Category Archives: LJ

Received from Black Gate in the mail yesterday. Handwritten and signed by John O’Neill the Editor:

” . . . Almost! This is a terrific tale – fast moving, surprising, and fun, and with great characters. However . . . ”

Fuck fuck fuckity fuck fuck!

Dammit. It’s the near misses that really get to me. He did ask to see more from me, though.

Sigh. Oh well. Out it goes again today.

In other news, I should go to yoga today, but I’m feeling too unmotivated (read grumpy) to get myself going. Think I’ll read for a bit, sulk, and try to write. Not necessarily in that order.

I just got the most perplexing letter in the mail today. It was a wedding announcement. The blushing bride being . . . my mother.

“Perplexing?” you might ask. “Why perplexing?”

And I reply “Because I didn’t know she was seeing anyone, much less engaged.”

I knew she was moving to China, and apparently this is the reason why. But I’m rather curious who this person, her new husband, is. The announcement says he’s a “Dr.” I’m not sure if that’s medical or academic. I’m betting academic, though.

Okay. It’s not like my mother and I are close. We’re barely on speaking terms. But I really would have thought I’d have gotten more than “surprise, I got re-married.” I mean, I introduced Matthew to her before we got married. There wasn’t even a letter in the announcement. Or a picture. I have no idea what my new step-father looks like.

Hell, I just discovered he existed about five minutes ago. Wonder if I’ll ever get to meet him.

Well, I hope they’re happy together. Despite our inability to find anything remotely close to common ground during my upbringing, I do hope that her new husband is a good man and that they find joy in each other.

Should I buy her a blender? Um.

It’s been an odd day.

You are a freeform writer. Individualistic with a
sense for the different and challenging, Walt
Whitman and his poetry lacking meter and rhyme
is just what the doctor ordered. You’re quick
to write something that the rest of the world
doesn’t accept as poetry, quick to separate
yourself from the average joe. An author with a
true sense of self, you have confidence in your
abilities and aren’t afraid to show it. 🙂 GO
YOU!

What’s YOUR Writing Style?
brought to you by Quizilla

I keep pinching myself, but I don’t appear to be asleep.

I just got an email from the new editor of a pro-paying e-zine. She read and critiqued one of my stories on Critters. She was writing to ask me if it had been published yet because she really liked it.

Gluh? Editors of pro-paying publications are soliciting me for fiction now? Wha?

As it turns out, the story in question is currently being considered at another market, but I told her if they pass on it, I’ll send it her way.

Still pinching myself. *ouch* And yep, still awake.

Hobkin’s sleeping like a lump in my lap this morning while I wait for Matthew to wake up. He (Hobkin, not Matthew) was actually rather lump-like for most of yesterday too. I had to make Matthew fetch the mail because I was pinned by a slumbering skunk, and then Hobkin didn’t do more than raise his head and blink sleepily at me when I began whooping and shrieking upon opening the note from Cricket. Sometimes, nothing perturbs him, and others, you can’t even open a door without him stomping at you.

He stomped a lot at the new tuffet. I wish I’d had the digicam out. Missed several choice “awww!” photo moments with Hobkin stretching his little head out to sniff noses with the tuffet.

Matthew emptied, cleaned, and refilled the hot tub yesterday. It should have heated to the proper temperature overnight, and then it’s all soaking goodness. Ahhh.

Today, I will write. I meant to get a big ole chunk of writing in yesterday, but I sort of got de-railed by the sale news. But hell, my muse can get thrown off like that any day.

I’m within sniffing distance of finishing up a fantasy adventure/mystery fusion short story. And then back to the novella. Charge!

My GOD this has been an excellent day! I just SOLD my kitsune folktale “When Shakko Did Not Lie” to CRICKET!

God, I wanted to break into them so badly! I can’t believe it!

And what they’re paying me for this story will pay for the second half of our new television.

Hot DAMN!

I’m gonna go screaming through the house now.

Apparently I’m in a big LJ updatey mood. Today is Ostara, the Festival of the Trees. Happy Ostara everyone!

Matthew and I left beer bread and bourbon balls out under the topiary tree for the visiting faerie folk. Look what they left us!

It’s a Dianne Shapiro soft sculpture tuffet/ottoman. I saw one like it at a Caribou Coffee and just fell in love with it. I’ve got a passion for whimsical things. Dianne Shapiro has this line of humane trophies including plush bear rugs, animal heads and “other ends,” and of course, tuffets! Absolutely adorable. Stuffed animal furniture. Gotta love it.

Matthew also got me Wolf Wing a new Tanith Lee book. And I got him the complete Series One Wodehouse Playhouse on DVD.

We went out for breakfast and it’s amazing outside. The trees are sprouting these gorgeous colored blooms. Even the ground covering is coming out in lavenders and yellows. I love spring in Georgia.

Ooo. There’s cover art for the Blasphemy anthology up at the website!

Isn’t it sexy?

Paul Fry, one of the editors, sent me a request for my bio for the book, so it looks like things are moving right along with them. But I’m never happy with my bios. Should I make it funny? Or serious? Do people read them anyway? Glargh.

They still haven’t sent me the contract. I do wish editors would send contracts out more promptly. It never quite feels real unless there are signatures involved.

Why should I express my rage and horror about the war when Peter Freundlich says it so much better HERE?

Thanks to mouseferatu for the setting-it-down-on-LJ-so-people-can-link-to-it part.

I’m not dwelling on the war. Refusing to dwell on the war. I have a friend who’s in the air force reserves. They haven’t called him for active duty, but it’s hanging there, the possibility that they might.

Agh. Not dwelling on the war!

So . . . this week has seen several important holidays:
Hob Day/St. Patrick’s day on Monday
Feast of the Lady on Tuesday
The Vernal Equinox yesterday
And Ostara on Saturday

To celebrate, Matthew and I put up our Spring decorations. We bought a topiary bush and adorned it with berry sprigs and a string of butterfly lights, and have hung a pair of light strings over the fireplace encased in these little wicker balls so the resultant shadow gives the room a forest glade ambiance.

And, since Spring is all about renewal and feasting, we’ve feasted.

On the menu this week: fresh baked beer bread, homemade bourbon balls (actually, we didn’t have any bourbon so substituted scotch and when my back was turned, Matthew sploshed a little extra in than the recipe called for, so there’s a definite kick to these), delicious apple and parsnip soup, Matthew’s amazing eggplant parmesan, parsnip cakes, and fresh asparagus and plum tomatoes sautéed in olive oil over pasta. Yummy.

Happy Spring everyone.