Victoria Janssen's Blog, page 66

Maurice Baring, "In Memoriam A.H."

Tweet

In Memoriam A.H.

The wind had blown away the rain

That all day long had soaked the level plain.

Against the horizon's fiery wrack,

The sheds loomed black.

And higher, in their tumultuous concourse met,

The streaming clouds, shot-riddled banners, wet

With the flickering storm,

Drifted and smouldered, warm

With flashes sent

From the lower firmament.

And they concealed–

They only here and there through rifts revealed

A hidden sanctuary of fire and light,

A city of chrysolite.

We looked and...

Submit * 3

Tweet

Today I'm over at the Novelists, Inc. blog with a guest post on making your own luck.



Monday, I'll have a guest post on my favorite YA books over at Culinary Carnivale.

I belatedly discovered this very nice review of The Mammoth Book of Threesomes and Moresomes. It mentions me (as Elspeth Potter) as someone with "name recognition," which pleased me greatly!

There's another review here at Lambda Literary. You have to scroll down a little for it.

My story in the anthology, "The...

Philadelphia International Flower Show – 3

A few more pictures from the Philadelphia International Flower Show; I visited this exhibit twice, I liked it so much. These displays were made from trash and found objects as well as floral-based materials.

Philadelphia International Flower Show – 2

More pictures from the Philadelphia International Flower Show! These are from my favorite exhibit, "Paris Underground," which had a catacomb theme.

Philadelphia International Flower Show – 1

Last week, I attended the Philadelphia International Flower Show. Here is some of what I saw.

Roller Derby!

I spent my Saturday night watching Philly Roller Derby, the second time I've attended one of their matches. My writer friend Jennifer Stevenson got me re-interested in this sport. Check out her story in the Jam! anthology.

I didn't have much success with taking clear pictures with my small camera and the available lighting, but I kind of like the way these turned out, blurring and all.

 

Maurice Baring, "Julian Grenfell"

Julian Grenfell

Because of you we will be glad and gay,

Remembering you, we will be brave and strong;

And hail the advent of each dangerous day,

And meet the last adventure with a song.

And, as you proudly gave your jewelled gift,

We'll give our lesser offering with a smile,

Nor falter on that path where, all too swift,

You led the way and leapt the golden stile.

Whether new paths, new heights to climb you find,
Or gallop through the unfooted asphodel,
We know you know we shall not lag behind,

Geoffrey Dearmer, "Nous Autres"

Nous Autres

We never feel the lust of steel

Or fury-woken blood,

We live and die and wonder why

In mud, and mud, and mud,

And horror first and horror last

And Phantom Terror riding past.

We hear and hear the hounds of Fear

Nearer and more near.

We feel their breath….

Only the nights befriend

And mitigate the hell;

Of those who ponder, see and hear,

Too well.

The nights, and Death –

The end.

We feel but never fear

His breath.

Day after weary day,
In vain, in vain, in vain,
We turn to Thee and...

Sporty Women in Romance

Where are all the sporty women in romance? The female professional athletes, or the ones who played basketball in college? Is there no Title IX for romance heroines?

For a romance with male athletes, I know to look up Susan Elizabeth Phillips or Kayla Perrin.

But women athletes? Aside from various equestrian skills (most common in historicals, but also not unusual in contemporaries), where are the professional female athlete heroines?

And when they are there, how often are they actually...

7 Pleasures of Writing

1. Games of Free Cell are much more satisfying when you're only allowed one game, and then you have to start writing.



2. When you're feeling the urge to be a hermit, writing is the perfect excuse.

3. When writing is going really well, and often even when it isn't, it can be like a little, cozy cave where it's just you and your imagination. I call it "the happy place."

4. Finishing something—a short story, a novel—is one of the most satisfying feelings in the world. It's even more satisfying ...