can haz yays!

The author-draft of PACK OF LIES (2.2) is done. For 'reasonably sure Madame Editrix is going to hand me back an entire packet of revisions notes' levels of done. And only a month late. *sigh*

This book has been kicking my ass. I know why it did so -- the plot is a triggery one that will piss off many readers, the sub-plot is going to piss off the more Twu Womance readers out there, and the villains are all, well, not exactly wearing black hats, and the obvious villains...aren't. But I think I finally got a death-grip on the problem areas, and I'm actually quite satisfied with the way it turned out. I really do love Bonnie, and am constantly amazed while writing her how very different she is from Wren -- and yet people will doubtless claim that she too is me. Some of her inevitably is. But lord, not much. Oy.

Now to see what Madame Editrix thinks (see above comment). Then I have to figure out exactly what's going to happen in Book 3. But I have a little time for that, yet.


New Book will begin in 5...4...3...

David Eddings

David Eddings has died.

http://www.sfcrowsnest.com/news/arc/2009/nz14000.php

Say what you will about his work (and many of us have said many things) i didn't read THE BELGARIAD, I devoured them. I was a teenager, turned off by the heavy negativity of many of the fantasy writers at the time (yeah Donaldson, I'm looking at you), and here was a series that managed to have strong female characters, interesting and amusing male characters, an interesting religious theory that never felt like it was trying to convert me, earthy humor, and enough action to keep me turning pages, without feeling too much like a D&D game (I played those, I didn't want to read them).

Later books disappointed me, but the magic of those books -- the first adult books I ever bought in hardcover -- was real and formative, and I really wish I still had them on my shelf.

Good night, Mr. Eddings, and thank you.

quick wine neep

To celebrate finally being able to sit down and start Vineart 2, I opened one of the last bottles from my Burgundy research trip with dinner -- Pommard 1er Cru Clos de Verger, 2002

Trying to describe it to debg I said that it was like warm raspberries and cream, with the texture of a perfect gingersnap cookie -- not a big wine, not a soft wine, but baby bear's porridge of Just Right.

And then I did a quick google on the wine, and came up with this:

http://www.coodencellars.co.uk/wine/country.asp?country=France®ion=Burgundy&appellation=Pommard+1er+Cru

Hah. me FTW. Or at least FTAgreement.

And OMG I am so sorry I opened that bottle because it was the only one I have. *sads* But it will still be there for tomorrow night! *happy*

Wine=magic. Totally.