An ending...and a beginning
Thursday, December 13, 2007Yesterday was the last day of work for one of my GA’s. Christi is doing her internship practicum next semester, so she won’t be able to work for me (since it’s a 40 hour a week job, this internship.) She’s in Councilor Ed right now, and she’s going to go on to her PhD. Sometimes you see people and just shake your head, because you feel bad for their future clients, but she’s going to be really amazing. She’s an excellent listener, sensible, and extremely responsible. All things that made her a great employee…and now, a wonderful friend.
Good luck, Christi. May the path of life always be kind to you, and may you achieve all your dreams with very little trouble.
She gave me a beautiful teapot as a thank you for everything and farewell gift. I thought I was going to get weepy, but I held myself together.
In other news of a huge nature, I received my proof galley from Zumaya yesterday! I started reading it, and was surprised. I’ve not actually read this books since…2004? Maybe? More like 2002, 2003, and so it’s like reading it anew. I see some flaws (I use he at the beginning of sentences a bit much in some of the paragraphs, and have been cleaning that up…) but am often astonished that I actually accomplished the things that I was going for so far. In some ways, the novel is supposed to evoke very clearly certain feelings I’ve had – driving at night, a south western PA fall, and when I read the passages I feel the things I wanted my readers to feel. It could be because I used the things, of course, that key those feelings in me, or it could be because I did a half decent job writing. ;) I go with the latter.
My editor’s divided up the front chapter a little…I wrote it as one whole chapter, introducing all the elements – I introduce us to all the people who are affected by the return of magic, and I’d written it as sort of a fable voice, going from person to person, not really going into anyone’s head. I’m clear about my changes, but I didn’t put in spaces to show the change of places…which she’s done. I am worried that it looks choppy, but I think she’s correct to make the divisions…it’s good to really delineate things. She’s a really awesome editor, as I go through the book, I see that…and I’m also trying to respect it when I see changes that I’m not sure of.
Anyway, the cover page is beautiful. My name is on the top of every other page in gorgeous script. But do you want to know what made me really geek out? What made me get emotional and just all “OMG it’s real!”?
This:
That’s right. I have an ISBN. And I’m LOC catalogued. And look…there’s even a Dewy, though since that changes library to library that’s not as important. But…the LOC number, you can take to any US library, and go to that section, and if my book has been bought by that library (and if they use LOC, lol) then…yep. That’s where it’s at.
OMG. I have an ISBN. I really am a real, honest to God author.Labels: friends, GA's are love, squeeing with joy, writing
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 9:11 AM
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Chat tonight!
Monday, October 15, 2007I am in the world’s best mood.
William’s Fantasia on a theme of Thomas Tallis is playing, and it makes me just…soar. It’s Mission Day, which means that there are no classes, and I have been alone all morning, working hard to get everything caught up. My Myspace player is playing…Feist’s 1234 was just on before this…and I am feeling free and joyful and pleased to be alive.
The gentlemen I mentioned, the fencers, have both been really awesome. They sent me reading lists of books to get me started in my reignited passion for historical fencing, and I am starting down the path to make a club here on campus. One of them very sweetly said they’d come down and do demos…it’s a long drive, and I doubt we’d be able to give them much in the way of funds, so it really is good of him.
Tonight, I wanted to remind you, I am doing a writing chat at romance galleria. This is my very first solo I’m an author chat, so I’m excited. I will be giving away copies of my stuff and discount coupons, so please stop in! You can support your nutcase friend, *and* maybe win something!Labels: chat, fencing, writing
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 12:37 PM
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Hi Cindy,
Thankyou so much for stopping by and leaving me a comment. At first I wasn't sure who you were until I saw on your blog that you were at The Romance Galleria tonight... lala.
Anyways it was a pleasure meeting you this eve and was fun chatting on IMVU. Friend me ok and we can chat again.
Ally
>^,,^<
Whee! Guess who's the Author of the Month?
