Have to finish this up as I've got so much else to write about as well...like tomorrow being my last day at the official day job!!!
But first, back to RT. On Friday, Linnea and her husband took me out to dinner--saving me from a totally gross room service cheese pizza. The food was amazing at the restaurant. Billy's Tap and Grill, I think it was called. It had been in Daytona Beach in this same location for over eighty years. I had chicken a la orange and the best green beans I've ever had. After dinner we headed back to, where else?, the hotel bar to hang out. By this time, I was getting pretty tired from late nights and early mornings, so I decided to turn in but not before checking out the costumes at the Faery Ball. Wow. So many beautiful wings and some of them were even motorized to move back forth!
Saturday is the big book fair day. Isabo Kelly wasn't my book fair neighbor this year, but we still found some time to hang out and chat. I brought fifteen books to sell and sold eleven! Pretty darn good for a book that's been out for a year and a half, I say. A few people were even asking about the second book as they'd bought the first one the year before. Highlight of the day was seeing the woman who won my gift basket wearing the shirt with my book cover on it. I have her name written down somewhere, but heaven help me if I can find it! I also took a picture of us together, but of course, until I can get the pictures to work, we won't be seeing it!
Saturday night I hung out with Bonnie Vanak and we attended the Dorchester party, which was kind of an odd combination of rock and roll, bikers and skimpy clothing. I also got to spend a little more time with Isabo and a new friend, Laura Randle and her husband. After the party, a few of us met up with Linnea and headed over the to Mai Tai Bar. Unfortunately, it was much too crowded and loud so we ended up at Adobe Gila's. I had Sex on the Beach--the drink, of course--frozen, and it was delicious! I think it might be my new favorite drink but for my discomfort of asking for it.
Turned in at about 12:45 on Saturday night/Sunday morning and I was so tired I didn't pack a single thing. So Sunday morning was a little rushed. I had to get everything back into my huge suitcase, pack up a box of books to ship back to myself and get myself all organized and prepared for the trip on the plane home. Linnea offered--very generously, I might add--to go out of her way to drop me at the airport in Orlando. Which was a big relief. I so did not want to try to find the shuttle from the Daytona Beach airport to the Orlando Airport. I made it to the airport in plenty of time and settled in with a book and a package of coconut patties. Coconut Patties are the best food ever. I wish I'd bought a box of them to ship home. : )
All in all, a very good RT. Such a great time!!!
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Sunday, May 28, 2006
RT, Part Two
Sorry about that. Life suddenly intervened, tearing me away from this blog for a bit. I just finished my last full week of work at my day job and between making plans for the freelance business, packing up at work and recovering from RT...I didn't have time for much else!
I did, however, get another positive nibble on a query this week. Yea! So, I'll be keeping you posted on that as news develops.
I STILL cannot get my photos to load here properly, so unfortunately, photographic evidence of my adventures (me with a chocolate martini in one particular shot--wearing the necklace and earrings you made for me, Beck! I mean, I'm wearing them, not the martini) will have to wait until Ed, Master of All Things Technological, returns this week. Hmm, I think I'm going to make that his official title. His business cards would have his name followed by his title, MOATT for short. : )
But I can give you updates on the rest this way and then the pictures will show up eventually. Thursday morning I attended a terrific panel with Charlaine Harris, MaryJanice Davidson and Laurell K. Hamilton speaking. It was all about using humor in vampires books. I could have sat there and listened to them speak all day! They were hilarious. I made sure to stop by and say hi to Jon Green (LKH is his wife) afterward. They have both been so nice to me and really supportive over the years. Lovely people. : )
Then Linnea and I met up and took off for the mall and lunch away from the convention. Access to shopping while at RT is essential because it's guaranteed that you'll forget something. Heck, you're changing clothes three times a day. It's impossible to calculate all the stuff you'll need. After lunch at the Olive Garden--love those breadsticks--we returned to the hotel and I went and did my shift at Club RT. Club RT is basically a big room where all author gift baskets are displayed. Authors sign up for shifts and people who want to meet them come by and say hello. My gift basket, Hot Night of Alien Love, was well-received, I think. And I got to draw the name of the winner. I saw her later in line at another event and she was carrying around the shoulder bag I'd used to hold all the gift items together and then on Saturday, she wore the shirt with my book cover on it. How awesome is that?!? I have a picture of the two of us together and will post it as soon as I can.
Thursday night was the Vampires of the Carribean Ball. I wore my Morticia dress and actually had someone stop me and ask to take a picture of it. : ) I also got to meet Linnea's husband who was so nice! And very, very funny. One of those people who can say things with such a deadpan look that it's twice as funny as it would have been otherwise.
Friday was the only difficult day, programming-wise. They ran the paranormal romance sessions simultaneously with the sci-fi romance sessions, which is tricky because the audience for both of those overlap quite a bit. I attended the sci-fi sessions. Linnea was running the panel, and Kristin Nelson (Linnea's agent), Anne Groell (Linnea's editor), Rowena Cherry and Susan Kearney were all speaking. I'm glad I chose to attend these sessions as I left with a great deal of reassurance and validation that I was on the right track.
Okay, have to run now as I'm late for a wedding reception! I'll wrap up with details about the book fair and final parties when I return. Hopefully, I'll be able to do photos then too!
I did, however, get another positive nibble on a query this week. Yea! So, I'll be keeping you posted on that as news develops.
