rolanni | One of these days, these boots're gonna. . .yeah, right

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One of these days, these boots're gonna. . .yeah, right

So! yesterday's trip into town included a stop at my doctors for an ankle inspection (put up from Thursday by reason of the predicted Big Freakin' Snowstorm which is now arrived outside my window). I am now the proud owner of an Aircast short walking boot. My stars, what a difference! This is going to make moving through the train stations, not to mention getting on and off the train, much less scary. Plus? Support! I can, as they say -- walk! Wow. The therapist at Surgi-Care, where the boot was obtained, kind of blinked at the poor little bladder cast, and said, "Usually they give you this --" lifting the boot out of its bag -- "first, then they give you that."

Thank you, thank you,

6_penny and

mothadventures for mentioning this wonderful aid to mobility!

Still trying to work out if I should call for the wheelchair-or-scooter at the con. I hate to put the concom to extra expense. On the other hand, I don't want to overdo and lengthen the six-to-eight week healing window. Yeah, so not used to thinking about this stuff.

In other news, Dragon Ship stands at 99,801 finished words, with one-and-a-half scenes left to go. Still on track for handing that in on Monday.

For those in need of eye candy, the finished cover art for Dragon Ship may be viewed here. Prints are available directly from Mr. Mattingly; contact info on the website. Warning! The cover may contain spoilers.

Also, for those who missed it on the first pass -- Steve and Sharon talk about the writing life, the Liaden Universe®, and Everything on What Are You Reading? Feel free to repost.

And? It's snowing, did I say? The weatherbeans calling for a nice, wide margin of four-to-ten inches, topped off with a delicate layer of sleet or freezing rain. Need to call the plow-guy and ask if he'll take care of the steps for this one, since neither one of us is in shape to shovel. The Leewit? Is charging.

Threaded | Flat

GET the scooter. What I suspect may get to you more than the walking will be the standing. And people will want to stand and talk to you.

nice cover! I sincerely hope that's Win Ton standing by. Hope you have a lovely time in Chattanooga!

KB

That is a terrific cover!

Oh, my, that cover is wonderful. Well done, Mr. Mattingly.

My framed copy of the DRAGON SHIP cover should be ready today. I've kept mum about it because I didn't want to be a "spoiler" with comments on Bechimo's virtual image and, yes, Win Ton looks EXACTLY like one can imagine him, which is very rarely the case in cover art. Bravo, bravo to David Mattingly and to the authors whose descriptive powers have translated so excellently into the cover art. My DRAGON SHIP cover art will hang proudly next to my framed copy of the GHOST SHIP cover.

So glad you got an effective walking air cast and do opt for the scooter at the con. Don't take the chance of setting back your ankle's healing and suffering any more unnecessary pain.

Anne in Virginia

TOR is doing its 2011 Reader's Choice voting. Go over there and vote for GHOST SHIP and David Mattingly's cover art for same. I just did.

Anne in Virginia

Hi, so glad you got the new boot - much easier to get around and I vote for the scooter too! The con will be happy to get you both, and I only wish I could get there too! The cover is magnificent, although for some reason I think Win Ton is wishful thinking. You guys can't type and edit fast enough for any of your readers - thank you!
Also, just read Bears and really enjoyed it. Kathy from No. CA

I'm newish here, so excuse me if I missed and the answer to this is somewhere else, but: An earlier post of your 2012 schedule said things like "January 16 -- Dragon Ship (due November 15) turn in". Now, since I know our sagacious authors meet all their deadlines perfectly on time (if not early!), am I right in presuming that this means that the publication date for said book is November 15?

Sorry to hear about your ankle, but the boot things are awesome. Despite its help, you're not going to want to be vertical for too long or your ankle will swell, which is Not Fun, so I'd highly suggest a scooter or wheelchair with a way to keep your leg elevated.

Also: the cover is freaking gorgeous. I'm looking forward to the book!

The convention tends to be rather spread out within the hotel, you'll want the scooter.

Wow! That's an excellent cover art! I wish my computer had a touchscreen that big!! :D

-J

It's a great cover, however that the jacket looks to small to be Rig's old jacket.

Great cover and glad you've found a good interim solution to the ankle problem.
Lorna

As someone who has suffered a serious ankle sprain, I recommend the not overdoing things method. If they've given you exercises or physical therapy to do, then make sure you do them, but in general be careful you don't reinjure yourself and set the whole process back.

The walking boot sounds great. When I needed to be mobile, I was prescribed an ankle stabilizing orthotic (what most people would call a brace) which worked wonders.

Go for the scooter if you possibly can. Not only will you appreciate having a place to sit when you need one (and you WILL need one), they're fun! And most of them have a basket so you can carry things pretty easily. I've used one several times for various reasons. The only difficulty I ever had was getting in - or rather out - of elevators. The best technique is to drive straight in, and then back straight out - but I've never been very good at backing up in a straight line, and I'm always afraid I'm going to run into someone I can't see. I'm glad the boot is making things more comfortable for you. Enjoy the con!

