K. Velk's Blog, page 4
May 16, 2016
Some of My Favorite Things - A Giveaway
I have a big summer book promotion coming up and feel like celebrating. In that party spirit I'm giving away some favors. See the link in the sidebar to enter to win the Literary Anglophile's Prize Pack.
Included are a signed copy of Up, Back, and Away - of course - AND (are you sitting down?) all the other stuff in the foreground as well.
The gem is probably the Copeland Spode pottery jug of Winston Churchill. It dates from 1941 and was meant to inspire his countrymen and mine in those early days of the war. It's printed in black with the symbols of the three Armed Services, beneath 'All I can offer is blood, toil, tears and sweat', reverse with crossed flags of Great Britain and the USA, 'We stand for democracy'. (This very jug sold at a specialist Churchill auction last year for 120 pounds so... )
Also included is the cottageware teapot, creamer, and sugar bowl - genuine English made sometime in the first half of the last century and so adorable. For planning your next trip across the pond you'll also get a guide to Secret London and the book and DVDs for the PBS series on Iconic British Estates in its slipcover. The little white teapot honors Edward VII, who was King of England from 1901-1910.
I've been inspired for years by the great old pottery industry in England. The winner will get this vintage Royal Doulton Dickens plate, featuring many of his greatest creations. The value of all this stuff in terms of dirty money is in the neighborhood of $200. In terms of inspiration, priceless.
US Residents only for this one, I'm afraid. It will be carefully packed and shipped within 48 hours of the end of the giveaway. Enter by June 3, 2016.
Included are a signed copy of Up, Back, and Away - of course - AND (are you sitting down?) all the other stuff in the foreground as well.
The gem is probably the Copeland Spode pottery jug of Winston Churchill. It dates from 1941 and was meant to inspire his countrymen and mine in those early days of the war. It's printed in black with the symbols of the three Armed Services, beneath 'All I can offer is blood, toil, tears and sweat', reverse with crossed flags of Great Britain and the USA, 'We stand for democracy'. (This very jug sold at a specialist Churchill auction last year for 120 pounds so... )
Also included is the cottageware teapot, creamer, and sugar bowl - genuine English made sometime in the first half of the last century and so adorable. For planning your next trip across the pond you'll also get a guide to Secret London and the book and DVDs for the PBS series on Iconic British Estates in its slipcover. The little white teapot honors Edward VII, who was King of England from 1901-1910.
I've been inspired for years by the great old pottery industry in England. The winner will get this vintage Royal Doulton Dickens plate, featuring many of his greatest creations. The value of all this stuff in terms of dirty money is in the neighborhood of $200. In terms of inspiration, priceless.
US Residents only for this one, I'm afraid. It will be carefully packed and shipped within 48 hours of the end of the giveaway. Enter by June 3, 2016.
May 3, 2016
The Books are in the Mail
Thanks to all who entered the Goodreads Giveaway. If one of you three lucky winners is stopping in for a status report, all the books have gone out.
April 11, 2016
Radio 4, Where Have You Been All My Life?
Duh.
England.
Radio 4 is one of the nine radio stations run by the BBC. There's Radio 1 (pop hits), Radio 2 (adult contemporary), and on like that. Radio 4 is mostly talking and its where I spend most of my time - at least so far. There's so much BBC radio that I haven't had time to venture deep into the other stations - yet.
And may I just say, we have crappy talking radio here in the US, if you ask me, which you didn't but it's my blog.
I'm not even talking about the Saharas of sportstalk and know-it-all political blowhards and the religious folk on our dial. I have zero interest in that. I listen to music and occasionally NPR. NPR is the closest thing we have to BBC-style radio in this country and it is a poor, sad, pushy, begging enterprise. Plus NPR is irritating. Aside from Cokie Roberts and Ira Glass (once in a while), and Terry Gross (most of the time) it is middle-brow forced-jollity earnest superior blah beige boring.
When I was a kid, WGY in Schenectady played Mystery Theater, hosted by E.G. Marshall each weeknight. I would "work" cleaning the kitchen for the whole hour of Mystery Theater. Thinking of that sole survivor of radio drama (in my day) I am reminded of the remains of those dwarf mammoths they found somewhere - physically shrunken holders-on - last of their species, dying out on some island . That was what Mystery Theater was back in the 70s. It wasn't genius but it was fun and it exploited one of the things that radio is good at - telling stories. When I stumbled into Radio 4 I realized how starved I was for programming that takes full advantage of Radio's (note capital "R") potential to be fun, informative, interesting, creative.
I'm not looking for a radio revival to suit me here in the States anytime soon. Our airwaves follow the money. They must. I understand that. The Beeb is publicly funded and even if Bernie Sanders gets elected no one in the States is going want to throw tax money at radio. Podcasting has filled the void, largely, that's true. But Radio is still a special thing. We don't have to hunt it out. It flows. It's a friend. Thankfully, we now have the internet. And the British taxpayer.
So here, for your listening pleasure are links to my favorite shows Radio 4 shows, with a nod to Radio 3. (Actually this is the tip of the iceberg my favorite shows but it's bedtime).
Desert Island Discs
Are you interested in any famous people? They have probably been interviewed on this show. There is an archive stretching back to 1942. Famous people, including Bill Gates, the late Princess Margaret and all kinds of movie stars, musicians, writers and other achievers - the kind that would only get radio time in England (e.g., a landscape designer, a nonagenerian allergist, a supermarket magnate) discuss which eight records they would take if marooned on a desert island. It turns out that this is a great way to get biography. I am addicted. The theme music sounds like a Monty Python joke - at first I thought it must be. I quickly understood, however, that they were playing it straight. The theme is a holdover from the show's 1940s origins. I love it now: living strings, squawking seagulls. Please Aunt Beeb, never change it.
