What NOT to Say to Your Readers

During an interview in The Hollywood Reporter, George R. R. Martin was asked about finishing The Winds of Winter, the next book in his A Song of Ice and Fire series. Unfortunately, a quoted snippet has been taken woefully out of context by many other media outlets.

"...I'm not in the mood for that."

And ran with it they did. Esquire laments about Martin messing with his fans by not finishing the series.

I find myself a little irritated with George. As a reader, it's been fourteen years since A Dance with Dragons came out. I hate it when an author doesn't finish a series. So yes, I totally get that anger and disappointment from the fans.

On the other hand, I understand as a writer sometimes life gets in the way. It certainly did over the last six years of my life. The COVID-19 pandemic, the deaths of parents, breast cancer still being treated, the Genius Kid getting deployed and Grandpuppy moving in with us, assisting a cousin with estate planning, and the list goes on.

Not once did I not feel like writing! Even during the two-plus-year gap between A Hint of Thief and A Cup of Conflict, I was writing. Just not very fast. Frankly, I was doing good some days to get a sentence or two written before I dropped in my bed, totally exhausted. And yes, there were some days I worked on a light and fluffy story because my days were depressing enough that I couldn't work on anything deep and juicy without crying.

As a I told a reader who asked when "Coming Soon" will be for A Barrel of Vintner, I told her I always mean it when I'm working on a book, but I don't know what or when the Great God Murphy will drop another life roll on my head.

For example, GK is getting promoted to sergeant soon, and DH and I want to attend, but it's a day-long drive one-way to another state. A close relative contacted me about staying with her for a major surgery that's coming up. And I promised my cousin I'd drive her around to visit assisted living places later this summer.

That's while editing the one book that's completed and writing nine other novels before December 31st.

So I'm pleading to you Murphy, GIVE ME ONE DAMN BREAK!

As for A Song of Ice and Fire, fourteen years is an awfully long time to wait for the next book. And part of the problem I believe is George is overthinking his story. It doesn't help that the show-runners for Game of Thrones didn't stick the landing of the finale in the fans' view. So, George is probably putting so much pressure on himself to stick that landing that he ran head-first into the balance beam of his own ego.

So I do get why he's working on other projects. There's not so much pressure internally and from the fans to perform. But, George, if you're listening, maybe you need to just let the project go. Sure, you'll get some blowback, but honesty to your readers is much better than saying, "I'm not in the mood for that."

The Long, Sad Week

Yeah, I know. It's only Wednesday.

I've already been to one funeral this week. There was a four-hour support call to a relative who's having a very rough time. Unfortunately, it won't get better. But they still have their mental health. So do I despite my various health issues.

Which leads me to the current POTUS.

I don't agree with his policies, his beliefs, or his constant need for attention no matter who he hurts.

I do believe in universal karma, and...

I find myself pitying the POTUS because his roosters have come home to roost.

I believe he's getting IV infusions of some kind. I recognize the bruises on his hands despite the makeup. Both DH and I have suffered from blown veins in our hands. They're ugly and painful. But they do heal eventually. But POTUS's aren't or are happening very frequently. That's a lot of blown veins.

The other possibility is the POTUS is on blood thinners. My friends and family who are on them bruise easily. Very easily. The question becomes what other bruises are his baggy suits hiding.

Then there's the cankles. I'm not making fun of him. I've had cankles when I suffered from congestive heart failure back in the '10's. (Needless to say, "I'm feeling MUCH better now.") The fluid retention put extreme pressure on my bones, muscles, etc., while stretching my skin. It was down-right, fucking painful! It also explains his awkward gait.

And finally, POTUS's public speaking has become more disjointed with longer lapses and forgetfulness. And again, I'm not making fun of him. Dementia stole one of my grandmothers. She taught me so many practical skills over the years. We watched Days of Our Lives together over pizza. And I drove to the East Coast to her to visit her brothers.

Also, I watched a good family friend, a literal genius engineer, fade as dementia took him from us. I'll always love him for visiting DH every single morning while DH was hospitalized for caner. Our friend's funeral is on Saturday.

Like I said, a very long, sad week.

But no one is really caring for POTUS. At a time when he should have family caring for him and enjoying his company while they still can, he's propped up in public. Nothing more than a meat puppet for the people more interested in the power he represents than the man himself. He's reaping the lack of care he gave to his family when they needed it. Like I said, I believe in karma.

And she's in a very bitchy mood.

Too Much

Despite some delays, the SAVE Act is now in the U.S. Senate. What is the SAVE Act? The purpose is to disenfranchise women voters. Basically, if you took your husband's name, you'll need a passport ($$$$) or your birth certificate to vote. And guess what? If the name on your birth certificate doesn't match the name on your photo ID, you're fucked.

Almost exactly a year ago, a friend asked if I thought the U.S. would become fascist. I said, "We already are."

The U.S. government is proving it nearly every day. Between kidnapping and shooting people in the streets to going all out to stop the 2026 mid-terms, more rules have been enacted while other rules are ignored at the current despot's whim.

Call your senators and demand they vote no on the SAVE Act now! Because the current fascist regime is not going to stop until everyone loses their right to vote.

