Jane Lindskold's Blog, page 51
October 9, 2020
FF: Mostly Mystery
One of the things I really like about reading older mysteries is that the prose can be so incredibly good.
For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week. Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines. The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list. If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.
Once again, this is not a book review column. It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.
A reminder that I’m always happy to hear what you are reading!
Recently Completed:
Traitor’s Purse by Margery Allingham. Tenth book in her Albert Campion series. This one is tense, with Campion suffering amnesia and finally facing how screwed up his priorities are.
Right to Die by Rex Stout. Audiobook. A Nero Wolfe. Published in 1964, the speech in the first chapter could have been made by many a Civil Rights activist today.
More Work for the Undertaker by Margery Allingham. Twelfth book in her Albert Campion series. A return to her pre-War type of settings, with quirky characters and a very localized problem. Introduces Charlie Luke, who will become Campion’s “active” police ally in later books.
In Progress:
Death of a Dude by Rex Stout. Audiobook. A Nero Wolfe. This one takes Archie, and later Nero, to Montana, outside of their usual comfort zone.
Tiger in the Smoke by Margery Allingham. Thirteen book in her Albert Campion series. Often regarded as the best in the series, it deals with PTSD in a very creative manner.
Also:
As usual, the beginning of the month brought in a bunch of periodicals, and I’ve been doing what might be called “channel surfing,” if that could be applied to print media.
October 7, 2020
Recovery Time
First, apologies if the formatting is wonky on this. For reasons known only to them, WordPress has eliminated their easy Classic Editor in favor of Cumbersome Block Editor.
As I mentioned last week, my husband, Jim, had total knee replacement on his left knee on September 29th. He came through surgery very well. However, the recovery is a long one, even for someone is in relatively good shape such as Jim. We know this, because we’ve been through it before, about two years ago, when he had his right knee replaced.
Long? What do I mean? A year before full endurance and mobility return, although there are definite improvement stages along the way, including not needing a walker (shifting to a cane), needing little or no pain medication, and being able to drive again.
As of this writing, Jim is rattling around the house on a walker, doing limited in-home PT, and trying to reduce how much pain medication he’s taking without going overboard. He’s an over-achiever, so a long recovery like this one can be frustrating.
As for me, I’m trying to balance between helping too much and not stepping in when he’s over-doing. As for writing…
Well, as I’ve said repeatedly, I can write pretty much anywhere: in company or alone, longhand or on my computer. The one thing that can make it hard for me to write is uncertainty, because that’s when my storytelling brain switches over to trying to figure out how to deal with the different logic paths that evolve out of the uncertain element.
Take the day of Jim’s surgery. After I dropped him off at the hospital, because I couldn’t be with him in pre-op or recovery, only once he was in his room, I reluctantly went home. I then started working out what needed to be done before I went back. As I worked through the list, I also was mentally timing events. Since I hadn’t been informed of any delay, I assumed that surgery was happening on time, at around noon, as I’d been informed.
You can imagine how I was thrown for a loop when I got a call from Jim at 12:30 that there had been a delay, and that, in fact, there would be another delay. I’ll skip the details, and just say that he didn’t go into surgery until somewhere around 3:00 pm. Those hours of uncertainty, including whether or not I’d be able to go see him before visiting hours ended, were creatively null.
Oddly enough, once he was in surgery, I was able to write for about an hour and a half, because whatever happened I wasn’t “on deck” to deal with it. When the indecision kicked in again (How did it go? When will the surgeon call? Will there be time for me to go see him today?), I was booted out.
Now Jim’s home. There’s a certain element of disruption, but often I can find a time— usually when he’s napping—where the uncertainty ebbs, and I can write.
There you have it! Thanks to those of you who have sent Jim good wishes. I’ve been passing them along.
October 2, 2020
Than Never
Sorry this is late but, as I posted Wednesday, Jim had total knee replacement surgery on Tuesday and my sense of what needs to be done when got completely messed up. But here I am, reading away and eager to hear about good things to read from you!
For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week. Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines. The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list. If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.
Once again, this is not a book review column. It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.
A reminder that I’m always happy to hear what you are reading!
Recently Completed:
Might As Well Be Dead by Rex Stout. Audiobook. A Nero Wolfe. Convoluted but fun. There’s more continuity in this series than I remembered, including what today would be considered “spoilers” for devices in past novels.
