Friday Snippet from “Shades of Grey”

“Shades of Grey” is a novella in progress. I’m writing it because I’m burned out on my novel (which is still simmering in the back of my head). It’s a superhero original fiction. I’m writing it because I need to be writing SOMETHING, and this is an easy option. BUT. It also means I can work on some of my weaker writing abilities, without having to worry about the rest of it. I don’t know if it’ll be any good or not, but if I learn from it, it’s worth it. I’ve already set up a progress bar. I’m targeting 20,000 words, but it could be more, or less.

So, here’s a snippet from my WIP.

In recent news…

I am the new, ongoing director for Supergirl: Lost Daughter of Krypton for Pendant Productions. For two episodes, I’ll be co-directing with the assistant director, Jennifer, and then taking over completely for episode 31. No, it’s not a paid job–entirely volunteer. I’m enjoying the work, and I’m glad to be giving back to Pendant, from from whom I’ve received HOURS of audio drama enjoyment.

Speaking of jobs, no new on the teaching front.

My novel is undergoing MAJOR changes. So much so, I may not even be able to keep the same title. I’m liking what I’ve come up with, but it still needs some working out.

I’ve been very busy lately, and that’s not likely to change until at least August. So updates here will be sparse.

However, I frequently update my twitter, so you can track me there, too.

I am not dead, Jim

Just very, very busy. I’ll update soon!

Cool Tidbit…

My first name is a Latin word that means, roughly, “rounded, polished, smooth, fine, elegant.“

It’s a close approximation.

Did You Miss Me?

Yeah, I know, I know. Been a while. I’ve been busy, see.

In the past approximate 2 months:

• I’ve turned a year older (30 is inching closer…)
• I took Thomas, my cat, to the ER and Vet for a serious condition that required a lot of money and a prescription diet.
• I found out my sister is having my NEPHEW
• My laptop computer crashed violently, and I’ve installed Linux on it (using it right now, in fact)
• My brother left for boot camp.
• I received my Wisconsin teaching license

Right now, I’m sick. Sinuses, I think, and definitely a pain in the butt. I’m heavily playing a Nintendo DS game called Hotel Dusk: Room 215. It’s an interactive mystery, and I’m enjoying it a lot.

My reading list includes…The Stone Mask (JLA/Batman novel), I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells, Night Echoes by Holly Lisle, The Silver Door by Holly Lisle, The Scent of Shadows by Vicki Peterson, and a non-fiction My Life Among Serial Killers (research purposes, don’t freak out on me).

I’ve been doing development work on my novel, find the holes and fillin’ them in, and fleshing out the rest. The story is better for this, and I hope to be writing again this week.

I signed up for a tw0-week online writing course, Writing Dialogue Cues and Body Language Like a Psychologist, by author Margie Lawson. It starts…Sunday. I’m looking forward to this one, since it’s an area I need to work on in my writing. In September, I plan to take another author’s course on sexual tension–also an area I need to work on.

Never Forget

Those who know me, know that I fully support and encourage Holocaust education, as appropriate for all grade levels. I received an email the other day, that I want to share here.

Please remember that, although the Holocaust ended 63 years ago, prejudice has not been eliminated. Around the world, ethnic and religious groups are persecuted for who they are, and what they believe. Darfur. China. And more. Genocide is not a thing of the past, and we need to stand together, united, against ALL of it.

It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, burned, starved and humiliated with the German and Russian Peoples looking the other way!

Now, more than ever, with Iraq , Iran , and others, claiming the Holocaust to be ‘a myth,’ it’s imperative to make sure the world never forgets, because there are others who would like to do it again.

This e-mail is intended to reach 40 million people worldwide!

Join us and be a link in the memorial chain and help us distribute it around the world.

On Facebook

Thank you, Greg. I agree.

Fridays suck….

…Just sayin’.

You know, my birthday IS coming up soon…

Anyone who knows me, know what a huge fan of Peter S. Beagle I am. His stories are magical–stories that defined that particular cliche. The Last Unicorn will always be my favorite. So much so, that when I ordered my new iPod this morning, I requested engraving on the back that will read “…and then the Unicorns came out of the sea.” Which is my favorite scene from that wonderful book. Tamsin, is also amazing, as well as The Innkeeper’s Song. A Fine and Private Place is my next tackling. I’ve also read some of his short stories, but none of these particular stories…

Conlan Press is putting out an effort to try to sell out of the publisher’s limited printing of 5,500 copies, to encourage another larger printing. If you are a fan of Peter Beagle, go get yourself a copy before March 31st (Conlan Press’s deadline date). If you’re not a fan, you should be. You will be hard pressed to find an author better than he.

By the way, this would make a great birthday present for me. (HINT HINT!) So if you love me, pick me up a copy (unsigned is perfectly fine, though signed would be fabulous, and personalization doesn’t really matter, but if you want to, go ahead). If you decide to do this, I ask only two things. First, buy from this link, and this link only. Buying through Conlan Press ensures that Peter gets a larger percentage of the profits. (”More than half the purchase price on this product goes to directly support Peter S. Beagle and his works”–works which include the next Last Unicorn novel!!!) Also, please let any of my other friends know you’re getting it, because I cannot read more than one book at a time.

If you do this, know that I will love you forever.

I’ve been doing some behind-the-scenes work on my novel, which, unfortunately doesn’t increase my word count. Listening to audio dramas probably doesn’t help either.

But I’ve been posting the story on my other blog (it’s private and password protected), and I’ve been receiving some great feedback from other graduates. The story, so far, has been very well received, and I’ve gotten some great suggestions on making it stronger. Woo!