The Guilty Pleasure of Implement Porn....

Shawn has been looking for a journal to replace the one she keeps Mason's memories in.  That sounds very science fictional doesn't it?  But, in reality, it's just a kind of a baby book that's kept growing over the years.  Shawn writes down little tidbits she'd like to remember or thinks should be noted for the future/future reference.  The one she just filled upstarted in 2004.

Today, after her haircut, we decided to see what we could find to replace it.  We went to the kinds of stores that specialized in fancy pens and papers and...

...of course, it was *me* who walked out with twenty dollars worth of STUFF.

Admit it (because you know it's true), paper and pens are like porn for writers.  I will confess that have this particular love affair with quad lined notebooks.  I filched my very first one from Shawn, back in our college days, when she would have to special order lab notebooks that were quad lined.  Now you can find those pretty regularly at Target, and I usually buy myself a couple of the really cheap ones during the back to school sales.

At Wet Paint today, I found something I might be even more in love with "dotted" notebook paper.

Look how pretty!

The guy at the art store might have thought I was a little odd for petting it, but they DON'T UNDERSTAND.

Paper is very special to me.

I mean, maybe I *am* a bit weird, but I still love the feel of pen on paper.  I find notebook writing still very useful.  I've been known to carry a notebook around not only to take Captain America style notes, but also to have on hand should I be inspired somewhere where my computer isn't easily accessible--like, say, when I show up a little early at Mason's school for pick-up or whatever.  Plus, even though it ends up messy and crossed out, I enjoy the constriction of having to write long-hand sometimes.  I almost always edit when I transcribe to screen, but the act of having to push on and not worry about perfect phrasing can really help me get the gist of a scene out on paper.

Also I used to occasionally sketch out pictures of my characters and I found that a lot easier when I had quad or blank pages.  Now... now I can haz dots!

Plus, I had to buy a pen. I had two in my hand, but Shawn made me put one back.  I did get out with two notebooks though... hee hee.

I'm not sure non-artists understand this weird implement thing.  I suppose it's like anything aesthetic, like a nice briefcase for work or a good pair of sexy shoes.  Paper and pens are a bit cheaper, too... or at least can be.  There are some people who are willing to pay a LOT for a really nice pen (luckily I'm a cheap date when it comes to pens.)

New in Ebook!

The penultimate novel in my AngeLINK series, Apocalypse Array, is out as an e-book from Wizard's Tower Press today.  Believe it or not, this cyberpunk book was never previously released in e-book format.  Now you can go get it.

It also has, as you can see, shiny new art from Bruce Jensen.

New Podcast

Mason and I had a blast doing out 14th MangaKast: https://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/fourteen-for-the-team/

Go check it out if you want to hear me babbling about manga without coffee--well, technically, I HAD a couple of cups, but... I felt like I was in a sitcom or something because, not finding any of the good stuff on the shelf, I simply ran water through the old filter.  Yeah, that was just about as gross as you might imagine it would be.

Anyway, what I find fascinating about the podcast is that, unlike my WattPad project, I really could care less if no one listens.  The process of making it with Mason is just so MUCH fun.  So, you know, check it out... or not.  I will keep doing this because I love it.

I only wish I felt that way about other things I do...

I wish I could figure that out.

At any rate, here's another screen shot from this week's Bleach (by Tite Kubo.)

New Installment and Thoughts

My newest installment of UnJust Cause, my serialized work-in-progress is up:

Alex hasn't used her magic since she accidentally blinded Devon (the half-werewolf/half-vampire). Now, feeling cornered, she instinctively lashes out... at a friend.

http://www.wattpad.com/56251842-unjust-cause-part-13-a-dangerous-rush-of-power

I thought that maybe here on the thirteenth episode, I should take a moment and discuss my feelings/experiences working this way.

There are, for me, some distinct advantages to having a strict 'publishing' deadline. Having set myself a weekly goal of getting something up, some forward momentum made, is probably the only way I would have written as much as I have to-date. Considering the extent to which writing original fiction has been difficult for me in these last few years, this stands out as a HUGE benefit.

