It's a Writing Thing

Friday 13th :( BUT, AOW open archive \0/

2009-11-13T19:41:56Z

Today is sadly living up to its reputation.

Woke up WAY late this a.m., thanks to combo of normal meds and flexeril for my aching back. As in nearly noon. Arrgh, there went my morning writing time. It's my normal Friday day off and I usually get TONS done in the morning, but not today. :(

I succumbed to the groggies and ordered from Domino's for lunch. They forgot part of my order and I've been too brain stupid to call them. Srsly, between the unending rain, the back muscles complaining and the residue of meds, I think I might just fire today altogether.

GOOD THINGS: (and which I will focus on)

Finally got my Locus subscription straightened out, thanks to the wonderful people there. November issue has a short review of BLOOD KIN and they liked it!! (sadly, I must AVOID Amazon reviews, b/c there were a couple of fairly bad ones there. Why do we obsess over those, when 99% of the real reviews (blogs, pro reviewers) are great?)
Archive of our Own is now in Open Beta, w00t!! ~~If you are in need of an invite, I have ONE. So, first come, first served. Please comment below.~~ TAKEN!
Got good feedback from betas on BLOOD HEAT (Blood Lines #4), there is some work to do at the beginning, but that's what I'd figured.
The Morrigan (my new netbook) is FABULOUS. Despite the teeny keyboard (I have big hands), it's wonderful to use as an eBook reader. I downloaded Kindle for PC, and voila, my Kindle purchased books are easily downloaded & read. Makes up for those times when I've utterly forgotten my Kindle and have resorted to BEGGING for something to read.
John Scalzi discusses Yuletide and proves that, once more, he utterly rocks.

Now, it's back to the writing.

In remembrance and in salutation

2009-11-12T00:30:48Z

Before the day ends on my side of the world, I just wanted to post and remember - those who have served, those who serve now, and those who will serve their respective countries' armed forces.

It is because of you many of us sleep safe in our beds at night.

It is because of you that some of us were able to leave a country ruled by a dictator and come to live in a place where speech is free.

It is because of you that many survive who would otherwise not.

War is horrible. War is awful and many times unnecessary. But your service, no matter where or when, overseas or on home soil, will ALWAYS count--will ALWAYS be important.

Thank you.
Merci bien.
Muchas Gracias.
...in all the languages of human kind.

Supernatural fen...come read my blog post, Apocalypse Nowish

2009-11-09T22:07:40Z

Over at SmartPopBooks. (NOTE: there ARE spoilers for last week's episode #5x08, so please avoid if you haven't watched and care not to be spoiled).

This is a follow up to my essay, Another Roadside Attraction in the IN THE HUNT anthology, where I wrote about the Trickster. That essay is available until the end of the week for FREE at the site.

SmartPopBooks features my essay today!!

2009-11-05T16:41:20Z

Via their Twitter account: @smartpopbooks

Today's free essay: Another Roadside Attraction (on Supernatural & the Trickster!) by moi. SPN's Trickster...by his actions changes the primary characters at an essential level" We'll see how he does so tonight!

If it's Tuesday, it must be a writing day...

2009-11-05T03:50:44Z

(or Dawn's in trouble)...Oh wait, it's Wednesday? Oh yeah.

Well, actually, every day is a writing day now as I approach deadline. Hi, my name is Maria and I'm a binge writer.

My buddy Jaye Wells explains this better on her blog, and talks about how she's learning to write every day. Frankly, it would make my life a LOT easier. She give a lot of very good advice. I believe I shall follow it...as soon as this book is out the door at the end of the month.

I've gotten some excellent fan mail regarding the series. Thanks to all of you who take the time to email me. It's a blast getting fan mail. I love to hear from my readers. Don't be shy! I don't bite...only my vampires do, and if you're willing. ::g::

Blood Kin is still holding its own on the Amazon rankings (which, granted, are impossible to know how they're computed, but I don't really have any other measure until I get my royalty statement...in > year). So thanks again! I am so very much appreciative of your support. Most days I really have to pinch myself to realize that this is all TRUE. My books that I wrote are in STORES and LIBRARIES and published by a reputable press. It really is a dream come true.

