Barbara Hambly's Blog, page 18
February 10, 2013
Soft gray chilly weather. A day of laundry, tea, and acti...
Soft gray chilly weather. A day of laundry, tea, and acting as referee at the cat-fights.
Draft 2 done. Always a relief - draft 2 is the shape of the real book. I can read it then and see what still needs to be done (How come three of the major characters have names starting with Na...? Is Lord Colwich possessed by an evil spirit in this scene or not? HOW many aunts does Lydia have?)
Also finished my little Dr. Who piece for the anthology Outside In 2 - I'll let everyone know when that comes out. And I understand from rumor (not that the publisher has mentioned it to me or anything) that Ben January # 12, Good Man Friday (a.k.a. Mr. J Goes to Washington) will be out in May.
I'll also take the little breathing-space to work on another story for Further Adventures. The difficulties of Asher/Ysidro #5 - and it WAS a difficult story to get a handle on - added to a particularly trying semester in Fall brought the short-story to a halt, which did turn out for the best: it let me re-think how I wanted it to unfold. It'll be so nice to go back to writing straight fantasy for a bit.
As I've said on Facebook, next weekend is Gallifrey One, the local Dr. Who convention. I'm part of the "local talent" squad rather than anything in the Main Attractions department, which is as it should be: it's a Dr. Who con, and the fans may or may not be readers of sf, fantasy, mysteries, or anything else and there's no reason why they should be. I'll be doing a kaffeeklatsch, a couple of panels, and a couple of signings, and will be able to get all fannish and perhaps meet Michael Jayston, whose acting work I've delighted in since I first saw him in 1968 in that amazing naked-green-fairies BBC production of Midsummer Night's Dream. (Ian Richardson, Ian Holm, and Judi Dench were the naked green fairies - Mr. Jayston, David Warner, Hellen Mirren and Diana Rigg all kept their clothes on - but what a cast! You probably couldn't afford to assemble it today.) (I still watch it just to hear the beauty of the language).
Draft 2 done. Always a relief - draft 2 is the shape of the real book. I can read it then and see what still needs to be done (How come three of the major characters have names starting with Na...? Is Lord Colwich possessed by an evil spirit in this scene or not? HOW many aunts does Lydia have?)
Also finished my little Dr. Who piece for the anthology Outside In 2 - I'll let everyone know when that comes out. And I understand from rumor (not that the publisher has mentioned it to me or anything) that Ben January # 12, Good Man Friday (a.k.a. Mr. J Goes to Washington) will be out in May.
I'll also take the little breathing-space to work on another story for Further Adventures. The difficulties of Asher/Ysidro #5 - and it WAS a difficult story to get a handle on - added to a particularly trying semester in Fall brought the short-story to a halt, which did turn out for the best: it let me re-think how I wanted it to unfold. It'll be so nice to go back to writing straight fantasy for a bit.
As I've said on Facebook, next weekend is Gallifrey One, the local Dr. Who convention. I'm part of the "local talent" squad rather than anything in the Main Attractions department, which is as it should be: it's a Dr. Who con, and the fans may or may not be readers of sf, fantasy, mysteries, or anything else and there's no reason why they should be. I'll be doing a kaffeeklatsch, a couple of panels, and a couple of signings, and will be able to get all fannish and perhaps meet Michael Jayston, whose acting work I've delighted in since I first saw him in 1968 in that amazing naked-green-fairies BBC production of Midsummer Night's Dream. (Ian Richardson, Ian Holm, and Judi Dench were the naked green fairies - Mr. Jayston, David Warner, Hellen Mirren and Diana Rigg all kept their clothes on - but what a cast! You probably couldn't afford to assemble it today.) (I still watch it just to hear the beauty of the language).
January 14, 2013
Sat down and watched "Star Trek The Movie" (at ...
Sat down and watched "Star Trek The Movie" (at the recommendation of my nephew). Mostly what it did was engender in me a desire to watch some of the original episodes, to see how well they hold up.
Reading winter haiku this morning, amazed again at that sense of looking at shapshots of moments three thousand miles away, in the early nineteenth century, so fresh and vivid you can smell the snow in the air.
Tethered horse
snow
in both stirrups.
basho
With a runny nose
Sitting alone at the Go board -
a long cold night.
buson
Awake at night
the lamp low
the oil freezing.
basho
Writing shit about new snow
for the rich
is not art.
issa
Reading winter haiku this morning, amazed again at that sense of looking at shapshots of moments three thousand miles away, in the early nineteenth century, so fresh and vivid you can smell the snow in the air.
