Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Waning Moon
Rainy and cold

The whole coping thing is getting me down. Because I’m exhausted, and I’d like to have a few days where I don’t cope, but that isn’t going to happen any time soon. I knew I hit a rough patch when I got weepy in the grocery store around all the Thanksgiving fixings.

Busy day. Hauled a bunch of stuff out of storage, purged, repacked, consolidated. I have several boxes to take back today. Found some books I was looking for, including the letters between Edith Wharton and Henry James; I’m reading Hermione Lee’s Edith Wharton bio. Then, one of my Bookmooch books arrived – about Henry James! Perfect! I can wallow in that whole literary era.

Stopped by the mechanic and had him teach me all about changing the oil, checking the air pressure in the tires, and adjusting it. It’s stuff I need to know, not rely on others to always do for me, and I never learned how to do it on this car. Now I know. Now I can cope.

Cooked an enormous beef stew, enough to feed a slew of relatives in Maine later this week, because, with all the death stuff and the Thanksgiving planning, let’s face it, everyone’s exhausted. Baked three batches of brownies – the quick ones, not the cappuccino ones that take three hours to make! One batch is for the neighbor hosting a dinner tonight which I can’t attend; one is for the big dinner in Maine on Thursday, and the other is for us, because there was too much batter and not enough pans, so I used a wonky pan and it’s a sad-looking little batch, but it sure tastes good.

Found a bunch of yarn in one of the purged boxes; untangled that and re-rolled it, with help from the cats. Found a bunch of material, some of it a half-finished, really pretty skirt, so all that’s been washed.

Dealt with a bunch of business stuff.

Worked on the assignment from Confidential Job #1.

Got some more of the materials I need for the massive Holiday Gift making extravaganza that will begin this weekend. I just need one more thing, that I will pick up in Maine on Wednesday, and I’m good to go. Got the materials for my cousin’s present that I have to put together before I leave for Maine. Found a great deal on some holiday cards and bought enough so I don’t have to stress, and can get the overseas cards out this coming weekend. Christmas is happening this year, I am just being extremely creative about giving people cool, unusual stuff while keeping to a miniscule budget.

Still no check from that editor. I’m a fit to be tied, to use an old-fashioned expression.

Trying to figure out which of the blossoming story ideas are short forms, and which are novels.

Trying to figure out where I’ll hustle for work when I get back from Maine, because I have to make up the shortfall caused by the deadbeat clients.

Got a couple more press releases to get out.

It’s a lot.

Good morning’s work on the mystery. I uploaded the whole file, verified it, and got my winner’s certificate. I can’t download the badges for some reason – hopefully, it reproduced properly here. Because I’d kind of like to gloat for a few days. Okay, it didn’t work. I’ll just have to get over it, won’t I?

You won’t hear from me until Saturday morning, because I’m headed up to Maine for the big dinner/tribute.

Have a great holiday.

Devon

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 58,180 words out of 50,000 (Nano goal)

58 / 50 (116.0%)

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 58,180 words out of 75,000 (total goal)

58 / 75 (77.3%)

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Sunday, November 23, 2008
Waning Moon
Sunny and cold

Nina Bell is back! Yes, all of you who’ve loved her and missed her, she’s just as much of an impulsive mess as ever as she tries to figure out what happened to a college friend, while juggling an ever-complicated love life, and trying to make a living in NYC’s theatre world of 1993. The novella Too Much Mistletoe, just over 20,000 words is available for only $2.99. You can read an excerpt of it here and purchase it here.

That took up most of yesterday, dealing with Nina and her proclivities. I also managed to go to my friend’s place and give the dog a good workout. I wanted to make cappuccino brownies, but realized I have no powdered sugar, so I have to take care of that today.

Emotionally, it was an up and down day, as I’m sure each day will be for the next few weeks. Thank you so much for your continued support. It means a lot to me.

And the cats were absolute Velcro kitties – stuck to me all day long. They also managed to knock my phone down somewhere, and I can’t find it, so, at a reasonable hour when it won’t disturb the neighbors, I’ll have to call myself from the landline to track it down.

Sigh.

Got tons of stuff to do today – it’s really cold, in the thirties, so I’m all bundled up. Making brownies this afternoon will help, although (knock wood), they’ve actually given us some heat these last few days.

Also need to get Confidential Job #1’s next assignment done.

And, of course, the check I was promised over a week ago from that one particular editor who got that “s— or get off the pot” email from me and promised me a check, has yet to arrive.

Guess I won’t be working for them again.

Decent morning’s work on the mystery. I’m back down to a saner pace, and now I can fill in some of the other pieces that also need to get done. I achieved part of what I set out to do – hit the 50K in November, tried a new-to-me genre. I still have to finish the draft, then put it away and figure out what to do with it, but I’m turning my attention to the myriad of December deadlines looming before me, figuring out how to balance them with all the holiday stuff that must be done.

To answer Diane’s quilting question from a few days ago, primarily I will machine quilt the pieces of quilt top I found. I may do some hand quilting in the actual quilting stage, but we’ll have to see where I am at that point. I’m piecing it all by machine. If I do hand quilt, I’ll get one of the oval quilt frames. When I hand quilt on my own, I find the oval frames easier to deal with, while if I hand quilt in a group, the rectangular frames work better, because it’s easier to range people around the frame.

