Fri. April 29, 2016: Merc Ret and Allergies

Friday, April 29, 2016
Waning Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Mars Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Cloudy and cold

Yesterday was busy; the books releasing Tuesday came in, so I got those all processed; had follow-up to do from the Historical Society meeting and the Reference Committee meeting, and last-minute plans for tomorrow’s ArtWeek Boston panel.

Tired when I got home – the Mars retrograde is taking its toll.

Did some work on Nonfiction #1 last night.

Up early this morning. Work on Nonfiction #1. Did a dump run for leaves and recycling. Then drove over to Titcomb’s to pick up the books for tomorrow’s panel and also use the gift card I’d gotten for my birthday. I was delighted to find three books I wanted – the problem was narrowing it down to only three! 😉 I picked up the cashbox, but the bookstore put the books in a very, very safe place and couldn’t find them, so they’ll drop them off later today.

I’ve done nothing but sneeze since 5:30 this morning. I feel like crap. I’m pretty sure it’s allergies, not illness, but still . . .I have a panel to moderate tomorrow. And an article due today. And errands to run after work. I better get it together.

Today and tomorrow for work, and then I’m on vacation! A desperately needed one, I might add.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Devon

Thurs. April 28, 2016: Three Retrogrades

Thursday, April 28, 2016
Waning Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Mars Retrograde
Mercury Retrograde
Sunny and cool

Buckle up, here’s Mercury Retrograde, coupled with two other retrogrades. Not fun. I’d like to stay under the covers until about the end of June, thank you very much. Unfortunately, that is not an option.

Good Reference Committee meeting yesterday morning. Fun group. The afternoon held work, book and video processing, and an Historical Society meeting. I always enjoy the society members. They are unique and interesting.

Still, I was exhausted by the end of the day. Happy to relax with a glass of wine and do some work on Nonfiction #1.

I’m all packed for my retreat next week. I have to finish an article to send off by tomorrow — the first pass I took at it does not work at all, so I had to throw it out and start over. But it will get there.

The play is starting to percolate again, which is a good thing, because I want to get some solid work done on it. And I’m starting to see the shape of the necessary revisions of DEATH OF A CHOLERIC. I’m having little mini-epiphanies, which I hope will add up to a solid revision.

One foot in front of the other, because that’s really all we can do, isn’t it?

Have a great time!

Devon

Wed. april 27, 2016: Busy, Productive Weekend

Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Waning Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Mars Retrograde
Sunny and cold

Mercury goes retrograde tomorrow. Buckle up! These three retrogrades together will not be fun.

I was exhausted when I got back from work on Saturday, but I managed some work on nonfiction #1, and went over the material for the next day’s reading marathon.

Up very early on Sunday, on the road before 8 AM. I did vocal exercises in the car, so my voice wouldn’t sound like I’d just woken up, or start squeaking. Thank goodness for theatre training. Made it to P-town, in spite of road construction, by my 9 AM call. The reading was set up on the second floor of the library, in front of the ship the Dorothea Rose (they have holes in the ceiling to accommodate the masts). It was a lovely, sunny room. The readers were a nice, fun group. The audience ebbed and flowed, but it was a pretty good turnout. Some of them were die-hard Ishamael-ites, reading along in their own copies as we read; others simply listened.

I approached the text like an actor. I had Chapter 104 “The Fossil Whale” and the beginning of Chapter 105. All narration, filled with difficult-to-pronounce words. Even though I’d rehearsed them all, I still stumbled a bit. But I asked myself, who is this person telling the story? Why is it important to him? I tried to fill the reading with a sense of personality and wonder, and I even found some humor in it. I never thought of Melville having a sense of humor, but there was a bit of wry humor hidden in there.

It worked, and the audience was very responsive. I stayed to listen to a few readers behind me, and several people caught up to me as I slipped out, to tell me how much they enjoyed my pages. Gratifying.

