Author Archives: Eugie Foster

Frantic Friday

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It’s the weekend. How did it get to be the weekend already? dean13 is flying in today and dude_the‘s plane comes in tomorrow, and the house looks like the aftermath of a rhinoceros tea party. And I’m still waffling on my Halloween costume. Gah!


Warning: There is some nudity on the voting pages.
Not safe for work or kiddies!

   


Writing Stuff

Tentative sale to Aberrant Dreams, tentative in that the editors want me to do some tweaks to my story–I assume to tone down one or two of the more visceral scenes–to better match the PG13+ rating they’re aiming for with their publication. Younger target audience and all. But the editor was very enthusiastic, so I’m feeling quite optimistic that this “tentative” will turn into “definite.” Waiting on their editorial suggestions . . .

And also, the editor confirmed that the convention that they thought was canceled was indeed Esotericon and not Frolicon. I’d already had it confirmed that Frolicon was still solidly on track from the convention organizers, but glad to have that cleared up on all fronts. Still haven’t set a date, time, and place for the interview they want to do, but there’s no rush.

“The Better To . . . ” is up at Critters and the first crits are rolling in. Obviously, I need to put back in some of the worldbuilding material that I pulled out. So far, folks are having problems comprehending the major world change that is essential to the setting. Must rectify that in rewrite.

New Words: 560
Chugging along nicely on “Rue and Ruin” although I almost got sidetracked by a funny little story idea that fosteronfilm and I came up with.

Zokutou word meterZokutou word meter
4,520 / 7,500
(60.3%)

Club 100 For Writers
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500/day
      85

Bewitched

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As properly befitting the Halloween season, we watched Bewitched, the Nicole Kidman/Will Ferrell homage to the ’60s television series (courtesy Netflix). Apparently after the failed Practical Magic, Kidman wanted to prove that she could indeed pull off a hot witchy character. And, in her defense, it almost didn’t suck. Admittedly, I’m not a fan of Will Ferrell–the man’s funny as epileptic slime mold–but Nicole Kidman is exquisite, Scientology and Eyes Wide Shut notwithstanding. And hey, I despise Tom Arnold, but thought he did an excellent job in True Lies, one of my favorite movies. So obviously a movie can overcome the shortcomings of its actors. Of course, Tom Arnold wasn’t the lead in True Lies, and while Nicole Kidman is a much more talented actor than Arnold Schwarzenegger, the screenplay of Bewitched was still inspired by a ’60s television series.

Kidman almost managed to carry it by the sheer virtue of her lovely self, and Michael Caine gave a Grade A performance as Samantha’s father. But being unable to find any redeeming qualities in the male love interest made it too frustrating to buy into, not to mention lethal to my suspension of disbelief.

Oh well. Netflix also sent us Frank Langella’s Dracula which I haven’t seen in several years. Looking forward to that being good.

   


Writing Stuff

New Words: 400
On the new heroic fantasy piece, tentatively titled “Rue and Ruin.”

Zokutou word meterZokutou word meter
3,960 / 7,500
(0.0%)

Club 100 For Writers
      28

Fie on Comcast!

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Comcast continues to earn my eternal ire. I feel so cut off from the world without my Internet. I know it’s a trite sentiment, but I honestly can’t figure out how I got by without it. It’s a social outlet, news and information source, networking tool, and business resource. I needs my Internet connection! Evil Comcast for addicting me to high speed access and then depriving me of it. Stabbity stabbity stab!

Must post this while I’m still hooked into the Internet . . .


Warning: There is some nudity on the voting pages.
Not safe for work or kiddies!

   


Writing Stuff

Received an email from Andy Cox in response to my query: he’s still thinking about my story. Give him another day or so. Okeey . . .

New Words: 500ish
On the heroic fantasy piece. I think I have a direction for it. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the one I originally had, but it’s where I’m going now, dammit.

Zokutou word meterZokutou word meter
3,565 / 7,500
(0.0%)

Club 100 For Writers
      27

500/day
      84

Adventures with Adderall: Day 15

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I’m cold. Very very cold. My computer informs me that it’s a chilly 48 outside, which is wrong for Georgia in October. Hobkin is glued to my leg under the blanket, after shoving his icy little paws on me, and I’m bundled up in thermal attire. Reminds me of why we moved from the Midwest. I hate this “I can’t get warm no matter what I do *shiver shiver shiver*” feeling, an all too frequent one in the frigid north. Plunged in the hot tub yesterday and stayed there until I turned into a sentient prune. Normally I can’t stand having my skin all textured and waterlogged, but I’m dwelling upon the virtues of spending today submerged in hot water.

