i've been a bad, bad girl

I just realized it's been a month since I last posted here. A month. I didn't mean to let the blog slide for so long, but things have been hectic. There's been freelancing, and extra band rehearsals, and pool nights, and long hours at the day job, and my birthday. So, in a nutshell, here's how I'm doing:

• Band: Two long days left, then I'll be done with this until autumn
• Freelancing: Still struggling to get things done, but I don't have nearly as much of this going on as I did in January/February, so that's progress
• Day job: Still enjoying the new job quite a bit. Good books, good people.
• Writing: Inching toward finishing this draft. I've gotten some great feedback so far. I have two chapters to finish revising, then I'll likely let this sit for a month or so while I think about how to approach my next revision.

So that's that. Progress, but still busy. In the next two weeks I want to finish a copyedit, finish my second draft, critique a friend's book proposal, and get my taxes done. If I manage more than that, great. But those are the goals.
Books. I've read a couple. Here's what:
4) Hammered by Elizabeth Bear. As always with Bear's books, I loved it. Great, gritty near-future sci fi. More, please! I need to get the other Jenny Casey books so I can devour them.
5) Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. This is also a great read. It's different for me; it was originally published in 1945, and I tend to read more contemporary books. But I quite enjoyed this; the language is great, and watching the Marchmain family slowly fall apart was fascinating, if a bit depressing at times. I know that might not be the best sell, but really, I encourage all of you to give it a try. It's a good book.
6) The Tellers (draft) by John Hague. Since this is unpublished I won't talk about the story itself; I'll just say that I think the edits are going in the right direction, and I enjoyed reading this quite a bit.
On that note, I've got to get back to work. I'll be back soon, after my band season is over. Blessed Be!

two books

Just briefly, since I have a busy day at work today, I have two books to talk about.

21) Brasyl by Ian McDonald. This is a crazy sci-fi whirlwind that tells three stories at the same time; one now, one in the near future, and one in the eighteenth century. Eventually, of course, it all ties together through quantum theory and alternate worlds. I spent the first hundred pages or so of this book feeling like I was trying to catch up to a speeding train, but once I settled into the rhythm of the story, I really enjoyed it. The quantum stuff was wildly interesting without feeling like a lecture at any point. The religious stuff layered over that was really interesting also. While I couldn't empathize with all the characters, I really enjoyed being along for the ride. I'd definitely recommend this to any sci-fi readers. In fact, I'm going to send it to my dad to see what he thinks!

22) Bloodshot by Cherie Priest. This book is about Raylene Pendle, vampire PI for hire, and a specific case she takes on that leads to government conspiracy, parkour, and drag queens. I had a lot of fun with this one! (In all fairness, I've never read a book by Cherie Priest I didn't like.) This book is snappy and snarky; Raylene is a great character, with her neuroses and desires. Yes, the vampire thing is a little done these days, but Cherie Priest makes it feel fresh and engaging. Definitely a keeper!

And that's it for today. I'll try to report back in on Monday so you, dear readers, can hear all about my band concert (Saturday) and my Beltane celebration (Sunday).

Happy weekend!

February already?

Wow, what happened to January? That was fast. . . .
Anyway. A couple things. I submitted my novel to a bunch of agents on Friday. That's right, I finally did it! Here's hoping that someone likes what they see.
Although I did get my first (very gentle) rejection this morning. Ah, well. It's part of the process.
Somehow, although one of my goals for this year is to do less freelancing, I am seriously overbooked. So for the next two weeks, there won't be much in the way of creativity. I'm not worrying about what novel to write next, or short story ideas, or anything like that. It'll just be head down, get the work done. Come February 16, when the last project is due, I'll be free to do whatever writing I want! Patience, patience.
That said, simply out of curiosity, a poll. Do I next write:

1. a funny, quirky novel about two near-strangers stealing a cupcake truck and driving across America only to end up in a Western reenactment town hiding from the law?
2. teenage superhero fiction involving crazy superpowers, bad grownups, albinos, and teenage angst?
3. short stories?
4. something else entirely?

Books:
1. The Nixie's Song, book one of Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony Diterlizzi. I really enjoyed it. It's been a couple years since I read the original Spiderwick series, and I don't recall them being quite as dark as this one is. Holly just has a way of capturing the teenage experience that is spot-on. I've enjoyed everything she's put out, honestly, and can't wait for the next couple books!
2. Abortion & Life by Jennifer Baumgardner. This was really informative and interesting, covering a broad range of topics within the discussion of abortion. The history of abortion, a section on the Jane Collective, a discussion about post-abortion resources, and fifteen or so portraits of women who have had abortions along with their stories. Some of this was hard reading, emotional, trying. Some of it was very uplifting. Anyone who is interested in abortion as a political topic, as a personal topic, as a religious topic, anyone who has had one or knows someone else who has had one or would consider having one, this book is well worth reading.
3. Gideon the Cutpurse by Linda Buckley-Archer. A fun YA book about accidental time-travel. I enjoyed it; the characters were believable, the action well-paced, the last-minute save was great. But I don't think it's a keeper for me. This strikes me as one of those books that might not be quite as fun to reread, already knowing what happens. But, a really good book.
Anyway. I'm at work late, after coming in late (how rebel of me!), and have band rehearsal in 44 minutes. So I should go do another two minutes or so of work, and then head out. Happy Monday, everyone!