Commercial Street was a nightmare. It’s always been awful to drive down, but now, they’ve painted parking spaces on the right side, allowing street parking. Which means no one actually parks close to the curb, but any way they want. It’s almost impossible to squeeze by on the left. There was free parking on the Wharf for April, to encourage more visitors, so I parked there — plenty of parking when I arrived, nearly full when I left at noon. I skittered across Commercial Street up to Bradford Street to get the heck out of Dodge, driving over to the Province Lands, which were gorgeous. I was tempted to spend a few hours out there, but I wanted to avoid the traffic back.

Provincetown itself looked kind of tired and tatty, even trying to prepare for the season. Several of the long-term residents I met and spoke with at the reading are worried it’s getting too honky tonk, and becoming unlivable, which would be a shame. It’s been very overbuilt, and not smartly done. When the next big storm comes in, most of it will be wiped out, especially all the new construction. It’s a shame, because the place is so unique.

Drove back on 6-A, which was beautiful, but slow. There was construction along there, too, so I didn’t make any time. Picked up Chinese food at Tiki Port when I got back, but it was too cold to eat outside on the deck.

Did some work on HEART SNATCHER edits and on DEATH OF A CHOLERIC edits. i still don’t have Carey’s opening chapter in the former quite right, and it’s frustrating. I can’t structure the rest of the edits properly without getting that right.

The world of DEATH OF A CHOLERIC is expanding, but I have to decide what to leave out of this book. There will be more books (I hope), and I can keep enriching the world with each book.

Monday was Errand Day — I had lots of running around to do (including picking up a sketchbook and some pencils at Michael’s) and picking up my canvas of “Have You Seen . . .?” at Cotuit Center for the Arts. When I got home, I mowed the front lawn, then fed it and watered it. There’s been a lot of damage over the past few years, and I’m trying to fix it. The mower is just awful. It’s never worked properly, since I bought it, and Poulan refused to respect the warranty. The supposed “kink-free” hoses are also anything but that. Nothing like trying to get the work done with substandard tools.

Worked on Nonfiction #1, and also did some more research for “Just a Drop”. I’m having trouble with it, and won’t meet my self-imposed deadline of a draft by April 30. I’m going to take it with me when I go on retreat next week, and see if I can do it then. It seems to be a piece that wants to be written “away” instead of in my regular office.

Yesterday, I had a lot of admin work to do for myself. Did mountains of laundry. Packed. Worked on Nonfiction #1. The good thing about packing for a yoga retreat is that the clothes don’t require a lot of room! More room for books! 😉

It was raining, so I couldn’t do any yard work. And I can’t do any this morning, before I leave for work, unfortunately. I have to get the terraced back mowed — it’s getting long. I hope, before I leave this weekend, I can get the grass seed down in the front.

I have a Reference Committee meeting in Hyannis this morning, then an Historical Society meeting this afternoon at work. It will be a long day today, tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday. On Saturday, we have the ArtWeek Boston panel discussion with Rohma Abbas, Gary Braver, and Karen Day, so that should be fun. But I’ll definitely be ready for my vacation by Saturday night!

Poor SONGBOUND SISTERS has suffered in the past few weeks — it has not gotten the attention it deserves. But I need to clear off “Just a Drop”, HEART SNATCHER, and DEATH OF A CHOLERIC so I won’t be distracted when I work on it. It will need intense focus.

We had frost last night — I hope it warms up soon, so that we can put more plants outside. It’s getting a little crowded in here.

Hope you’re having a great week!

Devon

Fri. April 22, 2016: Earth Day Productivity

Friday, April 22, 2016
Full Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Mars Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant

Earth Day!

Yesterday was a good day. Very productive. Processed books, DVDs, magazines. Created a poster for an upcoming event. Put calendar listings into the press. Created programs for two upcoming events. Time consuming, but all good.

Did some work on Nonfiction #1 both last night and this morning. Worked on the pages I’m going to read this weekend at the Moby Dick marathon.

It’s supposed to rain today, so no yard work, but I’m hoping to make up for it tomorrow and Sunday (and Monday and Tuesday).

I need to prep the questions for the panel I’m moderating next weekend, and decide what we’re serving (and then make it).

