Research/Pre-Writing Phase

Today I'm satisfied with leaving the six scenes to be written. They'll be sirens to lead me back to the manuscript. I'm going to set a goal of doing research and character work for three-to-four weeks while the story cools.

This is what I'm doing now. I'm breaking in my extremely pretty blue and metalic gold kitty-butterfly journal that was a gift from FH (saved for just such an occasion). So far, I've: listed my major research topics (7); made some notes on the timeline questions; listed the named characters (15); and listed the major settings (3, though, say, interior rooms of a building aren't included).

I've also begun assembling research books. Many of them I have already. I'm quite vexed though because there's one wonderful picture book (so good for the visual images) that is out of print, and the cheapest it's available is $54 on Amazon. That's just wrong. I could get it through interlibrary loan, but then I can't keep it. I may have to settle for that anyway. We'll see.

Basically, my plan is to write the name of whatever it is I'm brainstorming, underline it, and then make a note underneath. When I'm done, I'll synthesize and key up reference guides to each topic. Previously, I've used notecards, so this is a new strategy.

In other news, I wrote a draft of my panel talk on YA history and multiculturalism. I'm speaking with KA, who's talking about alternate forms, and GLS, who's talking about humor, at the upcoming AWP convention. By the way, Exploding The Myths: The Truth About Teenagers and Reading by Marc Aronson (Scarecrow, 2001)(author interview) was the best reference source I found. I'll refer the audience to it for further reading.

Oh! One last thing, try the turkey melt sandwich on whole wheat at Magnolia Cafe on Lake Austin Boulevard. I had it for dinner. Yummy!

Almost Drafted

Eye is much better, though I'm going to hold off until Tuesday to jump back on the treadmill (margin of error and all). I wrote sixteen pages today, which is phenomenal for me, and I'm up to 18,885 words, having also cut a lot. The manuscript has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

It's arguably the second first draft. I'm not letting myself off quite that easily, though. The next time I sit down, I'm going to study the six scenes, which are outlined, that I skipped. I'll decide whether I really need to do more pre-writing before tackling them. That in mind, I'll dive into what I can and then set the mss aside to work more on character development and world building.

Thanks to AS for her amazing e-card!

Suffering for My Art

I wrote eight pages today, bringing the mss up to 16,504 words.

For a while, I tried writing with the eyepatch on, but that was too distracting. It's stinging now, no doubt vexed by the abuse, but globally feeling better than even last night. It also seems to be much better inside than out. The natural light results in its watering almost immediately.

I'm mostly staying in, but there was a lost puppy earlier that I had to check on. (Puppy is fine now).

Pirate Cyn

Ow! I poked a fin'ernail in me eye! I have t' wear a patch for t' next three days. I'll be spendin' as much o' that time as possible off-line as it's wicked light sensitive. You all take care in t' meantime!

Check out me favorite pirate book, and find out how t' talk like a pirate!

Subheads

It's silly while writing the second first draft to fret something like the title, which might well be changed by Marketing anyway. But I have my vaguley o-c preoccuptions. Not long ago I changed my WIP title from F&M to T&C:ALS because I thought the latter was rather clever and the juxtaposition of the subhead would hook the market.

I've never had a book with a subhead before, but they always seemed to make novels sound more interesting somehow--maybe just because you get more information. I've been noticing of late, though, that people frequently leave off subheads. In my case, that would give a related but less sellable connotation. So I'm back to F&M. I'll use T&C, though, as a chapter head.

I also found a biblical quote that I'm including for now in the front papers.

13,849 words; I've been going through and reading each draft, keying in changes, then writing the next scene. The idea is not to polish--I'm still looking for the forest, not trimming the trees--but rather to keep the fantasy construct internally consistent.

Paraskevidekatriaphobia

Keying in changes from reading everything I have up to this point on the WIP. I've made notes, too, on two scenes, one from the POV of each main characters, that fall somewhere near the front. I think I'm not going to write them now, but rather keep going. That way, after I set down to cool and pick up the mss again, I'll have assignments waiting for me that force me back into the groove.

Also had lunch today with FH at Katz's (turkey ham, swiss, lettuce, tomato--hold the bread). Wanna hear something spooky? Both of our fathers died on a Friday, the 13th. As a result, we suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia.

Staff picks at BookPeople today include Freaks: Alive on the Inside by Annette Curtis Klause (Simon & Schuster, 2006)(author interview); Grand & Humble by Brent Hartinger (HarperCollins, 2006)(author interview); and Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos (Atheneum, 2006)(author interview)(recommendation)(excerpt).

The Second First Draft

In my workshop with LK at the last VC residency, I mentioned in passing that I always throw away my novel manuscript first drafts and delete the files. This got a much bigger reaction than I'd ever intended, but in any case, the reason for it is so that I can give myself permission to just write full-out--find the voice, explore the setting, really play with no inkling that I'll ever use any of it as a real foundation.

But now I'm onto my second first draft, the real one that I'll build on from now on. Maybe. Unless for some reason I have to throw that out, too, which is what happened when I was writing T. But this time I feel more secure in it. My Spidey sense is happy.

I've got 13,703 words so far, which translates to 67 pages, the last four of which are single-spaced notes on what's supposed to happen next. I have no idea how long this draft will run, but no doubt it'll be a whole lot shorter than every subsequent stab.

The great thing is that I have a solid grasp of the work in front of me. On the other hand, the scary thing is that I have a solid grasp of the work in front of me.

The even better news: I'm having fun!

So Long Savannah

I was supposed to be flying to Savannah today. I had reservations at the Ballastone Inn. I was looking forward to the ghost tours. It's been more than five years since my last vacation, though that one was to Paris. This one has already been rescheduled twice. But GLS had something come up at the last minute with his law practice. Ah well! Such are the perils of self-employment.

On the upside, I got two scenes done on my novel mss today. That's nine pages, which is basically my max for one day's new draft efforts.

Thanks to JLH and HB for their sweet cards!

Alternating POV

I'm back in the saddle--literally, one of my co-protagonists is riding along... I have co-protagonists! I blame/credit GLS for his influence as Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo (Little Brown, 2003, 2005) and Tofu and T. rex (Little Brown, 2005) are both alternating point of view novels.

It's harder than it looks. First, you have to find two sufficiently compelling voices. Then you have to keep their perspectives straight and plots interwoven in a mutual crescendo kind of way. Hm, that sounded sexier than the mss seems to be (so far), but you know what I mean.

Whenever I have a break, I have to re-read the entire mss to get back into it again. I spent much of the afternoon doing that and hope to draft a new scene tonight.

Thanks to AS for her lovely e-card; check out her new picture book, Mocking Birdies (Simply Read, 2005).

Dedication Day

My editor emailed today, requesting the dedication information for Santa Knows (Dutton, 2006). That's always exciting--counting down to the August release. GLS and I are dedicating the book to my mother and in memory of my father.

Also finished my last VC packet (300 pages) for January and wrote the letter. Whew!

Charade

Last night GLS and I celebrated Valentine's Day at home.

He gave me a couple of shiraz/syrah wine tumblers and a bouquet of red roses. I gave him a copy of The Driskill Hotel: Stories of Austin's Legendary Hotel -- A Cookbook for Special Occasions by David J. Bull and Turk Pipkin. He made shrimp and turkey thighs with peppers, onions, and squash for dinner, and after dining, we watched "Charade," which is my second favorite Audrey Hepburn movie after "My Fair Lady."

Incidentally, I must confess that I've always thought the fuss over the right glass for the right wine was simply a manifestation of snobbery and marketing, but I was so wrong. It makes quite a difference for the better.

Today, I received valentines from AB and LGS--sweet! And GLS and I had a wonderful lunch with JW at ClayPit: Grill and Curry House (try the Taj Mahal soup--"fresh lentil and vegetable soup with a quick tempering of cumin").

