Michelle L. Levigne's Blog, page 188
April 18, 2011
Book Launch -- RIFT WAR
The Rift War , the 5th and final book in my Arthurian fantasy series, The Zygradon Chronicles, has been released by Uncial Press.
2,000 years have passed since the final defeat of the Nameless One, and the creation of the dome of Threads around Lygroes -- 2,000 years in the rest of the world, but inside the dome, only 200 years.
Technology rules, and the tales of Athrar, Quenlaque, and magic are considered fables, nothing but legend and wish-tales, and the Archaics, who preserve the legends of the Warhawk and practice at warfare with swords and bows are considered childish.
But Emrillian Warhawk, Athrar's daughter, knows the legends are real. She has grown up in the modern world, but now the time has come to journey through the tunnel under the sea to Lygroes, to reclaim Braenlicach, awaken Athrar, and find the Zygradon. And defeat Edrout, before he can ally with modern world and destroy all the Threads ... and possibly the world.
Come to the Cyber Launch Party blog on Wednesday, April 20. We'll be chatting about the series, and you'll get a chance to obtain a copy of the short story that launched the entire series: A Fantasy Island fanzine story titled, "A Day for a Knight."
Come on over, it'll be fun!
April 3, 2011
Script Frenzy -- Day 3
So far, so good!
17 pages in 3 days.
I have the underlying problem/mystery in place: What happened to a starlet who vanished from a mythical theater in Cleveland's Playhouse Square during the Vaudeville era?
I have my hero: A researcher into "weird" events, giving them scientific explanations.
And I've introduced some of the secondary characters, including his opponents.
It's "only" 17 pages -- 83 to go in 27 days -- a goal of 100 pages in 30 days -- but it's a good start!
Sure, it's nowhere near ready to be shown on the silver screen. But you can't make a movie from a script that hasn't been polished to perfection
And you can't polish a script that hasn't been rough drafted.
So finish the duh-ang first draft!!
17 pages in 3 days.
I have the underlying problem/mystery in place: What happened to a starlet who vanished from a mythical theater in Cleveland's Playhouse Square during the Vaudeville era?
I have my hero: A researcher into "weird" events, giving them scientific explanations.
And I've introduced some of the secondary characters, including his opponents.
It's "only" 17 pages -- 83 to go in 27 days -- a goal of 100 pages in 30 days -- but it's a good start!
Sure, it's nowhere near ready to be shown on the silver screen. But you can't make a movie from a script that hasn't been polished to perfection
And you can't polish a script that hasn't been rough drafted.
So finish the duh-ang first draft!!
April 1, 2011
Are you FRENZY-ing?
It's official -- Script Frenzy 2011 has started!
Script Frenzy is the screenwriting offshoot of NaNoWriMo -- National Novel Writing Month.
Are you working on a script?
Have you ever wanted to TRY to write a script, whether stage play, screenplay, TV script, whatever?
Now's your chance.
100 pages in 30 days. April 1 through 30.
Just go to ScriptFrenzy -- www.scriptfrenzy.org -- and sign up. There's plenty of time.
You can join forums, regions, whatever, and virtually get together with fellow writers in your geographic area, your area of interest, whatever, and get support and sympathy and kudos and whatever.
Do it!
I am.
Day 1: FOUR pages to start off.
And that doesn't count the 5 pages of outline I wrote up over the last week, to give me a general road map for the story I want to tell.
Who's with me?
Script Frenzy is the screenwriting offshoot of NaNoWriMo -- National Novel Writing Month.
Are you working on a script?
Have you ever wanted to TRY to write a script, whether stage play, screenplay, TV script, whatever?
Now's your chance.
100 pages in 30 days. April 1 through 30.
Just go to ScriptFrenzy -- www.scriptfrenzy.org -- and sign up. There's plenty of time.
You can join forums, regions, whatever, and virtually get together with fellow writers in your geographic area, your area of interest, whatever, and get support and sympathy and kudos and whatever.
Do it!
I am.
Day 1: FOUR pages to start off.
And that doesn't count the 5 pages of outline I wrote up over the last week, to give me a general road map for the story I want to tell.
Who's with me?
March 27, 2011
Book Review -- WHEN DREAMS CROSS
In the Second Chances series by Terri Blackstock, from Zondervan Publishing.
When Dreams Cross is the story of Andi and Justin -- rich girl making good, and brilliant creative artist. They both have baggage, they both have chips on their shoulders. And they both have history.
That's the essence of the Second Chance books -- a couple separated by circumstances, tragedy, secrets, whatever ... and how they come back together.
Andi's father came between them fifteen years ago. He offered Justin mega-$$$ to go away. Justin, insulted (naturally) went away to cool off and think. Well, when he vanished for a week with no explanation, what was Andi to think when her father told her that he offered Justin $$$ to get out of her life? And of course, both of them being proud, hurting people, they hurt each other more.
Enter the fifteen years of silence.
The story starts when Andi, who is building a Bible-themed amusement park -- with the requisite opposition from the surrounding residents and businesses and Boss Hogg-type mogul -- decides she needs a cartoon theme to pull everything together, to give a face to Promised Land. Enter Khaki's Krewe, a team of wise animals ... who just happen to be the brain children of one Justin Pierce.
