Okay, guys, I don't very often ask you for things, but I'm asking for it this time.
I would like to push GALE FORCE to a new level, and the only way to do that is to make a big number of sales in the first week of release.
So -- I'm asking you that if you plan to buy GALE FORCE, please make an effort to buy it between now (if it's out early in your area) and Saturday, August 9.
If you want a good reason to go buy it, besides the awesomely awesome cover art, here are a few early reviews:
"Rarely has one heroine been through so much turmoil, but the hits just keep on coming! Caine's Weather Warden series has combined war, love, death, rebirth and emancipation into a uniquely compelling alternate world that gets better with each installment. This is easily one of the most spellbinding series by one of the most talented authors on the scene today. A must buy!" -- ****1/2 RT Booklovers
"This is the seventh installment in the Weather Warden series and it’s as captivating as the previous books. Joanne’s life is forever changing as she continues to grow with new power, and her relationship with David has taken an unexpected turn. Ms. Caine is a top-notch writer and her skill in weaving a mesmerizing tale is easily seen. Her characters are wonderfully dimensional, and the world they live in is solid and believable. The chemistry between these strong characters always sizzles, and Gale Force stands out with their deep and fluctuating emotions. This is one that fans won’t want to miss, and I’d strongly suggest that anyone new to the series read each book in order." -- Darque Reviews
"The latest Weather Warden romantic fantasy is a wonderful tale as the happiness of getting married is trampled by the Sentinel genocidal movement and to a lesser degree the obvious racism of the lead couple’s respective species. The story line is fast-paced as the Sentinel horde knows fundamentally they can succeed in their lethal ethnic cleansing if they kill Joanne. Fans of the series will appreciate this one sitter while newcomers will be in back list frenzy mode as Rachel Caine provides an entertaining yet deep relevant (in today’s world) entry in a strong saga." -- Harriet Klausner
"GALE FORCE is an absolutely readalicious delight! Everything about the WEATHER WARDEN series is phenomenal, but GALE FORCE, so far, is my favorite. Joanne kicks major butt in this installment, while at the same time trying to figure out how to make a possible marriage work between herself and David. There was so much action, drama and romance packed into this story, I was completely captivated from beginning to end." -- Dark Angel Reviews
I certify that none of these reviews was sock-puppeted by me, and I don't think my mom knows how to turn on a computer, so we're covered there, too.
WHAT TO DO FOR YOUR REWARD: If you go out and buy the book during the first week of release, scan your sales receipt (showing the date of purchase) and email it to me at rachelcainecontests@gmail.com, with a subject line of I BOUGHT EARLY!. I'll randomly choose five early purchase winners to receive this cool Warden-style necklace:
It's made of surgical steel, so if you ever find yourself needing to perform emergency life-saving surgery in the middle of the jungle, just sharpen that puppy up, and you're all set. Hey, maybe you won't, but Joanne probably would, right?
Cheers and heartfelt thanks,
Rachel
I would like to push GALE FORCE to a new level, and the only way to do that is to make a big number of sales in the first week of release.
So -- I'm asking you that if you plan to buy GALE FORCE, please make an effort to buy it between now (if it's out early in your area) and Saturday, August 9.
If you want a good reason to go buy it, besides the awesomely awesome cover art, here are a few early reviews:
"Rarely has one heroine been through so much turmoil, but the hits just keep on coming! Caine's Weather Warden series has combined war, love, death, rebirth and emancipation into a uniquely compelling alternate world that gets better with each installment. This is easily one of the most spellbinding series by one of the most talented authors on the scene today. A must buy!" -- ****1/2 RT Booklovers
"This is the seventh installment in the Weather Warden series and it’s as captivating as the previous books. Joanne’s life is forever changing as she continues to grow with new power, and her relationship with David has taken an unexpected turn. Ms. Caine is a top-notch writer and her skill in weaving a mesmerizing tale is easily seen. Her characters are wonderfully dimensional, and the world they live in is solid and believable. The chemistry between these strong characters always sizzles, and Gale Force stands out with their deep and fluctuating emotions. This is one that fans won’t want to miss, and I’d strongly suggest that anyone new to the series read each book in order." -- Darque Reviews
"The latest Weather Warden romantic fantasy is a wonderful tale as the happiness of getting married is trampled by the Sentinel genocidal movement and to a lesser degree the obvious racism of the lead couple’s respective species. The story line is fast-paced as the Sentinel horde knows fundamentally they can succeed in their lethal ethnic cleansing if they kill Joanne. Fans of the series will appreciate this one sitter while newcomers will be in back list frenzy mode as Rachel Caine provides an entertaining yet deep relevant (in today’s world) entry in a strong saga." -- Harriet Klausner
"GALE FORCE is an absolutely readalicious delight! Everything about the WEATHER WARDEN series is phenomenal, but GALE FORCE, so far, is my favorite. Joanne kicks major butt in this installment, while at the same time trying to figure out how to make a possible marriage work between herself and David. There was so much action, drama and romance packed into this story, I was completely captivated from beginning to end." -- Dark Angel Reviews
I certify that none of these reviews was sock-puppeted by me, and I don't think my mom knows how to turn on a computer, so we're covered there, too.
WHAT TO DO FOR YOUR REWARD: If you go out and buy the book during the first week of release, scan your sales receipt (showing the date of purchase) and email it to me at rachelcainecontests@gmail.com, with a subject line of I BOUGHT EARLY!. I'll randomly choose five early purchase winners to receive this cool Warden-style necklace:
It's made of surgical steel, so if you ever find yourself needing to perform emergency life-saving surgery in the middle of the jungle, just sharpen that puppy up, and you're all set. Hey, maybe you won't, but Joanne probably would, right?
Cheers and heartfelt thanks,
Rachel
- Location:Starbucks
- Mood:
grateful - Music:"The End is the Beginning is the End" - Smashing Pumpkins
Some of you may recall a ways back when I painted my kitchen and hallway. Not long after that, I bought paint to do my living room/office. I had great plans of cracking down and doing up that room too. Well, that was in January. In the subsequent months, certain weekends would get designated as paint weekends. And then...something would come up. Then again. And again.
