Well, I almost hit my goal of reaching 100,000 words on the novel today. Came up a couple hundred words short, but that's fine. More importantly, I figured out how to end the big battle chapter, tying together all sorts of stuff in what I hope is a logical fashion.

Crazy. Sometimes it's a bit scary, winging it like that on the novel, this late in the game. But I think it's all coming together now.

I had a nice little break this morning when I went to pick up supplies for Lizzie and me (we've got quite a little home office vibe going on here lately). I stopped at this book warehouse place where they have tons of remaindered books, and spent a very fun half hour or so checking out their selection. I came away with five hardcover, first edition novels, for the grand total of $33! Very cool -- two Graham Joyce novels (Dark Sister and his first, Dreamside), Karen Joy Fowler's latest (Sister Noon, to go along with my unread hardcover of Sarah Canary), Sean Stewart's Mockingbird (to go along with my unread hardcover of Galveston -- this dude has written like a DOZEN novels, and he's what? 35???), and Charles de Lint's Onion Girl (I'm giving him a second chance, after hating the long, drawn-out ending of his Someplace to Be Flying; plus I think this one has the Crow Girls!).

That was a nice little pick-me up. Books are cool. Now I need to read them! I think, though, I'm gonna start with Neil Gaiman's Coraline, to get me into contemporary fantasy mode.

All these fantasy novels, including Tim P's novel I just finished, have got me itching to start a new novel in that genre myself. After tomorrow, I'll be able to think about that more -- I hope to finish drafting the Wannoshay novel by day's end. Wish me luck! Later.

Now Playing:
"Songs from an American Movie, vol. 2," Everclear

Stories out to Publishers:
20

Today's Words:
1,300

Novel Words:
99,500

Today's Quote:
Swarming onto the field, knocking the unarmored Early Ones away with ease, the Late Ones pulled out what looked like long, hand-held wands. Each Late One, safe inside its white armor, pointed a wand at a pack of onrushing Early Ones, and every Early One that came across the path of the wand pulled up short. The wand made a popping sound, and the alien caught by it fell to the ground, twitching like a Blur addict. A second group of smaller Late Ones scurried up to the fallen Early Ones and dragged them into the ship.

The Late Ones had come to take the Early Ones back to their ship, and possibly, Joshua guessed, back to their home.