I just returned from a week-long writers’ retreat in Washington State, the Rainforest Writers’ Village on Lake Quinault. Wonderful to get focussed time to really get through a chunk of text. I was revising, rather than drafting, but it’s still good to get your head around a project!

Classic 4-/5

Young Dr. Frankenstein, in the heat of his scientific curiosity and hubris, creates life and then is horrified by what he’s done, leading to tragic results. I have to admit, I tried a few times to read this book and could not get engaged, primarily due to the long descriptions characteristic of its era. However, when I listened to it on audiobook, I was captivated. The pain arising from the two central characters’ miscommunication is poignant.

Worked on editing projects this week. It will probably be like that until I get a few of them off my plate!

Fantasy 5/5

Damaya, a girl with magical abilities, is taken to society’s center to have her magic enslaved in the service of the non-magical primary society—but a rebellion is brewing…. What’s not to love about this book? Compellingly written, with amazing characters and settings, and important themes. The only thing I didn’t like—it’s Book 1 of a series and I like my books (even in series) to have endings. Sigh.

Rather interesting week. Three paying jobs kind of landed in my lap: artist-in-residence for a weekend in June, a manuscript review (I was recommended by an editor I know who doesn’t do speculative stuff), and a non-fiction biography (novella length). I was working on the book on courage last week, and it should be off to the publisher by the end of the month, assuming the detective I’m working with gets his end of things done. Also did some work for an editing client.

No new words from me…BUT! I’m passing off The Shadow Spy’s Daughter to a French literature professor (retired) who grew up in Lyon, for critical feedback on the realism of the French and Resistance elements of the book, so I’m pretty excited to ensure that the details are correct (or fix them if they’re not). He’s doing the service for free because he’s a fan!