Kevin L. O'Brien's Blog: Songs of the Seanchaí, page 48
June 29, 2013
Writing Productivity Tips by Kevin J. Anderson
I don't normally pay too much attention to writing advice. A lot of it comes from people who are not themselves professional writers, and as Orson Scott Card pointed out, you can't learn to be a professional writer from someone else who isn't. But I don't normally read advice even given by professionals. If they are professional editors, I tend to question the logic of such claims as avoiding adverbs or "said-bookisms". If they are professional writers, their advice simply doesn't work for me!
I suffer from adult attention deficit disorder, and that causes two major problems: I cannot work on one project to the exclusion of all others, and I cannot help editing and revising before I'm finished writing. So being told, "Stop whining, put yer butt in the chair, and just WRITE, dammit!!", or words to that effect, doesn't help. I finally learned how to solve the first problem by allowing myself to work on multiple projects guilt-free. That is, I stopped beating myself up every time I got bored with one story, or hit writer's block with it, and decided to start a new story, or go back to an old one whenever I felt renewed inspiration.
That's what allowed me to complete the 50+ stories I am in the process of self-publishing.
The second problem, however, has proved more vexing; in fact, it is the primary reason I get bored or blocked. What happens is, I always reach a point where I can't figure what to say next. I should clarify: I know what's coming next in the story; I just don't know how to EXPRESS it in words. When that happens I automatically go into editing mode, and spend minutes, hours, days even, trying to figure out the "best" way to say it, instead of just writing anything to get past it and continue on. And then I get bored, or blocked, and I switch to another story.
I have, however, found one exception to the "useless advice" phenomenon, and that is the "Writing Productivity Tip" series on Kevin J. Anderson's blog. This is not idle flattery from a leech-like sycophant hoping to latch on to him and suck his vitality dry (however true that might be). Rather, I joined this group because of the series, in particular because I actually agreed with the majority of them! For example, Tip #3 validated my decision to work on multiple projects instead of try to force myself to just do one at a time.
But it was Tip #7 that really convinced me I should pay attention, because it offered a solution to my second major problem. Not so much a how-to as a different perspective. It's the idea that while writing you should just write, and only when the story is finished should you then start to edit. This sentiment is echoed in Tip #4 -- Dare to Bad (at First)...Then Fix It. The idea is not to be concerned about getting "perfect"; just getting it down "on paper".
I mean, it's as if I had been colorblind all my life, and suddenly someone flipped a switch and the world exploded into color, like when Dorothy walks out of her house into the Land of Oz for the first time. The revelation was virtually that dramatic. And it has reaped benefits. Three times now, I've caught myself going into editing-mode, and instead I forced myself to write down anything, no matter how nauseating, just to get past it and move on.
And it's actually worked! Thank you!!
Not that everything's perfect. I have to retrain the way I think on this issue, but it's still progress.
So, if you're a writer, and you haven't read his Tips series, DO IT!
IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE YOUR SANITY!!!
I suffer from adult attention deficit disorder, and that causes two major problems: I cannot work on one project to the exclusion of all others, and I cannot help editing and revising before I'm finished writing. So being told, "Stop whining, put yer butt in the chair, and just WRITE, dammit!!", or words to that effect, doesn't help. I finally learned how to solve the first problem by allowing myself to work on multiple projects guilt-free. That is, I stopped beating myself up every time I got bored with one story, or hit writer's block with it, and decided to start a new story, or go back to an old one whenever I felt renewed inspiration.
That's what allowed me to complete the 50+ stories I am in the process of self-publishing.
The second problem, however, has proved more vexing; in fact, it is the primary reason I get bored or blocked. What happens is, I always reach a point where I can't figure what to say next. I should clarify: I know what's coming next in the story; I just don't know how to EXPRESS it in words. When that happens I automatically go into editing mode, and spend minutes, hours, days even, trying to figure out the "best" way to say it, instead of just writing anything to get past it and continue on. And then I get bored, or blocked, and I switch to another story.
I have, however, found one exception to the "useless advice" phenomenon, and that is the "Writing Productivity Tip" series on Kevin J. Anderson's blog. This is not idle flattery from a leech-like sycophant hoping to latch on to him and suck his vitality dry (however true that might be). Rather, I joined this group because of the series, in particular because I actually agreed with the majority of them! For example, Tip #3 validated my decision to work on multiple projects instead of try to force myself to just do one at a time.
But it was Tip #7 that really convinced me I should pay attention, because it offered a solution to my second major problem. Not so much a how-to as a different perspective. It's the idea that while writing you should just write, and only when the story is finished should you then start to edit. This sentiment is echoed in Tip #4 -- Dare to Bad (at First)...Then Fix It. The idea is not to be concerned about getting "perfect"; just getting it down "on paper".
I mean, it's as if I had been colorblind all my life, and suddenly someone flipped a switch and the world exploded into color, like when Dorothy walks out of her house into the Land of Oz for the first time. The revelation was virtually that dramatic. And it has reaped benefits. Three times now, I've caught myself going into editing-mode, and instead I forced myself to write down anything, no matter how nauseating, just to get past it and move on.
And it's actually worked! Thank you!!
Not that everything's perfect. I have to retrain the way I think on this issue, but it's still progress.
