days.
Anyway, summer is here and I'd rather have sunshine and heat than cold and clouds. So what have I been up to, besides the day job?
I'm one-quarter of the way finished writing WHITE KNIGHT, which is Book Three in my upcoming Cornerstone Run trilogy with Berkley Intermix. If you're somehow only just now hearing about this, it's a new digital-only paranormal romance trilogy from me (under the pen name Kelly Meade) about wolf shifters, Magi, and vampires. Berkley bought the whole trilogy, so you don't have to worry about it being cancelled in the middle.
Coincidentally, all three books can be pre-ordered now! Pre-orders help publishers determine reader interest in a new book, so if you want to give it a try, don't be afraid to click the links below and give it a whirl.
BLACK ROOK (July 15th)
GRAY BISHOP (October 21)
WHITE KNIGHT (January 1, 2015)
In other series news, if you missed my previous blog post, there will be no more MetaWars books for the foreseeable future.
As for Dreg City 6, yes. There will be a 6 and a 7, because seven is how many books I always envisioned it taking to finish Evy's story. I know how it ends. I've had the final scene in my head for ages now. The problem is time. Right now I have to finish writing my contracted novel (White Knight). Once that is turned in, I'll be able to think about Dreg City again. I hope to have another Dreg City book out this year, but I can't promise anything at this point.
What I can promise is a fun new series, starting with Black Rook, with my own unique take on wolf shifters and their secret societies, plus hot brothers, the women who love them, and sexy-times. What's not to love?
Showing posts with label catching up. Show all posts
Showing posts with label catching up. Show all posts
Monday, May 26, 2014
Friday, April 13, 2012
Update and CHANGELING Snippet
So I've been quiet lately, and I know I kind of left folks hanging a little with my last post. I want to start by saying thank you to everyone for your kind words and support of the Dreg City books. It means a lot to know there are readers out there clambering for more of Evy and her friends.
The good news is that I will, in all likelihood, self-publish the rest of the series. I can't tell you when, because I have other projects in the pipe right now, but I hope to have something new for readers, even if it's just a short story, by the end of the year. Maybe the first of 2013. I will keep y'all posted as that develops.
The Sekrit Project is also finished and in the hands of both my agent and my crit partner. I'm pretty excited about this trilogy, because it is centered around my favorite supernatural creature: shifters.
I'm also gearing up for the release of CHANGELING (MetaWars #2) on June 26, so to round out the post, I'm going to offer another snippet from the book.
A little set-up: The team has purchased an abandoned mansion in Beverly Hills and are fixing it up as their home base. Dahlia "Ember" Perkins has been saddled with the task of hiring an electrician so their home improvements don't accidentally burn the place down. She finds herself at Scott & Sons, a place now run by someone she went to high school with--and who may or may not have had a crush on her once upon a time.
#
From Chapter Four
Dirty sneakers descended from the darkness, followed by tight, ripped jeans, and a T-shirt clad torso. An unbuttoned flannel shirt, sleeves rolled up, flapped in the wind he created as he charged forward. I looked up, past a narrow jaw, and into the brightest green eyes I had ever seen on a human being (except for Marco, but his eyes weren't quite natural).
If he wasn't Noah Scott, he was definitely related. He was about my age, with spiky auburn hair and a light smattering of freckles on his sharp nose. He stood about my height, thin-waisted, muscles rippling beneath his tight T-shirt. A runner, maybe, or a swimmer. Nothing like the skinny, gangly boy I remembered from high school. That boy had enjoyed loose clothes, kept his hair shaggy and long, and he couldn't possibly have been so handsome. Even his eyes seemed a brighter green than before.
Of course, a distance of six years can change your perception of a person.
Slim eyebrows arched as he studied me back. Wide lips puckered into a silent question, and he tilted his head to one side.
"Can I help you?" he asked. His voice had a rough quality, like sandpaper.
I licked my lips, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach. "Yes," I said. "I, um, need lights." I could have slapped myself. Obvious and stupid.
His smile broadened, baring bright white, but somewhat crooked teeth. Some small amount of recognition had crept into his eyes—it could have as easily been knowing me as Ember as remembering me from school. "You're in luck, because that's all we sell here," he said.
I laughed, feeling like an idiot, and walked confidently up to his counter and squared my shoulders. His eyes dropped briefly to my chest, and I had the sudden, irrational urge to flee this shop and never look back.
"What kind of lighting to do you need?" he asked.
"All kinds. We're, um, remodeling an older home and a lot of the ceiling fixtures need to be replaced. That's our biggest need right now. And installation. Ethan's not so good at it."
"Your boyfriend?"
"My what?"
"You said Ethan isn't good at installation. Is he your boyfriend?"
Laughter bubbled in my chest, but I tamped it down. Maybe-Noah was much more Ethan's type than I was. "No, he's not my boyfriend. One of my roommates. A bunch of us are fixing up the house together."
He walked around the counter and stopped an arm's length away. I liked that we were the same height; I didn't have to strain my neck to stay under his intense gaze. His eyes roamed all over. Most days, I would have walked off in a huff after being openly appraised like that. With this maybe-not-a-stranger, I rather enjoyed the attention. Even living with five other people, I was often lonely.
"Do you see anything you like?" he asked.
"Oh, yeah." His eyebrows shot up, and I realized what I just said. "I mean, I haven't really looked at your lights." Eyebrows higher. "What you have to offer, I mean." Lordy, there was nothing coming out of my mouth that didn't sound like innuendo. Teresa would kill me if I screwed this up.
"How about some track lighting?" he asked, indicating the wall behind me. "Brightens up a room pretty quick, and you can set it on a dimmer switch. How many rooms?"
"Quite a few." Good, simple answer to a simple question. I was back on track to having an intelligent conversation. "We don't need all of them done at once, but there are half a dozen rooms downstairs, and at least six upstairs."
"The house sounds huge."
"It's in Beverly Hills."
His lips parted in surprise. "Wow, that's an interesting neighborhood to pick. Few people can afford those houses."
Dollar signs danced between us, taunting. It was a social barrier that I'd never dealt with growing up—at least, not from the rich side of the line. I never wanted money from my father, and I ignored my trust fun when I turned eighteen. Mom's insurance paid most of her medical bills. Everything I had, I earned on my own. I was no different than this man in front of me, self-made and struggling to be independent. But the squint in his eyes, the harder line of his mouth, indicated he didn't know that. He just knew I had money. Money he could make.
"It's a group effort," I said. I wanted him to understand and didn't know why. "We needed a big place with good security. A bungalow in Inglewood wasn't going to do it for us."