The disadvantage is that writing like this is also very seat-of-my-pants. If I go down a road, I'm committed to it. Revision is only going to be possible once the story is completed and ready to become an e-book. I'm already feeling places where I wish I could go back and restructure things a bit.

The way I've decided to deal with that is that I've handed out some of this to Wyrdsmiths with the idea that I can be concurrently working on a more polished draft for the e-book. Of course, the first-draft-y-ness of this serialization may ultimately turn off some readers. I'd been hoping, of course, for the kind of community that AO3 (archive of our own) gives a writer, where there might be a strong back-and-forth during the process, between the writer and the community of readers. I'm not getting anyone brave enough to point out my faults yet, and that really kind of bums me out.

This is, btw, one of the main reasons I don't come out on AO3 as a 'professional' writer. I have a feeling all the criticism would stop dead under the silly idea that 'well, she must know what she's doing,' which is of course not only nonsense, but which actually discourages me. I like the back and forth. I like knowing people are into a story enough to get mad about some turn of events or a moment that seems out of character or whatever.

*sigh*

Well, all the same, at least I'm writing. This is much more than I can say that I'd be doing without WattPad. So the experiment continues to be "profitable." We'll see if I'm able to grow an audience as I'd like to, and whether or not it will translate into e-book sales once everything is done and dusted.

What I'm Reading....

I probably haven't mentioned this here yet, but I've taken an extremely part-time job at the Ramsey County Libraries as a "sub," (which they, quite charmingly call "itinerant page" a job title that makes me feel like it ought to come with tights, a tunic, and a lute.)  It pays well, but I work very random hours.  So one of the biggest benefits for me is exposure to all the books, etc.

On Saturday I worked at Maplewood (one of my favorites partly due to their astounding manga collection).  While I was there, I noticed a two volume manga set marked as "new."  It was called No.6.

Yesterday, while cooking our annual fleischkuekle batches, I read both volumes and started in on the remaining chapters at MangaPanda.

So, I ended up writing a review of it this morning:  https://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/06/23/review-no-6/

And... I just got a call from my sub coordinator, and it looks like I'll be working there again tonight!  Yay!  More manga!

Poetry Market

I'm not much of a poet, but maybe some of you are.  If you have some speculative poetry you've been wondering if there's a paying market for, there is:  http://www.liminalitypoetry.com/?page_id=6

During national poetry month, I did, by chance, write a haiku.  I have no idea if it's quite what this market is looking for, since it's not terribly speculative, but I thought what the hey! and sent it.

Wish me luck.  And luck to anyone else who might submit!

Will Review for Books

Today I got the strangest e-mail on my hotmail account from these folks: http://www.bloggingforbooks.org

They seemed to be under the mistaken impression that I was a blogger of note.  Maybe, it's just that not a lot of people blog at all anymore and so the pool of names to pick from is very, very tiiiiiiiny. Because, let's be straight with one another, I haven't blogged here with any regularly since the Late Jurassic.  So, it can't be THIS site that got them interested, especially since it's very obviously connected to my gmail address (I don't actually think you can use blogspot without gmail.)  The Wyrdsmiths blog, likewise, is gmail connected and fairly static, so.. that kind of leaves LJ (Live Journal) which would make ZERO sense.

My Facebook and Klout accounts attach to my dusty hotmail address, as do my super-static web pages.  But again... WTF? Really?

I still think you'd have to be high or desperate (or both!) to count me as any kind of influential book recommender.

Regardless of how they got to me and whether I'm really what they want, we're talking about FREE BOOKS.  They're willing to send me review copies if I'll post honest reviews on their site (and presumably link the review to all my social media places.)  So, what the hey... I signed up.  I've requested my first book-- a graphic novel by the same guy who did World War Z called "Harlem Hellcats" (I think.)  It's a historical graphic novel about a WWII black regiment and their struggles on and off the battlefield.  I actually read something about this somewhere else (a Random House tweet, maybe?) and thought it sounded interesting.

