So...my regular job has been so incredibly busy I haven't had a chance to even look at writing let along blogging! 

And so I am really late at mentioning that I am at ConCarolinas this weekend.  I am not a guest this year rather the family decided the CC was going to be the con we go to have fun and relax.  I managed to get to one panel on opening chapters and had planned to get to two more yesterday but got sidetracked by costuming and hanging out with folks.

Today is, of course, packing up, last minute shopping and visiting with folks.  James has a panel on Nerdiquette late this afternoon and then it's back to home.

I'm not sure why but I've been really blocked on writing.  I usually can get several hundred words written over a con weekend and I don't think I've gotten even a hundred written this weekend. 

I think part of the problem is that I am overly committed outside of writing again.  Real work is utterly slammed and by the time I get home, play with the Geeklet, etc.  I'm wiped.  Plus between starting ConGregate, needing to get the Cornerstone Award/Infinity Productions, and trying to declutter the house, I've not had nearly enough time to write. 

I did get my copies of Spells & Swashbucklers....they're big.  And look very good.  So now I've officially been published 3x!!  I still need to follow up with Mike Ventrella on the second Fortannis short story.   I also really need to do some research and find some other short story markets w/ themes that I can write for.  I might be able to gather some inspiration if i work on some short stories.

Although, I may take a page from David Coe's book and write some short stories in the Ella-verse and see if that gets my brain going!

Well, it's time to get packed up and head for breakfast! 


If the future's looking dark, we're the ones who have to shine. If there's no one in control, we're the ones who draw the line. - Rush, Everyday Glory

Ignorance and prejudice/And fear walk hand in hand...

People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote - a very different thing.

~William H. Judd

So...normally I'd post something writing related, but in NC, my home state, tomorrow is Voting Day.  I encourage everyone to get out and vote.  And for the most part, I try to keep politics very separate from my writing but tomorrow's Amendment One is something I do not support so strongly that I feel I have to actually say something here.  As someone who firmly believes that we should allow civil unions and domestic partnerships for everyone including LGBT couples, this law goes beyond just gay rights to take away human rights.  And that's wrong.  No law, in this day and age, should take away someone's rights.  It's bad enough that we use a religious text to justify bigotry and hatred, but now we're trying to force the government to make that bigotry legal.
From Ballotopedia: The measure would define marriage in the state constitution as between one man and one woman, and would ban any other type of "domestic legal union" such as civil unions and domestic partnerships.^[1][2]
Same-sex marriage is already illegal in the state of North Carolina. The proposed measure, however, would add the ban to the state constitution.^[3]

From the NC Democratic Party:
Reasons to vote No:
This amendment could make it impossible for parents in committed, but unmarried relationships, to provide health care benefits to children in their household. In tough times like this we should not make it harder to raise a family and protect children.
Many older people who have previously lost spouses, but find love later in life never remarry, even though they are committed to their new partner. They do this to protect the benefits their previous spouse earned including health care, pensions, and Social Security, and Amendment One puts those benefits at jeopardy.
Domestic violence protections for unmarried women could be declared unconstitutional because Amendment One legally recognizes only married couples as a family. Women deserve protections from domestic violence whether they are married or not.

From the ACLU of NC:
Reasons to Vote No:
Same-sex marriage is already prohibited by North Carolina law, and in reality, this amendment has little to do with “marriage.” Rather, the amendment could ban ALL legal recognition of committed but unmarried couples, both gay and straight.
Voting “for” this proposal would ban ALL civil unions and domestic partnerships throughout the state. It would take away the ability of committed couples to take care of one another when making medical, financial, and other important life decisions.
We are all North Carolinians, and like the majority of North Carolinians polled in February, March, April, and September, we do not support this amendment. This amendment was the work of 105 people in the state legislature. As the only southeastern state currently without such an amendment in our state constitution, we should send a message to the rest of the country that North Carolina supports committed couples and does not want to limit their ability to take care of one another.
Passage of the amendment would send a signal both within and outside the state that North Carolina is an intolerant, unwelcoming place. Our Constitution should be used to protect the rights and interests of all North Carolinians, not just the majority. This amendment turns that principle on its head by prohibiting any recognition of a commitment between two people because of who they love.

They say there are strangers who threaten us/In our immigrants and infidels
They say there is strangeness too dangerous/In our theaters and bookstore shelves
That those who know what's best for us/Must rise and save us from ourselves
Quick to judge/Quick to anger
Slow to understand
Ignorance and prejudice/And fear walk hand in hand...
~Rush, Witch Hunt

Stoking the Fires...

Good evening all!

So it's been kind of a busy month since Ravencon and I've barely had time to sleep, let along write.   I did get nearly 2000 words written over Ravencon weekend which I love!  But as I've been writing I'm reaching a stuck point.  I can't decide if I need to add another POV, switch to first person or just go through the novel and fill in the holes. 

My challenge is that so many mysteries are written in first person, that I really wanted to write from close third but I'm afraid if I add a second POV it'll get lost in the story.

I am also challenged in that I am exhausted.  I don't know if it's the combination of work and life or what, but it's a miracle if I'm up past 9pm or 10pm at all.  And even as I write this...I just remembered I still need to write a blog post for Janine Spendlove's blog!

I'm hoping that since tomorrow is Sunday and an at home Sunday, I'll be able to get some writing done!  Wish me luck!

In positive news...my newest short story is out.  The anthology, Spells and Swashbucklers, is out on Amazon!  So go buy!

I have stoked the fire on the big steel wheels
Steer the airship right across the stars
I learned to fight, I learned to love, I learned to feel
Oh I wish that I could live it all again

~Headlong Flight by Rush

Can I tell you how much I want this album!!!??  I have no doubt that it will be come the soundtrack to writing the novel!  Already I love Headlong Flight and Caravan.  I can't wait to hear the rest.

Updates and Ravencon

So...due to conflicting schedules, I will not be a guest at Ravencon this year...but I will be there.  There were a lot more panels for my husband (read his blog) than me.  So I will not be a guest but I will be there to hang out/visit...and attend panels!

Actually, there turned out to be quite a few panels/workshops that I'm hoping to attend.   And anytime I'm not in the panels, I'm hoping to be writing and finishing the novel! 

I got some good advice from Faith Hunter over at Magical Words.  I'm taking it to heart and so really tweaking some aspects of the story to tie them in better.  Misty Massey (also at MW) gave some good advice on using the 7 sins/virtues as examples of flaws.  I think I've kind of got Ella's main flaw as "fear."  She is terrified of losing her sister and the courier business.  She's also still dealing with the loss of her parents (who died somehow??).

Anyway, that's the news from the writing end. 

Like the willows in the wind
Or the cliffs along the ocean
I will quietly resist
~Rush, Faithless

At Stellarcon this weekend

So I've been meaning to write this all week...

I, along with the husband, are the Fan Guests of Honor this weekend at Stellarcon 36 in High Point.  When I'm not on a panel, I'm going to try to be writing.  I really want to get some work done on the novel. 

Anyway, if you get a chance, stop by and say hi!

Shevacon and Inspiration Strikes!

So...as always, I return from a convention excited and energized about writing.   Of course, it would be helpful if I had my thumbdrive with me...but I'm sending myself emails so I suppose that is close enough.

I attended Shevacon in Roanoke, VA as a guest this past weekend.  James has a good review of the con at his blog here.  The only addition I'd have is that if you only have 1 guest on the panel...cancel it and put something else in its place.

For example, I was scheduled to be the only person on a panel about Steampunk costuming at 3pm on Saturday.  The room was quite full and I would have been in a full panic if not for the wonderful Janine Spendlove, who was kind enough to not only step in and help me talk about costuming but also distracted the Geeklet who wanted to be part of the panel too.   (Note to self: if Geeklet wants to be part of a panel - need to get her better costuming!) However, I would have been utterly terrified to speak in front of such a crowd if she hadn't been there.  Particularly on a subject that I am only passingly familiar with.

I also sat on a very good panel about new authors with Betty Cross and Robin Sullivan. Robin, as a small press publisher, gave lots of good advice on contracts and the pros/cons of traditional vs Self vs Small Press publishing. I will eventually have to make that decision but I'm not quite there yet.

Otherwise, the con was quite fun.  Didn't know a lot of people other than Janine, the Zahns, Allen Wold and Todd Lacey of the 501st/Mercs but still managed to have a pretty good time.  The programming/guest staff were all very nice and incredibly understanding when we had to run out early Sunday morning to beat the snow!   The Geeklet had a blast coloring in the art room.  I wish every con did that!  Though next time, I'll carry my laptop and let her color while I write!

Con being over, I've got about 2 weeks before Stellarcon where James & I will be Fan GOH's.  I'm not sure how much "writing" panels I will be on but I'm still hoping to get some writing inspiration from the con.   I'd also like to get to 50,000 words over the next two weeks so I'm putting that as my goal for before Stellarcon. 

I also got some good ideas/thoughts on promotion...though I don't know if I'm brave enough to start using twitter!  ::shivers::

In other news...beautiful new book cover for Spells and Swashbucklers is up on my website.

Of course, outside of a chance to promote my stories, the best thing about cons is feeling energized and creative about writing.  I've already got more questions and ideas around the Mystery and have some thoughts on a prequel/2 sequels.  So now it's a matter of getting my Butt in Chair! 

~T

I'm old enough not to care too much /About what you think of me
But I'm young enough to remember the future/And the way things ought to be
~Rush, Cut to the Chase

PS:  Did anyone catch the Kevin J Anderson is writing the story to go with Rush's Clockwork Angels?  So can't wait!

Back to about Writing

So I am faced with an interesting conundrum in my novel.  As I wrote the story, the medical examiner was a women.  Then I started reading and doing my research.  First off, it would have been a coroner in the Victorian time period.  Second, women were just beginning to come into their own as nurses and certainly were rare as doctors.

So...now I am trying to decide do I go the "easy way out" and make the coroner a man?  Or do I keep my female and explain/show somewhere that she is rare, frequently challenged and has to fight for respect? 

On one hand, I certainly like the idea of a strong woman coroner (being a huge fan of Rizzoli and Isles), however, I don't know that I want to add the complication of another woman in a typically male dominated field.   The Heroine is a courier and owns her own business, which is definitely unusual enough.

On the third hand (!?), it's alternate history, I've already made tweaks to history and had things created earlier than they really were...so would it break the "suspension of disbelief" if I had a woman in a typically male dominated field for that time period?

It's an interesting challenge that I'll have to play with.   If I keep her, it could provide an interesting subplot within the overall story.

It's not as if this barricade/Blocks the only road
It's not as if you're all alone/In wanting to explode
~Rush, The Pass