Autumn is hitting Stockholm in the best possible way. It’s still mostly green, although the leaves have started to shift. The air is crisp, the sun warms, and you can finally wear a sweater again. My favorite time of year, this.

Have a lovely Sunday, and try to forget that 1940s values apparently is what’s required to become an old white fart in power where the US is concerned.

Tired today, worn out by a long week. Skipped most of the things in the calendar, but I did manage to go for a walk with Paazu, who’s now in Stockholm with Malin. That brings me joy.

Low on sleep and already all over the place today. It’s going to be a long day, and I noticed that my bar shelf at home is disturbingly low on whisky. How will this end?! Tune in tomorrow to find out.

Have a great Friday, and remember: It’s all just lines in a pop song anyway.

I’d forgotten how it was to work with companies based in the US, particularly the time difference. Back when I did this a lot, I didn’t exactly keep office hours. These days, I’ve got colleagues, so it’s more effective – and fun! – if I do. Tomorrow’ll be an interesting, and long, day. Fingers crossed and so forth, because this is one of my dream gigs, and I don’t say that lightly.

Made some manuscript decisions too (it’s Ignored Manuscripts Month, as you no doubt remember). Will get back to you on that one.

I think I might be catching a cold. I’m going to stave it off with ginger tea, lots of fluids, and a dash of bourbon tonight. No one has time to get sick, ever, but I really don’t feel like it right now. Come to think of it, who feels like getting sick? Someone who hates his or her job, I guess. That’s not me, not one bit.

Speaking of which, maybe I should get dressed and get to work?

Got some good news this morning, and went to a great (but demanding) meeting with a potential client. And bought a whiteboard for the studio, because apparently I need that for a video thing that’s happening here tomorrow. Full speed ahead, eh?

I’m declaring October Ignored Manuscripts Month. Granted, some manuscripts should stay ignored – and forgotten – but others are just sitting there, waiting for their turn at the editing, or querying, possibly publishing table.

Some manuscript things I’m going to figure out, and possibly move ahead with, this month: A fantasy novel and a science fiction novel that both need some editing, two role-playing games manuscripts that I should just wrap up and release, a scifi novella set on Mars, a contemporary thing that’s almost done, the final editing of the Swedish edition of Ashen Sky, a thriller that I could perhaps wrap up, and of course the Stiel story. Did I forget anything? Most likely, the text files will tell.

I had planned to take it slow today, but instead I’m off to look at a new apartment, and then I’ll swing by the studio to get some work done. I’m still going to do all of this in a slow-ish fashion, without interruptions from clients and such, but it’s still more than I’d planned. As long as it’s fun, right?

Shameless plug follows. Want something to read on your lazy Sunday? Take a look at Stiel: An Orn Tale on Wattpad. If you like swords and sorcery, this is for you.

The more I struggle with my days, the fewer photos I take. I don’t update my personal (as opposed to this very much public) journal if I’m feeling down. None of this is because I want to save only the good things, but rather how my mind works. It digs a hole, I jump down, and sometimes I forget the ladder.

Stupid. There’s bound to be a hack for that, one that isn’t alcohol, smoke, or pushing everything away with parties, friends and strangers. I’ll let you know when I figure it out.

Today is uphill, I can feel it. Will have to hack myself to get something done. I think I’ll just break the day up into timed sessions, 20 minute each. It’s a good method to get stuff done when you’re not feeling it, one I’ve used before. I’m sure you’ve heard about it, sometimes called the Pomodoro technique. I call it focus your ass, you lazy motherfucker.

It’s a The Last Temptation kind of morning, one of the forgotten Alice Cooper albums. This was the follow-up to Hey Stoopid, which was so star-studded it’s almost ridiculous. Coop’s got a lot of friends, with the likes of Slash and Ozzy backing up on that particular album. The Last Temptationis a story album, not snotty rock songs, so it should come as no surprise that there’s a comic book, written by none other than Neil Gaiman, based on the album. Or the other way around, I don’t rightly remember how that thing started. Either way, it’s a great listen, and a nice start to my Thursday.

Started the day slightly dazed and confused, due to lack of sleep. Had a great meeting though, so that was good. Also, I think I’m done with all the rock photography, which – as seen below – is 100% rock, and 0% roll. Unless you kick or throw the rocks, I guess…

Something feels off today. It’s a feeling I get sometimes, I bet most people do, and it’s really hard to shake. It’s gnawing on me, I have to bite back snappy retorts, and I’m easily annoyed. Not the best team player at the moment. Or maybe I am, because obviously I try to quench this nonsense. I wish I had my headphones so that I could hide in the noise-cancellation world. Alas, I’ll just have to suck it up, and behave like a normal human being. Just like the rest of the world should be doing. Not that they do, if you judge humanity’s merits based on the current news cycle, but hey – we can do better. Right?

More rock photos today, and a thousand small things that I need to handle. Feeling pretty energized, which hopefully will stay with me until this evening. I’ve got some writing to do, you see.

Have a great week, and remember: Monday is just a name of a day. If it’s horrible, that’s all on you.

A slow morning turned into afternoon. I’m spending the coming hours taking photos of rocks (yes, rocks, but also sand and dirt) in the studio. It’s about what I have in me today, I think, and as close to resting as I’m going to get in my current state of mind.