Lynn Flewelling's Blog, page 32
September 28, 2011
Fearful Symmetry
A magnificent heron touched down in my yard yesterday and stole my butterfly koi. Today, while I was away for the morning and the dogs were crated inside, he returned and cleaned out the pond except for one poor traumatized fish, the orange and black one I bought cheap when it was just a minnow. All the babies born last spring and this summer—gone.
I will install some sort of anti heron device and restock, but I am very sad. Some of those fish were here when we bought the house.
I will install some sort of anti heron device and restock, but I am very sad. Some of those fish were here when we bought the house.
September 21, 2011
Grammar
A friend with whom I often have grammar discussions sent this to me, confirming my fervent belief in the terminal, or Oxford, comma.
September 19, 2011
Swimming to the surface
Notice to anyone who has contacted me about anything important and hasn't heard back. Been buried in work. Contact me again, please!
September 16, 2011
Nightrunner Audio Books and Pronunciations
I recently learned that there has been some confusion about the differences in pronunciation between the first three audio books, produced by Blackstone, and the last two, produced by Audible.com. Actually, there's a major problem and I need your help in spreading the word to help fix this.
Blackstone did not consult me about pronunciations; the result was that many names and created words were mispronounced by the narrator. Believe me, I had no control over this, and so I kept my mouth shut when I learned of it. It was too late. They were already released. I think Raymond Todd did a good job otherwise, but he had no guide because no one consulted me.
Audible, however, Adam Danoff of Audible.com consulted me at length about how things should be pronounced, and therefore got it right. Unfortunately, and understandably, really, listeners assumed just the opposite, and have been leaving negative reviews. This has hurt sales, of course. I hope this clears it up.
Anyway, just wanted to get the word out.
Blackstone did not consult me about pronunciations; the result was that many names and created words were mispronounced by the narrator. Believe me, I had no control over this, and so I kept my mouth shut when I learned of it. It was too late. They were already released. I think Raymond Todd did a good job otherwise, but he had no guide because no one consulted me.
Audible, however, Adam Danoff of Audible.com consulted me at length about how things should be pronounced, and therefore got it right. Unfortunately, and understandably, really, listeners assumed just the opposite, and have been leaving negative reviews. This has hurt sales, of course. I hope this clears it up.
Anyway, just wanted to get the word out.
September 11, 2011
9/11 Ten Years Later
Right now ten years ago, in East Aurora, NY, I'd watched both towers go down, watched bodies falling before they censored it, saw the smoking hole in the Pentagon, and that far away field. More than 3000 people dead. And even though it was only by television, it was real, surreal, overwhelming, devastating.
And where are we today?
Over a hundred thousand dead in Afghanistan, and similar numbers in Iraq, the majority of them civilians. Hundreds of US soldiers dead, thousands maimed. Our economy in the toilet. Trillions of dollars spent on war and killing, while at home we are cutting funds to schools.
Do we feel better yet? Is the world a better, safer, happier place?
A line from Rufus Wainwright's "Going to a Town" keeps going around and around in my head: You took advantage of a world that loved you well . . .
And from the Buddha: Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.
I don't know how to put that second one into practice regarding extremism. I'm not that wise or enlightened. But I believe it's true. I know that what we've been doing has only resulted in more suffering, including the delusion that we can keep ourselves 100% safe 100% of the time.
Suffering exists. Suffering has causes. We can discover those causes and make suffering cease. What we are doing is not accomplishing that. Common sense suggests we are not acting skillfully.
And where are we today?
Over a hundred thousand dead in Afghanistan, and similar numbers in Iraq, the majority of them civilians. Hundreds of US soldiers dead, thousands maimed. Our economy in the toilet. Trillions of dollars spent on war and killing, while at home we are cutting funds to schools.
Do we feel better yet? Is the world a better, safer, happier place?
A line from Rufus Wainwright's "Going to a Town" keeps going around and around in my head: You took advantage of a world that loved you well . . .
And from the Buddha: Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.
I don't know how to put that second one into practice regarding extremism. I'm not that wise or enlightened. But I believe it's true. I know that what we've been doing has only resulted in more suffering, including the delusion that we can keep ourselves 100% safe 100% of the time.
