Blog Without A Name

Money talks; it’ll tell you a story

So, yesterday was an exciting day, for values of exiting that include High Comedy and Sheer Terror.  Though it was Wednesday, Anything did not happen.  No, I’m wrong.  Anything did happen.  Just not the things I would have preferred to have happened.

Let’s see. . .we didn’t get an offer on the house yesterday.  I would’ve liked that.  At least, I think I would’ve liked that, but who knows, y’know?  It would certainly have Clarified Things.

We did go to the bank to get pre-qualified.  The bank’s idea of how much we can afford is. . . whoa, really, and in what alternate universe?  This was to create problems, later in the day, but at the moment of pre-qualification, it was merely blackly amusing.  It is to our credit that Steve and I managed to both look at the figure proposed by the bank and not burst into wild gales of laughter.

After the bank, we viewed that house we had liked, with advertency and utilizing a fine-tooth comb, and regretfully came to the conclusion that, no, it would not do, after all.  We therefore move on to the next two on the short list.

When we came home, I made the mistake of actually looking at houses that the bank thinks we can afford.  And, then, I made a very bad mistake, indeed.

I looked down.

Anyone involved in the arts — from circus art, to music, to painter, potter, writer — will tell you that it is crucial to your mental well-being and to your art not to look down. Ever.  Usually, I’m good with not looking down, because, hey, fiction writer, here.  But, yesterday — I looked.

And the reality of my life kind of all rushed up and hit me in the face: how I don’t know how we’re paying our bills now, except that we do — it’s, yanno, magic, near enough, and it never does to scrutinize magic too closely, either. . .and how I can’t predict if I’m going to be able to pay my bills in future, and how the bank’s happy assumption that we’re going to continue to grow our earnings is simply. . .not the freelance reality, and, and. . .and!. . .And. . .

. . .let’s just say that, had I actually been climbing a tree at  the time, I would have fallen, and Jimmy Bean would have had to run fetch Aunt Polly.

Who knew house hunting would be so VERY exciting?

I am today cleaning all of the old typescripts of the novels out of the file cabinets.  We have more file cabinets than any sane couple of writers needs.  Later this week, I intend to throw away the mountain of tearsheets from our days as reporters/reviewers/photographers.

Here’s what the pile of novel typescripts looks like:

Typescripts to go
Typescripts to go

I will also, later this week, be setting up a Patreon account, for Mozart, mostly, so that his many fans and well-wishers may do as seems reasonable to them.  Watch this space for more information.

And I think that catches us up for the moment.

Here, have a picture of Sprite and Trooper, overlooking the birds at the feeder.  Sprite is taller than her dad, now.

Sprite and Trooper, birdwatching
Sprite and Trooper, birdwatching

Today’s blog title comes to you courtesy of the late JJ Cale.  Here’s your link.

In which money continues to talk, and the title arrives

So, yesterday was a Day of Scrutiny, and the Dealing of Realities.  In a word, yesterday kinda sucked.  It was, however, a beautiful day to be out and about.

Today promises also to be a beautiful day; I considered working on the deck, but the bugs would have at me, so I’ll set up to work in the office window instead, where I have a nice view of the trees and wildflowers.

For those playing along at home, One of Five has achieved An Official Title, and is henceforthly to be known as: Dragon in Exile.  The manuscript is due to Madame the Editor on September 15.  We fully expect to make that deadline, which means I need to beat feet with the braiding and bridge-building.

ADVERTISEMENT:  If anyone is interested — or knows someone who is interested — in purchasing a comfortable house in the beautiful Maine countryside (and I mean that sincerely), please write to me at sharonleeATkorvalDOTcom, and I will send the listing. Serious inquiries only, please. The house is what’s called hereabouts a “raised ranch” (which means a ranch house with a daylight, walk-out, basement), 3 bedrooms, one bath, half-finished basement with built-in bookshelves and a working All-Nighter woodstove, on 1.74 acres of mostly wooded land.  It has a newish roof with ice and water shields dams, newish vinyl windows, heating provided by oil via hot water baseboard units.  The house is situated about 6 miles out of town, and has its own well and septic system.  As an extra bonus, the property enjoys direct access to the local snowmobile club trail, which leads to ITS 85.  Listing price is $109,000.

And now, the promise to the real estate agent fulfilled, I’m going to work.

I hope everybody has a delightful weekend!

* * *

Progress on Dragon in Exile
83,077/100,000 OR 83% complete

“I find him dear, all right,” she said. “And the clan ain’t never let go of him, Mr. Dragon; don’t you bat them pretty green eyes at me.”

About Sasquan and the generosity of strangers

Asyouknowbob, Steve and I had to cancel our trip to DetCon, after swearing for a whole long year that we fully intended to be there.  In canceling we disappointed some people who are important to us, including ourselves, but not only is Life generally disdainful of the Full Intentions of human beings, we missed catching the Wealthy Author train some time back.  Added to all of that is the fact that we’ve put our house on the market and will therefore be moving. . .sometime.  We do have to sell this house before we can buy another (see “Wealthy Author train,” above), so this project bodes well for becoming Much More Exciting before it’s completed.

What all of the above has to do with Sasquan is that the DetCon cancellation has apparently caused some West Coast folks to fear that we will serve Sasquan the same.  Let me hasten to say that this is not an unreasonable fear (see “selling house,” and “Life,” above).  We have heard from folks who want Assurances, which we can only give to the extent that Life allows.

