Uhm, I might have been a wee bit optimistic when I thought I could finish the book by Saturday. I did pretty good throughout the week, but didn’t make it to the point I could actually take a day to go play. Which sucked, because spending the day with beledibabe would have been grand.

However, I really think that it was for the best in the long run. I’d also highly underestimated how many more words I really needed to write. I was shooting for about 72-73K.

I started Friday evening when I got home, worked through about 1:00 a.m. and managed to sketch out the rest of the book and finish a few chapters.

Got up Saturday at 6:30 and worked all day.

Got up today, worked on a couple of chapters and then decided I need to relax a bit before I attacked this again.

Started up again around 4:00 and just finished for the day. I’m nearly there. Five chapters to flesh out and I’m done).

Word count for the day: 3883
Word count from Friday-Sunday: 19780
Updated total: 76078.

I’m treating myself by watching Buffy, Season 1 episodes.

I have to finish the book by Saturday so I can go play with

beledibabe

…well, and send said book to my editor.

The goal: 3000 words give-or-take a day for the rest of the week and I shall be doneski. *

Tonight: I rule: 2746. w00t!!

Also, I can haz OTW membership. And so can you.

On a third and gleeful note, I’m about to embark on a project (after the book is done) that makes me VERY happy. Can’t share details yet, but it’s an essay (on spec, but I have a slot if it’s good) for an upcoming popular culture book. Let’s just say it’s fannish in nature and I’m really looking forward to writing it. I’ll share the info when I can. Keep your fingers crossed that I can put on my non-fiction hat again and write sensibly, yet entertainingly.

* of course, this means skipping water aerobics, but I think for this week, I can do that. Then I’ll hit the water with a vengeance next week.

…to wish the ever awesome theamusedone a very happy birthday!!

May your day be fabulous and fantastic.

Just got the sampler cover for my upcoming book, Blood Bargain from my editor, the incomparable Paula Guran.

See mine and sampler covers for Seaborn (by Chris Howard) and Brimstone Kiss by Carole Nelson Douglas here.

I love it!!

\0/

First off, the very happiest of birthday wishes to the always lovely and wonderfully talented kassrachel! May the celebration of your day be as fabulous as you are.

I’ve been watching New Amsterdam. and am liking it well enough. The premise is fairly interesting, though a bit Highlander meets Nick Knight, but no matter. The leads, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Zukeikha Robinson are both lovely and I enjoy them both immensely. I’m liking some of the plot twists, but am not quite as sold on the so-called “the one”. Don’t really see the chemistry between them. Love Omar, though.

John Adams has been quite interesting – caught up on the first two episodes via On Demand. I didn’t think Paul Giamatti had it in him, but I was quite pleasantly proven wrong. He, and the other cast members, are doing a bang up job. (Thanks to the show, I’ve got a new icon, too. ::trots it out::)

I’m so glad it’s Friday! The week went by too fast, mostly because there’s been a great deal of work and stuff going on. I’m banging out the last bits of Blood Bargain and hope to have the final into Mme Editrix’s hands in the next week and a half. WHEW!

Today’s Tor freebie is one of my favorite’s – Tobias Buckell‘s Crystal Rain. I first heard of this book some time ago and then, when visiting San Diego for ConDor, was convinced to buy the hardcover by my favorite book pusher, Mysterious Galaxy’s Patrick Heffernan. He said I’d love it and he was absolutely spot on. If you haven’t signed up at Tor, it’s not too late. (The freebies are in PDF format, and easily viewable in an eReader).

Hope everyone has an amazing Friday!

A sad day indeed.

My long-time friend and near-sister Jane’s dad died this week. Richard Focht was an amazing man and a lovely person. He will be sorely missed.

And I just heard that Arthur C. Clarke died at the age of 90. Farewell to the last of the big three.

Really, universe, you can stop this any time now.

I’m writing…I’m writing… (say this in the singsongy “we’re walking” tone).

Got up this a.m. later than I expected. Gray clouds obscured the sunrise, so my body didn’t quite twig to the fact that it was morning yet.

Spent the last three hours on Blood Bargain, with a short detour to chat with the parents. I *finally* caught a break on something that had been nagging me in the book, so yay for that.

I expect to write for a wee bit more, then

birki_lib

and I have a phone date to nail down our hotel details for The Trip*. Afterwards, I’m heading to pick up L and CS as today is Dan’s memorial service. It’s in Mt. Ranier, MD, a location I’m not familiar with, but I’ve updated the GPS and am ready with a printed Google map, too. (yes, I’m a Virgo. Why do you ask?)

In other news, I’ve got my panel assignment for Malice Domestic. I’m moderating a panel entitled “Touch of Woo-Woo: Paranormal Mysteries”. Joining me will be Lorna Barrett, Lillian Stewart Carl, Casey Daniels, Carole Nelson Douglas and Elena Santangelo. The panel is at 10:30 Saturday a.m. (April 26).

I got my flyer for World Fantasy this week. It’s in Calgary, Alberta and I’m aching to go, but sadly, I doubt that I can afford two West Coast Canada trips the same year. I’m really bummed, because the topic this year is Mystery in Fantasy, which is what I write. Maybe I’ll get lucky and get a windfall. ::g::

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

* a.k.a. the Vancouver 50th birthday/family fun/research trip in September

Just a quick reminder – my guest blog post is up at Jaye Well’s blog.

Comment there and you may win a copy of Matters of the Blood.

Cheers!

Hi, all – just wanted to point you in the direction of the fangs_fur_fey community, where we’re talking about why each of us chose to write the various creatues we wrie…if that makes any sense. ::g::

My own post can be found here.

Feel free to comment!

Before it’s too late and it’s no longer this date:

They have called this day The Eleventh of March! And whom-so-ever of you gets through this day, unless you are shot in the head or somehow slain…you will stand at tiptoe…when e’er you hear the name again, and you will get excited!…At the name March The Eleventh!

Happy Birthday to

beledibabe

‘s wonderful hubby, A, who evidently shares a birthday with Mr. John Barrowman. (41 for JB, not 41 for A ::g::)

Tonight was our first night at the shallow water aerobics class. Only four people, counting JM and I, but loads of fun. I’m way sore and am going to sleep well tonight.

I’ll be guest blogging on Friday (14th of March) at Jaye Wells’ blog. Come by, comment and you may be one of the lucky winners of a copy of Matters of the Blood.

Sometime in April (date TBD), I’ll be guest blogging at Femmes Fatale. I’ll let you all know when I know.

I’m nearly to the end of Season 7 of SG1, in my marathon, let’s watch everything since I have the box set viewing. Watching Inauguration – written by Mallozi and Mullie. It’s a clip show. Can I just say that I dislike clip shows immensely? I have rarely, if ever, seen one that worked to actually advance a story arc. YMMV. (I’m also happy to change my opinion if someone can point one out to me that wasn’t just filler).

I am finding it extremely amusing just *how* many actors I recognize as having seen them on SGA, BSG, Highlander, X-Files, [insert show filmed in Vancouver here].

I’m off to grab something to eat and then finish DVD viewing.

/random