Claire Robyns's Blog, page 10
January 18, 2011
Too dumb for TV
I'm totally hooked on a couple of tv series shows. I love getting invested in the characters and never want to say goodbye. Usually, I wait for the latest season of dvd because it's all so organised and I can never guarentee a spot in front of the tv at a specific time and I hate missing an episode in a series. But since we got our super duper sky+ box and record a series at the click of a button and save to watch at my leisure, I got a little excited - no more would I be a year behind in all my series.
The sky+ part is simple, figuring out the tv schedules requires a diploma not yet invented. What's up with a season stopping halfway... I've been stalking this one for weeks, but who knows when the rest will finally air.
And then there's the series where season #1 catch-up runs alongside season #3... all very well, I'm recording and stocking up for a future marathon, but both season #1 and #3 ends and they never get around to season #2 ???
And my favourite, the episodes listed in the schedule with no season or episode number, this is like tv russial roulette.
So, either I'm too dumb for tv and should go back to dvds or there's a really big secret to this thing that no one's sharing (:
The sky+ part is simple, figuring out the tv schedules requires a diploma not yet invented. What's up with a season stopping halfway... I've been stalking this one for weeks, but who knows when the rest will finally air.
And then there's the series where season #1 catch-up runs alongside season #3... all very well, I'm recording and stocking up for a future marathon, but both season #1 and #3 ends and they never get around to season #2 ???
And my favourite, the episodes listed in the schedule with no season or episode number, this is like tv russial roulette.
So, either I'm too dumb for tv and should go back to dvds or there's a really big secret to this thing that no one's sharing (:
January 11, 2011
Fun with my WIP
Here's the word cloud (thanks to wordle.net) of the medieval scottish romance I'm currently working on. It's almost done, so the word collection is fairly indictive of the entire story. No points for guessing the names of my main characters, but if you can connect the dots and deduce any spoiler material, I'd be most impressed, lol.
January 10, 2011
Smiles to jumpstart my new year
Just done a weekend birthday sleepover for my twins (HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY, BOYS!!!) and survived on 0 hrs sleep last night. How I miss those days of my youth when sleep was an optional extra instead of a necessity.
As a (relatively) new author, I still get goofy about every small thing that comes along with my debut book and here's a few I found when I got around to surfing after the holidays...
(A) Heh, Betrayed finally made it onto the Carina Press popularity list (at #2) I had to cut and paste quickly before it slipped right off, lol. They say that the internet is forever, so here it is for the sake of prosperity
(B) I'm listed as an author at Fantastic Fiction. This is my one-stop goto site when looking for an author's backlist, etc, because they do an excellent job of organising series, etc and often more up to date than the author's webpage. So I'm really chuffed they found and added me!
(C) A great new review of Betrayed from The Bookish Snob who was *Totally Smitten* I loved that she just got it, the story, the characters, the emotion.
I think this is gonna be a smiley year :)
As a (relatively) new author, I still get goofy about every small thing that comes along with my debut book and here's a few I found when I got around to surfing after the holidays...
(A) Heh, Betrayed finally made it onto the Carina Press popularity list (at #2) I had to cut and paste quickly before it slipped right off, lol. They say that the internet is forever, so here it is for the sake of prosperity
(B) I'm listed as an author at Fantastic Fiction. This is my one-stop goto site when looking for an author's backlist, etc, because they do an excellent job of organising series, etc and often more up to date than the author's webpage. So I'm really chuffed they found and added me!
(C) A great new review of Betrayed from The Bookish Snob who was *Totally Smitten* I loved that she just got it, the story, the characters, the emotion.
I think this is gonna be a smiley year :)
January 4, 2011
HELLO 2011
Wishing everyone a great 2011, I can't believe we're into the second decade already. We celebrated the new year in Lanzerote with family and sun, lots of sun, and returned last night to minus degrees. I mean, the iced snow is still piled up in the Gatwick parking lots! I do have a soft golden glow on my skin, however, as a reminder that last week wasn't just a dream, lol.
Lanzerote is a volcano island and the scenery there is mesmerising. In places, the lanscape is black lunar from the churned up earth as the lava flowed down to the sea. The ash dunes are golden red and one could easily imagine you were walking on Mars. More than a few jokes passed between us about where Rover really went :)
Here's a few pics of my holiday season progress...
