Judith Tarr's Blog, page 7
June 8, 2012
We Have a WINNAH!
Here at Dancing Horse Farm, we have chosen a winner for the Book View Cafe Bookstore Grand Opening contest.
In consultation with the judge (in his funky plaid fly mask):
We lined up the entries (this judge operates on the bribery, er, rewards system):
After some discussion (sugar! on the ground! WHUT! that's DIRTY, Mom!) and change of the bribe, er, reward to carrots, he dived for the winner--too fast for my camera skilz. Therefore we had to simulate the moment of choice for our audience:
Da Judge poses with the winner:
Congratulations,![[info]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380964288i/3566264.gif)
dweomeroflight
! Send me your email address and I'll tell you how to claim your prize. :) (I'm capriole at that there gmail thang.)
Thanks to everyone who entered. I wish I could have given you each a prize. It was lots of fun and you all played a great game. :)
In consultation with the judge (in his funky plaid fly mask):
We lined up the entries (this judge operates on the bribery, er, rewards system):
After some discussion (sugar! on the ground! WHUT! that's DIRTY, Mom!) and change of the bribe, er, reward to carrots, he dived for the winner--too fast for my camera skilz. Therefore we had to simulate the moment of choice for our audience:
Da Judge poses with the winner:
Congratulations,
dweomeroflight
! Send me your email address and I'll tell you how to claim your prize. :) (I'm capriole at that there gmail thang.)Thanks to everyone who entered. I wish I could have given you each a prize. It was lots of fun and you all played a great game. :)
June 7, 2012
Meeeeeeeememememememe!
It's all over the flist, but I snurched da Roolz from
la_marquise_de_
The rules:
1. Go to page 77 (or 7th) of your current ms
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines – sentences or paragraphs – and post them as they’re written. No cheating.
Problem is, I'm writing a short story today, and it's nowhere near 77 pages. So, from page 7:
them for sere summer grass and bare dusty earth.
But needs must. He ducked his head and made himself invisible, which was another gift he had. As swift and silent as a shadow, he ghosted through the camp.
#
Everyone else said the horse had gone into the city. Aymery had a habit of ignoring what people said. He followed the tracks in the dust.
They led him toward the city, but angling gradually around it. They...
And from novel-in-progress, on hiatus for story-seriously-overdue:
jungle full of wild Indians and Spanish colonists--and ruled by a relative of the Russian Tsar. There was a choice. "But," he said again, "if there's to be any action taken, we need proof. Convincing proof."
Perry straightened painfully. Lee reached to assist, but the Commodore waved him off. "Yes, there's the rub. Without proof, all we have is speculation."
"Highly educated speculation," Lee said. "Maximilian..."
O_o
That's an interesting juxtaposition.
la_marquise_de_
The rules:
1. Go to page 77 (or 7th) of your current ms
2. Go to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines – sentences or paragraphs – and post them as they’re written. No cheating.
Problem is, I'm writing a short story today, and it's nowhere near 77 pages. So, from page 7:
them for sere summer grass and bare dusty earth.
But needs must. He ducked his head and made himself invisible, which was another gift he had. As swift and silent as a shadow, he ghosted through the camp.
#
Everyone else said the horse had gone into the city. Aymery had a habit of ignoring what people said. He followed the tracks in the dust.
They led him toward the city, but angling gradually around it. They...
And from novel-in-progress, on hiatus for story-seriously-overdue:
jungle full of wild Indians and Spanish colonists--and ruled by a relative of the Russian Tsar. There was a choice. "But," he said again, "if there's to be any action taken, we need proof. Convincing proof."
Perry straightened painfully. Lee reached to assist, but the Commodore waved him off. "Yes, there's the rub. Without proof, all we have is speculation."
"Highly educated speculation," Lee said. "Maximilian..."
O_o
That's an interesting juxtaposition.
This is It, kids!
Last day for the Book View Cafe Grand Opening. Go over here and browse the gold-starred titles and pick one. Then come back here and post which one you'd like to win and why. It does not need to be one of mine. Pook and I will pick a Winnah tomorrow (Friday the 8th). Winnah gets a coupon for the book they've chosen.
You can also post an entry at BVC itself, and click through to other friendly authors' blogs.
