It's always darkest just before the end.
Jan. 21st, 2011 01:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
greygirlbeastMore snow, falling since a few hours before sunrise. All the world out there looks soft and fluffy and oddly inviting, though, in truth, it's a few inches of fresh snow covering sheets of ice and enormous banks and mounds of old snow frozen solid as basalt. No safe place out there to put your feet. Currently, 28˚F, but the windchill means it feels like 17˚F.
Days that begin with film-rights nibbles are inevitably weird (no, I can't tell you anything, sorry). Those days unfurl like a ringing in the ears.
Yesterday, I wrote 1,446 words on The Drowning Girl: A Memoir. The manuscript is currently at 50,816 words, which means I'm probably a little less than halfway finished. As I told my agent yesterday, this novel is as different from The Red Tree, in tone and structure, as The Red Tree is from all the novels that came before it. I'm behind, but I'm still trying to finish Chapter 5 by the 24th. Lots of email yesterday. Another phone conversation with Lee Moyer about the cover for Two Worlds and In Between.
Despite the cold and the inclement weather, Spooky and I left the house for Gallery Night at the RISD Museum. Mostly, I needed to do a little more research for the novel, but hardly anyone came out last night, so the museum was quiet and peaceful. We also had to stop at two art supply places looking for violet gels. We finally settled for sheets of red and blue acetate (I'll maybe explain all this later). Anyway, then we stopped by Eastside Market for dinner and enough supplies that we wouldn't have to risk the ice for a couple of days. At the p.o. box, a copy of Emma Bull and Kyle Cassidy's wonderful The Strange Case of the Dead Bird on the Nightstand was waiting for us.
Crossing the Providence River on the way back, the water was black and still as ink.
We saw Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud's Despicable Me (2010) last night, and loved it. Really, a hilarious and almost painfully charming film. Steve Carell was perfect. I laughed untiil I hurt, and we've been quoting the movie all morning. I fear this is one we may have to own. Later, there was WoW, Shah and Suraa working through Level 84 towards 85, picking their way through Deepholm. And while I do think it's a beautifully designed region, I have to say that Therazane it one of the most poorly designed creatures in the history of the game. Before sleep, we read more Kit Whitfield, and I read a great article in the new issue of National Geographic about the evolution of feathers in dinosaurs. There's a wonderful opening paragraph I want to quote:
Most of us will never get to see nature's greatest marvels in person. We won't get to glimpse a colossal squid's eye, as big as a basketball. The closest we'll get to a narwhal's unicornlike tusk is a photograph. But there is one natural wonder that just about all of us can see, simply by stepping outside: dinosaurs using their feathers to fly. (Carl Zimmer)
Okay. Gotta wrap this up. But keep the comments coming in, if you would, please. Time to make the doughnuts.
Days that begin with film-rights nibbles are inevitably weird (no, I can't tell you anything, sorry). Those days unfurl like a ringing in the ears.
Yesterday, I wrote 1,446 words on The Drowning Girl: A Memoir. The manuscript is currently at 50,816 words, which means I'm probably a little less than halfway finished. As I told my agent yesterday, this novel is as different from The Red Tree, in tone and structure, as The Red Tree is from all the novels that came before it. I'm behind, but I'm still trying to finish Chapter 5 by the 24th. Lots of email yesterday. Another phone conversation with Lee Moyer about the cover for Two Worlds and In Between.
Despite the cold and the inclement weather, Spooky and I left the house for Gallery Night at the RISD Museum. Mostly, I needed to do a little more research for the novel, but hardly anyone came out last night, so the museum was quiet and peaceful. We also had to stop at two art supply places looking for violet gels. We finally settled for sheets of red and blue acetate (I'll maybe explain all this later). Anyway, then we stopped by Eastside Market for dinner and enough supplies that we wouldn't have to risk the ice for a couple of days. At the p.o. box, a copy of Emma Bull and Kyle Cassidy's wonderful The Strange Case of the Dead Bird on the Nightstand was waiting for us.
Crossing the Providence River on the way back, the water was black and still as ink.
