David Anthony Durham's Blog, page 21
February 22, 2012
When I heard this story yesterday on NPR I had to do a se...
When I heard this story yesterday on NPR I had to do a serious double take.The part that amazed me is the notion that E.M. Forster (yes, the British guy who wrote "A Room with a View" and "Howard's End") apparently wrote a seriously prescient science fiction story.
Blows my mind...
Have a listen HERE.
February 20, 2012
Hines on Amazon Pricing
There's an informative post from Jim C. Hines regarding Amazon's control of self-published ebook titles. They changed his price without telling him, and with no explanation of why.They can do that, you know...
You can read about his experience HERE.
February 19, 2012
Spooky Girl
Today, a post showcasing my daughter's continued growth as an artist.
She's recently begun taking an online art course with Juliette Crane. I met Juliette a few years back, and I've admired her artwork ever since. As Maya was needing a challenge with her work, we thought Juliette's course "How to Paint a Girl" might do the trick.
So far, it's been lovely. Even has Gudrun and Sage inspired to try their hand at it.Maya's the star, though. She's caught on wonderfully to painting, to layering, to making use of mixed media. Photos don't quite do her girls justice - since there's so much texture and fabric at play also - but here's a glimpse:
Spooky Girl
Cat Girl
The girl's got talent...
She's recently begun taking an online art course with Juliette Crane. I met Juliette a few years back, and I've admired her artwork ever since. As Maya was needing a challenge with her work, we thought Juliette's course "How to Paint a Girl" might do the trick.
So far, it's been lovely. Even has Gudrun and Sage inspired to try their hand at it.Maya's the star, though. She's caught on wonderfully to painting, to layering, to making use of mixed media. Photos don't quite do her girls justice - since there's so much texture and fabric at play also - but here's a glimpse:
Spooky Girl
Cat Girl
The girl's got talent...
February 17, 2012
A Fantasy Reader
Another nice review for The Sacred Band...
This time it's at A Fantasy Reader.
Kind words, much appreciated.
This time it's at A Fantasy Reader.
Kind words, much appreciated.
February 16, 2012
10 Bestselling Books with 80+ One-Star Reviews
This from Galleycat:
One-Star Reviews for Bestselling Books at Amazon.com
1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (669 one-star reviews)
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (396 one-star reviews)
3. A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin (344 one-star reviews)
4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (169 one-star reviews)
5. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (157 one-star reviews)
6. Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich (119 one-star reviews)
7. Inheritance by Christopher Paolini (118 one-star reviews)
8. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (191 one-star reviews)
9. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (96 one-star reviews)
10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (81 one-star reviews)
Not that I'm encouraging one-star reviews or anything. Just offering up useless information. Be entertained (or encouraged) as suits you...
One-Star Reviews for Bestselling Books at Amazon.com
1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (669 one-star reviews)
2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (396 one-star reviews)
3. A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin (344 one-star reviews)
4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (169 one-star reviews)
5. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (157 one-star reviews)
6. Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich (119 one-star reviews)
7. Inheritance by Christopher Paolini (118 one-star reviews)
8. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (191 one-star reviews)
9. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (96 one-star reviews)
10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (81 one-star reviews)
Not that I'm encouraging one-star reviews or anything. Just offering up useless information. Be entertained (or encouraged) as suits you...
February 15, 2012
ACÁCIA - Presságios de Inverno
The second volume of The War with the Mein just appeared in it's Portuguese edition. It's called ACÁCIA - Presságios de Inverno.
I was very curious as to what the reaction was going to be. My Portuguese publisher, Saida de Emergencia, split the book in two. I know they have their reasons for this, but since I didn't write it with that in mind it's always a bit worrisome. Readers know it's been split in two, and yet they can't help reading each book as a separate book since... that's what they appear to be.
The first book got some positive press, but the jury was out until the second book appeared.I've just read my first review of it, at the popular website Ler y Criticar. I'm pleased to say Luis had lovely things to say about the book, enough so that it seems he's sent some readers out to the store - despite their nearly empty pockets!
I'm happy. You can read the review HERE.
I was very curious as to what the reaction was going to be. My Portuguese publisher, Saida de Emergencia, split the book in two. I know they have their reasons for this, but since I didn't write it with that in mind it's always a bit worrisome. Readers know it's been split in two, and yet they can't help reading each book as a separate book since... that's what they appear to be.The first book got some positive press, but the jury was out until the second book appeared.I've just read my first review of it, at the popular website Ler y Criticar. I'm pleased to say Luis had lovely things to say about the book, enough so that it seems he's sent some readers out to the store - despite their nearly empty pockets!
I'm happy. You can read the review HERE.
February 14, 2012
The Ladies Are Back
When we arrived here at Upper Park last summer, the fields were alive with the sounds of sheep baaing and cows mooing. (I'm talking rural Scotland here, just for context.)
