S.L. Viehl's Blog, page 34
January 10, 2016
Just Write
Today I'm off to write something new and post it online before midnight. Everyone inclined to do the same is invited to join me.
My link: More on Twenty-One , (click on the title to go to the .pdf), with new material beginning on page 42.
For more details on Just Write, click here to go to the original post.
Image credit: My kid. :)
January 9, 2016
My Head Explodes. Again.
PBW: So now it seems the guy who inflicted Facebook on the world wants to build an artificially intelligent assistant for himself to, and I'll quote the Time article here "to help run his house and assist him at work." Because, you know, that's insanely hard work no human being should ever have to do.
Alfred: Madam, your proposal is waiting. The canines will need walking, and the batcave is beginning to resemble an actual bat cave. Please stop surfing the internet.
PBW: In a minute. Apparently Facebook guy sets himself a new goal every year, and this is it. Build himself a robot helper.
Alfred: It sounds rather admirable. I wonder if he'll sell them on Amazon?
PBW: Instead of giving someone who actually breathes a job? How is that admirable? No, it's just like an insanely rich person to think up something idiotic like that. I bet he just doesn't want to offer medical benefits. Or any benefits, really. A robot wouldn't need any, or rights, or lunch breaks, or--
Alfred: Perhaps if I could buy one that closely resembles me, I could -- wait, you mean other assistants get lunch breaks?
PBW: I give you tea breaks, Al, because you're British. Also, you never eat.
Alfred: Oh, dear. Am I a robot?
PBW: No, you're my invisible assistant. Like an invisible friend, only naggier and more organized. Anyway, you remember that Will Smith robot movie? Will was great, but the whole robot helper thing didn't turn out so well for his alternate universe. And that other, awful movie about robots, you know, that one with the kid. What was the name of that one? It was like three hours long. Jude Law was in it, and he didn't even have to act.
Alfred: AI, Madam.
PBW: That's it. I still think of that robot kid every time I hear the word dolphin. I don't know why these things annoy me. What would you expect from a person who considers reading two books a month such a difficult thing that he had to make that a goal one year?
Alfred (mumbling): But you read only three books last September.
PBW: I heard that.
Alfred: I think I'll take my tea break now, Madam.
Alfred: Madam, your proposal is waiting. The canines will need walking, and the batcave is beginning to resemble an actual bat cave. Please stop surfing the internet.
PBW: In a minute. Apparently Facebook guy sets himself a new goal every year, and this is it. Build himself a robot helper.
Alfred: It sounds rather admirable. I wonder if he'll sell them on Amazon?
PBW: Instead of giving someone who actually breathes a job? How is that admirable? No, it's just like an insanely rich person to think up something idiotic like that. I bet he just doesn't want to offer medical benefits. Or any benefits, really. A robot wouldn't need any, or rights, or lunch breaks, or--
Alfred: Perhaps if I could buy one that closely resembles me, I could -- wait, you mean other assistants get lunch breaks?
PBW: I give you tea breaks, Al, because you're British. Also, you never eat.
Alfred: Oh, dear. Am I a robot?
PBW: No, you're my invisible assistant. Like an invisible friend, only naggier and more organized. Anyway, you remember that Will Smith robot movie? Will was great, but the whole robot helper thing didn't turn out so well for his alternate universe. And that other, awful movie about robots, you know, that one with the kid. What was the name of that one? It was like three hours long. Jude Law was in it, and he didn't even have to act.
Alfred: AI, Madam.
PBW: That's it. I still think of that robot kid every time I hear the word dolphin. I don't know why these things annoy me. What would you expect from a person who considers reading two books a month such a difficult thing that he had to make that a goal one year?
Alfred (mumbling): But you read only three books last September.
PBW: I heard that.
Alfred: I think I'll take my tea break now, Madam.
January 8, 2016
Follow Your Passion
Meet Ben Harris, a traditional wooden boat builder in Cornwall, UK, who describes his passion for working with wood to build boats (includes background music and narration):
From Timber To Tide from Pixillion on Vimeo.
