breathed so deep i thought i'd drown

Well, everyone, I feel like I'm really starting to get into the thick of it. I'm delivering my manuscript in a week for that professional critique. I did register for Mary Robinette Kowal's workshop next June, "Writing the Other." I thought of another middle-grade book I'd like to write. I'm continuing to re-evaluate other aspects of my life, and I do feel like I'm taking steps in the right direction.
With those things in mind, I do have more work I should be doing right now, so I'll keep this brief. I have three more books to report:
28) Fray by Joss Whedon. This is a graphic novel in the Slayer mythos, but set in the future. I went into this read knowing I would love it, and I was not disappointed. I did love it. Melaka Fray is a great Slayer, complex, more sassy than Buffy, but also less knowledgeable. I really liked the ragtag family she'd built for herself. I'd love to read more about her. The storyline was solid, and I want some more!
29) The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. Ah, Holly Black, you kill me. Your books are so damn good. All the time. Seriously, this book was a lot of fun. It put vampires squarely where the belong: in the "predator" category. Tana is a fairly regular girl caught up in irregular happenings, and she handles them with aplomb and just the right amount of shock at the right moments for her to be quite believable. The Coldtowns are a great idea, and I love how this book takes our world and tilts it just a little bit so things feel familiar, but off-kilter. It's almost our world. Almost here and now. Except for the vampires. This is in my top five for this year. Definitely a keeper, and I'm already looking forward to reading it again!
30) Doll Bones by Holly Black. Yeah, I read two books by her in one month. October just feels like the right time for Holly's books. Doll Bones is a middle-grade book about a trio of preteens and what happens when their regular game takes on a life of its own. This is great creepy writing. It's a ghost story and a coming-of-age story all at one. Holly's books really made my October great!
And now, back to it. Two chapters left to edit, and a little tidying outside of that, and I need to deliver the novel on Friday, November 1. I can do it, I just need to say focused. On that note, I'll be back to report after I submit my novel for critiquing.
Happy October, everyone!

you can't choose what stays and what fades away

Happy Saturday! What's everyone got planned for their weekend? I've got a crazy amount of editing I want to get through, and shopping plans this afternoon with my friend K. Aside from that, the usual: tidy, laundry, balance the checkbook, play some pool, play my instruments.
I've been working on reprioritizing, so that the writing comes first, and I think I've made some good headway on that. I'm working my ass off on this draft. I've committed to getting it professionally critiqued in November. While the critique is happening I'm going to start working on the next novel, and I'll try to wrap up "Emmelina and the Rat King" as well. I really want to keep my momentum going. There's also that writing workshop next June. Registration happens in a week. Fingers crossed that I'm fast enough to get in when the registration opens!
Other autumn things: I'm starting to bake more again. The weather doesn't quite feel like autumn yet, but it's inching in that direction. Next weekend we're going apple picking, which I'm really excited about! I made sauerkraut, which turned out really well, and I also made fire cider, which only needs about two more weeks to steep before it's ready too. All in all, it's been a really productive couple of months around here. I'm dying to do a serious clean/purge of the apartment, but that'll have to wait until November as well. There's just not enough time in the day for me.
Two more books to tell you about:
26) St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell. These stories are powerful. Uncomfortable. Raw. Extremely well written. This is a great collection of short stories by a great writer. The first three stories are my favorite. Ava is such a strong character, and I love reading about her family running Swamplandia. I can't wait to read the novel about them. "Haunting Olivia" is creepy and beautiful and heart-wrenching. And the sleep-away camp for dream disorders is brilliant and frightening. Karen Russell really has a knack for seeing to the heart of things, be they everyday happenings or otherworldly occurrences.
27) Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill. The first book in the Locke & Key graphic novel series. Wow. This is imaginative, scary stuff. The art is perfect for the thriller of a storyline. The juxtaposition of actually possible (home invasion, moving to a new town) with the supernatural (ghosts in wells, magic keys) is smooth and well managed. The characters are believable, as are their reactions to things. If you enjoy thrillers or paranormal fiction or graphic novels or damn good writing, check out this series. I'm going to buy the next book on Tuesday I think.
And now, readers, it's time for me to move on with my weekend. I think next up is finishing my tidy. Blessed Be!