Please forgive the repetitiveness of this post, but I noticed that Norse Code's Publishers Weekly review is starting to propagate to online booksellers, so I figured it'd be okay for me to post it in its entirety. I also heard word today that my publisher has copies of my book in stock, which means it is now an actual physical artifact rather than just a big ball of hopes and dreams and anxieties and fears in my head. I look forward to getting my box of books and bathing in them.

Should I talk about something non-hypey? Kung fu? I can talk about kung fu. After two months of sick decrepitude, I finally made it back to class last week. Good staff sparring class, just me and an upper-level guy I like to work with, and it felt awesome to move and bash sticks. This week I've managed two classes, an empty-hand forms class in which I got recquainted with twisting-grabbing fist sweeping-tripping fist (apparently not so reacquainted that I could remember the name of the form) and a staff forms class. Learned a few new moves and pulperized many imaginary bad guys.

So lemme tell you this: If you're an imaginary bad guy, you DO NOT WANT TO MESS WITH ME.

Okay. Well. Here's the hype:

NORSE CODE [Amazon - Powells - Barnes and Noble - Borders - Mysterious Galaxy]

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Short story author van Eekhout makes a successful leap to long fiction with this thrilling urban fantasy. As human civilizations crumble, Valkyries prepare for Ragnarok by using DNA testing to select perfect warriors for their army of the dead. Resurrected NorseCODE operative Mist loses faith in the project after a tragic accident, and she goes AWOL. After Mist encounters the near-forgotten god Hermod as he investigates portents of doom along the California coastline, the two journey into the afterlife of Helheim, where they make some unexpected allies. With deities scheming and ancient prophecies coming true, can a reluctant Valkyrie and a world-weary god prevent the apocalypse? While a few aspects of the conclusion don't quite hang together, the compelling prose and epic blend of mythological and modern elements make it clear that van Eekhout is an author to watch. (June)

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

 

Last night in class I learned the rest of 36 Noble Stances, which is a slow body-conditioning form that largely consists of standing in uncomfortable positions for an unreasonably long time. I must be doing it wrong because I swear I counted 45 stances. The self-defense applications from the form are pretty cool, though.

***

Finished watching the third and last season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and I'll just parrot David, who said, "I think I’ve learned more, watching this show over the last few months, about how to work character development and interpersonal tension and humor in an ensemble cast than I’ve learned in thirty years of reading and watching TV and movies."

I wish there were another season. I'd be more excited about the upcoming feature film if it weren't live action and weren't being directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

The show features "benders," or practitioners of martial arts based on manipulating the four elements of air, earth, water, and fire. The creators based each elemental style on a real martial arts system: bagua for air, tai chi for water, hung gar for earth, and northern shaolin for fire. My school is a northern shaolin school, and our "fire fist" punch is exactly like the vertical-fist punch the fire benders on Avatar use. I can't really do the punch without making the sound effect and picturing a huge ball of flame emanating from my hand. It makes Cannon Fist form lots of fun.

***

Today's inspiration supplied by Karen.

From Last

It's quite possible that I'm the last human on Earth to see the music video for No More Kings' "Sweep the Leg." If so, I'm kinda resentful that nobody told me about it sooner.

Directed by and starring none other than Karate Kid's Billy "Johnny Lawrence" Zabka, and featuring cameos by Ralph Macchio and Martin "Cobra Kai Sensei John Kreese" Cove, it's a tribute to perhaps the most gloriously dorky martial arts movie of all time.

When my kung fu instructor back in Phoenix revealed that Karate Kid was the movie that first inspired him to learn martial arts, I knew I'd found a school to call home.

Golly, this week has flown by. Not sure what happened to it. Did manage to hit the gym twice, go to kung fu twice, and I'll be going to kung fu again today, so I feel that my physical conditioning requirements will have been met, at least. Yesterday's class was a lot of fun, too. I learned the rest of the moves for my belt level for long staff sparring counter set, which involves a lot of energetic thwacking, so that was good, sweaty fun.

Also managed to get out to the movies to see The Incredible Hulk. I never read Hulk comics -- just an annual that John Byrne drew -- but I was a huge fan of the TV show when I was a kid, and the movie managed to deliver big cinematic movie action while still capturing the spirit of the show. That's two good Marvel superhero movies in one summer, which is two more than I expected.