So you might be hearing more about the things I'm reading here and elsewhere.

The Dragon of Awkward

I feel somewhat bad for the nameless Loft photographer who attempted to come into my classroom today to take pictures.  When the door opened, I looked at him and my lectured screeched to a halt.  I stared at him for what felt like a long time (though it was probably only a matter of seconds), trying to figure out what was happening and who would just barge into to a class in-progress--and then I saw the high-powered camera he had in his hands and everything clicked into place.

Being who I am, I pretty much narrated my entire thought process, "Oh, and who are you... a photographer?  Are you here to take pictures of the class?"

Even as I was talking, another part of my brain was thinking, "No, just no.  Not these kids."

I should stop for a moment and explain.  Last year when I taught a class of the same name, I had a rowdy room full of self-confident, smart-a$$, BRILLIANT kids.  Seeing a camera, they would have jumped up to pose dramatically or come up with an on-the-spot reenactment of a battle of wits involving pens and origami hats or something even sillier and outlandish.  I never had to worry when I asked, "Who would like to share?" that I was going to get crickets.  They were those geeks--the ones not unlike myself, really rather relish the theatre of it all and who would, if provoked, recite all of Monty Python's skits while on the city bus.

This year, I have a slightly smaller group of utterly BRILLIANT, deeply shy, perfectly NERDY kids.  I had a couple of students desperate to share their work but so unable to read in front of a group that they had me read their entries for them.  Only now, four days in, have they, with my coaxing, very, very, vvvveeerryyyy slowly begun to trust me and each other enough to flail around and squee a bit when things are going well in class.  (Today, in fact, one of them was bold enough to say to *me*, "Hey, now, settle down!" because I was waxing nerd-ly about science and bouncing on the balls of my feet.)  But my geeky side has proven that I am one of them, but I suspect they see me as a squirrelly, eccentric auntie who is just a little too loud in public.

So, when this photographer came in my mama-bear side came roaring out.  I looked at him in the middle of my stream of consciousness chatter and said, "Oh, no, that's going to be awkward."

He looked at me.

He looked at my class (half of whom were giving him the stare of doom, the other half of whom were trying to find something to hide behind). He put his camera down.  Very slowly as if hoping not to anger us, he backed out of the room and said, "Yeah, a little too awkward."

It was like we'd defeated a dragon together.

Double-Feature MangaKast

Because I'm sure you've all been waiting on the edges of your seats for our return to MangaKast.  Well, the wait is over, my friends.  Here it is:

http://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/06/18/lucky-thirteen/

New Update

Just a quickie post to let you know that there is a new bit of UNJUST CAUSE up on Wattpad.  Check it out: http://www.wattpad.com/55131739-unjust-cause-part-12-the-innocence-of-dragons

Well, that was... flail.

Today was the first day of my "More than Just the Zombie Apocalypse" week-long class at the Loft as part of their Summer Youth Writing Program.  It was... yeah, it could have gone better.

Several factors were working against me, however.  First of all, I could *not* find a copy of my syllabus anywhere. It took me forever to remember that I had a copy stored on Google Drive.  I got that transferred to a usb drive and then had to make a dash to Kinko's/FedEx in order to print it out and make enough copies.  The only thing working in my favor was that I guesstimated that I'd have 10 students and I was exactly right.  (Last head count was seven and I always plan for a few extra.)

So, I already started out a bit frazzled and feeling like I was running behind.  The frustration was added to by the fact that there was a woman at Kinko's who insisted she was still on the copy machine when all she was doing was collating her things on the table nearby.  Finally, she gave into my frantic hovering and muttering about how I had class in less than a half hour and NO SYLLABUS if I couldn't get to the copy machine.

My copies done, I busted out and hit the highway only to discover... no parking spaces.  I ended up parking in a very weird "services" parking lot for an apartment building and, as I left, I thought, "No, this isn't right.   I'm going to get towed."  So, when I found the Loft education coordinator I asked her about it and she graciously allowed me to park in the Loft Staff spot, but that meant I had to rush back out, move my car, and get to my third floor class all within about ten minutes.

