Anya Bast

Once in a while I crave the ocean. I don’t necessarily want to live by the ocean, too many people live on the edges of the USA for my tastes. But a few days oceanside on vacation? Yes, please. So we decided to take a rare week of vacation and drive down to Panama City Beach.

The weather was actually cooler there than where we live in the middle of the country. Weird, huh? And while the sun beats strong and fierce, (amazingly so), a nice breeze accompanied our days on the sand. We did a lot of lazing, a lot of watching our daughter swim and play, a lot of eating good food. Basically, it was a great recharge of our batteries.

One day we went out on a boat to look for wild dolphin. Dolphin are very curious about people. I can understand why; we are pretty strange, after all. This dolphin swam right up to the boat unexpectedly when we’d anchored to take a swim. He hung out for a little while, letting the kids have a very special encounter..

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We also stopped on a beach that was filled with little hermit crabs. For a girl from a place with no beaches, this was a serious treat. I’ve never seen anything like this before.

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.This one seems to be saying, “Please, no pictures.”

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They are kind of cute, aren’t they?

I did absolutely no work for an entire week. No writing. No even thinking about writing….(well, maybe a little thinking about writing). It was exactly what I needed. Sometimes it’s important to just shut the brain off for a while, don’t you think? It’s beneficial for the long run to give ourselves little breaks here and there.

Now I’m home and ready to get back to work. I’ve finished up a novella for Samhain and am working on the outline for the next Brotherhood of the Damned novel, feeling refreshed and energized..

It was a day like any other day, except I happened upon a picture of a dog at an animal control in rural Kentucky. We have a rescued dog already, plus a whole bunch of rescued cats, so I try NOT to look at pictures of animals needing to be rescued. It gives me horrid angst. We’re full up w/ animals and shouldn’t take any more. As much as I would like to save them all, the cold hard truth is–we can’t.

Then along comes #194, a medium sized mixed breed. His picture immediately tugged on me. ALL the pictures of animals needing to be rescued tug on me, of course, but this was different in some way I can’t explain.

So I called down to the animal control where the dog was being held and asked about him. I talked to the man who picked him up as a stray. He seemed a very caring type and gushed on about how sweet this particular dog was. He told me #194 had been passed over twice already for euthanasia because he and a couple of the other workers had taken a special liking to him.

Just as an aside, I can’t imagine what a hard job that must be. I had expected everyone I talked to there to be a little hard, a little burned out, not forthcoming with information, but no one I talked to was like that AT ALL. It was a very nice surprise.

Anyway, the man told me a rescue out of NY was coming that day to take him. He was very sure #194 would go with this organization, but I could call back on Friday to make sure he’d gone.

I almost didn’t call back on Friday since the man was so sure #194 would go, but I’m really glad I did. The NY rescue didn’t take him because the transporter lacked room enough in her vehicle. The woman I talked to that day at animal control also gushed about the sweetness of this dog and she was devastated that his options were now all gone. He would have to be put on the euthanasia schedule for Monday and couldn’t be passed over again.

So, yeah, NO. 😉 My husband and I adopted him over the phone and a transporter was arranged to bring the dog to us on Saturday.

And, just like that, we had a new family member.

This is a picture of him right after we picked him up from the transporter. He was terrified and shedding like crazy (as you can see).

I worried how he would be with our current dog, who is a large girl (a German Shep/Husky mix about twice his size) and older than this young guy. I worried whether or not he was housebroken. I worried how he would be with our cats.

I didn’t need to worry. 🙂

He spent the first day and night very frightened, but by yesterday morning he realized he was all right. He’s still insecure and sticks close to my side, but he’s really come out of his shell since Saturday. He’s amazingly well-behaved, aside from the fact I don’t think he’s ever seen a cat. My best friend says he thinks they’re indoor squirrels, 😉 but we’re working with him on that (and taking absolutely no chances with my purry babies). He’s not aggressive toward them, but they DON’T want to play.

Other than that, he is fitting in amazingly well. Almost as if it was meant to be. 🙂

Here’s a picture of him out of his shell and feeling more relaxed. What a difference, right?

We named him Bingo. Not my first choice, but my daughter picked it.

So, it was an eventful weekend for us. We weren’t quite expecting to add another member to the family, but sometimes these things just happen.

And, in this case, I think we really got lucky. He’s an amazing guy.

Cross posted from The Bradford Bunch.

My husband and I just celebrated thirteen years of marriage. I know it doesn’t seem that long to some people, but considering the rate of divorce surrounding us, it feels like an accomplishment to my husband and I.

We are really different, he and I. I’m introverted and quiet. I only speak unless I have something to say. When I make friends, I tend to make them for life–I don’t flit. He’s loud and outgoing and a bit bossy. He has lots of friends, but the relationships are a bit more superficial than mine tend to be. Many are the times he tries to plow over me and tell me what to do, making me dig in my heels and stand my ground (with him, I have to be strong. He keeps me that way.) I love to read, he doesn’t. I love to talk about politics and religion and deeper sorts of issues, he doesn’t.I’m emotional, he’s not. He loves to go out and be around other people, I don’t. We are opposites in lots of different ways.

