Unfortunately the Estate Agent my Landlord is using is being quite aggressive in wanting to show the place while we are still here.  (This is strange to me because when I have asked estate agents to show us places they say we have to wait until closer to our move date). 

I am OK with them showing it when I am here but they want to show the place when we are not here and I am not OK with that.  They keep saying how this is inconveniencing the people who want to see it who can only come on such-and-such, etc, and they are coming from so far away, etc.  I don't care.  I live here, I pay the rent and it is inconveniencing me. I have a right to privacy.

The agent is like "We're not going to help ourselves or anything" Which is just weird.  I'm not OK with strangers coming in the house with Lemmy alone-- he could get out if the doors or windows are left open, or even freak out on them.  He's done that to people in the past and if he were to bite or scratch someone it could bring legal problems onto us.  He is very territorial and I usually put him in the bedroom when workmen come to avoid any freak outs. If someone were to try to pet him or pick him up while I wasn't here, well, it wouldn't be good.

Also, the reality is people like to case flats in this manner.  In London there are so many dodgy ways people rip you off.  I have been a victim of fraud here, etc.  I would have to lock up everything in the closet, hide all my valuables, etc.  I don't want to live this way.

What are my rights in this situation?  As I understand it, they don't have keys to the flat.  I don't know if they are asking to get keys or if they just want me to sit at home whenever they need to get in? 

What is the UK law in this instance?

Does anyone feel like sharing a table with me for the Bring and Buy sale.  I would like to sell my book and maybe some jewelry I don't wear any more, so we could split the table and fee because there will be room!  Anyone?

Does anyone here read book review blogs? What are your favourites? How about science fiction blogs?

Do you have a well-trafficked blog where you write about books?  Do you know someone who does?  Do you want to review The Desperate Ones? I am currently sending out review copies so please let me know. 

There is nothing much to report.  Mostly laying low in the heat, researching horror short fiction markets for my fresh-off-the-brain zombie story and researching The Voynich Manuscript for a current story I'm writing.  I have started packing up my things in preparation for the move. 

obsidianinchain helped me make an amazing postcard which should be ready in two weeks.  It's totally pro, with pfarley 's amazing cover on it and a very catchy, ad-based reverse thanks to her genius.  If anyone would like some of these to disseminate, let me know. 

I also figured out how to put a paypal donation button on my website next to the pdf download.  The downloads multiply healthily every day and I'm hoping they will amount to sales, donations and buzz.  I realize that after the writing is done and the editing and proofing and layout comes the BUSINESS PLAN.  Luckily, there's a huge community of indie writers out there sharing resources and ideas.  It's amazing--the change in publishing is really happening right now. 

I got my necklace today from beebubbles-- aka kissingypsie  's etsy shop.  It's beautiful!  Delicate and well-balanced with a perfect color sense.  I will take pictures soon.  Everyone should go to her shop and check out her wares-- they would be perfect for you or someone you know.  Here is an example of her fey, hand-knotted work:
  www.etsy.com/view_listing.php

If you are on Good Reads (or have been thinking of signing up) now is your chance to enter to win a free hard copy of The Desperate Ones. 

I just got another shipment in the mail so for those of you who have been waiting for copies I will be getting them shipped out ASAP.  

In other news: obsidianinchain  has done an amazing job laying out the promotional postcard for the novel.  Seriously, if you need any graphic design work done, contact her! 

Today I'm hopefully meeting up with Aaron & noondaydemon .  I need to get out of the house...and not just to go to the Post Office!

The final proofs have been approved and the book is now fully available on lulu.com. 
A download of the book is available free here.

If you would like a signed copy of the book, you can get one from me directly! 

I accept paypal payment at allyshaw at madasafish.com (written in standard email format).

For UK friends:  £12, which will include shipping.
For US friends:  $20.00, which will include international shipping also. 

The Press Kit for The Desperate Ones is now online.

The promotion of this book is DIY and word-of-mouth, so I'm hoping to enlist as many friends as possible in getting the word out.

Should anyone need the Press Kit in pdf or hard copy format, just ask! 

( a larger version...in all its splendor.  )</div>

This is the nicest haircut i've ever had.  Finally, someone who gets me.  Yay Carlos.

...to get your hair cut while mercury is in retrograde? 

I don't usually hold stock in that sort of thing, but you know, haircuts make me nervous. 
( many images and awkward LJ HTML under the cut )

Kiki Smith's Wolf Girl

Last night I went to see a metal triple bill at the Luminaire-- Wolf People, Graveyard and Witchcraft.  The venue was way too small and was oversold.  Swedish metalheads were crowded in with hipsters still in their office wear.  Where exactly do these muggles hear about a gig like this? And why exactly do they pay for a ticket and drink £4 crap drinks all night while trying to shout over a heavy metal band?  Isn't that a rather expensive and unpleasant way to try to earn some lifestyle cred?  It was weird.

Graveyard were very boring and painfully loud--which is saying a lot.  It wasn't that thundering base loudness of Mastadon, etc.  It was this weird, treble-loud, hornets in your ears kind of sound.  If I am going to have tinnitus the next day it better be for something good.  Even though Wolf People were supporting them you could see the Graveyard guys watching Wolf People open for them and seeming kind of worried.

Wolf People are I think the only London band I've ever seen live (It seems London now has to import most of its rock and roll...I have many theories for this but they are boring)  Wolf People are amazing--they've dropped the flute-player so they sound less Jethro-Tully and more like a stormy, spectral CCR. 

Witchcraft--freaky Swedish wizards--were haunting, slightly dorky and possessed.  They actually did a Roky Erickson song--White Faces (one of his "Horror Rock" songs and a favourite of mine.)  Spooky Texas rock by way of Swedish wildmen...brings out the white of the devil in me.

I wish Laura Lees still had a line at Top Shop. *sniff*

This show features the collaboration I did with Edith Abetya-- Salty: Three Tales of Sorrow.  (Fiction about Marie Antoinette and the Salton Sea as well as a series of ghazals from the point of view of handkerchiefs)

This great band is playing in East London this Friday.  Live, they are a bunch of melancholy, rockin wizards.

Seeing this from McQueen's recent runway show took my breath away. The collection is stunning and sent my heart racing in a way couture hasn't done for years.

She is like something that's just stepped out of my novel.

This totally made my morning.

Exene Cervenka.

In the UK no one knows who she is (lead singer of the band X, mother of Viggo Mortensen's child) but when I lived in LA it was common for people to do double takes...even Wanda Coleman (famous LA poetess who collaborated with Exene) told me the resemblance was uncanny.  (Also Chris D. of the Flesh Eaters once stared a hole through me at an art opening and I'm pretty sure it was because of the whole Exene resemblance.)  Actually everywhere I went that was sometimes the first thing people said to me and it always made me happy-- I made friends that way.  I kind of miss living somewhere where people noticed this.  Here, not only does no one talk to you (unless they are wasted or crazy) but no one knows who X is.  

In the whole celebrity look alike thing I think I kind of lucked out, looking like one of my heros.

When I was in LA, Bob found this record at the St. Vincent DePaul thrift store and was freaking on the claymation band aspect. I knew M was currently fascinated by them and the record is rare so brought it back for him. He had the CD already but I guess this has some kind of archeological significance.

I made them pose all sexy like. I didn't take a lot of coaxing really.

with no mouse to go.