I had a fairly busy weekend. Worked a little on the book - not so much with new words, but reworking a scene that wasn't quite coming out right. It has passed at least one of the betas, and so now I'm free to move onward.

I also saw Ironman again. It is just as good the second time, maybe better.

I worked on jewelry, finished a couple of things and photoed/uploaded them to the Etsy store. ( click for pics )

All of this was around a Mother's Day breakfast and spa pedicure (my toes are painted a sparkly blue, just in time for sandals and the apparently 90 frelling degree weather we're supposed to get this week). I'm not complaining, exactly, but jumping from 40-50 degrees to 80-90 degrees in a week's time does not allow one to acclimate very well. The Mom-in-law and I have decided to make this a monthly thing for the summer. Next month, the day Mark leaves for Japan and her hubby leaves to drive to their other son's home in Texas, we have a date for another pedi and a movie. :-)

It all felt too short, though, and now I'm back at work. Though we do get Memorial Day off this month, so I have a three day weekend to look forward to, I suppose.

The first book in Shelley Adina's series: It's All About Us. Visit her website for an interactive community based on the books.

Tall, blonde Lissa Mansfield is used to being one of the "in" crowd--but being accepted by the popular girls at posh Spencer Academy boarding school in San Francisco is turning out to be harder than she thought. And then there's her New-York-loudmouth roommate, Gillian Chang, who's not just happy to be a Christian herself--she's determined to out Lissa, too! If Lissa can just keep her faith under wraps long enough to hook Callum McCloud, the hottest guy in school, she'll be golden.

But when Callum pressures her to go all the way with him, Lissa has to decide for herself how far is too far. How can she see that line when he's so gorgeous and popular and she's so dazzled? And besides, she's too busy shopping for a Valentino and booking the hottest celeb for the Benefactors Ball. Who knew finding a place at Spencer Academy would be so complicated?

***

All About Us #2: The Fruit of My Lipstick (August, 2008)
All About Us #3: Be Strong & Curvaceous (January, 2009)

First things first:

The winner of the funny title contest is brigidsblest with a magnificent title of Magic Blows. Please email me at ilona at ilonaland with your address and preferences for who you would like me to sign the book to.

Now regarding the signing. I consider it a resounding success. We didn't sell a ton of books, but we met several awesome people, one of whom was Horace, who is going right into Walmart book somewhere and the other two were Ericka and Amanda, who very graciously hung out with us the whole time. (They were incredibly kind for putting up with me for that long.)

...I'm watching TV right now, which I don't usually do when I write anything because it distracts me. And it is distracting me today because I found I couldn't really compose this profound post about how once you put yourself out in the public eye, you sort of lose some of your humanity and become an object. But, that's kind of a dense thing to do while watching last week's episode of American Idol. So, I think I'm going to have to do something a little simpler.

Like a contest.

I got my first Storm Born review yesterday (it was good! I'll link it to you once it's public), and it occurred to me that I'm only three months away from its release. And the three month mark is hardcore promotion time, particularly when you've got ARCs sitting around that need homes. So, let's give one of those away. And we're going to do a Truth/Lie thing again because those can be objectively scored, and I know the non-creative peeps like the mostly random guessing element of this. :)

As a recap, there are seven statements listed below. Four are true, and three are not true. Your task is to identify the three that are NOT true and list them in the comments here. This contest'll be open until this Saturday at 11:59pm, Pacific Time. Winner gets a Storm Born ARC and maybe some other swag.

Here we go:

1. I like pink clothing.
2. I am superstitious.
3. I was part of the Grunge scene in high school.
4. I like gardening.
5. I have a B.A. in English and Medieval Studies.
6. I was a brunette in college.
7. I was raised Catholic.

Good luck!

Yes, I am very behind on my reading, but I did finally read Ekaterina Sedia's The Secret History of Moscow this past weekend and loved it. Highly recommended.

Ever wanted to ask me a weird question?  Here's your chance!

Come visit me guest-blogging today at Fallen Angels Review.  Everyone who asks me a question will be entered in a drawing for a signed copy of Wicked Game. 

You have until noon Eastern time tomorrow to enter.  I'll answer one question tonight and one tomorrow when we announce the winner. 

HINT: The more original the question, the more likely I am to answer it. 

Specifically, would anyone within driving distance of Tucson and the UofA like to learn Icelandic?

It turns out the UA Critical Languages program will offer pretty much any language, so long as they can find at least four or five interested students, and then can find a native speaker to tutor the class. lnhammer and I make two ... anyone want to join us? :-)

I'd like to be able to go to a convention (or other gathering) and not come home with a cold :-\

*coff*

The Ohioana Book Festival was nice. Not as many people attended as I'd expected ... seriously, Harvey Pekar was there! And Mary Doria Russell! The festival also featured live music, author readings, discussion panels, and book signings.

