Keris Stainton's Blog, page 73
June 21, 2011
Classical music – where do I start?
One of the things on my 40 list for this year is to learn about classical music.
I don't really know where to begin. And that's where you come in (I hope).
Where should I start? What should I listen to?
June 17, 2011
Square eyes
Because I spend so much time footling around online without actually having to really concentrate, I tend to have various TV shows running in the corner of the computer (I pause them when I actually have to read or write something). This is what I've been watching this week:
30 Rock. I love it. Yes, it's hit and miss, but lines like Liz's "I'm wearing a Duane Reade bag as underwear today" make me laugh out loud. I also love that Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin's characters are friends with no sexual tension at all.
Dancing with the Stars. The latest season wasn't shown here, but it's been pretty good. And it's excellent background TV cos I can tune out all the in-between waffle and just watch the dances. I loved this one (skip to the start of the dance at 2:30 unless you want to see the bit where Kym almost broke her neck. Even though I knew about it, I still shrieked when I saw the video):
Modern Family. My lovely friend Stella said I'd love it. She was right.
Parks and Recreation. I'm not really getting it so far – it's okay, but it hasn't made me laugh out loud – but I'm only on the third episode and I've heard things really pick up in Season Two. I'm sticking with it (if only for Rob Lowe!).
The Big Bang Theory. I'm watching this for sekrit researchy reasons, but I am actually enjoying it. I do love Johnny Galecki (and Sara Gilbert, obv).
What are you watching?
June 16, 2011
Jessie ♥ NYC in the wild!
Photo by my lovely friend Anne-Marie. Eek! If you've seen it or bought it (thank you!), I'd love to see a photo.
June 14, 2011
June 13, 2011
I ♥ Bryant Park
The thing I completely forgot to mention in my last post was that Jessie ♥ NYC has sneaked (snuck?) out early. It's in stock on Amazon and at The Book Depository and so I can only assume it will soon be appearing in all good book shops… and some supermarkets!
Anyway – how amazing is the photo above? It's of Bryant Park (click for even more amazing version of above photo) all decked out ready for the Summer Film Festival… which is featured in Jessie!
Bryant Park was already fairly busy by the time Jessie and Emma arrived. People had laid out picnic blankets or set out folding chairs. Some people had umbrellas up, to shelter them from the sun. The whole place was buzzing.
Jessie and Emma found a spot as close to the middle as the could. They wanted to be able to see the screen, but also soak up the atmosphere.
"This already feels like a proper New York experience," Emma said, as they arranged their shopping bags at their feet where they could see them.
"The whole day's been a proper New York experience," Jessie said.
Once they'd left the Zoo, they'd walked down Fifth Avenue and spent the afternoon in and out of all of the iconic shops they'd been aware of for years. They'd tried on shoes in Saks and make-up in Macy's. Jessie had even remembered to buy Natalie's eyebrow pencil from MAC.
She'd also rung her mum to see if she wanted to join them for the film, but Natalie had said she was going out for dinner with a friend. She had, however, ordered a picnic for them and they just had to collect it from a kiosk in the park.
"I'll go and get the picnic," Emma said. "Before it gets too busy."
Emma left and Jessie leaned back on her hands and looked around. She couldn't quite believe she was really there. In New York. At an outdoor movie.
The park was surrounded by skyscrapers. Directly in front of her was an enormous modern glass building reflecting the older buildings on the opposite side of the park – she got out her phone and took a photo. She could see the Empire State Building too. It made her miss her dad.
Catching up…
Ooh, I've so many things I want to write about – I'll try to cram them all in in the four minutes before I have to wake Joe up…
I went to see Avenue Q with my lovely friend Kirsty. It was ace. Again. (It's on my 40 list so I'll be writing about it at The Big Zeroes when I get a chance.)
Then I went to see Take That with my sis and some of her friends. They were all in maxi dresses and strappy shoes and I was in jeans and an anorak (it was raining!). I felt like Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids (which I can't wait to see, btw). Anyway, the That were ace, apart from the new songs bit. I don't think much of the new album (apart from The Flood) and I had no idea what they were on about. But then they did Pray and I was happy again.
THEN we went to Featherdown Farm, which I'll be writing about for Little Stuff, but I'll just record a few of Harry and Joe's gems…
Harry: "I can't believe you didn't bring your book to give to the farmer!"
Me: "Why?"
Harry: "Well, he doesn't know about it and it would be a wonderful surprise!"
We got a rabbit to look after. I asked Harry what he wanted to call it, he said "Joe". I asked Joe and he said "Harry". They finally agreed on "Happy Bunny."
Joe: "Holiday! Holiday! Holiday! Holiday!" [repeat endlessly for days]
This was the first holiday Joe was excited about and boy was he excited! One day he went up to Harry and, holding out his hand, said, "Harry? Walking?" Harry took his hand and, as they walked away from the tent, we heard Joe sigh, "Holiday."
Lovely.
June 10, 2011
Win a Kindle skin from Wrappz.com
It arrived! Isn't it gorgeous? After my last post about how to use your Kindle to promote your book, I contacted Wrappz.com and cheekily asked them if they'd consider offering me a freebie. And they did. But not just that, they also offered a £20 voucher for me to give away as a prize.
You can spend the voucher on whatever you want – it doesn't need to be a Kindle skin and it certainly doesn't need to be the Jessie cover – Wrappz.com also provides custom skins for iPods, phones, laptops, iPads, and more.
If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning, leave a comment and I'll pick someone at random in a week. Tweet for an extra entry. And this competition is open internationally – hurrah!
Competition closes midnight GMT on Friday 17th June
June 8, 2011
Would you want a "director's commentary" for a book?
Have you seen the "Public Notes" option on the Kindle?
It allows Kindle users to make their book notes and highlights available for others to see. Which means that any Kindle user – including authors – can "opt-in to share their thoughts on book passages and ideas with friends, family members, colleagues and the greater Kindle community of people who love to read."
I haven't tried it yet, but surely that means an author could add background or extra details to a book, much in the way that turning on "director's commentary" in DVD extras works with a film. I think it's an interesting idea. What do you think? Is that something you'd be interested in reading? (Authors: is that something you'd be interested in writing!?)
June 7, 2011
My dream car
Can't you see me and the boys going to and from school in this?!
{Photo found on Pinterest, where I can lose hours!}
June 6, 2011
Jessie ♥ the Empire State Building
"When it was built," Jessie said, as they waited for the traffic to slow, "it had a pole on top that was supposed to be for tying hot air balloons to."
Emma looked confused.
"No. Not hot air balloons. Those things like blimps? But that you could travel in?"
"A zeppelin? Like the Hindenberg?" Emma said. They'd learned about the Hindenberg at school. Their history teacher, Mr Baldwin, had been a bit obsessed by it.
"Yes!" Jessie said. "Dad's got a paperweight of the building with a blimp attached. I think mum bought it for him."
