I had this awesome blog post planned for today. All about why I write and suchlike.

Only, yesterday was busy at the workplace, then when I finally got home after a miserable (though short) commute in a ridiculous storm, I ended up just doing a little TV watching and tried to go to bed early.

Operative word? Tried.

The insomnia fairy, may she rot in the deepest level of all the hells, paid an extra special visit to me last night and would not leave.

I tried all the tricks:

• calm music
• getting up and reading in my recliner
• pretending to sleep
• etc. etc. ad nauseum

Around 2:30 a.m., I knew it was futile, so I got up for good, went to the recliner and “window shopped” online.

I did buy some cute socks and finally ordered a pair of jeans (which I’d been meaning to do), but otherwise, I curbed any sudden, unreasonable impulse to purchase. Kudos to me.

Went back to bed around 4:30 and nodded off for a wee bit, just in time for the alarm to go off at 6:30.

Grr. Argh.

At least today is my Friday (in regards to my regular job). Tomorrow, I can sleep in and start my at-home work whenever I want to. It’ll be another recording day, as I’m plugging along on the audio narration for Blood Bargain. Hoping to get that done and uploaded by the end of the month.

Don’t forget, my eBook: Collected Works from an Unrepentant Writer is still only .99! The price is going to go up at the end of the week! Find out how to buy.

Life continues chez Lima. Busy at the workplace.

I’m excited about the fall season. Glee was most fun last night. I’m looking forward to a bunch of season premieres, including Grey’s Anatomy, The Good Wife and Amazing Race 19.

Blood Sacrifice got a lovely review from Amberkatze. Amber’s been great, promoting the books and also helping me with the Welsh in my books. She’s totally awesome.

One thing I love about the Intarwebz is the ability to connect with, correspond with and befriend folks from all over the world. Over the years, I’ve made friends from as far away as Australia & New Zealand, from all over the US, Canada and the UK, and even from exotic places like Nepal. I’ve reconnected with family, with friends from high school and college and former coworkers.

Physically (in meat space), I tend to be a hermit (on purpose). In cyberspace, I can enjoy all these lovely friendships. And yes, it’s great to meet folks in RL, too. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting quite a few of my far-away friends/fans at cons. But cons cost money & time, and the internet is free (okay, well, I pay a connection fee which is worth every penny).

Readers, where are you from/where do you live? If you could choose a place to live, where would that be (money no object).

My dream place would be Vancouver, BC. I fell in love with the city three years ago during my birthday trip. Sadly, I don’t have Canadian residency (though that could be gotten) nor the funds (Vancouver is expensive!). But, I dream on. You never know, it could happen!

When life hands you a ginormous bowl of rotten lemons (hey, I *like* lemons, so just being handed one isn’t cause for despair!) – sometimes you just have to bow to the inevitable and coast along for the ride until its over.

And boy, howdy, did we all get handed rotten lemons this past week! First there was the Thundersneet*, followed by rain, followed by an all too brief respite, followed by heavy wet snow. Followed by, you guessed it, power outage for more than 400,000 people in the DC metro area. Yup, I was one of those people.

It doesn’t take long after an unexpected power outage to make a person thankful and thoughtful.

Thoughtful first:
* I really, really am an internet/tech junkie.
* I really, really need to buy matches.**
* I really, really HATE being cold.

Thankful:
* I really, really LOVE my iPad & iPhone & NookColor.***
* Down comforters are awesome.
* DeerPark water dispenser systems: also awesome.
* Wild Planet sustainably caught tinned tuna: very, very good out of the can.
* Beef jerky: also good (great source of lean protein)
* My UPS driver is AWESOME & delivered much needed cat litter in the middle of the outage.

All in all, a bummer of two full days (45 hours) without power in less than freezing temps. I couldn’t do what I’d intended to do which was (a) work for my office job on Thursday and (b) work Wednesday night & all day Friday on revisions for BLOOD SACRIFICE. That said, the 2 days away from the computer made me think some things through and I’ve worked that into my revisions.

Work continues apace with the book and it shall be turned back in to Mme. Editrix soonest. Then, I can work on the really awesome sparkly shiny idea that came to me early this morning…basically, where to take the series next. Not that I have a contract or anything, but before I can get that I need a proposal.

Hoping that you all keep warm (or cool if you’re in the lower half of the globe) and that Mother Nature is kinder to you than she’s been to our area this past 12 months or more.