Policemen At the Funeral by Margery Allingham. Fourth book in her Albert Campion series. Introduces continuing secondary character, Uncle William Farraday.
Champagne for One by Rex Stout. Audiobook. A Nero Wolfe. Archie is the only one present to insist that an apparent suicide was actually a murder. Nice element of additional tension.
In Progress:
Traitor’s Purse by Margery Allingham. Tenth book in her Albert Campion series. I read the ones between this and Policemen At the Funeral earlier this year, so skipped ahead. This one is tense, with Campion suffering amnesia and finally facing how screwed up his priorities are.
Right to Die by Rex Stout. Audiobook. A Nero Wolfe. Published in 1964, the speech in the first chapter could have been made by many a Civil Rights activist today.
Also:
While sitting in the hospital with Jim, when he napped, I worked on my current work-in-progress. I’ve finished my re-read and noted areas that need work. Very excited.
September 30, 2020
Flickering
A Flicker Feeding in Front
Jim had total knee replacement surgery on his left knee yesterday (Tuesday, 9/29/20). The build-up to this is part of the numerous disruptions over the last several weeks.
As you may have gathered, Jim’s not only my husband and best friend, since his retirement and, even more, since Covid-19 shutdowns, he’s taken over all the errands.
Now it’s my turn, as well as taking over everything he does around the house–which is a lot.
So, if I’m a bit slow responding to Comments or e-mails, this is why. First priority will be taking care of him and keeping the household running, second will be writing.
The picture, by the way, is of a flicker (which is a sort of woodpecker) on the brand new bird block we got so Jim could bird watch while he’s not able to move around as much. At the rate the flicker is going (as well as the other birds), we may need another really soon!
September 25, 2020
FF: Pretentious? No Thanks!
What You Got, Mei-Ling?
As I mentioned last week, I was questing for a new audiobook to listen to. I tried one, non-SF/F, much praised a few years back and found it so pretentious that I dumped it. Then I found some old friends instead.
Yes. I was an English Major. Yes. I read classics and even poetry for fun. But any book that starts with a writer talking about writing and writer’s block and other self-indulgent twaddle loses me right off.
For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week. Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines. The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list. If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.
Once again, this is not a book review column. It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.
A reminder that I’m always happy to hear what you are reading!
Recently Completed:
The Last Hunt by Bruce Coville. Fourth book in the Unicorn Chronicles. Audiobook. Coming in on the last few chapters, with revelations coming fast and thick.
Look to the Lady by Margery Allingham. Third book in her Albert Campion series. Mysterious secret societies, chalices, monsters… What more do you need in a non-fantasy mystery?
In Progress:
Might As Well Be Dead by Rex Stout. Audiobook. A Nero Wolfe.
Policemen At the Funeral by Margery Allingham. Fourth book in her Albert Campion series. Introduces continuing secondary character, Uncle William Farraday.
Also:
The most recent Archeology, still, and, of course, my own work-in-progress.
September 23, 2020
I’m Writing
When Life Gives You a Brick
Today’s WW is going to be short because I’m writing. Last week was insane. Not all bad, just insane. This week is going to have lots of interruptions. Next week is going to be worse.
When the going gets tough, this writer gets writing.
Not everyone’s solution. Not everyone’s way to cope. But mine.
So, off to another land, one I hope to someday share with you all…
Take care!
September 18, 2020
FF: Trusted and True
Roary Is Now Much Taller Than an Eight Inch Book (See Below)
I’m in transition with what I’m reading, started a new that’s an old, trying to decide what my next audiobook will be.
For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week. Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines. The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list. If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.
Once again, this is not a book review column. It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.
A reminder that I’m always happy to hear what you are reading!
Recently Completed:
The Bible As History by Werner Keller. This book’s title in the original German was Und die bible hat doch rechet which translates as closer to “And the Bible is Right” with “Right” in the sense of “Accurate.” Interestingly, the last chapter dealt not with archeology but with what then (the book was published in the 1950’s) scientific theories from physics, astronomy, and otherwise might say about matters previously defined only by biblical texts.
In Progress:
The Last Hunt by Bruce Coville. Fourth book in the Unicorn Chronicles. Audiobook. Coming in on the last few chapters, with revelations coming fast and thick.
