A DAY OFF! THINKING

I took a day off.  A whole day off of the day job to take care of all of the schtoof you can't do when you work the same hours that everything else is open.  WOO HOO.  Christmas shopping is done.  All but 1 package ready to mail.  Old prizes and replacements (the mail shredded my bookmark kind of thing) are going this afternoon.  The car is getting inspected.  The proposal and first section of the new individual book will be winging its way to the agent this afternoon. 

BUSY, but good busy.

OKAY, I had a thought.  Always a dangerous thing.  IF I were to start a blog (1 day a week) from the point of view of any character we have written (or if you want a sneak peek, from any of the characters of the new book being sent to the agent this afternoon) or which will be written, who would it be?

OR would you prefer to have one blog a week here (which would be handy since I wouldn't have to set up a new account) with a character visiting each week?  HMNNN???  Inquiring minds want to know.


Cie

VISITING DIGNITARY - DAVID BOOP

Everything You Wanted to Know about Publishing (Since You Were Going to Ask Anyway.)

By David Boop

I was recently asked to sit on a panel for a local writer’s meet-up on the topic of “Building Suspense in Your Mysteries” with two other colleagues of mine.  After discussing our respective careers, we decided to ask if there was anything in particular they wanted us to focus on.  A shy hand raised up and asked, “So just how do you get published?” Nearly two hours later, we never addressed the topic we’d shown up for. (It is also interesting to note, that when polled, only two out of the dozen or so people attending actually wrote mysteries.)

You all are hungry to be read. You wouldn’t be reading a blog from an author on the topic of writing if you weren’t. Heck, you’re even reading the guest blog from a hack such as myself. That’s dedication to the craft if I’ve ever seen it. You’ve probably just completed a month of fitting in a couple thousand words a day in between kids pageants, prepping turkeys, making up guest rooms and subtly telling your S.O. what you want for Christmas, knowing full well he/she won’t get it in the right color or size. Now you have something - a manuscript, a novella, a chunk of your soul - throbbing, desperate to make its mark on the world. You know it needs editing, or completing, or revising, or… and many writers feel this way… deleting. I mean, after all, who is going to publish you… the retail manager, the domestic goddess, the retiree?

I’m here to tell you the truth.

Nobody will publish you AND everybody will publish you.

No, stop with the accolades. I can just hear you out there saying, “Oh, thank you, St. Dave. That makes everything clearer. I was so worried, but you’ve shown me the light!”

Seriously, before you light the torches and make your way to Denver, let me explain. When I was asked, “How do you get published?” I answered, “There are as many ways to get published as there are stories waiting to be published.” I could have gone with the Kevin Costner, “as many ways as there are stars in the sky,” but then I’d have to do my little tatanka dance, and really, no one wants to see that.

Every author I know has been published in a different way than the next. Few actually go through the recommend steps as taught in colleges, on panels and during lectures. They made their own way to publishing, as you will yourself.

Some claim that the only road to true success is to be published through a traditional press. You know, the old guard, the men (and women) in the white towers who pay you an advance, edit your story, turn it into a book, get that book into bookstores, get it reviewed by well-respected critics, and place you on the New York Times Bestseller list. Those people aren’t wrong.

Along with that, however, you have to take pennies for your work, loss of creative control, a token marketing effort and sometimes being lost in the shadow of the authors already making them money. It’s a horrible, frustrating road that involves countless rejection letters and spending money you don’t have to attend conventions, conferences and networking opportunities. It involves putting yourself out there, making them read you, critique you, judge you. And for many of us, in the end, when you walk through that Barnes and Nobles and see your book next to one of your idols, worth every sacrifice. The number of authors who have succeeded this way is about the same as those who didn’t. Your chances are even. This is my current path and, as a brother in the trenches, I salute you!

In the opposite extreme, there are those writers who have embarked on that quest and gave up, or were scared off from it by people like me who told them the truth about it. They have decided to self-publish their work via print-on-demand (POD) publishers or to e-publish, or both. Many once, and currently successful authors will speak on this, and they have more experience than I, but having working in the POD field, I will share what I know.

First, if you do not have the resources to have your manuscript edited by a professional, experienced-in-the-publishing-field editor, don’t go down this route. There is nothing worse than shelling out nearly $20 for a trade paperback book and find five typos in the first chapter. (And don’t get me started on grammar, pacing, POV and the like. The typos were bad enough!)  Someone who understands plots, the Hero’s Journey (even if you’re defying it,) and transformation of character. Nothing will turn a reader off to any and all future endeavors you’ll embark upon if you cannot tell a good story.

