Josh Lanyon's Blog, page 23
December 6, 2020
Advent Calendar Day 6
Today a special treat. Haldis wrote a bit of fiction for the Adrien English 20th Anniversary Celebration. Well, as you know, the celebration got a little bit lost in current events, as I didn't want to lose this wonderful little bit of backstory, so I've folded it into the calendar. Cloak and DaggerHaldis
Angus was sitting in his dark room, enthralled by a shiny, jeweled dagger when the call came in from the employment agency.
The thing was, Angus hadn’t been looking for daggers when he noticed the catalogue left by one of the gang after last night’s get together to watch the latest episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. No, what he really wanted was a cloak. One that said he was serious, but totally cool, while casting a spell, or working a circle, or summoning a demon. The black hoodie he had been using wasn’t ideal, but he wasn’t desperate enough to make a cloak out of a black trash bag and electrical tape like that one guy last semester. He was willing to wait until he had the money to afford a real cloak.
Angus had picked up the catalogue off the milk crate that he used as a table and started flipping through the pages. Most of the stuff was crazy new age stuff like weird jewelry and prisms.
He flipped a page. Crystals.
Flipped a page. Oh, cool, panpipes.
Flipped a page. Finally, cloaks.
And there were a lot of cloaks. Gauzy, flowery cloaks, Maid Marion cloaks, red cloaks, purple cloaks, green cloaks. And they were made with a variety of different materials. Nylon, cotton, velvet. One of the velvet cloaks was black with a satiny red lining that reminded him of a Halloween vampire. Angus was pretty sure that if he ever became a vampire, he would never wear a red-lined velvet cloak. No, he would be like Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, wearing a leather jacket, and be all confident and say the coolest things, and not all broody and mumbly like Angel.
Angus flipped another page and found a plain black cloak that looked pretty cool, but he would need to get a job before he could afford it.
He flipped a page. Candles, in red, black, white.
Flipped a page. Wow, a stuffed raven. Some goth that used to hang with them, (Amy? Allie? Rachel?) used to quote some poem about a raven. It was a famous poem. Rapping and tapping. Reminded Angus of a knock knock joke.
Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Flipped a page. Staffs, wands.
Raven.
Raven, who?
Flip. Oh, cool, skulls.
Raven lunatic.
Angus snorted at his joke.
Flip. Swords, knives, and oh wow. Daggers.
Maybe he should get a dagger. Something in silver. You could control a demon with silver. Or was it kill demons with silver? Or maybe that was werewolves? Regardless, silver sounded like a good choice. With a red ruby jewel that looked like the blood of his enemies.
There were a variety of daggers on the page, with names like athame, boline and…. How did you even pronounce sgian dubh? Many were simple blades with either black or white handles. Some had elaborate, curved blades. Others had fancy hilts and shiny blades.
He wondered if there was a class he could sign up for next semester to help him chose. Blades 101.
And then he noticed the bright silver dagger with the runes etched along the blade, and a brilliant blue sapphire in the hilt. It was amazing. It held Angus befuddled. Bewildered? Bewitched? Yes, he was definitely bewitched.
The ringing of the phone startled him out of his bewitchedness.
“’lo”, Angus answered the phone. It was the employment agency.
“K”, he mumbled in response. He wrote down the address of a business in Pasadena.
“K, bye”, he finished the call and hung up the phone.
He looked down at the name of the business he had written down and a small smile touched his lips.
Cloak and Dagger.
December 5, 2020
Advent Calendar - Day 5
This morning I'm sharing with you one of my very favorite Christmas songs of all times. Low's "Just Like Christmas."
Something about it just resonates in the way that good fiction feels more real than real life. If you know what I mean. It makes me smile and it puts a lump in my throat.
December 4, 2020
Advent Calendar - Day 4
Every year I try to hunt down a couple of vintage Christmas cartoons on YouTube for your viewing pleasure. The thing about Christmas cartoons--especially the really old ones--is that they seem to work like a reset button for the holidays. Suddenly you remember how you used to feel about all the magic and mystery of this time of year. A time of year when anything seems possible. And if there was ever a year we might want to forget current circumstances and harken back to simpler, safer days, this is it.
Anyway, consider it a form of meditation. Pour yourself a cup of cocoa or coffee and just spend the next thirty minutes doing nothing more than watching this little adaptation of Raymond Brigg's Father Christmas. It's not one of the golden oldies, but it's charming and wistful and wise.
December 3, 2020
Advent Calendar - Day 3
Good morning!
One of the best parts about the Advent Calendar is that through the years, so many readers have been inspired to add their own stories or art or whatever to the festivities. It's always fun. It always adds so much.
So I want to remind everyone that there's still plenty of room in this year's calendar, if you've got an idea or would like to participate. ;-)
Today we have something quite different from longtime reader friend thelastaerie. This is an "Incorrect Quotes" post she did for her Tumblr. (Speaking of which, if you're on Tumblr, come say hi!)
