Merry Christmas!

This is the best Christmas movie ever.

Nanowrimo 2009 is over, and to my great delight, I actually succeeded this year! I finally wrote a novel! It's a steampunk romance, set in the Old West. It still needs a title, not to mention some serious editing before it sees the light of day, but I have proved to myself that I can actually make time for writing when I need to, and produce longer works than I have ever previously attempted. Already I have an idea for another novel in mind. Further details to come once I actually put pen to paper for it.

For the time being, though, I have some short stories to get cracking on. I kept coming up with ideas while I was supposed to be working on my Nano novel. I often get a lot done when I'm procrastinating. Somehow even cleaning the toilet doesn't seem like work when it's not what you're actually supposed to be doing.

Upcoming stories include something Christmas themed, and a were story I've been working on on and off for a while. I'll continued sending off submissions, but I also plan to write one or two short pieces just to post up here. I don't have a formal posting schedule for this blog, I'll just continue to put stuff up whenever I can.

Congratulations to my fellow Nano-ites! Whether you 'won' this year or not you've done some writing and that's what it's all about.

Still struggling on...

...with my Nano novel. Wish me luck!

Bad Sex Awards

I just saw this via Neil Gaiman's twitter. *shudders* It's good to see that even well-respected, prize-winning authors can get it so wrong.

In other news, I am STILL way behind with my Nano novel. Nine days to go, and I'm not even halfway done. Ah well. I'm giving it a red hot go.

Gay Unions Now Legal in Australia

Well, in part of Australia, anyway. It's definately a good start, but the exclusion of transgendered and transexual couples is bizzare.



In other news, Nanowrimo continues. I'm still behind. I'll see how far I can catch up at tomorrow's Write In.

I went to a Nanowrimo 'write-in' for my region today. Typing in a cafe made for a nice change of scene. Strangely, I got a lot more done working in a noisy, crowded public place than I ever seem to at my desk at home. I'm still behind with my word count, but getting less so.

A House Divided

A House Divided

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I love vampires, I really do. I persisted with Anne Rice's series as far as The Vampire Armand, but Lestat's ever increasing Mary-Sueperpowers got on my goat so much that I gave up. I enjoyed the Victorian spookiness of Dracula and Barbara Hambly's Those Who Hunt the Night and Travelling With the Dead, and the quirky Southern weirdness of Poppy Z. Brite's Lost Souls. I've watched everything from late night SBS vampire lesbian erotica to The Lost Boys and enjoyed them all.


BUT-

Werewolves. What can I say? I don't know what it is about them, they're just sexy as Hell. I'm a big fan of the Kelley Armstrong books featuring the female werewolf Elena (and I just found out that there's at least one more about her I haven't read yet. Joy!) and it occurs to me that I haven't read much else in the way of werewolf fiction. There just doesn't seem to be as much of it around as there are vampire stories. Well, I guess it's time to investigate what's out there!

I'd be grateful for any recommendations.

Photo by Jelaga.

Edit:PS, check out this nifty progress meter from Write Or Die. Must get back to my Nano!