Today is Salt Lake City

Got into Salt Lake City yesterday. We'd been here once before on one of the early Merry tours, Jon thinks A CARESS OF TWILIGHT. Okay, he's sure, and I have no idea. But that entire tour must have been a blur because I don't remember the mountains or this huge lake. As in The Salt Lake. From the air the mountains are like Rocky Mountain big, and the lake is an inland sea and I remember none of it. The mountains are amazing, and they ring the entire city. How did I miss them?

Jon reminds me, that we'd had a late event the night before we came here last. We got in at two in the afternoon, did local publicity, then had the signing, then had to get up for a car and a plane at four in them morning. We had two hours of sleep the night before we hit Salt Lake, and that night. I guess you can get so tired you can miss an entire mountain range.

But we're trying something more relaxed for this tour. All Three of us actually got to have dinner at Howard Taylor's house last night. Howard Taylor who writes and draws Schlock Mercenary, one of our favorite on-line comics. We got to meet his charming family, and he made wonderful kabobs on the grill. We got to talk, and do relaxing visiting, which was very nice. Then Howard drove us back to the hotel, and we got to sleep at a reasonable hour. Yea!

This morning we did the Todd and Erin Show on KBEE-FM. It was fun, and Erin stated on mike that she was total fan-girling. Not true. She behaved herself just fine. It was a fun interview and Charles remarked later that he'd never seen a live radio interview before. Jon and I sort of looked at each other. We hadn't realized that Charles had never seen us do radio before. I think we're just getting so used to traveling with him that we forget how much tour he's not seen yet. So many new experiences await him. Let's hope he gets to skip all the bad ones we've had over the years and he gets to see only the bright and shiny.

Tonight is at the Barnes and Noble at 7:00 pm
Here's the address:
1104 East 2100 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84106

Fear

Fear like a cold wash across my skin. So scared, that it's hard to swallow past it, as if fear could be something solid and real on my tongue.

We are not going out for weeks this time. We are only doing three out of town events. We have days in between to rest, and do other things. That idea is hopefully going to translate into a more user friendly tour for us. For me, fine, for me. It will help everyone, but especially me, because I'm all chicken shit about tour.

I'm feeling pretty weak and wimpy today. I've done much better this time, I'm only freaking, really freaking, the day before the first plane ride. That's a vast improvement from where I started, but still . . . I'd like to be a little less frightened. Phobias are no respecter of logic. They thrive in a world of anti-logic. Shit.

I thought maybe, writing about the fear would lessen it. Sometimes writing a scene that's frightening helps get it out of my system. Violence and anger certainly can be cathartic on the page. But typing this is not helping me much. A little, I guess, pulse rate's down, a wee calmer. Deep breaths, slow, even, deep breaths.

I'm going to go and start getting ready for tomorrow. But first I'll do something ordinary and simple to try and stop the frantic train of my thoughts. Brushing teeth is good, or putting on make-up. Anything that is familiar and causes you to concentrate on something physical, preferably something that holds no great emotional baggage, because there is already way too much emotional baggage in my arms. Put it down, brush your teeth, brush your hair, anything like that. Better, now go, do what you need to do. It's okay. It'll be okay.

Less Rumors. More Facts

It was a Broadway musical kind of day. I started with, "The Producers", went to, "Chicago,". I meant to get back to my desk later in the day, but I'm afraid the spider bite is still kicking my butt. But, I did get BLOOD NOIR in the mail. It will be on my editor's desk next week. Very cool.

That was my goal, that before we went out on tour that BLOOD NOIR would be off my desk and onto someone else's. I can get on the plane on Sunday with a clear conscious and just concentrate on promoting A LICK OF FROST.

Oh, and the rumor that this is the last Merry book . . . Why do you guys do this rumor with every book? It doesn't seem to matter if it's an Anita book, or a Merry book, you guys say it's the last book in the series. Guys, if any book is ever the last book in a series I'll let you know. Okay? I wouldn't just send you out into the literary wilderness without a clue. Besides, do you guys really think either publisher wouldn't use the idea that something was the last book as a huge publicity hook? So, no worries, A LICK OF FROST, is book six, and I know that I can't wrap everything up in seven books, and frankly, I don't see how eight will do it. But if eight will do it, I'll let you know so you don't have to be surprised. And if I hear from Darla that you take this blog and put out that I've said that there will only be eight books in the Merry series, I will be severely disappointed in you. Because, you know that's not what I wrote here. I said, that I don't think I can bring this series in, in only eight books. Though, I admit, that there are days when the thought of only having one series to write, one book to deliver a year, is not a totally unappealing thought.

Monday: Salt Lake City. See you there.

LKH Bit 10/26/07

Tour Reminders and Update, Modern Library Top 100, Ron Lim joins Guilty Pleasures and Marvel Zombies Anita Variant cover, First Death Issue #2, Con Schedule for 2008


Tour Reminders and Update
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you to all who came out here in St. Louis! And thanks to Stray Rescue for coming out and bringing Edwina. What a doll she was!

Tuesday, October 23 MO
7:00 pm Talk & Signing
Borders Books & Music
ST. LOUIS, Brentwood, MO 63144
Store Phone: 314/918-8189

Monday, October 29—SALT LAKE CITY, UT
7:00 pm Talk & Signing
Barnes & Noble
1104 East 2100 South Salt Lake City, UT 84106
Store Phone: 801/463-2610


Thursday, November 1 SEATTLE, WA
7:00 pm Talk & Signing
University Bookstore
Location: University of Washington
Kane Hall, Room 210
Seattle, WA 98195
**Note: The event space is a short walk from the store. The store will be able to direct people to the auditorium from the store that night.
Also there is incorrect information on University Bookstore's website about needing a book purchase in order to get a book signed. That is not true, that will be removed shortly.

Laurell has been bumped out of the store by Bill Clinton, who will be signing at the store.


Saturday, November 3 PORTLAND, OR
Co-sponsored by Utah Humane Society and Project Pooch
1:00 pm Talk & Signing
Powell’s Books
3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd.
Beaverton, OR 97005


Laurell VS Bill Clinton
http://blue-succubus.livejournal.com/



Modern Library Top 100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/100bestnovels.html

Guilty Pleasures is #82 on the Readers List!


