Cogito ergo sum

I think therefore I am.

For me, it could just as easily be "I think I am" or Cogito sum, instead. Or maybe Cogito quae facio? Like the little engine that could?  (Reading lots of books to babies these days) Yes, my Latina lingua is rusty.  But I kind of feel that way--I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

While my agent shops my manuscript around New York (gods help her!) I've been busy with a new project.  Last week, I helped to launch Musa Publishing as part of a four-person partnership.  We're full of ideas these days, working 18-20 hours a day (six of that is my writing; I'll be honest) to create a small press that encompasses all the problems we identified within epublishing in our experience and addresses them.  I'm pretty excited--you can check out the work in progress at www.musapublishing.blogspot.com for yourself.

In the meantime, I'm putting the finishing touches on my steampunk Ripper story What a Pretty Necklace.  It might actually be more of a gaslight fantasy, but the setting of 1891 New York and the added benefit of Jack the Ripper scenes to satiate my lust for descriptive brutality is a lot of fun to deal with.  I really think..hesitantly at least...that this may be my new milieu.  The blend of technology, fantasy and history is pretty seductive to a girl like me. If you ever read this book and see the term *copperplate* applied to a JTR murder scene, run.  That's all I have to say.

Aside from that, things are starting to settle into a routine.  I'm not really talking about what happened with my last publisher, so don't ask.  I'll just say that I'm heartbroken at leaving, am completely tragic that I lost the imprints I'd work so hard to build up, and have resolved to move on without bitterness or recriminations.

Yep. The high road.  Me.  See? Cogito ergo sum.  I think, therefore I am--not playing that game.

And in the near future, you guys may be hearing more about Asphodel.  Just sayin'...

And Now For Something Completely Different...

...a not quite as serious post.  Ye olde blogge has been a little on the grim side as of late, so tonight while I loosen up my mind for a big writing binge that'll probably end up being an all-nighter, I thought I'd try to lighten things up a little bit with some random thoughts.

Random thought # 1--Just got done watching The Voice.  Christina--FIRE YOUR DRESSER. Child, you don't have any business prancing around in THAT outfit. EVER.  Those thighs were eating those pleather shorts. Seriously.

Oh, the singers?  For me no contest--the two bald ladies on Christina's team and the two guys on Blake's team. Best singer of the night--Beverly. Best performer of the night--Frenchie.  Best moment of the night--Ce Lo singing Queen. 

Random thought # 2--Two great things happened for me in the world of sports today. First, Tyrelle Pryor has ditched Ohio State for his senior season. (there is a God)  Then, Mike Hamilton, the alleged athletic director at my beloved University of Tennessee resigned. (there is a God who wears orange and white) Personally, I think this is a great thing for both schools.  Tennessee can now hire Phil Fulmer, who at least has integrity and knowledge of the area, and Ohio State can have the ultimate honor of me condescending to appear at one of their football games--which I swore I'd never do as long as Tyrelle *Mika Vick* Pryor played there.  That being said, now there are serious grumblings in Columbus on the nightly news about tens of thousands of dollars Pryor allegedly accepted, and people in Knoxville are tossing pictures of Lane Kiffin into bonfires built with Hamilton's office furniture.

Ah yes, a great day in the world of college football.  Now, if they'll only strip USC of their 2004 BCS Championship, my week will be perfect.

(Perfection attained in 3...2...1...)

Random Thought # 3--Right now, the cats are have a demolition derby in my living room.  The favorite and current points leader is Thor, the 5 month old kitten, who is outweighed by the next smallest competitor by at least four pounds.  The cats are all fine--it's the living room that's demolished.  Thor was chasing Sapphire, our sedentary, portly Siamese and they hit a pile of mail and papers on the desk.  Right now, our floor looks white instead of a warm, mellow aged oak color.

And because this is a perfect week, thanks to USC being stripped of their title, someone other than me is picking everything up.

And finally, Random Thought # 4--If I stick to my current writing schedule, What A Pretty Necklace will be completed in 6 days. Right now, Jack the Ripper and my ultimate villain are plotting the demise of my heroine--who, unfortunately for them, has developed a weapon they'll have no defense against.

Ah, steampunk!  I think I'm starting to like you.