So I am about 94% decided to get a Master's in Library Science. I've even found 2 really good online programs, so I don't have to move.

Had to go to work early today...I am so beat since I had to go hang out with Tiffany-her being depressed and all. It is 7:30pm here and I feel like it is 4 am. I am totally out of it and I am kinda loopy. I am also cold...really cold. I kinda want to read fic but at the same time I don't. It's one of those OMG SO EXHAUSTED moments when you can't go to bed because it is too early but you can't do anything else either because it takes too much brain power...Also, I was informed that I am not allowed to be sick so I would like to mention that except for being really cold, I am no longer sickl...YAY...now off to slumber land with my eyes open...Tiffany is still here and it is still too early...

The lightbulb in my kitchen, the five-year long-life lightbulb, burned out about six months after I bought it.

I wanted some toast so, after ascertaining that tightening it wasn't the issue, I got a hand-held LED lamp I use in emergencies, carried it into the kitchen, and watched it flicker and die.

Ergo, at the hardware store tomorrow I need to buy:

1/2" nails for hanging pictures
Duct tape, 'cause I'm out
Zipties for some cords I need to tidy up
A new lightbulb
AND SOME ROCK SALT, JUST IN CASE MY KITCHEN IS POSSESSED.

They're going to think I'm either a mad scientist or a serial killer.

So I finally got around to seeing Transformers...

Megatron: "Is it fear or courage that compels you, fleshling? Give me the Allspark and you may live to be my pet."
Me: *pants* Oh, F**K. I need fic.

• 07:06 call time was 5 minutes ago. decided 2 use the locations swing as prize for being the least important (and therefore, earliest) one here #

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sgabigbang: FLAIL WITH ME, YOU GUYS. I NEED TO SQUEE LIKE A SQUEEING THING.

What are you reading? What's on your list? What should I read first?! Like, I had a plan, and shit, and I was all set to start with telesilla's story, then, uh, it kinda turned into not the week for me to read that, so my plan is blown! I keep scrolling down the list aimlessly!

I've already read No Good Deed, cause I betaed it, and obvs I'm not about to read my story again, but otherwise I have no idea! YOU GUYS, HELP.

PS! One of my original artists did finish! So there is another piece of lovely work that will go up later today! And it is very lovely.

I love Junot Diaz.

I'd always loved his short stories and then, I fell in love with his novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. (Apparently, I wasn't the only one because it won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction last year.) But I really love him for this essay about how freaking HARD writing can be sometimes.

www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/200911-omag-junot-diaz-writing via www.robinwasserman.com/

I am trying to take his words to heart as I struggle through my new WIP which is starting to feel like a Pedro Almadovar-directed version of "Glee" meets "Lord of the Flies." (In the the immortal words of "Spinal Tap": "There's such a fine line between stupid and clever.") I feel like there is a spot on my wall that reads: Your Head Here.

Anyway, I love Junot Diaz for his honesty about how difficult writing his novel proved to be and especially for these words:

"Because, in truth, I didn't become a writer the first time I put pen to paper or when I finished my first book (easy) or second one (hard). You see, in my view a writer is a writer not because she writes well and easily, because she has amazing talent, because everything she does is golden. In my view a writer is a writer because even when there is no hope, even when nothing you do shows any sign of promise, you keep writing anyway."

Yeah. That. Thank you, Junot Diaz.
Back to it.

Two things.
First: This was quite enough meta for one season, show, can we please get back to the plot?
Second: If you are going to make a joke based on a foreign accent, please do your research, show. Germans do not (as a rule) roll their Rs when speaking English. Apart from speakers who have certain regional accents they don't do it when speaking German, so why should they start when speaking English? They do however devoice all word-final consonants and have major problems with the 'th', both voiced and voiceless. Those are two of the main hall marks of a German accent. Not a strong R.

Contest 1. The enter-to-win on Goodreads went live. (10 ARCs)

Contest 2. Readers have started to submit entries for the first option (the WL World casting video). Remember to reply to this thread with the URLs for your WL Casting videos. (10 ARCs)

Contest 3. And the folks over at the Rath already have read the first 5 chapters so they can enter in their contest. (12 ARCs)

Contest 4. Will happen in December, but the other 3 contests are already in progress.

That's 32 ARCs right there that I'm sending out to readers.*

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Q:. But I live ----, & you are excluding me!
A: I'm sorry. I'm not trying to be mean. I have restrictions I have to follow. It's NOT personal.

Q: I would post abt it here, there, & other places.
A: In Dec there will be a 4th contest. Posting the links to the best casting video or fan made book trailer will get you up to 6 entries in that contest. Offering me reviews won't. (Sorry.) I say this every year, and I'll repeat it again: that's not what these ARCs are for. They're mostly either a) I'm impatient & want to share w readers who want to read and b) thank you gifts for helping keep me sane-ish during this career. In the past 2 years, I've sent my share of the ARCs to Rathers (those at the wl.com fansite) are Solstice gifts. This year I begged for extra to send more. They agreed. These are mine. I'm doing what I want with them.

Q: Videos??
A: Yep. I did photos, visual art, rec a song, rec a band, & now I'm doing videos. Why? *pauses* I can't create art. I love seeing it though. I also feel like a fool when ppl ask me abt "dream casts" for the Wicked Lovely movie. The only ideas I have are the ones my Rather Lovelies over at WL.com have given me. And, yeah, my producers have asked for my insights. . . but let's me honest, folks, if I didn't even know who Vince Vaughn was before his production house wanted to buy WL, the odds of me having any actors in mind are pretty freakin slim. (No, Vince isn't going to be in it. Yes, I trust that my producers will have brilliant ideas for casting, but I still am intrigued by what YOU see.)

Q: I can't make videos.
A: Me either ;) That's why there are a Goodreads & random number gen contest too.

Q: Still shots ok for videos?
A: Yep. Animation is too (for the trailer one). I'm all sorts of flexible. I just want to see what you see.

Q: What abt a WL/INK./FE trailer? Can that count too?
A: Sure. Post it in the reply to the WL casting thread.

Q: Why do the WL.com folks get to see the excerpt? Why can't I join there & see it?
A: Bc admin has imposed a 50 post minimum to see it to prevent that very thing. It's a gift to ALL active Rathers that I got special pemrission to give them. Seriously, folks, when I was on tour these people went for walks w me, joined me at an aquarium, tea shops, bars (only the adult readers!!!), restaraunts, uppity hotel lobbies, bookstores, a Target, museums . . . They send me cool letters. They send me notes of "saw you were in __. Great tea shop on __" (or store/funky spot/cool building). They've knitted me scarves.

I try to let them know how much I love their support of my books & their kindness to me, and it occurred to me that this was something I could give to them. Harper will post the same excerpt in the Spring. My Rathers just get it first. I mean seriously, several of them have adopted me as their "Auntie M" How could I NOT want to give them special access??!

----
* Yes, reviews are allowed to enter, but you just don't get any special consideration. I'm not excluding you, but having a blog, newspaper, or any other review outlet doesn't get you a copy. That's what publishers do--give to reviewers.