Also! Member anthologies are half off. We have two Steampunk anthos. Shared world. I have stories in both. Jewelled mechanical courtesans, anyone?
We're having great fun with this. We loves our new bookstore, yes, precious.
You can also post an entry at BVC itself, and click through to other friendly authors' blogs.
Also! Member anthologies are half off. We have two Steampunk anthos. Shared world. I have stories in both. Jewelled mechanical courtesans, anyone?
We're having great fun with this. We loves our new bookstore, yes, precious.
June 5, 2012
I Haz a Book
My book is out today at Book View Cafe! This is the Fourth Crusade with shapeshifters novel, and it has a lovely new cover.
Like this:
You can order it and read a sample here.
The Grand Opening celebration is still going on, too. Half-price anthologies--did you know we have a Steampunk shared world?--and a contest to win a book. You can leave a comment here requesting a book, with reason why, and Pook and I will pick a winnah, who gets a coupon for a free copy of the book. You don't have to request one of mine. It's a great chance to try different authors in the Cafe. (Not to mention our ebooks are pretty. We work hard to make sure they look as good as they can.)
Like this:
You can order it and read a sample here.
The Grand Opening celebration is still going on, too. Half-price anthologies--did you know we have a Steampunk shared world?--and a contest to win a book. You can leave a comment here requesting a book, with reason why, and Pook and I will pick a winnah, who gets a coupon for a free copy of the book. You don't have to request one of mine. It's a great chance to try different authors in the Cafe. (Not to mention our ebooks are pretty. We work hard to make sure they look as good as they can.)
June 4, 2012
How Is a Lipizzan Like a Teapot?
Blame the title on S.
Lesson today. Pook is not ready for prime time--he has some more work to do (of the kind described below) before I feel safe riding the rocket. Ten days, and then we'll do the next lesson with the Wild Thang.
In the meantime Ephiny was very much in favor of the grooming and the saddle and all. She even offered me a foot to clean, which is a first. I've always had to ask. Small milestone, but significant.
We took our time starting, in part to teach Miss E the art of waiting patiently for the humans to get around to working with the horse. She was very patient. No fretting or fidgeting. Girl knows how to wait--which is more than I can say for myself. :P
Eventually however we got around to talking about the homework we've been doing, engaging the back end and teaching her to rock back and come forward, aka the Pendulum. She was not in favor in the last lesson, but given a few days to think about it, she allowed as how it wasn't so bad. Even with the right hind, which tends to get stuck somewhere in the recesses of her twisty little brain. She actually stated that she was going to walk on out now, and keep pace with me, and demonstrate her homework.
Good! said S. Now the next step of the work in hand: instead of me standing in front of her watching as she positioned each foot, I had to stand beside her and feel it.
Sneaky, evil S. That meant true work in hand, aka the horseless riding lesson, aka where is your core and how do you feel what the horse is doing without looking to see?
Because if Pook is going to start back to work in the next week and a bit, I had better have a core, because Pooka is merciless. The mares I've been riding, well, aren't.
Ooops.
Also, being out of shape, ow.
It was somewhat reassuring that S also had interesting times with Ephiny, who could not see why she had to just step back and step forward in diagonal pairs when she could: Go Sideways. Go backwards. Step over behind. Step over in front. Cross her legs.
But not flip her head, except once. That's huge progress. And not bite S, which is also progress.
Gifted-kid problem. Why bother with the ABC's when you're hardwired for Proust? She did not see why she should worry about still being sound when she's an old lady, because she plans to live forever. (After all, isn't that Pandora's plan, too? And Pandora's her sister. So.)
She wasn't sulky about any of this. Or angry. Or resistant. Soft ears and soft eyes. Asking questions. Not always getting the answers she wanted, but willing to entertain the notion.
We took a break with a walk in hand, and instead of the imminent explosions I've had to deal with before, she only became irritated when she got rushy. Rock back, engage, balance. Get brain inside head. Walk on softly and lightly.
Then we went back to work in hand, this time along the fence on both sides, for support. That worked. I braced, she braced. I got soft, she got soft. Amazing. Spine straight--no kinking the head, neck, or body. Feel the movement, don't kink or twist. Use whip as aid wherever she needs it--for hindleg, as near the top of the croup as possible, just tapping. Pointing: Engage Here.