Can Andi and Justin not only get over their pain and distrust, work together, make Promised Land a success and discover who is willing to do anything to stop the park from opening, but learn they're still in love?
Read it and find out.
There are several books in the series, and the next one is launched by an event in When Dreams Cross. I'm looking forward to reading it!
When Dreams Cross is the story of Andi and Justin -- rich girl making good, and brilliant creative artist. They both have baggage, they both have chips on their shoulders. And they both have history.
That's the essence of the Second Chance books -- a couple separated by circumstances, tragedy, secrets, whatever ... and how they come back together.
Andi's father came between them fifteen years ago. He offered Justin mega-$$$ to go away. Justin, insulted (naturally) went away to cool off and think. Well, when he vanished for a week with no explanation, what was Andi to think when her father told her that he offered Justin $$$ to get out of her life? And of course, both of them being proud, hurting people, they hurt each other more.
Enter the fifteen years of silence.
The story starts when Andi, who is building a Bible-themed amusement park -- with the requisite opposition from the surrounding residents and businesses and Boss Hogg-type mogul -- decides she needs a cartoon theme to pull everything together, to give a face to Promised Land. Enter Khaki's Krewe, a team of wise animals ... who just happen to be the brain children of one Justin Pierce.
Can Andi and Justin not only get over their pain and distrust, work together, make Promised Land a success and discover who is willing to do anything to stop the park from opening, but learn they're still in love?
Read it and find out.
There are several books in the series, and the next one is launched by an event in When Dreams Cross. I'm looking forward to reading it!
March 23, 2011
Don't Look Now, Jane
When we last saw our heroine, Jane Smythe, aka Jane Bondservant, Agent 777, had just survived several devastating surprises. Her arch-nemesis, Dr. Jose Noway, had not only joined her Sunday class, but he had volunteered to help on the game committee for their class at the church's Spring Festival.
As we join Jane, it is three days later, and she is staying after Bible Study to work on the game committee. Many people can't stay after Bible Study on Wednesday nights because they have children to take home and put to bed. Most of the people on Jane's class committee, however, are single.
"Miss Smythe?"
See Jane.
See Jane jump up three inches in the air and turn 180 degrees in half a second.
Is Jane scared?
Startled would be more like it.
And it is a very good thing that she didn't bring any weapons to church, because if she had she would have turned Dr. Noway to a pile of ashes -- or an unreasonable facsimile -- on the floor before she remembered she was at church, and before she remembered that Dr. Noway claims he is leaving B.L. Zebob Industries.
Besides, it would be very unkind to the church custodians to leave a big, probably greasy, pile of ashes in the hallway for them to clean up.
"Dr. Noway." Jane smiles and hopes she doesn't look as flustered as she feels. "My mind was a thousand miles away. I didn't hear you coming up behind me."
"I'm sorry. Occupational hazard." Dr. Noway has a very nice smile, which in some ways has been the most horrible thing about him. How could someone who has done the terrible, mean, rotten, no-good things he has done smile like he has a good, kind heart and a clean conscience?
"Occupational hazard?" Jane asks. A moment later, she doesn't know whether to be proud that she remembered to pretend she doesn't know anything about him -- or to slap herself for sounding like a total ditzoid.
"In my duties at B.L. Zebob Industries, I was required to be ... stealthy. Noise was not welcome, let's say." Dr. Noway looks up and down the hallway. "I'm looking for the library. I'm supposed to be in a meeting."
"The game committee for the Spring Festival. Yes." Jane shrugs and hopes her smile looks a little sheepish and not as stiff and fake as it feels. "Me, too. I saw you in class on Sunday, but I was caught up in some things and didn't get a chance to come over and say hi."
"And I had to hurry out to take care of the girls." Again, Dr. Noway flashes that nice smile that subliminally says I believe in baseball, apple pie, Mom, and the 10 Commandments. "If I follow you, will you lead me to the library?"
"I don't think it's smart to follow me -- I get lost a lot." She feels her knees buckle when Dr. Noway laughs, and his laugh is even nicer than his smile. It sounds like hot fudge on strawberry ice cream with extra whipped cream. That mental image combines with the queasy feeling in Jane's stomach, when she realizes she sounds like she is ... flirting ... with Dr. Noway. She just might be sick, and that wouldn't be nice to the church custodians, either.
What is wrong with her?
Jane wants to run into the bathroom and pull her emergency drug testing kit out of her purse, to see if Dr. Noway has flooded the church hallway with some kind of gas that is making her lose her mind.
Instead, Bill and Gretchen, the leaders of the game committee, step into the library doorway, just a few doors down the hall, and call for Jane and Dr. Noway to hurry up, the meeting is starting. Jane is trapped. She manages to hold onto her smile and walks down the hall with Dr. Noway.
After all, what kind of a semi-pseudo-secret agent would she be if she ran for her life and left her Sunday classmates and friends to face Dr. Noway and whatever his nefarious scheme might be?
What will happen in the meeting?
Is Jane drugged?
