Tales from the Raven

Ruins in Brick and Mortar

Published by Suanne October 11th, 2008 in Writing and Newsy Bits About Writing and Writers. 0 Comments

I just got word from Eric Reynolds that Ruins Extraterrestrial, an anthology in which I have a story, will be arriving in brick and mortar big chain stores around the country! This is very exciting news, as I’ve had so many family members and friends wanting to know where they can buy a copy…and loathe to do it online.

Here’s an image of the cover:

Ruins Extraterrestrial1.jpg

It should be showing up in stores in November or perhaps early December. It will still be available online, of course.

This antho has really been the publication that keeps on giving. I had a wonderful time writing my story, Watcher in the Dark, which has a bit of Indiana Jones style artifact recovery mixed up with pirates, and the main character’s special ability to move outside his body. How could I not have fun?

Then I also really enjoyed promoting the antho at WorldCon. Because of this antho, I got to meet a lot of cool people and other authors who’ve worked with Hadley Rille Books, and I suspect that this puclication had a hand in my getting a panel slot at WorldCon. Every publication is gratifying, but it’s really nice when the story can still be seen and acquired several months after it comes out.

My thanks to Eric for doing a great job on this, and congrats to all my fellow contributers. Major kudos to Justin Stanchfield in particular, whose story from this antho has been picked to be reprinted in Gardner Dozois’s The Year’s Best Science Fiction. You rock!

Ups and Downs

Published by Suanne October 8th, 2008 in Writing. 2 Comments

You know we’re off on a wild ride when I misspelled ‘down’ in the title, before tabbing to the text, and am posting after midnight so the date will be off, but here we go:

I got my (forwarded) letter from WOTF today. It congratulated me on my Honorable Mention for Fist of the Black Bird, which I’ve previously mentioned, and invited me to send a story in for the quarter ending Sep. 30th. Which just reminded me that I’ve pretty much made the decision to not enter any more, and I’m now telling myself that I don’t mind the fact that I’m not walking away from it with a brilliant win but instead slinking out the back door.

My Christmas story has been rejected. I don’t mind this too much, as a letter from a communist elf was always a long shot, but of course a rejection is never a pick-me-up. Perhaps I’ll post the letter here come Christmas…you can all get out your silver brain-protecting hats so you won’t be infected by communist sentiment.

Remember that new PO scale I bought? Well, it’s still not yet calibrated, let alone in use. Why am I not sending more stories out? I haven’t had a sale in an age, but I’m not likely to break that run if there aren’t any submitted!

Okay, so maybe not such a long list of downers. But when added to regular life happenings, these things were enough to give me some irritated and moppy moments today. I’ve also been holding true to the writerly pledge of self-doubt, in which one no sooner hammers out a new chapter than one is convinced said chapter is so much drivel.

On the other hand, I’ve been exceeding my writing goals without doing backflips, and have revised the plot outline so it’s much more detailed and generally helpful. I’ve also thought up a couple potential titles: Night Fire. Dance with Shadows. Dark Flame. Hmmm. Still thinking.

I spent some writing time (after meeting the word limit!) reading up on amnesia. No, not for a main character, for a supporting and ‘imperiled’ character of significance. After a cursory inspection I’ve decided that brain trauma is no fun to mess with, and I’m grateful my minor concussions/head bonks of the past were just that, minor. But that won’t prevent my doing a brain swipe and removing all memory of today’s downers. Thank goodness memory is flexible!

Becoming a Philosopher

Published by Suanne October 6th, 2008 in Home in the Rookery. 0 Comments

What does it mean when we say we’re philosophical about something? Usually it’s applied to situations in which the persons emotional equilibrium is not easily disturbed. Sometimes we apply it to surprising developments of a positive nature, such as when someone inherits a great deal of money, or gets a fat book contract, but seems to view themselves and the world in much the same light as they did before The Event.

More often we describe ourselves as being philosophical when we are faced with something unpleasant, or even catastrophic, but about which we are not going to rant and rave.

So what is this philosophy? Each person has their own approach, I’m sure, but I also think there’s a bit of common sentiment to it that is nearly universal. Perhaps it’s merely a manifestation of calm and level-headed temperment. Or it may be a cultured way of saying we are resigned, that we’ve given up, even. Maybe it’s modern civilizations word for the belief in superstition and fate, the comprehension that one is not master of all things.

It may be a bit of all these. After all, upon close examination most of us find that we can not, indeed, control every occurence of our lives. Whether for good or ill, something–chance, fate, divine will–plays a role in our lives and occasionally wrecks havoc with the best laid plans. At these times we can either scream and run in circles, or be–philosophical.

I find, in the face of yet another wanna-be offer on our house that has in fact turned into a could-have-been offer on our house, that I choose to be philosophical. After all, even if that translats into a form of resignation, it may be that I am only resigned to wait until this good thing comes about, rather than resigned that no good things can come about.

I find that philosophy suits me.

Fall Coloring My Writing

Published by Suanne October 4th, 2008 in Writing. 0 Comments

We’re just beginning to see some foliage change, and that combined with the beautiful and crisp weather is making it difficult for anyone so unfortunate as to be stuck inside. I’m getting out some, but never enough, so I’m lucky that my novel begins in the fall, with Halloween preparations. This way I can live vicariously whenever I can’t be out in the fall colors myself.