And then I’m on vacation. I’m trying to make sure nothing’s left hanging and gets dumped on anyone else while I’m gone.

I have to finish up the notes for the radio contest, and do some work for the NMLC this weekend, too.

I was thinking that Saturday was the end of the month, but it’s NEXT week – I still have a week’s worth of writing before I have to wrap up the month! I hope a lot of that will be progress on the play “Just a Drop.”

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!

Thurs. April 21, 2016: Shakespeare Joy

Thursday, April 21, 2016
Waxing Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Mars Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant

Yesterday wound up being a fun day. Got a lot done at work, including processing books, videos, and magazines, and then the amazing Neil McGarry performed a “Tribute To Shakespeare” that he created specifically for this event. It was beautiful and powerful and personal. It reminded me, yet again, why I love Shakespeare so much, and that I could work on Shakespeare for the rest of my life.

I also met some terrific people who attended the event, and we had a great conversation about creative projects.

Last night also gave me fuel for a piece I’ve been playing with, set against the background of the Scottish play.

Once home, I worked on the new version of “Severance”, the first of the shorts to be re-released, hopefully in mid-May. I tightened the text a bit. The voice is unique, and I didn’t want to make it too much like the voices of other first person characters, so I had to be careful.

I do like the piece. I’d always thought it was a one-off, but if it gets enough response, I might write another piece with Eidolinn and Riker.

I think “Plot Bunnies” will be the next one to re-release, in June.

Managed to get the major script material in for the Big Deal Deadline. I won’t hear anything about it until early August, but at least it’s out. It’s either what they want, or it’s not.

Didn’t have a chance to do any yard work this morning, but I did manage some work on Non-fiction #1.

I have a lot on my agenda today, but hopefully, I’ll get a chance to get most of it done. Then, more writing tonight. I don’t particularly like to write at night, but if that’s when it needs to be done, then that’s when it needs to be done.

At least the weather is lovely – I see more yard work and replanting in the future!

Wed. April 20, 2016: Writing Intensifies – So Does the Garden

Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Waxing Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Mars Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant

Two retrogrades, and Mercury goes retrograde next week. Can I please just stay in bed until everything goes direct?

The past few days were good, although flat out busy. Saturday, I had lots of errands, but managed to get to the NMLC Seal Pup Shower, which kicks off April vacation week. We got a lot of donations of basic necessities — Pedialite, laundry soap, etc. First thing that morning, I’d done a major run to Country Gardens. Got the fertilizer for the lawn, lettuce plants, basil plants, etc. We’ve planted pansies in hanging baskets for the front and the deck — they’re happy in this cool weather. The lettuce is repotted, and so is the basil.

We’d bought a small table at Restore, and I repainted it an apple red, and repainted one of our metal plant stands green. I painted a few planters. I still have two more tables and a shelf unit. We put some of the furniture on the deck — we tend to rearrange every year — and some of the hardier plants.

I worked on the HEART SNATCHER rewrites. I have Max’s first chapter where I want it, so I think the Prologue and first three chapters are in good shape. I worked on the following six chapters. I’m still not happy with Carey’s introductory chapter. It needs more work. But the chapters where Max and Valerie keep running into each other are working. I’m doing quite a bit of tightening, better use of language, more sensory detail. I’m also about to cut a chapter.

I started re-reading DEATH OF A CHOLERIC with an eye to its revisions. I think it will need two more revisions, not just one. I’ve had to do a major shift in some of the relationships so it makes more sense, and I need to put those in and then read it through again, and THEN do another draft before that’s ready to go out.

Did a nice chunk of work on Nonfiction #1.

Received the radio contest entries, read them, made notes. I found it disturbing that not a single entry is in correct radio format. One of them is a screenplay; another is a stage play. Some of them tried, but don’t understand the use of sound in radio.

Worked on the pages for the MOBY DICK marathon reading in which I’m participating next weekend.

Did some yard work, although not enough. Somehow, it’s never enough, is it?