"So you're looking for at least a dozen fixtures," he said, as though I hadn't spoken. "Plus installation and any necessary rewiring. Some of those old places can have exposed wires that cause shorts. Fires. You should definitely have a thorough inspection."
I bristled. Yeah, he was milking those dollar signs. Ass. "Do you provide those services?"
"As a matter of fact, we do. Why don't—?" Footsteps thumped down the back stairs, cutting off his train of thought. We both turned toward the sound.
A girl appeared behind the counter, maybe eighteen or twenty years old. She had long black hair and equally long legs that disappeared beneath a short, white skirt. "Hey, Noah, how come I always—?" Her almond-shaped eyes landed on me. "Oh, sorry. Didn't realize you had a customer."
Okay, so he was definitely my old schoolmate. Someone I obviously hadn't made an impression on, since he'd yet to indicate he remembered me.
Noah eyed the girl's outfit, from the pencil-heeled white sandals to the low-cut orange tank top barely reigning in her breasts. "Are you going out in that?"
"Sure." She twirled, the flared skirt riding up a little too high for decency. "Why the hell not?"
"You look like a hooker."
She belted out the perfect flirtatious giggle. "You think I'm going to go out and pick up some strange man to bring home? Be serious."
"Just be careful." He sighed, and I wondered if he'd had this conversation before.
She blew a kiss and flounced out the front door.
"Sorry about that," Noah said.
I shrugged. "What were you saying?"
"I was going to suggest I make an appointment to inspect the property. I'll be able to get a better idea of your needs, see the wiring as it is, and know where things are going to fit. Then I can order what I don't have in stock, and we can start getting you guys set up."
"Sure. What's good for you?"
"How about right now?"
The good news is that I will, in all likelihood, self-publish the rest of the series. I can't tell you when, because I have other projects in the pipe right now, but I hope to have something new for readers, even if it's just a short story, by the end of the year. Maybe the first of 2013. I will keep y'all posted as that develops.
The Sekrit Project is also finished and in the hands of both my agent and my crit partner. I'm pretty excited about this trilogy, because it is centered around my favorite supernatural creature: shifters.
I'm also gearing up for the release of CHANGELING (MetaWars #2) on June 26, so to round out the post, I'm going to offer another snippet from the book.
A little set-up: The team has purchased an abandoned mansion in Beverly Hills and are fixing it up as their home base. Dahlia "Ember" Perkins has been saddled with the task of hiring an electrician so their home improvements don't accidentally burn the place down. She finds herself at Scott & Sons, a place now run by someone she went to high school with--and who may or may not have had a crush on her once upon a time.
#
From Chapter Four
Dirty sneakers descended from the darkness, followed by tight, ripped jeans, and a T-shirt clad torso. An unbuttoned flannel shirt, sleeves rolled up, flapped in the wind he created as he charged forward. I looked up, past a narrow jaw, and into the brightest green eyes I had ever seen on a human being (except for Marco, but his eyes weren't quite natural).
If he wasn't Noah Scott, he was definitely related. He was about my age, with spiky auburn hair and a light smattering of freckles on his sharp nose. He stood about my height, thin-waisted, muscles rippling beneath his tight T-shirt. A runner, maybe, or a swimmer. Nothing like the skinny, gangly boy I remembered from high school. That boy had enjoyed loose clothes, kept his hair shaggy and long, and he couldn't possibly have been so handsome. Even his eyes seemed a brighter green than before.
Of course, a distance of six years can change your perception of a person.
Slim eyebrows arched as he studied me back. Wide lips puckered into a silent question, and he tilted his head to one side.
"Can I help you?" he asked. His voice had a rough quality, like sandpaper.
I licked my lips, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach. "Yes," I said. "I, um, need lights." I could have slapped myself. Obvious and stupid.
His smile broadened, baring bright white, but somewhat crooked teeth. Some small amount of recognition had crept into his eyes—it could have as easily been knowing me as Ember as remembering me from school. "You're in luck, because that's all we sell here," he said.
I laughed, feeling like an idiot, and walked confidently up to his counter and squared my shoulders. His eyes dropped briefly to my chest, and I had the sudden, irrational urge to flee this shop and never look back.
"What kind of lighting to do you need?" he asked.
"All kinds. We're, um, remodeling an older home and a lot of the ceiling fixtures need to be replaced. That's our biggest need right now. And installation. Ethan's not so good at it."
"Your boyfriend?"
"My what?"
"You said Ethan isn't good at installation. Is he your boyfriend?"
Laughter bubbled in my chest, but I tamped it down. Maybe-Noah was much more Ethan's type than I was. "No, he's not my boyfriend. One of my roommates. A bunch of us are fixing up the house together."
He walked around the counter and stopped an arm's length away. I liked that we were the same height; I didn't have to strain my neck to stay under his intense gaze. His eyes roamed all over. Most days, I would have walked off in a huff after being openly appraised like that. With this maybe-not-a-stranger, I rather enjoyed the attention. Even living with five other people, I was often lonely.
"Do you see anything you like?" he asked.
"Oh, yeah." His eyebrows shot up, and I realized what I just said. "I mean, I haven't really looked at your lights." Eyebrows higher. "What you have to offer, I mean." Lordy, there was nothing coming out of my mouth that didn't sound like innuendo. Teresa would kill me if I screwed this up.
"How about some track lighting?" he asked, indicating the wall behind me. "Brightens up a room pretty quick, and you can set it on a dimmer switch. How many rooms?"
"Quite a few." Good, simple answer to a simple question. I was back on track to having an intelligent conversation. "We don't need all of them done at once, but there are half a dozen rooms downstairs, and at least six upstairs."
"The house sounds huge."
"It's in Beverly Hills."
His lips parted in surprise. "Wow, that's an interesting neighborhood to pick. Few people can afford those houses."
Dollar signs danced between us, taunting. It was a social barrier that I'd never dealt with growing up—at least, not from the rich side of the line. I never wanted money from my father, and I ignored my trust fun when I turned eighteen. Mom's insurance paid most of her medical bills. Everything I had, I earned on my own. I was no different than this man in front of me, self-made and struggling to be independent. But the squint in his eyes, the harder line of his mouth, indicated he didn't know that. He just knew I had money. Money he could make.
"It's a group effort," I said. I wanted him to understand and didn't know why. "We needed a big place with good security. A bungalow in Inglewood wasn't going to do it for us."
"So you're looking for at least a dozen fixtures," he said, as though I hadn't spoken. "Plus installation and any necessary rewiring. Some of those old places can have exposed wires that cause shorts. Fires. You should definitely have a thorough inspection."
I bristled. Yeah, he was milking those dollar signs. Ass. "Do you provide those services?"
"As a matter of fact, we do. Why don't—?" Footsteps thumped down the back stairs, cutting off his train of thought. We both turned toward the sound.
