Returning from “Vacation”

So I am back. After two weeks I think I am ready to get back to some actual writing. I turned over Shades of Grey after my last post and am going to be getting it back sometime tonight or tomorrow.

A few days ago I joined a forum. It is primarily an rp site but I joined for the express purpose of writing as I came to the realization recently that I write more when I am co-writing or collaborating with someone. I find I am more “creative” when I work with someone. And I enjoy it.

Already I’m working with someone on an outline for an Urban Fantasy…and then of course there is Shades of Grey.

I’ll be writing a book review this week as well. I am just about finished with Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight. And I promise the return of the Friday Wrap Up…

And before I forget. Congratulations to everyone that managed to complete SoCNoC! I tip my pen to you for your achievement.

Shades Of Grey Update

Ha! I managed to actually do some writing this morning. As of right now there are an additional 400+ words for Shades of Grey.

I attribute the words to the various thoughts that ran through my head yesterday while on the way to my mother’s for lunch. Amazing what you think about during a two and a half hour drive. And the fact that my niece was willing to NOT watch TV this morning so I could actually write was an added bonus. (She’s 7 so that’s a big deal…)

Finest Hour

Here is another drabble featuring Devin. This was written after the high point in the game. The GM thought it would be interesting to see what Devin would do given her propensity to run away. While this didn’t happen during the session, what was written will have an effect.

Grey Lady Of The Sea

It’s a drabble! I present to you Devin. Devin Calanthe (The name means Black Orchid.) is the most recent character that I have had the pleasure of meeting in the course of gaming. As most pieces, this was written to enhance the game play and give the GM a better sense of the character.

Breath After Breath

If you haven’t seen Equilibrium, you need to.

Words To Think On

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

Eleanor Roosevelt

While the quote itself isn’t actually about writing, it can be easily read in that context. Besides. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that we are good at what we do…

Channel-Surfing The Apocalypse (a day in the life of fin-de-millennium mind) by Susan Smith Nash

Normally I would have a synopsis all ready for a book that I am reviewing. But this one simply doesn’t have one. I was fortunate in my early college career to have taken a course being taught by the author. The class she taught was by far my favorite of all the English courses I took during my year and a half at St. Gregory’s College (now University). I tried to take other courses that she taught, but the schedule never seemed to work out. I picked this book up after I transferred. I was more than a little surprised to find it in the University bookstore. If you are wondering it is generally filed under Cultural Studies/Women’s Studies and of course fiction.

I am in awe of her writing. It is hard to describe why. Her style reminded me strongly of William S. Burroughs who wrote another of my favorites-The Wild Boys. At first it seems disconnected but then somewhere along the way you start to see a larger picture.

The subject matter, The Oklahoma City Bombing, is something that I can relate closely to as I was living half an hour away in Norman when it occurred. Susan managed to capture something in her writing that resonates. If you can find this book, I know that you can find it on amazon.com, you should really give it a read.

To quote the back of the book -

“…You cannot read this book without paying attention…it demands attention…demands a double take. Susan Smith Nash deserves such attention…”

Hiatus

I have come to the conclusion that I will be taking a short hiatus from blogging here for the next few weeks. My niece is going to be visiting for several weeks until the 28th of this month and I do not for see myself doing a lot of writing during that time. (Not that I have been doing a lot recently in all honesty.)

This bothers me greatly as I had intended to participate in SoCNoC. I haven’t even started writing for the challenge. (I feel a crisis coming on…)

I will try to post a few times over the next few weeks. (Looking back at my recent blogging here it looks pretty much par for the course.)

Bloodsucking Fiends (a love story) by Christopher Moore

Synopsis: Jody never asked to become a vampire. But when she wakes up under an alley Dumpster with a badly burned arm, an aching back, superhuman strength, and a distinctly Nosferatuan thirst, she realizes the decision has been made for her.

Making the transition from the nine-to-five grind to an eternity of nocturnal prowlings is going to take some doing, however, and that’s where C. Thomas Flood fits in. A would-be Kerouac from Incontinence, Indiana, Tommy (to his friends) is biding his time night-clerking and frozen-turkey bowling in a San Francisco Safeway. But all that changes when a beautiful undead redhead walks through the door…and proceeds to rock Tommy’s life — and afterlife — in ways he never thought possible.

I love books about Vampires. It’s a given fact that I will pick a book up simply because there is a vampire in it. Naturally when I saw this book on the shelf several years ago I had to get it. And really, how could I resist with a title like Bloodsucking Fiends?

This was my first introduction to Christopher Moore’s writing and I don’t think I could have chosen a better book to start with. I was laughing quite possibly from the very first sentence.  Moore has a sense of humor and satirical style of writing that work simply wonderful together.

My husband, who doesn’t read “vampire books”, read the first chapter because he wanted to see what I was laughing about. He’s been recommending the book to everyone ever since. And believe me, it’s not something he does often.

Even if vampires aren’t your cup of tea, I think that this book is quite enjoyable to read.