We could have done this under saddle today, but she was a pooped pony. Little grey cells all fizzy and whirry. Next time.
And the teapot? Rear-wheel-drive equines, which Lipizzans are, can only really keep impulsion (and go forward comfortably at all) when their balance is in the rear. If they tip onto the forehand, all the impulsion runs out. So you have to keep tipping them backward till they stay tipped on their own.
So, teapot. Keep the tea in the rear. Don't spill it out the nose.
Makes sense to me.
Lesson today. Pook is not ready for prime time--he has some more work to do (of the kind described below) before I feel safe riding the rocket. Ten days, and then we'll do the next lesson with the Wild Thang.
In the meantime Ephiny was very much in favor of the grooming and the saddle and all. She even offered me a foot to clean, which is a first. I've always had to ask. Small milestone, but significant.
We took our time starting, in part to teach Miss E the art of waiting patiently for the humans to get around to working with the horse. She was very patient. No fretting or fidgeting. Girl knows how to wait--which is more than I can say for myself. :P
Eventually however we got around to talking about the homework we've been doing, engaging the back end and teaching her to rock back and come forward, aka the Pendulum. She was not in favor in the last lesson, but given a few days to think about it, she allowed as how it wasn't so bad. Even with the right hind, which tends to get stuck somewhere in the recesses of her twisty little brain. She actually stated that she was going to walk on out now, and keep pace with me, and demonstrate her homework.
Good! said S. Now the next step of the work in hand: instead of me standing in front of her watching as she positioned each foot, I had to stand beside her and feel it.
Sneaky, evil S. That meant true work in hand, aka the horseless riding lesson, aka where is your core and how do you feel what the horse is doing without looking to see?
Because if Pook is going to start back to work in the next week and a bit, I had better have a core, because Pooka is merciless. The mares I've been riding, well, aren't.
Ooops.
Also, being out of shape, ow.
It was somewhat reassuring that S also had interesting times with Ephiny, who could not see why she had to just step back and step forward in diagonal pairs when she could: Go Sideways. Go backwards. Step over behind. Step over in front. Cross her legs.
But not flip her head, except once. That's huge progress. And not bite S, which is also progress.
Gifted-kid problem. Why bother with the ABC's when you're hardwired for Proust? She did not see why she should worry about still being sound when she's an old lady, because she plans to live forever. (After all, isn't that Pandora's plan, too? And Pandora's her sister. So.)
She wasn't sulky about any of this. Or angry. Or resistant. Soft ears and soft eyes. Asking questions. Not always getting the answers she wanted, but willing to entertain the notion.
We took a break with a walk in hand, and instead of the imminent explosions I've had to deal with before, she only became irritated when she got rushy. Rock back, engage, balance. Get brain inside head. Walk on softly and lightly.
Then we went back to work in hand, this time along the fence on both sides, for support. That worked. I braced, she braced. I got soft, she got soft. Amazing. Spine straight--no kinking the head, neck, or body. Feel the movement, don't kink or twist. Use whip as aid wherever she needs it--for hindleg, as near the top of the croup as possible, just tapping. Pointing: Engage Here.
We could have done this under saddle today, but she was a pooped pony. Little grey cells all fizzy and whirry. Next time.
And the teapot? Rear-wheel-drive equines, which Lipizzans are, can only really keep impulsion (and go forward comfortably at all) when their balance is in the rear. If they tip onto the forehand, all the impulsion runs out. So you have to keep tipping them backward till they stay tipped on their own.
So, teapot. Keep the tea in the rear. Don't spill it out the nose.
Makes sense to me.
June 1, 2012
Bookses!
Many of you have seen variations on this post all over your friendslist today. It's an invasion!
Book View Cafe, after much hard work and a lot of waiting and hoping and occasional cussing, rebuilt its bookstore for the modern age. It's clean, it's streamlined, it's easy to use. You don't even need Paypal to pay.
To celebrate, and because we're really excited about this, we're having an Event. Post a comment here (as in either my LJ OR my facebook wall--one Judy customer to a customer), get a chance to win any BVC ebook of your choice. You don't need an ereader to read it, either; a computer will do the job.
