The last two chapters of splintered novel Wolf in the Wind is now up and ready to entertain you.
Thank you for reading. We’ll be taking a small break to let everyone catch up. The current plan is to start posting splinters regarding the Matter of Lomar Fasholt, starting Wednesday October 4.
Saturday. We here in Central Maine repose beneath a “Tropical Storm Warning.” It appears that the major threat to life and property will derive from mere high winds, as Conditions are Inauspicious with regard to tornadoes.
So far, from where I sit, the build-up exceeds the event. That could of course change, weather being a mobile force. Right now, overlooking the back yard — the wind is gusting, and the rain is sparse.
Since last we spoke, the WIP has broken 10,000 words, which is pretty good for a book that I’m not writing. I do have a point that I’m driving toward, and the plan is to reach that particular destination, then actually look to writing the story contracted for the Familiars anthology out from Zombies Need Brains in 2024.
Other than writing, and reading, and talking trash to the cats, last week was uneventful. Looking ahead to next week though, and that’s a little bit of something else, so I think I’ll be posting the last two chapters of Wolf in the Wind today/tomorrow.
Tomorrow afternoon, we’re going to be chatting with Halfling and the Spaceman. This will be recorded, and I’ll share the link when it goes live.
And that? Is all I’ve got for you. Relaxing weeks make for boring telling.
Here, have a picture of Trooper being bored.
Today’s blog title brought to you by Gaelic Storm, “Tell Me Ma.”
51 Royal Tea Service, Casey Blair (Tea Princess Chronicles #3) (e)
50 A Christmas Like No Otter, Zoe Chant (Virtue Shifters #4) (e)
49 “Compulsion,” A Murderbot short story, Martha Wells (re-read) (e)
48 The Wizard’s Butler, Nathan Lowell (Wizard’s Butler #1?) (e)
47 Tea Set and Match, Casey Blair (Tea Princess Chronicles #2) (e)
46 A Coup of Tea, Casey Blair (Tea Princess Chronicles #1) (e)
45 Let’s Go for Broke, Mary Lasswell (re-read) (e)
44 The Salt-Black Tree, Lilith Saintcrow (The Dead God’s Heart #2) (e)
43 Lavender’s Blue, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (Liz Danger #1) (e)
42 The Talisman Ring, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
41 Cotillion, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
40 Black Sheep, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
39 A Tempest at Sea, Sherry Thomas (Lady Sherlock #7) (e)
38 The Warrior’s Apprentice, Lois McMaster Bujold (re-read) (e)
37 Nimona, ND Stevenson (graphic novel)
36 A Queer Trade, KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies World #2) (e)
35 Rag and Bone, KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies World #3) (e)
34 Jackdaw, KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies World #1) (e)
33 The Grand Sophy, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
32 Spring’s Arcana, Lilith Saintcrow (The Dead God’s Heart #1) (e)
31 Emily of New Moon, L.M. Montgomery (e)
30 Witch King, Martha Wells (e)
29 This Immortal, Roger Zelazny (re-read) (e)
28 God Stalk, P.C. Hodgell (re-read) (e)
27 The Fair Miss Fortune, D.E. Stevenson (e)
26 Who Cries for the Lost, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #18) (e)
25 Charlie All Night, Jennifer Crusie (re-read) (e)
24 A House With Good Bones, T. Kingfisher (e)
23 The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting, KJ Charles (re-read) (e)
22 Like a Thief in the Night, KJ Charles (e)
21 Hellspark, Janet Kagan (re-re-re-&c-read) (e)
20 The Soulmate Equation, Christina Lauren (e)
19 Artfully Yours, Joanna Lowell (e)
18 Bridge of Birds, Barry Hughart (re-re-&c-read) (e)
17 The Magician’s Daughter, H.G. Parry (e)
16 The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, KJ Charles (Doomsday #1) (e)
15 A Conspiracy of Truths, Alexandra Rowland (e)
14 A Tangled Web, Lucy Maud Montgomery (e)
13 Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read) (e)
12 It Takes Two to Tumble, Cat Sebastian, (The Sedgewicks #1) (e)
11 Faking It, Jennifer Crusie (e) re-read
10 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (e) re-read
9 Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik (e) re-read
8 Masters in this Hall, K.J. Charles (Lilywhite Boys) (e)
7 Storm Echo, Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling Trinity Book 6) (e)
6 Magic for Marigold, L.M. Montgomery (e)
5 The Harbors of the Sun, Martha Wells (Raksura #5) (e)
4 The Edge of the World, Martha Wells (Raksura #4) (e)
3 The Blue Castle, L.M. Montgomery (e)
2 The Raven Tower, Ann Leckie (e)
1 Salvage Right, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Liaden Universe® 25) (unedited manuscript) (e)
So, yesterday was my birthday. It was also 911, which has Precedence, it being far more important to many more people than my natal day.