I’m very excited, though, about both “The Ramsey Chase” and “Too Much Mistletoe”. The first Mick Feeney story is also taking a nice shape, so I think you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.

The latest issue of Devon’s Random Newsletter went out yesterday. If you didn’t get your copy, or you ‘d like to sign up, go here.

Devon

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 55,055 words out of 50,000 (Nano goal)

55 / 50 (110.0%)

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 55,0ff words out of est. 75,000 (total goal)

55 / 75 (73.3%)

Devon’s Bookstore:

NEW! Too Much Mistletoe A Nina Bell Holiday Mystery by Devon Ellington. Nina Bell is back! Still trying to make a living in the New York theatre world of the 1990s, she’s trying to figure out which is the bigger mystery – a college friend’s disappearance, or her ever-complicated love life, as every man she meets wants to hang mistletoe over her head. Read an excerpt here and purchase the story for only $2.99 USD here .

NEW! “The Ramsey Chase” A Remarkable Adventure of Cornelia True and Roman Gray By Devon Ellington
Meet the adventurous Cornelia True of Bodwin’s Ferry, whose life changes forever when “fixer” Roman Gray lands naked in her petunias, and they combine forces to track down a serial killer determined to murder thirteen women in thirteen months for their blood, with his latest victim right there in Bodwin’s Ferry!
Only $1.49 USD for this 10K adventure, the very first Penny’s Dreadfuls release! Read an excerpt of the adventure here.
Purchase the story here.

THE JAIN LAZARUS ADVENTURES
Free limited download
“The Possession of Nattie Filmore: A Jain Lazarus Adventure” by Devon Ellington. If you loved HEX BREAKER, you’ll love spending time with Jain and Wyatt as they try to solve a haunted house mystery. Read an excerpt of the story and download it free here

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

BOOKS FOR WRITERS
Back By Popular Demand! 30 Tips for 30 Days: Kick Start Your Novel and Get Out of Your Own Way. A Nano Handbook by Devon Ellington. FREE!
If you’ve ever wondered whether or not you could survive National Novel Writing Month, this is the handbook for you! Ideas on preparations, setting goals, overcoming blocks, pushing yourself, tips for each day of the process, and ideas for going beyond, this handbook by veteran Nano-er Devon Ellington will help you survive. Best of all, it’s free! Download it here.
Limited time offer
Sensory Perceptions: Techniques to Improve Your Writing Through the Six Senses by Devon Ellington. Use the six senses to take your writing to the next level via a series of sense-specific exercises. By the end of seven weeks, you complete seven short stories!. $1.29 USD. Here.

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

Sautrday, November 22, 2008

Saturday, November 22, 2008
Waning Moon
Sunny and cold

It’s here! “The Ramsey Chase” is up and ready for purchase! It’s a retro-futuristic piece with touches of comedy and mystery, and the potential for a very interesting relationship to develop between Mr. Roman Gray and Miss Cornelia True in the eccentric town of Bodwin’s Ferry. If the villain, Dexter Ramsey, had a mustache, he’d twirl it. It’s just under 10K, and only $1.49 USD, and it’s the very first Penny’s Dreadfuls release, so I hope you all enjoy it!

You can read an excerpt of it here, and there’s a purchase link below the excerpt.

There will be more adventures for Cornelia and Roman – they’re such fun. And there are plenty of directions for them to travel, both literally and emotionally!

The cover looks better than it’s reproducing – I look forward to investing, after the first of the year, in Page Plus, and then redesigning all my covers. Every time I have to deal with NitroPDF, I am less pleased with it. Actually, if I didn’t feel the sales team lied to me, I probably wouldn’t be so angry.

Yesterday was a rough day, emotionally, so I just cut myself a lot of slack.

I dashed into the city and back, which was fine, but the day quickly deteriorated from there. I was called to turn around and go back for the show, but I already had a commitment and couldn’t, which is okay, because I wasn’t emotionally ready to deal with everyone, as lovely and supportive as they all are.

Tons of errands to do today, preparing for the trip to Maine, getting the Nina Bell Christmas story up, and starting the first Mick Feeney adventure.

Good morning’s work on the mystery. I think I’ll dedicate it to my grandmother – she always loved a good mystery. Let’s hope this one is good.

We’re moving into the last week of Nano, the home stretch. Had to cut loose another of the N3s, who isn’t writing or communicating and broke the agreement. I’ve given her several chances to explain, but there’s just no contact and no writing, and that’s unacceptable. Don’t waste my time, especially not right now. Buh-bye.

Thanks again, for all your continued support during this difficult time.

Devon

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 53,208 words out of 50,000 (Nano goal)

53 / 50 (106.0%)

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 53,208 out of est. 75,000 (total goal)

53 / 75 (70.7%)

Devon’s Bookstore:

NEW! “The Ramsey Chase” A Remarkable Adventure of Cornelia True and Roman Gray By Devon Ellington
Meet the adventurous Cornelia True of Bodwin’s Ferry, whose life changes forever when “fixer” Roman Gray lands naked in her petunias, and they combine forces to track down a serial killer determined to murder thirteen women in thirteen months for their blood, with his latest victim right there in Bodwin’s Ferry!
Only $1.49 USD for this 10K adventure, the very first Penny’s Dreadfuls release! Read an excerpt of the adventure here.
Purchase the story here.