It was a time of abundant poo.
A time of these weird poo-loving flies, and nosy neighbors.
It was a time of opening and closing gates. To keep the sheep in here, out of here. In there, not here. Driving up to the house meant stopping at gate one, getting out of the car, opening gate, getting back in the car, driving forward, getting out of the car, closing gate, getting back into car, driving.
And then, a little further on, doing the exact same thing again.
It was a time of... patience.
I won't even talk about the frustrations of driving through herds of sheep and cattle, except to point out that they don't always like to move.
Anyway, then came winter. The four legged beasts moved down to lower pastures. The fields were clear of everything but pheasants and quail - and the occasional deer. Granted, pheasants have their own strange relationship with automobiles. They tend to run down the track as we drive, getting more and more frantic, but continuing to follow the track. Everywhere it turns they turn. As does our car...
Last month, there was the great pheasant slaughter. Lordly-folks with guns, minions to herd the birds toward them. You know how it goes. Feathers flew. Birds splattered. After that...
Ah, the solitude.
Gradually, the poo dissolved. The flies vanished. Saba (our carnivore) grew calmer without the constant moving display of prey.
Until today.
The girls are back. They arrived in all their glorious abundance. Oh joy.
The cows can't be far behind.
Oh, the flies too.
It was a time of abundant poo.
A time of these weird poo-loving flies, and nosy neighbors.
It was a time of opening and closing gates. To keep the sheep in here, out of here. In there, not here. Driving up to the house meant stopping at gate one, getting out of the car, opening gate, getting back in the car, driving forward, getting out of the car, closing gate, getting back into car, driving.And then, a little further on, doing the exact same thing again.
It was a time of... patience.
I won't even talk about the frustrations of driving through herds of sheep and cattle, except to point out that they don't always like to move.
Anyway, then came winter. The four legged beasts moved down to lower pastures. The fields were clear of everything but pheasants and quail - and the occasional deer. Granted, pheasants have their own strange relationship with automobiles. They tend to run down the track as we drive, getting more and more frantic, but continuing to follow the track. Everywhere it turns they turn. As does our car...
Last month, there was the great pheasant slaughter. Lordly-folks with guns, minions to herd the birds toward them. You know how it goes. Feathers flew. Birds splattered. After that...
Ah, the solitude.
Gradually, the poo dissolved. The flies vanished. Saba (our carnivore) grew calmer without the constant moving display of prey.
Until today.
The girls are back. They arrived in all their glorious abundance. Oh joy.The cows can't be far behind.
Oh, the flies too.
February 11, 2012
King of the Nerds
There's a very nice review of The Sacred Band over at King of the Nerds!!!
Take a look if you're so inclined.
Take a look if you're so inclined.
February 10, 2012
Worst Book Ever?
I don't know what to think of this. I'm partially amused. Partially horrified. A tad annoyed. And a little confused.
All this is prompted by a post on the Publishers Weekly blog, titled The Worst Book Ever is "Moon People". If you have some brain cells that need killing, go take a look.
All this is prompted by a post on the Publishers Weekly blog, titled The Worst Book Ever is "Moon People". If you have some brain cells that need killing, go take a look.
February 9, 2012
The Birks
Earlier today I had the pleasure of listening to my son recite (over and over again) the Robert Burns poem/song The Birks of Aberfeldy.It was a school project. He had to memorize it and recite it aloud, preferrably with a solid Scottish accent. And in dialect!
The Birks are a stream side walk about ten minutes from where we live at the moment, in Perthshire, Scotland. Very pretty, waterfalls and lovely old trees and a statue of Burns sitting on a bench. (The statue kinda freaks our dog, Saba, out a bit.)
Here are the melodious choruses Sage regaled us with:
The Birks of Abergeldie.
Bony lassie, will ye go,
Will ye go, will ye go;
Bony lassie, will ye go
To the birks of Aberfeldy.
Now Simmer blinks on flowery braes,
And o'er the chrystal streamlets plays;
Come let us spend the lightsome days
In the birks of Aberfeldy.
The little birdies blythely sing
While o'er their heads the hazels hing,
Or lightly flit on wanton wing,
In the birks of Aberfeldy.
The braes ascend like lofty wa's,
The foamy stream deep-roaring fa's,
O'erhung wi' fragrant spreading shaws,
The birks of Aberfeldy.
The hoary cliffs are crown'd wi' flowers,
White o'er the linns the burnie pours,
And rising, weets wi' misty showers
The birks of Aberfeldy.
Let Fortune's gifts at random flee,
They ne'er shall draw a wish frae me;
Supremely blest wi' love and thee,
In the birks of Aberfeldy.
Bony lassie, will ye go,
Will ye go, will ye go;
Bony lassie, will ye go
To the birks of Aberfeldy.
Personally, I think the bony lassie is quite likely to go with him...
There's more on the Birks of Aberfeldy HERE.
