Where Personal and Professional Life Collide...

Attention Holiday Shoppers!

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:39:07 GMT

In case one or two of you were wondering, the varietal of choice while writing THE WEIGHT OF STONE seems to have been zinfandel, with occasional forays this summer into sauvignon blanc. That surprised me, as I thought it would be shiraz or tannat blend. Live and learn...

An Update to the December 5th Signing in Binghamton, NY:

Yes, you can order a signed copy of ANY BOOK OF MINE IN PRINT, even if you are not in the area.

As per the store manager:
"If folks need it shipped to another Waldens, they just need to let me know which one (mall it is in, city, something. Store number if they are feeling super helpful and want to ask the folks at the store for me so I don't have to hunt it down). If they don't have a Waldens, I will ship it to them directly."

Remember, folk, the holidays are coming up! A signed, personalized hardcover makes a fabulous gift -- and so easy to gift-wrap! (and if you ask, we'll even wrap it for you! But be warned, pbray is picking the paper...)

and back to politics, one more time... (New York Senate voting info)

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:45:58 GMT

A quick guide for New Yorkers wondering where their senator stands on Marriage Equality:

http://tools.advomatic.com/24/nyequality/totals?

If your senator is "opposed" or unknown," call and let them know where you stand. If they're supporting, call and thank them, encourage them to keep up the fight.

I've already thanked Senator Espada, saying "to deny marriage equality is to embrace bigotry and fear -- two things New Yorkers should stand up and reject."

New Story Available!

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:40:03 GMT

Oh. Y'know it's a crazy time when you, um, forget you have a story out.

My novella "Finder's Keeper" is part of the Civil War fantasy collection DEFIANCE, available as an e-book from Drollerie Press.

Davida was born to a well-to-do Boston family... but she was also the daughter of magic, given a Gift that demanded to be used. And so, in the chaotic and emotional days of the Civil War, she left the safety of her home, and went searching for what she was meant to Find...

This is actually part of a larger project, but stands alone in its original form.

Enough politics, let's drink!

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:14:05 GMT

The first of two shipments from my California trip arrived today (discounting my Box O Books from WFC).

This was... no, let me backtrack a bit.

So. debg and I are prowling the back roads of Dry Creek Valley (Northern Sonoma area), looking for the obscure but fabulous gems I know are there. And we find a lot of great vineyards, really solid, fabulous places where I taste and take notes, and buy selectively because these are NOT the vineyards where they ship what they make to retail stores for $20 a pop. No, these guys have seriously low yield (most under 400 cases), and you buy either from them, or you pay a huge markup at a restaurant. End of story.

Anyway. We've starting to head back, and I suggest we pull into this enclave of tasting rooms, because there's a name that catches my eye.

I went in there, found some stuff of goodness, came out and, on a whim, went across the way to another tasting room and tried their wines...

wow. Just, wow. And the woman behind the counter knew her shite: she was able to tell me details of location and harvest and cooperage and whatnot (we neeped so much I thought poor Deb was going to curl up and take a nap), And then I did something I swore I'd never do. I joined their wine club. Because the thought of not being able to lay hands on these wines made the baby meerkat cry.

And today, my first shipment came. Four pinot noir and two zinfandel*, and in entering them into my database I discover that they're racking up scores in the 90's from the major wine magazines.

Okay, yeah. I buy from my taste, not review, but it's nice to have the backup.

The winery, for those who might have a curiosity, is Papapietro Perry.

(Oh, and the one that got a 94? Already sold out, within a month of its release. I'm saving that baby, hoo yah. I mean, besides the fact that it's a damn expensive bottle of grape juice...)

EtA: one of the interesting things is that PPW treats their zinfandel the same as their pinot noir, which means that although the zins have the awesome flavor and feel typical for the grape, but they're elegant instead of aggressive, and with a slightly lower alcohol than the norm. I heartily approve.

*not including the bottle of pinot noir I brought home directly

my line in the sand

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:32:53 GMT

"I acknowledge that the gains we have made with the health care plan are a strong and valid first step towards reclaiming our place as a First World nation. However, as a woman who believes nobody has the right to take away my freedom of choice, the Stupak amendment is not acceptable.

And I say to those who tell me to wait, that it will be overturned, that I do NOT trust in the same organizations that said this was acceptable to reverse it later. Blind faith in anyone can get you killed -- be it by a bullet, or a wire hanger."

Attention New Yorkers!

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:23:07 GMT

The New York Assembly passed marriage equality legislation earlier this year, and Governor Paterson has pledged to sign it, so the only step left is the New York Senate.

The Senate is scheduled to reconvene tomorrow, Tuesday, November 10, and marriage equality is on the agenda.

You might want to let your senator know how you want him/her to vote. Give the person who answers the phone your name and address, and then tell them that you want the senator to vote for marriage equality.