Interviews
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Laurell on Illusion Television
http://www.illusiontv.com/watch.php?bcpid=1213951056&bclid=1205099037&bctid=1232219647


Ron Lim joins Guilty Pleasures
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ron Lim Joins Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake
________________________________________
Ron Lim Joins Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake

Marvel is pleased to announce that fan favorite artist Ron Lim will be joining Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures as the series’ new artist with issue #8. The critically-acclaimed, top-selling series returns with Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures #7 (of 12), continuing the stunning adaptation of New York Times Best-Selling author Laurell K Hamilton’s popular novel. Lim will also provide a special, unannounced Zombie variant cover to Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake: First Death #2 (of 2), featuring Anita versus…well, you’ll just have to find out!

“We’re excited for fans to see the nuances of Laurell’s exciting world brought to life by Ron Lim,” said Marvel President & Publisher Dan Buckley. “We’ve enjoyed working with Brett Booth and wish him the best in his future endeavors. Just as Brett brought his own unique energy to this series, Ron will leave his own indelible mark on the series that continues to bring lots of new fans into comic stores. We’re just as excited as all the readers to experience more exciting stories of everyone’s favorite Vampire Hunter!”

And don’t miss the new printings of the sold-out Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures Vol.1, now with two gorgeous variant covers and only available at your local comic shop! Plus, the conclusion of Laurell K Hamilton’s all new Anita Blake story arrives this November in Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake: First Death #2 (of 2), concluding this special look into Anita’s past!


ANITA BLAKE, VAMPIRE HUNTER: GUILTY PLEASURES #7 (of 12) (JUL072208)
Written by LAURELL K. HAMILTON
Adapted by Jess Ruffner
Pencils & Cover by Brett Booth
Parental Advisory …$2.99
FOC—12/13/07, On-Sale—1/2/08

LAURELL K. HAMILTON'S ANITA BLAKE - VAMPIRE HUNTER: THE FIRST DEATH #2 (of 2) (JUN072203)
Written by LAURELL K. HAMILTON & JONATHON GREEN
Penciled by WELLINTON ALVES
Cover by BRETT BOOTH
Parental Advisory …$3.99
FOC—10/11/07, On-Sale—10/31/07

LAURELL K. HAMILTON'S ANITA BLAKE - VAMPIRE HUNTER: THE FIRST DEATH #2 (of 2) ZOMBIE VARIANT (AUG078126)
Written by LAURELL K. HAMILTON & JONATHON GREEN
Penciled by WELLINTON ALVES
Cover by RON LIM
Parental Advisory …$3.99
FOC—10/11/07, On-Sale—10/31/07

ANITA BLAKE, VAMPIRE HUNTER: GUILTY PLEASURES VOL. 1 HC NEW PRINTING ANITA VARIANT (JUL078185)
Written by LAURELL. K. HAMILTON
Adapted by STACIE RITCHIE AND JESS RUFFNER-BOOTH
Penciled by BRETT BOOTH
Cover by BRETT BOOTH
Parental Advisory …$19.99
On-Sale—NOW!

ANITA BLAKE, VAMPIRE HUNTER: GUILTY PLEASURES VOL. 1 HC NEW PRINTING JEAN CLAUDE VARIANT (JUL078186)
Written by LAURELL. K. HAMILTON
Adapted by STACIE RITCHIE AND JESS RUFFNER-BOOTH
Penciled by BRETT BOOTH
Cover by BRETT BOOTH
Parental Advisory …$19.99
On-Sale—NOW!
To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbookMarvel Comics is a division of Marvel Entertainment, Inc., a leading global character-based entertainment company that has developed and owns a library of more than 5,000 characters, which have entertained generations around the world for over 60 years. Marvel's operations are focused in entertainment and consumer product licensing and comic book publishing. Marvel Studios supports the development of feature films, DVD/video products and TV series. Marvel's creative team also supports the development of video games and toy lines based on its characters as well as for a broad and growing range of consumer products and services including apparel, collectibles, foods and promotions. Marvel's comic book division is a leading publisher in the global marketplace while also serving as an invaluable source of intellectual property. Marvel's Toy Biz division is a recognized creative force and leader in toy design, sales and marketing, developing and overseeing both licensee and in-house toy lines. For additional information visit http://www.marvel.com.FOR MORE INFORMATION AND/OR ARTWORK PLEASE CONTACT:Arune Singh
MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT
asingh@marvel.com

Check out the artwork: http://www.laurellkhamilton.org/Comic/RonLim.html

Incentive cover with Marvel Zombies: http://www.laurellkhamilton.org/Comic/tn_AnitaBlakeFirstDeath02LimVariant.jpg

First Death Issue #2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Death issue #2 - out 10/31/07.

Con Schedule 2008
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guest Of Honor - DragonCon 2008
August 29 - September 1, 2008
http://www.dragoncon.org/

Guest Of Honor - Archon 2008
October 3 - 5, 2008
http://www.archonstl.org/32/

That’s it for this bit! Happy Halloween! Happy Samhain!

Bill Clinton bumped me

Well, it's not everyone that can say that they've had their book signing bumped for a former President. Bill Clinton is going to be in Seattle on the night I was going to be, and at the same store.

Don't despair, guys. I'll still be there, just not at the store. We're going to have my signing at the auditorium where the Q & A was already scheduled. It's a short walk from the store, and the store employees will be happy to give you directions.

The store assured my publicist that they wouldn't have bumped me for anyone but a president. Okay.

Anyway below is the new information. We will see you there as scheduled, just a change of venue.

Thursday, November 1—SEATTLE, WA
7:00 pm
Talk & Signing
University Bookstore
Location: University of Washington
Kane Hall, Room 210
Seattle, WA 98195
**Note: The event space is a short walk from the store. The store will be able to direct people to the auditorium from the store that night.

Tuesday Night Photos

OK here are a bunch of Pictures from Tuesday Night's signing.

Many Thanks to Richard Nichols who took these.

First off is a nice picture of the crowd for the Q&A

Next is Laurell answering Questions.

