So let’s see where things stand, shall we? 1.  This weekend has mostly been me lazing about, and doing bits of things that need doing. Rather boring to blog about. Except signing the contracts (finally!) for Gin & Tonic #3 & #4. That’s always exciting. 2.  Today is father’s day. As I said elsewhere in the […]
Five Things make a State of the Meerkat Sunday Read More »
Today was… both quite productive (despite my usual grumbles, the deflag of the copyedit for FIXED is going well, and should be finished tomorrow) and really frustrating, on fronts I can’t discuss. Â So around 2pm, after a phone call to deal with some of the frustration, I decided “screw it” and hauled out the bike,
Another “out of office” day…. Read More »
Preface:  I am normally of the “it’s none of your business how much I earn, any more than how much you earn is any of my business” mindset.  But… maybe this will help people understand.  Or not.  I don’t know. ———————— mizkit posted about writerly income at a momentary reality check and I’m reposting here because, well, WHAT
Boosting the signal, and commentary: C.E. Murphy’s “a momentary reality check” Read More »
Most days, I work out of my home office. It’s a nice space – lots of natural light, a comfy chair, easy access to good coffee, hot and cold sleeping kittens. And I don’t have to wear shoes. But when you work at home, alone, you can go a little batshit after a while, looking
My Other Office(s) Read More »
When I first started out in this biz, I heard a lot of writers talking about “casting” their books, and researching for visuals (typically actors, but not always) as part of their research prep. And this struck me as strange (then again, I don’t create playlists for projects, either. Â So I may be an outlier.)
On “casting” while you write. Or not. Read More »
Writing: “Being in the devil’s debt was a damned uncomfortable thing.” It is entirely possible that I haven’t loved a book this much since writing STAYING DEAD. (my feelings for THE VINEART WAR were more akin to your first Bad News relationship, where you know you gotta even though everyone’s shaking their heads sadly at
The State of the Meerkat, Saturday Morning edition. Read More »
And lo, the copyedit of SOUL OF FIRE is done, and all the flags have been deflagged, the queries answered, and the irritations bit down and buried – because the CE will not see your responses, so although snarking in return may feel good, it’s also pointless. Â Bite ’em down and move on. Or, y’know,
If you cut me, do I not bleed (red ink)? Read More »
Yesterday, someone asked me what the on-spec manuscript I’ve been working on, was. My answer: a story. No, they said, what kind of story? With words, and characters, and Stuff Happening and their world changing, even if The World doesn’t change for them. But what genre? they insisted. Is it fantasy? SF? YA? Mainstream? Is
Don’t Know, Can’t Care Read More »
Sometimes, you sort of muddle along and figure out a character as you go.  And sometimes, it hits you like a clue-by-four, right between the eyes. Working on [project name redacted] yesterday, I took a Tumblr break to rest my brain, and was handed the visual* that will be [character name redacted] for my entire damned life.
The email fairy brought two bits of Good News this week! 1. Â The contracts from Audible for all four PSI novels (HARD MAGIC, PACK OF LIES, Â TRICKS OF THE TRADE and DRAGON JUSTICE) arrived! So now the entire Cosa Nostradamus catalog will be available in audiobook, and I just have to convince them to