Arty Goodness

A few weeks ago, I took all the nifty stuff my friend had been teaching me and entered an art contest. This piece took first place:



And this one second or third or something. It was part of the three-way tie for first that the Mad Scientists piece won.



Yay me!

More Random Thoughts

RT1: Planning for my trip to Florida is coming right along. I'm waiting to hear from the guy who's organizing the dorm-room rentals, and then I can turn in all my paperwork.

RT2: Planning for my trip to my sister's wedding is coming less well, in that I haven't thought about it beyond OMG, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY!

RT3: Speaking of a lot of money, I now have heath/dental/vision insurance and the dentist I've been going to is in-network (I thought they weren't before I talked to them yesterday). I have an appointment to get the rest of this work done, so soon I won't have a hole in my face and a half-done root canal. The receptionist cheerfully told me that everything we'd discussed about charges and payments is now outdated because I have insurance and we'll have to re-figure everything when I get there. I was all, I AM OKAY WITH THAT. I don't know how much insurance will cover, but if they cover anything it means I'm paying less that I would have to before.

RT4: Quals reading is going okay. Not as well as my panic would like, but okay. I'm about halfway through my list, not counting the works on criticism and composition. Five weeks to go.

RT5: What am I going to do with myself when I'm done reading A Feast for Crows and the next book isn't out or even done being WRITTEN yet?!!! ARGH!

Congratulations, Jodi!

Congrats to my friend Jodi, who recently accepted an offer of representation from a literary agent. Thanks for showing us that, yes, it CAN be done!

Now, when's ERIN INCARNATE hitting shelves?

Valentine's Day

I've noticed a trend in gift-giving in our house. It goes something like, "What do you want for Valentine's Day/your birthday/Christmas?" "I dunno." Then, two days later, "I'm ordering books/gun parts/jewelry online. It's my present from you."

For Valentine's Day, W.E. "got" me four books of Buffy academia that will hopefully be helpful to my paper, and I "got" him something for his Glock.

Happy Lame-Excuse-to-Get-Presents Day, everyone!

Some Random Thoughts

Random Thought 1
A quick email conversation with the father-in-law, and I have a new beginning for DEVIL'S PIT. The basic plot will remain the same, but the circumstances that get them to the main plot will be a bit different.

Random Thought 2
I spent about an hour today learning to do colorizing in GIMP. It was nifty.

Random Thought 3
I have come to the conclusion that I'm tired of urban fantasy. It was cool for awhile, but now all the hot chicks with guns hunting demons and vampires are starting to run together and I really don't want to start on another one. I've pretty much decided to stick to Kim Harrison, Kelley Armstrong, Patricia Briggs, and Charlaine Harris with a splash of Faith Hunter, but that's about it. No new urban fantasy for me. I miss high fantasy.
ETA (2/8): Also Lilith Saintcrow. Can't forget her.

Random Thought 4
I hate those people who sit in the comic book/graphic novel aisle at Barnes & Noble and block up whole sections of shelf while they read. There are chairs for that, you know. And if the chairs are all taken, just buy the damn thing and take it home with you. You're in my way, and now I can't find the copy of V for Vendetta the computer says is here so I can buy it, take it home, and read it. Thanks a lot.

Writing Process Out of Order

After the Editor's Choice comments on DEVIL'S PIT chapters 3 & 4, I've decided that the beginning of the novel needs a semi-major overhaul. Already. I'm starting a major revision before the draft is even done. Is this normal?

Basically, the editor pointed out some weak points in the plotting that I'll need to contend with before I go any further. It's going to mean possibly introducing 1-2 new characters, a new reason for the main characters to go to the mine, and possibly taking out the first major cave-in altogether. Which worries me a bit, because it means the reader won't get to see David's magic at work until almost the main climax. But at the same time, one of the new characters I'm considering will help a great deal in the whodunnit fake-out.

Needless to say, none of this is happening now, mostly because I have too much homework and studying to do. It's so tempting to flake on my American Lit reading and work on re-outlining DEVIL'S PIT instead, but the one is more conducive to my future money-making than the other, unfortunately, so oh, well.

Recent Art

My good friend is still teaching me techniques for art, and here's some of the stuff we've done recently:









Yay!