R.K. Summers's Blog, page 5

RK’s REVISED Highly Biased Review of Dragon Age: Inquisition

SPOILERS ABOUND. BE WARNED. Though the word “review” does kind give that away. And it’s not really a review. More of a… ramble. Anyway. Here be words:

GENERAL GAMEPLAY

I’ve heard a lot of people complain about this game because of it’s literal massive-ness. Admittedly, the Hinterlands is a huge starting base (leading to this “Leave the Hinterlands” meme I’ve seen floating around). And, yes, the Hinterlands is a pretty enormous arena to start new players off with, but it’s only one arena of the game.

People haven’t complained about the size of Skyrim, and that entire landscape is open-world. Yes, it has its dungeons and its caves and its cities, but the whole countryside is open.

“Hey, see that mountain over there? The one at the other side of the Markarth? Yeah, I’m gonna climb that thing. Might take me a while since I’m in Whiterun, but whatever. Come, Shadowmere! Let us adventure! :D”

Sticking with the comparison of Skyrim and Dragon Age, which I’ve seen a lot of:

Skyrim is an a country within the land of Tamriel.

The Hinterlands is a region within the country of Ferelden within the land of Thedas.

(By the way, I am not bashing Skyrim. I love the Elder Scrolls)

Besides, you need so much “power” to get to the next level. (I think it’s 8, if I remember correctly), so one only needs to do so many quests to get out of the Hinterlands. I know, Bioware gamers by nature are completionists. But the Hinterlands aren’t locked once you leave. You can always return :)

CHARACTERS

Bioware has never created dull characters, and there’s no changes here. DA:I gives us a veritable rainbow of colourful characters. Aside from your nine companions, you also have your three advisors. Not to mention allies, agents and NPCs. (Oh, Scout Harding you adorable little squishy scout)

And yes, I’m a massive Cullen fangirl. I’m completely in love with his character development. We watched him go from an infatuated, adorkable Templar intiate, to a mage-hating bundle of angsty, then grow into a stern-but-fair Knight Captain who somehow was still adorably bashful, and finally into a strong, capable, commander who’s haunted by his past failures and Lyrium addiction (which you can help him overcome). I mean, look at this adorable face ^-^

I find it nicely compares to Varric’s development. While still the Snark Knight, you can definitely tell Varric is blaming himself for everything that’s gone wrong in Thedas. And, to be honest, I can kinda see why. While he’s one of my favourite characters, if it hadn’t been for him mounting his expedition to the Deep Roads, finding the Red Lyrium idol, introducing Anders to Hawke, and leading Hawke to her (I always play as female) confrontation with Corypheus, then I suppose none of the events of Inquisition would’ve happened.

No Red Lyrium. No Elder One. No Warden Corruption. No Chantry-go-boom.

Oh, Varric. My heart broke to see you so despondent :(

I’m not going to go too deep into it, but Sera irritates the ever-loving crap out of me. I think it’s because she has absolutely no respect for a Dalish Inquisitor. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if Sera is romanced by a female Dalish Inquisitor, and then finds out about the Temple of Mythal, Sera actually laughs at her that the Dalish got their history wrong.

That’s cruel, Sera :(

I went out of my way to make Solas my Inquisitor’s BFF. Not sure why, but I love him. I love how he’s so serious, but he can snark with the best of them. He and Iron Bull have the best banter. They play chess. In their heads. That’s damn cool.

INQUISITOR

I’ve completed two playthroughs so far, (midway through my third) and each time I’ve played as a female Dalish mage. The first time, this was because I always play Dragon Age as a mage and, wherever possible, an elf. IE, Elf-mage Warden and mage Hawke.

I was pleasantly surprised, therefore, to find that this character origin actually makes the most sense in a playthrough. The amount of elvish magic that appears in this game is astounding. The Well of Sorrows? Elven. The Foci? Elven. Numerous temples, veilfire runes, quests, all Elven. And Solas. Elgar’nan, Solas. You… you sneaky little Elf-mage, you.