My Usual Strategy for many years, therefore, has been to stay the heck off of social media on my birthday.
So, after a false start, due to the fact that, while I obviously knew it was my birthday, I had temporarily forgotten that it was 911, I backed slowly away from social media and got on with my day.
It was a quiet birthday. Steve and I went out to breakfast at Lisa’s, which was pleasant, as always. After, we went up the hill to the Cony Circle Hannaford, which is bigger, brighter, and stocked more fully than either of the Hannafords in our little city, and mooched around, looking at the shinies, and picking up carrot cake, Borealis bread, tomatoes, and other celebratory items.
Shopping done, we came home, put away the groceries, had a second cup of tea, and retired to our offices, as we do. I did some shopping — oh! Land’s End is having a sale! — and some cleaning up of my office, poked around the corners of BlueSky, steam-cleaned the basement floor (don’t judge me; I get to decide what I want to do on my birthday), and doodled with the WIP for a bit.
Yesterday’s mail included a letter from Northern Light Mammography Department, informing me that my most recent mammogram revealed “NO evidence of cancer.” So that was a good present.
We had veggie fried rice and dumplings for lunch; carrot cake and ice cream a bit later; and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner.
In all, a pleasant day on my terms.
Today sees a return to business as usual, which includes getting the trash to the curb, answering the mail, and doing some advanced planning for said WIP, in addition to writing the next scene.
For those who collect such trivia, the WIP stands at 5,525 words more or less. I wish I could say “growing fast,” but it looks like this one, like Ribbon Dance, will be more of a “growing slow and steady” sort of novel.
I think that’s it. Below, as seen elsewhere, a picture of the author as 71.
Chapter Five of splintered novel Wolf in the Wind is now up and ready to entertain you.
50 A Christmas Like No Otter, Zoe Chant (Virtue Shifters #4) (e)
49 “Compulsion,” A Murderbot short story, Martha Wells (re-read) (e)
48 The Wizard’s Butler, Nathan Lowell (Wizard’s Butler #1?) (e)
47 Tea Set and Match, Casey Blair (Tea Princess Chronicles #2) (e)
46 A Coup of Tea, Casey Blair (Tea Princess Chronicles #1) (e)
45 Let’s Go for Broke, Mary Lasswell (re-read) (e)
44 The Salt-Black Tree, Lilith Saintcrow (The Dead God’s Heart #2) (e)
43 Lavender’s Blue, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (Liz Danger #1) (e)
42 The Talisman Ring, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
41 Cotillion, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
40 Black Sheep, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
39 A Tempest at Sea, Sherry Thomas (Lady Sherlock #7) (e)
38 The Warrior’s Apprentice, Lois McMaster Bujold (re-read) (e)
37 Nimona, ND Stevenson (graphic novel)
36 A Queer Trade, KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies World #2) (e)
35 Rag and Bone, KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies World #3) (e)
34 Jackdaw, KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies World #1) (e)
33 The Grand Sophy, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
32 Spring’s Arcana, Lilith Saintcrow (The Dead God’s Heart #1) (e)
31 Emily of New Moon, L.M. Montgomery (e)
30 Witch King, Martha Wells (e)