On that note, I shall bid you all a good night.

Today's word count: 4334

There is no yay today [xposted]

2009-11-04T12:52:24Z

To the voters in my home state of Virginia who elected a right-wing misogynist asshole,
To those of you in Maine who overturned a human right and continue to disenfranchise fellow humans:

I hope your self-righteous self-serving smug faces sleep well at night knowing how fucked up you've made the rest of our lives.

---

I am angry and sad and generally feeling defeated today after seeing the election results. :(

WINNERS!!

2009-11-03T12:27:01Z

Thanks to all who participated in the photo contest.

The winners of the prizes:

(1) Julie Duncan, who's a very mean-looking spider woman...and I mean SPIDERS. }}}shudder{{{

(2) Laura Condit as Bellatrix Lestrange, who won a set of books for the Smith Public Library in Wylie, Texas.

Some shots of the winners and other participants.

Double the Contests, Double the Fun

2009-10-30T15:48:42Z

My in-the-wild contest is still ongoing. Send me your pics of my books in bookstores, libraries, your own shelves, you holding them, etc. and win!

Also, the most excellent fangs_fur_fey community is holding a 3-year Blog Birthday contest with EXCELLENT prizes. Check it out!

I'm offline for the rest of the day as I sequester myself into writing mode.

Cheers all!

It's a Writing Thing...with super groovy tech

2009-10-29T11:43:20Z

Okay, just because I used the phrase "super groovy"...don't be put off. ::g::

The makers of the software program I use to write, Scrivener, is having a great promotion for NaNoWriMo.

If you're a Mac-using writer, DO. NOT. DELAY. I've written all my books on Scrivener and it's hands down, the best software for writers that I've ever found. Plus, WAY cheap! What's not to love?

I struggled with other bloated [ahem, Word] programs for YEARS, fighting the autoformats, the "I know better than you" coding, until via reading Jenny Crusie's blog, I discovered Scrivener. I downloaded a trial and tried it out for about two days. Immediately went to buy it and have never since regretted it. [plus, who can resist their domain name: Literature and Latte!!]

The biggest advantage? I can set it up just as *I* like - separate chapter, sections, whatever. Plus, I can have my partial scenes, my notes, my reference images, etc. in the Research folder, right there for ease of access.

I have absolutely NO connection to the makers, just a deep abiding respect for a fabulous piece of software. (My only other wish is that there would be an equivalent Windows offering, so I could use it at my job. ::g::)

Thanks, Keith, for a great product!

RELEASE DAY!!

2009-10-27T11:33:38Z

Today is the official release day for BLOOD KIN, 3rd in the Blood Lines series and the first one that is BRAND new. Yup, a grand total of 2 people outside of the folks at Pocket (and me) have read this book.

It's available at your local bookstore, your favorite indie bookstore and the usual chains (Walmart, Target, Amazon). It is also available in e-book format at the Sony store, Kindle store and at Fictionwise, plus via my publisher's online store.

Also sharing my release date is Diana P. Francis' [difrancis ]new urban fantasy novel, BITTER NIGHT. Make sure to check it out!!

The contest is still brewing: take a pic of my books in the wild (store, at your house, library, etc.) or dress in costume and take a picture of you holding one of my books and enter. Details here.

There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb...and vampires...

2009-10-26T11:28:46Z

Release week w00t:

Guest blog up @ Amberkatze's Book Blog & VampChix where I write about setting and what's to love about vampires. Both lovely ladies will be giving away a copy of a book.
Contest right here at my blog
And tomorrow (drum roll, please....) BLOOD KIN sees the light of day for the first time ever!!

Stop by, read the essays at the 2 other blogs. Take pictures and enter my contest!

Happy Friday and a meme...

2009-10-23T13:58:04Z

I'm home busily writing book four, but I thought it would be fun to do this meme.

