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It's a Writing Thing
a work in progress
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 Welcome!

This is the official blog for Maria Lima, author of the Blood Lines series, unrepentant fangrrl and writing geek. The blog is a work in progress, as is pretty much everything else in my life.

My role models include Tanya Huff, Joss Whedon, Christopher Golden and Russell T. Davies amongst many, many others.

I love to read, write and watch genre TV. I'm very lucky that people actually pay me to do one of these three things. My series is published by Juno Books, an imprint of Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster.

You can also find a mirror of this journal at Dreamwidth.

Other places to find me:

My Web site
Facebook
Twitter

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Everything I'm about to post is a spoiler and my personal reaction.

DO NOT READ if you haven't watched CHILDREN OF EARTH series )

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Spirits: indescribable

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Thanks to the random number generator, the winner of the Canada Day contest is HockeyVampiress!!!!

HV - I shall contact you via email.

Thanks to all of you who participated. Some very eloquent and lovely thoughts about Canada in yesterday's post.


Stay tuned for more summer book giveaways!

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Spirits: cheerful

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First of the month, first of July and HAPPY CANADA DAY!

In case you hadn't figured out by now, I have this amazing love affair with Canada. Don't remember exactly when it started, but I can give you the below:


Top Reasons I <3 Canada...in no particular order )

On that note and without further ado (drumroll and bagpipes, please)...Comment below and tell my one thing you think is fabulous, cool or brilliant about our neighbour to the north and one of you few, you lucky few, you band of (ahem, never mind)...will win an advanced copy of my newest book (out in November), Blood Kin, third in the Blood Lines series and takes place primarily in Vancouver, BC. Winner will be chosen via random number generator.

Good Luck et bonne chance, mes amis!

ETA: If you don't have a LiveJournal or Open ID account, please comment anonymously, but leave your first name and some way to ID you if you should win ("Pam" alone won't work, but "Pam D" would). THANKS!

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Spirits: Canadian

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 And let us know you're ok.

Especially if you ride Red Line. I'd like to know you made it home okay before/after crash.

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Spirits: worried

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 In a comment to a post about fanfic in Justing Larbalastier's blog:
 
 
"Fanfic is the equivalent of what musicians and visual artists are often encouraged to do, which is imitate the style of others on the way to developing their own. And no one thinks it’s weird or a waste of talent for someone who plays the saxophone or sings or plays the piano, to sit down at a party and play a song that someone else wrote, not for money but just to entertain the people around them or maybe just to please themselves."

This is awesome and succinctly captures exactly what I believe.  Go forth and read.

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 Happy solstice to you all and hope the sun brings you brilliance in your life!! I'm hoping the sun finds its way to this soggy, moldy Mid-Atlantic area. :)

For all you dads out there, especially my own amazing stepdad, hope your Father's Day is fantastic!!!



This entry was originally posted at http://chickwriter.dreamwidth.org/281718.html. Please comment there using OpenID.

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Current Location: Chez Lima
Spirits: sleepy

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Over at [info]fangs_fur_fey , the topic of the month is Research. I posted my take on this over here.

Book 4 (BLOOD HEAT) is in progress, a steady drip of words, shaping into the story that will become a book. I had a wonderful epiphany yesterday while at our local Barnes & Noble, having lunch with a colleague. I'd gone there to buy maps--one of Texas and one of Wales. I've got a ton of online resources, but I wanted the visual of a road map that I could open up, scribble on and perhaps even cut up.

The Texas map is for BLOOD HEAT, which will take place back at the ranch (to steal a cliche) and in nearby Guadalupe County, at Canyon Lake.  The map of Wales is dual purpose: a future trip being planned by me, [info]birki_lib  and my BIL and for a future book (assuming I sell more of this series).

As J and I were eating, I was discussing if/how I could have a particular scene happen on screen. Did it belong in the book? Should it have already happened? We were also discussing Texas high school football (which had come to mind, as my car audio book is currently Living Dead in Dallas, and I'd just gotten to the scene where Sookie goes to the local football game and sees Bill with Portia. That in turn, led me to think about Friday Night Lights, and how I could incorporate this icon of Texas tradition into one of my books. Even though Keira and the gang live in a small town whose school is too small to support a football team, it's highly unlikely they're not exposed to the insanity.

