Day of the Triffids

In perhaps one of the strangest pieces of festive tv scheduling. The BBC are currently showing a two part adaptation of John Wyndham’s Day of the Triffids. Whilst the Triffids themselves look slightly like deranged celery – I’m not sure it’s possible to make them scary – what was incredibly effective was the mass panic following the blinding of 99% of the world’s population after a solar flare.

Reminiscent of every zombie film you’ve seen but instead of an insatiable desire for brains every blind person is desperately seeking a sighted guide. Eddie Izzard also makes a fantastic villain. You have absolutely no idea what his agenda is – other than survival at all costs – we don’t even know his true name. The scene where he calmly survives a plane crash, whilst all the other passengers are literally in a ‘blind panic’ sets up his character perfectly. Will be tuning in tonight to see if they can sterilize the Triffids.

The Garden of Love - Blake

I think sometimes you read a poem and it just sticks with you, something about it resonates. I haven’t done a favourite poem post for a while, so here’s The Garden of Love by William Blake (1757-1827). Which I think is on my mind more since I read Hemovore by Jordan Castillo Price.

The Garden of Love

I went to the garden of love,
And saw what I never had seen:
A chapel was built in the midst,
Where I used to play on the green.

And the gates of this chapel were shut,
And Thou shalt not writ over the door;
So I turned to the garden of love,
That so many sweet flowers bore,

And I saw it was filled with graves,
And tomb-stones where flowers should be -
And priests in black gowns were walking their rounds,
And binding with briars my joys and desires.

Happy Christmas

Christmas Eve here at the moment, but Christmas is only a few hours away. May you all have a happy holiday season. :)

Aspirational Prose

I think I find prose more aspirational than inspirational. Along the lines of – darn it why can’t I write like that!

One of my favourite quotes from a novel is from Bareback by Kit Whitfield (released as Benighted in the US).

It’s set in an alternate universe where 99% of the population are werewolves and the other 1% are given the responsibility of policing the majority. There’s a scene where a character walks across a park, unbeknownst to his death and Kit Whitfield writes:-

“He didn’t know this was the end of his life. If nobody warned him, he couldn’t have known that he should have loved those last hundred yards, that they weren’t just an obstacle to getting to where he planned, that the sounds of his feet on the pavement and the wind in the branches were all he was ever going to have.”

Immediately I am taking those last steps with that character, beautiful, spare and haunting, those lines have stayed with me long after I finished the book.

Favourite Christmas Films

It’s the time of year when I’m planning which movies to catch on tv over the festive period. So, in no particular order here are my favourite Christmas films (or films which feature Christmas).

Scrooge (1970) – The musical starring Albert Finney as Scrooge. For some reason this version doesn’t get shown too often. A pity as it’s probably my favourite version of A Christmas Carol.

The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996). Okay, not particularly a Christmas movie AT ALL. But it is one of my favourite films and does take place at Christmas.

A Christmas Carol (1999) – The version featuring Patrick Stewart. And the one that seems to be played most often. Lol – you’re probably noticing a pattern to my Christmas viewing.

Die Hard (1988) – The original and still the best. Besides it’s got Alan Rickman in it.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) – I only watched this for the first time last year and I loved it. It’s very close to the Alastair Sim version of Scrooge, which I know for a lot of people is the definitive version.

Love Actually (2003) – Was just watching this the other night, and I think it sums up a lot about Christmas and is possibly a future Christmas classic.

So you may have guessed that one of my Christmas traditions is to try and watch as many versions of A Christmas Carol as possible. It always reminds me of the important things about the season and leaves me with a warm Christmassy glow.

Giveaway Reminder

Just a quick reminder that I am giving away a copy of Every Good Thing by M. Jules Aedin in December. Just comment on any December post and I’ll pick a winner at random from the comments posted here and at the Other Place blog.

Musical Inspiration

Hmmm. I don’t think I started out with the intention of writing a series of posts on inspiration but it looks like that’s what I’m doing.

I find music very helpful to the muse. Driving to work with the car radio on usually encourages story ideas to come flooding into my mind. I think we live in such a media focused world and we are so used to watching movies and tv with background music that it almost feels natural to weave a story along to a melody.

So here are a few of the pieces that are inspiring me at the moment.

I love the following two songs for vampires.

Remember – Josh Groban (This is on the soundtrack to the movie Troy)

Forever May Not Be Long Enough – Live (I think I’m right in saying that this played over the credits of The Mummy Returns)

I am a bit of a movie buff. Most of the songs I like I tend to pick up from soundtracks.

The following song (which I think is great for when you’re stuck partway through writing a love scene) is an exception.

Insatiable – Darren Hayes

I find songs most useful when I’m stuck for inspiration on a particular point and I know what I’m trying to say but somehow not getting there.

Classical music on the other hand I find fantastic for general inspiration. You don’t get led by the lyrics and can let your mind wander.

Favourite pieces at the moment are:-

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis – Ralph Vaugh Williams – just beautiful

Jazz Suite, Waltz 2 – Shostakovich – Which for me is just the creepiest sounding waltz, and brings to mind all these strange fantasic creatures dancing. Makes me think of the masquerade scene in Labyrinth.

Danse Macabre – Saint Saens – I have loved this piece of music ever since I was a little girl and my aunt told me to imagine skeletons dancing to it.

Symphony No. 3 in C Minor (Organ) – Saint Saens – Most familiar as used in the movie Babe. But if you listen to the whole thing there is a wonderful ‘chase’ section, which is great for when characters are running away from things.

Anyone have any other recommendations?