A girl appeared behind the counter, maybe eighteen or twenty years old. She had long black hair and equally long legs that disappeared beneath a short, white skirt. "Hey, Noah, how come I always—?" Her almond-shaped eyes landed on me. "Oh, sorry. Didn't realize you had a customer."
Okay, so he was definitely my old schoolmate. Someone I obviously hadn't made an impression on, since he'd yet to indicate he remembered me.
Noah eyed the girl's outfit, from the pencil-heeled white sandals to the low-cut orange tank top barely reigning in her breasts. "Are you going out in that?"
"Sure." She twirled, the flared skirt riding up a little too high for decency. "Why the hell not?"
"You look like a hooker."
She belted out the perfect flirtatious giggle. "You think I'm going to go out and pick up some strange man to bring home? Be serious."
"Just be careful." He sighed, and I wondered if he'd had this conversation before.
She blew a kiss and flounced out the front door.
"Sorry about that," Noah said.
I shrugged. "What were you saying?"
"I was going to suggest I make an appointment to inspect the property. I'll be able to get a better idea of your needs, see the wiring as it is, and know where things are going to fit. Then I can order what I don't have in stock, and we can start getting you guys set up."
"Sure. What's good for you?"
"How about right now?"
Thursday, June 16, 2011
A Narrator, an Actor, and a Superhero Walk Into A Bar....
A few weeks ago, I asked folks what they wanted to know about TRANCE, the first book in my MetaWars series with Pocket. I've combined some of the questions, but hopefully this gives everyone something to look forward to.
But before we get to that, a few housekeeping things:
My interview with audiobook narrator and voice artist Xe Sands is here, and I'm running a giveaway. And since everyone loves free stuff, go forth and comment!
I spent some time on the super-fun site StoryCasting.com, where you can cast your favorite books. I've put up my dream cast for THREE DAYS TO DEAD. Check it out, and then add a cast of your own. You have to register, but it's free and it's fun!
I feel like there was a third thing I wanted to add, too, but it's slipped my mind. Oh well...on with TRANCE!
####
*Who's the heroine? What is special about her? Is there a hero?*
The heroine of TRANCE is Teresa "Trance" West, and the book is told from her first-person perspective. She was raised by superhero parents and trained to one day become a superhero herself, but she lost everything (including her parents and powers) before she was able to fulfill that role. After growing up alone, tormented by what she sees as personal cowardice during the end of the MetaHuman War, she's basically skating through her life—until her superpowers unexpected return. But while Teresa's original powers were telepathic in nature, her new powers are telekinetic, and much more violent. She can create power orbs strong enough to blast holes in walls (and in people). She's tasked to not only deal with these new, strange powers, but also to in discover why she and her former classmates lost their powers to being with, all while being hunted by an old villain out for revenge. (*cue dramatic music*)
And yes, there is a hero. This series is heavier on romance than my Dreg City series, without actually being romance books. Gage "Cipher" MacAllister is the guy that Teresa had a childhood crush on, and the crush is still there fifteen years later when he comes back into her life—older, hotter, and with a lot of his own inner demons. And it's the battle between her personal life and her duty to her teammates that challenges Teresa the most. She never wanted to be a leader, and she never wanted to fall in love—now she's on the precipice of both.
*Why did you create this world? Why did you write it?*
Various incarnations of this world have been swirling around in my head since I was a teenager, but most of the specific world-building (especially the violent history between the Rangers, who are the heroes, and the Banes, who are the villains), came about in the last couple of years.
Mostly I created this world because of my love for superheroes. The first real comic I picked up and read was "The New Teen Titans #9".
I remember digging it out of a box of comics, looking at the cover and thinking, "Dude, Robin was part of a team of heroes?" I had no idea what reading that book would spawn, but the issue hooked me on the Titans and I began hunting down every issue I could find. I loved the concept of a team book, and I've always been a fan of the "family you make" theme, and I use that a lot in the MetaWars books. These heroes aren't related by blood, but they're still family.
When I was fourteen, I decided to create my own superheroes. I still have a notebook full of character ideas and costume sketches that will never be used, and storylines that are more soap opera than novel-ready. But pulled out that notebook around….2006, I think? Because I needed a new novel idea, and I figured I could scavenge some parts and put together a new book. The original draft is pretty different from what will be coming out from Pocket, but the overall concept is the same, and I truly love writing in this world.
*What troubles lie in the world? Does she [Trance] seem to find trouble, or trouble find her?*
One of the major troubles of this world is something that always irritates me about big Hollywood spectacle movies: the collateral damage. Homes and businesses get blown up, bystanders get crushed, lives are ruined by whatever catastrophe strikes next. And I wanted to really touch on that in these books. The battles between Rangers and Banes have ravaged the country—major cities are devastated, thousands of innocent people have been killed, water sources are contaminated, the economy is in the toilet. People are angry and scared, and they blame the Metas for it all.
So when all of the Meta powers suddenly return, the new Rangers are not immediately embraced. There are political ramifications. Even Trance and her friends are reluctant to reveal themselves, because they don't want to be attacked by terrified citizens. It's not a happy world to be a MetaHuman in.
Personally, Trance is not a trouble-magnet. She tries hard to maintain a low profile, and she spends most of her time working three jobs just so she can eat and keep a crappy apartment. So she's pretty unbalanced when her life turns on its head, and she's suddenly forced to confront not just old Bane enemies, but also federal agents.
*The process from idea, to characters, world-building, outlining, planning, pantsing, etc*
I think I touched on some of these in the paragraphs above. Because I created the initial world so long ago, and because it's been about 4 years since I wrote the first draft of what became TRANCE, it's hard to remember the process anymore. I didn't outline, which became a bit of an annoyance when it came time to write the climax, reveal the villain, and tie up the loose ends. Plus the original the Meta powers changed between initial draft (don't ask what it was, because in retrospect, it was pretty silly) and what finally went on submission to publishers.
The characters were, I think, the most fun to create. Since I was writing a team book, I needed several unique people, and I think I settled on an arbitrary number of six. Trance was easy enough to figure out. She goes from the timid girl with somewhat useless powers to the mega-powered leader of five other people—and she isn't happy about that. Leadership isn't her strong suit, and she leans heavily on Gage for advice.
Of all the characters, Gage gave me the most trouble. Gage has enhanced senses—he can see farther, hear better, smell stronger, etc…than the average human, and he has to learn to control his senses again. He was also a very private character, and as much as he disliked discussing personal issues with Trance, he wasn't much better with his author. It sounds goofy to say a character won't talk to me about his past, but Gage really wasn't talking. It was several rewrites before I figured him out and finally understood why he acted the way he did (some secrets are worth waiting for, let me tell you).
