Tray Ellis's Blog, page 4
January 5, 2019
soup, and story #3
I changed from tea to hot chocolate, and had some soup for dinner. I am feeling much better now that I've had a full day to actually rest (not try to go to work and gut my way through the day) and suspect that tomorrow I'll be back to running errands and doing laundry, even if not quite at the same rate as usual.
But after my afternoon nap, I read my third story for the day from the Once Upon a Rainbow Vol. 2 anthology, "Deathless" by Emmalynn Spark.
This story was quite engrossing. While all the stories in the anthology are fairy tales of a sort, this one had a lyrical-ness to its framework that was so pleasant to slide into and ride like a wave as the story unfolded around me. The Prince goes to slay the evil wizard, because that's how the story goes, but does it really? A little bit of meta toward the end of the story while within the story was just a perfect touch, and the story ended exactly as it should have. All the fairytale elements of this were build solidly and deftly, and the touches of humor were light. I think I'd call this something Bluebeard-esque but really that's just the barest of bones to start "Deathless" by, because the rest of the story feels a bit more like Howl's Moving Castle in some elements. A lovely romance.
And now I guess I'll be off to bed for a full night's sleep.
But after my afternoon nap, I read my third story for the day from the Once Upon a Rainbow Vol. 2 anthology, "Deathless" by Emmalynn Spark.
This story was quite engrossing. While all the stories in the anthology are fairy tales of a sort, this one had a lyrical-ness to its framework that was so pleasant to slide into and ride like a wave as the story unfolded around me. The Prince goes to slay the evil wizard, because that's how the story goes, but does it really? A little bit of meta toward the end of the story while within the story was just a perfect touch, and the story ended exactly as it should have. All the fairytale elements of this were build solidly and deftly, and the touches of humor were light. I think I'd call this something Bluebeard-esque but really that's just the barest of bones to start "Deathless" by, because the rest of the story feels a bit more like Howl's Moving Castle in some elements. A lovely romance.
And now I guess I'll be off to bed for a full night's sleep.
tea #3, porridge, and more reading
After a lengthy mid-morning nap, cup of tea #3, and some porridge, I read the next story in Once Upon a Rainbow, Vol. 2, "Snow Fox" by Sara Codair.
This is a wry, snarky, cutting twist on Snow White. It has a modern day setting with magic and enchantments mixed with social media and social media grudges. The whole thing is a bit tongue-in-cheek except that the dark commentary about vanity is spot-on. How is it that I did seem to forget that the Queen was out to murder Snow White for the sheer fact that she was prettier? Because it happens so early on, and the rest of the story is about the comeback. But in "Snow Fox", the point is made more than once so it is kept front and center while the romance aspect plays out. Well done, I'll enjoy returning to this story again.
Now for a mid-afternoon nap.
Link for the anthology: https://ninestarpress.com/product/onc...
This is a wry, snarky, cutting twist on Snow White. It has a modern day setting with magic and enchantments mixed with social media and social media grudges. The whole thing is a bit tongue-in-cheek except that the dark commentary about vanity is spot-on. How is it that I did seem to forget that the Queen was out to murder Snow White for the sheer fact that she was prettier? Because it happens so early on, and the rest of the story is about the comeback. But in "Snow Fox", the point is made more than once so it is kept front and center while the romance aspect plays out. Well done, I'll enjoy returning to this story again.
Now for a mid-afternoon nap.
Link for the anthology: https://ninestarpress.com/product/onc...
cup of tea #2, and Once Upon a Rainbow #2
So while sipping on cup of tea #2, I decided a short story rather than a long novel would be about the right length before I contemplate an early morning nap. I hadn't finished reading all the stories in the anthology of Once Upon a Rainbow Vol. 2 (my story "The True Love Curse" is also in the anthology) so I opened it up and read the first story "Coming Home" by Jennifer Cosgrove.
It's a sweet take on a Cinderella-esque story, but with a Prince. I liked his best friend, Molly, and I really liked his love interest, Chris. There's an interesting plot that perks up about halfway through that keeps your attention and plays along very nicely with the characters getting to know each other better. And there are lots of parties and coffee shops. This story definitely keeps the theme of the evil step-mother intact. (And as the first story in the anthology I think it bookends really well with my story coming at the end where I play against that trope and make the step-mother one of the heroes of the story, with a truly good heart.)
If you've got the anthology at hand, it might be fun to read both stories and then think deep thoughts about how our society deals with step-parents in literature, and then how the majority of them are way better than given credit for. If you don't have the anthology at hand, then find it here: https://ninestarpress.com/product/onc...
Now off to nap, and read more later....
It's a sweet take on a Cinderella-esque story, but with a Prince. I liked his best friend, Molly, and I really liked his love interest, Chris. There's an interesting plot that perks up about halfway through that keeps your attention and plays along very nicely with the characters getting to know each other better. And there are lots of parties and coffee shops. This story definitely keeps the theme of the evil step-mother intact. (And as the first story in the anthology I think it bookends really well with my story coming at the end where I play against that trope and make the step-mother one of the heroes of the story, with a truly good heart.)
If you've got the anthology at hand, it might be fun to read both stories and then think deep thoughts about how our society deals with step-parents in literature, and then how the majority of them are way better than given credit for. If you don't have the anthology at hand, then find it here: https://ninestarpress.com/product/onc...
