Good Writing Gets Me Off

Lazy Labor Day

Emery Sanborne — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:10:00 +0000

Some of the best weekends ever are where you do absolutely nothing much. What trumps that is having three days instead of two. Sure, the rest of the week tends to be a bear, but such is life.

The weather has been GORGEOUS here, almost fall like. Blue skies with cooler temps (mid-70s vs OMG-it’s-fucking-hot). A girl can’t complain.

Ventured out on Saturday with Grey and her two youngest in search of cucumbers for pickles at Reading Market. I picked up some whole bean coffee to put my coffee grinder to use finally. Balzac Blend…nummy. And yesterday I hit the Fairmount Pet Shop for cat food since prices online were no better than buying in the store. And supporting local/neighborhood places is always a good.

On the reading front, I finished The Murder Room and highly recommend it, though I think they could have used a bit of a closer eye to dates. This morning I started reading In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. I have to say, I’m kind of liking Capote’s writing style. Good narrative flow. Of course, I already know the story having watched the more recent TV movie version with Anthony Edwards and Eric Roberts. It makes me think I should start delving into other 20th century “classic” American authors. Still need to give To Kill a Mockingbird another go–was not impressed when I read it back in seventh grade, though seeing the movie a few years back made me think a reread might be good. I doubt I’ll ever like anything by William Faulkner because HATE. I’ve been meaning to poke at Hemmingway. It might also be time to revisit F. Scott Fitzgerald as I’ve always loved him. Doubt I’ll touch Steinbeck.

As for writing, Grey and I finished the WIP I was dragging my heels on Friday. It really was a good little story, that I’m sure I’ll enjoy with some distance. Next up is the second of our three West-ish themed stories that’s currently devouring Grey’s brain. And solo, well, same ol’ same ol’.

Oh! And it bears mentioning that Grey and my recent release in the Creatures of Sin series was number 7 last month at AQP. Few people can resist Lucas McAndrews it seems. Mwah ha ha ha.

Two-Cupcake Day

Emery Sanborne — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:23:39 +0000

If Sherlock can have a three-patch problem, I can have a two-cupcake day, can’t I? And hell, whatever’s in those Brown Betty cupcakes has to be better than nicotine, right?

In other news, the reading-palooza continues. I’m about two-thirds of the way through The Murder Room and absolutely loving it. Another book I can’t recommend enough. Can I say again how nice it is to ENJOY reading a book? Enjoy meaning that I am absorbed enough to not try to edit the dang thing and don’t want to put it down. Love it.

Once I finish that, I think Last Call, the book on Prohibition that came out in the spring, is next on the list. Then perhaps Mystery Man, a fiction book that I clue into thanks to stumbling upon Benedict Cumberbatch doing book reviews at a Greek resort. The book sounded rather cool and it wasn’t solely the influence of the oddly attractive man with the amazing voice convincing me to do it. Really! And there’s a collection of short Holmes’ stories by modern authors to check out, too. Boooooooooooks.

As for writing, well, I’m not not writing, if that counts for anything. Got a page on Landa last week. Ooh. Grey and I are plugging away on our one male/male WIP. And there’s this little Sherlock fic we’ve been working on. By little I mean lengthy as in over 5k for something that was supposed to be a quick Sherlock/John PWP but became all plotty and stuff as things are wont to do for us. But it’s a fun, non-pressure exercise. Writing without most of the angst writing has seemed to bring with it these days. When writing becomes too much like work for me…yeah, it’s never pretty. All the post-writing, pre-publication hooplah, yeah, that’s work and it’s supposed to be and I am okay with that. But the actual creation part isn’t supposed to make me want to do anything but write.

But yeah, definitely a two-cupcake day. Just have to decide if it’s going to be two marble or a lemon and a strawberry. Used to be two red velvets, but I sort of OD’d on those.