(if you tell him/her to vote nay, that's your right, but please don't tell me about it. I'd like to think better of you)

leaving me speechless...

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:33:57 GMT

Sometimes you get a review so bad, or overwhelmingly meh, you're taken aback and don't know quite what to say.

And sometimes you get a review that is so positive, it leaves you feeling very much the same.

http://templelibraryreviews.blogspot.com/2009/11/flesh-and-fire-by-laura-anne-gilman.html

I... wow. *is feeling sort of humbled by that one*

so, how's the day gone?

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:15:15 GMT

yay: *quiet travel-related squee*

boo: my knee is borked again. This getting older business? Not designed wwith considerations to joint wear and tear. I do not approve.

boo/yay: a weekend of really frustrating editorial clean-up (revisions and copyedits I disagreed with) is finally done. Boo for it happening, yay for coming out the other side (mostly)

yay: stew is stewing, and the surprise! fajita strips I defrosted with the stew meat has been turned into a sort of-but-not-really orange beef. nom nom nom. And there was cabbage salad, which is also nom. And the last of my Zinfandel from Stephen & Walker/Trust Winery Ltd, which is boo but it was delish so that's a yay.

serious boo: Giants losing the game in the last damned minute.

yay: got my exercise in.

yay: another day avoiding the WFC plague-bug, despite sniffles on waking.

*counts up the score* Yay Day!

How 'bout y'all?

A Recap of the Day's Events

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:56:22 GMT

I was going to do a quick update on the book signing yesterday, but jpsorrow got to it first.

And then pbray weighed in.

I'm not sure I'd call it a disaster, as such -- we sold a fair number of books, even if they did have to be put aside for when the power came back on, and we did hand out a number of cards and whatnot to people who were interested, and we did make nice with the fabulous-under-stress bookstore staff, but...

Yeah, there have been better signings. But at least we weren't sitting there. In the dark. Alone.

[in fact, we still managed to have a bit of fun. as we do.]

So if you're in the NJ area and want to reward a store and staff that really did their best under impossible conditions, head over to the Ledgewood B&N on route 10 and buy a book from them. Maybe one of ours (we left signed stock there) maybe someone else's. But tell em we sent you, and why.

(but you might want to avoid the Outback)

In which the meerkat is is more sad than angry, and has a question....

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:33:36 GMT

Well, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops seems to have had their way: a woman's right to choose apparently being more of an evil than anything else the Church might ever encounter -- oh, except Teh Gays, of course.

Why, I ask again, does the Catholic Church retain tax exempt status in the United States, when they blatantly act as a PAC? And why, I wonder to myself, would anyone not a straight white male think that the Church has their best interests at heart?

(This is not a religious question, but purely a socio-political one; I know that faith makes people do the illogical. But it is a serious question.)

EtA: lots of discussion about side matters, but still no response to my question: why do non-straight-non-white non-males believe that the Church has their best interest at heart? I'm not asking the heathens and infidels among us, but those who consider themselves part of the Church. Anyone? Bueller? Go out and grab your friends and ask them, because I'm seriously interested.

B&N signing set-up

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:00:12 GMT

november signing 003
Originally uploaded by suricattus

Because I did promise... a quick shot of the Magnificent 7, setting up for our signing today (before the power went out and all hope was lost and things got really silly...)

and Sam has his take here

An emergency update from Planned Parenthood

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:41:01 GMT

this just came in e-mail, and I'm passing it along. As the truth goes: "don't want an abortion? Don't have one. But keep your religion off my body!"

Forward at will...

"I'm writing to you with an urgent request.

Late yesterday, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops met with leaders in the House of Representatives in their bid to eliminate women's access to abortion care under health care reform.

We have just received news that their efforts are working, and Representative Bart Stupak has introduced an amendment to the health care reform bill that will result in women losing health care coverage for abortion.

We urgently need you, and your friends and family, to call your representative and ask him or her to reject the Stupak amendment that will remove abortion coverage from health care reform. After you call, just reply to this message and let us know how it went.

If the bishops and their anti-choice partners in the House succeed, they'll permanently alter health care in America, even taking away benefits from women that they have today. The bishops want to effectively eliminate abortion coverage in both private plans and the public option. We simply cannot stand for such a discriminatory, mean-spirited attack on women.

It's a chilling ultimatum: eliminate choice for millions of women, or the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will do all they can to kill health care reform. This is a true crisis for American women, and we need you to act now. "

Two Things

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:53:54 GMT

1.

As some of you know, the Magnificent (Genre) 7's best supporter has been April, she who manages the Johnson City/Binghamton (NY) Waldenbooks, and manages it quite splendidly. Alas, that Walden, despite its splendidness, is slated to be among the many bookstores closed in January, as Borders tries to reorganize itself.