So, if you're a writer, and you haven't read his Tips series, DO IT!
IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE YOUR SANITY!!!
June 28, 2013
Acids and Bases in the Dreamlands
In a previous post, I described how bleaching is done in the Dreamlands without using a chlorine product, which do not exist. One method involved oil of vitriol, which is the ancient name for sulfuric acid, while all required lye, otherwise known as sodium hydroxide, a strong base.
I also stated that the Dreamlands are restricted to technology, devices, and materials that predate 1500 AD. So how can strong industrial acids and bases exist there? I mentioned that there are exception to the 1500-cutoff, one being any process so simple it could have been developed before 1500. Another is that some devices and materials thought to be relatively modern are actually quite old, such as eyeglasses, or lamp oil....
Or certain acids and bases.
Without going into the chemistry, an acid is essentially an energetic hydrogen (H) attached to a mineral compound or an element. For example, muriatic acid is H attached to chlorine (Cl), whereas oil of vitriol is H attached to sulfate (SO4). A major exception are organic acids which have H attached to organic compounds, such as acetate (CH3CO2). A base, on the other hand, is an active hydroxyl group (OH) attached to a mineral, such as sodium or potassium. A major exception is ammonium (NH4). Modern methods of production of acids and bases are models of industrialization, but the more important ones can be made from simpler methods, and sometimes have been for centuries.
Let's take the mineral acids first:
Oil of vitriol (sulfuric acid, H2SO4) -- This is derived from vitriol, a naturally occurring sulfate mineral. Two kinds were known: red vitriol (iron sulfate, FeSO4) and green vitriol (copper sulfate, CuSO4). If either is heated, gaseous sulfate is given off, which can then dissolve in water to form the acid.
Aqua fortis (nitric acid, HNO3) -- This is be made by heating a mixture of vitriol and saltpeter (potassium nitrate, KNO3), and condensing the vapor in water. If sal ammoniac, a mineral containing ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), is added, you get aqua regia, which can dissolve gold.
Muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid, HCl) -- This is produced by heating a mixture of common salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) and vitriol, then condensing the vapor in water. It can also be made by dissolving sal ammoniac in water.
Phosphoric acid (H3PO4) -- This is prepared by mixing crush apatite, a mineral containing calcium phosphate [Ca5(PO4)3], with oil of vitriol. This method also forms gypsum (calcium sulfate, CaSO4).
Boric acid (H3BO4) -- This is prepared by mixing crushed borax, a mineral containing sodium borate (Na2B4O7), with muriatic acid.
Mineral acids are used primarily for industrial purposes, which in the Dreamlands means guild crafts and cottage industries.
Now the organic acids:
Acetic acid (CH3COOH) -- This is obtained from vinegar (in fact it is vinegar), which is derived from sour beer and wine.
Citric acid (C6H8O7) -- This is obtained from citrus fruit juice which is treated with slaked lime (Ca(OH)2) to precipitate it out. It can also be produced by using a strain of Aspergillus niger mold that ferments molasses, corn steep liquor, or some other sugary solution. Once the mold is removed, the acid can be precipitated with slaked lime.
Formic acid (HCOOH) -- This is distilled from ant bodies.
Gluconic acid [HOCH2-(CHOH)4-COOH] -- This is precipitated from honey and wine using slaked lime.
Lactic acid (CH3-CHOH-COOH) -- This can be precipitated from sour milk or wine using slaked lime or chalk (calcium carbonate, CaCO3). It can also be fermented using lactic acid bacteria.
Oxalic acid (HOOC-COOH) -- This can be precipitated from crushed kidney stones, sorrel, or spinach using slaked lime.
Tartaric acid (HOOC-CHOH-CHOH-COOH) -- This is obtained from tartar, a mineral that contains potassium tartrate (K2C4H4O6), but it can also be obtained from cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate, KC4H5O6) that crystallizes out of wine.
It should be pointed out that the organic acids are considered "edible"; that is, they can be ingested, at least in small and/or diluted quantities. They are most often used as anti-bacterial agents to preserve food, as well as flavorings, in cleaners and detergents, in cosmetics and drugs, in dyes, even as antiseptics. They also have some minor industrial uses. Vinegar is used as a condiment.
And finally the bases:
Caustic soda lye (sodium hydroxide, NaOH) -- This is prepared by dissolving washing soda (sodium carbonate, Na2CO3), obtained from natron deposits or the mineral trona, or by steeping the ash obtained from burning barilla or kelp, in water until a saturated solution is achieved, then adding slaked lime and boiling. Chalk precipitates out and the liquid is caustic soda.
Caustic potash lye (potassium hydroxide, KOH) -- This is obtained by steeping hardwood ash in rain water.
Caustic ammonia lye (ammonium hydroxide, NH4OH) -- This is prepared by dissolving sal ammoniac in water.
Slaked lime [calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2] -- This is formed by heating crushed limestone or chalk to form quicklime (calcium oxide, CaO), then mixing it with water.
Bases are used to make soaps (soda lye is used for hard soap, potash lye for soft soap and shampoos) and other cleaners (soda lye is used to make solvents to remove organic debris and ammonia lye to make detergents and other cleaners). They can also be used in food preparation and for various industrial purposes; slaked lime is used as an ingredient in whitewash, mortar, and plaster.
