It’s 1:15 am. I just got home. The crocodile and leopard are not finished. Tomorrow I’m supposed to temp and after I finish that I’m heading back to the Puppet Kitchen to finish up so that the puppets can get on a plane at 6am on Tuesday.

Oh yeah, and I have to send the Pirate issue to the printer tomorrow. Should be a slow day, huh?

I just typed “end” on “The Bride Replete” and it’s only 13742 words long. That’s a mere 5742 words longer than I was aiming for. I have some holes to patch which currently contain notes in handy [brackets] and then massive trimming. It’s unlikely that I will get it anywhere close to 8000 words, but it can certainly be shorter than this monster.

Mostly there’s a tremendous sense of relief to finally have closure.

Today Rob and I hosted about fifteen writers for a wine-tasting. We tasted a variety of wines from top-shelf to rock-bottom. The idea was to learn how a wine snob would approach wine as opposed to a hard-nosed detective. I asked Rob to find some flawed wines as a contrast to the good ones. As a non-wine geek, I have learned that I can tell the difference between bad and good wines, but that mediocre and good are harder to tell apart.

He arranged the afternoon into three flights of wine. Each flight looked at a different common style of wine. Here’s the fact sheet he prepared for the folks who attended today.

Rosés

Sutter Home
White Zinfandel (rosé)
California, 2006
As the bottle proudly proclaims, this is the original “White Zinfandel”. While certainly not the first rosé produced from Zinfandel, it was the first made is the light-bodied sweet style and marketed aggressively. It is produced from Zinfandel grown and vinified in California´s central valley on a prodigious scale. It is a true mass-market wine.

Domaine Sautereau
Sancerre rosé, Côtes de Reigny
Loire Valley, France, 2006
Situated in the village of Crezancy this 18 hectare estate has been producing wine for 9 generations. Sancerre is primarily of producer of Sauvignon Blanc but Pinot Noir is also grown to make red wine and occasionally rosés such as this one.

Chardonnay

Frameworks
Chardonnay, Oracle Vineyard
Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2003
Included today as an example of an overtly flawed wine. It has been “cooked” in transport. Wine is a living substance and poor handling can injure or kill it. This is one gross example of such abuse.

Domaine Dujac (Druid)
Meursault, Le Limozin
Burgundy, France, 2000
Domaine Dujac is a highly respect producer of red burgundy in Morey-St. Denis. This is an unusual example of a white, which is produced from purchased grapes of the Le Limozin vineyard (a village cru but one of premiere cru status). This is Chardonnay but made is a racy and refined style.

Ferrari-Carano
Chardonnay
Alexander Valley, 2005
California Chardonnay – big, buttery, oaky. Love or hate it, this is what built the California wine industry into what it is today.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Barton & Guestier
Vin De Pays, Cabernet Sauvignon
France, 2003
This is a typical inexpensive table wine, a style produced around the world for everyday consumption. A comparable American example would be Charles Shaw (2 buck Chuck) from Trader Joe’s. Grapes, or juice, or even finished wine is purchased, blended and bottled by some entity which then sells the wine under its own brand. Occasionally, one finds a pleasant bottle in this category but they are intrinsically generic.

Mayacamas
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, 1998
While this winery is within the Napa Valley appellation, the vineyards and winery are near the top of Mt. Veeder at an elevation of 1,800 to 2,400 feet. Robert Travers, the winemaker, strives to make intense, long-lived wines in the tradition of great red Bordeaux which express the personality of the vineyard – the terroir. Like nearly all Bordeaux, this is a blend with small portions of Cabernet Franc and Merlot added to the Cabernet Sauvignon for balance and complexity.

I suspect we will do another of these. The thought at the moment is to do a vertical flight (same wine, different years) to show how wines evolve. Also we’re thinking of pouring the wine in three different types of wine glasses to show how the vessel can impact the flavor.

What would you want to get out of a wine tasting for writers?

The September 2007 Doctor Who magazine reviews Short Trips: Destination Prague which includes my story, “Suspension and Disbelief.”

The highlights:

For this latest Short Trips anthology the editor, Steven Savlie, has roped in an experienced group of writers to create a more self-consciously literary collection than usual, one that suggests voguish, city-themed short story compilations rather than the esoteric, sci-fi themes of past Short Trip collections. As a result, and by locating all of the stories in Prague of the past, present and future as opposed to the rather wider canvases of other Short Trips, Destination Prague succeeds in feeling quite different from its predecessors, with a consistency of quality and stylishness that has not always been evident.