I dove head-first into the the revision of the novel I took to Blue Heaven, and am almost half-way through. I'm not trying to make everything perfect. Just trying to fix the biggest, most obvious flaws. Then I figure I'll send it to my agent and see if she thinks it'll fly.

So, more writing today, and kung fu, and housecleaning, because friends are coming to stay for the weekend, and there's the small matter of pride.

So, physically, I've been feeling relatively crappy: weak, too easily fatigued by exercise, bluh and blah. I'm not ill, but I'm feeling far from my best. And I've felt this way since moving from Phoenix last year, which entailed leaving my kung fu school. My San Diego school just doesn't give me as long a workout, as intense a workout, or as many workouts as my old school. And I've been using that as an excuse for falling out of shape, and I was feeling down for allowing myself to give myself excuses. So, for the time being, I'm going to be supplementing my kung fu classes with actual gym workouts. I don't like gyms or the things that happen in gyms. I know I can lift some of those weights, but if you hooked up some hydraulics, you could get a machine to lift those weights much better than I ever could.

Anyway, yesterday I went to the apartment complex gym and fired up some Rush on my iPod and lifted a bunch of weights. And you know what? I feel great! If I'd done last night's workout a few years ago, before I started martial arts, I'd be unable to move today. But I just feel nicely worked and virtuous.

Also, our gym has a heavy bag and a nice big aerobics floor where I can practice my forms if I want. Maybe even swing the staff around.

So, now instead of feeling all bluh and blah, I feel happy that I did something to stop feeling bluh and blah. I feel happy that I haven't lost all the benefits gained over the previous few years.

There's nothing quite like the feeling of getting up off one's ass, is there?

If you're a soccer fan, I'm sure the opportunity to watch Mexico vs. Argentina is worth braving what the local news is calling "nightmarish" traffic conditions.

On the other hand, if the soccer match is being played in a stadium right along the route to your kung fu school, you might be feeling more than just a little bit grouchy about missing class.

I can do only about half the number of pushups I could do at this time last year. No injuries, no illnesses, nothing but the results of going from 9-12 hours of kung fu a week to maybe three. Sucks.

"It looks like you're struggling to get it up," my kung fu instructor said. Which was particularly distressing, considering I was practicing with my staff.

Yes, I giggled.

What he meant was, I was using my arm to raise the staff above my head instead of using the momentum of my hips. So, I tried it the correct way, and twaaaa-aaaaang, aggravated the part of my back that I hurt yesterday from sitting in a chair.

Last week it was my shoulder. Hurt it sitting in a chair. Aggravated it by head-banging at the Rush show.

At least when I told people at the kung fu school about the Rush show, I became instant hero to the males between 35 and 45.

I think the real gist of this little missive is, I need a new chair.

I've been going to my current kung fu school since October, and not ever, not even once, have I stopped in at the donut shop a few storefronts down. But, oh, god, did I want a jelly-filled sugar raised today.

ETA: I think I left this unintentionally ambiguous. I bypassed the jelly-filled donut. I still have had no donut, and I feel I should be given a black belt for my sacrifice.

***

Writing.

Hey, in celebration of Valentine's Day, they're giving away free shots at Starbucks.

Of espresso, I mean. If you find out where they're giving away free shots of Jäger, let me know.

***

Another reason I like Steve Nash (yes, it's a man crush): He's got a new Nike shoe coming out. It's made from factory scraps. It's called the Trash Talk.

***

I am a song binger. Current binge is a two-song loop of I Was Wrong (Social Distortion), and Infected (Bad Religion), with a bit of snacking on Los Angeles Is Burning. How's that for romance?

***

A lot of ants died last night. Baited traps seemed to do a pretty good job. I'll lay down some more today to let them know I'm serious. I am serious.

***

At most of the martial arts schools I've trained at, it's considered a no-no to ask when you're going to learn or do a particular thing. You're supposed to be patient and concentrate on what you're learning now, not what you're going to learn later. Be respectful of your current material. So I've been trying to be subtle about asking my fellow students when we get to start sparring.

At my Shaolin Kenpo school, we started sparring at orange belt (the third rank). At my old Kung Fu school, we started sparring on our second day of class. At my new Kung Fu school, apparently, we start sparring at fourth level.

