IMG_20150328_131153

Physical books received this month.

 

And here we are, somehow (almost) at the end of March.  Where is this year going?

Writing

  • I finished the zero draft of Never.  Which is terrible, as all zero drafts ought to be, and littered with notes to myself on the things that I need to fix.  I’m aiming to let it rest a little longer before I come back and start the next draft, but we’ll see where my head goes.
  • I spent some time after that draft meandering about in the between projects abyss, but have just found my way into a short story that I’m writing to submit to an upcoming anthology.  It may be one of the most depressing things I’ve ever written.
  • I also finished editing the novella I’ve been working on for the last *mumblemumble* and have sent it off into the aether.  I have no idea what its chances really are, but I have a massive amount of respect for the editor in whose virtual desk it rests.
  • I got to announce that I’ll be part of the TOC of the upcoming Ticonderoga Press anthology Hear Me Roar with my story Broken Glass.  I am so chuffed to be in this anthology, I don’t even have the words.
  • And Escapement (one of my weird dystopia/steampunk series of stories, and the first to see publication) garnered a Tin Duck nomination in addition to its Ditmar nomination.

Reviewing

  • A quieter month for me reviewing, since I’ve been devoting a chunk of my reading time to research for the short story I’m working on.
  • Only one Netgalley review this month (though technically I also originally got an eARC of one of my AWW books from Netgalley, too): Aquila.
  • Australian Women Writers (AWW) Challenge reviews: Graced by Amanda Pillar and Liesmith by Alis Franklin.  Spoiler: I loved them both.

Miscellaneous

  • I received my lovely hardcover copy of Cranky Ladies of History in the mail, which is on my pile-o-stuff to review soon.  It is a truly beautiful book.
  • I’ve been catching up on a lot of podcasts.  Finally started (and finished) listening to Serial  and started listening to Alisa Krasnostein’s new podcast Champagne and Socks.  Champagne and Socks is really enjoyable – and I don’t even craft (yet!).  I have wanted to learn to crochet for ages (though I don’t know how my fingers and wrists would hold up to it) and I should get back into knitting.
  • And we have been playing a lot of Diablo III.  Like, a lot.  It’s just fun to play when my brain needs a break.
  • I have been doing a lot of decluttering, including starting to get ruthless with books.  I’ve long since run out of book shelf space (despite having a lot of it) and I have no choice but to get rid of stuff that I know I’ll never read.  I also need a proper organisational system, since everything is everywhere.  I did have books loosely shelves by genre, but that system broke down as shelves started to explode.  I need Compactus shelving.  And a librarian.