January 7, 2016
Wall Calendar Keeper
If you'd like to recycle your beautiful old picture wall calendars, here's a way to make them into pocket keeper books, where you can save things you don't want to lose, get dinged, etc.
For this project you'll need an old wall calendar, a single hole punch, scissors, double-sided tape, and three 12" to 18" lengths of ribbon, yarn or string. You can also use a paper trimmer if you have one large enough to accommodate your calendar, and staples or glue in place of the double-sided tape:
First, remove the two staples holding your calendar together, and separate it into the six pages plus the cover:
Cut each page in half along the spine line. You will end up with twelve pages and two cover pages:
Place each page picture-side down, and fold up the bottom up to form the pocket for each signature (top page below). To know that you've got a page in the proper position, the little holes in the calendar that you used to hang it on your wall should be at the top of every page, with an upside-down calendar grid facing up (the back cover page will not have that litte hole, however.) The size of the pocket is determined by how much you fold over. Once you've done this, fold the page in half to form a signature (bottom page below):
When you're finished folding all your pages and covers, you should have a pile of pocketed signatures like this:
With your single hold punch, make three evenly-spaced holes along the spine fold of each signature:
Once you've punched holes in all your signatures, open each one and apply a short piece of double-sided tape to the inside of the pocket fold, where I've indicated below in red, then refold. The tape will seal the sides of each pocket:
Assemble your signatures in a stack, and remember to put them in the order you want them in your keeper. I used the signatures I made from the covers for the first and last pages, as the covers are a bit thicker than the rest of the calendar and make nice covers for the keeper.
Thread your ribbons through each hole in every signature, leaving enough so that you can tie the ends together once it's through all the signatures:
Knot all three of your ribbons (and if you open your keeper to the middle when you place it down before you tie it, this will help prevent you from tying the ribbons too tightly):
And you end up with a keeper that looks like this:
And when you open it, like this between signatures:
What can you keep in your keeper? Anything you want to save that fits in the pocket. A keeper can store your bookmarks, photos, and greeting cards:
Postage stamps or clipped recipes:
Laces, ribbons and paper, sewing or mixed media ephemera:
It's a great way to keep notes, journal pages or receipts, too:
I think the nice thing about this project is that you don't waste any part of the calendar. I made four of these in one day, so it's easy, too:
Some other ideas:
Combine two calendars to make a bigger keeper book.
Instead of using ribbon, try small binder rings.
Punch corresponding holes in pieces of notepaper, and stack them between the signatures to make pages you can write on.
If you're feelings really ambitious, don't punch the holes or use ribbon, and instead coptic-stitch your signatures together.
Label each pocket with a month of the year and use the keeper to store any deductible receipts for tax time.
For this project you'll need an old wall calendar, a single hole punch, scissors, double-sided tape, and three 12" to 18" lengths of ribbon, yarn or string. You can also use a paper trimmer if you have one large enough to accommodate your calendar, and staples or glue in place of the double-sided tape:
First, remove the two staples holding your calendar together, and separate it into the six pages plus the cover:
Cut each page in half along the spine line. You will end up with twelve pages and two cover pages:
Place each page picture-side down, and fold up the bottom up to form the pocket for each signature (top page below). To know that you've got a page in the proper position, the little holes in the calendar that you used to hang it on your wall should be at the top of every page, with an upside-down calendar grid facing up (the back cover page will not have that litte hole, however.) The size of the pocket is determined by how much you fold over. Once you've done this, fold the page in half to form a signature (bottom page below):
When you're finished folding all your pages and covers, you should have a pile of pocketed signatures like this:
With your single hold punch, make three evenly-spaced holes along the spine fold of each signature:
Once you've punched holes in all your signatures, open each one and apply a short piece of double-sided tape to the inside of the pocket fold, where I've indicated below in red, then refold. The tape will seal the sides of each pocket:
Assemble your signatures in a stack, and remember to put them in the order you want them in your keeper. I used the signatures I made from the covers for the first and last pages, as the covers are a bit thicker than the rest of the calendar and make nice covers for the keeper.