Look for JW's debut novel, Escape from Arylon (The Silverskin Legacy)(Llewellyn, 2006). It's the first in a trilogy!

Retirement Cheers

GLS and I had lunch yesterday with JL at the Eastside Cafe to celebrate her retirement from the APL. Not that this library guru won't be keeping really busy...!

I'm wrapping up my VC packets. I've finished all but one.

Spooky News & Links

If a vampire were after you by Kimberly Pauley of YA Books Central.

Karma

GLS cooked DHA and me a wonderful dinner this afternoon--Cantonese lobster and shrimp with snow peas, both on brown rice. She was lovely company, as always.

More globally, I'm still feeling somewhat hollow, but trying to pour as much positive energy into the world as I can. My grandma was a big believer in karma.

Crispy Oysters

Had crispy oysters for the first time ever last night at the 34th Street Cafe (extra parking is around back). Yummy! I dislike oyster dressing and oysters on the half shell and so was loathe to try them, but FH encouraged me, so I decided to go for it. I also had the Chinese Hack Salad with crispy shrimp, which was great, too. It was my first time at the restaurant, and the service was quite good. Try to snag a booth seat though. The chairs looked uncomfortable.

FH , GLS, and I were celebrating the sale of BY's second novel--a WF novel, no less! Yay!

Finished grading one VC packet yesterday evening before going out, starting on another now.

Mulligan Report

The Mulligan stew was a big hit last night with the crit group. I had some of the leftover whole wheat noodles this morning with my turkey bacon, scrambled eggs, and American cheese for breakfast.

Everyone was likewise positive about the tall tale revision. We read the original version sent to the editor, my summary of his notes, and then my rewrite. Suggestions included making it a more universally tall-tale world rather than specifying Texas (to broaden the market), tightening the series of events, and omitting a "sound" word that was hard on the read-aloud. A good question was raised about the exasperation level of the parent characters, but the teachers in the group seemed convinced that their dialogue rang true. After everyone left, GLS had an additional suggestion to make one of the scenes bigger, and this morning I smoothed out one last parallel construction before contacting my agent. Cross fingers!

This afternoon, I must set my own writing aside for a few days to focus on VC MFA packets. New students, new writing, most exciting!

Spooky News & Links

Don't miss today's interview with Margaret Bechard on Spacer and Rat (Roaring Brook, 2005) on Cynsations!

Comic of the Week: Nightwing #117--sigh.

Suffering Soccotash!

Zoomed out this morning to BookPeople to shop for birthday and Valentine's gifts and cards. Then I was treated to lunch by KD at Thai Tara on 6th. I enjoyed my shrimp spring roll and my chicken satay with peanut sauce (four hearty servings--order to split), but next time I would sit outside on the deck, weather permitting.

After lunch I picked up a box of 400 individual packets of Splenda at Randall's on Exposition.

So, I'm in the sweetner section, and this motion-detector device begins lecturing me in the voice of Sylvester the cat to buy the pink stuff instead. I was appalled. I find the trend toward more and more in-store advertising at groceries vaguely vexing (point of purchase coupons, ads on the floor, etc.), but this was like being berated by a salescat (and you know I'm cat friendly) simply for walking by. I'm trying to imagine the cacophony of noise if product "spokesman" were pitching on five or six products on the aisle. Sigh.

My crit group meets tonight at my house. GLS and I are serving what my family calls "Mulligan stew," which is made from 2 cans of tomato sauce, 2 cans of tomato paste, 1 can of Campbell's Vegetarian Vegetable Soup, and ground turkey over whole wheat linguine. (My family uses hamburger and regular pasta). Can't wait to hear what the group thinks of my tall tale revision!

Happy birthday to KZ on Vashon Island in Seattle!

Tale Tale II

Had a glorious three-hour lunch with AL at Houston's at Anderson and Burnet this afternoon. She's fantastic. I can hardly wait to read her upcoming YA. She shared part of it at WF, and I was wowed. Plus, you know, she looks quite fetching in pinstripes.

Also continued rewriting the tall tale. It now has a statement of mythology, and...that is new why? Ditto on clarifying the emotional stakes.

Tall Tale

I've spent most of the day working on my Texana picture book revision. This has been a toughie, coming in bits and pieces. I'm definitely getting closer though. The key was to keep thinking bigger, bigger, and now, okay, I've got a TALL tale, which not coincidentally was along the lines of my editor's comments. Go figure. Those editors. Smart cookies.

Valentine Rose

A red rose is blooming just outside my front door. Not having grown up in the southwest, I'm wowed. Roses in the yard in February. The first Christmas I lived here, one bloomed on the holiday and I was enchanted.

After a break for teaching and travel, my muse has regained full force. I'm enjoying working on F&M, which is now called T&C: ALS. I've got about 10,000 words, though the last four pages of the 44 is comprised of single-space notes that (hopefully) tell me where the story is headed.

At this point, I tend to panic that there's not enough to sustain a novel, that it'll all be written in 75 or 80 pages. It's a familiar byproduct of the fact that my rough drafts tend to be fairly bare bones (so there is much to be added), the fact that I always underestimate how many words it'll take to translate a handful of notes into a scene (sometimes a sentence equals six or more pages) and typical author insecurity. I've grown to recognize and accept it. You'd think I could also smite it from my writing life, but that may be asking too much.

In other news, GLS and I have been watching "Fantasy Island season 1" (very rhetro--women scream and faint a lot) and "Remington Steele season 2" (definitely one of the best and most underappreciated shows of its time; lots of action and charming really).

The Ghost Boat

I finally have had a chance to begin unpacking from a busy January and now a journal recycled from a book, The Ghost Boat by Jacqueline Jackson, sits on my desk--fresh, fierce, awaiting scribbles. It was a gift from the VC graduating class--each faculty member and first semester student received one, though of course the books recycled varied. Very spooky!

www.cynthialeitichsmith.com redesigned

The Spooky news of the day is the redesign of my site at www.cynthialeitichsmith.com by Lisa Firke of Hit Those Keys. Surf over to check it out and then pop over to Cynsations to read Lisa's related interview and soak in some of her global thoughts on author sites.

Highlight of yesterday was lunch with AB at the U.T. Club. Due to recent travels, hadn't seen her in far too long. We had much to catch up on.

On another note, I can't help thinking that someone would have a field day trying to psychoanalyze me from my Google searches. Writing demands all kinds of research, and I do mine along the way. Today it was "Stages of a Drowning." And for the record: not planning to do it myself or inflict it--just background, okay?

In The Groove

Wrote the prologue. Am scribbling on it. Plan to begin drafting new scenes with earnest beginning tomorrow. This, I love.

Beyond that, not much to report. Turkey tacos for dinner. Made out my Valentine's Day cards for the family. Elders really like cards, and so do kids.

El Chile

Had dinner last night with GLS, AG, and his fiance S at El Chile Cafe y Cantina. It was the first time I'd been to the near East Austin restaurant. I was impressed with the casual atmosphere and higher-end interior menu. The Rajas con Queso was fantastic, though the Downtown Charlie's Special was a bit on the dry side (I had the chicken). That said, people go there for the sauces, but most aren't on my diet. Downsides: no whole wheat tortillas (I brought my own) and only one ladies room to serve the entire restaurant (though there was never a wait).

A Place of Solace

Thanks to everyone who wrote with condolences about the death of my grandmother. It's interesting because some writers can write when they're grieving, others can't. I have to. Writing isn't only my playground and passion, it's also my place of solace. Not of safety, definitely not that. But where I belong. It feels reassuring, the belonging.

So, I wrote today. I'm revising a picture book manuscript for one of my editors. It's humorous, tall-tale-ish, and relatively experimental, though I've worked on it for some time. I like it.