But we share plenty of common ground, too, and over the years we’ve both grown and changed…together. Like the limbs of a tree growing closer, rather than further apart. Little bit by little bit, the alignment of our personalities has grown stronger.

There were rocky times, times that another couple probably would’ve used to say goodbye, but love kept us together. We worked through the rough spots, coming out the other side of them stronger for it, more in sync, and closer. Yes, we are very different, but we have an understanding of the other person and a genuine appreciation. We give each other the qualities we don’t possess ourselves–two halves of a whole. Over the years I’ve adopted some of the aspects of his personality and he’s adopted some of mine.

Maybe that’s why I tend to pair opposites in my books. I like the idea of two very different people coming together, finding a bit of common ground, finding a deep and abiding love, and building a house with a solid foundation on it. That’s what we’ve done in our marriage, after all.

All I know is that I’m thankful for my husband and I wouldn’t trade his loud, brash, bossy self for anyone. He is my partner through this life, my very best friend and best companion, the one I want to grow old with. Out of anyone in the world, he knows me the best…maybe even better than I think I know myself.

I loved it, of course. Actually, I saw this movie a while ago, right after it came out. Anything with Christian Bale and I’m there in a flash. Christian Bale as Batman? Heaven, peoples, heaven.

Personally, I was very impressed with Heath Ledger portrayal of The Joker. I thought he did a fab job. No huge surprise, since I already knew Ledger was a kick-ass actor. But what do you think? Does he deserve an Oscar? I’ve got my head so buried in work, I’m not sure what his competition might be, so I can’t give an adequate answer.

What say you?

As an aside, mark your calendars for September 10th. That’s when the Book-a-Day extravaganza will start on this blog. I’ll give a new book away every day until shortly after the release of The Chosen Sin on October 7th. Check back every day, answer all my questions and you’ll have a chance to win free books.

Now, back to working on the second draft of Witch Fury.

Of our dog. I snapped it this morning. I think she’s a gorgeous pooch, but I may be a bit biased. I have friends who are doing the 365 Project. You post a photo a day, every day…for a whole year. I can’t commit to that, but I am going to make a point to post more pictures on my blog.

I joined Second Life today. Oy. There’s a learning curve, methinks. It’s going to take me a while to get the hang of it.

I’m working on two projects at once, something that generally drives me nuts. And, yes, it is making me nuts. Big time. Right now I’m working on the second draft of Witch Fury and I’m also writing my novella for the Christmas themed anthology I’m in next year. My story is actually Yuletide themed. This novella kicks off my new fae series and introduces my new world. I don’t want to say much more than that because I’m superstitious.

I hate working on two projects at once because it’s hard for me to disengage from one world and slip into another just like that. I also hate having to head hop between all my main characters. I can head hop between two characters in the same world, no problem, but four across two different worlds is a bigger deal.

As well as making myself nuts, I’m getting ready for the rather large promotion I’ll be hosting on this blog in September/October. I’ll be giving a book away, every day. Sound good? Along with a bunch of my books, here’s a sampling of the titles I’ve selected:

Lora Leigh — Mercury’s War
Lauren Dane — Making Chase (autographed)
Jeri Smith Ready — Wicked Game
Keri Arthur — Embraced by Darkness
Jacqueline Frank — Noah: Nightwalkers, Book 5
Patricia Briggs — Cry Wolf
Megan Hart — Tempted (autographed)

Plus many more. I also plan to give away a signed ARC of Witch Heart (January, 2009)

Now I’m off to take my daughter to the library. It’s actually NOT a bajillion and three degrees today. Yay!

I’ve been in my cave editing Witch Heart and finishing up Witch Fury this week. I have tons of work right now. It’s hard because it’s summer and a mild one at that. I want to be outside. So I’m getting up early and staying up late to work. That way the bulk of the day is mine to do with as I wish.

Today it’s beeeeeautiful, so I’ll probably spend a large of chunk of it outside with my daughter, who just got a new slide. She’s crazy about it. She calls it her Wheeeee! 😉 Tomorrow it’s going to be very hot, so I might take her to the pool. We have a pool in our backyard, but the public pool is graduated in depth, like a beach would be. So much easier for the little ones.

Soon I’ll be starting a novella that will introduce a new series I’ll be starting after the Elemental Witches series is finished. This novella will be included in an anthology to be released in October 2009. The other authors will be Angela Knight, Lora Leigh and Allyson James. Think I’m happy to be included in an anthology with such an absolutely fantastic group of writers? Er….trust me, I made the squee heard ’round the world when my agent called asking me if I wanted to be included. I don’t know the title yet or many of the details, but I’m sure more info will be coming soon.

A couple announcement/housekeeping type things:

I’m planning to draw a winner for my contest (see below) this evening, so if you’re going to enter, get your patoochie down there and do it. I’ll announce the winner tomorrow.

