(okay, that was my fairly lame attempt at wordplay…kinda like “nothing but net”, but with vampires…as you can see, it failed miserably…probably because I’m sooooo not a sports person, but possibly because I haven’t had any caffeine yet this morning and, for me at least, caffeine=creativity)

Yesterday was surprisingly productive. Not as productive as I’d have liked, but 1,500 words is nothing to sneeze at. (And what does that mean, anyway? I’ve always heard/used it, but why exactly would sneezing at something be bad? I mean, it’s gross, yes, but isn’t it equally gross to say, “That’s nothing to blow snot on?” Yeesh. I need to stop using that expression)

With those 1,500 words I not only finished another chapter, but also began a new one–which has me a bit giddy. I love waking up to a just-begun chapter. It leaves me hungry to write more and, particularly when you write about the undead (even though I never much cared for that description of vampires), being hungry is a good thing.

(The word for the day is “insatiable”. It’s brought to you by the letter V and the number 13.)

In other useless news, I think I’ve figured out how to make my Sims do spells. Plus, my little Sims elderberries garden is coming along nicely. Hmm? What was that? Writing? Oh…yeah…in a second, I swear…

Okay, so you’ve all read The Bitch Posse by Martha O’Connor, right? No?? Well then, minions, first thing I want you to do is go buy it, because it’s an incredible book. Honestly. I couldn’t put it down. It was a two day addiction for me.

The second thing I want you to do is to help Martha out. Her family recently was flooded out of their home. The water resulted in tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage and the insurance company is being…well, they’re being like insurance companies are. For want of tact, let’s say they’re being difficult. (You can read more on her blog)

Backspace founders, Karen Dionne and Chris Graham, have put together a Martha O’Connor Flood Relief Fundraiser. So donate even $5 or $10…or blog about this…get the word out, okay? Because a fellow writer (and an amazing person) needs our help.

I’ve been listening to The Killers a lot lately. Normally, I obsess over Mr. Brightside (I love that video…it has a creepy goth-circus feel to it), but this week it’s been Everything Will Be Alright. I think it’s Vlad–he’s being moody again.

My fabulous agent gave me the official word yesterday that, yes, Eighth Grade Bites is now out to several wonderful publishers. It scared the crap out of me. It was scary enough when agents were reading about Vlad, but now editors? I may just lose my mind. But it’ll be a good, happy crazy, not a why-does-your-jacket-button-in-the-back crazy.

Yesterday I did…well, come to think of it, I did absolutely nothing where writing is concerned.

How depressing.

But no worries, minions…Auntie Heather will be hard at work on Ninth Grade Sucks today, just as soon as she reads a few blogs…and eats some breakfast…and maybe vacuums…

Today is an exciting day, minions. (So if you’re currently in a mood or mindset that clashes with excitement, change it…we really must learn to coordinate these things)

Not only does Eighth Grade Bites, my beloved story of Vlad (a fourteen-year-old vampire with more problems than you can imagine) go on submission today, but it’s also J.R.R. Tolkien’s birthday. If my math is right, the god of fantasy would be 114 today, so happy birthday, Mr. hobbit creator!

It’s also an exciting day for another reason.

Yesterday I managed to get Vlad to his first day of high school and he actually opened up some and shared some pretty interesting things with me. Some of those things involved him and some odd stuff that’s been going on (when isn’t odd stuff going on with Vlad?)…and some of those things involved Meredith, the pink-wearing pretty girl that makes Vlad’s heart throb right through his chest. It was a good writing day.

Hopefully, today will be a good writing day too.

Last night I dreamt that the world had pretty much blown itself up and the few stragglers remaining (maybe two hundred in the city I was in) were trying to make a go of life post-war. I found an abandoned Barnes & Noble and decided to set up shop. Soon I became known as “Heather the bookkeeper”. I dressed like a gypsy (which I’ve done time and time again), walked around barefoot, and read every book in my shop. For some strange reason, my store had internet access and I kept helping people who’d come in looking for information on survival skills.

