My deadline was extended to June 1 (and not even at my request!) but it's still keeping me wicked busy, which means I don't have much time to write anything new. Therefore...
Finish the sentence.
1. MY EX...is an immature person who doesn't get it
2. MAYBE I SHOULD..... stop procrastinating and write that article
3. I LOVE....my life
4. PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT I AM... interesting
5. I DON’T UNDERSTAND...more than I could ever list here
6. WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING... I need coffee
7. I LOST...the last game of Quiddler I played
8. LIFE IS FULL OF... life
9. MY PAST TAUGHT ME... I can survive it (whatever it is)
10. I GET ANNOYED WHEN...people are stupid
11. PARTIES ARE... small, intimate events that I love
12. I WISH... I lived in Boston, still
13. DOGS ARE...cute enough
14. CATS ARE...fine
15. TOMORROW IS...Thursday
Those are Pobble Thoughts, with a little help from the Lovely Cats. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Why the Tie (Booksigning Post 2)
As I mentioned last week, Crow Mother and I had spent a good deal of last Tuesday planning what I would wear to the book signing, the night it was originally scheduled. We decided on a black, stretch pencil skirt, black sweater with a fake fur collar and my baby doll patent leather pumps. The look is smart and sophisticated, with a bit of a 50s pin up girl edge. Pauline is definitely smart and sophisticated with some kind of an edge.
Scroll down to the post below this. Go ahead. (doo bee doo bee doooooooo....Back? Excellent.) Bet that didn't look like a black sweater or kinda 50s pin-up girlish to you, did it? Yeah...
We had to leave the house at 5:05 p.m. At 5:05 p.m., I was climbing into the Pobble Mobile. Yay! When I felt a rip. Boo! I jumped out of the jeep, lifted my coat and demanded Lithus tell me what had just ripped. Sure enough ~ it was the seam of my skirt...all the way up.
So I go tearing into the house, stripping as I storm up to the bedroom. Now, since my outfit has, at this point, been planned for a week, everything else I might feel comfortable presenting Pauline wearing is either dirty or unironed. Plus, it's pouring rain. And the longer I stare at my closet, the later I am getting.
The second option Crow Mother and I had come up with was a pair of black pants and sharp white shirt. The pants in question are dirty BUT! My black pinstripe pants are clean and have spandex in them. I shook them out hard and called it ironed. Only to discover that all my white dress shirts are dirty.
You know one of the best things for women about being married? The second wardrobe.
I grabbed Lithus's white dress shirt out of his closet, rolled the sleeves and threw on an armfull of bangles to spiff it up a bit. As I'm leaving the bedroom, I say to him "I wish I had a skinny black tie." A flick of his wrist later and I have a skinny black tie. We even got it on me without too much drama (although the words "you're the man; you're supposed to know how to do this!" did come out of my mouth, much to my embarrassment. I've decided the Pobble is a loving and wonderful wife; Pauline is a real bitch. digressing...)
And we walked out of the house at 5:17. Twelve minutes total. To put together a look that got raves all night. *whew* When clusterfucky ends well. ;)
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Scroll down to the post below this. Go ahead. (doo bee doo bee doooooooo....Back? Excellent.) Bet that didn't look like a black sweater or kinda 50s pin-up girlish to you, did it? Yeah...
We had to leave the house at 5:05 p.m. At 5:05 p.m., I was climbing into the Pobble Mobile. Yay! When I felt a rip. Boo! I jumped out of the jeep, lifted my coat and demanded Lithus tell me what had just ripped. Sure enough ~ it was the seam of my skirt...all the way up.
So I go tearing into the house, stripping as I storm up to the bedroom. Now, since my outfit has, at this point, been planned for a week, everything else I might feel comfortable presenting Pauline wearing is either dirty or unironed. Plus, it's pouring rain. And the longer I stare at my closet, the later I am getting.
The second option Crow Mother and I had come up with was a pair of black pants and sharp white shirt. The pants in question are dirty BUT! My black pinstripe pants are clean and have spandex in them. I shook them out hard and called it ironed. Only to discover that all my white dress shirts are dirty.
You know one of the best things for women about being married? The second wardrobe.
I grabbed Lithus's white dress shirt out of his closet, rolled the sleeves and threw on an armfull of bangles to spiff it up a bit. As I'm leaving the bedroom, I say to him "I wish I had a skinny black tie." A flick of his wrist later and I have a skinny black tie. We even got it on me without too much drama (although the words "you're the man; you're supposed to know how to do this!" did come out of my mouth, much to my embarrassment. I've decided the Pobble is a loving and wonderful wife; Pauline is a real bitch. digressing...)
