(no subject)

[tehluggage]

So we finally got our Christmas tree up today, which was fun. We have certain rituals that we go through every year, as I'm sure most of you do.

The one that always starts things off is the annual Hunt For The Tree Stand.

"I'm sure it was in the garage!"

"No, the cold cellar! ...wait, nevermind. It's in the garage." Which usually goes on for fifteen, twenty minutes...

Then of course, it's time for No, The Other Left! Look, Just Turn The Tree That Way, Yeah, There. No, The Tree-Trunk Is Crooked, You Can't Fix That. Oh, Just Leave It.

And then of course there's digging out the decorations, realizing to our surprise that yet *another* string of lights has died over the past year, and uncoiling the strings from one another, when we *know* we left them coiled. It's got to be Malignancy at work, I swear...

But once we get to the actual decorating, it really is a lot of fun. There's decorations that have a lot of meaning for all of us, and it's always neat trying to figure out *exactly* where to put them. And of course, we've got to be careful when hanging the tinsel, as Fuzzy (the cat) seems to really enjoy the taste. Or maybe it's just the fact that it dangles and is sparkly that he likes... Actually, Fuzzy supervised the decorating this year. More accurately, he slept on a chair, and occasionally opened his eyes to make sure we weren't slacking. He's got the supervision down-pat, I'd say.

So yeah, it was a pretty fun day. And then I took Mom down a few times at hockey, so that was even better. She's still faster (and waay better), alas...




Oh, in other news...

"I am pleased to report that I have recently signed my first contract with Baen Books acting publisher Toni Weisskopf for a future book in the Miles Vorkosigan series. I have been working cordially with Toni for nearly as many years as I worked with the late Jim Baen, and I look forward to continuing a fruitful relationship.

The new book will not be started until mid-2007, as I have first to complete (as of this writing) about a book and a third in The Sharing Knife series for my other fine publisher, Eos/HarperCollins -- working title The Wide Green World. My present belief is that WGW will be a duology like its predecessor, making the series as a whole either a double-duology or a tetrology, for now. I don't have a publication schedule for WGW yet; my current plan, or at least hope, is to finish both volumes in first draft before doing final revisions on the first book.

My lifetime average for writing speed is a book every 14 months, I once calculated (I haven't rerun the stats lately, but I don't think they've shifted much.) Depending on a host of variables, if I started the new Miles book in mid-2007, it would likely be turned in late in 2008 for publication sometime in 2009. So breath-holding is contra-indicated for all concerned. No, I don't know what it will be about yet. (No, this does not mean I want you all to tell me, variously and contradictorily -- talk amongst yourselves, have fun...) That part will come in due course."

From Lois McMaster Bujold herself!

So yeah, much rejoicing here!

Woo, long post tonight. And I really should stop posting at midnight, it's getting ridiculous...

Comments

[kilerkki.livejournal.com]

...New Miles book = SO MUCH EXCITEMENT.

Though honestly, I'm kind of liking the stuff she's writing right now. Just bought and very much enjoyed The Hallowed Hunt, and even The Sharing Knife was a lot of fun. But nobody measures up to Miles.

[tehluggage.livejournal.com]

Needless to say, I was THRILLED when I heard the news.

I actually haven't read any of her fantasy books. I've heard they're good, it's just...without Miles, it's not quite the same. And yes, nobody measures up (down?) to Miles.