Jordan Summers

Yesterday, we finally made it to the theater to see Quantum of Solace. I know a lot of people are complaining about the movie because it didn’t incorporate gadgets, but I LOVED it. The character development was spot on. We are watching the transformation of a spy. We’re seeing how Bond goes from caring to cold killer. It’s a fascinating character study. The movie itself was a bit like a Bourne film, which was fine with me, since I like those movies, too. Daniel Craig just keeps getting better and better in the role. We’ll probably go see it again.

I’m still up to my eyeballs in work at present. The copyedits are moving along nicely. I have critiques rolling in on the UF that will keep me VERY busy. I should still manage to get the partial into my agent before Thanksgiving. Tomorrow, I have another dentist appointment. I’m due to get my second temporary crown. I should have only one more after that to put in the permanent crowns, then I’m done…til next year. Thursday I’ll be doing a podcast with the folks at Fangs, Fur, and Fey blog. I’ll put up more information on Wednesday. It’s going to be a busy week. I have appointments everyday, but Friday.

I messed up the timeframe for The Galaxy Express yesterday. You CAN find me there today.

I’m playing at The Galaxy Express today. Come join us.

I finished the third chapter of my UF last night. It was a HUGE relief. I’m waiting to hear back from some folks, who are kind enough to read it. They were given orders to shred me. *g* Bring on the pain.

Today, since dh and I live such exciting lives, we are going into his work for the day. He will spend it catching up. I will begin my copyedits. They are due on the 25th so I need to get started. If I can make a good dent in them, I’ll be SUPER happy. Scarlet is such a different book compared to Red. It’s truly a transitional piece in the story before the big finale. It’s not as scary as Red, but is packed with a lot of emotional upheaval.

If I owe you a book, *coughGretacough*, I will be sending it out this coming week. I’m sorry I didn’t get it out this week, but the dentist appointments threw off my plans.

There’s a big conversation taking place on one of my loops about how unpublished authors should refer to themselves. I started seriously writing in 2002 and sold my first book later that year. I know this is unusual. It normally takes years and years and many, many manuscripts to get published. I was lucky in more ways than one. I decided to go the ebook route instead of the N.Y. route and erotic romance was just starting to take off online. Like I said, lucky. But that’s not what this entry is about. This entry is about how I referred to myself before I sold. I know these days it’s common for unpublished writers to refer to themselves as pre-published. It’s a positive mental affirmation that you will someday sell a book. I understand. The problem is within the industry the term pre-published means that you’ve signed a book deal, but your book hasn’t been published yet. So when you say things like that to an agent or an editor, it confuses them. In some cases, it makes them angry. I know of one editor who will correct anyone who calls themselves pre-published. She also keeps track of their names in case they submit anything to her. Yeah, she takes that term pretty seriously.

I always referred to myself as unpublished because that’s what I was. There’s nothing shameful in being unpublished. All of us start that way. I heard the term pre-published for the first time after I’d been writing for a couple of years. I didn’t think anything of it, until I heard the reactions from some editors and agents. So here are my questions, if you’re published, what did you call yourself before you sold? If you’re unpublished, how do you refer to yourself? If it’s pre-published, have you ran into any negative feedback?

Today, I’m writing my third chapter backwards. I’m starting from the end and working my way toward the beginning of the chapter. Sometimes I have to do this if I’m fighting a chapter. I know how this one ends and I know what needs to take place, but I’m not sure the order of events. Whatever works, I guess. *g*

Well I knew my dentist no pain streak would end sooner or later. Unfortunately, that day was today. Double bummer is I have to go back in tomorrow for the root canal. Thank goodness it’s on the opposite side. Ouch!

Unfortunately, I haven’t managed to get much done today. (Three hours at the dentist will do that.) I hope I can swing something tomorrow. I can’t afford to lose two work days. Copyedits for Scarlet have come in and I’m trying to finish chapter three of my UF. I feel like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland screaming, “I’m late.”

Looking forward to seeing James Bond this weekend. Also managed to catch a haunting foreign vampire film called Let the Right One In. It’s such an odd, but watchable little film that it’s tough to describe. It’s basically a Young Adult movie that could never get made in the states due to some nudity and situations. It’s the story of a young boy who’s being bullied at school. His parents are separated and he’s a bit estranged from his father due to his father’s new relationship. A ‘young girl’ moves in next door and the bodies in the city start piling up. I should mention the boy has a morbid fascination with murder in general. I hear it’s being remade, but I doubt I’ll go see it. I know they won’t be able to do the original justice. If you don’t mind subtitles or if you speak Swedish, then check it out. Are there any movies you’re looking forward to in the future?

You can find me playing HERE today.

Amended to add: You can also find me at John Scalzi’s Whatever today. Please pop in and say hello.

I’m just everywhere, which is wild since it ‘feels’ like I’m still here in my office. *g* Did manage to finish going through the first two chapters of my UF and the synopsis. Also started chapter three. Should have a rough draft of it done by the end of the day. At least that’s the plan.

I have two dentist appointments back to back this week. One of which is my second root canal. Yep, fun times. Before I go in on Wednesday for the first appointment, I’m trying to get my UF partial finished. Yes, it’s a race against time, but quite doable. So I probably won’t be around much today–at least until I’ve finished going over my first two chapters. Hope you all understand.

As an aside, has anyone out there purchased Red from Target or Walmart? Just curious. Thanks!

Tomorrow I’m being interviewed at Milady Insanity. Drop by and say hello.

I’ve been fortunate to make quite a few online friendships over the years. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of my online friends at conferences. Some I hope to meet in the very near future. What never ceases to amaze me is the loyalty these online friendships have shown me. They’ve defended me, when I never asked for their help. They’ve come through for me, when I have needed them. I’m truly humbled by their generosity and beyond grateful that they’ve come into my life. Thank you.

Today, I’m going to tidy up the kitchen and living room in preparation for a friend’s visit tomorrow. Do another French lesson and workout. I also plan to work on my UF partial. I’d like to have it ready to shop by no later than the end of this month. Wish me luck.

What is everyone up to? Any great reads? Good movies? Book deals? Time to spill.

I’m playing at the Midnight Moon Cafe today. Stop by and say hello.

Had a wonderful writing day yesterday. I charted out the whole book of my new UF, wrote the synopsis and came up with two blurbs for more books in the series. All while dh was getting a root canal. Not bad.

A friend sent me a poem by Maya Angelou this morning. I thought this section was quite fitting under the circumstances.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

As per usual Ms. Angelou, spot on. Thanks for having the perfect response.

Yep, I bought a copy of Red. There were two in my local Barnes and Noble. I’m going to make dh check Borders and Target on Thursday. Fingers crossed they’re there, too. It’s been a night of surprises for me. First I got a call from a friend to tell me the Scarlet cover was up on Amazon.ca, then I found Red and the election ended. Good night all around, I’d say. I will post a better quality jpg of Scarlet, but at least you can see it in the sidebar to the right. You can click and go to the page for a bigger version. What do you all think? If you don’t like it, I can take it.

Tomorrow is dh’s turn at the dentist. It’s the first of his two root canals. Yes, we’re having a root canal fest here in casa Summers.