In Memory: Grandma Dorothy

My grandmother Dorothy died last week of heart complications arising from a hip surgery. She was 86 years old, strikingly beautiful, imaginative, a dedicated matriarch, a collector of ceramic bluebirds, precise about her cottage and its grounds, as well as fond of entertaining guests, traveling, dining out, and gaming at the riverboats in Kansas City.

Grandma Dorothy also was the inspiration for one of my short stories, "The Naked Truth," which appeared in an anthology titled In My Grandmother's House: Award-Winning Writers Tell Stories About Their Grandmothers edited and illustrated by Bonnie Christensen (HarperCollins, 2003).

I had the honor of giving her eulogy at the memorial service on Saturday. It's a task that often falls to writers in a family, and my experience has been no exception. It's tremendously personal, emotionally draining, and yet also a welcome opportunity to use years of craft to offer tangible comfort to those closest. I'm grateful that when there are no words, some seem to find me anyway, if only out of training and love.

Prologue Postponed

I didn't get the prologue written yesterday, but I did spend some time going over the existing scenes and reconfigering their order. I'm trying this draft at least in alternating POV, and that's a bit more tricky than I'd first envisioned.

Right now, there are about 18 pages of manuscript and another 5 of single-spaced notes. It's not a bad place to be. The voices are taking shape. The internal and external arcs look pretty solid. The previous draft (AKA throwaway draft) was time well spent.

Perils of Prologues

I'm going to make an effort today to write a prologue for F&C: ALS (formerly F&M). Or maybe it isn't a prologue. Maybe it's just a chapter that takes place, oh, a year or so before the rest of the story begins.

Who am I trying to kid? It's a prologue.

Lots of folks don't like prologues, and I think it's an unfair bias. True, many are unnecessary indulgences of an author who simply can't seem to cut prewriting. But let's say there's a literary reason that can be clearly articulated. That's arguably more likely in gothic fantasy. Consider, for example, that "The X-Files" and "Six Feet Under" had a real affection for the beasts.

So, having mused on the subject, I'm going to dive in with the understanding that it all may be cannon fodder in the end anyway.

By the way, I'm reading The Reluctant Miss Van Helsing by Minda Webber (Dorchester, 2006), which is light, mass market adult fare with a penchant for puns. A cute read for romance fans. It was an airport bookstore purchase.

Shoreline Celebration

GLS and I went to Shoreline Grill to celebrate the sale of his Korean rights to Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo. We're running a little late on this celebration because I was at VC so much of this month, but we make it a policy to cheer every publishing victory. This is our first of an international nature--woo woo!

Also logged in a couple of hours of grindstone work on the novel mss in progress; feeling pretty yay about the whole thing. I can do this! I can!

Spooky News & Links

Freaks by Annette Curtis Klause: a review by Adam-Troy Castro from SciFi.com (author interview).

Comic of the Week: Birds of Prey #90 (much funnier if you're a close, personal friend of the Batman, as of course I am)

I'm a Writer

Between all the writing, speaking, teaching, traveling, and what not, it seems like forever since I've really felt like a writer--as opposed to someone who's frantically checking on this or that with regard to her already-contracted manuscripts.

I actually worked on my pb mss with the pending revision request today, and I'm somewhat pleased. It's at least worth running by GLS at dinner. It's funny. It's visual. It moves. My big questions are whether the kid sensibility rings true and whether the resolution resonates.

Tomorrow--maybe tonight--I'm diving back into my novel.

Snapshots from San Antonio

Just back from a whirlwind sweep through ALA midwinter in San Antonio. GLS and I stayed at La Mansion del Rio, which is wonderfully haunted, though perhaps not worth the extra money for a river view unless you really want to hear 50s tunes until midnight and beyond (I was too tired to care).

Highlights included:

lunch at Boudro's with my glam, whip-smart CW editor, DW (guacamole and perhaps one more margarita than absolutely necessary, but when on the Riverwalk...)(she mentioned the possibility of companion book to T--hmmm);

lunch at Zuni with PRG (author interview);

dinner at Sage (at the Fairmount) with DMF, an editor at Simply Read, and the lovely J;

breakfast with SR, JK (author interview), FB (author interview), HVF (author interview), NW (author interview), and the lovely MP;

spotting DT, VJ, BG (live!), and all manner of publishing types on the floor.

Great time and fabulous folks, but I'm fried both in terms of sheer endurance as well as stress---juggling a long-distance family health crisis. May be on a plane sometime this week.

Home to Good News

I'm finally back in Austin after a successful, if sometimes stressful, residency. My one regret is that due to a last-minute scheduling conflict, I didn't get to see my pal TLS, though KCC was kind enough to pick up a couple of signed copies of TLS's fabu new novel, A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl (Random House/Wendy Lamb Books, 2006) for me.

I came home to good news. WF alumnus BY has sold one of his WF novel manuscripts to Flux (an imprint of Llewellyn). Yahoo and congratulations!

Beyond that, I'm in frantic catch-up mode!

Downhill Slide

The sun is back out, and the cold has once again lost its bitterness. Today is the second to last of the VC residency. Graduation is tomorrow.

The entire experience has been intense, inspiring, frustrating, fascinating, and thought-provoking. I'm looking forward to readings today by LG and MH, two of my former advisees. I'm signing semester plans for new students. And I'm a little hungry because I was too busy this a.m. to go to breakfast. (I've had some almonds as a hold-over snack).

New Students

I'm meeting today with my new students, which is so exciting. At this point, we're going over their creative and critical goals so that they can formulate their semester plans. LG's graduate lecture today was on YA/A crossover, and she did a wonderful job. I'm so proud of her!

I look forward to hearing LS, NFM, and EH read tonight.

Must run--one more student meeting to go!

Special Weekend

The VC program traditionally includes a "special weekend" on a theme, featuring lectures, Q&A, and seminars with guest speakers. This weekend, our theme was "the picture book."

Our guest speakers included MK from FSG, MG, WW, JFH, and APS.

Highlights:

MK's seminar discussion of recent FSG picture books. She emphasized finding the emotional core, the emotional truth. Going deeper.

MG's reading from The Old Country (Roaring Brook, 2005), which is a book that has lingered unread on my shelf these past few months, but will absolutely go to the top of my pile once I return home--simply charming man. Spellbinding reading!

APS's fun, upbeat, healing presentation on non-fiction. She is an amazing speaker--I give her my highest recommendation to event planners.

WW's insightful discussion of her determined research process and her inspiring father's influence in her work.

JFH's shared talk with faculty chair KA on the long and dramatic story behind the story of Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers: How A First Lady Changed America (HarperCollins, 2005).

In other news, it's now really cold for the first time since I've been here--brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Author Interview: Annette Curtis Klause on Freaks: Alive on the Inside

No spooky readers worth their stripes should miss out on my interview with Annette Curtis Klause on Freaks: Alive on the Inside (Simon & Schuster, 2006), featured as of tonight on Cynsations.

Spooky News & Links

More on the VC special weekend later, but I must say that while listening to MK (of FSG) talk about picture books this morning I had an epiphany about one I'm revising and wrote a whole rough draft of a brand new manuscript. Talk about an inspiring editor!

Laundry Day

I got through speed dating just fine. Lots of folks came to chat, and they all seemed to like the handout, though I should've clarified my stance on first semesters with pre-existing WIPs and the packet response protocal.

My reading from MT last night seemed to go well, too. DD said the Austin setting made her homesick.

Conventional wisdom is that today, the Friday before special weekend, is the day on which the most people cry. Fatigue, homesickness, a less-than-sterling critique kicks in--whatever. I'm carrying tissues in my purse in case I come across someone who needs one.

On the upside, special weekend is almost here. JFH arrived yesterday, and she is as always a warm, inspirational, and loving pal.

