I've missed short fiction.  I enjoy writing it but just don't have as much time now that I'm writing novels.  Still, I like to have stories available when people ask.  I'm pleased to announce that my short story "Invisible Empire of Ascending Light" will be appearing in Eclipse Two and my short story "The Night the Stars Sang Out My Name" will be appearing in Abyss & Apex.  I'm tickled, of course.

Of course, this means my inventory is shrinking.  Maybe I can get a few short pieces wrapped up before I start ANTIPHON....

Quiet day today.  We're prepping for contractors next weekend.  I just moved the bookcases from the entry way to the far wall of the den.  Jen will be out making space in the garage for the building materials while I prep the rest of my den and deal with other chores.  Next weekend, they will come build the wall and lay the wood flooring for the entry, hall and kitchen.  The door itself won't show up until June but that will give us time to paint the wall, re-arrange the den furniture, build new bookcases and move the books into their new home.  This is the first time in my life that my library has sat boxed for a year after moving.

So, woot!

Yikes.  What a week.  Certainly the biggest news was Jay's ER/hospital/cancer experience.  Really tough stuff -- for Jay especially, but also for everyone who loves the Big Lug.  I know we're all sending our best thoughts, prayers, good vibrations, mantras, etc towards our pal. And I have to say I'm very proud of how well he's processing everything.  And I want to also say a big thank you to 

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When I wrote LAMENTATION I started with the first short story (the destruction of Windwir) and the second short story (the trial of Sethbert) and just created more characters and filled in the gaps between the two.  I went in knowing there was war and that was pretty much it.  The entire novel unwound itself in a six and a half week push, writing in just about every gap of time I had.  CANTICLE was different.  I wrote an outline but then never looked at it.  Nary a peep.  I just wrote the story from the memory of it and once I started rolling, I let Leroy drive.  It landed fairly close to what I'd envisioned but there were some nice surprises along the way compliments of my Inner Redneck Muse.  But it also took more like 6 months of actual writing as opposed to 6 weeks.  There were a lot of interruptions by Life.

So this time, I think I'll outline again.  But this time, I may be a bit more intentional about where I'm driving my characters.  Not sure yet.  I think it will lots of me sitting and thinking and taking down notes.  I'm also going to keep up my 10k/week cruising speed.  I want to wrap this one in less than four months.

Oh, and Iron Man ROCKS.  Downey was brilliant.  What a fun film.  We test drove the new theaters in Sacappoose this afternoon.

And that's about it.  If any of you are at Book Expo, I'll be there later this month.  I'll post details as I get them-- I know I'll be signing ARCs of LAMENTATION at the Tor table on Saturday morning at 10AM.

Okay, off to see the sunshine.  I hear it's brilliant.

 One bag of Chinese takeout, eight cans of Diet Coke and many, many words later, I have committed second novelhood.

CANTICLE weighs in at 145k.

It feels good to finish.  Thanks for all the encouraging words in my last post.  I've just not had time or wrist-power to type out individual replies.

Off to rest now.  At some point, a celebratory dinner with the Wonder Wife.  More to come.

 I've had quite a week.  I'm very nearly finished with CANTICLE -- pushing hard to wrap by Sunday.  My wonder-wife is flying off to Bend for the weekend to give me solitude while I crank out the last 10-12k words.

But truly, the high point of my week was when

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The cover design is by Irene Gallo and the art is by Gregory Manchess (www.manchess.com).  I'm absolutely giddy with delight over this.  Thank you Greg and Irene for so wonderfully capturing the spirit of Rudolfo and his Gypsy Scouts.  And thank you, Beth and Jo, for your continued hard work on this project.

These ARCs will be distruted at BEA at the end of May.  I'll be down at the Tor table signing them for those of you who may be dropping by.

More to come. 

Here I am in Shelton, WA, on the shores of Lake Spencer.  I'm up north visiting my Dad and Stepmom.  I don't see them enough.  Of course, I don't really feel like I see anyone enough, truth be told.  But it's been a good week.  Last weekend, I saw Jen's family for the first time in a few months.  And now I'm here. 

In a bit, I'm going to take them to breakfast. at the little resort down the road.  I decided to take a bit of time away from the day-job and flee north for a few days.  My mission?  To see a few of the folks outside the con and writing circuit I run with usually.   It's actually a trip down memory lane -- everyone I'm visiting has known me since the 80s or before.  Breakfast with the folks.  Later:  D&D (for the first time in MANY years) and maybe some Named Lands map-making with Robert -- friends since 4th grade when, in his infinite wisdom, he assured me that I'd get beat up less on the school bus if I left my Steve Austin doll at home.  Shopping and dinner with Eileen tomorrow -- the ballerina who gave me my first kiss back in 1984 at the Art Camp at Ft. Worden and then put up with all the really bad poetry I wrote her as a result of that experience.   Looks to be a nice and low-key time. 

And somewhere in it all, I'm told there may be snow....

Of course, this close to the end of the book, it's also a working trip which is another reason I'm not putting on a kaffeeklatsche or trying to fit more people in.  The book demands my attention and the story pulls my focus towards it just about all the time now as I build speed towards the finish line.  I've structured my time so that I can keep my head in the game.  Wrapped Chapter 21 this morning.  I'll start 22 this evening and will hope to finish it by Sunday.  And all lights are green across the board -- I should be typing END by next Sunday.  Whew.

Did you know they make clocks that chime "I Did It My Way" on the hour?   I probably knew that from previous visits but when it ambushed me just now I had to look up and see if Old Blue Eyes was getting ready to take the stage....

So I wonder if today is Responsible Ken who orders oatmeal or Splurging Ken and his chicken fried steak?

WWRD?  (What Would Rudolfo Do?)

I'll be off radar for a spell with intermittent internet access. 



  

I'm pleased to announce that "The God-Voices of Settler's Rest" will be appearing in the summer issue of Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show.  And I'm in fabulous company there, sharing a ToC with Peter Beagle, David Coe, Brad Beaulieu, Alethea Kontis, Dave Kirtley, and Matt Rotundo. 

Keep an eye on www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com.  I'm told the issue releases at the end of June -- I'll post again when it does!

In other news, I saw the cover sketch for LAMENTATION yesterday.  I've posted before about how fortunate I've been with art for my writing.  This is perhaps the Motherlode of Awesome Art.  I'm stunned, delighted and grateful.  Big thanks to

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