Slow But Steady

I'm plugging along on my current WIP, and I am getting a little better at it now that I know the characters better. I've also managed to make a deal with myself: that even if I don't like it, I'm just gonna write the consarned thing. It's only a first draft, and much like a painting, I can always go back and layer in some more color if I don't like the first results. That's kind of a relief! :)

NJRW Conference is fast approaching, and I can't wait to get there and immerse myself in romance writing for a weekend. Should be a great time. In the meantime, I keep writing. Eventually the dang thing will be finished!

Do or do not. There is no try.

Yep, I'm just geeky enough to quote Yoda. Yesterday was suckariffic. I was out of work from my day job the previous day, due to a stomach bug the generous little peanut shared with the whole family (awww, he's learning to share already). So I came back to a mountain of work on my desk because, let's just face it. Unless you've been doing my job for several years, it's impossible to get into a rhythm that will get you through a Monday workload by the end of the day. (Which is why I try never to take a Monday off unless I'm half dead, which I was.) I also have a lingering cold, with its associated stuffiness and incessant use of tissues. Why haven't they invented a way to take your nose off and hang it up until you're done with a cold? Jeez, they invented everything else. :-P In addition, my ride fell through for the NJ Conference, so I had a little moment of panic, but we survived. I think I have a Plan B on that. Always have a Plan B, let this be a lesson.

But guess what? I wrote yesterday. Not much, and not that great, but dammit, I wrote something even on the crappiest day. Rockin'.

Bruce Coville

Over the weekend, at my monthly chapter meeting for RWA, I had the pleasure of meeting Bruce Coville, author of numerous children's books, including The Unicorn Chronicles. Bruce generously agreed to give a talk on writing, specifically children's and young adult books. He was possibly the best speaker I've ever heard! I found him funny, articulate, well-versed, and very high energy. I learned so much in that workshop that could be applied not only to children's fiction, but writing in general. What a great workshop! And if you have never read his work, and have any interest in children's fiction, you should go to his website right now and check out all the cool stuff! I have been toying with a YA idea, so this may be the kick I needed to get it done. :)

Woo Hoo! Ratha Lives! (and Other YA Giddiness in the Tradition of Watership Down)

One of my favorite authors from my youth, Clare Bell, has written a new book! For a long time, she hadn't written anything, and fans of her Named series pined for a new book--especially since the original books had gone out of print.

Ratha's_Courage is the newest book in the series, which is about the coming of age and subsequent trials of the title character, Ratha, a prehistoric cat. The new book is due out October 18th. It's been 13 years since the last Named book, and I know fans will be delighted to see Ratha's return. The best part is, Firebird Books is re-releasing the others, which are as follows, if you're interested in delving into this series. (Believe me, they're worth it for anyone who likes fantasy or cats!)

Ratha's Creature
Clan Ground
Ratha and Thistle-Chaser
Ratha's Challenge
Ratha's Courage (out 10/18)

She has also written some cool novels outside the Named series, particularly Tomorrow's Sphinx, which I loved. Check these books out! You won't regret it.

While we're on the subject, Firebird Books is becoming my new best friend. A short while back, they re-released the Firebringer series by Meredith Ann Pierce, which had also been out of print for a while. That series is a coming of age tale of Aljan, the unicorn. The Firebringer series is as follows:

Birth of the Firebringer
Dark Moon
The Son of Summer Stars

So, if you can't tell, I loved books that went along the same vein as Richard Adams' Watership Down. Besides THAT book (which is rabbits), there is The Wild Road & its sequels (domestic cats), Tailchaser's Song (also domestic cats), and The Heavenly Horse from the Outermost West and Piper at the Gate (horses). I still have my original copies of most of these books, if that tells you anything, something like 20 years later. I couldn't let them go.

Go Read! Nicki out.