Liz Williams's Blog, page 29
December 24, 2010
Christmas Eve
Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates! We have had a sociable afternoon, complete with an exciting 360 degree spin in the Jeep on black ice off one of the Moors roads. Wheee! At least we didn't hit anything. I think.
Sid is eyeing the pork roast, the log fire is lit, and I am keeping Annie Lennox's magnificent version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen on continual replay. And that is about it for Christmas Eve 2010.
Sid is eyeing the pork roast, the log fire is lit, and I am keeping Annie Lennox's magnificent version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen on continual replay. And that is about it for Christmas Eve 2010.
December 21, 2010
Another royal wedding
This time, Princess Anne's daughter Zara, to a rugby player. I am not a royalist, but I have little issue with ZP - she did, indeed, have numerous advantages growing up, but she is an excellent and genuinely talented rider.
We went to a local pub tonight - the landlord had been to a sports awards dinner in Bristol recently. Phillips attended, as she won an award. So did a local woman, who volunteers at one of the swimming pools in Bristol, and who has, for the last 30 years or so, taken local disabled youngsters swimming. Landlord says that Phillips came up to the latter award winner at the bar. The swimming pool woman was very flustered (Phillips doesn't have the title of princess, but essentially she is). Our landlord says that he overheard Phillips saying 'But my award is only for a couple of years. Yours is for the whole of your life,' and was then really nice to her co-winner. So, go her, IMO.
We went to a local pub tonight - the landlord had been to a sports awards dinner in Bristol recently. Phillips attended, as she won an award. So did a local woman, who volunteers at one of the swimming pools in Bristol, and who has, for the last 30 years or so, taken local disabled youngsters swimming. Landlord says that Phillips came up to the latter award winner at the bar. The swimming pool woman was very flustered (Phillips doesn't have the title of princess, but essentially she is). Our landlord says that he overheard Phillips saying 'But my award is only for a couple of years. Yours is for the whole of your life,' and was then really nice to her co-winner. So, go her, IMO.
Tarot readings
If you are looking for a Christmas present which will arrive in time and is not dependent on the postal service, I do online Tarot and Tree Oracle readings.
http://www.witchcraftshop.co.uk/store/index.php?CatID=0157
http://www.witchcraftshop.co.uk/store/index.php?CatID=0157
December 20, 2010
Happy Solstice
Beat the bounds this evening with a lantern. It is very quiet and still out there, apart from the sudden unnerving rush of snow cascading out of the ash trees. Easy to tell where the local badgers have been choosing for their wee place, however! I have heard owls regularly throughout the autumn, but not tonight.
I don't know what the temperature is but it doesn't feel that cold: then again, I was walking fairly briskly. No sign of the moon so I think any chance of seeing the eclipse is probably out. When I came back, we libated the orchard with cider brandy. And are now libating ourselves with the same thing.
I don't know what the temperature is but it doesn't feel that cold: then again, I was walking fairly briskly. No sign of the moon so I think any chance of seeing the eclipse is probably out. When I came back, we libated the orchard with cider brandy. And are now libating ourselves with the same thing.
Solstice Eve
It was snowing when we got up this morning, around 8, and continued throughout the morning. E and I trudged to the village shop for essentials and when we got back, T drove into Glastonbury. Our staff member walked in from the next town, which is a couple of miles. Someone we know overturned the car last night and a lorry jacknifed on the main road into Glastonbury, allegedly demolishing someone's front room.
I have been working on various things from home today, but have just walked down to the back field to take a bucket of water to Snowy, who has made a little horse nest under some blackthorn. He has a perfectly good barn, with straw, which he hates. The sky is a leaden, yellow-grey and it looks like there is more to come. The trip out to the shop was useful, as we discovered that a neighbouring house, which has a small farm shop attachment, also sells logs and kindling. But it goes to show why it is vital to use the local shops - which we do in non-emergencies. If they go, then you're left with no support structure and for the old people round here, that's critical.
The central heating has now kicked in properly and the house is no longer freezing. Since it is supposed to reach -26 tonight in some places (probably the Cairngorms and not Somerset, but even so), I am thankful. We did not get much above -3 yesterday.
For those of you who celebrate, a happy Solstice. I love this snowy world but I will not be sorry to see the return of the sun!
