Helen Lowe's Blog, page 238

An Evening with Walter Jon Williams

L-R: Andrew, Walter, Cathy, Joff, Beaulah, & Liz

Yesterday, I and fellow SpecFicNZ members enjoyed the opportunity to spend an evening with Walter Jon Williams and his wife Cathy, who are currently holidaying in New Zealand.

It’s always nice to catch up with other writers, especially one as long established as Walter—as well as (fan gal moment!) meeting the author of such longstanding favorites as Hardwired, Crown Jewels and Implied Spaces. And fascinating as well to hear about Taos Toolbox, th...

Steampunk Holiday

Yesterday I posted about Queenstown, its spectacular natural beauty and historic heritage—but there was another important aspect to the trip, that began in Queenstown but was most notably encountered in coastal Oamaru.

Yes, the holiday had steampunk elements.

TSS Earnslaw - 100 yrs old this year

In Queenstown it was more steam than punk, making the return lake crossing in the coal-fired steamer the TSS Earnslaw. Still, for those who love the steampunk genre, or simply the mechanical age, stari...

Why Queenstown (& Environs) for The Holiday

The Year 2000 memorial on Queenstown Hill

As promised, here is a little more on the holiday—and as Paul asked to know more about the memorial on Queenstown Hill I will definitely include a mention of that.:)

Shortly before I went on holiday, someone said to me: “Queenstown—why’re you going there? ” The subtext was that since Queenstown is a major tourist destination then I, as a local, should eschew it as a destination.

Queenstown, with the Remarkables behind the town

But of course, Queenstown is...

What’s Up

I Interview Elizabeth Knox on SF Signal

First up, my lastest “Fun with Friends” interview, which is with Elizabeth Knox, has posted on SF Signal—and as always Elizabeth has some insightful things to say, so do head on over and take a look.

To read the interview, click Here

(PS You can leave a comment too, if you like… )

—

Book Reports Coming Up

I have mentioned that I read a few books while on holiday and that I shall be reporting back—and I will!

Just to let you know what they are though, here’s t...

Of Holidays & Writing

On Monday, I talked about my holiday—much needed after the recent years of ‘earthquakiness.’ And there were photos, here.

Yesterday, another author said: “Wow. A break from writing! Are we allowed to do that? ”

Now, although the smiley face suggests that this was tongue in cheek, here’s why my answer was, and is: “Absolutely, yes!”

Not just because, as mentioned on Monday, all work and no play makes for very dull writers indeed–and if that dullness were to carry through into the writing, as o...

The Next Big Thing—An “Author Tags Author” Meme

A while back, fellow SpecFicNZ writer Amanda Fitzwater tagged me to do a “The Next Big Thing” post, but at the time I was snowed under so I had to pass on the opportunity. But I always felt a little bit as though I had let the ball drop, so when UK author, Elspeth Cooper, asked if I’d be willing to be tagged again, this time I said “yes.”

In terms of what “The Next Big Thing” is—well, I guess it’s a meme, only in this case it’s a meme that applies specifically to books and writing and is all a...

“Home Thoughts, From Abroad” by Robert Browning

OH, to be in England

Now that April ’s there

And whoever wakes in England

Sees, some morning, unaware,

That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf

Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,

While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough

In England—now!

And after April, when May follows,

And the white-throat builds, and all the swallows –

Hark! where my blossom’d pear-tree in the hedge

Leans to the field and scatters on the clover

Blossoms and dewdrops – at the bent spray’s edge –

That ’s the wise thrush...

What I’ve Been Doing: I’ve Been On Holiday, That’s What!

Yes, for the last ten days I’ve been officially en vacance and it’s been fabulous.

I realised a little while back that I hadn’t had a proper break, ie a complete r’n'r break from the everyday work and routine since before the September 2010 earthquake—and of course it’s been quite the two years since then, with Christchurch’s plus 10,000 earthquakes and all the aftermath of that. (Touched on in the Earthquake Reports in the sidebar, for those who may be new to the blog.)

At any rate, since we a...

“Just This” Moments: Celebrating Spring iii

One of my favourite flowers is the hardy and common Flanders poppy—or ANZAC poppy as it is known here, for the Australian New Zealand Army Corps that served in Flanders & elsewhere throughout World War 1.

So this little series celebrating spring with a few “just this” moments from the garden wouldn’t be complete without some shots of the first poppies coming into bloom—these ones by the very traditional white painted fence!

The white flower growing alongside the poppies is alyssum, another co...

A Quote for Saturday: Courtesy of Ralph Waldo Emerson

.

“Insist on yourself. Never imitate.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

—

I saw this on a friend’s calendar, and liked it so much I had to share, especially as it seemed good for life, not just for writing.

And of course Emerson was an essayist and poet as well as a philosopher—but to find out more about him you can read both what Wikipedia has to say, here, and also the American Transcendentalist Web, here. (Emerson was an—or the—leading American Transcendentalist of the 19th century.)

.