Author: Sharon

You really know how to dance

Saturday Evening: Well. That was a non-exhausting day! I even got to exercise, and work on the layout for the cover for the projected Fey Duology ebook release Many, many people are going to be confused, but I figure I’d better start as I mean to go on, so the cover will say!

The Fey Duology
Duainfey & Longeye

AARONA ZETO
writing as
SHARON LEE & STEVE MILLER

. . . since I’m gonna hafta write an Explanatory Introduction anyway.

Why “Aarona Zeto,” you ask? Steve and I were kicking around pseuds for those very novels ‘way back before we sold them to Baen under our own byline (probably the worst career mistake we made). I of course wanted “January Storm” (I always want “January Storm”) and Steve wanted “Aarona Zeto.” All things considered, I can probably let him have this one.

Other than that, yet still related — it’s awfully fulfilling to Do An Art that isn’t your Usual Art — in the case of the above, layout/design. So that’s fun, too, even if I haven’t gotten the exact results I want yet.

And in line with relaxing and all like that, I b’lieve I will pour a glass of wine and go see if there’s anything watchable on Netflix.

Everybody stay safe; I’ll check in tomorrow.
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Sunday. Rainy and cool. Gloomy. I have all the lights on.

Breakfast was Swiss cheese onna onion roll with a Peelz. Lunch will be bean soup.

Firefly’s tail is back to normal. I’ve been trying to get photographic evidence, but, frankly, she’s fed up with the Unreasonable and Embarrassing Attention being paid to her tail and is about to throw the paparazzi out on her ear.

Today, I have stuff to do, none of it urgent, some of it pleasurable. I have Formed a Plan for tomorrow, which is to drive to Michael’s in Augusta (obligatory Joann plaint here), and space around, thence to Belfast where I shall visit the co-op and the harbor, and maybe do a smol stroll along the harborwalk, if the weather cooperates. After that? Who knows. The Plan is for a small, friendly outing.

So, that’s what’s going on hereabouts.

What’s going on thereabouts?

Today’s blog post brought to you by The Romantics, “What I Like About You“

Books read in 2026

14  Seeking Persephone (Lancaster Family #1), Sarah M. Eden (e)
13   Theo of Golden, Allen Levi (e) book club
12  *Balance of Trade (Liaden Universe® #8), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
11  *Scout’s Progress (Liaden Universe® #6), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller**
10  *Local Custom, (Liaden Universe® #5), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller**
9   *I Dare (Liaden Universe® #7), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller**
8   Cuckoo’s Egg, C J Cherryh, (audio first time)
7   *Plan B, (Liaden Universe® #4), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
6   Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (audio first time)
5   *Carpe Diem (Liaden Universe® #3), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
4   *Conflict of Honors (Liaden Universe® #2), Sharon Lee & Steve    Miller
3   *Agent of Change (Liaden Universe® #1), Sharon Lee & Steve                 Miller
2   A Gentleman in Possession of Secrets (Lord Julian #10), Grace             Burrowes (e)
1   Spilling the Tea in Gretna Green, Linzi Day (e)

________
*I’m doing a straight-through series read in publication order

**I screwed up and moved right on to I Dare from Plan B, therefore deviating from publication order.  I will now amend myself and go back to pick up Local Custom.

The music make her want to be the story

Important Stuff First:  I saw Firefly’s tail at Full Upward Extension last night.  This morning, she’s preferring half-mast, which may mean it’s hurting her still.  I can give her the pain meds at noon, and will be doing so.  She did come to snuggle with me when I thought I was going to get up this morning, so we stayed in bed a little longer, talking about how scary That Whole Thing was and how was she feeling now, and articles I’d read about dogs who’d broken their tails and had to get them amputated before there was Serious Damage gone to their spines, and how I’d been really, really scared that she’d gotten cancer wrapped around her spine like her Aunt Sprite, and — well.  We promised each other not to do this again.

A little later, she joined me for our sitting-in-the-sunlight session.

