The Plot Bunny Farm

Two weeks ago, Alex F. Fayle tagged me with the Next Big Thing meme. I could say that the reason I didn’t post last week is that it was Thanksgiving and I was busy, and there’s some truth to that. Last week was highly family oriented. Another reason is that it’s hard to answer the questions.

This meme prompts writers to talk about what they’re working on at the moment, then tag others to talk about their own work. I have trouble talking about work in progress — often, if I talk too much about the work, I don’t do the work. Then there is the rather startling number of projects I count as in progress now. However, I shall do my best.

What is the working title of your book(s)?

The Mini-Golf Course Murders — the next book in the River Corners mystery series

Rage of Fire — the next book in my Elementalists paranormal romance series (currently working on outlining)

Jack Hawthorne 2 — needs an actual title, but so far it’s just labeled as the second in my middle-grade SF/horror series (also fleshing out the outline here — and for #3 as well)

Sundered Sword — a fantasy set in an alternate Baroque Tuscany (at least I think it’s Baroque, but this might need to be fixed)

Mirei — an interplanetary science fiction novel, currently referred to simply by the name of the first character to show up

For completeness’ sake, I shall include Return of the Albino Weasel — my current NaNo project

Where did the idea come from for the book(s)?

I’ve always loved cozy mysteries, and I think I first tried to write about Greg and Isobel Stone (they were already married in that version) back in 1990 or so.

The paranormal mystery series is founded on a love of elements. Love staring at fire, playing in water, feeling the wind blow about me. I could never pick just one.

Jack Hawthorne is based on loving reading middle-grade and children’s books, both growing up (series like The Three Investigators) and ones I read now with my son (like the Kane Chronicles), but wanting something with a bit more danger in it, albeit B-movie danger, as everyone starts changing into insects.

Sundered Sword started with a random thought from a Monty Python movie. “Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!” What if that was what determined the ruler, but the sword was broken and there were two legitimate claimants?

Mirei’s story is an on-again, off-again work in progress, one of the few that I haven’t planned out ahead of time. I suppose you could say I was inspired by squids in space.

The albino weasel is a running gag in our NaNoWriMo group. It was a phrase that cropped up at a kick-off party a few years back, a comment uttered into one of those silences that sometimes falls during a party. And we’ve got a great bunch of WriMos who are really entertaining to talk to and have cool and crazy things to say about their lives. So this year, my goal was to just throw all that into a story and see what happened. I’m actually rather bummed I haven’t done more with it.

Will your book(s) be self-published or represented by an agency?

I don’t plan to use an agent, even for those that I may submit to traditional publishers.

Things I know will be self-published: the mystery, the paranormal romance, and the Albino Weasel (assuming I get more written!).

And now to tag . . .

Bonnie R. Schutzman — Born and raised in Montana, Bonnie migrated east for graduate study and wound up staying. She writes vivid characters that I love to hear what happens to. She also golfs, paints, hikes, crochets, and takes time to be with her family. You can find her on her blog, Cowgirl in New England.

Edward Greaves — A New Jersey native, Ed’s the reason I joined the Garden State Horror Writers (soon to be rebranded as the Garden State Speculative Fiction Writers, I believe). He’s had a couple of short stories published, and he’s an associate editor for Space and Time magazine. This year he attended the Viable Paradise workshop. You can find him on his blog, Writing for Beans.

Dawn Bonanno — Dawn is a transplant from Brooklyn to Chicago. She runs, she draws, she spends time with her kids (including working on children’s stories with her daughter), and of course, she writes. She’s been a semi-finalist in the Writers of the Future contest, and she also attended Viable Paradise this year. You can find her on her Website, dmbonanno.com.

Originally published at Erin M. Hartshorn. You can comment here or there.

From bonniers. My muse took the quiz, just to be clear on this. (Though I edited their spelling.)

Which creature of the night are you? Your Result: Incubus/Succubus   It's all about feeding, isn't it? You pay them back from their energy, though. You give them something (your drama) that will keep them distracted from life, which you consider a terrible joke.
Werewolf
Sorcerer
Vampire
Ghost
Chthulu Spawn
Demon
Which creature of the night are you? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Seen via avferreira, hoshikaze, bonniers, eblgorton, and possibly others.

What Erin Means

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

Flaky? Ton of energy? Don't stick with things? Jealousy? I think not.

"But for the important things, you pull it together." Okay, that I'll go with. And the active imagination.

When you see this post, quote from Doctor Who on your LJ.