TTFN!

* Thundersneet: aka wintry mix, aka sleet snowy rain
** Matches: those things you used to be able to pick up for free that come in real handy to say, light a candle or perhaps even the gas stove/oven when said stove/oven has electric starter and there’s no electricity.
*** I survived by reading, tweeting, emailing on the iPad & iPhone and being able to read real books on the NookColor was priceless.

I had this goal once–to do a blog post once a week. Obviously, it totally hasn’t happened. ::g::

Summer’s flying by. July 4th came and went with little fanfare, except for the fireworks I could sort of see on the horizon out my window. I spent the long holiday weekend resting, reading (finished THE WHITE ROAD by Lynn Flewelling, the latest in her most excellent Nightrunner series) and writing.

Final revisions done and turned in on my essay for SmartPop’s fall anthology: FILLED WITH GLEE.
Loads of work done on Blood Lines #5, still title-less.

Prepping clothes and travel toiletries for Comic-Con (woot!). Leaving on July 19 and meeting with my sis & BIL in San Diego that afternoon. We’re doing the San Diego Zoo on Tuesday, then spending Wednesday hanging out at the hotel pool until Pro badge pickup at 3:00. Then, it’s CCI craziness.

It’s our first time there, so I’m glad loads of friends are going to be there for support and information. I know the main key is to not try to schedule too much. Totally good with that. I’ve got a panel on Thursday, followed by a signing, then at some point Friday or Saturday, signing at Mysterious Galaxy‘s booth sponsored by my publisher, Pocket Books.

It’ll be a crazy 10 days, but I know I’ll enjoy every insane moment of it.

Hope all my fellow Americans are enjoying our holiday Monday–or what’s left of it!

Serenity and Doctor Who!

http://www.locusmag.com/2006/News/08_HugoCampbellWinners.html

Serenity took home the Hugo for Best Dramatic Presentation: Long Form
Doctor Who: The Empty Child & The Doctor Dances for Best Dramatic Presentation: Short Form

If you expected Emmy wins, well, there’s that whole no TV thing, I honestly have no clue who won those. ::g::

I discovered that somehow, I’ve managed to lose my TV remote – not a huge thing, but the easiest way to say, lower the volume when I plug in a DVD, because the actual buttons on the TV itself leave a lot to be desired. It’s an oldish model, nigh on 6ish, still in good condition, but when I bought it, just after moving here, I was broke and bought the cheapest of the cheap. It’s a 20″ RCA with no bells and definitely no whistles. I probably need to upgrade the TV, but in the meantime, a trip to Best Buy is in order so I can get a universal remote.

Since I haven’t actually been in the market for a decent TV, you all have any suggestions for a model/brand that isn’t horrifically expensive? And by that I mean in the $200-$300 range. I’d really like one with component video/audio input, so I can hook up my DVD player without the little Radio Shack adapter box thingy. Also, since my apartment is so small, I need something in the 24″ – 27″ range. Suggestions welcome! (computers, I know. TVs, not so much)

I’d hoped to do some DVD organizing this weekend, as I picked up some more of the nifty wire-mesh DVD storage boxes at Target. Not enough yet for my entire collection, but enough to move most of the DVDs off the big gray plastic Rubbermaid shelves and hopefully, put them in some sort of order. Instead, I was utterly lazy and did nothing of productive value. I really do need to move them, so I can rearrange the books and maybe *find* a few that have gone missing. Not permanently, because I know I didn’t give them away in the book purge, but just misplaced. There’s no real rhyme or reason to the piles, and I hope to get there soon. Can you tell the Sun’s moved into Virgo? I get this way around my birthday every year – time to organize, purge, put things in order. I’m hoping it lasts. ::g::

(subject line stolen without shame from bheerfan in a YIM convo)

In the “OMGWTF” of the SG1 cancellation, saner heads in the TV industry have posted lovely articles, such as this one by Matt Roush, TV Guide’s champion of the SF/F programming. I don’t know Matt, but he & I often agree about programming, shows and the overall industry.

I like his take on the whole show cancellation – he’s right. As unfortunate as this is, it’s had a good long run. Let’s help them go out in style by watching the rest of the season and support good SF/F programming on TV.

Don’t forget, SciFi will be airing The Dresden Files starting in January!

Work is…well, work. Busy as usual, a bit stressful. ‘Nuff said there.