Read a couple of delightful mysteries: KILLER TAKEOUT by Lucy Burdette, and, especially, THE CRACKED SPINE by Paige Shelton, which is set in Edinburgh. Enjoyed them both.

Got some submission materials completed for a major script entry I have coming up.

Baked chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and almond cookies, and made a non-alcoholic syllabub for tonight’s Tribute to Shakespeare. I’d done the programs last week. I tried to put together the Globe Theatre model, but it was a disaster. No instructions, it makes no sense, and it doesn’t work to watch a You Tube Video. I want step-by-step, well-written instructions. Will never deal with THAT company again!

Up early this morning. Worked on Nonfiction #1, and also did a bit of yard work. Today will be a ten hour day for me at work — the full day, and then the Tribute to Shakespeare tonight. It will be a very long week. So will next week, especially since I’ll be flat out every day I’m not at the library, but then, I have a much-needed vacation.

I’m so wiped out when I get home at night that I can’t get anything done in the yard, so I’m going out on nice days in the early, early morning. Even twenty, thirty minutes here and there will eventually add up.

Onward.

Fri. April 15, 2016: Looking forward to the Garden

Friday, April 15, 2016
Waxing Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Sunny and cool

I had weird dizzy spells yesterday. Nearly passed out at work. Not a good sign.

Got a lot done – more books, et al, came in for processing, so that was all done. Worked on programs. First Spectacle of Trees meeting in the afternoon. That’s always a joy. I realized how much I missed that group of colleagues, once I saw them again.

Back to work, wrapped up the day, home, exhausted. Didn’t get much writing done, although I’m still working that first Max chapter to get it just right. The opening and Valerie’s first chapter are strong. Grace’s chapter works, although I might put in some more sensory description. I need to get the Max chapter right before I can move to the Carey chapter, because they influence each other so much.

Invoice and choices out for the Book Awards. The scripts came in for the high school radio contest, so I’ll read those this weekend. It’s supposed to be nice, so I can get some yard work done and fulfill my commitment to the Seal Pup Shower over at NMLC. Have to do stuff around the house, and, most importantly, write.

Monday’s technically a holiday here in MA, so hopefully, I can also get some rest and stop feeling so off.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Thurs.April 14, 2016: Work and Re-Work

Thursday, April 14, 2016
Waxing Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant

Yesterday was a long day, but I survived. Came home feeling like crap, but improved as the evening wore on.

Processed/catalogued a lot of new books, DVDs, spoken CDs, so there’s lots of new material to interest people. Working on some new programs.

Woke up with a migraine this morning, which is hardly my favorite way to start the day.

Reworked Max’s introduction in HEART SNATCHER. Tightened the whole chapter a lot, while, at the same time, dispensing more information actively without it being an info dump. I’m eager to get back to the book either tonight or tomorrow morning, before I go in to work.

DEATH OF A CHOLERIC is starting to pull at me again, too – it wants to go into editing mode. Originally, I was going to start it this weekend; then I decided to wait until the beginning of May, but now I’m not sure anymore. I’m not sure if I can flow between HEART SNATCHER and CHOLERIC – although they are very different, so maybe it will be easier.

Finalized my decisions for the contest I spent the last couple of months judging, and sent off my top picks.

Another long day at work today, complete with meeting. I’m not in this weekend, and the weather’s supposed to be nice, so, hopefully, I can get some yard work done.

Not feeling well today at all, but too bad for me.

Onward.

Wed. April 13, 2016: Intense Writing

Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Waxing Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Sunny and cold

Intense few days. Very productive, but intense.

The two new Topic Workbooks, THE GRAVEYARD OF ABANDONED PROJECTS and ORGANIZE YOUR WRITING LIFE , are both available here and through the Premium Catalog (which means Kobo, Nook, etc.). I’m pleased that they turned out so well. I’ll be adding them in to the various necessary web pages this week.

I worked on Saturday, and was exhausted by the time I came home. I spent Saturday and most of Sunday working on contest entries. I can’t believe how many entries are well beyond 500 pages — I’m talking 750, 850, 1410! And, in all those cases, it’s Book 1 which is so long! Few of them are well-written enough to sustain that length. Most of them are overwritten, have pages of info dump, and the pace can’t maintain the marathon. The characters and the plot aren’t strong enough to compensate.