Gary and I both did short interviews for the OSU CSTW podcast; I'm not sure when they will be posted, though.

Gary and I signed a fair number of books and met new readers, and got to chat with Christopher Barzak and Catherynne M. Valente more than we had in the past. yukon_jack dropped by for a bit, and I also saw Jane D., a librarian I knew from my days at OCLC, and it was fun to see her again.

Most of our table visitors were fun to talk with. But of course there were also the usual annoyances. One woman announced disdainfully that Sparks and Shadows "looks like a children's book". Uh ... okay. And another picked the book up, read the back, and dropped it like a hot rock, announcing "I don't like short stories." Good to know!

sarajlarson and her husband Bill came to the festival in the afternoon; they'd come to Columbus to attend a gem show, which sadly turned out to be a bust. We had a fun time catching up with them.

That evening, we went to a reception at the governor's mansion in Bexley, and it was really cool (and not paid for at taxpayer expense!) It was a mix of authors, their guests, and festival workers. Governor Strickland wasn't there, but we met his first lady Frances and she was very gracious and pleasant. We also went on a tour of the mansion, which is filled with art and crafts from Ohioans and has been nicely restored. The gardens there are pretty and filled with fish ponds, and in short I'm glad we had the chance to attend.

The next book festival is set for May next year; I hope we get invited back, and I hope more people can make it. :)

Today was spent mostly on Lethe business. I probably agreed to far too many books for 2008.

Among tasks:

I sent to Rick Bowes the current Second Thoughts manuscript. He may not recover. No, the Author Notes are still not completed. I can't sleep without medication because of them. I fear I'll never finish them. Or worse, I will and they will be dreadful. I think I won't send out any review copies or seek blurbs. That will make me feel better.

Spicy Slipstream Stories, edited by nihilistic_kid and jaylake is heading to the proof stage; hopefully finished copies will release late summer (maybe some advance ones for Readercon). This one does deserve review copies. A book of very clever stories.

And I'm dropping out of my sell-out challenge. I'm just not a novelist.

If you're thinking to yourself, "But Alex, shouldn't you be on an airplane right now?" you are completely, 100%, undeniably correct. In fact, my plane is lifting up into the sky as we speak, and I'm sitting in the terminal, waiting. How did this misfortune befall me? Let's start at 11:15 this morning, before my nerves of steel crumbled:

I still had three girls who needed to check out, but my AD in one of those rare moments of kindness said that I could go ahead and he would do them by himself at a later time. So I had everything ready by the door to Landrum because Groome Transportation was coming between 11:45 and 12 PM. So when 12:15 rolled around, I called Groome and was immediately put on hold for five minutes. Fine. Then the woman comes on and goes, "How may I help you?" and, still cool as a cucumber at that moment, I said, "My car is twenty minutes late." So then I was put on HOLD AGAIN, only this time it was for about twenty minutes. So for twenty minutes I'm listening to the pre-recorded message telling me that most hold calls only last a hundred and twenty seconds. She comes back on and tells me that she won't be able to get another driver to me until 1 PM. This was the conversation that followed:

Me: MY FLIGHT IS AT 2:30!
Her: Well I suggest you find another ride because I think even if you leave at 1, you'll be cutting it too close.
Me: What happened? I HAD A RESERVATION!
Her: I'm very sorry. Did you already pay?
Me: No, but obviously if I could have found another ride I wouldn't have called you!
Her: I'm sorry, you'll have to call a taxi.

I'm crying at this point as you can imagine (I know, a regular lionheart, right?). This is one of the hardest things about going to school out of state--when you're screwed, you are WHOLLY screwed because you don't really have anyone there to help you. I called all of the seniors I knew with cars who might still be on campus and none of them could take me. I called one taxi company, only to be told that no one would be able to pick me up until 1. I called another taxi company and was told the same thing. I had to hide in the kitchen so people wouldn't see me crying my eyes out and for some reason there was a random thing of toilet paper that I was using to wipe the make up from my face. And of course I run into one of my sorority sisters who went all O_o because I looked like a monster. Anyway. Back to the story.

I called taxi company #3 and then guy on dispatch had a very reassuring voice. Apparently I was crying hard enough that he couldn't understand what I was saying because he was like, "Did you say your name was Heidi??" and at the end he was like, "It's okay, I'll send a taxi right away. I hope you have a better day." and then I started crying harder, because it's a sad day when the taxi dispatcher is the one to give you a verbal hug. I hauled everything outside--oh, and did I mention that it's in the fifties and insanely windy and rainy in Virginia today?--and waited. And waited. And waited. And then mom called, so I started crying all over again when I told her what was happening and how it was 1:15 and the airport is an hour away and I'm going to miss my flight and GROOME IS GOING TO GET IT. FINALLY I get a taxi driver and I hinted VERY strongly that if he got me there by 2 PM (which is possible, by the way, and when you're flying Airtran you have to be there at least a half hour early to make sure that your luggage is put on)... and what does he do? HE STOPS FOR GAS. AND A SNACK.