Can she protect her friends?
Or could Dr. Noway possibly be just as nice as he sounds and looks?
Is it possible?
Stay tuned for the next episode of the adventures of Bondservant. Jane Bondservant.
As we join Jane, it is three days later, and she is staying after Bible Study to work on the game committee. Many people can't stay after Bible Study on Wednesday nights because they have children to take home and put to bed. Most of the people on Jane's class committee, however, are single.
"Miss Smythe?"
See Jane.
See Jane jump up three inches in the air and turn 180 degrees in half a second.
Is Jane scared?
Startled would be more like it.
And it is a very good thing that she didn't bring any weapons to church, because if she had she would have turned Dr. Noway to a pile of ashes -- or an unreasonable facsimile -- on the floor before she remembered she was at church, and before she remembered that Dr. Noway claims he is leaving B.L. Zebob Industries.
Besides, it would be very unkind to the church custodians to leave a big, probably greasy, pile of ashes in the hallway for them to clean up.
"Dr. Noway." Jane smiles and hopes she doesn't look as flustered as she feels. "My mind was a thousand miles away. I didn't hear you coming up behind me."
"I'm sorry. Occupational hazard." Dr. Noway has a very nice smile, which in some ways has been the most horrible thing about him. How could someone who has done the terrible, mean, rotten, no-good things he has done smile like he has a good, kind heart and a clean conscience?
"Occupational hazard?" Jane asks. A moment later, she doesn't know whether to be proud that she remembered to pretend she doesn't know anything about him -- or to slap herself for sounding like a total ditzoid.
"In my duties at B.L. Zebob Industries, I was required to be ... stealthy. Noise was not welcome, let's say." Dr. Noway looks up and down the hallway. "I'm looking for the library. I'm supposed to be in a meeting."
"The game committee for the Spring Festival. Yes." Jane shrugs and hopes her smile looks a little sheepish and not as stiff and fake as it feels. "Me, too. I saw you in class on Sunday, but I was caught up in some things and didn't get a chance to come over and say hi."
"And I had to hurry out to take care of the girls." Again, Dr. Noway flashes that nice smile that subliminally says I believe in baseball, apple pie, Mom, and the 10 Commandments. "If I follow you, will you lead me to the library?"
"I don't think it's smart to follow me -- I get lost a lot." She feels her knees buckle when Dr. Noway laughs, and his laugh is even nicer than his smile. It sounds like hot fudge on strawberry ice cream with extra whipped cream. That mental image combines with the queasy feeling in Jane's stomach, when she realizes she sounds like she is ... flirting ... with Dr. Noway. She just might be sick, and that wouldn't be nice to the church custodians, either.
What is wrong with her?
Jane wants to run into the bathroom and pull her emergency drug testing kit out of her purse, to see if Dr. Noway has flooded the church hallway with some kind of gas that is making her lose her mind.
Instead, Bill and Gretchen, the leaders of the game committee, step into the library doorway, just a few doors down the hall, and call for Jane and Dr. Noway to hurry up, the meeting is starting. Jane is trapped. She manages to hold onto her smile and walks down the hall with Dr. Noway.
After all, what kind of a semi-pseudo-secret agent would she be if she ran for her life and left her Sunday classmates and friends to face Dr. Noway and whatever his nefarious scheme might be?
What will happen in the meeting?
Is Jane drugged?
Can she protect her friends?
Or could Dr. Noway possibly be just as nice as he sounds and looks?
Is it possible?
Stay tuned for the next episode of the adventures of Bondservant. Jane Bondservant.
March 17, 2011
See Jane Faint
When we last visited our heroine, Jane had just met up with Dr. Noway and his nieces in the church parking lot. Needless to say, she was a little upset to realize that her prayers had not been answered, and Dr. Noway was indeed attending her church.
Things got worse, however.
See Jane.
See Jane go white.
See Jane almost drop her fresh cup of hot coffee.
Jane is very happy to remember that she wore dark clothes -- she won't get a coffee stain on her dress.
Why is Jane startled?
There in the doorway of her classroom is the last person she wants to see for the rest of the day.
The rest of her life would be preferable, but Jane knows better.
Dr. Noway stands in the doorway, looking around the room. Jane can almost feel sorry for him, because he has that look on his face she recognizes -- a little lost, a little uneasy, a little wistful. Only a few years ago, she stood in that same doorway, her first day in the class, wishing someone would talk to her and welcome her.
Jane wishes, just for a moment, that the other people in her class will just ignore Dr. Noway. Is it too much to wish for an invisibility ray gun to drop down through a hole in the ceiling? If she can't shoot Dr. Noway with it, can she shoot herself?
But no, the other people in her class are nice. Before Dr. Noway can finish looking from one end of the room to the other -- and before his gaze can reach the end of the room where Jane is helping to cut up cake and serve other refreshments -- two men walk up to him and hold out their hands to shake his.
Jane almost calls out to them to be careful. After all, Dr. Noway sometimes wears thin plastic gloves and puts sleeping powder or truth serum powder on his hands, to trick his enemies.