And we walked out of the house at 5:17. Twelve minutes total. To put together a look that got raves all night. *whew* When clusterfucky ends well. ;)
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wow
wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow
It was So Freaking COOL!
I've made Lithus tell people about it because I really don't remember much of it. Just that it was So Freaking COOL! Everyone was very nice. The woman in charge facilitated nicely and kept things moving. People were really interested in my story, the book's story, and my story about the book.
It was So Freaking COOL!
I'll try to compose a more coherent description but I make no promises. Mind you, I've got another one this Friday so maybe, the first one just needs to be So Freaking COOL and the next one can be coherent. ;)
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
It was So Freaking COOL!
I've made Lithus tell people about it because I really don't remember much of it. Just that it was So Freaking COOL! Everyone was very nice. The woman in charge facilitated nicely and kept things moving. People were really interested in my story, the book's story, and my story about the book.
It was So Freaking COOL!
I'll try to compose a more coherent description but I make no promises. Mind you, I've got another one this Friday so maybe, the first one just needs to be So Freaking COOL and the next one can be coherent. ;)
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Rescheduled to...TONIGHT!
My first booksigning is tonight. Tonight.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pobble Hop Pobble Hop Pobble Hop
My dear Lithus is home and will be there.
Mom my sent these:
And seriously, how gorgeous are they?
I have my pen.
I'm ready. Borders book readers, here I come. :)
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Procrastination
This is going around my writers' group because no one can procrastinate like writers.
The rules...
Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name for the hero/heroine name question.
1. What is your name: Boston Pobble
The rules...
Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name for the hero/heroine name question.
1. What is your name: Boston Pobble
2. An author's name: Elizabeth Peters
3. A hero's name: Phillip
4. A heroine's name: Patience
3. A hero's name: Phillip
4. A heroine's name: Patience
5. An occupation for a Hero: pediatrician
6. A Romantic Location: Paris
6. A Romantic Location: Paris
7. Something a hero gives a heroine: pearls
8. A romance novel title: Piece of her Heart
9. A Romantic Food: prosciutto
8. A romance novel title: Piece of her Heart
9. A Romantic Food: prosciutto
10. One word describing last romance you read/wrote: pat
Gotta love a good time suck.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Gotta love a good time suck.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
No Capes!
Coolness can be found here: Hero Maker
Hmmm...interesting...the Pobble and General Spectacled Nine Tails have never been seen in the same room together. I wonder...
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
*********
Amended much later this evening...
Timber and I were IMing just a moment ago. We decided we would noodle around with the Hero Maker. In completely different houses, many miles apart and even, technically, in different states, we came up with these:
Could explain why we get along so well, don't you think? :)
Those are still Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you another coffee.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Update
The book signing was rescheduled. Humph.
On the one hand, this is a little disappointing. Crow Mother and I have spent this afternoon emailing back and forth, trying to decide what Pauline's look is, what I should wear, blah, blah, blah... A friend in the town where the signing was (will be) had preordered pizzas for us to munch ahead of time. Plus, there was just the generalized adrenaline, which is now... *poof*
On the other hand, it has been rescheduled, not canceled. They had a date in mind (same time, same place, next Tuesday) when they called me and were willing to work around my calendar had that date not worked for me. The woman facilitating the meeting was so sick, I was thinking please tell me you're rescheduling this because I don't want whatever it is you have as she was explaining the situation. And the one that should have topped this list ~ Lithus should be home by then. It should play out that I have him and my new, cool-o book signing pen.
So, it's definitely a both-and situation rather than an either-or situation. I'm both disappointed and pleased. Ah, that human condition that never ceases to amaze me.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
On the one hand, this is a little disappointing. Crow Mother and I have spent this afternoon emailing back and forth, trying to decide what Pauline's look is, what I should wear, blah, blah, blah... A friend in the town where the signing was (will be) had preordered pizzas for us to munch ahead of time. Plus, there was just the generalized adrenaline, which is now... *poof*
On the other hand, it has been rescheduled, not canceled. They had a date in mind (same time, same place, next Tuesday) when they called me and were willing to work around my calendar had that date not worked for me. The woman facilitating the meeting was so sick, I was thinking please tell me you're rescheduling this because I don't want whatever it is you have as she was explaining the situation. And the one that should have topped this list ~ Lithus should be home by then. It should play out that I have him and my new, cool-o book signing pen.