My first two playthroughs, I’ve recruited the mages instead of the templars. I’ve allowed the Grey Wardens to remain in Ferelden and work with the Inquisition. I made Stroud stay in the Fade instead of Hawke. And finally, I’ve allowed Morrigan to drink from the Well of Sorrows instead of making Ellana Lavellan (my Inquisitor) do so.

In my third attempt, however, I decided to try recruiting the Templars instead. It felt wrong. So very, very, wrong. I’ve nothing against Templars (I always romance Cullen), but I feel like a traitor if I approach Templars to make an alliance when playing as a mage. So, instead, I went through the Templar recruitment mission and saved the game, then went back, completed the mage recruitment mission and continued on the game from there. So now I have two save files for one game.

I must say, the Templar recruitment mission was more enjoyable. It felt like a journey into Lavellan’s psyche. And Cole appears first! Cutie-pie Cole. I’ve heard a lot of people complain about him, but I don’t see how, he’s so adorable and friendly and helpful and oooohhh he’s like a little lost puppy that I want to cuddle!

Sorry. I’ll stop fangirling.

So… this playthrough I think I’ll allow Lavellan to drink from the Well, and I may conscript the Wardens as prisoners.

And never, ever, ever, ever, ever in a million years will I sacrifice Hawke to the Fear demon in the Fade. Sorry, Stroud. But I don’t know you that well, and Hawke has Fenris to look after. Plus, I saw a Youtube video where Hawke died in the Fade, and Varric basically had a breakdown in front of the Inquisitor, crying at the thought of losing his best friend in the world. Mythal, that’s just… no. No. Never. No.

 

So. All in all, I’m in love with this game. I’ve rambled on enough. I could probably go on, but my eyes are aching.

Blessed by, my darling wee pixies

RK )O(

RK’s Highly Biased Review of Dragon Age: Inquisition

It is excellent.

The end.

Bandit Book Bloggers: Chasing Azrael, by Hazel Butler

CHASING AZRAEL

by

Hazel Butler

Chasing Azrael : Gritty New Paranormal Mystery Series Raises Vital Awareness of Bipolar Disorder.

 

The ‘Deathly Insanity’ series uses gripping urban mystery and heaps of the paranormal to keep its readers on the edge of their seats. However, the series is also serving a vital dual-purpose by openly examining societal attitudes towards Bipolar Disorder and Depression. The first volume, ‘Chasing Azrael’, sees author Hazel Butler serve up the perfect start to what’s poised to be a best-selling series.

 

PURCHASE LINKS for CHASING AZRAEL

Amazon UK Paperback

Amazon UK eBook

Hazel Butler Website

Interview with Hazel Butler

Hazel is a twenty eight year old author, artist and archaeologist from Cheshire, England. She is currently in the final year of her PhD, which focuses on Gender Dynamics in Late Iron Age and Early Medieval Britain. She studied archaeology at The University of Manchester, then Bangor University, and spent two years doing corporate archaeology and research excavations, both in Britain and Austria. She has had papers published in international journals and online.

Since 2010, she has been working on Chasing Azrael, a Gothic Literary novel and the first in the Deathly Insanity Series, a set of Paranormal Mystery/Urban Fantasy novels with overlapping character and plot-lines. Although these novels have a strong supernatural element they also explore themes of mental health, in particular Bipolar Disorder, which Hazel herself has suffered from since her early teens.

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Hi Hazel! Sooo, let’s start at the beginning. Tell me a little bit about Chasing Azrael. No spoilers, though!

Chasing Azrael is primarily a ghost story, following main character Andee Tilbrook as she attempts to recover from her husband James’s death. Andee has the ability to see ghosts, and as a result can still see and speak with James on a regular basis. At the start of the novel, two years have passed since his death, but for Andee the grief is still as fresh as the day he died, and she is contemplating suicide. Her personal problems take a slight backseat when Josh, one of her closest friends, is threatened by a very unstable ex-girlfriend. Andee has a gut reaction to this woman that tells her something is very wrong, and soon enough is proven correct, when it transpires she is wanted in connection to a string of murders. Andee gets dragged into the murder investigated by Robert, the same detective who investigated James’s death, and she ends up torn between James, Josh, and Robert, as she tries to puzzle out how she feels and use her abilities to solve the murders.

