This was the blog of an Eloise wannabe and her 2 roustabout kitties as they work on a book deal in the City of Lights, giggling all the way. Now it's the blog of an Eloise wannabe planning her next escape (California, Canadia?) with 2 other kitties--still working, still giggling.
How on earth I could forget to post this photo--the best of the bunch--yesterday is beyond me, but there you have it. And here you have the Guimet, the national museum of Asian Art. Love the roof.
I'm giddy today. Maybe it's from the sun (had lunch in the park and I think I even got some color!) or maybe it's because I let things simmer and boil with my new plot for a few weeks (hence the abundance of cross-stitching) and it all came flowing out this morning on the bus ride to work. I'm totally loving it. I tried, oh how I tried with the rom-suspense, and I do love the plot idea but I just couldn't get into Seattle in the winter, not when all I could think about was sun sun sun. Happily, this one is set in CA in the summer and there's so many things I love in it: margaritas, wild women, green living, not working for suits, sunshine, good food, music, dancing in the moonlight, cats, kids, the perfect habitat, the family you make. Strangely enough, although I have a great relationship with my brother, this is the first time I've included that in a manuscript--and this guy is proving to be a joy to write. I'm also having to do a little weaving because there's quite a cast of characters in this one, and there's going to be three love stories and a good, healthy dose of issues (amputees, anyone? How not to screw up step kids?) The main guy hasn't appeared on the scene yet, just a bit of chatter about him, but already I'm loving him because he's partially based on someone in my past (where you find all the good shit!) Plus on the outside he's really sunny and fun, but there's serious stuff going on underneath and he needs to come through that--which is partially why he appears on the heroine's doorstep. But does anyone know anything about making a film? I think I'm going to have to fudge that for the moment.
I'm also THRILLED that Jeri Smith-Ready is a 2-time Rita finalist for Eyes of Crow. I said once (without meaning to sound snotty but probably failing miserably) that I'm not the built-in audience for this book. I'm not much of a fantasy reader, and I was thrilled to BITS when the final LOTR movie was released because then all the hoopla would be OVER. But I was intrigued by the sound of Eyes of Crow, not to mention the totally gorgeous cover. Without giving anything away, she's done a fantastic job of creating a world that sounds as though it could be in the past, or is it really post-apocalypse? The sensuality is earthy and natural, the stakes believably high, and the prose lyrical. And even though it's suspenseful and the world Rhia lives in can be unforgiving, there was a sense of gentleness and compassion throughout the book that appealed to me. Go, Jeri!
Lastly, Jennifer C., I shit you not! Monoprix online (aka telemarket.fr) has Dr. Pepper and Cadbury's and gingernut biccies and mint sauce and Heinz baked beans and tomato soup and lots of other stuff. And they'll haul it up 4 flights of stairs. Score!!