I'm a first level.

I CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG TO SLAP A PUNK!

I'm just kidding. Mostly.

I really do miss sparring.

I got a ton of Starbucks gift cards from family for Christmas and my birthday, and since I like free drinks, I've been doing most of my coffee joint writing at Starbucks. The only drawback (for me) is that Starbucks doesn't really inspire me to take coffee/computer pics to document my writing progress. But this morning I found myself at a place in University Heights, and I remembered that taking pictures of my coffee and computer is one of the things I do, so that's what I did.

I'm not so sure about the coffee joint. I think I overheard the barista making fun of my drink (an Americano). If I want snotty comments from anyone, I'll call my dad.

I'll be seeing my parents on Friday to help them with errands. If the subject of my book comes up and Dad's first question is how much money I'm making, I might accidentally leave him at the store. I know that sounds mean, but it's not like he's never done it to me. It's like, dude, if you take a four-year-old to the bookstore, it's also your responsibility to bring him home. The same goes for the supermarket eight years later. Although I guess I should have known better than to wander off to stare at raw meat.

Sorry for the ramble. I think I'm tired. I learned the first two moves of Meteor Fist at kung fu tonight. Yeah, only two moves, but I gave 'em all I had.

We did an interesting long staff drill last night in class. Our assistant instructor had us stand one foot away from the big mirror, perpendicular parallel to it, and try to do our staff spins without breaking the mirror.

Added complications were a very crowded school, so we were hemmed in by other students spinning staffs, and still other students twirling broad swords.

Also adding to the degree of difficulty was our head instructor glaring at us. He doesn't like it when we bump the walls. Even brushing the bead curtain at the entrance to the practice floor gets him peeved. So, breaking his mirror would probably make him very unhappy.

I didn't break the mirror, but I did bump it with the end of my staff. Not so good.

We also learned a new behind-the-back spin. It's pretty cool when it's done right. I just tried it here in the living room. We've got one of those stupid plaster bumpy textured ceilings. I'm now wearing much of it in my hair.

Last night I watched the final episode of Justice League Unlimited.

( a bit of spoiler )
And I swear, once the Big Three ran or flew out-of-frame for the last time, I almost teared up.

And it wasn't even all that emotional a scene! I'm just that huge of a geek about this stuff!

This show was just the coolest rendition of the Justice League ever, and I'm so sad it's over.

Next up, I'm going to watch the first season of Justice League (the show that preceded Justice League Unlimited). Then I'll probably need to get the second season. Then, I might need to get the entire run of the animated Superman.

I wonder if they'll ever do a Green Lantern/Green Arrow show. With frequent guest spots by the Question (as long as he's voiced by Jeffrey Coombs). And also the Flash (Michael Rosenbaum).

Probably not. That's a shame.

***

Passed my first test at the new Kung Fu school. Sometimes it really doesn't feel like I've been doing this as long as I have, because I'm still really quite lame, even on the white belt material. Staff form felt pretty good, at least. And I got good marks on Respect and Attitude. I'm also punctual and maintain good hygiene.

My kicks, though? If you ever get in a fight with me, try to goad me into a fan kick. It'll be like being attacked by an arthritic stork.

Tonight my instructor pulled me out of class twice to make me take a water break. He praised me for not puking.

My conditioning sucks so bad.

After the holidays and enjoying a house guest (hi, David!) and spending a week out of town, I feel like I'm just starting to settle back into the post-holiday routine. I'm working on a small, low-paying, but easy freelance gig (the sort of thing I need to be doing much more of, only with bigger pay, since it doesn't look like I'm going to be getting any adjunct teaching this semester), and after finishing the latest "final" draft of the Norse book, I'm getting back to the actual writing of the YA weird beach book. Since I found last week's visit to the Museum of the Weird in Austin so inspiring, I'm starting the book right in the middle of the shrunken heads and the Fiji Mermaid and the What-Is-It???? in the box.

Made a nice reprint sale: "Far As You Can Go" to the audio anthology, mini-Masterpieces of Science Fiction from Audio Text, due out I'm-not-sure-when.

Speaking of routines, time now to strap on, change into t-shirt and kung fu pants and go smack big wooden sticks.

It's time to start wearing a cup again.

Close call today.

You leave the world with the same goods you came in with. Gotta protect the goods between.