Reading Machine

Emery Sanborne — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:09:46 +0000

Damn, does it feel good to finish and enjoy reading several books in such a short space of time. I’ve missed being a reader.

I finally finished my George, Nicholas, and Wilhelm book. It was engaging and definitely worth checking out. But I do recommend reading something lighter at the same time to break things up. Not every historical can be The Devil in the White City, though, can it?

Also read the most recent Sookie Stackhouse, Dead in the Family. I very much enjoyed it even if there are storms a brewing. But that’s what keeps me coming back. Well, that and Sookie/Eric. And Pam. God, do I love Pam. I also didn’t hate Jason this time around. He was rather…useful and supportive. Go figure. And a certain part tied into the historical I was reading. Crazy how things mesh sometimes, albeit in a round about way.

I’m almost finished with Spook by Mary Roach, the author of Stiff. Love her writing style and take on things. While Stiff was about what happens to dead bodies, this is on the existence or not of the afterlife, and all the ways we crazy humans have gone about trying to prove it either way. She’s got another book on sex that is definite on my list. But I think more Sherlock Holmes related stuff is first.

Speaking of Sherlock, Grey and I watched the first ep, “A Study in Pink”, for the fourth, maybe fifth time last night. Moffat and Gatiss ftw! I suppose Conan Doyle deserves some of the credit, though I stick by my opinion that man of the works derived from his material supersede the original. As Grey tells me, a lot of it is stylistic for the time, but first to third person in the middle of the book and wtf!Mormons in A Study in Scarlet. Still, I’d love the chance to sit down with Conan Doyle and show him just how much better the story could have been. Which I’m sure would get me stoned by various factions of the Holmesian world.

Going back to the topic at hand, it feels really, really good to actually finish reading books and enjoy them. However, life is too short and there is no shame for picking up a book and not finishing it when it doesn’t grab you. Not everything is for everyone, even the books that seem to be *cough*bestsellers*cough*. Speaking of, the more I glean on the Stieg Larsson books, the more I’m glad I set it aside. Such is life.

Might be nice to finish writing a book again one of these days, too. Hrm…

Hello, Hello, Hello

Emery Sanborne — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:48:59 +0000

Walking to work this morning I had…an interesting encounter. On days when I’m going to Starbuck’s—far too often as of late—my route passes behind one of the hotels and a taxi stand. Now, it’s a relatively innocuous way to go, save on garbage days. Gag. The cabbies might chat in small groups and the morning “commuters” walk by in their own little worlds. Welcome to the city.

Today, I came upon a group of three on the side walk and they split, two on one side, one on the other. Well, the one was the problem. He said, “Hi, there.” I ignored him, relying on ye olde ubiquitous earbuds to stand as the back off and leave me in my own world symbol. Lone cabbie took issue with this and went on a tirade about how headphones/earbuds give people an excuse to be rude these days. Tempted as I was to flip the asshole off and/or turn around and give him a piece of my mind, since he was so freely giving his, but I kept walking. “Yeah, that’s right, keep your head down and keep walking.” Fuck you, buddy.

It’s one of those things that you should be able to shake off because people are dumb. But this just…ugh. On one hand, he does sort of have a point. With phones and MP3 players you do tend to remove yourself from the world around you. Particularly in cities, we like to stay in our own little bubbles and that’s that. Then again, I don’t talk to strangers. Sure, I’ll smile and exchange pleasantries with the near-daily encountered nodding acquaintances—security guards, people that work in my building, shops I frequent, etc. But random dudes on the street? Sorry, I’m going to ignore you and not feel bad about it, mainly because I’m a woman who tends to walk around the city on her own and that’s the smart thing to do. Especially since I had an experience in my small town when I was in middle school with a nodding acquaintance that made me leery about engaging people I know in passing.