Mary in MN

Awesone cover is awesome!

But wait! Something's wrong! No matter how much I click, there's no book behind it! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I need my Theo fix!

Mr. Mattingly does such beautiful covers esp. for your books. Now I'm really jonesing for Sept. 4. If I'm lucky they'll be at Chicon and I can scoop one up right away.

CONGRATS on the walking cast --- and the Dragon Ship progress!!!
*dances with delight*

Strongly urge you to request wheels! The scooter will make it possible for you and Steve to actually enjoy the con without wearing out the ankle or your (or his) arms. There will come a time with a regular wheelchair when you will need a two-legged motor just when one is not available. Please, don't stress the ankle.
Wish I could go the con and meet you both. Thanks for the hours of most enjoyable reading. You have written many of my comfort books.

Jay

Contrary to everyone else, I don't think you should go for a scooter. Ask the concom to arrange a series of bearers, probably with a palanquin, although I suppose a pair of them could take you in their arms for crowded situations. A riding beast, of sorts. I've heard they can even be tamed with a little care :-) Let's do it up right!

Foot surgery is not like a sprain, I know -- but walking casts and cons are a terrible temptation to overdo, and that works for both causes of the problem. Overdoing leads to swelling, pain, and much less enjoyment of the con. Others have mentioned that it can also impact further healing. At a con during the recovery process I found myself on my hotel-room bed watching the masquerade on tv instead of being surrounded by my friends. It's not nearly as much fun that way!

Have a great time -- use wheels! And carry a pillow for propping yourself up when it's possible.

Kathy

I LOVE the cover art! It will be the best book cover ever for Lee and Miller! I can't wait to read the book. I will have to content myself with re-re-re-(you get the idea)-reading all the others until Sept. Sigh. Hope your ankle heals fast. And yes, you WILL want some mobility device (scooter is better) to cruise the con. (Voice of Experience w/ sprained ankle, here!)
Barbara in Texas

Get the scooter. You don't want to overdo and find you are in pain or unable to enjoy being there. Also you don't want to stress the ankle and delay the healing.

When I just used crutches, I did a number of cons and it made everything more tiring. Standing gets hard without the added wonder of a sprained ankle.

Now whenever I have to do long distances I use my wheelchair. I would recommend that you get a scooter. A manual wheelchair like I have would be a lot of work for you (unless you have great upper body strength). Most hotels are carpeted and this makes using manual wheelchairs harder.

Glad the aircast is working so well. Wish they had one of those for the knee. I'm getting a sock like brace for mine.

Fantastic cover art. Really! The best yet. As another commenter said...now where's the rest of it? The book!

I vote for the scooter. I've been using one in the supermarket. It's like riding in an amusement park.
C.

Amazing cover! I look forward even more to the release.

Also - I had one of those boots this summer, and it gets heavy after a while, and I ended up compensating with the rest of my body, which meant by the end of the day everything, not just the foot, hurt...

The support is great, but I'd echo the others' recommendation: arrange a scooter, and find some way to prop your foot whenever possible or your con won't be the delight it should ~

LynneW in Ohio, where we had snow, high winds, black ice, a pipeline break and a restaurant fire across from where I work - all, this morning! A lovely start to my day, it was not!

perhaps it's Clarence, not Win Ton.....

Bechimo looks a lot like Luciano Pavarotti
Lorna

Having had an ankle injury that required a cast and then an air-cast, get the wheelchair/scooter!! Trust me, you'll thank everyone who suggested that later.

edit: See if you can get a wheelchair with the extension legs (eg the ones that have support under the knee & lift). If you have one of those you'll be able to prop up the ankle, which will thank you later. You can also tuck a pillow in the chair & put that under the ankle to put even less stress & strain on it.

Edited 2012-01-14 18:44 (UTC)

If you need to elevate your foot pillows sink Use a cusion from a chair or couch. They hold up very well and don't slide in bed.
Patt

Funny, I thought he looked like my idea of Uncle. Of course, if Bechimo and Uncle are about the same age, B might have decided he wanted to look like Uncle.

Joan C

I agree the artwork is beautiful. But am I the only one who thinks the woman in the picture is NOT Theo? All of the descriptions of Theo mention her unruly very blonde hair which is also shown in previous covers. This woman is obviously brunette. She is working out some kind of complex mathematical navigational problem using advanced AI equipment. Is it possible she may be one of our other heroines, possible one previously deceased? And the face of the man on the large screen fits some of the descriptions of Uncle. Just a thought....
Paula F.

Great cover! Plan to see you at Chattacon.
But:
Have a 5 hour drive to Chattanooga, and will get there late friday afternoon.
Can you tell us when you will be presenting, available, etc.?
thanks,
FX

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