On a deeper level however, Chasing Azrael is more than simply a paranormal whodoneit. It examines depression, suicide, and mental illness, as well as societal attitudes to bipolar disorder and the effects those attitudes can have on people with the condition.

I like the cover, who designed it?

The cover has actually just changed, so I’m not sure which to talk about. The original cover was a digital painting done by myself. I was never entirely happy with it however, as I found the colour scheme a little dull, and the composition too busy. I have just changed it for a new design – this one a digital photo manipulation, also done by myself – which has a much brighter colour scheme and a far simpler composition. I am very pleased with the new cover, although it is very different.

You’re a very talented artist in your own right. Have you created any artwork to go with Chasing Azrael?

Yes I have, although I haven’t released any of it. I may at some point, but there are no plans to do so as of yet.

When it comes to writing, do you prefer to plan ahead or do you just write and write and write until you pass out?

It depends what I’m writing. Chasing Azrael was very cathartic for me. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2010 and writing became a way for me to order my thoughts and feelings, come to terms with the diagnosis, and try to express in a way others – who had never suffered any form of mental illness – could understand, just what it was like to live a bipolar life, or live with someone who was bipolar. I had no idea where the book was going when I started writing. I just kept writing until suddenly I had the bones of a book. I then built it up from there. Other projects I plan meticulously. I’m currently working on the sequel to Chasing Azrael, the second book in the Deathly Insanity series, Death Becomes Me. That one has a very complicated plot, and has taken a great deal of time and effort to plan properly. The whole series gets complicated at this point, because the books have different bit overlapping characters and plotlines.

How long have you been writing?

Fiction? Since my very early teens, although it wasn’t particularly good back then. I wrote a few short pieces that impressed my English teachers at school and I think that encouraged me to continue, although to be honest I think I would have done whether I was any good or not. I wrote my first full length novel when I was about nineteen and kept working on that for a couple more years. I had started a second one but gave that up when I started Chasing Azrael. There have been numerous short stories, novellas, and novel plans done since then. I’ve also started two other novels, one of which is about half done.

Do you write full time or part time?

Erm… tricky question. I write fiction part time, but my full time job is as a freelance editor, proofreader, copywriter, researcher, and artist, so I generally spend most of my time writing or doing art work.

When you’re not writing, what keeps you busy?

More writing? Seriously the writing never ends. I spend a couple of afternoons/evenings a week with a writing group and that’s my main time off. I run my own business, so I don’t have a lot of free time. When I do, I walk my dog, who is very loyal and sits patiently under my desk as long as I’m working. I also do my own art work, and I play the piano. I have two god-daughters and a young niece and I spend as much time as I can with them. I’m also an avid reader, and a huge fan of a wide range of TV shows and films, so it all keeps me busy. Multi-tasking. I’ve found that’s the key.

What book/books are you reading at the moment?

I’m actually in the midst of my annual re-read of all my Robin Hobb books. I love Robin Hobb, she’s by far my favourite author (so much so that the Fantasy and Science Fiction imprint of my publishing house, Astrid Press, is named after her). Every year I re-read her books. I’m doing it a little earlier than usual this year, it’s usually an early winter thing, but I’m going to London on the 19th August to meet her and George R.R. Martin, and she has just released a new novel, so I’m doing it early. I’m delaying reading the new novel until I’ve finished and it’s agony – I treasure her books so much, having a new one I’ve never read before is the biggest treat imaginable.

And lastly, most importantly, do you prefer dragons or pancakes?

To eat? Or which do I prefer? I prefer dragons, but I would not like to eat one, so if the question was food related definitely pancakes.

 

The Force is strong with this one. We’ll keep her for a while.

