Nancy E. Dunne's Blog, page 12
March 27, 2023
Music Monday: Getting in a proper frame of mind...
March 20, 2023
Music Monday: The Oscars Edition
March 6, 2023
Music Monday: Of Hazelnut coffee and the NGA Mountains...
The song for this week was such a no-brainer that I had to search previous posts twice to make sure I hadn't already used it. But it's relatively new, released last month, so I'm good. And if not...well, enjoy it again.
This is by P!nk who is one of my favorite artists...ever. The title, Trustfall, would, of course, conjure memories of that beloved/hated team-building game, the trust fall, that was rife at summer camps the world over. My summer camp, Camp Glisson, was no exception - we formed circles and fell into each other's arms in the safe shadows of the woody north Georgia mountains, just like kids did everywhere else.
It was hard for me, and not just because I was a full-sized (and then some, but not in those days, I guess) grown adult falling into the arms of children...it was hard because I find it hard to trust. This song is a balm to that troubled part of my spirit, so I'm sharing it today. Enjoy. And have a mug of hazelnut coffee when you're done - that really does make everything better.
(This time it actually does have functional captions.)
March 4, 2023
From a storm watch to a typhoon warning: March 2023 Newsletter
Well, we've moved from a watch to a warning...
In a recent Music Monday post, I mentioned the last verse of "Hoist the Colors" by Hans Zimmer for Pirates of the Caribbean:
The bell has been raised
From it's watery grave...
Do you hear it's sepulchral tone?
We call to all
Pay heed the squall
And turn your sail toward home!
Storm, the highly anticipated sequel to Rift, is due out this May. Even as I type that I can hardly believe it - this seems to have come on so fast, not unlike bad weather here in this part of the US. So, sound the sirens! PAY HEED THE SQUALL! Em and company return to Arcstone and the fated Maelstrom Instance with a bit of help from a pirate...
In the meantime, check out this exclusive excerpt from Storm. The password, of course, is Valentin.
Watch this space for pre-order information!
February 27, 2023
Music Monday: That's all I know
I heard Kelly Clarkson provide the harmonies for this song when she had P!nk on her show recently, and I can't get it out of my head. So here's almost ten minutes of goodness with these two of my favorite female artists. Great for an overcast and gloomy Monday, right? Captions on the video, too!
<February 22, 2023
Of Steam and Punks and Free Smells: February 2023 Newsletter
[If you're wondering what on earth The Lettuce is doing, this is the newsletter that goes out to folks on my mailing list about once a month, maybe more. It's going to become a regular thing around here, as I learn how to be a real author that does real marketing.]
First of all, the Atlanta Steampunk Expo was amazing. I clearly had the best smelling signing table ever, as I was next to The Dragon's Hoard soaps. My two and a half cosplays went well, which was amazing - considering I'm an old dog learning a new trick. The Lucy Boyd needs more work, but Steampunk Kaylee was a hit.
The goggles kept the hat from popping off the top of my giant head.Now then, I'm taking this crazy on the road again in March, this time to a signing event at one of my very favorite places in SC - 742 North in Rock Hill. I've been invited to the Springtime Blooms event on March 4th. These folks are really great, and I always come away with renewed purpose as an author and loads of new author friends! Come see me! Event information from 742 North's Facebook page:
Springtime Blooms, 742 North Anderson Road, Rock Hill, SC.
As always, if you want signed copies of my books and can't make it to one of the events, contact me and let's talk about how I can make that happen. If you have a copy of one of my books, I'd love it if you'd leave me a review - that's the best way for others to find my books and for me to know how my writing is being received!
Cheers, y'all!
February 20, 2023
Music Monday: Trouble Town
This song is the theme song for the fantastic British crime drama, "Happy Valley," and it is basically an anthem of the grittier side of the north of England. I'm anxiously awaiting season three to be released over here - it's a masterclass in plotting out a mystery/police procedural.
Trouble Townby Jake Bugg
Stuck in speed bump cityWhere the only thing that's prettyIs the thought of getting out
There's a tower block overheadAll you've got's your benefitsAnd you're barely scraping by
In this trouble townTroubles are foundIn this trouble townWords do get 'round
Kick the bottom make troubles fleeSmoke until our eyes would bleedSparkle pop the seed
Hear the sirens down the streetThe kids get light on their feetOr they'll be in the back seat
In this trouble townTroubles are found
Sitting on the pavementBoy you've missed your paymentAnd they're gonna find you soon
If there's a beating in the rainIf there's a little bit of pain, manYou're the one it happens to
If I talk of getting outI only hear the laughter loudIt's gotten ugly at home
Somewhere there's a secret roadTo take me far away I knowBut til then I am hollow
In this trouble townTroubles are foundIn this trouble townFools are found
Sitting on the pavementBoy you've missed your paymentAnd they're gonna find you soon
If there's a beating in the streetIf there's a feeling of defeatYou're the one it happens to
Stuck in speed bump cityWhere the only thing that's prettyIs the thought of getting out
February 13, 2023
Music Monday: Of Cellos and Rooftops, All Painted Black
February 6, 2023
Music Monday: It's me...hi.
Yeah, I know, I'm always late for everything. Maybe I'm the problem...it's me?
Sorry. Seriously though, I periodically stumble across songs by Taylor Swift that I can feel in my soul, and this is one of them. It also speaks to some of the characters in my books who haven't been exactly anti-heroes but come very close. Gin will wreck her own life, again and again, to make sure everyone else is all right - definitely the problem. Tairn doesn't need anyone else...until she does. She will stare directly at Orana's sun but never into the mirror.
Also, y'all...the lyrics are AMAZING, even though they sometimes aren't as musical as some might prefer. Anyone that can use narcissistic altruism in a pop song gets my vote. The video has captions, so no lyrics this week.
January 30, 2023
Music Monday: In Which I Almost Crashed my Car...
Not really.
I was driving along listening to my latest playlist and I'd added this version of Hoist the Colours because it represents one of the amazing parts of social media - several creators came together who aren't physically together to make this cover. But it was the last line that hit me and screamed WRITE MY STORY that nearly made me drive off the road.
Y'all, I don't write pirates well, just ask poor Lucian the Black (when you get the sequel to Rift in May). But this needs to be part of a story (and NOT another Pirates of the Caribbean):
"The bell has been raised from its watery grave/ Do you hear its sepulchral tone?/ A Call to all, pay heed to the squall/ And turn your sail towards home!"
Enjoy. No lyrics below this time because they are on the video.
