Progress!
Current mood: happy
Category: Writing and Poetry

One of the things that's kept me from getting going with novel number three is that I need to get my head around what already happened in the first two books, what plot threads I left hanging, who's still alive, and so on.

Somewhere I heard/read about the concept of a "story bible" where one keeps all this info. Sure, I had a character/entity database and my notes on plots, and some chapter synopses, but I didn't have it all in one place. And so I embarked on created a "Story Guide."

Today I finished entering all the information for Darksome Thirst (see http://www.morvenwestfield.com/books.shtml for more details)!

It was a really good exercise in that I am now remembering some directions I wanted to take in later books that I totally forgot about.

Next, I have to do the same for my second book, The Old Power Returns, but I think that will go much quicker because I have the guide set up and have description of most of the major characters. Of course, they'll need updating, but that should be easy.

I've been feeling guilty lately that I've been spending too much time on promotional activities like podcasting and attending conventions, so this makes me feel really good.

Woo hoo!

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In the news...
Current mood: sarky

Apparently Jesse Helms died today. So did Bozo the Clown.

Same person?

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Post-vacation catchup...
Current mood: accomplished

Still trying to catch up post-vacation. Managed to get a podcast out tonight, though it's not what I hoped for. I wanted to add music and do a little longer episode, but I knew that if I took the time to try to figure *that* out, I'd never get it out today, which was one of my firm goals this weekend. At least I'll be going to bed feeling a little bit better about that out-of-control To Do list.

This Friday (July 4) is Independence Day in the U.S. No plans to do anything special this year, so maybe I can catch up some more over the long weekend.

Hope your summer's going well. I can't believe we're into July on Tuesday!

Morven

(P.S. The podcast is at http://podcast.morvenwestfield.com)

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Anthology Acceptance
Current mood: happy
Category: Writing and Poetry

In a previous post, I said that when I got back from vacation, I expected that I'd have some very good news to announce: acceptance into TWO anthologies that are really cool. I've got the final okay from one of them!

My flash fiction story "Metaphorically Speaking" has been accepted into the NORTHERN HAUNTS anthology to be published by Shroud Pulblishing (http://www.shroudmagazine.com) of New Hampshire.

"Flash fiction" is a type of short story that is very short. Often 1,000 words or less, it tells a story quickly, and often with more punch, than a traditional short story, which is often between 2,000 and 10,000 words. These word counts are general, since there are no exact rules, with publishers and editors setting their own limits for specific projects.  For NORTHERN HAUNTS, the limit was 700 words.

Described as "100 Terrifying New England Tales to Tell Around a Campfire," this anthology will feature "original tales of ghosts, creatures, mad men, and other horrifying mysteries" and "each story is told in the first person so that you can employ NORTHERN HAUNTS as a fireside ghost story reference book."

It's being produced as a hardback and proceeds from sales will be donated to the American Cancer Society.  Having lost my mother and aunts and cousins on both side of the family to cancer, I'm especially pleased to be a part of this project.

I don't know the exact publication date yet, but as soon as I do, I'll let you know.

For more information (or to pre-order), see http://www.shroudmagazine.com/northern-haunts--100-terrifying-new-england-ta100.html

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News, news, news
Current mood: busy
Category: Writing and Poetry

I'm still waiting for the contracts, but it looks like when I get back from vacation, I'll have some very good news to announce: acceptance into TWO anthologies that are really cool! I don't like to announce these things until I see the paperwork, though, so stay tuned.

Even more good news. You know that I'm working on my third novel. It occurred to me that I need to know my main character's astrological sign, but she's a composite character, made up of different people or aspects of people I've known.  I found the perfect solution: I had internationally-known astrologer Dikki Jo Mullen, who writes for The Witches' Almanac, to do her chart! I'm going to be doing a contest to see if people can guess Alicia's sun, rising, and moon signs. So, study up!

