general musing

Oh, Mummy needs a break, darlings. I went into the post office today, searched everywhere on the way out for my keys, and then found them--in the ignition. I left the car running and the doors unlocked with a parking lot full of people. Best part--wasn't even my car. I was running errands with my mother and it was her Mini. The post office is also next door to the bus station, so I'm glad no one arriving on the 'Hound needed local transportation because they might have thought this town is super friendly and it was a loaner...

So, we don't leave until Wednesday, but I've put the vacation response on my email and have answered all the business emails I'm going to touch until I get back. I am still working on backstory details and figuring out precisely where I need to visit in New Orleans, and then I am GONE. I debated posting retreads of previous blogs while I was gone, but since I always take off a week in December anyway, I'm taking it now. I will be back blogging on the 13th or thereabouts, but will most likely be offering up the odd tweet. (I do foresee a time when I'll be off Google Plus entirely, have only a fan page on Facebook, and will be updating regularly on Twitter and the blog and that's it. Simplicity! But that's a plan for down the road...)

Anyway, I'm off, dear ones! Thanks for the recommendations in NOLA--will put them to good use.

So last year I bought a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle and busted it open on December 1. We all worked on it, fitting in a few pieces here and there to finish it up by the end of the month. There's something about the holidays that make it seem entirely appropriate to have a puzzle lying around for everybody to work on from time to time. (I can't stress to you how slack we were about working on this thing.) Last year's puzzle was a portrait done by artist Nene Thomas and this year we decided to carry on with the same theme and get another. They're available at Barnes and Noble if you're interested, and the subtlety to the art makes them challenging enough to assemble without being diabolical. I like to putter with it when I have Christmas music playing and a batch of cookies in the oven. (Or some truly marshmallowy Christmas movie on Hallmark or Lifetime...)

So today I did something I've never done before. I physically attacked a manuscript. I took scissors and snipped the manuscript into scenes and binder clipped each scene together. Then I jotted on the front page what the gist of the scene was and copied that same info onto a notecard. My plan is to lay the notecards out in sequential order and then rearrange them to plot out my rewrite. I did something similar with notecards when I was writing Silent in the Grave but haven't touched them since, and I think this is the perfect time to whip them out again. I knew partway through this draft that I needed to change up the order of some scenes and this should give me a tidy little visual to make it happen. Funny, when I was done jotting out the note cards, I realized right off that I needed at least six more scenes so those each got a notecard to fit into the new order. Fingers crossed that this works as well as I think it will!

The subconscious is working overtime right now, which is divine! I was half-awake the other morning when I realized that part of my main character's backstory is not working at all simply because I want to use that backstory in another book. Luckily for me--nay, serendipitously for me!--I realized what this character needed was a full dose of a city I happen to be traveling to next week! So, my plan to meander New Orleans and shop, eat, drink, and sightsee is slightly scuppered since I have to add in some hardcore research and a few plantations, but I could not be happier. This bit of backstory suits the character in a bone-deep way that the previous backstory just didn't, and it's already having an effect on the book in a very good way.

Of course, the subconscious is also giving me hella crazy dreams. I had a few last week that were truly bizarre. In the first, I was sitting on the sofa having my feet rubbed by Bruce Greenwood while we talked about bacon. Now, footrubs, Bruce Greenwood, and bacon are all things I enjoy, but why on earth did my poor, benighted little mind put them together? But that's just the tip of the iceberg of strangeness, chickens. That dream morphed into one where my husband was directing a grand opera with Jennifer Ehle appearing as a singing sheela na gig. If you're not familiar, for God's sake, don't google it! Sheela na gigs are Celtic fertility images that show a female creature pulling open her lady bits. The costumes for this opera were big white robes with an opening below the waist--padded out, of course!--and they would hold this part open to sing. I wish, I wish SO HARD I were kidding and hadn't actually dreamed that, you have no idea.

So today is just general tidying up, the sweeping up of various bits and bobs.

*Check out the Q&A I did for the charming Rosy at The Review Diaries in honor of her first blogiversary!

*Tiny deliciousness from Sephora. The OPI Glimmer Wonderland sampler of minis. Six tiny nail polishes that are PERFECT for the holidays. There's a white that will be gorgeous paired with the sheer silver glittery option, a black flecked with teeny gold glitter, a bodacious in your face gold, a luscious shimmery holiday red, and a perfect bronzy-silvery glittery option that defies description. At $22 it is a divine present, perfect for secret Santas or stocking-stuffing, or better yet, a treat for YOU since the holidays can be demanding and everything is better with a fun mani. The best part is that the polishes are small, so if you only wear glitter at the holidays--like me--you have six options but aren'ts tuck with masses of polish leftover.

