So I have been working on a book for the past year; it's a memoir, very personal, and by far the best thing I have ever done. While I don't have a polished ms. yet, I finished a draft and pulled out a couple of essays to start getting feedback from writers and editors I know. I also, stupidly, asked a couple of other people who I thought might be well-connected with editors and publishers to take a look.

One of these, a woman who is not a writer or editor, is certainly not the target audience, and basically doesn't know jack, wrote me back a long "analysis" detailing all the places where she felt the work fell short. I am not averse to constructive criticism, but wtf really? I had asked her, if she knew anyone, and felt she could recommend the work, to pass the pieces along. That's *it.*

I feel stupid even complaining about this--I have gotten so much informed, positive feedback, and it has been so incredibly gratifying, exciting and inspirational. I really believe this book will get published. But what a buzzkill, you know? In what way is this shit helpful?

Warm Regards, Deborah and the Pirate Family

Feels pretty good! ::pops champagne:::

I love it when people favorite my stories. I really, really do. But just once, could one of these lovely fangirls and boys leave a comment about why they like it? Please? ::begs on knees:::

I'm not finished yet, though. Maybe another 5,000 words to go before I have a draft. And then the real work begins.

Wow. I need a drink, or to throw up, or something.

My Netflix queue has dwindled to nothing, and I would love to get some recommendations. For anime, I am of the Naruto-Inuyasha-Fruits Basket-Ouran school, though we all got a kitschy kick out of Fushigi Yugi and I secretly shipped everyone in Samurai Champloo (not Cowboy BeBop as much).

In live action, well, I'd love to hear about everyone's favorites.

Meanwhile my brain is breaking, but I am kicking some Nanwrimo butt:

Either bouquets or brickbats to shigeruhiko , who is writing with such mad ferocity that I am inspired to chase after her.

Cracked 10,000 after three insane days; by this afternoon, felt like I am going to throw up. I wonder if I'm like those runners who burst out of the gate and then lose it at the halfway point. But I've got writing buddies with even higher word counts, so I'm going to keep chasing their backs

We rock Halloween pretty hard around here. PirateBoy is Mario this year, while PirateGirl went for the princess look. (Seen here with friends.)

Let me know if you'd like to buddy up! I signed up today and I am excited, yet nervous.

I'm thinking of writing an essay along the lines of "Everything I know, I learned from ..." about anime and manga. Would love to hear any life lessons you've picked up from your favorite anime/manga if you'd be willing to share -- specific manga or anime series are great, it doesn't have to be the genre as a whole. Please post here or email me at AKAPirateQueen@yahoo.com. Thanks!

...or at least, getting funding for something equally cool and random.

www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/

That is all.

Just for the lulz:

Teh cute! That is all.

Association Meme: Comment to this post and I will give you 5 subjects/things I associate you with. Then post this in your LJ and elaborate on the subjects given.

I was tapped by the lovely, Lolita-y, and insanely talented shigeruhiko. Her five prompts were:

Inuyasha. My very first introduction to anime, manga, and fandom, at the belated age of 40-something. I met Inuyasha and his insane adherents about 3 years ago, while in the throes of a divorce, and it's no exaggeration to say they helped me through. Even though the scales eventually fell from my eyes and I realized that Kagome's legs look like tree trunks and Inuyasha's eyes -- well -- kind of goofy, y'know? -- I will always love the hanyou. Especially in his hot, adult incarnations (Quillwing, honey, thank you!).  I've also amused myself by writing prony fan fiction about him on occasion.

Summer in Japan. Planned this with the help of the flist and took my daughter to Japan this past summer, on the occasion of her 13th birthday. A once in a lifetime trip, and I am looking for a way to get us back there. Even though my Japanese is pretty much limited to "I will kill you with my giant sword!" (see above) and "Rasengan!" (see below), we were able to do amazing things. Took trains everywhere, soaked in gorgeous and luxurious onsens, walked through Temples and gardens until our minds reeled, ate ramen on street corners, joined a million Japanese otaku nerds at the doujin convention, learned to make sushi.... 

Chuunin. Ah, Naruto. Fandom No. 2, and even though Pain is ridiculous and the power ups make me laugh, I can't let it go. I was so happy to see characters in my age range until I realized that Kishimoto plans to systematically kill them off in order to let his young 'uns ascend to power. Still -- Tsunade, Jiraiya, raawwr! Love you guys.

Pirates. My secret self. Not an anime thing -- one of my legit "outside" interests is Lord Nelson's navy, and i've been working on a series of young adult books about a boy who runs away to sea in 1803, at the age of 14, and joins the HMS Hydra, an actual frigate of the time period. Pirates figure in the narrative, of course. The PirateQueen reference is also a bow to my father, who died in 1992, and who loved Gilbert & Sullivan and especially the Pirate King so much that I grew up singing about him. Finally, AKAPirateQueen sounds so much cooler than AKASoccer Mom. 

Writing. My profession and life for the past 25 years (YES, I could be your mother. Get over it.) I started out as an academic(17th century British drama, baby!),  then briefly served as an advertising copywriter, ghost-wrote Nancy Drew books, and wrote a column for Penthouse magazine for two years before making the jump to "real" journalism. Worked as a travel writer for a well-known newspaper for six years, did several books, eventually became a managing editor, editor in chief, and then, corporate consultant. These days I write websites and other marketing materials for big companies -- not my ideal job, but still fun and more likely to pay for my kids' college than the other stuff. I have my own projects, as well, and sometime between my current age(48) and my death at 99, I plan to become a celebrated "serious" writer. So watch this space.

Okay now let me tag YOU!

What a pleasant question to consider! Let's assume a big payoff -- like $100 million.

First and foremost, I would pay off my mortgage. It's a huge amount (to me) and I never want to think about it again.

Second, I would sock away substantial amounts for my kids' college and my retirement, plus a trust for my kids and their kids -- enough for comfort but not indolence. 20 years of living on the edge has made that kind of financial stability more alluring than Inuyasha in a loincloth.

Third, I would choose two main causes -- probably support for single mothers in the workforce and one form of medical research (such as pancreatic cancer, Crohn's or diabetes, all killers in my family) -- and develop significant philanthropic relationships with organizations that are making real progress in those areas.

Fourth, I would contribute to several other pet causes in my community-- thinking both local and global.

Fifth, I would do work on my house. I might move, but then again, I love it here, so I might rip the front off and give myself that dream kitchen, family room, fireplace and bathrooms I've always wanted. I'd also get the damn landscaping done already.

Sixth, I would buy a few toys, like a gorgeous, light laptop and a fun (but fuel efficient) car.

Seventh, I would plan 1-2 fabulous trips per year with my kids. Maybe one trip abroad, and summers at some wonderful shore location (like Greece. Bwah!).

Eighth, I would get a personal trainer to come whip my ass into shape with daily workouts, and a babysitter/driver to handle the incessant driving to and from school, skating, soccer, karate, etc.

Ninth, I would hand checks for, say, $50k each to everyone in my family and all my good friends.

Tenth, with all of that taken care of, I would shut myself in my studio and WRITE!

How about you?

It's at: http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

Best lulz I've had in a long time!

Is that who I think it is? On a "new baby" cake? The mind boggles.




On a less random note, I just returned from the Eastern Regional Skating Championships where my SkaterGirl (13) and her team won a bronze medal -- taking third place among 25 teams! Here she is, being hugged by her proud mom (me):



We celebrated over Chinese food, but maybe I should get her a cake with someone really evil on it...strange times indeed.