It’s still difficult to explain how I’ve been affected by Heath Ledger’s death. Each loss diminishes the world, but this one has really touched me. I grieve for his family and friends. I grieve about the movies he won’t make. I grieve.

Rest in peace, Heath.

I don’t typically watch award shows, but I stumbled on this speech by Daniel Day-Lewis during a Youtube visit. The speech itself starts about 2:00 into the clip.

Now that’s a tribute. My favorite part is this (click and scroll over the blank space after you’ve watched the clip—it’s better when you hear it first): “It’s always been the work of other actors, and there are many actors in this room tonight, including my fellow nominees, who’ve given me that sense of regeneration. And . . . Heath Ledger gave it to me.”

Absolutely beautiful.

There are times when coming home after a long workday makes me feel a bit like I’ve been wrestling wild beasts. This is one of those times. No matter how much planning I do, I seem to get hit at once with several projects. All of them due this week, of course. More are due next week, and the next. . . . I know, that’s the nature of jobs, but things have stepped up a few notches and will stay that way for a while. All I can do now is hunker down and get through it.

I’m heavy in the editing stage of Sanctuary. I hope to have that in the hands of a few test readers before too much longer. Then it’s off to submission, and I will enjoy a well-deserved break.

In the meantime, I may take a nap . . .

Easter is coming! But this post isn’t about the eggs you decorate for the holiday. No, it’s about those little extras like the ones you see on DVDs. You know what I mean—you go to a certain spot in the DVD, click on it, and then you access something not listed in the menu.

Writers have them, too. At least, I do. Every now and then, I’ll pull a small detail from an event or a conversation and use it in a story. Take this scene, the first two paragraphs of Battle.

“You’re in a precarious position.”

Mélanie Laurent stared at the contents of the slim flower box. One long-stemmed, thorny black rose. There was no card. “Precarious, Simone? Hardly.” Amusement filled her voice. “Dangerous is the word I would use.”

Mélanie’s statement is a nod to a friend, who said during a conversation, “That’s not the word I would use.”

My Easter eggs are always small moments like this one. Generally they go by unnoticed by all but me—and maybe one or two other people. They are fun to use and always make me smile when I read them.

One of the biggest mysteries I’d like to see answered is this—why can’t the standard release and director’s cut for a movie release at the same time? It’s extremely vexing to buy a movie when it comes out and see the director’s cut months later with several commentaries and documentaries.

Actually, it’s not such a mystery. They just want more of my money.

Curses.

I participated in the second round of Sven’s 70 Days of Sweat writing challenge. The third round began March 1. This time around, I’ve decided to pass. The goal is to write 70,000 words in 70 days. The second round was a bit different—70,000 words in about 90 days. This took the holidays into account. That worked better for me, because that flexibility helped immensely. It spurred me to write, but there are days I don’t want to write and don’t want to feel guilty about it. So I’m not going to sweat this time.

However, I’ve got some goals in the next few months. Most pressing is to finish Sanctuary. Then it’s back to Tony to finish his story. Wish me luck.

Good luck to those of you who are sweating!

Here’s this week’s sexy Saturday pic of Josh Duhamel in honor of my Transformers DVD.

Many thanks to Crystal Jordan for posting this picture on her blog.