I also stated that the Dreamlands are restricted to technology, devices, and materials that predate 1500 AD. So how can strong industrial acids and bases exist there? I mentioned that there are exception to the 1500-cutoff, one being any process so simple it could have been developed before 1500. Another is that some devices and materials thought to be relatively modern are actually quite old, such as eyeglasses, or lamp oil....
Or certain acids and bases.
Without going into the chemistry, an acid is essentially an energetic hydrogen (H) attached to a mineral compound or an element. For example, muriatic acid is H attached to chlorine (Cl), whereas oil of vitriol is H attached to sulfate (SO4). A major exception are organic acids which have H attached to organic compounds, such as acetate (CH3CO2). A base, on the other hand, is an active hydroxyl group (OH) attached to a mineral, such as sodium or potassium. A major exception is ammonium (NH4). Modern methods of production of acids and bases are models of industrialization, but the more important ones can be made from simpler methods, and sometimes have been for centuries.
Let's take the mineral acids first:
Oil of vitriol (sulfuric acid, H2SO4) -- This is derived from vitriol, a naturally occurring sulfate mineral. Two kinds were known: red vitriol (iron sulfate, FeSO4) and green vitriol (copper sulfate, CuSO4). If either is heated, gaseous sulfate is given off, which can then dissolve in water to form the acid.
Aqua fortis (nitric acid, HNO3) -- This is be made by heating a mixture of vitriol and saltpeter (potassium nitrate, KNO3), and condensing the vapor in water. If sal ammoniac, a mineral containing ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), is added, you get aqua regia, which can dissolve gold.
Muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid, HCl) -- This is produced by heating a mixture of common salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) and vitriol, then condensing the vapor in water. It can also be made by dissolving sal ammoniac in water.
Phosphoric acid (H3PO4) -- This is prepared by mixing crush apatite, a mineral containing calcium phosphate [Ca5(PO4)3], with oil of vitriol. This method also forms gypsum (calcium sulfate, CaSO4).
Boric acid (H3BO4) -- This is prepared by mixing crushed borax, a mineral containing sodium borate (Na2B4O7), with muriatic acid.
Mineral acids are used primarily for industrial purposes, which in the Dreamlands means guild crafts and cottage industries.
Now the organic acids:
Acetic acid (CH3COOH) -- This is obtained from vinegar (in fact it is vinegar), which is derived from sour beer and wine.
Citric acid (C6H8O7) -- This is obtained from citrus fruit juice which is treated with slaked lime (Ca(OH)2) to precipitate it out. It can also be produced by using a strain of Aspergillus niger mold that ferments molasses, corn steep liquor, or some other sugary solution. Once the mold is removed, the acid can be precipitated with slaked lime.
Formic acid (HCOOH) -- This is distilled from ant bodies.
Gluconic acid [HOCH2-(CHOH)4-COOH] -- This is precipitated from honey and wine using slaked lime.
Lactic acid (CH3-CHOH-COOH) -- This can be precipitated from sour milk or wine using slaked lime or chalk (calcium carbonate, CaCO3). It can also be fermented using lactic acid bacteria.
Oxalic acid (HOOC-COOH) -- This can be precipitated from crushed kidney stones, sorrel, or spinach using slaked lime.
Tartaric acid (HOOC-CHOH-CHOH-COOH) -- This is obtained from tartar, a mineral that contains potassium tartrate (K2C4H4O6), but it can also be obtained from cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate, KC4H5O6) that crystallizes out of wine.
It should be pointed out that the organic acids are considered "edible"; that is, they can be ingested, at least in small and/or diluted quantities. They are most often used as anti-bacterial agents to preserve food, as well as flavorings, in cleaners and detergents, in cosmetics and drugs, in dyes, even as antiseptics. They also have some minor industrial uses. Vinegar is used as a condiment.
And finally the bases:
Caustic soda lye (sodium hydroxide, NaOH) -- This is prepared by dissolving washing soda (sodium carbonate, Na2CO3), obtained from natron deposits or the mineral trona, or by steeping the ash obtained from burning barilla or kelp, in water until a saturated solution is achieved, then adding slaked lime and boiling. Chalk precipitates out and the liquid is caustic soda.
Caustic potash lye (potassium hydroxide, KOH) -- This is obtained by steeping hardwood ash in rain water.
Caustic ammonia lye (ammonium hydroxide, NH4OH) -- This is prepared by dissolving sal ammoniac in water.
Slaked lime [calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2] -- This is formed by heating crushed limestone or chalk to form quicklime (calcium oxide, CaO), then mixing it with water.
Bases are used to make soaps (soda lye is used for hard soap, potash lye for soft soap and shampoos) and other cleaners (soda lye is used to make solvents to remove organic debris and ammonia lye to make detergents and other cleaners). They can also be used in food preparation and for various industrial purposes; slaked lime is used as an ingredient in whitewash, mortar, and plaster.
