Winter is Coming...and I don't mind!
Hello friends!
It’s November, which means the fog and rain and cold has come down on Zurich. Not that I really mind, as I love Fall, Winter, and early Spring more than Summer. Me and hot weather don’t get along very well.
The best part of Fall and Winter is the food, and one of my favorite winter foods is my Memere's (Grandmother) Cretons recipe (aka Guntor in my family). It's basically a pork pate with cinnamon, clove, onion, and garlic. It's takes about 6-8 hours to cook, but OMG, it's so worth it! You have it on toast with a good mustard, and it's just amazing. It also makes your house smell amazing when you cook it (it really drove the Wife crazy the day I made it).
I am deep into NaNoWriMo working on my 5th novel (a sequel to the first 4). It’s not too bad this year, but the novel is coming to me in a really random way. I write a part here, then another part comes that happens before that part, and then I have to re-write another part. Then a day later I figure out more of the plot line for the first book and get an idea for a second. Ahhh, the writer’s life, amirite?
My other writing project has been writing to various pen pals that I’ve met through various fountain pen enthusiast websites. It’s been fun writing with all my fancy inks, pens, and paper to people all over the world. And, well, I have to admit that getting snail mail that isn't a bill is pretty awesome!
The Wife, who is the awesomest wife ever, saw my letter writing and decided to get me an early Yule present of an antique Victorian stationery box! I mean, look at this thing!! The glass inkwells are gorgeous, and there’s blue satin in the lid of the box. I’ve given the wood a good polish with museum-grade polish, and cleaned the brass on the inkwells as best I could. I actually do have ink in the inkwells right now (Tools To Liveby Iron Gall ink. Red on the left, blue on the right). And yes, I’ve been using dip pens with it, as I have three of them now. Sometimes I like using the dip pens for writing letters, since it gives my hand a break from the regular pens.
The other beautiful acquisition I’ve gotten recently is a Writer’s Box from Blue Star Crafts! This box is so beautiful! It smells so good with the handmade wood and leather! I’ve had it personalized and it also has a lock and key! I’m not sure exactly how I’m going to fill it yet, since I’m not traveling right at the moment, but I'm sure I'll figure it out.
The last thing I’ve gotten was the Diamine Inkvent Calendar, and it’s been sitting here since the end of October, taunting me! I’m looking forward to opening an ink a day when December gets here! I also got an Advent calendar of nail art supplies from Madam Glam. I recently learned how to do my own fake nails (using polygel) and they look really good!
Since it’s coming on Winter, I’m also picking up my yarn spinning again. I got a Woolee Winder for my electric spinning wheel, and OMG, it’s so awesome! It basically makes it so you don’t have to keep stopping and moving the hook on the flyer! 10/10 would recommend! (And I’m going to get one of them for my Louet Victoria, too!) Although, I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner. It takes a little fiddling with the wheel to get it going just right.
Well, it’s time to get back to writing! Hope all my American friends have a good Turkey Day!
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 Foundation Series
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 – with beta readers)
Unity: A military chaplain and her bodyguard get embroiled in a major conspiracy that threatens the humans colonies of Unity and the AIs Nation of Survey. (First Edit Pass Complete – with beta readers )
Colony: After the events of Unity, Jenny returns to her home colony where she, Lulu and another agent realize that someone else was also behind the New Harmonists pulling strings. (First Draft Complete! –with beta 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– with beta readers)
Ancestor Series
Nemetona: A lone Captain and his AI answer a distress call from a sentient species who are dying. (Writing -- 10864 words -- NaNoWriMo Project)
Mercury Series
Mercury: The Mercury Generation Ship begins it’s journey to the Andromeda galaxy. (Started, but stalled.)