Flash forward six months later, and my living room walls still looked like this:
Well,![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
lolcatz and I designated this last weekend as a paint weekend, and it seemed it really was going to happen. Then...the last minute PNWA workshop popped up. Knowing that was going to occupy my afternoon for hours, I told him we'd have to nix the painting again. This time, he put his foot down and said he'd keep painting while I was gone and that this would be the weekend.
And so it was. I came home from the workshop and discovered a miracle had taken place:
The lighting's bad in this picture. It makes the paint look grayer than it really is. But, lo, my room is painted, and this is going to pave the way for me to finally put up other things I've been holding back from, like wooden bookshelves and, um, curtains. We still need to do a little touch-up, so my furniture's a bit askew right now. The cats don't seem to mind, though. They actually adapt quite well. Despite being freaked out by the painting initially, they soon became one with it and started sleeping on drop-cloth covered furniture.
Exciting stuff. Soon I'll have a real home.
Flash forward six months later, and my living room walls still looked like this:
Well,
lolcatz and I designated this last weekend as a paint weekend, and it seemed it really was going to happen. Then...the last minute PNWA workshop popped up. Knowing that was going to occupy my afternoon for hours, I told him we'd have to nix the painting again. This time, he put his foot down and said he'd keep painting while I was gone and that this would be the weekend.And so it was. I came home from the workshop and discovered a miracle had taken place:
The lighting's bad in this picture. It makes the paint look grayer than it really is. But, lo, my room is painted, and this is going to pave the way for me to finally put up other things I've been holding back from, like wooden bookshelves and, um, curtains. We still need to do a little touch-up, so my furniture's a bit askew right now. The cats don't seem to mind, though. They actually adapt quite well. Despite being freaked out by the painting initially, they soon became one with it and started sleeping on drop-cloth covered furniture.
Exciting stuff. Soon I'll have a real home.
- Location:The desk
- Mood:
satisfied
I know, the posts, they are out of control! But this is my last for today. Probably.
Two things coming up:
CONESTOGA, Tulsa
July 25-28
This is going to be HUGE for urban fantasy fans, so if you're in the area, make your plans to drop in. Check out the guest list at their website (Go to Programming, then click on Program Participants). Wooooo!
And, locally, I will be signing on AUGUST 2 at the Barnes & Noble, Parks Mall, Arlington from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. If you need to pick up Stephenie Meyer's BREAKING DAWN that day, well, why not come on down to the Parks Mall, drop in, and say hello at my table on the way? Maybe even, y'know, buy a book. Or not. But I'd love to see you guys.
Okay, I'm out of chatter. Off to pile up word count. Woot!
-- R.
Two things coming up:
CONESTOGA, Tulsa
July 25-28
This is going to be HUGE for urban fantasy fans, so if you're in the area, make your plans to drop in. Check out the guest list at their website (Go to Programming, then click on Program Participants). Wooooo!
And, locally, I will be signing on AUGUST 2 at the Barnes & Noble, Parks Mall, Arlington from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. If you need to pick up Stephenie Meyer's BREAKING DAWN that day, well, why not come on down to the Parks Mall, drop in, and say hello at my table on the way? Maybe even, y'know, buy a book. Or not. But I'd love to see you guys.
Okay, I'm out of chatter. Off to pile up word count. Woot!
-- R.
- Location:Starbucks
- Mood:
chipper - Music:"Sour Cherry" - The Kills
Tomorrow, I'm off to Tulsa Oklahoma, to either die in a twister or from the heat, I haven't decided. And all for the Conestoga 12 and Fangs, Fur and Fey Minicon. Here's my schedule, for those who'll be there and want to track me down.
Fri 02:00 PM - Executive Urban Fantasy: It's Not Just for Chicks
Sat 09:00 AM - Executive The Elusive Snark
Sat 11:00 AM - Signing
Sat 02:00 PM - Chairman Reading: Happy Hour/Road Trip of the Living Dead?
Sat 03:00 PM - Executive The Business of Being a Writer
Sun 10:00 AM - Executive Dark UF/Horror
Along with some speed dating, boozing it up and racing across the street for some Sonic!
Speaking of being there. Who's all going?
... to fly the flag of surrender.
The mission: Stand and deliver Book 8 of the Weather Warden, CAPE STORM, by August 1.
Status:
Yes, I'm working. I AM! As anyone currently at my Starbucks can attest.
-- R.
The mission: Stand and deliver Book 8 of the Weather Warden, CAPE STORM, by August 1.
Status:
Yes, I'm working. I AM! As anyone currently at my Starbucks can attest.
-- R.
- Location:Starbucks
- Mood: chipper
- Music:"Violet Hill" - Coldplay
Originally published at Dark Territory. You can comment here or there.
I have groceries. I have words. I cleaned out the icebox because it was full of frightening science experiments that I forgot about while I was writing my last project. I think it’s safe to say that today was a return to productivity on the authorial front, even if it was devoid of filmmaking or fancy publishing types. More’s the pity.
—
Conjure Man
New words: 1,058
Total: 5,139
Reason for stopping: Goal, sleep tiem nao
Mean things: Plot points, lying to those you care about out of necessity
Authorial notes: Two words for the story accomplished today: Oh SNAP. Things just got a whole lot worse for Jack and Pete than even Jack realizes, and his lies are just exacerbating this stuff. He never, never learns.
I like this:
For all he prided himself on quick reflexes and quicker wits, Jack froze. He froze like a man caught out, with his sins on display like scars.
Other work: Nothing much, but I did read most of my current book yesterday while I was on set. Forced boredom FTW in terms of productivity.
Reading: The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
All right! Posting will be spotty (or nonexistent) while I'm in San Diego for the organised madness known as ComiCon. While I'm gone, here's something you might like: check out The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance, shipping now, which has two stories by Yours Truly in it.
* A Standup Dame: Jack Becker took the wrong case and woke up dead. Now he's got to solve his own murder, and his only ace in the hole is his smartmouth secretary.
Every dead gumshoe should be so lucky...