There was this older widower who lived two doors down from my mom’s place. Middle school was a straight shot down the street a handful of small town blocks. The man usually sat on his porch on nice afternoons and it just became a matter of course to say hello, how are you, etc. I don’t know why I was stupid and took him up on his invite to come in and chat, but I was all of maybe eleven, lived in a small town, and was used to talking with friendly older people—my family, at least Mom’s side, tends to be pretty long lived, so there’s always been a fair amount of older relatives around. I’m fuzzy on the details—which isn’t a bad thing—but once I got inside, he kissed me on the lips. My male relatives are barely the hugging type, so yeah. I got out before anything more than that one very disturbing, very wet kiss could happen and spent the rest of the school year walking home on the opposite side of the street and firmly ignoring his hellos. Until I brought one of my friends at the time home, told her to ignore the old man, she asked why, I told her, she said “tell your mom”. Which hadn’t not occurred to me, but it was more a case of if I ignore him and that whole thing it’ll all go away and never have happened. Not sure what all Mom did, but he never did talk to me after that and shortly after got moved into a nursing home where I hope died horribly. Because no one the right to do that to ANYONE.

So, yeah, I’m going to keep on choosing who I talk to and who I don’t, keeping a good amount of distance between me and them. You might be a friendly sort who’s perfectly harmless, but then again you might not. I sure as hell am not making that mistake again.

Milestone, Bitching, and Books

Emery Sanborne — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:58:53 +0000

I have a real, honest-to-go, non-Ikea loveseat! Not that I have anything against Ikea—aside from the pain in the ass assembling many of the pieces can be—but a real piece of furniture! Scarlett was replacing it and asked if I would be interested. Yes, yes, hell yes. And it was relatively painless to transport and movie in…save the run in with Mr. Small Dick who’s a member of my condo’s board. Yes, I get that I can’t move in outside the defined nine to five through the side yard during the weekdays. But I’m not moving in. It’s one piece on a Sunday night when the street in front of my condo is pretty much deserted and it’s almost dark. No one’s going to see and deem it “unseemly”. Also, jerkoff waits until Scarlett and I have the loveseat up the small set of stairs and I’m trying to work the two halves of the door open. It’s past the point of no return, jackass, the least you can do is hold the fucking door. Then he’s all, “Well, if it were so and so and not me, you wouldn’t be coming in at all.” Sorry, but I very much would. Scarlett has a crazy busy life and I work from eight to five Monday through Friday. Shit happens and I can’t be the only person who’s done it.

*deep breath* People can be assholes and there’s no point in getting worked up about it again and after the fact. But, seriously, do some people have nothing better to do than be dicks?

In other news, I finished The Devil in the White City. Brilliant book and why the hell did I wait so long to read it? I cannot recommend the book enough.

Additionally, Grey, Scarlett, and I are doing a group read of the Sherlock Holmes’ canon because the recent BBC mini Sherlock by Moffat and Gatiss was BRILLIANT and we need more now. Ahem. The first time I read A Study in Scarlet, I hadn’t realized that the second part really was part of the story. You do not switch from first person to third person in the middle of the story. If you’re going to pull that kind of stunt, than make your other first person tell pieces into third person show ones. *grumble grumble* I’m still not crazy about Conan Doyle’s writing ability, but the characters and stories have a life well beyond their source material. It’s like Shakespeare in that it’s better to see than read, if that makes sense. I am going to forge ahead unlike my previous attempt, because I’m not alone and desperately need new Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson in any form I can get. Man, it’s nice to be obsessed again.

Also tried reading The Interrogation that won the Nobel Prize in 2008. One of my co-workers tried reading it for a book club, but gave up. Chatting about it I said, hell, let me give it a go. Good lord… I think unfocused is the best way I can describe it because WTF.

Next up on the reading list, I still have George, Nicholas, and Wilhelm to finish. I really should read the most recent Sookie Stackhouse, but I’ve still got a yen for the history/non-fiction books at the moment…when I’m not craving Holmes. Well, and I suppose I could, you know, write or something like that. But with my new loveseat, there’s nothing better than finally being able to curl up with a good book. Once I fight my cat for space, that is.