Quotation Inspiration

I get a lot of inspiration from reading the poetry and prose of other writers, poetry is especially good as a trigger. But this year I was given a quotes calendar and sometimes I find myself imagining situations in which my characters could use some of these quotes.

My favourite one at the moment is attributed to Carrie Fisher.

"Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die."

Questions, Questions, Questions

So if anyone has any questions they’d like to ask about my writing, the Land of the Fey, what I’m working on at the moment. Feel free to post them here. For example.

Will you be writing anything anytime soon? – I sure hope so.

Or if you’ve got a burning need to know why Lily is so cranky all the time:).

Currently listening to – Super Massive Black Hole by Muse

Reading Review of the Year

I find that this time of year kind of naturally lends itself to looking back and thinking about the great books I’ve read this year. If I had to pick some of my favourite m/m to recommend they would include:-

Zero at the Bone by Jane Seville
Hemovore by Jordan Castillo Price
Every Good Thing by M. Jules Aedin
Hero by Perry Moore
A Note in the Margin by Isabelle Rowan

And to celebrate – the re-relaunch of the blog, the holiday season – I have a copy of Every Good Thing by M. Jules Aedin to give away. Just comment on any blog post between now and the end of December and I will choose one poster at random to win a copy of the book.

If anyone has any book recommendations from 2009 I would love to hear them, or about the books you’re looking forward to in 2010. I’m always looking for new books to add to my TBR pile.

Time to Get This Show Back on the Road

Okay. Family crisis whilst not over has calmed down for the moment. So I’m going to make it third time lucky for getting this blog going.

I think I made it...

…it’s still September at the moment.

Unfortunately things happening outside the writing sphere have meant I’ve not been able to devote much time to writing recently.

Rather than have the blog die a complete death whilst I deal with family problems I’ll be posting once a week on any progress I make, and hopefully will be back to full writing strength soon.

Next progress report (hopefully with something to report about) in a week.

Blog on Hiatus...

...until the end of August.

See you in September.

I Am a T-Shirt Geek

I think t-shirts are possibly the best clothing ever invented. lol

And my new favourite place to visit on the web is Last Exit to Nowhere I must admit to not getting all the references without cheating. I’m obviously not as up on my sci-fi as I thought.

But I have treated myself to a Nostromo shirt and will be picking up a Sulaco one as well.*

* – Something of an Alien fan. Maybe because my only recurring dream involves Aliens in a supermarket doing their weekly shopping. Which possibly says more about how I feel about supermarket shopping than how I feel about Aliens.

I Haven't Disappeared...:)

I’ve just spent two days with the killer migraine from hell. Feeling much better now.

Just time today for a quick WIP update as I gear up for August madness.

Demon’s Touch – First Draft – 1489 words

Raven – Rewriting – 8417 words

The Bargain – Rewriting – 3852 words

Supernatural Season 2

I’ve charged through Season 2, and think I enjoyed it even more than Season 1.

Favourite episodes – Heart, really sad and angsty ending. I’m definitely a lover of the angst. And my other favourite episode – Tall Tales – I always find it interesting when TV programmes show us the same action from the point of view of different characters.

Absolutely brilliant climax to the season and I am looking forward to Season 3.

In other TV related news, True Blood FINALLY started in the UK. I’m a big fan of the books, so can’t wait to see how they’ve translated to the screen.

Geez...

I can’t believe it’s been so long since I posted.

:sigh: I suck at blogging. But will be doing my best to start posting again. As Xena would say – don’t apologize, improve.

In August I’m hoping to write 5000 words a day, so currently ramping up to that.

WIP’s at the moment – Demon’s Touch – first draft, rewriting The Bargain.

Posting at Beth Wylde's Yahoo Group today

Along with a load of other Samhain GLBT authors.

Pop over and read some excerpts.

Beth Wylde's Yahoo Group

Please be aware this is an adult group and will have adult content.

Supernatural Season 1

So I finally finished Season 1 of my Supernatural marathon.

I don’t remember seeing any of the episodes before, so I guess the couple of episodes I caught prior to catching the end of Season 4 must have come from either Season 2 or 3.

I love the banter between Dean and Sam. And I especially like how the episodes manipulate you into feeling more scared through the use of lighting and camera work. One of the reasons I never watch horror movies is because my imagination is always working through the scenes amplifying everything.

Season Finale – it doesn’t matter how many times or how many ways I’ve seen that HGV plowing into a car plot device used* – EVERY SINGLE time it gets a reaction. Usually involving whatever liquid I’m drinking going up in the air and over everything. Onto Season 2, and then I’ve really got to dig my Alias box sets out, I never did see past Season 3 of that show and I’d love to know how everything was resolved.

*I’ve seen it on Alias, Medium, The Bionic Woman, Terminator lol. It’s something of a sci-fi favourite.

A Reader's Viewpoint

Jenre had three very interesting posts on her blog this week (technically I guess it's last week now). Well worth checking out. Posts are titled Author Promotion : A Reader's Viewpoint. Parts 1, 2 and 3.

Well Read Blog

I guess I kind of suck at blogging. My personal life is just not that interesting and it takes me a long time to write anything. So it's hardly a thrill a minuted around here. But I promise if you ever e-mail me I'll do my best to answer. :)

Supernatural

I didn’t get into this show when it first came out. I’m trying to limit the number of shows I watch (with only some success) so I’ve got more time for writing. But I caught a Season 4 episode of this a few weeks ago. The one where Dean and Sam find out that someone is writing books about them.