Speed Dating

So far, Vermont hasn't really been all that chilly. Not to tempt Snow Miser, but I don't think he's trying that hard.

Highlights of the residency so far include KLG's opening night talk. She's a tremendously thoughtful, intelligent, and inspiring speaker. I also particularly enjoyed a party in town with the graduating students and faculty. Also, the food is much better this time!

Today begins the speed-dating portion of the event. What happens is that faculty are assigned to various locations around campus. The students come on a flowing basis to ask us questions about our styles and interests. Then after a few such exchanges, they'll be asked to preference which of us they'd like to work one-on-one with over the course of the next semester.

The farther along they are in the program, the fewer choices they put down (so they have a higher chance of getting their top choice).

Fifteen minutes to go! I'm excited to talk to whomever wants to chat with me...but my inner seventh grader frets a tad that I'll be a wallflower.

The Great White North

I'm writing from snowy Vermont. Yesterday's travel went well. I took two regional jets--one from Austin to Cincinnati and the other from Cincinnati to Burlington (plus a 45 minute cab ride $98 to Montpeiler).

I read a USA Today on the first and tore out an article, "Cats Have More than 9 Lives, and Plenty of Cousins." Either it's research, or I just miss my kitties already. In the Cincinnati airport, I was delighted to find a sit-down restaurant, Moe's, which served me a wonderful chicken-and-parmesen omlette, and at Border's, I picked up a copy of Mr. Monk Goes To The Firehouse by Lee Goldber (Signet, 2006)(read excerpt), which is a mass-market tie in book to one of my fave TV shows. It's told from the POV of Monk's assistant, Natalie, and is quite good.

When I arrived in Burlington, there was snow on the ground, though the roads were clear. (People here really believe in salt!). I went with KA and LK, who'll be my workshop partner, to the grocery store for provisions, and then to the faculty dinner. MDB and EL, both scheduled to be here, had to cancel at the last minute. They are missed. NFM brought her husband HM last night, which was a treat. The whole party ran to about 11 p.m. local time, and I feel instantly to sleep.

Enjoyed breakfast this morning with KA, PK, and SM, which had a vaguely WF reunion feel.

Pre VC Winter Residency

Not a morning person and leaving at 5 a.m.

Not a cold-weather person, though gear is packed.

But semi-functional toe! (Can hold weight, less swollen--yay!)

Spooky News & Links

SF (Sci Fi) for Kiddies from Bookslut.

Rose Bowl

I'm somewhat ashamed to admit that I was the last person in Austin to realize that the U.T. football team won the Rose Bowl because I fell asleep before the game was over and miraculously slept through all the fireworks and festivities.

OTOH, GLS is a U.T. grad per his master's in electrical engineering, and he was sufficiently excited to buy me two commemorative T-shirts to take with me on my trip--if only to tease KA, who's an Aggie.

According to my wonderful doc, it looks as though my toe will survive, though it will be interesting to see me sneaking off to soak it and pack it in cotton three or four times a day at the VC res.

By the way, if you live in Austin and need a family practice doctor, I highly recommend James Hahn on 38th St.

Comic O The Week: Teen Titans #31

Bow and Arrows

My bow and arrows from GLS arrived yesterday!

I feel quite Speedy-Diana/Artemis about the whole thing. Of course, non-mammal eater that I am, I will be using the set on targets only.

Almost all of my VC packing is done, except the small bag for the plane. If only my foot weren't throbbing...! Cross fingers that the doctor will be able to fix it tomorrow morning.

Had a lovely lunch yesterday with VJ at Katz's. I hope I wasn't too bad of company, what with the ouch factor going on.

Vermont Bound

After a dicey tech morning, my blogs are both working just fine.

I've been busy getting ready for the VC winter residency. My speech and intros are written, handout sent in for copying, reading selected, and--ta da--my winter coat has been delivered from Eddie Bauer. It's maple with a faux furry hood. I love it!

Sadly, the EB moccasins I ordered, which supposedly had plastic soles, actually had suede soles. That won't work for the dorm, though they are the most comfy mocs ever, and I will enjoy them at home. So, I'm just packing one of my regular pairs. I'm also going to pick up some lycra running tights tomorrow since the whole long-underwear thing didn't work out. Pity that.

I also wanted to mention that I saw "Fantastic Four" this week, and it was much better than I expected it to be.

Cynsations Frozen

I seem to be having a serious posting issue with Blogger on Cynsations. I'll keep you all posted.

Happy New Year

New Year's Eve is my birthday, which is really a lot of pressure on one holiday, but yesterday was quite fun and eventful.

GLS gave me a bow (with arrows) and carrying case, which made me feel every inch Amazon Cyn. I'm quite jazzed about the whole thing.

We had breakfast at Katz's Deli (scrambled eggs and a turkey ham-and-swiss on whole wheat), followed by a quick trip to Target where I picked up a cloth purse and socks.

Then we checked into the Stephen F. Austin, which is one of the grand downtown historic hotels, recently restored. The hotel itself was gorgeous, quite well done right down to the Art Deco elevator hardware. It was our first time staying there, so we were hopeful.

The service was spotty at best, though. (Staff confusion over whether the bar was open or closed--it was open, but only the bartender was scheduled. We were advised to try room service, which took an hour to deliver after four phone calls--one because the kitchen didn't have a copy of the room service menu, one because the person answering the phone didn't understand that Sauvignon Blanc was a kind of wine, not a winery, another because she wasn't sure how much to charge for my snack, and a final one because it was taking an hour instead of the promised 35 minutes. Plus, we had no hot water this morning).

However, we still had a good time together. Our room overlooked Congress Avenue, so we were able to watch all of the First Night Parade from there. We'd actually been chosen as one of 2006 households to receive bread, and we would've marched in conjunctin with that program if we hadn't already had the competing reservations.

Dinner at the hotel was excellent--a five course prix fixe menu. I skipped a couple of courses, but enjoyed the rest, especially the shrimp bisque. Despite battling cedar allergies, GLS looked quite handsome in his suit, and I wore a black velvet long sleeve top with a white satin skirt covered in black lace.

Chocolates

At the VC res, one of the questions asked of new advisors is whether we want to be reimbursed for printing, mail, etc. I told my students no. My theory was that they're already paying enough, so I just jokingly said that they were welcome to send me chocolates at the end of the semester instead. One of my students, AB, did! Gorgeous, delicious dark chocolates from Vermont (which is not her home state). I was wowed!

In other news, my cousin is here from NYC. We had brunch today at the South Congress Cafe, shopped at Uncommon Objects, hit the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema on South Lamar (best theater in the U.S. for 2005 according to "Entertainment Weekly") to see "Narnia" (my second time, her first). What marks it above the competition, I think, is the pacing and how much the young heroes grow and change. Right now, we're taking a siesta, and then we're off to dinner at Green Pastures.

Yule-Tidy

Christmas Eve and Day were quiet and lovely. GLS and I watched "The Year Without A Santa Claus" and "Teen Witch." We enjoyed quite a lot of seafood, cheese, apples, and a traditional turkey dinner with the healthier of the trimmings.

Along with some smaller items, I gave GLS an electric train and he gave me an iPOD, which is a lot easier to use when I'm walking the treadmill than my CD player. It's also less perilous if I drop it.

We had lunch yesterday with SA and her charming teacher-sis at Eastside Cafe and then dinner and crit group in Travis Peak at TC's log cabin overlooking the lake. Everyone seemed pleased with progress on my wip, especially D's dry voice, the sparking romance, etc. They advised narrowing the fantasy world, which will heighten the focus on D&T, and that makes sense.

Tonight, I look forward to the arrival of my cousin and her boyfriend. She's from Antler's, Oklahoma, by way of NYC. Post blogging, I'll be finishing my thank-you cards and tidying up the house for their arrival.

