Lizards and warm beer

[pbray]

Yesterday I received the revisions letter for THE FIRST BETRAYAL. One of the reasons why I enjoy working with Anne Groell is that she's excellent at providing concrete feedback. The letter ranges from the small items (transition on page 5 is rough) to details that need to be fleshed out (need more/bigger lizards).

And she's knows when I'm pulling my punches. I'm now encouraged to go darker and deeper into the war in the soulscape, as Josan and Lucius fight for dominance.

I wonder what it says about me that I'm now writing my second fantasy series where one of the central characters has severe psychiatric issues-- although it must be stated that in both cases the insanity was introduced by an external agent. Still, one of these days I should see if I can write a book where all of the characters are well-adjusted. Oh, wait, I've done that already.

Reading the edit letter followed my normal ritual. First I printed it off and avoided it. Then I sat down with a cup of coffee and read it through once. Tucked it in my purse, went out for lunch and read it through again. I'll read it through a couple of more times between now and Tuesday, when I start the rewrites.

In other news, there was a new bartender at today's lunchspot, and she was clearly overwhelmed so rather than adding to her stress by insisting on a room temperature glass, I allowed her to serve me beer in one of their usual frosty mugs. The mugs are so cold that the top layer of beer immediately freezes into an ice sheet. I find this unacceptable, but judging from the looks I get when I ask for a room temperature glass, the rest of the population must find this the height of desirability. Even at a local cafe that serves beers from around the world, I've seen them pull a perfect pint-- into a frosted glass. The mind and the tastebuds boggle.

In one of those weird coincidences, a couple of days ago I was commenting on THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS in a livejournal discussion thread and it turns out that tonight it's showing on one of the HBO/CINEMAX channels. Think I'll tune in while sorting through the stacks of paperwork that have taken over my house.

Finally, jennifer_dunne posted lesson #6 on her livejournal yseterday. Look for the remainder of the lessons to be posted this week.

Comments

[fancythat2.livejournal.com]

"Think I'll tune in while sorting through the stacks of paperwork that have taken over my house."

You too? Geh, it's like the papers breed at night or something. Doesn't matter what kind of papers either. It starts at the corner of the desk and then spreads out from there, like a noxious weed. All over. : \

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Taking a breather after round 1-- sorted through several months accumulation of magazines and catalogs. All the past issues of Locus, NINK, RWR, and SFWA magazines that I've been saving thinking that I'm really going to read them cover to cover. Not happening, time to let them go.

Also saved only the most recent of the mail order catalogs that I normally order from-- the Christmas deluge has already started so there's many more in my immediate future.

[fancythat2.livejournal.com]

Argh, catalogues. I have some of those but the papers (bills, research notes, book notes, odd notes, more research, business papers, junk mail, to be shredded, odd receipts, voting propaganda....) are my main complaint.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

In round 2 I was victorious over several months worth of paid bills, various receipts and miscellaneous mail that had accumulated in the pile. Sorted it out, filed what needed to be filed, recycled what could be recycled and made stacks for the shredder.

*vrroom, chomp, chomp* I love my shredder.

[fancythat2.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem. ; > Death to the paper piles!