THE JAIN LAZARUS ADVENTURES
Free limited download
“The Possession of Nattie Filmore: A Jain Lazarus Adventure” by Devon Ellington. If you loved HEX BREAKER, you’ll love spending time with Jain and Wyatt as they try to solve a haunted house mystery. Read an excerpt of the story and download it free here

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

BOOKS FOR WRITERS
Back By Popular Demand! 30 Tips for 30 Days: Kick Start Your Novel and Get Out of Your Own Way. A Nano Handbook by Devon Ellington. FREE!
If you’ve ever wondered whether or not you could survive National Novel Writing Month, this is the handbook for you! Ideas on preparations, setting goals, overcoming blocks, pushing yourself, tips for each day of the process, and ideas for going beyond, this handbook by veteran Nano-er Devon Ellington will help you survive. Best of all, it’s free! Download it here.
Limited time offer
Sensory Perceptions: Techniques to Improve Your Writing Through the Six Senses by Devon Ellington. Use the six senses to take your writing to the next level via a series of sense-specific exercises. By the end of seven weeks, you complete seven short stories!. $1.29 USD. Here.

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

Friday, November 21,2008

Friday, November 21, 2008
Waning Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Cloudy and cold

It snowed yesterday, which cheered me up, especially since I didn’t have to go out in it! It was just flurries, but it was fun.

Yesterday was tough. The shock of the death wore off, and the reality set in. It comes in waves – I’m okay for awhile, until I’m not. Spoke with the family up in Maine; they’re looking forward to having us come up next week. We’re all relieved that my grandmother is no longer suffering, but it’s a big hole in all our lives.

You know it’s not a good day when I get into a cleaning frenzy!

I got the next assignment from Confidential Job #1, which I plan to do this weekend, so I can invoice them before the holidays!

I spent most of the day revising and designing both “The Ramsey Chase” and the Nina Bell Christmas Story, which is now entitled “Too Much Mistletoe”. “The Ramsey Chase” is within a whisker of going up – I hope to get it up today or tomorrow – the first official Penny’s Dreadful release! I’m excited. The cover photo is something I took in Cornwall when I visited a few years back, and I think it fits the mood well. It’s a fun piece, and I hope everyone enjoys it.

Which means I have to start the first Mick Feeney adventure today or tomorrow!

I had a good morning’s work on the mystery today, cracking 50K. The temptation is to stop, but that’s just going to drag everything else down. What I can do is now push less, drop back to a saner 1500 words/day instead of pushing for the 2500. But now I’m in the rhythm of the piece, so maybe I’ll keep it up. I have to play it all by ear. I’ve got so many deadlines coming up in December and January that I have to stay on track. I’m not complaining; I just want to find a sane way to get it all done.

Off to the city for some errands this morning, then back to deal with some business correspondence and back to the page.

Devon

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery –50,179 words out of 50,000 (Nano goal)

50 / 50 (100.0%)

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 50,179 words out of est. 75,000 (total goal)

50 / 75 (66.7%)

Devon’s Bookstore:

NEW!Sensory Perceptions: Techniques to Improve Your Writing Through the Six Senses by Devon Ellington. Use the six senses to take your writing to the next level via a series of sense-specific exercises. By the end of seven weeks, you complete seven short stories!. $1.29 USD. Here.

Free limited download
“The Possession of Nattie Filmore: A Jain Lazarus Adventure” by Devon Ellington. If you loved HEX BREAKER, you’ll love spending time with Jain and Wyatt as they try to solve a haunted house mystery. Read an excerpt of the story and download it free here

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

Back By Popular Demand!
30 Tips for 30 Days: Kick Start Your Novel and Get Out of Your Own Way. A Nano Handbook by Devon Ellington. FREE!
If you’ve ever wondered whether or not you could survive National Novel Writing Month, this is the handbook for you! Ideas on preparations, setting goals, overcoming blocks, pushing yourself, tips for each day of the process, and ideas for going beyond, this handbook by veteran Nano-er Devon Ellington will help you survive. Best of all, it’s free! Download it here.
Limited time offer

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Waning Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Cloudy, cold, snow flurries

Yes, we’re set to have our first snow of the season today!

Sandy Lender’s making a stop on A Biblio Paradise on her blog tour. Stop by, check it out, leave a comment!

A short story of mine was rejected yesterday, which was disappointing. Even more disappointing is that I didn’t do my due diligence before I started submissions, so I haven’t yet created a list for it. I won’t have time to do anything about it until the end of the month. I hate just having a story sit around, but it’s my own damned fault. I thought it would be a good fit for this particular publication, hurried to meet the deadline, and then moved on to something else, instead of my tried-and-true list-making method.

I also have some other stories sitting around, and I have in mind several markets for them, but haven’t actually gotten around to submitting them; that will need to happen this week.

But then again, many things need to happen this week!

Got good news from the producer – she wants my next two plays. So we have to figure out deadlines for them.