Aside from a resumption of major fatigue and exhaustion, no adverse reactions to skipping a day of Adderall. Hence, I went back on it today. Interestingly, I’m experiencing effects similar to the first or second day on it–complete with a certain zinginess. Verdict on tolerance: yes. Verdict on dependence: not particularly. It seems odd to have a drop in tolerance after only a single day off, since caffeine takes longer to diminish than that. Could be psychosomatic, I guess.


Warning: There is some nudity on the voting pages.
Not safe for work or kiddies!

   


Writing Stuff

Received a 138-day pass from Dark Discoveries with invite to submit again.

That rejection marks another milestone: my 500th rejection since I started seriously writing and submitting my fiction. In that time, I’ve wracked up 65 sales, won an award and been nominated for several, and had eleven reprints in four foreign languages. I’m very proud of what I’ve managed to accomplish. But at the same time, I’m rather dismayed at how far away I am from being able to make a livable income.

Cue agent call with news of a publisher . . . *crickets*

Sigh.

In less feeling-sorry-for-myself news, jackzodiac unveiled the cover for the Writers for Relief anthology. Designed by luridtraversal, isn’t it perfect?

Adventures with Adderall: Withdrawal

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I was so tired yesterday. Just didn’t have any energy, and I even took a nap. Dozed off fairly early at night, and then woke up at 2AM for a bout of insomnia. And this while on 20mg of Adderall. So I’m wondering if, after a measly two weeks, I’m already racking up a tolerance. As such, I’m going Adderall-free today, to see what happens.

But, on the positive side of things, I’ve lost 4lbs while on it.


Warning: There is some nudity on the voting pages.
Not safe for work or kiddies!

   

Writing Stuff

Since I posted my little “we’re busy at Tangent, mm-kay?” whine, I’ve received half a dozen emails from folks interested in reviewing for me. *blink* I’m all yay, but my labor shortage has suddenly become a labor glut. More proof that the universe enjoys keeping me off balance.

And to top things off, I also got a query from a writer who thought Tangent published fiction and wanted to know whether I’d consider a serial. Uh . . .

Did they even look at the site before hitting SEND?

Don’t eat . . . Ginger Snaps

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This has been making the rounds on my friends list, and I am naught but a lemming: Steve, Don’t Eat It!, the adventures of someone who has a cavalier disregard for botulism, E. coli, and the wellbeing of his gastro-intestinal tract. Funny and somewhat disturbing. As a friendly caveat, don’t read this if you’re about to sit down to a meal. There’s a pretty high gross-out factor.

Watched Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed last night, which was appropriately fitting for the season, and surprisingly good. I liked the original Ginger Snaps when I first saw it. It was refreshing to find a different sort of werewolf movie, albeit one that was a little too happy with its symbolism concerning womanhood and growing up. The sequel, though still symbolism-happy, was darker, with an intense focus on the characters rather than the werewolf mythology, but without ever letting you forget the wolf. For a more in-depth review, read fosteronfilm‘s discussion of it.


Warning: There is some nudity on the voting pages.
Not safe for work or kiddies!

   


Writing Stuff

Received an information-packed letter from my Cricket editor (*waves*). First up, two stories rejected (boo) and one–“The Red String”–sold (yay!). Also, an Indian folktale I sold them last year, “The King of Rabbits and Moon Lake,” is slated for publication in April (yay!). And lastly, they’re getting pretty full up on Asian folktales (snartleblast!).

Suddenly, my four submissions with them is down to one, and I’ve just added “research and write non-Asian folktale” to my list of things to do. I wish I could find a really good Egyptian mythology resource, something that would perk up the ole muse. Maybe I should break down and write something Greek. I really love Greek Mythology, but they’ve been so done. Ponder ponder ponder.

I also fired off a query to Andy Cox who has been sitting on a story I sent him to see if he’s come up with a decision on it. If he passes, I’m thinking it might be a good fit with a YA audience and want to send it for consideration in Cicada. I keep wondering if I should withdraw it. I hate pulling something from any editor that’s bought something from me before, but my logs say that he’s had it for . . . fourteen and a half months.

