Happy 2009 greetings to all—
It’s good to be back in the normal routine, isn’t it? I’ve been working, working, working on revisions for book five—Retribution—and getting a start on book six—Chosen—so I’m especially glad to be done with the holiday disruption.
Saw my first movie of 2009 –
Slum Dog Millionaire. Highly recommend it. The star, Dev Patel, is wonderful. The credits at the end make you want to stand up and dance. Great stuff.
Some articles about this and that:
Here’s one about TV and how it’s pushing the science boundaries.
Dollhouse is noted.
And coming soon,
Serenity in Blu-ray for all you techies.
Battlestar Galitica returns on Jan. 16. In the meantime, there’s a series of webisodes you can watch to fill the gap between parts one and two of the current season. Writer Jane Espenson
says:
The Webisodes, which will conclude on Jan. 12, just before the television series returns, are a self-contained murder mystery set aboard a small spacecraft that has been separated from the fleet. But they also expand on the “Galactica” mythology, through flashbacks, and flesh out major characters. Fans who had wondered whether Lieutenant Gaeta (Mr. Juliani) was gay found out in Episode 1 of “Enemy.” Or they thought they did, until his close encounter with a Cylon 8 (Ms. Park) a few episodes later clouded matters. Watch them
here.
Something different—a music
video brought to my attention by friend Derek. Kewl…
From Publisher’s Weekly: Amazon Launches Author Stores
by Craig Morgan Teicher
Amazon has added a new way of finding books to its site, which the company is calling Author Stores, single pages that feature all books from a particular author, plus, in many cases, an author photo and some related content, such as a biography, message board and streaming video.
Wonder when mid-list authors (like me) are going to get their own page? ☺
Sad Passing:
Donald Westlake, award-winning mystery writer, died of a heart attack on New Year’s Eve. He was 75. More than 15 of his 100 books were made into movies. In addition, he wrote a number of screenplays, including “The Grifters,” which was nominated for an Academy Award in 1991. He wrote everyday on a
manual typewriter. His next novel, “Get Real,” is scheduled for release in April.
Something fun—Neil Patrick Harris hosts
Saturday Night Live this Saturday (Jan 10) Wonder if he’ll wear his goggles?
The Damn—I missed it file: From the
New York Times: Puttin’ Off the Ritz: The New Austerity in Publishing. Never did get wined and dined now I may never be! Frankly, though, I’m thankful to have a contract.
Can I say Ick???? If you’re eating, be warned, or there are children about, cover their eyes. Here’s the Polish cover for Many Bloody Returns. Yikes.
Better is the cover for the trade paper
edition scheduled to be released next month—which is just like the hardcover…but softer and cheaper.
This weekend I’m off to
Fairplay for a writer’s retreat. I've also been invited on Monday morning to speak to some students at the local high school. I'm looking forward to that. I plan to pick their brains, too. Find out
just what they like in a book... Now, it’s the second time I’ve attended this retreat but the first time I’ve made the trip in winter. Wish me luck!!!
Okay, in the spirit of the season I’m finishing up with resolutions I DIDN’T make this year:
Lose ten pounds (Doesn’t EVERYBODY make this one?)
Add an extra gym day (DITTO)
Eat better (Damn it, I LIKE my chocolate)
Watch less television (Then how can I know what new forensic wonders are out there? It’s research)
Read more nonfiction (Why?)
I’m sure there are others, there always are. Now it’s your turn—what resolutions did you NOT make this year?