The novel is coming along nicely, and I feel that I finally have the beginning how I want it. I’ve also surprised myself by coming up with chapter titles that I like. However, since I’ve drastically changed the direction of this first book I can no longer call it Green Silence (that book will come later in the series) and that means that, surprise, surprise, I have no title for this book. Not even a working title.

Pathetic.

Chilling Delight

Published by Suanne September 30th, 2008 in Writing and Home in the Rookery. 0 Comments

We have a new fridge! It’s been a very long wait–I could go back and count the days, but since that would only make me angry, I won’t–but at last it has arrived. Given how crippled my cooking has been, I’m half tempted to to buy a small back-up, just in case this one ever goes on the blink. Pre-industrial cooking and cooling gets old after aproximately six hours, I’ve decided.

I had another modern convenance delivered this week–my very own postal scale. Amazon had a clearance on it, and I snapped it up. No more putting off a submission for days and days until I can make a post office trip, or guessing on the postage and giving myself an ulcer because I know it won’t be enough.

Now I’ll just sit back with maybe a nice chilled A&W and weigh every letter I send. Beautiful thought.

Tips for Writing…and Life?

Published by Suanne September 28th, 2008 in Writing. 0 Comments

I tried to leave a comment on James’ blog, but since I lack the Belonger of Google password and such, I’ll have to link it instead. His post was about how to make characters more interesting, and how to choose what defines that character. As he puts it, the character becomes much more interesting to the reader when the learn the wrong lesson from the school of hard knocks.

A very interesting point, plus a perspective that can shed some light on life choices, too. Will we make the sensible choice, or the one that will eventually define us? I think they’re often exclusive, though the ’sensible’ choice isn’t always the right one.

At any rate, I can see that his suggestion would make for more interesting characters that manage to be both unique and focused. Sounds like advice I’ll take!

Screaming

Published by Suanne September 26th, 2008 in Writing and Newsy Bits About Writing and Writers. 0 Comments

And flipping cartwheels–that too. Becca’s got a contract on her book, Hush, Hush! After going to auction, no less. I’m beside myself thrilled for her, and feel highly privileged to have seen it in the premie stages. It’s also very encouraging, since I know Becca put lots of love, sweat and tears into rewrites and such.

Flowers for Becca

Cats and Cameos

Published by Suanne September 26th, 2008 in Writing and Home in the Rookery. 2 Comments

We adopted two cats, just past kitten age, that have since taken over the barn and property. The grey-striped and well-dressed fellow below is Shadow,

And this lovely orange lady is Apricot.

With just a bit of persuasion they’ve agreed to put in cameo appearances in my books, so long as the reference is clearly flattering. Shadow would also like to note that he has ancestors descended from the cat gods of Egypt, so a noble or aristocratic role would be most appropriate.

Of course, given the usual vagaries of writers, I’ve made no promises and will make good use of my creative license–but anyone in regular contact with a writer should consider such a warning as foresaid.

That Homey Scent

Published by Suanne September 24th, 2008 in Writing. 0 Comments

Still working on Green Silence, and it’s coming along nicely–if you count “in reverse” a progressive direction. I realized after a chapter or two that the story needed a stronger beginning on which to stand. In the course of working out that beginning, I decided to throw in a twist or two because I’m easily bored and wanted to liven things up.

Not sure if the characters appreciate all this…they now start the book in a home nearly obscured by trash heaps and debris–but at least they can’t get lost. Their nose will always guide them home.

Best and Worst Divided by Foldable Green

Published by Suanne September 22nd, 2008 in Rumblings and Just for Laughs. 0 Comments

I’ve never actually watched the Emmy’s–nor the Oscar’s, for that matter–but I find it amusing to sometimes click over the red carpet pics and the lists of best and worst dressed. I find it entertaining because the division between these two lists has always seemed a bit arbitrary.

Look for yourself, and see what I mean.

Heading the best dressed list, we have a fru-fru dress in scorching pink–was she trying to go as a giant tube of lipstick and hope we’d excuse the pun?

Next is banana girl in an outfit kindergartners’ would balk over. Heck, even teenage boys know better than to dress like this!

Third is a cosmic montage that I personally don’t mind, but is certainly no more tasteful than its worst dressed counterpart. The biggest difference seems to be how well-poised the star is, and that can vary from photo to photo.

Moving on down the list we’ve got a girl who stood back while they splashed on a bucket of tar, certainly a bold fashion statement, but whether in good taste is debatable.

Then there’s a girl wrapped in an old funeral home curtain, a woman who’s still attached to the dressmaker’s bolt of cloth, and later on the list, a lovely red dress that looks like a mermaid pulled on a skirt so she could masquerade as human.

Last on the list is a truly stunning cosmic gown on a woman who can’t decide if she’s wearing maternity or not. Delightful.

But then again, maybe I’m not being fair. There’s really very little difference between this list and those with the worst dressed woes, but if pressed I’d give the best dressed gals the fashion nod. After all, maybe they’re just doing the best they can with the material at hand, and it’s the designers who’re cross-eyed, punch-drunk, and desperately passing the green stuff.

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About

This is me

Name: Suanne Warr
Genre: Fantasy and Science Fiction