A Light Through the Darkness

Really, I will start updating this blog with more writing/Dept V content soon, I promise. Right now, I've got a five things make a post....


1. Blog Interview!

I'm interviewing the fabulous J.C. Hutchins next week to promote the release of his book 7th Son: Descent. It's currently available as a free podcast through iTunes, or a free blog serial at BoingBoing. (Information on all this here). Got a question you want to ask Hutch? Let me know and I'll include it! (I'll need questions no later than tomorrow, so he has time to answer them!)

2. New Website!

The website will be going dark at some point in the next two months as I make the switch to Wordpress. No, I won't be abandoning this blog, but I'll be making it a mirror, at least for the present, to what's going to be on the website. And when it comes up, there'll be a bunch of new stuff, including new content for deptv!
Which brings me to...

3. deptv

This will be coming to life in the next few weeks as well, as I start ramping up for a killer year next year. Definitely take a look around Halloween - I can almost guarentee there will be some treats for my agents!

4. NaNoWriMo

Yes, I'm doing NaNo, right now with The Pirate Crown. However, I might switch up at the last minute and do Last Rites, especially if I scrap what I have (I might) and start over. That being said, I will be doing NaNo. I'm just not sure with what yet.

5. And from the realm of the bizarre...

My hometown has gone insane.

Basically, if you didn't click the link, one of the Town Selectmen from my hometown has put forth a motion to have the town secede from the State of New Hampshire. Seriously. This is a town that doesn't even have a high school, or anything bigger than a corner pizza shop/general store in it, and they're going to secede.

Best thing? THEY DIDN'T VOTE IT DOWN!!!! They're still considering it.

*sigh*

So today, argus7hills and I went to Baronial Birthday. What fun! dorio was there, with his daughters, as well as Baron Harold, Baroness Aine, Clare (whose LJ name I've forgotten *sigh*) and some new people. We hung out on the porch (I got 3.75 favors done for Baronessa Maria, who needs them!) most of the day - it was gloriously sunny and cool, a perfect fall day. Then a yummy feast (Donica did a FABU job, and there was only one dish I couldn't eat. Out of THREE courses!), and then dancing. I even got to dance with my hubby! He's such a good dancer. It was a great day.

Of course, got a speeding ticket on the way home *sigh*, but the cop was nice and only wrote that I was going 15 miles over the speed limit, and not the 19 I was clocked at. So only $75, but still. Well, I got OT this week. :p

Tonight and tomorrow are all about getting stuff done. I finally got the money to scarlettarcher for the website: now I just have to get her content. *grin* Well, that I can do!! Also need to do some household chores, so here's the To-Do list for the rest of the weekend:

1. Finish the summaries for June for Horseman
2. LAUNDRY!!!
3. Grocery shopping
4. Cooking dinner (garlic-roasted chicken - yummy!)
5. Website content to scarlettarcher
6. Ajax and Basil character sheets for Wings
7. At least 5k on Seasons
8. Get the insert in my blue/white dress stitched in (while I'm at the laundrymat)
9. Swim

So that's the agenda for the rest of the weekend. Wish me luck!

Oh yeah - gotta call Mom in there too, and remind her about shopping on Tuesday.

ETA 1: Got a bunch done. Chicken and potatoes are in the oven, dress is partially sewn (hmm, what will Val be working on in between calls this week? Can we say, dress?), and I'm starting on website content. More later.

Okay, so today was an EXCELLENT writer's meeting! Thanks to amcnh, empath_1111, aishabintjamil, firebreathnchkn and Mike (who is LJless, as far as I know) - we had fun! And they gave me some really good feedback.

So, here's my list for the weekend (because it's 12:08 am EST and I will NOT get it all done tonight):


To Do Tonight:

1. Download the Dreamweaver trial version and install it.
2. Teaser (up to 250 characters) to get the reader's attentions.
3. Excerpt (up to 3500 characters) - a scene that best shows off the story and the writing.
4. Back cover blurb (up to 3500 characters).
5. Bio - This should be a short biography of the author(s) told in third person under 250 words.
6. The issue template can also include the following:
a. Link to story/author personal website:
b. Link to author mailing list:
c. Link to author blog:
7. Send the instructions for the pants and caftan that Nedra gave us, if Nedra okays it.
8. Update LJ.
9. Write what happened at the Elephant House.
10. Background on the talents/magics of Sapph’s world.
11. What do Kate, Erik, David and Heather actually DO for this story?
12. Dammit, get the rest of the series at least on paper (ie, what the rest of the arc is) so I have it.

Numbers 2-6 are for the serialization of Not Your Father's Horseman that will be coming out from Virtual Tales, starting I think in July. Yeah, that just came up. We're doing an audio book too. Not sure if I mentioned that earlier.

Oh, and just for lessy37 and aulus_politus, I got my Beanie fix today. Sharpe's Company and Sharpe's Enemy were on BBC America today. (loffs my DVR!!!)

Updates later.

I'm in the process of redoing the website. As part of that, I'm making everything *gasp!* uniform. That includes the email.

My new author email is:

vg_ford@yahoo.com

Feel free to add me to your lists! :D Unless you're spammers. I don't like spammers.

Spammers get rotten kittens sent to harass them...

http://geocities.com/captain_hobbes/

I've even added a second page! :-O I know, I know. :)

I'm so far behind on this HTML stuff, but I'm getting better. I'm trying really hard.

And if you are interested in the skull and crossbones graphic, check out Anne's website (underneath said graphic). She and I have something cooking in the future...a web comic featuring yet another take on the 4 Horsemen.

You know, for a pagan, I'm awfully obsessed with a Christian image. *grin*