Suffering exists. Suffering has causes. We can discover those causes and make suffering cease. What we are doing is not accomplishing that. Common sense suggests we are not acting skillfully.
September 7, 2011
The continuing adventure that is Zoe
Through carelessness of someone other than me's part, Zoe got a hold of Oscar's insulin bottle this morning and broke it. So, off we went to the vet again since she'd certainly swallowed some of it, and also to check a suspicious looking sore on her hind leg. She was pronounced not in danger (the bottle was almost empty) and is under home observation now. The sore is the result of some trauma, not a tumor.
sigh I hope she lives long enough to outgrow this puppy behavior. Our old dog Molly was just the same when she was young, only with her it was bread and chocolate, which sounds a lot more romantic than it was.
sigh I hope she lives long enough to outgrow this puppy behavior. Our old dog Molly was just the same when she was young, only with her it was bread and chocolate, which sounds a lot more romantic than it was.
Overwhelmed
Dear friends, the outpouring of support and honesty to my previous post is just overwhelming. Thank you all for your thoughtfully written responses. There are too many to respond to each separately (but I read each one), so please consider this addressed to all who responded. I deeply appreciate your honesty about the books, and your personal impressions and experiences.
I just want to assure you that I'm not ending the series because of any reviews. I just don't want to fall into series fatigue. Leave 'em wanting more, right? But not to worry, I think you'll really enjoy Casket of Souls—I enjoyed writing it, and my
editor made lots of helpful suggestions to make it even better. And there will be one more, so the ride's not over just yet. ;-)
Consider yourselves hugged.
I just want to assure you that I'm not ending the series because of any reviews. I just don't want to fall into series fatigue. Leave 'em wanting more, right? But not to worry, I think you'll really enjoy Casket of Souls—I enjoyed writing it, and my
editor made lots of helpful suggestions to make it even better. And there will be one more, so the ride's not over just yet. ;-)
Consider yourselves hugged.
September 6, 2011
Reality is a Bitch
I can't tell you how much I appreciate the support and love I get here on the LJ. You folks really inspire me to continue. However, having spent some time cruising on line reviews of Shadows Return and White Road, I know I am doing the right thing, ending the series. No, I'm not wallowing in self pity, I'm just being realistic. I always said when the series started to go down hill I would end it, and it seems many think it has, including some people who really surprised me, and whose opinion I respect.
I hope Casket and Shards change a few minds; one constant complaint as been that they aren't spending enough time in Rhiminee. That's the setting for Casket.
But all the same, I fear that Nightrunner is turning into an aging, overly made up actress who needs to leave the stage. It's very sad to think that my considerable efforts with the last two books have hurt people's opinion of the series overall. Over and over again I've read how the first three books were great (ironic, since Traitor got a lousy initial response), but I've lost my touch with the new ones. It hurts, of course, but perhaps it's a wake up call. Although I've already woken up, with the decision to end the series. But I need some energy and guts to embark on one more. I'll continue to warm my soul here.
Here endeth the vent.
I hope Casket and Shards change a few minds; one constant complaint as been that they aren't spending enough time in Rhiminee. That's the setting for Casket.
But all the same, I fear that Nightrunner is turning into an aging, overly made up actress who needs to leave the stage. It's very sad to think that my considerable efforts with the last two books have hurt people's opinion of the series overall. Over and over again I've read how the first three books were great (ironic, since Traitor got a lousy initial response), but I've lost my touch with the new ones. It hurts, of course, but perhaps it's a wake up call. Although I've already woken up, with the decision to end the series. But I need some energy and guts to embark on one more. I'll continue to warm my soul here.
Here endeth the vent.
September 5, 2011
Clarification on CASKET OF SOULS
Some people seem to have gotten the idea that CoS is the last Nightrunner book. It is not. There will be one more, very tentatively titled Shards of Time.
Today's Best Typo
Down the line Beka could see Danos, grim and haggard as he sat his mouth.
I leave the interpretation of that to you. ;-)
I leave the interpretation of that to you. ;-)
