So on Friday, Sailor Boy calls me and is like, “Okay, command decision. We’re driving down to Alexandria tonight and trying to get into the Birchmere.”
Since it usually takes me about three weeks to ease Sailor Boy into the idea of crossing the border into Virginia, I was a bit taken aback. But a few weeks back, we’d been dismayed to discover that both the local DC shows of Jonathan Coulton (one up in awesome Annapolis) were sold out, and SB had been bummed out about it.
So we bundled up against the frigid February night and prepared ourselves for a long wait outside the Birchmere, holding two fingers in the air.
Or not. Actually, the nice lady at the box office informed us that they’d just released a few more tickets, so we bought a pair and walked right in. All that fleece for nothing.
The show, she was awesome. For those who don’t know, Jonathan Coulton is a sort of comedy science fiction folk singer. He is probably most famous for writing the theme song for PORTAL, which is one of the best video games ever. It is certainly one of the only video games whose script is so darkly comedic that I spit out my coke all over my controller while playing. Anyway, JC is a Yalie, and a former Whiffenpoof, and, as I’m sure surprises no one who is actually familiar with the group, a former Spizzwink. He was also a computer programmer until he decided to chuck it all and make a living writing songs about mad scientists in love. This is a WOW machinima video of one my favorite of his songs, “Skullcrusher Mountain::
He also has this great zombie apocalypse/office etiquette song entitled “Re: Your Brains.”
Okay, one more…
Oh my gosh, so funny. And also catchy.
Anyway, on Saturday, I went to the WRW meeting, where Sophia Nash and Diane Whiteside talked about characterization. Sophia is a character charter, and I am not, though I think we seem to think about characters in much the same way, in terms of who they are and what they need. I definitely found that I had the information to put into her charts about my characters — in fact, I surprised myself with how much information I actually had. So it was fun to see a new way into something I already do during story development. For instance, Sophia asked about our character’s favorite possessions, and I was surprised to realize that the characters I was charting did, in fact, have thematic possessions. I never would have put that together on my own.
Diane’s talk was about using astrology to develop characters. I know nothing about astrology. I’m not even sure what my own husband’s sign is. But I imagine it might be a really good way to go about a creating a character, because the “brightside” of astrology — all the good qualities that come with a sign — is matched with “darkside” faults. So you can think about who your character is and what sign that matches best, and then see what the corresponding faults might be. Often, people’s greatest strengths are also their greatest faults. Someone very steadfast might also be very stubborn, for example. Someone very spontaneous could also be very flighty. Someone very perceptive can also be very manipulative. If you’re a writer that often has trouble seeing your character’s flaws, this method might be very helpful to you. It doesn’t even have to match your character’s actual birthday. Though I was surprised to discover that, four books later, I had given a character in SSG a birthday (because it was relavant to plot, which is the only time my characters have actual birthdays) that matched a sign that matched his personality really well. Who knew? SURPRISE!
Also, I am the proud possessor of an ARC of Sophia Nash’s latest, Love with the Perfect Scoundrel. Jealous? It’s a snowstorm story. I’m such a sucker for those. I think I shall read it while sequestered in my own little castle in Ireland. Jealouser?
Hee hee. I’m evil.
Now it’s Sunday, and I’m working on my secret project. I love my secret project. I’m so giddy all the time when I’m working on it. I think often of what Jennifer Lyn barnes wrote about keeping the love, and it’s very fitting that it’s what has been filling my head recently, as Jennifer just sold her “love-book”:
Jennifer Lynn Barnes’s RAISED BY WOLVES, in which a human teen struggles to find her place in the werewolf pack that has raised her since childhood, while dealing with the inexplicable connection she shares with the pack’s newest wolf- a teenage boy, to Regina Griffin at Egmont, by Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown.
4. Figuring out the correct usage of “each other” versus “one another” because according to Tap & Gown copyedits, I never, ever, ever get it right.
5. How I Met Your Mother. Seriously, it’s become comfort food in our house, We watch it all the time.
6. Figuring out what else I can make with my food processor.
7. This animation. I miss World of Warcraft, which I haven’t played since August and which I now can’t play on my computer, because I don’t have enough space to download the patches, let alone upgrade to Wrath of the Lich King. Also, this story utterly rocks! Oh, would that I had the power to create visual art as gorgeous as this…or, you know, at all.
Hey, guys! I’m back from New York and back to work. No rest for the weary ’round these parts. Is anyone else doing Seventy Days of Sweat? Every time I get started, a new pile of work lands on my desk — revisions, first page proofs, you name it. Check out the Sven blog today for another post by me — this one about how tough it is to work in the face of outside forces. But work we must; especially since we have due dates.
TUESDAY’S GIVEAWAY WINNER: Megan S.!
WEDNESDAY’S GIVEAWAY WINNER: Dulce!
By the way, these are random drawings, care of the good people at random.org.
