Dr. Catherine Schaff-Stump

Tomorrow I lay the pipe for big action. I've started with a strong action sequence, and moved into several establishing bits, and now I need to pull the readers back in for some excitement. This sequence will probably need a lot of rewrites, but I'm looking forward to writing it, as I get to feel out the third (and the fourth!) parties in the book. Also, it moves the kids to the forefront, as the adults will become, shall we say, indisposed.

Bryon's working on the computer tonight, installing some software. That means what I have for you is word count, but no pictures. We'll get back to those as soon as possible.

***

Finally, you might have noticed from my Appearances page that I will be in Denver this weekend at Starfest. We plan to visit some friends, and while I won't be there in any authorly capacity, I'd be happy to meet any of you who lived in the area and were so inclined.

***

It's probably time to revisit that Death by Drowning short story concept I have too, since Abyss and Apex is open for submission in May. Yup.

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

One of my favorite writing places in the world, Query Tracker is offering a very Twitter-like contest today. Agent Joanna Stampfel-Volpe is running a one-line hook contest.

Make sure you follow all the directions.

Catherine

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

Happiest of Easters to those of you who celebrate, religiously or secularly!

I lost yesterday's work in revision, due to sloppy saving on my part, so yesterday was doing that again, and moving a bit forward. Today was all new. I thought that this would be a nice bit to share. Grant and his brother David are saving a kid on the bus from bullies.

Grant knew what they saw wasn’t a gray troll with wings and a midnight blue troll about seven feet tall. Their grandparents probably would. But what the boys did see were the two Heierdahl brothers. The rumor was that they bench pressed bulls on a regular basis. Gunnhild also had the reputation of being an amazon, and had been teased about it in elementary school. Exactly once.

Revised one scene, added a new scene.

***

I didn't post yesterday because Bryon bought a new Mac, and he's been setting it up and reloading data. Today, I was able to play with the galleries again. Here's today's post about the modifications in America to the Norwegian home, and Norwegian furniture wood work in general.

You might remember that I mentioned how the Norwegian home was bright and painted, and generally had intricate woodwork. Norwegian immigrants translated their bright painting into intricate wood working entirely. New designs found different colors of wood inlaid with each other, and works of arts graced the homes. In future entries, I'll go into further depth with some of this wood working, as well as the transformation of rosemaling in the new country.

The gallery here shows you some of the intricacy of the work.

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

Proofs off to Drollerie for Sister Night, Sister Moon. Rumor has it it may be available next week, but much depends on the proofers of all the stories.

Don't worry. I'll keep you posted.

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

Fellow writer Jennifer St. Clair is an artist of breadth. Just take a look at her craft-tastic website! Jennifer not only writes, but also makes jewelry, dolls, and crafts; gardens, and cooks. She is the mistress of many muses. In the tradition of Writer Tamago talking about the other lives of writers, Jennifer has kindly answered some questions about her unique dolls.

1. How did you get started making dolls?

The same way I started writing; I had a friend who started making dolls, and I thought it was an interesting hobby so I decided to start making dolls too.

2. Why do you make dolls?

Because I enjoy creating something three-dimensional out of fabric.

3. What materials do you use for your doll craft?

Lately, I've been recycling flesh-toned cashmere sweaters for the doll's skin (I buy the sweaters at thrift shops) and felted wool sweaters for clothing. I also have a decent selection of yarn for hair; I like my dolls to be both simple and complicated, if that makes sense.

4. Are your dolls for adults, children, or both?

Mainly for adults, although older children would probably not mistreat them. I have made dolls for children before, but I don't do it often.

5. Do your dolls have names?

Yes, of course! Normally, they name themselves as I'm working on them.

6. Where do you get inspiration for your dolls?

Everywhere! Although making a doll from start to finish isn't an entirely organic pursuit (I use patterns), they all tend to have their own personalities.

7. What other hobbies do you have?

I garden, dabble in photography, weave, go antiquing, crochet, and bake yummy bread. I am also a compulsive reader--of just about anything except for the Twilight books.

8. Characterize your writing a little bit.

I tell people I write rural fantasy, because I grew up in small town Ohio and that's what I'm more comfortable writing about versus urban fantasy, which is usually set in a city somewhere. I can't seem to get away from the subject of vampires (I've been fascinated by them for a long, long time.)

9. Do you feel your crafts and writing are linked? Why or why not?

My crafts stemmed from my desire to be a bit more well-rounded in my pursuits. For a long time, writing was *all* I did outside of school (I wrote my first novel when I was thirteen.) When I graduated from High School, I decided that I needed a few hobbies to accompany my writing career, and since I worked at a library, I had plenty of hobbies to choose from. I dabbled in this and that and whatever until something stuck. Later on, I instituted the rule that hobbies have to pay for themselves (at least in materials) so that I wouldn't end up completely broke.

10. Can people buy your dolls if interested?

At the moment, I don't have any dolls for sale, but I do sell them periodically on ebay and etsy. I am also available to make custom dolls.

Thanks, Jennifer! Best of luck in pursuing all your cool hobbies!

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

That was a fairly successful night. I added a more hooky beginning, and then revised the first scene I wrote last week, which seemed to be in fairly good shape.

Bryon's also been kind enough to download my Vesterheim pictures, so I'll start getting those cataloged and organized shortly.

Onward with a word count meter, and then...a snippet!