From just about everyone:

The problem with LJ: We all think we are so close, but really we know nothing about one another. So I want you to ask me something you think you should know about me. Something that should be obvious, but you have no idea about. Ask away!

[today is my Fake!Friday, so I'm already weekend-in-the-head...NO comments from the peanut gallery, k...)

My knees are STILL like melty rubber after the oh-so-NOT-fun hurried trek down 12 filghts of long stairs at the office yesterday during the "fire drill", a.k.a. "torture disguised as safety procedure". This, of course, happened on the day my lunch buddy and I decided to take an extra long walk at lunch b/c the weather was gorgeous. OW! Normally, probably wouldn't have been so bad, but both things together complicated by a fairly recent knee injury that has yet to really heal properly = one grumpy chickwriter. Guess I'll be hauling the cane around today.

So, meme away folks. Ask me *anything*. :)

Taylor Kitsch & Camryn Manheim fans...WEEP with my Joy!!!

2009-10-19T12:05:15Z

I scored this as part of the eBay auction to benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

This one can join my Callum Keith Rennie bear. ::grins madly::

I've also won this bear. For all the Fat Girls!!

Whee!!!!

xposted

GUEST BLOGS!! BLOOD KIN RELEASE!! CONTEST!! Win Cool Stuff!

2009-10-17T19:28:14Z

Whee!!

Release week begins in < 10 days!!
Sunday, October 25, guest blog at Amberkatze's Book Blog and talk about why There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb*
Monday, October 26: guest bloggin at VampChix, where I talk about, what else? Vampires.
Tuesday, October 27: BLOOD KIN out in the wild!!

To celebrate my first completely brand new book with Juno/Pocket, I'm holding a contest.

CONTEST!!!!

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

(1) Take a picture of one of my books in the wild (in a store, of you or someone holding the book, etc.)

OR

(2) Take a picture of yourself in your Halloween costume, holding a copy of one of my books.

WHEN?
Take pics whenever you like, but you *must* submit them no later than midnight Eastern Standard Time, Monday, November 2, 2009.

HOW TO ENTER:
-- either email me the image (.jpg, .gif, or .png) and I'll post for you; make sure to comment below that you are sending me the photo.
OR
-- post the pic to your own photo hosting site and comment below with the URL for the pic.

PRIZES:

Best costume overall: a set of all 3 of my books
Best fantasy costume: choice of two of my books
Best funny costume: choice of one of my books

BONUS!!
-- if there is an especially awesome photo in *either* category, this person will get the right to name a character in one of my upcoming books and have a set of my books donated to the library of their choice.

ETA: To cover legalities, I've modified the rules to include the following (thanks to fangs_fur_fey for the disclaimer):

Contest restrictions: Because I don't know all the various international laws (and thus don't want to get in trouble for breaking any), contest is open to US and Canadian residents only. Any contest winners who cannot provide a US/Canadian shipping address will be disqualified and a new winner drawn.

GENERAL PHOTO WINNERS WILL BE PICKED RANDOMLY BY COMPUTER ( http://www.randomizer.org/ ). Odds of winning are based on number of entries. No purchase of any kind necessary for entry.

COSTUME ENTRIES WILL BE PICKED BY A TEAM OF IMPARTIAL JUDGES (some of my co-workers). None of the judges will be related to or know the entrants.

(sorry I have to do this, folks, but I'd rather not get entangled in international legalities!)

* Thanks to Joss Whedon for the great blog post title.

Still here, still writing, still moving furniture

2009-10-12T22:48:01Z

Just wanted to post to let folks know that I haven't vanished - just busy working on book 4 and my apartment. New furniture is mostly here, but so is the old...all crammed into a <400 sq foot studio. I'm making arrangements (soon!) with a charity to come pick up the pieces that no one showed up for (free and VERY good furniture--I just don't get it).

For the next few weeks, I'll be around even less, as I work on the book, finish the apartment and generally get stuff in order. Always feel free to e-mail!

