Author: Jonathon

Remember the power outages this summer and this winter here in Missouri? It made national news. We, personally, were out for five days each time. AmerenUE our power company has offered to bury power lines both old and new. Which I think we all applaud. Also, a more aggressive inspection program so that problems can be fixed before they are a true problem. But they also want 15 million dollars to take down trees, not in their right of way, but on private land. Trees they deem may become a problem. Every state in the mid-west and on the east coast has trees, some states have lots more trees than we do, and much worse weather. You don’t hear the power company in Minnesota, or Maine, asking to tear down trees on private land. If Minnesota and Maine can keep their power up and running without violating property rights, then why can’t Missouri? Also, doesn’t anyone remember that trees make oxygen. We complain about the rain forest in South America being torn down and the negative effect it’s having on the environment, but every tree that goes down here, in our country, is a loss, too. Every tree is part of the filter system of our planet. Every tree helps clean our air, and make more breathable air for us. We do a lot of finger pointing at other countries, but how many wooded lots have vanished in your neighborhood in the last ten years, five years, six months?
Trees make oxygen. Trees clean the oxygen we already have. They are part of the filter system for our planet. Can we really afford to keep loosing them?
There, a case for trees, that should mean something to us all. I didn’t talk about bird habitat, or other wildlife. I didn’t even mention that trees just make the world more beautiful. They help make the air you are breathing right this second. Save a tree, help make sure our grandchildren have enough clean air to breath.

First off, yes it was your Nathaniel question I answered, Keeper4Nathaniel. My hope, dare I call it a plan, is to look on the forum for comments and questions from you guys. Jon can help me if I get lost in technology land. Strangely, working on the comic has really helped me get over my phobia about tech. It’s helped especially with my fear of e-mails, and editing on screen. I’m getting better at both. I’ve even sent an e-mail with no help from anyone, that actually got to it’s destination. Wow. I know my fear of technology seems silly to most of you computer savvy people, but phobias are like that; they don’t have to make sense.
As for the post that questioned what I meant about not killing characters, well, that isn’t exactly what I meant. I’m not adverse to having someone die if it’s unavoidable. But I choose to avoid it, if possible. It’s not always possible. I think I blogged about the fact that I did kill someone in THE HARLEQUIN. Yeah, another emotional screw over for my characters. I did promise after GUILTY PLEASURES that if Anita cared for someone I wouldn’t kill them off. At that time I had planned on her picking one person to care for, at a time. How was I to know? Sometimes I think Anita’s interest is partially my subconscious’s way around that promise. A way to keep everyone safe. Maybe; who knows what one’s subconscious is up to these days.
I’m pretty sure why I don’t like killing people off in the books. It’s probably something to do with that whole mother dying when I was six thing. Probably. But since I’m still running a fever, and not feeling at all a hundred percent, I don’t really want to go down that road too far tonight. Being sick makes me feel down enough without adding emotional pain.

Hey all.
I’m posting this because Laurell is a little under the weather. Nothing major, just a bout of “Creeping Crud”.
What’s going on here?
Comic #3 is out, The NY Times list is out, 2nd printing of Comic #2 is out… Hmmm… Comic #4 is being colored, #5 is being penciled. Working on THE HARLEQUIN manuscript.
Pretty much that’s it right now.