Monday morning, off to Buzzards Bay for the Board meeting, followed by the Capital Campaign meeting.

When I got back, I was ready to dig in to the writing. On a whim, I pulled out the second draft of HEART SNATCHER, which I’d put in stasis for awhile, because I was frustrated with it. I was surprised by how well it held up. I made notes — mostly having to do with cuts. It’s in good shape, and I think in another draft, it will be ready to go. I then started re-reading what I have of the second book in the trilogy, HEART BINDER — needs work, but there’s promise, especially since I outlined the entire trilogy and smoothed over logistical lapses early on. I want to find a way to add it into the current schedule, while not dropping the ball on either SONGBOUND SISTERS or “Just a Drop.”

Got some work done on Non-Fiction #2, which is chugging along nicely.

Tuesday morning, I rewrote about the first 100 pages of HEART BINDER, fixing a lot of the problems and making it continue smoothly from HEART SNATCHER.

In the afternoon, I finished up the contest entries and made sure the choices were the ones I believed in most strongly.

By the end of this week, I’ll get in the entries for the radio contest, and those will be done by the end of the month.

This morning, I revised the prologue and first three chapters on the next draft of HEART SNATCHER. It will be a long day at work, but I’m eager to get back home this evening and write some more. I’m going to spend the next three days on this trilogy, and then, once I’ve got that in the groove, add in SONGBOUND and “Drop” over the weekend.

Of course, because I have to be inside for the next three days, it’s gorgeous out. But the weather is supposed to hold all weekend and finally get warmer, so maybe we can start setting up the deck.

Devon

Fri. April 8, 2016: Work on Workbooks

Friday, April 08, 2016
Waxing Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Sunny and pleasant

After last night’s torrential rain, today is a pleasant change.

Yesterday was fine; I got more done than I expected. At night and in the mornings, I’m working on the Topic Workbooks – I’m updating some of the older ones so they can go into the Premium Catalogue, and I’m prepping some new ones. I’ve also got a new cover design done for the re-release of “Severance”, the first of the short fiction to be re-released, which I think will happen mid-May.

I got a lot of promo done yesterday, and some more conversations to author reps about coming in and speaking. Unfortunately, the bigger names that would be the bigger draws are either too expensive or we can’t draw a big enough crowd and sell enough books for them to make the trip. Hey, they earned the right to those conditions. Their time is valuable, and why should they come to a crowd that won’t buy books? I completely understand, even though it makes my job harder.

I managed to get some work done on NonFiction #1 and also on contest entries last night.  Just as I wind up judging the books, some radio scripts will come in at the end of next week — so that will take care of next weekend!

I hope there will be some good weather this weekend – not the predicted snow storm. I’d like to get some yard work done!

Have a great weekend, all!

Devon

Thurs. April 7, 2016: Entries & Covers & Incoming Snow

Thursday, April 07, 2016
New Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Sunny and milder

They’re saying we will get snow again on Saturday. I really need good weather on my days off so that I can do yard work!

Yesterday was a long day, but fine. I did PR for upcoming programs, and put out feelers for some programs I’d like to book. I did my reports.

The version of MOBY DICK from which we are doing readings at the end of the month came in. I copied out my pages. I thought there would be a kazillion holds on it, but there aren’t, so I’ll hang onto it for a few days and do some background reading around my assigned pages. It’s been years since I read MOBY DICK.

Worked on contest entries, and did some work on Nonfiction #1. Did some work this morning updating some Topic Workbook covers and on upcoming Topic Workbooks, so I can get those out.

I need to sit down with a calendar and come up with a realistic re-release schedule for the short pieces. I also need to get new cover designs for some of them, and a new cover design for “Too Much Mistletoe”.

I’m on the fence about whether I want to do the two short stories that would need to be finished by the end of the month. I have to weigh the time necessary to add them in to the potential payout (which encompasses both financial and career placement). Something to think about this weekend.