Cheers!!

RESOLVED: furniture assembled!

2009-10-03T13:47:34Z

Jason G is teh KING. He brought tools and helped me with the table, plus removed the old Rubbermaid shelving for use at his daughter's school.

He totally RAWKS!!

That said, I'm definitely getting me a set of power tools.

Now, it's a chat w/mom then off to the dentist. Then I get to come back and ORGANIZE.

::the glamorous life of an author:: ;-)

(perhaps when I'm done with making things pretty, I'll take a pic and post my new workspace for the world to see--after seeing Neil Gaiman's library and several other author workspaces, I was so in AWE!)

Guess what I am not doing now?

2009-10-03T02:38:32Z

I am not sitting at my brand new gorgeous shiny desk from the Container Store. Nor am I organizing said desk as I planned. Nor am I struggling to assemble it (1 tabletop + 4 legs). Why? Because my shiny new white melamine desktop + legs are REAL furniture and require things like, oh, power tools and other things I do not own...like a 2nd person.

DIY!FAIL, people!

Yes, I do have a very nice toolbox with a hammer, screwdrivers (both Phillips head and flat), a glue gun, and all sorts of handy little wrenches. But this desk? Requires that I actually DRILL STARTER HOLES! I do not own a drill. In my world, furniture comes with this little allen wrench thingie and with that and a couple of screwdrivers, you're all set.

Evidently, the furniture from the Container Store is REAL(tm) furniture that actually makes you do a Bob Vila routine before you can actually *use* said furniture.

I'm not really upset at myself, but I am a wee bit perturbed that nowhere on the shopping pages for said desktop did it state that one needed power tools to assemble. That was a bit of Container Store Fail.

At this point, I have the following choices:

1. Call the Container Store's 800 number and schedule a home install (minimum $180--more than I paid for said desktop/legs).
2. Hope my buddy JG, who is coming in the morning to take the old Rubbermaid shelves away got my email begging for power tools and some assistance.
3. Chuck caution to the winds, go visit Lowes or Home Despot (spelling intended) and BUY a power drill with a 1/8" drill bit that I will use a grand total of...ONCE.
4. SOB mercilessly until I get rescued.........Nah.

I *could* have gotten a similar furniture item from IKEA--you know, the place that has the furniture that assembles with the above-mentioned allen wrench. Why didn't I? Well, there was this little problem called: the desk combo I wanted was not available for purchase online, so that meant a trip to the store in Woodbridge, just so I could buy a piece of furniture that they then would have to deliver to my home anyway. Because you know NONE of this would fit in my teeny car.

Oh, and to add injury to insult? The cool paper towel holder I ordered was packed in with the desk legs and arrived all broken.

le sigh.

Cuban I may be, but fellow countryman Bob Vila would totally disown me. (Hell, my parents just might. They build things, like wee bridges in their backyard and install their own kitchen sinks. I can't even freaking put 4 legs on a tabletop).

I think I'll go drown my sorrows in a good book and try to ignore the absolute STY my apartment resembles at this point (when you live in a studio - you can't hide the clutter--which, was why I bought the damned furniture in the first place).

Why I <3 Felicia Day...and musings about character-creation

2009-09-30T12:42:57Z

This great article/interview on Wired really spotlights the brilliance of Felicia Day's Web comedy: The Guild, plus, the amazing creative brain behind it.

This quote from Felicia absolute NAILS what I think about characterization in fiction:

But in general, there’s nothing more frustrating than that stereotypical gamer — the teenager in the basement with his mom getting him Hot Pockets. That’s why I wrote the show as well; because that stereotype is not accurate. Every quirky girl doesn’t have to be the best-friend character. It’s a very limiting and self-fulfilling prophecy.

::chickwriter punches the air in a resounding YES!!::

As much as stereotypes are often true in RL (I mean, they did become stereotypes for a reason), I LOVE to see when someone really truly GETS it. When the geek gamer girl/boy/woman/man is a well-rounded person with a life. This can absolutely be applied across the board for all fiction writing (books, TV, movies, etc.) - the quirky girl best friend is a cliche that I absolutely loathe (and is right up there with the quirky gay man best friend/neighbor in my utter loathing).