My other favorite of the group is Renee "Flex" Duvall. I love her because she's bubbly, big-mouthed, not afraid to say what she's thinking, comfortable in her sex appeal, and very proud of her boob job. She also has blue skin and can bend, stretch and contort into crazy lengths and shapes (think Mr. Fantastic meets Angelina Jolie). But she's also very fragile inside, and while we don't get to see a lot of that side of her in TRANCE, Renee will have her moment in the spotlight if the series is picked up past book two.
Rounding out the sextet of heroes are Marco "Onyx" Mendoza (shapeshifter, able to take the form of a raven, a panther, and a black house cat), William "Caliber" Hill (super-strength), and Ethan "Tempest" Swift (control of the air, including tornadoes and windstorms).
*Is the series YA or adult?*
The series is definitely adult. While the main characters lose their powers as children, they regain them and come together again as adults (twenty-five to thirty is the age span). There has been a little confusion about that, so I wanted to clear that up. :)
###
So that's what I've got so far. Feel free to ask anything else that's on your mind! October is only four months away! (I can't believe I just typed that....)
But before we get to that, a few housekeeping things:
My interview with audiobook narrator and voice artist Xe Sands is here, and I'm running a giveaway. And since everyone loves free stuff, go forth and comment!
I spent some time on the super-fun site StoryCasting.com, where you can cast your favorite books. I've put up my dream cast for THREE DAYS TO DEAD. Check it out, and then add a cast of your own. You have to register, but it's free and it's fun!
I feel like there was a third thing I wanted to add, too, but it's slipped my mind. Oh well...on with TRANCE!
####
*Who's the heroine? What is special about her? Is there a hero?*
The heroine of TRANCE is Teresa "Trance" West, and the book is told from her first-person perspective. She was raised by superhero parents and trained to one day become a superhero herself, but she lost everything (including her parents and powers) before she was able to fulfill that role. After growing up alone, tormented by what she sees as personal cowardice during the end of the MetaHuman War, she's basically skating through her life—until her superpowers unexpected return. But while Teresa's original powers were telepathic in nature, her new powers are telekinetic, and much more violent. She can create power orbs strong enough to blast holes in walls (and in people). She's tasked to not only deal with these new, strange powers, but also to in discover why she and her former classmates lost their powers to being with, all while being hunted by an old villain out for revenge. (*cue dramatic music*)
And yes, there is a hero. This series is heavier on romance than my Dreg City series, without actually being romance books. Gage "Cipher" MacAllister is the guy that Teresa had a childhood crush on, and the crush is still there fifteen years later when he comes back into her life—older, hotter, and with a lot of his own inner demons. And it's the battle between her personal life and her duty to her teammates that challenges Teresa the most. She never wanted to be a leader, and she never wanted to fall in love—now she's on the precipice of both.
*Why did you create this world? Why did you write it?*
Various incarnations of this world have been swirling around in my head since I was a teenager, but most of the specific world-building (especially the violent history between the Rangers, who are the heroes, and the Banes, who are the villains), came about in the last couple of years.
Mostly I created this world because of my love for superheroes. The first real comic I picked up and read was "The New Teen Titans #9".
I remember digging it out of a box of comics, looking at the cover and thinking, "Dude, Robin was part of a team of heroes?" I had no idea what reading that book would spawn, but the issue hooked me on the Titans and I began hunting down every issue I could find. I loved the concept of a team book, and I've always been a fan of the "family you make" theme, and I use that a lot in the MetaWars books. These heroes aren't related by blood, but they're still family.
When I was fourteen, I decided to create my own superheroes. I still have a notebook full of character ideas and costume sketches that will never be used, and storylines that are more soap opera than novel-ready. But pulled out that notebook around….2006, I think? Because I needed a new novel idea, and I figured I could scavenge some parts and put together a new book. The original draft is pretty different from what will be coming out from Pocket, but the overall concept is the same, and I truly love writing in this world.
*What troubles lie in the world? Does she [Trance] seem to find trouble, or trouble find her?*
One of the major troubles of this world is something that always irritates me about big Hollywood spectacle movies: the collateral damage. Homes and businesses get blown up, bystanders get crushed, lives are ruined by whatever catastrophe strikes next. And I wanted to really touch on that in these books. The battles between Rangers and Banes have ravaged the country—major cities are devastated, thousands of innocent people have been killed, water sources are contaminated, the economy is in the toilet. People are angry and scared, and they blame the Metas for it all.
So when all of the Meta powers suddenly return, the new Rangers are not immediately embraced. There are political ramifications. Even Trance and her friends are reluctant to reveal themselves, because they don't want to be attacked by terrified citizens. It's not a happy world to be a MetaHuman in.
Personally, Trance is not a trouble-magnet. She tries hard to maintain a low profile, and she spends most of her time working three jobs just so she can eat and keep a crappy apartment. So she's pretty unbalanced when her life turns on its head, and she's suddenly forced to confront not just old Bane enemies, but also federal agents.
*The process from idea, to characters, world-building, outlining, planning, pantsing, etc*
I think I touched on some of these in the paragraphs above. Because I created the initial world so long ago, and because it's been about 4 years since I wrote the first draft of what became TRANCE, it's hard to remember the process anymore. I didn't outline, which became a bit of an annoyance when it came time to write the climax, reveal the villain, and tie up the loose ends. Plus the original the Meta powers changed between initial draft (don't ask what it was, because in retrospect, it was pretty silly) and what finally went on submission to publishers.
The characters were, I think, the most fun to create. Since I was writing a team book, I needed several unique people, and I think I settled on an arbitrary number of six. Trance was easy enough to figure out. She goes from the timid girl with somewhat useless powers to the mega-powered leader of five other people—and she isn't happy about that. Leadership isn't her strong suit, and she leans heavily on Gage for advice.
Of all the characters, Gage gave me the most trouble. Gage has enhanced senses—he can see farther, hear better, smell stronger, etc…than the average human, and he has to learn to control his senses again. He was also a very private character, and as much as he disliked discussing personal issues with Trance, he wasn't much better with his author. It sounds goofy to say a character won't talk to me about his past, but Gage really wasn't talking. It was several rewrites before I figured him out and finally understood why he acted the way he did (some secrets are worth waiting for, let me tell you).
My other favorite of the group is Renee "Flex" Duvall. I love her because she's bubbly, big-mouthed, not afraid to say what she's thinking, comfortable in her sex appeal, and very proud of her boob job. She also has blue skin and can bend, stretch and contort into crazy lengths and shapes (think Mr. Fantastic meets Angelina Jolie). But she's also very fragile inside, and while we don't get to see a lot of that side of her in TRANCE, Renee will have her moment in the spotlight if the series is picked up past book two.
