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Post by Vicki Pettersson on Sept 22, 2010 14:38:59 GMT -5
Hi Guys! ;D *thunk* That's me falling over after turning in the second draft of THE NEON GRAVEYARD. But once I recover I have a feeling I'll be flying high - I think this is the draft that will do it for me. Of course, there are still line- and copyedits to come, page proofs and typesetting ... but that's all icing. The heavy lifting, AFAIK, is done. And, wow, does it feel good. You never know if you're going to be able to complete a book until after you've done it - mostly because you've never written that particular book before. So while some things get easier - I no longer have to give a second thought to much of my worldbuilding, my characterization (I *know* who Jo is, yanno?) and smaller things like formatting and grammar - other things are harder. How can I up the stakes yet again? Make the payoff bigger? Give the reader what s/he wants? Keep it fresh? And, of course, I always want to play with new toys - POVs and voice and tense and so on, just so it stays fresh for me too. In short - this was a hard mo-fo to write. On the upside, I think I'm getting better at it, and I hope it shows. So I hope to be around here more regularly, as well as get caught up on Real Life things that eluded me while I was digging and fortifying creative trenches. Like appointments. House cleaning. And, holy crap, is that the holiday season I see creeping up? *shudder* Wassup w/mah Peeps!? What have I missed (other than chat - I'm so sorry!)? I'd love to hear from all of you - and I've missed you too. Hello to the newbies, btw. I haven't missed you. But you can change that by speaking up now! Ravie - I must touch base with you soon, girl. Thanks for keeping the home fires burning... Oh, and Vampy? STFU!
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Post by debim on Sept 22, 2010 14:58:15 GMT -5
Well, stranger, we were afraid you'd never come out of that writing cave!
Glad you got 'er done...can't wait to read this one...but it will be a long wait, huh?
I am working out some health issues and settling into early retirement. I am seriously thinking about trying for a book seller job after vacation.
Speaking of vacation...I am getting so excited to get out of Dodge and to finally meet Vampy in person. It has been a very trying year...Steve and I need to have some fun together.
Do you think you will go to RT in Los Angeles next year? I am still on the fence for that one.
Don't be a stranger!
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Post by vampyre on Sept 22, 2010 15:59:53 GMT -5
Charlaine has Debbie, you should hire Raven. Hell, she'd probably do it for free.
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Post by deathlynx on Sept 22, 2010 16:48:16 GMT -5
Congrats on the second edit Vicki! Not much going on here...have a wedding to attend of a long-time net friend but that's not until the first few days of next month...of course, given when the October thread is likely to appear it's probably better to post it in here!
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Post by slayercat on Sept 22, 2010 21:11:50 GMT -5
Hi Vicki!!!!! Glad your second draft is done! It scares me to the bone what you could have possibly thunk up to top the last book - but I'll be first in line to read it! (Dibs on first place in line!!!)
Life is going along fine in Cleveburg. Reading, new TV season, twitter, causing trouble. Yanno. Spent the last month reading the Stieg Larsson books and listening to the Suzanne Collins Hunger Games books. I feel the need of a HEA palate cleanser coming soon!
Kisses & Hugs!
(Good one, DL!!)
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Post by Vicki Pettersson on Sept 23, 2010 16:08:16 GMT -5
Debs -
Shoot, I was afraid I'd be a no-show. Sheesh! But I feel good about it now, and the butt-in-chair was worth it. I gotta say, though, I love being done.
The wait isn't any longer than usual, but that's long enough. NY needs time to do all their back-of-the-house stuff - and, of course, I'll see it a couple of more times before it goes to printing. 'Done' is so relative, isn't it?
Oh, Deb. You and your health. Can't ya just fix it already? We need you healthy and happy. And a bookseller job would be perfect for you. There are few who love books more.
I'm on the fence about RT as well ... there were some issues this year, none of which had to do with readers. You all were awesome. So I'm not sure yet...
Oy - off to run Real Life errands ... I'll catch up with the other messages asap-y!
Don't be a stranger![/quote]
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Post by vampyre on Sept 24, 2010 12:47:02 GMT -5
You sound so very up Showgirl. I'm happy for you. Soon I will be meeting Debi for our Southern Shrimpapolooza not far from were I live. She threatened me with hugs! I hope she doesn't break me. We're both really looking forward to it. There will be pictures.
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moonsanity
Initiate
I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it. ~Spike
Posts: 342
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Post by moonsanity on Sept 24, 2010 13:39:22 GMT -5
VERY cool for you to be done-- I thought that went pretty fast. *snort* It might be kind of fun to have a group reread before it's released. I know Tor does that for some books, and tv series based on books etc.
Things are good here but chaotic-- my oldest is now a senior and college stuff is blowing my mind-- I still can't believe he'll be in college next year, and I don't think I like it at all. My ten year old is having "growing pains" and we had to do bra shopping. My other two are boys so this is new territory and I swear I'm not going to make it through her teen years. There is no way I was that dramatic. Nope. Not me.
Debi and Vampy-- cool on getting to meet:)
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Post by vampyre on Sept 24, 2010 17:17:18 GMT -5
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Post by nat on Sept 24, 2010 17:21:24 GMT -5
Vicki! Welcome back! Yay for the finish on Neon Graveyard...So, can we read it? lol ;D Is it going to release roughly the same time as Cheat?
Ooo Vampy and Deb meeting. Don't forget the pictures!
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Post by debim on Sept 24, 2010 22:38:25 GMT -5
Soon I will be meeting Debi for our Southern Shrimpapolooza not far from were I live. She threatened me with hugs! I hope she doesn't break me. We're both really looking forward to it. There will be pictures. Debi and Vampy, together eating shrimp..the shrimp are preparing for the apocalypse....hahaha! Yes, Vic, I wish the health stuff was an easy fix...but the blood sugar is exploding....diet and exercise are no longer enough to control it...I guess I need to start the meds. Sigh.....
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Post by vampyre on Sept 25, 2010 5:46:36 GMT -5
Does this mean you'll be eating only the 'diet' shrimp?
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Post by Raven on Sept 25, 2010 16:12:07 GMT -5
Oh, leave the fun stuff like grammar to me! You seem to get better with every book, which is strange because SoS is still one of my favorite books EVER and I don't see room for improvement in it. Does that make sense? So, yeah, it shows. I'm going back to bed. Don't even go there. I work in retail and I live in an area that gets snow dumped on it. Not looking forward to it. Always, babe. Talk soon. I'm surviving. I can't thank you enough for giving me another creative outlet. This place wouldn't be as wonderful as it is without the people that frequent it and the mods that help me keep it neat. I can't wait to see Debi/Vampy pictures. There better be some SHRIMP involved! ;D
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Post by vampyre on Sept 25, 2010 16:24:15 GMT -5
I am planning on the before and after shots of the shrimp in question. I just hope we don't end up in shrimp induced comas.
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Post by Vicki Pettersson on Sept 26, 2010 11:22:38 GMT -5
You still scribbling, DL? Meanwhile ... Vampy? Can't you give DL a dose of your STFU? Congrats on the second edit Vicki! Not much going on here...have a wedding to attend of a long-time net friend but that's not until the first few days of next month...of course, given when the October thread is likely to appear it's probably better to post it in here!
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