Collaboration

col·lab·o·rate–verb (used without object),-rat·ed, -rat·ing.

1.to work, one with another; cooperate, as on a literary work: They collaborated on a novel.

2.to cooperate, usually willingly, with an enemy nation, esp. with an enemy occupying one's country: He collaborated with the Nazis during World War II.

Does anyone else see anything ironic here? In any case, it has been a while since I have collaborated with someone on a writing effort. Let's do a story chain and see where our imagination takes us. Hopefully the result will be more like the example for #1 and not #2.

A woman, hampered by age and the many ailments that accompany it, hobbled down the sidewalk. Her slow gait almost got her devoured by the throng of the busy city several times, but she perservered, clutching the large black bag she carried tightly to her side...

Spring Break!!

If all goes well I am heading to Sacramento tonight to a signing for the US release of "I Am Not A Serial Killer" by Dan Wells. Not my favorite book because I don't do scary fiction. Only outdone on my NOT favorite-but I loved it-list by Mr. Monster. Both excellent books!!
This is the UK cover because the US cover has blood on it. Along with scary fiction, I also don't do blood.

I like Dan's writing very much and you will have heard from other Inkers that the books are great.
So enough about them. Can't wait to see Sacramento. Never seen more than the highway there. The Scarlet Tart aka Lene and I are going to the signing. Yep, that's right I packed up my 3 kids and the family dog for a visit to Reno. What else am I supposed to do for Spring Break? Daytona is too crowded.

On a completely different subject please check out my book review today on my other blog (click here). It's a good one...the book, not the review. To say the review is good would be too much like boasting for a modest mom like me.

Good Samaritans

I don't know about you guys, but I've heard some pretty awesome stories in the news lately. Here are two examples:

The owner of Wish Farms in Plant City, Florida.

And the second is this story.

Take a minute to read both articles and see if you can find a similarity. Personally, I think it is refreshing to know that in spite of all the horrible things that happen every day, there are still people out in the world who are trying to do what is right. Both articles are short. Not a lot of time is spent dwelling on the good deeds these men have done. But, their examples inspire and leave a lasting impression on the heart. What a great way to commemorate Easter!

Just Breathe

On Thursday, Donna mentioned the two of us retreated for the weekend to write. She also kindly mentioned I would be accountable to post on it today :)

Well, I am glad to report that Donna and I had a successful writing/editing weekend.

The retreat was good. Sometimes life gets a bit crazy (can I get an amen?), and the small things seem bigger than they are. In the words of Carrie Underwood:

"It's so easy to get lost inside

A problem that seems so big at the time

It's like a river that's so wide

It swallows you whole

When you're sitting around thinking 'bout what you can't change

And worrying about all the wrong things

Times flying by

Moving so fast

You better make it count 'cause you can't get it back."

I needed to make my time count. The busyness of life had taken hold and I needed a breather. And now I'm back, feeling great and ready to take on the world. Look out Storymakers. I'm ready!

Alter Egos

This week I found myself emphathizing with Dr. Bruce Banner as I struggled to keep my inner emotional Hulk under wraps when someone pushed my buttons one too many times. Normally I am as mild-mannered as Dr. Banner, but certain behavior riles me to the point of gigantic, green, clothes-ripping madness. I wished I could unleash all the strength of my true feelings upon this person and give them a serious smackdown, then blame it on my alter ego who I have no control over.

Alas, I do not have said alter ego, but it got me to thinking about some well-known alter egos; Bruce Wayne/Batman, Peter Parker/Spiderman, Clark Kent/Superman, etc. These comic heros have been done and redone so many times. I think it's time to see some new alter ego creations. Anyone up for the challenge?

Hopefully my nemesis will back off a little next week so the Hulk will stay dormant. As the comic says, "The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets." So there.

Oh yeah, and Happy Easter everybody. :)

Engaging the Enemy, by Elizabeth Moon

Open war has seized the galaxy as an organized syndicate of pirates attacks and overwhelms a planetary system--proving that the Vatta family aren't the only targets in these aggressors' crosshairs.

Kylara Vatta and the two crews of the two Vatta ships she's managed to recapture must find allies in order to preserve their safety in this perilous time. With heavy resistance from potential ally and foe alike, will Kylara and her comrades be able to stop the threat in time?

Elizabeth Moon's third installment in the Vatta War series takes the series on the offensive, whereas up to this point the Vattas have been on the defensive, struggling to remain alive.

Additional crew members are added to the story, some gunners for the new Vatta warship, an executive officer to help Stella Vatta command the Gary Tobai, and a few others. Also, as Ky seeks out allies in forming a privateer coalition, we see some interesting characters thrown into the mix.

The pacing starts out a little slow, with Moon's typical day-to-day narrative: the Vattas getting supplies and new crew, disputing with local authorities about her newly acquired ship (see Marque and Reprisal, book 2, for details, since I don't want to spoil anything), etc. But these details have been one of the enjoyable aspects of Moon's writing. It's not always from one conflict to the next--there's actual life going on in her stories.

Around midpoint on, the momentum escalates toward a very satisfying, very harrowing ending--setting the stage for the rest of the series.

Aunt Grace has an important subplot in the novel, as she helps the few Vatta survivors back on Slotter Key. Assassins have been sent to finish the job they started, and she must draw on all her black ops training to keep her sister-in-law and niece and nephew safe from the destroyer. Also, she makes arrangements to take the trouble to those who had sold the Vattas to their enemies.

The story is an impressive addition to the series, and I'm looking forward to jumping into the next book, Command Decision.


Engaging the Enemy, by Elizabeth Moon. Del-Rey. 2006. 416 pp. $7.99 (PB).


Vatta War Series:

1. Trading in Danger
2. Marque and Reprisal
3. Engaging the Enemy
4. Command Decision
5. Victory Conditions

RETREAT!!!

That's it. I've had it. Life is just too darn crazy and I'll never get me rewrite finished in time for Storymakers at the end of the month if I don't fall back and huncker down with my computer.
SO I'm retreating to a mountain condo this weekend with my good friend and fellow Inker, Debbie, who is also going to finish her book.
So much for standing and fighting. For a writer at least sometimes its better to just RETREAT!
We'll let you know our awesome progress next week. Deb posts on Monday. How's that for accountability?