Busy Night

Okay, first... is this a great picture, or what? That's a cicada, just out of his shell, so to speak. Russ found him and came and got me. I love this shot!

I know I've been lax here for a while, but I was ill, and then I was busy, and then I was ill and busy... and I pretty much ran out of all energy. I thought I was past the worst of it until the afternoon of the third, when I leaned over to clean the cat litter and felt something go 'rip' through my lower back. Oh my, did that hurt. And I said things that even sent the cats running. I somehow managed not to fall -- lucky for me, considering the job I was doing -- and hobbled into the office, and then finally to bed. It's been five days and it still hurts, but today I could finally stand up straight, cook dinner, do some dishes, and generally get on with life.

Yay!

In fact, for the last two days I really got back to life the way it should be. I pointed out that I've fallen behind on submissions, something that really bothers me since I've kept it up for ten years. Russ suggested that I rewrite two short stories and get them out this weekend. And you know what? It worked. I pulled three stories up (Yeah, yeah, always overachieve when it comes to writing) and started rewriting. They were basically good ideas with bad development. I worked on nothing but those stories for the last two days and I'm printing out one of them now. Cover letters are done, SASE is ready for the first one, and tomorrow they will go off into the mail. Or Monday.

Ah! First one done! Stolen Moments is ready to wing its way to Asimov's! It is all nestled away in its nice little envelope. I never fully believe that the stories will sell, but you know, it's still exciting to get them all ready and allow myself a little whisper of hope that this one might the right one. It's a good story. I don't know that it's right for Asimov's, but I'll try anyway.

Even more daring, I've got one to go to Analog this time. Oh yes, and the other will go to Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine. Might as well do the big three all at once. F&SF is a fast turn around.

I'm printing out Tanon for F&SF now.

I'm not certain the last time I thought I had anything even remotely right for Analog. That is, by far, the hardest of the three to break into because of the tech side of the stories. I write adventure SF, and while those stories can (and usually do) rely on some tech, it's not enough to fall into their work.

But this one... well, we'll see.

Okay, it's later now. I've printed off two stories, and then I made myself do the final edit on a preface and first chapter that I needed to send off to a publisher who had asked for a chapter. It took me too long to get it done because of being so ill. I didn't even realize how ill I'd been until I got better again.

I sent the stuff off through the email. We'll see if he likes it or not.

I guess it's my night to be daring, although I made such an odd noise after I hit send on that email that I startled cats. But it's done and gone, and that's good.

You know, this has been a fun night. A shame it's already 3:36 am!