I STILL cannot get my photos to load here properly, so unfortunately, photographic evidence of my adventures (me with a chocolate martini in one particular shot--wearing the necklace and earrings you made for me, Beck! I mean, I'm wearing them, not the martini) will have to wait until Ed, Master of All Things Technological, returns this week. Hmm, I think I'm going to make that his official title. His business cards would have his name followed by his title, MOATT for short. : )
But I can give you updates on the rest this way and then the pictures will show up eventually. Thursday morning I attended a terrific panel with Charlaine Harris, MaryJanice Davidson and Laurell K. Hamilton speaking. It was all about using humor in vampires books. I could have sat there and listened to them speak all day! They were hilarious. I made sure to stop by and say hi to Jon Green (LKH is his wife) afterward. They have both been so nice to me and really supportive over the years. Lovely people. : )
Then Linnea and I met up and took off for the mall and lunch away from the convention. Access to shopping while at RT is essential because it's guaranteed that you'll forget something. Heck, you're changing clothes three times a day. It's impossible to calculate all the stuff you'll need. After lunch at the Olive Garden--love those breadsticks--we returned to the hotel and I went and did my shift at Club RT. Club RT is basically a big room where all author gift baskets are displayed. Authors sign up for shifts and people who want to meet them come by and say hello. My gift basket, Hot Night of Alien Love, was well-received, I think. And I got to draw the name of the winner. I saw her later in line at another event and she was carrying around the shoulder bag I'd used to hold all the gift items together and then on Saturday, she wore the shirt with my book cover on it. How awesome is that?!? I have a picture of the two of us together and will post it as soon as I can.
Thursday night was the Vampires of the Carribean Ball. I wore my Morticia dress and actually had someone stop me and ask to take a picture of it. : ) I also got to meet Linnea's husband who was so nice! And very, very funny. One of those people who can say things with such a deadpan look that it's twice as funny as it would have been otherwise.
Friday was the only difficult day, programming-wise. They ran the paranormal romance sessions simultaneously with the sci-fi romance sessions, which is tricky because the audience for both of those overlap quite a bit. I attended the sci-fi sessions. Linnea was running the panel, and Kristin Nelson (Linnea's agent), Anne Groell (Linnea's editor), Rowena Cherry and Susan Kearney were all speaking. I'm glad I chose to attend these sessions as I left with a great deal of reassurance and validation that I was on the right track.
Okay, have to run now as I'm late for a wedding reception! I'll wrap up with details about the book fair and final parties when I return. Hopefully, I'll be able to do photos then too!
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
I'm back! The RT report
Sorry for the delay in posting. I forgot that it takes me a couple of days to recover from RT!
Where to begin? I don't even know. I guess first I have to say that writing is the best job in the whole world. : ) I love the opportunity that RT provides to get together with people who experience the same joys and struggles...at least as it pertains to writing.
I arrived on Tuesday and thanks to Denise Swanson, who generously offered to give me (and Susan McBride) a ride in her rental car, I was able to get to Daytona Beach much earlier than if I'd tried to fly in directly. We flew to Orlando first and then drove to Daytona Beach. It was raining and sooo humid. My hair immediately turned into a giant frizzball. Oh, well. My suitcase was also about ten pounds too heavy, and I could barely lug it around with me. Thank goodness for suitcases with wheels!
Got to the hotel and met up with Linnea Sinclair in front of the registration desk, quite by chance, actually. My room was fabulous (look for a picture of the view from it--I hope to have it posted by tomorrow) with a huge sliding glass door overlooking the beach and ocean. I loved it. I was very tempted to leave the door open so I could hear the ocean crashing onto the shore, but there was no screen and there were a lot of pigeons and cranes flying around. With my bird phobia, I just KNEW that one of them would fly into the room if I left the door open. In fact, that very thing happened later in the week to Anne Groell/Kate Brallier. Anne/Kate is Linnea's editor at Bantam as well as an author (hence the double names). A pigeon apparently flew into her room in the middle of the night. When I asked Linnea how Anne/Kate got rid of it, Linnea said she threw a book at it and it flew away. My luck? I would have killed it accidentally with the book and then I would have had to deal with a dead bird and being a bird murderer. *shudder* Better for me to just keep the door shut, I think.
Now the problem with RT is the days begin to blur together. I think Tuesday night where Linnea, Bonnie Vanak (another of my very favorite people) and I went out with our drinks and sat on the terrace that overlooks the beach. We'd gone to the welcome luau earlier but found it very crowded and overly warm. So, sitting outside with cold drinks and just chatting was so much fun.
Wednesday morning I went to a session about perfecting an in-person pitch to an agent or editor. I suck at this. I've done a couple of times, but I get too nervous and stumble over my words. I'm much better when I can send a query letter or an email. Which makes sense if you think about it. But that's one of the best things about RT is meeting agents and editors in a non-intimidating setting. Well, RT is sort of intimidating, but it's hard to feel nervous around someone who has just been out on the dance floor doing the Time Warp...again. : )
Wednesday afternoon (I think) I skipped a panel and took a nap--so boring, I know--and then went for a walk on the beach. Wednesday night was the Ellora's Cave "What's Your Fantasy?" Party. Cover models and aspiring models are included in this event. I have photos, but they're not cooperating. So, I'll probably have to try this from home.
