How are you supposed to catch up?

I mean, ever?  I have been a total writing demon since the summer.  I'm talking you can see my horns and tail in a certain slant of light--and you damn well better double that circle of protection if you plan to get within six feet of me.  Wait a minute...I know your true name.  You are so toast.

But before I do anything demonic like lock your soul in a vial of everlasting fire and use you as a screaming nightlight, let me finish my post...

I'm happy with the amount of work, a couple short stories, a 100k word novel completed, another 35k toward the next book.  The problem is that I've been reading a lot less.  Sure, Skott still drops off books on my desk with high recommendations, plus I have 6+ chapters of Skott's work in progress, and chapters and book recommendations from others in the SF group. 

But I haven't given myself any time to read.  Really sucks.

Can't I make the rules?

So I've decided to take a writing/editing break for a bit and do some reading.  Looking at the stack of books on the floor next to my nightstand, I don't know where to start.  I went on a Caitlin R. Kiernan spree after reading Murder of Angels a couple months ago, an Amazon box with Daughter Of Hounds, Threshold, Alabaster (hardcover with cool illustrations) sitting next to the bed...and dammit no time to read them.  Another Amazon order with some recommends from the SF group, including The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding (recommended by Con).

I threw Skott's 6+ chapters on my Reader, read two of the short stories in Alabaster, read the first two chapts of Sarah Monette's The Virtu. 

Still spinning, but this train's starting to roll.

And for the total surreal lit experience try reading Caitlin R. Kiernan's "Les Fleurs Empoisonnées" while jacked into your iPod with the Beatles, "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" on continuous repeat.  I'm still recovering. Calliopes kill, I'm telling you, man.  A cool dark weird story, a calliope, a little reverb, bizarre lyrics and late '60s music production, it's a recipe for mental doom.

Happy reading!

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What am I listening to at this moment?  West Indian Girl