I missed out on the fun & professional inspiration of Genrecon this weekend, which would normally have been pretty depressing, but I got to hang out with my snuggly family and watch a bunch of black and white Doctor Who which was quite a major consolation.
In any case, without a convention to kickstart the last quarter of the year into gear, I have to find my own inspiration!
Firstly, I’m super excited by the first Twelfth Planet Press crowdfunded book, with Julia Rios joining Alisa as editor. This is Kaleidoscope, a book devoted to contemporary fantasy for YA readers which reflects the diversity of the world we live in. I’m writing a story to submit to that (as well as a bunch of other books) right now, with four deadlines between now and December. Eek!
The other big thing looming on the horizon is NaNoWriMo – I didn’t get to do it last year, but am determined to give it my all with a project I’ve been dying to devote some attention to. It’s called Space Station Musketeer. Yes, really!
If you’re Nano-ing, come along and add me to your friend list. It’s a great way to get up some writing momentum, and after my rather quiet chaotic parenting-more-than-writing year I am feeling the need to lay down some serious wordcount.
It’s going to be a busy couple of months! Jem has dropped a daycare day because we’re gearing up for next year’s kindergarten (HOORAY) and there’s a whole bunch of pre-kinder sessions to factor in. I’m also trying to lure her into dropping kindergym for Wrigglers, which is proper gym classes and requires me to sit in a chair with a book nearby instead of actually taking her around all the equipment.
Still, not having Monday mornings to myself is going to hurt a bit, and it’s only just sinking in.
Plus, it’s that time of year where the days speed by and suddenly it’s Christmas. Raeli is fretting about this time thing. Ever since her Dad (THANKS HON) told her that scientists believe time might be speeding up, she lies there at night and worries about how fast everything is going. Grade three is almost over, after all.
I’m loving having an eight-year-old. Sure, they’re cute when they’re little, but I am really enjoying my earnest, giggly, thoughtful big girl. Also she does things like getting dressed for school an hour early, because of being excited the holidays are over. How awesome is that? We’re reading Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones at the moment, a chapter a night, and though there are a few bits that are scarier than I remember, it’s wonderful to share it with her.
4-year-old Jem on the other hand is a whirlwind of tantrums, kicking, and to cap it all off is now refusing to eat peas, the one vegetable that previously the ENTIRE family was happy with. But she and Raeli adore each other and play together very nicely most of the time (when not fighting… okay sometimes while fighting) and I give a lot (probably far too much) of kudos to a four year old who refuses to watch cartoons when there is black and white Doctor Who to choose from.
Yesterday, it rained a lot, but whenever the sun came out, the girls were outside in their pyjamas, riding bikes. I could hear Raeli over and over, instructing Jem on how to pedal properly, with so much patience. I don’t know where she gets that from!