…

There are some very fine entries here. The opening story Midnight in the Cafe of the Black Madonna with its alien elephant trying to prevent genocide, sets the bar high, while the funny Dogs of War, spooky Spoilsport and haunting Suspension and Disbelief stand out.

I thought I couldn’t get any more tickled about this sale, but, yowza! my story is “haunting” and among those that “stand out.”

And yes, after hearing a rumor that my story was mentioned, I did troop down to the closest book store and pick up a copy of the magazine. I mean, Doctor Who!

We finished the fish today. Got good work done on the crocodile and leopard. Best of all, an old friend came into town and dropped by to help out. (Hi Rob!) Afterwards, Rob and my Rob and I went out to catch up.

Life is good.

I thought you might be interested in seeing what the to-do list on a puppet build looks like. This is the one for the fish. Bear in mind as you look at the list that we have to build sixteen of them.

Things in bold mean that anyone can do them.

1. Ask office about painting in parking lot. – Emily
2. Spray glue on all foam and dry it.
3. Design belly paint – Emily
4. Call Brickman’s – paint – Emily
• 1. Design Master 1 can Blueberry
• 2. Beltone Molatov Premium – Goldfish (brooklyn or Pearl Paint) or TerraCotta 1 can
• 3. Krylon Special Purpose Florescent Green 3106 need 3 cans
• 4. Krylon OSHA special purpose Safety Yellow
• 5. Fireproofing spray
5. Pick up spray paint.
6. Pattern fish tails and fins with accordion folds – Mary
7. Cut fish tails and fins
8. Split fish heads – Erika
9. Cut spacers for heads
10. install headspacers
11. Paint inside of thirty eyeballs
12. Pattern eyelids – Mary
13. Cut eyelids
14. Test rod placement – Mary
15. 16 10″ rods cut and sanded from bamboo
16. cut 16 wedges for rod placement, see pattern.
17. Install rods
18. Check girl lips – Emily
19. Pattern fish lips – Mary
20. Cut fish lips
21. Look at inside of eyeball color – Emily
22. Finish sewing bellies – Sarah
23. Paint bellies – Jane
24. Assemble fish
• 1. Head to spine
• 2. Belly pulled on
• 3. Attach belly to head
• 4. Attach belly to spine
• 5. Attach lips
• 6. Attach eyes (No heat after eyes attached!)
• 7. Attach eyelids
• 8. Additional painting
• 9. Attach fins

In the photo at the top, the fins are pinned on and we still need to do the additional painting. We have five fish at this state. The rest should be finished fairly quickly tomorrow.

There’s another to-do list, like this one, for the crocodile and leopard which we are also making.

From Vylar Kaftan I received a box with three of the densest, heaviest brownies I have ever felt. I have not tried one yet, but the timing couldn’t be better. This is exactly the kind of fuel that will help me survive during this puppet build.

Thank you, Vylar!

Edited to add: I’ve just had the coffee one and it’s fudge and oh-so-good.

Avast! James Owen just sent me the final art for the cover of Shimmer’s pirate issue. As a bonus, he’s posted a series of shots on the progression of the cover art from concept sketch to the final product.

I think the crocodile might eat us alive.

The fish are well on their way to completion. We had a bevy of helpers today, including the wonderful Kris Dikeman who had responded to my call for volunteers.

I’m at home now and Rob has made me a gin and tonic. This and then bed are all I have planned for the half hour remaining in today.

A review of Talebones #35 from F.R.R. Mallory includes this bit:

Mary Robinette Kowal gives us Death Comes But Twice. Finally, a story I thoroughly enjoyed. I really appreciated her grasp of time/style and how much her story built upon other stories I have loved from the past. I enjoyed her attention to detail, her ability to bring me into her world and I cared about what happened to her characters. For me, this is a double thumbs up! Kudos!

Yay!

I’ve got some video for you to show how quickly things can go.

Solaris has purchased my short story “Evil Robot Monkey” for The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction: Volume 2.

I couldn’t be more pleased. I had a long chat with the Solaris gentlemen, George Mann and Christian Dunn, at Readercon about robot monkeys. It was bar conversation, but I just happened to have this short called “Evil Robot Monkey” and on a whim I sent it over thinking they would get a laugh out of the title.

I didn’t realize that they were actively reading for an anthology.

Behold! A sale. Remember back when I was watching the paint dry and said I had three good things I couldn’t mention yet? This is number 2.