But no, that was before he said he was quitting B.L. Zebob Industries. Is it too much to hope Dr. Noway doesn't pull nasty tricks like that anymore? After all, he needs to be a good example for his little nieces.
"Oh, this is just horrid," Jane says.
"No, I don't think it's horrid at all," says the quiet voice of O, her supervisor.
Jane looks around, but she knows better than to ask where O is hiding. When she doesn't see any video cameras in the room, she excuses herself from the refreshment table and steps out into the hallway through the second door of her classroom. (That is the first rule for semi-pseudo-secret agents: always make sure there are two exits in a room, so when the enemy comes in one, you can go out the other.)
In the hallway, Jane pulls her cell phone from her pocket. Sure enough, it is lit and O is looking at her. Jane stops herself just before she asks why O is contacting her on Sunday. She realizes that once again, she said "Oh" which sounds like "O" and her supervisor obviously thought she was calling him.
"Sir, Dr. Noway is at my church. He's in my Sunday class. What more could go wrong?"
"I suggest you get back into your classroom and find out, before you get an unpleasant surprise, 777." But O is smiling, so Jane doesn't feel too bad.
And she feels pretty good about everything, because Dr. Noway doesn't find her before class starts. She sits in the last row, on the other side of the room from Dr. Noway and his new friends. Jane even manages to listen to the lesson without being distracted, and doesn't watch him the whole time.
Jane thinks she has escaped with minimal damage, until their teacher introduces their newest member to the rest of the class ... and announces that Dr. Noway has volunteered to help with their class's game booth at the Spring Festival.
Jane is on that committee.
That means she will have to work with Dr. Noway.
What will Jane do?
Stay tuned for the next episode in the adventures of Bondservant. Jane Bondservant.
Things got worse, however.
See Jane.
See Jane go white.
See Jane almost drop her fresh cup of hot coffee.
Jane is very happy to remember that she wore dark clothes -- she won't get a coffee stain on her dress.
Why is Jane startled?
There in the doorway of her classroom is the last person she wants to see for the rest of the day.
The rest of her life would be preferable, but Jane knows better.
Dr. Noway stands in the doorway, looking around the room. Jane can almost feel sorry for him, because he has that look on his face she recognizes -- a little lost, a little uneasy, a little wistful. Only a few years ago, she stood in that same doorway, her first day in the class, wishing someone would talk to her and welcome her.
Jane wishes, just for a moment, that the other people in her class will just ignore Dr. Noway. Is it too much to wish for an invisibility ray gun to drop down through a hole in the ceiling? If she can't shoot Dr. Noway with it, can she shoot herself?
But no, the other people in her class are nice. Before Dr. Noway can finish looking from one end of the room to the other -- and before his gaze can reach the end of the room where Jane is helping to cut up cake and serve other refreshments -- two men walk up to him and hold out their hands to shake his.
Jane almost calls out to them to be careful. After all, Dr. Noway sometimes wears thin plastic gloves and puts sleeping powder or truth serum powder on his hands, to trick his enemies.
But no, that was before he said he was quitting B.L. Zebob Industries. Is it too much to hope Dr. Noway doesn't pull nasty tricks like that anymore? After all, he needs to be a good example for his little nieces.
"Oh, this is just horrid," Jane says.
"No, I don't think it's horrid at all," says the quiet voice of O, her supervisor.
Jane looks around, but she knows better than to ask where O is hiding. When she doesn't see any video cameras in the room, she excuses herself from the refreshment table and steps out into the hallway through the second door of her classroom. (That is the first rule for semi-pseudo-secret agents: always make sure there are two exits in a room, so when the enemy comes in one, you can go out the other.)
In the hallway, Jane pulls her cell phone from her pocket. Sure enough, it is lit and O is looking at her. Jane stops herself just before she asks why O is contacting her on Sunday. She realizes that once again, she said "Oh" which sounds like "O" and her supervisor obviously thought she was calling him.
"Sir, Dr. Noway is at my church. He's in my Sunday class. What more could go wrong?"
"I suggest you get back into your classroom and find out, before you get an unpleasant surprise, 777." But O is smiling, so Jane doesn't feel too bad.
And she feels pretty good about everything, because Dr. Noway doesn't find her before class starts. She sits in the last row, on the other side of the room from Dr. Noway and his new friends. Jane even manages to listen to the lesson without being distracted, and doesn't watch him the whole time.
Jane thinks she has escaped with minimal damage, until their teacher introduces their newest member to the rest of the class ... and announces that Dr. Noway has volunteered to help with their class's game booth at the Spring Festival.
Jane is on that committee.
That means she will have to work with Dr. Noway.
What will Jane do?
Stay tuned for the next episode in the adventures of Bondservant. Jane Bondservant.
March 12, 2011
The EPICon Diaries -- day 3
It's already OVER!
I can't believe the last few days went by so quickly.
This morning, my roommate, Barb Satow, put on a fascinating and useful presentation on all the tricks and tools for Internet searching.
Then we attended an interesting workshop on how NOT to make history boring.
There were other workshops available on Point Of View, developing characters, doing your homework to prepare for writing a book, networking, the future of publishing, and more. Very useful, depending on what you were looking for at the conference.
