SILVER PHOENIX!

Yay--Cindy Pon's debut novel, SILVER PHOENIX, arrived yesterday evening. I just started reading it, as you can see, and so far it's great! I'll post a review once I finish. 

Her book has been ALL OVER the internet, but if you haven't read about it yet, here's an overview:

No one wanted Ai Ling. And deep down she was relieved--despite the dishonor she has brought upon her family--to be unbetrothed and free, not some stranger's subservient bride banished to the inner quarters. (Hey! I like it already!)

But now, something is after her. Something terrifying--a force she cannot comprehend. And as pieces of the puzzle start to fit together, Ai Ling begins to understand that her journey to the Palace of Fragrant Dreams isn't only a quest to find her father but a venture with stakes larger than she could have imagined. (...) 

Hooked? Great. Get one for yourself.

In other news, seems I have a troll visiting my blog. Oh, yay. It's likely the same person I called a coward over at Moonrat's blog. The guy was being a bully and a racist. Even if it's not the same person, here's the deal, troll dude: I'm not someone who is afraid of conflict. Hooo, no. Not in the least. 

But, if you insist on posting, you have to man up and use your name. Not "anonymous." Not "sexy." Your name. Otherwise, you can't play. It's my house and you can't come in and shit on my floor. 

I just might stick your nose in it.

So, for now, comment moderation is enabled. 

ETA: I forgot to link Cindy's contest.

Woo hoo!

I'm finally done with my edits! Now I have time to go shopping.

Is it crazy that I actually like some of these? 

Yeah, kinda.

Lovable words

Of course I'm going to follow a post about annoying words with words I love. I mean, really. How predictable. Most of these words I like because A) they are fun to say and/or B) they sound like what they describe. Love that.

floozy

I don't know if it's the double-O followed by a Z, or the fact that it seems so old-timey, but I love saying this word. 

feckless

It's just the perfect word to describe a great many people. Irresponsible or inefficient.

fop

Another old-timey word. And hmmm, I'm sensing a theme. The feckless fop and his floozy. I like "dandy" as well, but "fop" is better.

gesticulate

I use this one way more than I should. I know, I know, I should probably just stick with "gesture." But "gesticulate" is just so fun--it sounds made up.

sylph

It sounds so pretty, and it looks lovely on the page. Just like what it is: a slender woman or girl or an imaginary spirit of the air. 

Random others on my list:

requiem, flotsam, synapse, discombobulate, stanza, merengue, flagellate, pulchitrude

Tell me yours!

Annoying Words

I'm back, kinda-sorta, or at least I'm in enough of a lull that I can afford not to be my single-focused self for a bit. I've been editing and editing for the past few weeks--cutting here, adding there. And paying a lot of attention to words. Here are a few you will never see in my manuscripts:

derring-do

Technically, it means "brave and heroic feats," but it just sounds stupid, don't you think? Like something a cartoon character might perform. I don't even like it when it's used ironically.

signage

When did this even become a word? Why can't we just say "signs?"

kaffeeklatsch

Admittedly, I don't hear this often. But it's an ugly-sounding word, like someone hacking up a lung.

panties

It's a very "Lolita" word to me. Little-girly and sexual at the same time. No. Unless they are edible. Because "edible underpants" or "edible drawers*" just doesn't sound right. 

maverick

This word was fine until the last election,when McCain and Palin got all mavericky on us.

hubby

All right, I know I'll get some resistance on this one. It's used a lot and is meant to be an endearment. It just makes me think of my mother, who used it way too often. I also dislike "wifey" and "the little woman." 

retard

Yuck. It's just offensive.

douchebag

Oh, please, please can we retire this word? It so reminds me of a 70's teenager sitting on the hood of his El Camino smoking reefer*. I don't hear a lot of women saying, "Wow, she's such a douchebag." I wonder why that is.

I'm sure there are dozens, nay, hundreds, of other words out there that are just as irritating. "Nay" might be on your list. So, what are your personal words that grate?

*I don't really use these words. Much.

Dropping the ball

I'm taking a small, small hiatus from the blog while I edit my novel to send back to my agent. Only for a couple of weeks. I've been a bit single-focused over here, so I'm almost done. But, given that...

--My refrigerator is lacking milk, fresh vegetables (unless you count some 4 week old basil) and all the basics one is supposed to have with medium-sized children in the house. 

--I haven't even bothered to write down all the daily tasks on my to-do list. It would just serve as an accusation, 'cause they ain't getting done. 

--I'm doing only a so-so job, if that, on a charity event I'm supposed to be working on.

--I'm almost to the point of dish-detergent-as-shampoo, since I haven't been to the drugstore.

--My husband is tired of sharing the bed with a MacBook.

--I nearly forgot to pick my daughters up from school last week.

...the blog has been bumped to a low priority.

See you all soon!