Catching up with the research for the IOWFA interviews – I’m hosting a week’s worth of authors early in December from this particular group over on A Biblio Paradise.

Drove to White Plains on errands – some of them turned out to be fool’s errands; couldn’t find what I needed; will drive to Mohegan Lake later today to see if they have it.

Did a massive grocery shop. Realized that, due to what I saved by shopping at Costco last week, not only did I save $50 on the Costco stuff, but it cut my grocery bill by $13-$15 today. It’s nice when the numbers actually make sense.

Cooked a turkey chili for dinner – first time in my life I ever made chili. It was good!

I miss the linked, slightly magical, fantastical stories I worked on in October, and hope I can get back to them in December.

Decided to shelve the western novella for the moment – it wasn’t a solid contract, so, although there was a deadline to it, without a contract in place, I don’t feel bound by it. Withdrew gracefully, and will complete it when it’s appropriate – and probably submit it elsewhere. Part of the struggle was that I don’t particularly have warm and fuzzy feelings towards this particular house – there have been too many false promises out of them, and, unless there’s a solid contract in place, it’s silly for me to put me in a position to be jerked around when I have other, more solid contracts in place. However, not too many houses at this point do westerns, and it’s a genre of which I’m rather fond.

But I have more pressing and more solid, contracted, definitely paying deadlines to worry about, so something had to give. And it was the project with the least solid promise from the other side of the table.

How much do you want to bet that, now that I’ve decide to shelve it, the characters will have a different idea? Besides, Josiah and Amanda are too good to push back for long!

But Nina’s awfully persistent, and she’s determined to get her Christmas story out in a timely fashion, and Cornelia and Roman are quite irritated that I am STILL working on their tale . . .but we’re working up to The Big Reveal, which will be followed by The Big Finale, and then The Big Dilemma.

And there’s another project, still in too early stages to discuss in detail, that needs to be prepped (as in figured out and WRITTEN) for an early January launch.

And Aunt Doris and Cassio still want THEIR Christmas story written – they keep promising me it will be SHORT.

And Jain’s got a New Year’s story that’s clamoring to get out . . .

Sigh.

Good morning’s work on the mystery. In spite of all I need to fill in, I feel as though I’ve got a solid skeleton on which to build a book.

Devon

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 42,556 words out of 50,000 (Nano goal)

42 / 50 (84.0%)

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 42,556 words out of 75,000 (total goal)

42 / 75 (56.0%)

Devon’s Bookstore:

NEW!Sensory Perceptions: Techniques to Improve Your Writing Through the Six Senses by Devon Ellington. Use the six senses to take your writing to the next level via a series of sense-specific exercises. By the end of seven weeks, you complete seven short stories!. $1.29 USD. Here.

Free limited download
“The Possession of Nattie Filmore: A Jain Lazarus Adventure” by Devon Ellington. If you loved HEX BREAKER, you’ll love spending time with Jain and Wyatt as they try to solve a haunted house mystery. Read an excerpt of the story and download it free here

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

Back By Popular Demand!
30 Tips for 30 Days: Kick Start Your Novel and Get Out of Your Own Way. A Nano Handbook by Devon Ellington. FREE!
If you’ve ever wondered whether or not you could survive National Novel Writing Month, this is the handbook for you! Ideas on preparations, setting goals, overcoming blocks, pushing yourself, tips for each day of the process, and ideas for going beyond, this handbook by veteran Nano-er Devon Ellington will help you survive. Best of all, it’s free! Download it here.
Limited time offer

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

Monday, November 17, 2008

Monday, November 17, 2008
Waning Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Sunny and cold

I have a new article up on WOMEN ON WRITING about Outlining Vs Blank Page process. You can check it out here.

The interview with me on Long and Short Reviews will be up in May 2009 (don’t worry, I’ll remind you) and my day on Stacy Dawn’s special Christmas blog-a-thon is December 13 (yeah, I’ll remind you about that one, too).

Except for the mystery, I didn’t write much yesterday. I went to storage. I got out the Christmas decorations. Some of them, I hadn’t seen since I packed them in 2001. They’re already up. I’m not putting up the others until the first of Advent, but I’d unpacked them to look at them, and it seemed silly to repack them for two weeks.

I also rescued some of my favorite china and did some rearranging so I can keep it in the apartment and use it. I’m repacking some boxes of stuff I don’t need, and that will go back to storage. I’m going through all those boxes marked “misc.”, repacking and reorganizing and maybe even doing some purging.

I got work done on the Nina Bell Christmas story, and on “The Ramsey Chase.”

The interview with Kim Smith was so much fun. It was so nice to actually talk to her, after all the emailing back and forth. I can’t wait for her book to come out in January, so I can host her!

Good morning’s work on the mystery. I cracked 40K today, so I’m in my own home stretch. Hopefully, these upcoming 10K will be easier than the last 10K!

I’ve got a lot of business correspondence to deal with, and, now that the computer is semi-running properly, more interview stuff to get out for the IWOFA week I’m hosting in December. Plus errands, grocery shopping, etc.

Poor Iris had ear trouble. I thought she and Elsa might have ear mites, so I gave them ear mite medicine, but, in Iris’s case, it seemed to make it worse. So I washed everything out yesterday with simple soap and water (can you imagine how much she hated that?), but today the ears seem clean and clear and are back to their normal color. And she’s stopped scratching. Whew.

