An evening avoiding direct thought ... Writing Neep

... to allow the subconscious to weigh all alternatives, plus a bracing call from bevhale, the finest living cheerleader in the world, has brought me to this conclusion:

I will write the book. I will write it the way I want it, not catering to any trends. Simply what I want to write. After paying attention to trends for so many years, and being so dreadfully off the mark (I cherish Ginjer Buchanan's chortle after I told her I was making a stab into girl-horse fantasy. She informed me that my book was 'clean, tough and non-sentimental' and as far away from girl book horse fantasy as she could imagine. Another editor told me it was too dark for Tor. I quit while I was ahead. But I will write that series, too -- after this one.)

And I will also work on the new Allie book. I hope she'll be less capricious with some competition.

On another hand -- I am going to create a FAQ section for my web site. To raise curiosity about future Allie books, and perhaps sell a few chapbooks, thus pleasing my publisher. Are there any questions that y'all think I should post, other than the "Will there be more Allie stories after NIGHT CALLS and KINDRED RITES?"

LJ Readers have the inside track, here -- ask away. I might answer!

Scare for a Cure haunted house needs bodies!

Austin and vicinity folk!

This is a plea from a friend working the Haunted House at the Elks Lodge. I've gone out at the last minute several years, and it's lots of fun. It's mostly inside this year, a big plus for people who were cold other years. I'm off my energy supplement until Wednesday, so I'm slowing down. I plan to make some pumpkin muffins or chocolate brownies for them. Want to help scare people? Read on!

(And yes, they could use food of all kinds, too!)

*********

Live ones (bodies), really. Just for a night or two.

The Scare for a Cure Phobia Asylum is a haunted house being run for the benefit of breast cancer research and survivor support, and we need help.

We're having great runs, but we have people working who can't work all nights of the run, and we very much need people to come out and be a zombie or a crazed mental patient for a night or two. Halloween night is particularly critical.

If you can make it out, even for one night, it would be a blessing.

To participate, show up at the Elks' Lodge on Dawson (off Barton Springs) at about 4 p.m., and ask for Nan, our casting director. She'll get you settled.

If you can help, but can't get out there until after call time, that's OK, too! Just call or email when you can come out and we'll try to be ready for you.

This is really a great cause, and we're off to a good start, but we desperately need folks to fill slots for the rest of the run. Please help! And feel free to pass this on to everyone else who might be interested and available.

Here's the basic info on the house from the website:

Phobia Asylum

Be prepared to FACE YOUR FEARS when entering the Phobia Asylum, where free mental and medical screening is offered to those who dare to enter. This is not your typical haunted house; it’s an interactive plot to get you committed!!!

This year, Scare for a CURE has partnered with the creators of the Wild Basin Haunted Trails to present this unique 30-45 minute experience.

Net proceeds will go to Breast Cancer Research and Recovery charities!


Visiting us will help fight cancer and evil at the same time! Lord Vile has challenged the Defuser and the rest of the Scare for a CURE team to an attendance competition.

We're fighting cancer one SCREAM at a time!

Location:

Elks Lodge 201
700 Dawson Road
Austin, Texas 78704
(1 block east of Lamar Boulevard -
2 blocks south of Barton Springs Road)

Hours of Operation:

October 26-31, 2007
7PM to Midnight Friday and Saturday
6PM to 10PM Sunday thru Wednesday

Admission:
Adults: $15
Children under 12: $5

Actors and volunteers contact : scare@austin.rr.com

Directions: Take Lamar to Barton Springs (just south of downtown). Turn east on Barton Springs, toward the Dougherty Arts Center and the miniature golf place. Take a right at the first light onto Dawson. Take the second right up the hill and you'll see a Volunteer Parking Only sign. That's us! Try to park as far back off the road as you can, please.