How is everyone doing today? So sorry I didn't post yesterday! It was Labour Day here in Canada, and I slept in late and, being in holiday mode, completely forgot about writing a blog post. I also forgot to schedule one before the weekend hit... because I was apparently in holiday mode Friday as well.
Nevertheless, I have now retroactively posted a blog entry for yesterday. Even though I technically posted it this morning, it is dated for yesterday, which means most people will be none the wiser about my oversight.
<maniacal laugh>
Don't worry readers, Karma has you covered. I got very sunburnt yesterday playing cracked court tennis. I should have known better than to go outside at midday without sunscreen. Alas, I've lost my sunscreen. I packed it to bring with me to Australia. I boarded the plane and never saw it again.
That, however, is not what I wanted to talk about. What I wanted to talk about was the fact that in my writing journey I have met some of the most awesome people possible. I seriously mean that. There is, obviously, the Amazing Flatmate (who arrived home last night and I am so happy she's back). Technically, we didn't meet in my writing journey, but she's been with me practically the whole way and I owe her a lot. Like, a lot.
I digress.
There are those who volunteer to be on my little Nights at the Round Table panels for Silver Stag Entertainment. There are the fellow writers who have been so welcoming and awesome. There are the people I met at conventions who became fans and friends simultaneously.
And then there are all the people I've met online that I met when struggling to find a way to get noticed. They have become some of the best people I think I know. They have been companions and cheerleaders for me, celebrating my milestones and commiserating with me on my many, many failures. Some of them I've known since the very beginning of my writing journey.
One of them I'm in almost constancy contact with. The fact that she also happens to be my cover designer may have something to do with it, but it's also because she has been very supportive of me and my work, and I of hers (seriously though. I don't like romance as a genre, and I can tear through one of her books with ease and actually enjoy myself! They're good books). This is, of course, a wonderful lady by the name of Laura Miller. She writes under Jaimey Grant, and you should really check out her books.
By the way, if you happen to need a cover designer, you should really check out her stuff. She's fantastic at what she does, and I trust her always to do a great job. She has never failed me. Here cover design website is HERE.
As it happens, she and I love to play games - specifically Xbox. The game that convinced me to buy an Xbox at long last was Skyrim, a fantastic game by Bethesda. I am obsessed with Skyrim. You have no idea. Seriously. None. Her husband is exactly the same, though probably not obsessed. He just likes to play.
However, he did buy a new Xbox when his old one died recently just so he could play Skyrim. I laughed, because I basically did the same thing. We got into a discussion about this obsession of mine, and I expressed jealousy that her husband had the Legendary Edition (the one with all the DLC content: Hearthfire, Dawnguard and Dragonborn). Being poor, I would have to save up for that stuff.
Or not, as it happened.
Two days later, I got this in the mail:
No word of a lie.
If the cats could give testimony...
Well, it wasn't until last night that I opened it up to have a look at this most awesome very early birthday gift. When I opened it up, I squealed with delight again.
I love fantasy maps. Like, an obscene amount. I already have a fantasy map on my wall:
Alas, I have no wall space to put up my new map. It's now safely tucked away in the game case awaiting my dream home which, in addition to the armoury, library (where my map of Middle Earth shall go - once it's properly framed, of course) and stables it will have, it shall also have a gaming den. There, proudly on my wall will hang this map of Skyrim, and it shall be treasured.
(The next map for my fantasy collection, which will go in the other gaming room (for non-electronic gaming) will be the map of Everealm. Because I'm a nerd like that)
All of this, just because Laura and her husband are simply awesome folk. I haven't even met them in person. I only know Laura and I've never actually so much as emailed her husband.
<happy sigh>
Here's the thing, I was saving up to buy the DLCs for this game, as well as one of THESE (gaming recording device) so I could record my pathetic playing with some commentary in a Let's Play segment on my YouTube channel. Or perhaps on the Silver Stag YouTube channel. I have't decided yet. It was going to be my treat for myself this Christmas.
It still is, but now I'm a little less poor for it.
Seriously, though. Sometimes, people are awesome, and I'm so glad that I know them.
Thank you so much, Laura and... uh... Laura's hubby (what's your name? Seriously, though. What's your name?)!
Now please excuse me as I daydream of being a Bosmer slaying dragons and collecting their souls...
FUS RO DAH! (Ciao)