And I loved the scene where Dean and Sam are finding out about all the stories written about them, some of them online and they discuss slash fiction - lol. I don’t know of any other show where the characters who are being slashed discuss the fact that they are being slashed.* Just like that I was hooked.

So I’ve treated myself to the Season 1-3 boxset and am furiously catching up on all the episodes I’ve missed. This also helps me pass the time whilst I wait for FX in the UK to get around to showing True Blood. It has to happen soon!

* Okay there were undercurrents between Angel and Spike but never anything as matter of fact as the Supernatural episode.

Brief Encounter (1)

So here’s my first little excerpt, it’s unedited (lol as you’ll easily tell). Set in the Five Brothers Universe, it’s something that I’m just playing around with at the moment.

Brief Encounter,(unedited), copyright Sarah Leslie


If he was going to do it, it would have to be now. Tonight was the last stop of their journey; there would be no other opportunity. John knew he should move, make the short walk across the restaurant, and put his proposition to the stranger. But the thought of doing that in front of the other diners paralyzed him. So he remained poised on the edge of his seat, stirring his coffee first one way then the other.

When he’d first boarded the train three days ago he’d been resigned to his fate – four days of traveling via solar train to the metropolis of Kyranth, then at journey’s end his marriage to the purportedly beautiful and unknown Isabella. It was what his father expected and what his family wanted. He’d never disappointed them before. Perhaps that was only because he’d never been given the chance.

On the second day of the journey the stranger had joined the train, taking a seat in John’s carriage. And everything changed.

The tattoo on the stranger’s cheek proclaimed his profession – companion, concubine, courtesan. The stylized design informed those who cared to know that he belonged to the highest caste of prostitute, those who would be courted for their talents by the greatest nobles – kings, queens and their ministers. He was a temptation which John couldn’t ignore.

He appraised the stranger’s appearance, sculpted lips, high cheekbones, hooded eyes; then spent the journey torturing himself with thoughts of what the man must look like underneath his exquisitely tailored clothes.

Mrs. Denby leaned over to him and whispered in his ear. “I didn’t realize they allowed people like that on the train.”

He’d turned to her with a perplexed frown.

“Whore,” she clarified in a voice that was no longer a whisper.

Across the carriage the stranger’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly at the comment; then he relaxed into his seat with a graceful liquidity of movement John couldn’t help but envy. The man smiled briefly at Mrs. Denby, then returned his attention to the book in his hands.

John was only partially aware of Mrs. Denby’s shocked gasp as she stuttered out “Well I never.” He hadn’t been able to tear his gaze away from the strangers bent head. He reflected it was a sadness that Mrs. Denby had ‘never’, he reflected it was a sadness that neither had he.

He’d determined to approach the stranger that evening, when the train stopped for the night, even knowing he wouldn’t be able to afford the man’s fee. But fear had kept him immobile that night and the next.

Now he’d run out of time.

He had ten sovereigns in his pocket, not much to show for twenty years of saving, but it was all his. He tried not to think of the five hundred sovereigns in his strongbox on the train. That money was part of the bridal contract and he couldn’t spend it – no matter the temptation or the desire – but that didn’t stop him from thinking how easy it would be.

As his thoughts returned to the present, John noticed he still stirred his coffee and set down the spoon with a clatter of silverware against china. He didn’t need to see the flush on his face to feel the unwelcome warmth. In the few seconds he took to compose himself the stranger exited the room.

John swallowed down his disappointment, maybe this was for the best. The nervous pounding of his heart subsided to its normal beat and he tried to tell himself he was relieved. He tucked his meal voucher underneath his coffee cup and left the dining room. He ignored Mrs. Denby’s entreaties to join her and her husband for a game of cards. Instead, he took the stairs to his room, each step a death knell counting down the remnants of his life. His focus narrowed down to the inevitability of domesticity and familial responsibility, like a noose tightening round his throat.

When he finally stopped, he stood outside not his own room but the strangers and before he could let himself think, he knocked three times.

In Which Real Life Hits With a Bump

Apologies for my absence. We went from having loads of time to get the house ready, to the house being on the market and still being decorated. So things have been more than a little bit mad here. I’m currently in a bit of a lull – thank goodness.

Currently reworking The Baragain, and the first draft of the Raven. Sqeezing my writing in at the moment around my job, family committments and (hopefully) selling the house, so things are progressing slowly.

Online fiction – it’s going to be difficult for me to devote the time needed to do a complete story. SO…. Taking a leaf out of Maura Anderson’s book I have decided to post snippets along the lines of her Friday Flash fiction. Where these relate to specific settings – e.g. Land of the Fey – I’ll make a note. And hopefully it will give you something to read whilst I get my head down and concentrate on the main stories

Call for Submissions : Samhain Publishing Space Opera Anthology

*Permission to repost granted. Please repost on your blogs, yahoo groups, shout it from the rooftops, hire sign twirlers, get an airplane to do a flyover with a banner, or even better, get your favorite alien to do a flyover in their spaceship with a banner...*

Get your outer space on! Intergalactic wars, space battles, alien cultures, and love (and lust) across the cosmos.

I'm very pleased to announce an open call for submissions for a new, yet-to-be titled spring 2010 space opera anthology. I'm looking for fast-paced, action-adventure space opera romances. Don't know what space opera is? Think Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica or my personal favorite, Firefly/Serenity. For more information on space opera, you can check out the entry on wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Opera

I'm open to M/F, M/M, or multiples thereof, and any sexual heat level. The only rule is the story should be set mainly or entirely in space and the romance must end happily ever after or happy for now.

The anthology will include novellas from 25,000 to 30,000 words in length and will be released individually as ebooks in April 2010.