Ah, New York! So I got in early Tuesday morning and popped up to Harper Collins to pick up my First Page Proofs. Oooooh, pretty. Because I am horribly challenged when it comes to the order of the non-numbered streets in Manhattan, there was a little east/west confusion with the whole Lexington/Madison/Park thing and I wound up all the way on the East side before I figured out I was going the wrong way. Anyway, I had a nice chat with my editor’s assistant, Corey (Hi, Corey! If you read the blog!) and then headed out to work on them. I spent the day working with Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare (who has an AWESOME new cover), Maureen Johnson, and Bennett Madison. I did not get a lot of work done. I mostly bugged them all in turn. It’s pathetic. I’m sure if I saw these folks more often, I would actually write during writing dates, rather than play catch up and show them all my cover mock up and tell Libba all about our house-hunting adventures from last summer.
(In passing, I’m going to another one today, with Bennett and Lavinia Kent. And I will WORK!)
Anyway, after the writing date, Maureen and Bennett and I headed over to Butter for Melissa Walker and Marianne Mancusi’s book release party, which was a lot of fun. You can see all the details here, along with Marianne’s pictures, and here, along with Melissa’s.
Scott Westerfeld, Marianne Mancusi, Me, and Melissa Walker
Me, I didn’t take pictures. I was too busy drinking martinis and not eating food, sadly. I was tipsy. Justine made fun of me, rightly. Note to self: have dinner before going to book parties. I also saw Chris Keesler, Elizabeth Kerri Mahon (who has an amazing blog called Scandalous Women), Hope Tarr, and Liz Maverick.
After the party, Marianne, her boyfriend Jacob, and I went back to Marianne’s place where I met Molly (oooh, adorable! So much cuter than even her pictures!) ate deli food, and watched a hilarious episode of South Park about goths vs. vampires.
(This is Molly. She has excellent taste in books.)
Looking at Marianne’s dog made me very homesick for Rio. I’ve hardly been away from her overnight since we got her.
The next morning, I caught the subway into Manhattan, which was surreal. I lived in Astoria for almost nine months, back in 2001-2002, and took the N train every single day, and it was like I’d never been there before in my life. I had to reacquaint myself to the elevated trains and all. I can’t believe my memory is so pathetic. (Then again, between my horrible landlords and my horrible job, I think I blocked a lot of that year out. I mostly remember lunches with my friend Lauren, Buffy nights at Rachel’s, and the most amazing Seder dinner ever.)
Anyway, I met my editor, Kerri, for what I’m sure we shall remember in the future as a legendary breakfast, and we talked about books and went over the full cover of Tap & Gown, which I love! Then I went back to work on those pesky page proofs, discovered a huge continuity error in my book, called Carrie Ryan to have a panic attack over it (she calmed me down, thanks Carrie) and returned to DC with Bennett Madison in tow.
In honor of the book party, today’s giveaway is a signed copy of Melissa Walker’s VIOLET IN PRIVATE. Leave a comment here to be entered into the giveaway.
Off to work! Poor Rio’s got another day of kennel thumb-twiddling in her future!
Thank you for all the well wishes yesterday! I really appreciate it. As payment, Rio doing what we like to call “disco sleep”:
“Ahh, do the hustlezzzzz…
Aside from the plague, it’s been a big week chez Diana. I’m an aunt — yay! I’m also a fake aunt — yay! Rio lost one of her canines and got three new big-dog teeth. (They’re ENORMOUS. Like giant, craggy icebergs bursting through her gums.) My Rampant ARCs are going out into the world (my mother in law has already read hers and reported back to me), and I just saw a copy of my complete cover for Tap & Gown.
And yes, I did hear about the fabulous Zombies vs. Unicorns anthology that Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier are doing. I am so excited! I think it’s going to be incredible, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what the collection has to say about that awesome beast, the unicorn. To set the record straight, I’m not the slightest bit appalled by the anti-unicorn sentiment going around the internet these days. A development such as this:
(This is Rebecca. Justine met her in Texas.)
is entirely appropriate and even prudent behavior. Say NO to unicorns, people! Unicorns are DANGEROUS. Like drugs! And not wearing your seatbelt. If you see a unicorn, back carefully in the other direction! (Do not run. The unicorn can catch you.) Climb a tree. Get away from open windows. Hide yourself in the middle of a crowd of more tender, delicious-looking people. If you don’t, this might be what happens to you:
I applaud both Rebecca and Justine for pointing out these important safety tips.
