caroleannmoleti

My Scheduled Appearances at LunaCon, March 16-18, 2012

: caroleannmoleti; March 11th, 20:39

Current Location:: Rye Brook, New York

Current Mood:: excited

I finally have my scheduled appearances at Lunacon, Friday March 16-Sunday March 18, 2012 at the Hilton Rye Town, New York.

I will be at the cocktail party Friday night, and it looks like I have a closer session on Sunday as well.

Right from romance to religion on Saturday. Should be interesting.

Have swag, will travel. I'll also have books for sale. Hope to see some of you there.

•Autographing: Carol(e/yn Ann): Bugge, Moleti, Turgeon, Sat 12:00 - 13:00, Westchester Assembly

•When the Meat Is the Message (Panel), Sat 17:00 - 18:00, Westchester Ballroom A1

•Give Me That Old Time Religion (Panel), Sat 18:00 - 19:00, Westchester Ballroom A3

•Reading: Carole Ann Moleti, Sat 19:30 - 20:00, Bartell

•Health Issues In Fandom (Panel) (M), Sun 12:00 - 13:00, Westchester Ballroom A1

Tags: carole ann moleti, lunacon 2012

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My Super Cool, Cool, and Not So Cool Experiences of 2011

: caroleannmoleti; January 1st, 12:47

Current Location:: NYC

Current Mood:: pensive

Current Music:: Start Spreading The News

Life is a journey, so they say. But this year has been an *&^(ing roller coaster ride, with more chills, thrills, and spills than the Brooklyn Cyclone experience of 2009.

Super Cool

Attending Taos Toolbox for two utterly idyllic, fantastic weeks from July 10-23, 2011.

There I met very fine writers who I am privileged to be able to call on (and I have) to help out with emergency revisions and to keep me up do date on the all the best brands of beer and whiskey (in the greatest Western saloon tradition).

In addition, I can boast that I had several early morning chats with Nancy Kress over English muffins and coffee, and a discussion on my career goals with Walter Jon Williams in the hot tub.

Thanks to the advice I got and connections I made there, I recently published an article in Lightspeed about smart houses, robots and artificial intelligence and no longer have tachycardia when I see a message from John Joseph Adams. And Boulevard of Bad Spells of Broken Dreams is done and a partial submission is now being considered by a major West Coast agent.

Nope, doesn't get much better than that.

Cool (in no particular order):

One son graduated from high school and went away to college.

The other son is doing well in his music studies and I got to hear one of his "new music" compositions at a end of the year performance.

Published a "playbill" type article for the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association's 360 project entitled Making the Music Dance: Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake Suite.

I'm still dancing despite the arm injury (details in the not so cool list).

I was cast as Hannah Townsend Lawrence, a Victorian socialite, for the Bayside Historical Society's annual "ghost tour" of the Lawrence Cemetery. After my reading, upon touching Hannah's gravestone, the Paranormal States EMF meter recorded exceptionally high levels of activity. I perceived no restless spirits, so I guess she was pleased by my performance.

Just published "Breakwater Beach," a short story set in the same time and place as my Cape Cod paranormal romance series. I would LOVE some feedback from readers if they would like to read more about Mike and Liz (and Edward and Elisabeth) so I can let the agents know there is a ready-made audience.

Check Out Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts, edited by Rayne Hall.

I completed Astrology for Writers I and II with Mary O'Gara and can now read and interpret charts (at least for fictional characters). This spring I'll be starting Tarot for Writers.

I've long been interested in natural healing, herbal, and homeopathic remedies. As a way to make lemonade out of lemons, I've consulted both a santera and two Chinese medicine specialists.

Santeria is a fascinating, mysterious practice that appears to have somewhat alleviated the root causes of my arm pain: stress and overwork. I've also experienced two acupuncture an energy healing/meditation sessions and am looking forward to more.

Not So Cool

My Dad died in June after a long illness. I miss him so much.