We saw Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud's Despicable Me (2010) last night, and loved it. Really, a hilarious and almost painfully charming film. Steve Carell was perfect. I laughed untiil I hurt, and we've been quoting the movie all morning. I fear this is one we may have to own. Later, there was WoW, Shah and Suraa working through Level 84 towards 85, picking their way through Deepholm. And while I do think it's a beautifully designed region, I have to say that Therazane it one of the most poorly designed creatures in the history of the game. Before sleep, we read more Kit Whitfield, and I read a great article in the new issue of National Geographic about the evolution of feathers in dinosaurs. There's a wonderful opening paragraph I want to quote:
Most of us will never get to see nature's greatest marvels in person. We won't get to glimpse a colossal squid's eye, as big as a basketball. The closest we'll get to a narwhal's unicornlike tusk is a photograph. But there is one natural wonder that just about all of us can see, simply by stepping outside: dinosaurs using their feathers to fly. (Carl Zimmer)
Okay. Gotta wrap this up. But keep the comments coming in, if you would, please. Time to make the doughnuts.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 05:20 pm (UTC)If someone makes a movie out of '-30-', I require two (2) sock monkeys as my cut.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 05:35 pm (UTC)If someone makes a movie out of '-30-', I require two (2) sock monkeys as my cut.
If it ever happens, two sock monkeys you shall have.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 06:08 pm (UTC)Reading your journal entries always constitutes a high point in my day. I especially enjoy your weather descriptions as, living in New Brunswick, I tend to be treated(?) to very similar weather shortly thereafter. Your words always end up drifting through my head...
I am so very excited for The Drowning Girl. I am also excited that you're considering writing YA and I can't wait to get my copy of Two Worlds and In Between. In short, you are a constant source of lovely anticipatory feelings. Thank you, as always.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 06:12 pm (UTC)In short, you are a constant source of lovely anticipatory feelings.
These are among the sorts of sentiments that keep me going. Thank you.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 06:57 pm (UTC)We have a similar snow condition here in MA; a layer of compact snow sealed under a hard layer of ice with new fluff on top. It looks lovely but it is a treacherous crap-shoot putting a foot down in it.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 07:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 07:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 07:12 pm (UTC)Thank you for mentioning The Strange Case of the Dead Bird on the Nightstand; I would never have heard of it otherwise.
You're welcome. And yes, Emma Bull!
no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 07:23 pm (UTC)I'm very much looking forward to The Drowning Girl. All the hints you've dropped about it are very tantalizing, and I'm pleased that it'll differ from The Red Tree. I like the fact you keep me guessing. Oh, what does the RISD Museum specialise in?
no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 07:28 pm (UTC)I'm intrigued by the mention of gels: part of me wondered whether you were going to dramatise one of your stories...but I guess not.
Nope. It's pertains to Lee's work on the cover.
Oh, what does the RISD Museum specialise in?
RISD is the Rhode Island School of Design. The Museum's an art museum.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 07:45 pm (UTC)What kind of doughnuts? I'm a minutiae person.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 07:55 pm (UTC)I feel locked into my rutted Czech literature/vampire/space opera/Edith Wharton/exploding Jason Statham path.
Whoa.
What kind of doughnuts?
Metaphorical doughnuts.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 10:10 pm (UTC)My craving for sweets lately transforms even the most metaphorical doughnuts into frosted sugar puffs.
Reminder
Date: 2011-01-21 07:58 pm (UTC)Re: Reminder
Date: 2011-01-21 08:02 pm (UTC)I just put 3 things up shortly ago, so I will remember to remind her to mention them tomorrow.
Re: Reminder
Date: 2011-01-21 09:10 pm (UTC)Reminded!
no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 08:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 09:13 pm (UTC)I've now got the idea that an animated short (it would have to be *exquisitely* done) of one of the Ammonite Violin stories might be something to see. Hope that doesn't offend you
Of course not. It would be wonderful.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 08:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-21 09:13 pm (UTC)I told my girlfriend I love how the Minions line up for kisses so now she imitates them.
*snerk*
From: Tessa Droid
no subject
Date: 2011-01-22 12:06 am (UTC)