Here’s a teaser snippet of the first few lines for you.

Sliding his hands over the clay, Sly relished the moisture oozing around his fingers. The clay matted down the hair on the back of his hands making them look almost human. He turned the potter’s wheel with his prehensile feet as he shaped the vase. Pinching the clay between his fingers he lifted the wall of the vase, spinning it higher.

I’ll let you know when the book is available for pre-order.

I spent the day shopping for fish supplies. You know, the usual stuff: bathmats, spray adhesive, tarps… It took far, far longer than it should have, in part because I needed 16 very specific bathmats and had to hit two different stores just to get three.

I will post photos, but for the moment, I am going to bed.

I met with Emily DeCola today to talk about a building gig that I’ll be working for her on next week. I’ll be helping her build 16 fish and a crocodile.

Now… if you have an interest in puppet building and are in the NYC area, we can use some volunteer help. You’ll be fed — Emily has very fine craft services — and instructed in the fine art of puppet construction. Not only that, it’s for a good cause. These puppets are for performances by the African Children’s Choir.

Want to help? Contact me and we’ll get you started.

Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest is having a Halloween raffle. Check it out.

You’ll find nothing but TREATS here, guaranteed! Here’s a chance to fill your pillowcase with all sorts of goodies, including rare items from some of the biggest names in the field. For only $1.00 per ticket. And, a percentage of all proceeds made will go to the National Center for Family Literacy!

One “ticket” will be selected as the winner for each item. So, the more “tickets” you buy, the greater your chances… Winners announced on Halloween at midnight . To bid on any of the fantastic items, just visit www.ApexDigest.com and simply put a “1″ in the quantity field (for a charge of just $1). For a better chance at winning your item, just put in a “2″ or a “3″ (or a “20″) and your chances will increase accordingly! Good luck!

This is just some of what you’ll find to bid on:

* In-depth short story critiques offered by famed writers and editors.
* Copy edited original manuscript of Titan signed by Ben Bova.
* Signed HCs of Homebody, Magic Street or Pastwatch by Orson Scott Card.
* Signed MMPB of The Keeper by Sara Langan.
* Signed TPB French edition of The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum.
* Promotional Moral Orel photo or t-shirt signed by actress Carolyn Lawrence (voice of Orel).
* Signed copies of award winning writer M.M. Buckner’s: Hyperthought, Neurolink, and War Surf.
* Original hand-written poem framed with signed photo of Grim Trixter author Brandy Schwan.
* Signed reader’s copies of Mary Doria Russell’s new novel Dreamers of the Day.
* Awesome stuff from Aradani Studios (Paul and Michael Bielaczyc).
* Signed, HC limited edition copy of Dreadful Skin by Cherie Priest.
* Giant gift box from Horrorview.com. including videos, shirts, etc.
* Signed copies of Steven Savile’s Warhammer trilogy: Retribution, Dominion, and Inheritance .
* Three signed, sexy PR photos of author Angeline Hawkes-Fulbright.
* HC of DUNE: The Machine Crusade or Ignition signed by co-author Kevin J. Anderson.
* Signed, HC of Metal Swarm by author Kevin J. Anderson. This is the UK edition.
* Signed, MMPB of The Freakshow by Bryan Smith.
* Signed Tales of… pack by Geoffrey Girard: Atlantic Pirates, Jersey Devil, and Eastern Indians.
* One year subscription to Shimmer Magazine
* Signed & Limited Edition of I Sing the Body Electric! by Ray Bradbury (retail value of $150).
* Signed copies of The Magic Goblet and The Magic Ring edited by Dr. Amy H Sturgis.
* HC of The Last Rakosh by F. Paul Wilson.
* TPB of Wet Work by Philip Nutman.
* Signed, limited HC of Offspring by Jack Ketchum.
* Signed Sterling Edition (publisher’s copy with slipcase) of The Tery by F. Paul Wilson.
* Galaxy Press/Writers of the Future Educators Pack – many books!
* Blood-signed (by contributor Jodi Lee) TPB of Echoes of Terror anthology.
* Extended Play: The Elastic Book of Music anthology edited by Gary Couzens.
* Abaddon Books Gift Pack – many books!
* Autographed ARC of Robert McCammon’s Speaks the Nightbird.
* Brian Keene pack: The Rising, City of the Dead, Terminal, Ghoul, Conqueror Worms, and Dead Sea .
* And much, much more………