Looooooooooong Weekend

Emery Sanborne — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:16:28 +0000

Finally sucked it up and took a couple days off—it’s sad just how much PTO time I have left for the year. Two days plus the weekend and I did absolutely nothing. And you know what? I feel really good. Amazing what that does.

Well, okay, I actually did some stuff. Had a girls’ night Thursday with Grey and Scarlett, with Sherlock and Scarlett’s nummy fajitas and Grey’s cupcakes. Watched a number of documentaries on Netflix instant watch and started a new scarf, which is faboo. With any luck I might keep this one for myself. Tortured my cat with the laser pointer. And I finally started reading The Devil in the White City after having it sit on my shelf forever. Cannot recommend the book enough. No, I have not finished the George, Nicholas, and Wilhelm book, but it was time to mix things up a bit. I will though. Eventually.

You’ll notice that writing doesn’t appear anywhere in that list. And you know what? That’s all right. If nothing else, my recent little breakdown has been (yet another) wakeup call that I need to stop internalizing and feeling guilty over the little things. You know, let go and all that happy shit. The concept.

Dance lessons were fun and then they weren’t. I should have stopped at Social Ease and not signed up for Bronze, particularly after I saw the price tag. But I was still having fun and figured it would be worth it. Then it started becoming more effort to make myself go than not and the PRICE TAG, which was compounded by seeing what going to competition would cost me. It’s a wonder I ever made it through college. In any event, I’m working on getting rid of that albatross, which is the last thing it should be because I did enjoy it. The lesson I take away from this: keep to short-term commitments. Oh yeah, and don’t let your extracurriculars break your bank. That’ll ruin the fun REAL fast.

But I’m going to keep going out, every so often, which leads to me renewing my Art Museum membership and taking in the After 5 Friday thingies there. When there’s a bus that stops in front of both my condo and the museum, it’s really stupid not to go. Plus, during the After 5 is the best time to see the artwork since most people are in the atrium listening to the music. Insider tip: the music carries. So you get music and very few people interrupting your art enjoyment. Also, one year at the Art Museum is way more budget friendly than the dance lesson thing. Exponentially.

Right, writing. Really need to do some hard thinking there. No, I am not “walking away” or giving it up. I couldn’t do that. But I do need to figure out how to keep the creative juices flowing and work best with my creative process. There are highs and lows and I need to accept that. So, I’ve got a bit of work to do there, no real surprise.

But on a lighter note, co-worker brought in zucchini bread and OMG. Yeah, made Monday very much worth it.

New Release

Emery Sanborne — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:26:26 +0000

Check out Sins of Affection, now available from Amber Quill Press: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/SinsAffection.html. The third book in Grey and my Creatures of Sins series, this story continues the story of David and Carver, plus the return of the tempting gigolo Lucas.

Now, isn’t that much better than me whining about my stupid little meltdown on Friday? At twenty-nine, you’d think I would have learned to deal with stuff as it comes instead of repressing and avoiding until it all goes KABOOM! Thank goodness for Grey and my mom.

But enough about me, there’s a new, shiny book to buy and read.

Who the Hell Did I Piss Off?

Emery Sanborne — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:49:39 +0000

Because, dude? Seriously.

The Paper Gods have smote me left, right, center, and last week. Placed order for copy paper near the end of last week as the office was getting low. Now, when we get really low, I tend to get screwed and copy paper is a hot commodity. I thought I hit a safe point between the happy medium place where the order will show up the next day and so low that we will run out because come confluence of events will delay the paper delivery. Placed a call Wednesday and yesterday to find out where the paper is. Finally got an answer that the warehouse messed up along the way and wasn’t answering the customer service people’s queries. It happens. Should have paper Monday.