So why risk this? It’ll be nearly impossible to get it reviewed by legitimate sources. You won’t make Oprah’s book list. You’ll be treated differently by many authors (justified or not.)

Well, after your initial investment, you make all the profit, which sometimes can be substantial. You’ll be in control of your destiny. You can make things happen with your book traditional publishers would never consider. I’ve seen SP authors win major competitions, get their works turned into movies, and sit on panels with Hugo nominees carrying on intelligent conversations. I think some mediums work better for self-publishing than others, such as children’s books, non-fiction and poetry, but I’ve seen someone defy the rules in every genre.

Somewhere between traditional and self-publishing is the uncharted territory of small press. These golden shores offer a publisher for each and every genre known to man and woman. I know a publisher that focuses exclusively in gay pirate stories and does quite well at them. And small press doesn’t mean small by any stretch of the imagination. Independent publishers have won Hugos and Nebulas, and turned series into video games, comics and films. They do get books into stores, though usually not as many, and only after a successful track record. Editors of small presses are more approachable at conventions and the like. They are more willing to take chances on something that otherwise wouldn’t fit the norm. They are tech savvy, as hungry for success as you and have been known to cry when a book they believed in hasn’t taken off. They pay everything from pro rates to only shared royalties.  They’ll make you part of their street team, showing you off all over the world.

The only disadvantage is… they’re breeding like horny, little bunnies and not all of them have cleaned the afterbirth from their fur yet. You never know what you might get. I’ve heard horror stories about big name Independents not paying on time, or not accurately, or not at all. Who am I kidding? I’ve been in that horror story. I’m the guy that Jason machetes while watching his sister make it with her boyfriend.  And I’d do it all over again. I had a beautiful novel, which sold really well until I pulled it from the publisher for not paying me on time, or accurately. It happens to the best of us.

I deliberately didn’t touch on agents, as I’ve run out of space. Or sleeping with editors to get published (don’t do it. Unless they’re hot. Then forget the book and marry the editor.)  Or a myriad of other ways writers have become authors. George R. R. Martin suggested finding a patron of the arts to marry, so you can focus all your time on writing. So, as I leave you to go log into SugarMamma.com, I’ll pass along these last words…

If you want to get published, and your writing is sound, you’ll get published. Not tomorrow. Probably not the next day either. You’ll get published your way. And then you’ll know how to answer the question, “How do you get published?” next time you show up for a panel on suspense.

***********************

David Boop is a Denver-based single father, returning college student, full-time employee and published author. His first novel, the sci-fi noir, She Murdered Me with Science, came out in 08. He’s also had over a dozen short stories and novellas published in many genres. His most recent appears in The Green Hornet Casefiles. He travels all over the country speaking at conventions, libraries and schools on writing and publishing. Dave’s hobbies include film, anime, Mayan history and The Blues. To find out more, visit www.davidboop.com.  

And now to the interview portion:

HI!

It's good to hear from you again. It's been a while. I understand you've been very busy. What have you been working on?

Thanks for having me aboard! Yes, it’s been far too long. Well, besides conventions, I’ve been working on the follow-up to my first novel, She Murdered Me with Science. It’s going to be called, Murdered in a Mechanical World (and I’m a Mechanical Girl!) Once again, Noel R. Glass, forensics detective in 1955 must wrestle his demons and save the world from destruction. I’ve also sold seven short stories and novellas between 2010-11 (including my first media tie-in based on The Green Hornet T.V. series from the sixties.) In addition, I changed agents, and she has two outlines for novels, one fantasy, one a paranormal police procedural.

What releases do you have coming out in 2012? (ASIDE, would you like them listed on the calendar I have on the website for readers to see what's coming from folks I know and those I've featured?)

The only thing I can say about 2012 is that there are a lot of irons in the fire, from novels, comics and films. Nothing I can speak of yet, save to say I’ve been invited to another anthology based on a different sixties T.V. series, this one a bit sexier than the Hornet. 

How many books have you written? Can you give us the titles?

The aforementioned novel is my only completed. Because of the amount of research it takes to write a Noel Glass novel, it takes me years to complete one. I do a lot of research to make sure the fifties I write about is as real as the fifties in our reality. The outlines for the other two novels didn’t take as long, as they didn’t require the same level of research.

If you had to be “stuck in an elevator” with one of your characters for several hours, who would it be and what would you talk about?

Definitely not Wan Lee. He’s been known to stink up a place with his perchance for spicy food. Probably, the assassin Degna Sagese from “Justice is Not Taken By the Storm,” featured in Space Sirens. She’s unconventionally hot, intelligent and willing to take chances. That is, if I’m not on her hit list.