*Chunky lip crayons. Seriously the best lippy ever. I've bought three lately--two from Sephora, Tarte and NARS. The third is a Sonia Kashuk I bought at Target, and all of them are fab. The beauty of the chunky crayon is that it is EASY. Easy to apply, easy to wear. Tarte offers glittery versions, but I choose matte. The simplest way to wear them is to slap on one of the lovely dark pink shades and pair it with your favorite gloss. (I am smitten with Sephora's own glosses. Not sticky, no icky taste. Big tubes, long-lasting.) And I'm choosing dark pink because I've given up the nude lip. With my hair color as dark as it is, I'm finding the nude lip just washes me out, especially in pictures. I usually only ever wear red or neutral for my lip, and now my neutral is more "lip-colored" and less beige. I do love a nude lip, but I just can't pull it off. Now my neutral just looks like my own mouth, but better, if that makes sense.

*Sephora Smoky Kohl Eyeliner. I swear Sephora isn't sponsoring this blog. I will go six months without setting foot in one, but then I get obsessed and go back half a dozen times in a month to pick up just one more thing. Yesterday I discovered the Smoky Kohl Eyeliner, and it's beyond cool. It comes in a variety of quirky colors--alhtough I opted for black, of course. And it's the size of a lipstick. It's chunky and thick and smudgy and fun and I can't wait to play with it. It's also only $12, so a great fit between department store spendiness and the drugstore.

*Duck boots. I finally broke down and bought a pair from Target. They're mid-calf, and since I don't need them for duck-hunting, they don't have to be top-of-the-line, just suitable for running errands. These are lined with red and black buffalo plaid and are perfect for a day like today--rainy and cool. I loathe running errands in this kind of weather and I have the dentist today too. Wearing an amusing boot just helps. A few weeks back I mentioned threading a scarf through the belt loops on my trench coat just to add some color--today it's out with the leopard and in with a faux-Hermes that has Parisian landmarks on it. Bonjour, mon chickens!

Well, chickens, I hope the Americans amongst you had a lovely Thanksgiving! Ours was delicious--both the food and the Longhorns win over the Aggies...

So here's what I've been up to over the past few days:

*Pondering next year's brine for the turkey. I'm thinking apple-maple-bourbon. And adding bacon to the dressing, although I am reliably informed that Mucking With The Dressing Will Not Be Tolerated, and if I want to add bacon I have to make two separate pans.

*Playing with my Kindle Fire. As I tweeted, I bought a Kindle Fire this weekend and now want to have its little Kindle Fire babies. It's divine--the perfect travel device. Carries more books than you could ever need, accesses the web and email, streams movies and music. And it's a little bit smaller than the Nook. Now, I received a Nook as a gift and a glorious gift it was, but I did find it a bit heavy for me. (Think reading a hardcover book.) I passed it to my daughter when I got my Kindle Fire and she is LOVING it, so this is a purely personal thing. If you're in the market for an ereader, it's worth noting that the Nook has more storage and expandable storage if that's important to you.

*Coining a new phrase. BITCHKRIEG. For the mood that assails you and causes you to level everything in your path with scorching intensity.

*Musing on how lovely you readers are. Seriously. There were some very wise and thoughtful responses to the last post both here and via Facebook, and I truly appreciate them all. Thank you for taking the time to share.

*Buying out Sephora. I don't know about y'all, but I go for months without buying new makeup and then I make the mistake of running out of something and walking into Sephora. And I end up making four trips in a row because I keep going back for something I decided I couldn't live without. (If you're looking for a great neutral shadow, Urban Decay's Toasted is simply gorgeous and would probably flatter almost anyone. It's a shimmery nude that makes your lids look finished and brightens your eyes without screaming "I'm wearing enough makeup to choke a drag queen!" I'm also a fan of Benefit's waterproof eyeliner pencil--Bad Gal is great, but it smudges quite a lot so I have switched to the waterproof version which, oddly enough, still smudges a bit when you put it on so you can blend nicely, but then stays put quite well.) And I'm going back tomorrow for a holiday nail polish sampler I decided I can't live without. I am pining for GLITTER, preferably in a black polish. Or white. Or silver. Or red. All of which are in the Sephora OPI holiday sampler! I think it includes bronze as well. I'm getting ready to do some major work on the book, and I don't imagine this was one of Hemingway's tips, but I find that having a killer manicure gives me a bit of a lift when I'm typing.

*Making some holiday gifts. I don't want to make myself crazy, but I do like to putter in the kitchen during the holidays. On the menu this year, my Chapultepec Cookies (chocolate with Mexican spices, adapted from a friend's recipe) and homemade cinnamon schnapps. What are YOU making?

I know I'm rushing the fences a bit here, but goodness me, I am DONE with summer. It's been busy and demanding and thorny, and I'm quite ready for a new rhythm. I want to nest, to settle my feathers and be peaceful and busy at work. I am looking forward to the view from my windows changing--not because hurricanes have blown away my trees but because the trees are putting on their autumn silks and the leaves are waving farewell.

