This Is Summer

There's one heck of a rain storm going on right now. Just enough lightning to be dazzling, the rain lashing at the roof and the patio tiles. I've got the back door open, the screen door latched in place, and the smell of earth and water and ozone is rolling into the kitchen where I sit here typing with my half-glass of wine.

Summer is finally here, in all her glory. The flowers - the ones that survived our four-degree winter - are throbbing with color and silky texture. The afternoons grow heavy with humidity and press low over the pasture. The horses swish flies and want to go out early and come in at four, anxious for a shower and the box fans in their stalls. Everywhere is the droning of bees, the call of mockingbirds, the languid siren song of the sun. This is summer in the South. This is early mornings in the dew, tinny radios, afternoons in the AC and evening drinks in the outdoors.

Last night, my mom and I had a girls' night with homemade queso fundido and strawberry daiquiris at the pond. I love a rare, quiet Friday. A little reading time. So perfect.

KBC Lines 5/31

A good little chunk, actually. I put most of it under a cut because there are spoilers for the first two books. Raw text, as usual. Can't wait to share this - won't be long, now.

***

Keeping Bad Company,  Copyright © 2014 by Lauren Gilley

A month ago, Layla had pressed a key into his palm with the sad request that he come back home if he needed to. Tonight, as he fit that key into the back door, home was exactly what he needed.

Workshop Wednesday - Through the Eyes

In my lingering brain slush, I've been spending good chunks of my writing time reading instead. Not good for productivity, but the novel's in a good place, length and plot-wise, so I'm not overly worried about it. Let's get back to the regular schedule with Workshop Wednesday, yes? Yes.

In my slush-brain reading, I've been working my way through Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, and whether you love or hate the series - I'm in the "love" camp - the interesting thing is the shift from Interview With the Vampire to The Vampire Lestat: notably, the difference in the way Louis sees Lestat, and the way Lestat actually is, in his own version of his history. And in the way of all great books, this difference instructs writers in the simple truth of properly fleshed-out characters: the reader's vision of a character is tainted by the eyes through which he or she is seen. Through the eyes of the story's other characters. Sometimes, it is only perspective that draws the line between protagonist and antagonist.

The best characters are human characters, ones who reflect all the many facets of human nature. Characters judge one another unfairly, sometimes too fairly, either tainted or blinded. They can be suspicious. They can just plain not understand or dislike one another. As authors, we have to understand how our characters might fit into certain social stereotypes in the eyes of others (readers or other characters). You could say Lisa was a hard bitch. You could say Layla was polite and anxious. You wouldn't be wrong...but you wouldn't have the whole story. Our other job as authors is to properly smash stereotypes to bits. We have to see our characters through society's cheap social filters, and understand them for the complicated, intelligent humans they truly are. And we have to take the reader's preconceived notions, and turn them on their ears as we paint them the true, hidden pictures of our characters - like telling Delta's story.

In Rice's works, you can read Louis's story and feel for him completely, then read Lestat's and realize you feel for him as well. And you can understand why they fail to understand one another. Dude, that's complicated. I think great writing is supposed to be. If art imitates life, I want it to imitate with all the best props and costumes, all the richness. Keeping in mind that your characters don't have to get along can really boost those character relationships to the next level of realism.

Lines 5/26

Under the cut for language. One F-bomb.

Back to Work

I'm actually getting some work done today. Not a ton - and I keep making stupid mistakes like "laminated" when I mean to say "illuminated." Both of which I misspelled and had to retype in the writing of this blog post. The brain's not at full-function yet, but I'm getting back into it. A manic writer can never stop being a writer. It's also been nice to spend some time out in the yard; working is good for your heart - all kinds of working.

I hope everyone has a nice holiday weekend. (I just typed "nive". Lord.)

 

The Female

“For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.”
― Rudyard Kipling

 

 

 

This is definitely going to be true in the third novel. If you're after something new to read this holiday weekend - shameless plug - you could give the Russells a try.

 

 

Made for Breaking (Vol. 1)

 

 

 

God Love Her (Vol. 2)

 



Is It Friday Already?

Needless to say, it's been a crap week. I'm not a crier, so I haven't been a puddle; I've been fully-functional, eye makeup and everything. But I'm depressed; can't sleep well; exhausted; I keep realizing I'm just staring off into space. And I can't write. Not even a little bit. My head's all dumped out and filled up with dark clouds. It'll pass, but it might take a bit.

I've been looking at puppies. From the start, I always knew I'd want another Dobie after I lost Riddick. It's been planned all along, and isn't a knee jerk reaction. I said, though, that people will think I'm a monster for getting a new dog too soon. It was funny: my aunt said, "I might think that if it was a boyfriend you were replacing that fast, but not about a dog." To which I said, "But dogs are more important than boyfriends. Dogs actually love you." Oh, I'm just kidding...actually, no, I'm not kidding at all.

Wish I had some sort of writing update, other than to say, rest assured, KBC is coming along and will be out this summer at some point. Everyone enjoy the holiday weekend, say a thank you to our American heroes. All that good stuff.