June 27, 2013
10 Random Facts About Sir Differel Van Helsing
1. She hasn’t celebrated a birthday since her father died.
2. She plays the cello and the organ.
3. She wanted to participate on the UK Olympic fencing team, but couldn’t for security reasons.
4. She was a virgin until she became engaged to Victor.
5. Her favorite flavor is cherry amaretto ice cream.
6. She drinks lady gray tea and Penderyn Welsh whiskey.
7. Her favorite animals are cats, horses, and bats.
8. She wears different colored ascots depending upon her mood.
9. She smokes Davidoff cigarillos, but hates the smell of cigarettes.
10. She is a self-taught illustrator and dramatic actress.
Bonus Fact: She has dungeon leather-dominatrix fantasies no one knows about, except Dracula (because he can read her mind).
2. She plays the cello and the organ.
3. She wanted to participate on the UK Olympic fencing team, but couldn’t for security reasons.
4. She was a virgin until she became engaged to Victor.
5. Her favorite flavor is cherry amaretto ice cream.
6. She drinks lady gray tea and Penderyn Welsh whiskey.
7. Her favorite animals are cats, horses, and bats.
8. She wears different colored ascots depending upon her mood.
9. She smokes Davidoff cigarillos, but hates the smell of cigarettes.
10. She is a self-taught illustrator and dramatic actress.
Bonus Fact: She has dungeon leather-dominatrix fantasies no one knows about, except Dracula (because he can read her mind).
June 26, 2013
50 Questions About Team Girl (Well, 49)
1. What are your OCs' names?
Eile Marelys Chica and Sonne Aourgen Hiver.
2. Any nicknames?
Sonne prefers "Sunny", and she calls Eile "Partner".
3. What are their ages?
Eile is 25. Sunny is 21. In 2009.
4. Date of birth?
Eile: April 4
Sunny: July 27
5. What is their Chinese Zodiac sign?
Eile: Month — Rabbit; Year — Rat
Sunny: Month — Ram; Year — Dragon
6. Do they believe in magic?
Yes, but the only magic they encounter is in the Dreamlands or one of their Alternative Reality worlds. However, they do encounter supernatural beings and forces in the Waking World as well.
7. What is their outlook on life?
Eile sees life as a trial to be endured, Sunny as an adventure to be enjoyed. However, they do influence each other's outlook, with Sunny opening Eile up to the wonder of life, and Eile keeping Sunny grounded in the realities of life.
8. What is your favorite quote of your OCs? (Favorite thing they ever said)
Eile (to Sunny): Sometimes you can be such a space-case.
Sunny (to Eile): Let's go kick balls, partner!
9. Do they look up to anyone?
Medb hErenn
10. Are they running from something?
No, but individual adventures do pit them against adversaries of varying power.
11. What would your OCs do if they saw someone accidentally drop a $100 dollar bill on the ground?
Give it back to them.
12. Would your OCs help someone they didn't know?
Yes. It's who they are and what they do.
13. What is or what would be their element?
Eile: earth
Sunny: water
14. What instrument would they play?
Eile: guitar
Sunny: violin and piano
15. How do your OCs view themselves?
Eile sees herself as a homely, skinny, introverted tomboy, but sees Sunny as a gorgeous, vivacious centerfold full of life and excitement. Sunny sees herself as a whiny, useless, self-absorbed airhead, but sees Eile as an elegant, cultured lady all stately and proper. However, they see themselves together as exciting, adventurous, and unbeatable, able to do anything they set out to do.
16. Have they ever been in love? Are they in love now?
They've dated and have had sex or at least necking and petting, but they have only been in love once, to each other.
17. Do they have any children?
Not now, but they will have a girl, Connie, and adopt another girl, Liza.
18. What do your OCs do in their spare time?
Eile has a graphic design business, which Sunny helps with, and they have their own interests, but together they go shopping, go to salons, play games, go skiing, jam, go to bars, and dance.
19. Do they have any habits, weird or otherwise?
Nothing in particular, though Sunny is so obsessed with adventuring she can turn an ordinary errand into a grand quest.
20. Pretend your OCs' girl/boyfriend said, "I love you..." How would they respond? (Even if they don't have one. Just pretend.)
When Eile confessed to Sunny that she loved her, Sunny replied that she loved Eile, at which point Eile tackled her and they had sex for the first time.
21. What would your OCs' first response be if someone randomly called them an asshole?
Sunny: Oh, my word!
Eile: You'd better apologize, if you know what's good for ya. [Or she'd just hit him.]
22. What does your OC usually dream about?
Eile dreams of a stable, contented life. Sunny dreams of adventure.
23. If they could have three wishes, what would they be?
Eile: 1) Parents (hers died when she was an infant); 2) an exciting business career; 3) children with Sunny
Sunny: 1) Adventure!; 2) to have known Eile all her life; 3) to live with Eile forever
24. How would your OCs treat/act around someone they were in love with?
They are loving, supportive, affectionate, and playful. Eile tends to be more physical, Sunny more emotional.
25. Are your OCs scared of anything?
Eile: Failure; being unable to protect or care for Sunny
Sunny: Boredom; being separated from Eile
26. What is their height?
Sunny is about an inch or so taller than Eile; both are between five and five and two-thirds feet tall.
27. What is their weight?
Normal for their height. Both are fit and trim. Eile has a slender build, while Sunny is better endowed in bust and hip.
