She's Not Well

I know that headline sounds like I'm getting ready to mock my little fantasy author, Sandy Lender, but I'm actually just preparing to share with you a day in the life of a fantasy writer. She awoke in pain today and is still typing away like a good little writer thirteen hours later. (No, that doesn't sound like a martyr, dear; that sounds like an idiot. Yes, neither is appealing.)

Turns out she has an infection that is in her kidney. She at least had the sense to go to a doctor to learn this. What surprises me is that she lied to the doctor to stay out of a hospital. So I'm in charge of watching for the symptoms that she promised she'd go back to the doctor with if she noticed them. (Why do I get the impression you'll lie to me as well?) I'm getting one of those wan smiles that means I'm being deceived. The good news is she's got medication to solve the problem. (Oh, and I have something to blog about. Nice.)

The point of this is that writers don't get to take a break because they feel "icky." If you wish to become financially solvent, you have to suck it up and finish the projects you've begun or find a different career. As her old band instructor used to say (what's a band instructor?), "no pain, no gain." He also said, "no guts, no glory." And those little truisms have taken my fantasy author far in life. (Personally, I think they should take her to bed to get some sleep, but there are two important projects to complete this evening.)

And that's a day in the life of a writer. Aren't you glad you stopped in? If you'd like to support the "becoming financially solvent" concept for fantasy author Sandy Lender, you can pick up a copy of the well-reviewed epic fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods before the sequel hits the streets. It's available at your local book store, where you'll probably have to request/order it, and at the usual online locations. Visit http://www.amazon.com/Choices-Meant-Gods-Sandy-Lender/dp/1595071652/ref=cm_cd_t_h_dp_i/104-9089752-5140754 where you get a discount when you order both Choices Meant for Gods and Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews.

She Was Teasing the Pterodactyl

When I walked into the kitchen area this morning, I feared the look of mischief my fantasy author, Sandy Lender, had about her. Nothing good comes of such looks. I proceeded to back back out of the kitchen area, but she stopped me with "check out the bird."

Turns out she had given Petri, her pet bird, this dish of white pellets. Now, anyone who's been paying attention to her blogs knows that Petri hates the white pellets. You know this because I've pointed out how neurotic Sandy is for standing there picking out the white pellets before giving him his food in the mornings (as if you have time for this; just let the bird pick out the pieces he doesn't like on his own...), but she continues to do this so he doesn't have to. So today she handed him a dish full of just white pellets. Apparently, she's been saving them just for this little joke. The bird was completely bemused.

It took him a good three or four minutes of staring at the dish and dancing around it before he started throwing the pellets around the kitchen...

Sandy found it enormously funny. Petri seemed pleased with the joke, too, because he didn't bite her when she replaced it with his real food. (or he could have just been pleased at the extra treats she gave him for tolerating the abuse...not sure which)

And that's your dose of a writer's life for today. If you'd like to get her back to editing and writing instead of tormenting her bird, you could assist in the success of the first book, Choices Meant for Gods, available now at Barnes & Noble, where a new review has gone up today. Yes, the lovely and wonderful Laura Crawford posted a review that has Sandy jumping for joy...

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, Sandy Lender, fantasy author, fantasy novel, pet bird

She's Swamped

My fantasy author is attempting to do too many things at once. What I find frustrating is how few of those things involve finishing my corrections for the sequel to the fantasy novel Choices Meant for Gods. You know, if she's going to get this second book in the trilogy out by the end of the year, she needs to get it turned in to her publisher...Anyone want to help me make that happen?

In the meantime, please enjoy these images from Sandy Lender's time at DragonCon last weekend. The first image is Sandy in the room with an archangel in the background taking her picture. The second picture is her and fantasy author M.B. Weston, who has a novel called A Prophecy Forgotten available at Amazon.com and ArcheBooks.com.

All my best,
Nigel

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, Sandy Lender, M.B. Weston, A Prophecy Forgotten

She's Back

And still crazy. As you can see, my fantasy author, Sandy Lender, had a great time at DragonCon over Labor Day weekend. She met this thing called the Great Flying Spaghetti Monster (or at least someone dressed as it). She tried explaining it to me, and I was so distracted by the people walking around in their undergarments that I just couldn't grasp all the details of the Spaghetti Monster religion, so I can't really explain it here. But I understand you can search for it in Google and get quite an education...

Anyway, Sandy is back home, as am I, and she's back to work at her day job where they're frantically trying to send five magazines to the printer over the next couple of weeks. It looks insane to me and I've recommended she quit and just work on the new magazine she and some of her colleagues are starting. Seems there's something comforting about having an income and buying food that she'd rather not let go of...And that's the writer's life for today.

I'll put together something lovely to tell you all about DragonCon, because it really was an interesting experience. The parade was surreal. We have pictures that Sandy is sending with her article to www.fantasybookspot.com that you'll be able to see at some point later today. The administrators there will have that live shortly. She doesn't mention much about the book sales because they were fairly slow. When you're stuck in the back corner of the basement of the hotel where none of the celebrities are selling a $25 hardback book that no one's ever heard of, moving half a dozen is something to cheer over. Now everyone who didn't elect to lug it back in their suitcase will have to pay the cover price over at Amazon...at least they won't have to pay shipping.

All my best, everyone.
Nigel

Tags: Choices Meant for Gods, Sandy Lender, DragonCon