she's got a lot on her mind

As promised in my last entry, I now present to you the third, fourth, and fifth books I read this year!
3) The Devil in the White City by Erik Larsen. This book was really intriguing; it's about the Chicago World's Fair and the serial killer who operated around it. It's a really strange dichotomy, the hope and progress and beauty of the fair set against the horrible desires of one man. I don't often get into history books, but this one is well written with a good narrative voice and enough personification of the historical figures discussed that I felt like I actually got to know them a bit.
4) Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. This one had a slow start for me, but once things picked up thirty or forty pages in, I was hooked. I like that this isn't a typical werewolf book in any sense. I had some minor qualms with a couple of specific moments, but overall, I really enjoyed this a lot. Good, empathetic characters, interesting choices, plenty of action. There is also plenty of material here for an in-depth conversation on what family is, how it's defined, if there are different kindso f family, etc. Definitely a keeper!
5) The Good Spell Book by Gillian Kemp. This is a fun little book of Romany spells and folklore. I read it in research for my witch series, and while most of it doesn't apply to the approach I'm taking in my books, it was still an amusing read. Some of it resonated with me, some of it didn't, but I'm keeping it. For ideas, for reference, for fun.
Aside from that . . . my work computer is dying a slow death. I'm getting a new one in a couple weeks and frankly, it can't come fast enough! In the meantime I'll do a minimum of Internet at work. That seems to sit better with this poor machine.
Slowly making forward progress on writing things. I'm going to start the last round of edits on Superheroes tonight. I've got one short from last year typed, so I can print it to edit. One radio play episode should be wrapped up within the next couple of days, I'm thinking. And I've been getting things done at home, so the stress level there is going down.
There's plenty more to talk about, like dreams, and potential ideas for books, and yoga, and such, but I'll leave you with a couple of things:
New York City got more snow in January 2011 than any January in recorded history. Over 36 inches, at least. That's a LOT of snow.
Happy Imbolc, everybody! This is the holiday when we celebrate the coming of spring. It's a time of purification and dedication.
Wish me luck with my computer woes, and I'll be back soon.

it's snowing again

Another six to ten inches tonight. That's snow once or twice a week since Christmas. Pretty impressive! I don't mind having snow around for a month or two straight. I love snow. But I wish we wouldn't end up with those frozen-solid mounds of it on the sidewalks that you will either slip on or break your toes on. Am I the only one fearful of encounters with the wild snowmounds of NYC?
Anyway. I feel like I should be working on something. A radio play episode. Finish typing that short story. Clean out the fridge. Make a dent in the bag of clothing I have to handwash. But so far, all I've manage to bring myself to do is type a little. Is that such a bad thing? I've got three hours still until bedtime. That's so much time! I could move mountains in three hours! . . . Or, well, I could maybe knock out some sit-ups, get the fridge cleaned out, and stare at the radio play episode for a bit. Maybe that's more reasonable. And at some point I'll go sit in the falling snow with a warm coat on and a glass of red wine in hand. Because that sounds nice.
Tune in next time for a brief discussion on the third book I've read this year. In the meantime, stay warm, talk hard, and enjoy the snow!

oh, the places I've been

visited 17 states (34%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

baby it's cold outside!