28. If they're virgins, do they plan on giving it up sooooon?
Eile lost her virginity in college. Sunny is currently a virgin, but will lose it when Eile gets turned into a shemale in an upcoming adventure.
29. Wait...ARE they virgins?!
See previous question.
30. *pokes your OCs with a stick*
Sunny: Hey! Stop poking!
Eile: [hits you, hard]
31. *hugs your OCs*
Sunny: Oh, how sweet!
Eile: Gaaah! Get away from me, ya space-case!
32. Are your OCs ADD?
Don't know what that means, but probably not.
33. How do your OCs respond to praise?
Sunny will smile, crinkle her eyes, and giggle. Eile will either blush or roll her eyes.
34. Which emoticons describe your OCs the best?
Eile: skeptical face
Sunny: grinning face
35. HIIIII! *waves to OCs*
Sunny: HI! How are you!
Eile: Uhm, hello?
36. Name ONE OC (Your own or another person's) that you think would make a good couple with your OCs, and list a reason why.
Medb hErenn; she is their friend, mentor, and surrogate mother.
37. Do your OCs like animals?
Yes; they have a pet cat named Snowshoe Kitty.
38. How do your OCs sleep?
Quite soundly, when not engaged in pillow talk or sex.
39. What is their favorite food?
Anything they can lick off each other.
40. What song best describes your OCs' life/personality?
There is no one song, but two that come very close are: The Power of Love, by Jennifer Rush, and A Matter of Trust, by Billy Joel.
41. Do your OCs have any emotional/psychological problems?
Eile can be introspective to the point of crippling self-criticism. Sunny can be self-absorbed to the point of being inconsiderate of other's feelings and desires.
42. What is the first thing your OCs do when they wake up?
Depends on their mood. Either sex, shower, breakfast, or getting dressed. Sometimes all four.
43. Pick five words that describe your OCs.
Eile: Loyal, courageous, nurturing, homebody, introverted
Sunny: Vivacious, inquisitive, adventurous, protective, extroverted
44. Are your OCs depressed...OR EVEN SUICIDAL???
No.
45. What are your OCs living for?
Eile lives for a stable home life, with a loving spouse and children. Sunny lives for adventure and Eile.
46. How do your OCs feel about hot vampire sex?
Eile actually was a vampire in one story, but she was more interested in blood than sex. Maybe if they were both vampires, but otherwise they wouldn't care for it.
47. If your OCs were in love with someone, how would they handle it?
They would be loving, giving, nurturing, supportive, caring, protective, playful, and horny.
48. Do your OCs know the meaning of Va-jay-jay???
Of course, but they probably would never say it.
49. Do YOU feel like this was a female-biased quiz?! *points at OCs*
Not particularly.
Eile Marelys Chica and Sonne Aourgen Hiver.
2. Any nicknames?
Sonne prefers "Sunny", and she calls Eile "Partner".
3. What are their ages?
Eile is 25. Sunny is 21. In 2009.
4. Date of birth?
Eile: April 4
Sunny: July 27
5. What is their Chinese Zodiac sign?
Eile: Month — Rabbit; Year — Rat
Sunny: Month — Ram; Year — Dragon
6. Do they believe in magic?
Yes, but the only magic they encounter is in the Dreamlands or one of their Alternative Reality worlds. However, they do encounter supernatural beings and forces in the Waking World as well.
7. What is their outlook on life?
Eile sees life as a trial to be endured, Sunny as an adventure to be enjoyed. However, they do influence each other's outlook, with Sunny opening Eile up to the wonder of life, and Eile keeping Sunny grounded in the realities of life.
8. What is your favorite quote of your OCs? (Favorite thing they ever said)
Eile (to Sunny): Sometimes you can be such a space-case.
Sunny (to Eile): Let's go kick balls, partner!
9. Do they look up to anyone?
Medb hErenn
10. Are they running from something?
No, but individual adventures do pit them against adversaries of varying power.
11. What would your OCs do if they saw someone accidentally drop a $100 dollar bill on the ground?
Give it back to them.
12. Would your OCs help someone they didn't know?
Yes. It's who they are and what they do.
13. What is or what would be their element?
Eile: earth
Sunny: water
14. What instrument would they play?
Eile: guitar
Sunny: violin and piano
15. How do your OCs view themselves?
Eile sees herself as a homely, skinny, introverted tomboy, but sees Sunny as a gorgeous, vivacious centerfold full of life and excitement. Sunny sees herself as a whiny, useless, self-absorbed airhead, but sees Eile as an elegant, cultured lady all stately and proper. However, they see themselves together as exciting, adventurous, and unbeatable, able to do anything they set out to do.
16. Have they ever been in love? Are they in love now?
They've dated and have had sex or at least necking and petting, but they have only been in love once, to each other.
17. Do they have any children?
Not now, but they will have a girl, Connie, and adopt another girl, Liza.
18. What do your OCs do in their spare time?
Eile has a graphic design business, which Sunny helps with, and they have their own interests, but together they go shopping, go to salons, play games, go skiing, jam, go to bars, and dance.
19. Do they have any habits, weird or otherwise?
Nothing in particular, though Sunny is so obsessed with adventuring she can turn an ordinary errand into a grand quest.
