Jane Lindskold's Blog, page 7

FF: Splitting Time

Mei-Ling Curls Up With a Good Book

Many of the books on this week’s list are relatively short, so they give the illusion I’m reading more than I have been.  I’ve actually been splitting the majority of my time between writing (I’m in the final stretch of a fourth Over Where novel) and PT, with reading coming in third.

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, because I 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:

Fortune and Glory (aka Tantalizing 27) by Janet Evanovich.  Audiobook.  I haven’t listened to one of these in a while but frequent Commentor Beverly Martin reminded me of the series.  Plot picks up right after the prior book.

The Penderwicks by Jean Birdsall.  My friend librarian Julie Bartel introduced me to this series years ago when we were talking about Elizabeth Enright and other authors who just wrote about families doing family things.

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jean Birdsall.

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jean Birdsall.  The first three books in the series take place in a relatively tight period of time.  The next jumps forward too much for my current mood.

In Progress:

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan.  Audiobook.  The start of his Heroes of Olympus series, which follows Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  A long-time favorite of mine, and one that fits right in as I’m longing for Spring.

Also:

Finished the current Smithsonian.  Just found an American Archeology of which I’d only read half, so finishing off that.

Peekaboo!

Peekaboo Roary

Last weekend, when Jim and I were chatting with a friend about reading, she mentioned that when a book becomes tense, she will peek at the end and read just enough to see if her favorite characters are okay.  Jim said that he never does this, but indicated me with a toss of his head: “But she does.”

And, yes, dear reader, I do.  Sometimes all I do is sort of unfocus my gaze so that all I see are the shapes of words that I can identify as character names.  Other times, I might read a bit, trying to avoid spoiling how the plot resolved, but making sure that no one is too traumatized.

Weirdly, peeking at the end is one area where Reader-Me and Writer-Me are in conflict with each other.  As a writer, I’m immersed in how the story unfolds: subtle foreshadowing, character development, and the like.  When my friend David Weber told me that he skipped to the end of one of my solo manuscripts to look at the ending, I was horrified.  How could he give me useful feedback if he’d cheated?

I’ve touched on this topic before, but it’s been over a decade, and with a different emphasis. 

This time I’m just curious.  Do you peek?  If so, how do you do it and why?

FF: Families

Persephone: Self-Proclaimed Head of the Family

It occurred to me that both the books I started reading this week deal with idealized family relationships.  Stephanie Plum would be a lot less likeable without her devotion to her crazy grandma, and her concern for her mom.  The Penderwicks are sometimes termed “old fashioned,” because the drama is quiet (a crush, a lost rabbit) but there’s room for this sort of story, too.

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, because I 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:

Neverland: The Lost Continent of Australia by Kevin Murray et al.  Second edition.  Non-fiction alternate history or fictional history or, as the editor says “Neverland is about the Australias that never became reality.”  Fascinating, but I was glad I’d read at least a bit about “real” Australia first, and also glad that this book has copious footnotes and bibliographies for each piece.

A Victorian Flower Dictionary by Mandy Kirby.  Non-fiction.  I think it was a Miss Marple short story that first introduced me to the Victorian language of flowers.  I’ve remained fascinated since.  Someday, I’ll figure out how to use it in a novel or short story, but for now I keep reading variations on the theme.

Thief of Time by Tony Hillerman.  Audiobook.

In Progress:

Fortune and Glory (aka Tantalizing 27) by Janet Evanovich.  Audiobook.  I haven’t listened to one of these in a while but frequent Commentor Beverly Martin reminded me of the series.  Plot picks up right after the prior book.

The Penderwicks by Jean Birdsall.  My friend librarian Julie Bartel introduced me to this series years ago when we were talking about Elizabeth Enright and other authors who just wrote about families doing family things. 

Also:

I’m now on the current Smithsonian, so does this mean I’m caught up?

Feel-Good Stuff

Wedding and Anniversary Jewelry

It’s been another busy week.  I’ve been writing a lot, as well as making time to sit down and deal with paperwork.

But first a few things I want you to know about.  Late last year, author Charles de Lint celebrated the release of his first two novels: Celtic Fantasy, Riddle of the Wren and seminal urban fantasy Moonheart.  In honor of this, several of his friends (including me) created a celebration of his writing.  You can view a collection of essays, poems, and short fiction here.

Even better, if you’d like to take part in the celebration, there’s a form you can use to make your own contribution.

Last weekend, Jim and I celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary by visiting various place here in Albuquerque we hadn’t been for quite a while.

Two high points were the remodeled Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and Southwestern Minerals.

New Mexico is home to numerous indigenous groups, many of which were grouped as “pueblo” by the Spanish because they were perceived as living in towns (pueblos).  The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center celebrates these communities.  I’ve always enjoyed it, but the new exhibits are terrific.  We’ll definitely go back.

Associated with the Pueblo Cultural Center is a terrific little restaurant which serves a variety of breakfast and lunch offerings, many inspired by traditional southwestern foods.  After wearing ourselves out touring we had lunch there, and enjoyed immensely.  You can go to the restaurant without going to the museum, by the way.