Submissions are open to all authors, published with Samhain or aspiring to be published with Samhain. All submissions must be new material—previously published submissions will not be considered. Additionally, manuscripts previously submitted, whether individually or for past anthologies, will not be considered either. Please be aware that manuscripts submitted to this anthology cannot be resubmitted at a later date unless by invitation from an editor.

To submit a manuscript for consideration, please include:

The full manuscript (of 25,000 to 30,000 words) with a comprehensive 2-5 page synopsis. Please include a letter of introduction/query letter. Full manuscripts are required for this as it's a special project.

As well, when you send your manuscript, please be sure to use the naming convention SpaceOpera_Title_MS and SpaceOpera_Title_Synopsis. This will ensure that your submission doesn't get missed in the many submissions we receive, and makes it easy for me to find in my ebook reader.

Submissions are open until August 10, 2009 and final decision will be made by August 31, 2009. Please send your submission to editor@samhainpublishing.com and include Space Opera Anthology in the subject line.

Questions can be addressed to Sasha Knight sasha@samhainpublishing.com

Thursday 13 - #18 - Character Deaths

Today's Thursday 13 can be found at my Wordpress blog. Don't know if I can do a cut in a post here and it contains spoilers.

http://sarahleslie.wordpress.com/

Quote of the Day

I was looking for quotes a couple of days ago (they can be incredible spring boards for stories) when I came across this one from William Ralph Inge (1860 - 1954)

'There is no law of progress. Our future is in our own hands, to make or to mar. It will be an uphill fight to the end, and would we have it otherwise? Let no one suppose that evolution will ever exempt us from struggles. "You forget," said the Devil, with a chuckle, "that I have been evolving too."'

Methinks there's definitely a story there someday. :)

What I've Been Reading

So because of the decorating and writing, I’ve actually had very little time to do any reading. But I did manage to sneak in a quick novella - Object of His Desire by Ava March.

Yep I’m keeping with the historical theme of my other recent reads, this is a sweetly erotic m/m novella and I’ll be checking out more of Ava March’s stories. Blurb is below:-

“He thinks he’s just a wallflower. Little does he know he’s the guest of honor…

It’s the last night of a week-long house party in remote northern England. Every sensual delight imaginable is right at Henry Shaw’s fingertips. Yet all he wants is to be with his host, the deliciously handsome and enigmatic Arsen Grey. Henry’s certain it’s love, not mere infatuation. He’s also sure it’s hopeless. After all, the party’s purpose is to find Arsen a new mistress.

Arsen longs to leave the glittering, jaded world of the ton behind and find someone who will value him for himself, not his wealth and his title. He suspects that someone could be the strapping country gentleman he’s caught staring at him. Henry is loyal and dependable, nothing like his other acquaintances. Arsen sets a plan into motion, one designed to get Henry into his bed. One that includes a test of devotion.

Arsen never expected that in winning Henry, he risks losing his heart.”

WIP Update

On the writing front not much has happened over the past week or so.

Raven - up to Chapter 4 of the first draft, very pleased with the new outline.

Online Fiction - First part completed, going to get this out to my crit partners and see what they have to say. Will be posting more details next week.

On the decorating front - the kitchen is done and we're halfway through painting the hall. Hence the lack of writing.

Online Fiction - Poll Closed

So taking into account the two blogs, the results are :-

Land of the Fey - 4

Something New - 5

So it was pretty close and thanks to all who voted. I have an outline completed for the story and will be posting details in the next few days. Then I’ve just got to write the darn thing.

It's Cheesy But...

I'm glad to hear Dante's Cove will be back for a fourth season. :)

Just read the news over at The Dante Beacon.

Hopefully this means Toby and Adam will be getting out of the mirror that they were left stranded in.

Online Fiction

Looking at the results (so far) from the poll, from both blogs, it’s looking like - Something New has edged ahead.

So I’m working on an outline and will post what the story’s going to be about next week.

Apologies for the erratic post schedule at the moment. I’m currently getting my house ready to go on the market so it’s a bit crazy here to say the least.

WIP Update

Currently writing the first draft of Raven - 8291 words

And at the moment it’s looking like it will end up a minimum of eighteen chapters.

Also writing an outline for the sequel to The Bargain, which will be something of a challenge as it’s multi-plot.

Poll Added

So I’ve added my first poll to the blog.

I’m going to try and squeeze in some online fiction. If anyone has any preferences now is the time to speak up and vote.

To help with your choice the Land of the Fey story would probably be When Lily Met Alaric, or When Valerian met Alaric - their first meetings. Whilst the ‘Something New’ would probably be Bargain related, and therefore werewolfy.

It's that time of year again...

The ospreys are back at Loch Garten.

Loch Garten Webcam

Hopefully there will also be a peregrine nest to follow as well this year.

Lol - you don't think it will be addictive but before you know it you're hooked.

WIP Update

Currently rewriting the first draft of Raven - 5964 words

Why am I rewriting? Because I didn’t want to let go of Alaric and Valerian. And although I have more I want to write about them, they shouldn’t take over Lily and Darvan’s story. So currently I’m going through and rewriting the chapters where Valerian in particular, came in and took over. That doesn’t mean they won’t appear. But their story for the moment is concluded.

Just because...

...there should be more posts that feature naked mole rats.

Thursday 13 #17 - Getting Out of a Funk

You know how it is, every so often you get a little down, or everything seems to go wrong. So here are 13 ways to either, embrace it, indulge it, fight it, give into it or go around it.

