Who Are You

My first round of story notes concerning my contribution to Doctor Who: Destination Prague arrived today. I was asked to include a little background material pertaining to a previous Short Trips story involving the same characters for continuity, so I have to read the pertinent story and do a little minor surgery. Shouldn’t take terribly long. I’m looking forward to rereading Leap Second—it’s been a while. The anthology is up for pre-order at Amazon UK, by the way.

I finally started working on a story for the MWA anthology this morning. I don’t have a lot of time before it has to be in for blind judging, and I’m not sure still where the story’s going, but it started sooner than I thought it would (I’d already written what I thought would be the first paragraph, but now it’s a couple of pages in). I also have a better sense of the two main characters. My biggest problem is that my mind has been preoccupied by the next story I want to write, but it doesn’t have an imminent deadline, so I’m trying to push that one aside for the next two weeks. Not an easy task—this other story is going to be, perhaps, the most autobiographical thing I’ve ever written.

I finished reading One Good Turn this weekend and wrote a review for Onyx Reviews. I also put the book up for auction on eBay for a starting price of $4.00. Atkinson is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers. Her deft touch with characterization is impressive.

I started reading The Intruders by Michael Marshall (Smith) last night. The UK publisher sent me an advanced galley at the request of a buddy o’mine (Hi, Ali!). The prologue is a real slap in the face (literally) and the opening chapters are conjuring up a nice sense of foreboding. I didn’t read the promo material or the DJ summary, so I have no idea what the book is going to be about, but it has the feel of one of those Harlen Coben paranoia books. Everything’s going fine and then something happens and nothing’s ever the same again.

So, Rob and Amber are still in first place on The Amazing Race. Good for them. I always get a bad feeling for teams when we know they’ve made a wrong turn, wondering how long it will be before they get back on the right course again. I didn’t feel bad for the team that was eliminated last night, though. I didn’t see them on their first time playing the game, but what a bunch of whiners. I’m sure there’s some history I don’t know about, or some health issue, but if you’re not along to play the game, stay home!

The Academy Awards I watched hardly at all. About an hour in total, I guess. My only comment is: who’s doing Jack Nicholson’s hair these days?