Monday, October 08, 2007So, ever wonder how I got started in writing? What I do when I can't sleep? What my favorite foods are? If the answer is "I've been reading this journal for ages, I already know, silly." then the fact that I am Zumaya's featured Author of the Month won't be half so exciting to you. But, if you feel like seeing it, here you go.
This should be an exciting week job wise...we will finally have the Templar event, (pray it don't rain Thursday, here) which will, when it's over, lift a huge weight off me. Just in time, too, because we should be getting a lot of job applications for me to process. (Know anyone who has a PhD in US History and wants a job?) Also, my father has decided to go through with the lapiscopic surgery. They want to put a tube in for a couple of weeks, which ought to be thrilling. (They want to get him to gain weight. The last few years the Doctor's are all saying he needs to lose weight, lose weight. Now they want him to gain some back. I tell you, no one's ever happy. *rolls eyes*)
Did I tell you I bought plants? There was a English Department yard sale, so I went and bought an African Violet (named, predictably, Violetta), an Arrowfoot I call Flutter (because the tin came in, and I plant to transplant it out of, has butterflies on it, and from this angle, the leaves look like butterflies in stasis...) a draconis marginata I call Dragon Lady, because the one I have at home I call Lady Miss Tree, and a pot of purple Shamrocks I call Brigid. It is amazing how the plants liven up the office. They make me very happy.Labels: plants, surgery, writing
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 8:14 AM
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Write, sleep, write some more...
Monday, August 13, 2007So far, the vacation is going really well. I feel pretty rested and stress free. I think by the time I get back to work on Wednesday I’ll see my life as a bunch of little steps to get me through the day again, not a bunch of burdens to bear.
Thursday afternoon we had a really amazing storm that took out the power in our house. We didn’t get it back until Friday night. It forced me to go to bed very early, around 9:00, and I was tired enough to sleep through until after nine the next day. Both days were swelteringly hot, and we were worried about our food, so I had an idea that works really well if you find yourself in a similar situation: get a couple of garbage cans, metal is possible as they work a lot better (we had some in storage) and about 30 pounds of ice for each can. Put in a garbage bag, then pour in some ice. Put in a layer of food, then some more ice, more food, then top it off with ice. Wrap the can in another garbage bag and a bunch of blankets, quilts, afghans or whatever else you have. Our food all lasted really well.
I did some house projects, but mostly so far I’ve rested and written, managing to finally finish “But Can You Let Him Go?” And did some sewing. I finished the pink Tudor dress and am now working on a black and teal Gypsy/wench/pirate outfit. I’m using soft, sheer black cloth for the shirt and underskirt.
So, now I have two writing projects, I am going to write an essay about Cinderella, and take a second look at the Neil Gaiman Movie essay, because, since it’s not up yet, I want to use this as my chance to do another update.
And I need to work on another book…I started another, “The Gravedigger’s Song”, but I might just take a bunch of notes about all the twists and nifty things and shelve it until one of the partials are done.Labels: sewing, vacation, writing
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 11:59 AM
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Interesting post you have here! Hope your vaccation is going well.
www.rosshetherington.com
Where have I been?
Thursday, August 09, 2007Well, the past couple of days I’ve been finishing up on my latest short story, the one that takes the tale of Cinderella and attempts to explain why there are a zillion of them. Of course, there are many other fairy tales with their tons of variations, but I have always had a soft spot for the cinder-girl. What’s neat is that she can be anything from a prostitute in one tale to a murderess in another, sometimes she is a princess, sometimes she is a servant. I thought I was at the editing stage when I realized that I still had another tale to add in, so I went and re-read a couple of stories, and chose to use “Fair, Brown and Trembling” as my final piece. I think that I am now ready to edit, so, definitely be done by the end of the week.
It’s amazing to me, always, how things develop as you write them. How a character who seems to be a minor throw away has obvious roots in the story that make them invaluable. I’ve also been having a lot of fun with it. I think it says a lot about the nature of our selves, how sometimes the smallest selfish act can be devastating, as well as the nature of magic and the stories themselves.