And finally, I'm making a little headway on my maiden voyage into podcasting. I still need to do a lot of tweaking, including adding music and designing a logo, but at least I have a couple of short episodes of Vampires, Witches, & Geeks posted at morvenwestfield.podbean.com

Gotta go pack for vacation. Have a good week.

Morven

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WisCon
Current mood: busy
Category: Writing and Poetry

Last weekend I went to WisCon, the premier feminist science fiction convention, held in Madison, WI.

The con was great, but, alas, it seems to have been hit by an unspecified gastrointestinal virus. Bets are that it was norovirus, also called Norwalk Virus and Cruise Ship virus. Bloggers on LiveJournal have been calling it Con Crud, Creeping Crud, The Plague, or (and this is my favorite) WisCholera.

The hotel and the convention staff were, in my humble opinion, excellent during the whole ordeal. This is just one of those things that happens, and they responded as best they could.

Knock on wood, I'm fine, but I'll be washing my hands like a maniac for three weeks just to be sure. Keeping up with the news about the virus, unpacking, laundry, and deadlines at the day job, though, have put me a little behind schedule.

I hope to get back to regular blogging soon, but in the meantime, here are some links to amuse you. The estimate of 50 convention-goers seems to me to be conservative. Many who were hit with the virus were so sick that they didn't surface again for days and didn't know that the convention and hotel were asking them to fill out a questionnaire about the illness. There were quite a few, too, who didn't get sick until Tuesday or Wednesday. Some convention-goers are estimating the real toll to be upwards of 100.

Here are the links:

http://www.channel3000.com/health/16407944/detail.html
Officials Investigate As 50 People Fall Ill At Weekend Convention
General Manager Says Sickness Didn't Come From Hotel Food

http://www.channel3000.com/news/16417444/detail.html
Health Officials: Some Conventioneers Incubating Illness Before Hotel Visit
Cause Of Ailment Is Unknown

http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/wsj/2008/05/29/0805290262.php
Public Health Officials Test Ill Sci-fi Fans
Wisconsin State Journal
Thursday, May 29, 2008

And here's one totally unrelated to WisCon, but that puts the whole thing in perspective because it had much bigger numbers and it's from the UK.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article3176710.ece
January 12, 2008
Norovirus reaches epidemic levels
Brendan Montague, The Sunday Times

So, don't go thinking the hotel or the con are bad news. Norovirus happens. And in more places than Wisconsin.

Stay well, and remember to wash your hands after using the toilet!

Morven

Currently listening : Bonfire Dreaming By Jay Atwood Release date: 2006-03-17

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Things are getting busy
Current mood: tired
Category: Writing and Poetry

Though I titled this post as "Things are getting busy," the first thing I have to say is that I just finished watching "The Fearless Vampire Killers" (1967). Interesting. Love the scenery.

I also cleaned out the garage, planted some annuals, and worked on my series "bible" this week. That last accomplishment is important because I need to remember what happened and what plot threads I left open before I start Book 3, which I hope to do soon.

Had a book signing at Pandemonium Books in Cambridge last weekend (http://www.pandemoniumbooks.com/). It was the first time I'd been to the new place. Wish I was a gamer, especially a tabletop gamer. They have such a cool setup there: a complete floor with areas for games and alcoves for privacy, and still a place for us writers.

Pandemonium is mosly SF and games, so the New England Horror Writers weren't a big draw, but we still had a lot of traffic and a great time getting to see each other. If you couldn't make the signing, my books are now available at Pandemonium. They're signed, too.

The next big event is WisCon in Madision, Wisconsin. (http://www.wiscon.info/).  It's my first time and already I'm wishing I booked an earlier flight out and a later flight home. Should be interesting.

Bedtime beckons. Have been having interesting dreams lately, and I'm looking forward to having more.

Pleasant nightmares ;-)

Morven

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What I’ve Been Reading
Current mood: thoughtful
Category: Writing and Poetry

To be a good writer, you need to write -- and read. Not hard to do, since most writers seem to enjoy reading.

The last four books I've read are more or less related to the subject matter of my books. I've read two vampire novels, one autobiography of a witch, and a non-fiction book on ghosts in Massachusetts.

