OH GOD I HATE WIDOW/ORPHAN CONTROL WITH THE FIRE OF A THOUSAND SUNS AND WISH TO KILL IT WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS. WHY WHY WHY CAN I NOT TURN THIS SHIT OFF AND HAVE IT ACTUALLY STICK???

I thought OpenOffice was supposed to NOT SUCK. Why can I not highlight an entire manuscript and turn that off??? WHY WHY WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.

And, yes, I've tried copy/pasting the thing into a fresh doc. It saves the formatting, including the ever-cursed widow/orphan control. When I copy/paste as raw text, it strips my underlining and left-justifies my centered scene break thingies. This is BAD in a 121K-word document.

I can't win here, can I?

Maybe I'll load Wordperfect and see if I have better luck with that. Because this is driving me crazier than, probably, it should. Behold my OCD. ARGH.

Also, in case anyone missed it last night, the new issue of Darwin's Evolutions with my story in it is available for purchase or download. /pimp

Tags: word sucks like a big sucking thing
Current Mood: irritated

I just read this excellent essay by Scott Westerfield (who wrote the Uglies series, etc.) that I thought a good number of you would enjoy.

"A Slayer Comes to Town" - how the Buffy universe is neither 'alternate world' or 'trespass' story, but rather both.

PS~ Footnote 1, at the end of the essay, totally describes Isaura.

Tags: tv, writing
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: Michael Jackson - Man in the Mirror

In Flanders Fields by ~pixelfish on deviantART

Thank a veteran. Think about those who have gone before.



(I made this back in 2007, but still think it's appropriate to share today.)

I am fortunate to have never lost someone I know to war, or even had a close family member who was in a war. My grandfathers were too young for WWI and too old for WWII. My dad was 4F from Korea. My uncle served in the navy in the narrow gap between Korea and Vietnam. Of my male cousins, one had no interest in joining the military, and the other, while in ROTC at college, suffered a career-ending knee injury while playing football.

Everyone else was female, none of whom volunteered. Without a family history of military service, the inclination isn't there.

I have a few friends who are or have been in the military, and seen combat. To them, and to the countless strangers who have done the same, I offer my thanks for them being willing to be in the hard places at the hard times.

It's my sad news to report that the local Waldenbooks, in the Oakdale Mall, is on the list of stores to be closed at the beginning of the new year. This is sad in more than one way--everyone hates to see a bookstore close--because this particular bookstore manager, April, has treated me and many other fellow authors with both respect and fan-glee. She has supported us by making certain that our books are on the shelf at the store AND, perhaps more importantly, talking the books up to her customers and making certain that they are in the hands of potential readers out there. I honestly can't believe the bookstore is closing.

However, before the news of the closing hit the airwaves, we'd arranged for a holiday signing at the store. It's now become a "last hurrah!" signing, and we're hoping to make it a huge send-off not only for April but for all of the employees at the store who've helped push our books in the past. So if you're in the Binghamton area--or even within a reasonable driving distance--come by on December 5th from Noon-4pm and help us let April and the other employees know how much we appreciate all of their efforts over the years. We'd like this signing to be a huge success! In addition to having our books there to sign for either you OR as gifts for all of your friends, we'll be wrapping the books you intend to use as gifts as well. FREE GIFT WRAPPING!! By authors who may (or may not) know anything about gift wrapping!! That, in and of itself, will be a blast. *grin* I'm sure we'll also have some candy and other freebies to give away.

We realize that not everyone is within even an unreasonable driving distance of Binghamton, NY. If you can't make it for whatever reason, you can still help us celebrate and thank April and the other bookstore employees by buying the books through the store and having them shipped to you (or someone else). April has graciously agreed to handle ordered copies in two different ways: you can either have the signed books shipped to a local Waldenbooks in your area so you can pick them up there, or April can ship them directly to you. For the second option, there will be no shipping cost (for shipments in the US), April will simply charge you for the books. For either of these options, send an email to fireun3@gmail.com with either the name of the town or city where the local Waldenbooks is located OR with where you'd like the books shipped. You should include what books you'd like by what author, how you want them signed, and (if they're shipping directly to you) if you want them wrapped.

Here are the details of the signing if you think you can make it. Keep in mind that Christmas is inching ever closer. Ask yourself who on your gift list might enjoy some great fantasy novels! Signed even!

The "Last Hurrah!" Signing

Waldenbooks @ The Oakdale Mall
Reynolds Rd., Binghamton, NY
December 5th, 2009
Noon-4pm
Gift-wrapping available!
Featuring:
Patricia Bray; S.C. Butler
Barbara Campbell; Laura Anne Gilman
Jackie Kessler; Joshua Palmatier
Anton Strout


And if you aren't certain what books are up for grabs, here's a list of all of our books in print and available through the store:

Patricia Bray: The Sword of Change series: Devlin's Luck, Devlin's Honor, Devlin's Justice; The Chronicles of Josan series: The First Betrayal, The Sea Change, The Final Sacrifice

S.C. Butler: The Stoneways Trilogy: Reiffen's Choice, Queen Ferris, The Magicians' Daughter

Barbara Campbell: The Trickster's Game series: Heartwood, Bloodstone, Foxfire

Laura Anne Gilman: The Retrievers series: Staying Dead, Curse the Dark, Bring It On, Burning Bridges, Free Fall, Blood From Stone; The Vineart War series: Flesh and Fire

Jackie Kessler: Hell on Earth series: Hell's Belles, The Road to Hell, Hotter Than Hell; Black and White (with Caitlin Kittredge)

Joshua Palmatier: The Throne of Amenkor Trilogy: The Skewed Throne, The Cracked Throne, The Vacant Throne

Anton Strout: The Simon Canderous series: Dead To Me, Deader Still

And there you go! A long list of great books to browse from. I hope to see you at the signing, but if you can't make it, definitely send April a message with what books you'd be interested in. Help support good booksellers! Us authors can't survive without them!

Tags: last hurrah signing

Jenna Vincent - a young Australian artist started drawing at twelve.

I want to write some short fantasy stories for fun. What are some races that are never used in fantasy novels or not used a whole lot? I have also been trying to google food. Anyone know of a website that would explain food that was used in taverns?

I want to write some short fantasy stories for fun. What are some races that are never used in fantasy novels or not used a whole lot? I have also been trying to google food. Anyone know of a website that would explain food that was used in taverns?

Last night I dreamed that Kristy and I had accidentally left Brenna alone at the house. Though we were only a minute or two from home and in the van, we couldn't get home because of various obstacles and distractions. The dream was interrupted by Brenna, who was crying in her room (it was about 4 am). I went to comfort her, and she told me about the bad dream she'd had. She'd dreamed that we'd left her alone. The other details of the two dreams didn't match (for example, in her dream she was at a theater, not at home), but the connection was still pretty coincidental.

The Clarkesworld Magazine Citizenship Drive was launched last week and I'd like to thank everyone who has shown their support with a donation. When I launched this fundraising program, I intended to let people build up their own empires and recognize specific Clarkesworld authors. This past weekend, I wrote up a system to help make that possible.

If you visit our Census Page, you can become an Overlord's minion, a subject of a Royal's court, move to a Burgermeister's town, or become a follower of one of our authors in the Clarkesworld Pantheon. If you have previously donated at the Overlord, Royalty, or Burgermeister levels, there is a link for people to join (or become competitors to) your town, realm or domain. If we've published a story by you, fans can colonize Clarkesworld and choose you as their household diety. Steal the links. Spread the word. Build your empire!

Want to start your own domain, realm, or town and collect your own subjects? You can do that too.

Tags: citizenship, clarkesworld magazine