We had Trinity, as we usually do on New Year’s Eve. My ex-husband and his wife usually try to go out and do something grown-up for the night. He and I used to try and do something on New Year’s but it usually went wrong. I’m not sure why, but it was like on the old Mary Taylor Moore show, where she could never successfully throw a party, no matter how hard she tried? Well, New Year’s was like that for my first husband and I. Add to that dubious history the fact that I don’t really drink, and I’m not a big fan of crowds, well, traditional American New Year is just not my cup of tea. We threw a party for a couple of years where we invited friends over with children so we could all get out and see grownups and still celebrate. Most of my friends don’t drink either, so it was fine. Then my friends with children our daughter’s age got a child with a dog allergy, or a parent with a dog allergy, and we have four dogs. Oh, well. So Jon, Trin, and I had a celebration that was very us.
There was a marathon of Naruto on Cartoon Network. Jon and Trin liked the show before I did. But I’ve been won over. So a night of Naruto that none of us had seen. We’ve managed to get all the DVD’s available in the U.S., but we had not been watching on television. We made up for that on New Year’s Eve. We ordered Crispani Pizzas from St. Louis Bread Company, so no one had to cook, and we watched anime until after midnight. Trin stayed up for it all. She was also very tired the next morning. Funny how that works.
This morning we did a tradition that comes from the years when birding was a more serious hobby for me. The first bird you spot on New Year’s Day is going to be the theme for you that year. Some birders travel to exotic locations so they can wake up and have a chance of having an unusual bird for the year. Jon and I both saw Cardinals. We saw them separately in different parts of the yard. Trin saw a Starling. I combine my birding background with my Wiccan faith and we look up the bird in the Ted Andrews books on working with animal totems. Though, as always, we are encouraged to think about what the bird we’ve seen means to us. Any special memories associated with it, or what the bird was doing at the time we saw it, etc . . . My Cardinal was feeding at the bird feeders. I don’t know what Jon’s was doing. He just walked by, and said his bird was , “Mucking about in the back hedgerow.” So another year is officially here. I have put up all the new calendars, and that’s quite a lot. I really like calendars for some reason. I used to feel stupid that I bought more calendars than anyone I knew, but since I actually put most of them up, or dissect them for art, and having them just makes me happy, I don’t fight it anymore. So I put up, officially today, six of them, and that’s just in my office. Like I said, I really like calendars.

First, thanks to everyone on the forum that liked yesterday’s blog. Thanks for all the positive feedback. For those who were worried that the negative stuff was getting to me, don’t worry. I wasn’t mad, or hurt. I just felt it was time to speak up for all you positive folks. I know sometimes the negative people are so loud it feels like that’s all that’s happening, but the negatives are truly a small, small number of people. I won’t let them get me down, if you don’t let them get you down. Deal?
Second, to the readers that read the hints about THE HARLEQUIN and were concerned that Nathaniel was changing too much; he’s not changing that much. For the one post that worried he’d turn into another Richard (I assume you mean by that, he and Anita would stop getting along well) don’t worry. Nathaniel is simply asking Anita to do things in their relationship that meets some needs that have been neglected. No worries, okay.
Third, MISTRAL’S KISS is number eight on THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LIST. It was posted on-line a few days back, but truthfully, for me, it’s only real when I see it in print. Old-fashioned of me, but the on-line just isn’t quite as real to me. So thanks to everyone who bought the book, and all the book store people that talked about it. We’re number eight! And if you’ve seen who else is on the list, you’ll know how happy I am to be there. Christmas is a tough time on the list, a lot of heavy hitters slugging it out. Every Merry book has made the list, and every Anita book starting with ten, NARCISSUS IN CHAINS, have made the printed list. Printed list is only the first fifteen in each category. Pretty darn cool, eh? Almost as good as making the list and having the sales figures being even higher than the last Merry book, is the fact that Jon and I didn’t have to tour. Sales are up by a lot, we’ve cracked the top ten of THE TIMES LIST, and we got to stay home. Yea!