Several other people, however, have decided to be pro-active, and have written with offers of assistance, in terms of covering transportation costs, sharing hotel space, and in terms of Cold, Hard Cash.

First, let me say that we appreciate these offers; that we want to get to Sasquan as much as anyone else wants us to get there, and if people are willing to give us some help to make that happen, we’re certainly in no position to be anything but grateful.

But.

While we cannot see the future, we can make better guesses about it, the closer we get to a fixed point.  It is, as I write this, July of 2014.  Sasquan is scheduled to begin on August 19, 2015.  We have some time to work with here; time to let things shake out and stabilize.

So, what I propose is this:  Let’s not panic just yet about Lee and Miller bailing on Sasquan.  Let’s revisit this conversation in February 2015 — say, after Boskone — and take a hard look at where we are, and if it seems likely that we’re going to need help to get out to Spokane and do the con.  This year, things started going south very early, and while we realize that Life has many sleeves to laugh in, we ought to have some idea of the shape of the rest of 2015 by then.

If it does, indeed, seem as if we’re going to need help, then I’ll ask for ideas about Patreon and Indigogo and who know what else will have sprung into existence in the meantime.

In the meantime, we’ll be making our hotel reservations for Sasquan when the period opens in August, and in general proceeding on this Intention of ours to be at the con.

Thank you all for being with us for this long ride, and for your concern, and generosity.  Steve and I appreciate you more than we can say.

 

Books in Boothbay

As recently mentioned here in this blog; Steve and I were part of the 10th Annual Books in Boothbay Celebration, held at the Boothbay Railway Village.  We arrived slightly early for the afternoon, “adult authors” session, so we got to tour the room during the children’s authors’ session, which was an unplanned-for bonus.

Because the committee thought of everything, and provided all attendees with free tickets to the Village and the exhibits, we were also able to ride the antique narrow-gauge steam train:

Number 6 at the station Boothbay Railway Village Photo by Sharon Lee
Number 6 at the station
Boothbay Railway Village
Photo by Sharon Lee

We had our tickets punched by Ethan, the Youth Conductor of the Day:

Our conductor shows Steve his card punch Boothbay Railway Village Photo by Sharon Lee
Our conductor shows Steve his card punch
Boothbay Railway Village
Photo by Sharon Lee

After our train ride, which encircled the Village Green, following a pleasantly wood-side track, we wandered through the village, though we did not feed the goats — I think Steve has pictures of the goats — and came back to the town hall (that would be the Railway Village’s town hall, not the Boothbay Town Hall) in time to be served a lovely lunch.  We picnicked under the trees with several of our fellow celebrants, then went inside to start up the afternoon session.

Here’s a picture of the space, as we’re just getting underway:

The adventure begins! Photo by Sharon Lee
The adventure begins!
Photo by Sharon Lee

We found our place in the back of the room, next to Chris Holm and his wife, Katrina, who were charming tablemates, and proceeded to Get Down to Business.  It was lovely to spend the afternoon talking to people who were passionate about books, and great to meet so many new readers.

After the signing was over, there was an Author Reception the lawn, which was perfectly lovely.  Steve and I, alas, had to leave early, due to needing to drive home to Central Maine.

So, we had a splendid time — the committee really knows how to treat authors right! — and we’re glad we took the day off to enjoy.

 

Books read in 2014

26.  The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern
25.  The King of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner
24.  The Queen of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner
23.  The Thief, Megan Whalen Turner
22.  Cuckoo’s Egg, C.J. Cherryh (re-re-re-&c-read)
21.  The Windflower, Laura London (Tom and Sharon Curtis) (re-read)
20.  Sparrow Hill Road, Seanan McGuire (e)
19.  Demon’s Lexicon, Sarah Rees Brennan
18.  Refining Felicity, Marion Chesney
17.  Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury (re-read aloud w/Steve)
16. The Vanished Priestess, Meredith Blevins
15.  Nine Princes in Amber, Roger Zelazny (re-read aloud w/Steve)
14.  Code Name Verity, Elizabeth Wein
13.  Ghost Point, James A. Hetley, manuscript (read aloud w/Steve)
12.  Peacemaker, C.J. Cherryh (read aloud w/Steve)
11.  The Red Hot Empress, Meredith Blevins
10.  Hogfather, Terry Pratchett
9.  Black Widow: The Name of the Rose, Marjorie Liu, Daniel Acuna
8.  Agent of Change, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (e)
7.  The Emperor’s Agent, Jo Graham (e)
6.  Eternity and a Day, Aline Hunter (e)
5.  Kindred Rites, Katharine Eliska Kimbriel (e)
4.  Billy the Kid, the Endless Ride, Michael Wallis
3.  The Steerswoman, Rosemary Kirstein (e)
2.  Uncovered, Jordan Matter
1.  Dancers Among Us, Jordan Matter

Trooperversary!

Today, we celebrate the fact that Kelimcoons Sooper Trooper has been a busy, practical, silly, and kind member of the Lee and Miller Cat Farm for exactly. . .

One year!

Yes, on this day in 2013, we picked Trooper up in New Hampshire and brought him back to the Motherland.  Boy, were we lucky.

Trooper’s already celebrating:

Trooperversary celebrations are starting early. Photo by Sharon Lee
Trooperversary celebrations are starting early.
Photo by Sharon Lee