* Coming Home: Liana Spocarelli's come home to Saint City. She's got a Nichtvren Master to kill, another sexy Nichtvren to keep off her back, and a visit to her foster mother to fit in. Life isn't simple for a demon-trained Magi.
Especially when your foster mother is named Danny Valentine...
Enjoy! And very, very soon I'll have good news about Selene and Nikolai. Like, really good news...
ComiCon Ho!
* A Standup Dame: Jack Becker took the wrong case and woke up dead. Now he's got to solve his own murder, and his only ace in the hole is his smartmouth secretary.
Every dead gumshoe should be so lucky...
* Coming Home: Liana Spocarelli's come home to Saint City. She's got a Nichtvren Master to kill, another sexy Nichtvren to keep off her back, and a visit to her foster mother to fit in. Life isn't simple for a demon-trained Magi.
Especially when your foster mother is named Danny Valentine...
Enjoy! And very, very soon I'll have good news about Selene and Nikolai. Like, really good news...
ComiCon Ho!
- Location:A-Travelin', Man
- Mood:
excited
Originally published at Dark Territory. You can comment here or there.
So, no, I haven’t gotten any writing done in the last two days. Because I was busy doing things like entertaining big New York editors and being an extra in big Hollywood movies.
Okay, that probably requires some explanation…
On Sunday, Team Seattle took Heather Osborn, Tor’s most ghetto-fabulous editor, all around Seattle and showed her things that we had no intention of actually doing, such as the EMP, the Seattle Aquarium, the duck tours, the ice cream cruise and a restaurant that Mark really liked in the International District. We DID take Heather to Lakeview Cemetery to see where Bruce Lee was buried, and to Uwajimaya, and consumed approximately 17,000 calories apiece on Tor’s dime. From the breakfast of enormous omelet and even more enormous toast at Hi-Spot to cupcakes at Trophy to the salmon and tomato pasta at Flying Fish, food was the unifying theme of the day. I enjoyed hanging with Heather, Mark, Caroline and Richelle, but don’t take my word for it.
What do you think, Disapproving Caitlin?
Okay, maybe not so much…
Then, Monday, I went up to Wallingford to be an extra in this. I was originally supposed to be a Goth kid, but when I got there, the director had decided that one Goth kid (who actually had a speaking role) was enough, and so the makeup department (a nice lady named Kim) sprayed all of my streaks over with that color spray you use on Halloween. Wardrobe gave me a red hoodie to go with the “school uniform” of my polo and shorts, and off I went…to sit. For hours. Being an extra is, in a nutshell, 15 hours of sitting around talking to other extras, punctuated by twenty-minute chunks where you go stand on set, move when the director yells “Background!” and then go back and sit more. If you’re bored, you can read, listen to the incredibly pretentious extra talk about standing next to Russell Crowe on the set of LA Confidential, or abuse the kindness of craft services. I have no idea how actresses maintain their anorexia nervosa, becuase the supply of food on a set is truly neverending.
Bobcat Goldthwait wears a Davy Crockett hat on set, because he is the director and one of the few grown men in American who can get away with that sort of thing. He’s extremely subdued in person, kind of like your easygoing uncle who teaches theater. If your uncle wears a Davy Crockett hat. The only time he got wild was when he and Robin Williams started barking like two small yappy dogs, and continued on for several minutes.
Speaking of my brush with fame…I never cared for Robin Williams’s comedy, but in person he’s funny as shit. He came and talked to the extras between shots, and riffed constantly. It wasn’t the obnoxious kind of riffing, the kind people do to get attention just for the hell of it, it was more like an unconscious tic. And hey, it was funny stuff, so I ain’t complaining.
I also got to be smart when one of the other extras asked me why the set dresser was taking photos of us. “For reshoots,” I said.
“What are reshoots?”
“You know…continuity?”
“What’s continuity?”
“Um, well. If they have to re-shoot the scene later, like if something goes wrong with the print, they need to know where everyone was standing and what wardrobe we had and…really? ‘What’s continuity’?”
Okay, I didn’t say the last part, and that gal was a total sweetheart, but am I the only one who knows this stuff? Me and Bobcat Goldthwait, man. Being smart so you don’t have to.
Anyway, if you see the film, look for me in the entrance hall scene, talking to a jock and another popular girl and pantomiming laughter, as well as painting a fake picture in art class. Hollywood here I come.
Seriously.
Really? Amoeba Music--which is actually, you know, a chain that started up north-- is the greatest thing in LA according to Los Angeles Magazine? Not, say, the beaches, or Mulholland Drive, or the hills, or the weather, or the Getty, or the resurgence of downtown, or any of the other zillion things that make this place unlike any other city?
A music store that is inevitably filled with smug hipsters and their noxious ilk, all of them pretending that they have never heard of any of the more popular bands/singers on display, is not the greatest thing in this city, not by a long shot. In my humble opinion. My vote, in case you wondered? Mulholland Drive. It's my favorite road in the world.
A music store that is inevitably filled with smug hipsters and their noxious ilk, all of them pretending that they have never heard of any of the more popular bands/singers on display, is not the greatest thing in this city, not by a long shot. In my humble opinion. My vote, in case you wondered? Mulholland Drive. It's my favorite road in the world.
Our first Fangs, Fur, & Fey con is this week in Tulsa, OK. We have a dedicated program track, as well as joining the main tracks for some events.
For those not attending, please note that many of the panels (but not the social hour at the bar) will be recorded for posting here later.
NOTE: For those attending, this serves as your reminder that we are filming. :)
After Conestoga, a few FFF members are attending RWA.
FFF Admin (me & Jeaniene) & FFF members Joce Drake & Kate Smith (who does our lovely new newsletter) will be joining a few Paranormal Romance authors for a BlogTalk call-in Radio show.
For those not attending, please note that many of the panels (but not the social hour at the bar) will be recorded for posting here later.
NOTE: For those attending, this serves as your reminder that we are filming. :)
After Conestoga, a few FFF members are attending RWA.