Long day today, and then back to the contest entries. Every time I pick up an entry, I want it to be wonderful. And then we go from there.

I also have to do some replanting. Some of my seedlings need more room, and I need to start the next batch.

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Devon

Wed. April 6, 2016: April Snow Showers

Wednesday, April 06, 2016
Dark Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Sunny and cool

Busy weekend. Ran errands, dealt with two snowstorms.

Trivia Night was fun last Friday night. I really had no idea what to expect. It was a long day, but a fun evening.

Saturday night was the artist reception for the “Unsafe” exhibit at Cotuit Center for the Arts. Since I had a piece in it, I went. They even gave me a tag that said, “Artist”. Lovely support for my first venture into new territory. They had a nice spread out, wine by Centerville Package Store (where I usually buy my wine), a good talkback.

For some reason, I feel much more exposed with an art piece than I do with writing. Maybe because I’m newer at it?

The other pieces in the exhibit are each unique and powerful, and they were curated beautifully. I’m honored to be a part of it.

I wanted to go to Julian Cyr’s campaign kick-off in Truro on Sunday morning, but the weather was so miserable I wasn’t about to drive in it. By the time I found out he had an event that evening in Hyannis, it was too late to get there.

I wish there would be good weather on my days away from the library so I could get some yard work done!

The bulk of the weekend was spent on contest entries. I’m through all the print copies in one category, have three more in a second category, another stack in a third, and then I have the ebooks. One category’s entries are very strong; another is varied, as usual; the third category has gotten weaker every year. I’m also surprised and disheartened by how many books lack a point of view. That doesn’t make them “cinematic”. It makes them lose the reader.

The five Ginny Gordon mysteries arrived – very quick response time! I read all of them – unfortunately one of them has pages torn out – as background for Nonfiction #2. I did some background work on Nonfiction #1. I also did some work on the mystery set against a summer rep company – the contemporary one, not the vintage one. And got an idea for a novel I’ll set throughout the UK, but with the bulk of it in Northumbria and Scotland.

Monday was more snow, so stayed tucked in and worked on contest entries. Tuesday was all about running errands and then back to the entries.

This will be a long week at work (four days this week), working on entries and other writing around it.

It’s interesting to see how the two nonfiction pieces are shaping. I’m concentrating on the material first. I have a vague idea of how I want to shape it, but I’m letting the material lead.
I’m letting SONGBOUND percolate a bit more, and I’m reworking some of “Just a Drop.” “Broken Links” is about to go into auditions, so that is exciting.

I’m looking forward to my upcoming vacation in early May.

Devon

Fri. April 1, 2016: Looking at a Long Day

Friday, April 1, 2016
Waning Moon
Jupiter Retrograde
Rainy and cool
April Fool’s Day

I’m not a big fan of April Fool’s Day. Most so-called “pranks” often have an undercurrent of hostility to them.

Yesterday was okay. Couldn’t get everything done that I hoped to, but that’s rather the norm. Did an additional last minute PR push for tonight’s Trivia Night fundraiser.

I’m excited to be included in the Moby Dick Marathon reading at the end of April in Provincetown. It should be fun!

Cooked steak last night because I was craving it and I could. Feel a little better today. I don’t eat red meat that often, so when I crave it, I generally listen.

Got some work done on NonFiction #1 last night and this morning, and worked on contest entries.  Also updated the websites to reflect Amber Quill closing its doors.  Designed a new cover for “Severance” — it looks like that will be the first of the shorts to re-launch.  I kind of love the cover.  It speaks more to the core of the piece, I think.  I’ll have to do some photo shoots to re-do some of the other covers.  I think I’ll release the pieces from KILLER QUINTET separately.  That might give me more flexibility. Still in negotiations for that.

Today, I’m working a 13 hour day, but I’m off this weekend. I’m flat out working, but it won’t be here.

My April To-Do list is up on the GDR site – the list is short, but each piece is labor-intensive, so it will require a lot of commitment and solid time management.

Devon