Dear Negative Reader,
It’s funny, I almost never go on the board. I think I can count on one hand the times I’ve seen the message board. I would pick tonight. I’d had a nice evening out with friends. I’d read a chapter of Trin’s new Fairy Realm book to her. Then for some reason, we look at the board. I look at the board.
Let me say that all of you that hate the books, and have decided not to read them anymore, I am happy for you. I know that when a book series that I read takes a turn I don’t like I stop reading it. I put it down and I walk away, and that’s that. If you’re unhappy with my books, and have decided you never want to read another thing that I write; great. I mean that. Life is too short to read books you don’t like, so if you’re not having a good time, stop doing it. I’m sure there are other books out there that will make you happier than mine. There are books with less sex in them, God knows. There are books that don’t make you think that hard. Books that don’t push you past that comfortable envelope of the mundane. If you want to be comforted, don’t read my books. They aren’t comfortable books. They are books that push my character and me to the edge and beyond of our comfort zones. If that’s not want you want, then stop reading. Put my books away with other things that frighten and confuse or just piss you off. I have my list of stuff like that. So good for you, you’ve decided not to read me anymore. Good luck, God speed.
But let me say, one thing puzzles me. When I decide not to read an author, or series again. I don’t go on their message board and keep talking about the books I don’t want to read. I don’t say that I stopped reading at a certain book, but strangely, am still able to talk in detail about books that have come out since then, thus making people reading my post wonder how I know so many details if I haven’t read the books. Either A: You have read the books, and don’t want to admit it. Or, B: You haven’t read the books and you are taking your opinion from the posts of others who have read the books, and hated them. Those are the only choices I’ve been able to come up with. If there is a more logical explanation, I can’t find it. Either you are closet readers, or you’re letting others read them and report back to you like negative scouting. So you’re left with an opinion based on someone else’s opinion, or you are reading the books in secret. If the latter, you seem to hate yourself and me for the fact that you read the books. I recommend you don’t read the books, it will save you pain, and give you more time to read things you like. It seems a logical solution.
Let this post also put to rest the idea that I don’t know that a small minority, albeit a loud minority, hates my series. I’ve known that for awhile. Like the first time someone stood in line for hours at a signing, smiled at me, and had me sign the book, then said to my face, “I hated this book. I hate what you’ve done with the series.” I blinked at them, and said something like, “Sorry to hear that.” When I ask, “Why do you read the books then?” Answer, “I keep hoping they’ll get good again.” Jon and I have heard variations of this across the country from a maybe five people. But strangely, having someone say to your face, that they hate your books and at least twice, that they hate you stand out in our minds. Since I wouldn’t stand in line for hours to tell someone I loved their work, the fact that people stand in line for hours to tell me they hate my work, just puzzles the hell out of me. I don’t get it guys. I’m not going to get it. I finally realized that I’m not going to understand this noisy, unpleasant minority of my fans. Because you are fans. Only fans would spend this much time and energy on anything. It’s a strange kind of fan, a negative fan, but you spend so much time and energy hating and complaining that some part of you must love the hate and complaining. It’s the only explanation I’ve been able to come up with. But I don’t really understand.
And if you don’t think you are the minority, well, sorry, guys but you are. I have the sales figures to prove it. Each book?s sales are more than the last. The vast majority of people standing in line love the books, love the series, and tell us so. Some people even ask for more police procedural. I want more, too. If the person asks nicely, not rudely, or in that tone that seems to imply if I don’t do what they want the series is doomed to failure, I listen. The arduer is a pain in my, and Anita’s butt, too. But I believe in my world. I’ve done this major metaphysical event. I won’t just ‘fix it’ because it’s hard to write around. God, knows, sometimes it is. But the arduer is moving along. I’ve got my fix in mind, but it’s logical, not something that’s merely convenient, or because some people hate it. But the arduer is not going away. If that’s what you guys are wanting, then it ain’t happening. Leave now, because more arduer awaits. The arduer is evolving, as are Anita’s powers, but I don’t see the arduer going poof.
As for the people who keep suggesting that I simply start killing characters because Anita has too many men in her life . . . The characters aren’t real to you. They are real to me, and to a lot of other people. I, and a lot of readers, would feel an emotional loss if some of these guys died. Obviously, you, negative reader, do not feel anything for the people you would urge me to destroy. I am sorry you do not love them, or at least like them, as I do. I have failed as a writer that you could kill them, and feel nothing. There are series out there that have many fewer characters. Go read them. There are series out there that it’s obvious the writer sees the character only as a plot device, a means to an end. Go read those people, and you and that kind of writer can have a good, non threatening time. You can read about people that the writer could and does kill with little or no remorse. But I am not that kind of writer. I don’t enjoy reading that kind of writer, so I don’t write that way. My characters are real to me in a way that makes me miss them. For God’s sake, I’ll be in the mall and see something, and go, “Oh, it’s the perfect gift for (fill in the blank).” I’ve been in line with the present in my hand, before I go, “Wait, these are make believe people. I can’t buy them a Christmas present.” I guess I could, but there’s no way to give it to them. They aren’t THAT real. But they are real enough that I see things that make me think of them in the way you think of a boyfriend or a husband, or a best friend. To suggest that I just start killing some of them, to make things easier to write and more comfortable for you, negative reader, to read, is sort of well, you put in the word. I can think of several, but you choose. You choose with this understanding. The holidays are only just past. Think back to the moment you stood in line, or saw in the window, that perfect gift. The one that you knew would make someone smile. That gift you knew, you just knew, would light their faces up. Remember how warm and happy it made you to find that present. Remember the anticipation of the joy it would bring the person you care about? Now, remember that I’ve done the same thing for many of the characters you would have me kill. They aren’t real, but sometimes they feel real to me. If that level of involvement with imaginary friends seems crazy to you, well, then I can’t explain it. You either understand that the biggest disappoint some years is that I can’t walk into the other room and hand that imaginary person a present that I know they would love. I wouldn’t know what to do with most of my characters for real, twenty-four seven, but sometimes I, like the positive fans, wish they were real in a way that mere imagination cannot make them. Maybe you, my negative reader, did not understand how I feel about them. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. You didn’t understand that they are real to me. Or maybe this will not move you, maybe you do not feel for the loneliness of the vampires that have not known love for centuries. Maybe you do not feel for Anita’s torment as she’s pushed further and further outside her comfort zones. Maybe you do not feel any of that. If you don’t feel it, then I have failed you as a writer. I am sorry for that. If you do not feel the touch of my characters, the emotional pain, the emotional triumphs, then I have failed you. You should stop reading me. My writing does not weave magic for you. I am sorry. Go, with my blessing, but do please go. I have done my best for fourteen books, and it is not good enough for you. I cannot reach you. It must be some failing in the writing, in me, but whatever the cause it does not speak to you. Go, and find someone who does speak to you. Someone who’s characters are plot devices, so the books are neat, understandable, clinical, and utterly organized. My books are logical, to me, understandable to the vast majority of my readers, but they are not neat, they are not utterly organized or clinical. They are big, messy books, a lot like life. I wish you luck out there finding a writer that speaks to you. If we all liked the same kind of writer we’d all read the same books, and we don’t. So go out there, find someone you like better, read them. You will be happier. I want all my readers to be happy, so go be happy. Enjoy the rest of your life. I mean that. I’ll give you guys a few minutes to stop reading this, or to go into another room. I’ll give you a few minutes, before I talk to the positive readers that are staying.
If you are still a negative reader, please leave. Please do not read beyond this point. Warning, warning, warning. The next bit of this message is for the positive people. For the people who love my characters, or at least don’t hate them. Negative readers, are you gone? Are they gone? Did they leave? So hard to tell online.
Okay, now it’s just us positive people. Yea! For those who are positive people, and are continuing to read the Anita series, here are hints about THE HARLEQUIN. First, Edward is in the book in a major way. Second, so is Olaf. Yeah, serial killer guy is back. Anita ends up feeding full blown arduer on three characters she’s never been with before. And she, and I, are okay with them. Some of the stuff in DANSE MACABRE was over the edge of whatever for both her and me. Anita is really, really, looking forward to having more control over the arduer. I can’t tell you who the three characters are without giving too much plot away, sorry. I’ll ask Darla and Jon if there’s a way to hint without spoiling it. I am sooo bad at hinting. One of the wereanimal groups will betray Jean-Claude, and Anita. Marmee Noir will be back. Belle Morte makes a guest appearance that caught me, and Anita by surprise. Nathaniel will be asking Anita to step up to bat for their relationship. What does that mean? Let’s just say that what Nathaniel wants out of a relationship and what Anita wants out of one, may not match. Relationships are all about compromise. I know, I know, Anita doesn’t compromise, but she’s trying. She really is. The Church of Eternal Life is back on stage. Malcolm is coming to Anita and Jean-Claude for help. You know he must be desperate to come to them, and he is. We learn what happens to bad little vampires when the council decides to act. You didn’t really think they did their own dirty work, did you? Asher gets to show there’s a reason beyond sentimentality that he is Jean-Claude’s second in command. We finally get to talk to Edward about his domestic arrangements in more detail. Is he, or isn’t he? Will he, or won’t he? Should he?
Are those enough hints? Are there too many? I hope it whetted your appetite, but didn’t drive you nuts not knowing exactly what I’m referring to. There’s so much else I could put down, but I’m not sure I could do it without giving too much away.