I'm looking forward to baking things that are full of spices, scenting the air with cinnamon and nutmeg. I want crisp apples and winter squashes and porridge for breakfast. (Doesn't porridge just sound more enticing than "oatmeal"?) I want nail polish and roses in dark, dangerous colors and candles that smell of pumpkin and patchouli. I want to wear boots and scarves and wrap myself in velvets and suede. I want to shiver as I get out of bed in the morning and sleep burrowed down into the covers, hoarding my own warmth against the chill. I want to smell woodsmoke on the air and the promise of coming frosts. I want to pick up my knitting again and engage in woolly pursuits. I want to collage and sew and cook up pots of things that simmer for hours on the back of the stove. I want new bread and ancient philosophies and poetry to read aloud.

What do YOU want for autumn, chickens?

Chickens, I think that's it! I think we've finished with the reader questions, and once again they've taken a month. What fun! If I missed any or you have a follow-up, do pop a comment after this entry and I'll take care of it this week, I promise. I was woefully slipshod about how I organized the questions and it's entirely possible one or two slipped through the cracks.

Very pleased to have life getting back to normal just now. There are still a million little details to attend to, but having power and cable and various other luxuries makes life vastly easier. (I was horrified to see how much damage the storm did further north of us--I hope it gets sorted very soon.)

We learned a lot from the last hurricane, so we were much more prepared this time. Unfortunately, there were still things to learn this go-round, but I suppose that's to be expected. Having generators and gasoline to fuel them made the situation far more bearable. (And having all services restored in 72 hours versus the week it took last time made a significant difference too.)

So right now I'm beavering away at research and revising the proposal for A SPEAR OF SUMMER GRASS. The project was initially conceived as a trilogy, but we've decided to pack it all into one book, so I'm tweaking the synopsis to show the changes. I plan to spend the next several weeks cocooned in my study, wearing a variety of kimonos and writing my little heart out. I was deeply saddened to find that my favorite writing shoes--pink marabou mules--have succumbed to some sad sort of molting disease and are shedding feathers like nobody's business. I shall have to acquire new ones....I wore them to vacuum today and I have to say, housework is INFINITELY more enjoyable when you're dressed so improbably.

Have a lovely Wednesday, chickens!

So yesterday I experienced my first earthquake, which I have to say was rather fun. I know that sounds mental, but it was a 5.8, the epicenter was about 80 miles away, and by the time I knew for certain what it was, it was trailing off. Of course, not being accustomed to earthquakes, I didn't do any of the things you're supposed to do. I didn't head for open ground or a nice doorway. Nope. I took one look at the chandelier in my study, swinging back and forth over my desk, and figured the best thing was to put my body between the chandelier and MY COMPUTER. Yep--turns out in an emergency, my first reaction is to save the desktop. Even the dog was looking at me like, "Seriously?"

The thing that surprised me the most--as a quake newbie--is that I actually never knew that they were LOUD. There was a rumbling, thundery sound that came from everywhere at once. Fascinating stuff, and my hat is off to those of you who have been through bigger quakes because I know this one was just child's play to y'all. I'd show you a picture of my damage, but I don't think my pen rolling two inches would be very impressive.

It just occurred to me that I haven't necessarily made it clear that that isn't a royal 'we' in the blog titles. I mean, quite literally, that you and I have opened a discussion on a subject. And today's subject is writing:

Reader Stephanie had two questions, and because I am very fond of Stephanie, I am answering them both. (Just kidding--there's no limit, but I AM fond of Stephanie. One of my traditions at RWA is having tea with her. We've done it for four years now, every single year I've done RWA!)

So here's what she's wondering:

From reader RobinsonCrrl: I'm almost finished with THE DARK ENQUIRY, and am really enjoying it. When Nicholes gets his migraines when trying to hold off visions, it is all written so well and believable, i was wondering if you had done any kind of research --not sure where--into the subject or had invented Syndrome out of whole cloth? If it is indeed your invention I think you are now the definitive word on Repressed Gypsy Vision Syndrome. And related to that, did you also research the life style and customs of different Gypsys and their way of life? I so enjoyed reading that part too--r
Hope you were in the air conditioning down here or on the beaches, but even then it's been super hot---or out at Animal KIngdom like last year looking out from your room at the animals.

Nicholas' difficulties are completely fictitious. I wanted to give him a physical condition that would add a bit of vulnerability and unpredictability to him. Loads of things--like malaria--would have suited, but I wanted something different. At the same time I was considering his touch of second sight, and it occurred to me that trying to keep back something of yourself always leads to problems. Repression often forces an issue to the fore in another area, and headaches of the most virulent variety seemed logical under the circumstances.

I have indeed done quite a bit of research on Gypsies--a truly fascinating subject, and one I try to be very respectful of. The challenge, of course, is that they very seldom write about their own culture and that anything outsiders write about them has to be questioned.

I was in Orlando--hanging at Animal Kingdom Lodge, actually. I had some meetings scheduled with animal experts that I will get to blog about later. It was VERY hot, but a cocktail on the balcony overlooking the giraffes made it bearable!