During a break, we ran over to the Visitor Center and looked through the bookstore -- always a dangerous thing to do. I made notes on several authors I want to check up on later. And I'm still looking for souvenirs to take home to my nephews and niece!
At lunch, Debra Dixon (of Goal, Motivation and Conflict fame) talked about a writer's voice. Then more workshops followed, along with the New Voices contest presentation.
Barb and I spent a good couple hours walking through the museum in Williamsburg - clothes, folk art, furniture, dishes, musical instruments. Did you know someone made a fiddle out of a tortoise shell? And there's a record player hidden inside the hippoceros (a combination of a rhnocerous and a hippopotomos -- don't believe me? come check it out for yourself!)
We literally walked ourselves exhausted and aching. before taking a shuttle back to the visitor center and our hotel, to rest up for an hour before it was time to dress up and walk down to the conference center for the 2011 EPIC Awards banquet.
I presented the winners for YA fiction and the Ariana award for YA cover art.
Nope, my three books didn't win in their categories, BUT ... I'm still a winner because..........
Jenifer Ranieri, the lovely and talented cover artist for Desert Breeze Publishing -- MY cover artist -- won FOUR Ariana Awards for her cover art!!!
In spiritual and/or metaphysical cover art: Beyond Summer
In historical and/or western cover art: Queen of Hearts
In science fiction/futuristic fiction/romance cover art: End Game
In fantasy and/or paranormal romance cover art: Daughter of Ashes
AND, Jude Glad, my editor and publisher and cover artist, won the Ariana for Fantasy and/or paranormal fiction for Lady Warhawk, the 4th in my Zygradon Chronicles series.
I'm so happy for them!!!
Go on over to Uncial Press and Desert Breeze Publishing and check out the gorgeous cover art, and congratulate Jude and Jenifer!!
I can't believe the last few days went by so quickly.
This morning, my roommate, Barb Satow, put on a fascinating and useful presentation on all the tricks and tools for Internet searching.
Then we attended an interesting workshop on how NOT to make history boring.
There were other workshops available on Point Of View, developing characters, doing your homework to prepare for writing a book, networking, the future of publishing, and more. Very useful, depending on what you were looking for at the conference.
During a break, we ran over to the Visitor Center and looked through the bookstore -- always a dangerous thing to do. I made notes on several authors I want to check up on later. And I'm still looking for souvenirs to take home to my nephews and niece!
At lunch, Debra Dixon (of Goal, Motivation and Conflict fame) talked about a writer's voice. Then more workshops followed, along with the New Voices contest presentation.
Barb and I spent a good couple hours walking through the museum in Williamsburg - clothes, folk art, furniture, dishes, musical instruments. Did you know someone made a fiddle out of a tortoise shell? And there's a record player hidden inside the hippoceros (a combination of a rhnocerous and a hippopotomos -- don't believe me? come check it out for yourself!)
We literally walked ourselves exhausted and aching. before taking a shuttle back to the visitor center and our hotel, to rest up for an hour before it was time to dress up and walk down to the conference center for the 2011 EPIC Awards banquet.
I presented the winners for YA fiction and the Ariana award for YA cover art.
Nope, my three books didn't win in their categories, BUT ... I'm still a winner because..........
Jenifer Ranieri, the lovely and talented cover artist for Desert Breeze Publishing -- MY cover artist -- won FOUR Ariana Awards for her cover art!!!
In spiritual and/or metaphysical cover art: Beyond Summer
In historical and/or western cover art: Queen of Hearts
In science fiction/futuristic fiction/romance cover art: End Game
In fantasy and/or paranormal romance cover art: Daughter of Ashes
AND, Jude Glad, my editor and publisher and cover artist, won the Ariana for Fantasy and/or paranormal fiction for Lady Warhawk, the 4th in my Zygradon Chronicles series.
I'm so happy for them!!!
Go on over to Uncial Press and Desert Breeze Publishing and check out the gorgeous cover art, and congratulate Jude and Jenifer!!
March 11, 2011
The EPICon diaries -- day 2
It's the end of day 2.
I'm exhausted!
Another fascinating day traveling into the past.
Today, in between EPICon events, such as our business meeting, we ran over to the historic village.
This time, we visited the printer and I took a video of the printer working on his printing press. I'm sooooo grateful for electronic publishing even more, after seeing all the hard work that goes into making up one page at a time, by hand, using movable type.
We visited the book bindery later. Fascinating! Back in the days when they didn't have copy machines, mimeograph machines, computers for bookkeeping -- everything had to be recorded in books. Printed books came from England, but the big blank ledger and record books were made there in town.
We finally, after multiple tries, got into the wig maker's shop -- and got insulted. Yep, the lady talking about wig making and the quality of different kinds of hair -- yak, human, goat -- suggested something was wrong with us because our hair was cut so short!
It was a bright day, at least part of it. No more rain! There were characters out in costume, riding horses, taking people out in carriage rides.
The gray squirrels were also out in numbers guaranteed to make the dogs being walked up and down the streets go crazy!