Tethered horse
snow
in both stirrups.
basho
With a runny nose
Sitting alone at the Go board -
a long cold night.
buson
Awake at night
the lamp low
the oil freezing.
basho
Writing shit about new snow
for the rich
is not art.
issa
January 9, 2013
The holiday season is officially over. I have un-decked m...
The holiday season is officially over. I have un-decked my halls: I always get the sensation, when I don't have the garlands down by Twelfth Night (Jan 6 - in this case I finally got the last of them down yesterday, but I STARTED on the 6th) - the sensation that I get when I haven't showered and it's 2 in the afternoon and I'm still in my jammies (something I haven't done in decades, by the way). (There was a period of time when I did a lot of that).
A LOT of work to do before school starts up again in February.
A LOT of work to do before school starts up again in February.
January 5, 2013
EXCELLENT day at the Anime LA convention, which included ...
EXCELLENT day at the Anime LA convention, which included an hour in what we had thought was going to be a Maid Cafe, but which turned out instead to be a Cosplay version of Alice's Mad Tea-Party. My friend and I sat at the Red Queen's table (the choice was to sit there or at the Mad Hatter's). Since I knew the Red Queen would behead anyone who disagreed with her - or beat her at a game - I slavishly praised her every utterance and, when games were brought to the table, lost hugely, loudly, extravagantly, all the while praising Her Majesty's beauty and expertise. It was all very silly.
I also bought a sketch-book in Artist's Alley - where there was some amazing artwork on sale - and a t-shirt. The costumes were amazing as well: saw a couple of very fine Doctors Who (4 and 10), and a marvelous Iron Man. And, in the dealer's room, LOTS of anime stuffy-toys. And some really good Sailor Moon groups.
I have now been entertained beyond my capacity to appreciate it, and will spend tomorrow doing laundry, drinking tea, and writing.
I also bought a sketch-book in Artist's Alley - where there was some amazing artwork on sale - and a t-shirt. The costumes were amazing as well: saw a couple of very fine Doctors Who (4 and 10), and a marvelous Iron Man. And, in the dealer's room, LOTS of anime stuffy-toys. And some really good Sailor Moon groups.
I have now been entertained beyond my capacity to appreciate it, and will spend tomorrow doing laundry, drinking tea, and writing.
December 26, 2012
A question...I now have a large number of books on my Kin...
A question...
I now have a large number of books on my Kindle. Can I move them over onto my computer, so that, if my Kindle gives up the ghost and I have to get a new one, I can transfer them over to the new one?
If so, how do I do this? (I've tried drag-and-drop but the computer claims it can't read the files - each book seems to consist of three files).
All and any advice will be appreciated.
Many thanks.
I now have a large number of books on my Kindle. Can I move them over onto my computer, so that, if my Kindle gives up the ghost and I have to get a new one, I can transfer them over to the new one?
If so, how do I do this? (I've tried drag-and-drop but the computer claims it can't read the files - each book seems to consist of three files).
All and any advice will be appreciated.
Many thanks.
December 25, 2012
A beautiful Christmas Day.As usual, the animals all acqui...
A beautiful Christmas Day.
As usual, the animals all acquired the power of speech at midnight, allegedly in order to praise God, but in fact, Polly and Rocky swore at each other through the door dividing the house (and MY, those cats use terrible expressions when they're annoyed!), and Gus and Cupcake just spent their few minutes of speech-time insisting that it really was breakfast time. Damsel slept through it all.
But, lunch with the family was lovely - I did a standing rib roast of beef, panneed spinach, salad and roasted yams and one of my nephews brought mashed potatoes; my brother brought rolls, and assorted pies for dessert. We exchanged gifts. A beautiful time was had by all. God bless us, every one.
As usual, the animals all acquired the power of speech at midnight, allegedly in order to praise God, but in fact, Polly and Rocky swore at each other through the door dividing the house (and MY, those cats use terrible expressions when they're annoyed!), and Gus and Cupcake just spent their few minutes of speech-time insisting that it really was breakfast time. Damsel slept through it all.
But, lunch with the family was lovely - I did a standing rib roast of beef, panneed spinach, salad and roasted yams and one of my nephews brought mashed potatoes; my brother brought rolls, and assorted pies for dessert. We exchanged gifts. A beautiful time was had by all. God bless us, every one.
December 17, 2012
Okay, generally I don't bag on my students' spell...
Okay, generally I don't bag on my students' spelling because after all it's a history class, not an English class. But the mental image conjured up by this one was too priceless not to share: in 1991 the US participated in "Operation Dessert Storm."