It’s also scary because I have in mind who I am going to send this to. I think there will always be a part of me that worries that the new thing doesn’t measure up to the things that were published, which is a complete reversal to how I felt just a few months ago, that the old things that I wrote ages ago will never be as good as the things I’ve written now. But, you keep plugging on, keep doing your best, and don’t think about it much more than that. The things in publishing that you worry most about, generally, are the things you can’t actually do anything about.
Hmm. You know, it’s way past my bedtime. Lucky for me, I have the day off tomorrow, for I decided I was in desperate need of a vacation, and am taking one. Yay!
PS: Great thing about having my Google accounts back number 82: Having the cute fox theme back. I love my little Japanese Fox!Labels: cinderella, fairy tales, short stories, writing
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 12:25 AM
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Random Post, but then, aren't all my posts random?
Monday, July 23, 2007I wish I would wake up. Ugh. I've gotten to the point where I do not have to be fully functional to get out of bed, clothe myself and fix my hair, get into the car, and get to work, which means that right now I'm sitting at my desk, with one eye trying to close.
I am also slightly cold, which should help, but it's not. *eyes heater, even though it's July*
Yesterday's chat went well, but it was different from other chats I've been to. Others were focusing on how to get published/how to publicize/how to write, but this was sort of laid back. We talked about what we want to write (Zombies, anyone?) that werewolves were something everyone was sick of (Great, the book I wrote 7 years ago, by the time it hits print, will no longer be salable. Yippee.) and that kids are good.
God. Did I really write Balancing Act 7 years ago? That means Blue Moon was written about 6 years ago. Both where contracted in 2004...I know I'll have to do some technology updating on Balancing Act, when I wrote it Andromeda was using the best technology I knew about. I very much doubt that zip disks are still the thing. ;) Balancing Act is actually, or was, last time I looked, on the 2008-2009 publishing schedule, but I have a feeling that the slot in the schedule it gets has all to do with how well Blue Moon does. I might as well wait until I have my slot assigned to update the book. I wonder, since it was my first, how much work will it need? I imagine there is a lot I will want to do to make it better, but I don't want to re-write the whole thing...I want to write new things.
A few sips of Constant Comment, and I'm starting to feel a little less draggy. So far today it's been, "Do a little work", "Write a little on the LJ entry". I don't know why sleep has such a hold over me. Sleep is...nice. I like being snuggled up and comfy and drifting to new worlds.
OK. Let's make this less pointless. Yes. OK: yesterday I worked on my herb garden a little. I so need to take a picture of it, but parts of it look a little messy. The spearmint (I think, because it didn't smell much like peppermint) is putting out little purple flowers. The Oregano looks like it's interested in World Domination, while the rosemary and lavender are a little larger, very healthy looking, but pretty much the same. The Sage is doing fairly well, but the tomatoes, while they have fruit on them, are refusing to turn red. The dahlias are growing a treat, but they keep getting eaten. The really huge one that managed to survive (or the rain didn't wash the stuff I prayed on it to make it less tasty very well) broke a little, and my mum duck taped it out of desperation. Then it fell over.
*sighs*
I also started cutting cloth. My dress is going to be a soft rose velvet, because that's the only fabric I have enough of. It should be a really interesting dress because some of the panels will have roses embossed on it, some of the panels will be plain. I will use some of the satin I had for my wedding dress to line the sleeves, so the cream should be pretty.
I am going to make a wench costume, too. I want this fabric to make a wench shirt out of, even though it's way ott: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=008&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=180140635399&rd=1&rd=1. I will use the teal fabric for an over skirt, the black gauze for an under skirt, and some black Chinese brocade for the vest. I don't know that I want to use that magnificent teal cloth (see an earlier Post for the picture) for an over skirt, but to be honest, it might be beautiful and sheer, but I'm not sure how comfy it will be against skin. It's sheer enough that I would have to line it. Technically you should always line. Do I? Um...only if I have to.