Hmmm. Okay, the rest of this post has been called on account of faulty technology (or possibly user ignorance!) I'll post more tonight/tomorrow as soon as I can get the photos working.
Where to begin? I don't even know. I guess first I have to say that writing is the best job in the whole world. : ) I love the opportunity that RT provides to get together with people who experience the same joys and struggles...at least as it pertains to writing.
I arrived on Tuesday and thanks to Denise Swanson, who generously offered to give me (and Susan McBride) a ride in her rental car, I was able to get to Daytona Beach much earlier than if I'd tried to fly in directly. We flew to Orlando first and then drove to Daytona Beach. It was raining and sooo humid. My hair immediately turned into a giant frizzball. Oh, well. My suitcase was also about ten pounds too heavy, and I could barely lug it around with me. Thank goodness for suitcases with wheels!
Got to the hotel and met up with Linnea Sinclair in front of the registration desk, quite by chance, actually. My room was fabulous (look for a picture of the view from it--I hope to have it posted by tomorrow) with a huge sliding glass door overlooking the beach and ocean. I loved it. I was very tempted to leave the door open so I could hear the ocean crashing onto the shore, but there was no screen and there were a lot of pigeons and cranes flying around. With my bird phobia, I just KNEW that one of them would fly into the room if I left the door open. In fact, that very thing happened later in the week to Anne Groell/Kate Brallier. Anne/Kate is Linnea's editor at Bantam as well as an author (hence the double names). A pigeon apparently flew into her room in the middle of the night. When I asked Linnea how Anne/Kate got rid of it, Linnea said she threw a book at it and it flew away. My luck? I would have killed it accidentally with the book and then I would have had to deal with a dead bird and being a bird murderer. *shudder* Better for me to just keep the door shut, I think.
Now the problem with RT is the days begin to blur together. I think Tuesday night where Linnea, Bonnie Vanak (another of my very favorite people) and I went out with our drinks and sat on the terrace that overlooks the beach. We'd gone to the welcome luau earlier but found it very crowded and overly warm. So, sitting outside with cold drinks and just chatting was so much fun.
Wednesday morning I went to a session about perfecting an in-person pitch to an agent or editor. I suck at this. I've done a couple of times, but I get too nervous and stumble over my words. I'm much better when I can send a query letter or an email. Which makes sense if you think about it. But that's one of the best things about RT is meeting agents and editors in a non-intimidating setting. Well, RT is sort of intimidating, but it's hard to feel nervous around someone who has just been out on the dance floor doing the Time Warp...again. : )
Wednesday afternoon (I think) I skipped a panel and took a nap--so boring, I know--and then went for a walk on the beach. Wednesday night was the Ellora's Cave "What's Your Fantasy?" Party. Cover models and aspiring models are included in this event. I have photos, but they're not cooperating. So, I'll probably have to try this from home.
Hmmm. Okay, the rest of this post has been called on account of faulty technology (or possibly user ignorance!) I'll post more tonight/tomorrow as soon as I can get the photos working.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
A quick post...
I'm sitting here at the bar in the Hilton with the ocean right in front of me. So blue in all the sunshine here! Linnea let me use her laptop for a few minutes. : )
I walked on the beach yesterday for 45 minutes, just loving the sand and the water under my toes. I've seen soooo many people and still have a couple more I want to find.
The Ellora's Cave party was last night and...yeah, wow. Linnea took some pictures which I'm hoping she'll send me to post here.
More details later! Having a great time. : )
I walked on the beach yesterday for 45 minutes, just loving the sand and the water under my toes. I've seen soooo many people and still have a couple more I want to find.
The Ellora's Cave party was last night and...yeah, wow. Linnea took some pictures which I'm hoping she'll send me to post here.
More details later! Having a great time. : )
Monday, May 15, 2006
RT...it is upon us.
So, my huge suitcase is packed. I decided that it would be better to fit everything into one suitcase instead of trying to manage three smaller ones. I've just got to add my make-up, toothbrush, etc. in tomorrow morning. At FIVE A.M.! You know me. You know I don't get up when there's a five on the left side of my clock. But tomorrow, I will be. Flight leaves at 9:30 a.m. and with the checking of the bag ("I'm finished with the checking of the bags conversation!"--Name that movie!), I want to make sure that I've got enough time. I haven't flown by myself in years, and I find myself utterly terrified by this for some reason. I just flew last month with my brother. It's not like they changed anything recently. But going by myself seems so much more intimidating somehow. Like going to a foreign country by yourself.
Plus, I hate flying. I hate the sound when they close the door. I hate sitting next to strangers who phlegm-cough all over without covering their mouths or sometimes touch my leg inappropriately while they're sleeping (this is what happened off and on during our EIGHT hour flight to Maui). I hate that cold sick feeling you get when you're the last one standing at the baggage carousel and your suitcase still hasn't appeared.
And *insert pathetic whimper here* because of my luggage situation--no strong husband or brother coming along to help me haul half the contents of my house--I could only bring three books for the flight. Only three!!! Do you realize what this means? I could be totally screwed if one or more of them turns out to be not what I'm looking to read at that particular moment or if the hook provided in the first couple of pages doesn't pan out. I'm not worried about this on the return trip, of course, because I'll be stocking up at RT. But on the way there...I could be stuck who knows how many thousands of feet in the air without any decent reading material to distract me enough so that I can pretend I'm on a bus instead of thousands of feet in the air!