 

Blessed be, my little pixies

RK )O(

RK’s Top Ten Favourite Films

I’ve decided to not participate in NaNoWriMo this year. I’ve seen what it does to people. It’s like the One Ring. It tempts you. Glints, winks, at you. You think you can resist it. Then, before you know it, you’re a skinny, drooling, insane mess, clutching papers and coffee mugs, twitching and giggling to yourself in the corner.

Maybe I’ve been talking to the wrong people.

Anyway, since I’m not partaking in this delightful… event, I’ve decided to instead dedicate a post to my Top Ten Favourite Films of ALL TIME. Runners up will be at the bottom. I’ll talk a little bit about each one, too. Because, y’know, I don’t have ten chapters I should be editing instead.

10) The Avengers

Released: 2012

Starring: Tony Stark. And some other people. And Tom Hiddleston, obviously.

Arguably the most popular film of all time, The Avengers for years was thought to be an unmakeable film. Enter Joss Whedon, King of the Nerds. Everything about this film screams “awesome”. The casting is perfect, the writing is perfect, the effects are perfect. It’s just fantastic, let’s face it. And if you don’t like it, you’re wrong. I know that’s your opinion, but it’s wrong.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I’m not a fan of DC, and I loathe Superman as a “hero”, so I find it especially satisfying when SIX heroes do less damage to a city in trying to defend it than Superman causes ALONE. Come on, Supes. Get it together.

9) Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Released: 1991

Starring: Kevin Costner and Professor Snape Alan Rickman.

Despite Costner’s accent, this film is beautiful. It’s a (fairly) faithful adaptation of all those Robin Hood tales I read growing up. Even satire film Men in Tights pokes loving fun at this one the most, because they know it’s the most popular, and most people will have seen it. And laughed at Costner’s accent. Alright, enough about the accent. But really, he couldn’t have toned down that drawl just a tad?

8) The Winter Witch (US title, The Snow Queen)

Released: 2002

Starring: Bridget Fonda and Chelsea Hobbs

I’m not sure how many of you will have seen this particular film. It usually floats around on TV at Christmas time. It’s not particularly well known and wasn’t received very well because of its bad effects and sometimes stilted writing, but it always makes me feel nostalgic and cuddly inside. It’s based on the Hans Christian-Anderson tale The Snow Queen (also the basis of Disney’s Frozen), and it’s very loyal to the source material.

7) Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Released: 1991

Starring: Paige O’Hara, Robby Benson, and Angela Lansbury

What can be said about this film? It’s practically a modern classic. I can’t say much about it, because it’s perfect in every way. If you haven’t seen it, you had no childhood. If you hate it, you have no soul.

6) Labyrinth

Released: 1986

Starring: Jennifer Connolly and David Bowie

Sorry, Mother. I know you really, really, really hate Bowie, but this film is a Jim Henson classic. Yes, it’s very… 80’s. Costumes and music are a little cringe-worthy, effects make CGI artists cry, and Pre-Academy-Award Jennifer Connolly has a long way to go. Still, it’s a classic, and I love it.

5) Dragonheart

Released: 1996

Starring: Dennis Quaid, David Thewlis, and Sean Connery’s voice

Fantastic, original storyline. Excellent effects for the day. A novelisation. What more could a dragon-lover want? Except maybe a better haircut for Einon. Seriously. Get it trimmed. You look like a mushroom. Oh, and the accent, again. C’mon, Quaid, I know Costner did it, but the film is set in Britain. You even say it in the film! Get your accent together.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: The novelisation is, incidentally, a fantastic read, and one of my favourite books.

4) Stardust

Released: 2007

Starring: Claire Danes and Charlie Cox. And a lot of other people.

One of the most romantic, heart-warming stories that has ever graced the screen. Neil Gaiman, the author of the novel, is one of my favourite authors. I heard he’s got a cameo on Captain Shakespeare’s ship. Which I find weird, since Captain Shakespeare was barely in the novel at all. Ah, I’m nitpicking. It’s a beautiful film, makes me cry every time, and it has this:

How can you not die laughing?

