It's hot. So hot.
It’s summer in Zurich.
And it’s friggin’ hot.
We bought a new portable AC for my room, so I have temporarily moved my computer into my bedroom so I can work on my writing without turning into a puddle of hot goo. My body is so not made for heat. It’s made for cold. (Plus, I take anti-anxiety meds on top of that which wreak havoc on the body when it's hot.)
My original setup was this:
Which was fine when I was finishing my recent novel (YAY!). But now that I'm editing, I realized that a) editing, at least for me, is near impossible on the iPad, b) my computer is an Intel Nuc which is super tiny, and c) I have two monitors on my normal setup. Now, my summer setup looks like this:
I don’t know why, but I find it highly amusing that the laptop stand I got from Ikea, which my keyboard is sitting on, has a cup holder. Oh, and the keyboard that I use is the Kinesis Advantage 2, which you will have to pry out of my cold dead hands. Seriously, this keyboard is awesome! Surprise bonus: It’s easy to type on with long nails!
The Google Nest Audio is pretty good (the roundish-rectangular box under the monitor), and I can recommend it, especially if you use Spotify.
Anyway, since it’s been above 30 C (86 F) for a week and a half or so now, having the AC in my room has been a godsend! It also meant that I was able to finish novel #4 (Colony)!!!! YAY!!
I’m doing my usual “Holy crap! I wrote a thing!” for the last few days.
This also means I’ve started the editing process, and it’s a bit surreal, as if I’m reading someone else’s work, but I know it’s mine. I also know I’m much closer to having it released and Out There, which is both a little terrifying, but very happy making!
Of course, I've gotten some new pen related stuff recently!
The leather folio is from Galen Leather, and it fits Leuchtturm1917 journals (my favorite fountain pen friendly journals) quite nicely. Galen Leather is the same company that made my wooden pen holders and other leather cases. I highly recommend them for really nice writing and pen gear! And they really have to stop sending me emails with stuff I want to buy, because I am really jonesing for the Writer’s Box. They had me at “historical reproduction.” *sigh*
Also in that picture, you’ll see I have this new teeny tiny pen. It’s a solid brass Kaweco Liliput pen (the pink pen next to is a Pilot Vanishing Point, for scale). It’s so cute, but with the weight, it’s not bad at all to write with! I also dig that you have to screw the cap on the end to post it, which also makes it a bit longer when you’re writing, too.
So, if you need me in the next couple of months, I’ll be here in my air conditioned bat cave, editing. Or writing tiny short stories based on my novels on Twitter with the writing prompts from #vss365. Or watching YouTube.
Recently Read
Mercedes Lackey’s latest Valdemar novel “Beyond” which starts off a series about the founding of Valdemar. I liked it, over all. Two things: there’s a reference to Viva La Dirt League in there (Mornin’! Nice day for fishin’, ain’t it? Huh huh), and well, I think she REALLY disliked Donald Trump. Just sayin’. 4/5
“A Queen from the North” by Racheline Maltese and Erin McRae. This is a great royal romance set in a present time AU. Very cute, and I really liked how the relationship isn’t really about them falling all over each other, but the very real complications of being public figures. 5/5
Released
The Four Keys - Download or get a paperback version from Amazon: US Link - German Link
I write fanfiction, too (all PG/PG-13): AO3 Fanfiction
In Progress
Survey: In the far future, on a globally sponsored science station, a woman discovers the key to making a functional AGI work in the midst of political unrest. (First Draft Complete - 142K words - editing)
Unity: A military chaplain and her bodyguard get embroiled in a major conspiracy that threatens the humans colonies of Unity and the AI Nation of Survey. (First Edit Pass Complete - 137K words - editing )
Colony: After the events of Unity, Jenny returns to her home colony where she, Lulu and another agent realize that someone else was behind the New Harmonists pulling strings. (First Draft Complete! -- 112K words -- with first readers)
Consortium: After the events of Unity, Jack and Marsha get assigned by Survey to help an AI who had been exiled and has asked for help. (First Draft Complete - 143K words - editing)