Rounding out the sextet of heroes are Marco "Onyx" Mendoza (shapeshifter, able to take the form of a raven, a panther, and a black house cat), William "Caliber" Hill (super-strength), and Ethan "Tempest" Swift (control of the air, including tornadoes and windstorms).
*Is the series YA or adult?*
The series is definitely adult. While the main characters lose their powers as children, they regain them and come together again as adults (twenty-five to thirty is the age span). There has been a little confusion about that, so I wanted to clear that up. :)
###
So that's what I've got so far. Feel free to ask anything else that's on your mind! October is only four months away! (I can't believe I just typed that....)
Monday, December 27, 2010
The Year in Review
'Sup, folks? I hope everyone had a good holiday. Mine was much better than last year, and I got some nice things (new slow cooker, some gift cards, jewelry). We even had a white Christmas, and it got even whiter yesterday. The winter storm dumped about a foot of snow on us, which killed the big after-Christmas sales up and down the eastern seaboard. Right now the wind is gusting up to 45 mph, which is making it hard to keep the roads clear.
It's been an interesting weekend.
The year is winding down, and it's hard to believe that it's only five days until 2011. The new year is almost upon us, so I've been thinking a lot about the year that's almost over. After checking back through older posts, I realized I never did post my goals for 2010 here. I did post them over on Absolute Write, so I brought that list over.
1. Sell at least two more books in the Dreg City series to my editor
2. Submit a second adult series (if my current editor decides not to take it on)
3. Discuss and prepare with agent a YA project
4. Continue writing short stories and submit to short story markets
5. Promote the hell out of my July '10 release
6. Continue blogging
7. I hit my goal of reading 100 books/novellas this year, so I'm putting next year's goal at 115.
8. Write, write, write to keep those muscles limber
So how did I do?
1. Sold. ANOTHER KIND OF DEAD releases 7/26/11 and WRONG SIDE OF DEAD sometime in 2012.
2. Did that. Sold it to Pocket. The first book, WARDEN'S TRANCE, releases 11/1/11.
3. Did that, too. Details forthcoming.
4. Er, not so much. I've fiddled with a few shorts, and I suppose my chapter of A GLIMPSE OF DARKNESS counts.
5. Did that. My readers are awesome.
6. I didn't blog as often as I would have liked, and it's something I hope to do more often next year.
7. Epic fail. As of yesterday, my Read List is 40 books. It'll probably be 41 before the year ends.
8. Definitely did this. I wrote Dreg City #4, a spec novel that's currently in limbo, finished the aforementioned YA book, and dabbled in a few other side projects. Not to mention the rewriting/editing of some other works.
So 2010 was definitely a productive year for me. I haven't written up my 2011 goals yet. Turning in the second book in my Pocket contract is the only outstanding thing I have to do in the new year. I also hope to do a few more conventions this year, so stay tuned for those details.
How did 2010 treat you?
It's been an interesting weekend.
The year is winding down, and it's hard to believe that it's only five days until 2011. The new year is almost upon us, so I've been thinking a lot about the year that's almost over. After checking back through older posts, I realized I never did post my goals for 2010 here. I did post them over on Absolute Write, so I brought that list over.
1. Sell at least two more books in the Dreg City series to my editor
2. Submit a second adult series (if my current editor decides not to take it on)
3. Discuss and prepare with agent a YA project
4. Continue writing short stories and submit to short story markets
5. Promote the hell out of my July '10 release
6. Continue blogging
7. I hit my goal of reading 100 books/novellas this year, so I'm putting next year's goal at 115.
8. Write, write, write to keep those muscles limber
So how did I do?
1. Sold. ANOTHER KIND OF DEAD releases 7/26/11 and WRONG SIDE OF DEAD sometime in 2012.
2. Did that. Sold it to Pocket. The first book, WARDEN'S TRANCE, releases 11/1/11.
3. Did that, too. Details forthcoming.
4. Er, not so much. I've fiddled with a few shorts, and I suppose my chapter of A GLIMPSE OF DARKNESS counts.
5. Did that. My readers are awesome.
6. I didn't blog as often as I would have liked, and it's something I hope to do more often next year.
7. Epic fail. As of yesterday, my Read List is 40 books. It'll probably be 41 before the year ends.
8. Definitely did this. I wrote Dreg City #4, a spec novel that's currently in limbo, finished the aforementioned YA book, and dabbled in a few other side projects. Not to mention the rewriting/editing of some other works.
So 2010 was definitely a productive year for me. I haven't written up my 2011 goals yet. Turning in the second book in my Pocket contract is the only outstanding thing I have to do in the new year. I also hope to do a few more conventions this year, so stay tuned for those details.
How did 2010 treat you?
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Home Again
I'm back from my long weekend in New York City. Lots of pictures were taken, and lots of yummy food was sampled. I'll have a longer, more detailed post up this week. Once I stop feeling like I was run over by a truck. I took cold with me to NYC, and it's still hanging around. Blah.
Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!
Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
An Apology and a Celebration
Spring has sprung, and along with a sunny and sixty-degree day, March has also brought me news I've waited to hear since December 7th--my kitty, Anya, is finally getting her feeding tube removed!
WOOHOO!
For a while there, I had given up hope that I'd ever see this day come (or technically, tomorrow, since her removal appointment is Friday). She was so sick for so long, and then boom! She starts getting better. I still don't understand fully why she got sick, or even how she got better, but I'm grateful. So, so grateful.
And I feel like I need to offer an apology. My blogging and tweeting have been very sparse this year, and I know it's been partly because of this kitty crisis. My entire life felt like it had been put on hold, while I waited to hear if Anya would live or die. To someone who isn't a pet lover, I know that sounds crazy. But Anya is my baby girl, and I love her.
She started getting sick a week after THREE DAYS TO DEAD came out, and I know I let myself think it was some sort of dirty, universal joke. In the summer of '08, my other cat Hannah died just a few weeks before I got my book deal. It felt like the universe was telling me now that my book was out in the world, my other cat had to go.
Silly, huh?
So I didn't blog much, and I didn't really interact with you guys, my readers, and for that, I do apologize. But now, with the tube coming out and Anya back to her old self, I feel as if this gigantic weight has been lifted off my chest. I can breathe again. I can take my life off pause and be happy again.
Thank you for being patient with me, and I hope y'all feel like celebrating. Because I feel like celebrating. So stay tuned this weekend, because I'll be doing some giveaways, starting tomorrow!
*hugs*
WOOHOO!
For a while there, I had given up hope that I'd ever see this day come (or technically, tomorrow, since her removal appointment is Friday). She was so sick for so long, and then boom! She starts getting better. I still don't understand fully why she got sick, or even how she got better, but I'm grateful. So, so grateful.