FFF Admin (me & Jeaniene) & FFF members Joce Drake & Kate Smith (who does our lovely new newsletter) will be joining a few Paranormal Romance authors for a BlogTalk call-in Radio show.
Ladies of the Night BlogTalk Radio Show Wednesday, July 31, 8-9:00 PM PTD (11 pm – 12 am EDT)
A night of romance and the supernatural, featuring: Jocelyn Drake * Kerrelyn Sparks* Kathryn Smith * Melissa Marr * Terri Garey * Jeaniene Frost*
Guest Author/Listener Call in number: 347 826 9686
Please do feel invited to call in & ask questions.
A lot of FFF members attending RWA will also be doing a Literacy Signing Wednesday.
Attending FFF members will be doing signings at Mini-Con at Conestoga Friday thru Sunday. . . and Speed Dating (no actual kisses or romance, just chat in speed date format!), Pens vs Swords (no actual bloodshed, just enactments of fight sequences from our texts), & a bunch of panels.
Anyone out there not attending Conestoga/mini-con and/or RWA, please feel free to reply here telling us if you have any other events in the near future on your calendars . . . or if you have any special events at RWA or ComicCon San Diego wherein guests can say hello.
Please share your events in the comment section to keep people up to date. And also, members, remember to email Kate Smith with your events so she can put them on the Newsletter.
Thanks to the FFF members who've shared the tasks of setting up for mini-con. This wouldn't happen without you.
E.T.A.: Links! Melissa's computer was acting up and wouldn't add them. Also, Shanna Swendson, can you put another comment in this post?
Jeaniene Frost
Huh? Please allow me to explain. :)
I recently scored a gig writing essays about classic and modern/ postmodern folk tales. Two of the essays I have coming up (with deadlines far shorter than I'd like!) deal with the following topics. I'd love suggestions about sources or stories - especially stories! - dealing with these subjects:
Puppets in Folklore - Not puppet-show versions of faerie tales, but faerie/folk tales dealing with puppets as characters, themes or setting elements. Examples: Pinocchio, Being John Malkovitch, A.I., "Punch & Judy" (and the many variations on Punch), etc.
Bare or Unusual Feet - Characters, stories or themes in which bare or unusual feet (cloven hooves, duck feet, raven's claws, etc.) feature prominently. Examples: McKinley's Deerskin, Johnny Appleseed, Pre-Raphaelite artwork, "The Barefoot Woman," "Wicked John and the Devil," "The Little Match Girl," etc.
All suggestions are welcome. Thanks! :)
I recently scored a gig writing essays about classic and modern/ postmodern folk tales. Two of the essays I have coming up (with deadlines far shorter than I'd like!) deal with the following topics. I'd love suggestions about sources or stories - especially stories! - dealing with these subjects:
Puppets in Folklore - Not puppet-show versions of faerie tales, but faerie/folk tales dealing with puppets as characters, themes or setting elements. Examples: Pinocchio, Being John Malkovitch, A.I., "Punch & Judy" (and the many variations on Punch), etc.
Bare or Unusual Feet - Characters, stories or themes in which bare or unusual feet (cloven hooves, duck feet, raven's claws, etc.) feature prominently. Examples: McKinley's Deerskin, Johnny Appleseed, Pre-Raphaelite artwork, "The Barefoot Woman," "Wicked John and the Devil," "The Little Match Girl," etc.
All suggestions are welcome. Thanks! :)
- Mood:
curious - Music:The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever"
Oh wait. It's me that's been gone. Silly.
Caroline has been chastising me for the past week to blog. It seems I've brought blog dishonor to my family. The conversation, though, is not nearly as formal and polite as would proceed a samurai's hari kari. More like: "It's been ten days, Mark. What are you doing with your time, beating off?"
Sigh...
So here it is. What I expect is what people read this blog for...
So our tale comes to an end and I promise to be around more often. After all, Conestoga is this week and there's sure to be all sort of travesty lurking in Tulsa. I'll go warm up trigger finger.
Caroline has been chastising me for the past week to blog. It seems I've brought blog dishonor to my family. The conversation, though, is not nearly as formal and polite as would proceed a samurai's hari kari. More like: "It's been ten days, Mark. What are you doing with your time, beating off?"
Sigh...
So here it is. What I expect is what people read this blog for...
So our tale comes to an end and I promise to be around more often. After all, Conestoga is this week and there's sure to be all sort of travesty lurking in Tulsa. I'll go warm up trigger finger.
I am sitting here, dear Reader, contemplating the mystery of hair dye.
You see, I was born a blonde. But I haven't been blonde in about seven years, thanks to Clairol and (more often) Feria. I hate the way I look when I'm blonde. I hate the jokes about how stupid I must be because my hair is pale. I even hate seeing blonde hairs in the hairbrush. Gray I like. Black I like. Red I'll live with.
Blonde? No way. It may work for others, but not for me.
So I'm perched in THE CHAIR, my head slathered with stinking goop, and I am thinking about this mystery. It's one of the few things I do For Myself, dyeing my hair. I don't wear makeup--slap a little eyeliner on and I'm good to go--and I almost never buy clothes (why? the ones I wore two years ago are baggy but still good). My expenditures are: children, household, books, and only then whatever things I might need.
But gooping up and chemically altering my hair color is something I feel okay doing. I don't feel guilty for spending ten bucks on a bottle of hair dye, whereas I'll feel guilty dropping ten bucks on something else for myself.
Hmmm.
Yup, it's a mystery.
I also have to pack today, set up the blog message and auto responder for while I'm gone, go get snackies for the train trip (thirty hours of READING! Watching SCENERY! Writing in my journal! Listening to MUSIC! THINKING!!!1!!!) and print out various things I'll need for the trip.
But for right now I'm going to sit here. Macavity (our tuxedo kitty) just jumped up on the chair and stalked for the back, where he likes to sit and purr and nuzzle my hair while I'm working.
Heh. Not right now. He got about to my shoulder, got a snootful of dye-smell, and is now grooming himself across the room. I'm sure he's traumatized.
It's all part of the mystery of hair dye. In twenty minutes I will not even be close to blonde.
Thank God.