All-you-can-eat at the fro-yo bar!
All-you-can-eat at the fro-yo bar!
Gotta agree with my nephew Mark: last night I watched She...
Gotta agree with my nephew Mark: last night I watched Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows and thoroughly enjoyed it. I've been a rabid Holmes fan since 3rd grade and for whatever reason I have no problem with Downey and Law's portrayal, nor with Guy Ritchie's interpretation - I can only conclude there is something profoundly wrong with me. In any case, Stephen Fry was born to play Mycroft.
Kitty Wars continue. I'll re-introduce Polly and Rocky for a short time again today - this time just leaving the door open between them - and see how that works. The problem is Rocky's attitude, but she's the one getting beat up. She's old, and Polly isn't about to take her bullying the way Cupcake does: Polly bullies back, and does so more effectively because she's young. Poor Rocky has lost about 20% of her body weight out of sheer nervousness. So, they're both on meds, and Rocky needs a lot more looking after... but Polly's presence keeps Rocky from bullying Cupcake (who's twice her size, and has the gentlest personality in the world).
Kitty Wars continue. I'll re-introduce Polly and Rocky for a short time again today - this time just leaving the door open between them - and see how that works. The problem is Rocky's attitude, but she's the one getting beat up. She's old, and Polly isn't about to take her bullying the way Cupcake does: Polly bullies back, and does so more effectively because she's young. Poor Rocky has lost about 20% of her body weight out of sheer nervousness. So, they're both on meds, and Rocky needs a lot more looking after... but Polly's presence keeps Rocky from bullying Cupcake (who's twice her size, and has the gentlest personality in the world).
December 1, 2012
An on-line conversation reminded me of going to see the m...
An on-line conversation reminded me of going to see the mummies of St. Michel, when I was going to the University of Bordeaux in 1971; corpses naturally mummified by properties of the soil around the gothic church of St. Michel down near the waterfront in Bordeaux. At the time they were (and had since the nineteenth century) been "on display" in the crypt beneath the church's bell-tower; a French friend took me down this winding little stair to a gloomy, earth-smelling vault with a single naked 70-watt bulb blearing overhead from the middle of the groined ceiling. And there were the mummies - not in glass cases as they'd have been in the US, but just sort of hanging on the stone wall with wires, gray as if made of dust. Some still had their eyes; on others you could see the sword-wounds that killed them. I remember one detached pair of arms hung up by their elbows.
It was certainly one of the weirder things I've seen in my life (along with the bone-chapels under the Monastery of the Capuchins in Rome - another tale in itself). I read on-line today that the mummies have been buried in another cemetery somewhere, and the crypt closed; better, I suppose, if one thinks that the dead are miffed by total strangers gawping at their corpses for a hundred years.
On the home-front, Cat Drama has been allieviated by closing the door in the middle of the house to separate Rocky and Polly; not an ideal solution, but at least until I get those Comfort Zone plug-ins to dose the whole place in calming pheromones (so the story goes). I want to take them both by their tails and dunk them up and down in the toilet (while singing, "Give Peace a Chance.") (Wretched beasts).
It was certainly one of the weirder things I've seen in my life (along with the bone-chapels under the Monastery of the Capuchins in Rome - another tale in itself). I read on-line today that the mummies have been buried in another cemetery somewhere, and the crypt closed; better, I suppose, if one thinks that the dead are miffed by total strangers gawping at their corpses for a hundred years.
On the home-front, Cat Drama has been allieviated by closing the door in the middle of the house to separate Rocky and Polly; not an ideal solution, but at least until I get those Comfort Zone plug-ins to dose the whole place in calming pheromones (so the story goes). I want to take them both by their tails and dunk them up and down in the toilet (while singing, "Give Peace a Chance.") (Wretched beasts).
November 26, 2012
80% off my e-books today over at Open Road Media's 1-...
80% off my e-books today over at Open Road Media's 1-day CyberMonday sale!
http://bit.ly/URG5h3 via @openroadmedia
This means pretty much all my fantasy novels: Darwath Trilogy, Sun Wolf & Starhawk, the first two vampire books (Those Who Hunt the Night and Traveling With the Dead), the Windrose Chronicles, Sun-Cross, Rat-God, Dragonsbane.
http://bit.ly/URG5h3 via @openroadmedia
This means pretty much all my fantasy novels: Darwath Trilogy, Sun Wolf & Starhawk, the first two vampire books (Those Who Hunt the Night and Traveling With the Dead), the Windrose Chronicles, Sun-Cross, Rat-God, Dragonsbane.