Lanzerote is a volcano island and the scenery there is mesmerising. In places, the lanscape is black lunar from the churned up earth as the lava flowed down to the sea. The ash dunes are golden red and one could easily imagine you were walking on Mars. More than a few jokes passed between us about where Rover really went :)
Here's a few pics of my holiday season progress...
December 20, 2010
The Twelve Days of Christmas
One the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...
The twelve days of Christmas is between the 25th January (Christ's birth) and 6th January (Christ's baptism). All the way back to the 4th century, the celebrations included pagan beliefs such as the burning of the Yule log throughout - it was a bad omen of things to come in the new year if the log burnt out before the 12th day. Indeed, the period of 12 days mapped out originally bracketed a few pagan and raucous roman holidays which were certainly celebrated. It is believed that the the big day itself (25th) was a pagaon holiday and that Pope Julius I chose this day as Christmas day in order to replace pagan with christianity.
Often a Lord of Misrule was appointed during this celebration, turning the powers of the establishment upside down. A servant might be made lord of the manor and preside over revelries, even command the lord to do his bidding... naturally, that servant might take care in exactly how he commanded the lords and nobles, because it wouldn't be long before he was a mere servant again and subject to his lord's will and punishment.
Throughout these twelve days were celebrations of feastings and drinking and games and plays and silliness as well as more seriousn observations such as the lighting of the special mass candle each night and the sermons.
With the industrial revolutions, these 12 days were gradually lost due to increased pressure to work more days...welcome to the present world. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to take 12 days off each year for one long party?
December 15, 2010
What am I reading this week
Strictly non-fiction this week and next. Right this minute, my heroine is making her way up to Queen Mary's court in Edinburgh, so it's time to freshen up on the facts and detail. Medieval history is often more exciting and fantastical than any fiction one could dream up, a twisted mix of intrigue, assissination plots, scandalous affairs and romance. Unfortunately, the romance seldom ends in happy-ever-after and even more so in the life of Queen Mary. Her great romance ended shortly after the honeymoon period, her husband Henry Darnley murdered by her powerful barons and Mary fleeing across the border to seek help from her cousin, Queen Elizabeth...yeah, that didn't end so well, either.
Of course, my heroine will get her happy-ever-after, but I've a few heart-breaking paces to put her through yet.
Besides a ton of other research, here's what I'm plowing through....
Mary, Queen of Scots by Antonia Fraser
This tomb is over 700 pages and I've already read it front to back twice. Third time's the charm, as they say, although I doubt this will be my last read-through. Mary's world is just so fascinating and Fraser does a superb job of balancing political facts with scrumptous details of Mary as a young, vulnerable woman standing up to her power-hungry barons.
The Castles of Mary, Queen of Scots by Charles Mackie
Haven't started this yet, but hoping for a mind-tour of the various castles Mary either lived in or visited.
Mary, Queen of Scots by Jacob Abbot
Just to balance Mary's story out from another researcher's point of view.
Of course, my heroine will get her happy-ever-after, but I've a few heart-breaking paces to put her through yet.
Besides a ton of other research, here's what I'm plowing through....
Mary, Queen of Scots by Antonia Fraser
This tomb is over 700 pages and I've already read it front to back twice. Third time's the charm, as they say, although I doubt this will be my last read-through. Mary's world is just so fascinating and Fraser does a superb job of balancing political facts with scrumptous details of Mary as a young, vulnerable woman standing up to her power-hungry barons.
The Castles of Mary, Queen of Scots by Charles Mackie
Haven't started this yet, but hoping for a mind-tour of the various castles Mary either lived in or visited.
Mary, Queen of Scots by Jacob Abbot
Just to balance Mary's story out from another researcher's point of view.
December 8, 2010
HO HO HO
Santa just arrived, our tree is bulging, and my feet are aching from a marathon shopping spree. I'm not much of a shopper, but I do love the wrapping and watching the pile grow underneath the tree.
