Tuesday, January 06, 2009

The Sounds of Snow at Night and the Thoughts They Bring


It feels really strange.

Everything is very quiet outside, which is where I am blogging at the moment because for some reason I felt the need to have a cigarette at four in the morning. There's an ice storm on the way--the radar tells me so--and I can definitely smell it on the wind. That crisp, clean smell is unmistakable in these hills during the winter. I'm awake and even the darn cats are asleep. It's just strange.

I've been doing a lot of rewriting today on Breaking the Covenants, my co-writing project with Rob Graham. We made a lot of changes to the beginning of the story and I've been fine-combing the rest of the manuscript for continuity issues. So at the moment, I'm in a meticulous mood and an icy pre-dawn in the hills of Ohio is just about perfect for that.

Besides, blogging may help to clear my mind. I have a lot of work to get done today. I want to get Covenants done if at all possible and then get back to work on Deception. We'll see how long I can stay productive. Of course, I'd be a hell of a lot more productive if I'd stop clicking on the Preditor and Editors poll results page to see how I'm doing. If, for example, you wanted to go vote for my books it might help ease my mind.

You knew the shameless plug was coming. Don't act so surprised.

Interestingly enough, our ice storm is apparently starting as snow. I love the sound of snow falling. It's the ultimate silence at night; it's like the flakes filter out all the other nocturnal noise so that all you hear is just a miniscule brushing through the air. I imagine that I can hear it; I'm not sure if I really can, especially at a time like now when it's just beginning and everything is quiet anyway. I like to think that I can. It's a comforting, lovely sound.

Wish someone could bottle that. They came up with Febreeze--why not this? I'd buy it.

Yes, it feels very strange out tonight. But now that I have flakes of snow hitting my LCD screen and my rear is freezing in this swing, I think I'll head back in, make some coffee and get back to work. It's been a pleasure talking to you, as always.

Now go vote for my books.

*grin*

TWO shameless plugs in one post. Just wait until the voting period is nearing its end.