College tuition payments, which require me to do tons of overtime, leading to aforementioned stress and overwork.

Two teenagers, who tax my brain, my heart, my soul, my pocketbook, and my patience to the breaking point.

Being a health care professional in the United States--and the triple whammy of being woman, in a women's profession, taking care of women.

Hurricanes, tornados, assorted floods and other manmade and natural disasters.

The combination of all of the above, which resulted in calcified tendonitis of my right shoulder which has morphed into fibromyalgia and chronic pain. Typing doesn't help, but voice recognition software doesn't like my pitch or Bronx accent.

Yes, life is a journey. But I will keep Going On Pointe for as long as I can.

Happy 2012.

Tags: baysidehistoricalsociety, boulevardofbadspellsandbrokendreams, haunted:tentalesofghosts, taos toolbox, washingtonnationalphilharmonicassociatio

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Is There LIfe After Novels?

: caroleannmoleti; November 6th, 2011

Current Location:: NYC

Current Mood:: exhausted

There are a lot of drains on my time and energy right now, including a painful shoulder injury and attendant doctor/physical therapy visits and medication related side effects, which, threatened to sideline my writing for a while.

The overuse injury is due in part to exercise and, since it's my right arm and the pain extends from shoulder to wrist, typing surely has something to contribute. I am a fitness and outdoor enthusiast, and a novel writing fanatic.

For the last two years, I've been focused on revising or writing novels and a novella and have a lot to show for it--besides the stupor, brain drain, and arm pain. I'm typing again, a bit slower and mousing with my left hand.

My Cape Cod paranormal romance series consists of two completed novels, Unfinished Business and The Widow's Walk, with the third (working title: Hurricane Watch) partially outlined.

Boulevard of Bad Spells and Broken Dreams: Void of Course, is the first of two, maybe three, urban fantasies. The plot of the second book, likely with the same title and a subtitle involving tarot (as opposed to astrology), is beginning to gel in my mind, my dreams, and my ruminations even before the finishing touches have been put on book one.

That's a total of 330,000 words written, plus the 20,000 I cut out of The Widow's Walk, and the 2500 for the first chapter of Hurricane Watch. In order to keep momentum going, I've had to work on all three over the last twenty-four months, sometimes two at a time, and when the worlds and characters are so different, that becomes a real struggle.

I strive for 1000 words a day, either new material or revisions, and sometimes succeed, though more often I will nod off over the keyboard after a measly 100 or a chapter of revision. Sometimes, I get no novel work done, and I've neglected my short stories, my nonfiction, my reviews, my blogs, and my reading with the result of a to do pile threatening to collapse my nightstand.

I have an article about Smart Houses coming out in Lightspeed Magazine on 11/15. And I'm still reviewing anthologies and collections for Tangent Online and The Portal, with a review of After the Apocalypse by Maureen McHugh due out in the next week or so. There is a potentially very big nonfiction sale pending to a DC venue, but the ink isn't dry on the contract yet. And I will be doing an Urban Fantasy Panel and reading on 11/21 (with April Gray) at the Columbus Library in NYC. Please follow my Twitter for reminders and the details are on Facebook.

What else have I been reading? Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities, which is somewhat comparable to the setting of Boulevard, except for the fairies, vampires, and werewolves. And a book Nancy Kress recommended I take a look at: The French Lietenant's Woman by John Fowles, mainly to absorb the Victorian flavor. The interesting omni/intrusive narration and footnotes are a curious mix. Both good stories, though.

Speaking of Victorian, I played Hannah Townsend Lawrence at a ghost tour recently. A piciture and full report is on my Blogger.

At this point, with summer done and fall weather here, the Cape characters and scenes are quiescent, with the manuscripts out with three agents.

But I'm so deep into research for Boulevard, having just completed a basic and advanced astrology course, reading backround material on Santeria and Voudoun, and field trips to botanicas and the Bronx County Courthouse that I dream in scenes and drive with a pencil and pad in hand, taking notes at red lights, recording ideas and inspirations, and trying to focus on reality.

