Since school ended, my main goal has been to sit down and work on the outline for the original novel. And every day since then, other things have taken precedence. I have had to proofread galleys, address new Crazy 8 business, visit doctors (both scheduled and unscheduled), run errands, take yoga classes (trying out a new place while the regular instructor is on summer break), and conduct more HOA business than I anticipated. For school, I had to spend several hours carefully reviewing the 48-page yearbook supplement, which needed to go to the printer. So, of course, I hit submit, figuring I could deal with the distribution when the books get printed in late July (like last year). Nope, they’re due to be delivered this week.
A highlight was lunch with Howard Weinstein, where we talked shop, contractors, and Harry Chapin, so that was a nice break.
In other words, life.
Last Thursday, I actually got caught up, cleared the decks, and spent several glorious hours working on the outline. I saw where I needed to do more worldbuilding, where I needed to deepen some characterization, and begin to interweave the plot lines. By the end of the day, I managed six chapters (out of maybe 40) and it felt great.
So, of course, Friday, things derailed any hope of starting back on the outline, which now awaits me on Monday.
The weekend was spoken for. We headed north to Philly to catch a Mets game with Kate and Mike, and Kate’s long-time friend Allie. On the way, we stopped in White Marsh to surprise author and dear friend Caitlin Rozakis, who was doing a book signing for her latest, The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association (which I read and enjoyed a lot).
My beloved ballteam fell into a tailspin, getting swept by the Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves, limping into Philly tied with them for first place, letting a six game lead evaporate. As a result, we were trepedatious but cautiously hopeful. We were rewarded with a seven homerun barrage, snapping the seven game losing streak and tying the major league record for most home runs in a game with six other teams. In other words, a good game.
What We’re Watching
On my own, I caught the last three episodes of Black Mirror season seven. Overall, it was a stronger season, featuring some provocative ideas, solid writing, and impressive performances. I really liked the one with Paul Giamatti, an authentic tug at the heartstrings. The U.S.S. Callister sequel had its moments but felt overblown. Deb and continue with Industry (I am impressed at how many threads get stuffed into any one episode), The Handmaid’s Tale (June can be a real pill sometime but overall, very strong) , Dept. Q, (it has the virtue of great performances and an interesting cold case) and Unprisoned, all of which have been entertaining.
What I’m Reading
After completing Iron Flame, I caught up with the CraftLit podcast’s presentation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s Cranford, and then began listening to Viola Davis’s autobiography, Finding Me. On the night table, I have been working through graphic novels, highlighted by Tom King and Bilquis Everly’s Helen of Wyndhorn. Upstairs in the library, I began my overdue reading of Bruce Springsteen: All the Songs, a mammoth tome given to me by Kate some time back.
#Tags: Bilquis Everly, Black Mirror, Bruce Springsteen, Caitlin Rozakis, CrafLit, Cranford, Crazy 8 Press, Dept. Q, Finding Me, Helen of Wyndhorn, Hpward Weinstein, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, The Handmaid's Tale, Tom King, Unprisoned, Viola Davis