Losing it All

So, I lost a hard drive last week. No big deal, I thought. I had backed up the night before. No worries.

None.

Except that the backup corrupted and I lost everything.

I mean everything. Every email from the last 15 years. Every WIP. Every photo. All the pictures of my wedding. All the files for all the books. 

Everything’s gone.

When I figured it out I threw up. Then I cried a little. Then I started to breathe again.

In my family, we’ve lost a house to a fire, to a tornado. When I left an abusive relationship, I had twenty four hours to figure out what to leave and what to take. 

Does it hurt?

God, yes.

But.

There’s a freedom in starting over again. What’s gone is gone and there’s no sense wishing for it. Moving on is one of my superpowers, which is damn handy, given I have to do it, every now and again.

Much love (and CHECK YOUR BACKUPS), y’all.

BA

What I'm Working On

Had a disastrous hard drive and back up failure last week. Still trying to figure out what I’m going to do.

 

Writing:

Tipping the Barrel -- f/f YA novel — Cried a lot.

Musician. Bodyguard. Werewolves. 

Wedding Vase — m/m contemporary. These boys are breaking my heart.

 

In edits/rewrites:

Ace/Kitty in rewrites.

Coke/Dillon in rewrites.

 

At beta:

nothing

 

At proofing:

nothing

 

Subbed:

Go Ask Alice to Hamony Ink

Articles of Release to Dreamspinner

Short story in for Mythologically Torqued.

 

Next week's plan?

Try not to panic

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Much love, y’all! 

BA

What I'm Reading

Just starting Poe by J. Lincoln Fenn.

***

1. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett — so far, loving it. So damn funny.

2. The Best Horror of the Year Volume Six, edited by Ellen Datlow — there wasn’t a single story where anything happened. So frustrating.

3. Indian Cooking Unfolded by Raghavan Iyer — great narrative, interesting recipes, but not for a foodie, for someone who wants the very basics. 

4. A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters — lovely little mystery

5. A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg — absolutely charming and made me cry

6.  Joyland, a Hard Case Crime by Stephen King. Loved it.

7. Shadow Man by Cody Macfayden — I have to admit by the end I was furious and screaming. This could have been exceptional. It was not.

8. The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook by Martha Davis — nothing I didn’t know, but I needed the reminder.

9. Writing the Cozy Mystery by Nancy Cohen — very interesting. This one’s a keeper.

10. Writing Mystery and Crime by Marg McAllister — for a beginning writer more than an experienced one, I think.

11. The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg — beautifully written, a lovely, warm read that’s like a hug. Gave me a lot to talk about with J.