Abby's Musings

1. First of all, happy Thanksgiving to my American friends! Hope your day is filled with Turkey and pies and lots of things to be thankful for!

2. No update on Could Be You just yet. Still working on that...

3. I got a new camera today. I have my big DSLR Nikon, but it's huge, can't fit in my purse, and while I can take great pictures with it, it's not always convenient to just carry around. I have an old Kodak point-and-shoot, but it's bulky and almost five years old (and I seem to have misplaced its battery charger!). We don't have those nifty black Friday sales up here as they do in the States, but starting today, most of the stores seem to have a tax-free or 10% off type sales going on. The camera I've been looking at for a little while was already $50 off, and I got an extra $50 for the sale. It's this one, in this colour. It's lens is pretty wide for a point-and-shoot that's also compact enough to fit in my purse. Pretty much win-win! Plus, pretty!

4. My hubby is going to dye my hair for me tonight. The red-gold colour I have in there right now has faded to an ucky blondish colour that REALLY shows my dark brown roots!

5. And that's it I think!

So, working tonight and then on to days off. I have (FINALLY) finished writing chapter five of Could Be You, and it's in the hands of my beta as of yesterday morning. (I'm SORRY Beth, I have a feeling it's total crap). Ahem, anyway, there should be an update within the week, as soon as Tuesday perhaps so long as I don't need to do a complete overhaul on it. This chapter took far too long to write *grumbles* and things got to the point where I could no longer look at it critically.

I'm sitting here on the love seat in my bedroom, writing on my laptop and listening to my husband and two of my four cats snoring. It's ridiculously adorable.

And...that's all. Just felt like sharing.

Well, nothing, really. I worked all night, so I'm in that weird dead-tired state of fuzzy headed-ness that means I'm not firing on all cylinders but not quite ready for bed, either.

But, today, I like night shift. And do you know why?

Because I think I've finally got past what was blocking me for chapter five of Could Be You. I don't know what it is about night shift that sometimes lets me write like a fiend, but I think maybe it's because when I'm tired, but have to stay awake, and maybe my brain isn't over thinking anything and I just...write. Like a mad person. Scribbling in my little notebook.

It needs more detail, but I think I'm now satisfied with how I have the scene playing out. One more night, then, with any luck, some uber writing, and...maybe? Maybe I'll have an update? *pets betas* Are you ready, ladies?

Stolen from amyxaphania

1. Pick 10 of your favorite books or series.
2. Post the first sentence of each book. (If one sentence seems too short, post two or three!) 
3. Let everyone try to guess the titles and authors of your books.

One of these I'm sure there are only two people on my f-list that might possibly know what it is.  At least one is painfully obvious.  One of you will likely guess another one pretty quickly.  Aside from those, I'm not sure that many of these are terribly well-known, but here goes:


1. Clare: The library is cool and smells like carpet cleaner, although all I can see is marble.  I sign the visitor's log: Clare Abshire, 11:15 10-26-91  Special Collections.  The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Neiffenegger, guessed by amyxaphania

2. Three children lay on the rocks at the water's edge.  A dark-haired little girl.  Two boys, slightly older.  This image is caught forever in my memory, like some fragile creature preserved in amber.  - Not guessed.  It's Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier.

3. "A god cannot die," Charat Kraal said.  "Therefore it can have no fear of death.  So who is braver, a god or a mortal?" - Not guessed.  It's Rebel Dream by Aaron Allston.  Only two on my f-list might have known this and neither one of them played :(

4.  The naked child ran out of the hide-covered lean-to toward the rocky beach at the bend in the small river.  It didn't occur to her to look back.  Nothing in her experience ever gave her reason to doubt the shelter and those within it would be there when she returned.  Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel, guessed by hobbituk .

5. Smoking opium is an art.  I look at my tray and its contents -- the pipe covered in finely worked silver, the small spirit lamp, the long blunt needle, the container of chandu, and my row of pea-size balls of the dark brown paste. - Not guessed.  It's The Linnet Bird by Linda Holeman.