It's been a great, productive summer--and the momentum after Taos Toolbox has been exponential--but the problem with intensive workshops is that when one returns to real life, which for many of us involves a full time job (with teenagers), that does not include fiction writing, not to mention a family (with teenagers) there is bound to be some shock and denial, which is probably why I'm in the physical condition I'm in now.

Is there life after novels? Was there life before them? What will I do when they're done, or will I ever be done?

Tags: bayside historical society, boulevard of bad spells and broken dream, carole ann moleti, lightspeed magazine

Ten Years Later: Tread Lightly On Our Memories, The Pain is Still Great

: caroleannmoleti; September 11th, 2011

Current Location:: NYC

Current Mood:: sick

Current Music:: Taps

View my photo scrapbook

9/11/01 struck like an alligator lurking just below the water. It grabbed every single person in New York City and the tri-state area, chewed us up, and spit us out--some dead, some mangled physically or psychologically, all changed--most for the worse but there are always glimmers of hope that get through the darkness.

It takes a lot to get a New Yorker's attention since we're always on sensory overload, scanning ahead, to the side and behind for the ever present threat of something unexpected. And since that day, there's even more to watch out for than the occasional nut waving something that looks like a gun or knife. We're used to that.

And it takes a lot to bring this City to its knees, though since 9/11/01 the schools close much more regularly for storms, the mass transit system was stopped and even Brooklyn was evacuated in anticipation of Hurricane Irene. We're not taking any chances, especially in September when the lure of a sky, so clear so brilliant, so cloudless, a cross between periwinkle and Wedgewood, low humidity and bright sunshine brings back memories of suddenly being inundated by flames, ash, smoke, of incessant sirens and alarms, of screams, tears, and the world standing still.

A routine morning turned into one that everyone, including pre-school children, would never forget, since their parents couldn't get home to pick them up, take them home, hug them, and try to explain. Some of us were mandated to remain at our jobs in anticipation of mass casualties. Other couldn't get past roadblocks, over closed bridges, through closed tunnels and streets crowded with throngs running, walking, limping out of lower Manhattan, covered in thick white dust while fire trucks, police vans, ambulances rushed toward the burning Twin Towers. And some never got home because they were dead or dying in the attacks, including neighbors, friends, and family members of co-workers.

I remember a kinder, gentler New York City in the days after the attacks. Bosses not worrying if you got in late due to roadblocks, and really wanting to hear the truth when they asked how you were doing. Petty politics on the job suspended, silly grievances forgotten.
Flags everywhere, including the rear windows of every car. Less road rage, more patience on long lines. Spontaneous parades and candlelight vigils. I myself stopped to listen, hold hands and say a prayer with an evangelical something on Chambers Street when I made the pilgrimage to Ground Zero for the first time.

There were not a lot of smiles as we donned masks and gloves and emptied our mailboxes over the recycling pail--outdoors and away from the kids-- during a surprisingly mild, dry fall. It made it easier as recovery efforts went on, we watched for Anthrax, sent socks, lip balm, water, work gloves and other supplies to Shea Stadium for distribution to the heroes downtown--many of them now terribly ill from toxic exposures (including the police officer who gave me copies of images he took at Ground Zero). One police officer I know, a thirty-five year old single mother, has died.

In addition to nuts, impaired drivers, rats and petty thieves snatching I-pods and gold chains, we did as told: "If you see something, say something." The campaign didn't bear fruit until years later when a multitude of terrorist plots and activities were uncovered, but we also learned to expect, and welcome, police and the National Guard, with weapons drawn, patrolling bus terminals, train stations and at times of high alert, the subways, bridges, and tunnels.

I drive over the East River bridges almost every day, and there is never a time when I look at the hole in the skyline and don't remember. And in my own post traumatic stress disordered world, the sounds of sirens still shock my heart into a rapid rhythm, make me nauseous, and weaken my knees.