3) Willow

Released: 1988

Starring: Warwick Davies, Val Kilmer, and some fairies

I think this is the first film I remember watching. Yes, I probably watched some Disney ones first, but I remember this one the most vividly. It screams 80’s all over it. Had this been made in 2014, it would already have two-dozen sequels lined up, because it was so original and well-made. Also, oddly enough, has a novelisation that expands on Elora Danan’s background, what happened to Sorsha’s father, and why Bavmorda Madmartigan is such a badass.

2) The Princess Bride

Released: 1987

Starring: Cary Elwes and Robin Wright

*takes deep breath* THIS IS THE MOST FANTASTIC FANTASY FILM THAT FELL OUT OF THE 80’S.

That is all.

No, really. It has everything. True Love. Giants. Fencing. Torture. Miracles. Billy Crystal (yes, you read that right). Rodents of Unusual Size.

See it. SEE IT.

 

And my absolute favourite film of all time ever is….

*INSERT DRUM ROLL HERE*

1) Merlin

Released: 1998

Starring: Miranda Richardson and Sam Neill

Technically not a “film”, it’s a TV mini-series. Still, although I could recite this back to front, I would watch this again. This movie is the reason The Old Ways exists. It fed my love of fantasy. It sparked my interest in the old legends of Britain. Many people criticize its bad effects, and yes they are very bad, but everything else makes up for it. Miranda Richardson as Queen Mab and the Lady of the Lake, Sam Neill as the titular Merlin, Isabella Rossellini as Merlin’s True Love, Nimue… if you’re going to watch anything on TV ever again, watch this.

Oh, and if you’re thinking of watching the 2006 sequel, Merlin’s Apprentice… don’t.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Also has a novelisation, in three seperate books. Merlin: The Old Magic, Merlin: The King’s Wizard, and Merlin: The End of Magic. They’re my favourite. I cuddle them when no one is looking.

EDIT: Er, I don’t actually do that.

Alright, that’s enough gushing about Merlin. Here are the runners up, in no particular order:

The Spiderwick Chronicles

The Brothers Grimm

Inkheart

Frozen

Tinker Bell and the Pirate Fairy (don’t judge me. It has Tom Hiddleston in it. Singing. *swoon*)

Corpse Bride

Ladyhawke

Legend

The Mask of Zorro

Elf

 

Blessed Be )O(

RK

Happy Anniversary!

I’ve been on this website for one whole year today. Yay! Have cake!

Wait, that’s CAKE?!

No, I didn’t make that. The most I can cook is toast. Sort of. It’s not really toast. It’s just slightly crispy bread.

 

In other news, I’ve finally gotten my laptop back! It was in the hospital for eleven days because the keyboard died, so I couldn’t type anything. I couldn’t write or edit for almost two weeks. My brain almost melted. I apologise formally to my best friend for almost killing her with my car. I also apologise to my work colleagues who had to deal with my mounting insanity while my brain plunged into a bubbling quagmire of CRAZY.

*sigh*

But all is well. Laptop is home. I managed to avoid complete insanity by purchasing four Disney movies, building a blanket fort, eating my way through a tub of Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough ice cream, and having conversations with the wall.

Why don’t you all forget I said that last part.

 

Now it’s time to make up for the eleven days of not-editing. Must trim my nails first. I can brely tysp;ly with thes calws.

 

Blessed be

RK )O(

I’m allliiiive!

 

Okay, so I’ve been a bit quiet lately.  In my defence, I’ve been on holiday. And I’ve been editing until my fingers bled. Slight exaggeration there.

I also overdosed on Scottish butter tablet. Mmm it’s like a sugar cube but edible. I ate a whole box in one go. Recipe is here, by the way!

Returned to day-job after two week holiday to find my desk in a complete shambles. A total pigsty. It was a mess. Crisp packets, Coke cans, sweetie wrappers… vile creatures, leaving my desk like that.

 

How are we all finding Capaldi-Doctor? I like him. He’s like a grumpy grandad. Moffat, on the other hand… *sigh* what can be said?

Apart from–

WHAT WAS ON THE BED, MOFFAT? WHAT WAS ON THE BED?!

