The Chalice update

I've finished reading the printed manuscript and made very few written notes. Everything I want to change or enhance is in my head and the memories of said changes will be triggered when I'm re-writing that particular portion of the book. No, I'm not editing the manuscript I already have on Word; instead, I'm typing everything over again from the printed material. It's easier for me this way because I tend to skip whole lines when I read except for when I'm typing. I'll miss stuff if I do nothing but edit.

One major change I've already made is to eliminate the title of Black Magus for the unseen enemy of the Tarmi and Upyr. Given his history, the title of Apostate fits just as well if not better. To be honest, "Black Magus" always bothered me because I'm seriously politically correct when it comes to race issues, and I found this term to be rather negative on a few levels. It equates black with bad, which is just wrong for me to conceive or be a party in propagating. So the Black Magus is now, and shall forever be known as the Apostate and nothing else.

::deep breath::

I feel very good about that decision.

As for "Sui Generis," I've concluded that it will be a chapter in the book, perhaps the longest chapter. I'll be retyping that as well and I've pretty much decided to have Cadmus reveal himself to Kelat as her son. Not certain how that will work out, but I think it's something that needs to be done. Kelat is too calm and unsurprised by the revelation during the convergence upon Cadmus' American lair. But it begs the question that, if Kelat knew about Cadmus' parentage, wouldn't Thiyennen also know. Not necessarily, for two reason:

1. Cadmus may not have revealed to Kelat that Thiyennen is his father.


2. Kelat held the secret close to her, choosing not to reveal such an abomination to her brother or his agents.

I think I may go with Cadmus not revealing the identity of his father to Kelat, but then I'm back to Kelat not being very surprised at the second revelation during the showdown in Asheville. Blaaaaagh! What to do? What to do?

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Concerning "Sui Generis," I should admit that the story was triggered by a picture of Barry Andrews, circa 1986. The affirmations that Cadmus gravitated to priestly robes and that he often retreated from the world to balance himself and cleanse his body, mind, and spirit from the taint of Humanity and Upyr alike were established a few years before I saw this picture. All I needed was a catalyst to commit these concepts to paper. That catalyst came in this picture originally published in Creem magazine. It established the introduction to the story.

( This picture )

The entire story should be approximately right in the middle of the manuscript and will definitely be the most bulky of the chapters, outshining even the first bit that introduces Dmitri and Kelat. I want it to be momentous and poetic, in keeping with the overall lilt I've tried to manage throughout the book.

Breaking and Entering

After years of wanting to have very little to do with us, Foley has now resorted to breaking and entering if we don't let her in the house when she thinks she should be in. The first time I found her on the back porch, I figured that one of us had accidentally let her out there without realising. About an hour later Aunt Tudi let Foley out through the front door. Thirty minutes after that, we heard a noise on the back porch and, when Aunt Tudi opened the door, in stomped Foley. Upon further investigation, a large hole was found in our screen. We'll have to get that repaired before we can let Smidgen and Shmoop out there at night (they can go out all day long, but I prefer they stay indoors at night) or Motley out there before her spaying on 2 March.

I'd cuff Foley and read her the Miranda, but she's such an angel when she sleeps, so I don't have the heart. What an amazing shift in attitude she's exhibited...

( forensic proof of Foley's criminal mind at work )

Yeah, we'll have to get the screen repaired fairly quickly. Aunt Tudi has already expressed alarm at the possibility of Sven and/or Helga taking a shine to this portal and squeezing their little 'possum bottoms indoors. I'd laugh my arse off if that happened 'cos I know Aunt Tudi would have a right old hissy and probably pee her pants. She would then beat me senseless with my own Jesus Stick for laughing.