1. Chocolate. Well it’s not the answer to everything, but it helps. I think I’ve mentioned before kirsch cherries smothered in dark chocolate are my current favourite.

2. Dancing. Now the only ‘person’ who gets to see me dance is my dog. Yes, it is that embarrassing. But my dog doesn’t care if I look like a lunatic.

3. Taking a walk in the fresh air. Getting away from whatever is bugging you.

4. Comfort food - not just chocolate, sausage and mash, spaghetti bolognese, apple pie. Okay, now I’m getting hungry.

5. Housework. Take it out on the clutter and junk.

6. Gardening. Take it out on the weeds.

7. Watch a weepy and let it all out. Alternatively watch a happy movie and cheer yourself up, eating chocolate at the same time is optional.

8. Write it out. Get it down on paper.

9. Comfort read. I have lots of books that are like old friends. And sometimes there’s nothing that makes me feel better than losing myself in a story.

10. Go for a drive. I don’t mean on the motorway, ’cause that’s hardly calming. But I think there’s a reason that crying babies often calm down on a car journey. Getting away from the problem even temporarily can clear your head.

11. Spend time with your pets.

12. Read the season 3 Dante’s Cove episode recaps at AfterElton.com. Dante's Cove recaps. They’ve never failed to have me laughing.

13. If it’s really bad and there’s no getting out of it. Have a duvet day.

Like Vampires?

D.B.Reynolds first Vampire in America book Raphael is published at the end of March.

Being a member of the same online writing group I was lucky enough to read an early draft (one of the perks of being in a crit group or beta reading ). But I am very much looking forward to getting my hands on the finished version.

D.B. has an online blog at :-

dbreynolds.wordpress.com

WIP Update

Third draft of The Bargain is finished, and I’ve just put it on one side for a few days before I have one last look over it. Currently writing the synopsis of The Bargain and reworking the first draft of The Raven.

What I'm Reading

Completed my second beta read - a rather hot menage, :)

I also managed to squeeze in The Shadow Queen by Anne Bishop. I love the Black Jewels series, and my fingers are crossed that we have more to look forward to, following the introduction of some very interesting characters in The Shadow Queen.

And I’ve just started Frost Fair by Erastes. This is a m/m regency. Now I don’t usually read historicals. But having taken the plunge with Pride and Prejudice, and having read The Shadow Queen to get my dark fantasy fix, I’m ready to put my toe back in the historicals pool as it were. Having had a quick scroll through I’m pretty sure I’m going to like it. More thoughts next Monday.

I'm Back

Nope, I didn’t forget to blog. Not this time anyway.

My internet connection has been down for the past few days, which kind of sucks. But hopefully it is now all sorted and things can get back to my usual infrequent posting schedule.

In WIP progress I’m very nearly through the beta readers comments and the word count is up to 34,000.

This is twice as long as If Wishes Were Horses was when I submitted it. IWWH was submitted with 17,000 words and I think the final version was eventually over 20,000. So I may still reach my target of 50,000 words at some point.

Poem for a Sunday

From A Nocturnal Upon St. Lucy’s Day, Being the Shortest Day by John Donne

Study me then, you who shall lovers be
At the next world, that is, at the next spring;
For I am every dead thing,
In whom Love wrought new alchemy.
For his art did express
A quintessence even from nothingness,
From dull privations, and lean emptiness ;
He ruin’d me, and I am re-begot
Of absence, darkness, death—things which are not.

WIP Update

Comments are back from the beta reader. Yay!

Some ???, some lol’s and some clarification needed. But I’m very pleased. Currently working through on a hard copy (up to Chapter 14) making notes based on their comments and adding some of my own. Hopefully will have the third draft completed very soon.

What I'm Reading

Yay! Finally finished Pride and Prejudice and it will definitely be staying on my keeper shelf. I can see this as a book I will re-read to cheer me up when I’m feeling down. Am now indulging myself with watching the television series.

I also finished the beta read on the novel. And am about to start another beta read.

On the reading for enjoyment front. I’m thinking up next will probably be something m/m.

Thoughts

Not really a WIP update as such because that’s a little in limbo at the moment.

But I’ve had a serious think about my plans. I have got so many stories I want to write that I need to gain a little focus - lol.

Therefore the plan (currently) is as follows:-

The Land of the Fey was originally conceived as a Trilogy so I’m going to stick to that. Book 2 - Lily and Darvan and Book 3 to lead off Book 2. There are potentially lots of other interesting , side stories to follow (Genys and Reynard especially) but I’m going to try and stay strong and hopefully there will be time to squeeze those stories in, in the future. Lily and Darvan’s story will be up next, I have an outline though it needs some reworking following feedback from my crit partners. However, the main plot is down, it’s just a little of the nitty gritty that needs sorting.

The Bargain (working title). I am so looking forward to working on this story and getting it as good as it can possibly be. There are definitelyother stories in this Universe that I’m just dying to tell. So after I have a working version of Raven, I’ll be looking to write another story leading out of this one.

What I'm Reading

Still Pride and Prejudice but I am a lot farther through it now, about halfway. Charlotte has married Mr. Collins. (So I guess he doesn’t end up with Mary huh?) I’ve also watched the first episode of the P&P series which featured Colin Firth as Mr.Darcy. Even though I’d never watched it, I’d seen that many trailers that those actors were pretty much fixed in my head as the characters anyway.

Although I initially thought I’d struggle with the story, even though I’m only half way through I can completely understand why for some people this is their ultimate comfort read. Jane Austen’s use of language is so precise there is never any doubt to her meaning, and I very much appreciate how cleverly it is written.