This is our first santa-free year. My boys are 10 now, so I guess we had a pretty good running. For the last 2 years, they were a little under-decided - not trusting this whole Santa thing but worried that there'd be no prezzies if they stopped believing. This year they laugh and wink right along with us when we mention Santa. Another era gone in our household and I'll have to box the red suit until the grandchildren come along
So a big HO HO HO to everyone, the season of mulled wine, snow, fairy lights and prezzies is here
This is our first santa-free year. My boys are 10 now, so I guess we had a pretty good running. For the last 2 years, they were a little under-decided - not trusting this whole Santa thing but worried that there'd be no prezzies if they stopped believing. This year they laugh and wink right along with us when we mention Santa. Another era gone in our household and I'll have to box the red suit until the grandchildren come along
So a big HO HO HO to everyone, the season of mulled wine, snow, fairy lights and prezzies is here
December 2, 2010
New blog on the block
Some of us Carina Press Historical authors have launched a brand new blog Romancing the Past to discuss and share all things historical. Come check us out :)
November 30, 2010
While I was sleeping
It's been a while since I've been TV shopping. Our last tv was inherited from a friend leaving the country for better/brighter voltage and our second tv was a one ton box. So, it was time... plasma, lcd, led, hd, 3d... what? 3D?? When did this happen? Wasn't it just a couple of weeks ago when these were on display at one of those 'Science of the future' exhibs?
Not only is 3D here, but there's a dedicated sky 3D channel. If you can't appreciate my shock, you should know that our household still hadn't taken the step to HD. But this 3D thing? I wanted one!!!
"Certainly not," says hubby. "The kids watch way too much tv as it is. No ways are we all going to be sitting behind glasses in our own little worlds all night long."
No problem. I shoved a pair of 3D glasses on his face and forced him to watch 5 mins of Avatar in 3D
"Oh, okay," he says, "maybe we need to investigate this a little more."
And off we went to the next shop.
"What? Plasma?" gulps the shop assistant. "But what about the burn-in?"
"Burn-in?" I frown suspiciously. "Isn't that, like, last century's problem?"
Apparently not. So we came home with a very ordinary, rather large, HD tv, but listen up 3D tv, I know your're out there, you can't hide from me, one day soon...
Not only is 3D here, but there's a dedicated sky 3D channel. If you can't appreciate my shock, you should know that our household still hadn't taken the step to HD. But this 3D thing? I wanted one!!!
"Certainly not," says hubby. "The kids watch way too much tv as it is. No ways are we all going to be sitting behind glasses in our own little worlds all night long."
No problem. I shoved a pair of 3D glasses on his face and forced him to watch 5 mins of Avatar in 3D
"Oh, okay," he says, "maybe we need to investigate this a little more."
And off we went to the next shop.
"What? Plasma?" gulps the shop assistant. "But what about the burn-in?"
"Burn-in?" I frown suspiciously. "Isn't that, like, last century's problem?"
Apparently not. So we came home with a very ordinary, rather large, HD tv, but listen up 3D tv, I know your're out there, you can't hide from me, one day soon...
November 24, 2010
What am I reading this week
It's gonna be a white run up to Xmas, according to the weather man. Snow predicted this week, which means it's definitely time to cuddle close to the hearth with a good book.
What am I reading this week?
Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices) by Cassandra Clare
My first venture into steampunk (at least, I think, still not quite sure of all the parameters that define steampunk - I know, and I call myself a writer!)
Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Loved the Southern twang in this small town series.
What am I listening to this week?
Burned (House of Night) by P.C. Cast and Kristan Cast
This is my first audio book, loving it and trying to remain disciplined by only listening to it while I jog. The theory is that the deeper I get into the story, the longer I'll stay off the couch and on the road. I'll let you know how that turns out, lol
And also, fellow Carina Press Inez Kelly is throwing a Big Birthday Bash today and giving away a long, long list of books (including a copy of Betrayed) Always nice to go to a party where you're the one walking away with gifts :)
What am I reading this week?
Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices) by Cassandra Clare
My first venture into steampunk (at least, I think, still not quite sure of all the parameters that define steampunk - I know, and I call myself a writer!)
Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Loved the Southern twang in this small town series.
What am I listening to this week?
Burned (House of Night) by P.C. Cast and Kristan Cast
This is my first audio book, loving it and trying to remain disciplined by only listening to it while I jog. The theory is that the deeper I get into the story, the longer I'll stay off the couch and on the road. I'll let you know how that turns out, lol
And also, fellow Carina Press Inez Kelly is throwing a Big Birthday Bash today and giving away a long, long list of books (including a copy of Betrayed) Always nice to go to a party where you're the one walking away with gifts :)
