Southern Writing

I want you! as my Beta reader

I'm almost finished with the first three chapters of my new novel, and I'm looking for Beta testers. That way, if I get a little stuck, I can go back and start editing into the second draft. Or, if I never get stuck and this book writes itself, I can start my edits immediately.

If you have some extra time or need something to read, let me know. This book (yet to be named) is a dark urban fantasy/ romance. It's got some vampires, fairies, and werewolves in it.

Squeezing by in a faltering industry

In some ways, I'm the luckiest duck I know. I have a day job and write for the St. Pete Times a few hours a week as a freelancer. So, while people all over the country (or even the world) are losing their jobs or waiting for the ax to fall, my work week is pretty stable. And, if I were to lose one side of my income, I could work more on the other and make most of the lost wages up.

I still don't make enough to really live on, but I'd still rather be where I am now than laid off after a few weeks working full time at a different paper.

If and when the economy gets back on track, I'm hoping my experience with publications like the Times, The New Gay, and Tampa Bay Arts Network will lead to some good paychecks and a career I love.

Random picture day

One of the many exciting things about my Blackberry (besides the fact that it can take video, record audio interviews, surf the net, and connect me to The New York Times) is it can take pictures. They're not the best, but considering I managed to break my last digital camera after one week, when I never bothered to buy the insurance plan, I'm not complaining.

Here are some random pictures that are pretty representative of my life right now.

This is my cat, Kittie (sometimes spelled Kitty, depending on her mood). If she could speak English, I'm sure she would tell me my MacBook belongs to her. I often find her laying on it, sitting on it, standing on it, walking on it, typing on it, and some times caressing it with her paw while she stares at me.

 

This is one of the many corners of my apartment that, up 'til last weekend, was full of roomie stuff. He's gone, so now I'm working on cleaning everything up, paring down my own stuff, and making a purty place for me and my cats to live. The pictures leaning against my trunk were created by Orianna Kurrus; I'm looking to unload them on some unsuspecting person.

 

These are shower curtains my sister gave me. When she handed them to me, she gave me the instructions that I was never allowed to put them on my windows or doors, because they are shower curtains, and are ONLY MEANT TO GO ON THE SHOWER!!!!! I planned to put them up on my French doors all along.

 

This is an ad I designed. It was published in the current issue of Video Librarian Magazine. My boss made the decision to have it published in B & W.

 

This is a design I'm working on now for some sort of Florida tourism trade show. It's for a four page brochure.

 

This is me pretending to be a vampire who has stigmata of the eyes. Yes, this is what I do in my free time. And, yes, I've managed to meet like minded people who do the same.

 

And, this is me with my new lipring. That was a decision four years in the making. Sometimes I'm happy with it, and sometimes I wish eating was a lot easier.

Who I am: Then and now

I was reading The Bilerico Project today, and came across a post about how one person changed over a year. I realized that this was the perfect post for me to write today, especially since it was around a year ago I graduated from USF.

                         

One year ago:

1. I was about to graduate and terrified of the real world.
2. I was determined to erase my personal style, so I could be accepted.
3. I was applying everywhere I could, so I could get a job that would actually support me and didn't suck.
4. I was involved in a pseudo romance with a friend; it resulted in one awkward date.
5. I was hanging out with my peeps in Carrollwood two to four times a week.
6. I decided to renew my lease, because face it, where else am I going to find an all inclusive apartment for $520?
7. I was looking to break into freelance opportunities.
8. My short term goal was to work as an editorial assistant for The Times.
9. I was struggling (and failing) to gain positive recognition at work.
10. I never had enough money.

Now:

1. I've spent a year in the work force and realized it's not that much different than going to college (except, I find it less fulfilling than the academic world).
2. I've decided I look better in my personal style, so I'm building it back up. Hello lip ring, tats, and red hair. I missed you so.
3. I'm very selective in choosing my career path, because I want to find a job that excites and fulfills me.
4. I'm happy being single and looking forward to the twists and turns in my future.
5. I don't hang out with my friends or get out as much as I should. But, I see a select few once or twice a week, usually.
6. I decided to renew my lease, because face it, where else am I going to find an all inclusive apartment for $520?
7. Half or more of my income is from freelancing.
8. I freelance for the Times and cover my own beat, which is actually most of the paper's coverage for two cities.
9. I realized I needed to slow down at work, and realized that positive recognition is never coming.
10. I never have enough money, even though I'm bringing home more of it.

                           

Life changes, FTW!

Since Thursday I've managed to gain a metal hoop in my lip, a $300 watch, and freedom from a roomie.

I tell people often that I'm probably the most boring person I know. For most people, a lip ring is an impulse buy, but I've been mulling over this decision for around four years now. Thursday night, I decided it was time to do it, so I went out with my friends Virginia and Chris and got it done.

If you're in the Tampa area, I'd recommend Michael Wells. He's a hottie, and he was willing to put up with my friends.

Between Friday and Saturday, my roomie of the past four months finally moved out. I'm deep cleaning my apartment, and I feel like a weight's been lifted off my shoulders. In the next few months, I'm going to be painting and giving the space a giant overhaul, so it looks like either a classy Latin-inspired joint or a horrific circus tent gone wrong. I'm not sure how it's going to turn out, yet.

Since Saturday night, I've been opening my French doors and letting my cats out into the back yard. They haven't gone much farther than that, and if I spray Off (the bug spray) on my curtains, the flies and mosquitoes stay out. It's quite like paradise.

Last night, my mother gave me a $300 watch for my birthday. I keep getting grown up gifts, and I have to say, I'm surprised I enjoy them. The watch is some sort of luxury diving watch with a bunch of dials and a stingray skin strap. My mom's a total regifter; the watch was a Christmas present from her husband, but she decided she didn't like it.

It's ironic that I can barely afford my bills, but I keep getting super expensive gifts from people. At least if I become desperate, I can always hit up a pawn shop.