The Mag7 has a signing in that store on December 5th. A risky but brave gesture on April's part, to try and sell BOOKS at a time when most stores are pushing the gifty "extras" that take shelf space away from books.

And we think it would be a swell thing -- for all the booksellers who do their damndest for authors and readers -- to make this signing the Best Sign-off Evah. So if you live in the area of Binghamton, or know someone who does -- even if it's a minor slog for you to get there -- please come out and support April and her crew (and us) so they can close out the store on an up note, and say "thanks for being there."

Yes, there will be cookies.

Also, there is a plan to be offering free gift-wrap of any book bought as a present (no, we won't make you bring your own paper!)

2.

I have been informed that I am far too reticent and undemanding (pauses while Some People hurt themselves laughing).

So, Fine. Okay.

Will work (hard) for GoH status.

There. Is that forward enough for y'all? Sheeesh.

*is amused, demands her cookie now*

In-the-Wild Sighting Winners:

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:54:44 GMT

in no particular order or judgment of your photographic abilities:

Everbard
Nikki
Shawn C
Betsy V
Elektra
Scott Z
Molly
klingonguy
mzipser
Keith

I didn't get any snaps of the digital version. You guys can download a file but you can't do a ascreen cap? Oh the techy shamefulness of it!

Winners, please send me your mailing address, or if you're going to be at Philcon I can hand your corkscrew over there...

My parents have squishy brains...

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:12:04 GMT

How the HELL did November and December get booked up already? What was I thinking?

Seriously, January? I'm gonna lock the doors and not come out.

To do before Monday:

- e-copyedit for THE HUNTED (the next Anna Leonard paranormal romance)
- ~~author letter for HARD MAGIC~~
- final pre-editor polish on VINEART 2
- revisions to MUSTANG
- ~~revisions on "Dusted"~~

oh yeah, and the signing in Ledgewood, NJ on Saturday. And I promised to go to the Interfictions soiree tomorrow night.

Wheee?

Time for more Archie and Nero Wolfe.

*no, really. They participated in a survey for Parksinsons' patients and got those hand-squeezer things in the shape of brains. Squissshy braaaaains!

Breathe deep, hold,...okay, now let it out... let it out, I said!

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:48:33 GMT

Someone just told me that we didn't need health care reform because anyone who worked had access to it via their employer. I asked him where that left someone like me, a freelancer, or someone who worked under contract terms. He told me I should "get a better job." Dear Universe, why do willfully stupid people still breathe? And why does their stupidity not keep them from managing their way around a voting booth?

(at last he didn't tell me to marry someone with health care -- I would have had to ask him what gay freelancers should do, then)

Here. Have a moment of zen. I'll be in the corner NOT killing anyone.

There is a Creative Commons license attached to this image. Attribution Noncommercial No Derivative Works

it's hard being a social liberal in a social liberal town...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:22:49 GMT

I keep getting e-mails and pings to call my 'critter to ask if s/he's going to support health care reform this week, when it comes down to the vote.

My rep is Eliot Engel (D-NY-17). From his website:

Since it is unacceptable that a country that spends $1.9 trillion has sixteen million uninsured citizens, Rep. Engel is co-sponsoring H.R. 1200, the American Health Security Act of 2007. This bill sets up a single payer system providing health care coverage to all Americans regardless of ability to pay, requiring each state to prohibit the sale of health insurance that duplicates the benefits under the program and establishing an American Health Security Standards Board and a Quality Council to administer and guide this egalitarian endeavor.

Calling to ask how he's going to vote... um, yeah. That I think we got covered. How's your 'critter looking, in this fight? Have you told him what you want him/her to do?

Return to the Word War

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:31:57 GMT

[12:25] lauraanne: again at :30?
[12:25] di: yep
[12:25] di: onward and upward
[12:25] di: right?
[12:25] lauraanne: upward onward over the cliff... (Lemming fight song)
[12:26] di: Go Fight Die!
[12:26] lauraanne: there's a filk in there... and I'm just tired enough to find it.
[12:27] di: The lemmings go marching one by one hurrah hurrah

Meanwhile, the morning sees a brand-new chapter breakdown for TRICKS OF THE TRADE (PSI #3), in which I figure out what events happen where, learn how to tuck the threads of the subplot into the existing structure, and generally sort myself out to start writing. The afternoon will be All About Revisions (novel and short story), and waiting anxiously for two editors to get back to me on other stories...

And groceries being delivered. Yay for food in the house again!

Definition of Insanity

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:53:51 GMT

I am going to P-Con in Dublin (Ireland) the first weekend in March '10 (damn it, Chaz, I never got you to sign the book. Will have to lug it along with me..)

I am attending/presenting at the Liberty States Writers Conference in NJ the second weekend of March '10.

I am seriously, seriously, considering going to ConCon (in Portland) the third weekend in March '10.