I just discovered a tasty and healthful treat – no, really, I did. Kashi Granola bars, pumpkin spice flavor. Picked up a box at Target yesterday and they are tasty! Just had one as a snack. Normally, I only eat things like this out of guilt or a need to feel that I’m not ignoring healthy foods. But this, I like in spite of the healthy.

and OMG, OZ!! Season 6 is finally being released on DVD. Release date, 9/5 – the day AFTER my birthday. In any case, I will be ordering.

ETA: oh yeah, for you Prison Break watchers, here’s a great photo. (Not that I *wouldn’t* watch the show, it’s that I haven’t, yet. So I don’t want to start on S2…yes, and I was late to Oz, too, so there, viggofest.

Prison Break ads on street

Just realized I’ve not posted in a while. Time flies when you’re, well, busy.

Of the WAY good, my publisher just signed a contract to produce mass market titles (SF/F) with Dorchester Publishing, home of Hard Case Crimes which was co-created by naominovik‘s hubby, Charles. Yeah, the publishing world is really a SMALL SMALL place. I squeed with joy when I read this, because I met some of the Dorchester folks at BEA and they were fabulous people!

Also heard that my parents, my sis and BIL plan to visit for Thanksgiving. They are planning/plotting now and I hope that it works out. I won’t have extra time off, and can’t really afford to go to Texas, but it will be fun to have them here.

Really looking forward to viewing the newly posted vids that you all have been squeeing about, but must go home first. Really wish I could have joined in the VVC fun, but alas, this is a con that I’m unlikely to make in any year. The timing is just bad for me.

In any case, it’s fun reading the con reports and getting to experience it vicariously.

Plans for the rest of the week:
Work
Season 4 of Footballers Wives
Going to see my buddy Laura Lippman at Borders Bailey’s Crossroads on Weds. (so sad that we live so close and yet, I don’t see her except for at her book signings or other events)

Thanks to all of you that posted so many lovely comments about my whinge last week. My energy levels are still iffy, but I’m feeling more hopeful. Work is busy and a bit stressful, but I’m keeping my head above water. I’ve got a follow up appointment on Friday with the blood sucker…ahem, hematologist. We’ll see what he says then.

Here’s hoping the rest of the summer (what’s left of it!) goes smoothly.

Even when I was a kid and young teen, when all the girls were swooning over David Cassidy and Bobby Sherman, I was a bit different. MY version of the cool guys weren’t necessarily the recognized celebrities (e.g., movie stars, TV stars, Famous People(tm), rock stars.). To me, the really cool ones were the ones that made things work – you know the techies, the roadies, the ones that swarmed behind the scenes, makiing the magic happen. Okay, I get this, I’m a geek fan. Even though I can fangrrl Callum, Viggo, Joe Flanigan and the rest of them, I have a soft spot in my heart for the unseen heroes.

Why am I going here? Because last night, bheerfan and I went to see the best combo in the world – a geekish celebrity; a guy that encompasses all that is cool to me: Alton Brown. Even though I’m not much of a cook, (and by that I mean, at all), Alton Brown and Good Eats has been a favorite of mine since day one. It wasn’t just a recipe show. Not just a chef parading around a kitchen that no sane person owns, showing off things that most people won’t ever cook. This was about Food and the Science of Food and How Things Work. ZOMG, a total geek love affair was born.

So when I found out that Alton Brown was coming to the Smithsonian as part of the Resident Associates programming, I was nearly first in line to buy tickets. We had a blast. Alton B is brilliantly funny, entertaining and a total hoot. We also got to preview video from his upcoming special show: Feasting on Asphalt. If he weren’t already married with kids, and if I weren’t totally waaaay too old for such, I’d want to marry him and have his little foodie babies. The new show starts on Saturday, July 29th on the Food Network.

Getting Rejected…in a literary way.
I’ve been corresponding with a New York Agent, to be known as NYA, in the hopes she’d rep my contract for the Matters reprint. I’d e-queried via their agency site, and dropped some names (with permission). (One of the agencies senior agents reps a couple of friends of mine.) NYA senior passed this along to NYA junior, a relative new agent to their firm, but with some years experience at another firm. NYA junior declined to rep this after reading MoB, but I got the BEST REJECTION EVER.

I’ve graduated to a really really good place as a writer.

