Jane Lindskold's Blog, page 14

FF: Read to Write

As we launch into the beginning of a new year, my schedule is busier than ever.  PT continues to take time and energy, but I still manage to find time to read.  It’s weird but true: If I don’t read someone else’s work, my writing suffers.  Doing stuff with my hands also plays into my writing.

As most of you already know, the Friday Fragments is not a book review column; it’s a list of what I’m reading and maybe a bit about my opinions.  I always read the comments section and enjoy learning what other people are reading.  Oh, and I don’t usually list shorter works unless in a collection or articles, I also don’t usually list scattered research reading.

Completed:

Mortal Stakes by Robert B. Parker.  Third in the series.  Spenser is now recognizably himself, less a homage to other tough guy detectives.  Vivid characterization, although book jacket copy pretty much spoiled the plot.

In Progress:

The Cartoon History of the Universe: From the Big Bang to Alexander the Great.  (Volumes 1-7).  One of the oddest, but most enjoyable, history series out there.  I’m almost done.

Paladin’s Faith by T. Kingfisher (aka Ursula Vernon).  Book Four in the Saint of Steel series.  As with the rest of the series, could stand alone, but elements are appreciated if you’ve read the series in order.

Mr. Lemoncello’s Great Library Race by Chris Grabenstein.  Audiobook.  Beneath the chaos and silliness, this middle grade series takes on some pretty serious issues.  This time it’s research in the age of the internet, when facts can be changed but also found, and the quest for Truth is more important than ever.

Also:

Finally finished the latest issue of Archeology and am reading an issue of Smithsonian I missed. 

Heru: Mini-Pterodactylish

Heru (Art By Tom Kidd)

Late last year, at the request of my friend Jane Noel, I focused the Wednesday Wanderings on the six main characters of my Over Where series, not only looking at the characters, but a little about how they took shape.  The series started with the eldest, Meg, and concluded with the youngest, Vereez.

Only after I was done did I realize there was one more I could talk about without providing undue spoilers.  This is Heru.  Unlike the other central characters, Heru is neither human nor sennutep (a therianthropic person who blends the traits of a human and an animal).  Heru is a xuxu.

What is a xuxu?  A xuxu is a flying creature who (at least to someone from our world) resembles a mini-pterodactyl.  Xuxu have leathery, rather than feathered, wings, a long beak, and a crest.  Their wings have “fingers” at the joint that are used to hold small items and to bring food closer to their mouths.  Their crest is hollow and can be used as a trumpet or whistle.  Xuxu are of at least human intelligence, and are capable of learning to speak languages other than their own.

Heru was raised from an egg by Grunwold.  He speaks Grunwold’s language, although with a strong accent.  The accent is not due to Heru being at all stupid, rather because his mouth is shaped differently.  Since Grunwold usually could understand Heru (think of how parents of small kids can always understand what their child is saying, even if it sounds like nonsense to anyone else), Heru was inclined to speak in a casual, informal fashion.  As Heru spends more time with people other than Grunwold and his intimate circle, Heru has learned to speak more carefully, although he will slip back into the other mode.

Xuxu are commonly green on their upper surface, probably so they will blend in with the foliage when they are flying and be camouflaged from predators who tend to pounce from above.  However, their undersides are much brighter.  Heru’s underside is orange, but other xuxu may be yellow, red, purple, or blue—all in very loud shades.  Color variation is not defined by gender, and sexual dimorphism is not a trait of xuxu.

Xuxu are egg layers, but clutches are very small, often as little as one or two eggs.  The eggs are incubated not only by both parents, but also by flock members.  Elder xuxu are often supported by the flock and, in return, tend to and educate the young.  Therefore, the young grow up identifying with the flock, rather than just their immediate relatives.  This ability to identify beyond the immediate group is probably why they are able to have good relationships with non-xuxu.

So, there’s Heru…  I’m delighted that Tom Kidd liked him enough to include him on the covers of Library of the Sapphire Wind and House of Rough Diamonds. 

FF: Evolving Series Characters

Argent, Roary, and Ruby Live the Dream

Back when House of Rough Diamonds (the third Over Where novel) came out, I did an on-line interview that, for various reasons, was delayed.  It’s now out, and you can find it here.

As for what I’m reading, when Jim and I got together, over twenty-five years ago, we shared favorite books with each other, as readers do.  He introduced me to Robert B. Parker’s Spenser, and as our next anniversary approaches (27th!), I decided to revisit

I was enchanted by this collection, enough that I wrote the Foreword, and in that I say why.  I met Alan first through his stories (many of which have been featured at The Mythic Café, on Facebook).  He writes urban fantasy where magic wanders in to ordinary life.  As Charles de Lint says about Alan Allinger’s writing: “He gives us a sense of wonder and characters that leave the world in a better place than before they got here… I love these characters and their stories.”

As most of you already know, the Friday Fragments is not a book review column; it’s a list of what I’m reading and maybe a bit about my opinions.  I always read the comments section and enjoy learning what other people are reading.  Oh, and I don’t usually list shorter works unless in a collection or articles, I also don’t usually list scattered research reading.

