| Witches Inc progress ... |
[May. 13th, 2008|07:53 pm] |
Happy happy happy ...the Zokoutu word meter is back. Not that I'm not grateful to Writertopia for theirs, but there's just something about that happy little worm ...
My head is slowly but surely burrowing its way back into the world of Rogue Agent. A combination of lurgy and end of play rehearsal hysteria had made focusing very very difficult of late. But looming deadlines and a growing belief that I can actually write this sucker (sometimes the terror and doubts just will not go away) are mutating me into a writing fiend once again. There's a Jekyll and Hyde quality to the life of a writer ... about which, more anon.
In the meantime, there's my miserly progress to celebrate.
Tomorrow I'm doing an interview with the wonderful guys from the Faster Than Light radio show in Perth. I'll put up the podcast details when they become available. And when I'm not doing that, I shall be romping on my treadmill and whacking down as many words as I can before heading off to our second last rehearsal. We have our first live audience next Monday night ... and the guys are ready. They did such great work at last night's rehearsal. I am so very, very proud of them! |
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| Wobbling along ... |
[Apr. 29th, 2008|04:58 pm] |
So Empress of Mijak (aka as Empress) has gone to reprint in Australia. That's very encouraging. And Innocent Mage went to another reprint locally a couple of weeks ago, and that's just as encouraging. Cue the author heaving a great big sigh of relief!
Ended up getting caught doing internet housekeeping chores this morning, but now I've finished another chapter of Witches Inc. I expect the momentum to pick up considerably from here on.
Also, the lovely people at Orbit posted me an SFX magazine review of Empress, which contains (among other things) this lovely quote:
'Miller's protagonists are memorable, her setting detailed, cohesive, and full of texture and original touches.'
The reviewer, one Barbara Davies, wasn't unalloyed in her praise. While she calls the book 'ambitious, impressive and intriguing,' she thinks it's too long, and finds Hekat a pretty tough customer. I agree with the latter, but not the former, but overall the review is wonderfully thoughtful and helpful to a writer still coming to grips with her craft and technique.
When a reviewer is as considered and judicious as this, I have no problem with some sour mixed up with the sweet. |
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| A wibbly day |
[Apr. 23rd, 2008|04:16 pm] |
Well, now that I'm getting organised and back on track, I'm back to putting proper words down on paper, or screen, or however you'd like to phrase it. The last few days have involved intense thinking and plotting for another project. I've discovered, as part of my process, that while I'm in that phase I can't do anything else but that. My brain won't give me any more room. But then I got that finally nailed and suddenly my brain is free again. A big relief!
So the morning started with the most amazingly surreal phone call, which I can't discuss, but trust me ... it was a real 'pinch me' moment. *g* Sometimes my life is too bizarre for the saying.
That was followed by not one, but two, instances of receiving cover art for me to check out. The main cover illustration for the Australian version of Rogue Agent #2 came in -- and can I just say WOW!!!!!!!! It's so beautiful, I want it hanging on my wall. Seriously. So beautiful I can't begin to tell you. It's just so beautiful. I'm all misty-eyed just thinking about it.
And then the rough art for the UK/US version of The Accidental Sorcerer -- and it's so different to the cover work for the Australian version, and yet just as amazingly striking and arresting. This is the fun part of the game, seeing how different artists/art departments/designers envision the same collection of words.
By the time all that stuff got sorted it was time to have some lunch ... during which I listened to a bit more of the director and writer commentary over the BSG movie Razor -- and wow! Ronald D Moore and I have exactly the same writing process, which gives us exactly the same result! (Not in terms of brilliance, but in balance of the work) It's so exciting, hearing someone I admire so enormously and I have some tiny weeny little thing in common. *g* Because I think he's a total genius.
And then, at last, the writing thang. I'm really revving up on Witches Inc, which is Rogue Agent #2. Certain amount of fear and trepidation with this one -- I'm terrified I can't recapture those voices, terrified I won't be able to bring the funny, terrified the first book was a fluke and that'll be that. But then some stuff happened, and I'm not quite so scared. Cross your fingers for me!
Witches Inc wordcount:
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| Witches Inc.: Rogue Agent #2 |
[Apr. 14th, 2008|05:12 pm] |
Starting a new book is like getting into a hot bath. You dip your toe in the water gingerly, inching yourself into the heat, a little shaky, a little on edge.
Here's the first progress report on the second book in the Rogue Agent series, Witches Inc.
The road ahead is long and mysterious. Wish me luck, and a minimum of potholes! |
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