6. The hottest day of the summer so far was drawing to a close and a drowsy silence lay over the large, square houses of Privet Drive. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling, guessed by amyxaphania

7. Aaa-rooo!  Aaa-rooo!   Distant, yet carrying, the wolf's howl broke the late-afternoon stillness.  In the depths of the forest, a young woman, as strong and supple as the sound, rose noiselessly to her feet. - Not guessed.  It's Through Wolf's Eyes by Jane Lindskold

8. It was November.  Although it was not yet late, the sky was dark when I turned into Laundress Passage.  Father had finished for the day, switched off the shop lights and closed the shutters; but so I would not come home to darkness  he had left on the light over the stairs to the flat. - Not guessed. It's The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

9.  The pirate's head had disappeared.  William heard the speculations from a group of idlers on the quay nearby, wondering whether it would be seen again.  An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon, guessed by amyxaphania

10. I  have always been told I was wicked.  This is my story, then: full of my wickedness and my attempts at goodness, of power found, lost, and found again. - Not guessed.  It's the Moonlit Cage by Linda Holeman

to the wicked awesome ms_scarletibis !  I hope you have a great day!

Title: The Edge of Conviction (Formerly As Yet Untitled Spuffy Fic)
Author: Abelina (Abby)
Summary: England, 1750.  Nineteen-year-old slayer, Buffy Summers of Bath, travels to London on orders from the Council of Watchers to deal with a newly arrived vampiric threat in the area.  While the threat proved easily dispatched by the Council’s most able slayer, Buffy becomes aware of a new and unpredictable presence in the area that seems to be fighting on her side.  Meanwhile, London’s upper class is suffering from a seemingly random but cunningly orchestrated string of robberies, which have increased steadily over the past several years.  And just who is this charming Duke of Edgewater everyone is talking about?  Full of questions that only grow in number the longer she’s in London, Buffy unwittingly tumbles headlong into the answer, and it’s not at all what she expected.
Story Rating: NC-17 (likely ~ most chapters PG-R)
Beta: xtanitx
Notes: Written for taboo_spuffy ’s Forbidden Fairytales Challenge.  This is not an all-human fic.  Buffy is still the Slayer and Spike is still a vampire.  I have been unable to come up with any sort of idea for a title for this fic, so suggestions are most welcome and also very much encouraged!   Thank you to  rebcake, whose title suggestion led to this one! This is a WIP and will remain so for some time, since it looks like it’s gonna be a long one, folks.  I needed another WIP like I needed a hole in the head, but when the muse bites, I write, and when the challenge has a deadline, I post!

The first awesome banner was made by xtanitx, not specifically for this story, but I fell in love with it and she kindly personalized it for me.  The second awesome banner was a gift from amyxaphania.  Thanks, ladies!  You're both amazing! 

( Chapter One ~ To London Town )

These were written for good__evil , and their October Monster Madness! Each day of the month belongs to a different monster, and authors post their drabbles on the designated day. I've managed one for each day so far.  These are from October 26th to 31st, and represent selkie, bigfoot, poltergeist, creature from the black lagoon, sea serpent, and wight.

 

( selkie, bigfoot, poltergeist, black lagoon, sea serpent, wight )

And this is the last of them!  It has been a blast writing these daily monster drabbles!

Well, Halloween, obviously!

But more importantly, it's my husband's birthday!  Wishing him a great day :D

These were written for good__evil , and their October Monster Madness! Each day of the month belongs to a different monster, and authors post their drabbles on the designated day. I've managed one for each day so far.  These are from October 21st to the 25th and represent troll, Medusa, banshee, cyclops, and centaur.

 

( Troll, Medusa, Banshee, Cyclops, Centaur )

 

These were written for good__evil , and their October Monster Madness! Each day of the month belongs to a different monster, and authors post their drabbles on the designated day. I've managed one for each day so far.  These are from October 16the to the 20th and represent orc, giant, gnome, gryphon, and golem.

 

( orc, giant, gnome, gryphon, golem )

Title: Easy Riding
Authors: abelina and ms_scarletibis
Summary: Takes place during Spike and Andrew's ride on the motorcycle in Empty Places.  You know--where we learn about onion blossoms.

*~*

 

"Uh...Andrew?"

 

"Um, yeah Spike?"

