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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in Nora Fleischer's LiveJournal:

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    Monday, June 8th, 2009
    7:14 pm
    Friday, May 15th, 2009
    9:31 am
    Nina Kimberly the Merciless
    Is getting published! I remember when Christiana Ellis workshopped this back at the OWW. You can read it her, and then order a print copy from Dragon Moon:

    http://www.dragonmoonpress.com/PromoPDFS/NinaKimberly_wrapd.pdf
    Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
    9:00 am
    VITA
    Did you know the IRS has a program that will do your taxes for free? There's more information here: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=107626,00.html, and you can also ask me more, because my dad's a volunteer.

    Tell your friends!
    Sunday, July 20th, 2008
    1:49 pm
    The way I wish Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog had ended....
    Here's why I have a blog-- the chance to rant about things that annoy me. And now, it's the extremely depressing ending to Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Whedon's main point seems to be that if you work for the Man (or the Horse), you lose your soul. But what about showing alternatives to working for the Man? Isn't that the point of releasing something TV-quality on the internet? What if the story itself reflected this?

    ***

    Part III opens: Billy has a new plan-- to capture Captain Hammer. He promises to release him when the mayor turns the building over to Penny's homeless shelter. But in reality, he plans to kill Captain Hammer.

    While Billy waits with the frozen Captain Hammer in the abandoned building, we see someone sneaking in. Billy hears a noise in the shadows, and is about to shoot, when he hears Penny's voice.

    "Don't kill him, Billy!" she says.
    "'Cause he's your boyfriend?"
    "Because I broke into your apartment and I found Bad Horse's letter."

    She emerges from the shadows, wearing a pair of overalls with a gold key embroidered on them, and a domino mask.

    "The Locksmith?"
    "I used to be."

    She explains that she once been just like Billy... nearly enough credits to join the Henchman's Union, and so on... She had wanted to join the Legion of Evil, but she realized that she would then have to spend her whole life obeying someone else's rules.

    "Why not start your own Legion?" she says.

    As Billy drops his death ray, a bullhorn sounds from outside, saying that the Mayor has agreed to Billy's terms.

    The police come in to find Billy and Penny gone, and a trussed-up and humiliated Captain Hammer.

    ***

    For the first time, Billy isn't alone while blogging. Penny and Moist, all kitted out, stand next to him. Billy is reading viewer mail.

    "Dear League of Social Change. There is a vacant lot on Elm Street that would be a great playground if only we could get the city to sell it to us..."

    The League looks at each other.

    ****

    On a streetcorner, Moist and Penny are standing with a petition. "Can you just take a moment..." they say to a businessman hurrying along.

    He grunts and starts to walk away, when to his surprise, he freezes in place.

    Penny gives him the hard sell, while Moist holds out a damp-looking petition.

    Meanwhile, Billy, concealed behind the trash bags with his freeze gun, winks at the camera.
    Monday, June 30th, 2008
    8:28 pm
    Over their Heads
    I have good news! I have signed a contract to publish my merman romance novella at Drollerie Press (http://drolleriepress.com/) More information will follow as things proceed... I look forward to working with the press, and to seeing my story in print!
    Sunday, November 25th, 2007
    8:17 am
    Two totally unrelated bits of news...
    The first is a writing one. "Discovered Country" has just joined Dr. Pus's podcast anthology, "Library of the Living Dead," at http://dr-pus.podomatic.com/. This is a really fun collection of zombie-related stories and songs... check it out!

    The second is a personal one. My brand new daughter was born early in the morning on November 21st. She and I, and the whole family, are doing really well! She's as cute as a button, and her older brother totally adores her.
    Monday, November 5th, 2007
    9:47 am
    I just got a mention at the fabulous post-apocalyptic web site, Quiet Earth. You can check it out (along with an artist's interpretation of Rosemary the Librarian) right here:

    http://www.quietearth.us/articles/2007/11/04/Free-Post-apocalyptic-zombie-podcast-Discovered-Country
    Saturday, November 3rd, 2007
    10:35 pm
    So, you like zombies?

    If you haven't seen the pilot for Babylon Fields, do yourself a favor and look it up. You should be able to find it easily using Google. Wow, is this great storytelling-- too bad it'll never make it to TV.
    Thursday, October 25th, 2007
    5:20 pm
    I've been enjoying Diana Rowland's discussions of networking at conventions and getting past shyness at conventions. Here are the links:

    http://www.dianarowland.com/weblog/?p=260

    http://www.dianarowland.com/weblog/?p=263

    Well worth a read for any kind of conference!
    Thursday, July 5th, 2007
    2:46 pm
    Dragon Page Cover-to-Cover
    Dragon Page Cover-to-Cover recently mentioned me on their podcast-- thanks, guys!