***

Nick snapped his black whip. His eyes flashed red, and he smiled toothily. The massive horses pulling his wagon were the fastest on and off earth. He wasn’t worried about being caught, but certainly, it would be worth the amusement factor to slow down, and let his pursuer think he had a chance.

He glanced behind him. Rattling about in the back, a wicker basket bounced off the floor. Its contents would stay safe because his magic would keep it so. Over the top of the cart, barely visible in the mist, he could see the sole rider, the most persistent of Feldspar’s loyal minions. Give me the precious cargo, he would say, or something equally cliche. Nick loved that you could count on the heroes and villains to react as expected. Thinking outside the box? Reserved, it seemed, for only an annoying few.

An armored war horse pulled alongside the wagon. The faerie that road him was obsidian black, with gold veins rivering his visible face and arms. “Stop!” he yelled over pounding hoofbeats. “Stop in the name of the king!”

Nick smiled broadly. “I wouldn’t stop for the highest king. Why would I stop for yours?”

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Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

It's Monday, so it must be time for Blood is Thicker than Water.

AND, while I didn't follow, or wasn't involved in more !fail discussions on the internet, I link you to a good article that reminds us agents are human beings too.

I agree about people being more than their careers, and that includes agents. They were people, last time I checked. Being a workaholic is a disease, and not all it's cracked up to be. I am constantly astounded at how much our society advocates for it. I'd like to ask dissatisfied authors if they'd like to constantly work on their writing, or even if they can.

I'll see you guys later with troll count and folklore...

Catherine

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

This is me, live, from Monroe. I learned a lot of things about this town that time forgot today. Now, thanks to Obama, it has a new national park. AND Custer lived here. They have a big statue of him on town square.

It's been quite a day. I had a successful presentation on Master and Margarita. I am being teased and tempted by the opportunity to teach in Viet Nam for a month. There'd be talking to with the husband and the boss, and it wouldn't be next year, you betcha, because of the maiden launch of the new curriculum, but it would be a short term teaching assignment, and I'm mighty tempted.

Um...dinner was pretty good tonight, which was good, because the food here isn't all that. Culinary arts students, you rock. I'm talking to you, Brazillian Orange Cake Boy!

And, I wrote. Here's that meter for ya.

Yup. Writing during conferences. What agent wouldn't want me? I hope my dean isn't reading here.

Back to Iowa! Fast as lightening. Okay, ten thirty tomorrow I leave the mitten.

Catherine

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

Hello from the Eastern Iowa Airport, where the Internet is free, and the accessibility is wonderful. I will be MIA for the majority of the day in transit to Toledo, OH and then Monroe, MI for the Midwest Institute for Intercultural and International Education (or MIIIE, as that's much less of a mouthful!) Over the next few days I'll check out Rosetta Stone, read some books, and get moving on the troll book's next scenes. I think. Oh, and attend a conference.

Yesterday was one of *those* days, where the interruptions flowed fast and furious. For Pete's sake, we had a bomb threat at school, which we took seriously, because on Monday, there *was* a bomb that blew up a pop machine at the student apartments. Not a lot of opportunity for my job yesterday, let alone the next kewl scene of the troll story.

***

However, I can't let the day pass without talking to you about the nisse. My last post was serious, and some of you are missing your folklore fix.

Many cultures have small and helpful household faeries. For the Norwegians, those helpful faeries were the nisse, little red capped men reminiscent of David the Gnome. In exchange for porridge or new clothes, they would usually do farm chores, like bringing in grain, or taking care of animals.

In our troll story, while the trolls are busy doing troll things, the nisse help them maintain their cover as Iowa farmers.

I suppose next time we'd best have a conversation about the nix, although I'm not using the nix in my story. I'll also round out the collection by chatting about the Silver Mother.

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

It's Drollerie Blog Tour Time, and I'm pleased to present an interview with Du from Meredith Holmes' story Unseelie.

For my own character's part, Ted Finch is over at Fraser Sherman's place, in case you want to see what he's up to. He's the "hero" of Sister Night, Sister Moon, my novella that appears in Things that Go Bump in the Night.

But, ahem, without further adieu... here's Du!

1. Tell me about what you think is the most pressing issue between the Seelie and Unseelie courts.

Well, now that's a tough call... I mean, we're both ancient, both powerful... but I see the key issue as being the Seelie Court are a bunch of gits and prats. But if I had to be, er, polite about such things I'd say the biggest issue is that the Unseelie Court rather enjoys existing and the Seelie Court would rather us not.

2. How did you and Cadfael meet?

I think we've always known each other, some days. We met when I was a stripling and he was fresh from the school room. Little prince, he was, and I was raising seven shades of mischief. Neither of us were old enough to have a beard yet but we became fast companions the day I was dragged into Mabd's chambers for a dressing down after I let loose the cattle from the Royal Stables. Cadfael thought it was a fine jape and I had to agree... He was the only thing between me and a tanned hide. The Queen decided that I could do with a 'proper upbringing' and before I knew it, I was officially Cadfael's companion. I'm now his Right Hand and official unofficial body guard.

3. Readers of the interview will want to know. What do you look for in a romantic interest?

*laughs* Passion, adventure, someone who isn't boring... Beauty. Not the golden beauty of Loreli but something more. I want... I want someone who would not hesitate to draw a blade for me, someone I would gladly take a blade for. Was that too serious? I also appreciate a fine bosom, a healthy head for ale and mead and a love of nature. And she can't be allergic to cats.

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Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.