K.S. Dearsley's Blog, page 10

30 Degrees and rising

For once fiction and real life coincide. Usually, I find myself writing about floods and rain when it's dry, but at the moment my characters are trying to cope with the sweaty heat of tropical swamps. Finding the right descriptions should be easier, if I don't melt first. Not that I'm in a tropical swamp, but it's the nearest to it that an unkempt English garden is likely to get. Time to break out the macheté–er, shears, and cut the hedge, I think.

Three Cheers!

Aren't Goodreads' librarians wonderful people. No sooner did I ask for their help to rectify the mess I'd made adding Artists & Liars, than someone put everything right for me. And they all do it simply for the love of books (and possibly a love of orderliness).

Let's hear it for them... hip, hip... hooray!

Hand-Eye-Brain Co-ordination

Sometimes, it amazes me that I can manage to walk and talk at the same time. You would think that if I could type nothing else correctly, I would manage to get my own name right, wouldn't you? Think again.

I recently, managed to list my anthology, Artists & Liars, without a space between my initial and surname, and managed to create a whole new author. Worse, I didn't upload the cover! What planet was I on? When I find out, I shall put it in my next short story.

In the meantime, I shall leave you with an Iyessi song, while I try to perfect the art of drinking and singing at the same time like Dean Martin.


Onddikin, onddikin flying on high
What do you see when you're up in the sky?
Onddikin, onddikin why won't you say
What do you think floating there every day?

Plus One

I've been wearing my publisher's hat recently. It doesn't fit me as well as the writer's one, but I'm quite pleased with the result, as you can now read an anthology of my stories, poems and flash fiction, which is published with Smashwords. All the pieces in Artists & Liars (http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...) have an art connection. I thought bringing them together would be a good way to mark the participation of The Grid artists' studios where I am Writer in Residence in Warwickshire Open Studios and its coming exhibition this September.

A Funny Thing Happened...

Strange how opportunities pop up in the most unexpected places. I was at an event totally unconnected with writing when someone who, it turns out, is a radio presenter asked me how the novel was going. The upshot of our conversation was that I might get the chance to talk about The Exiles of Ondd series and Discord's Child on local radio. (Gulp) Will I be able to speak articulately? Will I be crippled by giggles or dry up? Anyway, I'm not going to worry about it now, as it might never happen, but if the chance to go on radio does materialise, be assured I'll blog to let everyone know.

Six Reasons to Read on

1. It's hot out, and sitting reading is the best way to make the most of the sunshine.
2. It's raining again, and reading carries you away from the depressing weather.
3. If you weren't reading you might be tempted to raid the refrigerator.
4. It isn't as likely to upset the neighbours as playing your favourite band's latest album at top volume.
5. I said you could.
6. Here's the latest Iyessi song:

When fate smiled upon me
And life had no care
You swore that your friendship
Would always be there,
That when storm clouds gathered
And all hope was lost
That you'd stand beside me
Whatever the cost.

But now I'm in trouble
I find that my trust
In you and your friendship
Has all turned to dust.

A Sad Good-bye

Recently, I attended the funeral of a great leader, whose death saddened me greatly, but it was inevitable. No, I'm not talking about that funeral in St Paul's Cathedral. I'm talking about killing off a character in Exiles of Ondd II. I've known for ages that it was approaching, that I'd have to slaughter one of my own babies, but that didn't make it any easier.

When J. K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban I remember reading that she had a similar experience. Characters might be figments of their author's imagination, but having lived with them in your head for months or years, when you say 'good-bye' to them you need to pause before you get on with the next chapter–as I am now. My characters won't have long to mourn either.

All Quiet Apart from the Singing

I've been knuckling down to writing this week–okay, I've been walking the dogs in the sunshine too, but I was thinking about it all the time I was out, honest! The consequence is that it's been a quiet week, so here's Iyessi song number five to be going on with.


Shelter me. Be my home.
Green protector, hear my plea!
I stretch my limbs and whisper to the wild woods.
In Great Kabonn I yearn to roam.

Reasons to Be Cheerful

Who needs chocolate when a story gets published? I received not one, but two 'Easter eggs' as the April 2013 issue of Writing Tomorrow featuring 'The Enchantress's Pets', and an article about how and when it was written, is now out, and 'Salvage' was broadcast in episode 359 of the Beam Me Up podcast. They contain zero calories too. Find them at http:www.writingtomorrow.com and http:www.beammeuppodcast.com.

Four and More

The trouble with this snow we've been having in the UK is that it stops you getting out and about and doing things. However, that's also the good thing about it, as it gives you the chance to catch up on everything Sci Fi, such as the Beam Me Up podcast (http://www.beammeuppodcast.com). If you're into science news, Sci Fi trivia and short stories this is the place for you. Next Saturday, 30th March, you'll be able to listen to my story, 'Salvage'. In the meantime, here's another Iyessi song:

There is no prison but the cage we place about our hearts.
Sing your own song.
Outside or inside, inside or out,
Sing your own song.