Will someone please remind me of how damn tired I was this yesterday? Okay, it's not the same, but still. Insanity much? On the other hand, other than wine, food, and travel, I have no real (costly) vices. So why not? And I have many P'lander peeps it would be good to see, off-con...

*looks at schedule and bank balance and deadlines, and ponders*

And for those interested, a bunch of photos of Highway 1 (CA), very cute seals, some vineyards, and me wearing leather... http://www.flickr.com/photos/23974478@N07/sets/72157622730026694/

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:02:50 GMT

Because we are all lazy and steal from whoever posts the info first, I give you text lifted straight from jpsorrow's LJ:

So, the group of writers called the Magnificent Seven will be seen in Ledgewood, NJ for a signing on November 7th. We'll be at the Barnes & Noble from Noon-4pm, signing copy upon copy of our books for the raving, raging fandom out there! Or something like that. Here's the info for the raving, raging fan:

SIGNING! *signing signing signing*
November 7th, 2009
Noon-4pm
Barnes & Noble
Ledgewood Mall
375 Route 10 E
Ledgewood, NJ 07852
973-252-9300
***
with authors
Patricia Bray; S.C. Butler
Barbara Campbell; Laura Anne Gilman
Jackie Kessler; Joshua Palmatier
Anton Strout

The holidays are coming, and books make a great --and easy to wrap! -- present! Especially signed ones....

Back into Real Life

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:57:06 GMT

I guess I really was tired, because I went to bed somewhere around midnight (despite being wired from the trip home), woke up at 6 because Pandora demanded feeding, and then went back to sleep until, oh, about five minutes ago.

I'm still tired, but coffee should take the edge off that.

Meanwhile, congrats to my fellow members of BookView Cafe, on the launch of BookView Press -- http://www.thebookseller.com/news/101627-sci-fi-collective-goes-direct-via-kindle.html Go Team BVC!

Today involves sending off blurbs for some things I read while traveling, laundry, answering publisher e-mails [prep for HARD MAGIC and THE HUNTED], following-up on some loose job-ends, and actually putting some new words on down on the page. And, um, ordering groceries. Yeah.

It is, btw, a gorgeous autumn day, crisp and cool, with sunpools for felines to nap in. Good day for working.

Some day I need to learn to look helpless...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:31 GMT

Hi. I'm home.

It was a long two weeks. Some great times, some good times, some times I could have lived without, but overall...yeah, it was two weeks.

*tired grin*

on the road again...

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:34:46 GMT

Packing the car and leaving San Francisco for the trip down to San Jose in a bit. Back to random Tweets and FB-drivebys.

Oh, and First Sighting entrants? You have not been forgotten! I have a little list...

Breaking News is Broken

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:50:20 GMT

Breaking into the book- and wine-neep to let y'all know that I will be Writer-in-Residence the 2010 Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop (teaching/mentoring the final week of the workshop)

Since its inception in 1996, Odyssey has become one of the most highly respected workshops for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Top authors, editors and agents have served as guests at Odyssey, and 53% of graduates have gone on to be published. The workshop, held annually on the campus of Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, runs for six weeks, and combines an intensive learning and writing experience with in-depth feedback on students' manuscripts. College credit is available upon request.

Lecturers for the 2010 workshop include Elizabeth Hand, Gregory Frost, Alexander Jablokov, and Michael A. Arnzen, and editor David G. Hartwell.

More information at: http://www.sff.net/Odyssey/

To say that I'm looking forward to this would be an understatement. :-D

quick book update

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:45:40 GMT

A few last winery stops, and then we're heading back to San Francisco for our reading/signing [The "Wine, Women and Song" mini-tour] at the Park Branch Library (1833 Page St) @7pm. If you're in town, stop by -- as of now the rockers outnumber the skiffy types, which will be fun but disconcerting...

SO, this was the Blog Review Week for Flesh and Fire, and the verdict so far seems positive, if mixed.

The SciFi Guy said "Readers of original and intricate world-building and magic systems should enjoy Flesh and Fire. I did and very much look forward to the next book in the trilogy" and Pick of the Literate said Jerzy was a likeable and believable character ...I strongly recommend the book and hope a sequel is close on its heels. And Carol's Notebook loved both world and characters, and I may send her a copy of Book 2 early, just because she indirectly asked so nicely. *grin*

The Neverending Shelf was also pleased. So was Starting Fresh.

Revenge of the Book Nerd, not so much, although there was a grudging confession that I can write while My Life in Not So Many Words had trouble getting into it, as did Beth's Book Review (one of my favorite negative reviews, in fact, because it reminded me that some reviews are just Not The Right Reader, and all you can do is wish them well, elsewhere.)

It's always interesting to see how someone else reacts to what you've written, and I want to thank the bloggers -- both pro and con -- for taking the time to read and review.