One of the reasons it’s taking me so long to get through P&P is that I’m currently beta reading. Now I don’t know how other people beta read but I write lots and lots of notes.:)Though this can depend on what the writer is looking for, sometimes it’s just a general overview, other times it’s a line edit. I always feel privileged when someone asks me to betaread, apart from anything else it’s helped me a lot as a writer to see how other authors go about developing their stories and ideas. So if ever you have the opportunity and have the time and commitment I heartily recommend beta reading.

WIP Update

Second draft completed.

And it’s come in at 32,615 words and is currently 23 chapters. Now it’s off to the beta reader and waiting to hear back from them.

So still a way off from 50,000 words, and whilst I think it might not quite make the 50,000 mark, I think the finished version will come in at a lot closer to 40,000.

Where it stands at the moment. If the first draft was the skeleton, the second draft is the skeleton plus the muscles. The plot niggles from the first draft have been sorted out and basically what’s left is fleshing out, making sure everything makes sense and perfecting the love scenes.

In the mean time I’m going to start the first draft / outline of The Fox Prince (Land of the Fey).

WIP Update

Currently working on The Bargain (second draft), Chapter 17, word count 25,002

Have merged four chapters down to two. Things are proceeding smoothly at the moment.

Sex/love scenes - I’ve just completed one - are something of a stumbling block. Mainly because I think these scenes perhaps more than any other you are conscious of having to get right. Nothing knocks a reader out of a moment quicker than a badly written love scene. So it’s almost sweating blood to get them so what you have in your head matches what’s on paper. I’m still not happy with what I’ve got as it stands in the second draft but I know there’s going to be much more refining to come before I even think of submitting.

WIP Update

Sorry this is a day late.

Currently working on The Bargain, Chapter 15, word count - 21,574

Things are going well. I have a few days off work next week so fingers crossed that I can blast through this to the end and get it off to my beta reader. Usually my number of squee moments (when I hug myself and go “This is soooooo good”) compared to my dark moments (when I go “This is crap and no one will ever read it!”) is low. But I’m used to that. So it was great this week to have two squee moments, which makes it worthwhile.

So after the second draft is complete - what then? Some authors write a lot and then cut down. I’m the opposite. I write a very spare first draft. The second draft I flesh out and correct character motivations, change things that aren’t working, cut unnecessary scenes, add more scenes sometimes chapters, to clarify things that don’t make sense. That draft goes out to be looked at by someone who doesn’t have my author bias. lol

Then the third draft will be taking into account what the beta reader has said, adding more description, intensifying emotional scenes. I’ll put it on one side for a couple of days and maybe draft again. Then I’ll hopefully be ready to submit.

Thursday 13 #16 - Villains

Last week Josh Lanyon did a guest blog about villains - the guys who wear the black hats - at Reviews by Jessewave. The post can be found here and is well worth reading. Please be aware this blog is for those 18 and over only.

So inspired by that post, here are my 13 favourite villains. What’s interesting about most of them is that as Josh points out in his blog - they wouldn’t consider themselves the bad guys.

1 - Admiral Helena Cain (Michelle Forbes) - from Battlestar Galactica Razor. She does what has to be done, no matter the personal cost. She sacrifices her humanity to her belief that she’s doing what has to be done. (In a way not unsimilar to The Operative from the Serenity movie who acknowledges that he IS a monster).

2 - Callisto from Xena. Well it wouldn’t be a complete villain list if she wasn’t on it. lol What’s slightly different about Callisto’s story is that she is eventually redeemed. I think possibly the only villain on this list who is.

3 - Sark from Alias. David Anders is great at playing a villain. Maybe because he has just this hint of vulnerability. Lol - it was always a great relief when Sark got away to fight another day. And I have to watch Season 5 at some point, it never really made it to the tv in the UK.

4 - Adam Monroe from Heroes. As I said above, David Anders makes a great villain.

5 - Another Alias villain. Sloane. What was great about this series was that the lines shifted so much, that you were never 100% sure of the motivation of characters. Were they doing the right thing for the wrong reasons, or the wrong thing for the right reasons?

6 - The Borg Queen. Definitely wouldn’t consider herself a villain. And it’s interesting to see both Alice Krige’s and Susanna Thompson’s versions.

7 - Gretchen from Prison Break. Completely cold. Does what has to be done with ruthless efficiency, but is not as 2-D as she first appears.

8 - Dexter. Ultimate villain or hero? I love that in the second series his mental quips get even more deadpan.

9 - Elle Driver from Kill Bill 2. Okay it’s difficult for me to decide between her and O-ren Ishii. But I love the scene in the trailer from the second movie and the way Daryl Hannah delivers her speech to a dying Budd.

10 - Sylar from Heroes. What I’ve especially liked about the latest season is how we’ve been able to glimpse into the future and see that he does have the potential to be a good person. Which adds a completely new layer to his choice to be a villain.

11 - #6 - from Battlestar Galactica. Lol - this is difficult because there are so many different versions and they all have their own personalities and back story. They also have the potential to evolve and change. But here I’m thinking back to the mini series and the character that could calmly kill a baby and seduce a man to enable an armageddon.

12 - The Oracle from Jennifer Armintrout’s Blood Ties series. A character who predicts the exact number of pieces she’s going to break your spine into.

13 - Angela Petrelli from Heroes. Another character who it’s difficult to pin down, which is what makes her so interesting. She’s completely capable of sacrificing a son for what she considers the greater good. But when you see the future you play the long game.