Completed:

The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones.  Audiobook.  Christopher is in over his head, but it takes him a long time to realize it.  I love this story and her work in general. 

The Godwulf Manuscript by Robert B. Parker.  The first of his novels featuring what would become a long series with Spenser.  Not my favorite, but completely fascinating to watch the character begin to evolve into who he would become.

In Progress:

The Cartoon History of the Universe: From the Big Bang to Alexander the Great.  (Volumes 1-7).  One of the oddest, but most enjoyable, history series out there.  I’m at about Volume 5.

Mortal Stakes by Robert B. Parker.  Third in the series.  Spenser is now recognizably himself, less a homage to other tough guy detectives.  Vivid characterization, although book jacket copy pretty much spoiled the plot.

Also:

Doing scattered research reading as I work my way back into OW4.

Fourteen Years Wandering

Roary and Mei-Ling

Many years ago, I used to read a weekly wine and spirits column.  Once a year, the writers would take a break from exploring a rare vintage or reconstructing a strange cocktail, and talk about the column itself.  I always enjoyed that, and decided to do the same when I started this blog (a word I still dislike for its pure ugliness of sound, but have become resigned to).

So, here I am…   It’s been fourteen years since I started the Wednesday Wanderings.  In that time, I’ve not missed a single week.  For seven of those years, I also wrote a weekly Thursday Tangent with New Zealand reader and reviewer, Alan Robson.  You can still find our ramblings on my blogsite, or as a free downloadable e-book produced by Alan.

Oh!  While I’m at it, you can find a selection of the Wednesday Wandering posts focused on the art, the craft, the life of writing in my book Wanderings on Writing, available at most e-book vendors, as well as in print form on Amazon or my website bookshop.

And on Fridays, I write the Friday Fragments, which is a list of what I’ve been reading, sometimes with comments.  I’m more likely to comment if I really liked a piece but, I will admit, if I get seriously peeved, I’ll comment as well.

Before I go farther, I need to acknowledge the help of my long-time friend, Paul Dellinger, who has proofed 95% of these posts, including this one (but not this paragraph, because I didn’t want to make him blush).  He also proofed all the Thursday Tangents.

In those fourteen years, nothing has changed, everything has changed.  I’m still writing, although for a different publisher, as well as through my own indie pub imprint.  My most recent release is House of Rough Diamonds, the third book in my Over Where series, which came out this past September.  Next up will be a re-release, e-book only, of my stand alone novel, The Buried Pyramid.

I’m still married to the same fellow, archeologist, Jim Moore.  He’s retired now, but still involved in archeology, as well as exploring a great number of new projects.  He’s taken over a lot of the errands, which sort of balances the big change for me, which is a very different schedule.

I still have cats, guinea pigs, and fish, although all of these are different from fourteen years ago.  Most of them model for the pictures for my posts.  Jim takes all the pictures. 

I still garden, but it’s getting harder, as summers get hotter.  This hasn’t led me to quit, simply to adapt.

I still game, but with a different group (other than Jim).  It remains one of my favorite social and creative outlets.  I’m still an anime fan, a beader (although shifting to larger beads, because size 11 seed beads seem very tiny), as well as enjoying other crafts. 

In fact, when I look back over these last fourteen years, adapting to change has been the most constant and recurring theme.

Once again, I invite questions or suggestions of topics for future WW.  Now, off to write!

WW: As Promised

Persephone Reads

Last year, I mentioned that I was reading an advanced copy of Found Leaning Against the Second Doorway by Alan Allinger.  I promised I’d let you know when it was available, and here I am to keep my promise.

I was enchanted by this collection, enough that I wrote the Foreword, and in that I say why.  I met Alan first through his stories (many of which have been featured at The Mythic Café, on Facebook).  He writes urban fantasy where magic wanders in to ordinary life.  As Charles de Lint says about Alan Allinger’s writing: “He gives us a sense of wonder and characters that leave the world in a better place than before they got here… I love these characters and their stories.”

As most of you already know, the Friday Fragments is not a book review column; it’s a list of what I’m reading and maybe a bit about my opinions.  I always read the comments section and enjoy learning what other people are reading.  Oh, and I don’t usually list shorter works unless in a collection or articles, I also don’t usually list scattered research reading.

Completed:

Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie. 

Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein.  Audiobook.  A little awkwardly structured, but the reader does great voices.

The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle.  I hadn’t read this one in decades.  It holds up brilliantly.  I’ve been slowing down to savor the prose.

In Progress:

The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones.  Audiobook.  Christopher is in over his head, but it takes him a long time to realize it. 

The Cartoon History of the Universe: From the Big Bang to Alexander the Great.  (Volumes 1-7).  One of the oddest, but most enjoyable, history series out there.

Also:

Just about done with the new Archeology.  Also sampled a few shorter publications.

It Reminded Me Of Over Where

Geisha Cat

“It reminded me of Over Where,” said my friend, Cale Mims, after I had unwrapped the bookmark he presented me as a gift on New Year’s Day.  It featured (as the photo above shows) a metal figure of a calico cat in Japanese garb.  Although it looks as if it could be from a modern manga, the accompanying tag identified it as a “geisha cat,” taken from a print by ukiyo-e woodblock print artist, Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861).