In other news, I stumbled across a very nice review by oneminutemonkey of Ascendancy of Blood at SF Site:

“Combining elements of Sleeping Beauty and vampire tales, Ascendancy of Blood is a quick, sharply-told, gorgeously-described chapbook by up-and-coming author, Eugie Foster. Her strength here lies in the lush prose and seductive imagery that permeates the pages.”
–Michael M. Jones

New Words: 500
Went riffling through my various in-progress and brainstorming idea files and came across a fantasy tale that I started last year, put down, and promptly forgot about. Opened it up, gave it a nice shake and rattle, and I’m hoping–if I can manage to finish it–that it’ll be a good fit for that heroic fantasy anthology. Unfortunately, I’m not quite sure where I was going with it before, and while I usually scribble something down on my WIPs before I set them aside just to avoid this sort of lapse, I didn’t for this one. So now I’ve got a nice set-up, and I can’t for the life of me remember what my intentions were. I’m pretty sure I had something in mind, but I’m drawing a big ole blank. I hate it when my brain goes bye-bye. Stupid brain.

Club 100 For Writers
      26

500/day
      83

Missing day or blogging about nothing

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Should I be concerned that I’m not quite sure what I did yesterday? I didn’t black out or anything like that. No booze or mind-altering anything–aside from the prescribed stuff which, since I’m on an antidepressant, I guess does technically count as “mind-altering”–but the day seems to have gone by without me really doing anything. There was a bit of writing and a bit of surfing, but it’s sort of blending into the blur of writing and surfing I’ve done on other days. Not that yesterday was all that less eventful than other days, but perhaps that’s the point.

It’s unsettling is all. There’s time in my life which just . . . passes. Considering what a finite amount of the stuff we have to begin with, that seems wrong. Or, I’m wallowing in my own angst and need to get a grip.

Or a drink.


Warning: There is some nudity on the voting pages. Not safe for work or kiddies!

   


Writing Stuff

Received an 11-day rejection from Fictitious Force on a flash piece. I’ve still got a submission with them that’s cresting the 1-month mark that I’m beginning to get hopeful about. Or antsy. Hopeful and antsy in the writing biz feels pretty interchangeable.

jackzodiac just added Gardner Dozois to the list of authors with stories in his Writers for Relief charity anthology. I’m sharing a ToC with Larry Niven, Brian W. Aldiss, Joe Haldeman, Nancy Kress, and Gardner Dozois! I need to go hyperventilate now.

New Words: 100
A pair of editing passes on “The Better To . . . ” and loaded it up to Critters. Next, I need to figure out what I want to write for the heroic fantasy anthology.

Club 100 For Writers
      25

Pawlish

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Comcast’s unreliability is really ticking me off. Our cable modem, which we pay a criminally high monthly fee for, is running at the ever-so-impressive speed of dial-up. Time to get out the tar and feathers!

In my never-ending search for whimsy, I came across a product that made me pause and blink. It’s Pawlish, nail polish for pets. Yep, you can paint your pet’s nails red, purple, and blue. The website declares that “Mom can use Pawlish too! Fido will love having the same color nails!”

At first, I thought: “This is incontrovertible proof that the devil walks among us.” And then I scrolled down the page and found a testimonial from a pet owner, and not just any pet, but a skunk owner. And there were pictures of the skunk (let me emphasize these are not pictures of Hobkin) wearing Pawlish. To my growing horror, I found myself going “Awww! Doesn’t she look precious with her nails all blue?” and speculating whether they had any plans for a goth color line. That’s when I realized that the devil is sneaky and sly with his seductive guile and temptation.

Fortunately, Hobkin would never stand for the indignity of having his nails done. If I so much as came near him with a bottle of Pawlish, there would be blood. Alas, just when I thought my immortal soul was saved, I remembered what we did to him three years ago. Yup, going to hell in a handbasket.


Warning: There is some nudity on the voting pages. Not safe for work or kiddies!

   


Writing Stuff

Received my replacement check from 9 (after a Greek bank strike caused the original to get returned) for their translation of “The Adventures of Manny the Mailmobile.” Grumph. They didn’t include the fee my bank tacked on for a returned check to their payment. Leaves me a having to eat it. Feh. But at least I got paid. And I’ll forgive them if they buy more of my stories . . .