No form letter, no “not for us”, but instead, first a lovely email with feedback and the decision to decline. Then, after I responded, thanking her for her time, I got this (slightly edited for irrelevant info):

From [NYA]
To: [me]

Thank you…,

I think you have a very bright writing future ahead of you.
…. You have inventive characters and a great writing voice though, so I do hope very much you’ll keep writing. (And I’d LOVE to see your next one.)

[end email]

Seriously folks, this is the cream of the crop when it comes to rejections. Needless to say, she’s the first on my list when the next project is finished.

It’s not a yes, but it’s the next best thing.

I really really really could still be sleeping now.

Thing is, the grocery order will be arriving sometime between now and 11:00 a.m., so I need to at least pretend to be awake.

OMG, okay, weird serendipity here – as I’m typing the above, the grocery guy gets here. Wonder if that’s how my day will go?

…So I’m up waiting for Callum Keith Rennie to arrive…

::looks around, pretends to not listen for a knock on the door::

…waits…

::la la la, just sitting here reading email::

….waits…

…waits…

Damn. Don’t guess that worked. ::g::

David Hewlett, how are you so awesome?

I am loving the SGA Season 2 DVDs (Region 2) – there is commentary so far on ALL the episodes! Although, Peter Deluise and Gary Jones commentary – uhm, dudes, enough with the potty jokes, because what are you, 12? And why Gary Jones, I have no idea, b/c Walter, the gate tech from SG1 has nothing to do with SGA.

I’ve only listened to one of their commentaries all the way through. They don’t talk about the episode, just make really dumb jokes. I totally prefer when either of the Martins team up with Joe Flanigan and David Hewlett – the commentary is fantastic. I’ve gotten through the first 2 DVDs so far – just watching the commentaries and the extras. I think the next disk is on the menu for today.

SGA Premier

Oops, there be spoilers here

“I want to be very clear about something: Gynecological exams are never sexy. Absolutely never. Understand me: never. If only you had a cervix.”

For those of us who value good writing, I recommend Pod-dy Mouth, a blog by an incognito published author. She’s taking self-published titles and doing a Miss Snark. (from whom I snagged the above link)

In other news, today is my little sister’s 40th birthday. Happy Birthday, Laura!! It’s hard to believe that you’ve joined my decade – I still remember the days when you were “Little Lima”, hanging out at the pool, graduating from high school, getting married. That was just yesterday, right? In any case, hope the day is FANTASTIC!

It’s been a productive few days for this Lima. Freecycle Guy picked up the majority of the books/tapes on Saturday, and is coming by tomorrow for the balance. I had dinner Saturday night with beledibabe, who brought me the coolest Honourary Mountie pin that she’d snagged from the Folklife Festival from one of the Corporals that we saw last week at the Smithsonian presentation. Saturday a.m., I got up at the asscrack of dawn (okay, 6:30 a.m.) because I needed to write…and write I did. About 5,000 words of backstory and history that was sorely needed. I’d been flailing over these characters and now I think I have a handle on them. I’m also fairly well along on the revised chain of events. Some things are going to go, some are staying. In any case, most of the scenes/events have to be shuffled around to accomodate the new plot threads.

This is the part of writing I LOVE – the world-building; the event-building, the creation of characters. Even though most of the 5,000 words will never make their way into the finished book, I created four people, gave them names, histories, backgrounds, emotions. I know why they do the things they do, which to me, is essential in writing believable characters. One of the best at this is Laura Lippman, who crafts amazing people – even the tertiary characters have life. You know they exist beyond the pages of the story. I am grateful to the events in my life that have not only thrown me into her company, but allowed me to call her friend. She is not only one of the best writers around, but a fabulous person and I hope to learn from her.

The absolute hardest part of the writing for me is to let myself get through the first draft. I’m a bit of a perfectionist in making the words work together, making everything fit, that I lose track of the fact that I need to actually complete the story. My first book clocked in at just over 91,000 words. I’m about a third of the way there, but am tearing those existing pieces apart and re-building. Some days, it’s easier than others. ::g::

Today is going to be much of a no-writing day, as RL intervenes with day job duties. I have one of my favorite set of clients arriving in a few minutes for 2 days of meetings as we finalize a massive project. Tonight, we’re all going to dinner, which will be fun. Even though I’m working the day job, my brain is still ticking with plot threads, dialogue and characterizations. Just last night I figured out how I could tie all the various plot pieces together and how I could connect the motives of each of the characters. This…this is what makes it all worthwhile.