Another shot of Laurell answering Questions. If you look close, you can see Me and Darla and a bit of Charles

The Line.

We also had a table for Stray Rescue of St. Louis. Our Animal Charity for this event.

Even nicer is that they brought Edwina. A Boxer-Sharpei Mix that was so good, that people didn't know she was there until she looked up at them with those soulful eyes and begged a belly rub off them.

I'll Let Laurell talk a bit more about the signing later.

Tonight

We're only minutes from the car picking us up, and taking us to the first signing for A LICK OF FROST. There is something in the air that reminds me of the first night of a play. You wait in the wings. You hear the audience filling up the seats. You peek around the curtain. Sometimes, there's hardly anyone and you have to go on for the play. You have to give the performance for yourself, and for the other performers, the director, and all the behind the scenes people that put sweat and effort into this night. Other times, the crowd is amazing, and you play to that energy. But empty, or full, eager, or not; the play is the thing. The show is the thing. The performance is the thing.

The doctor was happy today, which made me happy. I'm still hurting, but it's better, but hurting, or not, I'd be here tonight. I'll be there. Jonathon, Charles, Darla, and I, will be there. All the months of effort, all the lonely hours when I wasn't sure the book was working, or if I was lost in the maze of plot and character, comes down to this. To the book being on the shelves and you being able to buy it. You finally, all of you, being able to read it. To experience it. This is the moment that it's all been working towards. But, it's also about the signings; about seeing you guys in person. It's about grabbing the microphone and answering your questions. It's about seeing you guys across the country. It's how as we get further away from this first day, that more and more of you have finished the book, and your questions change, grow, and spoilers are so dangerous.

Tonight we're here in St. Louis, in our home town. Next stop will be Salt Lake City, Utah. For those who have been reading my blog and wondering if that arachnid attack was going to stop me from seeing you on the road, no worries, I'll be there.

Tomorrow is D-Day for A Lick of Frost

Tomorrow is it. A LICK OF FROST will finally be on the shelves, and you will finally get to read it. In a few days, or weeks, enough of you will have read it that I could talk about it in person, but by then I think we'll be back from tour. The only downside to a short tour. Those of you who read very fast please bear in mind that others do not, or had to be at work, or school, between now and tomorrow's signing. No giving away spoilers.

Everybody behave. We'll see you tomorrow evening. Door prizes, Q & A, and the signing. We'll be at Brentwood, Borders at 7:00, though most of you probably already know all the above. But there are always those who swear they didn't know, so I'll share here just to be safe. I'm to bed. I've had a full day of interviews, and still not a hundred percent from that damned bite. I'm supposed to see the doc tomorrow before I see all of you. G'night, all.

Trying to get the right mind set

I'm trying to do a blog today in hopes of getting my head back in a working space rather than a sick-leave space. I'm feeling pretty pitiful today. Unless the bite looks better tomorrow we're going to have to go back into the doctor. I'm really not wanting to do that, but I will, if it's called for. And no, it's not the worst case scenario, if it looked that bad I'd go to the emergency room. Promise.

Jon and I need to finish up at least two of the pending interviews. If I do go to the doc tomorrow then I need to recheck the time when that phone interview is coming in. We have three outstanding interviews due by Tuesday when A LICK OF FROST, hits the stores. So at least two today, though we might have to settle for one depending on how I'm feeling. Of course, what isn't finished today will have to be finished tomorrow, so, it's a sort of borrowing from Paul to pay Peter situation.

But more bothersome to me on the amount of time and energy necessary is that there is at least one scene in BLOOD NOIR that needs a bit of rewriting, and one major scene that needs written and put in. Doing interviews where someone asks me the question, in this case Jon, and I dictate or help type my answer, takes less creative energy than writing a scene from scratch. But I really need this book in New York before I hit tour. To be this close to finished and have to step up to concentrate on Merry, and the whole rigmarole of tour would kill the momentum I've built up. I just can't do that again. Not when I'm one rewrite and a new scene and it would be done. Yeah, there's some dialogue that needs changed, maybe a minor character that need cut here and used later, oh, shit. She does need cut and I need to replace her interaction with Anita with the other woman. Damn.

Okay, two rewritten scenes and one new one. Sigh.

I hoped by blogging today, it would put me in a better frame of mind for it all. Honestly, I think I feel tireder now. Have I eaten breakfast? No, I don't think I have. But I slept in some, and I'm only on my second cup of tea. Tea, or coffee, two cups is minimum for being a thinking human being. I've actually asked my accountant if I could deduct the coffee and tea expenses from my taxes, because it is an essential part of my working routine. She says, no. Music is also not deductible, even though I always write to it. I'm going to go huddle around my mug of hot liquid. You guys have a good Sunday.

Almost done with one, about to tour for another

A lot of you fans down under have wanted me to go to Australia. The first obstacle is the long plane ride. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to be on a plane that long without running screaming. But the second is going to have to be the venomous wildlife. The Brown Recluse bite is painful, getting better, but it has seriously been no fun. I know you Aussies have spiders over there that make a brown recluse look like a gentle kiss. I never want to be bitten by anything more potent than this.

Sorry, I'm just feeling pitiful. I will now officially stop. I only allow myself so much self-pity in a day. If you don't put a limit on it, that particular emotion can get out of hand.

Completed three interviews today. E-mail interviews are a wonderful thing, it means you can finish at your leisure and aren't on the phone all day. Though I've got a phone one coming up on Monday. I won't tell you who the interviews are until I know when you can see them and where. Some of you guys pester Darla and the other mods, if I give you some info, but not enough. I'll let you know when we know when and where you can see the interviews.

Am deep into the final go through of BLOOD NOIR. Finished one of the scenes I'd waited on, need one more, then it's done. I'm hoping to get it off to New York on Monday. We're gearing up for the tour for A LICK OF FROST. Jon, Charles, and I, are starting to discuss the last few details of the trip. We'll be seeing you guys soon out on the road.

The Show Must Go On

For all those who were at the Wolf Howl last night, I'm feeling better. I think I just pushed it too much with the spider bite and all. But, honest, I'm better than when you last saw me. Just tired, and yes, it is still hurting, but that's the nature of the beast.