Well, I started this post an hour ago. I think I'll close. Hopefully I'll be able to get in contact with Gmail/Google (I think I might start my attack by asking for help for my Blogger. Maybe they phone support Blogger? Doubt it, but worth a try.) and straighten things out. I keep thinking that it's going to be alright...I mean, I've been through this dance 9though not to this length!) before with other places, and they usually give in to the customer. And I do believe in Google.
Basically, though, this is their last chance. I really want to keep my gabby account. If I get it straightened out, I probably will, since a) this could happen with any email and who's to say that it will be any easier anywhere else? and b) I really *am* entangled. Note the probably, I haven't really decided. I am going to investigate my options.
Mmm. I should use my sleepy mood icon more often.Labels: balancing act, cloth, gmail, herb garden, writing
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 9:38 PM
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Heavenly Pursuits
Friday, May 04, 2007Well. Next week is exam week, which makes today reading (no classes so students can study and catch up) day. Not a lot going on, work is slowing down, and I'm checking and double checking to make sure everything is covered, though I am sure I forgot something. My poor student workers are going to houseclean next week, as I get ready for summer.
But summer is almost here. There is a holiday feel to the air, like one is just on the point of partying. Not yet, though. I'd play music, but all day I've had graduating seniors taking tests at the main table a few feet away, and I don't want to disturb them more than being in an office already does.
What my main preoccupation of late has been is updating the film article. Each paragraph is its own movie, and so I go to the paragraph, check the links. Then, like, for example, for Stardust I Google:
Gaiman + stardust
And I read everything to see if I can pick up any news. Sometimes I find something neat, and if I can collaborate it, then I chose a the best link or two. Sometimes I find something that I need to ask Neil. There are so many rumors, you have to be careful.
Then I type in:
Stardust + Cox
Stardust + Phieffer
Stardust +....
I only do this with people who may have been interviewed, or have a good fan base.
Then I re-write the paragraph to include the new information, revoice it a bit if it needs, code the links, highlight what I'd like Neil to take an extra look at, bold the title and start all over again with the next movie.
You'd think I'd be done by now, but not so. I want this to be right...thorough and as close to perfect as you can get when you're writing about something that may completely change in two days.
I actually enjoy it, though. I am still a librarian at heart.
I am now reading Phillipa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl. It's such an easy read. A warm bathwater read...I've been laying in front of my open window and reading it, drinking tea and feeling quite happy and at peace. Then I'll go back to Mister Potter....I finished book one a bit ago, and have been trying to start Book 2.Labels: harry potter, maundering over happy thoughts of summer, Neil Gaiman, still a librarian at heart, The Other Boleyn Girl, writing
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 1:54 PM
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Gosh, leaving comments here is difficult.
Cindy:
You can string all your google alerts into one thread. I'm running:
stardust (cox | miller | deniro | "de niro" | pfeiffer | vaughn | danes | gervais)
as a comprehensive alert and it seems to mostly be on target.
My links are here:
http://del.icio.us/thedreaming/film+Stardust
If you haven't seen the Time article on movie villains or the AP article on niche films, you might want to take a look at them -- the rest seem to be the same quotes over and over again.
Not that FOEM isn't picking up/reprinting what's out there as well.
Be well and good luck on the updates!
-randi
Wow...that's very very clever! So that should work as an ordinary search string, as well?
And I'm sorry it's hard to leave a comment...I know it's hard to read them, and I'm trying to fix that. Is it just not showing up so you can see it easily? I'll fix that, too.
Thank you so much! Have a lovely weekend.
Cindy
A plea for help...but good help!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007I am so so happy!
I don't know if you remeber this, but I wrote this article:
http://www.neilgaiman.com/exclusive/essays/essaysabout%20neil/filmessay
A few times over the past years, I'd emailed my contact, asking her about updating Neil's article. I didn't hear anything, so I thought maybe: enter negative fussy self doubts here. And therefore did not push the issue.