You see, I was born a blonde. But I haven't been blonde in about seven years, thanks to Clairol and (more often) Feria. I hate the way I look when I'm blonde. I hate the jokes about how stupid I must be because my hair is pale. I even hate seeing blonde hairs in the hairbrush. Gray I like. Black I like. Red I'll live with.
Blonde? No way. It may work for others, but not for me.
So I'm perched in THE CHAIR, my head slathered with stinking goop, and I am thinking about this mystery. It's one of the few things I do For Myself, dyeing my hair. I don't wear makeup--slap a little eyeliner on and I'm good to go--and I almost never buy clothes (why? the ones I wore two years ago are baggy but still good). My expenditures are: children, household, books, and only then whatever things I might need.
But gooping up and chemically altering my hair color is something I feel okay doing. I don't feel guilty for spending ten bucks on a bottle of hair dye, whereas I'll feel guilty dropping ten bucks on something else for myself.
Hmmm.
Yup, it's a mystery.
I also have to pack today, set up the blog message and auto responder for while I'm gone, go get snackies for the train trip (thirty hours of READING! Watching SCENERY! Writing in my journal! Listening to MUSIC! THINKING!!!1!!!) and print out various things I'll need for the trip.
But for right now I'm going to sit here. Macavity (our tuxedo kitty) just jumped up on the chair and stalked for the back, where he likes to sit and purr and nuzzle my hair while I'm working.
Heh. Not right now. He got about to my shoulder, got a snootful of dye-smell, and is now grooming himself across the room. I'm sure he's traumatized.
It's all part of the mystery of hair dye. In twenty minutes I will not even be close to blonde.
Thank God.
- Location:Weirdsville
- Mood:
dorky
My gym is in the University District, but I rarely interact with students. Most of them go to UW's rec center, which is covered by their tuition, leaving my gym safe for old people like me. After working out tonight, I realized I needed some groceries, so I swung by the 24-hour Safeway* over there. I don't fear late night grocery shopping. I kind of like it. Most of the undesirables in that area are over working the I-5 exit/entrance on 45th anyway. They're too busy to go to Safeway, unlike me and UW's entire inebriated student body.
Shopping after working out is in the same class as shopping hungry, drunk, or pregnant. You just want weird stuff. 90% of my produce purchases occur after the gym, and I'm always horrified the next day. It's like waking up with someone you picked up at a bar. "Oh my God. Why did I bring home asparagus?" Tonight the lizard part of my brain decided my survival depended upon whole wheat pasta and red sauce--a dish I've had way, way too much in my life because it's cheap and easy. I avoid it if I can. But tonight? It seemed like the best thing ever. Yum.
I went to get in line and found a guy and a girl hovering near its end but kind of not. The guy was balancing a water jug on his head with one hand and held a twenty in the other. I asked if they were in line. They decided they were and moved up. Thirty seconds later, the guy dropped his cell phone. It broke, and he simply stared with blank eyes. The girl sighed, picked it up, and began reassembling it.
Meanwhile, two girls got in line behind me. They were cute in a fashionably alternative sort of way and chatted blandly with each other until two guys walked in. The girls got really excited, and the blond one started talking in this voice...well, it's hard to explain. It was high but not like a cheerleader high voice. Like a "Dude" slow stoner voice--but feminine. Or, better still, if you've seen Charlie the Unicorn, just imagine her speaking like Charlie's friends:
"Brian! Briiiiiiiian. Oh my God. It's Brian. Hey, Brian! Come give me a hug. Brian! Briiiiiiian. You have a popsicle. Look, you have a popsicle." It's worth noting here that Brian did indeed have a popsicle. "What are you doing here Brian? Why are you in line? Briiiiiiiian." Her friend, whose voice was more puzzled than unicornish, then started pondering her own relationship with Brian. "I know you. How do I know you?" Brian, despite being well over 6', looked about 12-years-old to me, as do most UW students nowadays. He giggled nervously and mumbled answers to their questions.
It was Water Jug Guy's turn by that point, but he and his girl weren't moving in line. The cashier finally got their attention, and they moved up. I was able unload my basket, only to discover the chain on my travel purse had gotten caught in the basket's grid. I tried futilely to unhook it while Water Jug Guy stared in confusion as the cashier gave him back change. When my turn came, the cashier told me twice to put the basket in the neighboring lane. I then showed him my problem with the chain. He stopped what he was doing to help me but had about as much luck as I had. I told him not to worry, that I'd deal with it after I paid.
Flustered by the knowledge that I was holding up the line and that this was not the first time I'd tangled the chain in a grocery store basket (really!), I didn't pay much attention to my surroundings right away. Then, I looked down by the credit card machine and saw cash and a cell phone. I pointed it out to the cashier, and as one, we looked over to the store's door to try to catch Water Jug Guy before he left. Water Jug Guy was there, fortunately, but he appeared to be going back into the store, jug still on his head, off toward the shampoo. The cashier called to him, eliciting no reaction. The girl came over instead and hurriedly gathered up the guy's things.
I finished my transaction finally. Maybe because I was the only other sober person in the store, the cashier still wanted to help me with my purse. So, Briiiian-Girl be damned, he tugged and tugged on the chain until it finally came out--and broke. It was okay. I've been needing to replace it anyway. I thanked him and just happened to glance down at what Briiiian-Girl was buying: freeze-dried imitation crab meat and Ritz crackers.
I don't know what it was about that selection, but that was when I nearly lost it and started cracking up. I'd kept my blah poker face in place up until that moment...but man, the crab and crackers were the night's final punchline. Had she and her friends been sitting in a dorm room and then suddenly decided they needed that? Wacky even by my standards. But hey, what do I know? The joke's going to be on me the next time I do post-gym shopping and come home with more produce and some freeze-dried crab meat of my own.
*Yes, this is the same Safeway where a guy in line said, after hearing me read my old phone number aloud, that he was going to call my ex-husband and find out if he wanted to party.