Oh. I feel faint.
Plus, my version of "excited nervous" is feeling like I have a bad combination of heartburn and nausea.
But tomorrow at this time, I'll be safely on the ground again (Please, God!), checked into my lovely hotel room (oceanfront room, did I mention that twelve times already?) and drinking with my friends. And it will all be okay.
At least, that's what I'll be reciting to myself until then. ; )
I'll try to post updates this week from RT, but I don't know what kind of internet access I'll have. But expect a full report in a week!
Plus, I hate flying. I hate the sound when they close the door. I hate sitting next to strangers who phlegm-cough all over without covering their mouths or sometimes touch my leg inappropriately while they're sleeping (this is what happened off and on during our EIGHT hour flight to Maui). I hate that cold sick feeling you get when you're the last one standing at the baggage carousel and your suitcase still hasn't appeared.
And *insert pathetic whimper here* because of my luggage situation--no strong husband or brother coming along to help me haul half the contents of my house--I could only bring three books for the flight. Only three!!! Do you realize what this means? I could be totally screwed if one or more of them turns out to be not what I'm looking to read at that particular moment or if the hook provided in the first couple of pages doesn't pan out. I'm not worried about this on the return trip, of course, because I'll be stocking up at RT. But on the way there...I could be stuck who knows how many thousands of feet in the air without any decent reading material to distract me enough so that I can pretend I'm on a bus instead of thousands of feet in the air!
Oh. I feel faint.
Plus, my version of "excited nervous" is feeling like I have a bad combination of heartburn and nausea.
But tomorrow at this time, I'll be safely on the ground again (Please, God!), checked into my lovely hotel room (oceanfront room, did I mention that twelve times already?) and drinking with my friends. And it will all be okay.
At least, that's what I'll be reciting to myself until then. ; )
I'll try to post updates this week from RT, but I don't know what kind of internet access I'll have. But expect a full report in a week!
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Good news...
-I found labels that fit my postcards perfectly. So, I'll get to make use of the thousand or so postcards I ordered (don't ask me what I was thinking, I don't know.) But that means I'll be doing a lot of label-sticking. *sigh* Oh, well. That's what television watching is for, right?
-With the purchase of a cute black blouse (3/4 length sleeves) from TJ Maxx last night ($15!), I think I've got my wardrobe all ready to go for RT.
-Spent the day today online, trying to build my "network" of freelancing contacts. My eyes are crossing from staring at the screen for so long. Know anybody who works in marketing, communications, advertising or any combination thereof? Email me! : ) Just nine more working days until the great experiment begins...
-Progress is still being made on the mystery project--yea!
-With the purchase of a cute black blouse (3/4 length sleeves) from TJ Maxx last night ($15!), I think I've got my wardrobe all ready to go for RT.
-Spent the day today online, trying to build my "network" of freelancing contacts. My eyes are crossing from staring at the screen for so long. Know anybody who works in marketing, communications, advertising or any combination thereof? Email me! : ) Just nine more working days until the great experiment begins...
-Progress is still being made on the mystery project--yea!
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
To Do List for RT
-Figure out what I’m wearing. Six days and five nights. There are at least three different “dressy” events--The Ellora’s Cave “What’s Your Fantasy?” party, the “Vampires of the Caribbean” party (don’t ask me, I don’t know why vampires would want to live in such a sunny locale), and the Faery Court Ball. So many pairs of shoes I’ll have to bring--ugh. For the Ellora’s Cave party, I think I’m going to wear the little sweater with the black fur collar and black pants I bought for the Holiday Book Bash earlier this year. For the Vampire Ball, I’m going to wear one of the black formal dresses I wore last year (hopefully no one will remember). For the Faery Court Ball…I have no idea. Probably another black dress. Every dress I own is black. *sigh* Some people will be wearing costumes. Good for them. I always feel too self-conscious to do that.
Clothing for the daytime is usually business casual or just casual, casual. But I only have one pair of decent functional jeans that I’d be okay with being seen in. I think may have to make an emergency stop by the sales rack at Ann Taylor Loft to see what they have. Plus, I’m guessing it will be warm—weather.com says it’s 90 degrees there today. So, I guess that means capris—I have three pairs that I like. Maybe four. Oh, my head hurts just thinking about all of this.
-Figure out the best way to get my books to Florida. I can either try to bring them with me—in a box or a suitcase on the plane?—or ship them ahead of me. There are perils with both of these options. I don’t really want to lug them through the airport; I’m already going to be bringing enough stuff. But if I ship them, there’s always the danger that they might not get there on time. Or at all. Which would be embarrassing as I’m supposed to have them to sell. Any veteran travelers have any suggestions on this?
-Check out my collection of luggage and bags to see which is going to be the most appropriate for taking with me. I know I’m going to have my computer and my purse as carry-ons. I don’t know how I’m going to do this without taking eighty-seven suitcases with me. Which I can’t do!
-Make sure my swimsuit fits. If not, throw up my hands and declare that I’m wearing shorts to the beach.
-Gather my directions for the drive from Orlando to Daytona Beach.
-Make sure I have all the cell phone numbers I need.
-Confirm my airport arrival and departure times (which if different than what I have now will really screw things up).