 

My nightmares for the next two years. That’s what was on the bed.

 

My friend tried to console me. “It was just a kid playing a joke,” she said, “there wasn’t a monster, really.” Didn’t stop me from being terrified though, did it?

I can’t stop looking at it. Why did I think it would be a good idea to put that screenshot there? It’s looking at me. Make it stop. Quick! Distraction!

Ahhh, much better. Tom Hiddleston and a puppy…

In other news, the release date for my novel has been decided! Well, sort of. We’re hoping for a release before October 2015. Which means I’d better shift my cute little butt and get editing! Only… *mentally counts* twenty-six more chapters to go! :D

And then, of course, there’s Dragon Age: Inquisition. The release date has been announced as 7th October 2014. Excuse me a moment.

OHMYGODSICAN’TBREATHTHISISSOEXCITINGOHGODSIT’SLESSTHANAMONTHAWAYOHMYGOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

Thank you. It escapes every so often. Worse when I’m in public. Oh! And Sleepy Hollow starts on Monday. And Grimm comes back on 24th October. Aaaand I’ve started watching Supernatural from the beginning.

I’m such a fantasy freak -_- AH I DON’T CARE! :D

I’d better go before I babble myself into complete insanity… *snort* I’m way too late for that. I’ve been here a while. With those rooms made of mattresses and those comfy-looking hug-jackets.

 

Blessed be,

)O( RK

What even IS centaur anatomy?

SRS FACE

Seriously, this question has bugged the life out of me for ages. I don’t mean a few weeks, no. I mean at least a year. I’m yet to find a suitable answer.

Okay, so centaurs are horse bodies with man bodies grafted on (getting technical now, people). I get this. But the horse bit has organs.  It’s the main body of the horse. It has organs; stomach, lungs, heart, liver, etc. You know organs, you can fill in the blanks.

But the man bit is the body of a man. Or woman, I guess. I’ve seen Narnia, female centaurs exist. But the human bit also has organs. Heart, lungs, stomach, etc.

My question, do they have double the amount of organs? That seems very poor planning. So, they’ve got a heart up top, and underneath as well? Are they Time Lords? They got two sets of lungs? That’s a whole lot of breathing going on. What, do they pant with every breath? Two stomachs? Why? Do they eat double the amount? Do they have to eat grass and hay to satisfy the horse stomach? While also eating meat to satisfy the human stomach? Do they get back problems because of the way their spines just… sort of… curl?

I don’t trust this. It has no kidneys.

What even IS centaur anatomy?! You’ve no idea how much this bugs me. I seriously hope someone, someday, answers this for me, because short of that, I’m gonna have to kidnap a centaur and ask him or her. Or dissect one. Which is a rude thing to do to a guest when you’ve just offered them shortbread.

Other things bug me to: what’s a unicorn horn made of? Is it keratin, like a rhino horn? Or is made of pure magic, like that one episode of Charmed suggests? What makes the spark at the back of a dragon’s throat that ignites its breath? Does a phoenix ever get bored? Why does my copy of Smoke and Mirrors keep disappearing off my bookshelf? Is Neil Gaiman stealing it back every two weeks? And what is Tom Hiddleston really made of?

The answer to that last one is actually puppy smiles, rainbow sparkles, and fangirl screams.

And why is it, even though I’ve combed through Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them at least 24 times (seriously, I can practically recite the entry for the Lethifold), can I not find any reference to three-headed dogs? Because, really JK, the only theory I can come up with is that Fluffy is actually Cerberus, and he’s just on loan from Hades. Takin’ a holiday from guarding the entrance to Hell, just gonna go hang out with Dumbledore and his crew.

This is not cool. These questions irritate me.

 

In between banging my head against the wall, hoping to answer these deep and profound questions, I’ve been working with E.J. Runyon, a genuinely lovely lady from across the pond, who has been helping me edit The Old Ways. I want to say how it’s going, but there are spoilers, and… hhhnnnggggg, so many spoilers. Let’s just say, it’s a fantastic experience and I’m learning so much ^-^ oh, and my first chapter is a beautiful experience. It’s so shiny. Yes, I am a Firefly fan. Browncoats forever!