The Tea Embassy

I'm officially high-speed Cyn. Perhaps you're thinking, wow, Cyn, don't you run a huge children's/YA Web site? How can you possibly have been on dial-up all this time? And the answer, my friend, is best discussed at another time. Let's just say Cyn's tech life is rosier these days.

Also, I went shopping with FH this afternoon, and we visited shops on West Lynn and, for the first time, The Tea Embassy at 9th and Rio Grande. I was enchanted. My fellow Austinites, don't miss this urban Oasis!

Before Christmas Gifts

When I was a little girl, I was absolutely enchanted by Christmas and could hardly wait to open my presents. (I'm sure you're surprised).

So my grandparents (see In My Grandmother's House) began the before-Christmas-gift tradition, which I insist on continuing to this day, by which I mean this day. GLS gave me a desk lamp from Pottery Barn, and I gave him a cheese platter inspired by an artist's palette and brush from the shop at the Art Institute in Chicago.

Comic of the Week: Birds of Prey #89; here's to finally telling Commissioner Gordon that Barbara is Batgirl/Oracle, even if he did know the first part.

Solstice, Angel, Photo Archive, Therapy

I spent a good part of the morning working on my upcoming speech for the VC winter residency:

You like me! You really like me!"--Protagonist Likeability: Does it matter? Why or why not? How to achieve it? And what to do when it's (hopefully) not possible.

I've got a good outline that addresses the major points, and I'm planning on finding examples from various books that illustrate those points. I'm going to talk it over with GLS tonight after dinner and then maybe throw out some questions for insights from the CB (collective brain), especially to those authors whose books I plan to feature.

Then I took a few hours to fiddle with the plot for my WIP. I had a couple of epiphanies, including one that came with that much-treasured, yet always elusive I'm-a-genius-the-best-writer-ever-the-world-should-bow-before-me glee. I also picked out a name for a backstory character who dies before the novel begins. Sometimes, names just come to me, but this one I had to ponder a bit. It needed to be a name that would fit a child of a certain age, certain generation, so I did a little research on popular names and one just popped out at me, based on the thematic fit.

I made the mistake of jumping from my writing onto the treadmill without a pen and Post-It notes, so once the blood was pumping and the ideas were popping, I had to either get off (thus lowering my heart rate) or chant code words so I could remember the concepts. I elected for the latter: "solstice, angel, photo archive, therapy." It worked! I was able to keep them all in my mind for the 45 minutes until I jumped off.

What else? I got a lovely query from someone interested in reprinting "A Real-Live Blond Cherokee and His Equally Annoyed Soul Mate," which appears this fall in Moccasin Thunder: American Indian Stories for Today, edited by Lori M. Carlson (HarperCollins, 2005). She seemed to really *get* it, which is always so validating. I referred her to my agent.

Creative Fire

"You will be a dragon of creative fire this week. "Watch your aim."
--fortune in Greg's cookie tonight at Suzi's South

"Your ability for accomplishment will follow with success."
--fortune in my cookie tonight at Suzi's South

"Hey, can I trade?"
--me to GLS

I don't know that I either demonstrated an ability for accomplishment or aimed any creative fire, though the latter sounds more, well, fiery, but I did manage to pound out a new scene of my WIP today and got a few more ideas about where the story is headed. It felt good to write after having been so long swamped with events and grading.

I look forward to the VC residency, but I also look forward to settling in after that and really focusing on my own writing. The ideas are flowing, flowing, flowing. I need to get fiercer about protecting my own writing time. Roar!

Fall Under Her Spell

"Fall under her spell."
--tagline for "Teen Witch," now available on DVD

Not enough people appreciate the cheeseball genius of "Teen Witch" (1989), which is worth renting for the rap number (it's a musical) and casting of Zelda Rubinstein ("Poltergeist") as Louise's mentor, Madame Serena, and Dick Sargent ("Bewitched") as her dad. I watched it probably a million times on HBO as a teenager, but until this week could only find it on video with Spanish subtitles (okay, that was kind of fun). But now, now, it's on DVD--can't top that!

Lunch today at Green Pastures (looks gorgeous decorated for the holidays) with DT, who brought GLS and I portraits of ourselves and (to date) mystery gift. Peahen sightings: 2!

It's Good To Be Queen

"It's Good To Be Queen!"
--printed on a mug TLS sent me this week

I've finished grading my last VC packet and keying out the semester evaluations. All zoom away tomorrow morning. Indulging in that happy post-finals feeling. Ahhh!

Still Busy

Yesterday, I answered some fan mail from third graders in San Diego, shopped and autographed stock at BookPeople, started importing my online lesson plans into various teacher guide sites, had dinner at Musashino, and had cocoa at the Four Seasons lobby lounge.

I'm hopeful to finish grading my last VC packet, which is supposed to arrive today, so I can have some time off over the holidays. But at the moment, I'm hopping on the treadmill.

Book I'm Reading: The Misadventures of Maude March by Audrey Couloumbis (Random House, 2005).

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Last night, GLS and I had dinner at Uchi and saw "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" at the Alamo Draft House Cinema on South Lamar (much we like with did with "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" last weekend).

I haven't read the book but found the latest Harry Potter installment an enjoyable film. No one grew or changed except Dumbledore, but the Hogwarts faculty and Hermione were well developed as was the external arc, despite the pacing. I'm assuming that the fantasy elements, like the winged horses, that were extraneous in the film play a role in the books, which tempts me to try reading them again. I'm curious as to where the magic comes from. It's energy, yes? So, what is its price? Though clearly perilous, none of the users seemed tired by invoking it. My only quibble is with the use (in this case overuse) of eavesdropping as a plot device, though perhaps that too can be excused because the invisibility cloak is apparently one of Harry's tools.

In any case, I recommend seeing the movie at the theater because the effects were first rate, though if you're on a budget and must pick between it and "Narnia," by all means, go to "Narnia."

I'm spending the weekend finishing grading my VC students' last packets.

What Would Aslan Do?

"What would Aslan do?"
--spotted on a T-shirt at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
South Lamar, Austin, TX

What a wonderful weekend! GLS and I had original planned to vacation in Savannah this month, but that fell through, so we decided to vacation locally for a couple of days instead.

Right after Thanksgiving, we tried to get reservations at the Hotel San Jose on South Congress only to find it already booked solid for the month. So, after some reflection, we elected the Omni Hotel downtown instead. It was just up the hill from The State Theater, which was our Friday night destination.

We checked in as soon as we could--just after three o'clock and then explored the place. The Omni is a 1980s construction modern-style hotel--lots of glass, soaring atrium, pool on the roof. After changing clothes, we struck out into the city and the chilly 20-something-degree wind. We first swung by the bar at the Stephen F. Austin, a historical hotel, for a tempura sushi roll (so-so roll), and then continued onto Shoreline Grill on Lake Travis for dinner. I highly recommend the tempura lobster tail and seared sea scallops.

The main event, though, wasn't dinner but theater. We buzzed up Congress for the evening showing of "Humbug: A Christmas Carol," which has been extended through Dec. 22. The State Theater doesn't have the historic majesty of her sister, The Paramount, but it is intimate, confortable, and the tickets were a steal. The cast was small but outstanding, and I thoroughly enjoyed the production, though it did seem a tad rushed. I wonder how it might've held up for someone not familiar with the story. Next to me, a mother-and-daughter (maybe age 7) quietly whispered now and then through the production as mom answered burning questions. My favorite: "Is that a real ghost?" Mom: "Of course it is." Daughter: "Cool." Very spooky family! Anyway, the whole effect reminded me of the grandfather-grandson intermissions in "The Princess Bride." I was charmed.

