Your Creepy Song of the Day

Snippet of the Day

This is from "Playing with Fire" subbed for the Undead Erotica anthology from Renaissance E-books.

Definitely not work-safe.

There were definite advantages to being already dead, Rick decided as he cooled his heels in a back booth of the 99 Fine Club, waiting to see Sterling. Namely, when his demonic boss killed him, he would wake back up after a few hours.

There were drawbacks too, especially the little point that his death certificate had already been filed when he woke up after the motorcycle crash back in '81. When the I-9 form had been required for employment, starting in '86, there was no getting a job without a Social Security card and a driver's license. Rick had the latter. But the Social Security Administration, in a rare fit of unwonted competence, had realized Richard G. Jax was dead and refused the card.

So, he stripped. Club owners didn't care if he was legal, as long as he showed up regularly and sober, and they paid cash. He blessed his good luck to have died at twenty-three. The tips kept him living in a cheap residential motel and eating off the hotplate. The main difference, as far as he could tell, between being alive and being undead was that he couldn't die or be killed and that breathing wasn't an autonomic function anymore, although it was still a necessity. He sometimes forgot, even after twenty-five years, and went lightheaded.
( not work safe and VERY graphic )

Whoot!

I figured out what to do with "Long-Term."

You see, when all three beta readers say, "I'm not buying it," it's a pretty good indication you've got a dog on your hands. And when they all have the same problem, you know where to fix it.

So, I have to rearrange the grocery store bit. The clerk can still give him something of a hard time, nothing obvious. Just vanishing when he needs help or that sort of thing. Driving past him on the street a little too slowly, and maybe a little too often (could be his imagination). And he's still in charge of the group that jumps them.

I'm also thinking about having more of Ian's journal entries...

MIxed review for Sky-rat

http://www.rainbow-reviews.com/?p=7601

I feel the criticism is justified.
But a good comment that makes me glow: "The opening scenes bring up some of the problematic elements about steampunk ~ race, class, economics ~ which I would love to see more of..."
And yes, I wish I had done more with that.

Thoughts on Next Year

Yes, I know there are still 9 weeks left of 2010. But I'm planning early.
There are going to be vacation and funding issues. And if I don't plan ahead, I'll go broke.

Bold are the ones I am for sure doing.

ShadowCon: Jan 7-8. Memphis. I'm going to this as a solo dealer. I need to find my "Your Heart's Desire" banner. I will have books, BPAL imps, wooden boxes and some other crafts. $35, plus gas, no hotel as not staying the night,

Jan 14, 2011: Steamposium, St. Louis. Dunno. It could be fun. But it's 300 miles. And I have no idea what it costs.

Feb 12, Horrror con, Nashville. Not sure. It's 200 miles and I don't know who else is going. Also, Mudd's birthday.

Feb 19-21 Conflation St Louis. I want to go to this! Room dealing is a fave rave. $30, plus $70/room (shared)

MidSouth Con: March 25-27, Memphis. My home con. I'm a guest and up for the Darrell for both novel and novella. $85/night hotel (split)

April 15, 2011: Daughters of the Moon. Women's retreat. Giving this consideration. Still meditating on being pagan. $35

Outlanta Con May 13-15 Atlanta. I'm a guest for this and have a minion badge for Bun, a reduced hotel rate ($93+tax/night ordinarily) and a dealer table. This is going to get pricy. Taking passengers and roommates. Julia Rios, I know you're on my flist and have forgotten your LJ name. Need a roommate? I'm quiet, don't smoke, drink in moderation (1-2) and am an early riser, requiring 4 hours of sleep.

Hypericon, June 3-5, Nashville. I enjoy this one. Maybe I can get a guest slot this year?  $40 reg/hotel

DuckCon June 17-19, Naperville IL. Probably not. It's over 500 miles. And no family to see. I've been asked to be a guest, but it's just too far.

FandomFest July 29-31, Louisville KY. Yes. Committed to guest status already. Trying to talk nbrooks into joining me for this one.

DragonCon, Labor Day. Atlanta. MAYBE. Big maybe. It's expensive and a long drive. But the AltHist track wants me back for a couple panels. And I've written other track heads about it. $100 registration, $100 room, food, gas, $20 parking. Taking roommates and passengers.

Archon, Oct 1, St. Louis. Probably. Again, will see if I can get a guest slot. Mom's looking forward to it. She wants to get in early, sort out the panels and plan her con. I have a convert. 8)  $50 reg, 7 gallons gas,

RomantiCon. Akron OH. This is apparently the only way I'll ever get a print book out of EC, so I think I'm going. And I told Naomi I'd pay, since I'm the one who works. This is going to be the big expensive one. $225/a head, 99/night hotel room. So, for Naomi and me, $650, plus tax. Not to mention getting to Toledo (700 miles) and then to Akron (136 miles). Figure $120 in gasoline. How about $1000, up front, and three vacation days. That's about half of what I make in a year writing. All the royalty checks, no matter how big or small, go into this fund.

ConTraception, KC. Probably. This one is great fun and I like the chance to see friends up there. $50 reg. 

If I do everything, I could spend a couple grand this year on conventions alone. And that's without buying any book stock.
*sigh* definitely time to prioritize.

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