I figured out what I want to make for holiday presents for people – something from the heart, but not too complicated, but still cool enough and fun enough so that each one is totally unique. If I can get everything in the next day or two, I’ll do a few prototypes and then get to work. If what I envision works, I’ve just solved the bulk of my gift-giving for the season in a way that’s both completely unique AND something I can afford in this economy.

I was a little worried.

Back to the page.

Devon

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 40,018 out of 50,000 (Nano goal)

40 / 50 (80.0%)

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 40,018 out of est. 75,000 (total goal)

40 / 75 (53.3%)

Devon’s Bookstore:

NEW!Sensory Perceptions: Techniques to Improve Your Writing Through the Six Senses by Devon Ellington. Use the six senses to take your writing to the next level via a series of sense-specific exercises. By the end of seven weeks, you complete seven short stories!. $1.29 USD. Here.

Free limited download
“The Possession of Nattie Filmore: A Jain Lazarus Adventure” by Devon Ellington. If you loved HEX BREAKER, you’ll love spending time with Jain and Wyatt as they try to solve a haunted house mystery. Read an excerpt of the story and download it free here

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

Back By Popular Demand!
30 Tips for 30 Days: Kick Start Your Novel and Get Out of Your Own Way. A Nano Handbook by Devon Ellington. FREE!
If you’ve ever wondered whether or not you could survive National Novel Writing Month, this is the handbook for you! Ideas on preparations, setting goals, overcoming blocks, pushing yourself, tips for each day of the process, and ideas for going beyond, this handbook by veteran Nano-er Devon Ellington will help you survive. Best of all, it’s free! Download it here.
Limited time offer

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Sunday, November 16, 2008
Waning Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Cloudy and cool

A couple of guest blog posts are up.

There’s an interview with me on Writing the Danger:

And a guest blog up on retaining the Joy in your writing on Writing the Cyber Highway:

I hope you stop by and drop a comment on both!

Adventures!

I haul two loads of laundry down four flights of stairs to the building’s basement, toss them in the machines, add the soap, put in the money, slide it home. The machine eats the money and doesn’t start. I kicked it; didn’t help.

So I called the temp super, who fixed it with some sort of magic, and I got my laundry done. Unfortunately, the dryer’s acting up, so hot I burned my hands taking the clothes out, which makes me worry something could catch fire.

I completed an interview and wrote two guest blog posts. I also did some rewrites on a novella-length piece – yes, Nina Bell fans, she is coming back! So stay tuned.

Did some other business stuff, and that was the day. It zoomed by pretty quickly.

This morning’s work on the mystery was tough, and I’m a little under where I’d like to be. I usually hit 50K around the 18th or 19th (last year I hit it on the 13th, but I was on fire), but this year I won’t. As long as it’s done by Thanksgiving, right?

I was also looking at desktop publishing programs. Nitro PDF does not meet my needs; I’m in search of something that does. I won’t be able to get it until after the first of the year, but at least I can do my research now. So far, I’m leaning towards PagePlus.

I’ve got to get some stuff out of storage – I’m getting out the Christmas decorations, and some important-to-me dishes and glassware. Usually, I don’t like starting too early for the holidays, but, for some reason, I’m having a great deal of time preventing myself from decorating for Yule already. I had hoped to be in my house by now, so I’m extremely disappointed in myself.

Back to the page.

Devon

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 37,416 words out of 50,000 (Nano goal)

37 / 50 (74.0%)

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 37,416 words out of est. 75,000 words (total goal)

37 / 75 (49.3%)

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Saturday, November 15, 2008
Waning Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Rainy and cool

Long and Short Reviews sent me an exciting email to let me know that HEX BREAKER is in the running as “Best Book” for this past week. It’s a poll, and voting is only open today and tomorrow. If you get a chance, please go here:

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/recentrev.htm
and vote for me! (If you liked the book, of course, if you don’t have a book in the running, or if you don’t have a friend whose book you’d like to vote for).

It was nice to come back to that email, let me tell you, because yesterday was quite a day.

Chase gets yet another Middle Finger Award. ‘Nuff said. I have a distinct feeling it will get yet another of those rewards today, too.

Metro North was late – as usual. And the conductors are too damned stupid to figure out if doors are open or closed, so, please, just send them back to kindergarten and let five and six year olds who have some common sense run the railroads.

Manhattan was full of fashion disasters yesterday. One was a girl of about ten, who can be forgiven. She wore red and black plaid shorts with a red sweater and tights. Okay, not too bad. Except that the tights had a black and white checkerboard pattern that fought with the plaid in the shorts rather than complimented it. Even at age ten, she couldn’t pull it off.