If you could change one of your characters, which one would it be and why?

Noel R. Glass’s transformation took a little longer in the first book than I’d like, but that’s what the story dictated. The reason I wanted to write a second one was to show a whole Noel, at the top of his game. He’s a fully realized man now, which is why I have to screw that up by the end of the second book.

Do you listen to music as you write? If so, which artists? What is your playlist?

I tend to do a lot of Blues when writing noir, but usually, I don’t play music. I love music too much and invest in the songs, pulling me away from my writer’s trance. It’s been harder to get in these days, due to life demanding my attention, so when I get there, I need to focus.

What hobbies do you use to relax? Do you have a day job? If so, doing what?

By the time I get home, or finish writing, I’m wiped, so I tend to zone out on TV. I recently took up watching hockey, after being a “football only” person for many years. I also DVR all the current spec-fic series and try to catch up as I can. I recently left a job as a mailroom supervisor and I’m going back into audio-visual work. It’s what my first and second degrees were based on and I decided to use them again. I’m also working on my third one, English BA, which I hope to have completed in two years. My son also goes to an online school, so I work with him a lot, which is almost like being a part-time teacher. 

The business of writing is changing rapidly. Do you find the change scary? Invigorating? How (if at all) have you changed your career plans/path as a result?
I hate that I’ve gotten so close to the golden ring, and may never see it. Hardback books are all but gone unless you have a Martin or King as your last name. I may never have a dust cover book, and that makes me sad. However, there are untapped possibilities for the new medium. We may see the return of hypertext-style stories, or more illustrations and animations. On the agent front, the roles of agents are changing from marketers to accountant-lawyers. We’ll see more of them fighting in the trenches for author rights, than making sales. I’ve had four agents over the years, and not one made a sale for me. Mind you, the first two don’t count, as my writing was really shit back then. I’m just a good salesman.    

What is one key bit of advice you would give to a prospective writer?

1.      Join a writer’s group that has the sole purpose of making sure everyone gets published.

2.      Have someone reliable edit your work outside the group.

3.      Go to conventions, attend panels, listen to those that have gone through this already, and network.

All my success can be boiled down to that.

Visiting Dignitary Scheduled Today

Okay, I can't remember what TIME I scheduled it to post.  But it is coming!!! 

I am thrilled things are going well.  Postponed the tooth surgery for various reasons, it's coming in January.  Hope I've got everything done I need to before it happens.

Love and happy holidays to all.

Cie

Sunday Morning Breakfast Serial

WHO IN THE *H* IS BOONE CARTER?  EPISODE 2


Trey and I clattered down the stairs to my battered old pick-up.  We needed to hustle if we were going to make it to work on time.  No surprise.  It's like this every day.  Every day I swear I won't wait for his sorry ass; and every day as I'm headed to the truck to leave without him he comes dashing down after me, swearing under his breath and threatening a whole lot of shit he has no intention of actually doing to me. 

When we reached the front door, though, I stopped in my tracks suddenly enough that Trey rammed into me from behind. 

"What the . . ."  he complained.

"We have company."

He shoved past me to look out through the lace curtains that adorned the window built into the front door.   His eyes went wide.  "A limo."

"Yup." 

"And they've blocked in the truck."

"Right again."

He gave me a long look.  "You know somebody owns a limo?" 

"No.  You?"

"Nope."
"Who do you 'spose it is?"

"Only one way to find out."  I pulled open the door and we strolled out onto the porch.  Trey waited as I pulled the door closed and set the deadbolt.  It was a waste of time really--what good is a deadbolt on a wooden door that is almost half window?  But old Mrs. Cunningham gets pissy if we leave it unlocked, and she's the landlady. 

Trey and I walked over to the limo together.

The car was a 2010 Rolls Royce Phantom, cream colored with long, beautiful lines.  Nothing tacky about this number.  Pure elegance.  The driver was pretty elegant too--a leggy blonde with wide blue eyes, her short hair slicked back under the traditional driver's cap.  Her gray driver's uniform was fairly effective at hiding her figure, but there's only so much camoflage can do when a girl's got a body like that.

"Which of you gentlemen is Boone Carter?"  She asked.

I raised my hand.  "That would be me."

Saturday Evening Post

Greetings all.  Time for the Saturday Evening Post. 

First, Thanks again to Linnea. 