Southwestern Minerals is now owned by the daughter of the husband and wife who founded the store in 1969.  It’s a quirky place where you can buy a wide variety of rocks and minerals: unset precious and semi-precious stones, geodes, stone figures, fossils, meteorites, and pre-made jewelry.  Their prices are very reasonable, and the staff is both informed and completely friendly.  Jim bought the jadite and pearls from which he made me the necklace and earrings I wore for our wedding, so we have a sentimental attachment, which is why we visited on our anniversary.

A tip for locals: Don’t be turned off by the location on Central.  Unlike most businesses in that area, they have ample parking.  Valentine’s Day is coming up.  Consider supporting a local business.  Don’t worry if you aren’t a jeweler.  They have one they work with who will assemble your materials for a price based upon difficulty of the project.  They also sell the settings for earrings, pendants, and the like.

And, yes, we did take advantage of this!   We chose the materials for the amethyst pendant at the top of the photo.  Because we were there at a quiet time, the store owner assembled our pieces while we browsed.

On that note, off to write…  (Is anyone surprised?)

FF: Gift Books

Liana Reads

Two of the books this week were gifts or loans from friends.  Neverland in particular is one I’d never have found without my friend Yvonne Coats. 

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, because I 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:

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T. J. Klune.  Sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea.

Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman.  Audiobook.

The Dark Wind by Tony Hillerman.  Audiobook.

In Progress:

Neverland: The Lost Continent of Australia by Kevin Murray et al.  Second edition.  Non-fiction alternate history or fictional history or, as the editor says “Neverland is about the Australias that never became reality.”  Fascinating, but I was glad I’d read at least a bit about “real” Australia first, and also glad that this book has copious footnotes and bibliographies for each piece.

A Victorian Flower Dictionary by Mandy Kirby.  Non-fiction.  I think it was a Miss Marple short story that first introduced me to the Victorian language of flowers.  I’ve remained fascinated since.  Someday, I’ll figure out how to use it in a novel or short story, but for now I keep reading variations on the theme.

Thief of Time by Tony Hillerman. Audiobook.

Also:

Still catching up on magazines.  Finished the November Smithsonian.  My favorite piece was, no surprise, about searching for nearly lost varieties of fruit trees.

Fifteen Years Wandering

Breaking the Ice

Fifteen years ago, I posted the first of these Wednesday Wanderings.  In it I stated that my goal was as follows: “They’ll be about whatever has caught my fancy, especially the odd stuff I see as I go about my day.  Maybe they’ll provide some insight into how one writer thinks.  Hopefully, they’ll be amusing.”

What will you find if you look up the Wanderings each Wednesday?  To my surprise, I’ve written more than I ever expected about writing, because I love my craft.  This directly led my collection Wanderings on Writing, which is still available as both print and e-book.

I do mentioned when whatever I’ve been writing hits a new mark: being completed or released or whatever.  For example, Friends Indeed, my next novel with David Weber is now in production and due for release in March.  I’m 80,000 or so words into a fourth Over Where novel.  (The first book in the series is Library of the Sapphire Wind.)

Newest news is that David Weber called last week to see if I’d be interested in doing another short story set in the Honorverse.  I was happy to say “yes,” and I’ll be getting to that pretty soon.

You’ll also find posts about the ups and downs of gardening in the increasingly hot southwest.  About the relationship between reading and writing.  About my occasional trips, and my explorations of my own backyard (both literal and figurative).  Maybe about being a gamer.  Or a long-time anime fan.  Or beadwork and other craft projects.

Sometimes I talk about other people’s writing.  If you’re interested in more about what I’m reading, you can check in every Friday for the Friday Fragments in which I list what I’ve been reading.  An added bonus is that most of these are illustrated with a photo of one or more of Jim and my non-human co-residents, most often the cats, but sometimes the guinea pigs or fish, or even an occasional bird or bug.

The Wednesday Wanderings are also a great place for you to ask questions.  If the answer is simple, then I’ll answer right then.  If it’s more complicated, your question could become the seed for a Wednesday Wandering of your very own.

Fifteen years…  A baby born that year would be in high school.  Gives one to think.

FF: Writing But Still Reading

Fava Reads

Although my fingers still get tired and stiff faster than I’d like, I’ve been doing more writing.  However, as I’ve said before, I always take time to read because it’s crucial to keeping my writing brain happy.

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, because I 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:

Hallucinations by Oliver Sacks.  Non-fiction.  Really enjoyed.

The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman.  Audiobook.  Re-read.  See this week’s WW for why re-reading can be its own stimulation!

In Progress:

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T. J. Klune.  Sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea.

Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman.  Audiobook.

Also:

Still catching up on magazines.  Finished the annual summary issue of Archeology.  Now looking at the November Smithsonian.

Same Book, Same Reader, Different Story

Agnes in the Snow

The featured picture is of our yard in a sudden storm that changed our perspectives on what was there.  Seemed appropriate for this piece.  Read on!