Then it struck me. I could set the character interaction I needed at a nearby HS football game, with added bonus of introducing a crucial plot point. SCORE! (or, I suppose I should say TOUCHDOWN!) I promptly grabbed the paper tray liner, borrowed J's pen, and scribbled down the essentials. Cracked me up, because this is the first time I've written down something like this on the proverbial nearby napkin (or equivalent). I *always* carry at least 2 notebooks and several pens...in my backpack. But, since we were just going to grab a quick lunch and do a map run, I only had my mini-bag with me, not wanting to haul around the backpack. ::g::

Now, I only have to figure out why there'd be a football game held in June (exhibition game? fundraiser for uniforms/band equipment?)...and I suppose that I'll have to do some more research. Despite my long-term Texanity, and my somewhat unwilling partitipation in pep squad at one of my schools, my knowledge of football is extremely limited. Thank goodness I have friends that are more interested in sports than I am. Thanks to J's help, I know that one of the characters I'm going to introduce in this scene will need to be a running back (based on his size/build).

Words scribbled for the day, so I'm going to watch a movie then take a nap. Damned rain came back so I'm totally lethargic and feeling lazy. SUN, PLEASE!

Hope everyone's having a great weekend!

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Spirits: sleepy

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Woke up to the news that [info]minotaurs had passed away. I never knew him well, but he was a familiar face at every fan con I attended. His humor and smiling face will be missed by many.

Spirits: sad

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Hola kids, fangrrls, fans and general public types.

My wonderful editor, Ms. Paula Guran, has updated the Juno Books site and posted a page about Blood Kin and an excerpt from the book. Go. See. Read!

In other news, work continues to be busy. Book 4, working title Blood Heat, is in progress. Been keeping a fairly low profile overall. Just darned tired. Sleep is a good thing.

Currently reading: Street Magic by Caitlin Kittredge ([info]blackaire). My only real reading time is before work in the morning. I'm loving this book so much, I've practically had to set a timer to make me stop reading so I can leave for the office. Get it. Read it.

Just bought a ton of new books, but sadly, won't have a heck of a lot of time to read them until after Blood Heat is finished. Oh well. Life of a writing chick. ::g::

Happy Thursday, all!

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Current Location: Chez Lima
Spirits: sleepy

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Tweets! )
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Tweets! )
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Tweets! )
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Here it is, folks - the brand spanking new cover for Blood Kin. *


behind the cut )

If you care to see the full thing (front & back) - go here.


*Courtesy of fab editor, Jennifer Heddle @ Pocket Books, who sent me cover flats, along with the copy edited ms.

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Current Location: Chez Lima
Spirits: thankful

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Tweets! )
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Tweets! )
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Tweets! )
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I just posted over at [info]fangs_fur_fey - some thoughts and questions about identity on the Web.

Come on over and discuss with us.

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Spirits: thoughtful

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Tweets! )
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(thanks to [info]sansa1970  for the link)

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA -- A PROCLAMATION

Forty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America was born. During LGBT Pride Month, we commemorate the events of June 1969 and commit to achieving equal justice under law for LGBT Americans.

LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders in all professional fields, including the arts and business communities. LGBT Americans also mobilized the Nation to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic and have played a vital role in broadening this country's response to the HIV pandemic.

Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration -- in both the White House and the Federal agencies -- openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism.

The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is more work to be done. LGBT youth should feel safe to learn without the fear of harassment, and LGBT families and seniors should be allowed to live their lives with dignity and respect.

My Administration has partnered with the LGBT community to advance a wide range of initiatives. At the international level, I have joined efforts at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world. Here at home, I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions and Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending the existing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security. We must also commit ourselves to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic by both reducing the number of HIV infections and providing care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS across the United States.

These issues affect not only the LGBT community, but also our entire Nation. As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If we can work together to advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every American will benefit. During LGBT Pride Month, I call upon the LGBT community, the Congress, and the American people to work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA


source: White House press release

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