Second.  THE WINNERS ARE:

TRUBBLE - An autographed book by Linnea Sinclair
JACKIE B - A signed cover flat of BLOOD SONG

I have contacted Jackie for her address.  I'm having trouble tracking down TRUBBLE (SOOOOOOO not my usual problem may I add), so if you can get hold of him/her have him/her contact me in the comments below with an e-mail address OR e-mail me at catadamsfans@gmail.com with a snail mail address to mail the prize to and "YOU'RE IN TRUBBLE" in the RE.

THANKS.

Now, on to the post.

One of the things that always surprises people when they embark on writing as a career is that it's HARD.  No, seriously, people are shocked by this.  It's not just the writing---putting the butt in the chair and manufacturing worlds, people, and action all with the power of words (which is, by the way, a trick in and of itself), but that there's so much other STUFF involved. 

Marketing; blogging; calendaring deadlines; edits, copy edits, galleys; promo; appearances/signings; online presence (Twitter, FaceBook/MySpace, etc.); contests, mailing prizes; etc. 

It's work.  It's wonderful, happy, rewarding work, but it is WORK. 

So don't be surprised if/when you decide to embark on this wonderful adventure, to find out that like most adventures there will be lots of times when things are crazy-making, exhausting and scary.  After all, all the best adventures are.

And hey, count yourself lucky.  At least you're not one of my heroines.  Have you SEEN what I put them through?!!

Thanks Guys!

Just a quick note to thank everybody who visited with the Visiting Dignitary.  Linnea is VERY cool people and I thought it was great of her to agree to be the very first dignitary in the relaunch. 

Prize winners will be drawn from a hat (really, I have a hat collection.  I'll pull one out for the purpose) on Saturday.  NOTE, they will not be mailed out for a week or so.  Linnea is going to be unavailable for a few days and I am notoriously slow about sending things.  BUT THEY WILL GO OUT!!!

Again, thanks guys. 

Cie 

Visiting Dignitary! Linnea Sinclair

WELCOME LINNEA SINCLAIR

For our very first Visiting Dignitary of the new "season" I am pleased to bring you Linnea Sinclair.  Linnea is an old friend and the author of some amazing stories that meld science fiction and romance in an intoxicating (and addicting) blend that is as unique as she is. 

Now on with the interview:

It's good to hear from you again. It's been a while. I understand you've been very busy. What have you been working on?

A new science fiction romance adventure novel, working title MOON UNDER GLASS. I'm dealing with a unique universe (in the writing sense of the word) and a unique star system where humans are the newcomers and "low on the totem pole," as the saying goes. The book has a bit of an Indiana Jones flair to it as it deals with antiques and alien artifacts--as well as murder, theft, betrayal and, of course, love.

I understand that you have a party you throw pretty regularly at the Romantic Times convention. Could you tell me a little about it? Do you have any details about this year's event?

--The Intergalactic Bar & Grille Party is RT's ONLY science fiction themed party, and is going into its sixth year (at least I think that's correct) of out-of-this-world craziness and mayhem and lots (and LOTS) 0of fabulous freebies. I don't have the full schedule yet (not until RT gets it to me) but it's usually on Wednesday, early evening. The party centers around question-and-answer table games, and those who've watched a lot of Star Trek and Star Wars will definitely do well! But there are also questions about the book of my "crew," my co-host authors, which this year include Cie Adams (1/2 of Cat Adams), Catherine Asaro, Marcella Burnard, Stacey Kade, Isabo Kelly, Jade Lee (aka Kathy Lyons), Liddy Midnight, and Janet Miller (aka Cricket Starr). And, of course, me. Every party goer gets a goody bag stuffed with things that flash and blink and light up (very sci fi!). And we serve snacks and booze...and have a fabulously fun time!

Sounds like fun!

You have a fairly significant backlist? How many books have you written? Can you give us the titles?

I have eight books out with Bantam, including my Dock Five series, and one novella with Simon & Schuster/Pocket.

FINDER KEEPERS
GABRIEL'S GHOST (Dock Five #1)
AN ACCIDENTAL GODDESS
GAMES OF COMMAND
SHADES OF DARK (Dock Five #2)
THE DOWN HOME ZOMBIE BLUES (now is movie production in Hollywood as "The Down Home Alien Blues"-
HOPE'S FOLLY (Dock Five #3)
REBELS AND LOVERS (Dock Five #4)
"Courting Trouble" in SONGS OF LOVE & DEATH, George R R Martin and Gardner Dozois, Eds.

I also had a few books published by small presses about ten years ago, but they're out of print and I don't want to get readers frustrated if they try to find them.

If you had to be “stuck in an elevator” with one of your characters for several hours, who would it be and what would you talk about?