Yesterday afternoon, I made an appointment to walk an alpaca at Northern Solstice Farm in a couple weeks. There will be a meet ‘n greet with the alpaca who agreed to walk with me that day, who will already have donned halter and lead, then an approximately 30 minute stroll either around the farm, or, if conditions aren’t too squishy, on a trail through the woods.  Now I remember why I have hiking boots.  I’m really looking forward to this, and glad I didn’t let myself talk myself out of it.

Other than that, and actually related to the alpaca walk, I’m trying to unfold myself — which is to say, to find the way back out of my head after the Intense Concentration required to finish Kin Right on time and correctly.  Steve would have had us out and about, walking up and down the world, breathing the air, taking photographs, eating out, and striking up conversations with strangers chance-met on beaches, in train stations, or in stores.

I . . . am not that ambitious, left to myself, and the timing’s a little unfortunate, as I find it’s Easter weekend (how did that happen?).  So, unfolding will take the shape of puttering around, straightening up, making hummus, blowing the dust off of my poor, abandoned glass project, maybe finding another movie/tv show to lightly binge, and planning a ride for next Wednesday or Thursday, when the weather is expected to be warmer and sunny.

The secret of writing is that you can’t write all the time.  So — aside an infodump, and blog posts, no Writing here at the Confusion Factory for the next bit.

Reading, though . . . I’ve finished reading Balance of Trade, and also Theo of Golden.  I’m about half-way through Seeking Persephone, and after that?  Crystal Soldier.  Speaking of literary whiplash.

And I think that catches us up.

Here’s a picture of Firefly, from this morning’s sunshine session:

Today’s blog post title brought to you by Dire Straits, “Skateaway“

Books read in 2026

13   Theo of Golden, Allen Levi (e) book club
12  *Balance of Trade (Liaden Universe® #8), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
11  *Scout’s Progress (Liaden Universe® #6), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller**
10  *Local Custom, (Liaden Universe® #5), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller**
9   *I Dare (Liaden Universe® #7), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller**
8   Cuckoo’s Egg, C J Cherryh, (audio first time)
7   *Plan B, (Liaden Universe® #4), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
6   Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (audio first time)
5   *Carpe Diem (Liaden Universe® #3), Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
4   *Conflict of Honors (Liaden Universe® #2), Sharon Lee & Steve    Miller
3   *Agent of Change (Liaden Universe® #1), Sharon Lee & Steve                 Miller
2   A Gentleman in Possession of Secrets (Lord Julian #10), Grace             Burrowes (e)
1   Spilling the Tea in Gretna Green, Linzi Day (e)

________
*I’m doing a straight-through series read in publication order

**I screwed up and moved right on to I Dare from Plan B, therefore deviating from publication order.  I will now amend myself and go back to pick up Local Custom.

Firefly Friday Update

As reported elsewhere, Firefly is home. The vet concentrated on the tail this time, rechecked yesterday’s xrays, assured herself (and, then, me) that no the tail was not broken.

She then looked for bites or lacerations, and finally found a very small sac near the base of her tail, which contained a small amount of blood.

The vet doesn’t know what caused it — a misfall when she was wrasslin with Rook, maybe? It wasn’t a bite, it has been drained, and an anti-inflammatory pain killer has been administered. I can already see that she’s lifting her tail a little higher, and actually moving it. I have a couple more pre-loaded tiny syringes of the above med, one for tomorrow, and one the next day.

I am . . . really tired. Gonna go find lunch, and then flip for the order in which I take a nap and watch a movie.

The vet said, “She just plays everything so close to the vest, and cats, anyway. It’s like living with aliens.”

Proof of at-homeness:

And back to the vet we go

Friday. Rainy and cold.

Firefly is back at the vet’s because her tail ISN’T WORKING. I can see a tiny hump at the base where she’s apparently trying to lift it, but it’s not moving. I played with her, and while she was happy to Stalk the Wily Braided Leather Cord, her tail didn’t move — it followed her, because it’s attached, but there were no twitches at the very tip, as is usually seen on a Cord Hunt. I stroked her tail and the base of her spine and she’s not in pain; and I can’t begin to imagine how you break your tail, but — vet. Cat Not Right.

So, that’s upsetting. Again.