We visited the Governor's Palace. Gorgeous place. Just listening to all the historical research that was done to make sure everything was as close to the conditions of the building at that time, was mind-boggling. Barb and I got a private tour -- we were the only visitors at that particular time when the tour started. We finished the tour in the outbuildings of the Governor's Palace, such as the smokehouse, the salting house, the laundry, and the kitchen. There was a vast array of dishes sitting out for visitors to look at, that had been cooked right there in the kitchen. All that without a refrigerator, without blenders or microwaves.
We missed the trial at the Courthouse, but we did step inside later and look around.
Then at the end of the day, we literally walked into a living drama. We watched and listened to four women reacting to the conditions in Williamsburg during the Revolutionary War with husbands missing, presumed being held prisoners on board prison ships, the government moved to Richmond, servants missing, etc. A short time later, British General Benedict Arnold and his forces rode to the capitol building and berated the people on how Congress had betrayed them, and how good King George was willing to make peace and the British raised their flag on the capitol building -- and were greeted with disbelief and cries of "traitor!" by some people.
Our visit for the day finished up with overcast weather, cold wind, and the fife and drum corps marching down the street to the magazine and the marketplace square.
At EPICon, we have had a great time talking with other writers, listening to editors, sharing ideas and experiences in e-publishing. Great things are planned for the future for EPIC, starting with a revised and updated web site and lots of ideas for new services and benefits for our members, and activism to protect our rights as creative artists and increase education on e-books and e-publishing. At lunch, our speaker was a member of the Copyright Coalition, talking about the battle to protect our copyrights and why it's so important, for us and for the economy and the future.
We're both achy and tired now. Time to relax and get a good night's sleep for all the workshops and activities tomorrow, and the EPIC Awards banquet. We've been catching bits and pieces of the story on the tsunami and quake in Japan. Our concerns and prayers go out to those people, as they start picking up the pieces and finding the lost.
I'm exhausted!
Another fascinating day traveling into the past.
Today, in between EPICon events, such as our business meeting, we ran over to the historic village.
This time, we visited the printer and I took a video of the printer working on his printing press. I'm sooooo grateful for electronic publishing even more, after seeing all the hard work that goes into making up one page at a time, by hand, using movable type.
We visited the book bindery later. Fascinating! Back in the days when they didn't have copy machines, mimeograph machines, computers for bookkeeping -- everything had to be recorded in books. Printed books came from England, but the big blank ledger and record books were made there in town.
We finally, after multiple tries, got into the wig maker's shop -- and got insulted. Yep, the lady talking about wig making and the quality of different kinds of hair -- yak, human, goat -- suggested something was wrong with us because our hair was cut so short!
It was a bright day, at least part of it. No more rain! There were characters out in costume, riding horses, taking people out in carriage rides.
The gray squirrels were also out in numbers guaranteed to make the dogs being walked up and down the streets go crazy!
We visited the Governor's Palace. Gorgeous place. Just listening to all the historical research that was done to make sure everything was as close to the conditions of the building at that time, was mind-boggling. Barb and I got a private tour -- we were the only visitors at that particular time when the tour started. We finished the tour in the outbuildings of the Governor's Palace, such as the smokehouse, the salting house, the laundry, and the kitchen. There was a vast array of dishes sitting out for visitors to look at, that had been cooked right there in the kitchen. All that without a refrigerator, without blenders or microwaves.
We missed the trial at the Courthouse, but we did step inside later and look around.
Then at the end of the day, we literally walked into a living drama. We watched and listened to four women reacting to the conditions in Williamsburg during the Revolutionary War with husbands missing, presumed being held prisoners on board prison ships, the government moved to Richmond, servants missing, etc. A short time later, British General Benedict Arnold and his forces rode to the capitol building and berated the people on how Congress had betrayed them, and how good King George was willing to make peace and the British raised their flag on the capitol building -- and were greeted with disbelief and cries of "traitor!" by some people.
Our visit for the day finished up with overcast weather, cold wind, and the fife and drum corps marching down the street to the magazine and the marketplace square.
At EPICon, we have had a great time talking with other writers, listening to editors, sharing ideas and experiences in e-publishing. Great things are planned for the future for EPIC, starting with a revised and updated web site and lots of ideas for new services and benefits for our members, and activism to protect our rights as creative artists and increase education on e-books and e-publishing. At lunch, our speaker was a member of the Copyright Coalition, talking about the battle to protect our copyrights and why it's so important, for us and for the economy and the future.
We're both achy and tired now. Time to relax and get a good night's sleep for all the workshops and activities tomorrow, and the EPIC Awards banquet. We've been catching bits and pieces of the story on the tsunami and quake in Japan. Our concerns and prayers go out to those people, as they start picking up the pieces and finding the lost.
March 10, 2011
The EPICon Diaries
Well, at least I hope so!
Hello from historic Williamsburg, VA!
Barb and I arrived last night, after a 9+ hour trip through rain and snow and constant sheets of rain thrown off of semi-trucks. I swear, every semi that could be out on the road yesterday between Cleveland and Williamsburg WAS on the road from Cleveland to Williamsburg.