20. Pretend your OCs' girl/boyfriend said, "I love you..." How would they respond? (Even if they don't have one. Just pretend.)
When Eile confessed to Sunny that she loved her, Sunny replied that she loved Eile, at which point Eile tackled her and they had sex for the first time.
21. What would your OCs' first response be if someone randomly called them an asshole?
Sunny: Oh, my word!
Eile: You'd better apologize, if you know what's good for ya. [Or she'd just hit him.]
22. What does your OC usually dream about?
Eile dreams of a stable, contented life. Sunny dreams of adventure.
23. If they could have three wishes, what would they be?
Eile: 1) Parents (hers died when she was an infant); 2) an exciting business career; 3) children with Sunny
Sunny: 1) Adventure!; 2) to have known Eile all her life; 3) to live with Eile forever
24. How would your OCs treat/act around someone they were in love with?
They are loving, supportive, affectionate, and playful. Eile tends to be more physical, Sunny more emotional.
25. Are your OCs scared of anything?
Eile: Failure; being unable to protect or care for Sunny
Sunny: Boredom; being separated from Eile
26. What is their height?
Sunny is about an inch or so taller than Eile; both are between five and five and two-thirds feet tall.
27. What is their weight?
Normal for their height. Both are fit and trim. Eile has a slender build, while Sunny is better endowed in bust and hip.
28. If they're virgins, do they plan on giving it up sooooon?
Eile lost her virginity in college. Sunny is currently a virgin, but will lose it when Eile gets turned into a shemale in an upcoming adventure.
29. Wait...ARE they virgins?!
See previous question.
30. *pokes your OCs with a stick*
Sunny: Hey! Stop poking!
Eile: [hits you, hard]
31. *hugs your OCs*
Sunny: Oh, how sweet!
Eile: Gaaah! Get away from me, ya space-case!
32. Are your OCs ADD?
Don't know what that means, but probably not.
33. How do your OCs respond to praise?
Sunny will smile, crinkle her eyes, and giggle. Eile will either blush or roll her eyes.
34. Which emoticons describe your OCs the best?
Eile: skeptical face
Sunny: grinning face
35. HIIIII! *waves to OCs*
Sunny: HI! How are you!
Eile: Uhm, hello?
36. Name ONE OC (Your own or another person's) that you think would make a good couple with your OCs, and list a reason why.
Medb hErenn; she is their friend, mentor, and surrogate mother.
37. Do your OCs like animals?
Yes; they have a pet cat named Snowshoe Kitty.
38. How do your OCs sleep?
Quite soundly, when not engaged in pillow talk or sex.
39. What is their favorite food?
Anything they can lick off each other.
40. What song best describes your OCs' life/personality?
There is no one song, but two that come very close are: The Power of Love, by Jennifer Rush, and A Matter of Trust, by Billy Joel.
41. Do your OCs have any emotional/psychological problems?
Eile can be introspective to the point of crippling self-criticism. Sunny can be self-absorbed to the point of being inconsiderate of other's feelings and desires.
42. What is the first thing your OCs do when they wake up?
Depends on their mood. Either sex, shower, breakfast, or getting dressed. Sometimes all four.
43. Pick five words that describe your OCs.
Eile: Loyal, courageous, nurturing, homebody, introverted
Sunny: Vivacious, inquisitive, adventurous, protective, extroverted
44. Are your OCs depressed...OR EVEN SUICIDAL???
No.
45. What are your OCs living for?
Eile lives for a stable home life, with a loving spouse and children. Sunny lives for adventure and Eile.
46. How do your OCs feel about hot vampire sex?
Eile actually was a vampire in one story, but she was more interested in blood than sex. Maybe if they were both vampires, but otherwise they wouldn't care for it.
47. If your OCs were in love with someone, how would they handle it?
They would be loving, giving, nurturing, supportive, caring, protective, playful, and horny.
48. Do your OCs know the meaning of Va-jay-jay???
Of course, but they probably would never say it.
49. Do YOU feel like this was a female-biased quiz?! *points at OCs*
Not particularly.
June 25, 2013
10 Random Facts About Medb hErenn
1. She needs seven men to satisfy her during sex.
2. She’s over 2500 years old, but doesn’t look a day over 30.
3. She is the inspiration for the Morrighan and her three aspects, Macha, Badb, and Neman.
4. She is treacherous, deceitful, vindictive, acquisitive, ambitious, and insatiable, but she never lies or breaks her word, and she is courageous, generous, and loyal.
5. She cannot be harmed by any weapon made by the hand of man.
6. She can draw power from the earth to rejuvenate and regenerate herself.
7. Her favorite weapons are the spear, sword, and sling.
8. She is never without at least one lover in the shadow of another.
9. She prefers to fight in the nude.
10. She’ll have sex with anyone: young or old, male or female, beautiful, homely, or ugly. Only children and animals are off limits.
Bonus Fact: She is known as Medb of the Friendly Thighs.
2. She’s over 2500 years old, but doesn’t look a day over 30.
3. She is the inspiration for the Morrighan and her three aspects, Macha, Badb, and Neman.
4. She is treacherous, deceitful, vindictive, acquisitive, ambitious, and insatiable, but she never lies or breaks her word, and she is courageous, generous, and loyal.
