Sunny Thursday

BUSINESS FIRST!  Diviner’s Bow by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, the 27th novel set in the Liaden Universe® of their own devising (ignore Amazon; it doesn’t know how to count) premiers at #13 on the Bookscan new release bestseller list!

We couldn’t have done it without you, so! Give yourselves a hand!

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What went before ONE: The snow is melting nicely, and I’ve sketched in the beginning of a scene, and washed my robe, which may need to get washed again, considering the amount of cat fur still clinging to it. On the other hand, fur is warm amirite?

I was listening to the Spectrum Channel on Sirius, and the host was discussing the new crop of artists who are up for inclusion in the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, which is one of Sirius’ Big Things. This year INXS is on the list (I mean, why isn’t INXS already in the Hall of Fame?), and the host, who is not someone who goes out of her way to speak ill of people, mentioned that she was pleased with the inclusion of INXS, and then said, “You know, I do try to separate the art from the artist — in my business, you sort of have to — but I don’t think I’ll ever forgive Neil Gallagher of Oasis, for his acceptance speech. You remember the one — Mike Hutchence (of INXS) was giving the award and Gallagher, in his speech said, “Has-beens shouldn’t be giving out [fucking] awards to gonna-bes.” That, said mine host, and she wasn’t wrong, was cruel. It was, in fact, ungracious, and then, she added, “A year later Mike Hutchence was gone, so I hope Neil Gallagher felt good about that. Anyway! Here’s INXS — ”

Wow.

So! I guess I’d better empty the dishwasher and start warming up my soup for lunch.

How’s everybody doing at the half-way mark on the day?

What went before ONE-point-FIVE: Just thinking about the acceptance speech thing, and — I’m going to be giving an acceptance speech in a little over a month.

Mine’s better than Noel Gallagher’s.

Just sayin’.

What went before TWO: I’m not really sure what I got done today. Bits of this and pieces of that.

Got some correx entered — oh. I had to rewrite a scene to make it plain that Val Con’s being sneaky, for those who may have forgotten his core values.

Spent some time looking for something that I never did find. I hate that. And now I need to practice my speech again (trying to do this long enough so that it’s more or less committed to memory by the time I actually have to stand up on a stage and speak), and do some ASL review. I’m of the opinion that the days aren’t long enough, because it can’t be that I’m wasting time. Sigh.

Everybody stay safe; I’ll see you tomorrow.

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Let’s see. Thursday. Sunny and bound for warm. Last class of ASL Session One this evening.

Breakfast was potatoes fried with onions, cottage cheese, and grapes. Lunch will likely be a fish sandwich.

ASL review this morning. There’s a load of laundry washing, because the basket was full and it offendeth me.

I have more correx to input, and some more scenes to draft by hand, so it’s not like I lack for occupation.

So the book I’m reading is The Dreadful Duke, by Grace Burrowes, in which Our Hero is a sculptor. He’s been doing this for a long time, and as he was in the position of having to do art in exchange for money, he has worked long hours and demanded much of himself. When the story opens, the second thing we are told about the man is that his hands hurt. And this remains an undercurrent of the story, that one’s art may be beloved, but it will in the end break you.

This brought to you by, my hands hurt.

What’s everybody doing today that’s fun?

Below:  The Long Back Yard, this morning; obligatory cat pics

There’ll be laughing, singing, and music swinging

Friday. Sun trying to break through the clouds. I’ve been up for a while, but the day’s starting slow. In Garmin-speak, yesterday was very stressful and though I slept well, it was insufficient to renew my body battery.

Whatever.

Breakfast was rice-and-quinoa cakes with cream cheese and the penultimate orange. The name of my next band will be Penultimate Orange. Lunch will be … prolly a leftover salmon cake sandwich with whatever veggies come to hand when I open the freezer.

So! Diviner’s Bow — is it “bow” as in archery, or “bow” as in Liadens are always bowing? Here’s the history, one! more! time!

Because the Padi arc is basically an internal trilogy, I/we decided to give the titles a sequence, to, yanno, Clue People In? Thus we have: Trader’s LEAP, Ribbon DANCE, Diviner’s BOW.

I know, I know — too opaque. I’m reminded of That Time Steve wanted to title a novel Writ of Replevin, and Toni said, “Err. No.”