-Work on my promotional materials for Promo Alley. Promo Alley is the place where everyone sets up their little baskets of bookmarks, postcards and goodies to be given away. Last year, I used my bookmarks and I wish I could do that again. But I don’t have very many of them left, and with RuneStone closing, I don’t want to spend the money to order more when, in all likelihood, the information on the bookmark will be changing or not applicable in the near future. However, I have hundreds of postcards that have my book cover on the front and the tagline on the back. I’m thinking about checking out some labels to see if I can print the description on the label and paste them on the blank part (the address portion) of the postcard. Then I can use those as a promo item. We’ll see. I'm also thinking about seeing if I can form some kind of booklet for the first chapter and give that away.
-Get Red Hots, microwavable popcorn and a basket or something to complete my gift basket giveaway.
-LAUNDRY!
And about a million other things that I'm sure I'm forgetting...less than a week to go! Aaaaack!!!
Clothing for the daytime is usually business casual or just casual, casual. But I only have one pair of decent functional jeans that I’d be okay with being seen in. I think may have to make an emergency stop by the sales rack at Ann Taylor Loft to see what they have. Plus, I’m guessing it will be warm—weather.com says it’s 90 degrees there today. So, I guess that means capris—I have three pairs that I like. Maybe four. Oh, my head hurts just thinking about all of this.
-Figure out the best way to get my books to Florida. I can either try to bring them with me—in a box or a suitcase on the plane?—or ship them ahead of me. There are perils with both of these options. I don’t really want to lug them through the airport; I’m already going to be bringing enough stuff. But if I ship them, there’s always the danger that they might not get there on time. Or at all. Which would be embarrassing as I’m supposed to have them to sell. Any veteran travelers have any suggestions on this?
-Check out my collection of luggage and bags to see which is going to be the most appropriate for taking with me. I know I’m going to have my computer and my purse as carry-ons. I don’t know how I’m going to do this without taking eighty-seven suitcases with me. Which I can’t do!
-Make sure my swimsuit fits. If not, throw up my hands and declare that I’m wearing shorts to the beach.
-Gather my directions for the drive from Orlando to Daytona Beach.
-Make sure I have all the cell phone numbers I need.
-Confirm my airport arrival and departure times (which if different than what I have now will really screw things up).
-Work on my promotional materials for Promo Alley. Promo Alley is the place where everyone sets up their little baskets of bookmarks, postcards and goodies to be given away. Last year, I used my bookmarks and I wish I could do that again. But I don’t have very many of them left, and with RuneStone closing, I don’t want to spend the money to order more when, in all likelihood, the information on the bookmark will be changing or not applicable in the near future. However, I have hundreds of postcards that have my book cover on the front and the tagline on the back. I’m thinking about checking out some labels to see if I can print the description on the label and paste them on the blank part (the address portion) of the postcard. Then I can use those as a promo item. We’ll see. I'm also thinking about seeing if I can form some kind of booklet for the first chapter and give that away.
-Get Red Hots, microwavable popcorn and a basket or something to complete my gift basket giveaway.
-LAUNDRY!
And about a million other things that I'm sure I'm forgetting...less than a week to go! Aaaaack!!!
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Sex
So, I spent most of Saturday writing a sex scene for the mystery project. Five pages worth. It is definitely the longest such scene I've ever written and possibly the most...um...risque. Definitely not one that I'll be mentioning to the parents, except possibly in such terms as, "You may want to skip pages xxx-xxx."
I'd been stuck on this chapter, this one scene, in fact, for so long and I couldn't figure out why. It was so frustrating!!! Everything kept drifting toward sex, and I kept pulling it back, thinking the timing was wrong or the place inappropriate. And I was right and yet, once that scene was on screen, it seemed to bridge some kind of gap. Like it was the piece I'd been missing this whole time and every time I tried to avoid it, that's when things fell apart. Because the timing isn't right and the place is inappropriate and that's the whole point for these two particular characters.
I have no idea if the scene will stay in or not. In fact, that's what I kept telling myself while I was writing it. That was the only way I could make it through writing a scene that went against every bit of logic I could come up with. It was an experiment, basically, to see what would happen if I went in the direction everything seemed to be leading me, instead of fighting it. But when I go back and read the scene now in the context of the pages before it, it really makes sense. It doesn't stand out as a sore thumb (to me, anyway), and I think it works. It speaks so much to who these people are, and how they, in particular, have been "damaged" to use a Grey's term. It's not about love, at least not the way it is in a traditional romance. Which is good because this is not a traditional romance.
So, we'll see what happens. But at least, it was fun and not the frustrating, write two lines and bang your head against the wall while you erase the same two lines, experience that it has been the last week or so. And I'm writing this as much for myself as for anyone else to remind myself yet again that:
1) When you're stuck, you eventually get unstuck, no matter how unlikely it seems at the time. (Stacy G. was right! I'm sure she's less than surprised to hear this as she told me this same thing weeks ago.)
2) When I get stuck, it's because I'm fighting something I shouldn't be fighting. I'm trying to bend the story (or characters) to my will instead of just watching for and aiding natural progression. The answer is there, I just have to listen for it instead of talking over it.
