The Journal of Michael Merriam

I'm listening to a live stream of the Newport Folk Festival. I just heard Andrew Bird do a set with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Excellent stuff.

I have finished the draft of the untitled monster-hunting barista novel. It clocked in at 68,000 words, which might be a little thin. I'm glad to be done with this one, and ready to start working on other things.

Had an author's online meeting with the editorial and marketing staff at Carina Press. All of Harlequin is behind the launch of this line. I need to set up an author's page at e-Harlequin. I am bemused that I set out to write a near-future Urban Fantasy and ended up with Paranormal Romance. The working title, "Should We Drown In Feathered Sleep," will probably not survive, but I'm okay with changing it to something marketing thinks will appeal more to the target audience.

I keep pulling out and petting my copies of The Horror At Cold Springs. I am a little boggled that I'll have two stand-alone novellas published this year. Now to sell a novel.

Met with the The Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers last weekend to talk about the Northern Lights: 20 MinnSpec Tales anthology. Several members did not know the extended history of this project (it was first proposed in 2007). There were a few moments of "Michael squirms in his chair" as I took questions from writers I had rejected. Next weekend I will be presenting at MinnSpec again, this time with cloudscudding and Conrad Zero on social networking for authors.

I sat down today and worked out what needs to be done in order to salvage "Dark Water Blues." I can fix this, though it will mean some serious rewriting. I also realized I only have eight pieces of short fiction out right now, which is a low number for me. Turning more and more of my writing attention to novels has cut into the number of short stories I have in progress, though there are a couple of WiPs I'm excited about.

On the home front, we’ve been hit with several larger repairs lately: a new compressor for the AC in careswen's car, and heating elements for both the dryer and hot water heater. On the positive side, The Reverend Selena seems to be pretty much back to normal, though she still get IV fluids twice a week to help her ailing kidneys. Had wonderful and successful birthday parties for both careswen and greykev and went to dlandon's dance recital, which was a joy to watch.

Preparation for attending 4th Street Fantasy Convention, CONvergence, and possibly Diversicon are starting to rev up. I updated my website, mostly the bibliography page. I am looking forward to seeing everyone. I really need to spend quality time practicing with my bass guitar before music circles at these cons.

Big Update Done!

buying an inexpensive acoustic-electric bass guitar, something I could take to the music circles at Minicon, 4th Street, and other things of that type. I don't plan on playing professionally ever again (mostly because I like my weekends), but it might be fun to get back to being a solid, competent hobbyist.

1. Helped throw greykev a birthday party this weekend. It was good, and I think he had a great time. Pizza and hoagies were consumed, pictures taken, and games played. My only regret was that I did not get a chance to spend enough time with everyone at the party!

2. I have a Dreamwidth account (http://mmerriam.dreamwidth.org/). I plan to use it as a mirror of my Live Journal, and signed up mostly to squat on my handle and to have it in case LJ goes kablooey for some stupid reason. Feel free to follow me over there or here, which ever works for you.

3. I finished the second-to-last chapter of Rija's Tale last week. I know where it's going, so it's just a matter of making time this week and next to finish the first draft. I'm ready to be done with this novel, though I'm still enjoying it. Especially the part where Rija threatens to cut off someone's ear and they pass out.

4. My washing machine is making a weird, unfortunate noise. I've got my fingers crossed it will continue to hold together a little longer.

5. Finally, most you know how much I like singers Neko Case, Lucinda Williams, Cat Power, Mindy Smith, and Kathleen Edwards, so why didn't any of you point me at Jolie Holland?

This one always get me in the holiday spirit!



Sleigh Ride - Squirrel Nut Zippers

But a good one so far.  We ventured out to the Acadia Café last night for the release of Lojo Russo's  new CD.  Great music, good enough food and beer, and it was great fun to see lots of other folks I know, including minnehaha K&B.  The one bad part was that somehow I managed to lose my glasses from the pocket of my jacket. Fortunately, they turned up and are waiting for me to pick up at the café.

Today I had the program brainstorming session for CONvergence.  I managed to not get talked into being a programming sub-head, pleading that I had enough volunteer work as the convention coordinator and liaison for the Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers.  It was fun session, and I'm glad I took part, doing what I can to make sure CONvergence has a solid track of literary programming this year. 

And speaking of MinnSpec, tomorrow we have a meeting with local writers group The Wyrdsmiths as our guest speakers.  I'm looking forward to it.  I think I'll leave early, go pick up my glasses at Acadia, have a little breakfast, and then head for the meeting.

I think I'll be focused on short fiction for the rest of the year, with time set aside to do rewrites on Dark Water Blues. So far this year I've completely rewritten one novel, finished another in first draft, and written about 24,000 words on a third novel that I might pick back up later. Add in a novella and a couple of novelettes, and I think I'm ready to focus on some shorter stuff.

Really, it's not like I don't have a whole gaggle of possible short pieces waiting their turn. I'm especially keen to work on "Fourth Dimensional Pony in the Concourse of the Lost" and "Zombies for Christ!" I have several other strong contenders once I'm done with those, including a science fiction murder-mystery, a space opera ghost story, and a steampunk paranormal romance.

I occurs to me it is October, which means I should be engaged in my annual reading/listening of Roger Zelazny's "A Night in the Lonesome October."

In other news, I've had Charles Trenet singing "Le Mer" in my head pretty much all day. I don't know why.

One of the biggest influences in Rock-n-Roll is gone. He was something very special, and will be missed.

No word meter today because there were no words. Not to fear: careswen has class tomorrow night, so I can make up time.

I did other writerly things today, and I made some movement on finding a new part-time job, including one that might be fairly mindless, as in putting things in boxes and shipping them, something I've done for years and years.

Also paid bills and taxes, walked to the post office, grocery store, and bank, and then back home.

I was virtuous tonight and had a baked potato and salad for dinner, with watermelon for dessert. I plan to counter-balance this with meatball subs later this week.

Played Tsuro and Boomtown with careswen and greykev after dinner, listened to Lojo Russo streamed live from a show in a studio at the University of Northern Iowa, and sent the others off to Walgreens to fill scrips for migraine meds.

They are back now, so I'm going to go.