Also, Past Me decided it was necessary that Present Me be alerted to the fact that today is the day I am as old as Steve was when he died, and put it on the calendar. WTF, Past Me?

Sarah is due in about an hour. I need to find something to eat, and a cup of tea. Oh, and pick up the house.

Good thoughts for Firefly, if you have them to spare, would be most appreciated.

And THAT’S off my desk

Kin Right by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, the 28th novel set in their Liaden Universe®, has been submitted. Final weight +/- 141,000 words, including a brief intro, the book itself, and the cast of characters.

Kin Right is the direct sequel to Salvage Right and a sort-of sequel to Diviner’s Bow, since Shan is crossing storylines.

Baen believes this title will be published in Spring 2027.

Now I need to put away the laundry.

I’ll say goodnight, now, I think. It’s been a long day and I’m not sure how much longer I’m going to be in a vertical position.

Everybody stay safe.

Firefly is home and well

Firefly is home.

She’s had a full physical, an xray, hydration, just because, and a injection of an anti-nausea/mild laxative. I also have some CatLax to administer here at home. Her stomach was hard, and the idea is that she’s a little backed up with fur, it being the Outfurring Season and she an extremely furry cat. Her tail isn’t broken (I love that the vet checked this), she probably just had a very uncomfortable stomachache.

She was, of course, very very brave throughout Her Ordeal.

So, repeating: Firefly is home, and hissing at her brother, who made the mistake of rushing up to her, demanding to know ARE YOU OK? She had a few mouthfuls of dry food to settle her nerves, and went back to Steve’s office.

Much relief here at the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory, and while that’s $250 I didn’t expect to spend, I’m happy with this outcome.

Thanks to everyone for your support and good thoughts!

. . . and now I need to go find some lunch.

Good thoughts for Firefly please

I see a robin in the tree outside my office.

Breakfast was onion, potato, mushroom, tomato, sausage link … stirfry, let’s say. With shredded cheese added at the table.

For those coming in late, Firefly has gone to the vet because she is clearly not well, and is being held for examination and bloodwork, since there were no Actual Appointments available today.

Tali and Rook have apparently decided that the best use of their (diminished) resources is for one of them to Keep A Very Close Eye on me while the other searches the house. I am currently under the censorious eye of Arbiter Rook Thunderpaws. This is actually very kind of them, even with the censoring, since I’m kind of a wreck.

Offers of assistance are appreciated, but right now — waiting is.

In a few minutes, I’ll put waiting to work, on account the Cast of Characters ain’t gonna finish itself.

When I called the vet to explain the problem, I first said, “Her tail’s broken,” and than had to back up and explain that, unless something is Very Wrong, Maine Coon cats carry their tails high and proud. I had done what inspections I could, but found nothing apparent, thus my call on the experts. Firefly *was* purring when she was sitting on my lap this morning as we took the happy light, but something’s clearly wrong. I’m very grateful that her regular vet was able to let me bring her in, so she could be examined and tested as time presented itself in her very full day.

So, that’s where we are here at the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory. Waiting for a phone call and trying not to freak.

I’ll check back in when there’s something to report.

Prank-Free Zone

Today is April 1. This is an April Fool Prank-free Zone. Thank you for your attention to this detail.

This is also the anniversary of Steve Miller, Sharon Lee, Arwen de’Gray, and Archie McGee setting up their first household together.

Wednesday. Damp and grey. Oil delivery first thing, which I guess proves the algorithm, since the tank gauge was a squeak above 1/4 tank yesterday afternoon when I checked in.

Breakfast will be cottage cheese and an oatmeal cookie. OK. Two oatmeal cookies. I hope to decide if I’m doing errands first or getting with the Cast of Characters. I’m thinking errands first.  After, I can get as caught up in work as I please without having to keep an eye out for a good place to stop and go do the necessary.

Firefly gave my lap a good, hard workout under the Happy Lite and pronounces me in good shape for somebody in the shape I’m in. Tali is napping in Trooper’s box on the corner of my desk and Rook is on the cat tree in Steve’s office, overlooking the Long Back Yard.

What’re you doing today?