That's a tough question. I guess the character I'd want to be stuck with would be one who'd know how to FIX the elevator! But that would actually include most of them, since most of my characters either maintain their own starfreighters or have significant experience with starships and other things mechanical. My first inclination would be to say Philip Guthrie, because he's one of the older characters I've written and I just enjoy his practical yet snarky personality. But I'd hate to be stuck in the elevator with him and NOT with Rya Bennton as well, because she's his 'other half' and I know he'd be a lot happier if she was there. As for conversation, I'd want to know how the war was going, how the new Alliance was faring, and how his brother, Devin, was adjusting to all the events in REBELS AND LOVERS--especially his reunion with Kaidee, the one woman he couldn't forget yet was forbidden to love.

If you could change one of your characters, which one would it be and why?

I can't think of one I'd want to change. I'd like to revisit all of them and see their continuing adventures--and growth. But none I'd change.

Do you listen to music as you write? If so, which artists? What is your playlist?

Definitely, mostly trance and electronica providing there are no lyrics/words (or very few). I post my playlists in the beginning of most of my books. DJ Lithium (www.blacktigerrecordings.com) is one of my go-to favorites. I also like Juno Reactor, DJ Tiesto, Firestorm, and Crystal Method.

The business of writing is changing rapidly. Do you find the change scary? Invigorating? How (if at all) have you changed your career plans/path as a result?

I don't feel the business of writing is changing, but the business of publishing is, and mostly in "delivery methods." Digital media has become an accepted (though still not as widely accepted as many would like) format, which has been enhanced by the Nook and other e-readers and tablets. I don't think that's changed stories per se. Conflict is still conflict, world building is still world building. The changes to the structure of writing, where novels needed to open with more action and "closer" to the meat of the story, happened about ten to fifteen years ago as society became more television- and movie-oriented. But that's about when I started to write fiction seriously, so my methods are more akin to "hit the ground running" kinds of stories than the older, leisurely openings (and plot and character development) of stories that are considered classics.

I haven't changed anything I do at all in relation to digital media advances. The story still has to "work" and whether it's on a screen or a paper page makes no difference.

What is one key bit of advice you would give to a prospective writer:

Read Dwight V Swain's TECHNIQUES OF THE SELLING WRITER. It's hands-down the best instructional book on fiction writing, even though it was written over twenty years ago. If you do eighty percent of what Swain advises, you WILL sell.

Thank you so much for coming by.  All right readers.  As a thank you for your comments we have prizes available.  Two lucky "commentors" will be drawn at random.  One will receive a signed book from Linnea (shipable to addresses in the US only.)  Another will receive a signed cover flat of "Blood Song"

Linnea, again, thanks for coming by!

Sunday Morning Breakfast Serial

OKAY FOLKS, I'm trying out the SCHEDULE function again.  This is the Sunday Morning Breakfast Serial.  First Installment of "WHO IN THE HELL IS BOONE CARTER?"

**************

“This is Boone Carter.  I have good news and I have bad news.” I spoke into the cell phone. It was an old one, a little bigger than they make them now, so I didn't feel like I was talking into a credit card.  It also had the advantage of being cheap.  It was a pre-paid model, the kind they call a “burn phone” on tv. But I've had it longer than my most recent apartment.  Then again, that's not saying all that much.  I tend to be pretty mobile.

“Tell me.” The client sounded tense. Then again, from what I could tell Melodee Bigbee was always tense. Probably the meth. But maybe just her nature. I didn't know. Didn't much care either.

“The good news is, I found your car. The bad news, the police are going to be asking you lots of question and I'm not sure you're ever going to get the smell out.”

She started swearing and hung up on me.  I wasn't surprised.  I'd be willing to bet that a visit from the cops would be a life-changing experience for Melodee, and not in a good way.  Particularly not when they were going to be asking her questions about the murder of her dealer/boyfriend-maybe-commonlaw-husband Dirk.  Ah well, not my problem.  She'd paid me to find the car.  I found the car. 

I closed the cell phone and slid it into the back pocket of my worn jeans.

"Let me guess," Trey said "she hung up on you." 

"Yup."

Trey shook his head, smirking.  Let him smirk.  I've got a thick skin.  And I learned a long time ago to get paid, in cash, in advance.  None of this "in trade for sex" or whatever crap.  Show me the Benjamins or I walk.  It's one thing Trey and I absolutely agree on.