The rules are here.
Also, pssst...in the process of getting everything set up, my June 5th release is already up, live, and ready to download. You can find it a little distance down the page here. Neither Isle of Glass nor the sequel, The Golden Horn, is up anywhere else yet. This the place to go to find them. :)
And now Pooka is waiting for me to come out and get him ready for Dr. NeedleVet, who had to postpone Tuesday's followup to answer a call about a horse and a mountain lion. The life of a vet in the Wild West can be, well, wild.
So--have fun, post your comment, and at the end of the celebration, i.e. as soon after June 8th as may be, Pook and I will randomly choose a Winnah. I may even, if suitably persuaded, provide photographic evidence.
Book View Cafe, after much hard work and a lot of waiting and hoping and occasional cussing, rebuilt its bookstore for the modern age. It's clean, it's streamlined, it's easy to use. You don't even need Paypal to pay.
To celebrate, and because we're really excited about this, we're having an Event. Post a comment here (as in either my LJ OR my facebook wall--one Judy customer to a customer), get a chance to win any BVC ebook of your choice. You don't need an ereader to read it, either; a computer will do the job.
The rules are here.
Also, pssst...in the process of getting everything set up, my June 5th release is already up, live, and ready to download. You can find it a little distance down the page here. Neither Isle of Glass nor the sequel, The Golden Horn, is up anywhere else yet. This the place to go to find them. :)
And now Pooka is waiting for me to come out and get him ready for Dr. NeedleVet, who had to postpone Tuesday's followup to answer a call about a horse and a mountain lion. The life of a vet in the Wild West can be, well, wild.
So--have fun, post your comment, and at the end of the celebration, i.e. as soon after June 8th as may be, Pook and I will randomly choose a Winnah. I may even, if suitably persuaded, provide photographic evidence.
May 27, 2012
I never promised you a rose garden
...but one way and another, we ended up with one.
It's been a while. I've been reading and posting elsewhere on lj, but the blogging Muse has been persistently AWOL (probably on the beach with Aruba where my fiction Muse has been known to hole up when it's work time)(the pina colada bill for those two is off the charts).
We have had a very nice, almost-ten-day Camp. There have been Adventures with Family in Hospitals (OK now, and should continue OK, we hope). But! Pooka finally got his needles, and is finally doing better. And the rose population is exploding.
Pooka gets his needles:
And he is HAPPY about it:
And as for the roses...
Blue Girl, a little crisped around the edges but determined to prevail (this one survived a snowstorm, among other things):
Chicago Peace in April, big as my hand:
The garden, located where I remember to water it on my way to the barn (rosemary and Aleppo pine awaiting transplant...someday):
Today's crop, away up out of cat reach (mmmm rose-petal salad):
Featuring Tropicana, Chicago Peace, and Blue Girl:
It's been a while. I've been reading and posting elsewhere on lj, but the blogging Muse has been persistently AWOL (probably on the beach with Aruba where my fiction Muse has been known to hole up when it's work time)(the pina colada bill for those two is off the charts).
We have had a very nice, almost-ten-day Camp. There have been Adventures with Family in Hospitals (OK now, and should continue OK, we hope). But! Pooka finally got his needles, and is finally doing better. And the rose population is exploding.
Pooka gets his needles:
And he is HAPPY about it:
And as for the roses...
Blue Girl, a little crisped around the edges but determined to prevail (this one survived a snowstorm, among other things):
Chicago Peace in April, big as my hand:
The garden, located where I remember to water it on my way to the barn (rosemary and Aleppo pine awaiting transplant...someday):
Today's crop, away up out of cat reach (mmmm rose-petal salad):
Featuring Tropicana, Chicago Peace, and Blue Girl:
May 1, 2012
At Long Last Ebook
ISLE OF GLASS is finally an ebook! With special thanks to our own
![[info]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1381057904i/4024353.gif)
idiomagic
for the scanning and proofing.
idiomagic
for the scanning and proofing.
A Long Last Ebook
ISLE OF GLASS is finally an ebook! With special thanks to our own
idiomagic
for the scanning and proofing.
idiomagic
for the scanning and proofing.
