I’m not a big fan of romance novels, but I stumbled upon today’s Awesome Others blog because they occasionally cross over into the world of urban fantasy (some people say urban fantasy is a sub-genre of romance, but I disagree with that).  Even if you’re not a fan of romance, you’ll get a laugh out of the clever bitches at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.  They may even make you want to pick up a romance novel yourself!

The site contains plenty of book reviews–what’s good, and what’s horrible–cover art (which is really the only thing I like about romance novels), lots of snark, and heaps of scathing wit.  Check them out, even if you’re just looking for a laugh!

Today I would like to direct you to the Salon.com page for Anne Lamott, one of my VERY favorite inspirational authors.  I have a beautifully dog-eared copy of her book ‘Bird By Bird’ that I still consult quite often.  It’s a fabulous book about both being a writer/artistic person and a mother, friend, and daughter.  Anne has a wonderfully black sense of humor and a pragmatic and hilariously flippant way of looking at this drama we call life.  I don’t think the page has been updated in a while, but it’s definitely worth perusing the articles there.

I haven’t done much writing this week since a friend has been staying with me and I’ve had too many fun distractions.  It’s kind of nice to take a break from writing now and again, but it also makes me antsy.  The muse is a fickle thing–or at least, mine sure the hell is.  It wears out, then gets mad when I give it a break.

Besides writing the sequel to True North I’m also working on a rewrite/edit of a manuscript I’ve been writing and rewriting for literally six years, a novel called Shades of Gray.  It’s a ghost story set against the strife of a highly dysfunctional family, incorporating my fascination with the American Civil War.  The story has gone through untold incarnations, and I plan to do this final edit, post it here, and let it go.  Or at least, that’s my PLAN.  Let’s see if it actually lets me close it once and for all.

The fascinating thing about this novel is that it has gone through so many changes that it’s not even the same book I started with six years ago…and yet it is.  It has the same characters, but they have different personalities and motivations now.  It has the same premise, but shown in a much more raw, realistic light than when I first wrote it.  It went from being a book about hope and love and perseverence to a dark and uncomfortable story about a profound emotional sickness infecting an entire family.  I’m also not sure in this final rewrite if the main relationship in it will prevail in the end.  It’s so different than the clay I started with, yet I really like the sculpture it has become, twisted and strange and disturbing to look at, yet more true than the core ingredients ever were.  I’m eager to start sharing it with you.  I just need to focus and finish the re-re-re-re-writing.

Fangs, Fur, & Fey is celebrating their 3 year anniversary by giving away a Kindle Reader! They will also be giving away 22 gift cards for lucky runners-up.  It’s so easy to enter! Go go go!