5. She cannot be harmed by any weapon made by the hand of man.
6. She can draw power from the earth to rejuvenate and regenerate herself.
7. Her favorite weapons are the spear, sword, and sling.
8. She is never without at least one lover in the shadow of another.
9. She prefers to fight in the nude.
10. She’ll have sex with anyone: young or old, male or female, beautiful, homely, or ugly. Only children and animals are off limits.
Bonus Fact: She is known as Medb of the Friendly Thighs.
June 24, 2013
Next eBook: Post-Traumatic Redemption
The next story in my schedule to be published through Smashwords will be:Post-Traumatic Redemption
Being turned into a vampire is a real bitch, but the ordeal doesn't end when you're cured. For someone like Eile, it can be just the beginning....
This will be another free ebook.
June 23, 2013
Dark Vengeance Now Published
I have published Dark Vengeance.
It is available foe sale from Smashwords.
The cost is $0.99.
Thank you.
It is available foe sale from Smashwords.
The cost is $0.99.
Thank you.
June 22, 2013
Bleaching (Without Bleach)
I write a series of stories that take place in the Dreamlands, an alternative universe that certain people can visit while asleep. One of its idiosyncrasies is that it contains no technology, device, or material that appeared in the Waking World after 1500 AD.
This pre-sixteenth century limitation means that, with some exceptions, everything has to be done in the Dreamlands using pre-industrial methods, technology, and materials. This in turn means I have to conduct research to make sure I get the details correct. (I am a devotee of Poul Anderson's "On Thud and Blunder", in which he castigates fantasy writer's for being too lax or even outright wrong about the environmental, technological, and social details of their quasi-medieval world.) Most of the time I'm able to learn what I need in short order, but some topics are so complicated, esoteric, or mundane that good complete information is hard to find.
Take bleaching for example. Just how do you bleach cloth in a world without chlorine? For a long while, the best I could find was the ancient use of the "bleachfields"; literally, open fields where wet cloth was laid out to allow the sun to bleach it white. That could work, but I figured there had to be other methods between that one and modern chlorine-based bleaching.
Well, recently I discovered just how that was done. It's called the Dutch method, because in the 18th century the Dutch had a virtual monopoly on bleaching cloth. Brown cloth, made from wool or flax, was sent to Holland in March and was returned bleached in October.
Okay, this is a post-1500 method, but one exception to the technological limitation is any method simple enough that it could have been invented before 1500 if some bright person had put all the components together.
Anyway, what the Dutch did was to first steep the cloth in soda lye, then soak it in hot potash lye for a week. Afterwards it was washed and resoaked in buttermilk for a week before being washed and laid out in a bleachfield for several months.
An alternative method, developed by the Scots, involved a lye soak for several days followed by washing and exposure to the sun for several weeks. The cloth was then soaked in sour buttermilk for several days, washed, and re-exposed to the sun for several weeks. The whole process was repeated five or six times, with the strength of the lye reduced each time, until the desired degree of whiteness was achieved.
Incidentally, the lye soaking step was called "bucking", the milk soaking step was called "souring", and the sun bleaching step was called "crofting".
The long periods spent bucking, souring, and crofting were the reason it took all summer to get brown cloth white. What the Scots eventually did was to substitute oil of vitriol (sulfuric acid) for sour buttermilk. That resulted in a reduction of the souring time to 12-24 hours. (My source is a bit confused on how long milk needs to sour the cloth, stating in two places several days to a week, but in a third 6-8 weeks. Nonetheless, this is still a substantial reduction in time.) That reduced the overall method from 8 months to four.
So, in the Dreamlands, cloth is bleached by a multi-step process involving lye bucking, vitriol or milk souring, and bleachfield crofting, with a standard time period of 3-4 months (8 in the case of milk).
But how can you make lye and industrial acid in a quasi-medieval world?
That's a subject for another post.
This pre-sixteenth century limitation means that, with some exceptions, everything has to be done in the Dreamlands using pre-industrial methods, technology, and materials. This in turn means I have to conduct research to make sure I get the details correct. (I am a devotee of Poul Anderson's "On Thud and Blunder", in which he castigates fantasy writer's for being too lax or even outright wrong about the environmental, technological, and social details of their quasi-medieval world.) Most of the time I'm able to learn what I need in short order, but some topics are so complicated, esoteric, or mundane that good complete information is hard to find.
Take bleaching for example. Just how do you bleach cloth in a world without chlorine? For a long while, the best I could find was the ancient use of the "bleachfields"; literally, open fields where wet cloth was laid out to allow the sun to bleach it white. That could work, but I figured there had to be other methods between that one and modern chlorine-based bleaching.
Well, recently I discovered just how that was done. It's called the Dutch method, because in the 18th century the Dutch had a virtual monopoly on bleaching cloth. Brown cloth, made from wool or flax, was sent to Holland in March and was returned bleached in October.
Okay, this is a post-1500 method, but one exception to the technological limitation is any method simple enough that it could have been invented before 1500 if some bright person had put all the components together.
