Author Archives: Eugie Foster

[take the test] – [by krystaljungle.com]

Ooo! The new cover art for Hitting the Skids in Pixeltown designed by Stephan Martiniere is up! Isn’t it gorgeous?

After I powered down the computer last night, finished writing for the day, we watched Bridget Jones’s Diary on DVD. I’m such a sap for good romantic comedies, and this one was such a fun one. And now I’m feeling on a Hugh Grant kick. Mmm, Hugh Grant. Yummy. I now wanna see Notting Hill again and Sirens. Maybe I can convince Matthew to have a Hugh Grant-a-thon today. Popcorn, Hugh Grant, hubby, skunk. Sounds like the makings of a good Sunday.

We didn’t see Two Weeks Notice when it came out. Now I’m wondering if it was any good. Maybe we’ll rent it.

In happy news, I stepped on the scale this morning and it informed me that I’ve lost three pounds. Quite pleased about that. This is the first dieting I’ve done where I haven’t particularly increased my cardio activity. In the past I did a huge amount of exercise to lose weight–aerobics (which, incidentally, I hate, but I just happen to hate less than most other exercises), dance, yoga, etc.–but this year I’m too damn lazy/sick/busy to get a regular exercise program organized, so I’m just cutting calories. I know that doesn’t work as well. I’m just losing weight, not toning muscle, and I’m not doing anything good for my metabolism this way. Actually, I had doubts whether it would work at all since I know how important exercise and increasing one’s metabolism is when it comes to losing weight. But it is indeed working.

Three pounds down, four to go. Then I’ll be back at where I was before last year’s holidays. I’m aiming to lose those extra pounds by Dragon*Con so I’ll be able to lace my corset without any extra space in the back.

It’s important to have goals . . .

Been writing for most of the day.

Just finished my rewrite of the story I had in the Critters queue last week. I’ll give it one final pass, then out into the world it goes. This one was a particularly grueling rewrite as there were substantial changes/clarifications that needed making. Not to mention I ended up with thirty critiques (I vow I will never complain about a lack of lovin from Critters again!) Gleep. But I think I managed to address the flaws in the story, at least to my satisfaction. I’ll sleep on it and go over it again tomorrow, but I’m well pleased with my efforts. Fork poised and ready to stick.

Also did a couple more passes on the new story and re-loaded it to Critters. MPC processed and it’s slated to go up next week. Huzzah.

I feel quite productive even though all I did today is rewrite. Probably ’cause the rewrites were fairly extensive.

Rah.

Saw a matinée showing of Finding Nemo yesterday. There were a lot of kids at it. Yes, I know: animated film from Pixar, G-rated, afternoon showing. I did indeed realize beforehand that there were going to be a mass of kids. For the most part, they were well behaved. But the one or two that insisted or screaming or crying throughout the movie were a bit rough on my overall viewing enjoyment. But, at least I didn’t have anyone kicking the back of my chair for the whole show.

Nemo was beautiful. Pixar really has their act together when it comes to breathtaking animation. And I really liked their sensibilities when it came to human behavior. We’re callous and unthinking towards animals! Yes, we are! Overall, Nemo is a sweet and charming flick. I recommend it to anyone who has a smidgen of whimsy left in their jaded, cynical souls.

We are out of coffee filters. Calamity! Catastrophe! Not a good thing! I’m eying the coffee beans, wondering how they’ll taste eaten straight and not coated in chocolate. Blargh. We’ll definitely need to make a coffee filter run.

My new clonazepam meds are fun. Yep, they’re fun. I took my dose late last night and then worked on updating my writing webpage (no, I didn’t code anything funky). After an hour or two, I got up to go wooze and giggle at Matthew. An hour after that, I tipped over and fell asleep. But there was some time in there where I was light-headed, euphoric, and giggly. So hurray for something amusing coming out of all the stupid meds I’m taking. I’m still a little wobbly now. And without my coffee I’m not sure how long it may last. But at least it’s a fun wobbly. Wheee.

Did three more passes on the new story yesterday. Managed to cull around 300 anti-words. It’s still longish, hovering at that border between short story and novelette, though. Sigh. I do tend to write to that length, the 7-8K death count. Oh well. I like the story. That’s the important thing.

Neat! Got a bunch of communications coming down from the publishers/editors of the Blasphemy anthology with my story in it: “In Suffering Lies Salvation.” They’re aiming for an October/November publication date and it’s also currently up for pre-order at Shocklines.com.

For mature readers only! Trade paperback retail price: $16.50

And they’re doing a promotional dealie. The first 200 copies get this limited edition Unholy Communion wafer:

From the publisher:
Disclaimer – Massacre Publications assumes absolutely no responsibility if the purchase of this book secures you an eternal place in Hell!

Now that’s incentive, ain’t it?

Okay, dammit. I did the “How compatible are you with your LJ friends?” quiz thingy. Here’s the results, but I insisted upon putting the damn thing behind a cut:

Continue reading →

Got a nice shiny prescription for clonazepam, which is a honker of a muscle relaxant. It’s a benzodiazepine so it’s got some pretty swoofy tranquilizing effects too. I’m on a single .5mg/day dose that I take at bedtime, so most of the woozy side effects are mitigated by me being asleep.

Still hurting, but much better.

Ground my teeth in pain last night and finished off the story I was working on. Managed to crank out another 2K words. And it’s done! Not counting days I was forced not to write because of my TOS, I wrote a 7.5K story in three days. Neat! Speed writing. I can dig it. Tossing it up to Critters with an MPC next week. I like it. Hope readers do too.

And for the exciting news of the hour: Hitting the Skids in Pixeltown, the anthology edited by Orson Scott Card with my winning story in it, “All in My Mind,” is up for pre-order at Amazon.com:

Paperback: 280 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 8.50 x 5.50
Publisher: Phobos Books
ISBN: 0972002618

It’s in trade paperback format and at $10.47 (a savings of $4.48 from the list price of $14.95) it’s a real deal! Scheduled release date is September.

Buyitbuyitbuyit. Pleeeease? I’ll sign it for you even!

Called in sick today and yesterday. My TOS is really flaring up, so I’ll make this entry short.

I feel totally health-screwed. The warning on my new meds for my Lupus/MCTD say “don’t take any meds in conjunction with this one, prescription or over-the-counter, without consulting your doctor!” in big all caps, and they include Aleve and Advil as things to check about because of the risk of gastro-intestinal damage from the methotrexate. So I’m scared to take Ibuprofen or Naproxen for the pain, and Acetaminophen doesn’t do jack.

Ow.

I’m falling behind in my correspondences and my writing because I’m trying to avoid the keyboard so the pain will go away. But I’m 5.5K words into a new story that I’ve got the ending, climax, everything all mapped out in my head. It’s killing me not being able to write it. Wah!

If I could just take a big ole painkiller, the pain would recede enough for me to type. But I’m scared to because of my new meds.

Ooo, this is intolerable! I’m calling my rheumatologist as soon as his office opens!