Several of you asked why didn't I cancel last night? Well, I knew people had flown in out of state for one thing. Another is the Wild Canid Center is a great place, and one of my favorite charities so I couldn't let them down. I also couldn't let all of you guys who got tickets down. The show must go on, really is one of my mottoes.

I'm glad I made it, and you guys got your questions answered, and the reading. You can see why you will probably be the only audience I read this to. In book stores they tend to put you on microphone over the store, and I am not reading those chapters where children might over hear. Parents should be able to decide when their kids learn the facts of life, not some accidentally overheard reading by an author. Nifty scene though, isn't it?

I'm off to bed. The bite looks better every day. I'm just hoping it's completely well by the day of the book on sale for A LICK OF FROST. That would be really, really nice.

Wolf howl

She you guys at the wolf howl tonight. Sorry that we have to limit tickets, but the wolves get spooked otherwise. See you in about an hour.

Brown Recluse

You guys are getting two blogs today. I'm spoiling you, but, I figured I couldn't leave you with me going to the doctor about the spider bite without telling you what I've learned.

I have been envenomated. Couldn't resist using the word. I mean how often do you have a reason to use such a cool word? It was a brown recluse. Let me say, that the bites do hurt. I've never felt anything quite like it. I'm on heavy duty anti-biotic, and we wait. We see what it's going to do. My doctor has already recommended a plastic surgeon, just in case. I have a list of things to look for that will be the clue to call the surgeon. I'm really, really hoping not to need that number.

One of the most disturbing things about the whole thing is that I got bit during the day yesterday. I know that because when I undressed for bed I found the bite. Already swollen, already unpleasant looking. So, sometime during my day while I moved about my house some big, freaking, spider crawled around on me, and bit me. And I never felt a thing until that night when I found the bite. It didn't even start to hurt until bedtime. Or maybe spider bites are like cuts; it doesn't hurt until you see it bleed.

We've already talked to the exterminators about coming in for another round of spraying. And yes, I will have to be out of the house for five days after they do it. Peachy.

Tomorrow is the Wolf Howl here in St. Louis. I'll be there. No worries.

And on the same topic, I told Darla to get the word out that the reading tomorrow is so very not kid safe. I've broken my rule and put a sex scene in the first thirty pages of the book. Which means I'll be reading at least part of the sex scene to you guys tomorrow. Again, breaking a rule of mine. What rule? No reading sex scenes in front of a mixed sex group. But, you know what? I argued with this book and my characters that I didn't want a sex scene that early in the book, and the characters win. One of the things that made this book so difficult was that I was fighting with the characters. I've stopped fighting. I'm going back through and filling in the blanks of the scenes I skipped because of artistic differences between me and my fictional friends.

I actually did four pages today. I was pretty impressed by that considering the day and it's events. Part of the incentive is that one of the scenes I left blank is in the first part of the book. Yes, that means I have to finish the scene or I'll be reading tomorrow and have to say, oops, don't have that yet. Performance anxiety, who me?

Anyway, I'm going to finish this up, and go to bed. It has been a long, stressful, pain-filled day. I freaked some, but after I'd done everything I could about the bite, and was left with only being able to watch and wait, I was strangely calm. Calm and centered, oddly. Is it that a sign of maturity or shock?

I wasn't sure if I'd be able to work at all today, but I knew one thing. If I didn't put my butt in my desk chair and try to write, I would absolutely get nothing done. So, Jon and I made a deal. I'd go try to work for an hour, and if I couldn't get anything done, then I'd quite for the day. But an hour later, almost exactly, I had four pages, and some notes for five. Cool.

I got out the Nine Inch Nails again. It seems my music of stress for this book. Hell, it's always my music of stress. It's the late night, and I need to finish sound track. It's the, something fucking hurts, but the deadline looms music. It's playing for me right now.

Those four pages were part of the sex scene I'd been putting off. It reads just fine. Sometimes pain works for me, and scare me badly enough and I'll translate it to sex, or violence, or both. Take your pain, put it into harness, make that bitch work for you. I do.

The Anxiety begins

The anxiety made it's first rush at me yesterday. I thought I fought it off and was okay, but last night I had an anxiety dream. So, in the front of my head I was calm, but the back of my head was still struggling; apparently.

What was the dream?

I dreamed that Jon and I were traveling for . . . something. Hmm, whatever could my subconscious be thinking we would be getting on a plane for? Let me think. Anyway, we were in an airport, but we were not alone. Charles wasn't with us, strangely, I guess he'll have to earn his subconscious stripes by actually going on a full blown tour some day. But wait, he's going to be doing just that in a few days. But we did have a traveling companion. It was an actor. I won't mention his name because God forbid I meet him, and he says to me, I heard you had a dream about me. Too awkward. And before you think I'm being all hubris about some actor actually knowing my blog, let's just say that caution was never wasted when it comes to embarrassing moments.


But the important thing about the actor is that he's handsome and looks very Mid-Eastern. Okay, I guess the handsome part isn't really important, but it's pleasant eye-candy, and in the middle of an anxiety dream I needed all the comfort I could get.

Jon and I are at an airport with this actor. We're having a pleasant conversation. In fact, Jon and I are chatting him up and as often happens in dreams we are suave, and persuasive, and the actor is agreeable. If it had been a sexual fantasy dream it would have been a promising beginning. But while we're having this nice conversation we are also in the airport. We get pulled out for special security search. Apparently, by this part of the dream the actor is traveling with us. So when he gets pulled out, we do, too. We get patted down. Luggage searched. Twice in that one airport.

It reminded me of the tour for, "Narcissus in Chains", which was just after 9/11. Our one way tickets to most of the major cities meant we got searched a lot. The record for one airport was four times, before we were allowed to board the plane.

We finally got on the plane. Not my favorite thing, but we continue to have this nice conversation with the nice actor. Then we have to have a lay over in another airport before boarding another plane. Again, security pulls us all aside.

