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A little bit of flesh and blood

Current Project: Under the Midday Moon
New Words: 1435
Current Total Word Count: ~2,500
Goal: Put together an workable draft of the novel that I would actually let someone read.
Accomplished: The second half of what I think will be Chapter Two

Random Rough Sentence(s): The sun was bright and glaring, reflecting off the fog that sat over Anchorage below. Standing there, breathing heavy after the last leg of the hike, it was easy to believe everything beyond this moment had been erased. Only a few higher mountain peaks poking out of the fog gave any indication there was more than just the two of us in all the world.

Notes: Chapter Two is progressing kind of interesting in the sense that I have Adam falling in love Jasper, but instead of drawing out the suspense of that first meeting, I have them immediately going on their first date. This puts them at the start of their relationship rather quickly (no watching the cute guy be all mysterious across the room). It feels like I set up the love interest and then am resolving it very quickly, which could be killing the tension, and I’m not sure will work in the context of the rest of the novel. I guess I’ll just have to see how it evolves.

In other news, while writing Chapter Two, I discovered where I want to go with Chapter One. Both, it turns out, will involve blood splatter and chunks of flesh, though in rather different contexts.

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Cedar Toothpick

Recently, I received a package from Poland with one of the coolest stamps I have ever seen. I didn’t know what I could possibly be receiving from Poland, but I was all smiles as I ran my finger over the cloth, feeling the fibres of the shiny postal stamp. I almost didn’t care what was inside, because the stamp itself was just so gorgeous.

Stamp from Poland

Inside, however, I found my long-awaited copy of Cedar Toothpick: The Tomboy Dioramas, a collection of “nutshell” poetry by Stefan Stefan Lorenzutti with illustrations by Laurent Le Deunff and book design by Pilar Rojo. The book was published independently as part of a kickstarter project that I had backed and forgotten about.

Like the stamp, this gorgeous little book was texturally beautiful, and I was dazzled by the quality of paper and the hard back binding, as much as I was eager to read the words on the pages. Honestly, the sheer quality of book alone without having read any of the words is amazing.

Cedar Toothpick

According to the poet, he was inspired to the write this collection of poetry as he was walking the trails on the border between Poland and the Czech Republic. That experience combined with the concept of individual dioramas in natural history museums. The author writes: “Each poem is a description of a diorama, such as one finds in ethnographic or natural history museums—bell-jar spaces in which wolves, frozen in time, thread soundlessly through twilit forest; and wigwam inhabitants, cross-legged and ringed round their storyteller, shiver as the wind outside rattles frame of shelter.” Through this landscape romps the playful figure of Tomboy.

These poems are small, but each one packed with imagery that evokes a deeper understanding than what’s on the surface. Each poem is full in an off itself, and deserves lingering over, as you would linger over a bit of scenery on a long walk in the woods.

The art stands alone on individual pages, complementing the poetry perfect with soft pencil drawings of stones or wood, the kind of nature imagery the poetry relates.

Cedar Toothpick

This is by far the highest quality book I’ve helped fund through kickstarter. It’s just so lovely on many fronts, from the concise, compact poetry that evokes so much, to the gorgeous line drawings, to the beautiful binding itself — this little book is a work of art.

Only 500 copies of the book were printed, all of which are signed by the author and numbered. I don’t know how many copies are left, but if you’re interested, you can order the book here.

[Cross-posted to my livejournal. You are welcome to comment either here or there.]
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This was my week…

… in Writing: No new words, but there was this (which makes me want to faint everytime I see it). Also, I submitted a story last week, which makes me very much want to continue by submitting something else this week.

In Health: I ate extremely well last week, which I attribute to making mason jar salads at the beginning of the week, making lunch packing so simple. Furthermore, I not only completed three out of three of my run/walk days, but I also did a mellow six mile walk with my friend and her dog on Sunday. I feel all light and shiny.

Although, the downside is that I apparently overdid it on my long Sunday walk. I felt perfectly fine during the walk, but a few hours after a pain started in the bottom of my foot. It kind of feels like the muscle was overworked or is bruised or something. The result is that I’m hobbling today and won’t be able to run. I hope this foot thing doesn’t put me too far off track from my running goals. *sigh*

In Finances: I got my taxes done! (Well, most of them and I didn’t quite get as much of a refund as I hoped, but I’m still happy!)

Overall: Last week was probably the most productive week I’ve had since the beginning of the year. I accomplished four out of eight thinks on my to-do list, which makes me feel like this. Huzzah!

Things to do in the coming week:
– Complete Chapter two of novel
– Submit something (poetry, fiction, whatever)
– Walk/Run at least three days at least 2 miles each day (0/3) (depends on the status of my foot)
– Contact my sisters accountant to find out about setting up an IRA
– Get California taxes done
– Sort paperwork out by year for filing
– Either purchase new a new filing cabinet(s), and/or buy folders/large envelopes, and/or go through the process of sorting and putting everything in its place
– Get data transferred from the old computer to the new one (may require giving up my computer for a few days)

[Cross-posted to my livejournal. You are welcome to comment either here or there.]
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*tries to remember to breathe*

So, um, guys. I … I got an email today and … and my poem, “Red Riding Hood Remembers,” which was published in Linden Avenue last year (thank you!) … It was nominated for a Rhysling award. A mother f*cking Rhysling.

You know who’s won Rhysling awards? Gene Wolfe and Ursula K. Le Guinn and Catherynne M. Valente … and I …

I know there are a ton of amazing poets nominated, and I wish them all the best. I am just so shocked and honored to be nominated, and I … just …

*faints*

*crawls back into consciousness*

In other news, while on floating on the sea of joy of the above discovery, I have submitted a short story to Strange Horizons. More giddy and joyful feelings abound.

Now, I think it’s margarita time.

(^_^)

[Cross-posted to my livejournal. You are welcome to comment either here or there.]
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a proper home

Much of last two weeks was spent preparing for, enjoying, and recovering from my trip to San Antonio, which was quite enjoyable. The result was that I didn’t get much done in terms of running or writing or financially, but since I gave myself permission to take it easy, that’s fine.

The one thing I did manage to do this week was to do a preliminary sorting of the stacks of paperwork in my bedroom, which has allowed me to locate some of the past tax information I needed. I now have a stack of paperwork that needs to be sorted into years and eventually filed, and I have another stack of paper work that needs to be shredded. It feels really good to be getting this done.

I also found out that the short story I submitted to Rustblind & Silverbright, an anthology of speculative fiction set in train stations. While I’m sad to have been rejected, I’m happy to say that it was a rather positive rejection and I’m confident the story will find its proper home.

Things to do in the coming week:
– Complete Chapter two of novel
– Submit the rejected short story to another publication
– Walk/Run at least three days at least 2 miles each day (0/3)
– Contact my sisters accountant to find out about setting up an IRA
– Get title transferred on my new car (I don’t know why I keep forgetting to do this)
– Get taxes done
– Get title transferred on my new car (I can’t believe I haven’t done this yet…. screw you, autopilot)
– Either purchase new a new filing cabinet(s), and/or buy folders/large envelopes, and/or go through the process of sorting and putting everything in its place
– Get data transferred from the old computer to the new one (may require giving up my computer for a few days)

[Cross-posted to my livejournal. You are welcome to comment either here or there.]