Thread your ribbons through each hole in every signature, leaving enough so that you can tie the ends together once it's through all the signatures:
Knot all three of your ribbons (and if you open your keeper to the middle when you place it down before you tie it, this will help prevent you from tying the ribbons too tightly):
And you end up with a keeper that looks like this:
And when you open it, like this between signatures:
What can you keep in your keeper? Anything you want to save that fits in the pocket. A keeper can store your bookmarks, photos, and greeting cards:
Postage stamps or clipped recipes:
Laces, ribbons and paper, sewing or mixed media ephemera:
It's a great way to keep notes, journal pages or receipts, too:
I think the nice thing about this project is that you don't waste any part of the calendar. I made four of these in one day, so it's easy, too:
Some other ideas:
Combine two calendars to make a bigger keeper book.
Instead of using ribbon, try small binder rings.
Punch corresponding holes in pieces of notepaper, and stack them between the signatures to make pages you can write on.
If you're feelings really ambitious, don't punch the holes or use ribbon, and instead coptic-stitch your signatures together.
Label each pocket with a month of the year and use the keeper to store any deductible receipts for tax time.
January 6, 2016
Sub Op
I spotted this open call for Valentine's Day erotic romance over in the Paying Markets forum on AbsoluteWrite.com:
"Publisher: Acelette Press
Contract: Non exclusive rights
Payment: Acelette's currently taking 5% for Sexy to Go volumes 6-12 and special editions, and I believe we will do the same for themed boxed sets in 2016. They divide the payments for us. Pays on monthly schedule.
Story Due Date: Jan 22nd
Story types accepted: erotic romance 3-4k and up in word count
Contact: Ask to join our fb group for more info https://www.facebook.com/groups/15540... or email the designated cat herder Haley Whitehall at unionadvance4ever@gmail.com"
"Publisher: Acelette Press
Contract: Non exclusive rights
Payment: Acelette's currently taking 5% for Sexy to Go volumes 6-12 and special editions, and I believe we will do the same for themed boxed sets in 2016. They divide the payments for us. Pays on monthly schedule.
Story Due Date: Jan 22nd
Story types accepted: erotic romance 3-4k and up in word count
Contact: Ask to join our fb group for more info https://www.facebook.com/groups/15540... or email the designated cat herder Haley Whitehall at unionadvance4ever@gmail.com"
January 5, 2016
LT Early Reviewers
I just received a notice from Library Thing that my next free read for their Early Reviewers program will be
52 Small Changes for the Mind
by Brett Blumenthal. Since I'm all about little changes to make things better, especially in the gray matter department, I'm quite pleased.After joining the program in spring last year I received three ARCs, worth a little over $116.00, so this new venture has definitely helped my book budget. My book of the year for 2015 came to me this way, too, which I think is pretty cool. I think I'm having such good luck with it because I put my name in only for books I want to read (mostly nonfiction). While I'm not always selected to get a free copy, looking through the listings of available titles every month keeps me in the loop about what's being published in my favorite reference categories. If I really want something, but don't win the ARC, I jot down the title and order it through our public library.
It's not all about instant gratification -- the ARCs I've won often do take eight weeks to reach me -- but when the ARC does arrive it's like a mini Christmas. I don't have the budget to buy many new books anymore, and this takes some of the sting out of that. I appreciate the opportunity to help launch a great new book, too, and by reading and writing it up (which I do faithfully with each one I get) I feel like I also earn the free read. Anyway, I highly recommend joining LT's Early Reviewer program if you're a member, and would like to add some terrific books to your personal library.
January 4, 2016
PBW's Book of the Month & Year
Reading in December was made particularly brighter by my LT Secret Santa, who among other books sent me my pick for December's Book of the Month, At Home by Bill Bryson. It was for me a revisited read, but the second time around I had more time to appreciate the author's remarkable handling of history, amusing writing style, and all those countless little details that Mr. Bryson somehow manages to include in all his works without making even the tiniest infodump pile of them.At Home is probably the most intense history lesson ever written, and discusses in remarkable detail how every room (and virtually every thing) in the places where we live relate to the conflicts, disasters, discoveries, geniuses, inventions and crazy people that change the world. Mr. Bryson takes you through his own home in the UK while he talks about things you might never otherwise have realized had such illustrious --and often startling -- connections. It's not just a book for history buffs like me; it's the sort of read that makes anyone feel smarter, enlightened and entertained, all at the same time, which is Bill Bryson's particular mojo.