The dream was an endless stream of airports. We ate at airport food areas. We were searched at every security point. We had lay over after lay over in different airports, and got on numerous planes. We were finally left stranded in an airport because of something. By that time Jon, the actor, and me, were just looking for any place to stretch out and try and rest. Of course, it's an airport and there is no comfortable place to go. I think we were searching for one when real morning came.

I understand the airport and the security searches. We're about to go on tour and it's an anxiety dream. But why the actor? Why did he get to go with Jon and I? Was it just something pleasant that my subconscious threw in, so we'd have someone to chat with while I was freaking? Maybe. Strangely, it wasn't even an actor that I've seen in anything recently. Hmm.

Oh, and another reason why I might have had the anxiety dream besides tour, is that I've been bitten. Is it a brown recluse? I don't' know. I know I've never had a bite like it. I found it just before bed last night. It is painful, swollen, and I'll be seeing a doctor today. I guess if I had to have anxiety dreams last night that traveling in airports with my lovely husband and a handsome actor wasn't the worst my subconscious could have chosen. At least I didn't dream about spiders.

Spoiler for THE SEEKER

This is a spoiler alert. I mean a serious spoiler alert. It's a spoiler about the new movie THE SEEKER, which is based on the book, THE DARK IS RISING, by Susan Cooper. So anyone that wants to see the movie and not have major plot points spoiled, stop reading now.

I mean it. I am about to give away major stuff.

Still with me? All right then, you have been warned.

Oh, and for those who have read the book, and think you know all the plot points that will be in the movie, no, you don't. Sadly, the movie added plot points that aren't in the book, and just screwed with it.

THE DARK IS RISING is one of my favorite books. It remains in the top twenty favorites for me and has for years, so admittedly I was somewhat invested in the book. I could have even forgiven them if they'd left the book plot behind and simply made a good movie. Sadly, they didn't manage that either.

About an hour in to the movie Jon, Richard, and I, all decided we were bored, no longer cared, and were beginning to be actively pissed off. What pissed us off?

Well, first of all this book is based on Celtic myth and legend, for the most part. Here comes a spoiler. There is a scene where a bad guy turns into snakes. Snakes are a goddess symbol and are not seen as evil in Celtic myth. I'm particularly miffed about that being Wiccan with a Celtic bent myself. Snakes represent healing, new life, the shedding of the old and the coming of the new, wisdom, and a plethora of positive things. There is no bad snake scene in the book, damnit.

The DP (director of photography) was in love with weird camera angles. The editor seemed in love with them, too. I'm not sure what the director was doing, or who was in charge of the 'vision' of the movie. Sadly, the movie was pretty, but pretty doesn't make it a good or interesting story. Even more sadly, there was a lot of money on the screen, and some really nice acting jobs going on, but the story was slow, and we were all bored.

We were so bored that we all three agreed to leave the theatre without seeing all the movie. I was going to sit it out, but then the scene that made me, and all of us, get up and leave in disgust happened. Not as in disgust as in icky, but in you have got to be kidding me. Will, who is now a fourteen-year-old, not the eleven-year-old of the book (I was okay with them upping the age, but harping on the whole puberty thing got way old.), but the fourteen-year-old Will stands outside in the snow and using his "powers" over the elements starts blowing shit up. I am not joking. I wish I was. Will uses fire to blow up a tree and an old windmill. I mean like major pyrotechnics. It was expensive, and it was flashy, and it had nothing to do with the book. Also, it made me think way less of Will, and wonder why the fire department, or the police weren't showing up to see what the hell was going on. I mean come on people. And what kind of Goddess centered, Celtic magic using person blows up a helpless, harmless tree?

This movie reminds me, once again, why I don't have a movie of my books made, yet. Because I live in fear that I will be sitting in the dark at the premiere, and an hour in, I will want to walk out in disgust. God forbid.

A good movie, or a good television show, of my books would be cool, but the lovely piece of shat we saw tonight, makes me despair.

Almost

I wrote this yesterday and just never got it posted, so here it is.

Thirty-two pages. When I get up tomorrow just a few pages of transition and the book is done. Well, okay, there's a sex scene earlier to finish, and another scene that needs changed because of things that happened later. But I'm maybe two to three day's work from done.

Darla said that a beginning writer wrote in saying that I made writing seem so hard. I don't mean to make it sound hard, but it is hard. Every job is hard. It's just a matter of weighing the joy of your work with the crap quotient of your work. Because there isn't a job on the planet that doesn't come with crap. Trust me. The reality of a job is always different from the fantasy.

This has been a very frustrating book, it has. But in the end there is joy. Do you know why I went back to a second round of writing this afternoon, which I rarely do anymore? Because I'd left one of my fictional friends hurt, very hurt, and I had to get the bleeding stopped before I could rest for the day. I had to make them better, help them, before I could rest. Helping them, led to killing some bad guys, and that was very satisfying. I've gone from being all doom and gloom about this book to happy with it. I try not to be, but I am an artsy-fartsy gloomy bastard. It's sort of part of the job description of writer.

This is from today: I've typed the last line of the book. Now I'm going back to scenes that need to change because of some of the things that happened at the end. Did I get surprised by this book? Yes. Am I happy with it? Yes. Am I glad to be almost done? Oh, yes. But it's like that with every book. Elation, relief, a sort of euphoria, then the endorphins ebb and you get that tiredness. That, I'm ready for something quiet and restful. Once all the changes get finished, and I've gotten through the tour for A LICK OF FROST, I think the priority is finding what refuels the tank. Oh, and there is going to have to be an out of town research trip before this book can be put to bed. I almost forgot about that. I'll also have to talk more with law enforcement to make sure I haven't gotten things wrong. Apparently, the endorphins are still swimming around, because those last few sentences didn't fill me with anxiety. Swim, you little dolphins, swim!

The dark and gloomies

My goal for the day: I will not be a gloomy bastard. I woke up in one of those grumpy moods. I immediately rolled over in bed and shared that mood with Jon. I didn't realize that was what I was doing. I thought I was talking. I thought I was sharing how we need to get back into an exercise routine. Which we do need to do, but that wasn't really what I was doing. I was simply finding a real issue to hang my bad mood on, then spread it around.

