Anyone who says pets are…
September 29th, 2011spitkitten: Anyone who says pets are NOTHING like kids has never has their cat sneeze on their face, then lick off their sneezed boogers.
I pity the stylist at Gre…
September 22nd, 2011spitkitten: I pity the stylist at Great clips tomorrow who has to even this out. I am three pounds lighter. http://t.co/BOyV4MTH
All day training. Fast fo…
September 15th, 2011spitkitten: All day training. Fast food for breakfast and lunch, then hot wings for dinner. Excuse me while I kiss my toilet.
I want to clarify: I am N…
August 22nd, 2011spitkitten: I want to clarify: I am NOT dieting. Diets do not work. I am eating well and have tripled my exercise. The weight loss was unintended.
Starting a new brand new …
August 21st, 2011spitkitten: Starting a new brand new project is always nerve racking. Have to stop dinking with the novel and just try and sell it. And start new work.
In which I explain my absence using overblown language
July 19th, 2010This seems like it should be the time I’d be pushing out frequent updates to the three or four of you dedicated readers. Instead, I have temporarily deserted you and experienced the last whirlwind month without you in my front pocket. What a terrible, negligent virtual pal I have been. I have been ensconced in velvet for the past few weeks and I have shared nary a corner.
Clarion West season is very consuming. There are now parties, weekly readings and all other variations of social engagements in which I get to see friends and make new ones—as well as honk incomprehensible love-words towards writers of whom I am a sick-ass fan. Maureen McHugh, my long-distance crush, materialized into this lovely woman with a gentle, no-bullshit personality and a wicked sense of humor. I did not curl up in her lap, although I wanted to, and remain convinced that she could have totally taken it without freaking out over my needy adoration. Plus, I was lucky enough to sit in on one of her CW classes and get proof-pudding that she the genius that I have lovingly expected her to be.
I was also present during the reception in honor of Octavia E. Butler’s induction into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, and was blessed into meeting some of her relatives, her whip smart/red headed agent, and other friends and readergellencia.
The beginning of this week found me back to heaven-on-earth (AKA Hedgebrook) to a party in honor of the writers who were honored with this year’s Elizabeth George Foundation Awards. I was one of these honorees, and I was bursting with pride and nervousness and self-doubt. But, between the nourishment of Hedgebrook, Elizabeth George’s quiet, classy, feisty generosity, a rousing round of croquet, the spying of bald eagle fledglings, and some very, very, very wonderful conversation over red wine with Gloria Steinem, I felt wrapped in angel wings of printed paper.
To top this sundae of holy-shitness, I’m taking on as web manager for the SFWA website, creating and implementing a content plan that allows fresh, interesting, relevant, and useful articles, interviews, and reviews go up on the site nearly every day. I’ve spent the past few weeks ramping up. I have pulled back a corner as a place from which to jump, so watch for me pulling my parachute—possibly in your direction—starting this week.
Oh, yeah. I’m also trying to whip some novel pages into order so they can be sent out as partials.
Sometimes, I sleep.
Celebrating Octavia
June 10th, 2010Of all the writers in the world that I would have liked to have known, Octavia E. Butler tops my list for a hundred different reasons. I will be in attendance at the Carl Brandon party celebrating her deserved induction into the Hall of Fame. I hope you’ll join me and spread the word.
CARL BRANDON SOCIETY CELEBRATES OCTAVIA E. BUTLER’S HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
On Saturday, June 26, the Carl Brandon Society is hosting a party in honor of Octavia E. Butler’s induction into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. The celebration begins at 8 p.m. at the Lake Union Courtyard Marriott in Seattle. Light refreshments and a no-host bar will be provided.
Octavia E. Butler (1947 – 2006), winner of the MacArthur “Genius” Award and numerous others, was one of the first African American women to gain prominence as a science fiction writer. The Carl Brandon Society, a nonprofit organization, administers the Octavia E. Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund, and supports the representation of people of color in the fantastic genres through programs such as its literary awards and discussion groups. More information is available at www.carlbrandon.org.
In which I explain my scarceness
March 7th, 2010
I haven’t been updating this much—neither because I’ve forgotten it nor for lack of things going on in life, but mostly because this year has turned into a year of mysteriously rapid personal growth for me. It’s lovely, because in many, many ways, I’ve been stuck in a rut of the soul (or the spirit or the spark or inner life or whatever you’d like to call it), one that lasted since my mid-twenties. After a few years of near-operatic crises, which has urged me firmly onto the grounds of adulthood, it seems to be the time to care for my inner life…plus, start to actually do a few things I have always talked about doing before I die. You know the stuff.
Anyway, most of what’s been going on, I assure you, would be boring as fuck for you to read about—kind of, as if, I started posting long narratives recounting the plot lines of my dreams.
Everyone knows that other people’s dreams are dull; unless *you* are IN them.
Anyway, as for writing stuff, I am floundering around in the dreaded 20k-in novel mess that everyone warns about…when you don’t plot the work beforehand. Which I didn’t.
I refused to, stubbornly—and also because frankly, the pleasure I derive from the actual writing process, which is often painful and absurd, is the discovery process. I learn what something is about as I go—I mean, I have a general sense of character and theme and stuff I want to include, but everything else is fluid.
So. It’s time to break out the index cards and decide where this is going and how I am going to get there.
I’m also pleased to report that, although I don’t seem to be on the website, I’ll be a panel conquering professional at Norwescon this year. I’m hosting the FFS again this year, so come see me in a ridiculous outfit doing geek stand-up, but will also be, throughout the weekend, talking about writing, publishing, and something called “The Blogger as Public Intellectual.”
It’ll be a fun way to try and convince myself I know what I am talking about before I pack off to two weeks of solitude and writing frenzy at Hedgebrook.
Wow and other assorted exclamations
December 14th, 2009I am really at a loss for words here, which should hopefully convey my awe and gratitude. Chris is equally speechless. Thanks to you, Chris and I can now cover his tuition bombshell.
Since we’ve made the needed $600, I’m going to close down donations. If anything comes in after this point, I will return it to the donator.
Thank you, friends–both those we know and those that materialized from the mists of the internet to help strangers. Again, if you donated and did not receive a personal email from me, please step forward and send me a note at caren at spitkitten dot com. I have tuckerizations or crits to discuss with you, or want to confirm where to send you a copy of “The King of Seattle” short story.
Chris and I hope to be able to pay these kindnesses forward when he graduates. Thank you. Just…thank you.
Love,
Caren Gussoff and Christopher Sumption
Update on the Chris Tuition Fund
December 13th, 2009Thanks to the tremendous generosity of many of you, we’ve now managed to raise $375 of the $600 we need to keep Chris in school. I think I’ve contacted everyone who has donated so far personally—if I’ve missed you, do email me at caren at spitkitten dot com and let me know. Some folks have inquired about buying tuckerizations or crits as gifts, so I’ve whipped up a very simple little printable certificate I can send you to give to your lucky recipient. Just let me know.
And remember, everyone who donates in any amount will also get a copy of the short story “The King of Seattle” the story upon which the novel is based. This story will never be published. It’s only for the donators as a thank you for helping a bright student out of a jam.
I’ll continue to accept donations until we meet goal or until December 21st, whichever comes first.
With much love,
Caren