 

Spike shifted slightly forward on the seat. "Please tell me that's a stake back there."

 

"Um..." Andrew let out a nervous giggle.

 

"Oh goody,” Spike said dryly.  “Ol' Spike's what gets you going.  Look, it's a compliment, if not a tad creepy.  Just be sure to keep it away from me, and it won't be a problem.  Got it?"

 

Andrew nodded, and scooted back a bit.

 

But his grip around Spike's perfect abs remained just as tight.

*~*

I honestly don't know what to say except that I am so totally floored/thrilled/honoured/giggling like a schoolgirl...

I won some things at fangfetish.  With pretties and everything.  I have received nominations for stories when I wrote for Star Wars, but this is the first time I've won anything.

Thanks to anyone who nominated/voted, to the judges and the mods for organizing everything, and the artists for the awesome award banners.

Congratulations, also, to amyxaphania, pfeifferpack, rebcake,penny_lane_42, moscow_watcher, on their awards, and to anyone I forgot and everyone else who won something!

( See the Pretties? )

These were written for good__evil , and their October Monster Madness! Each day of the month belongs to a different monster, and authors post their drabbles on the designated day. I've managed one for each day so far.  These are from October 11th to 15th, and represent headless horseman, leprechaun, succubus, hell hound, and faerie.

( Headless horseman, leprechaun, succubus, hell hound, faerie )

To dampersnspoons , my wonderful friend and beta and also a brilliant author!  Hope your day has been wonderful so far and that everything is still uber happy in your world right now!

These were written for good__evil , and their October Monster Madness! Each day of the month belongs to a different monster, and authors post their drabbles on the designated day. I've managed one for each day so far.  These are from October 6th to 10th, and represent zombie, witch, gremlin, pixie, and goblin. 

 

( Zombie, Witch, Gremlin, Pixie, Goblin )

These were written for good__evil , and their October Monster Madness! Each day of the month belongs to a different monster, and authors post their drabbles on the designated day. I've managed one for each day so far. Here are the first five of them, representing Ghost, Treant, Dragon, Mummy, and Troglodyte. The last one I pretty much despise, but it is what it is!  All are exactly 100 words, except for the ghost drabble, which is 200.

 

( Ghost, Treant, Dragon, Mummy, Troglodyte )

#1 - Totally, completely, utterly writer's blocked.  It'll pass of course -- but I had a recent window of time where I wrote a TON and now I'm on the down swing.

#2 - I've reached the end of my prepared monster drabbles for good__evil .  Now I'm going to have to actually come up with them daily, unless #1 decides to resolve.

#3 - It's almost 11pm and what am I doing?  Baking a peach pie.

#4 - It's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada.  Tomorrow, I'm making pumpkin pies and other things while my husband cooks the bird.  Now why does that sound dirty?

#5 - I am so FREAKING nauseous.  And it's been ALL DAY.  For no good reason.  And I'd like it to stop now, kay?

#6 - My kid wants to be a "kick-ass vampire chick" for Halloween.  How cool is that?  I already found her an awesome faux-leather jacket that'll rock with that costume.

#7 - My husband is text messaging me from work.  I'm loving our new phones.

#8 -  My kitchen is a mess.  Not looking forward to tackling that before bed.

#9 - I know why Spike likes wearing his duster so much.  It's really cool when it billows around your legs as you walk.  Even if you are walking the halls at work at 3am and your duster is actually a hospital-issue housecoat.

# 10 - There is a distinct possibility that I am a nerd.  See #9.

ETA: #11 - My pastry is not cooperating.

...to maryperk73703 , who shares her day with the late great John Lennon!

Hope you have a great day!

Author: Abelina (Abby)
Title: Hearts Distant
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Exactly one bad word.
Summary: Turbulence and hate, tenderness, love and loss...and maybe something more. A look inside Buffy and Spike’s heads as they ponder the ever-changing nature of them.
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em. I’m just borrowing them for a while. Not for profit and no copyright infringement intended.
Beta: alwaysjbj – thanks bunches!
Author’s Note: Written for seasonal_spuffy ’s fall 2009 round. Optional theme: distance.
Banner: Also alwaysjbj - look at the pretty she made me!