In creating characters, I want to dig deeper. WHY is character X the moustache twirling villain? Or better yet, the quiet he-loves-his-mom-and-apple-pie serial killer? DEXTER is one of the series (books/TV) that helped twist the standard cliche and explode it out of the water, which is why it's such great fiction. So many excellent urban fantasy (both adutl and YA) writers are doing the same thing, as are many mystery writers.

Not that there's anything wrong with a well-written standard noir detective story--as long as the characters feel real, fresh and as if they have lives outside the set story. I love twisting tropes, creating characters with all shades of gray, breathing life into someone who only exists in a fictional world.

It's bloody brilliant and so very exciting to watch my characters come to "life" - to know that Keira utterly hates most American chocolate, having been raised on European versions all her life. And that Adam Walker practices his one-eyebrow lift sometimes in the mirror, forcing himself to keep the mask of neutrality and genteel inquiry, when what he'd often like to do is get into the discusssion/argument with all his emotions. Niko loves kittens and small animals of all sorts...and not to eat. He never had a pet and wishes that someday he'll be settled enough to adopt a few strays from the shelter. Despite his cocky attitude, deep down, he really really wants consistency.

See, I can't help but *know* these things about my characters. In fan fiction, we often call it "personal canon" - things you believe your version of X character does/likes/is like outside the constraints of the fictional work.

So, what personal canon do you all have about fictional characters you love in books/TV/Movies? What do you think floats Dean Winchester's boat? What's Jason Stackhouse's favorite candy bar?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

(ETA: I wrote up some personal canon last year for my primary characters and posted on my Web site. Go read, it's fairly amusing.)

Blood Bargain released!! (redux)

2009-09-29T13:45:44Z

Celebrating the release date for Blood Bargain, the 2nd book in my Blood Lines series. As some of you remember/may know, BB had a short release last year in November, when Juno was still part of Wildside Press. Because of the impending Pocket Books deal, only a small number of copies were printed, distributed, Of the good: nearly 100% of these sold and were not returned, so I was able to earn out my advance. Of the bad: There weren't too many folks that got their hands on the book.

Now, it's out again in bright shiny red cover with embossed lettering--w00t!! If you were thinking of buying, please do so today/this week if possible, I'd love to see a spike in sales figures!

For those who have read BB and are eagerly awaiting the next book: Blood Kin will be out next month (10/27).

Read a Banned Book

2009-09-28T16:10:06Z

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.

Intellectual freedom—the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular—provides the foundation for Banned Books Week. BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them.

The books featured during Banned Books Week have been targets of attempted bannings. Fortunately, while some books were banned or restricted, in a majority of cases the books were not banned, all thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and members of the community to retain the books in the library collections. Imagine how many more books might be challenged—and possibly banned or restricted—if librarians, teachers, and booksellers across the country did not use Banned Books Week each year to teach the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, and to draw attention to the danger that exists when restraints are imposed on the availability of information in a free society.

Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association; American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression; the American Library Association; American Society of Journalists and Authors; Association of American Publishers; and the National Association of College Stores. It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

Check out the lists of Frequently Challenged Books by year.

See you at FenCon/Dallas area!

2009-09-17T01:41:08Z

Going AFK until I get to Dallas tomorrow. See some of you at FenCon, at my signings or one of the other events!!

I'll definitely be online, just not sure when.

Wherein I'm the top...in the 100, that is

2009-09-15T12:52:19Z

Thanks to my readers, I've been voted one of the top mystery blogs by the Daily Reviewer.

So, thanks readers and please keep on coming back!! ::g::

On the writing front news, Book 4 is coming along nicely, and thanks to birki_lib (my sister) I'll be able to visit a high school football stadium while I'm in Texas this weekend. it's been a LONG time since I was in one and watching FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS may be helpful in remembering, but I still need the sight, scent, feel of the place.