There are plenty of things to do this Sunday to commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/1/01. Concerts, multimedia retrospectives, church services, ceremonies, dedications. I'm not sure what I'll do. My sons, 10 and 8 at the time of the attacks, are away at college. My daughter, who I adopted in 2003, was born nearly a year after and I'm trying to explain it before show her the pictures. Anguish spurned me into initiating the proceedings in November 2001, because there were just no more good excuses to put off all the things I'd always wanted to do.
I could also just do my routine Sunday things like take ballet class, or putter in my garden, or clean up the house, but I am feeling an even bigger sense of loss this year since my father's recent death. His construction company was a major contractor for the building of the WTC, and it was one of his proudest accomplishments and greatest heartbreaks.

Even my favorite peaceful activities- kayaking or walking along the shorelines, seeing my childhood haunts, remembering how it was to be a kid is too painful these days, with the hole in my life left by Dad's absence, the hole in my heart left by the hole in the New York City skyline. I can still remember the fear, the confusion, the desperation, the camaraderie, the anger, the sounds, the smells--oh yes, that smell of smoke, burning rubber and plastic, and death diffusing over the world churning my stomach into a knot, keeping me on the verge of puking every time wind blew a certain way.

On September 1, I took these images of the Freedom Tower rising above the space left for the 9/11 Memorial Pools over the footprints of the towers--a crypt for the unidentified remains and for those whose remains were never found. The DJ on The Circle Line was playing Usher's D.J.'s Got Us Falling in Love Again and it seemed like an appropriately upbeat way to sail past the new skyline toward the tenth anniversary of the attacks

But as today approached, melancholy washed over me like the rains flooding the tri-state area. Natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornados aren't intentionally planned to spawn death, destruction and despair--unless your gods or God is more capricious than mine.

I'm physically sick today, puked once already, and my right arm feels like it's been wrenched out of place. I don't want to hear any speeches, listen to any music. I don't want to read any "ten years later" stories. I don't want to do things I love: to dance, or to write. I don't want to do anything except hug my husband and my kids, crawl into bed, and wake up tomorrow morning.

Read last year's remembrance about The Twin Towers and The Lowly Parking Meter

Read the 9/11/01 excerpt from Someday I'm Going to Write a Book.

Tags: carole ann moleti, someday i'm going to write a book, ten years later:my 9/11 remembrances

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Crossing Genres-Marlene Dotterer and Her New Release: Shipbuilder

: caroleannmoleti; September 5th, 2011

Current Location:: NYC

Current Mood:: pleased

Current Music:: Theme From Titanic (Celine Dion)

I am delighted welcome Marlene Dotterer, a long time member of Online Writer's Workshop. We met a few years back during an online workshop and I had the opportunity to read some of her novel, Shipbuilder, which has now been published.

Imagine being there before the Titanic set sail.

Now imagine being there before she’s even built.

Sam Altair is a physicist living in Belfast, Ireland. He has spent his career researching time travel and now, in early 2006, he’s finally reached the point where he can send objects backwards through time. The only problem is, he doesn’t know where the objects go. They don’t show up in the past, and no one notices any changes to the present. Are they creating alternate time lines?

To collect more data, Sam tries a clandestine experiment in a public park, late at night. But the experiment goes horribly wrong when Casey Wilson, a student at the university, stumbles into his isolation field.

Sam tries to rescue her, but instead, he and Casey are transported back to the year 1906. Stuck in the past, cut off from everyone and everything they know, Sam and Casey work together to help each other survive. Then Casey meets Thomas Andrews, the man who will shortly begin to build the most famous ship since Noah’s Ark.

Should they warn him, changing the past and creating unknown consequences for the future?

Or should they let him die?

Welcome, Marlene. Crossing genres is a subject near and dear to me. Many times I am asked, what is this? And often I answer with a combination of three, sometimes four subgenres. This can make it hard to sell in traditional markets who want to know where the book goes on the shelf. My answer is put it on three or four shelves! Especially now that most of them are virtual ones. Give us your insights.