So, it's definitely a both-and situation rather than an either-or situation. I'm both disappointed and pleased. Ah, that human condition that never ceases to amaze me.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
It's the Little Things
I love presents. I admit it. Winter holidays, my birthday, anniversaries...whatever. Getting presents is really only trumped by giving them. Presents are just way cool all the way around. But sometimes, presents are cooler than other times. Like when you aren't expecting them. Like when they are little and unimportant to anyone but you.
My first book signing is Tuesday night (AAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!). After not flying for months and months, Lithus has been called to work. Yep, he will miss my first ever book signing. No matter how many other book signings he gets to attend, we will be apart for the first one and nothing can change that. *sigh*
I asked him to please, at least, get me a special pen so that I could sign my books with a pen from him. He bought me two, one that feels good in the hand and one that just "screamed Pauline."
And he's right ~ the one on top feels better in my hand, while the purple one is more my personality (and Pauline's). Still, I think I will go with the one that feels good in my hand. The other is cute but would get annoying after about three signatures. I will, however, keep it handy as a spare. I'm hard on nibs and I know this.
However, he brought me something else. I do a lot of editing and critiquing, both of my own work and of other people's. This is always ~ always ~ done in pencil. I require a very sharp pencil or else it, too, feels strange in my hand and while writing.
I don't have a good pencil sharpener. I have a cute pencil sharpener. It's in the shape of a dachshund and looks remarkably like the Daisy baby. It doesn't work. I have struggled with my Daisy baby pencil sharpener through several manuscripts now. Not out of any strange sense of loyalty or sentimentalism but just because I never think to get a new pencil sharpener while I'm out. It's not until I'm sitting with a dull pencil and nothing but the Daisy sharpener that I remember I need a new one. This is not helpful.
Along with my pens for my signing, Lithus gave me this:
The pens are wonderful. I love the pens. The pencil sharpener made me cry.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
My first book signing is Tuesday night (AAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!). After not flying for months and months, Lithus has been called to work. Yep, he will miss my first ever book signing. No matter how many other book signings he gets to attend, we will be apart for the first one and nothing can change that. *sigh*
I asked him to please, at least, get me a special pen so that I could sign my books with a pen from him. He bought me two, one that feels good in the hand and one that just "screamed Pauline."
And he's right ~ the one on top feels better in my hand, while the purple one is more my personality (and Pauline's). Still, I think I will go with the one that feels good in my hand. The other is cute but would get annoying after about three signatures. I will, however, keep it handy as a spare. I'm hard on nibs and I know this.
However, he brought me something else. I do a lot of editing and critiquing, both of my own work and of other people's. This is always ~ always ~ done in pencil. I require a very sharp pencil or else it, too, feels strange in my hand and while writing.
I don't have a good pencil sharpener. I have a cute pencil sharpener. It's in the shape of a dachshund and looks remarkably like the Daisy baby. It doesn't work. I have struggled with my Daisy baby pencil sharpener through several manuscripts now. Not out of any strange sense of loyalty or sentimentalism but just because I never think to get a new pencil sharpener while I'm out. It's not until I'm sitting with a dull pencil and nothing but the Daisy sharpener that I remember I need a new one. This is not helpful.
Along with my pens for my signing, Lithus gave me this:
The pens are wonderful. I love the pens. The pencil sharpener made me cry.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Listen to the Silence
I'm alone in the house.
Lithus is at a job interview (a story for another time); Timber is at school. I'm alone in the house.
Now, Lithus and I are both the kind of people who need some time to ourselves. However, I work from home and he doesn't have an office to go to when he's not flying. He hasn't really flown since September. This is a lot of together time. And you know what? I had no idea how much together it had been until just now, writing this post, which must be why we got married. Still, part of why it works is that we are both really great about understanding when the other needs some alone time. Neither is offended by the other disappearing into the office, the bedroom or the bath tub without the other. A walk or a drive or a visit with friends is practically de rigeur.
But that's different. That's giving the other some space or taking some breathing room or hanging out in one's own head for a bit. That's not the same as being completely alone in the house. Which I am. Until sometime after 3:00 today.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh... Just...listen.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Lithus is at a job interview (a story for another time); Timber is at school. I'm alone in the house.