I'd been stuck on this chapter, this one scene, in fact, for so long and I couldn't figure out why. It was so frustrating!!! Everything kept drifting toward sex, and I kept pulling it back, thinking the timing was wrong or the place inappropriate. And I was right and yet, once that scene was on screen, it seemed to bridge some kind of gap. Like it was the piece I'd been missing this whole time and every time I tried to avoid it, that's when things fell apart. Because the timing isn't right and the place is inappropriate and that's the whole point for these two particular characters.
I have no idea if the scene will stay in or not. In fact, that's what I kept telling myself while I was writing it. That was the only way I could make it through writing a scene that went against every bit of logic I could come up with. It was an experiment, basically, to see what would happen if I went in the direction everything seemed to be leading me, instead of fighting it. But when I go back and read the scene now in the context of the pages before it, it really makes sense. It doesn't stand out as a sore thumb (to me, anyway), and I think it works. It speaks so much to who these people are, and how they, in particular, have been "damaged" to use a Grey's term. It's not about love, at least not the way it is in a traditional romance. Which is good because this is not a traditional romance.
So, we'll see what happens. But at least, it was fun and not the frustrating, write two lines and bang your head against the wall while you erase the same two lines, experience that it has been the last week or so. And I'm writing this as much for myself as for anyone else to remind myself yet again that:
1) When you're stuck, you eventually get unstuck, no matter how unlikely it seems at the time. (Stacy G. was right! I'm sure she's less than surprised to hear this as she told me this same thing weeks ago.)
2) When I get stuck, it's because I'm fighting something I shouldn't be fighting. I'm trying to bend the story (or characters) to my will instead of just watching for and aiding natural progression. The answer is there, I just have to listen for it instead of talking over it.
More Grey's speculation...don't read if you haven't watched Sunday's episode.
Wow. Best. Speech. Ever. "You don't get to call me a whore." Yea, Meredith!!!
And, I'm sorry, Derek who? Forget McDreamy. Time to be moving on to the broken-hearted, widowed McVet. (Though it strikes me that Meredith keeps finding men with obvious emotional issues with their wives, be they dead or just cheating. Don't know if this says something about Meredith or the writers. *grin*)
But here's the thing. I said long ago that it wasn't really over between Mer and Der until Meredith found someone else she could love. Not that she would even have to be in love, but just that the possibility would exist. Derek wouldn't be able to handle it. (See, I predicted it! *grin* ) Until then, he would have the comfort of knowing that if he should change his mind, she'd be there waiting for him and would likely take him back. Well, now...not so much. I think when he saw her with McVet (Dr. Dandridge), it pushed buttons he probably didn't even know he had. Even he recognizes that McVet is potentially "love" material for Meredith (versus a one night stand) and that freaks him out.
So, he said those nasty awful unforgiveable things to her. And here's my prediction for the finale...I foresee some Mer/Der moments. Like he shows up at her house in the rain to apologize and...there's possibly kissing involved. Or maybe after some traumatic event in the hospital, he catches up to her in one of those ever-present and handily unlocked supply closets...and there's possibly kissing involved. Because here's the thing, for the first time, Derek's decision to leave Meredith for Addison is real for him and with big-time consequences. It's now or never that he's going to realize he's been lying to himself all along.
And even though I'm a big fan of them together, I have to say, "Run, Meredith!" You deserve better and he should be alone for awhile (not using Addison as some kind of second prize, either) before you take him back, if and when you do.
So, any takers on this? If you got any predictions for the finale, let's hear them!
I'm also prepping myself for the big Veronica Mars finale tonight! I can't believe I have to wait months for the next new episode. Though, I did just hear that The 4400 is coming back this summer as is The Closer (love Brenda! "Thank yeeeew.") Whew. Otherwise, I might have to do something other than watch television. Just kidding.
Actually, lest you think I've been slacking off...see my next entry (which will probably post above this one, so writing this is probably pointless, but oh, well.)
And, I'm sorry, Derek who? Forget McDreamy. Time to be moving on to the broken-hearted, widowed McVet. (Though it strikes me that Meredith keeps finding men with obvious emotional issues with their wives, be they dead or just cheating. Don't know if this says something about Meredith or the writers. *grin*)
But here's the thing. I said long ago that it wasn't really over between Mer and Der until Meredith found someone else she could love. Not that she would even have to be in love, but just that the possibility would exist. Derek wouldn't be able to handle it. (See, I predicted it! *grin* ) Until then, he would have the comfort of knowing that if he should change his mind, she'd be there waiting for him and would likely take him back. Well, now...not so much. I think when he saw her with McVet (Dr. Dandridge), it pushed buttons he probably didn't even know he had. Even he recognizes that McVet is potentially "love" material for Meredith (versus a one night stand) and that freaks him out.
So, he said those nasty awful unforgiveable things to her. And here's my prediction for the finale...I foresee some Mer/Der moments. Like he shows up at her house in the rain to apologize and...there's possibly kissing involved. Or maybe after some traumatic event in the hospital, he catches up to her in one of those ever-present and handily unlocked supply closets...and there's possibly kissing involved. Because here's the thing, for the first time, Derek's decision to leave Meredith for Addison is real for him and with big-time consequences. It's now or never that he's going to realize he's been lying to himself all along.
And even though I'm a big fan of them together, I have to say, "Run, Meredith!" You deserve better and he should be alone for awhile (not using Addison as some kind of second prize, either) before you take him back, if and when you do.
So, any takers on this? If you got any predictions for the finale, let's hear them!