Let’s see, what else? Oh, I bought a stack of books — doing my part to save the world, you know. I also read some, being stuck in bed with little more than a warm sleepy puppy and a box of tissues to keep me company. I read THE HUNGER GAMES (believe the hype — it’s fabulous!) and Mari Mancusi’s newest, GAMER GIRL. I loved them both, though they are nothing alike. THE HUNGER GAMES was a riveting, harsh, horrific dystopian adventure, and GAMER GIRL was an adorable, light contemporary romance. Having spent several hours talking video games with Marianne, I was unsurprised to find her spot-on account of gaming, but I was impressed so much by her ability to turn the premise into an engaging real life love story. It’s like The Shop Around the Corner, but with MMORPGs. So cute. I think it’s my favorite book of hers and I’m wondering when Disney is going to snap up those rights. (There’s also a lot of manga talk in the story, but I know more about WOW than I do about manga or anime, so…)
Also, she makes fun of unicorns. Tsk, tsk, Marianne…
Yes, that’s right… Sailor Boy and I hit level 40 tonight with our adorable Draenei couple (it was only a little bit annoying and required a couple of rounds through one particularly frustrating instance). But it was worth it, because once we hit level 40, we got our licenses to drive… elephants!
Or, in this case, elekks, which is like the video game version of the elephant.
The elekks come in three colors: brown, gray, and purple, and since I’m already pretty purple, I decided to go for brown. Also, the gray looked really sketchy in the shady area where you can buy them. But once in the light, they look kind of cool. So now part of me wishes I’d gone with a gray one, like Sailor Boy did:
What do you think?
Speaking of fantasy worlds, has everyone checked out the new website from debut author C.L. Wilson? Her first fantasy, Tairen Soul Book One, Lord of the Fading Lands, is due to be released this October. I was an early adopter to the Tairen Soul club (which, um, means I’ve long since claimed my member of the quintet) and read this marvelous epic a few years ago, before the brilliant people at Dorchester bought it and published it.
It’s amazing, guys. One of my favorite books of all time. Definitely the best book I read in 2003. Highly recommend it. Put it on your wish list for fall.
Yay. Figured out how to get screenshots. Probably going to be torturing you all with them for a while. So last night, Sailor Boy and I hit level 36 on our adorable draenei couple. Four more ’til elephant, as I have been saying.
We also made a brilliant discovery. Every race in WOW has their own way of lying down. Undead, for instance, lie on their backs with their arms crossed over their chest in classic “corpse” pose.
Draenei… spoon. Don’t believe me? Check it out: They’re even holding their little purple hands.
Yeah, we’re nauseating. But I couldn’t resist. especially since I know you all want to see what Sailor Boy really looks like. Well, here you have it. He has purple skin, and goat legs, and a long tail, and tentacles growing out of his face.
Awwww…
Okay, back to the serious genre discussion going on below.
First of all, Sailor Boy and I hit Level 24 with our “adorable couple” group on World of Warcraft. We started these two characters, a warrior and a priest, that we play together. They’re draeni, which are these enormous, noble, squid/goat/Klingon/human looking things. So cute. No, really. The female draeni, in particular, are the most bootylicious characters in the game. Plus, we have tails. And we speak with Russian accents.
So pardon me for a moment while I geek out about how awesome my draeni priestess and her linebacker warrior draeni luvah are.
But we’re not done with Diana’s descent into geekiness yet. Oh no, my friends, we’re just getting started.
So we’re playing WOW, and we’re in this area called Redfall, and there’s a merchant there, and as soon as I saw her name, I almost lost control of the keyboard. Amy Davenport.
Okay, a lot of you don’t think that’s funny. But here’s why you are wrong. In my book, the main character, Amy, lives in Prescott College, which is the alternate-universe twin to a college at Yale called Davenport. Sometimes Yalies ask me if Amy is in Pierson college, which I suppose makes sense, given that the words Pierson and Prescott look alike, and Pierson and Davenport are right next to one another. But no.
Other times, they ask me why I put her in Davenport/Prescott, when I wasn’t in that college. (“Um, because I’m not Amy?”) Seriously, though, the very simple answer to that is that in the first scene, when I envisioned her in her room, it was Sailor Boy’s junior year suite, which is a really gorgeous suite, and I’ve been told by all the Davenporters who read the book that they knew instantly what room she was in because it’s often the first round draft pick for the junior year room draw. Go, Amy and Lydia!
(And when you read Under the Rose, you’ll learn that they liked the room so much that they decided to deprive a whole year of juniors from getting it by “squatting.”)
But it turned out to fit really well, especially given the character of the college and the development of George Prescott as a main plot point. Yay for serendipity and synergy, yeah?
Still, I couldn’t resist sticking my college dorm room in there at least once. There is a scene in “my” room in Under the Rose.
One last bit of geekiness before I’m off to New York City: The Galley Gallery. If you’re an author and you want a picture of your galleys/ARCs, or a picture of you *with* your galleys/ARCs, let me know!
Anyway, I met my editor, Kerri, for what I’m sure we shall remember in the future as a legendary breakfast, and we talked about books and went over the full cover of Tap & Gown, which I love! Then I went back to work on those pesky page proofs, discovered a huge continuity error in my book, called Carrie Ryan to have a panic attack over it (she calmed me down, thanks Carrie) and returned to DC with Bennett Madison in tow.
