So, um, I had plans this morning. They involved getting up way too early, rolling over, fooling around with my husband and later, while he made coffee, my writing a post for here.
Yeah. We all know what happens to well-laid plans. They become unlaid plans, and sadly, that is the condition of my day. The First Reader is no happier about this than I am.
It all started about a week or more ago. I scheduled a technician to install internet at the new house – because as you all know, having the ‘net is just as important as the electric and running water (which we didn’t have until yesterday due to some confusion on my part and the landlord not communicating with the property manager, but I digress. There will be a lot of digressions.) So anyway, the only time I could get the tech was for the 8-9 am time slot, and that meant we had to be over at the new house this morning far too early. Still, I’d planned on posting before we went.
Why hadn’t I posted last night? That part of the story involves a trailer, a pile of boxes my kids dubbed ‘boxtopia’ and a hyperactive 11-year-old boy. Let’s just let that fade into the mists and say that I was very happy this morning while unloading at the new house that we hadn’t lost a box off the trailer, and nothing was broken, not even from the box of booze that had been packed with no protective wrapping. My son is excited about the move, to say the least.
Still, even knowing we had a ton of work to do, I thought I could write this morning. Except that at 7 am, as we were stirring ourselves, I got the call saying that the tech was on the way. um. Ok, we can do this. Where are the tie-downs for the trailer? Dang, it’s dark and foggy out at this hour. Is that frost?
Some time later, we made it safely there, to find the tech waiting, and a bit after that, we had unloaded, made coffee for the first time in the new house (a milestone!) and had internet. Now, I’m not blogging from the new house. Maybe next week. Because by that point (sorry!) I’d forgotten all about you guys, since my dear man was arthritic (we don’t have the heat on there, yet), cold, cranky, and hungry. We drove into the little town we’re local to, and discovered a very nice diner/restaurant, and enjoyed a lovely meal (ate way too much. So much food…) before hitting the local hardware store (you know the kind I mean. Crowded aisles, old-school, but they have one of everything) and returning to the old house. Where I remembered that I hadn’t made a post for today.
What does this have to do with writing? Well, a little bit of everything, and nothing. When you’re writing, let your characters make plans. Get as detailed as they want to. And then, cackling, rub your hands together, and smash them all to smithereens. Because if you don’t, your readers won’t believe it. Honestly, in my life I’ve had things go perfectly, and it was still stressful since I was holding my breath waiting on the other shoe to drop. The other thing this has to do with writing is that at some point this morning I turned to the First Reader and said “I have to write. We need money, this move is expensive!”
So, I know most of you are familiar with my work. But if you haven’t read it yet, check it out, and if you have, feel free to share the word with friends who like this sort of thing.
Pixie for Hire
He’s a pixie for hire, and she’s just another job.
Lom is a bounty hunter, paid to bring magical creatures of all descriptions back Underhill, to prevent war with humans should they discover the strangers amongst them. Bella is about to find out she’s a real life fairy princess, but all she wants to do is live peacefully in Alaska, where the biggest problems are hungry grizzly bears. He has to bring her in. It’s nothing personal, it’s his job…
Lom lay dying. Bella was tasked with not only the job she never wanted, but the one she did. Could she keep Lom alive long enough for him to come to the rescue when their kingdom needed them? And what did Raven, mysterious trickster spirit and honorary uncle to Bella, want with them? If the threat was big enough to have the trickster worried, Bella knew she needed to have Lom at her side. Underhill might look like a soap-bubble kingdom, but Bella and Lom knew there was a gritty underside. Why else would fairyland need a dark man willing to carry a big gun and be the Pixie for Hire?
This omnibus edition includes the full text of all three books in the Pixie for Hire trilogy: Pixie Noir, Trickster Noir, and Dragon Noir. With a new author’s foreword, you’ll be introduced to the books and then plunge into the world Underhill.
“The unlikely love child of Monster Hunter International and the Princess Bride, this book … is unalloyed fun all the way.”
-Sarah A. Hoyt, author of Darkship Thieves
“If Dashiel Hammett, Larry Corriea and Jim Butcher had a love child, it would be Pixie Noir. A wonderful mix of mystery and fantasy with just the right touch of noir.”
-Amanda S. Green, author of Nocturnal Origins
Mad Genius Club 
Does this mean you’re writing a new Pixie Book? Hooray!
I would gladly contribute my fair share to financing the move into the new house but I’m afraid, by the time you get it written and published, you will be in the process of moving into the next new house.
Doesn’t matter, whenever, you’ll be certain of my eventual contribution.
John, yes. There will be a book starring Bella’s cousin Anna. Title is East Witch. I have started it, but it’s not the first book I’ll complete – that would be Tanager’s Fledgings, which is 2/3rds complete at this point.
That part of the story involves a trailer, a pile of boxes my kids dubbed ‘boxtopia’ and a hyperactive 11-year-old boy.
I’m pretty sure that was a Lucille Ball movie.
LOL! I have red hair, yes. And there are times life feels like a comedy routine.
Sanford says: are you talking Yours, Mine and Ours? Or the Long, Long Trailer?
I was talking The Long Long Trailer. I haven’t seen Yours, Mine, and Ours.
I think there’s a remake: don’t bother. But the original was good fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq9Q-0e9mBM
C4c
Shhh! You’re giving away the secrets to my plotting. Set up expectations, show plans working perfectly, smash expectations. Repeat. Honestly, is there any other way to write?
I’m sure there is, but not to write well.
Smash expectations entertainingly, now, that’s a little bit harder. Fun though.
From Jim Butcher’s Side Jobs
I mean, who of us couldn’t relate with sympathy, yet laugh ourselves sick at the same time, when faced with something like that? (Okay, as readers. But as authors, we probably do the ‘laugh like a mad scientist while it catches on fire’ thing.) We’ve all been there. Murphy’s Law kicks in hard and I don’t mean the badass cop in the series.
BTW, saw Doctor Strange today, and it was FUN. It’s gonna be snatched up as a Blu-Ray, possibly rushed to the cashier with “MINE MINE MY PRECIOUS” andIwannaseeBenedictCumberbatchandHughLaurieactsomewheretogethernowpleaseplease
ahem.
Oh and I can forgive the genderchanging the Ancient One now, having seen the acting.
oh, that sounds promising! I’d like to go see it, but that kind of time is not in the budget. 😛
As a reader, if I see the plan, and the viewpoint continues focusing on the unfolding of the plan, I expect the plan to fail.
Kratman is a slight exception, in that one of his major themes is planning, and dealing with variance to make sure implementation meets goals.
Otherwise, the plans we don’t see are the ones that succeed as planned when they unfold on screen.
On the one hand, I wish you two didn’t have the stress of money issues.
On the other hand, if it gets you back to writing.
On the off hand, I still owe you some reviews, sigh. Trying to get back to it myself here.
Dang it, out of hands. Okay, writing on wrist to get the other two Pixies before you kick out number four.
Take care of Sanford, anyway – that pesky arthritis is a cranky-maker, especially with the weather around there this time of year. Running towels through the dryer and wrapping wherever it aches worst for a few minutes helps mine…
well, hopefully in a few months the money stress will be gone. I do want to write, although not just for the money. I was contacted by a recruiter today… the first of several I’m sure. I just need to reach out to someone I talked to earlier this year, and the games can begin.
I endeavour to make him feel good. He dislikes fussing, but I may try the towels soon.