And I feel like I need to offer an apology. My blogging and tweeting have been very sparse this year, and I know it's been partly because of this kitty crisis. My entire life felt like it had been put on hold, while I waited to hear if Anya would live or die. To someone who isn't a pet lover, I know that sounds crazy. But Anya is my baby girl, and I love her.
She started getting sick a week after THREE DAYS TO DEAD came out, and I know I let myself think it was some sort of dirty, universal joke. In the summer of '08, my other cat Hannah died just a few weeks before I got my book deal. It felt like the universe was telling me now that my book was out in the world, my other cat had to go.
Silly, huh?
So I didn't blog much, and I didn't really interact with you guys, my readers, and for that, I do apologize. But now, with the tube coming out and Anya back to her old self, I feel as if this gigantic weight has been lifted off my chest. I can breathe again. I can take my life off pause and be happy again.
Thank you for being patient with me, and I hope y'all feel like celebrating. Because I feel like celebrating. So stay tuned this weekend, because I'll be doing some giveaways, starting tomorrow!
*hugs*
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Round-Up and Randomness
The snow is melting, and I can see bare ground again. It was sort of sad watching robins flutter about on the white stuff. Although now my back yard is full of black birds, which means my car will be covered in bird poop.... joy.
It's been a rather quiet, dull week in my world. Fortunately, February is 2/3 over and March is almost here--SPRING!!!! I am so ready for winter to be over. I noted last night, around 5:30pm, that it was much brighter than usual. One of my favorite things about spring is how it stays light later and later and later into the evening. It's like a slow progression toward warm weather.
No news on the book or kitty front. Both are sort of in a static limbo right now.
This is a big week for the League of Reluctant Adults, though. Lots of new releases for Leaguers, as well as a theme week masterminded by our very own Nicole Peeler. So run over and check it out!
And if you haven't tried Betty Crocker's new Butter Pecan cake mix, it's delicious! I made cupcakes the other day--subtle flavor, not too sweet. Mmmmmmmm....
I hope everyone's been having a good week. I know I've been scatterbrained on the blog lately, but I have a few things in the planning stages. So stay tuned!
It's been a rather quiet, dull week in my world. Fortunately, February is 2/3 over and March is almost here--SPRING!!!! I am so ready for winter to be over. I noted last night, around 5:30pm, that it was much brighter than usual. One of my favorite things about spring is how it stays light later and later and later into the evening. It's like a slow progression toward warm weather.
No news on the book or kitty front. Both are sort of in a static limbo right now.
This is a big week for the League of Reluctant Adults, though. Lots of new releases for Leaguers, as well as a theme week masterminded by our very own Nicole Peeler. So run over and check it out!
And if you haven't tried Betty Crocker's new Butter Pecan cake mix, it's delicious! I made cupcakes the other day--subtle flavor, not too sweet. Mmmmmmmm....
I hope everyone's been having a good week. I know I've been scatterbrained on the blog lately, but I have a few things in the planning stages. So stay tuned!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Topsy-Turvy
This has been a topsy-turvy week, I must say. I've been working extra hours at the day job, because one of the managers is on vacation until tomorrow, so all I've wanted to do when I come home is veg. Which I have, for the most part. But I've also been doing book stuff--scheduling some guest blogs, developing that "thing" I was teasing about last week, and doing a final read-through of AS LIE THE DEAD.
Yes, book two is now revised and back with my lovely editor. One of the benefits of not having read it all the way through in many months is fresh eyes. I was able to "see" little inconsistencies I hadn't noticed. I was also able to add little world-building details I hadn't considered during the first drafts. All in all, it's a much stronger book (as it should be).
Remember those short stories I've been working on? Good things have developed. More on that later. *g*
I also had the great fortune to score an ARC of Kelly Gay's THE BETTER PART OF DARKNESS, which releases November 24 from Pocket. Order it. Now. And I'm not just saying that. Her alt-Atlanta is so unique, and I love her heroine, Charlie. How often does UF give us a protag who's a single mom? There's so much I'd like to say, but won't for fear of spoilers.
Also, I haz swag!
They are 1.25" buttons, designed by a super-cool moderator at AbsoluteWrite. For clarity, Dregs are the city's non-humans, and the Triads are the folks who hunt/kill them. So yeah, they mostly don't like each other.
I'm not sure how I'll use them yet. We shall see...
Yes, book two is now revised and back with my lovely editor. One of the benefits of not having read it all the way through in many months is fresh eyes. I was able to "see" little inconsistencies I hadn't noticed. I was also able to add little world-building details I hadn't considered during the first drafts. All in all, it's a much stronger book (as it should be).
Remember those short stories I've been working on? Good things have developed. More on that later. *g*
I also had the great fortune to score an ARC of Kelly Gay's THE BETTER PART OF DARKNESS, which releases November 24 from Pocket. Order it. Now. And I'm not just saying that. Her alt-Atlanta is so unique, and I love her heroine, Charlie. How often does UF give us a protag who's a single mom? There's so much I'd like to say, but won't for fear of spoilers.
Also, I haz swag!
They are 1.25" buttons, designed by a super-cool moderator at AbsoluteWrite. For clarity, Dregs are the city's non-humans, and the Triads are the folks who hunt/kill them. So yeah, they mostly don't like each other.
I'm not sure how I'll use them yet. We shall see...
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Not Really Gone
Yes, I am alive. Sorry for the extended absence.
Ever have one of those weeks where you feel like the needle has fallen off your compass, so you can't tell if you're going around in circles or making progress? That's been me. I can't say for sure if the needle is firmly attached yet. We'll see.
News that has nothing to do with anything important: I have a tan for the first time in several years. Okay, so it's a farmer's tan (shorts and sneaker lines), but my arms and face are a lovely shade of honey brown now. And the weather is holding steady in the mid-eighties. I wonder if we can make it all the way to August without turning on the air conditioning....
We went to the Delaware State Fair last night. First time in several years that I've been here and able to go. I have so many memories of the Fair. Attending with my grandparents and walking through each and every barn (horses, cows, and goats, oh my!). Going on the midway rides on coupon day with my sister and dad (and nearly having a sun stroke one year). Eating fried chicken at the Grange. Fresh kettle corn. The World's Smallest Horse. Vendors and freebies and shows...
It was my niece's first year at the Fair, and she just had a blast. She pet her first goat and her first horse. *g*
And yes, there will be a Countdown: July! contest. I'll either do it tomorrow or Monday, I haven't decided. So stay tuned!!!