29 This Immortal, Roger Zelazny (re-read) (e)
28 God Stalk, P.C. Hodgell (re-read) (e)
27 The Fair Miss Fortune, D.E. Stevenson (e)
26 Who Cries for the Lost, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #18) (e)
25 Charlie All Night, Jennifer Crusie (re-read) (e)
24 A House With Good Bones, T. Kingfisher (e)
23 The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting, KJ Charles (re-read) (e)
22 Like a Thief in the Night, KJ Charles (e)
21 Hellspark, Janet Kagan (re-re-re-&c-read) (e)
20 The Soulmate Equation, Christina Lauren (e)
19 Artfully Yours, Joanna Lowell (e)
18 Bridge of Birds, Barry Hughart (re-re-&c-read) (e)
17 The Magician’s Daughter, H.G. Parry (e)
16 The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, KJ Charles (Doomsday #1) (e)
15 A Conspiracy of Truths, Alexandra Rowland (e)
14 A Tangled Web, Lucy Maud Montgomery (e)
13 Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read) (e)
12 It Takes Two to Tumble, Cat Sebastian, (The Sedgewicks #1) (e)
11 Faking It, Jennifer Crusie (e) re-read
10 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (e) re-read
9 Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik (e) re-read
8 Masters in this Hall, K.J. Charles (Lilywhite Boys) (e)
7 Storm Echo, Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling Trinity Book 6) (e)
6 Magic for Marigold, L.M. Montgomery (e)
5 The Harbors of the Sun, Martha Wells (Raksura #5) (e)
4 The Edge of the World, Martha Wells (Raksura #4) (e)
3 The Blue Castle, L.M. Montgomery (e)
2 The Raven Tower, Ann Leckie (e)
1 Salvage Right, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Liaden Universe® 25) (unedited manuscript) (e)
It’s a holiday weekend, so I’m told.
Here in the center of Maine, we’re looking at sun and warm weather starting, oh, today, and getting progressively warmer — kissing 90F mid-week — before exiting on thunderstorms, next Friday, and falling off into more seasonal temps.
For those following along at home, I’ve been using my XChair for a little over two weeks now, and it’s a delight. Well worth the money.
The household is slowly reforming around the hole where Belle used to be.
Trooper has stopped going to her usual places and calling. He had seemed to form the theory that the front door was involved, and twice tried to step out onto the front porch to scope things out while we were in-loading groceries. Turned out that was too scary for everybody, and I think we’re past that now.
Sprite has been stepping up into what had been Belle’s special duties, such as sitting on Steve’s lap while he reads, and felining his copilot’s chair. Firefly has also been coming forward to cover some of Sprite’s duties.
The humans still get lumps in their throats at odd moments, or will abruptly notice that they haven’t seen Belle in a while and hope she hadn’t gotten herself stuck in a closet . . .
It’s a process.
On the Professional side of the coin, Baen has let us know that Ribbon Dance will be released in June 2024. David Mattingly is even now hard at work on the cover.
Steve is working on Trade Lanes. Though I had intended to put my feet up and take it easy for the next while, it looks like I’m working on the follow-up to Ribbon Dance. Well. If the book’s ready to be written, I guess I’m ready to write it.
I think that catches us all up — no, not quite.
Steve and I went out yesterday to forage, and I very much fear that!
A dragon followed me home.