As readers of my Friday Fragments know, last week I had just finished one audiobook, and needed to find another.  After some poking about, I decided to listen to The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman, and maybe continue with the series in order.

When I first read The Blessing Way, I was a college professor living in Lynchburg, Virginia.  The book arrived as a gift from my pen pal, Roger Zelazny, on a day that was dank and grey.  The novel, set on the Navajo reservation during the summer, was just what I needed.  I dove into it eagerly.

At that point, I’d never been to New Mexico—or any of the southwest.  I knew a little about the Navajo, but not much.  Basically, I read it as a mystery novel set in an exotic location.

This time, as I hit play, I was struck by how the changes in my life over the last thirty or so years had completely altered how I embraced the story.  I’ve now been to or through many of the locations in the novel, or locations similar to them.  Plants that would have been just names to me, like turpentine bush and rabbit brush, grow in my neighborhood.

One of the two main characters in the novel is an archeologist who teaches on the UNM faculty.   I’m married to an archeologist who took his Masters at UNM.  A few of the faculty referred to—most notably, Jack Campbell (who was a friend of Hillerman’s)—were Jim’s teachers, and Jim actually worked for Campbell on a project around Raton.

And, I met Tony repeatedly, as for a while we both attended the same very informal writers group.  (If you want to a neat experience, try the audiobook of his memoir Seldom Disappointed.  He may not be the best reader ever, but it’s fun to hear him tell his own story.)

All of these are fun details, but what really struck me was how my years living with Jim and learning about the various indigenous cultures of the southwest changed how I envisioned various elements of the novel.  Hillerman provided enough descriptive detail that on my first reading I had no problem following the story (in which these elements are not just window dressing), but this time I knew precisely what was being described.

I’ve been into an “Anasazi” cliff dwelling.  I know what Hopi “kachina” figures are.  I’ve seen various sorts of stone fetish figures.  I’ve seen many Navajo hogans.  And on and on…

(Parenthesis are because these terms, while accurate to Hillerman’s novel, have evolved and would probably not be used today.)

So, same novel.  Same Reader.  Completely different reading experience. Kinda cool.

FF: Before the End of the Day

Persephone Reads

When OverDrive became Libby, I was forced to get rid of my old-faithful MP3 player and invest in a tablet.  There are pros and cons to this, as well as new opportunities.  One of these will be seeing what Hoopla has available in audiobooks that I can check out and download. 

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, because I 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:

In the Best Families by Rex Stout.  Audiobook.  One of my favorites in the series, although it helps to know the characters to get the full impact of the plot.

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan.  Audiobook.  Percy Jackson and the Olympians book five.  Ends the first major story cycle in the series.

Migraine by Oliver Sacks. Non-fiction.  During my recovery from rotator cuff surgery, I read most of Sacks’ works.  However, our library didn’t have some of his earlier works.  Jim got me this one and another for Christmas.  It’s one of Sack’s earlier works, and it’s interesting to see his style developing.  

In Progress:

Hallucinations by Oliver Sacks.  Non-fiction.

Not sure what my next audiobook will be, but I’ll probably have chosen it before the end of today!

Also:

Catching up on magazines.  For a while, I let them go fallow, because nothing seemed to hold my attention, but I’m going back to partially read ones, and finishing them off.

My Obstacle Course

Roary’s Obstacle Course

You can’t see the toy in the picture, but Jim took this photo when our very energetic, nearly five-year-old, cat, Roary, paused in the middle of one of his favorite games: chasing a toy up, over, and around the legs of our kitchen table.

Before I get into my own obstacle course, I want to provide a link to a podcast David Weber and I did with the folks at Honorverse Today: HVT-029 Interview with Jane Lindskold and David Weber – TPE Network.  People often ask me how Weber and my collaborations work.  That question and many others are touched on here, along with a lot of laughter and a few tales of days gone by.  There are even a couple of hints as to what to expect in our forthcoming novel, Friends Indeed.

Wandering onwards, I often feel my own life is an obstacle course, and never more than at the beginning of the year when numerous tasks compete for my time, and writing is something I need to squeeze in between.

There are fourth quarter earnings material to assemble and send to my accountant.  There are various once a year jobs related to running a business, like setting up my record book for earnings and expenses, and creating pages for each month in my bullet journal.  When these are done, the annual tax materials for the year just ended will need to be put together pretty promptly, as I have an early filing date.  And, of course, there are all the jobs I let slide while holiday preparation and distractions demanded my time.

Complicating matters is the fact that I still can’t spend as much time at my computer as I would like without paying the price in pain and stiffness later in the day. 

Even so, I’m grateful to have chosen my own obstacle course, and to be able to keep running through it, even if my pace will be slower for a while.  Some of you may remember my piece about twelve sentences a day…  More than ever, I find that it works.  I’d be happy to repeat if folks would like a reminder.

Now, off Over Where!  The House of Rough Diamonds awaits!