I was thrilled both by the gift and that Cale had thought of my books when he saw it.  After years of holding myself back, in my new Over Where series, I let myself indulge my lifelong fondness for therianthropic figures, by making three such (called “sennutep” in the series) three of my main characters.

In the weeks before Christmas, I did a series of Wanderings focusing in on the main characters, so readers of these Wanderings (and maybe even of the books) are probably already familiar with Xerak, Grunwold, and Vereez. 

The bookmark included a little text explaining why Utagawa Kuniyoshi had chosen to depict geishas with the traits of cats.  This “was the artist’s way of avoiding the censorship laws imposed in Japan in the 1840’s.  These laws prohibited conspicuous displays of wealth, irreverence or negativity toward authority, and anything that was sexually provocative.”

It’s interesting to note that one of the other figures in the original print is depicted topless, indulging in a cat bath.  I guess this was a challenge to the censorship of sexually provocative figures.

So, I have a new addition to my considerable collection of therianthropic figures, and some new things to think about.  Delightful!

FF: Gift Books

Roary Does a Half-Poirot

This week I’ve been indulging in a re-read of several Agatha Christie novels that Jim gave me for Christmas.  Sure, I’ve already read them, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy.

As most of you already know, the Friday Fragments is not a book review column; it’s a list of what I’m reading and maybe a bit about my opinions.  I always read the comments section and enjoy learning what other people are reading.  Oh, and I don’t usually list shorter works unless in a collection or articles, I also don’t usually list scattered research reading.

Completed:

Peril at End House by Agatha Christie.  One of those holiday gifts.

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie.  Another of those holiday gifts.

In Progress:

Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie.  The finale of the holiday gifts.

Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein.  Audiobook.  A little awkwardly structured, but the reader does great voices.

Also:

I gave the new Archeology a break and am reading a couple of shorter magazines: Jim’s alumni mag from University of Michigan and the new AAA magazine, which is full of travel essays.

Congrats to Tom Kidd

Happy New Year! 

Sailing With Slicewind’s Crew

When I returned from going to Arizona to visit my mom for the Christmas holidays, I learned that Tom Kidd’s art for my novel Library of the Sapphire Wind was a Chesley Award finalist in the paperback/e-book category.  Given just how many books are published in that category, this is an astonishing achievement.

I’m delighted for Tom Kidd, especially since he really went a whole bunch of extra miles for this cover.  As you can see from the photo above, the cover of Library of the Sapphire Wind, along with that for the next book in the series, Aurora Borealis Bridge, makes one large image. That’s super cool!

I also appreciate how Tom managed to feature all of the main characters, including Heru the xuxu.  Heru, by the way, will be featured in a future WW, since I’ve had a lot of questions about him, and about the ecosystem Over Where.

However, this week I’m catching up on all the jobs I let lie fallow.  That includes getting back to work on the yet untitled OW4…

Catch you later!

FF: Weather Delays

Mei-Ling Shows Off!

Jim and I drove out to Arizona for Christmas.  As is usual, we took an audiobook along, but really changeable weather on the way out (try rain and snow and sleet and hail, and freezing rain), as well as some crazy drivers on the way home meant we didn’t listen as much as we might have.  Watching the road comes first!

As most of you already know, the Friday Fragments is not a book review column; it’s a list of what I’m reading and maybe a bit about my opinions.  I always read the comments section and enjoy learning what other people are reading.  Oh, and I don’t usually list shorter works unless in a collection or articles, I also don’t usually list scattered research reading.

Completed:

Travels with Charlie by John Steinbeck.  Audiobook.  New to me.  What’s startling is how much of the material still seems current.  Oddly, some of the saddest material gives me hope we can again survive.

Hogfather by Terry Pratchett. A favorite holiday read, about many things, not the least, the power of belief.  I love Susan and Death’s final discussion about why humans need the small lies.

Mrs. McGinty’s Dead by Agatha Christie.  Re-read.  My sweetie gave me four Agatha Christie novels we didn’t have in our collection, and this was the first I read.

Haven’t You Heard?  I’m Sakamoto by Nami Sano.  Manga.  Slice of life?  Or SF?  Very strange either way.  A holiday gift.

In Progress:

Peril at Endhouse by Agatha Christie.  Another holiday gift.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.  Audiobook.  We listened to this while driving two and from Arizona.  We got as far as the beginning of barrel riding.

Also:

Struggling with wildly inferior prose in the new issue of Archeology, which has a lot of “highlights of the year” stuff, and some amazingly contorted writing.  I keep letting myself get distracted.

One (Not Turtle) Dove

Dove in the Desert Willow

I have a great fondness for the week between Christmas and New Year.  The frantic element is much reduced.  I’ve baked all the cookies.  If a gift is going to be late, I’ve made my apologies.  Many people are on holiday, so even the sense of deadlines is reduced.

This week, I’ll do some writing, probably.  But I’ll also make time to visit with a few friends who are on break, and things like that.

I wish all of you the opportunity for peace and contemplation, maybe time to curl up with a good book or to watch that movie you’ve been wanting to see or to play with your new holiday toys.

Take care!