Let me get the bad part out of the way. Ah, my #10bythen compatriots, I have failed you. I will now show you how badly I have failed you:

Those are all of my submissions for August. All–and there are only six. Not, as the terms of the bet stipulate, ten.

My humiliation is complete, your superiority is assured, and what you see before you is a groveling, apologetic husk of a writer. This, my friends, is abject mortification.

Please, forgive me!

So I sat on it. For like 5-6 months, I sat on it. Only when 10 By Then was declared did I finally open it up again, do some last minute tightening up, and ship it off. And so now I can proudly present to you my (only slightly anachronistic*), fluffy-for-all-its-darkness, historical fantasy:

“The Peacock and the Raven”

Which actually went up on Wednesday, but, well, I was exclusively flogging RPP at the time. Priorities!

If you need convincing: this one has witches, lots of pretty feathers, an unconventional courtship, and a certain–hopefully charming–disregard for human life. I hope it will amuse you this weekend!

And so thank you, 10 By Then, for helping me finally put this little story out there. Happy ending!

*Slightly anachronistic, for anyone who minds, because I was inspired by Darwin’s quote about the peacock feather making him sick to his stomach. He said it because he couldn’t explain the adaptation to himself, as he had not yet come up with The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, not for the reason it’s used in the story–though I saw it misquoted that way once and it made me giggle. (People LOVE to misuse that one. I’m looking at you, anti-evolution types…) And, of course, all that happened 43 years after “Peacock” takes place.

But I can assure you that the stuff relating to the vicious Adams/Jackson election is accurate, anyhow, thanks to Lyn Parsons The Birth of American Politics: Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and the Election of 1828. Which is an awesome book.

—————-
Now playing: The National – Conversation 16
via FoxyTunes

Well look what we made. The first issue of The Red Penny Papers is aliiiiiive!

Well it’s time for another–and that’s good because I’m not equipped to do anything with my brain right now. I’ve given up trying to get any closer to #10bythen, but RPP goes live tomorrow! Wee!

So here we go, more 30 Days of Books, chock full o’ nerdery:

Day 11 – A book that disappointed you
My dad and brother really liked the Runelords series by David Farland–so do I, in theory. But the writing (or perhaps I mean the editing–why the hell are fantasy novels NEVER EDITED anymore? Oh wait, because publishers are in the shit, right) is hard for me to deal with, so I can’t read more than a little bit of it at a time before I get too irritated. I know you all have trouble with this too. One of the downsides to editing a lot: it’s nigh impossible to turn off completely. I find that extra frustrating and disappointing with this series because the concept is so very, very cool.

Day 12 – A book or series of books you’ve watched more than five times
The Lord of the Rings . Have I mentioned that I have a tattoo in Quenya? (Elvish–one version of it, anyhow.) Because I do.

Weirdly enough, when people at the beach ask what it is and I tell them, they seem to think it’s really fucking cool, which boggles my mind. But I probably have Peter Jackson to thank for that.

I need more book tattoos, though. Seriously.

Day 13 – Favorite childhood book OR current favorite YA book (or both!)
I think I read Little Women about 300 times between the ages of 8 and 16. Jo March FTW.

Day 14 – Favorite character in a book (of any sex or gender)
I have to go with Anne Shirley. I think little girls everywhere are much, much happier since LM Montgomery introduced us to her.

Day 15 – Your “comfort” book
Maybe Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Can never read it too many times, and always makes me happy.

Ohhh Context 23. I had to bail early for family stuff, so I only got one night and a day out of it (missed the legendary Shroud party and ALL of the readings–bah!), but what I got of it was great fun.

The last con I went to, I’d made maybe a handful of short story sales–no book upcoming, etc, so not so much of a reason to blab about me me me. This one taught me that I have a larger problem talking about myself than I realized. Not about writing, I’ll blabber all day about that, but about the stuff I’ve actually written. Apart from the obvious newbie self-consciousness, I already know all that crap, so I’m easily sidetracked by new shiny things. So here I am talking to folks whose names I’ve admired on book covers many, many times (oh, what, me overawed?) trying to list the awesome people lined up at Belfire Press and I get through two and my brain stalls, and the conversation jumps tracks.

I mean, that’s cool for now, but probably something to watch out for when I’m trying to promote a whole book next year. Maybe I need a script. Ah well, like GI Joe says, knowing is half the battle. I’ll get this!

But seriously, it was great, and everyone was so nice. I wish y’all had come with me! (Next year? Pretty please?) And I got tons of books I’ve wanted for ages but just haven’t gotten to yet, and got them signed, at that. Which is cool because I always read a ton when I’m doing rewrites, and guess what September is all about?