One of the plus sides to Jon and I doing good therapy speak is that before we got out of bed for the day I figured out I was in my gloomy bastard mode, and that I was actually looking for reasons for the mood. I don't know about you, but just being in a bad mood for no reason bugs me, so I find reasons for it. There's always something if you look hard enough, right? Right.

But, when I realized, and Jon realized, though he realized first, that it was a mood, I started to try and get a handle on it. A handle that did not include sharing the doom and gloom of it with others. I don't know why every once in awhile I wake up in that dark mood. Not a happy dark mood, where you can enjoy the nightmarish thoughts, or use them in the next book, but just a mundane dark mood where you feel crappy that you've let your exercise routine slide. The kind of mood where you beat yourself up about not walking the dog as much as he needs. The sort of mood where the small failures of every day loom as big as giants, blocking out the sun, and darkening everything below them.

One of the good things about this kind of dark mood is that most of the things on the list can be fixed. I can go down and use the weights today. I can walk the dog. Part of the mood came from the fact that Jon and I have been taking turns being injured, or ill. Little illness, and lesser injuries, but they still are one more hurdle to cross in the continue saga of trying to get a routine in our exercise routine. Right now, Jon has a sprained ankle. Not a bad sprain, but bad enough. But it is getting better.

I am going to try to make a deal with myself. Between the injuries, illnesses, business, oh, and writing a book, and other things, I am going to try and cut myself some slack. I'm really not good at that, but here goes. It is unlikely that between now and early November when we have our last trip for A LICK OF FROST that we will be able to get into a exercise routine and stick to it. I do tend when I have something looming schedule wise that is going to throw everything helter-skelter to pick that moment to get back in a routine in the gym. Which means we exercise for a few weeks then the big disruption happens, and we get out of the habit. By the time we come off the big disruption, in this case tour, we're wrecked and it takes a couple of weeks to recover. So there's even less incentive to exercise. Other than that whole health benefit, and fitting comfortable into clothes, and being able to use your body without hurting yourself. Did I mention staving off early heart attacks? I mean there are incentives to exercise, but it is so hard to fit it into everyday life.

So here comes the slack. I will not fret about our exercise routine, or lack thereof, until early November when we have survived tour. I will not beat myself, or anyone else up because we are not doing it. I will let it go until early November. I think that only that will be sanity. Tour makes me nervous, it just does. So I have to put that nervous energy somewhere. So I want to exercise more. That only works if we've got a plan in place and we really have let it go again. But instead of feeling bad about that, I'm simply going to let it ride until we get past the disruption of tour, then we'll figure out a routine, when there's a routine to work with.

I am nervous about tour. I am trying to take it out on other things, but at the heart of it, that's it. Damn. I keep thinking I'm better, then I realize that my nerves are looking for a mood to attach to, a reason that seems more reasonable than being nervous about tour. I'm better at flying, but I don't' like it. I'm better at a lot of things, but I still don't like them. Sigh.

Now that I can't pretend that the dark and gloomies is about not working out the way that I want us to be doing, I'm back to having to face why I'm really gloomy. Hmm. Well, at least knowing where the mood comes from will keep me from spreading it around and driving everyone else crazy with my scheme to get us all in shape. I'll get us all in shape in November for real, and not just because I need something to obsess about to take my mind off my phobias that I will have to face all too soon.

BLOOD NOIR really is close to the end. I had to call the friendly police I know and ask questions yesterday. I called Charles, but got his machine, so called my friend Shawn. He was able to answer my questions. What questions? If I told you that it might give away the climatic part of the mystery. When Charles called back later in the day, he jokingly accused me of cheating with another cop. Charles said, "But you've known him longer, right?" "Seventeen years, or maybe eighteen." "That would be longer." Indeed. I knew Shawn years before he wore a uniform or carried a badge. So convenient when your friends get jobs that help with your research.

I guess I just need to obsess about the book. If I just throw all that anxiety into work, then the book will be done sooner and I won't keep poking at everyone else with my mood. Now if I could just stop poking at me with the dark and gloomies, I'd have it made.

Keeping the eye on the goal

I started a blog, but it will take too long. I'll save the other blog for tomorrow when I've more time and energy to do it justice. My goal is bed before midnight tonight. So, towards that goal, I will leave you with only these few notes.

Progress on Blood Noir. If all goes well I may actually be done with the book before we have to start tour for A Lick of Frost. That would be lovely. It is a sort of torment to leave a book this close to the end and have to go off and talk about another one. Sort of like planning one wedding, but having to leave on the honeymoon with someone else, before you've cut the cake. All too confusing.

I'm off to bed. Pleasant dreams all.

Relaxing

Wrote this last night, but never got it posted.

I've been to the grocery store, and have dinner in the oven. I enjoy going to the grocery store. I even know why. Once a week my mother and I went out together. It was our day. She dropped me off at dance class, then we went out for lunch at a local cafeteria. I almost always had chicken and dumplings. Though, really the dumplings were big noodles. I'm from the deep south so dumplings are, well, doey dumplings, not noodles. But it was still good. We'd talk and have lunch, though as a six-year-old I can't remember what we talked about. It was about being with my mother, not about what we did. I find that that is true even as an adult. The people you really love, it's not what you do most of the time, but that you do it together.

But we went to the grocery store together. We also went to the Laundromat, but she didn't always take me to that. I think I wasn't much help, but more of a hindrance. But the grocery store was riding in the cart, and buying stuff, and just being with my mother. I have a deep affection for grocery stores to this day, and I find them deeply relaxing most of the time. For awhile I was letting other people shop for me, but though that was nice, I found it strangely unsatisfying. Also, I'd have to tell them what to buy, since Jon and I do the cooking. It ended up being sort of stressful. Sometimes more hands do not light work make.

Jon was over in the new addition doing what he needed to do. Trinity was upstairs doing her thing. So, with no one that I had to visit with, I got my Bose headset, and listened to Sarah McLaughlin while I cooked. I rarely work to her, but I find her very relaxing. She's one of the few artists that I can listen to on a plane and it actual helps me feel less panicked. She's just a good sound to listen to, when you want to quiet the mind and get back to your center.