Mom had checked online and said there was another flight to Atlanta at 5:30 and that it looked like there were still spaces open. I asked her to call AirTran to see if we could just switch the ticket for a fee. She called me back about fifteen minutes later and told me that the flight was actually sold to capacity, but that they would put me on standby in the vain hope that someone else tried to use Groome and got royally screwed. The lady told me that my chances were "a bit slim" unless someone decided to randomly cancel.

Oh, and on top of all that? I got charged $25 because my suitcase was ONE POUND OVER THE WEIGHT LIMIT.

Okay, on the fourth contest, you guys OUTDID YOURSELVES. This was very tough to call! There were great arguments for everybody from Roger and Mimi from "Rent" to Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala from "Star Wars" to Monica and Chandler from "Friends." You guys love Edward and Bella, Remy & Dexter, Jace and Clary, Anne and Gilbert, Ennis and Jack, Hermione and Snape (in fanfic, all things are possible), Janie and Cabel, Constantine and Rae, not one but two couples named Tony and Maria (whether from "Chasing Windmills" or "West Side Story") and even the originals, Romeo and Juliet.

But ultimately I had to pick a winner, so I went with Patricia, who nominated Alice and Paul from The Last Summer of You and Me by Ann Brashares. I haven't read this book yet, but after I saw Patricia's entry, I knew I would have to! And if that's not a great entry, I don't know what is. Patricia, I'll e-mail you about sending off your prizes (the AMAZING Stealing Heaven, plus Evernight and the gift certificate. Everyone else, thanks for creating some amazing entries.

In fact, the entries were so great that I decided this week I'd have to give away multiple prizes ....

Evernight Contest #5:

As you guys probably know by now, Evernight takes place at a boarding school, Evernight Academy, which is a very unusual place (to say the least). So this week's contest is in the school's honor.

The rules: I want you to Tell me your favorite school in fiction. You can pull from movies, books, TV or anything else. Is it Hogwarts? Neptune High? The Constance Billard School for Girls? Tell me why! This can be either the school you'd love to go to or the one you're most glad you don't attend. And yes, it's fine to say "the school where they all get locked up in The Breakfast Club" or something like that if you don't know the exact name. You can even nominate a real school as long as you tell me why it's the perfect setting for that book, TV show, etc. that you love so much.

The prizes: The best entry wins a $100 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. Everybody else who enters will be put into a drawing, and four winners from that group will each receive a $25 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. So you have two ways to win.

Ready, set, go!

(Finally, has anybody out there heard from hersheekiss358? She was one of two winners last week, but hasn't checked in with an address for me to mail her prize. If you're out there, drop me a line!)

Check out the review that Charles Tan did over at Bibliophile Stalker of Twenty Epics He gave the anthology a 4 out of 5.

Mary Robinette Kowal’s “Bound Man” was another favorite, everything from its Asian flavor, strong protagonist, and the enjoyable fight scene.

Comments? -- Link

I just wanted to announce the launch of a new writing community that I'm a part of here on LJ -- it's called Merry Sisters of Fate and is going to have original short fiction by me, brennayovanoff, and everflame, two of my three amazing crit partners. Also author discussions, blabbering about craft, and other fun stuff -- we're hoping to make it a place where thinking writers of spec fiction of all sorts can come and talk in the comments.

Anyway, check it out (pretty please). Brenna's posted her short piece today, Tess has Wednesdays, and I have Friday's (Friday's Child has far to go you know). It's here. merry_fates.

And yes, I'm scared snotless at the idea of coming up with some cunning flash fiction piece every week.

But I've found out by now that scared snotless is when I do my best work.

Today is the birthing day of a project I've been extremely excited about for a couple of weeks.

This morning, merry_fates went live!

It's a writing blog I've started with two other fabulous writers: Maggie Stiefvater and Brenna Yovanoff (m_stiefvater and brennayovanoff, respectively).

We're planning to have a post every day: MWF will be original fiction from one of us, and TR will be discussions of craft, books, authors, research, and all kinds of other topics. We have a schedule planned out through mid-November. Bet ya didn't know I was that anal, huh?

My fiction day is Wednesday, much to Odin's delight. I'll be transferring most of my fiction writing over there, but will no doubt still torment my regular f-list with enforced prose. Aren't you lucky.

So come check us out! We have very brief intro posts up, and Brenna started us out with some flash fiction! (It's quite creepy!) I guarantee quality writing, thoughtful discussions, and diplodocus-sized fun.

*EDIT* Come join as watchers! We'd love for you to read participate in discussions that way! So, come watch and add us to your FList.

LOLCats image completely unrelated to today's post, I just thought it was funny.