The Woodlands Hotel & Suites where the conference is being held is gorgeous. Clean, comfortable rooms, nice layout, convenient. And Huzzah! pizza, just a few short steps from the door of the hotel has the best-ever vegetable pizza I have ever tasted! We walked over, watched them make it, and carried it back to our room to devour.
It was overcast and kind of drippy-chilly all day, but we walked around -- and around, and around -- historic Williamsburg most of the day. Armed with sweaters and umbrellas and sturdy walking shoes, we were ready for anything.
We started with a little orientation tour -- thanks, Lucy, for all your information and suggestions. Then we walked down the 'main drag,' to the Raleigh Tavern, where we had a fascinating little "recital," of comedy, music and dancing that theater-goers of the late 1700s would have enjoyed during scene changes. Bravo, to the re-enacters.
We visited the milliner, the silversmith, the apothecary, and had an interesting tour/lesson and tasting session at the coffee shop. 18th century-style hot chocolate is yummy. But the cups are kinda small! We also visited a lot of shops in search of souvenirs for family and friends. (No, I'm not telling you what we found!)
Barb says I must tell you about the ambush bomber rainclouds. We'd be inside a building and the drizzle would slow. As soon as we headed outside and started down the street -- downpour!
Despite all the rain -- and boy, are we grateful we brought our collapsible umbrellas! -- it's a lot better here than the weather we left behind in Ohio! Barb was texting with her sister, and she said you guys had 6-12" predicted today and tomorrow. Yuck!
At the Tarpley Store we learned an old-fashioned game called Shut the Box, and I considered a selection of tri-corn hats for my favorite nephews ... or maybe some tin flutes? How about a set of drums? No decision yet, but I hope their parents are shaking in their boots!
We also checked out the College of William and Mary Bookstore, a fascinating toy shop, and the Virginia Peanut Shop. Gotta go back there later. Too many flavors of peanuts to choose from.
We made it back to our room, wet and footsore and ready for a long nap before the mixer that will start the convention activities this evening.
Maybe tomorrow I'll have some pictures, when there's a little more sunshine to make things worthwhile. We want to check out the ghost walk, maybe the fife and drum exhibition, the wig-maker's shop, the print shop and book bindery, a court case performance.
Oh, yeah -- and attend the workshops and activities involved in EPICon. I mean, after all, that's the main reason we're here, right?
Hello from historic Williamsburg, VA!
Barb and I arrived last night, after a 9+ hour trip through rain and snow and constant sheets of rain thrown off of semi-trucks. I swear, every semi that could be out on the road yesterday between Cleveland and Williamsburg WAS on the road from Cleveland to Williamsburg.
The Woodlands Hotel & Suites where the conference is being held is gorgeous. Clean, comfortable rooms, nice layout, convenient. And Huzzah! pizza, just a few short steps from the door of the hotel has the best-ever vegetable pizza I have ever tasted! We walked over, watched them make it, and carried it back to our room to devour.
It was overcast and kind of drippy-chilly all day, but we walked around -- and around, and around -- historic Williamsburg most of the day. Armed with sweaters and umbrellas and sturdy walking shoes, we were ready for anything.
We started with a little orientation tour -- thanks, Lucy, for all your information and suggestions. Then we walked down the 'main drag,' to the Raleigh Tavern, where we had a fascinating little "recital," of comedy, music and dancing that theater-goers of the late 1700s would have enjoyed during scene changes. Bravo, to the re-enacters.
We visited the milliner, the silversmith, the apothecary, and had an interesting tour/lesson and tasting session at the coffee shop. 18th century-style hot chocolate is yummy. But the cups are kinda small! We also visited a lot of shops in search of souvenirs for family and friends. (No, I'm not telling you what we found!)
Barb says I must tell you about the ambush bomber rainclouds. We'd be inside a building and the drizzle would slow. As soon as we headed outside and started down the street -- downpour!
Despite all the rain -- and boy, are we grateful we brought our collapsible umbrellas! -- it's a lot better here than the weather we left behind in Ohio! Barb was texting with her sister, and she said you guys had 6-12" predicted today and tomorrow. Yuck!
At the Tarpley Store we learned an old-fashioned game called Shut the Box, and I considered a selection of tri-corn hats for my favorite nephews ... or maybe some tin flutes? How about a set of drums? No decision yet, but I hope their parents are shaking in their boots!
We also checked out the College of William and Mary Bookstore, a fascinating toy shop, and the Virginia Peanut Shop. Gotta go back there later. Too many flavors of peanuts to choose from.
We made it back to our room, wet and footsore and ready for a long nap before the mixer that will start the convention activities this evening.
Maybe tomorrow I'll have some pictures, when there's a little more sunshine to make things worthwhile. We want to check out the ghost walk, maybe the fife and drum exhibition, the wig-maker's shop, the print shop and book bindery, a court case performance.
Oh, yeah -- and attend the workshops and activities involved in EPICon. I mean, after all, that's the main reason we're here, right?
March 3, 2011
Pray, Jane. Pray
See Jane.
Jane is driving to church.
Jane stops at every red light and closes her eyes to pray.
Poor Jane! Almost all her prayers are, "Please, God, don't let Dr. Noway come to my church today!"