Trey Jefferson is my current roommate.  His full name is Theodore Thomas Jefferson III.  He hates it.  So he goes by Trey.  Trey is everything I'm not: Small, wiry, and black, he's quick, and clever.  He gets a lot of exercise jumping to conclusions.  I stand 6'7" in my bare feet, am whiter than your average lily, and tend to think things through very carefully before I take any action.  The latter is a product of my "colorful" upbringing.

I met Trey at my most recent job.  I'm a roofer for Carmichael & Sons Roofing Professionals in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  I wandered out here in search of sunlight and warmth after spending a couple years working on cleaning up the aftermath of Katrina and establishing my identity.  We hit it off well enough.  He needed a roommate.  I needed a place.  So far it's worked out better than most of my living arrangements.  Trey knows enough not to ask too many questions. 

Smart man.

The Saturday Evening Post

The Saturday Evening Post is getting written Saturday morning because I'm going to have a completely packed schedule today and this evening.  But it IS getting written, which is progress.  And it gives me the opportunity to see if the whole "Schedule" thing where it releases on a timer actually WORKS.  Which it should.  But seriously, if it's possible for me to screw it up, I probably will.

I am actually very good with technology, and software.  But I am in a hurry, and stressed, and that never helps the learning curve. 

Perhaps I should do some Zen-like meditation.  Ooohm, ooohm, woogita woogita woogita woogita, THUNK, oooohmmmm, ooohmmmm.

There much better.  (For those of you who don't recognize the above, it is an imitation of an old washing machine I had in the basement of my house back in Denver.  It was right under the air ducts, so every time I did laundry I had a relaxing Zen-like experience.)  My son and I dubbed it the Zen washer, and we were completely heartbroken when it finally broke down permanently.  No washer before or since has been so loved.  (Although the one I have now comes close because I had to do without one for so long and I am NOT a big fan of the laundramat.)

ANYWAY, back to the point.  (There was a point?  Really?  Where?)  This is a test post. 

So, TESTING, 1, 2, 3.  TESTING 1,2,3.

The first official posse e-mail is out and getting good response.  The posse is growing by leaps and bounds, which is a wondrous thing.  WORLD DOMINATION/ONE BOOK AT A TIME.  (I am now picturing Pinky and the Brain, one of my favorite cartoons of all time).

The body is acting up a bit, no surprise, it does that when I'm nervous and who ISN'T nervous when they're getting ready for oral surgery.  I mean, SERIOUSLY.

I can't stay long this morning, but know that I'm thinking of you all, and that progress is being made. 

Cie

LOTS AND LOTS OF GOOD STUFF

Okay, have been VERY busy on your behalf, and my behalf, which I guess makes it a bewhole.  (As opposed to a . . . never mind. :))

I'm in a very good mood, but have been busier than I ever imagined possible.  I'm:

1) getting my individual website ready for a big December launch, which entails
2) getting the release calendar pulled together, and linked to the personal website
3) I'm getting the posse gifts out to the posse and
4) pulling together a separate mailing list for the posse members so I can get them special alerts and presents and ask them to do stuff if they're willing. 
5) I've got a manuscript in the final stages of the first pass (out now to my son for review) and
6) am trying to figure out who I want for my individual beta readers. 
7) The next Celia book is at the editor and WILL need revisions.
8) I've re-launched the blog (here) and am
9) Launching the VISITING DIGNITARIES again.  This involves
10) CONTACTING and scheduling said dignitaries.  (Currently scheduled for every Wednesday starting next week, and I have scheduled ahead into March, so it's looking promising)
11) Doing questions for said dignitaries who want to be interviewed; and
12) Preparing to update the Craft Corner with the information I'm getting from said dignitaries.
13) doing business stuff with Cathy and
14) Putting together the December Newsletter
15) Having oral surgery
16) The day job
17) Getting ready for Christmas.

SO, if I seem a little frazzled, it's CAUSE I AM!

A very good day.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Mine rocked.

20+ pages today.  WOOT!!!  Solidly hit the halfway point and am rocking.  There are more pages that can be salvaged from a previous draft, so I'm really hopeful about tomorrow's production too!

Website changes have been made.  I plan to launch the new/revised individual site December 1.  I'm going to do a e-mail out to the Posse members asking them to come by and to publicize it. 
I've contacted various visiting dignitaries so that they will be available here on Wednesdays and have sent out the questions.  The advice bits will go to the joint website so that will benefit also.  I've got an idea for the Sunday Morning Breakfast Serial, and will get that ready to post as well. 

All in all, the past few days have been exciting and productive.  I love holidays.  I can recover enough from the day job to actually do stuff for the writing without feeling completely stressed and worn out.  The day job is good.  But writing is my love. 

SO WOOT WOOT WOOT!!