"We must feed . . . we must feed . . . we must feed . . .
"You!
"We must feed you."

or from this season:

"A whole lot of running to do."

or

"What are you doing in MY Library?"

(Would you believe I only started watching around Christmas?)

Seen in various places, including avferreira, kalima62, and hoshikaze.

I deleted my comment count, and adjusted the scoring so ties had the same number.

( Who comments the most on this journal? )

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

No.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Probably a couple of nights ago. Tired, sick, pregnant, and cranky don't lend themselves to a Panglossian attitude.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING

Most of the time. When I'm actually making an effort, as opposed to just scrawling a list.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?

Tie between pastrami and salami.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

Yes.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?

Umm . . . I don't know. I usually wait for the other person to make the first move, which is really awkward if you're both doing it.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?

Me? Never! :P

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?

Nope. They came out when I was 17.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?

Probably not.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?

Er? People have favorites?

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?

How else are they going to come off?

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?

I make do with stubborn.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?

Depends on my whim of the moment.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?

I suppose I notice their clothes--after all, you can see those a lot farther away than little details--but what I look for is a smile and eye contact.

15. RED OR PINK?

For what? I want my cotton candy pink, my strawberries red. (My roses can be either. Or red-and-white. Or yellow-and-orange. Or . . . ) And my lingerie black.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?

I suppose that I lack patience--though I don't dislike it enough to do anything about it. Er, I'm also just a touch opinionated, but that's not going to change, either.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?

My dad. I keep thinking of things I'd like to tell him.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO LINK THIS BACK TO YOU?

If they want.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS (Or Kilt) AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?

Black maternity capris, white sneakers.

20. WHAT WAS The LAST THING YOU ATE?

Some grapes. I really should eat a balanced lunch.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?

The repeating "boop" of the chat window.

22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?

Something shiny, glittery, pretty, and eye-catching!

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?

Baking bread. Baking chocolate chip cookies. Desert after the rain (or even during). Roses.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?

My husband, who called from work this morning.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO LINKED THIS TO YOU?

Bonnie? Definitely! She's good folks!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?

Meh.

27. HAIR COLOR?

Brown, some silver creeping in.

28. EYE COLOR?

Hazel.

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?

Occasionally. It depends on things like allergies and humidity and whether I'm going to need my sunglasses and how much time I want to take getting ready in the morning. Right now, they're not fitting so well--pregnancy changes the shape of all sorts of body parts.

30. FAVORITE FOOD(S)?

Chocolate. Lobster. Fresh fruit. Fresh-baked bread. Flank steak with onions and mushrooms. Pecan pie.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

To quote a song from The Pirate Movie, "Give me a happy ending every time."

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

I don't know; my mind's blanking.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?

Purple.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?

Summer, if I can skip the humidity. But spring and fall are even better.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?

From whom?

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?

CHOCOLATE. More specifically, Death by Chocolate, from Marcel Desaulniers' cookbook of the same name.

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?

I don't know.

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND

Val and Bonnie.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?

Gene Wolfe, The Knight; Harry Turtledove, How Few Remain; George R. R. Martin, ; Datlow & Windling, Year's Best Fantasy & Horror (from 2000)

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?

I don't have one.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?

Nothing.

42. FAVORITE SOUND?

Garage door signaling that my husband's home. Rain on the roof at night. Cat curled on my lap purring. My child's laughter.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?

Beatles. At least I can understand their words. :P

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?

Moscow.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?

I give good backrubs. I bake very well. I meet deadlines. What I'm really good at, though, is passing Web links on to friends.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?

Hawthorne, Nevada.

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?

Anyone who feels like responding.

Seen in various places around LJ, including sartorias, sksperry, and david_bridger.

If there are one or more people on your friends list who make your world a better place just because they exist, and whom you would not have met (in real life or not) without the internet, then post this same sentence in your journal.

From alienmoon76

Comment and I will name you 3 interests from your list, and 3 userpics and you tell me about them. In turn, you repost in your own LJ for your f-listers to do :D (A cool way to find out a bit more about the other interests of your friends list that you don't know much about.) :D But don't worry, if you don't want to just say so. (Or you can play in the comments and skip the posting in your journal.)

From ca_bookwyrm

abennettstrong may explode without warning

M EXPLOSIVE

Username:

From Go-Quiz.com

"Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?" - Ernest Gaines

Though I'll second someone else's comment that I believe in human rights, not just rights for any one group.