Look to the Lady by Margery Allingham. Third book in her Albert Campion series. A good friend trusted me with her much-loved copy. I feel very honored.
Also:
The most recent Archeology and, of course, my own work-in-progress.
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Who Will Win? Baby Roary Or the Mass Market Paperback?
September 16, 2020
Real Writer?
Desert Four O’Clock
Long ago, at an Armadillocon, I believe, I was talking to a gentleman who, himself a published writer of mystery fiction, was also teaching writing. Since we shared similar backgrounds—both professional writers, both had taught writing at the college level—he confided in me.
“The longer I do this, the more I wonder if we’re doing any of these people a favor, acting as if we can teach them to write.”
The funny thing about this exchange was that, by “to write,” we both understood that what he—and most of his students—meant by “writing” was “write well enough, originally enough, to be published.”
More recently, I expressed a similar doubt. The person I was talking to immediately objected, saying that while it was true that many people lack the vision or talent to produce publishable work, that didn’t mean they shouldn’t write.
I agree… If being able to monetize a skill is the only reason to learn to do it well, then no one should sing or dance or play an instrument. Paints should stay in the bottle. Sketch books should never be opened. Clay should remain in the wrapper. Beads in the tube.
Unhappily, this encouraging comparison only goes so far because the expectations a writer will face are very different. I do not think every person who sings, dances, plays an instrument, does some sort of craft encounters what writers always do: the expectation that to be a real writer, that writer needs to be a published writer.
Even if the writer starts out writing for the pleasure, for the excitement and diversion of creating a story, the expectation is that to “really” write, the writer needs to also publish.
I don’t know how many times I’ve been part of some variation of this exchange, either as the subject or overhearing it.
“So, you write? Are you published?”
If the answer is “No,” “Not yet,” or some variation thereof, the dismissal on the questioner’s face is usually visible.
Therefore, from an early time in pursuing writing, the writer comes to believe that it’s not enough to write and have the pleasure of writing, the writer must also publish.
Let’s go back to our imaginary dialogue.
“Oh! You’re published! That’s cool. Where?”
When the writer replies, then the cycle of interrogation continues. Short story writers are asked if they’re going to write a novel. Novelists are asked who their publisher is (with various rankings for small press, traditional publishers, indie pub, academic press, literary press—rankings assigned by the questioner).
(And, believe me, no one can be snobbier than an academic press author who was paid in copies to a “genre fiction” writer who actually makes a living from writing. But that’s another topic entirely.)
Even if the writer can jump all of these hurdles, the next criteria seems to be public recognition.
“Have I heard of you?” or even “Are you famous?”
Many years ago, I decided to volunteer at my local library. I like libraries and, at that time, I was spending too much time alone. I signed up to shelf read. The very nice librarians welcomed me and asked, “What do you do?” “I write books.” “Are you published?” “Yes. My first novel came out in 1994 and I’ve had a couple out since. I also have sold a fair number of short stories, and written some non-fiction.”
Nods and smiles. Clear disbelief. It wasn’t until I made a gift of several of my books (mass market paperbacks from an actual New York publisher) to the librarians that they accepted me as a “real” writer. Having written didn’t do it. Having published did.
Another example:
I have a good friend who is a talented writer. When she sold her third professional short story, she was excited almost more because this was her third professional sale (thus qualifying her to join SFWA if she wished) than because she’d sold it to the much-acclaimed magazine Clarke’s World or even because the story was longer than Clarke’s World usually publishes. Nonetheless, they liked it enough to pay her full rates for a long piece.
Writing is the only art/craft form I can think of where the highest compliment people think they can pay you is to say “Wow! This would make a great movie/television show.”
What’s weirder is that most of those people would agree that novels and short stories can tell a more complex story than any movie or TV show. What’s the difference? Exposure and money.
True, with the appearance of sites like Etsy, more and more hobbiests are being urged to “monetize” their work, with the unspoken hint that not only will this help pay for materials, it will make them “real” (painters, beaders, jewelers, wood workers, whatever).
But writers have been dealing with this practically since the invention of the printing press. Heck, for all I know, from before that.
The project I’m working on right now is not “pre-sold,” which has gotten me the sideways eyes from some people. Worse (in terms of my perceived “reality), I might go the indie pub route with it. (More sideways looks.) Never mind that I have my reasons for possibly making that choice. Never mind that (as anyone who has looked at Wolf’s Search and Wolf’s Soul know) my quality control is very high.