Shopping after working out is in the same class as shopping hungry, drunk, or pregnant. You just want weird stuff. 90% of my produce purchases occur after the gym, and I'm always horrified the next day. It's like waking up with someone you picked up at a bar. "Oh my God. Why did I bring home asparagus?" Tonight the lizard part of my brain decided my survival depended upon whole wheat pasta and red sauce--a dish I've had way, way too much in my life because it's cheap and easy. I avoid it if I can. But tonight? It seemed like the best thing ever. Yum.
I went to get in line and found a guy and a girl hovering near its end but kind of not. The guy was balancing a water jug on his head with one hand and held a twenty in the other. I asked if they were in line. They decided they were and moved up. Thirty seconds later, the guy dropped his cell phone. It broke, and he simply stared with blank eyes. The girl sighed, picked it up, and began reassembling it.
Meanwhile, two girls got in line behind me. They were cute in a fashionably alternative sort of way and chatted blandly with each other until two guys walked in. The girls got really excited, and the blond one started talking in this voice...well, it's hard to explain. It was high but not like a cheerleader high voice. Like a "Dude" slow stoner voice--but feminine. Or, better still, if you've seen Charlie the Unicorn, just imagine her speaking like Charlie's friends:
"Brian! Briiiiiiiian. Oh my God. It's Brian. Hey, Brian! Come give me a hug. Brian! Briiiiiiian. You have a popsicle. Look, you have a popsicle." It's worth noting here that Brian did indeed have a popsicle. "What are you doing here Brian? Why are you in line? Briiiiiiiian." Her friend, whose voice was more puzzled than unicornish, then started pondering her own relationship with Brian. "I know you. How do I know you?" Brian, despite being well over 6', looked about 12-years-old to me, as do most UW students nowadays. He giggled nervously and mumbled answers to their questions.
It was Water Jug Guy's turn by that point, but he and his girl weren't moving in line. The cashier finally got their attention, and they moved up. I was able unload my basket, only to discover the chain on my travel purse had gotten caught in the basket's grid. I tried futilely to unhook it while Water Jug Guy stared in confusion as the cashier gave him back change. When my turn came, the cashier told me twice to put the basket in the neighboring lane. I then showed him my problem with the chain. He stopped what he was doing to help me but had about as much luck as I had. I told him not to worry, that I'd deal with it after I paid.
Flustered by the knowledge that I was holding up the line and that this was not the first time I'd tangled the chain in a grocery store basket (really!), I didn't pay much attention to my surroundings right away. Then, I looked down by the credit card machine and saw cash and a cell phone. I pointed it out to the cashier, and as one, we looked over to the store's door to try to catch Water Jug Guy before he left. Water Jug Guy was there, fortunately, but he appeared to be going back into the store, jug still on his head, off toward the shampoo. The cashier called to him, eliciting no reaction. The girl came over instead and hurriedly gathered up the guy's things.
I finished my transaction finally. Maybe because I was the only other sober person in the store, the cashier still wanted to help me with my purse. So, Briiiian-Girl be damned, he tugged and tugged on the chain until it finally came out--and broke. It was okay. I've been needing to replace it anyway. I thanked him and just happened to glance down at what Briiiian-Girl was buying: freeze-dried imitation crab meat and Ritz crackers.
I don't know what it was about that selection, but that was when I nearly lost it and started cracking up. I'd kept my blah poker face in place up until that moment...but man, the crab and crackers were the night's final punchline. Had she and her friends been sitting in a dorm room and then suddenly decided they needed that? Wacky even by my standards. But hey, what do I know? The joke's going to be on me the next time I do post-gym shopping and come home with more produce and some freeze-dried crab meat of my own.
*Yes, this is the same Safeway where a guy in line said, after hearing me read my old phone number aloud, that he was going to call my ex-husband and find out if he wanted to party.
- Location:The desk
- Mood: amused
Write another 750 in the new book while watching TV. Not me.
- Mood:
rejuvenated
I didn't really report on the workshop this weekend. Long story short: it was awesome. Everyone who attended it had a great time, and I think they got a lot out of it. Along with my legendary Aztec lesson (in which I made 9th graders draw posters of Aztecs farming and sacrificing each other), this will be recorded in the scrolls of favorite things I taught. Many thanks to all who attended and participated in our silly (yet hopefully helpful) class.
And believe it or not, the Team Seattle authors have never had a pic capturing all five of us at the same time. Finally, we achieved that on Saturday:
I think we have kind of a Charlie's Angels or girl backup singers thing going on here. Not sure, but good times were had by all.
And believe it or not, the Team Seattle authors have never had a pic capturing all five of us at the same time. Finally, we achieved that on Saturday:
I think we have kind of a Charlie's Angels or girl backup singers thing going on here. Not sure, but good times were had by all.
- Location:The desk
- Mood:
exhausted
*yawn* G'morning. It was a long busy weekend over here. The new website is up, and gosh does it look grand. The forum is up too--unfortunately we lost some stuff in the transition, but most everything made it okay. If your username or a post is missing when you sign in, it's just because the switch over to PHPbb was, shall we say, kind of eventful.
I find I'm liking PHPbb too, more than I thought I would. I originally had some problems with their interface, but with the newer versions everything seems to be smoothed out and lovely.
In other news...COMICON! I'm heading to San Diego for ComiCon. I'll be signing at the Mysterious Galaxy booth, and hanging out with Orbit and Harlequin peeps. I'm told there will be anime karaoke.
My cup, as they say, runneth over.
I'm taking the train down, which will be awesomeness; I glanced at the itinerary this morning and it's a long time to be in motion. Still, it's not a plane, which means no long lines and strip-searches, and it's just about the same chunk of time that a plane ride would take once one factors in getting there hours and hours early, checking in, security, waiting on the runway, waiting to land, waiting to deplane, recovering, etc., etc., etc. Instead I'll be sipping at a bottle of water watching the landscape go by, not worrying very much. Or reading. Lots of reading.
Incidentally, if anyone has train-travel tips or tricks, please pass 'em along! It will be my first long-long train ride, and I am so excited and anticipatory it's not even funny. I'm expecting to have an awesome time.
