Bizarro World

Personal News:

Today is the first day of a 5-day vacation. No work, at either job, for 5 full days. I'm not quite sure what to do with myself. It's my birthday, so I suppose I'll work at getting older. And, of course, I'll write. My husband and I are planning to go on a day trip with our dog, who I hope does well, and we might finally (finally!) meet our Little, from the Big Brothers Big Sisters program this weekend. The first Little they tried to match us with didn't work out because the mother never got back to the case worker. She kept saying she'd get back, had a hectic work schedule, then another week would pass before she'd say she'd get back again. It went on like that for four weeks, so now we're being paired with a new Little. He's 8, apparently talkative, lives nearby, and loves school (except for English). When they told me all that, I said I doubted a more perfect match could be made. I look forward to meeting our Little, and though I won't post anything specific to maintain his anonymity, I'll definitely share how it goes.

Now to the strange stuff. 

• We have new neighbors, named Jen and Chris, who are from Ohio and moved here because they couldn't find work there (like us).  Bizarre!

My cat, Cheese, doesn't do cute cat pics

• 2 people in 2 days have told me they've had dreams about me. In one, I was on an uncomfortable bed, and my friend said she was, too. We were roommates. I like that one because it reminds me of Bennington and VSC, so I'll interpret it to mean I have a writing residency in my future. The other dream, however, was about me getting hit by a car, and the car's impact throwing me up in the air. Not so much a fan of that dream.

• African dust hit San Antonio last week, and it seems to have made everyone sick this week. What happens, apparently, is that the wind patterns kick up dust from the Saharan Desert and carry it over to Texas where it wrecks the lungs of folks who already have allergies. I don't have terrible allergies myself, but a lot of folks I know got hit hard. One guy I work with could barely talk. People look at me strangely when I say, "It's probably the African dust," without giving some back-story on the news I've read and heard. At least that part is fun. 

Writing News:

I wrote two new stories.Yes! Short ones, so hopefully they'll see print one day.

I got two rejections this week for older work. One of the rejections surprised me and made me think I should reevaluate a particular piece I thought was completed. It's a longer story, so perspective is a little harder with those.

New publication in Skidrow Penthouse (print or PDF) entitled We Would Come Back as Rats.

I signed a contract to release a sort of magical realism story to A capella Zoo this week. I offered them a slightly longer ending, and I'm looking forward to seeing what they think.

I chatted with Bud Smith on The Unknown Show. Check it out. I think the conversation went well. It was fun to talk about writing and processes, and I read a story. Bud's cool, very conversational, and he's got a new book, Tollboth, that I look forward to reading. I only said two kind things I'd more carefully frame (as far as I remember), which is pretty good.

Finally, I have some great reading to do this weekend. I'm reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman, whom I've never read. And I'm reading The Merrill Diaries by Susan Tepper, an author I love. 



Have a great week! Next time I post, I'll be older and calmer (post-vacation).

Becoming a 'big' and taking a break

Writing News:

It took a while, but here's the novel (don't look too close!). I have completed a full, coherent draft. And this is my post-writing outline because I tend to do things backwards. I've tried to write to outlines, but my characters won't let me.

There's still a lot of work to do, but I have 73,400 words that encapsulate the world(s) of six people; two are major characters and all are interesting, I think, even if one will make you want to punch walls. My antagonist in this story is intense. I actually had to shake off her energy after I wrote long scenes with her in them, but hey, she's alive now on the page. I can honestly say that all these characters feel alive to me, though I'm sure they need the right lighting and camera angles before they are ready to present to the world.

I'm tired. I wrote this while working two jobs and battling the most debilitating migraines of my life (still getting them but less often... I attribute ridiculous amounts of water and Vitamin B serum for the reduction). I don't say that to make excuses for the amount of time it took but rather, to really emphasize that I am exhausted. Beat. Put a fork in me, I'm done.

Accordingly, I'm going to take a little time off from my novel and from short fiction, let the ideas simmer and try to think of what my next steps will be. I'm sure there are steps. I know it's sacrilege to take a break from writing when you're not blocked, but I think it might be a good time. I have so much good reading to do. I have the BEST class of my life to teach (these students are amazing... not a lazy one in the bunch, so far). And, I have a few new personal responsibilities to pay mind to.

In the meantime, I do have quite a bit forthcoming: 1. Uno Kudo, a literary arts production featuring poetry, artwork and prose in a beautiful coffee table style format will be featuring a story of mine about two folks in the animal control business who take their jobs very seriously. This publication should be out sometime in fall '13. Here's a link to V1, so you can check out a previous edition. It's an amazing book: UNO KUDO. 2. I have a new chapbook coming out, officially, from Monkey Puzzle Press (home to amazing writers such as Bonnie ZoBell and Meg Tuite). I signed the contract last week, and I'm so thrilled to be working with this amazing press. This book will be out in 2014.

Reading-wise, I've read a few great books. 1. The Magician's Assistant. I love this book. It took me a while to get around to reading it. I find it sweet and tough and sad and beautiful. 2. Beth Hoffman, my friend and mentor, has an amazing new book out entitled Looking for Me. Not only did I read this book, I listened to it on Audible, and it's a lovely experience both ways. I have a gut feeling this story will end up on screen.

Personal News:

My husband and I are becoming a 'big couple', not literally (I don't think). We've decided to volunteer to be 'bigs' for Big Brothers Big Sisters. I'm thrilled/scared/worried/overwhelmed by the idea. We attended orientation yesterday and were shocked to find out that this program has been around since 1903. Anything that can sustain and thrive that long must be doing real good, making real change. I hope we can be of some use and inspiration in a child's life. I really do. We'll see how it goes.

Okay, so off to find out if I can live up to my word and take a break from writing... have a good week!