Dear Betty,
You win. (Okay, Pete helped.) Rather nasty trick, there, invoking the Boss's name. You know I am powerless against the Co-Dictators of the Universe.
My entry to the current Clarity of Night contest is here. Or you can read it in the postscript. I keep hoping for one of those magical epiphanies that write themselves, 250 words of such depth and perfection that it reduces Parrish to tears. Sadly, no such epiphany occurred for this contest. I will jump cartwheels if only I can stay in the Forties Club (do not even dare to suggest that has anything to do with my age).
I've read but not commented on all the entries. Some, like this one, are way too profound for my summertime brain. Some (like Tessa's, and Sarah's are poetry: I stink at appreciating poetry.
Quite a few of my peeps entered: Merry, Ello, Chris, Aniket, wolfie, Paul, Pete, Parrish, J.C., Precie, Angelique, Dottie, Sandra, Absolute Vanilla, Surly Writer, Whirlochre. Am I well-connected or what? (Yes, I hobnob.)
My current favorites are da Boss's and Sylvia's and Tre'von's. I think. At least right now.
Not only is my Clarity entry not to the level I'd hoped, my word counts on the WIPs are lagging. McKoala's going to claw me soon, I'm afraid. I know your own poetry and Rumpelstiltskin writing is going well, even if I haven't left comments. I'm all-knowing that way.
I hope that your home ownership and kitchen remodelling are going well. You will certainly need to get ahead of things in order to fill the Boss's shoes when he's on leave. First thing you can do is raise my salary. Royalty needs bling, you know.
Do give my best to Mrs. Betty and to Zora.
Cordially,
the Queen
PS - I haven't mailed your books yet, but I also haven't forgotten.
PPS - Here's my entry:
Presage
by Aerin Rose
Twenty-two hours from San Francisco to Kathmandu. Four hours until the layover in Hong Kong. Caelin will have finished grading papers by then. She arches her back, stretching, then wiggles her toes, and catches the eye of the flight attendant.
“More, please.” She indicates the travel-sized wineglass. The remaining ruby droplets glisten in the spotlight of her reading lamp. The attendant nods from the galley.
“You realize that’s basically grape juice?” Chloe peers around the headrest as her business class bed reverts to its upright position.
“It’s a second growth Bordeaux and you know it, O Queen Food Critic,” Caelin retorts. “How’d you sleep?”
“Not well. Looks like fourteen bottles of questionable Bordeaux didn’t help you sleep, either.”
“Excited?”
“And nervous. What if she hates us?”
“Sweetheart.” Caelin strokes her wife’s cheek as Chloe unfolds the passport she’s been clutching. A little girl with dark eyes and copper skin gazes at them, unsmiling and unafraid. “She liked us well enough before. Any kid will hate her parents at some point. Let’s just focus on getting her home.”
The flight attendant materializes with the bottle of Château Cos-d'Estournel 1989, which streams like scarlet silk into the stemware.
“Like the orphanage is going to let her come home when you show up drunk,” Chloe teases, leaning close. Caelin smiles into her spouse’s black curls. Points of light play on the surface of her wine, casting images against the back of the seat in a rosy haze.
Well, in case you missed the news last week, I was punished by McKoala (long story) and forced to write 5000 words by Sunday evening. As you'll see from the post date, tonight is Sunday evening.
Here are my wordcounts for the past week:
MONDAY - ZERO
TUESDAY - ZERO
WEDNESDAY - ZERO
THURSDAY - ZERO
FRIDAY - ZERO
SATURDAY - 1449
Leaving one day in which to write 3551 words. As you can see, I wrote nothing over a five day period. Could I possibly write 3551 words in one day? Actually, one afternoon, since Sunday is a work day for me? Is Rosey up against the McKoala Claws of Doom? Did I misjudge and fatally procrastinate?
NO! I ACTUALLY MADE THE 3551 (okay, 3713) words this afternoon! And none of them were "watermelon"!
5000 WORDS IN A WEEK!
Now, were they good words? Not necessarily. But I've never written a book in my life, and I figured the birthing process this first time would be slow and painful. I write sermons pretty quickly, now, ten years after seminary, so I think it will get easier. In the meantime, I have a story unfolding that I didn't quite expect, and I'm pleased with that, at least.
I hope the process has amused you, especially Mr. Betty Nagel who pointed out I was spending an awful lot of time commenting on blogs. That was the first time I realized maybe I should get myself in gear. Thanks, B.
I am fawningly indebted to
McKoala for being mean. I truly felt the pressure to live up to her expectations (and avoid JJdeGoblin's toenail peelers) and think this whole group-accountability thing is an excellent idea.
Stay tuned this week - I have fifteen (yep, 15) reviews to write by the end of the month.
If you're new to In Search of Giants, you might not know that the one feature I manage weekly is "Amusing Monday" - attempts at light-hearted week-beginning-ness. Alas, you will need to wait another week to revel in a brand-new Amusing Monday post. There will be no amusement today.
For, you see, I
have been punished. By the Queen of Punishment herself,
McKoala. I seriously am going to try not to enjoy it too much. You know me and whips. Wait, you don't? Um....moving on.
Here is the first part of my punishment:
Dear All
I have failed the Mighty Koala. I said I would write 5000 words in a day. I didn't. Now she has generously offered me the opportunity to redeem myself by meeting that total in a week. She is all kindness and loving. I will post my start date here so that you can all follow my progress. And she says there had better be progress, or else...
Aerin
(The red is meant to represent the blood I will shed over the next seven days.)
So, my faithful and encouraging followers, I begin today, June 22, and march diligently toward Sunday June 28, at which time I will have completed an additional 5000 words. And in case you think the Koala is being too easy on me, keep in mind that prior to last weekend, my daily wordcount averaged 112.
Also, be on the lookout for JJdeGoblin. She's pulling people's toenails and I don't think she's going to care whose feet she gets.
All right, my lovelies, I've been spending a lot of time on the book-part of my blog, so I'm going to be taking some time to work on my writing.
I have, however, managed my Koala Kounts for the past few days. I've written some really bad poetry and a really good sermon. If you are interested in reading (and/or listening, to the sermon, anyway), send me an email and I'll give you the link.
Otherwise, I've kept that site private since - well, you can never be too certain. You might get people like this hounding you.
Stay tuned - tomorrow, Mr. Gorgeous, Mr. Dreamy-Irish-Hunk himself, Stuart Neville!!
Wait. What? He gets to go on leave? And you get a salary?!?
Sigh. Should have written a better one too. :(
But you sure are well connected. :P
And you already have zeroed in on your favs. I'm klueless as of now.
And no, I wont crack any jokes about the 'forties' thingy you easily have 2 more years. :D :D :D (Am I dead or what?)
I do honestly think, you'll make it to the forties club.