I actually did listen to her at work today. Seven pages to keep, and three pages of notes. I didn't choose choice a, or choice b, for the mystery. I came up with a choice c, and I think it works. But the true test is how it flies on paper tomorrow. They say the proof is in the pudding. I say the proof is eating the pudding. I'll try a bite of this new plot line tomorrow.

Interviews finished, but book still stalled

Feeling better today. Finished up two interviews. One was due and the other almost due, so I thought why not do both. Besides, it was a way of working without having to work on the book. I still can't decide which way to jump on the mystery. Depending on this scene and who is in jeopardy will change the last part of the book quite a lot. I've puzzled and puzzled 'til my puzzler is sore, and I still don't know.

It's not like me to be this indecisive. It usually means either I've lost my way in the plot; fallen down a rabbit hole and am totally not where I'm supposed to be; or, that some external thing is messing with my concentration. Oh, A LICK OF FROST is about to hit in the next few weeks. It may be that. We're only doing four events, at my insistence, they'd have put us on the road for weeks, but it's still flying and travel and so many things I don't like. Is that it? I'd thought I'd gotten better at dealing with things? Hmm.

There are other things that I can't share here, some are too personal, some are not my personal stuff but people I know and I don't share other people's secrets on the web.

I'd hoped with adding Charles to our little travel group that that would take a lot of the stress. It has helped, but, no amount of security can help me conquer phobias. More's the pity. Frankly, it doesn't feel like the travel is the problem. If I figure it out, and it's nothing too horribly personal, I'll let you know.

Good night

Jon and I have both been under the weather. Which nicely derailed the progress I had made on the book. I still know exactly the scene and what comes next, but I have two choices of which branch the mystery follows, and I bloody can't decide. But feeling a wee unwell makes all decisions feel hard.

We watched more of The Last Detective with Peter Davison. We watched Lilo and Stich. Trin is with us this weekend. I finally had had all I could stand of being on the couch and watching T. V., so I went down and got on the treadmill. In some ways I felt better, but a little over thirty minutes into the workout, I started feeling dizzy and nauseous and unwell. Thirty minutes is not enough to make me feel like that, but when you're sick you probably shouldn't work out. Heck, I often don't work out if the day's work expands too much. So why today already feeling unwell did I get on the treadmill? Stubbornness? Well, yeah, but, also, I just couldn't take it anymore. Do you ever have one of those moments when you have to do something physical or you'll just run screaming. So better to run on the treadmill than in the street. Less for the neighbors to get all weird about.

It was a sort of claustrophobic day. Not sure why. Just ill enough to not have any energy, but not ill enough to really enjoy the laying about.

Anyway, we're off to bed. I hear our dulcet darling moving about upstairs. She should have been in bed, asleep, some time ago. Trin is now and always has been a late night person. She gets a second wind about nine or ten and can go for hours. She's not really a fan of mornings. But our little night owl lives in a world of morning larks, as don't we all, so we pretend. We pretend that we all have the same bio rhythms. Which we so do not. Anyway, we're off to put our little owl in bed, and we sickly ones to our bed.

Marvel News 10/05/2007

Ron Lim’s Anita Blake Zombie Variant Revealed!

Marvel is proud to unveil fan favorite artist Ron Lim’s exciting new Zombie variant cover to Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake: The First Death #2 (of 2). This not only marks the first time that Anita Blake has appeared with other Marvel characters, but also introduces the first piece of published Anita Blake art by Ron Lim! The artist joins the acclaimed Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures limited series with issue #8, but this is your first chance to see his dynamic rendition of everyone’s favorite vampire hunter!

As this brand new story by New York Times best-selling author Laurell K. Hamilton concludes, readers will learn secrets from Anita’s past as she and Edward hunt a deadly killer. How far will Anita go to ensure justice is done? Find out in Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake: The First Death #2, now featuring a special Zombie variant cover by Ron Lim!

LAURELL K. HAMILTON'S ANITA BLAKE - VAMPIRE HUNTER: THE FIRST DEATH #2 (of 2) (JUN072203)


Written by LAURELL K. HAMILTON & JONATHON GREEN

Penciled by WELLINTON ALVES

Cover by BRETT BOOTH

Parental Advisory …$3.99

FOC—10/11/07, On-Sale—10/31/07

LAURELL K. HAMILTON'S ANITA BLAKE - VAMPIRE HUNTER: THE FIRST DEATH #2 (of 2) ZOMBIE VARIANT (AUG078126)

Written by LAURELL K. HAMILTON & JONATHON GREEN

Penciled by WELLINTON ALVES

Cover by RON LIM

Parental Advisory …$3.99

FOC—10/11/07, On-Sale—10/31/07

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook

Marvel Comics is a division of Marvel Entertainment, Inc., a leading global character-based entertainment company that has developed and owns a library of more than 5,000 characters, which have entertained generations around the world for over 60 years. Marvel's operations are focused in entertainment and consumer product licensing and comic book publishing. Marvel Studios supports the development of feature films, DVD/video products and TV series. Marvel's creative team also supports the development of video games and toy lines based on its characters as well as for a broad and growing range of consumer products and services including apparel, collectibles, foods and promotions. Marvel's comic book division is a leading publisher in the global marketplace while also serving as an invaluable source of intellectual property. Marvel's Toy Biz division is a recognized creative force and leader in toy design, sales and marketing, developing and overseeing both licensee and in-house toy lines. For additional information visit http://www.marvel.com.

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Coping skills

The writing has not been going well the last few days. Not well, at all. I'd tried all the usual tricks to get me through this part of the book. Christmas music, Broadway Musicals, changing desks, changing entire rooms, writing long hand in my writer's notebook, writing on the computer a sort of open letter to my characters asking them what they thought was wrong. Sometimes it's a plea to a particular character if they seem to be holding things up. You know, what do you want from me kind of letter. The kind of letter you are usually supposed to write to estranged relatives or boyfriends that are driving you nuts. I guess it's a good thing that my most difficult relationships are usually fictional, but it's still frustrating.

Imagine if your job depended on getting your most difficult co-worker to cooperate, and you'll have some idea. Add a dash of romance, or you being their confidant for their romances, and you have some idea how it is dealing with fictional people that have a mind of their own.

