Been a hell of a week. 

I woke up this morning wanting some peace, wanting some quiet, wanting some light. So I headed to one of my favorite spots in the city, the Harold Washington Library's Winter Garden. 

I was here a little before 9 and waited outside with the usual diverse group for the doors to open. I had my pick of tables, and am now firmly entrenched to get some work done. 

Harold Washington Library has the same feel, to me, as a place of worship. There is a stillness here. A stillness not broken by the photo shoot happening to my left, or the security officer talking to the handyman behind me, or the couple admiring the artwork to my right. In fact, the stillness is enhanced by it.

This library is reminder of why public spaces need to be welcoming to everyone, and that everyone deserves the dignity of knowledge, and have the respect of being treated equally. 

Whenever I need to know such places still exist, I make my way here. 

Hey World,

I'm writing to you from Champaign, IL. It's currently 9 degrees (yes, that's Fahrenheit) and when I walked across the snow this morning I saw squirrels huddling in the trees. The little grey creatures looked at me like I was an idiot for being out so early. Since I didn't have a choice in the matter, I could only march on to my presentation. This year sees me back in the hallowed halls of academia--thankfully, just for the week. The rest of my time earning the next degree will be spent online from the comfort of Chicago. And by Chicago, I mean my couch. 

The start of the year always cause me to reflect on the past one. What happened, what didn't. I try not to focus on the should haves. (Like, I should have Catspaw out and don't.) But instead all you can do is focus on what actually did happen--some pretty cool things did get done. And then what you want to carry forward into the new year. When I sat down to write this blog, I wanted to talk about goals. When I actually thought about what I want to accomplish, the long-term aims haven't changed. Keep writing. Keep publishing. Keep moving forward. 

The past two years have been an incredible learning experience in how actually to go about doing that. Both from a creative aspect and in a logistical one. I fully embrace now you can only learn by doing. Let's hope the next book reflects all that I've learned. 

Until then, keep reading and stay warm! 

Good morning Chicago,
To those of you who ran the marathon this morning, I salute you! To everyone else, I hope you are enjoying this gorgeous fall day. I'm currently with friends at a little cafe in Lincoln Park trying to be productive. So far I've had a scone, black tea, and (needing more caffeine) coffee. In the hours I've been here, I'm officially caught up with everyone's lives and done some plotting for the upcoming novel in November.


With days flying by it was great to sit down and do some concentrated novel planning. People tend to have very strong opinions about their magical process to writing and completing a novel. But whatever your process, the more you do it the more refined you get. For me, planning a novel means world building, which can be best the part. The odd thing is never knowing which detail will have a great deal more importance as the book takes shape and what becomes superfluous. Take Moonshine, my original plotting gave shape to the religions within Ravana. It got mentioned through prayer beads in the first novel, but never took on much more life. Didn't fit the characters. You can't consider it a waste of time though, because any planning helps give depth to the world and helps with any of the other subtle details cascading through. Plus who doesn't love planning out characters' names and features? This time around the main character has quite a few tattoos. I'm trying to keep it limited, but the list just keeps growing. 

Make sure to keep swinging by. Once November hits, you'll start to hear the griping on plugging through the word count. For now, I'll just be buoyantly happy (and pleasantly caffeinated). 

Happy writing! 

Where, you ask, is Perry, Kansas? Go about 30 minutes from Topeka and you'll find it. There's a lake and a state park. Why, you ask, am I in Perry, Kansas? Well, I had about a week of vacation time I wanted to use, and I figured I could use some extra sleep. Perry is where the parents live on their farm with assorted animals (dogs, cat, chickens, I'm pushing for a llama) and where I spent the past week. It's odd to be able to go outside, sit at a table and just hear. . . well the trees are rustling, the hummingbirds are arguing over the feeder, and the chickens are squawking below me. 

Regardless what anyone tells you, it's not that the country is quiet--it's just a different kind of noisy. Out here, I won't see another human being that's not family unless I actively look for them by going down the half a mile driveway.

Back in the apartment, in Chicago, I'd hear the neighbor's shower, another banging up and down the stairs, while a siren screamed by. Different. 

Whenever I come to Kansas, I always feel a couple of layers are stripped away, and I can just take a few breaths to chill out a bit. 

Kitty and I wish you happy writing!

In Chicago, doughnuts are here to stay, and there are options, options, options. Doughnut Vault keeps it simple. They open at 8 and sell until their out. They have their classics, and then a few here and there. I like the Gingersnap ones. You get 3 and can dunk them into the strong coffee leaving behind swirling trails of sugar. Where are you writing from lovelies? 

I was feeling antsy and was able to talk my mother into a jaunt to New Orleans. This picture is just off Jackson Square on Pirate's Alley. The gentleman pictured will write you a poem there and then on his typewritter for  a pittance of 15$.

Part of me thinks he's doing something right.

New Orleans is the city everyone talks in a husky whiskey voice, where women pat there remember the humidity and glasses in the room start to sweat. It is the city people love to dream about, and share with everyone. 

It is a good city to write in, but even better to soak in and simply absorb in. 

My scribbles for the days are stained from powder sugar of beignets and dribbles from Pimm's cups.  It is happy writing.

Where are you writing from today?