Now, I have to admit I had no idea what incorrect-got-quotes were and had to look this up online (which resulted in some pretty entertaining web browsing). Basically, it seems to be taking scenes from films and captioning them with totally incorrect and generally very funny quotes. You can also take funny photos and apply your favorite character quotes OR create your own character art and make up quotes. I don't think there are any hard and fast rules. It's just for fun.
So thank you to thelastaerie for sharing a bit of holiday dialog between Scout and Tomkins. ;-)
December 2, 2020
Advent Calendar - Day 2
Good morning! How are you feeling? What are your plans for this holiday season? It's such a strange year. What are you doing to take care of yourself and keep this winter merry and bright?
Today's little offering is just a poem and a picture. Both of which I love for their nostalgic feel.
Have a lovely, lovely day!
by Marie Irish
The golden Christmas stars shine down
With a cheerful Christmas glow,
And twinkle a Yuletide message
To the busy world below;
They tell of the peace and good will
The Christmas time brings to earth,
The peace and good will all should feel
At this season of joy and mirth.
December 1, 2020
Advent Calendar - Day 1
Happy Holidays!
Yep, through wind or rain or sleet or pandemic, the holidays are back. With a vengeance. Well, no. Hopefully NOT with a vengeance. We've had plenty of that already, thankyouverymuch.
No question this has been one weird-ass year. And I'll be honest, my cup is not one-hundred-percent brimming with holiday cheer. Not yet. But I'm getting there. Day by day, snowflake by snowflake, I'm working my way toward Joy. Because really, there is LOT to be joyful for this year. Even if you have to stop and think about it. Hard. Sometimes. Sometimes it's been hard. But we're still alive. If you're reading this, you're still alive, and that's something. A starting point? However, I know some of us have had a HORRENDOUS time of it. So maybe, just maybe, I can do something to help that.
Because that's really the goal of this little "Advent calendar." To say thank you to my readers and to share a little bit of holiday fun.
So here is the now (probably familiar) drill. Every morning through Christmas Day there will be something posted to this blog to start your day off with a smile.
Maybe I'll share a favorite holiday song or a lovely photo or a vintage cartoon or a cocktail recipe or maybe I'll give something away. Speaking of giveaways. Last years giveaways did not go out until last week, so some of you may have puzzled over receiving some oddball holiday items from Ebay or Etsy. THAT WAS ME. THAT WAS ME SENDING YOU YOUR PRIZE IN TIME FOR **THIS** YEAR'S HOLIDAY! I know what you're thinking--I think it too--but after all, a surprise delayed is a...evenmore surprising surprise. Right? The good news is I've ALREADY bought my vintage goodies for this year, so the prizes will go out much, much faster.
Some days we'll have fiction--sometimes from me or maybe from one of our talented contributors. Other days we'll have art, a poem...one thing for sure, every day I'll have some small little "gift" for you to enjoy.
And if you're feeling creative or inspired and would like to contribute something to this year's calendar, that would be terrific! Don't be shy. You can reach me right through my website or on Facebook. You'd be very welcome!
Otherwise, there really is nothing for you to do but show up and enjoy--well, and to participate occasionally in so far as letting contributors know you're enjoying our efforts. (I'll be honest, it's a wee bit disappointing when we get 2800 views and only two comments. ;-))
But anyway, we're all doing the best we can. And the best I can do is this small attempt to say...
Thank You!Thank you for your support throughout the year(s) whether it's through buying my books, contributing to my Patreon, writing reviews, sending me such kind letters, or simply spreading your enjoyment of my stories on social media. It all means so much. (And that's the truth.)
So here we go! Happy Holidays and may 2020 end with love, laughter and lots of happy surprises! Thank you--sincerely--for being here.
Comment below as to what you are most looking forward to this holiday season, and you'll be automatically entered into a drawing for a (vintage) small and kooky holiday-themed planter.
November 26, 2020
Happy Thanksgiving!
It's been such a very weird year. The kind of year where it you really have to concentrate on all there is to be grateful for in the midst of all there is to be worried about. But one of the advantages of focusing on gratitude is it helps with anxiety and depression.
So here are five things I'm grateful for this Thanksgiving Day. I invite you to share your own five things in the comments below.
FIVE THINGS I'M GRATEFUL FOR RIGHT THIS MINUTE
1 - Food and shelter (the basics, yes, but so many do not have these basics, so I am truly grateful that I do not have to worry about food and shelter. In fact, the only danger is that I take these things for granted. I don't ever want to take these things for granted.)
2 - That my depression, anxiety, creative ennui (?!) has lifted and I am eager to get back to work--and excited about the stories left to tell.
3 - That everyone I love is still alive. Friends and family I most care about are so far still safe. Watching the terrifying numbers on the news each night, that is no small thing. I am deeply, deeply grateful for the health and safety of everyone I love. That includes those of you showing up today to read this post--I am very grateful that you're here and you're hanging in there.
3a - Also the promise of a vaccine on the horizon. I'm very grateful for that.