Thank you having me, Carole. I’m excited to chat with your readers about my book. Let me start with a question:

Is it Science Fiction if the story takes place in the past?

My answer:

Probably not. Not exactly, anyway.

There. Wasn't that easy?

Science fiction, as I understand it, involves technology. Usually, the story takes place in the future, with space ships, planets, and weapons easily capable of exterminating humanity. However, there are also present-day plots. These are usually Michael Crichton-type doomsday scenarios with superbugs breaking loose and exterminating humanity. Or they can be aliens-visiting-earth, who either

a)befriend some kids and eventually go away, or

b)exterminate humanity.

Other stories take place in some variant of current or near-future earth, with just enough difference to show it's not our own present day. Computer related stories are a popular type of this sub-genre, with people lost in the circuits, or some role-playing game starts to take over the world. And exterminates humanity.

What about steampunk? Ah, now that takes place in the past, and is most definitely a type of science fiction. SF as H.G. Wells would write it, but with more martial arts. Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials is an example of this, and I believe there was some danger of humanity being exterminated. At least, the kid part of it.

I wonder about this question because my book takes place in 1906 - 1912, and it's not steampunk. Yes, there's a scientist in it, and there's time travel. But the time travel is quickly done and never really explained, although it is clearly science-based. There's nothing supernatural going on.

Is this science fiction?

I feel safe calling it alternate history, but is alternate history a branch of SF? I've always thought of it so, but I could be wrong.

TTJ: Shipbuilder is also historical fiction, assuming you don't mind time travelers talking about space shuttles in your historical fiction.

It's also romance. So here is where I tie it all together by calling it... get ready... Time Travel Romance.

To me, this says science fiction because of the time travel. It also says romance (obviously), and it probably means historical fiction, since (most) time travel stories involve going to the past. I consider this a neat package in which to tie up my book. Perhaps with a bow.

Feel free to search for it under any of these genres. I’ve tried to include them all in the keywords because the book could easily be on any of these shelves in a bookstore. But if I had to pick just one shelf, which would it be?

Science fiction.

Thanks, Marlene. As I said, I've read some of this book and it's on my TBR pile in my TBR file. Take a look, folks. You won't be disappointed.

Anything else, Marlene?

YES! Must Have Give-Aways!

Ships are launched with a bottle of champagne. My book is about a ship, so...

Actually, perhaps it’s best if I don’t try to mail anyone a bottle of champagne. But how about a free book?

Throughout the blog tour, I’ll keep track of everyone who leaves a comment on any of the blogs and enter them into a drawing. At the end of the tour, I’ll pick three winners, each to receive an autographed copy of The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder.

So, read on! Comment!

And those stops are:

Sept 2 - Patty Jansen

Sept 3 - Amy Raby

Sept 4 - Anna Kashina

Sept 5 - Darke Conteur

Sept 6 - Carole Ann Moleti

Sept 7 - Meredith Morgenstern

Sept 8 - Sue Ann Bowling

Visit her website for a links to her other interesting articles. Here are buy links for all formats, including print for us dinosaur types.

Smashwords

Amazon Kindle

Amazon estore for the paperback version

Marlene Dotterer grew up as a desert rat in Tucson, Arizona. In 1990, she loaded her five children into the family station wagon, and drove north-west to the foggy San Francisco Bay Area. To stay warm, she tackled many enterprises, earning a degree in geology, working for a national laboratory, and running her own business as a personal chef. She’s a frustrated gardener, loves to cook, and teaches natural childbirth classes. She says she writes, “to silence the voices,” obsessed with the possibilities of other worlds and other times.

She is married to The Best Husband in the World, and lives in Pleasant Hill, California.