49 “Compulsion,” A Murderbot short story, Martha Wells (re-read) (e)
48 The Wizard’s Butler, Nathan Lowell (Wizard’s Butler #1?) (e)
47 Tea Set and Match, Casey Blair (Tea Princess Chronicles #2) (e)
46 A Coup of Tea, Casey Blair (Tea Princess Chronicles #1) (e)
45 Let’s Go for Broke, Mary Lasswell (re-read) (e)
44 The Salt-Black Tree, Lilith Saintcrow (The Dead God’s Heart #2) (e)
43 Lavender’s Blue, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (Liz Danger #1) (e)
42 The Talisman Ring, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
41 Cotillion, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
40 Black Sheep, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
39 A Tempest at Sea, Sherry Thomas (Lady Sherlock #7) (e)
38 The Warrior’s Apprentice, Lois McMaster Bujold (re-read) (e)
37 Nimona, ND Stevenson (graphic novel)
36 A Queer Trade, KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies World #2) (e)
35 Rag and Bone, KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies World #3) (e)
34 Jackdaw, KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies World #1) (e)
33 The Grand Sophy, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
32 Spring’s Arcana, Lilith Saintcrow (The Dead God’s Heart #1) (e)
31 Emily of New Moon, L.M. Montgomery (e)
30 Witch King, Martha Wells (e)
29 This Immortal, Roger Zelazny (re-read) (e)
28 God Stalk, P.C. Hodgell (re-read) (e)
27 The Fair Miss Fortune, D.E. Stevenson (e)
26 Who Cries for the Lost, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #18) (e)
25 Charlie All Night, Jennifer Crusie (re-read) (e)
24 A House With Good Bones, T. Kingfisher (e)
23 The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting, KJ Charles (re-read) (e)
22 Like a Thief in the Night, KJ Charles (e)
21 Hellspark, Janet Kagan (re-re-re-&c-read) (e)
20 The Soulmate Equation, Christina Lauren (e)
19 Artfully Yours, Joanna Lowell (e)
18 Bridge of Birds, Barry Hughart (re-re-&c-read) (e)
17 The Magician’s Daughter, H.G. Parry (e)
16 The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, KJ Charles (Doomsday #1) (e)
15 A Conspiracy of Truths, Alexandra Rowland (e)
14 A Tangled Web, Lucy Maud Montgomery (e)
13 Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read) (e)
12 It Takes Two to Tumble, Cat Sebastian, (The Sedgewicks #1) (e)
11 Faking It, Jennifer Crusie (e) re-read
10 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (e) re-read
9 Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik (e) re-read
8 Masters in this Hall, K.J. Charles (Lilywhite Boys) (e)
7 Storm Echo, Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling Trinity Book 6) (e)
6 Magic for Marigold, L.M. Montgomery (e)
5 The Harbors of the Sun, Martha Wells (Raksura #5) (e)
4 The Edge of the World, Martha Wells (Raksura #4) (e)
3 The Blue Castle, L.M. Montgomery (e)
2 The Raven Tower, Ann Leckie (e)
1 Salvage Right, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Liaden Universe® 25) (unedited manuscript) (e)
47 Tea Set and Match, Casey Blair (Tea Princess Chronicles #2) (e)
46 A Coup of Tea, Casey Blair (Tea Princess Chronicles #1) (e)
45 Let’s Go for Broke, Mary Lasswell (re-read) (e)
44 The Salt-Black Tree, Lilith Saintcrow (The Dead God’s Heart #2) (e)
43 Lavender’s Blue, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (Liz Danger #1) (e)
42 The Talisman Ring, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
41 Cotillion, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
40 Black Sheep, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
39 A Tempest at Sea, Sherry Thomas (Lady Sherlock #7) (e)
38 The Warrior’s Apprentice, Lois McMaster Bujold (re-read) (e)
37 Nimona, ND Stevenson (graphic novel)
36 A Queer Trade, KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies World #2) (e)
35 Rag and Bone, KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies World #3) (e)
34 Jackdaw, KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies World #1) (e)
33 The Grand Sophy, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
32 Spring’s Arcana, Lilith Saintcrow (The Dead God’s Heart #1) (e)
31 Emily of New Moon, L.M. Montgomery (e)
30 Witch King, Martha Wells (e)
29 This Immortal, Roger Zelazny (re-read) (e)
28 God Stalk, P.C. Hodgell (re-read) (e)
