Where I’ve been (Among other things)
Writery Things
During the month of November, I was quiet here, but my writing life has been extremely busy.
In October, I had a conversation with an agent, and she recommended to me that I increase the length of the novel in order to make it more marketable to mainstream publishers. Thus, I spent the three weeks leading up to Thanksgiving completing a 30,000 word addition to the text. The manuscript draft is now in the hands of my editor. After taking a week to catch my breath, I’ve begun planning the sequel while I wait for the annotations to come back. I’m also taking time to do some research, and I can’t wait to use what I learn in the next book. Once my editor is finished looking through the text, I’ll make corrections and then send it off with hopes of finding representation.
I’m also very excited to announce that I’ll be attending The Stanley Hotel Writer’s Retreat in October of 2014! It’s a week-long retreat at the hotel that was the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining. The event has been written up on FEARNet and on FANGORIA®, and I absolutely cannot wait. I haven’t been to Estes Park in years, and to spend the time doing something I love with great people in such an inspiring location is a dream come true.
Readery Things 
The book club I lead has been reading classic horror this year, and we just completed Bram Stoker’s Dracula. We’ve been comparing the book to various onscreen interpretations, including the new NBC television series. Everyone agrees that while the show departs significantly from the text of the novel, we love what the writers are doing and find Jonathan Rhys Meyers depiction compelling and exciting. If you haven’t had a chance to catch this great show, I highly recommend it.
At the beginning of the year, I set myself a challenge to read 50 books, which works out to approximately a book a week, and I’m seven books away from reaching that goal. Many of the books I read were part of a series. Last year, I read all of the George R.R. Martin A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) series, and this year it was Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series that dominated my reading list. This year also saw the end of Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire Mysteries, an ending that was bittersweet for me. I kept up with Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series by reading her newest and thoroughly entertaining installment, Iced (I’m very much looking forward to reading Burned once it’s released). I also read Cassandra Claire’s Mortal Instruments series and the Beautiful Creatures series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Several standalone novels were part of my reading list, including most memorably Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane which was stunningly lyrical and heartbreaking.
Doggy Things (Because Layla is annoyed at not being the center of attention)
I’m just going to leave this here. Her face speaks for itself.
Your Turn…
Tell me stuff!
- What are you reading/writing?
- What’s the best thing that’s happened with you this year so far?
- What are you looking forward to next year?
- What is your pet doing right now?
3 Comments on “Where I’ve been (Among other things)”
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The Real Delia 
I loved “The Ocean at the End of the Lane.” There’s a dreamlike quality in Gaiman’s writing that I haven’t encountered with any other author.
Right now, I’m reading far too many books to be healthy 😛 Currently queued up on my Kindle are “Stardust,” by Gaiman (I know, I haven’t read it yet; don’t judge); “The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland,” by Catherynne Valente; “The Circle,” by an indie author named Cindy Cipriano (it’s pretty well written so far); “Slayers,” by C.J. Hill; “Vergilius: A Tale of the Coming of Christ,” by Irving Bachellor (trying to get some classics in as well); “Tithe,” by Holly Black; “Un Lun Dun,” by China Mieville; and soon to join them will be Stephen King’s “Needful Things.”
Phew! Like I said, too many books…
Hahaha! Your list sounds like mine! More than I can probably ever finish, but ever increasing all the same.
Delia, I am a friend of your parents, from Polk County days. I am glad you have finished My Chere Antoinne. I read the teaser portion on Amazon. I am in awe of your organization and drive in writing. I have not been a fan of vampire lit, but I am open to becoming so. I am also a fan of the Outlander books and am at the beginning of Dragonfly in Amber. I have a granddaughter named Layla, but not a dog. I think you met her mother, Kathryn, when we visited. I am glad to see that your house is finally complete. I expect that your Dad is looking for another project. Good luck in your writing and best wishes to your parents.
Marilyn Gwaltney