In writing news, I've had to scrap 2k in the most recent Jill book. It took me a couple days of beating my head against the wall before I figured out I was Doing The Wrong Thing. So instead of things starting out with a bang we're going to have an exorcism.
You know, I just realized, typing that: I have the coolest job in the world.
Anyway. It's Monday. I've got packing to do and all sorts of stuff going on. Guh. Time to get to work.
I find I'm liking PHPbb too, more than I thought I would. I originally had some problems with their interface, but with the newer versions everything seems to be smoothed out and lovely.
In other news...COMICON! I'm heading to San Diego for ComiCon. I'll be signing at the Mysterious Galaxy booth, and hanging out with Orbit and Harlequin peeps. I'm told there will be anime karaoke.
My cup, as they say, runneth over.
I'm taking the train down, which will be awesomeness; I glanced at the itinerary this morning and it's a long time to be in motion. Still, it's not a plane, which means no long lines and strip-searches, and it's just about the same chunk of time that a plane ride would take once one factors in getting there hours and hours early, checking in, security, waiting on the runway, waiting to land, waiting to deplane, recovering, etc., etc., etc. Instead I'll be sipping at a bottle of water watching the landscape go by, not worrying very much. Or reading. Lots of reading.
Incidentally, if anyone has train-travel tips or tricks, please pass 'em along! It will be my first long-long train ride, and I am so excited and anticipatory it's not even funny. I'm expecting to have an awesome time.
In writing news, I've had to scrap 2k in the most recent Jill book. It took me a couple days of beating my head against the wall before I figured out I was Doing The Wrong Thing. So instead of things starting out with a bang we're going to have an exorcism.
You know, I just realized, typing that: I have the coolest job in the world.
Anyway. It's Monday. I've got packing to do and all sorts of stuff going on. Guh. Time to get to work.
- Location:In The Rye
- Mood:
blank
This weekend in San Diego is Comic Con, an extravaganza of comics and anything and everything that might have to do with comics. Which means people wandering around in full costume, sightings of various actors, and all manner of madness. To say nothing of all that fantastic art.
I'll be signing at the Hachette booth on Sunday, July 27, from 11-12. Come by and say hello--especially if you're dressed like a fictional character.
San Diego Convention Center
111 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Sunday, July 27 from 11am-12pm
Here's the poster J. made, a Comic Con exclusive!
I'll be signing at the Hachette booth on Sunday, July 27, from 11-12. Come by and say hello--especially if you're dressed like a fictional character.
San Diego Convention Center
111 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Sunday, July 27 from 11am-12pm
Here's the poster J. made, a Comic Con exclusive!
Hope everyone had a great weekend. I actually went out and did a Real Thing instead of just working, and I hope you did, too.
Anyway,lankywriter sent me a great question for this week's Topic:
I've never been able to "insert quirk here." I'm an internal kind of person, so I tend to build characters from the inside out, figure out what's in their minds before I have a clue what's in their pockets.
But different writers use different tactics to create characters. I would imagine that writers who are more externally/physically/visually focused would find it natural to begin with habits and traits rather than a psychological exploration. As long as the end result is a fully fleshed character, the process itself doesn't matter.
How about you? Do you find it helpful to give your characters habits and quirks? If so, how do you devise them? I'd love to see some specific examples.
Leave your thoughts in the comments, and of course, all members and watchers alike are invited to share.
Looking forward to seeing some of you at Conestoga!
--Jeri Smith-Ready
Anyway,
lankywriter sent me a great question for this week's Topic:I'd like to see the topic of character habits and quirks be discussed. Who gives them to their characters and why? Workshops on character development often say writers should give their characters habits like gum chewing or knuckle cracking or whatever to make them more three-dimensional/interesting/authentic/distinctive. But can it be taken too far? Or can it come across as more of a stylistic trope than a true personality marker for your character? I've seen it overdone to the point of it being a) obnoxious; or b) pointless. What do others think?
I've never been able to "insert quirk here." I'm an internal kind of person, so I tend to build characters from the inside out, figure out what's in their minds before I have a clue what's in their pockets.
But different writers use different tactics to create characters. I would imagine that writers who are more externally/physically/visually focused would find it natural to begin with habits and traits rather than a psychological exploration. As long as the end result is a fully fleshed character, the process itself doesn't matter.
How about you? Do you find it helpful to give your characters habits and quirks? If so, how do you devise them? I'd love to see some specific examples.
Leave your thoughts in the comments, and of course, all members and watchers alike are invited to share.
Looking forward to seeing some of you at Conestoga!
--Jeri Smith-Ready
Today was my friend's baby shower, and she's having a girl. Now, I had to leave the party early, but I feel pretty confident in guessing that there were some cute dresses given as gifts. If not, then a great crime occurred, and I will rectify the situation later. Because seriously, how can you not bestow cute girly outfits on girl babies? I ask this question with some wonder to both you and myself.
You see, I have pretty liberal ideas about gender roles. I might wax on about how male and female brains actually are wired differently, but when it comes to the way men and women interact in the world, I believe most things should be equal. I think if both people in a relationship are working full-time jobs, then both should do their share of cooking and cleaning. I think girls should be able to play sports, and boys should be able to take dance classes. And while I fully plead guilty to liking makeup and sparkly objects, I prefer jeans to skirts. Likewise, I don't think any girl should ever feel that she has to don high heels or a dress in order to try to fit some preconceived idea of femininity that she may not actually like.
Unless, of course, said girl is a baby--in which case, by God, she will be clothed in adorable skirts and dresses, quite likely ones with excessive lace or bows. Ideally, both.
Why is that? I'll preach my gender equality sermons all day, but seriously, if I had a baby girl, I would buy out half of Target's infant dress inventory. And I'm not alone in this. I've been with other women while shopping for little girls, and while we might talk about how practical those tiny jeans are, everyone sort of goes slack-jawed at the sight of the first floral-print, puffed-sleeve baby dress. It's like some kind of instinct. And even if we do stay away from the frills, we still tend to make sure the gender identification is obvious. I, in fact, did not buy a dress. I bought a "onesie" that was brown with pink print on it. And I stood there for a while debating whether the colors were appropriate. After all, brown is not a "girl" color--but the pink clearly sealed the deal.