This afternoon, I have an interview with Griffin Barber for the Baen Free Radio Hour. Which means I have to find my invitation email. Which is why I’m on my third mug of tea. I had Soft Plans to go to First Friday downtown this evening, so I’ll see where I am when we get there.

Last night’s ASL class was short a few people and we kinda flew through the lesson, and had time for side excursions. It was fun. I haven’t yet paid my money for the follow-on course. I will have to miss the last lesson by reason of BaltiCon, but I’ll be able to attend the rest.

What else?

Honestly? I think that’s it.

Who has Friday night plans?

Today’s blog post title brought to you by Messers Jagger and Bowie, riffing off of Martha and the Vandellas’ 1964 hit, “Dancing in the Street

Want a signed copy of Diviner’s Bow? News you can use

The Uncle has begun shipping Diviner’s Bow with its very handsome signed bookplate. So, if you want a signed hardcover, now isn’t too soon to order, and the Uncle is going to make it Extra Easy for you to get your book.

If you ordered a signed copy of Ribbon Dance from Uncle Hugo’s last year, and your payment information has not changed, all you have to do to get your copy of Diviner’s Bow into the mail is this:

Write to unclehugoATaolDOTcom. State your name, that you purchased Ribbon Dance last year, that your payment information has not changed, and how many copies of Diviner’s Bow you would like to receive.

The Uncle will do the rest.

It really doesn’t get any easier than this, so! What’re you waiting for?

Sharon Lee

The Return of Winter, Part Three

What went before:  Discussions yesterday led to the realization that Diviner’s Bow represents the fastest turnaround from manuscript to eARC that I, personally, have participated in.  Bearing in mind that the book was due on November 15, this is the timeline: WIP handed in on October 28, line edits received on November 14, copy edits received on December 8, galleys received on December 23, eARC on-sale January 8.

No wonder I’m tired.

Also! for those who missed yesterday’s exciting announcement, you may now purchase, from Baen.com and only from Baen.com, the Diviner’s Bow eARC.  Here’s your link.

As has been our pleasant custom, a private parlor for spoiler discussions has been opened so that those who read the eARC can talk about it without spoiling the story for those readers who prefer to wait for other editions to be published.  Here’s the link to the Diviner’s Bow Spoiler Space.

That brings us current, I think, so!  Onward to!

Thursday, grey and cold. Snowed a tiny bit on the overnight, enough to give the Long Backyard a Wintry Air.

Breakfast was oatmeal with raisins and walnuts. Second cup of tea brewing. Lunch will be chili.

I’m declaring myself flu-free; 24 hours off of Robitussin, hacking non-present, sneezing ditto, no fever for days.

Today is a No-I-Am-NOT-Writing day. The crazy rush on Diviner’s Bow — where I got the edit letter the day before the book was due — may have broken my brain. Not really. Only a sprain, I’m sure. Still, if this is going to be the New Crazy, I’m going to have to take steps to protect myself, so that I can deliver the books that are still under contract. It might be I’ll need to extend the extension for the next book, because I never did get the downtime (being sick is not downtime) I thought I was gaining after I turned in …Bow.

In any case — today I’ll be catching up around the house, changing out the cat fountains (which should have been done days ago, ref “sick” above, and my cats are saints) maybe watching a documentary about lighthouses if I can track it down again, and other Light non-writing Amusements.

I also need to give some consideration to on-going brain care. I’ve mentioned before that I have a very busy brain. If I don’t keep it occupied — not stressed, occupied — it turns on itself, which is … not optimal. For 46 years, I lived inside a vortex of intellectual and creative stimulation, and as much as that might’ve made other people crazy, it was what kept me functional.

Isn’t Life interesting?

Speaking of Interesting — Who’s finished reading Diviner’s Bow? Show of hands, if you please! *raises three hands*

That’s all I’ve got right now.

Here, have a picture of the back yard. What’s the weather where you are?

Spoiler Discussion: Diviner’s Bow

For those of you who have read Diviner’s Bow and want to talk about it, a Spoiler Discussion space is provided here.  This is done as a service to eARC consumers as well as those who choose to wait for another edition of the novel to be published.

Please remember that the space is moderated and that the moderator — that would be me — gets time off to sleep, write, play with the cats, and read, so your message will not necessarily appear immediately.  It will appear eventually, though, so keep the faith.

Happy reading.