Now off to nap, and read more later....
Day five: soup and tea
I've still got my cold/virus hanging on. I am getting better. Sleeping through most of the night last night was quite nice, but I'm up now -- still tired, but I just can't sleep anymore. I'm already on Cup of Tea #1. Soups I've enjoyed over the past few days (some soups more than once): tomato, cream of mushroom, vegetable and wild rice, shrimp and lime ramen, Manhattan clam chowder, and some zesty tomato. Also, crackers soaked in soup are nice. Thank goodness that soup comes premade in a can and can be easily reconstituted and microwaved because I am not up to cooking myself healthy, hearty soups to get rid of this cold. In the future, I am going to consider making soup to freeze so that I will have something homemade and ready to go in the freezer. But for now, I'm really grateful for commercially available soups.
I don't know if I'm up to writing today, but I think I will do some reading while snuggled into my couch and covered by lots of blankets.
I don't know if I'm up to writing today, but I think I will do some reading while snuggled into my couch and covered by lots of blankets.
December 28, 2018
transition to New Year's
Between Christmas and New Year's is a full week where you have to get your head back around from one type of holiday to another. (Does anyone out there also experience the weird let-down after Christmas where you feel at loose ends and deeply melancholy?)
I haven't decided on any resolutions for the new year. I haven't done any serious ones in a few years because if I need to do something big, I just commit to it. I may need a specific date, but it can be any specific date, not Jan 1. But I've been thinking about decluttering as a goal for the coming year. I've been doing a lot of it the past year, but continuing would be most useful. And write more. I always want to write more. That isn't a new resolution, it is a forever resolution. What's everyone else doing?
I haven't decided on any resolutions for the new year. I haven't done any serious ones in a few years because if I need to do something big, I just commit to it. I may need a specific date, but it can be any specific date, not Jan 1. But I've been thinking about decluttering as a goal for the coming year. I've been doing a lot of it the past year, but continuing would be most useful. And write more. I always want to write more. That isn't a new resolution, it is a forever resolution. What's everyone else doing?
December 25, 2018
Merry Christmas
For those celebrating, I hope you're having a wonderful -- whether you are with family, or friends, or even by yourself and taking some space to finally breathe. May your day be peaceful.
December 20, 2018
Are you ready for Christmas?
This seems to be the thought on everyone mind lately -- I've been running various errands around town and mostly this is the opening question from everyone I'm interacting with. Sometimes they ask it with a touch of humor, but there's also a hint of tightness around their eyes -- this is a very stressful holiday!
Going into the last weekend before the holiday, I hope everyone out there who is celebrating can get all their tasks done, on time and on budget! Good luck!
Going into the last weekend before the holiday, I hope everyone out there who is celebrating can get all their tasks done, on time and on budget! Good luck!
December 16, 2018
Christmas story
A Piece of Ourselves, a Christmas story I wrote, and published last year, is on sale at Mischief Corner Books, here's the link:
https://www.mischiefcornerbooks.com/s...
I always loved this story because of the element in it about family dynamics. There's subtle drama in how people get along, because that's how a lot of it happens in real life. There are no hysterics, just people dealing with tough family relationships. You love people but they drive you around the bend!
Here's the blurb:
Balancing holidays between two families can make cheerful celebrations into chores. Carson Benedetti's mom has overscheduled the Christmas holidays and she's more than insistent that boyfriend Tynan Harris come into the family fold. There's so much to do Tynan can't find time to bring Carson over to his own family and he feels like they are being left in the dust.
After dating for nine months, and with their relationship becoming more serious, Tynan's patience is sorely tested by the multitude of Benedetti family traditions keeping them busy. Tynan needs to figure out how to find some breathing room, split their time more fairly, and make Christmas more than just tradition by rote.
https://www.mischiefcornerbooks.com/s...
I always loved this story because of the element in it about family dynamics. There's subtle drama in how people get along, because that's how a lot of it happens in real life. There are no hysterics, just people dealing with tough family relationships. You love people but they drive you around the bend!
Here's the blurb:
Balancing holidays between two families can make cheerful celebrations into chores. Carson Benedetti's mom has overscheduled the Christmas holidays and she's more than insistent that boyfriend Tynan Harris come into the family fold. There's so much to do Tynan can't find time to bring Carson over to his own family and he feels like they are being left in the dust.
After dating for nine months, and with their relationship becoming more serious, Tynan's patience is sorely tested by the multitude of Benedetti family traditions keeping them busy. Tynan needs to figure out how to find some breathing room, split their time more fairly, and make Christmas more than just tradition by rote.
steam from a cup of tea
The light is just right for me to see the steam coming off a fresh cup of tea that I've just made. I had the ceiling fan going to disperse the heat in the room, but I've turned it off because the steam was twirling away so fast, and now it isn't blowing away at an angle, but twisting straight up, as if it were a flame, but ethereal and misty white. I shouldn't be this captivated by it, but I am. I know it won't steam for too long. Right now it is too hot to drink, but soon the steam will cease because the tea will have cooled, and I'll be able to drink the tea and enjoy it, but the pleasure of watching the steam will be lost.
December 13, 2018
brrr: super cold
I could do without the crazy cold! I remember the last time it was so cold out that memes were flying about how how your face shouldn't hurt just to be outside and the air shouldn't be so cold that your chest hurt. In total agreement on that.
