I shall be celebrating
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j_rah's birthday, the impending release of AFTERLIFE (only five days to go, kids!), and the goods news I hope to able to share shortly. ^_^- Mood:
excited
And there were cocktails! I wasn't actually brave enough to have an Absinthe-Minded cocktail, because ... absinthe ... I'm just not gawth enough. I did try some of Kyle's and decided to stick with my French Martinis. And Fruit Pastels. And Ruby Reds. And so forth. I think the thing I liked best was how much effort everyone made to dress up. The men were all in suits and 40s style army uniforms, and the girls just looked amazing. So many corsets and feathers and fascinators. Can't wait to go again next month. :)
- Mood: touched
But ebooks, that's okay, right? I couldn't resist Stephanie Draven's new Nocturne Bite - I loved Midnight Medusa, and
madlee276 recommended me a Louise Allen Historical Undone, so yeah. I've kind of been slow to embrace ebooks because I love paper books so much, but I've discovered some really cool authors through Samhain, Changeling, and Harlequin.I went out for a drink with Pip last night, planning not to drink because, man, I drank so much raspberry vodka on Friday night, but there were passionfruit and vanilla martinis on offer, so I had to have one. It was pretty good, so that was okay. We ended up bitching about work, as usual, and I remarked that signing the contract with QueeredFiction has changed my mind about leaving the Institute. Not that I'm anywhere near ready to pack up the day job and write full-time, but I've felt much less edgy and frustrated since I got the news. The burning need to escape at all costs has receded a little because I've got the satisfaction and excitement of knowing I can make it as a writer, and that puts everything else into perspective.
I'm going to speak to my line manager about changing my working hours so I can finish earlier and fit more writing time in in the evenings. So the Escape from the Day Job of Firetop Mountain is off for now. Everything else is going too well for me to stay unhappy at work anymore. Hmm. I must be in love.
- Mood: optimistic
So I'm home from Widnes, where I had a fabulous time with the lovely Leanne and her many, many dogs ^_^ We had ten, count 'em, ten gorgeous puppies to keep entertained. I haven't told Holly yet that I've been staying with other dogs as she is prone to jealousy. I'm sure she'll forgive me in time. I have to say, I freaking love Leanne's dogs. They're all, without fail, beautiful, friendly, happy little darlings, and I miss them all already!
Aside from dog-herding various spaniels and chihuahuas, we also went to a hen night for one of Leanne's friends, which was awesome! I got to wear neon tights and hot pink mascara and drink loads of Apple Corkys and champagne and wine and some other stuff that I don't know what it was but it came in a fishbowl and have a really dignified time. And spend some time in a toilet with a stripper. Apparently Liverpool has unisex toilets now. I didn't know that. (I mean, not in the actual cubicle, we were just in the toilet room as a whole. Should probably clarify that in case my Dad reads this. (Also Dad, I didn't get that drunk. In comparison to some people, I mean.))
Anyway, he was a very nice stripper, and I have some lovely photos of him which I will post at some point, because ... you know, you have to. In summary: neon-themed hen night = much awesomeness.
I got back to Cambridge about 6.30 last night and then had to rush off to my writers' group as SILVER KISS was on the chopping block. I'm relieved to say that the feedback was great - incredibly helpful - and I'm planning to dive back into the novel for a second draft this weekend. And there might be some exciting SILVER KISS-related news around the corner if I'm lucky, so stay tuned for that!
I got back home again around 9.30 for a catch-up withchaostheory, who was on fish-watch while I was away, and discovered I have an upsidedown catfish in the tank that I thought was dead. So... huzzahs! Ooh, and my mass purchase of BPAL imps arrived, so now I have fifty - fifty! - sparkly new perfumes to try out over the coming weeks and months ^_^ If I run out of blog material, I might do a rundown of my favourites at some point.
So what have you all been up to?
- Mood:
groggy
j_rah has finally got herself a real grown-up job so we're off to toast to her victory with cocktails and Mexican food. Huzzahs! We'll also be toasting to my good news, which I will share as soon as I can. I've recovered from yesterday's mope-fest and I'm looking forward to a peaceful weekend of writing and visiting my grandparents. Can't ask for more than that.ETA: Just stumbled across another review forQueer Wolf here at Collective Fallout. Once again, there's praise for Wolf Strap!:
"“Wolf Strap” pulls you in fast and hard ... Both mystery and horror, this story tells of the struggle between pack and humankind–and of what some men will do to even the playing field with the perceived wolf threat. Clark gives us characters that we can understand in a world that we cannot."
Yay!
- Mood: chipper
1 Mai Tai
1 Key West Cooler
3 Cosmopolitans
1 Woo Woo
1 Baileys ice cream smoothie (with bonus mint-chocolate flavour!)
I also squeezed a cranberry juice in there somewhere, but it wasn't mixed with anything alcoholic so it doesn't count.
So today I'm just ravenous and am strongly considering heading to the Co-op for nachos. But since I just ate a fishfinger sandwich, I'm holding off for now.
I started work on that Brand New Idea that was burning a hole in my head, and have about 1k on it so far, which is not very impressive really. The problem is, I had another Brand New Idea yesterday based on a short story I started but never finished last year, one which involves my first love - shapeshifters. So, hmm, yeah, feeling torn on which is actually the better idea. Until I decide (if I do) I may just have to go for those nachos after all.
- Mood: lazy
1. Posted the full manuscript of Death for the Born to the agent.
2. Found Pip a man.
3. Got incredibly drunk on cocktails (one Polish Bullet, one Russian Bride, two Strawberry Woo Woos, one Electric Lemonade and three different flavoured vodka shots for those keeping track).
4. Went on an expletive-filled rant against Stephen Hawking in the taxi home after said cocktails. The taxi driver found me hysterical, but probably quite scary.
5. Got amazing birthday presents from Pip and
j_rah , Rupert, and Kizzy.Things not achieved:
1. Finding myself a man (here's to next weekend and the Four Man Plan!)
2. Spring-cleaned the house (here's to next weekend and a packet of Flash Wipes!)
- Mood: chipper
- Music:Wicked Game - HIM
So the lovely and stylish Leanne has departed back to Leeds, and in honour of her time here, I offer some stats from the past four days:
Cocktails consumed:
Mudslides x 2
Polish Bullet x 1
Strawberry daquairi x 1
Strawberry Woo Woo x 1
Liquid Gold x 1
Grey Goose and cranberry juice (there ought to be a name for that) x 8 (I think, I lost count after a while)
Baileys and chocolate ice cream smoothies x 2
Mint Baileys and chocolate ice cream x 3
Books bought:
In Great Waters - Kit Whitfield
Creature Conversations - Collette (What a find! I dig charity shops)
Bone Song - John Merney
Blood Calls - Caridad Pineiro
Familiar Stranger - MIchelle Hauf
Seasons of The Mighty Boosh watched:
One and a half
Weird food consumed:
All-day-breakfast pizzas (pizza! With egg and baked beans! Seriously!)
An assortment of steamed and fried dim sum, included fried cream buns (I know! Fried cream!)
Many, many, many varieties of cakes and chocolates.
All of which is most awesome.
- Mood:
contemplative - Music:Horse and I - Bat for Lashes