Today, I'm running errands in the morning (Post Office, pharm) so I can pack for my trip later this afternoon. Leaving first thing Thursday a.m. (Yes, I pack in advance...I am a Virgo!!)

Tomorrow night, a visit to the Apple store to introduce my buddy V to the wonders of the Mac, and then dinner and catch up. The rest of the time today and tomorrow will be spent with Keira and the gang in Rio Seco, trying to figure out why....

Well, I can't tell you all EXACTLY what's up, that would be a spoiler!!

Top mystery novels blogs

Outer Alliance Pride Day

2009-09-13T16:27:42Z

September 1 was the very first Pride Day for a new group, the Outer Alliance.

Mission statement: As a member of the Outer Alliance, I advocate for queer speculative fiction and those who create, publish and support it, whatever their sexual orientation and gender identity. I make sure this is reflected in my actions and my work.

I just applied to join and hope all you folks that read me go to their blog and read the blog posts. Writers, I urge you to join (it's open to published and non-published writers).

Some really great short fiction, excerpts, posts, etc. at the above link. Go read, and help support queer speculative fiction.

Of the really freakin awesome...another pressie

2009-09-12T20:08:25Z

Thanks to the always amazing beledibabe - THIS:

She added *blood* drops to the matte!!! How cool is that?

As always, my family and friends are teh awesome.

(btw, all crookedness, etc. is my bad photo taking w/phone)

SPN 5x01: Sympathy for the Devil...long thoughts

2009-09-11T12:18:39Z

I threw out a few reactions last night on Dreamwidth (well, early this a.m. thanks to the Insomnia Faery), but really felt the need to get my more complex thoughts down.

Caveats:
(1) I am not a Biblical scholar, so everything I say below comes from my own studies, research and interests in mythology
(2) This is in no way supposed to be a deep analysis of anything; just my post-episode reaction after doing some thinking.
(3) This also isn't a "what I loved"/"what I hated"--just some thoughts about how Kripke and the writers are using the overall SPN mythos, folklore, legend and mythology in this continuing storyline.
(4) Please remember that I tend to come at these analyses as someone who writes urban fantasy and often uses folklore & myth in my own work. This is probably why this fascinates me so much.

That said...read on if you will. I'd be interested to learn your thoughts, as well. [this got really long, too. ::g::

This show continues to make me squee with joy at the sheer complexity of the mythos.

The parallels:

Angels (Zachariel & his goons) show up decked out in fashionable black suits, goons with guns, earwigs, shades. Zachariel is harsh, demanding, wanting to enforce Dean's acquiescence immediate. "There's no time," he says. Zach shows a distinct lack of trust, wants to force Dean's hand by torturing Sam, then Dean, then threatening Bobby. These Warriors are the Mirror Universe guys, despite the lack of goatees. Ruthless to the extreme, they are in it for the Game. Because, yeah, it's a Game. Think of the legends of the Seelie and Unseelie Sidhe in constant battle. Since they are immortal, no one can die until...there is a human present (e.g., War for the Oaks). Same exact thing is happening here. The Angels need Dean, the human to complete their mission. Without him, Lucifer cannot be killed/ended.

Over at Nick's place (and oh, the appropriateness of *that* name!!)* Lucifer, after variations of manifestations, finally appears as a soft spoken woman, Nick's dead wife, dressed in virginal white; old fashioned nightgown; barefoot, no jewelry, no bling--about as naked as one can get and still portray that utter innocence. S/he appeared alone, quietly pleading, apologetic, out for justice, "do the right thing"; "trust". A promise that "despite popular belief, I don't lie"--is that Truth? Could very well be. Satan was known as the Prince of Lies, but Lucifer, the Angel cast out of Heaven was thrown out for loving his God too much; for being TOO good. (I hark back to several mythologies here).