WIP Update

Currently working on The Bargain - 2nd Draft - Chapter 13

word count - 18,925

This week combined chapter 9 and chapter 10 from the first draft into one chapter in the second. Extra scene to be added to chapter 13 to provide some plot clarification.

Thursday 13 #15 - Xena Episodes

I loved Xena. My favourite character though was Callisto, maybe because the first episode I ever saw was her introductory episode and the ladder fight. So here are 13 of my favourite Xena episodes.

1 - Callisto - First episode I ever saw, I think up ’til I saw it I was aware of the show but it wasn’t until I saw the ladder fight that I thought this might be a show worth getting into.

2 - Bitter Suite - the all singing episode, which starts with one of the most violent scenes of the series. The rift between Xena and Gabrielle is healed.

3 - Ides of March - My favourite part of the series were Seasons 4 and 5. Ides of March is the culmination of a story arc ending with the deaths of Xena and Gabrielle, beautifully shot and heartbreaking to watch.

4 - The Quill is Mightier - okay you’ve probably guessed that I prefer the more serious and dramatic episodes. So here’s one of my favourite comedy episodes. Gabrielle’s scroll becomes enchanted and anything she writes down comes true.

5 - Adventures in the Sin Trade Parts 1 and 2 - The first episodes of Season 4 and the beginning of my favourite story arc. The introduction of a new villainess - Alti and the discovery that Gabrielle isn’t as dead as was thought.

6 - Fallen Angel - First episode of Season 5. Xena, Gabrielle and Callisto as angels and demons.

7 - 10 Little Warlords - One of my favourite episodes, Xena in Callisto’s body must restore Ares to his godhood.

8 - Between the Lines - Second episode of the India trilogy and my favourite of the three. Xena and Gabrielle bring Alti back from the future to fight her where they are strongest - in the past. Very interesting to see Xena and Gabrielle’s future lives.

9 - Been There, Done That - the episode where Xena kills Joxer with her chakram, but it’s okay because time is going to be reset. Xena, Gabrielle and Joxer all die at least once.

10 - Remember Nothing - the episode where the Fates give Xena the opportunity to live her life over, a fresh start. We get to see what her life would be like if she hadn’t chosen to take up the sword. We also get to see what would have happened to Gabrielle. Very interesting to see how the lives of the characters would have been different.

11 - A Day in the Life - Very funny episode, which basically does what it says on the tin. Just follows a day in Xena’s life.

12 - The Quest / A Necessary Evil - Callisto becomes a God and falls into a lava pit. Guest actress Melinda Clarke chews the scenery as sadistic Velasca. Even though she only appeared in two episodes she was still one of the most memorable villains.

13 - When Fates Collide - IMO this should have been the last episode of the series. Julius Caesar rewrites time to avoid his fate and by doing so alters the destinies of those around him - Xena, Gabrielle and Alti. Shot in washed out tones and with an ambiguous ending, I always watch this after watching Friend in Need.

WIP Update

The Bargain - Second Draft - currently working on Chapter 9

Word Count - 14,051

Chapter eight took quite a bit of work, added roughly 1000 words but deleted around 2000 words, added, deleted, added, deleted. Lol most of this trying to decide who should be in the shower.

No Thursday 13 This Week...

Did I say last week I’d definitely do one?

Goes back to check…No…Phew!

I have an assignment due tomorrow so I am completing that tonight one way or the other - it’s on the inevitability of the tragedy in Romeo and Juliet.

And for next week I shall write my TT on Saturday so it’s ready to go.

As an aside, in a previous TT I think I wrote about the importance of keeping a notebook with you at all times to jot down ideas.

Note to self - take your own advice.

Luckily the brilliant end to the chapter that came to me just before I went to sleep last night, which vanished in the morning, came back to me in the shower half an hour later. And yep, I wrote it down.

WIP Update

The Bargain - Second Draft currently up to Chapter 8.

Word count - 10,170 - actually a little higher than this at the moment, but I’m updating the count every 5000 words

Got the first love scene out of the way. I like the revamped version much better, still not completely happy with it, but I’m going to leave it as it is for the moment. I also have a feeling the second draft is going to go over the 50,000 word limit.

What I'm Reading

Still Pride and Prejudice at the moment and as I’m working hard on the WIP have only made it to page 32.

On the positive side have now clocked well over 10,000 words on The Bargain - more on that tomorrow.

So far in P&P - Mr.Bingley has moved into Netherfield. Mrs. Bennet would like Jane (one of her daughters) to get her hooks in him. There have been a couple of balls and Mr. Darcy has not endeared himself to the local population by apppearing to have a stick permanently lodged somewhere it shouldn’t be. Jane has visited Netherfield but got caught in the rain and became sick. Much to the delight of Mrs. Bennet this means she’s stuck at Netherfield. Elizabeth (Jane’s sister) has visited Netherfield to look after her sister where the Bingley females are polite to her face but rude behind her back, mainly it seems because she had the temerity to walk to Netherfield rather than take a coach.

Austen certainly manages to pack a lot in.

Posted in Reading | No Comments

Poem for a Sunday

Currently watching Romeo and Juliet as I go through the second draft, so here’s the opening of Romeo and Juliet:-

Two households both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life…

Has to be one of the best beginnings ever.

Okay, back to work.

No Thursday 13 Today...

…because I’ve got a new laptop and have had to spend the past two days* setting it up. And also renewing the anti-virus program on my PC. Deleting stuff I shouldn’t, panicking, then breathing a sigh of relief when I manage to get it back again with no serious losses.

Techno-savvy I am not.

But whilst I am feeling quite technicial lol, I’ve also added a books page for my books on my Wordpress blog, where hopefully you’ll be able to click on the cover and it will take you to Samhain.

