Um, I actually thought this would be a light month for books (oops). I did manage to pick up a few bargains, and two of them (Hear Me Roar) are contributor’s copies, so it’s not that bad. And Afterparty was bought to counteract the “let’s all boycott” Tor day.
Needless to say, I haven’t made that much of a dent in Mount To-Be-Read this month.
Writing
- I am in serious novel writing mode, and have just cruised past the 40k mark of this draft of Never. My wonderful critique partner has looked over the first 35k or so, and I’m feeling good about this draft. I feel in general like I’ve levelled up with novel writing, but I guess we’ll see once I start shopping it around (after some more editing, of course).
- The table of contents of Bloodlines was announced, including my story The Flowers That Bloom Where Blood Touches Earth.
Reading and Reviewing
- Hugo reading (pauses to shudder). I made it through the novel category without getting too disheartened – there are three good best novel candidates (The Goblin Emperor just squeaks in above The Three-Body Problem and Ancillary Sword for me, but only just, and I may change my mind before the end of voting). As for the short fiction categories, let’s just say that I have exercised my right to vote No Award a lot. And yes, I read (or attempted to read) everything. Thankfully, the graphic novels were also mostly awesome. I’m trying to psych myself up to read the packet entries for the other categories.
- One review written for the Australian Women Writers Challenge: Cranky Ladies of History (spoiler: I loved it).
- One Netgalley review: Elizabeth Hand’s Wylding Hall (spoiler again: I also loved this).
Miscellaneous
- Healthwise, this has been a month of wins and losses. Win: the new medication I’m on is working with minimal side effects (which never happens) and I’m starting to have more energy. Loss: both my husband and myself have had the head cold from hell, resulting in a lot of sinus headaches. Unfun.
- The cat has not tried to escape from the house again. She seems very happy to be back home, and doesn’t even linger at doors much now. I think she learned a big lesson.
- School holidays start at the end of this week. I’m looking forward to not having to rush around in the mornings for a few weeks, even if it will probably mean reduced word counts.