I read in some reviews last night about the cliche of Nick's family being murdered = automatic bad guy - but, I beg to change this slightly. It is a cliche, but a useful symbol. Loss of family results not necessarily in a bad man, but a broken man: evidenced by the following: Jack in SG1 (lost a son); The Outlaw Josey Wales (lost family); Gibbs in NCIS (lost wife/daughter). The loss of family in fiction often symbolizes the loss of belonging. Now Nick is cast adrift, deep in grief, turning to Justice for comfort. Like Jimmy, who turned to Castiel in his devotion to God; Nick will turn to the one being that promises to make it Stop Hurting and to get Revenge (even if not stated in those exact terms). Lucifer can make it all better.

My other rambly thinky thoughts:
-- the murders of Jack's family were pre-planned, part of the Game. I'm thinking here, it was the Angels. How better to prepare a vessel for the Shining One, and force Armageddon?

Again, this parallels with the Winchesters' story: Mary's death, pre-planned (or pre-ordained) by the YED to set his plan in motion. And YED/Lilith + breaking of the seals...probably all part of the Game, too.

Demon's reaction to Lucifer rising? FEAR!! They were out to GET Dean & Sam for their gaffe. They're not all happy happy that the morning star rose. Why? One would think that they'd be ecstatic, but as we saw throughout seasons 3/4, Ruby was part of a smaller faction.

Castiel!!! Brilliant Warrior Angel smiting the goons. I was breathless and speechless at the scene. There's a theory that I put forth last season (to a friend) that Castiel symbolizes Humanity's hope. And here he is now, dead and REBORN. Way to go for symbolism, Kripke!!

Did you notice the quiet flutter of wings when Castiel vanished? Gave me chills.

Dean = this season's Big Damn Hero. Instead of choosing the side one would initially presume, he decides to choose a third option: WE win. The humans. Not the dicktastic Angels, not Lucifer (whom I bet will be a pretty interesting guy); but US. It's NOT our fight; not our battle. He wants to wish them all out into the cornfield to duke it out amongst themselves and leave us the fuck alone. It's the SPN equivalent of the Kobyashi Maru - Dean wants to cheat Fate and beat the odds. Why not? They've done it time after time.

Love the idea of Dean's being Michael's Sword/vessel. If old Mikie is anything like Zach and his buddies, I shudder to think of the damage he could do to Dean's psyche; to the world.

Sam = the penitent. For Sam, this will be a season of seeking redemption, of finally learning the lesson that the Trickster kept trying to teach him. Sam, in his quiet, studious ways has always been the more arrogant of the two. Because he is more learned than Dean (not necessarily smarter, but more book-learned); Sam thinks he can research his way out of anything. That he can beat this stuff on his own. It's always been there, from the very beginning when he abandoned his family to go to Stanford. Like Nick, Sam's been broken. But who's going to put Sammy back together? He's lost his family again. Dean, the one and only mainstay of his life mistrusts him. They are no longer "them" but two separate people.

Oh, and just another note: many Christian myths/stories conflate Lucifer with Satan/The Devil; other mythologies/religions may not. As with many of these stories, I find them absolutely fascinating and wonder how Kripke & gang might use this scenario.

Oh, oh - just another thing I thought of. The title (from the Rolling Stones song, of course, made me think of the opening lyrics. "Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm a man of wealth and taste. - sounds more like Zach and his gang, eh? Again, love the way the creators/writers are flipping expectations. Interestingly in the Wikipedia article about the song, it references the fact that the opening lines are similar to the beginning of a classic Russian work, The Master and Margarita: a story about the Devil's visit to Moscow and also brings in the Jerusalem of Pontius Pilate.

AAAAGGGHHH - this is going to be one of those seasons where I spend time doing research, isn't it? I did read Master & Margarita a thousand years ago in college and remember loving it, but haven't read it since. Must go find a copy.

On an purely entertainment note, thought, this is promising to be a kick-ass season!

* Satan often referred to as "Old Nick" in English Christian teachings about the Devil
If you got as far as this, thanks for reading. I'm sure there will be spoilers in the comments.