I have been working on various things from home today, but have just walked down to the back field to take a bucket of water to Snowy, who has made a little horse nest under some blackthorn. He has a perfectly good barn, with straw, which he hates. The sky is a leaden, yellow-grey and it looks like there is more to come. The trip out to the shop was useful, as we discovered that a neighbouring house, which has a small farm shop attachment, also sells logs and kindling. But it goes to show why it is vital to use the local shops - which we do in non-emergencies. If they go, then you're left with no support structure and for the old people round here, that's critical.
The central heating has now kicked in properly and the house is no longer freezing. Since it is supposed to reach -26 tonight in some places (probably the Cairngorms and not Somerset, but even so), I am thankful. We did not get much above -3 yesterday.
For those of you who celebrate, a happy Solstice. I love this snowy world but I will not be sorry to see the return of the sun!
Diary of a Witchcraft Shop Vols I and 2 - repost
'DIARY'IS NOW OUT AS AN E-BOOK! Many thanks for your patience, and it's been great to have feedback from those of you who have already read and enjoyed it.
When we started this blog, a number of people kept asking me when we were going to bring out the Diary of a Witchcraft Shop as a book.
Well, now we have!
It's going to be in e-format, at least initially. We're launching Volume 1 next week, and Volume 2 at Beltane. The first volume covers the first couple of years of the shop when I came on board and features all the things you've come to know and love from the blogs - magic and mayhem, spirits and standing stones, cats and dogs, people who know they're Druids and people who think they're fairies.
Volume 2 - the Voodoo Years - starts where the previous Diary ends. Who knows what will happen between Samhain and Beltane? Watch this space, or buy the Diary!
There's a lot of new material, as not everything makes it onto the blog. Volume 1 is written jointly by myself and Trevor, and Volume 2 will feature contributions from Jamie and Jack, our esteemed and long-suffering staff.
E-book options
Diary Vol 1 £9.99
Diary Vol 2 £9.99
Diary 1 & 2 £16.99
Each Diary will cost £9.99, but if you sign up for both volumes now, you can pay £16.99 for the pair. We will send you Volume 1 now (please let me know which format you'd like) and Volume 2 in the spring.
When we started this blog, a number of people kept asking me when we were going to bring out the Diary of a Witchcraft Shop as a book.
Well, now we have!
It's going to be in e-format, at least initially. We're launching Volume 1 next week, and Volume 2 at Beltane. The first volume covers the first couple of years of the shop when I came on board and features all the things you've come to know and love from the blogs - magic and mayhem, spirits and standing stones, cats and dogs, people who know they're Druids and people who think they're fairies.
Volume 2 - the Voodoo Years - starts where the previous Diary ends. Who knows what will happen between Samhain and Beltane? Watch this space, or buy the Diary!
There's a lot of new material, as not everything makes it onto the blog. Volume 1 is written jointly by myself and Trevor, and Volume 2 will feature contributions from Jamie and Jack, our esteemed and long-suffering staff.
E-book options
Diary Vol 1 £9.99
Diary Vol 2 £9.99
Diary 1 & 2 £16.99
Each Diary will cost £9.99, but if you sign up for both volumes now, you can pay £16.99 for the pair. We will send you Volume 1 now (please let me know which format you'd like) and Volume 2 in the spring.
Creative writing tutoring - repost
As some of you will know, I have been offering manuscript appraisal services for some time now, but I have recently been joined by historical novelist Maria McCann. I am updating this as Maria has now come on board with the Arvon team, and I'm including details of that below.
Maria has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Glamorgan. For nearly a decade (until December 2010) she ran the Creative Writing courses at Strode College in Somerset, helping writers of all levels of ability to nurture their creative processes and to craft their work. Alongside historical novelists Emma Darwin, Rose Melikan and R N Morris, Maria appears at literary festivals as part of a panel discussing aspects of writing and researching historical fiction; from January 2011 she will be one of three writers (along with poet Daljit Nagra and playwright Nell Leyshon) selected to mentor upcoming talent as part of the Jerwood/Arvon Mentoring Scheme.
I will be dealing with SF, Fantasy and Horror, or any related sub-genres. Maria will be dealing with literary fiction and historical fiction. We will be offering:
- manuscript proposal appraisal (first three chapters and synopsis)
- full manuscript appraisal (novels and short fiction)
- submission package assessment
We can also offer tailor-made packages, depending on your needs and requirements. If you want an assessment of your initial three chapters, to see whether a manuscript is worth continuing, we can look at this. If you have a whole novel, and would like it taken up to the point where you are ready to submit to an agent, we can structure a timetable for you and take you through a chapter-by-chapter assessment. This process is likely to take about a year (unless you're a very quick writer!) and we will suggest that you rewrite if we think it's necessary.