I'm also prepping myself for the big Veronica Mars finale tonight! I can't believe I have to wait months for the next new episode. Though, I did just hear that The 4400 is coming back this summer as is The Closer (love Brenda! "Thank yeeeew.") Whew. Otherwise, I might have to do something other than watch television. Just kidding.
Actually, lest you think I've been slacking off...see my next entry (which will probably post above this one, so writing this is probably pointless, but oh, well.)
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Painful
So, I've been doing pretty well with the whole not buying books thing...but now my will power is really being tested.
There are three that I want RIGHT NOW.
Once Upon Stilettos by Shanna Swendson (I read the first book of the series, Enchanted Inc., as an ARC at RT last year and loved it.)
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
Broken by Kelley Armstrong
But I have no book gift certificates. I do have a Target gift card, so I'm hoping that one of them will be there. Not all three or even two of them, because then I'd have to choose. : )
There are three that I want RIGHT NOW.
Once Upon Stilettos by Shanna Swendson (I read the first book of the series, Enchanted Inc., as an ARC at RT last year and loved it.)
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
Broken by Kelley Armstrong
But I have no book gift certificates. I do have a Target gift card, so I'm hoping that one of them will be there. Not all three or even two of them, because then I'd have to choose. : )
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Mer/Der--don't read if you haven't watched Grey's from last Sunday.
Okay, I admit my desire that Meredith and Derek get back together eventually occasionally colors the way I see certain things on Grey's Anatomy. But I found it interesting that the writer of last Sunday's episode thought that Addison deserved "a few moments of shower bliss with her dreamy hubbie" because she's trying to be a good person and she's just had a really bad day. All true. But am I the only one who read more into Derek's motives? I don't think he was doing that for Addison...was he? The timing of it strikes me as very suspicious. He sees Meredith wearing only the vet's shirt--and looking freshly-showered, I might add--and promptly runs home to his wife to offer her sex in the shower? He wasn't even listening to Addison--he was too busy taking his clothes off--talk about her bad day.
So, yeah, Addison had a crappy day and she might be a good person--I actually like her, oddly enough--but I contend that shower scene had nothing to do with Addison and everything to do with Meredith being semi-clad in the hot vet's office (to clarify...I'm saying the vet, played by Chris O'Donnell, is hot...I don't actually know about the temperature of his office).
Which I think only makes me feel even sorrier for Addison. Because...ouch. Your husband can only have hot sex with you after he's seen the woman he loves obviously just having stepped out of the shower and with another man? Not so much a compliment there and not much of a reward for a bad day, in my opinion. But I love how they're taking what could have been a "love to hate her" character in Addison and making her more real and more sympathetic, sometimes even more so than Meredith. Who is also very real and consequently sometimes very frustrating to watch.
Okay, and one other thing that's kind of bugging me. Dr. Dandridge (the hot vet) lives above his presumably room-temperature office. Fine. At the end of this particular episode, we're to assume that either Derek calls to let him know that Doc (the dog) is sick and he's bringing him over for Dr. Dandridge to check out or that Derek just shows up with the sick dog with him and rings the bell until Dr. Dandridge comes down.
Situation A. Derek calls. Meredith knows he's coming...and she walks down half-dressed anyway?!? Okay. Also, she asks, "Is he sick again?" Which, duh, of course he's sick. People don't make emergency visits (very expensive) to their vet's office for fun. If he called ahead of time and Dr. Dandridge let her know that Derek was coming, she'd already know Doc was sick. And you'd think she'd put more clothes on. There'd have to be some time delay between Derek calling and arriving, time enough to ask the hot vet for some sweatpants or something. Plus, she'd have to know what conclusion Derek would draw from her appearance and no matter what she says, I can't believe that she completely doesn't care about that yet. So that leads me to believe it could be Situation B.
Situation B. Derek shows up with a sick dog without calling first. This makes sense then that Meredith wouldn't be expecting him and wouldn't know what's wrong with Doc. It also make sense of her surprise at seeing Derek there (though she wasn't nearly surprised as he was to find her there). But again, you're on a date, you've just stepped out of the guy's shower and someone's knocking or ringing the bell downstairs with a work emergency. You would follow him down to the work emergency?!? Without being dressed??? Why? Why follow him? If you're going to follow him, perhaps with the hope of being helpful, why not throw on some pants? Or better yet, STAY UPSTAIRS.
Sorry. That one little moment just struck a weird note with me. Anybody else notice it? What do you think?
Yeah, I know. I think waaaay too much about this stuff.
So, yeah, Addison had a crappy day and she might be a good person--I actually like her, oddly enough--but I contend that shower scene had nothing to do with Addison and everything to do with Meredith being semi-clad in the hot vet's office (to clarify...I'm saying the vet, played by Chris O'Donnell, is hot...I don't actually know about the temperature of his office).
Which I think only makes me feel even sorrier for Addison. Because...ouch. Your husband can only have hot sex with you after he's seen the woman he loves obviously just having stepped out of the shower and with another man? Not so much a compliment there and not much of a reward for a bad day, in my opinion. But I love how they're taking what could have been a "love to hate her" character in Addison and making her more real and more sympathetic, sometimes even more so than Meredith. Who is also very real and consequently sometimes very frustrating to watch.