Here's the list of phone numbers for the U.S. Senate! If you don't know your senators, look for your state in the next column after their names.

Music I've Been Listening to Lately

I need some good girl-power anthems in these troubled times!

Partners in White

This could have been our dogs!

Another Day, Another Two Thousand Words

It might technically be a holiday in the U.S., but there's no rest for a writer trying to finish a book!

DH and I had our Valentine's dinner on the 13th because my tolerance for crowds is waning. The emotional bombardment overwhelms me. So we had a quiet dinner at his favorite restaurant before we cat-sat for the niece's feline Miss M.

The rest of the weekend was spent writing and some heavy-duty editing in between watching the Winter Olympics.

"Editing?" you ask. "But the book's not done yet!"

Believe me, I know the book's not done. I was so focused on Anthea's side of the story that I dropped a subplot involving Luc. And that subplot has some very important ramifications for the next two novels.

So yes, I went back to the beginning to make sure those elements are inserted where they need to be. Which is what I've been doing for the entire last week.

Between all the adding, changing, and "killing my darlings", I've hit a net wordcount of 75K. Yeah, I think this book is going to be way longer than anticipated.

On the plus side of all that work is what I hope is a tense, hold-on-to-your-butts story that will knock the reader's socks off!

And I need to get started on this holiday Monday... 

Music I've Been Listening to Lately

No introduction needed!

Thank God It's Friday!

But not Joe Friday!

Guess you need to be a Boomer or older GenX to get that joke.

Anyway...

It's been a bit of a crazy week. Taxes were completed, filed, and...

Can you believe DH and I already got our refund back? It shocked the crap out of both of us. It means the IRS is rubberstamping returns, and I really, REALLY hope that doesn't  come back to bite us in the butt once the current fascist regime is, um, gone. (I was about to say "overthrown", but I know some asshat or Google itself will report me as unpatriotic.)

Tuesday I jumped back into A Barrel of Vintner, only to realize I'd dropped two subplots that need to be woven in since they relate to the last two novels. Once I finished cursing myself, I started cycling back through to add the text needed and straighten out some issues with this story's timeline. So, if you check the word count on the reader blog, it will be lower than usual because I was doing a lot of editing as I went through the chapters. Which is fine because it means less work when I do the actual copyedits.

Then I went out to dinner with DH and some of his old friends. They get together once a month at my favorite restaurant in town. Usually it's an enjoyable hour or two. This time however, I discovered just how bigoted they are. One person was complaining about one of their children cutting off contact with her. The truth is that the child (who is in their 30's) in question is non-binary and the person cannot accept the child as they are. While everyone else was cooing about how the child will come around, I nearly bit through my tongue to keep from telling the person how hurtful they were being to their child. Luckily, I kept it to one margarita, or else I probably would have unloaded on the person.

On the way home, I told DH I probably wouldn't go with him to another one of these dinners. There's a couple of his friends I really like, but it's not worth hearing someone who sounds just like my own mother getting all self-righteous. There's not enough tequila in the world to trade for my peace and sanity. *sigh*

I've managed to attend yoga class three days this week. My body isn't sure whether to thank me or curse me. Why? Because every time we have a weather front come through, my knees complain. Rather loudly, too.

On the other hand, Ohio's February fake spring arrived, and it has melted a good chunk of the 13+ inches of snow on the ground. Hopefully, the weather stays sunny and nice over the weekend so the pups can get some outdoor exercise. We haven't been able to take walks or play for fear of frostbite because it's been that effing cold for the last four weeks.

Today, I need to pay bills and make out a grocery list since it's the middle of the month. Tonight is an early Valentine's celebration and catsitting. The rest of the weekend will be cleaning the house interspersed with watching the Winter Olympics.

And I need to finish cycling through the last ten chapters I wrote. 

So what about you guys? Any big plans for the weekend, or are you just relaxing?

The Return of Latin Rhythms

I don't give a flip about the fake culture war certain assholes are trying to create. Latin music is back, baby!

None of the white nationalists want to admit Latin rhythms have influenced pop music for decades. My friend and I danced to Santana, Menudo, Gloria Estaban and the Miami Sound Machine in the '80s.

Then, there was a surge in the late 90's and early 00's with Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, and so many others. Those tunes were especially significant to me. While I was pregnant with Genius Kid, all I had to do was find a radio station playing Marc Antony, and GK would boogie like nobody's business!

You can ask my OB/GYN and her nurses. I was getting an ultrasound. GK was perfectly still until "I Need to Know" started playing on the exam room's speakers. My doctor said, "Wow, he's active! Did he just wake up?" I pointed at the overhead speaker. "No, he loves Marc Antony!"

And when he was a toddler, we danced in the living room to Ricky Martin's "La Copa De La Vida" and Los Del Rio's "Macarena". Yep, my little boy loved Latin music.

Or he did until the other kids at school teased him unmercifully for being a white kid who appreciated Latin music and culture. *sigh*

And I don't care what anyone says. Bad Bunny's half-time show last night was fucking spectacular! If you missed it or want to see it again, I posted the link below.

Because Benito is right. We are all America. 

Super Bowl LX Half-time Show starring Bad Bunny

Music I've Been Listening to Lately

Let's turn a little Todrick into a little Taylor...