Sonoma County Literary Events, Odd & Ends

I just updated the calendar for local events. Scroll down and check it out. There's lots going on in the literary slice of Sonoma County.

I finished that Allen Steele serial, Galaxy Blues, and see that it is indeed available as a novel. Excellent character driven story with expert treatment of first contact issues. I recommend it.

Robert Sawyer has some helpful tips on getting good press.

For any Blues fans out there, might I recommend Tommy Castro to you? He's local, but destined for big things.

I'll post some excerpts of Under the Suns of Sarshan this week. I updated my bio and website. If you haven't visited yet, please do.

BayCon 2008 and more

I'm on the guest list for BayCon 2008. BayCon is held in Santa Clara, CA over Memorial Day weekend.

My complete schedule of appearances (thus far) is up on my website. Four dates so far. The rest are in Sonoma County. Looking at possibilities in WA and OR.

Did anyone else notice the goof on Torchwood Saturday night? Toshiko dropped her purse on the pier, and it magically appeared back on her shoulder for her to drop it again.

My Mug Shot

Here's my mug shot for the book, for better or worse. I'm standing in a vineyard, overlooking the rival wine country (Napa) resort. This is my relaxed, vacation face. :)

I'm still playing catch-up with my back issues of Asimov. I went back to the November and December issues to read the first two parts of a serialized piece by Allen M. Steele, set in his Coyote universe.

I'm enjoying it so far. In fact I think I'll finish it tonight while hubby is off doing his thing (singing in Slavonic). It's so hard to just enjoy a book without wanting to pick it apart when so much of my time is spent picking apart prose for myself and others. I can't turn it off. >sigh<

Oh, the story? It's called Galaxy Blues. I'm sure you'll see it in print on its own eventually, if you don't get the magazine.

Idiom Spewing

I've been enjoying "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" on Fox. That's no surprise since I'm a "Firefly" fan, and therefore, a Summer Glau fan. She plays a very similar roll in TSCC. There's one character I can live without, however. The next time you're watching TSCC, count how many cliche's (somebody please tell me how to do the accent mark on my keyboard!) agent Greta Simpson spews per sentence. Ugh!

Well, in rereading Under the Suns of Sarshan from the beginning, I am reminded that it isn't crap. It's just tough working on rewrites for so long. I can't see the forest for the trees. Uh-oh. There's an idiom. Maybe that's why that character bothers me so much. I have two Japanese daughters-in-law. There English is quite good, but idioms are hard. It's when I'm talking to them that I'm reminded how many I use myself. If only I could speak in final drafts, rather than rough ones.

When you're working on a novel, there's a lot to keep in the cranium at once without constantly going back to check this or that (which I don't do enough). I'll be glad when it's done. I'll post excerpts probably early next week.

I need to dig out a good photo for the back cover of the Awesome Lavratt and send the galley back. Very exciting! :0) I've made all my changes. Fingers crossed. I hate it when I find tons of typos and things in books I'm reading.

Speaking Engagement and New Project

If you live in the North Bay (CA): I'm the speaker for the next meeting of my local branch of the California Writers' Club, March 2nd at Marvin's Restaurant in Cotati. These meetings have been packed for months. In fact they're looking for a larger venue. The Redwood Writer's Club has been very active in the literary community, hosting readings, contests, workshops and excellent speakers. To find out more, check out their website.

I'll be speaking on speaking. Or rather, public reading, mostly. If you heard about it here and come, say hi and let me know. I'll be updating the RWC calendar this week, as well.

Now for the non-local readers:
I'm very excited about my new project and have found new gusto for the one held up in rewrites. I'm going to print the whole thing out and read it from the beginning again. It's been such a long haul that I tend to lose touch with the story arc and developments and aspects of previous chapters. And I just plain got sick to death of it. I decided that rather than toss it in a draw, it's time to reread the whole novel to remind myself why it's worth finishing.

My new project has telepathy, sentient whales, population control, plague, romance and intrigue. I'll post an excerpt of Under the Suns of Sarshan soon on my website, followed by one of the new project (not yet titled). I have also just sent out a fantasy story that may end up becoming a novel later on. Everyone who has read or heard it wants more. I'll tell you more about that when the story finds a home.