Jane is ashamed.
Jane knows this is no way for a semi-pseudo-secret agent to act. She should be stronger and braver.
She should have some faith in her supervisor, O, and her training.
She should have faith in her weapons.
Besides, her church is a big, big church, and there are lots of big men who see Jane as a little sister to look after.
(Yes, that is a very depressing thought for Jane. She doesn't mind when the husbands of her good friends treat her like a sister, but what about the single men?)
(And double yes, there are some men in her singles group she would not date if they were the last single men alive on the planet. She left her last church because they decided that being a "family-oriented church" meant everyone had to be married. Her mentor was upset that she wouldn't date his third cousin twice-removed just because he told her to. He couldn't understand why Jane was repelled by a man who only bathed once a week, had one eyebrow, and thought Benny Hill was high culture.)
"Thank You, Lord, that I am in a good church where people know that women have brains and talents and have a right to choose their own careers and lives."
Jane turns into the driveway of her church and goes around to the parking lot behind the building. She knows it is useless to try to find a parking spot near the front door on Sunday mornings. That is a good thing -- at least, she hopes it is a good thing -- that so many people come to worship.
"Miss Smythe! Miss Smythe!" two vaguely familiar little girl voices call from across the parking lot. The tapping of two sets of little feet in patent leather shoes sounds like the rattle of small-calibre gunfire on a stucco wall.
Jane freezes for two heartbeats -- which is hard to do when her heart doesn't want to beat -- then she closes her car door and turns around.
Dr. Noway's two little nieces come running across the parking lot to her. They have stopped in at the office every morning before school to say hello. For some reason, the Noway girls think Jane is their special friend.
Jane lets the little girls take her hands. The ten-year-old is Annabelle and the eight-year-old is Clarabelle. Privately, Jane is sure that Clarabelle will grow up to be just like her uncle, just because of her name. She knows that if she had been named after the clown from the Howdy-Doody Show, she would have grown up to be a psychopath. Why do parents saddle their children with terrible names?
"Good morning, Miss Smythe," Dr. Noway says. He did not appear from a black hole in the pavement, but that is how Jane feels as she turns around to see his smiling face.
"Good morning, Dr. Noway. I didn't know you were coming to my church."
Jane wonders if she will be in trouble for telling such a big lie in the church parking lot.
What will happen next? Now that Dr. Noway has found Jane at her church, how much worse can the day get?
Find out in the next episode in the continuing adventures of Bondservant. Jane Bondservant.
Jane is driving to church.
Jane stops at every red light and closes her eyes to pray.
Poor Jane! Almost all her prayers are, "Please, God, don't let Dr. Noway come to my church today!"
Jane is ashamed.
Jane knows this is no way for a semi-pseudo-secret agent to act. She should be stronger and braver.
She should have some faith in her supervisor, O, and her training.
She should have faith in her weapons.
Besides, her church is a big, big church, and there are lots of big men who see Jane as a little sister to look after.
(Yes, that is a very depressing thought for Jane. She doesn't mind when the husbands of her good friends treat her like a sister, but what about the single men?)
(And double yes, there are some men in her singles group she would not date if they were the last single men alive on the planet. She left her last church because they decided that being a "family-oriented church" meant everyone had to be married. Her mentor was upset that she wouldn't date his third cousin twice-removed just because he told her to. He couldn't understand why Jane was repelled by a man who only bathed once a week, had one eyebrow, and thought Benny Hill was high culture.)
"Thank You, Lord, that I am in a good church where people know that women have brains and talents and have a right to choose their own careers and lives."
Jane turns into the driveway of her church and goes around to the parking lot behind the building. She knows it is useless to try to find a parking spot near the front door on Sunday mornings. That is a good thing -- at least, she hopes it is a good thing -- that so many people come to worship.
"Miss Smythe! Miss Smythe!" two vaguely familiar little girl voices call from across the parking lot. The tapping of two sets of little feet in patent leather shoes sounds like the rattle of small-calibre gunfire on a stucco wall.
Jane freezes for two heartbeats -- which is hard to do when her heart doesn't want to beat -- then she closes her car door and turns around.
Dr. Noway's two little nieces come running across the parking lot to her. They have stopped in at the office every morning before school to say hello. For some reason, the Noway girls think Jane is their special friend.
Jane lets the little girls take her hands. The ten-year-old is Annabelle and the eight-year-old is Clarabelle. Privately, Jane is sure that Clarabelle will grow up to be just like her uncle, just because of her name. She knows that if she had been named after the clown from the Howdy-Doody Show, she would have grown up to be a psychopath. Why do parents saddle their children with terrible names?
"Good morning, Miss Smythe," Dr. Noway says. He did not appear from a black hole in the pavement, but that is how Jane feels as she turns around to see his smiling face.
"Good morning, Dr. Noway. I didn't know you were coming to my church."
Jane wonders if she will be in trouble for telling such a big lie in the church parking lot.
What will happen next? Now that Dr. Noway has found Jane at her church, how much worse can the day get?
Find out in the next episode in the continuing adventures of Bondservant. Jane Bondservant.