Good thing I took Diana Botsford’s awesome rewrites workshop, huh? Oh yeah.

(Dude, she wrote for Star Trek: TNG. And she writes Stargate Books! How I avoided a fangirl freakout on everyone there, I do not know, but I was very demure, thanks. Er, at least, for me.)

So yay!

I sold another weird little tale too, but I suppose it would be best to wait for contracts and all to say anything. Yes, that seems rational. I can be rational, sure.

I have the 10 By Then bet to thank for this recent glut of good fortune. I won’t win it, as I only have 5 subs taken care of and only one more day to go to magically produce 5 more. But between these lovely acceptances and the knowledge that I have somehow produced 4 completely new works of short fiction (not counting 2 flashes meant for a particular market that isn’t open now–foiled again!) and edited another this month–well, that removes some of the sting. Hell, I’m usually lucky if I turn out that much short stuff in a year. Mercedes, you and your bets rock.

And in closing, there’s still one more day left in Australia before the Ditmar votes are finalized. For voting rights, you just have to be a member of Dudcon. They make it really easy, so have at it!

(And thank you for all the kind wishes before I left. Yes, I am 30 now. Almost a real human being. Plus, my family gave me Absolute Sandman Vol II. Mwahahaha, no grown-up gifts for me!)

—————-
Now playing: Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Gold Lion
via FoxyTunes

I’ve had a productive couple of days before I must head out of town on my way to Context. I’m hanging out with the parents tomorrow night (they live between here and there somewhere) and then it’s off to–I don’t know. Act like a professional all weekend. Wait, I am a professional. Er, then act like I’m not incredibly nervous in crowds. How’s that?

S’okay. Where there are books, I cannot feel out of place for long.

A few notes of interest before I go:

1. Pete Kempshall, one of my favorite writers and an all around excellent kind of guy, is up for a Ditmar Award for Best New Talent. He’s done a lot of awesome things, but I’ve made his acquaintance thanks to shared ToCs from Morrigan Books, both in Grants Pass and Voices. (We have another upcoming, too!) Pete’s work is stunning, and so if you’re voting–well, did I say he’s awesome? Because he is.

2. If you missed it, the link to the ToC for the first issue of The Red Penny Papers is up. The issue is entirely too much fun–and I can say that as it’s absolutely no credit to me at all and a lot of credit to the clever, wonderful authors who agreed to contribute. Also, the cover is cool.

3. … I’m pretty sure there was a #3, but I guess not. Huh. Well, I like things in threes, dammit.

And now, to our section of the 30 Days of Books meme for the week.

Day 06 – Favorite book of your favorite series OR your favorite book of all time
Mm, let’s say The Great Gatsby. I love Fitzgerald and his hateful characters so much–but in Jay Gatsby there’s actually a lot to love, and that’s why this one is my favorite. (In truth, The Picture of Dorian Gray is my “desert island book”, but that’s the answer to a later question!)

Day 07 – Least favorite plot device employed by way too many books you actually enjoyed otherwise
Male MC. Female character falls in love with him–or so our narrator keeps telling us. It’s never explained why or how, nor is it shown, but since he’s The Hero, we are supposed to take their word for it, I guess. This of course makes her sacrifice all kinds of shit for him over the course of the novel, because as you know, that is a woman’s function. Because she loves him. Really. Did we mention that she loves him? Because she does!

I like stories of sacrifice for love, so don’t get me wrong there. I’d just like to actually believe there is love involved. For examples of this phenomenon, see The Last Legion by Valerio Massimo Manfredi (which I keep hoping just lost something in the translation, because it’s cool otherwise) and the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (which has awesome aspects, but I gave up after book 8). Those are big offenders, but a lot of things do it to a degree.

Day 08 – A book everyone should read at least once
Animal Farm by George Orwell.

Day 09 – Best scene ever
“The Paths of the Dead” from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by JRR Tolkien. I was so pissed when they cut most of it out of the movie–but the extended edition saved the day. It’s not perfect, but it’s still pretty damn cool.

Day 10 – A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Liar’s Poker by Michael Lewis. I love non-fiction in a general way, but business and finance bores my face off. Michael Lewis is my husband’s favorite author, though, so he insisted that I would love this one. You’d think I’d learn to stop doubting him when he says this, but no. (Not my fault, really. I can never get over him liking Tom Clancy. If you saw the comments on the last post, you now see the sense of humor I live with daily. God help us both.)

And that’s it for me. See you Monday-ish!

—————-
Now playing: Arnold Schoenberg – Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4: I. Grave
via FoxyTunes