Steady as She Goes
Writing Stuff
My vacation at the beginning of August sparked an idea that’s been on the slow burn in my brain all month. I was going to put it on the shelf to write during the month of November, but then I got an email about a short story contest that made me rethink that plan. Since the entry date is October 15, I’m revising up my writing plans. With a three-day weekend coming up for Labor Day, I’ll be spending it working on this project. That will give me all of the month of September and half of October to edit it into something I think will be worthy of submission. I’ve done my prewriting, and tomorrow I’ll do my research. Starting Friday morning, I’ll be on radio silence until my 5,000 words are down.
I’ll return to work on Book 2 once my short story piece is finished. I’m still excited about the story, and I cannot wait to see how it ends!
ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Yes, I did it. Yes, I donated. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), sometimes called “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” is a progressive and deadly neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Though the disease is rare, I know three people who have been directly affected by it–one who has it, another who discovered she was a carrier after her father died of ALS, and another who lost a cousin to the disease. Donations as of today are up to $94.3 million. It’s not enough, but it’s a start.
Other Things
Yesterday was National Dog Day, but I didn’t get the chance to post anything here. Therefore, belatedly, I give you Layla and Mustang Sally.
Mike Doughty’s new album, Stellar Motel, is on its way next month. I helped crowdfund the project, and I cannot wait to hear the whole thing. Meanwhile, you can hear the first single here.
I’m a huge Doctor Who geek. The fact I am still knitting a Fourth Doctor scarf should have been your first clue.
Every time the Doctor regenerates, I go through a period of mourning for the actor who portrayed him previously. Matt Smith didn’t start out as my favorite Doctor, but I became very attached to him over the years, and it was actually quite painful to let him go.
That being said, the Season 8 premiere last Saturday gave me confidence that the role is in good hands with Peter Capaldi.
His Doctor is clearly a departure from what we’ve seen before, but that’s part of what keeps the show fresh and exciting for viewers. I love that we have no idea how he is going to react or whether or not we can trust him. He’s much darker than the last few incarnations, and definitely a different brand of madman in a box.
I’m very excited to see what’s in store this season, and I’m confident the show will keep fans glued to the screen week after week.
I’ve been watching Outlander on Starz every week, and with three episodes down, I am certain I’ll be tuning in regularly. If you haven’t seen it, just go do it now. Seriously. It’s that good. It follows the books faithfully, and I am absolutely loving every minute.
Finally, I have to mention the end of True Blood. I saved it for the end because…ouch. 
This marketing campaign poster was kind of prophetic.
I hated that I hated it, but I really did. I wanted to be satisfied with the ending. That doesn’t mean wish fulfillment. I mean sure, if I had my druthers, Eric would have been the main focus for Sookie from Season 4 on. Clearly, the writers didn’t see it that way. I can respect that decision. And I don’t think that they “owed” the fans a specific “happily ever after” scenario. Unfortunately, they seemed to think so, and that’s where they fell flat. The writing became more desperate as the season wore on, as though they just gave up after episode four and threw together quick wrap-ups for every plotline that was going on. It just didn’t work for me, and I’ve heard from several other fans who agree.
The show had so much talent in one place, but I think after the death of Russell Edgington, the show spiraled out of focus. Perhaps this was due to the departure of Alan Ball. I may not have agreed with all of his decisions when he ran the show, but the seasons he worked on were much more effective and dynamic.
I will miss Sunday nights with True Blood. But after sitting through this final season, it was easier to let the show go than I had thought. And that realization made me sadder than the actual loss of the show.
NEW RELEASE!
Book 3 of The Blood Royal Saga is here!
The Real Delia 
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