4 - Chocolate. In fact, a veritable stockpile of chocolate. Some people panic over toilet paper. My fear was we would not have chocolate when we needed it most. ;-)
5 - The Marlowe and Spenser Comedy Hour--which turns out to run 24 hours a day. Our little four-footed kooks have provided cuddles and kisses and many, many laughs during some stressful hours. Also their need for routine has kept us on schedule.
Whatever you have to be grateful for, I hope the coming days are brimming over with it.
November 25, 2020
CHIRP AUDIO DEALS!
Yes, yes, I am running one hell of a lot of deals right now. And that's because I'm not planning on running many sales come December. So this is it.
What I'm doing in December is the annual Advent Calendar. And here is your invitation to submit art, fiction, whatever to that endeavor. There are still slots left!
Meanwhile, here's what's on sale through Chirp
These holiday favorites have all been submitted to Chirp for a $1.99 promotion that should run from November 25 through December 24. You can almost get all of them for what one of them typically costs!
APPLE DEALS
Green Glass Beads will be $1.99 (Dec. 1 - 30)
The Dangerous Ground Box Set - $2.99 (Dec. 1 - 30)
November 24, 2020
OH! A BOOKBUB DEAL
This one is for MAINLY BY MOONLIGHT and it's aimed at the United Kingdom, Canada, India and Australia. Of course, I went ahead and applied it to the US too (and probably elsewhere, although sometimes it's hard to tell).
But anyway, it's on now and expires on the 25th.
I'm hoping to have the third book out at the end of this month, so the timing is pretty good! Seriously, even if the timing was terrible, you can't beat .99 cents.
November 20, 2020
John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt
OR John Joseph Galbraith. Which one should we talk about?
THAT WAS A RHETORICAL QUESTION.
I've been making notes and working on the outline for Bell, Book and Scandal, and that means thinking through the ongoing character arcs of both Cosmo and John. I was surprised after I Buried a Witch by the readers who really did not seem to "get" John. Meaning that they did not seem to understand that John was an emotionally and psychologically complicated personality with a character arc before him.
I don't know why this always surprises me because I've noticed again and again that the very readers who claim they love difficult, complicated characters, often have a lot of trouble with characters who are indeed difficult and complicated outside of a preordained acceptable character traits bubble.
I admit it. I like writing difficult characters. I like writing characters that push reader buttons. I like occasionally making readers uncomfortable. I'm not trying to write for everyone. I'm not studying the market and analyzing algorithms. I write what interests me, moves me, inspires me to explore and understand. That's one reason why I quit writing for mainstream. ;-)
Anyway, I was thinking about John and the readers who were riled by him, and I wonder if there were some important clues that not everyone picked up on. Like, there's a big difference between what John says and what he does. John's communication style is very brusque, but his actions frequently do not line up with what he says. John talks a good distancing game, but when it comes to Cosmo, he does not actually preserve much distance.Some of John's most important character reveals are sub-textual. But some of them are right there in
plain sight.
For example, John's not sexually controlling. He's open and willing to anything Cosmo wants to do or not do. He specifically says Cosmo should have everything the way he likes every time he has sex. And as Cosmo's sexual interests change, John goes right along with out hesitation or hitch.
Also, right from the start--in Mainly by Moonlight--as ambitious as John professes to be--is--when it comes down to Cosmo or his big important job--even with all his (understandable) doubts and concerns about Cosmo--he chooses Cosmo.
This is a little one, but kind of key to both family dynamics and how John treats others. John backs Cosmo's position within the family hierarchy. We know (or think we know) John's not a patient guy, yet he's kind to his annoying and difficult mother and both loyal to, and protective of, his difficult young sister. He values Cosmo's input and opinions (as much or more than values anyone's--given that he is not a trusting person). Also he appears to remain courteous and respectful to Cosmo's family and friends, despite knowing they detest him.
In I Buried a Witch, John gives what he believes is an ultimatum and when Cosmo calls his bluff, he backs down, eventually settling on the fairly minimal request of please don't use magic as a first resort. (Which is fair enough from someone who doesn't like magic. ) Should he have made the original request? It's called negotiation.
Also, as controlling as John seems on the surface, he does forgive Cosmo for trying to use magic on him--not once, but a couple of times. In fact, after his initial rage (again we only see it through Cosmo's eyes) he attempts to retreat from Cosmo. He does not attack him or punish him. He's not out to destroy Cosmo. He doesn't reveal any of Cosmo's secrets.
It's tricky because we mostly see John through Cosmo's eyes, and Cosmo feels insecure and uncertain of the relationship. Subtext is important when analyzing John. But so are Cosmo's behaviors. He repeatedly ignores John's orders and demands--other than the evening where John discovers Cosmo is a magical being who attempted to repeatedly use magic on him--Cosmo shows little real fear of anything but John not loving him. In fact, overall, Cosmo is pretty much a blithe spirit.
And finally, I'd have insisted on the pool too. :-D I mean, he did give Cosmo half the backyard, and Cosmo is a fully cognizant adult, not a tiny child to wander off and fall in the pool.
Those are my thoughts. YMMV?