Ever have one of those weeks where you feel like the needle has fallen off your compass, so you can't tell if you're going around in circles or making progress? That's been me. I can't say for sure if the needle is firmly attached yet. We'll see.
News that has nothing to do with anything important: I have a tan for the first time in several years. Okay, so it's a farmer's tan (shorts and sneaker lines), but my arms and face are a lovely shade of honey brown now. And the weather is holding steady in the mid-eighties. I wonder if we can make it all the way to August without turning on the air conditioning....
We went to the Delaware State Fair last night. First time in several years that I've been here and able to go. I have so many memories of the Fair. Attending with my grandparents and walking through each and every barn (horses, cows, and goats, oh my!). Going on the midway rides on coupon day with my sister and dad (and nearly having a sun stroke one year). Eating fried chicken at the Grange. Fresh kettle corn. The World's Smallest Horse. Vendors and freebies and shows...
It was my niece's first year at the Fair, and she just had a blast. She pet her first goat and her first horse. *g*
And yes, there will be a Countdown: July! contest. I'll either do it tomorrow or Monday, I haven't decided. So stay tuned!!!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Weekend Round-Up
Well, it's been a hectic couple of days. On Thursday, my dad and I went to an auction in Lebanon, PA, and bought some fun stuff. We do some side selling on eBay and at flea markets, so we were stocking up a bit. I managed to pick up some awesome things from my childhood: the My Little Ponies Show Stable and Nursery playsets, with most of their furniture, and about ten ponies. I still need to wash them (dirt accumulation points toward being in someone's garage for a while), but they're both in good shape.
I couldn't even tell you where Friday went, but yesterday was spent cleaning and cooking in preparation for today's Easter dinner guests. Let me tell you, chicken pot pie is not as easy to make as my mom always made it seem. Plus, I stole a method from Semi-Homemade and concocted a yummy-looking lemon pudding cake (and I say "looking" because I haven't tried it yet).
Saw the movie "Quarantine" last night. The shaky camera was starting to make me seasick, but as far as horror films go, this one rates up there. Good set up, good build of tension. My only complaint was the final scene--given the "we aren't really sure what's going on" vibe from the rest of the film, it felt unnecessarily tacked on. That's about all I can say without spoiling it.
Gotta finish making crusts for the pot pie. I'll leave you with this thought to ponder: if the Easter Bunny was a paranormal creature, what species would he be?
I couldn't even tell you where Friday went, but yesterday was spent cleaning and cooking in preparation for today's Easter dinner guests. Let me tell you, chicken pot pie is not as easy to make as my mom always made it seem. Plus, I stole a method from Semi-Homemade and concocted a yummy-looking lemon pudding cake (and I say "looking" because I haven't tried it yet).
Saw the movie "Quarantine" last night. The shaky camera was starting to make me seasick, but as far as horror films go, this one rates up there. Good set up, good build of tension. My only complaint was the final scene--given the "we aren't really sure what's going on" vibe from the rest of the film, it felt unnecessarily tacked on. That's about all I can say without spoiling it.
Gotta finish making crusts for the pot pie. I'll leave you with this thought to ponder: if the Easter Bunny was a paranormal creature, what species would he be?
Friday, February 20, 2009
Pre-Orders, Release Dates, and Galley Proofs, OH MY!
Good grief, it's windy outside today. It's been gusting since last night, and my bedroom sticks off the side of the house with three exposed sides, so it's a bit like sleeping in a car with the window down (sans the comforting, rocking motion).
I've been stupidly quiet on the blog lately, and for that I apologize. I received a super-cool package in the mail two Fridays ago, and inside of it was the galley proof pages for THREE DAYS TO DEAD. Galley proofs, for those who don't know, are pages that show you how the book will eventually look in proper paperback format. Everything is laid out, from the dedication to title pages, all of the chapters, all the way to the very end. It's wicked cool being able to see how this story will look as an actual book.
But besides oggling the pretty pages, I had to sit down and carefully read it over. Why? Last chance to change anything. Last chance to find any little misspellings or extra punctuation, last chance to make sure that yes, Character A's eyes are, indeed, green. Phew. Now that that's done and off to my editor's assistant, I can get back to tackling agent revisions on AS LIE THE DEAD.
Wait! There's more!
The galley proofs also came with two more awesome things: a release date and an ISBN.
OFFICIAL RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 27, 2009!!!!!!!!!!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!
What's an ISBN you may ask (although I'm sure most of you know)? It's a unique tracking number given to all commercially produced books as a way to identify them. And ever since I discovered this awesome little code, I've found TDTD available for pre-order in a plethora of places: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk., Chapters.indigo.ca., Random House, Inc., RandomHouse.ca., Target.com, and Amazon.ca. It's still eight months away, so there isn't a lot of information on those sites yet (cover, blurb, etc...), but more is forthcoming.
If you still don't know what the heck TDTD is about, check out my website for more info. :)
I've been stupidly quiet on the blog lately, and for that I apologize. I received a super-cool package in the mail two Fridays ago, and inside of it was the galley proof pages for THREE DAYS TO DEAD. Galley proofs, for those who don't know, are pages that show you how the book will eventually look in proper paperback format. Everything is laid out, from the dedication to title pages, all of the chapters, all the way to the very end. It's wicked cool being able to see how this story will look as an actual book.
But besides oggling the pretty pages, I had to sit down and carefully read it over. Why? Last chance to change anything. Last chance to find any little misspellings or extra punctuation, last chance to make sure that yes, Character A's eyes are, indeed, green. Phew. Now that that's done and off to my editor's assistant, I can get back to tackling agent revisions on AS LIE THE DEAD.
Wait! There's more!
The galley proofs also came with two more awesome things: a release date and an ISBN.
OFFICIAL RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 27, 2009!!!!!!!!!!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!
What's an ISBN you may ask (although I'm sure most of you know)? It's a unique tracking number given to all commercially produced books as a way to identify them. And ever since I discovered this awesome little code, I've found TDTD available for pre-order in a plethora of places: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk., Chapters.indigo.ca., Random House, Inc., RandomHouse.ca., Target.com, and Amazon.ca. It's still eight months away, so there isn't a lot of information on those sites yet (cover, blurb, etc...), but more is forthcoming.
If you still don't know what the heck TDTD is about, check out my website for more info. :)
Monday, December 08, 2008
Random Musings
I've been flittering all over the place lately, hence the lack of blogging. No one single thing I've done has seemed all that interesting, so I figured I'd save up and spew all at once.
I finally finished reading Storm Front, by Jim Butcher. Oh Harry, how do I love thee? Apparently Butcher likes to whomp on his characters as badly as I do. I adore hero who takes his licks and keeps on pushing forward. I haven't bought any others in the series, because my TBR pile can't support anymore dead trees. But I will, now that I know what other fans are raving about.