    Check them out here:

    http://www.dragonpage.com/2007/06/18/cover-to-cover-267/
    Tuesday, June 19th, 2007
    9:34 pm
    A public service announcement
    Don't buy your pregnancy clothes from Old Navy. Every pair of pants or skirt I have bought from them has malfunctioned.

    Case 1: The stretchy black skirt.

    My husband and I headed out for a night on the town-- we were going to hear Michael Chabon speak. (His latest book is amazing, by the way.) And as I started walking down the street, I suddenly felt my skirt go south, ending up with the waistband right under my butt. It continued to try to make its escape for the rest of the night. Luckily we were in downtown St. Paul after 5 pm, so no one saw me.

    Case 2: The white capri pants.

    Fastened in place with two metal clips on elastic straps. Neither worked correctly-- the pants only remained on if I bolstered the clips with safety pins. Unfortunately, as with the black skirt, this only became clear after I had worn the pants for a few hours. What black magic do they work on these clothes to make them function until they've been worn long enough to be unreturnable?

    Case three: The embroidered khaki pants.

    Looked cool, felt a little painful, because they were held in place by (1) a drawstring inside the pants, which tended to bite into my swollen belly, leaving the pants gapping open, until I cinched (2) the rope belt on the outside. The drawstring broke the second time I wore the pants. Since the drawstring was sewn in place, I couldn't shift it, and one end of it disappeared into the waistband of the pants. Now how do I wear the damn things?

    Repeat-- never buy maternity clothes from Old Navy. Never! Thank goodness for the clothes lent to me by the stellar Dr. Evans...

    Let's hope my new duds from Target work better.
    Saturday, May 12th, 2007
    3:18 pm
    Free book
    One of my favorite writers from the OWW, SKS "Steve" Perry, has just put his novel, Darkside on the internet for free. Free!

    If you enjoyed Buffy, if you like humor and action and romance and all that good stuff, you should check it out.

    http://www3.sympatico.ca/sks_perry/DarksideHome.html
    Monday, April 23rd, 2007
    3:18 pm
    Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Wretch Day!
    So, writers everywhere are posting free (FREE!) stories on the Internet. Here's one of mine-- it's called "Vaudeville."

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa: March 5, 1907

    Eloisa Moran enters first. Her blonde hair is in a neat, functional bun, and she is wearing an apron over her shirtwaist and skirt. The program says that the sketch is called, "A Young Bride's First Dinner;" apparently, we are not meant to notice that Eloisa is no longer young. "Oh, dear!" she says. "What can I do? Tom will be home any minute, and I haven't got a thing prepared!"
    Tom Willoughby walks on stage, wearing a suit, carrying a briefcase and a hat. The gray in his hair suggests that he is also a little old to be playing a newlywed. Then again, standards are somewhat lower in Iowa than in New York, where Willoughby and Moran first used this script. "Hello, darling!" he says. "How glad I am to be married! I've been ready for some good, home cooking all day!"
    Eloisa wails. "Look," she says, gesturing theatrically at the table. "I've been slaving all morning, and there's nothing done!"
    "Don't worry, darling," says Tom. "I'll show you how." He places the hat carefully on the table. "First, we'll crack an egg into this bowl." Tom does so, neatly.
    "I see," she says. "Like this?" She seizes an egg and cracks it-- directly into Tom's hat.
    Tom does a double-take, and Eloisa gasps, horrified. "How can you ever forgive me?" she said. "Your nice new hat!" She clutches her hand before her eyes and sobs.
    "Don't cry, sweetheart," he says, "It's all right. See?" He puts the hat on his head. Egg slime trails over his ears.
    "You're such a kind man," she says. She gives the audience a wicked, wicked grin.
    After several entertaining minutes, Eloisa remains neat and clean, while poor Tom is bespattered with Eloisa's mess. Nevertheless, the two of them embrace and sing a rousing version of "I Dream of a Nest with my Angel Dove."

    Cleveland, Ohio: May 20, 1907

    Tom sits on a bench and there is a bit of business with him looking at his watch several times. "Where can that dratted girl be?" he says. Perhaps his language is a bit strong for Cleveland. The manager makes a note of it.
    Eloisa saunters on stage. "I was visiting the beautiful roses in the park," she says. She seems unusually ebullient.
    "You're always late," he says.
    "Yes, Mr. Willoughby, but shouldn't time fly when we're together?"
    "But that's the point, Miss Moran, we're not together."
    There is an uncomfortably long silence. Then Eloisa drops her purse and sits down next to him on the bench, forcing him to slide over. He looks startled. "Tom, let's skip this rotten stinking dialogue and go right to the song." She forms her hands into a megaphone, her legs crossed in an unladylike manner. "Hey, audience. You want to hear a song?"
    There is scattered laughter from the audience, and a few people calling, "Yes."
    Tom stands, bows to Eloisa, and helps her to her feet. She sways a little, sassily. Too much for Cleveland. They sing, "Time Means Nothing to Me." As the curtain drops, those in the front row can see that Tom is pushing up Eloisa's sleeve, and that there is a bluish, fan-shaped bruise in the crook of her elbow.

