I get stabby when I have no sleep.

So, I am currently in the midst of another round of rewrites and edits, and I have discovered something: When I am sleep deprived, my go-to solution for getting out of a tough plot problem is as follows- These characters aren't behaving the way I want. Kill them. If I don't like the way a scene is going, or the direction things are headed, my poor unfortunate characters are doomed. I'm thinking I should do more writing after sleeping more, otherwise, by Book Three, everyone might be dead. It's almost as if I take out my frustrations on my fictional creations. I'm tired, only got one and a half hours of sleep, I'm cranky, this scene is hard to write, therefore, let's send these people off a cliff with no parachute. Granted, that scenario makes no sense in the context of any of my stories, but it proves a bit of a point here. I need to rewrite my rewrites a bit. (Or a lot.)  I don't know if these rewrites will see a mass resurrection of dead characters, but it might. We shall see. Up until recently, I have always been reticent towards character deaths. I created these people/animals/trees/etc. I gave them life in a way. I always felt absolutely horrible each and every time I bumped one of them off. It was always a source of angst, and much thought went into each and every death I set down on page, whether it be in a short story, or a novel. (Yes, there are other books and things I have finished but not put out in the world. Maybe one day I will.) Every one was well thought through- will I need this character in the future? Does his/her death really serve to push the story forward? Is this what is best for the other characters? Without this person, will I be completely stuck down the road?

Recently,this has not been the case. I know for sure I have made a mistake with at least one death. I am not happy about it at all. Sure, there are some pretty scenes of mourning, and sadness, and angst, and brooding. However, Book Three is screwed without this person. This is why I feel I really need to rethink things. Because, at this point in time, I've got a bit of a bloodbath on my hands. I don't think I like it. I feel it's written well, and I like how I described things as they happen on the page, I just never intended this story to take this direction.

Now I distract you from my lunacy with pretty pictures:

It's a violin! As in "The Strings of the Violin". Good grief I'm tired...

Adom, the way I see him in my head. He's annoyed with me for my ranting.

In other news, T-minus 4 days until my book launch! I am nervous and excited for this. I have never had a book launch before, and I hope all goes smoothly, which is almost never the case for anything, right? Well, fingers are crossed. (And toes, and eyes.) Wish me luck!