Tags: alternate history, genre blending, marlene dotterer, shipbuilder, time travel romance

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My Hurricane Irene Journal

: caroleannmoleti; August 27th, 2011

Current Location:: NYC

Current Mood:: restless

Current Music:: Raindrops keep Fallling on my Head

Since I may not have power much longer, and my batteries will run out eventually, I've decided to keep a Hurricane Irene journal on Twitter, which I can update from my phone (car charger works as long as the car isn't flooded or crushed) on Ping. So, if you want to know what's happening in the Big Apple, click over to my Twitter, #cmhurricanejournal. I will upload pictures to my Facebook when I can. Why am I doing this? Because I am going STIR CRAZY. The City is shut down, all mass transit, most entertainment, store shelves are empty, everyone is going home early. I usually do at least three things at a time, and now that I have put everything away, it's getting dark, and the rain has started to fall in earnest, puttering has been removed from the list. Mom's house is secure, and so is she. Kid in college is fine, the other, due to check into his dorm tomorrow, will be home for at least another forty eight hours (what a thrill). I have my food, milk, bread, water, hubby, daughter, kitty, and dog for company. I will be in this house for TWENTY FOUR HOURS, hopefully not mopping my basement or dealing with downed trees and power lines. Sure I have books to read, reviews to do--but after the tornado found reading by candlelight is tough. Oh, I've been writing- Boulevard is up to 82K, nearly done, and I got an earthquake scene in. I'm working on the final two, maybe three chapters--all intense fight scenes so I need a break. And the muse is insisting I start writing the third book in the Cape Cod series (even though I have yet to sell the first two) which, even before this happened had the working title of Hurricane so a journal of the sights, sounds, feelings and emotions is a good idea. Two chapters are written already, and maybe this little project will keep her suppressed enough that I can finish Boulevard of Bad Spell and Broken Dreams. With my new MacBook fully charged, I have enough juice, even with the backlit keyboard, to polish it off.

Tags: boulevard of bad spells and broken dream, carole ann moleti, hurricane irene journal

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I'm Featured on the Fifty Authors From Fifty States Blog--For New York Of Course

: caroleannmoleti; August 14th, 2011

Current Location:: Upstate/Downstate

Current Mood:: chipper

Current Music:: New York State of Mind

I've had the honor of being asked by Annette Snyder to cover New York for her innovative project, Fifty Authors From Fifty States.

Most folks know about my love affair with New York City, but I've also chosen to talk about my experiences in my favorite upstate haunts near Cazenovia. In fact, the picture with Darth Vader was snapped at the Madison-Bouckville antique show a few years back. It's up and running next weekend and for anyone who likes to stroll down memory lane, pick up a few bargains, and watch some very interesting people, check it out.

You all know I was born and raised in Da Bronx, and that the City is my real time playground-source of inspiration-entertainment, and the place I know and love best. But I also enjoy getting away from the City That Never Sleeps to places where the sidewalks are rolled up and tucked away after nine p.m.

There is an open contest on the Fifty Authors From Fifty States Blog. The first person to answer the question "Where did I take the pictures of the chickens?" wins their choice of an anthology featuring one or more of my memoir excerpts. Hint: It's not what you'd expect.

Click over to my blogspot and to my creative writing Facebook page for more photos from Upstate New York.

You'll find some images of the Ledyard Linklaen estate known as Lorenzo, which has provided me with many story inspirations, especially the downright Gothic Dark Aisle in the formal gardens and the carriage house, complete with the carriages. Add horses (this is a an equestrian center) during one of the many re-enactments and yearly activities including the Lorenzo Driving Competition, fox hunt, and Winter Festival featuring horse-drawn sleigh rides, and you''re transported back to an earlier time and place.

And for a real laugh, check out my professional Facebook page for a few images I've snapped while walking the streets of the Bronx and Manhattan. This is just a sample of what's there, just in case you set yourself on fire while sitting on the throne.