27 The Fair Miss Fortune, D.E. Stevenson (e)
26 Who Cries for the Lost, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #18) (e)
25 Charlie All Night, Jennifer Crusie (re-read) (e)
24 A House With Good Bones, T. Kingfisher (e)
23 The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting, KJ Charles (re-read) (e)
22 Like a Thief in the Night, KJ Charles (e)
21 Hellspark, Janet Kagan (re-re-re-&c-read) (e)
20 The Soulmate Equation, Christina Lauren (e)
19 Artfully Yours, Joanna Lowell (e)
18 Bridge of Birds, Barry Hughart (re-re-&c-read) (e)
17 The Magician’s Daughter, H.G. Parry (e)
16 The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, KJ Charles (Doomsday #1) (e)
15 A Conspiracy of Truths, Alexandra Rowland (e)
14 A Tangled Web, Lucy Maud Montgomery (e)
13 Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read) (e)
12 It Takes Two to Tumble, Cat Sebastian, (The Sedgewicks #1) (e)
11 Faking It, Jennifer Crusie (e) re-read
10 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (e) re-read
9 Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik (e) re-read
8 Masters in this Hall, K.J. Charles (Lilywhite Boys) (e)
7 Storm Echo, Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling Trinity Book 6) (e)
6 Magic for Marigold, L.M. Montgomery (e)
5 The Harbors of the Sun, Martha Wells (Raksura #5) (e)
4 The Edge of the World, Martha Wells (Raksura #4) (e)
3 The Blue Castle, L.M. Montgomery (e)
2 The Raven Tower, Ann Leckie (e)
1 Salvage Right, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Liaden Universe® 25) (unedited manuscript) (e)
46 A Coup of Tea, Casey Blair (Tea Princess Chronicles #1) (e)
45 Let’s Go for Broke, Mary Lasswell (re-read) (e)
44 The Salt-Black Tree, Lilith Saintcrow (The Dead God’s Heart #2) (e)
43 Lavender’s Blue, Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (Liz Danger #1) (e)
42 The Talisman Ring, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
41 Cotillion, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
40 Black Sheep, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
39 A Tempest at Sea, Sherry Thomas (Lady Sherlock #7) (e)
38 The Warrior’s Apprentice, Lois McMaster Bujold (re-read) (e)
37 Nimona, ND Stevenson (graphic novel)
36 A Queer Trade, KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies World #2) (e)
35 Rag and Bone, KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies World #3) (e)
34 Jackdaw, KJ Charles (A Charm of Magpies World #1) (e)
33 The Grand Sophy, Georgette Heyer (re-re-&-read) (e)
32 Spring’s Arcana, Lilith Saintcrow (The Dead God’s Heart #1) (e)
31 Emily of New Moon, L.M. Montgomery (e)
30 Witch King, Martha Wells (e)
29 This Immortal, Roger Zelazny (re-read) (e)
28 God Stalk, P.C. Hodgell (re-read) (e)
27 The Fair Miss Fortune, D.E. Stevenson (e)
26 Who Cries for the Lost, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #18) (e)
25 Charlie All Night, Jennifer Crusie (re-read) (e)
24 A House With Good Bones, T. Kingfisher (e)
23 The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting, KJ Charles (re-read) (e)
22 Like a Thief in the Night, KJ Charles (e)
21 Hellspark, Janet Kagan (re-re-re-&c-read) (e)
20 The Soulmate Equation, Christina Lauren (e)
19 Artfully Yours, Joanna Lowell (e)
18 Bridge of Birds, Barry Hughart (re-re-&c-read) (e)
17 The Magician’s Daughter, H.G. Parry (e)
16 The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, KJ Charles (Doomsday #1) (e)
15 A Conspiracy of Truths, Alexandra Rowland (e)
14 A Tangled Web, Lucy Maud Montgomery (e)
13 Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read) (e)
12 It Takes Two to Tumble, Cat Sebastian, (The Sedgewicks #1) (e)
11 Faking It, Jennifer Crusie (e) re-read
10 Getting Rid of Bradley, Jennifer Crusie (e) re-read
9 Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik (e) re-read
8 Masters in this Hall, K.J. Charles (Lilywhite Boys) (e)
7 Storm Echo, Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling Trinity Book 6) (e)
6 Magic for Marigold, L.M. Montgomery (e)
5 The Harbors of the Sun, Martha Wells (Raksura #5) (e)
4 The Edge of the World, Martha Wells (Raksura #4) (e)
3 The Blue Castle, L.M. Montgomery (e)
2 The Raven Tower, Ann Leckie (e)
1 Salvage Right, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Liaden Universe® 25) (unedited manuscript) (e)