Saturday brought even more fun, and the temperature graciously rose to the 50s and 60s. We had breakfast at the hotel (for better migas, try Magnolia Cafe on Lake Austin Boulevard), and then I indulged in a two hour "relaxation body treatment package" at the hotel spa (which is really just a tiny room on the 20th floor). It consisted of a gentle aromatherapy and jojoba oil massage and wrap, followed by an invigorating salt foot scrub, foot reflexology and soothing peppermint foot massage, followed by a Swedish massage. (A much better total treatment than my last at the Hill Country Hyatt, by the way). By the end, I felt like happy JELLO.

That afternoon, GLS and I hit the South Congress Cafe for lunch, and I enjoyed both my tomato soup with gorgonzola cheese and my shrimp cesar salad. We went from there to the U.T. Longhorns fan shop below the U.T. Club because GLS was interested in buying garb commemorating the football team going to the Rose Bowl (football fan that I am (cough), this was the first I'd heard of it). But you know, I'm happy that he's happy (and even happier that he's not the kind of guy who routinely plants himself in front of a TV and watches football).

From there, we walked to the Texas Memorial History Museum of Science and History (the one on campus as opposed the big, new Bob Bullock one near the Capitol). The exhibits could've been better designed (financing would no doubt help), but I really enjoyed myself. The building is art deco, which reminded me of the Chicago museum campus, and I'm just a sucker for a huge dinosaur skeleton. Or for that matter, for a tiny one. Though school groups zoom through fairly regularly, I'm sure, it seemed somewhat like a hidden gem. Great place to bring kids, too (not that we have any, but we're kid friendly).

Afterward, GLS and I drove back downtown to the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar at the Austin Music Hall. It was fun, and I loved the crowd, music, and excitement, but I did notice that most of the same vendors were there as last year and in mostly the same spots.

No matter, by that time, I was already psyched about our evening plans. We went back to the hotel to change and then had dinner at Uchi, which is one of the best sushi restaurants in Austin. The actual fish at Musashino's is better, and the cuts are more generous. But Uchi has an upscale (as opposed to tiki bar) atmosphere, and the sort of bells-and-whistles menu items are more inventive. I especially enjoyed the Avo Bake, though to be fair it's served at Musashino's, too, and some of the cooked fish appetizers.

But the highlight of the evening was seeing "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" at the new Alamo Drafthouse Cinema on South Lamar, which is hands-down the best place on earth to see a movie. We'd pre-ordered tickets online, which was good because all but the 10 p.m. show had sold out. Imagine: you walk in a fast-moving line to the entrance of the theater, which has been reconfigured as the door to a wardrobe, make your way through hanging coats, and then a forest of Christmas trees on a floor covered in fake snow. Then you enter the theater with it's plush seats and generous arm rests, taking your place behind a long wooden table, where you are greeted by a charming and enthusiastic waitress. Ours brought us, upon request two wine glasses, a bottle of opened Pinot Noir, and a real (not cardboard) bowl of hot, fluffy, fresh popcorn, topped with real butter. We could've also ordered frome the special Narnia-related menu, but of course we'd just had dinner.

As for the film itself, I'll just say that it exceeded my expectations and I can't wait to see it at the theater again. In addition to being a good retelling, well acted, the cinematography was gorgeous!

And that was basically it! We had brunch the next day at Hyde Park Bar & Grill (for a better omlette, try the previously mentioned South Congress Cafe), and now, here I am blogging it up for my spookycyn readers. This week will be a hard-working one for me, but I'm facing it all well rested and in excellent spirits!

Spooky News & Links

Speaking of "Humbug: A Christmas Carol," for those who missed my mention of it on cynsations, I'd like to mention that Esme Raji Codell's new picture book retelling, Hanukkah, Schmanukkah, illustrated by LeUyen Pham (Hyperion, 2005) is one of my favorite books this winter!

Santa Knows art

Yesterday, my Dutton editor MM sent GLS and I gifs of some of the color art for our 06 pb Santa Knows. Talk about fun! The workshop is very busy in an almost RS kind of way, and the details are absolutely hysterical. We agreed that it was exactly the kind of a book that as kids we would've spent hours pouring over. As opposed to, you know, cough, now...! SB is a yuletide genius!

White House Christmas

GLS and I watched "A White House Christmas" on HGTV last night, which reminded me of the breakfast I had there at the Second National Book Festival. One regret: I should've gotten over my star-struck shy self and introduced myself to VD.

Call Me "Sofia"

Lunch today with MS at Houston's on Anderson Lane. Finally got to try the chicken-shrimp gumbo; ask for it with brown rice ahead of time and save yourself (and the waiter) some trouble.

Bought massive Sofia-Loren-esque sunglasses at Emerald's on North Lamar (across the street from BookPeople. (If you decline a bag 10 times, they'll give you a 20 percent off discount on your next purchase).

Tomorrow, Daya. Trying to take it easy before the VC res in January.

Spooky Links

An Interview with Kinky Friedman from Bookslut.

Healthy Kitty

My bruiser Chicago alpha cat Mercury has been on a special diet because he had crystals in his bladder, which led to all kinds of unpleasantness (as well they would for anyone). But the good news today is that his follow-up ultrasound revealed that they have all dissolved.

So, the kitty is in the clear, though we'll continue the diet and monitoring, and in no immediate danger of needing scary surgery. Yahoo!

I'm especially grateful to my amazing home-visit vet, who by the way, is the daughter of PM.

In other news, I may actually have a revision concept for the pb mss I've been stuck on. I plan to talk to GLS about it tonight at dinner.

Lunching Here, Lunching There...

Enjoyed lunch with GLS and LL yesterday at the new Italian cafe on South Congress next door to Vespaio, which I believe is owned by the same people. My apologies for not recalling the name. In any case, I had an excellent Cesar salad with mushrooms on the side.

And we had another lovely lunch today with JFH, KA, and a pal from San Antonio at The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center cafe. I had the Greek salad, which was quite good.

Both were outstanding for atmosphere and company.

I have FH and BY coming over later today for wine, salmon, and cheese (or in FH's case, probably tea, salmon, and cheese), but I'm going to take advantage of the time window to read more of the new release holiday picture books.

Winding Down

I'm in the process of finalizing preparation for Writing the YA Novel, a workshop I'll be leading tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at the B&N Westlake (just outside central Austin).

Mostly I need to tweak the outline, review it with GLS, and print up the extra handouts. These things are always a tad tricky because you have absolute newbies and published folks. We'll try to offer what we can to both. I look forward to it.

That's my last event of 2005, which is thrilling. January will bring the winter residency at VC, which will be great, and then other than grading and a couple of local gigs, I'll be able to concentrate on my writing for a nice, long, (mostly) uninterrupted stretch.

Brighter Day

I'm completely finished with holiday shopping except for GLS. I'd wanted to buy him a crystal Santa Claus in celebration of our upcoming pb, Santa Knows (Dutton, 2006), but the only reputable company I could find that carried one was Waterford and the line had been discontinued.

GLS also made reservations for our more major hotel and restaurant endeavors in December.

Austinites: call now! Our first choices were already booked, especially for New Year's Eve.

Went to bed at 9 p.m. last night and slept through with the occasional brief awakening from Blizzard walking on my back or legs. Feeling much better.

Today's highlight will be lunch at Suzi's off Anderson with KM, whom I met at Evening with the Authors in Lockhart.

Holiday Crit Group

Last night GLS and I hosted crit group. I made dinner (which means I took my credit card to Whole Foods). We had smoked salmon, smoked cheese, and sesame crackers, followed by cranberry, red onion, goat cheese salad with walnuts, followed by shrimp and green beans, followed by fresh berries and/or peanut butter pie. AB and SP brought wine. We served on our Santa Baby plates from Pottery Barn with napkins that read, "Santa, I can explain..."

My new scene of F&M (which SP suggested I change to M&F) was enthusiastically received. SP also pointed out that I should make DD flatter early on. I haven't combed back through my scribbles yet, but I'll do that later today.

