Just a note about Goodreads. Once in a while I used to pop in on reviews of my novellas, usually a friendly comment, but I've stopped doing that. There's been a lot of conversation online over reviews and how authors can sometimes react badly. Even though I don't believe I've ever said anything out of line, I realize that some readers might feel intruded upon when an author pops in. I don't want that! I also realize I don't feel particularly comfortable doing so. I've given up a lot of things I used to do and that authors are told to do to market themselves. It's probably not at all sensible.
I'm a friendly person, and I enjoy talking to people about a lot of things, writing and good books particularly so, but there's this blurred area at some of these review sites where the mingling between author and reader can get uncomfortable. So even though those kinds of interactions have made me a few friends and I love that, well ... I'll just be over here in this corner if I'm needed;)
I'm a geek and a writer. I love comic books, classic movie monsters, everlasting love, old pulp fiction and genres outside of the mainstream.
I write under two names. As Theda Black, I write about men in love with other men. I write fairy tales, urban legends and horror under the name of Klaudia Bara.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
health and writing
After years of not knowing what was happening to me and then suddenly growing quite a lot worse for the wear, I've been diagnosed with an as yet unidentified autoimmune disease. They're often difficult to identify, but the possibilities at this point, I've been told, range from lupus to some kind of connective tissue disease. I am getting treatment, but it isn't curable. Hopefully I'll be able to handle it a bit better, just knowing (somewhat) what I'm dealing with.
The post is to let you know what's going on because of the delay from my intended start date in late 2012 for the Beneath the Neon Moon sequel, not to mention delays with other planned writing projects. I am currently working on the sequel, enjoying the hell out of it. I am actively scheduling time to write (I always tried to simply fit it into my day before, which didn't work well) and keep a continuous flow going.
I've always found it odd to hear how an author loves their characters, I suppose because we make them up. So are we saying we love our own minds? Maybe we do, or at least what our minds conjure, because I love Zach and Mal. They feel like extraordinary fellows who go to extraordinary lengths for each other. Whatever part of me that brought them to life truly believes in them, and they continue to present themselves to me as strikingly real persons as I write them.
The post is to let you know what's going on because of the delay from my intended start date in late 2012 for the Beneath the Neon Moon sequel, not to mention delays with other planned writing projects. I am currently working on the sequel, enjoying the hell out of it. I am actively scheduling time to write (I always tried to simply fit it into my day before, which didn't work well) and keep a continuous flow going.
I've always found it odd to hear how an author loves their characters, I suppose because we make them up. So are we saying we love our own minds? Maybe we do, or at least what our minds conjure, because I love Zach and Mal. They feel like extraordinary fellows who go to extraordinary lengths for each other. Whatever part of me that brought them to life truly believes in them, and they continue to present themselves to me as strikingly real persons as I write them.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Six Sentence Sunday
Each Sunday, post six sentences from a writing project — published, submitted, in progress, for your cat — whatever.
From Beneath the Neon Moon sequel:
"Go home, Zach, it's okay."
Zach nodded, turning off the flashlight. He blinked into the well. The clearing was growing darker by the minute, and he couldn't see Mal at all any more.
"Mal?" he called out, knowing he sounded panicked but unable to stop.
"It's okay. Zach, please? I'm scared shitless that somehow I'll get to you."
From "Diamond Grey," a short story:
She craned her head and looked up the trunk, the bark gnarled, dead vines clinging tightly as ever. The wind flapped the leaves on the vine, turning them on their side.
Camilla moved closer. Spiders clung in clumps to the bark beneath, bodies one over another, long thin legs bunched up against the cold. Their eyes shone, tiny black pearls, waiting for her to climb the tree just as she had all summer and fall.
Hadn't she seen them all along at the edges of her vision, heard them skittering over the trunk beneath the vines?
From "Beulah's House of Prayer," a short story:
Bryce made a noise in his throat, something that asked for forgiveness. Christian ignored it, looking up at the night sky and the blurred stars. He widened his thighs, spine arching out from the wall. Bryce sucked harder, as if that would make him look, would make it all right. It never did, and Christian never looked. He closed his eyes instead and came in Bryce’s mouth.
From Beneath the Neon Moon sequel:
"Go home, Zach, it's okay."
Zach nodded, turning off the flashlight. He blinked into the well. The clearing was growing darker by the minute, and he couldn't see Mal at all any more.
"Mal?" he called out, knowing he sounded panicked but unable to stop.
"It's okay. Zach, please? I'm scared shitless that somehow I'll get to you."
From "Diamond Grey," a short story:
She craned her head and looked up the trunk, the bark gnarled, dead vines clinging tightly as ever. The wind flapped the leaves on the vine, turning them on their side.
Camilla moved closer. Spiders clung in clumps to the bark beneath, bodies one over another, long thin legs bunched up against the cold. Their eyes shone, tiny black pearls, waiting for her to climb the tree just as she had all summer and fall.
Hadn't she seen them all along at the edges of her vision, heard them skittering over the trunk beneath the vines?
From "Beulah's House of Prayer," a short story:
Bryce made a noise in his throat, something that asked for forgiveness. Christian ignored it, looking up at the night sky and the blurred stars. He widened his thighs, spine arching out from the wall. Bryce sucked harder, as if that would make him look, would make it all right. It never did, and Christian never looked. He closed his eyes instead and came in Bryce’s mouth.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
sequel
I'm writing about Zach and Mal's first full moon together since being free from Aaron and Kane. Exciting!
C, my pal who goes through this whole long process of writing with me (I feel her pain, I really do - I'm quite a handful), called it Mal's rising wolf. I like that. Rising Wolf - it has potential for the title, yes?
I saw this wolf illustration on tumblr and really like it:
C, my pal who goes through this whole long process of writing with me (I feel her pain, I really do - I'm quite a handful), called it Mal's rising wolf. I like that. Rising Wolf - it has potential for the title, yes?
I saw this wolf illustration on tumblr and really like it:
edit: it's a wallpaper from here based on World of Warcraft
Friday, January 25, 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
Hawaii 5-0 teaches THINGS
thing I did not know: the family and I watched Monday's Hawaii 5-0 and
saw this - a fire made using a battery and the foil paper from a pack of
cigarettes.
(screengrab from gallicka)
Next thing I know, my 15 y.o. puts a battery in a glass bowl, grabs the foil wrapper from her pack of gum and rips two strips off, holds each strip to the ends of the battery, pushes the other end of both strips together and hello, instant spark, smoke and then fire. Maybe y'all know about this, but it's the first I've seen of it:)
(screengrab from gallicka)
Next thing I know, my 15 y.o. puts a battery in a glass bowl, grabs the foil wrapper from her pack of gum and rips two strips off, holds each strip to the ends of the battery, pushes the other end of both strips together and hello, instant spark, smoke and then fire. Maybe y'all know about this, but it's the first I've seen of it:)
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