 

Blessed be,

RK )O(

Dogs have Owners, Cats have Authors.

Little Luna has taken to her new home almost instantly. She also took to my lap almost instantly. Had to suppress a sneeze for nearly an hour. Which isn’t easy when one has a cold.

“I shall nap here, New Human.”

‘So what’s new in the world of RK?’ I hear you ask. Or type. Or… whatever, my brain and nasal passages are full of icky stuff.

I’m sick, AGAIN. After almost dying from Glandular Fever last year, the hospital discovered that I suffered from something called a Neutropenic Sepsis. Basically, my white blood cells are very, VERY low, and if I were to so much as say “bless you” to someone who sneezed, I would catch something. I was quarantined for two weeks while the doctors and nurses scratched their heads and tried to figure out what I was dying of. (I survived. Obviously). But, now I get sick very easily. It’s not good.


I’m up to season three in my Charmed re-watch. I loved this show when I was younger. I was obsessed with it. But I haven’t watched it in years, so I’m going through all of the episodes again on Netflix. Oh, Netflix… where would I be without you?


I’m playing Dragon’s Dogma again, and determined to stick it out this time, instead of giving up when I deliver the Hydra head to Gran Soren. I always seemed to sort of just stop playing at that point, and replay Dragon Age for the sixth time or something.


SPEAKING OF DRAGON AGE, OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG, WE HAVE A RELEASE DATE AND I’VE PREORDERED INQUISITION! OMG OMG OMG OMG #FANGIRLING


Oh, and I finished my first poem in over a year. Yay for me! ^-^ It’s more angsty than I had originally intended it to be, but it’s got a rhyming lilt to it that I’m quite impressed with. Not exactly iambic pentameter, but close enough that I don’t feel the shame when I read it back. It’s called The Queen of Broken Things. I’ll post it below, in case you’re interested.


I’ve had to cut my nails. I hate cutting my nails. But I couldn’t type, so they had to be trimmed. I hate being declawed, I feel too vulnerable. So what if I’ve accidentally slashed my own arm in my sleep because my nails were too sharp? Oddly enough, it was deeper than a scratch from Luna, and has actually left a scar. In other words, do NOT mess with this Kitty.

Why yes, I am hyped up on catnip, why do you ask? *twitch*

 

Blessed b– what was that? You hear a noise? Something made a noise. I heard a noise. SHH there it is again. What– noises– wassat?

RK )O(

Queen of Broken Things

She is not afraid of broken things,

Of broken angels with broken wings,

She does not shy from broken toys,

From broken girls and broken boys.

She is a wilful creature of the wild,

Full of passion, full of pride.

With mindful gaze and wolfish smile,

Among the trees to sit awhile.

To crooked paths she winds the ways,

Through moonless nights and sunless days

Between twisting trees with starlit eyes

She walks alone beneath darkened skies.

She is not afraid of broken things,

Of broken heroes and broken kings.

She does not fear what darkness brings,

Those fallen angels with broken wings.

RK’s Progression from Human to Author: 78% Complete.

Eliot, Hemingway, Tolkien, Twain, Yeats, Dickens, Gaiman… one thing I’ve noticed about authors; we all pretty much love cats. What is it about cats that attract authors? Or is it the other way around? Are cats naturally inclined to hang around with authors?

Is it the isolated lifestyle? Cats by nature are independent creatures. Authors, by trade, are alone most of the time. When we’re not surrounded by a dozen characters, all demanding to be the centre of attention in one particular chapter. Wait… is that just me?

Is it the smell of coffee? The warm keyboard? The stacks of books that make for excellent climbing frames?

What I’m basically building up to here is that, after years of not-so-subtle hinting and batted eyelashes and promises of chocolate cake, I’m finally getting a cat. Excuse me while I squee.