Sigh. I think I’ll just go write and leave the question of reality to other folks.
September 11, 2020
FF: Myself Distracting Myself
Dandy and Some of Library of the Sapphire Wind
You’ll see that I haven’t completed either of the longer works I was reading last week. This isn’t because they aren’t good. They are, but there’s one book I haven’t listed that I’ve spent a lot of time reading: my own manuscript of a work in progress, Library of the Sapphire Wind. Sometimes I’m so caught up, I read it on “break” as well as during work time.
For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week. Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines. The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list. If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.
Once again, this is not a book review column. It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.
A reminder that I’m always happy to hear what you are reading!
Recently Completed:
The Rhine Gold (Das Rheingold) by Richard Wagner, first volume in “The Annotated Ring Cycle” which includes a new translation and annotations by Fredrick Paul Walter. This lively and vivid translation also includes older illustrations, costume designs, and new “graphic novel style” line drawings. I believe it’s due for release in 2020. I received an ARC. This is the first for four volumes in the series.
In Progress:
The Last Hunt by Bruce Coville. Fourth book in the Unicorn Chronicles. Audiobook. This one contains several plot lines, and includes what might be considered several short stories within the larger plot. Definitely an interesting structure.
The title is deception but The Bible As History by Werner Keller. This book’s title in the original German was Und die bible hat doch rechet which translates as closer to “And the Bible is Right” with “Right” in the sense of “Accurate.” This comes closer to reflecting the intention of the book, which was to compare biblical texts with then current archeological research and see how many passages in the Bible provide good guides to cultures and landscape features of the time. Needless to say, since the book was published in 1955, more recent discoveries have invalidated some material, but this is still a very enjoyable read, excellently and fluidly translated by William Neil.
Also:
The most recent Smithsonian and a few articles here and there.
September 9, 2020
Pacing Oneself
You Don’t Need To Be In Motion To Be Racing
I’m not the first one to say it, nor will I be the last: Writing a short story can be a sprint, but writing a novel is more like a marathon.
For each, pacing is really important. Last week, I wrote about how I found myself madly inspired by a short story idea, and so wrote through my usual weekend off because I wanted to finish writing “Claim Jumped” while the inspiration was hot.
As soon as this was turned in, I pulled out the manuscript of a hobby project (working title is Library of the Sapphire Wind) that I’d been working on after Asphodel, through October of 2017.
I had to put Library of the Sapphire Wind on side because other projects had priority. First, I got the rights back to the Firekeeper Saga and was now in a position to write the sequels I had wanted to write for years. Then, as I was wrapping up Wolf’s Search and Wolf’s Soul, the contract with Baen Books for a continuation of the Star Kingdom series with David Weber was finalized, so SK4 had to be written. Therefore, I reluctantly put my hobby project aside, roughly drafted at 150,000 words, but fully aware it needed further development.
During this time, I continued to put our new e-book editions of some of my backlist, including Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owl and all three of the “Breaking the Wall” novels (Thirteen Orphans, Nine Gates, and Five Odd Honors).
Now that I’m back to my hobby project, my enthusiasm is just as high as was when I was writing “Claim Jumped.” In fact, because so much time has gone by, I’m in the midst of the delightful experience of reviewing with enough distance from the original writing that I feel almost as I do when re-reading a favorite novel. I remember some bits, but others I’ve completely forgotten. The urge to read to find out “what happens” (by which I mean, how a specific scene plays out) is very strong.
No matter how enthusiastic I feel, though, I’m reminding myself that at 150,000 words and growing (this project is likely to become two books, at least), I need to pace myself. For me, that means not working through the weekend, as well as making time for hobbies and other creative outlets.
Aside: Ever since I got together with Jim, I’ve tried to take weekends off. Losing Roger when I was thirty-two made it very clear to me at a relatively young age that one’s beloved may not always be with one. Jim’s very supportive of my writing, but it’s important to me that he not feel imaginary people are more important than he is.
Also, I’ve learned that a few days of not actively working on a novel (although I do tend to think about the story throughout) actually makes me a better writer for the complexities involved in a multi-level storyline. Craft time keeps my “front-brain” busy while my subconscious works on the story.
But, that said, I’m eager to get back to Library of the Sapphire Wind. Catch you later!
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