SOLD!!!

I just sold a short story! It's one I wrote last summer, and it's one of my very favorites. It'll be published in the anthology "Neverlands and Otherwheres" and should be out by September. Ish. Septemberish.

This story is very special to me. I am most excited. :)

Home Again.

I'm writing from my parent's house. The kidlets and I have been here about a week, and it's nice to enjoy some things unique to home. Like cable TV, for example. I've become obsessed with paranormal research shows, claiming that they'll give me "story ideas" when really, I just like to watch everybody jumping in the dark. I'm a bit sadistic like that. Other things that I like about home: wearing Riley's pajama pants. They're new, he's never worn them, and they pool around my feet and drag around behind me on the ground. Riding on the motorcycle with Dad, and Mom and I talking until way too early in the morning. Knowing that my kids can totally freak out (and they do. Yesterday we forced them utterly against their will to look at cute, fuzzy, wobbly little puppies, and it was like the very jaws of Hell had opened beneath them) and my parents will still love them. Seeing old friends. Seeing old places. "I was locked in that bell tower once. I learned how to rollerskate here. This place serves the best grilled ham and cheese sandwiches that I've ever had." At the same time, I'm so glad that I moved out of my hometown. It was sucking my soul away.

There's one thing about this area that I absolutely love, though. It has more stars than any place that I have ever seen. Dad and I were out looking at Polaris tonight, and I remember sitting outside when I was a young girl, drawing pictures of the constellations. I wanted to map the sky.

Friday The 13th Is My Lucky Day!

Wow, what's that blinding white documents envelope that I'm holding? That's my query, my SASE and the partial of my novel. Yes! I finally sent it out for the very first time! I am all kinds of excited, and happy, and just very proud of myself. Also note the Rock Band drum set and all of our paper products that we have to toss onto the mantel because Niko shreds them into confetti.

Anyway. Go me!

Happy Things.

Niko's cast came off today, much to our happy surprise. And these are flowers that I made for my hair. I think they're quite cheery.

Also, I'm getting my motorcycle license this summer. :)

Partners In Crime

Niko and Nina got into the formula and spilled it all over the floor. Niko was smart enough to crawl away when he heard me coming, but Nina is still new at this. She was fisting dry formula into her mouth as fast as humanly possible.

They make a great team.

Also, Niko's wheelchair in the lift. It was his triumphant last day at school. Look at that happy face. I fought for that.

For Those Of You Who Understand...

I was going through the fridge, trying to use up the random odds and ends that we have left. So lunch was an unusual yet fortunately delicious vegetable soup, a single Pillsbury orange roll, and flat Sprite. Apparently lame lunches are conducive to my creativity, because Ray decided to make an appearance.

He complained Ansel has always had it easy, and that he always ends up with what he wants. "So," he said, "if he gets what he wants MOST...what's he going to do with it?"

"Uh...enjoy it?"

Ray waved me away. "Of course not. He's not going to be careful with it. Now, I, on the other hand..." Ray then proceeded to tell me in no uncertain terms that he has to work for everything, fighting tooth and nail with an almost frightening tenacity. And if HE were to achieve what he always wanted, well then. That would be a completely different story.

My eyes went wide. "Ray! I know how to fix the second book!"

Nobody can do the scathingly sarcastic eyebrow thing better than Ray. "Not until you send the first one out, babe. And since when do you drink Sprite, anyway? Poseur."

Tomorrow. I'm sending my manuscript tomorrow. I promised Ray I would, and I'm terrified to go up against him.

Beautifully Frightening

I recently published my second piece. This is just a small one, a non-paying online magazine that specializes in super-flash, but I'm happy and proud nonetheless. It came out today and I lazily drifted over to see it.

There was already a comment posted, a strange man who wrote, "This is simply beautiful." And it IS beautiful, at least to me. But suddenly I felt dreadfully naked, somebody that I don't know reading my work. Which is the goal of being published, isn't it? Letting others read your work? It's silly in a way. And serious in another. Do I write to be read? I never really minded it. It is a pleasure to hand your story to your friend and to talk about it later. It's thrilling to hear your character's name on somebody else's lips. But.

I read this man's work, what he had up. And I kind of like it, I kind of don't. He vaguely reminds me of somebody that I miss. And I guess what is bothering me is the whole "stranger" thing. I want to say, "Hey, you and I and everybody on earth that we don't know, we should all sit at the counter and order Cokes. I need to know you." And then perhaps it wouldn't be quite so jarring.

Storms

One of the things that I miss the most about our old home is the rain. And while I was there, I loved the rain but missed the storms. The rain in that area is weak. It crawls on all fours, mewling. The desert has these amazingly brutal storms. The ground is cracked and dry, and suddenly the sky opens and everything is washed away.

The wind is ripping the oleander apart. It reminds me of a tiger shark thrashing when it has something in its mouth. It's absolutely delightful, and for some reason storms remind me of why I want to write in the first place. That feeling.

Nina is asleep, snuggled up next to an old doll of mine that I was mildly apathetic to. Niko and I are going to go out and watch the sky. He laughs at the wildness just like I do. We have so many differences, but when it comes right down to it, so many things are the same.

Hiding

My father always said that the phone was for our convenience. Which means that if it rings two billion times a day, I'm under no obligation to answer it. And so I'm not. This is a healing time, and I'm focusing on Eskimo kisses with Niko, and making Nina giggle, and trying to get my health under control so that I can feel almost human. Go to the bottom of this page and click on the song "Sora". I am going to sink under the waves for a while and let all of the extra noise pass me by. My real friends know how to find me, anyway.