Now, Lithus and I are both the kind of people who need some time to ourselves. However, I work from home and he doesn't have an office to go to when he's not flying. He hasn't really flown since September. This is a lot of together time. And you know what? I had no idea how much together it had been until just now, writing this post, which must be why we got married. Still, part of why it works is that we are both really great about understanding when the other needs some alone time. Neither is offended by the other disappearing into the office, the bedroom or the bath tub without the other. A walk or a drive or a visit with friends is practically de rigeur.
But that's different. That's giving the other some space or taking some breathing room or hanging out in one's own head for a bit. That's not the same as being completely alone in the house. Which I am. Until sometime after 3:00 today.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh... Just...listen.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
6 Weeks, 300 Pages
Oh boy. It's about to get busy here again. For a year now, my agent and I have been waiting to hear from my editor and publishing house about the proposal for the next book. We haven't heard. And we haven't heard. And we haven't heard. No contract. No feedback on the story. No rejection. No...anything.
I've been panicking because what if they don't like the story? They were really really eager to publish another book with me. But what if they don't like the story? I told them it would be done by February 2009. (Please note, we are now past that date. Remember this as it will be important later.)
My agent hasn't been panicking at all. Honestly, I don't think she's quite believed that they were so eager to publish another book. I can understand her reticence. All she has is the reports from a new author that a renowned publishing house and the holy grail of genre editors wants to work with said new author. And no shit. What new author wouldn't want to believe that aforementioned pub house and editor are falling all over themselves to work with her? This doesn't mean it's an accurate assessment of the situation and I do get that. No wonder agent hasn't quite believed it.
So, I've been saying "but it's due in Feb" and agent has been saying "don't write it until we hear from them." And I've been saying "but it's due in Feb" and agent has been saying "it's not though until they've accepted the proposal ~ which they haven't. Don't write it until we hear from them. You'll have 8-12 months once we hear back, if they buy it." And I've been saying "they were really into this trilogy and I said it would be ready in Feb" and agent has been saying "no pub house will publish a second book in a trilogy if they don't own the first one and we haven't heard back from editor. Don't write the second one until we hear back." And I've said...You get the idea.
Last week, I got the first email from my editor that I've received in a year. She needed plot and character description for the art department because they are going into cover design. Cover design. For a book that hasn't even officially been contracted. For a book they have not read a single word of yet. Cover design.
Um....
So, once it sunk in and Lithus and I did the Happy Husband Dance and Pobble Hop respectively, I started to panic a bit. I have asked my agent to get me six weeks. Please oh please, she can get me six weeks. Because I've gotta write about 300 pages. In six weeks. For a book that's gone to cover design.
Surreal doesn't even begin to describe it.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
I've been panicking because what if they don't like the story? They were really really eager to publish another book with me. But what if they don't like the story? I told them it would be done by February 2009. (Please note, we are now past that date. Remember this as it will be important later.)
My agent hasn't been panicking at all. Honestly, I don't think she's quite believed that they were so eager to publish another book. I can understand her reticence. All she has is the reports from a new author that a renowned publishing house and the holy grail of genre editors wants to work with said new author. And no shit. What new author wouldn't want to believe that aforementioned pub house and editor are falling all over themselves to work with her? This doesn't mean it's an accurate assessment of the situation and I do get that. No wonder agent hasn't quite believed it.
So, I've been saying "but it's due in Feb" and agent has been saying "don't write it until we hear from them." And I've been saying "but it's due in Feb" and agent has been saying "it's not though until they've accepted the proposal ~ which they haven't. Don't write it until we hear from them. You'll have 8-12 months once we hear back, if they buy it." And I've been saying "they were really into this trilogy and I said it would be ready in Feb" and agent has been saying "no pub house will publish a second book in a trilogy if they don't own the first one and we haven't heard back from editor. Don't write the second one until we hear back." And I've said...You get the idea.
Last week, I got the first email from my editor that I've received in a year. She needed plot and character description for the art department because they are going into cover design. Cover design. For a book that hasn't even officially been contracted. For a book they have not read a single word of yet. Cover design.
Um....
So, once it sunk in and Lithus and I did the Happy Husband Dance and Pobble Hop respectively, I started to panic a bit. I have asked my agent to get me six weeks. Please oh please, she can get me six weeks. Because I've gotta write about 300 pages. In six weeks. For a book that's gone to cover design.
Surreal doesn't even begin to describe it.
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
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