The new version of Blogger WORKS!  Woot.

I now have a plan. 

Okay, I've gotten a couple of responses from other authors willing to visit.  I think the dignitary visits or reviews will be on Wednesdays. 

I will have a "Saturday Evening Post" which is just chatty, and a "Sunday Morning Breakfast Serial" which will be unedited fiction that I compose off the top of my head.

I have made edits in the beginning stages to the personal website at http://www.adams-jamesauthors.com .  One of the big edits is letting go of the graphic novel page so that I could do the Author Information and Calendar.  The graphic novel deal pretty much fell through anyway, and I really wanted to have a place to link to the "Craft Corner" author advice bit on the Cat Adams page, and I wanted to create and link to a release calendar.  The idea is to gather into one spot all of the release dates for 2012 for author friends and favorites so that readers can pop over and find what's coming out when in one spot.  Of course this requires me actually GATHERING THE INFORMATION.  Which is something to be done another day.  I'm POOPED.  But happy.

Have a great evening folks.

How I spent my weekend.

They updated Blogger.  I don't think I like the look of it, but I'm not a big fan of change.  HOWEVER, if it posts without hassle I will rethink this. 

A correction to the previous post:  adams-jamesauthors.com  The hyphen is a big deal.  So sorry I forgot it.

I spent the weekend going over final proofs for The Isis Collar and was quite happy with the result.  It will go to the publisher today.  Also finished the posse gifts I was making and have gathered together addresses to send them.

Ah, the posse.  For those who don't know and are interested.  I have a small (but fierce) group of followers who are my posse.  They get special prizes and offers, news, and whatever.  I am the Not-So-Evil-Overlord bent on world domination one book at a time.  If you are interested, e-mail catadamsfans@gmail.net with your name, e-mail and snail mail addresses.

And now off to get ready for the day job. 

Have a great day.

Cie

Insanity Reigns

I am back. Where was I? In the throes of the deadline cave getting The Eldritch Conspiracy finished and to Cathy (and from thence to our magnificent editor Melissa Singer at Tor). I am behind on ABSOLUTELY FRICKING EVERYTHING and, in the throes of the stress of such managed to shatter two of my teeth (I grind, I clench, all completely unconscious and VERY VERY bad for teeth.) I managed to drag my butt to the dentist (phobic much?) and am referred to the oral surgeon (yup DEFINITELY screwed the teeth up massively).

Also, in one of those weirdnesses that come with changes of tech, for some reason I can write this blog on my new fancy-schmancy-love-it-to-pieces-but-what-the-HELL computer, but it WILL NOT POST. I have to go somewhere else to post it. It merely saves it as a draft. Very weird. Very annoying.

Today I have managed to edit the website for my individual projects. I have to fix the washing machine (loose bolt, but of course I don't have the right socket size. UGH), and I have to go over the final proofs of The Isis Collar to see if all of the oopses that came from a software glitch have, in fact, been cured.

I am working hard on the next project. I am excited. But I also have all of that backlog of day-to-day stuff to get through. And I need to get back on the eating right and exercising bandwagon, although I'm not sure if I should exercise until the teeth are fixed. Infections and exercise do not necessarily mix if I remember right. Then again, it might just be another excuse. LOL.

The newsletter is going out. I hope you will all get it and enjoy it. I also have to finish the bookmarks for the posse, whom I have not forgotten. So, all in all, it will be a very busy time for the next few. But I am going to try to post at least three times a week. Just like the exercise. It may bore you to pieces since my life just isn't that exciting, but HEY you don't HAVE to read it. (SOB, I'm so ALONE. Nobody loves me and my feet are cold. But FINE, FINE. GO.) (Is that melodramatic enough to make you stay?)

Oh, and maybe I'll go back to the serial. If you want me to. Opinions please.

If you want to check out the individual projects website, it's at: www.adamsjamesauthors.com

Friday Morning

Have you ever looked at this looming, huge, stack of "to do" and wondered if it was even remotely possible to get it "ta done?" I'm so there. I've got work stuff to do, writing stuff to do, house stuff to do, things to do for the animals, tax stuff to do, and on, and on, and on.

I've decided to close my eyes, take a deep breath, and do one thing at a time.

Howdy Y'all

Hello. I'm trying to stay awake this evening. Tough day. Still, good things are about to happen. I believe that. In the meantime, I'm having a little caffeine to perk me up so that I can get the daily dose of writing done.


Not going to be able to go to FenCon with Cathy. Life and the deadline intervened. :( Mega, mega :( But there you go.


Anyway, if I don't get moving. I won't get things done before I keel over.

