Lots to update! It's my anniversary today! Brian and I celebrate seven wonderful years of marriage. We are doing that by going for dinner and seeing a comedy show. Date night!

Today I had a lovely phone meeting with my editor from Pandamoon. We went over her recommendations for Sitnalta and I am presently hard at work.

I also received the ARCs from Severed Press for Bath Salts. They look awesome! Presently you'll be able to get a paperback copy as well as an ebook. An and I are so excited about this.

In the theatre world, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change is closing this weekend and it has been an amazing run.

Lots of exciting things in the works. I have two works in editing and two new books I'm working on. Busy busy busy!

So I was made aware of this article today: In which a man took a phone from a fellow theatre goer and smashed it after they refused to turn it off or put it away during a live theatre performance. I have to say this to him: Thank you. Do you have any idea how often I have wanted to do this during a live show?

Basically, here is my rant. I have been feeling a severe decline in the etiquette of my fellow theatre patrons. And I am not just talking about the now acceptable way of showing up to a live performance in your torn jeans and ratty t-shirts. I am talking about the fact that it is now common place to spend the show on your damn smart phones. Memo to you: THE WORLD WILL NOT END IF YOU DO NOT TWEET, TEXT, FACEBOOK, UPVOTE, FOUSQUARE, GOOGLE, OR TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS UNTIL INTERMISSION! Yes, your phone is a distraction to the other audience members around you. No, the announcement before the show to turn you phone off does not magically exclude you. Yes, the performers can see the light from your phone and it is pissing them off immensely.

I was at a show at the Tarragon Extra Space. It was a dark show (in lighting levels as well as in content), and the space sits less than 100 people. The young woman in front of me was texting throughout the piece. She was maybe two feet away from my face. I asked her politely to stop and to please put her phone away. This is what transpired:

Me: Could you please stop that? I'm finding it really distracting.

Her: So don't look at my phone.

Me: It's kinda hard not to. Please put it away.

Her: Make me bitch.

Now if she weren't a foot taller than me with an extra 50 pounds of weight, I may have taken her up on that offer. But Brian would probably never take me out in public after that. Why do people think they have the right to be rude to the people putting their heart into their craft onstage, as well as the people who spend their hard earned money to see the show. What they are doing is insulting, offensive, and just plain inconsiderate. They are saying through their pervasive phone usage that they do not care about the effort the performers are making. They are saying that the art onstage is meaningless to them. They are saying that they don't give a shit about the show, the people around them, and the people who worked their asses off to make this production. They are saying "Hey! I'm a selfish, self-centered twat who can do whatever the hell I want, wherever the hell I want." They do this at the theatre, and at the movies. This has to stop. Why was the guy who smashed the phone escorted out? I think he should be given a medal. I don't know, maybe we need a cell phone check like a coat check at the theatre. Let's make it free and mandatory. Maybe then those brats will learn their lesson. They're world will not end if they are incommunicado for a whole damn hour.

In semi-related news, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change has its opening night tonight. Come see it! It's funny and full of great performances and songs. And kindly turn your cell phone off before the show. :)

Tomorrow is the big day! Bath Salts is being released by Severed Press for purchase as an ebook. A hardcopy will be available as well, but we are a tad unsure of the date that's happening. Yay! Come tomorrow I can officially call myself a commercially published author! An can as well, and we are both over the moon!

We are celebrating our success tonight by going to see Night of the Living Dead Live at Theatre Passe Muraille. It's fitting, non? We thought so.

In other news, I have a legitimate work space at home again. My office had become the "let's store stuff in here so it's out of the way room. With all the projects I'm working on, that became a tad impractical. The family room couch is not conducive to writing. I have a desk again! And bookshelves! And a futon! Now all I need is a proper desk chair. The one I have is literally fifty years old and made of wood. It's not working for me.

I had my first phone meeting with Pandamoon Publishing about Sitnalta and there is a lot of exciting things in the pipeline for that book. The Strings of the Violin is almost done it's next to last round of edits, and I am almost at 15,000 words with the third Hadariah book's first draft. Yay for productivity!

In non-book related news, I am loving the props work on I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. (How much do you love the title of this show?) We open next week, and it is going to be awesome! Seriously, check it out if you're in Toronto. Go here. Also there you will see what's up for next season, and can I say "WOW!" tick... tick... BOOM!, Stars of David, The Life is Sweet Project, and Liza and Babs! So much excitement!

But really, tomorrow, BATH SALTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Basically, this small announcement is one I am very excited about! I have all three of my upcoming release dates! Bath Salts is coming up fast with the ebook ready to drop on May 10, 2013. The paperback edition will follow shortly after that. One week to go! Yikes! There is much to do to get ready for this.

The Strings of the Violin will follow shortly after that with a release date of June 26, 2013. I will be having an online launch party with contests and games. 

After that comes Sitnalta which is being released on August 27, 2013. This is definitely shaping up to be a very busy summer. Lots to do, things to plan, and celebrating to be done! 

As if I don't have enough on my plate, I am props manager for Angelwalk Theatre and KooGle's coproduction of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. This loads in to the theatre tomorrow, and show week continues from then. Oy. It looks to be an amazing show. If you're in the Toronto area between May 14- June 2 you should definitely check it out. (An says she's probably going four times!) Tickets are available here.