My new kitty, Luna

This is Luna, my lovely new kitty cat. She’s just had kittens so she’s all tired here, but sadly they’ve all gone on to new homes, so she’s coming home with us in a few weeks time. She’s still at the rescue home at the minute, so we’re busy making up her new home all cat-friendly. She’s going to be spoilt rotten, poor thing.

And I really won’t mind if she takes a liking to my hair and wants to tangle herself in it. It won’t be any weirder than the other things I’ve found in there. (Read: 6 leaves, 3 cherry blossom petals, 4 dandelion seeds, 3 twigs, 1 piece of straw, 2 spiders, 3 flies, 7 bits of fluff, and one fragment of a receipt for a bottle of lemonade. It wasn’t even mine.)

So, that’s my big announcement. I’m getting a cat. Which, according to my Facebook feed, is quite minor compared to the rest of the world, who all seem to be either getting married or having babies. Me? I’m getting a kitty.

 

In other news, Prince Oberyn died a horrible death by having the Mountain shove his thumbs into his eye sockets. I would have felt very sorry for him, had he not been prancing around his still living body and taunting him. Now that’s just dense.

Oh. Uhm. Spoilers?

Maleficent is magnificent. Heh. Lazy-rhyme. I really identified with the story. A beautiful faery queen with fantastic cheekbones who has an affinity with forests and earth magic gets her heart broken by an arrogant prince, then becomes a lot darker in nature and starts wearing a lot of purple and black, becomes close friends with a crow-like man and is associated with wolves– wait…

-_-

Were I a vengeful woman, I would wreak havoc upon the world. But I’m not bitter. Mab is a better faery queen. And Erlik is a more arrogant prince. And he’s a REAL prince, thank you very much. Not some peasant upstart.

Why yes, I am in complete control of the keyboard and I am in no way influenced by aforementioned prince nor the very large sword he happens to have upon his person.

(Send help. Quickly.)

 

Blessed be

RK )O(

I’m covered in glitter

And I don’t quite remember why. The only logical conclusion is that I was kidnapped by faeries when I was sleeping last night. Yes, this is why. I have accepted this as the only reason why I’m covered in glitter.

SO THEN, it’s been a while since any semblance of updates have come from the upside-down world of RK, and the reason behind this is because… well, I didn’t have any updates. ‘Tis true, I’ve been squirreled away in my little world of magic and mayhem, and mostly forgotten that there’s a whole world out there.

Well, in the past two weeks, I’ve been sent the first few pages of edits back from Sara, my lovely publisher, and we have both agreed that the release date needs to be pushed back a little. This is mostly due to the fact that I have had a grand total of zero experience in the world of creative writing. By that, I mean I’ve been on no courses, achieved no awards, and spoken to no editors in my entire life. Therefore, I write from the heart, not from the head. Which can be a good thing, but can also be extraordinarily destructive in terms of publication.

Sara describes it thusly; “storytelling is a skill, writing is a talent. You have the skill, but the talent needs polishing.”

So, dear Sara has agreed to set me up with a nice lady who will Skype me to go through a course, of sorts, on creative writing. This way, future manuscripts will need significantly less editing. I’m actually a little ashamed at how much The Old Ways needs to be edited… but, I suppose, as Sara says, this is what Inspired Quill aspires to do. Seek out new blood and mold us into dazzling authors. I want to dazzle. It’s like glittering, but with more jazz hands.

 

Meanwhile, in Albion, a vicious monster-thief who goes by the name of Writer’s Block has crept into Elphame to cause havoc amongst the citizens. Thankfully, it’s dual-weilding arch-enemies, Coffee and North-East Stubbornness, have prevailed, and the train has continued on its happy track. I think that metaphor ran away with me, but you get the idea. I think I was subconsciously avoiding the moment when I have to kill off a particular character. I really don’t want to do it. Like, really, really don’t want to do it. But needs must.

*sobs hysterically*

 

Oh, Albion, thou art a heartless bitch… that’s all from me for now. If anyone needs me, I’ll be curled up under my blankets, sleeping off a glittery hangover.

 

Blessed be

RK )O(