December meeting will be at TC's in the country.

I spent most of the morning and early afternoon packaging up holiday presents. I do send to my editors and agent--nothing big, but as a show of appreciation. Overall, though, I'm trying to cut back a little this year because I've been known to go crazy with the whole thing.

Big picture, I'm trying to get done what I can while taking reasonable care of myself. I think I might actually be clinically exhausted.

My vacation that was supposed to be in August 04 was pushed back after Dad died. My vacation that was supposed to be in August 05 was pushed back when I took the job at VC. My vacation that was supposed to be in two weeks has been postponed to February 06 because I thought the 19th meant the end of the semester for student deadlines, not for everything.

So, it's been five years since I've had more than one day off in a row, and I'm really feeling it. Looking at the calendar, though, not much rest ahead for the wicked or weary.

My mood is fairly upbeat, but I'm deeply achy and a bit teary now and then. Anybody who thinks writers sit around eating bon bons and scribbling in journals has never actually been one.

"That Is A Hot Nun!" -- DH

Is it just because I'm a ex-Chicagoan, or is anyone else who watches "Desperate Housewives" rooting for the nun?

This weekend's surprise in the mail was a thank-you box of pecans from KN--I love pecans!

Today I'm writing a couple of authors about potentially interviewing them on cynsations, running to the PO to mail packages and pick up holiday envelopes for sending gifts, and picking up groceries. First, though, I have one more packet #4 letter to write.

Crit group tonight, my place, must figure out the holiday food thing.

Holiday Decorating

"This is Texas! Everyone has a gun. My florist has a gun."
--from "Miss Congeniality"

GLS found some holiday lights made out of red and green shotgun shells at Breed & Co. and was so amused that he bought a strand and hung it over the arches in the foyer.

We also decorated our tree, which stands some 8' beneath our 10' dining room ceiling. It's funny, the history a decorated Christmas tree reveals. From the Field Museum's Sue in gold and Chicago Art Institute ornaments (one a snow globe featuring a lion; the other a silver depiction of the front of the building), it's clear that the Windy City is significant, and in fact, it's GLS's home town. Mine is recognized with a white ball commemorating the Plaza Lights of Kansas City. We also have a "Beauty and the Beast" (Beast with rose) silver disc from the Broadway production, which we saw in Chicago.

But the Texas influence is growing fast with ornaments of armadillos and geckos, Mexican-styled angels and crosses, mostly purchased at Mi Casa Gallery on South Congress. And of course, as people owned by four cats, more than one kitty graces the limbs.

That said, the global theme of the tree is music, which we selected because our 1920s house was built by the family that founded the Austin Symphony.

What else? The hard-carved nativity is displayed on the display cabinet atop copies of: Merry Christmas, Merry Crow by KA (Harcourt, 2005); Santa Baby by JB (Little Brown, 2005); Hanukkah, Shmanukkah! by Esme Raji Codell (Hyperion, 2005); When Cows Come Home for Christmas by DC (Albert Whitman, 2005); Christmas Mousling, also by DC (Viking, 2005); and 'Twas The Fright Before Christmas by JS (Harcourt, 2002)(a particularly good choice for spookycyn readers who celebrate Christmas).

Spooky Link

Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne Ultra-Condensed by Samuel Stoddard from Book-A-Minute Classics. I read YGB in three English classes in college, which inspired me to feature it in Q's English class in my upcoming novel, Tantalize (Candlewick, 2007).

90th Birthday Party

On Thanksgiving, GLS and I had caviar (budget) for lunch. Basically, we took whole wheat crackers and added low-fat cottage cheese, chopped red onion, chopped boiled egg, and the caviar. Then for dinner we had turkey with green bean casserole (no bread/onions) and whole-wheat stuffing--cooked inside the bird. A couple of glasses of syrah, followed by no-sugar-added cocoa. It was relatively healthy and completely satisfying. Leftovers are ongoing.

Yesterday, GLS and I went to the 90th birthday party of BXD at a tennis country club in the Hill Country. It was charming to meet her family, sing a song in her honor, and enjoy lunch with MM. Afterward, MM joined us for an after party drink at The Driskill.

I'm still grading VC packets--working on letter #3. After finishing this one, I'll take a break to do Xmas decorating--fa la la la la la la la la!

Thanksgiving

I'm starting to think about holiday gifts and the upcoming VC residency. The former are a challenge because so many folks on my list are long-distance. Shopping online is super convenient, though. That's probably the way I'll go. Or a combination of online and catalog.

My main concern about the VC residency is weather-friendly clothing. I've been in Austin some seven years and changed sizes and literally have nothing left of my Chicago wear. I'm considering checking out camping stores for thinner weight but more insular clothes, though probably layers are the way to go because I'll be in and out and can peel if needed. OTOH, I'll be traveling alone and have not much in the way of upper body strength. If any VC folks are out there, any advice would be appreciated.

Christmas at the Four Seasons

Lovely day yesterday! GLS and I joined AB for lunch at the U.T. Club, and then after dinner at Katz's, we scooted over to The Four Seasons for the lighting of the hotel tree and unveiling of the elaborate gingerbread mountain village. Austinites and visitors are encouraged to swing by the lobby for a look at this culinary architectural marvel.

Three VC packets to grade this week. Taking a break for Thanksgiving Day.

Sketches for Santa Knows

GLS and I came home from Quartz Mountain to find illustrator Steve Bjorkman's early art sketches for our upcoming picture book Santa Knows (Dutton, 2006). They're amazing! Fun, funny, emotion packed--wow! N looks a little older than we'd imagined and more spirited, and that really improves the overall book. And don't get me started on those elves in progress--hysterical. Can't wait to show my crit group next Monday. Tonight, GLS and I will gather our happy thoughts to report back to the house.

Checking e-mail brought more good news as my Dutton editor has sent comments on H. I'm so busy pouring over the abovementioned art and reading VC packets that I haven't actually opened the file yet, but I have all faith in his genius.

Spooky News & Links

Remember when I was singing the praises of Computer Nerdz? Well, get this: in my big stack of mail, I found a thank you letter for the shout out and $25 gift certificate for my next service call. (Apparently CNs Google themselves just like the rest of us). Was that a thoughtful surprise or what?! Definitely a class act. Highly recommended again.

Possible Plot Twist

I went over the last few pages of F&M yesterday. No new writing to speak of, but I did come up with a possibly interesting plot twist. It complicates the character motivations and raises the stakes, which suggests it's probably a good idea.

No worries if spookycyn is quieter than usual. November is traditionally my busiest and most stressful month--05 is no exception. December should be somewhat calmer.

Recent good news is the wonderful catalog copy for Santa Knows, illustrated by SB (Dutton, 2006) and the fact that sketches supposedly went into the mail this week. Can't wait!

Great Minds Think Alike, Unfortunately

I just found out from reading a review on another blog that one of the gothic fantasy novels out this year has a major plotline that is similar to a minor one in T. "Very fresh," says the reviewer. And yeah, I'd thought so too. Sigh.

Authors go through this all the time. I guess the fear is that you'll seem derivative, even though the your book is already well in progress or under contract or, in my case, in production--especially because publishing time bears no discernable relationship to real-world time (AKA when an editor says "two weeks," that means "someday, eventually").

What's making me feel better is that I've actually been through this before. My debut novel had what I thought were similarities to one by a fave writer of mine (and was released the season before), plus both covers featured a picture of a girl with a camera.

As far as I could tell, nobody but us noticed, though I did enthusiastically recommend to readers who enjoyed mine that they try hers.