I mulled back and forth over whether or not to pick a book of the year. Every month I picked a favorite, though, and of those twelve books one did make me exceptionally happy. Not only was it a great read, it reminded me of my dad and his love of great food and all of the wonderful things he taught me in the kitchen. So my book of the year for 2015 really has to be In a French Kitchen ~ Tales and Traditions of Everyday Home Cooking in France by Susan Herrmann Loomis, which I received as an ARC from Library Thing's Early Reviewers Program. You can read my take on it here.
Finally, for posterity, here's the list of the 123 books I read for pleasure in 2015:
January
First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen*
In the Arms of Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan
Dead Drop by Carolyn Jewel
Raven Black by Anne Cleeves
Revival by Stephen King
Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl
Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger
February
Without Fail by Lee Child
Persuader by Lee Child
The Enemy by Lee Child
American Cooking: The Northwest by Dale Brown*
March
Inca Gold by Clive Cussler
Polar Shift by Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos
The Stranger I Married by Sylvia Day
Blush by Opal Carew
The Juliette Society by Sasha Grey
Time and Tithe by LJ Cohen
The Cooking of Vienna's Empire by Joseph Wechsberg
Prudence ~ The Custard Protocol: Book One by Gail Carriger*
The Cooking of Japan by Rafael Steinberg
April
Longing by Mary Balogh*
Beyond the Sunrise by Mary Balogh
Beauty's Kingdom by Anne Rice
The Cooking of Provincial France by M.F.K. Fisher
Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
The Ideal Wife by Mary Balogh
Skintight by Susan Andersen
The Arabian Nights edited by Kate Douglas Wiggin and Nora A. Smith
Low-Fat Ways to Cook Pasta by Susan M. McIntosh
A Breach of Promise by Anne Perry
Reckless by Anne Stuart
The Mysteries Within by Sherwin Nuland
May
Governess by Ruth Brandon
White Nights by Ann Cleeves
One Shot by Lee Child
Red Bones by Ann Cleeves
The Hard Way by Lee Child
Dying Embers by B.E. Sanderson
Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child
Nothing to Lose by Lee Child
Blue Lightning by Ann Cleeves
Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child
61 Hours by Lee Child
Angel in a Red Dress by Judith Ivory
Worth Dying For by Lee Child
English Tea & Cakes by Celia Brooks
The Affair by Lee Child
A Wanted Man by Lee Child
Never Go Back by Lee Child
Simply Love by Mary Balogh
Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz*
What Life Was Like Among Samurai and Shoguns: Japan, AD 1000-1700 edited by Denise Dersin
Quilting Art by Spike Gillespie
Midnight in Ruby Bayou by Elizabeth Lowell
June
Japanese Quilt Blocks by Susan Briscoe
In a French Kitchen ~ Tales and Traditions of Everyday Home Cooking in France by Susan Herrmann Loomis*
Bond of Hatred by Lynne Graham
The Greek Tycoon's Convenient Mistress by Lynne Graham
Marriage at a Price by Miranda Lee
The Frenchman's Love-Child by Lynne Graham
Married to a Mistress by Lynne Graham
Greek Tycoon, Inexperienced Mistress by Lynne Graham
Outback Man by Miranda Lee
Shakespeare ~ The World as Stage by Bill Bryson
The Story of X by A.J. Molloy
Only a Promise by Mary Balogh
Consumed by Fire by Anne Stuart
Derelict by LJ Cohen (revisited read)*
Semi-Homemade 20-Minute Meals by Sandra Lee
Happily Ever After by Elizabeth Maxwell
The Spanish Billionaire's Pregnant Wife by Lynn Graham
July
Ithaka Rising by LJ Cohen*
Beck and Call by Emma Holly
The Sicilian's Mistress by Lynne Graham
Burned by Karen Marie Moning
Shades of Twilight by Linda Howard
Personal by Lee Child
The Cybrarian's Web 2 by Cheryl Ann Peltier-Davis
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
August
The Falcon at the Portal by Elizabeth Peters
Horns by Joe Hill
Beginner's Guide to Silk Ribbon Embroidery by Ann Cox
Bead Embroidery Stitch Samples by Yasuko Endo
Everything's Eventual by Stephen King
Chill Factor by Sandra Brown
Double Dead by Chuck Wendig
Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning (revisited read)
Running Wild by Susan Andersen*
September
Play Dead by Anne Frasier (revisited read)
Stay Dead by Anne Frasier (revisited read)
Pretty Dead by Anne Frasier*
October