So, I came to class feeling flustered and out of sorts, and then... it occurred to me:

I'D FORGOTTEN TO EAT.

Not, just "oh, crap, no time for lunch," but a full-blown, "oh, sh*t, I forgot breakfast as well as lunch."  So I was literally running on empty the entire class.  It's probably a miracle that I didn't faint dead away an hour into my hour and a half class.  But, that's extroversion for you.  I got the energy I needed from being in front of people and being expected to perform.

And there was a lot of dancing monkey and flailing, let me tell you.

A lot of flail.

All I can hope is that the students will be forgiving and all show up tomorrow.  I tell myself they've paid and probably have nowhere else better to be.  Also, the first class is usually just introduction at any rate, and I did manage that (though they must be all thinking instructor = moron.)  I also introduced the ideas of the wiggly definitions of science fiction and fantasy and how we'd probably end up covering both since: wiggly-wobbily define-y whine-y thing.

Oy.

Spoilers and Silliness

Mason and I give you our 12th MangaKast, a podcast about all things manga.  This episode we discuss Bleach 583, Toriko 280 and I give somewhat sketchy and random reviews of other things that I'm reading/watching (namely Vinland Saga and Yowapeda).

http://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/06/04/a-dirty-dozen/

In this podcast, I also discuss a new anime that I'm watching called Yowapeda.  In the podcast, I mostly talk about how it relates to Bleach (there are voice actors in common).  But, here, I thought I'd take a moment to talk about how strange Japanese storytelling pacing often is for a Western viewer.

For instance, here I am, about to start episode 4, and the premise of the show--an "otaku" (Japanese nerd/geek) joins a bicycle racing club--hasn't really even happened yet.  We've met our hero, had many discussions about the dorkiness of his 'mamachari,' "Mommy bike," and met a few other characters.  People have mentioned the biking club in passing, BUT NO ONE HAS JOINED YET.

I think, by now, this show would have been cancelled in the U.S.

To be fair, there was an exciting race at one point, up a very steep hill, and there were many IMPLICATIONS that our otaku hero might actually be even stronger/faster than he knows.  But, it kind of amazes me the extent to which speculation has fueled the "action" of this story.

I always tell my writing students that you have to start strong, lay it all out, get to the point, so that people will know what the story is about, what's at stake... basically, show why a reader should invest their time and keep reading.  We spend a lot of time as writers talking about 'the hook' and how important it is to get our 'hooks' into readers so that they will be dragged deep into the story from the get-go.

 There's something about this that is utterly and truly DEFIED by animes like Yowapeda.  By rights, I should CARE LESS.  I mean, really, all that I know that's at stake is that our anime-loving hero would really, really rather join the anime club, but it cancelled due to lack of interest.  THIS SHOW SHOULD BE CANCELLED DUE TO LACK OF INTEREST, but it's in its second season and, frankly, I'm fairly captivated.

I wonder if it has something to do with character.  Because character can be its own hook, and, frankly, our little nerd hero represents a lot of things a lot of people are and WOULD LIKE TO BE.  I'm a nerd.  I'm scared of sports clubs (or was, when I was in high school), and I would really, really love to be recognized for my specialness (wouldn't we all?)  So, right away there's a kind of guilty pleasure watching people looking at our dork/geek hero and saying things like, "Oh, even on his Mommy bike, he does x and y like a pro!" The implication is: this guy is special.  Without even having joined the biking club yet, you start to get the feeling that this little doofus is going to be critical in elevating everyone to a higher level.... and there will be cheering and trophies and heartbreak along the way.

I'm in.

Totally.  Just on the IMPLIED promise alone.

It's Tuesday....

Tuesday!  So that means there's another installment of UNJUST CAUSE for you to read up on Wattpad:  http://www.wattpad.com/53052964-unjust-cause-part-11-jazz-dance-of-justice

"Jazz Dance of Justice" a title that will make more sense when you read the installment, but which has to do with the fact that Alex's superpower can be somewhat... unhelpful, since sometimes the messages she gets from 'beyond the grave' are garbled at best.

