Artificial Intelligence AKA AI

 AI does not recreate. It regurgitates. 

The clue is in the name. "Artificial" is simply a "copy of something natural."

*brings my soapbox over*

Before Internet, *ahem* clears my throat because OBVIOUSLY volcanic ash, people needed to find a solid, literally, source of information.

Encyclopedias, school books, dictionaries, and library books. If you were lucky, you owned at least one and could borrow others.

Knowledge obtained through solid material resources with involved a TON of reading, especially to borrow the requisite library books. And if you could only borrow two or three from the school library, then they best be the best.

But woe unto you if someone quicker obtained the desired material first.

All this to say...it was work. Solid work. Some it was also false. I remember coloring in a diagram of a tongue in fifth grade with different flavor centers in certain areas. 

COMPLETELY FALSE

Science? It evolves, loves. It literally lives and breathes.

But let's toddle back to fiction, shall we?

In the beginning, *cue horns and percussion*, AI was force-fed tons of fiction, also non-fiction. But bestselling authors took a hit. The ones off the top of my head are Margaret Atwood and Stephen King. 

Now, this AI, artificial remember?, can now spit out stories similar to the two authors using diction, spelling, and vernacular. 

Does that make AI as good as Stephen King or any of the others AI content creators stole from? 

Fuck, no.

Because here's the rub. Creativity takes passion. 

PASH UN

AI doesn't have a soul. And if it did, well, I wouldn't give two fucks about writing because the world would be trying to survive the mass genocide.

It's like Chris Pratt said to Bryce Dallas Howard in "Jurassic World" when referring to the specially-bred dino (Indominus Rex) with the bad temperament and super hero features. 

Can't find it verbatim, so I'll paraphrase. 

What's it made of? 

BDH rattles off a few dino DNA names. But it was bred in captivity. 

You mean to tell me she's never been with other dinosaurs? Imprinted on anyone? All she knows is that big crane dropping in a cow. That's all she's bonded with?

LATER...AFTER MASS DESTRUCTION AND DEATH

Well. She's top of the food chain now and knows it.

*end*

Do you feel me?

If AI were simply another tool to use like a dictionary, thesaurus, or resource material, I'd be all over it. But AI doesn't stop there. It can now chat with you. Sympathize (NOT empathize--you need a soul for that). 

And a LOT is being made in creative communities about the use of AI to write and form pictures. 

I hate it.

A lot do.

But if you're not willing to put in the work, use that grey matter, I guess a pale imitation of what could loosely pass for a book or painting would work for you.

I had a problem with something from Amazon the other day. Hitting all the boxes did not help. I resorted to "chat." *LONG SUFFERING SIGH*

Finally, after it had given me back every response I gave to it, with the words messed about, I achieved my goal. NOT because the idiotic AI whatever could glean what that was. I had to STATE IT.

If I need crayons and puppets, I shouldn't have to waste my time.

I don't know what HDs are, but I've got 80 of them.

Current situation.

PT will be renamed "The Broken Discus" as the new working title. The second in the series will be called "The Morrigan."

Finished BD and have 55,000 words on TM. Blowing through it would be putting it mildly. I have never...literally...never written like this. I would say something about "getting used to it," but I'm a believer in some superstitions and will hereby keep my trap closed.

Will edit "Canary: Out of the Shadows" and publish it by the end of February. Tried for the beginning of February but was immersed in my series. When you're in the flow, you keep flowing.

Now here it is...all laid out and about. 

Third book in mythological series. I already know what the fourth is about. But this one comes first.

New Erotic Romance 

And now, as I sit in front of my computer, I can't think of the third thing. Must've been important. 🤨

Update on the Murph 'n' turf. Could've called him "Hunter", and it would have worked, also. This boy carries his crinkles in his mouth. Drags his wands from here to there and back again. Tears the feathers off said wands. Gave him a lamb chop, spur of the moment on adoption day, and he has jacked that poor baby up. 

But when I pet his oh-so-fluffy bunny belly, he makes sure to not scratch me like he would another kitten. However, this little shit digs his claws in, not thinking, and my limbs look like constellations, at this point. 

Murphenstein has also decided to grace me with his feline presence around 2 to 3 in the morning. And he wants to cuddle. I don't even cuddle with people. Or he'll use my arm as a pillow. OR my pillow as his pillow. 

All in all, he's pretty fucking awesome, and I love him dearly.

Haven't been watching the Olympics. But I did watch the entire Bad Bunny halftime on YouTube. Knew I would love it. 

