10.31.13

Happy Halloween!

What a strange day. Started with a bang, a great idea from CC on the book that has morphed into a great plot point. Did a bunch of mental work on that, in between waiting to hear if our application for twin kittens had been approved. (Yes, I'm still driving around town with kitten gear in my trunk, but no kitten.)  Sadly, we were denied. We've had four adoptions fall through now, and I'm getting the sense the universe is trying to tell me something.

Halloween was cancelled here in Nashville due to strong storms and possible tornadoes. So I am hunkered down with a Manhattan and a raft of chocolate and sweet tarts, and may the force be with the kids if there's nothing left tomorrow. 

Spooky dreams! 

10.30.13

Rather an awful day, all the way around, wasn't it? So sorry to hear about my friend Michael Palmer's passing. He was a super cool, super sweet guy, who always had a smile on his face and a kind word for everyone. And he writes some amazingly cool thrillers. In times like these, all we can do is send the family love, and buy extra copies of the books. We've lost too many friends this year, that's for sure.  I'm just heartbroken for everyone -- he touched a lot of lives. We're sending prayers to the Palmers tonight.

We didn't have any luck with the feline situation, either. That is to say, the universe threw a loop, as the universe is wont to do. I'm having a terrible time with this decision anyway -- I know, I know, it's a cat. But cats are familiars, and the choice is an important one. 

We found a kitten last night we fell in love with -- 5 weeks, rescued from a dumpster. Absolutely precious little girl. So while she spent the night getting her shots, we picked out a name, resurrected some of Thrillercat's toys and bed that I haven't had the heart to get rid of, realized they were too old and this kitten needed new stuff. I spent an hour shredding newspaper for the litter box, then went this morning and bought a bed, sisal mat, cage (kitten is too small to be allowed to roam a room just yet), the cutest pink dishes, the works.

We even settled on a name. 

I didn't sleep at all last night, worrying, wondering, hoping.  I had the feeling something was off, and I couldn't figure out what it was. Fear, my subconscious said. Just fear.

We showed up to bring her home, and when I walked in I knew something was wrong. And then they told me, she is actually a he. They messed up. As a matter of fact, the entire litter are boys.

Which shouldn't be a big deal, but I've had my heart set on a little girl. Enough so that after an hour of deliberation, we left, sans kitten. 

And I've felt horrible all day.  It really shouldn't matter, right? I love all the boys in my life. I've just never had a boy cat, outside of a Tomcat named Morris who came around when I was little. He was all white, and appeared on our back deck the day Morris the cat, of TV fame, died. I told my mom, awe in my voice, he was Morris, reconstituted.

Yeah.

So it's time to sleep on it, and hug on my hubby, and perhaps the universe will tell me what to do. 

Sweet dreams. 

10.29.13

1400 today, with some fun surprises. I love it when something happens I don't see coming. I've done a lot of research for this book, so I anticipate many situations like this. Research is best handled with the iceberg mentality: what you see is just a tiny bit if what I've learned along the way. And the research for this book has been so totally cool...

I'm gearing up for NaNoWriMo - I've said many times that every month is NaNo around here, but I generally write between 30-45k a month, and NaNo is a goal of 50k. Totally doable, and I love the frantic month of creativity. I'm starting a bit late, too, because my parents are coming this weekend. Well worth having to make up time. 

Writing was interspersed with some interesting feline inquiries. I may have news on this front tomorrow. I don't mean to be oblique, but I don't want to get my cart before the horse. I'll tell you though, seeing animals in cages never, ever gets easier. If you're thinking about adopting, please do. There are so many animals who need a loving home, and will worship you for saving their lives.

Sweet dreams! 

10.28.13

Chicken soup for dinner, and a writer brunch to start the day - these are the kinds of bookends I love!  One of the cool things about Nashville is the writers. We have them in every genre, every level, and there's a huge camaraderie amongst us. Today I got to meet with a bunch of our awesome YA writers, and meet one I've been fangirl stalking from afar, and I'm telling you, their enthusiasm for their work is contagious. I'd love to write a YA. *twists evil mustache evilly*

I was girl, interrupted today with a number of issues, so it's back to work on the book tomorrow. I love waking in the morning with a solid idea of a scene in my mind - the characters are starting to speak to me. It's interesting, how books go at their own pace. You can beg and plead, pray, burn incense at the Muse's altar, bang your head against the wall, take long walks, read inspiring books, but if your novel isn't ready to party, it's just not ready.

Possible kitten news tomorrow or Wednesday - we've got a litter of babies due at the shelter, so I'll let you know what we find. I did see an adorable tabby on Saturday, but she didn't seem that into us. I feel like there needs to be a connection. Of course, I haven't been able to stop thinking about her, so maybe there was more than I knew. Hmm...

Sweet dreams! 

10.25.13

A good Friday - 1500+ words, a brief compile to see there's actually over 50 pages, though many are just brief outline, but still, there seems to be a nascent book here. Finding the places where everyone lived was a big boon - if I can imagine characters in their own homes, I can get a sense for their lives, their thoughts, their actions and reactions. Pleased with how everything floated together today.

And did spend some time looking at kittens online. I may try to drag Randy to the shelter and see if there's a little one who wants to come home with us. I'm scared, yes -- there will never be another cat I cleave to like I did Thrillercat -- but I'm missing having something soft and cuddly in my lap. So it's time. I thought perhaps God would leave a kitten on our doorstep, stork-like, but it hasn't happened, so I will have to brave the cages. I'm already anxious - seeing animals behind bars without someone to love them pains me to an extent that's beyond reason. 

Went for a brief walk at lunch. October in Tennessee is spectacular: skies so blue they make your eyes hurt, without cloud or breeze, just the crisp air and azure as far as the eye can see. Which here, isn't very far, but hey, I'll take it. If I can stay awake past 8:00 p.m., we might even have the first fire of the season. 

Sweet dreams!