The Goodie Bag

The author goodie bag I received at the Star-Lit Children's Literary Festival included:

a CD of Peter Boyer "Ellis Island, the Dream of America;"
the November 2005 "Comfort Food" issue of Texas Monthly;
a hard-cover biography of Benjamin Franklin;
an event T-shirt;
a note pad, paper, and Post-It from Republic Title;
cheese in the shape (and colors) of Texas;
Sesame Thins (crackers);
Texican salsa;
tortilla chips;
dried fruit in a plastic container from Central Market;
a cowboy-hat-shaped cookie cutter;
Burger House seasoning salt;
a Border's wrist band;
a white chocolate in the shape of Texas;
a Republic Title coffee mug;
peanuts from Austin Nuts;
Silicon cowboy soap;
The Thymes Ginger Milk Body Lotion;
Tazo Chai Tea;
a blue-and-white canvas bag with a blue-and-white checked interior, garnished with a golden star holiday ornament.

Wowza.

An Evening With Mr. V

GLS and I zipped to the Sunset Valley B&N tonight where Varian Johnson was signing his debut Red Polka Dot in a World Full of Plaid (a YA/adult crossover novel). He gave a charming talk on the story behind the story and read an excerpt from chapter two. Luminaries in the audience included DT and JW. Congratulations, Mr. V!

Sushi, Catalog Copy, and Blood Wine Boots

Wrote and sent in author bios for GLS and I for the fall 06 Dutton catalog in preparation for the release of our upcoming pb release, Santa Knows, illustrated by Steve Bjorkman.

Took my uber sassy (not-yet-broken-in) blood wine cowboy boots out to dinner at Musashino with KWH and then had an after dinner drink with GLS at Jeffrey's. All good except for the blisters.

Spooky News & Links

Attention Austinites: Debut novelist Varian Johnson is signing Red Polka Dot in a World Full of Plaid tomorrow night, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Sunset Valley Barnes and Noble.

Quotable Cyn

I received a note from HVD at CW yesterday saying she'd read T "with great amusement and some stomach turning," and asking me for a quote that she could read when presenting the book to the sister company Walker UK and Walker Australia--something about writing gothic fantasy and T in particular. This is what I sent:

To me, being a teenager seemed a lot like being a monster. A shapeshifter with my changing body. A vampire tasting the forbidden. Sometimes wanting to run with a pack--and sometimes wanting to run from it. Overwhelmed by a hormonal rage. Fearful of what might happen next.

Adolescence and gothic fantasy... They're both explorations of our fears and desires, of the horror and heaven of opening oneself to new, redefining possibilities. They're both about deciding when to walk a line and when to cross it--sometimes with life altering, even fatal consequences.

T is a genre bender that draws its inspiration from the old-school gothic masters but with a contemporary and southwestern twist. It'll be a draw for that emerging YA/adult crossover audience, mystery and suspense lovers, romantics, and those who like their blood served with a splash a wit. It's the book that speaks most to my own adolescent AKA the monster within.

Computer Nerdz

In a fit of tech desperation, I called Computer Nerdz on Saturday, and they sent my nerd (a very nice, not-at-all nerdy but smart guy) over today, as promised, and actually called and asked if I wanted him to arrive earlier (I did). This is the second time I've used the service, and I have to say that it's really outstanding. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, prompt, and, best of all, they don't talk to me like an idiot because I don't understand how my tech lifeline works (or doesn't). Plus, I only paid something like $80 for a couple of hours of service. Highly recommended.

Undead and Unemployed by Mary Janice Davidson

Undead and Unemployed by Mary Janice Davidson (Berkeley Sensation, 2004). Reluctant vampire queen Betsy Taylor has finally reached her version of Heaven (selling shoes at Macy's at The Mall). Unfortunately, adolescent vamp killers are staking her subjects, a mysterious little girl keeps appearing in her bedroom, and her supposed consort Sinclair has seduced her--again. Wait. Which part of all that counted as unfortunate? Light, fun, and funny, a quick and entertaining read. Adult chicklit with fangs. See also Undead and Unwed; Undead and Unappreciated, and her YA titles.

Esme Incoming

Quiet week before the storm of November. I went to Bo Salon yesterday (new salon on South Congress, just a door or two south of Magnolia Cafe South). Barbara gave me a trim and a sort of reddish brown wash thing, just for fun. I highly recommend her. Also, it's worth getting your hair washed there just for the vibrating chairs.

I've been nursing my alpha kitty Mercury, who has an infection and stones in his bladder. He's on a special diet, which he likes better than the old one. GLS and I are taking him into the vet today, and I'm hopeful that there's been some positive progress over the course of the week.

Woke up this morning with a blazing sore throat, canceled my dentist appointment, and am spending as much of the day as possible in bed reading for SP.

Austinites are invited to swing by the Austin SCBWI "Celebrating Our Success" meeting at 10:30 a.m. to noon at Barnes & Noble Westlake tomorrow and encouraged to attend the Esme Raji Codell signing at 2 p.m. at BookPeople at 6th and Lamar later that same day. (I seriously hope to be better by then; it may just be the ragweed.)

Cheers from the Home Team

I heard from my agent at Curtis Brown that she and the dramatics department had read T--"wonderful," "amazing," "treat," "enjoyed it very much."

How odd and interesting it must be for the agents to agree to rep a mss and then see it after the magic of rewrites and editing. I feel so honored that they offer such tremendous support and faith.

Think happy sub rights thoughts for me!

Spooky Link

AS has launched a new Monsterology site; see his related interview on cynsations.

More All Saints: Revisiting Crits

SP: liked the two different worlds and voices, the concept, the comic relief. He thought it was more clear what T wanted than D (despite the letter, so I'll look into adding a reinforcing line). He thought a reference to "only" might better convey. Admired the creepy factor on D's side and the world construct on T's.

TC: ditto on the two worlds. "Fresh, new idea." Humor. The "touch of the modern." Thought the local flavor was well developed; said it made him want to read more.

AB: surprised on the r gender issue. Liked T better than D. Wanted more T up front and more of an indication of what D wants.

GLS: thought I'd "really nailed" the voices. "Distinct and different" with tags. Thought I should keep scene order as is. Keep going.

I made a few adjustments in light of comments and got two and a half new pages written today--one full scene, which is excellent, especially for November, which--between Native Heritage Month and children's book week and what not--always is my busiest and most stressful month. I'm completely maxed out but nevertheless filled with the writerly pride.

All Saints Day

Happy All Saints Day!

I'm just back from visits to the gynecologist, Victoria's Secret, and Lady Footlocker. Needless to say, I'm feeling quite female at the moment.

I also spotted a jack-o-lantern on a silver fire hydrant at South Congress and Nellie as I was on my way to return my elf costume to Lucy in Disguise With Diamonds.

I'm going to back up my mss on the flash drive I keep in my purse and more carefully review my crit group notes from last night.

Not-So-Scary Crits

Just back from crit group at AB's gorgeous, newly remodeled house. She dressed as Martha Stewart (pearls, no ankle bracelet), SP as Scooter Libby (suit, handcuffs), TC as a creepy monster guy, me as an elf, and GLS as Santa (AKA The Great Man Himself). AB served salad and turkey burgers. TC brought ghost blood and monster snot.

TC and I read from new manuscripts. Overall the feedback on F&M was quite positive; everyone especially liked the two contrasting worlds. Will try many of the ideas offered. There was some suggestion, though, of easing readers in and catering to their comfort zones, but I'm not sure that's the best approach with a gothic fantasy novel. Will think about it as I press on.

SP bailed early to see Halloween IV, which allegedly is the best of the series, at the Alamo Draft House on South Lamar.

On the way over, spotted a Tigger, several fairies, and gave gummy body-parts candy to a doctor who looked all of about six years old.

Spooky News & Link

The ghost has a new trick--opening the downstairs hallway closet, even after it is latched and a weight placed along the base. GLS had a plan--locking it with the key, which for no apparent reason suddenly doesn't work.

See AD replendent as Bunnicula--bahaha!