Just got back from Dinner with friends. Jim, Joan, and their kiddo were one of the groups of friends that we never seemed to get to see. We went on vacation with them this summer, but it was the first we’d seen each other in ages. So we made a resolution to try and see each other more. It had that feel to it of New Year’s resolutions that you make, but don’t keep. Good intentions with no follow through. Their schedule is about as insane as ours, so it was hard to get together. I called them, got Joan, suggested we all meet for dinner one month. In fact, I suggested we try to get together once a month and all have dinner. We’ve actually managed it every month except one since we came up with the idea. The problem was, that I, as usual, tried to be too ambitious. I kept waiting for us to have time to visit for a day, or at least an afternoon. But to get all our schedules open enough to do that, well, it just wasn’t happening. So I scaled back. I decided it was better to have a shorter visit more often than try to schedule a big visit and never get it. Sometimes a little bit of what you want, is better than holding out for all of what you want, and never getting it. It’s a lesson that I’m only now learning. I guess, some lessons are harder than others.
I did six pages today of the new chapter for THE HARLEQUIN. I made notes for the next two scenes. Those of you who have read the blog for awhile know that here too, on the page count, I usually beat myself up if I don’t do at least eight pages a day. Well, you know what, somedays there is simply no way to do it. I’ve scaled down to my page count of years ago, four pages minimum. If I get more than that, great, but I need at least that. Four pages is doable. It’s a goal that I can sit down at the computer no matter how tired, or not feeling well, and I can screw my courage to the sticking point and say, four pages, I can do that. Eight would seem too much, but four is doable. It also gives me permission to stop for the day before I’m exhausted. Now, sometimes the muse is in full swing and we laugh at only four pages, but the muse and I are a little tired lately. Or maybe distracted with all the different projects. Whatever the cause, scaling down makes both me and my imagination feel better. Maybe here, too, less is more. Trying for less and achieving it, is better than trying for a lot and failing. Because the failure starts a whole line of bad stuff in my head. Succeeding, is simply a more positive thing to do than failing. Sounds so simple, but sometimes the simple lessons are the hardest to grasp.