Only a Kiss by Mary Balogh*
Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning (revisted read)
Belong to Me by Shayla Black
Because You are Mine by Beth Kery
The Door Through Space by Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Florida Land Boom of the 1920s by Gregg M. Turner
Faefever by Karen Marie Moning (revisited read)
The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
November
Victorian America ~ Transformations in Everyday Life 1876-1915 by Thomas J. Schlereth
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
A Storm in the Blood by Jon Stephen Fink
Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg (revisited read)
Silent Thunder by Iris and Roy Johansen
Beauty by Robin McKinley
Shadows by Robin McKinley
The Lingering Dead by J.N. Duncan
The Taint of Midas by Anne Zouroudi*
The Andalucian Friend by Alexander Söderberg
The Deadliest Sin by Caroline Richards
December
The Aviary Gate by Katie Hickman
Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon
Absolution by Patrick Flanery
News from Heaven by Jennifer Haigh
Aztec Revenge by Junius Podrug
Justice by Karen Robards
Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton
Ariel (the restored edition) by Sylvia Plath
At Home by Bill Bryson (revisited read)*
*My pick as book(s) of the month
January 3, 2016
Just Write
Today I'm off to write something new and post it online before midnight. Everyone inclined to do the same is invited to join me.
My link: More on Twenty-One (click on the title to go to the .pdf), with new material beginning on page 38.
For more details on Just Write, click here to go to the original post.
Image credit: My kid. :)
January 2, 2016
PBW Plans 2016
I hope everyone is enjoying a happy and safe new year. I'm skipping resolutions and themes for 2016 and just going with the flow. The flow has been pretty good to me over the last year. I do have a couple of ideas I might test-drive on PBW over the next few months, and most are related to the work, blogging, journaling and various other creative ventures. One secret project is also in the works. That said, I'm also booking my work schedule into summer now, and I know I'm going to be busy, so there may not be time to experiment much.
I am planning to continue a couple of the newer features on the blog: Just Write, Book of the Month, and reviews of any ARCs I happen to receive from LT Early Reviewers. As always I'll also hunt for free writer resources and post any interesting sub ops I find out there. No doubt I'll make you look at lots of quilting and recycling projects, too.
I know I haven't been writing as many humor posts as I have in years past. It's not because I've lost my sense of humor; it's more that I've been much happier. Humor has always been my response to anything negative or hateful. Not to gloat, but for once things in my pro and personal life are going exceptionally well, and I'm writing better than ever. I'm sure I'll find something to joke about in 2016, but expect my focus to be more on creativity, productivity, books, and all things writing.
On the indy publishing front, over the winter I was planning to begin writing Her Majesty's Deathmage. I even went so far as to commission the cover artwork and design. As luck would have it just as I was about to start on the book I got a series job offer from a fabulous client.
I admit, I was kind of relieved to put aside HMD so I could focus on the ghost writing. I'm still pretty nervous about going back to byline work, plus the clients pay my bills, and there are always plenty of those. The decision resulted in another offer for more new work, so it turned out to be for the best. I'm still not very savvy about indy publishing for profit, either, and have to do a lot more research to learn how to do it, find the best options, etc. At present I can't tell you exactly when I'll get to HMD, but eventually I will, and (unless a whole pile of fabulous jobs fall in my lap) I'm planning to indy publish it this year. Readers, I thank you for your patience and understanding.
Is there anything you'd like to see on PBW in 2016? Let me know in comments.
Image credit: zzoplanet (and this was one of DepositPhoto.com's free weekly photos, btw.)
January 1, 2016
S.L. Viehl's Blog
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