New Words: 600ish on “The Better To . . .”
Bridging scene written, and I’m at zero draft. Huzzah! It clocks in at around 7.2K. In my relief to have it done done done, I immediately foisted it upon fosteronfilm to first reader. He, being the supportive hubby that he is, read and critiqued it while I was sleeping and I woke up to a page and a half of suggestions that I need to ponder. Urg. But in a good way. So yeah, I think it’s likely that I’ll get this up at Critters next week.

Club 100 For Writers
      24

500/day
      82

Batman Begins & Wild, Wild Planet

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Comcast keeps dropping our Internet connection in and out. It’s very aggravating.

Watched Batman Begins, courtesy Netflix, last night. I liked it, but not to the gushing point. I found the amount of soap boxing and moralizing–“it’s not who you are underneath, it’s what you do that defines you” blah blah blah–tiresome pretty quickly. If Hollywood must lecture, I wish they’d do it while something is blowing up in the background. However, they did make great strides into making up for the slow bits with lots of blowing up at other times, and while not up to Joss Whedon’s writing, the banter was pretty good. I was especially fond of “Well, you know how it is, Mr Fox. You’re out at night, looking for kicks and someone’s passing around the weaponised Hallucinogens.” And of course, there were all the shiny gadgets, stunts, and fight scenes, standard Hollywood eye candy.

fosteronfilm also subjected me to Wild, Wild Planet so he could review it. It’s a ’60s Italian space adventure, and it’s bad. Really really bad. It was on the scale of badness that defies bad and by the sheer caliber of its awfulness becomes good. We chortled our way through it in classic MST3K fashion, pointing at the cheesy special effects, goggling at the unfathomable storyline, and snickering at the outrageous dialogue.


Warning: There is some nudity on the voting pages. Not safe for work or kiddies!

   


Writing Stuff

Got an invitation to submit to an invite-only anthology. Makes me feel all elite and exclusive. Well, it makes me feel like I’ve got a 50/50 chance of getting into the anthology, is what it does. Now I just have to come up with a story. It needs to be heroic fantasy and I don’t write a huge amount of that, but I’m certain I can rise to the challenge. After I finish the current WIP. Hey, I just realized I’ll be working on two invite-only projects in a row. I’m a grown-up writer! Mmm, no, on second thought, I don’t think I qualify until I start making a helluva lot more money from this. Shoot.

New words: after the splut of productivity yesterday, I could only bring myself to do a couple editing passes. I very much hope that my muse is not so much of a masochistic that I need to bruise or bump something in order to get her to perform. I mean writing can be painful, but c’mon!

Club 100 For Writers
      23

Aches and pains

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The universe spoke to me yesterday. I dropped a full can of soda on my big toe–and proceeded to clutch my foot while attempting to stifle profanity which would have otherwise ignited the air–while my concerned husband and a perplexed skunk looked on. And my knee is stiff and painful from when I bruised it in a violent clash with the coffee table (the coffee table won). So yeah, I hear and I comprehend; the universe sez that movement is overrated. And hey, who am I to argue with the cosmos? I glued my klutzy self to the couch and wrote all day. Now my wingstubs ache.

Stupid universe.

When can I sign up for a new housing for my brain, please? This one is defective.

Campaigning for the pity vote, obviously:


Warning: There is some nudity on the voting pages. Not safe for work or kiddies!

   


Writing Stuff

Received a 7-day rejection from Ideomancer: “While well-written and intriguing, the story ultimately is buried beneath its own weight.” Oo, ouch. Now my ego is bruised too.

I did a Critters crit in the hopes that it might mollify whatever karma-gods have it out for me. If that doesn’t work, I’m going to start sacrificing virgins.

New Words: ?
In my pursuit of an utterly sedentary lifestyle, I pumped out words. “The Better To . . . ” is a bridging scene away from zero draft, but I lost track of my word count. Something like 1K new words were smeared on the page (screen), give or take a couple hundred, and a massive seek-and-destroy on bloat summarily eradicated many of them, as well as some of their hapless kindred. Then more words were brutally shoved, screaming and sobbing, onto the page. Net word count: Who knows? Today, more carnage. Mwahahahaha!

Zokutou word meter
6,667 / 6,500
(102.0%)

Predictably, my original estimate was off.

Club 100 For Writers
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500/day
      81