Then, there was the woman in her thirties. Healthy figure, not too big, not stick thin. But she wore a skirt in cobalt blue, black, and yellow plaid SATIN, above the knee, that fell in ruffled tiers. Now, it was just shy of being a mini-skirt, so probably 14-20 inches from waist to hem. And it had FIVE tiers. I counted ‘em. It wouldn’t have suited a beanpole, much less a human being. It was paired with thick black tights, a blunt, flat boot, and a baggy cardigan sweater. And her friend, a few years younger, wore a mini dress in sparkling horizontal blue and gold stripes. Really not attractive. If it was for an evening event, paired with navy sheer stockings, a bit of a heel, and some simple jewelry, she could have pulled it off. But in the middle of the day, worn with clunky black opaque tights, flat UGGS, and a bulky, unattractive man’s varsity-style jacket she probably wore to tell the world that yes, she IS having sex – it didn’t work. I hope they lost a bet or something and hadn’t chosen those outfits! And I found it hard to believe that they were coming home from the previous night at 11 in the morning – if that was the case, they’d be cabbing it, not strolling up Fifth Avenue smoking menthol cigarettes!

They just didn’t have enough individual charisma to pull it off. There are those who could have looked like they were marching to a very unique fashion drummer, but not these two. Individually, the pieces weren’t all that bad (except, in my opinion, the plaid satin skirt), but the way they were put together didn’t work.

Came back home, ran some errands, visited my friend in her new place, cooked dinner, and had a quiet evening.

Woke up around 5 this morning after dreaming that I was doing some work with Vice President Elect Joe Biden. I mean, I know I’m enthusiastic about this new administration and all, but that’s a little ridiculous!

I’m at the struggling point in Nano, which I usually hit between 30-40K. Urgh. A struggle, even though I have a good idea where I’m going. But I just push through.

I heard from my editor and we seem to have worked things out. I’ll know by the end of next week. I’m little leery at this point.

Don’t forget, I’m on the radio tomorrow at 4 PM EST:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/kims

Back to the page.

Devon

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 35,044 words out of 50,000 (Nano goal)

35 / 50 (70.0%)

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 35,044 words out of est. 75,000 (total goal)

35 / 75 (46.7%)

Devon’s Bookstore:

NEW!Sensory Perceptions: Techniques to Improve Your Writing Through the Six Senses by Devon Ellington. Use the six senses to take your writing to the next level via a series of sense-specific exercises. By the end of seven weeks, you complete seven short stories!. $1.29 USD. Here.

Free limited download
“The Possession of Nattie Filmore: A Jain Lazarus Adventure” by Devon Ellington. If you loved HEX BREAKER, you’ll love spending time with Jain and Wyatt as they try to solve a haunted house mystery. Read an excerpt of the story and download it free here

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

Back By Popular Demand!
30 Tips for 30 Days: Kick Start Your Novel and Get Out of Your Own Way. A Nano Handbook by Devon Ellington. FREE!
If you’ve ever wondered whether or not you could survive National Novel Writing Month, this is the handbook for you! Ideas on preparations, setting goals, overcoming blocks, pushing yourself, tips for each day of the process, and ideas for going beyond, this handbook by veteran Nano-er Devon Ellington will help you survive. Best of all, it’s free! Download it here.
Limited time offer

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

Friday, November 14, 2008

Friday, November 14, 2008
Waning Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Rainy and chilly

Thanks so much for bringing the review to my attention! I had no idea that HEX BREAKER had been reviewed by Long and Short Reviews.

There’s also an excerpt up for “The Ramsey Chase”, the first Cornelia True/Roman Gray adventure.

Hopefully, that whets your appetite for the whole story!

Busy day yesterday, with lots of busy-ness and business, but it will all be fine. Chase gets yet another Middle Finger Award (I think they’re going for the world record). I don’t even want to go into it, I just want these banks held accountable for fucking up regularly and screwing their customers up various portions of their anatomy whenever possible.

Oh, and gee, that bailout package that the Treasury Secretary swore was necessary to get credit flowing? Turns out the banks aren’t flowing credit, they’re hoarding it and/or using it to give the executives who got us into this mess more bonuses. In other words, Mr. Treasury Secretary, the facts have NOT changed, as you claim – you implemented a stupid idea that the people of this country didn’t want because we’re all smart enough to KNOW it’s a stupid idea, you lied to Congress about accountability, and now we’ve all seen how it DOESN’T WORK. Why isn’t this guy being kicked to the curb? Oh, yeah, friend of Bush’s, so for the next 60 days or so, he can continue to destroy the country economically.

Got a bunch of books mailed off for BookMooch people, which was good.

Went up to Somers to visit long-time family friends, which was lovely, although the drive in the rain in unfamiliar territory was challenging.

Got yet another vague email from an editor who owes me a payment that has all sorts of excuses and apologies, but nothing about payment, so I sent an email that was an only slightly more diplomatic version of “s— or get off the pot.” This money was budgeted, I’ve been left dangling for SIX MONTHS, you either want it or you don’t, tell me and either pay me or don’t, but stop this nebulous maybe sometime honoring the contract in the future. Pay me or reject the piece. Not that I could ever use it for anything else, but, at this point, I honestly don’t care. The frustration level isn’t worth it.

This is why, if you ever see a clause that states “pays on acceptance”, you must, must MUST add a clause putting a time limit on said acceptance, or you can be kept dangling for years. Learn from my mistake! Also, when the contract says “pays on publication”, negotiate an actual date.

Really, was there enough yoga to calm me down last night? I don’t think so!