    Fort Wayne, Indiana: June 18, 1907

    "But they'll all say that you love me for my money, and I love you for your looks," says Tom.
    Eloisa touches him genteelly on the shoulder. This is not burlesque. "But Mr. Willoughby, I think you're a fine figure of a man."
    "An old man like me?"
    "The distinguished gray in your hair-- it's like silver." She mimes an aside to the audience. "Like the silver I'll get for marrying you!"
    "Your hair is like gold," says Tom. And it is like gold-- an even brighter gold than it was in Cedar Rapids.
    "Your impressive carriage," says Eloisa. Stage whispered: "Like the horseless carriage in your garage!"
    "Say you'll marry me today," says Tom, seizing her in his arms.
    "Oh, yes! Lock, stock, and barrel!"
    They sing, "They Call Us May and December." Perhaps this is unfair to Tom, who is a September at most. Yet Eloisa makes a vibrant May. It is only when she dramatically swirls at the end of the song that the scabbed, purple lines at the back of her knees are visible.

    Amarillo, Texas: August 23, 1907

    Eloisa has lost a great deal of weight. Her dress is loose at breast and hip, and too long in the hem. She sits on the bench. "Oh, dear me, where can my lover be?" she says.
    Tom walks on stage warily. "Darling," he says.
    A man in the front row leaps to his feet. "Cradle-robber!" he cries. "Get off the stage!" The crowd begins to throw peanut shells, cigarette packets, and balled-up programs.
    Eloisa cowers into Tom's arms. Sheltering her from the worst of the debris, he escorts her offstage.

    Kansas City, Missouri: January 9, 1908

    A little blonde girl-- maybe six years old-- toddles onstage. "Hello," she says. She walks to the edge of the stage and looks confidingly at one of the men in the audience. "Do you know where my daddy is?"
    He shakes his head.
    "Oh," she says, adorably squinching up her little face, "I wish I knew where my daddy could be!"
    Tom stands, in the third row. "Sweetie-lamb, what are you doing on stage? Come down from there right now!"
    "Not until you sing with me!"
    The audience is appreciative. They like this bit of business.
    "Oh, all right," says Tom. He walks up the steps to the stage.
    She looks up at him confidingly and takes his big hand in her little one. "Hi, daddy," she says.
    He blinks, awkwardly, and looks over the heads of the audience at the exits. It's a little trick that makes it appear as though he is looking at all of them, though he does not care to see them at all. "What shall we sing, Eloisa?"
    They sing, "I'm Going to the Happy Golden Land." The audience loves it.
    Thursday, March 15th, 2007
    11:07 pm
    Podcast mentioned in the StarTribune
    Randy Salas of the Minneapolis StarTribune just mentioned my podcast in his column, here: http://www.startribune.com/389/story/1056841.html. Look closely and you'll discover my secret identity...

    Thanks, Randy!
    Thursday, February 22nd, 2007
    9:31 pm
    Thanks to the Audio Addicts
    Thanks to the Audio Addicts for calling "Discovered Country" a "Podiobook to check out." They said:

    "Nora has a pleasant voice to listen to as well, so I can definitely see myself getting sucked into this book. Take a listen for yourself, and get stuck in the future along with Rosemary and join her on her adventures!"

    Check out the whole thing here: http://societyfans.blogspot.com/2007/02/podiobook-to-check-out-discovered.html
    Friday, December 8th, 2006
    11:26 pm
    Great News!
    I just was interviewed by Romance Junkies. You can see the interview at http://208.109.92.234/artman/publish/article_7217.shtml.

    Thanks, ladies!
    Sunday, November 26th, 2006
    9:02 am
    It's my birthday!
    It's my 35th birthday today... it's been a great year!
    Tuesday, November 21st, 2006
    10:22 am
    Discovered Country is done
    The podcast of Discovered Country; the Adventures of Rosemary the Librarian is now complete. Happy listening!
    Monday, October 30th, 2006
    7:48 pm
    I'm very excited about this one. Jeffrey Kafer is including my short story, "A More Real Life," in his Podiobook collection, More Sonic Fiction. You can hear it and a whole bunch of other wonderful stories at http://www.podiobooks.com/podiobooks/book.php?ID=89.
    Saturday, August 19th, 2006
    10:49 pm
    I've just written a screenplay called Zombies in Love. Here's the logline: "Jack Kershaw didn't ask to become a zombie. But now he, and his new girlfriend Lisa, have to protect the zombies of Boston from two graduate students who will do anything to get their PhDs.

    A horror/comedy with Braaaaains."

    If you are someone who makes movies, and you're interested in seeing the script, let me know at norafleischer@hotmail.com.
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