*not two whole days, I’ve had to squeeze it in between going to work and other stuff, I’m not quite that bad.

WIP Update

The Bargain - Second Draft currently up to Chapter 4.

Word count - 5034

Have written a short extra Chapter to add a little bit of a back story. It's possible this won't make it into the final draft and is more for me to use as an aid in getting the characters and their motivations fixed in my head. I expect to hear from the beta readers that I should probably delete it. :)

For my major characters especially, I always want to know exactly why they behave the way they do and I'll know far more about them than I'll probably ever use.

What I'm Reading

So I’ve made a start on Pride and Prejudice.

Currently at page 30 (remember I said I was a slow reader), and despite my misgivings before I started reading I’m quite enjoying it. It’s not heavy going which was a pleasant surprise and a lot of it is very witty and cleverly written. I’m particularly enjoying the conversations between Mr and Mrs Bennet which are laced with double meanings and little digs.

It’s interesting to note that there seems to be a lot of ‘telling’, quite frowned upon in modern writing where we are very much concerned with almost pulling the reader into the action and story of the book. Also the cast seems to increase every couple of pages, usually with a cast this large I’d expect there to be a list at the front of the book detailing how everyone relates to everyone else.

Even from the few pages I’ve read so far I can appreciate why for a lot of people this is their ultimate comfort read. I think I definitely lucked out on picking this one.

A couple of weekends ago there was a Pride & Prejudice (Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy) marathon on the television which I’ve recorded. I don’t want to watch it until after I’ve read the book, but it seemed too fortuitous not to take the opportunity. Maybe I will finally get to understand the attraction of a man going swimming with a shirt on. lol

Favourite line so far comes from Elizabeth to Mr. Darcy when he comments that he only knows six accomplished women and then proceeds to list the variety of skills and talents said accomplished woman should possess.

“I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any.“

Poem for a Sunday

I've been watching repeats of Torchwood. :)


Because I could not stop for Death - Emily Dickinson

Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselves
And Immortality.

We slowly drove, he knew no haste,
And I had put away
My labour, and my leisure too,
For his civility.

We passed the school where children played,
Their lessons scarcely done;
We passed the fields of gazing grain,
We passed the setting sun.

We paused before a house that seemed
A swelling of the ground;
The roof was scarcely visible,
The cornice but a mound.

Since then 'tis centuries; but each
Feels shorter than the day
I first surmised the horses' heads
Were toward eternity.

Thursday 13 #14 - Goals for 2009

So thanks again to Nicole at Book-Wyrm Knits, without whom I would often be stuck for Thursday 13 ideas. Except for the writing goals this is probably going to seem quite a light and fluffy list. But I feel in the need for light and fluffy at the moment.

Writing

1) Complete The Bargain - well on the way to accomplishing this one.

2) Complete Raven - Outline needs rewriting following feedback on the first draft. Will be starting this one once The Bargain is completed.

3) Complete at least one other project.

4) I almost hesitate to include this one. But THIS year I would like to get The Tithing revised. Maybe this could be my number 3.

5) Get my outlines and notes organized.

6) Win Nano this year

Reading

7) Read at least one book from the banned books lists, and if possible get my banned books total up to 13.

8. Read at least one ‘classic’. Well on my way to getting this one done already.

Misc.

9) As a birdwatcher I’d like to see one bird in the wild that I haven’t seen before.

10) Knit my next scarf. If I’m honest, knitting scarves is just about my skill level, and I have a great funky wool for the next one.

11) Start a quilt. I’ve wanted to try making an English pieced quilt for the past couple of years. Maybe 2009 is the year I’ll get it done.

12) See more films at the cinema because I never seem to get around to seeing them if I wait for the DVD.

13) Bake a cake. My culinary skills (like my knitting skills) are somewhat lacking. So I’d love to say I tried baking this year and what I produced was reasonably edible. Maybe, if not a cake then cupcakes or muffins.

I’ll try and remember to revisit this list at the end of the year and see how many of them I actually accomplished.

WIP Update

The first rough draft of The Bargain is completed. Due to circumstances I've had very little online time, so a lot of it is written out longhand at the moment.

I'm now working on the second draft. You'll notice that the progress meter in the sidebar has changed. LOL - not sure if other writers go through such a long winded process as this, but so far this is the way that works for me. Some of the character motivations in the first part of the first draft need tweaking as they don't quite marry up with what happens in the second half of the book. I'm very pleased with the beginning and the end, but the middle needs quite a lot of work.

The Bargain - Second Draft - Up To Chapter 1

When I have a completed second draft I'll submit that to my crit group and if I'm very happy with it, possibly a beta reader and see what they have to say. At that time I'll start working on redrafting Raven.

More updates next week.

What I'm Reading

Lol - it's reading Monday.

My reading aims for 2009 are to focus on three categories - bear in mind that it takes me quite a while to read anything - the classics, banned books and I'll probably sneak a little m/m in there. :)

Why these three? Well in 2008 during banned books week I realized I'd actually read very few of the banned books listed and wanted to rectify that. Hopefully by banned books week this year I'll be able to make it to 13 books read.

Also apart from the books I HAD to read at school I've read very few of what would be considered classic stories so I'm going to try and get in at least a couple of those and hope they aren't too heavy going.

And I couldn't possibly get through the year without reading and recommending some m/m.

So I'm starting out with a classic - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. This is one of those books that has been made into television series and movies several times over. I admit I have watched none of them and have never read the book. So this should be interesting. I'll update you all next week with my progress (or lack of).