But the story doesn’t end there. To hedge my bets, I ordered two cases from our office supply place that would get here today and give us a cushion. The paper got here today…and they sent me two REAMS. Ordered ten reams for Monday just in case. Jesus. On the upside, it’s fairly quiet here today so not a big issue. But after the Great Toner Drought, my ordering mojo ain’t so hot this summer.

The cherry on top of this delightful sundae of suck is that the elevator to the floor to get the mail was running super slow. And by super slow, I mean glacial. Round trip on an average day takes maybe two, three minutes. Five if a lot of people are using it. Today was around fifteen plus. Over ten of which were waiting on the mailroom floor for the elevator to take me back to the lobby. Stairs aren’t an option. And I wouldn’t have been waiting to go down for that long, that’s for certain. But again, it’s a slow day and I never use my entire lunch hour except when I get my hair cut, which I didn’t, so I was fine. But still…

I’m one of those crazy people who has to be early, not on time. And I operate on a certain schedule mentally that makes me crazy if it gets too far off. Yeah, I’m weird, I know.

Additionally, I’ve got a caffeine buzz combined with zombie-want-my-bedness and Claritin spaciness. Still, it’s Friday, and I’m done flaking on Grey with writing, plus started poking at my new story idea finally. So, it’s not a bad day, just not exactly a great day. Particularly for my blood pressure.

Another Unwitty Subject Line

Emery Sanborne — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:04:26 +0000

Had a nifty post percolating in the back of my head this morning, but never got a chance to do anything about it. Which means my scattered thoughts about the so bad it’s not even good badness that was 2012 and how Back to the Future will drive you mad if you think about it too much are even more scattered and not remotely cohesive. Probably for the best anyway.

After my super productive Saturday morning, the rest of the weekend was pretty slacktastic. Did make cookies yesterday and do the galley on Sins of Affection, so I guess that’s not nothing. Made a bit of headway in the George, Nicholas, Wilhelm book and on one of my scarves, so I suppose that counts, too.

In other news, it’s Monday afternoon and the only thing that appeals to me is either crawling into my bed or finding a nice, partially shady bench to enjoy the break in the weather.

What I need is a vacation. All I can afford, however, is a staycation—I’m really starting to have buyer’s remorse on the dance lessons. Not that I’m not enjoying them, but damn does that credit card balance kill me after I had it all paid off. HATE owing money. The mortgage is like rent, so I don’t count that. And the student loan is a fact of life. The credit card is my own damned fault. Boo.

But the biggest issue about vacation/staycation is I just can’t make myself take the time off. It’s not like I’m saving my PTO for anything special. I just keep talking myself out of it. I’m really good at talking myself out of things. REALLY good. Feh.

All Before Noon

Emery Sanborne — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:41:47 +0000

For once I have not been a lazy bastard on a Saturday morning.

Swept, vacuumed, and de-cat-haired my condo.
Cleaned tub and bathroom sink.
Pitched out dirt and cleaned up cat grass planter–am not meant to have plants.
Finalized and subbed not one, not two, but THREE of Grey and my shorts and associated docs, then subbed them to AQP.
Updated the India Harper site and this puppy with the shiny cover and info on Creatures of Sin, Book Three: Sins of Affection. Pretty. Not to mention an awesome story.

Now, I think I’m going to make homemade pizza. Picked up some nummy pepper jack from Reading Market that I think will make the pizza a major win. Am also on a modern pop/dance music kick and debating on doing some fanvidding. Or maybe I’ll curl up and finally finish off that George, Nicholas, and Wilhelm WWI book I’ve been reading. Or gaming, gaming’s good, too. Or movies and knitting. Hrm…decisions, decisions.

What do you think? Not too shabby for a SUPER HOT Saturday morning, huh? And, yes, the AC is still on. Hate it, but it’s a necessary evil and I so would not live without it.

Oh! Before I forget, Grey and I wrapped up the fifth Creatures book this week. It’s like we’re writers or something. Which reminds me, also have one of our restarted WIPs that I need to look at or earn the hairy eyeball of DOOM.