This behavior is so strange to me. And while I'm sure some of you will tell me you held to egalitarian beliefs with your babies, I suspect that most of you are in the same camp as me--particularly with colors. What's weird is that if I had a 6-year-old daughter, and someone told me that it'd be better for her to be in a red lace-trimmed dress instead of those grungy denim overalls (and I owned both outfits at that age), I would rant at them for trying to oppress my daughter and stifle her sense of self. I'd also mock them on my blog later.
So guys, what's this all about? Why do I (and others) think it's perfectly natural for girls of 6, 16, or 60 to wear jeans or shades of blue or baseball caps but find those same ideas weird for a baby? Likewise, why do you see grown men in pink dress shirts sometimes but NEVER baby boys? Why are we so eager to ensure our babies' genders are clearly obvious? I have two theories. One is that infants' personalities aren't developed yet, and we don't know anything about them--if they're sarcastic, if they're wishy-washy, if they like reality TV, whatever. We do know, most of the time, what their gender is, and so that's what we accentuate because at that age, it's all we've got to go on. My second theory is that when they're really little, they can't really do much on their own, so why not dress them up and show them off? They're just hanging around anyway. When they're six, they've got sandboxes to play in and tricycles to ride--then they need the gender-neutral overalls.
This is the kind of post that can get me in trouble, so I want to close by clarifying that I'm not actually putting clothing restrictions on any age. Girls can wear skirts or jeans or whatever; there's nothing wrong with dressing up or dressing down or dressing androgynous. It's all good. I'm just curious as to why lace/the color pink and sports logos/the color blue are so strictly regulated for babies.
You see, I have pretty liberal ideas about gender roles. I might wax on about how male and female brains actually are wired differently, but when it comes to the way men and women interact in the world, I believe most things should be equal. I think if both people in a relationship are working full-time jobs, then both should do their share of cooking and cleaning. I think girls should be able to play sports, and boys should be able to take dance classes. And while I fully plead guilty to liking makeup and sparkly objects, I prefer jeans to skirts. Likewise, I don't think any girl should ever feel that she has to don high heels or a dress in order to try to fit some preconceived idea of femininity that she may not actually like.
Unless, of course, said girl is a baby--in which case, by God, she will be clothed in adorable skirts and dresses, quite likely ones with excessive lace or bows. Ideally, both.
Why is that? I'll preach my gender equality sermons all day, but seriously, if I had a baby girl, I would buy out half of Target's infant dress inventory. And I'm not alone in this. I've been with other women while shopping for little girls, and while we might talk about how practical those tiny jeans are, everyone sort of goes slack-jawed at the sight of the first floral-print, puffed-sleeve baby dress. It's like some kind of instinct. And even if we do stay away from the frills, we still tend to make sure the gender identification is obvious. I, in fact, did not buy a dress. I bought a "onesie" that was brown with pink print on it. And I stood there for a while debating whether the colors were appropriate. After all, brown is not a "girl" color--but the pink clearly sealed the deal.
This behavior is so strange to me. And while I'm sure some of you will tell me you held to egalitarian beliefs with your babies, I suspect that most of you are in the same camp as me--particularly with colors. What's weird is that if I had a 6-year-old daughter, and someone told me that it'd be better for her to be in a red lace-trimmed dress instead of those grungy denim overalls (and I owned both outfits at that age), I would rant at them for trying to oppress my daughter and stifle her sense of self. I'd also mock them on my blog later.
So guys, what's this all about? Why do I (and others) think it's perfectly natural for girls of 6, 16, or 60 to wear jeans or shades of blue or baseball caps but find those same ideas weird for a baby? Likewise, why do you see grown men in pink dress shirts sometimes but NEVER baby boys? Why are we so eager to ensure our babies' genders are clearly obvious? I have two theories. One is that infants' personalities aren't developed yet, and we don't know anything about them--if they're sarcastic, if they're wishy-washy, if they like reality TV, whatever. We do know, most of the time, what their gender is, and so that's what we accentuate because at that age, it's all we've got to go on. My second theory is that when they're really little, they can't really do much on their own, so why not dress them up and show them off? They're just hanging around anyway. When they're six, they've got sandboxes to play in and tricycles to ride--then they need the gender-neutral overalls.
This is the kind of post that can get me in trouble, so I want to close by clarifying that I'm not actually putting clothing restrictions on any age. Girls can wear skirts or jeans or whatever; there's nothing wrong with dressing up or dressing down or dressing androgynous. It's all good. I'm just curious as to why lace/the color pink and sports logos/the color blue are so strictly regulated for babies.
- Location:lolcatzia
- Mood:
contemplative
Profile
- michelle_rowen
- Michelle Rowen
- Website
Page Summary
- rachelcaine : SPECIAL REQUEST! AND A REWARD! [+19]
- blue_succubus : Like watching paint dry [+10]
- rachelcaine : UPCOMING EVENTS! [+10]
- mdhenry : Conestoga Schedule and Stuff... [+22]
- rachelcaine : It's time ... [+25]
- blackaire : Good little worker bee [+0]
- lilithsaintcrow : ComiCon Or Bust [+8]
- blackaire : Brushes with fame! [+10]
- megancrane : Mulholland Drive [+0]
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif)
fangs_fur_fey :: frost_light : FFF mini-con this week! Plus, RWA [+3] - fangs_fur_fey :: satyrblade : Faerie Tales Employing Puppets and/or Bare or Unusual Feet? [+10]
- mdhenry : Since You've Been Gone... [+39]
- lilithsaintcrow : The Mystery of Hair Dye [+9]
- blue_succubus : Continuing adventures at the University District grocery store [+15]
- irysangel : I did not... [+5]
- blue_succubus : Like school in summer time [+19]
- lilithsaintcrow : Still Conscious, and COMI-CON! [+15]
- megancrane : Will I See You at Comic Con? [+0]
- fangs_fur_fey :: jer_bear711 : Topic of the Week - That Thing You Do [+29]
- blue_succubus : Probably because they're made of sugar and spice [+25]