But I thought, I really, really want to update this article. So, I emailed Neil via the faq...and you know what? He seemed happy to hear from me. (But then, if you know anything at all about Mister Gaiman, he's a very, very nice person.)
Even better, I'm updating the article.
Even better even better?
He's asked me if there are any other articles I want to write.
So, the help: What kind of articles would you want to read about an author, or, in particular, Neil Gaiman?
Any ideas would be awesome. :)Labels: happy, Neil Gaiman, writing
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 3:30 PM
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The Chocolatier's Wife
Monday, February 26, 2007I would just like to announce that I have just sent the entry for the First Chapters contest out at Gather.com.
OMG. OMG. I am so nervous. 70 days, and I've wrote a whole book. Start to finish. I edited it, formatted it, wrote the synopsis. I feel a little dizzy from the wonder, the joy, the relief. I feel like running and hopping and giggling.
All in all, I am so happy because I wrote something that I think is solid and good and worthy.
OK, sweetheart, I said to it, as I hit send. Let's see what the world makes of you.
I hope that it is kind to my little book. I really do.Labels: Chocolatier's Wife, joy, writing
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 9:51 PM
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Now, where is she?
Sunday, January 14, 2007These past days I've been working passionately on The Chocolatier's wife. In a few moments I will have by passed the 40,000 mark, which, considering that I started this during Christmas break (I can't quite remember...perhaps the 26th of December, but maybe even the thirtieth...) that is really quite good.
And I hope to continue this progress, because I am planning on entering the First Chapters contest. Sort of like, to paraphrase the NYT Books editor, American Idol for books, from now until March 14th authors post the first chapter of a completed book up online. Then everyone who has an Internet connection can vote on it. Then there's a second and third rounds where the people who get the most votes from each round go on to the next, post a new chapter, wait for votes, and the books that make the final round get read by a judging panel who then chooses the grand prize winner, who walks away with a nice cash prize and a book contract with Simon and Schuster. The rules say that the book may come out in hardcover, and that it will have to come out by February 2008! You know...the Chocolatier's Wife would be lovely for Valentines Day, now that I think of it, even though it's sort of set around their Holidays...
I am trying to think of the last time I wanted something so very badly, and keep failing to. I keep thinking of my book being in hardcover. In my day dreams I have colored endpapers and the cover is that silky smooth mat and rich golds and browns that all the really awesome books have.
And, since I am not published, I can take part. I may be under contract, but that does not equal publication according to the rules, so the first time, ever, I'm actually glad my Editor refuses to give me a hard and fast date for publication, no matter what I try and do.
And with Brittany (http://brittany.historygeeks.com/) volunteering to do my cover for Blue Moon (she has marvelous ideas, and her art work is awesome -- thank you so much, dear...) this is shaping up to be the best year for me as a writer, ever. I owe her a huge debt of gratitude for wanting to do this, a good book cover is like a nice dress. You know the contents of your soul are worth, but you need something to give you confidence, because people always judge, even if it's just a little, by how you look.
Even if I don't win at least this will give me the energy to get a book finished. A goal point. And this book is really wonderful...and I think by now you know me enough to know that I don't like to compliment myself. I feel uncomfortable, in fact, I just deleted a paragraph where I said i knew I wouldn't win the contest. Of course, I may not...I am doing this for the fun/craziness of it, and if I make it through a round I can use it for marketing purposes, which will help Blue Moon and Chocolatier's Wife. But I believe in this book. It is truly a fantastic book, and I think that it has a lot of happiness and pleasure to offer to people. I want people to read it, not for me, genuinely, but because I think they will enjoy it.
So. The book needs to be finished by the end of this month, then edited, second drafted, and edited one last time by March 1, which will give me two weeks leeway.
Wish me luck?Labels: blue moon, chocolatier, writing
Permalink Cindy scribed this at 12:57 PM
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rosshetherington, at
3:16 AM