Tags: carole ann moleti, cazenovia new york, fifty authors from fifty states blog, new york city, someday i'm going to write a book

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I'm Back At Sea Level But Still In The Clouds

: caroleannmoleti; July 26th, 2011

Current Location:: Somewhere

Current Mood:: accomplished

TAOS TOOLBOX
Class of 2011
The Diesel Bears

After nearly 24 hours of travel, I am finally back on the East Coast, but managed to bypass The Big Baked Apple. Give me a couple of days to get my thoughts together and my photos on Facebook, but I wrote though the flight delays and exhaustion, and am still going.

My goal is to finish Boulevard of Bad Spells and Broken Dreams by September, and I'm already more than half way there with about 54K done. Today I am researching banishing and cleansing rituals (in between kayaking and swimming).

You had to be there to appreciate many of the memorable quotes Nancy Kress has on her blog, but Christy's pictures capture the intensity of the work as well as the partying most nights with wine, whiskey, and song in the best Western tradition.

There are bears at Taos, as Scott's early morning picture documents, and somewhere between early morning reading and writing and late night camaraderie the Diesel Bear brand was burned onto the Class of 2011.

And this is sunset in Camel Rock State Park, Teseque Pueblo, just outside of Albuquerque, on my last night in New Mexico. I felt like this magical moment was engineered just for my benefit.

Tags: taos toolbox 2011

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Taos Toolbox Update

: caroleannmoleti; July 20th, 2011

Current Location:: Taos

Current Mood:: accomplished

Current Music:: Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I'm taking the lazy way out and directing you here to read the two latest entries in my journal from Taos Toolbox.

Days 4, 5, 6: Who Am I and What Am I Doing Here?

Days 7, 8, 9: Read, Critique, Write, Repeat

There are links to pictures, courtesy of Christy and links to Nancy Kress' blog for memorable quotes.

I wil get some pictures up on Facebook as soon as I can.

Tags: carole ann moleti, taos toolbox

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Report from Taos Toolbox, Day 4

: caroleannmoleti; July 14th, 2011

Current Location:: Taos Ski Valley

Current Mood:: accomplished

Current Music:: Almost Heaven

So far, other than a daily nosebleed and some breathlessness the altitude isn't bothering me. Of course I'm not doing anything but eating, sleeping, reading, and writing. The air may be rarefied up here, with both Walter Jon Williams and Nancy Kress as instructors, but they have both feet on the ground and are totally involved and committed to helping all of us work the kinks out of our writing.

Something like this is every writer's dream: two weeks to do nothing but write, and I know that the other twelve great authors with here with me are as thrilled to be here as I am.

I stay up late critting and still have tweaks to do in the morning. I've gotten no writing on Boulevard done and will do it NOW, before breakfast (I have a big cup of coffee in hand), now that I've cleaned out my email inbox and confirmed that I did, indeed, get paid.

Things seem to be going okay at home. Maya is whiny, but I talk to her twice a day. Her brothers are fussing over her so that helps. Rumor has it even the boys miss me. John is trying to be brave but I know how difficult it is to do everything and be everything and am feeling a bit guilty and disconnected. He assures me all the prep work ensured adequate food to keep the teenagers happy, as well as be sure all the bills were taken care of and the house was organized (yes, really) is much appreciated. The woman who cleans my house is coming today, which should help keep things under some semblance of control until I get back home.

There is a lot of necessary solitary time here or else we won't get our work done. But all my classmates are trying to find time to chat and bond and network, which is so important in a setting like this. Hopefully, we'll get more social time this weekend when there are no crits and no big assignments, other than our own writing.

The mountains are peaceful and the view from the window of my room breathtaking, as long as I don't focus on those big boulders perched up there. In winter, it's avalanche concerns but there is a terrible drought here (hiking trails are closed, damn) and though we've had some rain and a huge thunderstorm (followed by a rainbow so close it felt like I could touch it), too much might cause a landslide.

I will try to get some pictures posted and check in this weekend.

Tags: carole ann moleti, nancy kress, taos toolbox, walter jon williams

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