Anyway, what the Dutch did was to first steep the cloth in soda lye, then soak it in hot potash lye for a week. Afterwards it was washed and resoaked in buttermilk for a week before being washed and laid out in a bleachfield for several months.
An alternative method, developed by the Scots, involved a lye soak for several days followed by washing and exposure to the sun for several weeks. The cloth was then soaked in sour buttermilk for several days, washed, and re-exposed to the sun for several weeks. The whole process was repeated five or six times, with the strength of the lye reduced each time, until the desired degree of whiteness was achieved.
Incidentally, the lye soaking step was called "bucking", the milk soaking step was called "souring", and the sun bleaching step was called "crofting".
The long periods spent bucking, souring, and crofting were the reason it took all summer to get brown cloth white. What the Scots eventually did was to substitute oil of vitriol (sulfuric acid) for sour buttermilk. That resulted in a reduction of the souring time to 12-24 hours. (My source is a bit confused on how long milk needs to sour the cloth, stating in two places several days to a week, but in a third 6-8 weeks. Nonetheless, this is still a substantial reduction in time.) That reduced the overall method from 8 months to four.
So, in the Dreamlands, cloth is bleached by a multi-step process involving lye bucking, vitriol or milk souring, and bleachfield crofting, with a standard time period of 3-4 months (8 in the case of milk).
But how can you make lye and industrial acid in a quasi-medieval world?
That's a subject for another post.
June 21, 2013
Links to My Networking & Info Sites
This may be a bit premature -- I could be gone in a year if my "career" doesn't take off -- but I wanted to post a list of links to sites about my writing.
Books & Author Information
Songs of the Seanchai (official website)
Kevin L. O'Brien (Goodreads author page)
Songs of the Seanchai (Goodreads blog)
Where to Purchase/Download/Read
Smashwords (publisher/distributor)
Kevin L. O'Brien's Books (Goodreads)
Kobo
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Sony
Diesel Books
!ndigo
Kevin's Writing (Goodreads)
Wattpad
Networking/Connecting
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
DeviantArt
Character Information
Medb hErenn -- The Official Site
Team Girl Forever!
Sir Differel Van Helsing
Books & Author Information
Songs of the Seanchai (official website)
Kevin L. O'Brien (Goodreads author page)
Songs of the Seanchai (Goodreads blog)
Where to Purchase/Download/Read
Smashwords (publisher/distributor)
Kevin L. O'Brien's Books (Goodreads)
Kobo
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Sony
Diesel Books
!ndigo
Kevin's Writing (Goodreads)
Wattpad
Networking/Connecting
Goodreads
DeviantArt
Character Information
Medb hErenn -- The Official Site
Team Girl Forever!
Sir Differel Van Helsing
June 20, 2013
A Tip for Downloading & Reading My Stories
The performance of
Masie's Mind
has been phenomenal; at least, at this early stage of the game. (Though
Feline Savior
is catching up with it.) It not only had the highest first-day peak in downloads so far, but it has been downloaded more times than any other ebook, so far.
And as encouraging as that is, I find it somewhat mystifying. MM is a character-driven story, not a plot-driven story. It's about three characters having a philosophical conversation; there's no action, no danger, no problem to be solved (except the question that sparked the conversation in the first place). I honestly thought it would get very few downloads, if any at all.
Dare I hope I have tapped into a group of dedicated SciFi fans who love this kind of esoteric self-discovery story? Or is it more likely that people downloaded it thinking it would be something more exciting, and found it wasn't? Will this experience help or hurt future sales?
I haven't received any feedback, so I can't know for sure. Only time will tell.
However, assuming it was the latter, in an attempt to try to forestall future disappointment, especially when I start selling my ebooks, let me offer a tip that will help you decide whether an ebook is worth downloading.
Each book page lists the available formats for that particular ebook. One is always HTML. The link for that format is "View".
If you click on that link, you will be taken to a page where you can read the ebook before you download it. For free books, you can read the whole thing; for sale books, you will only be able to read a sample.
But this way you can try out the story and see if you like it before you decide whether to download it.
Thank you.
And as encouraging as that is, I find it somewhat mystifying. MM is a character-driven story, not a plot-driven story. It's about three characters having a philosophical conversation; there's no action, no danger, no problem to be solved (except the question that sparked the conversation in the first place). I honestly thought it would get very few downloads, if any at all.
Dare I hope I have tapped into a group of dedicated SciFi fans who love this kind of esoteric self-discovery story? Or is it more likely that people downloaded it thinking it would be something more exciting, and found it wasn't? Will this experience help or hurt future sales?
I haven't received any feedback, so I can't know for sure. Only time will tell.
However, assuming it was the latter, in an attempt to try to forestall future disappointment, especially when I start selling my ebooks, let me offer a tip that will help you decide whether an ebook is worth downloading.
Each book page lists the available formats for that particular ebook. One is always HTML. The link for that format is "View".
If you click on that link, you will be taken to a page where you can read the ebook before you download it. For free books, you can read the whole thing; for sale books, you will only be able to read a sample.
But this way you can try out the story and see if you like it before you decide whether to download it.
Thank you.
Songs of the Seanchaí
Musings on my stories, the background of my stories, writing, and the world in general.
- Kevin L. O'Brien's profile
- 23 followers
