The time went by fast today - partly battling a cholla-wielding pack rat. Talking about the Netflix movie Extinction, and giving up Netflix DVDs. My WorldCon schedule, and thoughts on THE ARROWS OF THE HEART and THE ORCHID THRONE.

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Today I'm talking about plans to ask for blurbs for THE ORCHID THRONE - and how it's different than with my very first book back in 2004. (Wyoming Trucks, True Love, and the Weather Channel) Also talking about how being a professional writer is like rising through skill levels in a game, how each new level has its challenges and rewards.

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Upcoming secret project reveal! (At least in part - but definitely some "you heard it first here" news. Updates on THE ARROWS OF THE HEART and good news on THE ORCHID THRONE from my editor. Otherwise some cat wrangling and musing on sensitivity, privilege and why "having respect for other people" is a good replacement for "political correctness."Sorry about the abrupt cut-off at the end there. I don't know what happened...

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Today is the first day of school for some kids, so I'm thinking about summer's end, school and birthdays. Also talking about external and internal conflict in stories, using Lord of the Rings and Pride & Prejudice as examples. There's also some cat wrangling and the ongoing territorial war with the pack rat, including cholla burrs.

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I'm back from spending time with the grandchildren at Water World in Denver. The break was good for me - cleared my head some - so I'm talking about how even when you're not writing, you're writing. Which is true, though that's different than kidding yourself that you're writing when you're not. A subtle but critical difference. So much of life is about repetition and building skill. I'm thinking about the cycle of life, too, and how we're all connected with the cycles of the world around us.

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Mostly cat wrangling and rhapsodizing on Good Luck with That by Kristan Higgins

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Musings on going back on the keto diet, birthdays and book covers.

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In which I *don't* talk about an annoying situation, but instead muse on days off, the work week, habits, and THE ARROWS OF THE HEART.

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Ruminations on ending series, lightning rods, coyotes and crow fountains.

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Getting back into my at-home routine, so I discuss writing habits, creativity, the RWA conference, Suzanne Brockman's Lifetime Achievement Award speech - and what being quietly civil really means.

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