After hearing that fuel surcharges are going up and up, I bit the bullet and booked my flight for RWA Nationals. I'm actually going to Los Angeles for a couple days first to do the Hollywood thing and then on to San Francisco. Good times.

So, unrelated to my travel bookings, I've decided to put away my childish proposals and start working on my vampire book. It's intimidating me slightly because it is the fifth and final in the series and I want it to be, I don't know, like good. I'm very happy with all of the ones that came before it, and I've heaped on all this pressure on myself to make this one bigger and better. I just have to chill. I know these characters. They want their stories told and neatened up and they all want HEAs (or most of them, anyhow).

I shall embrace the fang.

Therefore, I have a soundtrack for DEVILS & DIAMONDS:

Dirty Little Secret -- The All-American Rejects
Devil Inside -- INXS
Stronger -- Kanye West
Move Along -- The All-American Rejects
Trouble -- Pink (which tends to be on most of my soundtracks for some strange reason, probably because my heroines are both 1) in trouble, and 2) the cause of trouble)
Suddenly I See -- KT Tunstall
Paralyzer -- Finger Eleven
SOS (Rescue Me) -- Rihanna
Keep Holding On -- Avril Lavigne (also a recurring song on my soundtracks)
Stuttering -- Ben's Brothers
Bleeding Love -- Leona Lewis (what better song for vamps in love?)
Hot -- Avril Lavigne

The "theme song" for the book as I currently have it envisioned is... Dirty Little Secret. :-) There's a lot of secrets in this book -- both the keeping and the revealing. It should be a fun write.

If I just chill the hell out about it.

Ahem. Okay. I'm fine, really.

It's all good. <-- my mantra.

Now, if you'll excuse me. It's time to start my bikini diet. I can look like Pamela Anderson in less than three months, right????

Don't answer that.

Thanks to everyone for your congrats and encouragement about my launch. I would've reported in sooner but Friday was a madhouse and on Saturday I was home but the lights weren't on -- brain overloaded and crashed.

I enjoyed the launch. I have no idea if it was a good turnout (40 people, most chairs taken), but it felt like a nice size. A full room but not horribly crowded which might have caused my knees to shake. And who knew I could yap so much about my book? Can't say I'm surprised since talking writing usually gets me going.

My friend who helped plan the food had out wine glasses (non-alcoholic wine since it was an all-ages event), china cups and crystal plates. A nice touch of class. I'd show pictures but I didn't think to brief my photographer and she only took pictures of me, not the audience or the beautiful food table. Oh well. Live and learn.

The important thing is that people stayed after the reading and Q&A, chatted and seemed to have a good time.

Today I have an open house at my library for locals who couldn't make the launch. There will be cake (provided by the village, no less), so I'm hopeful that people will come.

Certain individuals (brainstormfront & antonstrout, among others) have convinced me I need to go to Gen Con in Indianapolis this summer. Which now means I need to find a hotel and figure out transportation and all of that fun stuff. So, are any of you writing folks going to be there and wanting to split a hotel room?

I have nothing intelligent to say today, so instead allow me to recommend Jon Hansen's brilliant mash-up of Elmo's World and Lord of the Rings: http://www.logicalcreativity.com/jon/2008/05/i_have_no_excuse.html

Enjoy!

The dork (me) needs some help from you who've read The Cipher. And even the one or two of you who've read The Black Ship. Here's the problem. I know that Crosspointe has royal colors. I just can't for the life of me remember what they are, and so far I can find them. (I usually take notes on the books and have not done a very good job with the one I'm writing, and apparently left that detail out of the notes on The Cipher--anyone want to update my notes for me? Yeah, didn't think so).  Anyhow, if you can remember, I will be eternally grateful.  Help!  Please!

Di

NOTE: If you have a fear of flying, you might want to skip this post. But to lighten things up, I'll splice in some quotes from one of my favorite movies, Airplane.

7:30pm Central Time, Chicago's O'Hare Airport: The place is packed with frustrated travelers. Flights to the east coast are delayed and canceled due to "air traffic control," which means, "weather" (but they're not allowed to say 'weather,' for some reason). Gusty wind and heavy rain are forecast for our arrival in Baltimore. Anticipating turbulence, I skip dinner (this becomes important later).

---

Steve McCroskey: Johnny, what can you make out of this?
[Hands him the weather briefing]
Johnny: This? Why, I can make a hat or a brooch or a pterodactyl...

---

( Read more, if you dare. )

Tonight I plan to watch Airplane while eating a box of Kraft Macaroni 'n' Cheese. I will also check to see if Amtrak goes to Tulsa.

---

Captain Oveur: Joey, have you ever been to a Turkish prison?

First trailer for new X-files: I Want to Believe movie, courtesy of the_grynne.

Awww. This is going to be such fun to see.