Take care y'all. I'll try to come up with a better post next time.

Cie

Thursday Morning

For those of you who wonder why the Tuesday post went up on Thursday, for some reason my new computer (Windows 7) will write the blog, but blocks posting it, so I have to go to another computer, log online, and go to Blogger and post. Not impossible, but nuisancy. So sometimes there is a delay in posting.

Sorry.

Tuesday Morning

I started to say "Why are there no songs about Tuesday?" But then I remembered "Tuesday's Dead." So never mind. But there really are LOTS more songs about Monday, and Friday, and even Saturday night.

But it is Tuesday, and I am actually feeling fairly perky. Surprising since I was up early this morning. BUT the specialist was right. The new thyroid meds are working. I no longer feel like I've been hit by a truck most of the time. I'm even mostly clear-headed most of the time.

WHOOO HOOO!

On the writing front, the book is actually going pretty well. I'm a bit frustrated but it's technical issues. The new computer needs to be upgraded if it's going to run the old software I like. (I hate most of the new word processing software. It (a) keeps trying to force me to format things the way I don't want to; (b) doesn't have as good of a vocabulary as I do (which is just freaking SAD. Excuse me, you've expanded the memory and you can't even put in an unabridged dictionary?) so that it keeps saying things are misspelled just because it doesn't know the word (oh and the suggestions for replace? Lovely. Just lovely. Hit the wrong button and an article about the Sazi will be about the Suzi. No, not just any Suzi "THE Suzi." Yes, I know it won't be in their dictionary. But I can add it. Or I SHOULD be able to anyway.); and doesn't let me turn off their controls. So I want to use old software. Which means I need to upgrade the new computer. Or use the old one. But wait. I can't. It CRASHED. Totally.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Not when I'm on deadline!

Except, reasonably, I am always on one deadline or another. Such is the life of a working author. And I wouldn't trade it. Because there's a lot of folks right now who aren't working, let alone working as authors, living their dreams, etc.

Ah well.

Bought myself a used laptop cheaply. I had given the previous one to my son, who is also the VP of my company and whose computer had "issues." So I now have a laptop to take on trips again. Yay. There are a lot of folks who would ask why used. See the previous paragraphs. I wanted it new enough to be light, have plenty of memory and speed, and old enough to run my old WP programs. I am a very low-end user for most tech. I use the internet. I e-mail. And I write books. Occasionally I'll splurge and run a DVD movie or TV show on the player.

That's it.

So used and cheap worked well for me.

Okay, have to go. I'm in the process of watering the trees. We are in a major drought down here. I refuse to water grass in a drought. The water is needed for animals and people. BUT trees take 100s of years to grow. So when it's really bad I do take time to water the trees. And frankly, they need it. They are so stressed that we're probably going to lose half of them.

COME ON RAIN.

Okay, gotta go. Bye. See you soon. Be happy and well.

Cie

Sometimes life just gets away from you.

Hi!

Well, it's been an . . . interesting day.

Had some wonderful telephone conversations, but haven't gotten much done.

First, the laundry detergent I bought yesterday evidently had a leak. It drained out over the counter, onto the floor, and pretty much everywhere. I had to clean that up.

Okay, I'm dealing. I go out to feed the outdoor kitties (it's still dark) and encounter a family of skunks. Oh crap. Sprayage ensues (but misses me as I ducked quickly back behind the door. SO I now decide that maybe I should screen in the front porch for the kitties as skunks are not only nasty, they can easily be rabid. And while, yes, the outdoor kitties got their shots, STILL. So I measured and waited until later to call the lumber yard with measurements.

Then I come inside and start doing dishes and such, and find out that. OH CRAP. One whole side of one of the indoor cats is plastered to his skin and crunchy where he (you guessed it) laid in the spilled soap.

Now, is soap going to kill him? Probably not. But it sure as h*** isn't going to be good for him, and there's too much of it for him to clean himself with his tongue anyway. SO, I get to capture, and bathe a formerly feral feline who is the most skittish of my kitties.

OH freakin' JOY.

It was, shall we say, an ADVENTURE.

Then, of course, I had to clean up the destruction in what used to be my bathroom, put neosporin on various punctures, and try to calm and sooth an extremely distraught cat.

I go to the lumberyard to pick up the supplies and -- the boards I had pre-cut are the wrong length. CRAP. Yes, I can make it work. But I will have to really work at it rather than just slapping it up. Which means it isn't happening today. It's just NOT.

It is now 1:37. I am completely and totally exhausted. And I have accomplished NOTHING.

Sigh.