Enjoy!

Next week I may not get my installment up on time as we're going to be on honeymoon in the Boundary Waters.  There's limited internet there, so I will try, but no promises....

The Joys of Obscurity

We all have this dream.  It goes like this: write a book, get it published, and live the life of the rich and famous authors like J.K. Rowling.

Most published authors don't live like J. K. Rowling.  Instead, they live like me... and this guy: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/25/books/review/please-turn-to-the-chapter-on-obscurity.html

My favorite part of this column is the bit that goes like this:

In Boston, a woman approached me after the Q and A., her face tense with anguish and disappointment. "I thought you were going to be Alice McDermott," she said. "So did I," I said.

It reminds me all to well of the time I was booked at a B. Daltons or Borders (when those still existed) and they gave me a card table in the hallway near the food court.  I was reduced to hawking my wears to passers' by, most of whom looked baffled to be harangued by an author (this was Minnesota, after all.)  A woman gives me a sneer and said snootily, "I'm sorry, I don't read."  "At least you're sorry!" I replied.

Like Mr. Rosenblatt, I've play to audiences of three... sometimes even none--beyond the awkward, apologetic bookstore liaison/event organizer.   I've also had the experience of sharing a signing with a FAMOUS author, and watching his/her line stretch around the corner and out the store.  Both are frustrating, but I've always been lucky to have friends who will push through the crowd and shout, "OMG!  TATE HALLAWAY!!  WILL YOU SIGN MY BOOBS!?!" (because those are my friends...) This is, btw, a true story, and I remain proud because it made Neil Gaiman turn his head to see who I was to rate boob signing....

So you have to make the best of it as Mr. Rosenblatt says.  Learn to take joy in the obscurity.

Hair Curls of Doom!

Hair Curls of Doom!  Costume squee!

Mason and I present our 11th podcast:  https://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/05/28/eleven-heaven/

MOAR

In keeping with tradition, here is another Tuesday installment of UNJUST CAUSE.  This time, Alex and Jack investigate the second 'drop' victim who was found by members of the werewolf biker gang on the side of the county highway.

http://www.wattpad.com/51990582-unjust-cause-part-10-maggots-and-magpies

Hope you enjoy!

The Song of Our People (Otaku)

Our tenth podcast is now up!  http://mangakast.wordpress.com/2014/05/21/and-then-ten/  In this episode, Mason and I discuss Bleach, Toriko, and One Piece... and our cat Inky sings you the song of his people.

The Saga Continues...

My newest installment of UNJUST CAUSE is up on Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/50932760-unjust-cause-part-9-naked-dragons-on-the-lawn.  I feel like the title pretty much sums this one up, "Naked Dragons on the Lawn."

What I really need soon is some cover art for this thing.  I'm thinking about commissioning something from someone on Deviantart.... if you know any artists, let me know!

More Manga Madness

My son and I have produced our 9th MangaKast, Nine is Fine... in which there is a lot of giggling, spoilage, and squee...

It's Tuesday again...

So that means that my newest installment of Unjust Cause is up on Wattpad:  http://www.wattpad.com/49931265-unjust-cause-part-8-of-tops-and-bottoms

In this episode, Alex attempts to play the part of the dom to varying degrees of success.

--

One of the things that I'm enjoying about this experiment on Wattpad is that not only can I be a lot sexier than my NY publisher seemed to have wanted, but sex can also be... silly and more, IMHO, like Real Life (tm).

In this episode, too, I'm showing off my queerer side a tiny bit, something else that got a surprising amount of resistance when I tried it in the Garnet Lacey series.  (The book in which Garnet is able to see people's inner gods and goddesses I'd really wanted Matyas' inner god to be a goddess and that was given a very strong no-go.)

I'm not going crazy, by any means, but it's nice to know I can stretch where I like.