Okay, and one other thing that's kind of bugging me. Dr. Dandridge (the hot vet) lives above his presumably room-temperature office. Fine. At the end of this particular episode, we're to assume that either Derek calls to let him know that Doc (the dog) is sick and he's bringing him over for Dr. Dandridge to check out or that Derek just shows up with the sick dog with him and rings the bell until Dr. Dandridge comes down.
Situation A. Derek calls. Meredith knows he's coming...and she walks down half-dressed anyway?!? Okay. Also, she asks, "Is he sick again?" Which, duh, of course he's sick. People don't make emergency visits (very expensive) to their vet's office for fun. If he called ahead of time and Dr. Dandridge let her know that Derek was coming, she'd already know Doc was sick. And you'd think she'd put more clothes on. There'd have to be some time delay between Derek calling and arriving, time enough to ask the hot vet for some sweatpants or something. Plus, she'd have to know what conclusion Derek would draw from her appearance and no matter what she says, I can't believe that she completely doesn't care about that yet. So that leads me to believe it could be Situation B.
Situation B. Derek shows up with a sick dog without calling first. This makes sense then that Meredith wouldn't be expecting him and wouldn't know what's wrong with Doc. It also make sense of her surprise at seeing Derek there (though she wasn't nearly surprised as he was to find her there). But again, you're on a date, you've just stepped out of the guy's shower and someone's knocking or ringing the bell downstairs with a work emergency. You would follow him down to the work emergency?!? Without being dressed??? Why? Why follow him? If you're going to follow him, perhaps with the hope of being helpful, why not throw on some pants? Or better yet, STAY UPSTAIRS.
Sorry. That one little moment just struck a weird note with me. Anybody else notice it? What do you think?
Yeah, I know. I think waaaay too much about this stuff.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Oh, you thought this would be a normal entry?
-Had so much fun this weekend with my friends from college! I've been such a giant ball of stress lately, it was nice to unwind for a bit. It's funny how seeing people from a really happy time in your life makes you even happier, not just because they're great people to begin with but also because of all the shared memories and foolishness that we experienced together. : ) My sister is looking at colleges this year, and I'm trying very hard to be impartial but I can't help but push Valpo a little. I can't imagine a better experience, and now, almost ten years later, I'm still close to the friends I made there.
-Read a cute book this weekend, Have Glass Slippers, Will Travel by Lisa Cach. The deification of Oprah was a little weird, but I can see how the main character needed someone or something to look up to. But it was a fun Cinderella-type story with a twist on the traditional telling.
-As my reward for sitting at the open house last weekend, my husband gave me the first season of House on DVD. Yea!!! Because USA runs re-runs on Friday nights, I've seen some of them. In fact, I just saw the one where Cameron decides to leave. What the heck happened to the whole Cameron/House unrequited love thing? It's been almost invisible in the episodes I've seen of the current season. Of course, some of that is because the much-hated (according to TWOP) former love, Stacy, was in town for awhile this season. Yeah, I didn't much like her either, despite her name. : ) As I've mentioned before I'm kind of sucker for the "forbidden love" angle, which exists far more with Cameron and House than with Stacy and House.
So I'll be watching the remaining season one episodes on DVD, which means I won't have to wait until Friday!
-Check out this funny little entry about Veronica Mars's Veronica and Logan relationship.
-Also, I've been listening to my new songs that I bought last week and I really, really like the Tegan and Sara one, Where did the good go?
Have to run now. I'm off to look at Best Buy for computers. The one I bought a couple summers ago is doing just fine, but, as I may have mentioned here before, I refuse to connect it to the virus-ridden internet because I hate worrying about my book stuff getting infected/destroyed. Without internet access and a computer at work after 5/31 (just 16 more working days to go *deep breath*), I need to get something cheap that I will allow to be connected to the internet.
Yes, I am weird. Which part of that is news to anyone here? : )
-Read a cute book this weekend, Have Glass Slippers, Will Travel by Lisa Cach. The deification of Oprah was a little weird, but I can see how the main character needed someone or something to look up to. But it was a fun Cinderella-type story with a twist on the traditional telling.
-As my reward for sitting at the open house last weekend, my husband gave me the first season of House on DVD. Yea!!! Because USA runs re-runs on Friday nights, I've seen some of them. In fact, I just saw the one where Cameron decides to leave. What the heck happened to the whole Cameron/House unrequited love thing? It's been almost invisible in the episodes I've seen of the current season. Of course, some of that is because the much-hated (according to TWOP) former love, Stacy, was in town for awhile this season. Yeah, I didn't much like her either, despite her name. : ) As I've mentioned before I'm kind of sucker for the "forbidden love" angle, which exists far more with Cameron and House than with Stacy and House.
So I'll be watching the remaining season one episodes on DVD, which means I won't have to wait until Friday!
-Check out this funny little entry about Veronica Mars's Veronica and Logan relationship.
-Also, I've been listening to my new songs that I bought last week and I really, really like the Tegan and Sara one, Where did the good go?
Have to run now. I'm off to look at Best Buy for computers. The one I bought a couple summers ago is doing just fine, but, as I may have mentioned here before, I refuse to connect it to the virus-ridden internet because I hate worrying about my book stuff getting infected/destroyed. Without internet access and a computer at work after 5/31 (just 16 more working days to go *deep breath*), I need to get something cheap that I will allow to be connected to the internet.
Yes, I am weird. Which part of that is news to anyone here? : )
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