I have been, however, blowing through the Dept. Q series by Jussi Adler-Olsen. I could not get enough of Season 1 on Netflix. Impatiently waiting for Season 2. FOR ALL THE REASONS.

But I'm on book 4 of the series now, and I'm going through one every two days or so. That's my downtime from writing.

Other than that, it's supposed to be 81 here today, and tomorrow will be 61 with a strong north wind. 

Spring? Winter?

Your guess is as good as mine. 

7000

 I really want to think up something like that awesome song "Seasons of Love" from Rent.

Blew my own mind yesterday and ended with over 7000 words. I ached like a mother, but it was worth it. Don't ask my hips and back. Only my mind. And the two huge Cokes I bought from Sonic. You may want to ask those. 

The Mighty Murphin Power Ranger (ginger) figured out how to sleep with me at night, not only during the day. Little chicken butt pressed up against my left side. Used either my arm or pillow as HIS pillow. 

This child. 🙄

Doesn't care for when I come into the Sanctuary and create my various worlds. Mopes around and meows for about fifteen minutes. Now, he's safely ensconced on my day bed, thank you Lordt.

This boy simply wants to be ON you non-stop. Wants to be petted always. I'm all about making that happen. After losing Simba, I still miss him so much, I wanted to make sure I didn't treat my next ginger baby the same. Or have expectations of same behaviour. Though, I did buy the little asshole a water fountain because Simba loved it. Murphy seems to, as well.

You know how kittens wrap their front paws around themselves and do like a full body hug?

Murphy has done that twice--while holding my hand between his paws. Pretty sure my heart exploded.

Still look like a pin cushion.

Thanks, Murph.

I am aghast at this fucking world. 

This piece of shit administration obfuscating the truth on the daily. There needs to be some fucking accountability. Because NO ON else has the option to do this bullshit. All this "above the law" "I make the law" "You are all beneath me" horseshit is about to raise my blood pressure to unsafe levels.

Whew.

Pretty sure most of you know which way I lean, anyway. Always good for a reminder, though.

And a vent before I stroke out.

It's Trayvon Martin's bday today. 

It's a good day to remember this child and the brutality forced upon him. And it's a good day to make sure it doesn't fucking happen again.

Rest in peace, child.

Rest in peace.

Diverse genres

When I attend a book event, and I speak to readers, most are surprised I have such an eclectic collection of books I've written.

And, honestly?

I'd go mad, if I didn't.

Romance is my go-to since I've been reading them since the age of 12. Old Harlequins in my grandmother's rumpus room. I've always been fascinated with fairy tales, fables, and mythology. My usual Christmas gifts included a Stephen King hardback and a book of fairy tales.

Now.

Small fun fact: I read the collected works of Edgar Allan Poe when I was in sixth grade and didn't sleep for three days. 

Moderate, I'm not.

But I'm a sponge. I need to know things, and that doesn't come from sticking with one type of information. I read eclectic, therefore, I write eclectic.

And that reality is simply that when ideas come to me, I sort them into appropriate categories and go from there. 

I never planned on writing an Urban Fantasy/Magical Realism three-book series. But when they come, the ideas DO NOT knock. More like the Kool-Aid man coming through a brick wall.

Yes, I'm THAT old. 

I never planned on writing my mythological retelling series, but I'm a book and a half in. And last night, I thought of a brilliant idea for another erotic romance. 

I needed to add to my erotic collection as I have a smutty conference in October. 😁 I've three titles I can take, but I wanted at least one more, possibly two.

I've learned to never dismiss my ideas. If I can't work on it immediately, I make the notes I have and save it for a better time. I will never, ever, run out of ideas. It's a wonderful thing.

However, branding is a right bitch. Because most authors, especially when they write romance, stick to one type of book. They're Dom-daddy Mafia or Romantasy or dark romance or reverse harem or time travel or contemporary.

I write what calls to me. What I want to. And I will not add elements nor take them away to fit into another person's rules of what a certain romance should have. *insert copious profanity*

All that to say, don't turn down what speaks to you, even if it's something you never imagined writing. Don't try and shove your work into a set of rules you don't like and can't abide by. 

I wanted to write for Harlequin SO BAD (about 20 years ago) because that's what I knew. Like...dream job. But, at the time, there were INCREDIBLY specific rules for every category romance. Like 60% heroine, 20% hero, exotic settings, 20% mystery, and no pets.

I was...aghast. And, let's face it, completely turned off.

I do not create with rules in the back of my mind. I'm a huge proponent of "Learn the Rules" then break the rules. It's freeing and oh-so-delicious.

But you have to make it work in a way that best suits your writing. Don't break for the sake of breaking. But take a deep breath, focus, and then bust that damn window.

