I have achieved crab

[pbray]

Writing: 1,470 words today. Still chugging along. jennifer_dunne critiqued the previous chapter and confirmed that it worked and was smoothly paced, even if it had been excruciating to get down on paper.

In other news, the map for THE FIRST BETRAYAL arrived in the mail. Other fantasy writers are capable of drawing and produce lovely maps. I, on the other hand, am a tad map-impaired.

Looking at the beautifully lettered map of the world as known to the scholar monks of the Learned Brethren, I see a large crab. With claw issues.

That will teach my readers to demand maps.

After writing I went out to the home show and talked to contractors about getting quotes for the work I need done. I have a budget, now I just need to figure out how many of projects will fit into that budget.

Unless, of course, I get bored and decide just to buy a new house. I think the terror of having to move and to pack all my stuff will keep me put for now, but you never know.

Comments

[shadowhelm.livejournal.com]

Unless, of course, I get bored and decide just to buy a new house. I think the terror of having to move and to pack all my stuff will keep me put for now, but you never know.

Scary!!!

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I need minions to deal with these things--I have little patience for all the crap involved with getting estimates, picking contractors, scheduling work and all the followup that's needed to make sure the job gets done right.

[shadowhelm.livejournal.com]

If you find some minions, send a couple to me!!! I could use some minions.

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

OMG! It is a crab! And there are claw issues!

*rolling around on floor laughing*

[tryslora]

*giggling* Yep, crab!!

(Just makes me want the book MORE!)

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Next con I go to, I want a program item on "Map Drawing 101: Preparing yourself to succeed as a fantasy writer".

With the followup "Remedial Map Drawing 101: Hanging out at the art show to make friends with people who know how to draw."

[tryslora]

*laughs* The Art Show should be considered a valuable resource, definitely!!

I've only ever attempted one map. It was pointed out later that it looks vaguely like Texas on steroids. *sighs* *laughs*

[pbray.livejournal.com]

See? I told you it was a crab.

I live to amuse my readers with my dark humor... and my complete inability to draw.

[shadowhelm.livejournal.com]

I'll be danged. It IS a crab!

Can I drive from Krysa to Tyrns?

[larryhammer]

I confess it looks more like a sitting camel to me, with the head partly cut off by an inept photographer.

Well it does!

---L.

Re: Can I drive from Krysa to Tyrns?

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Fantasy maps--the next generation of Rorschach tests.

Although if I had taken a picture of a camel I probably would have cut off the head...

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

All crab issues aside, it IS a great map. Very cool.

[jennifer-dunne.livejournal.com]

But note the complete non-squareness of the map! (Well, except for the islands of the Federation, which are clearly carved out of a block) It actually *looks* like a real map, of a real place.

So what if the sea basin looks like a Crab? Only the alien colony ships would see that, which is why they used it as a landmark...

[pbray.livejournal.com]

How can you tell if you are reading a book by Patricia Bray?

There are no good smells. If something smells, it smells badly.

Central characters will describe how their feet hurt. Repeatedly.

At least once in each book a viewpoint character will pick drinking over thinking as a problem solving methodology.

All islands are square.

And the #1 way you know a book was written by me: Snark!