It’s been a very busy day. Dealt with a lot of business stuff. A lot of problems smoothed out. I just finished four pages on one of the new chapters that needed to be added to THE HARLEQUIN, and four pages is enough for the day. I’m tired, and fighting off a headache. I think this is definitely one of those days when it will all look better in the morning. Though, if I remember correctly, we’re planning to help our kiddo clean her room tomorrow morning. After Santa’s visit there are too many toys, too much stuff. The Kiddo is overwhelmed, and there’s too much for anyone to organize it. Thanks to her being scarred by the Toy Story movies from Disney, she has never wanted to get rid of or throw away a toy, because it will feel bad. She’s old enough to know that it’s probably not true, but still young enough to not be sure it’s not true. So, Jon and I will help her choose tomorrow. I think that box of bits and pieces of broken toys can finally go away. Wish us good luck with it. It’s probably going to be at least a little traumatic for her, which means it’s also a little traumatic, or at least stressful, for us. Funny how that works when you’re a parent.

Jon and I finally got to put some date in our date night. We usually stay in, and sometimes we do what you think we do, and sometimes we watch tons of none child safe TIVO. But it had been a while since we actually went out just us for a date. We did traditional dinner and a movie. I’m not sure it mattered what we did, as long as we did it together, and it was just us. We saw the new James Bond movie, Casino Royale. We both loved it. The violence was pretty realistic without giving you as much blood as you’d actually get from that much pounding. My friend, Sharon, called the violence brutal. It wasn’t brutal, just more real. Bond is back in a way that is closer to the book character and more nitty-gritty than anything I’ve seen since Sean Connery.

It’s Boxing Day in parts of Europe. It’s also St. Stephen’s day a traditional day in some parts of the British isles for hunting the wren. To my knowledge no one actually still harms the birds. But every St. Stephen’s day we put out food for the birds, to sort of take back this day and make it a positive thing for our little feathered friends. And, to make the tradition more fun, there was a wren on the suet feeder this morning just outside the kitchen window. A Carolina wren, which does not exist in Europe. So happy St. Stephen’s Day; save the birds. It’s good luck to see a wren today, so keep your eyes open. They’re small, brown and buff and ivory. An elegant little bird with a cocked tail, and a jaunty attitude. Hope you spot a wren today. It was very kind of mine to come to the window for breakfast. Terribly convenient. I’m back to work. Putting the finishing touches on the opening for the sixteenth Anita book, so I can put it to bed and concentrate on Merry. If that goes quickly I’ll either give a try at the extra chapter that I need for THE HARLEQUIN, or I’ll take another crack at the opening for A LICK OF FROST. I needed not to be wedded to an opening for this book. I needed to be forced to go back over and reread some of the latest books. It opened up a lot of plot points that need wrapping up, that I might have neglected. But, damn, it is so much harder to start with a blank screen. I think at the end of this one I will go back to doing my opening of the next book when A LICK OF FROST is done. But for this one, I believe it was necessary. It still makes my life harder. But I saw a wren on St. Stephen’s day. Good luck for the year; if you believe.