Ever So Social

July 9

11:00 a.m.

Greetings and Felicitations, my darlings!

Go buy David Hartwell's Year's Best Fantasy. My Clarion classmate John Sullivan has a story therein. And in case that's not enticement enough, there're also stories by Charles de Lint, Nalo Hopkinson, Gene Wolfe, and etc. And in case that's not enticement enough-- let me mention that this is a new fantasy reprint anthology series. I would like for this book to do well, so that it will be around for a long time, so that I can have stuff published in it someday. So buy the book and help me and help fantasy and best of all help yourself.

*

So, yup, my novel's in the mail. I sent it out on Friday night, right before Heather and I went for celebratory sushi. I am a terribly very happy boy. Fly far, little novel! Make me proud!

*

Saturday I had coffee with Marissa-- a delightful reconnection. We went to Suju's in Hayward, which is a pretty nice little coffee shop, even if they do serve parsley juice. We talked about novels and life and so on. It's always a pleasure to spend time with her. I'm looking forward to living in Oakland, just a short BART ride away from her, so that these visits can become more frequent.

*

Had a very nice dinner with Heather and Susan and David on Saturday. We made stir fry veggies and rice. David left earlyish, but the rest of us stayed up drinking wine and talk talk talking, about aquariums and children's folklore and all manner of things. It's a bit blurry, as I was a bit drunk. Tra la.

*

Sunday morning/afternoon Heather and I actually spent time together-- much needed. She did dishes from the night before. I cooked eggs and did breakfast dishes. We drank coffee and held hands. I love her so much. I know I've made that clear here, but... really. I love her all the way through. Nothing makes me happier than spending a morning with her, an afternoon, a night, talking about our passions, acting on our passions. Mmm.

We went to Gaylord's for coffee-and-work. Heather has a really cool novel idea that has now progressed beyond "idea" to "ready to start outlining." We talked about possibilities for the book, she bounced ideas off of me, I asked questions and made (probably useless) suggestions. I'm very excited on her behalf. I know how good it feels to get into writing a book.

I think her novel's gonna be awesome, yo.

*

I get to start writing Rangergirl soon. Hee.

*

Sunday night Timprov and Mark and M'ris and Susan and Heather and I all went out for pizza and beer. The purpose: to celebrate my finally, finally sending out this book. The reason for the choice of venue: there's a pivotal scene in my book that takes place just outside a pizza parlor in Chapel Hill. Since it was not feasible for us to go celebrate at Pepper's Pizza on Franklin Street, we did the best we could and dined at Cato's Alehouse. Pear cider and Newcastle. Mmm. Also much talk about all sorts of things, not even entirely writing, though of course that came up.

*

I had a good time with all that socialness, I really did. But it'll be good to have some time to recuperate. I'm looking forward to a week of hermitlike existence. Because I'm very poor, I'm not going to be going out drinking or partying or anything. I'm going to be drinking tea and eating pasta, and writing in order to entertain myself. I get to polish "Battering Jack and the Headless Man," rewrite "Capt. Fantasy," outline Rangergirl, outline the short novel idea that I plan to do for the 3-Day Novel Competition over Labor Day weekend, revise short stories, finish typing edits to Genius (so that, on the off-chance that a publisher actually wants to see the entire manuscript, I have something to send them)... I have lots to do. I plan to seriously start Rangergirl in August... I should be able to pretty well clear my decks by then. I'm excited. I feel myself getting into a serious work-mode. I'm very happy about that.

*

I decided to sleep in Oakland last night. It seemed like a good idea at the time, and the extra time with Heather was wonderful... but I was an unhappy boy this morning, driving in rush-hour traffic. I do not recommend this. It is not fun. But now I'm done driving, and the bad bits about the traffic are fading, the good bits about the cuddling-beside-Heather remain strong in my mind... so I think I did the right thing after all.

I'm glad I won't be doing it again, though. Only 21 days before I move to Oakland. Wow. Three weeks. Whoo.