Back to PT: the Morrigan. Man, this goddess is SOMETHING. 😬 

A rambling post

True story...when I remember to take my ADHD med, I micro-focus. Like...I can hone in, but then it's like an addiction, and I have to absolutely lose my mind over all the questions I have.

For my fine first example:

Watching the Honey play Animal Crossings New and Improved Somethingorother. And, of course, she's swimming, and I HAVE TO KNOW how much the items are that she's bringing to the surface. Immediately sate my curiosity. But then...dun dun duuuuunnnn...I need to know how much the fish are, and who's the most expensive?

sigh

Then I hop onto FB, and someone asks about Sigourney Weaver and the use of her first name. 🎉🥳

Are you shitting me? Off I go. Because her birth name was Susan, and she chose Sigourney, which is a French name that means "The Conqueror."

I am in the groove.

Then I need to look up whether "mum" is a flower of and by itself, or is it the nickname for "chrysanthemums"? It's the latter, by the way.

That's most of my evenings in a nutshell.

Oklahoma weather is some weird-ass bullshit. Supposed to cool off a bit Wednesday, but then we're back in the sixties and seventies? I beg your finest pardon. WTF is that supposed to be? We going to rubber band back to frigid temps in a week? Is spring upon us? What the what.

My arms and legs look like kitten pin cushions. 

Thanks, Murphy. 🙄

Querying again today (said in my best sing-song voice).

And we all know how much fun I find it. 😶

At this point in time, I wish most agents would switch to Query Tracker. I'm cutting, copying, and pasting my queries, synopses, and chapters. Some through the abovementioned site, and some through personal emails. 

sigh

A lot of it is my unorganized ass, which oftentimes thinks it's organized. I keep copies of the queries. I have a folder. What more do you people want from me???

PT: the Morrigan is now sitting at 30,000 words, and I am most excited about it. It flows, sistren and brethren. It fucking FLOWS.

That's a wrap.

Clickety click click

I've often said when I'm in the flow, my writing clicks. Like cog on cog interaction. Everything meshes together, and it's often like I'm seeing it and merely writing down what I see.

This is the best feeling ever.

That's how my writing has been with PT, and PT: the Morrigan. I'm writing chronologically. Ideas are coming to me as fast as I can write them down. Scenes unfold. I don't have to literally pull my hair out to continue the narrative I left off at. I don't know as I've ever had this level of synchronicity. I can't remember it ever being so.

I'm feeling a bit spoiled as I'm cranking out 4000+ words every time I sit and write. And they're GOOD words. But it's indescribable. Tiring but worth the hours put in. Because I feel as though my works are blooming into a place I'm meant to be.

I've often said, with this series, that I feel as if it's a culmination of my experiences and interests. 

Bettering myself. Mythology. Familial bonds. Growth. Humor. Finding truths in parallel worlds. 

Now that I've beat my own drum, I'm back to PT: the Morrigan. Man, I LOVE that warrior goddess. 

Sitting at a little over 24,000 words. 

Clickety click click.

Winter? Is it still winter? Feels like winter...

Snowmageddon wasn't as awful as anticipated. Doesn't mean my short ass got out in it. Hell...no. I think I left the house the Thursday before and then yesterday. 🤨

And those were necessities. Did another grocery pick up this morning and won't do that again for around a week or so. Tomorrow? Single digits. For the love of all that's good. Then back into the fifties for a smidge. Some absolute optimistic meteorologist/rocket scientist forecast a week from today would be sixty-eight.

ahem

WTF?

Now...maybe reaching fifty. 

The weather, of course influences me in all sorts of ways. My hips have been pissed off and singing the song of their people since Thursday. Not a fan. Had a night I could hardly fall asleep. I have a trigger finger now, because why not? That SOB aches in this cold business.

And my fibro? She's absolutely overcome with...whatever bad things you can imagine. I don't have enough profanity to supply at this time. Shocking, I know.

But I write when I can. PT: M is coming along nicely. I knew who I wanted to be the main focus, but I needed more side characters to complete the story. Lucky for me...I have ADHD, a charged phone, and Google search instincts that are the envy of my children.

I AM their Google. 🙄

The cold weather does provide with the feeling of having purpose. No one's out and about and grilling. I don't have to see people enjoying the sun. (A lot of my meds are NOT compatible with the solar entity.) I can simply take my time and find my rhythm.

Does that mean I want Jack Frost to stay? 

Erm...not for TOO long. But I also don't want 120 degrees in June. 

meh

Climate change is real. 

So are my hot flashes.