On a happy note, I will be on Kim Smith’s radio show this Sunday night, 4 PM EST, 3 PM CST, and here’s the URL:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/kims

I will also appear on The League of Extraordinary Paranormal Women’s radio show on December 11 – but don’t worry, I’ll remind you again. AND, Long and Short Reviews, who gave HEX BREAKER such a nice mention, will also run an interview with me; as soon as I have the date, I’ll post it.

I’ve got to hop into the city quickly, run errands when I get back out, and get back to the page. I’ve hit my Week 2 Wall of Resistance in Nano – urgh. Barely got out 1500 words this morning.

Devon

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery — 32,487 words out of 50,000 (Nano goal)

32 / 50 (64.0%)

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery –32,487 words out of est. 75,000 (total goal)

32 / 75 (42.7%)

Devon’s Bookstore:

NEW!Sensory Perceptions: Techniques to Improve Your Writing Through the Six Senses by Devon Ellington. Use the six senses to take your writing to the next level via a series of sense-specific exercises. By the end of seven weeks, you complete seven short stories!. $1.29 USD. Here.

Free limited download
“The Possession of Nattie Filmore: A Jain Lazarus Adventure” by Devon Ellington. If you loved HEX BREAKER, you’ll love spending time with Jain and Wyatt as they try to solve a haunted house mystery. Read an excerpt of the story and download it free here

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

Back By Popular Demand!
30 Tips for 30 Days: Kick Start Your Novel and Get Out of Your Own Way. A Nano Handbook by Devon Ellington. FREE!
If you’ve ever wondered whether or not you could survive National Novel Writing Month, this is the handbook for you! Ideas on preparations, setting goals, overcoming blocks, pushing yourself, tips for each day of the process, and ideas for going beyond, this handbook by veteran Nano-er Devon Ellington will help you survive. Best of all, it’s free! Download it here.
Limited time offer

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Waxing Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Sunny and cold

I’m glad I took a day off yesterday. I’m fighting off a little something, not sure what, and taking yesterday off meant that, if it hits, it won’t hit too hard (I hope), whereas if I’d pushed, I’d be down for the count indefinitely.

I got some business stuff done, but mostly just too it easy, unwound from the days at the theatre, and figured out where to go from here.

I got back into the mystery this morning, hit my quota, got out the daily email, etc. I’ve got some errands to run, and then it’s back to the page.

I’m not going to push too hard at all this week; I’m just going to see how I feel each day and respond. I’m okay, deadline wise – not as far ahead as I’d like, but not so far behind that I need to panic. So, I’ll take care of myself and try to avoid running myself down.

Off to run some errands, and then it’s back to the page.

Devon

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 28,312 words out of 50,000 (Nano goal)

28 / 50 (56.0%)

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 28,312 words out of est. 75,000 (total goal)

28 / 75 (37.3%)

Devon’s Bookstore:

NEW!Sensory Perceptions: Techniques to Improve Your Writing Through the Six Senses by Devon Ellington. Use the six senses to take your writing to the next level via a series of sense-specific exercises. By the end of seven weeks, you complete seven short stories!. $1.29 USD. Here.

Free limited download
“The Possession of Nattie Filmore: A Jain Lazarus Adventure” by Devon Ellington. If you loved HEX BREAKER, you’ll love spending time with Jain and Wyatt as they try to solve a haunted house mystery. Read an excerpt of the story and download it free here

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

Back By Popular Demand!
30 Tips for 30 Days: Kick Start Your Novel and Get Out of Your Own Way. A Nano Handbook by Devon Ellington. FREE!
If you’ve ever wondered whether or not you could survive National Novel Writing Month, this is the handbook for you! Ideas on preparations, setting goals, overcoming blocks, pushing yourself, tips for each day of the process, and ideas for going beyond, this handbook by veteran Nano-er Devon Ellington will help you survive. Best of all, it’s free! Download it here.
Limited time offer

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

Monday, November 10, 2008

Monday, November 10, 2008
Waxing Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Sunny and cold

Hex Breaker got another great review, this time from Simply Romance Reviews.

The shows were fine yesterday, Metro North was a nightmare, as usual, and I’m tired. I’m turning around to go back and work this star-studded reading today. Oh joy, oh rapture.

I got my daily quota done on Nano, and the daily email out. I’ve dropped the dead weights in the group and am filling the slots with people from the waiting list, and a couple of people who just found out about the group. Ten days is more than enough time to expect those who were dropped to step up to the plate. They broke the agreement, they don’t have the courtesy to discuss it, they’re out.

Off to shower, have something to eat, and head back to the theatre for another fourteen hour day.

Devon

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery — 25,763 words out of 50,000 (Nano goal)

25 / 50 (50.0%)

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 25,763 words out of 75,000 (total goal)

25 / 75 (33.3%)

Devon’s Bookstore:

NEW!Sensory Perceptions: Techniques to Improve Your Writing Through the Six Senses by Devon Ellington. Use the six senses to take your writing to the next level via a series of sense-specific exercises. By the end of seven weeks, you complete seven short stories!. $1.29 USD. Here.