Anyway, this man showed up. He called me his gypsy girl. He wore an orange shirt and smelled like cloves. We’d apparently been close for many years and I was relieved to see he survived the war. He asked how the book was coming. I told him, “Eighth Grade Bites goes on submission tomorrow.”

He looked stunned, then he looked sad. He hugged me and told me that all of it was gone–the publishing houses, the agents, New York…it was all blown away in the storm (which was silly, because if anything, it was taken away by the war…wasn’t it?). He told me the books I had in my store were all that were left, that there would be no new books published.

So I boarded up the windows and wouldn’t let anybody inside.

How’s that for an anxiety dream? Yikes. I had no idea I was nervous about going on submission. Funny how the old subconscious likes to step in and nudge us. Truth be told, I still don’t feel nervous, but for some reason, that dream creeped me out. Maybe I’m filled with anxiety over not being filled with anxiety. (I’m a natural worry wart–if I’m not fretting about this or that, I’ll start fretting about being calm, cool & collected)

Anyhoo, yesterday I managed another 1,000+ words on Ninth Grade Sucks. Yay! Plus, I submitted a short story of mine to Strange Horizons. Not one of my busiest days, but it’ll do.

Today I’m going to write more and try hard to forget about my dream…even though I can still smell cloves.

Poppy Z. Brite (whom I affectionately refer to as the NOLA goddess–in an in-awe sort of way…I don’t personally ~know~ Poppy) has a fun meme on her blog today, so for want of some procrastination, let’s dive in, shall we?

Last of 2005 Meme (with thanks to Doc Brite)

Last Book Read: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

Last Live Music Show Seen: The Jolly Rogers

Last CD Purchased: Gorillaz, Demon Days

Last Thing Cooked: I baked a cheesecake–it was evil and good and wonderfully loaded with a zillion calories.

Last New Thing Eaten: Tandoori chicken…yum.

Last Thing Bought: (collectively) AA batteries, Resolve carpet cleaner, and a roll of paper towels. (I’m such a party animal)

Last Gift Received: A Pentax 35mm camera–my old camera broke during a move and I’ve always wanted a Pentax. It was a very good Solstice.

Last Piece of Clothing Bought or Received as a Gift: Black fingerless gloves with purple buckles. I have such a crush on them…and they go nicely with my wool trench coat.

Last Embarrassing Experience: Hmmm…I don’t really get embarassed.

Last Totally New Experience: Watching fireworks from beneath a giant metal arch…that is, watching them explode off of a plane that was flying overhead. (St. Louis knows how to party)

Last Foreign Country Visited, if any: Canada–the stereotype is right. They really are the nicest people on the planet.

Last Big Achievement: Signing with my fabulous agent.

Okay minions, enough procrastinating!

I may not experience the most glamorous New Year’s Eves, but at least mine was productive!

Last night (shortly before the clocks turned and champagne was sipped) I finished a rather lengthy chapter of Ninth Grade Sucks. When all was said and done, I’d written 2,900 words–not too shabby if I do say so myself.

Sitting in front of the computer is getting easier on my healing back, but it bites that I can still only risk maybe twenty-minute sessions. Then it’s back to stretching, walking, and resting on my pillow-fluffy couch. But the pain is less by a long shot, so hey, whatever works.

Today I’m writing about Vlad’s first day at Bathory High–something I’ve been putting off for some time. I’m not sure why, but Vlad and I are a bit reluctant to go there. Maybe because we both know it’s going to be a bad day…or maybe my personal feelings about high school are keeping me from writing it. At any rate, later today I’ll grab Vlad by the hand and we’ll jump off of that cliff together. Usually, if it’s tough to write, it turns out to be a great scene. So…we’ll see.

Alright…we’ve avoided it long enough. Let’s stretch, walk, rest…and then jump, Vlad. There’s really no reason to be apprehensive. You’re a creature of the night, for god’s sake.