The Vampire Tapestry, by Suzy McKee Charnas, is an oldie. The paperback edition that I found at a book swap is dated 1980. It's an extremely well-written tale of a college professor who is also a vampire, a fangless vampire, which is interesting because the vampire in the other vampire book I just finished, Mortal Touch, by Inanna Arthen, is also a fangless vamp.

Still, the vampires and their stories are completely different, utterly fascinating, and engaging. I highly recommend both, especially for those who enjoy different takes on the vampire mythos. (Note: The Vampire Tapestry is currently out of print, but I noticed on Amazon that there'll be a new version in August and they're accepting pre-orders.)

Mortal Touch is part of Arthen's "The Vampires of New England Series," which is a cool coincidence because both of my vampire novels are set in Massachusetts! Hers is set in what I think they're calling the "south coast" these days -- near the Fall River/New Bedford area, I think, but mine are set in a thinly disguised Framingham.

The autobiography I just finished is Fire Child by Maxine Sanders. It's a fascinating book by the ex-wife of British witch Alex Sanders, who, in the late 60s and early 70s founded a tradition of witchcraft still practiced today. Read the reviews and comments on Amazon.com for the details, but this was a fascinating and heart-rending read.

Finally, the last book I finished recently was Haunted Massachusetts by Thomas D'Agostino. As I filed it in my bookshelf, I realized I already had a book called Haunted Massachusetts, but that turns out to be Haunted Massachusetts: Ghosts and Strange Phenomena of the Bay State by Cheri Revai. Both books are organized geographically, but D'Agostino organizes by town name, whereas Revai organizes by region (Western Massachusetts, Central Massachusetts, and so on). Both books have loads of information. D'Agostino gives directions, where possible, along with photos.

Speaking of hauntings, I was just visiting the forum at http://www.pretty-scary.net and a forum member posted this link to haunted dolls:

http://www.hauntedamericatours.com/museum/REALHAUNTEDDOLLS.htm

Kewl, huh?

Well, back to writing.

Morven

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Morven does her own podcast... sort of
Current mood: pleased
Category: Writing and Poetry

I suppose I can call it a podcast. I've done only one, but I plan to put at least two more up there.

I've been doing public readings of excerpts from my novels and always thought it'd be cool to put one of the excerpts up on the web. Over the weekend I listened to a couple of recordings of the readings and realized that it would be quicker to re-record than to clean up the recordings I had.

So, check it out my first attempt, a reading from The Old Power Returns, online at

http://morvenwestfield.podbean.com

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Lunacon: Broad Universe Reading
Category: Writing and Poetry

How could I forget to mention this? On Saturday night, I participated in a "rapid-fire reading" with other members of Broad Universe.

I always enjoy participating, as I might have said before, because I get to listen to the others’ readings while I wait for my turn. This time, just because of where I was sitting, I was the last to read, so I got to hear some interesting readings. 

First up was April Gray, reading from her very funny, "I’ll love ya forever, but..." story of a woman whose husband shambles back from the grave -- and onto the white shag carpet. 

Phoebe Wray read a selection from her just-released novel Jemma7729, a story of the future where an independent spirit rebels against a controlling State. In Phoebe’s reading, Jemma sees the stars in the sky at night, stars she had been led to believe didn’t exist anymore. 

Racheline Maltese, whose Harry Potter trivia book was released in November, read next. (At this point I was starting to get jittery because I was up next, so I forgot to write down the name of what she read -- will get that info and update this later. Sorry, Racheline!)

Finally it was my turn. I read a scene from The Old Power Returns in which Frederick, the vampire, has promised his girlfriend that he’ll go bowling with her and decides to practice. Bowling? A vampire? Yup! It’s both funny and touching and I enjoy reading it. I tried to record my reading, as I did another time I read it. One of these days I’ll listen to the two recordings and try to get at least a short excerpt posted.

Well, time to start winding down for bed. Hope you all had a good weekend and have a great week ahead,

Morven

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