You can start at any point. We are both very thorough – this is aimed at the serious writer who is aiming at a professional career. We start with an appraisal, and if we think your expectations are unrealistic and that you would not benefit at this point from a full appraisal program, we will tell you. However, we are solution-oriented and our criticism will always be constructive!
The aim of this process is to prepare work for publication. Obviously, we cannot guarantee that, although I would note that my last student has just had her first novel published as part of a 3 book-deal. I can put you in touch with former students if you wish. For other genres, including detective fiction, post-colonial fiction or other, let me know if you would like details and I will pass you on to a wider mentoring agency.
If you would like to discuss this with either Maria or myself, please email me at mevennen(at)hotmail(dot)com for further information, including a full breakdown of costs.
Maria has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Glamorgan. For nearly a decade (until December 2010) she ran the Creative Writing courses at Strode College in Somerset, helping writers of all levels of ability to nurture their creative processes and to craft their work. Alongside historical novelists Emma Darwin, Rose Melikan and R N Morris, Maria appears at literary festivals as part of a panel discussing aspects of writing and researching historical fiction; from January 2011 she will be one of three writers (along with poet Daljit Nagra and playwright Nell Leyshon) selected to mentor upcoming talent as part of the Jerwood/Arvon Mentoring Scheme.
I will be dealing with SF, Fantasy and Horror, or any related sub-genres. Maria will be dealing with literary fiction and historical fiction. We will be offering:
- manuscript proposal appraisal (first three chapters and synopsis)
- full manuscript appraisal (novels and short fiction)
- submission package assessment
We can also offer tailor-made packages, depending on your needs and requirements. If you want an assessment of your initial three chapters, to see whether a manuscript is worth continuing, we can look at this. If you have a whole novel, and would like it taken up to the point where you are ready to submit to an agent, we can structure a timetable for you and take you through a chapter-by-chapter assessment. This process is likely to take about a year (unless you're a very quick writer!) and we will suggest that you rewrite if we think it's necessary.
You can start at any point. We are both very thorough – this is aimed at the serious writer who is aiming at a professional career. We start with an appraisal, and if we think your expectations are unrealistic and that you would not benefit at this point from a full appraisal program, we will tell you. However, we are solution-oriented and our criticism will always be constructive!
The aim of this process is to prepare work for publication. Obviously, we cannot guarantee that, although I would note that my last student has just had her first novel published as part of a 3 book-deal. I can put you in touch with former students if you wish. For other genres, including detective fiction, post-colonial fiction or other, let me know if you would like details and I will pass you on to a wider mentoring agency.
If you would like to discuss this with either Maria or myself, please email me at mevennen(at)hotmail(dot)com for further information, including a full breakdown of costs.
December 19, 2010
Christmas Carols
Very good programme on the history of carols, with Howard Gooding, Ronald Hutton and a lot of church and pub choirs:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00gbgt3
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00gbgt3
Sunday
We haven't had any more snow, but we've had about 8 inches here, which T doesn't remember having in the last 15 years or so. I don't recall this much snow since the early 90s. Last night saw Glastonbury veiled in a light ground mist under a clear blue twilight sky, which was breathtaking.
We've been spending the evenings at home, doing a lot of cooking, and in my case catching up on some reading, and starting to make social arrangements for the post-Xmas period. That's usually our quiet time, but it is quiet now, so.... But at least it's given me time to catch up on some housework, as well.
Sid did not come home last night. We called and called. He is usually good about finding places to sleep (we have a barn full of hay), so I tried not to worry. Then Trevor opened the study door this morning and discovered a very angry cat.
We've been spending the evenings at home, doing a lot of cooking, and in my case catching up on some reading, and starting to make social arrangements for the post-Xmas period. That's usually our quiet time, but it is quiet now, so.... But at least it's given me time to catch up on some housework, as well.
Sid did not come home last night. We called and called. He is usually good about finding places to sleep (we have a barn full of hay), so I tried not to worry. Then Trevor opened the study door this morning and discovered a very angry cat.
December 17, 2010
December night
It was so bright when I let Sid out just now that I grabbed a coat and went for a walk in the orchard - there's a nearly full moon and one bright star, which I'm reliably informed is Jupiter. But everything is silent and still (we have about 6-8 inches of snow out here). Sid hopped and bounced and skipped through the snow like a little black lamb, kicking up his heels, and has not yet returned (he can get in through the cat flap, however, and he's been on the sofa or on T's lap all day, so is presumably looking for some action). Might be a white Christmas yet.
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