Agent Nathan Bransford is having another CONTEST. Go. Play. Enjoy.
Two agency sibs, Mai Sato-Flores and David Oppegaard, have new releases. Congrats to both!!
Dollar Tree is one of the best stores ever. Especially if you can find a massive one, like I did. Seriously.
I'm almost done Christmas shopping. Yay! Now I just need to organize and start wrapping. After the baby shower. Which is in five days. *checks list of things still to be done*
*starts to panic*
In actual writing-related news, I'm almost finished round-one editing on AS LIE THE DEAD, and it will be out to my critters soon. Woohoo!
I finally finished reading Storm Front, by Jim Butcher. Oh Harry, how do I love thee? Apparently Butcher likes to whomp on his characters as badly as I do. I adore hero who takes his licks and keeps on pushing forward. I haven't bought any others in the series, because my TBR pile can't support anymore dead trees. But I will, now that I know what other fans are raving about.
Agent Nathan Bransford is having another CONTEST. Go. Play. Enjoy.
Two agency sibs, Mai Sato-Flores and David Oppegaard, have new releases. Congrats to both!!
Dollar Tree is one of the best stores ever. Especially if you can find a massive one, like I did. Seriously.
I'm almost done Christmas shopping. Yay! Now I just need to organize and start wrapping. After the baby shower. Which is in five days. *checks list of things still to be done*
*starts to panic*
In actual writing-related news, I'm almost finished round-one editing on AS LIE THE DEAD, and it will be out to my critters soon. Woohoo!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
So Much In a Week
Yes, the blog updates ended with two days left until the big move.
No, that doesn't mean the move didn't happen.
What it does mean is that Verizon-MD are staffed by ijits. We called them to order our phone and DSL service way back on August 5th. Phone was working fine when we got here (I know, because I took a call from my agent on move-in day). DSL? Not so much. After a weekend of runarounds from Tech Support and the local business office, we were told to try a different number on Monday. So we did. After an hour and a half on the phone, we're told that Someone, for Some Reason, had cancelled our DSL service.
WTF???
We didn't cancel it. We certainly didn't receive any notification that it had been cancelled. So the guy on the phone set it up for Thursday (today). Out of the ashes, we did score six months free for their royal screw up. Obviously we have our 'Net back, but now my MSN and IE browsers are wonky, so I've bitten the bullet and downloaded Firefox. So far, my only real complaint is that Photobucket doesn't seem to work right. Grrrr....
But the move went well. I love the house and will be posting pictures soon (when I get this photo program thingie figured out). My new room is nice and cozy. Anya made the trip well, and she's adjusted to life in a two-story house. There's a window at the top of the stairs, facing the backyard, that she loves to sit in. The weather's been awesome, too. AC's been off since Saturday, and it gets downright chilly at night.
The new job is going well. So far, I like the staff and they seem to like me. Lots of visual stuff, which is fine by me. I'd rather reorganize a display, than design someone's table setting.
Stayed up way too late last night reading the end of a book. Good book, though. I'll review it here in the near future.
In personal writing news, the results of the auction are in. You'll just have to stay tuned. *eg*
No, that doesn't mean the move didn't happen.
What it does mean is that Verizon-MD are staffed by ijits. We called them to order our phone and DSL service way back on August 5th. Phone was working fine when we got here (I know, because I took a call from my agent on move-in day). DSL? Not so much. After a weekend of runarounds from Tech Support and the local business office, we were told to try a different number on Monday. So we did. After an hour and a half on the phone, we're told that Someone, for Some Reason, had cancelled our DSL service.
WTF???
We didn't cancel it. We certainly didn't receive any notification that it had been cancelled. So the guy on the phone set it up for Thursday (today). Out of the ashes, we did score six months free for their royal screw up. Obviously we have our 'Net back, but now my MSN and IE browsers are wonky, so I've bitten the bullet and downloaded Firefox. So far, my only real complaint is that Photobucket doesn't seem to work right. Grrrr....
But the move went well. I love the house and will be posting pictures soon (when I get this photo program thingie figured out). My new room is nice and cozy. Anya made the trip well, and she's adjusted to life in a two-story house. There's a window at the top of the stairs, facing the backyard, that she loves to sit in. The weather's been awesome, too. AC's been off since Saturday, and it gets downright chilly at night.
The new job is going well. So far, I like the staff and they seem to like me. Lots of visual stuff, which is fine by me. I'd rather reorganize a display, than design someone's table setting.
Stayed up way too late last night reading the end of a book. Good book, though. I'll review it here in the near future.
In personal writing news, the results of the auction are in. You'll just have to stay tuned. *eg*
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Things Are About to Get Busier Here
I can't share the good news yet, because nothing's official. But let's just say the long, slow process toward publication has just taken a huge shot forward. More news on that in a couple of days.
On the homefront, I've made the oddest personal connection. On the AW Watercooler, a random conversation with another member led to a series of PM's (private messages), in which we discovered we both graduated the same high school. One year apart. How funny is that? 21,000 members, and we lived in the same town, same high school.
My best bud Serenity (who has a new blog: http://serenemoments.wordpress.com/ ) turned in her Master's thesis! Yay, Melissa!!! You go, girl! I'm so proud of her. Two years of online classes, stress and lack of "fun writing" has paid off. We celebrated on Monday by grilling turkey burgers, making onion dip, and watching five hours of "Oz" episodes. She's finally, officially hooked. My work there is done.
We have had a new store manager since April 30th, and things are working out well. We're finally hitting our stride as a management team, so things are looking up. Good thing, too, because I'm getting sick of Virginia. I'm ready to move back to the Eastern Shore, so who knows? Maybe by the end of the summer, I'll be posting from a new apartment closer to home.
More later...
On the homefront, I've made the oddest personal connection. On the AW Watercooler, a random conversation with another member led to a series of PM's (private messages), in which we discovered we both graduated the same high school. One year apart. How funny is that? 21,000 members, and we lived in the same town, same high school.
My best bud Serenity (who has a new blog: http://serenemoments.wordpress.com/ ) turned in her Master's thesis! Yay, Melissa!!! You go, girl! I'm so proud of her. Two years of online classes, stress and lack of "fun writing" has paid off. We celebrated on Monday by grilling turkey burgers, making onion dip, and watching five hours of "Oz" episodes. She's finally, officially hooked. My work there is done.
We have had a new store manager since April 30th, and things are working out well. We're finally hitting our stride as a management team, so things are looking up. Good thing, too, because I'm getting sick of Virginia. I'm ready to move back to the Eastern Shore, so who knows? Maybe by the end of the summer, I'll be posting from a new apartment closer to home.
More later...
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