Am still head deep into the new manuscript, and I'm getting a lot of writing done. That makes me feel pretty damned good. Other than that, there's not much to say. I'm reading, of course. Am nearing the end of Wolfsangel by M.D. Lachlan. I think this is the first time I've read anything with a norse backdrop since I was a kid. Although certain things are a little jarring[1], I'm liking it. The cultural differences are apparent, and I like that. I also like how the magic is handled--realistically and according to the chosen cultural belief systems. I'm learning a lot. I'm also re-listening to the audiobook version o Cold, Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty in preparation for getting the newest book I Hear the Sirens in the Street. I'm looking forward to it. Next up is The Apes of Wrath anthology edited by Rich Klaw which recently got a starred review from Publisher's Weekly. I have to say, I'm very happy for him and all the authors in the anthology. I'm also looking forward to reading it. Oh! And I got my Apes of Wrath t-shirt. So, yay. :) Oh, and Laura Lee Nutt is continuing her chapter by chapter review of And Blue Skies from Pain.

It's been interesting pulling out of The Long Funk[2]. It's odd that as much as you want out of a depressing and stressy place, it becomes comfortable after a while. Doing anything else requires a lot of effort, and every tiny set back is unsettling. But that's okay. Life is a journey, and happiness isn't something that comes naturally to people after childhood. Misery is just so much easier--even when you've nothing to be miserable about. So, yeah. Move along. We are a hedge.

Things in Belfast have been messy. I haven't been paying attention since I've been writing about other things[3]. I'm so sorry to see things errupt again. The news threw me since I didn't expect to see anything until marching season (July.) I do hope the situation settles down again soon.

In other news, I was invited to speak at Convergence ast weekend. I'm very honored. The fact that the thing is hitting its nineteenth year is strange since I attended the first, second, and fifth Convergences back when I first discovered the whole goth scene. (So... holy crap, does that make me feel old.) Being invited to speak is even stranger yet--but in a good way. Who'd have thought? I remember seeing Caitlin R. Kiernan speak at Convergence V in New Orleans. I never thought I'd be doing the same. That's just... cool. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the bands. I like Mentallo & the Fixer, and I've never seen them play. That brings me back to my Liberty Lunch[4] days for sure. I'm trying not to build it up too much for myself. Nothing stands up to fond memories. Convergence I and II were wonderful and important to me. Although, I think Convergence V was the worst vacation that Dane and I ever had. We made the mistake of rooming with Dane's friend, Joe, and his now very-very ex who was an unpleasant person. Dane's memory of it centers on wandering Bourbon Street with Joe while talking about women trouble and driving way too fast on the Lake Pontchartrain bridge on the trip home. Mine centers on wishing I were anywhere but with Joe's girlfriend and then returning to Austin to find that once again the New Orleans curse had struck[5].
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[1] Like the only surviving, consistant female character being the hero's prize. But I'm forgiving that because well... it's what I'm used to seeing in that sort of setting. (Actually, what I'm used to seeing in that sort of setting is much worse than ignoring women's existance outside of prize status. So, there you are.)
[2] Eight straight years of unpleasant crap going on in my day to day life.
[3] It's too easy to fall back into Liam's head-space. And since I've other characters to work with, well, that gets in the way. Hopefully, that makes sense.
[4] Liberty Lunch used to be a little hole in the wall bar in downtown Austin where I saw a lot of great music. While the bathrooms were legendary for being horrific the shows more than made up for it. I saw Siouxsie there, and The Cranes, and Wolfgang Press. Great stuff. The place was torn down to make room for an overpriced yuppie habitrail.
[5] I've been to New Orleans three times in the past nineteen years and lost my day job two out of those three times. New Orleans hates me. :)