Ramblings from the Desert: May 2005

Modern Magic Cover and Art Book

Mornin' . Ugh.

Some good news...The Modern Magic anthology cover is up. Check it out! (If I get a chance, I'll post a copy here.) Just gorgeous. Tho' I might be biased, it's one of the nicest covers from a small press or any size press for that matter. Beautiful layout, evocative mood, color, etc. And there's terrific writing therein as well! (Sell, sell, sell. [grin])

Also, the editor and artist are working on an art book. It will detail the process the artist followed to develop each picture and will include excerpts of each story. Cool. A bit more moolah and exposure for "Salvation in a Plastic Bag." (I'm counting this as another "sale" so my tally for the year is growing. Wow!)

Cheers,

P. Kirby

Pretty Flowers and Killing Ewoks

The irises are blooming (click on pic for closer view)

Perky Sues, a water-thrifty little plant, complements (purchased via gift certificate) of friends Sharon and Joe.

Star Wars: Battlefront...
The J-man and I rented the game "Star Wars: Battlefront" (X Box) this weekend. We decided to try it before we buy it. Anyway, it's loads of fun. We ran through the historical campaigns, which includes battles from both canons. In one instant you might play as a droid fighting the Gungans (Yeah, I enjoyed gunning down Gungans, pretending each was Jar Jar Binks), in another you might be a member of the Republic, fighting alongside Mace Windoo. It looks like one of campaigns lets you play as an Imperial stormstrooper and mow down Ewoks.

V. cool.

Funny Headline...
Tailgate Blamed for Finger in Chili Claim. There's so much here I don't even know where to begin. Hee.

"Authorities believe the injured man gave the finger to Plascencia."

So many possibilities in that sentence. Giggle.

Enjoy your Sunday (or hate your Monday).

Pat K.

Pretty Flowers and the Origins of Mom's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

Lena's Broom.

Same flower bed as last week; now the Jupiter's Beard--red--is flowering.

Origins of Mother's Day...
Mother's Day has origins in the anti-war movement, spearheaded by Julia Ward Howe, writer of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and as such, a rather ironic pacifist. Here's the full scoop. The original Mother's Day proclamation has much less to do with jewelry and breakfast in bed than social justice.

Anyway, that's no reason for all you Moms not to get breakfast in bed and whatever tickles your fancy.

Have fun,
Pat K.

A Message From Management

The Nikster here. (Handsome, aren't I?)

I've clomped into the house, left green squishy "apples" on the living room floor, and taken control of this computer.

(Typing with my lips. We equines have very agile lips.)

So what's my problem?

I want sweet feed. And carrots. Not the sorry handful I get a few times a day. Bags and bags.

But no. Miss I-Wanna-Be-A-Writer-So-I-Can't-Work-Fulltime-So-Now-We're-Poor says we can't afford sweet feed. Or carrots by the ton.

My solution. Her butt stays in the chair (except to come out an bring me carrots), she stays off the Internet and finishes the outline/synopsis for Pinocchio in Reverse. She will then write the book and make us lots of money. (Why is she laughing?)

Harrumph. I wouldn't have to put up with this crap is I was Paris Hilton's horse.
Have a good day and be kind to a horse.

H.R.H., The Nikster

Greyhounds Aren't Dogs, Darwin Lied...

Oh, and the Earth is flat.

Well, that's where things are going in Kansas. Debating evolution? What next, tackling the Man landed on the Moon conspiracy? A Twenty-first Century Inquisition? Yee-haw! Get out the rack and thumbscrews!

Almost makes me glad to live in Nuevo Mexico.

And the Rich Get Fat...
According to this, it isn't just the poor who are slurping down fast food and abstaining from veggies. While it's easy to see why a resident of the mean streets might not go jogging, what's affluent America's excuse?

Writing...
Got a "...well-written and characters are compelling...but already have too many vampire stories" rejection from Three-lobed Burning Eye. Oh, well, with a couple of recent acceptances, I can take rejection a little better. (Unfortunately, the acceptance afterglow only lasts so long.)

Gonna send Chapter Two of Pinocchio in Reverse (or whatever its title is this week) to Kristin for the weekly critique/discussion thing. Am working up a chapter by chapter outline of what I've done so far. Hopefully, this will allow me to be a "normal" writer and outline the rest. I'd like to have this done by Wed. so I can shoot my ideas at Kristin.

Duh-dat's all folks,
P.K.