Also, did you know I’m on Facebook? I love Facebook, guys. I’m not so much an ardent fan of Myspace (but, BOY, I get a lot of personal notes from readers through MySpace). I’m not a monster promoter in general, and especially not on Facebook. I just hang and play with some of the applications. I won’t be trying to fling my books at you on there or anything. So, if you want to friend me, go ahead!

Okay, now for a monster promotion. Heh. Way to make a liar out of myself. Look for a really big month-long contest on this blog starting in early September. I’m still working out the details, but it’s going to work something like this — a chance to win free books every single day from some of the authors I love, (you should see my shopping cart on Amazon.com right now as I prepare). There will also be some rocking, HUGE, prizes at the end of the month (think awesome gift certificates) to coincide with the release of The Chosen Sin on October 7th. More details coming soon.

Lastly, check out DaneHart.com! Megan Hart and Lauren Dane have teamed up to blog together. I’m sure the results will be hilarious and entertaining.

Now I’m off to play in the sunshine!

Well, this is my personal cycle of anxiety, anyway. The creation of a novel brings with it a roller coaster of emotion.

I start research on a new novel. There is excitement! Geeky joy! The glomming of lots of new books to read in order to help me build my world! Yay! Yayayayayayayay!

During the plotting stage — more happy, happy, joy, joy! The creation of new characters? Bliss! Discovering their pasts and all the deep, dark secrets that drive them throughout the book? Wheee!

I start the novel and look forward to writing every day. I luuuuurve it with a passion that gets me up from my fluffy bed at six every morning to write before my tornado, er, daughter wakes up. There are occasional bouts of dark ohmygodthisSUCKSandeveryonewillhateit.

I finish the first draft and go into the editing stage, which is intensive for me. Happy, happy, yet far more frequent incidences of ohmygodthisSUCKSandeveryonewillhateit.

I complete all revisions (which take me almost as long as writing the first draft) and send it off to my editor. I’m satisfied with my story and the way I told it. It could be no other way, after all. *shrug* I feel I have done justice to my characters. Yayayayayayayayay!!! *drinks champagne with husband*

First round of edits from editor arrives. I realize that while I can change sentence structure and move paragraphs around, ect, I can’t make any major changes to the book. Eeek! Anxiety sets in. Lots of ohmygodthisSUCKSandeveryonewillhateit. Lots and lots of second guessing myself.

Final proofreading stage. Same dealio as edits, except I have talked myself into my zen place now, so I’m feeling better about the whole thing.

Book release. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Lots of joy! My book is out there and people are reading it. Ohmygod…my book is out there and people are reading it? Eeeeeeeeeeek! What if everyone hates it? What if it totally sucks? Ack! Blarg! Blargity blarg blarg blarg! *vomits in trashcan* And yet…my anxiety is also mixed with this euphoria born of having my story out there in print.

Gradually the anxiety fades back into peacefulness as I see that not everyone hates my books *wipes sweat from brow* Whew! I mean, I can’t expect to please everyone but most people seem to be enjoying it. And all is well. S’okay. Zen place is found once more.

And the cycle starts again.

Welcome to a peek inside my head. Scary, huh? 😉

This post brought to you by the first round of edits on Witch Heart.

Cupcakes are my kyptonite. I fall to my knees and am powerless against a chocolate with buttercream frosting.

The heating and air conditioning guys are here bright and early for the second day of the installation of our new central air/heat pump. Yesterday they spent about eight hours ripping out what seems like the guts of our house and installing vent/duct work (new veins?) in the two rooms created by the renovation we did to the house over Christmas. Today apparently they’re finally actually installing all the new guts and finishing off the vent/duct work.

The latter will make me very happy because since yesterday afternoon we’ve had two more or less open holes leading into the crawl space and that made me wake up in the middle of night on the sudden thought, Oh, my god, there are brown recluse crawling up from the bowels of house! Heh. This is brown recluse country, but I have ample reason to believe we are brown recluse free. That was just middle of the night paranoia.

The sad part is that we probably won’t even use the air conditioning all that much for a while. I told my husband last night, “Yeah, but I looked at the weather and it’s only going to be 90 tomorrow!” His face looked like this: :- / I’m more of an environmentalist than he is. We got through all of last summer with no air conditioning. I only turn on the air if it’s really, really HOT and 90 is not really, really HOT to me because I have sure fire strategies of keeping the house much cooler than that during the day (it helps that we have lots of trees shading our house). If the heat index gets up into the mid to high 90s, then I relent.

See, every time I turn on the air conditioning I think of all the polar bears who don’t have any ice to stand on and that’s pretty much enough of an image for me to suffer a little bit of heat. I tend to drive as little as possible too. It’s not the gas prices deterring me, (though they definitely help). I’ve always kept my driving to a minimum by avoiding unnecessary trips and planning out my errand running in the most effective way possible.

This weekend, Renaissance Festival! Yay! I love me some Ren Fest.