Baby Steps Today

If anyone is wondering where I've been, I've had company this weekend. My parents wanted to see the puppies while they are still puppies. It's kind of hard to argue with that. I love puppies myself. We spent most of our time visiting, and went for a nice dinner last night. My oldest son and his entire family decided to join us, my daughter, and her pseudo-boyfriend, so we had a big group. It's nice when we can all get together. It's kind of strange when you start hearing the term Great Grandma, or Great Grandpa.

Today, I dragged my generators to the garage door and started them up. I aimed the exhaust out into the driveway. My intention was to run them out of gas, but they're still going about six hours later. I put them away two years ago and haven't run them since. Old gas is the enemy of engines, and I expected more problems. We are taking the camper out next weekend, and this time we'll need the generators.

I swept out the garage, and intend to finish if the little buggers ever run out of fuel. Right now my dust pile is next to them, waiting for them to finish. Garage is looking pretty good though.

While waiting, I took my turn at puppy patrol. They're both pretty good, but Nyx sometimes doesn't remember to go to the door for a potty break. So far, so good today.

I also worked through my critiques. We met Tuesday, and I stashed them until my parents went home. Yak Guy is still a hit with the group. I need to figure out how to get all the non-fun parts finished.

I tried to talk my wife into stealing away this afternoon to see Pirates, but she wouldn't have it. I feel like I accomplished some reasonable things today.

Tomorrow is my flex day, so there is a small chance to work on the beta reads I received for The Enhanced League. It all depends on luck, but maybe I can move that project closer to completion.

What did you guys do this weekend? Hope you had a good one.

Writing forward

I'm writing this Thursday night, and scheduling it for mid-day Friday. I'm not going to be around this weekend. I'll schedule it to allow myself time to play in the early comments.

We're taking the camper out after work Friday, and this time the grandkids are going. This can be good and bad. I'm excited to have some fun with them, but the brand spanking new camper will know they were there. What the heck, they're fun and we'll have a good time.

I still haven't looked at my critiques for The Playground. I'm chomping at the bit to start a new novel, but will force myself to work on The Playground before I start a new draft. It's almost like finishing my broccoli before I'm allowed dessert.

The early reviews for my Notebook are looking wonderful. I'm so excited that people are enjoying my short form fiction.

To add some value to this post, let's talk about a small part of my thought process.

If you've looked at any of the reviews or reblogs, you might have noticed that I began this book with one of my Macabre Macaroni stories from last year. This was a thought out decision. I know Amazon provides a peek inside any book. With a book of short stories and micro-fiction I wanted to make sure it came across well.

The story, Jack O' Lantern was the most popular post from last October. It's still the third most popular thing on my blog to this day. This means it was well vetted and well liked. I decided if anything should be in the free sample, this would be it. That way, readers get something good in the free sample, and they get a complete micro-fiction at the same time.

No other story is recycled, and it was new to many of the advance readers. If there is ever a second Notebook, I may do the same thing. Macabre Macaroni is coming up, and maybe one of those will be as big a hit too.

So kibitz with me here. Was it a fair idea to recycle a really good micro-fiction into my Notebook? Do you feel cheated knowing that. People can still read it for free from my sidebar, but it's also the free sample on Amazon.

I'm looking forward to our camp out. I'll be checking in for a while on Friday, and back on Sunday. Try not to burn WordPress down while I'm in the forest.

I'll be taking an ebook with me, and a few paper publications with me too. There might be a reading opportunity in camp, but mostly I'll be playing with the kids.

It’s Lab Week

Lab Week starts tomorrow at the hospital where my wife works. These folks blow away what gets called employee appreciation week where I work. They actually do fun things, and it feels somewhat appreciative. One day the doctors pitch in and have Goodwoods cater a lunch for the lab.

Someone took a close-up photo of everyone's nose. They are pinning them to a board, and there is a prize for whoever guesses them all correctly.

Another contest is to decorate a disposable lab coat. Old What's Her Face* brought home her coat while we have the grandkids. The oldest one is quite the little artist, and was told to do whatever she wanted with it. She created this artwork by free handing every bit of it.

This one is one of my favorite parts. I like the flask, and the green stuff hints at motion.

You get a shot at a crysanthemum and a syringe too.

 

This one is a sugar skull, along with the syringe.

 

As someone who can't draw a straight line with a ruler, I am impressed with this heartbeat and heart on the sleeve.

 

An animated cupcake. It's good, but this is what happens when you tell someone she can do anything she wants. It fits good on the front pocket though.

 

Another front pocket with a crysanthemum.

I may be just a proud grandpa, but I think she did a fabulous job on this. She works fast too. She spent about three hours on this. Maybe I ought to talk to her about my next book cover.

Did I mention she's only twelve years old? It all looks like tattoo art, but who cares. They all have to start somewhere, and some pretty unique authors started with fan fiction. Why should other kinds of artists be any different?

* Not my wife's legal name.

 

How did that happen?

Old What’s Her Face* took the grandkids to the movies. Something about box trolls or something. I passed, no Clint Eastwood or Bruce Willis.

I wound up finding some writing time. I answered a few more questions for my heroine, and allowed her to flex a little backbone.

Then I tortured my little girl victim some more. She keeps going deeper down the wormhole.

All told, I added 2912 new words to my story. Total word count is 35,220.

Now, of course, it’s an evening of The Garfield Movie, Scooby Doo, and Sky High. (Thank God for Bruce Campbell, and that hot chick who played Velma in Scooby Doo.) Lots of squealing, refusing to eat, and Ninja Turtles all over the floor. I suppose it was about my turn. Pass me a Ninja Turtle.

* Not my wife’s actual name.