So Close

The semester is drawing to a close, and so is my sanity. I finished the last of my big papers today and I have one final exam (take-home, thankfully, because I so don't have time to study) to write before the semester is over. And a few more papers to grade. But after all the other work I've done this semester, those will be nothing.

I did find some time to approve copyedits on "Talking to Dead People" before it goes to press or whatever you call it when something's published online. I can't wait until that comes out. I also can't wait until I have time to do some fiction writing (in between studying) this summer.

As far as the weight loss thing goes, I'm 8.5 pounds away from reaching my halfway point. Since my sister will be in town in a couple of weeks, I'll be getting my reward tattoo then, even though I probably won't dump 8.5 pounds between now and then. I wasn't going to pass up the chance to have a girly tattoo day together, though. There will definitely be pictures when it's done (after the redness and scabbing goes away, anyway).

The end of the semester draws near. Just a few more days.

Elisabeth Sladen

I just (literally like 10 minutes ago) learned that Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who, passed away today at 63.

While I'm still very very new to the classic Who-verse, I adored Sarah Jane in the modern series' "School Reunion," "The Stolen Earth" and "The End of Time." Sarah Jane is part of what's keeping me interested in the classic Who--she's spunky, adorable, and a great foil for the Doctor.

I'm sad to see such a talented actress leave us at such a relatively young age.

Falling Down

'Tis the end of the semester and therefore I'm really really really really really busy. And tired. My Beowulf paper is due on Monday (luckily, it's finished; it just needs one final proofing to make sure I didn't do anything ridiculously stupid), I'm working on a Fringe paper, the professor I'm RAing for sent me a whole bunch of essays to be proofed, and my students are getting ready to do presentations about their papers and then turn in those papers. Oh, and I have a take-home final for my Cult TV class. Boo.

At least, unlike last semester, I don't feel like I'm about to die, mostly because I planned ahead for my Beowulf paper and worked on it all semester.  And then I have wonderfully bright spots like the following, wherein my sister wants to discuss Dracula, which she's reading for the helluvit: 

So I'm thinking it might be good that I'm not having to read Dracula for a class...I cannot think of any English teacher I've ever had that would be remotely amused by my description of Lucy being "slurped on by a bat". Or the utter amusement I got when I was reading that section and got this mental picture of this giant bat flapping towards her window all like "noms....noms..." and then getting there only to find the window latched and garlic around it and having this flat out temper tantrum like a little kid who got told he can't have that candy bar.

I love that she's enjoying it so much and I really wish I could have had students like this when I was teaching my literature class a few years ago.

When it Rains, it Pours

Silver Blade Magazine has accepted "Talking to Dead People" for publication. Yay! This one's actually a paying market (not professionally paying, but hey. It's a start).

I will definitely have to make time to do some serious writing during summer break. I don't think I have any decent stories to submit anymore; I've sold all the ones that don't suck!

Sale! (Sort Of)

Wicked East Press has accepted my short story "The Queen's Huntsman" for publication in their Twisted Fairy Tales 2 anthology. Woot!

I say "sort of" on the sale front only because it's not a professionally paying market. It pays in contributor copies, which is fine, because it's one more thing I can put in my bio as I keep trying for professionally paying markets.

I'll keep you, Dear Readers, updated on when the anthology will be released and where you can get a copy.

End-of-Semester Blahs

There's only four weeks left in this semester, and everyone's feeling it. This weekend, I came down with some sort of nasty creeping crud (probably a mild case of the flu, and I say mild only because my fever didn't get above 101) and ended up canceling office hours today and missing my Beowulf class because I'm still so exhausted I can barely think coherently. Plus I've still got occasional bouts of nasty coughing and hardly any voice.

The paper for Beowulf is due in two weeks, and I'm about 14 pages in.  It needs to be 20, and I don't see that being a problem; I have lots of ideas, but sometimes synthesizing them is rough.  I also have a paper on Fringe coming up soon, but I think I need to finish the Beowulf paper first.

Also, about a week ago I got notification that "Talking to Dead People" had been rejected for OSC's Intergalactic Medicine Show.

Not too long until summer, a directed reading, and a visit from my sister. If you need me I'll be over here with Kleenex, cough drops, and my notes for Beowulf.

Book Review: A Discovery of Witches

FTC Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book for review through the Goodreads First Reads program.

When historian and reluctant witch Diana Bishop stumbles upon an alchemical manuscript thought lost hundreds of years ago, she gains the unwanted attention of every witch, vampire, and daemon in the world. They suspect the manuscript holds the key to the secret of their existence and will kill to keep it away from the other creatures. But Diana thinks it is much more important than that and is willing to overturn centuries of tradition in order to protect it and keep her vampire lover.

As a scholar myself, I thought this book started off very strong. The mystery surrounding the book is gripping, Diana is a compelling character, and the nature of the three types of creatures is intriguing. However, I did not find the romance between Diana and her vampire, Matthew, convincing, and halfway through the book the plot comes to a screeching halt in order to deal with the budding romance, which became a bit too Twilight-esque for my taste (though at least the characters do actually have physical relations rather than the vampire refusing "for her own good" to do more than kiss her). I was so much more interested in the history, manuscript, and mystery that I found the romance and its tendency to take over the entire story annoying.

I understand this is going to be a trilogy, and I will more than likely pick up the next couple of books to see how the story ends.

3/5