I think the book stalled out because it wanted to be a thousand pages, and I told it, that wasn't possible. Jason agreed with me that he didn't want his book shagnhied by some sub-plot. So, there we were some of my characters in agreement with me, and some not. It's like being on a damn jury sometimes. Or trying to drive cross country on vacation where everyone gets to give directions.

It's been a wee bit frustrating. Okay, a lot frustrating.

Finally, yesterday I did my last ditch effort. What does that mean? It means I sat on the couch with my notebook, and wrote. Now that doesn't sound very different from writing in my office in the notebook, does it. The difference is that I put in a DVD and let it run while I write. Only some DVD's will work for this. I don't know why some work and some don't, but for this I am particularly fond of the Mystery series of Miss Marple movies, the original with Joan Hickson. Some Poirot's with David Suchet work, as well. What I put in yesterday was The Last Detective staring Peter Davison. Some Disney movies will work; Beauty and the Beast, Lady and the Tramp, The Ugly Dachshund, and The Great Mouse Detective. Those are some I remember using over the years. It has to be a gentle movie, if you understand the definition. And it usually has to be something I've seen before, so I won't do more movie watching then writing. But yesterday I had to actually put in something I'd never seen before, and knew I wanted to see. The idea is to sort of trick myself into writing. I only do this when I am almost stumped. It's the closest I get to the dreaded writer's block.

But if I can convince myself that I'm actually watching a movie and relaxing on the couch. I sort of get out of my own way, because I'm not trying to work. The notebook is just there. I know it's sort of like lying to yourself. I mean, obviously, I am intending to write because the notebook and pen are there. I've carefully chosen a movie that will help me be entertained but not distract me completely. But it's like any good coping mechanism, it works.

I wrote several pages in my notebook. Then the next morning I typed in the notes. It was enough to get me going, so that when I ran out of already written words, I was well on my way. I turned a handful of notes into eleven real pages of book. I also wrote through the scene that had driven me crazy for days. I know exactly what the next scene is, and it's an action scene so I'm done with the emotional wound shit for awhile. Boy, am I glad to be through this part, and back on the mystery.

You know that song that gets stuck in your head?

You ever have one of those songs stuck in your head. You keep humming it, and can't remember what the name is, or where you last heard it, or any of the lyrics. I guess we've all done it. Well, this morning I'm humming this song. I keep trying to figure out what it is, and finally, I realize that I am humming a slow, almost waltz version of "Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer." What the hell?

I can't even remember when I last heard the song. It certainly isn't one of my favorites, but it is going through my head on like repeat. It is a cheerful little tune. But I am left wondering, why this song? Is there some cosmic significance? Or is it just random brain noise that got picked up?

I'm going back to making pages, and humming my little song. I don't even have this song on any of my Christmas albums. Weird.

Rumors

The number one most persistent rumor is:

That the last Anita book, whatever book it is, was the last book, or that the current book I'm working on is the last book. This rumor flies constantly, and gets busier the closer a book gets to hitting the shelves. Once and for all, I have no plans to stop writing Anita. I'm still having way too much fun.

I do not live in the Addams' family mansion, or anything resembling it.

I do not have a dungeon with a bevy of sex slaves in it. The fact that this rumor keeps cropping up still amazes me.

And, I could not possibly be having as much sex as some of you guys are saying I am. I would never have time to write.

There is no movie, or television, deal signed and delivered. When I sign on the dotted line I will let you guys know. I promise.

I did not fire Brett Booth as my comic artist. He simply wanted to move on to other projects. If I had fired him, do you really think his wife, Jess, would still be willing to do the script adaptions on the comic? Or that Brett, himself, would still be willing to do some covers for us, and merch. Think it through guys.

A more recent rumor is that GUILTY PLEASURES is the last book under contract for comic adaption. Not true. GUILTY PLEASURES, THE LAUGHING CORPSE, and CIRCUS OF THE DAMNED, are all under contract with Marvel. Have you seen Ron Lim, my new artist's art work of my characters? It's pretty darn cool.


Oh, there's one more rumor that Darla brought to our attention. That I don't sign the books you guys send in to have me sign. If I wasn't having to sign all of them, you'd get the books returned faster in the mail. One of the delays is that some of you guys are sending in dozens of comics at a time. That takes a toll on my signing arm. The delays are so I can pace myself. If I could simply let others sign for me, you wouldn't have to wait so long for the return of your books.


I'm sure there are other rumors, but these are the ones where simply stating the truth should be enough to squelch them. Of course, a really good, or nasty, rumor seems to have a life of it's own. If people want to believe them, no amount of truth will change their minds, but when you hear these rumors on the net, you can tell the people saying it, that you have it from me personally, that it ain't so.

October Reminders

Just a few reminders and something new!

Open House at the Wolf Sanctuary: Open House October 6th & 7th. Contact the Sanctuary for more details. www.wolfsanctuary.org

The Wolf Howl is Wednesday October 17th, There are a few tickets left. They are $20 each. All funds raised go to the Sanctuary. (636)-938-5900 ask for Pam! Laurell will be reading from Blood Noir.

A Lick Of Frost comes out Tuesday October 23rd.

First Death comic issue #2 will be out 10/31/07.


Tour Dates and places:
Tuesday, October 23-ST. LOUIS, MO
7:00 pm
Talk & Signing
Borders Books & Music
Brentwood, MO 63144
Store Phone: 314/918-8189

Monday, October 29-SALT LAKE CITY, UT
7:00 pm
Talk & Signing
Barnes & Noble
1104 East 2100 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
Store Phone: 801/463-2610

Thursday, November 1-SEATTLE, WA
7:00 pm
Talk & Signing
University Bookstore
4326 University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
Store Phone: 206/634-3400

Saturday, November 3-PORTLAND, OR
1:00 pm
Talk & Signing
Powell's Books
3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd.
Beaverton, OR 97005


We had so much fun with The Harlequin Excuse note we kinda did it again. But it is for your Signifigant Other!

Find it in the pic section: www.myspace.com/laurellkhamilton

or

http://www.laurellkhamilton.org/ALOFExcuse.gif

Darla