Free limited download
“The Possession of Nattie Filmore: A Jain Lazarus Adventure” by Devon Ellington. If you loved HEX BREAKER, you’ll love spending time with Jain and Wyatt as they try to solve a haunted house mystery. Read an excerpt of the story and download it free here

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

Back By Popular Demand!
30 Tips for 30 Days: Kick Start Your Novel and Get Out of Your Own Way. A Nano Handbook by Devon Ellington. FREE!
If you’ve ever wondered whether or not you could survive National Novel Writing Month, this is the handbook for you! Ideas on preparations, setting goals, overcoming blocks, pushing yourself, tips for each day of the process, and ideas for going beyond, this handbook by veteran Nano-er Devon Ellington will help you survive. Best of all, it’s free! Download it here.
Limited time offer

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Sunday, November 9, 2008
Waxing Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Sunny and cool

Well, I did a bunch of stuff yesterday, but not necessarily what I was supposed to. Isn’t that often the way?

I worked on the mystery, and then I did some work on “The Ramsey Chase”. I’m making good progress on it, although not as fast as I’d like. However, I don’t want this last section and the ending to feel rushed. That will cheat the reader. And since I want them to enjoy Cornelia and Roman for many adventures to come . . .I need to make sure it’s clever enough to hook the readers and make them want more. The overall theme is a little darker than I expected, but the actual piece itself manages to be retro, futuristic, and comedic all at once.

I rearranged a bunch of stuff in living room, which made it look more chaotic, not less, at least temporarily (that always depresses the heck out of me); hauled a bunch of stuff to storage, brought back some huge cushions someone gave me a million years ago that I used to pile on the floor in order to watch TV. They’re now on the couch, replacing the old, wonky pillows. I cut back some plants – okay, seriously, some sort of citrus plant – can’t remember if it’s a lemon or a tangerine, but I grew it from seeds of the fruit I bought at the grocery store – is now about five feet tall and has BARK, so I was pruning it. Rearranged some bookcases and got a bunch off books off the floor and onto shelves. Got out the leather conditioner and revived two leather jackets that have been in storage since 2001 (I gave a third away). Found a small end table that needed a home and gave it one – I’ve got meditation symbols on it, and it’s beautiful. Got the cat condo out from the trunk of the car (where it’s rattled around for a month because I’m either hauling too much to get it up three flights of stairs, or, if I have nothing in the trunk, I forget). Figured out how to rearrange things to put up the Yule tree later this month. Make a big pot of ratatouille.

In other words, I did a lot that wasn’t writing!

The cats were NOT amused.

I forgot to mention that on Friday night, I helped my friend and her brother move a couch and an antique table to the new condo she bought. The condo’s great, absolutely adorable, and I’ll probably give her a hand in packing this coming week. But I’m sore!

I was ridiculously fatigued last night, ready for bed by 7:30; but if I’d done that, I’d have woken up a little after midnight and wound up being up for 24 hours straight right before a stressful Monday 14 hour+ day at the theatre, too. I don’t think so. I sat up and read instead.

Good morning’s work on the mystery. I hope to get a little bit done on “The Ramsey Chase” before I jump on the train.

Off to the theatre – two shows, fourteen hours, and my mind in a million other places with characters. Oh, well. I like the people, so it will all be good.

Devon

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery: 23,246 out of 50,000 (Nano goal)

23 / 50 (46.5%)

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery: 23,246 words out of est. 75,000 (total goal)

23 / 75 (30.7%)

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Saturday, November 8, 2008
Waxing Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Rainy and warm

Brenna Lyons was kind enough to post an interview with me on The Lyons’ Den Updated. Check it out here:

Lara asked yesterday how much I write on any given day. To keep up with current deadlines, I have to write between 5-7K per day. It’s not easy, and I don’t always get there, but I’m under deadline pressure and I’m taking any assignment tossed my way to make up for the crap clients who are late on payment.

Remember, this is my business, not my hobby. This is how I pay the bills.

And, because of those crap clients, all the bills are late this month, and it’s going to lower my credit rating.

So I will charge them for it.

All of these payments are per signed contracts. None of this is news to any of them.

One of the checks turned up last night, so that’s a relief. One down, three to track down.

I’m starting to go through my Links list. I’m going to delete links that don’t update regularly and/or don’t have me cross-linked. I don’t want to hear “I don’t have time to visit your blog” — if I’ve got time for you, I expect you to make time for me. InterNET is supposed to be InterACTIVE.

On the flip side, I bet there are some of you who are regular visitors who may even have me on your link lists, and I don’t know. If so, please drop a comment, so I can stop by your blog, add you to my links list, and start regular visits.

I’m trying to be super-organized today, because I have fourteen hour days at the theatre both tomorrow and Monday. I’m working on an all-star reading that’s taking place in the theatre on Monday –should be, um, interesting. If there’s anything I can write about it that doesn’t break confidences, I will do so on Tuesday.

Didn’t get as much other writing done yesterday as I wanted or needed.

But I got some organizational work done, and I’ve got a load of stuff to take to storage today, while bringing back some other stuff I need. This is the local storage, not the crap joint in the city.

Great morning’s work on the mystery. It flowed well, and it was hard to stop.

Have a great weekend!

Devon

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 20,404 out of 50,000 (Nano goal)

20 / 50 (40.0%)

Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 20,404 out of 75,000 (total goal)

20 / 75 (26.7%)