I was hoping to rebound from yesterday's hypoglycemic kung fu class with a kick-ass class tonight, but we were doing rolls, and rolls are my absolute least favorite thing to do in martial arts. But since this is a new school, and a new start, I figured, hey, why not treat it as something new instead of something I already know I hate.

So, I'll say this: My rolls at the end of class were better than my rolls at the beginning of class. I'm calling that a success.

***



It's an old hoax, so maybe it's already been all over the Internet, but I'd never seen it 'til yesterday. I get so much sensuwunder buzz from this pic, I can't even tell you. (via National Geographic)

My story "Cât de departe poţi ajunge" ("Far As You Can Go") is in the January issue of the Romanian sf-magazine Sci-Fi Magazin. And what a table of contents! I'm between Kelly Link and Anne McCaffrey. Not in terms of stature or success, obviously, but possibly in terms of approach, it might be appropriate placement.

***

Frustrating kung fu class yesterday. Started off with insufficient blood sugar, and I felt my energy draining and had to take a break 15 minutes in to down a Go-Tart. Made it through another 20 minutes of stance practice, and then felt slow and dumb during punch/block drills. My training partner's punches kept going right through my blocks, which has never happened to me before. I mean, I've let myself get hit any number of times by standing there stupidly instead of blocking, and I've gotten hit by being late with my blocks, but I've never before made solid contact with a block and had the punch still drive through it. Ah, well. Better class tonight, hopefully.

***

I will pay $5 to anyone who successfully revises my last chapter. (Payment upon publication.)

I can't really think of a topic less interesting than my weight, but since when have notions of what's interesting ever influenced my journal entries? Anyway, please feel free to skip this one if you want. I'll never know, and I won't mind if you do.

Today I stepped on a scale for the first time since moving to San Diego, so that means I haven't weighed myself since the end of July. My new doctor didn't have me weighed either. Nor did he ask about family medical history. His nurse asked me how tall I am, and since I have a ballpark figure for that (like, 6'1" or 6'2", or thereabouts?), I could give her some data.

Anyway, my weight, in the middle of the day with clothes on and a meal in me, is about 208. Meaning I've gained about 13-15 pounds since moving. I have a skinny frame. I have no room for this extra poundage.

I can blame some of the gain on the 2-plus month layoff from kung fu, and I can maybe blame a little of that on reduced martial arts class time. At the old school, I did an hour of pre-class practice time, then the two-hour brown belt class, and then the one-hour lower belt class, three or four times a week. Now I'm doing 50-minute classes four times a week. But really, I know why I'm turning into goo. One need only take a look at the title of this journal: Writing and Snacks.

That's right, writing is making me fat.

No, it's the snacks!!!!! I snack in the daytime! I snack in the nighttime! I down handfuls of peanuts. I check my blood sugar and tell myself since my numbers are good that there's no harm in helping myself to a slab of spiral-cut ham. I drink pumpkin spice lattes and eggnog lattes and Brandy Alexanders made with Kahlua and eggnog (and a sprinkle of nutmeg, served over ice, substitute créme de cacao for the Kahlua and cream or half-and-half for the eggnog, if you want to be traditional).

I know there's a lot of controversy regarding the BMI, and I'm not even concerned with my BMI. But I know I feel okay at 195, and I feel really fit at 190. At 190, my gut doesn't even stick out that much. Whereas now, when I check my form in the mirror in class, I can hardly concentrate on my foot placement and posture because all I see is a sack of pudding hanging over my belt.

That's right, I like snacks so much that I keep a sack of chocolate pudding tied around my waist at all times, just in case I get a little peckish!

So, anyway, the snacks have got to go. The caloric coffee beverages have to become a once-in-a-while sort of thing. Kind of like they used to be.

Tonight's cup/page pic was taken at the hyperhip coffee joint in Hillcrest, which is where I'm typing this from. The beverage contains no cream, no sugar, no syrup.

Beans and water, just as our ancestors did it when they were trying to lose 13-18 pounds.

Buying Christmas wrapping paper might be my favorite part of Christmas shopping. :-D

I also wish to note that, even though many people say you can use a mop or a broom as a bo staff, actually using a mop or broom as a bo staff is really awkward. But maybe it's just because the aisle at Target wasn't wide enough.