Home again home again

Back from Illinois. Exhausted and drained, both psychologically and physically. I broke down multiple times at both the wake and funeral, but mostly held it together. I had the foresight to bring lotso Kleenex.

Seeing my DiL all preserved and made-up for the first time at the wake was the worst. It didn’t look like the man I remembered at all up close–too plastic and smooth–but from a little distance, he did, and a couple times, I caught myself thinking, “I hope DiL’s not feeling left out. He’s all off by himself and no one’s talking to him.” And then, of course, I’d have to deal with another bout of teary-eyes when I realized that I didn’t have to worry about him feeling excluded and that it didn’t matter that no one was chit-chatting with him because he couldn’t hear them, would never have another conversation with his friends and family ever again.

Been trying to take it easy, trying to ease back into things. But there’s tons of work to catch up with that has already waited a week.

And, after all, life goes on.

   


Writing Stuff

Received a lovely review at Novelspot for my Inspirations End/Still My Beating Heart chapbook:

“Eugie Foster’s vampire stories have everything a good vampire story needs to have . . . The author is a great story-teller, who pays attention to details, creates great characters, and uses a highly enjoyable style. Her choice of words and her use of language gives a very special flavour to these writings, which makes it hard to put this book down. For those who enjoy vampire fiction, this book is highly recommended. ”
–Ilona Hegedus

Published:
– My August Writing for Young Readers column, “Writing for Tweens.”

Received:
– 57-days to a reprint sale (+ contract) of “Second Daughter” to Her Circle Ezine. It’s slated for their fall issue. Their contract is odd, a bit too vague and Spartan for my preference, lacking even the bare-bones, standard legalese that I’m accustomed to. But it’s for a reprint and they’re not asking for anything weird. Eh, as long as they pay me . . .
– Email + contract from Stephen Eley confirming that the Pseudopod editors loved and want “Returning My Sister’s Face.” Their contract, of course, is completely in order.
– Status update from Mech Muse that their Summer issue (with the audio reprint of “The Storyteller’s Wife” in it) will be going up Aug. 21.
– 272-days to an “after careful consideration we have decided to decline” on a story held for the second round of reading at IGMS. Fooie.
– 3-days to a “not what we’re looking for at this time” with personal (and a bit contradictory) feedback. One editor liked my prose, the other found it too florid, but it was the ending that didn’t sell them. Alas.

Tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

24 Responses to Home again home again

  1. Sorry you and Matt have to go through this. 🙁

  2. That’s right. Throw yourself back into work. When does the new day job start, by the way? Glad to see you are holding up. My best to your and Matt.

    • Eugie Foster says:

      New day job starts next week. Eek!

      Thank you for all your words of support and sympathy during this time, sweetie. I’ve been crappy at responding, but wanted to let you know they’ve meant a lot to me.

  3. yansmom says:

    Oh, Eugie, that’s so sad. Funerals are the worst…*hugs* to you and Matt.

  4. random_42 says:

    I experienced the same at my Grandfather’s funeral. There is something not quite right with the practice – certainly did not help speed along any closure. I found myself wishing they would hurry things along as Grandpa deserved better treatment and that he would have much rather had us playing cards, drinking a few beers and laughing…

    • Eugie Foster says:

      I think some booze (scotch was my DiL’s preferred inebriant) would’ve been appropriate. But I don’t think MiL (or the funeral home for that matter) would’ve gone for it.

  5. Oh, ouch. I’m so sorry.

    *hugs*

  6. time_shark says:

    My sympathies to you and your husband, Eugie.

  7. basilwhite says:

    Yeah. You go girl.

    Eugie rox.

    What do you think of http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/fifty-50-tools-which-can-help-you-in-writing.html

    ..? I’m getting a lot of useful stuff for comedy editing.

    • Eugie Foster says:

      Re: Yeah. You go girl.

      I haven’t managed to read through all of them yet, but they seem like generally sound tips. Nevertheless, I’m still hanging onto my battered but tried-and-true Elements of Style.

  8. puskunk says:

    Welcome back home, and I hope Hobkin eats your shoe for being gone so long (what? it’s what mine would do). I’m sorry about your DiL, and tell Matt we’re thinking about him too. Your thoughts at the funeral are similar to mine, members of my wife’s family die with regularity, unfortunately.

    • Eugie Foster says:

      Thanks. Very, very glad to be home.

      Hobkin hasn’t eaten our shoes, although I suspect that’s mostly because we don’t leave them where he can get them, but he has been an absolute brat. Plus he’s acting like he’s starving round the clock, I mean even more than usual, even though we’re feeding him enough to regularly clean out our veggie crisper. Can’t chop veggies fast enough to stuff into that gaping maw. Debbie said hers were also being little stinkers. Are yours misbehaving too? I wonder if there’s something in the air riling up all the skunkies or if it’s just the season for bratty behavior.

  9. wishwords says:

    My condolences. I remember when my mom took me to the funeral home so that I could put something in the casket with my dad. I was fine till I touched him. Instant breakdown, tears, snot, panic, scary whimpering sound… all those things you think only happen in books. We aren’t very well equipped to deal with loss.

  10. Aw, Eugie, I’m so sorry about your DiL. *hugs*

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *