Guess what. I'm gonna be on Road Trip Nation! Thanks to the Unknown Reader who recommended my blog to her friend Camilla. Unknown Reader, I enjoyed meeting your friend!
Sneak preview of upcoming novel.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
ChreativitySo now I'm in the post-holiday, early new year phase where I feel all pumped-up to start new projects. Why does this happen every year? Because Christmas fuels creativity, I think.
I have one writing project that's almost done, so of course I'm eager to start a new one. But discipline rules me, so I'll finish the first project, first. Then, of course, I'll totally lose my enthusiasm for the second, the moment I'm free to work on it. Because projects are like the dream rushes that Alice reaches for, on the boat with the sheep, in Through the Looking Glass. It's almost impossible to be satisfied with the project at hand, and you keep wanting to reach for the ones that look better from far away.
Postpone-a-roonie
You can't tell yet, because I haven't yet updated the sidebar over there to the right, but my novel with Warner has been delayed yet again, until the Spring of 2008.
The thing is, Warner got bought out by Hachette. Did you know that? No, you didn't, did you? You know why you didn't know it? Because Hachette hasn't yet done their big rebranding campaign, of course. Guess when they're gonna do it, then. That's right - right before my novel was scheduled to come out.
My novel is one in a brand new imprint, as well, so they don't want that imprint's launch to get overshadowed by the rebranding. So they postponed it.
All that makes perfect sense to me, so I'm not upset about it or anything. My editor and her boss were really sweet about it, calling us all personally and making sure we were okay. But I was totally okay. I know how things roll, and I don't want the imprint to get overshadowed, either.
Plus, I already got paid for that book, so I'm good. They can postpone it 'til 2037, as far as I'm concerned.
Ha, ha, just kidding. And, actually, I don't know if anyone reading really cares about all those details. But I figured I should type them out, just in case anyone's been wondering.
A Post-Christmas Nasal Miracle
Backstory: When I was 14 years old, my nose got broken but did not get repaired by medical professionals. Hence, my nose has been slightly crooked ever since that day. Not enough so that you'd look at me and think that my nose had been broken... just enough so that it always looks like I'm smirking or holding my mouth weird. Also, once in a long while my nose bridge hurts a little and makes me regret having been poor and unable to get it fixed back when I was 14. So...
Back to the present: So last night one of my kids and I were watching a marathon of Season Two of America's Next Top Model. And I was thinking that, whether you love her or hate her or are grossed out by her subsequent fame-whoring, that Yoanna certainly does have a beautiful face.
And one of the guys on the show agreed with me, and at one point he said, "Yoanna's face is perfectly symmetrical."
After the show, I went to brush my teeth and idly wished that my face was a little more symmetrical than it is. Then, I looked in the mirror at my crooked nose, to remind myself of how crooked it is.
And, weirdly as hell, I saw that it isn't crooked anymore. In fact, I couldn't even see the little bump that used to be on the side of the bridge, up near my left eye. (If I touch it, I can feel it, but otherwise it's now undetectable.)
Isn't that bizarre? Either a good fairy wished my nose straight (in which case: Thank you, Good Fairy!), or else my nose gradually straightened out on its own.
Oh, or maybe I wished it straight, myself, after seeing Yoanna on TV.
Maybe Yoanna healed me with her magical, symmetrical, America's Next Top Model face magic!
Anti-Shopping Mode, Idle Boot Lust
I turned 35 a few days ago (It's too late to wish me happy birthday, so please don't worry about it - tricked y'all, ha, ha, now you just have to read this entry and wait til next year) and I kind of had a half-ass plan to buy myself a pair of boots. Brown ones, though, as I already have 3 or 4 pairs of black.
I couldn't find any brown boots I liked, though. Or, none that I liked but could also afford.
What's up with that? Where are all the nice, affordable brown boots in Houston? Is it that black boots hide their own cheapness better? Probably.
Besides that, I haven't felt like shopping much. Probably because I'm broker than living hell. Having a house costs a lot of money, as y'all most likely already know. But I have a house, so I'm not complaining. But I'm not shopping, either. Doh. Oh, well.
Actually, I'm lying because my dad gave me a gift certificate to Half Price Books for a very luxurious amount, and that's the bulk of the shopping I've done since xmas. That gift certificate has brought me days of enjoyment so far, in book-shopping hours and book-reading hours. So I'm happy. Thanks, Daddy! You rule.
Happy New Year, people. May you all have good daddies, good shopping, nice houses, and/or mysteriously self-repairing body parts.
Labels: Christmas, pop culture, writing
11:39 AM #Comments:
I don't know if they're what you're looking for, but I fell completely in love with Rockport's Rutland boot in java. They perfectly satisfied my brown boot lust, and they're actually comfortable to walk in (I live in Brooklyn, so I walk a lot). Amazing.Merry Christmas and Happy new year!
# posted by
V : 8:01 PM
Hi Gwen,
I didn't know that about Warner got bought out by Hachette thing, and I should be keeping up with stuff like that because I'm still working toward becoming a writer.
Anyway Belated Happy Birthday, and I hope you enjoy all the books you buy with that gift certificate from your dad.
Janice~
# posted by
Janice : 9:49 PM
January is the perfect time to buy boots. For the past 5 years I have bought my boots in January. Why? Well, because Dillard's has a 50% off sale and then they have a 75% off sale. So I go and scope out the 10 pairs I like then go back and get one or two pairs for $35.00. Last year I really lucked out and the brown boots I got were marked down and marked down again and marked down again and I got them for $17.00.
If you go this weekend they may only be 25% off, but I usually buy right before my birthday and get the deals. Also, for the past few years my mom has given me $100 or $30 or whatever and I feel like my boots are free. I am going to go look this weekend too. Go to the Dillard's at the Galleria as well as your local Dillards.
# posted by
Letty : 7:26 PM
I'm always interested in the publishing-related details; keep sharing them for sure!
I hear you re: the post-holiday urge to do something new and different. The winds of change are definitely blowing in my neck of the woods.
AND, watch your mail.
# posted by
tina : 7:47 PM
I remember when you broke your nose, but I can't remember how. If the story is worth retelling, please do!
Oh, I can't find brown boots in Louisiana either.
# posted by
dot... : 3:50 PM
Victoria's Secret is having a sale & several of their boots have been reduced. (They didn't just pick the fugly ones to put on sale either.)You can usually pick the style you like & they have several color options. I saw a several cute styles, on the website, that came in a dark brown leather. You can check them out at victoriassecret.com
Happy Hunting!
# posted by
Jacquie : 4:47 PM
Vickie: Those are pretty.
Janice: Thanks. You could always get a subscription to Publishers' Weekly, if you want to keep up with that stuff.
Letty: Good idea. I'm on it. Because I went to Macy's and they didn't have jack.
Tina: Got it! Thank you! You watch your mail, too.
Dot: It's a sad story. A family fistfight, remember.
Jacquie: Oh, hell yes. Online is even better. Thanks.
# posted by
Gwen : 9:19 PM
Post a Comment
