suhNERK. Poor John.

I want to get some writing done today. Damn it. Two books I want to work on and the brain is seething and I have some changes from writers group the other night and the only thing stopping me is timing, today. Why would I have scheduled the damned mammogram for mid-afternoon?

I don't know...Mom wouldn't, because she'd be insane going without deodorant that long. She's insane about floss, deo, and mouthwash. My brother and I joke that we'll know she's dying if she doesn't care about them any more. Or it could be like "Detective, Mom's out of floss. This was no accident!"

WHOOOOOOHOOOO!

Crossposted with Bitches - the first official reviews of Weaver:

Kirkus, after a (somewhat flawed, as in they got some basic names and stuff wrong) summary, ended the review with:

"....Although unthreatening ghosts produce low-voltage thrills, pastoral warmth and sunny prose from Grabien (Plainsong, 2000, etc.) entertain.

And THANK YOU, CHIKAT! today's Library Journal review:

"Filled with charm, personality, and wit, this is the first entry in an intriguing new series featuring the ghosts of characters in old English ballads. Strongly recommended for most collections.

YeeeeeHAW!

Aw, that's marvelous. Congratulations, Deb!

That's faboo, Deb!

Now to gnaw nails for a "Publishers Weekly" review. Gronk.

Ahem. From my editor:

I saw the Kirkus yesterday, and I am happy enough with it, but the LJ is absolutely GREAT! I hadn't seen that one yet. Thanks for sending it. Onward and upward.

Show me the moooooneeeeeey......

Great! Well done, deb!

Deb, I told Greg about the reviews. He's very excited for you and plans to point them out to his boss. Go you!

Susan, I was woefully behind, so I knew you had finished, but I didn't know there was a party in this thread about it. Happy finishing. You inspire me.

Deb, if you go to Toronto, it's only a couple of hours or so on to Cleveland. You can bunk with us, comfy couch, comfy beds, it would work. Not well, but, you know... I have to try.

Thanks, Deena!

I just posted a draft pitch for the conference in my LiveJournal, friends-locked for a little more privacy. I've never done one of these before, so I'd appreciate any feedback and suggestions--let me know if you'd like to read it and I haven't friended you. I think it needs to be shorter, and I'm frustrated by what a pale shadow it already is. It's just not a plotty story. It's all dialogue and character interaction and nuance, and I don't know how to pitch that.