14 degrees right now, to be exact. At 10 am. Brrr. I'm cozy in the apartment with some sporadic space heater assistance for now, but I've got brunch plans at noon. And you know what? I'm going to walk all the way there and home again after. I'll bundle up. I love a freezing day with wide open blue skies and air so frigid that taking a breath is like a drink of ice-cold water.
I've got a lengthy to-do list for this weekend, as always. But I'm taking time out for me, too. I slept in this morning (until 9:20!), and will do it again tomorrow. I've got a freelance deadline Monday, so we'll see how that goes. But I'm enjoying the project, and looking forward to reading the rest of it.
Lately I've really been craving a simpler life. Just me, a small cottage, some wilderness, and a whole lot of creativity and art. Doesn't that sound lovely? And perfect? Sometimes I just want to crawl into the photos that Terri Windling posts on her blog. She lives in a cottage in Dartmoor. Rima Staines lives in her village. The Frouds and William Todd-Jones live somewhere nearby. It sounds like a dream world, a fantasy land brimming with everything I could ever ask for.
So how do I make that happen for myself? I'm not sure. Ironically, I don't feel like I can afford to live somewhere like that. Literally. I think that maybe the best thing I can do for now is to keep living and loving and creating and reaching out to other creative people. It's a tricky thing, this life we live.
It's time to be off. I do feel that a bigger web presence is important for me to have, but I've got to balance that with everything else. Besides, there's brunch ahead!
Bright blessings!

she's got no compassion for the action

January is positively flying by. Busy at work, busy at home, busy socially, just socially. I'm enjoying a rare night to myself, and thought I'd catch you up on what I've read so far.
First, I'm going to add one more book to 2010, to bring it to an even 70 books read. Gemini (draft) by my friend LG. It's dark women's fiction. First draft, so it had some spots that need work, but all in all, a good read and I hope she finds an agent with it!
On with the books for 2011. 1) and 2) are Changeless and Blameless by Gail Carriger from the Umbrella Protectorate series. I love these books! They're like a Victorian comedy of manners plus werewolves and vampires plus a lot of knowingly inappropriate moments. Go read them right now!!
I wish I had more exciting things to report, but the fact of the matter is, I'm just working my tail off between day job and freelancing and radio play right now. So that's that. Tonight we're expecting three to six more inches of snow in the city, which will be beautiful!
Good night!

2011 goals

Short and sweet, two lists of goals for this year:

Writing goals

• write Emmelina novel
• write Witch/Ghost book I
• write two short stories
• edit 2010 shorts
• brainstorm on Caged novel
• submit Superheroes

Nonwriting goals

• less freelancing
• more exercise
• take better care of myself
• finish watching Buffy
• bigger apartment
• read fifty books

I know that some of these are from my goals for 2010. But I feel really good about this year. I can really make things happen, if I focus. And at the same time remember to take it easy on myself!
What about you guys, out there in the internet-verse? What are your goals for 2011?

i can't seem to stop it

My nose, that is. It's running like crazy! I came down with a cold the day after coming home from the holidays, and so far it's centered almost entirely in my nose. I bought some Benadryl this afternoon in the hopes that it'll help me sleep.
Well. The holidays were nice. Saw my family a fair amount, spent a little time with my partner-in-crime's family, and got some good time with my godchildren and a couple good friends. I never see everyone in one trip, but I've learned to accept that. I can, and have, drive myself crazy trying to see all of my friends in ten days or so, but have mostly learned better than that. So it was good. Mostly relaxing. My niece and nephew are huge and beautiful and will be entirely different peopel again by the time my next visit rolls around. That's the downside of living so far away from my family, I suppose.
But. Two books to add to the list for 2010. 68) Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund. This is the sequel to Rampant, and I just loved this one too. Astrid is in a tight situation on multiple levels and you can't help feeling for her. While sequels often suffer from second-book syndrome, this one just takes the series to the next level, intertwining relationship woes with morality issues and some serious health disasters as well. I can't wait to see what's next!
And, 69) The Habitation of the Blessed by Catherynne M. Valente. I fall in love with Cat's writing in all of her books, and this one is no exception. This takes the story of Prester John and tells it with innocent, awkward beauty. You can tell as a reader that Cat takes great care in the choice and position of each and every word. Sometimes her prose is so intimate, it feels like reading a love letter or watching a baby sleep or something. I know that sounds a little sentimental, but I defy you to feel otherwise upon reading this book. It's so, so good. Run to the closest bookstore and buy all of her books right now!
Anyway. Illness takes its toll, and there's a book and a cup of tea calling my name. Happy 2011 to all of you!