Desert Island Discs was my entree to Radio 4. I have since become enamored of Book at Bedtime - so many great adaptations there. And lately I've been dipping into the venerable Woman's Hour, which is as old or older than DID. There's comedy. There's all kinds of drama. On that point, I have to give shout out for dRadio 3, I listened to a brilliant creepy adaptation of the famous play The Skriker there recently. Give that a listen if you can. You will never hear the like on the radio in the US.
Really, there's too much to detail here. Just go poking around the BBC Radio website. If you don't find much to love, check you pulse.
England.
Radio 4 is one of the nine radio stations run by the BBC. There's Radio 1 (pop hits), Radio 2 (adult contemporary), and on like that. Radio 4 is mostly talking and its where I spend most of my time - at least so far. There's so much BBC radio that I haven't had time to venture deep into the other stations - yet.
And may I just say, we have crappy talking radio here in the US, if you ask me, which you didn't but it's my blog.
I'm not even talking about the Saharas of sportstalk and know-it-all political blowhards and the religious folk on our dial. I have zero interest in that. I listen to music and occasionally NPR. NPR is the closest thing we have to BBC-style radio in this country and it is a poor, sad, pushy, begging enterprise. Plus NPR is irritating. Aside from Cokie Roberts and Ira Glass (once in a while), and Terry Gross (most of the time) it is middle-brow forced-jollity earnest superior blah beige boring.
When I was a kid, WGY in Schenectady played Mystery Theater, hosted by E.G. Marshall each weeknight. I would "work" cleaning the kitchen for the whole hour of Mystery Theater. Thinking of that sole survivor of radio drama (in my day) I am reminded of the remains of those dwarf mammoths they found somewhere - physically shrunken holders-on - last of their species, dying out on some island . That was what Mystery Theater was back in the 70s. It wasn't genius but it was fun and it exploited one of the things that radio is good at - telling stories. When I stumbled into Radio 4 I realized how starved I was for programming that takes full advantage of Radio's (note capital "R") potential to be fun, informative, interesting, creative.
I'm not looking for a radio revival to suit me here in the States anytime soon. Our airwaves follow the money. They must. I understand that. The Beeb is publicly funded and even if Bernie Sanders gets elected no one in the States is going want to throw tax money at radio. Podcasting has filled the void, largely, that's true. But Radio is still a special thing. We don't have to hunt it out. It flows. It's a friend. Thankfully, we now have the internet. And the British taxpayer.
So here, for your listening pleasure are links to my favorite shows Radio 4 shows, with a nod to Radio 3. (Actually this is the tip of the iceberg my favorite shows but it's bedtime).
Desert Island Discs
Are you interested in any famous people? They have probably been interviewed on this show. There is an archive stretching back to 1942. Famous people, including Bill Gates, the late Princess Margaret and all kinds of movie stars, musicians, writers and other achievers - the kind that would only get radio time in England (e.g., a landscape designer, a nonagenerian allergist, a supermarket magnate) discuss which eight records they would take if marooned on a desert island. It turns out that this is a great way to get biography. I am addicted. The theme music sounds like a Monty Python joke - at first I thought it must be. I quickly understood, however, that they were playing it straight. The theme is a holdover from the show's 1940s origins. I love it now: living strings, squawking seagulls. Please Aunt Beeb, never change it.
Desert Island Discs was my entree to Radio 4. I have since become enamored of Book at Bedtime - so many great adaptations there. And lately I've been dipping into the venerable Woman's Hour, which is as old or older than DID. There's comedy. There's all kinds of drama. On that point, I have to give shout out for dRadio 3, I listened to a brilliant creepy adaptation of the famous play The Skriker there recently. Give that a listen if you can. You will never hear the like on the radio in the US.
Really, there's too much to detail here. Just go poking around the BBC Radio website. If you don't find much to love, check you pulse.
March 21, 2016
Happy Easter!
A few photos from the archives for the holiday. May your Easter be sweet.
March 4, 2016
Selling is Helping, Right?
If you have somehow stumbled in here without having already bought/borrowed the book to which this website is devoted, and you are a resident of the USA, good news! The ebook is 99 cents this week. It's free altogether if you have kindle unlimited. So, click away. Mr. Bezos will be happy to assist you.
February 23, 2016
From the "Great Things About England" File
Someone is pretending to be the IT guy at Hogwarts and it's hilarious. #HarryPotter https://t.co/nrA3hw6NAe pic.twitter.com/LftUxKtRdJ
— Radio Times (@RadioTimes) February 23, 2016
December 8, 2015
Best Wishes
Merry Christmas, happy holidays, all of that.
Thanks to those who grabbed the e-book during the aforementioned flog. We climbed to Number one of all kids Kindle books in the UK for a bit - ahead of Harry Potter and the Hobbit. I had to have a lie down when that happened.
I'm at work on the sequel to Up, Back, and Away in fits and starts. Thanks for asking. I would be able to move it along if some deep pocketed individual or entity bought the rights. Ahem.
I'm also working on another project that has a deadline for the end of January. More about that soon.
In the meantime, I wish you all, dear readers, the happiest of holiday seasons.
Thanks to those who grabbed the e-book during the aforementioned flog. We climbed to Number one of all kids Kindle books in the UK for a bit - ahead of Harry Potter and the Hobbit. I had to have a lie down when that happened.
I'm at work on the sequel to Up, Back, and Away in fits and starts. Thanks for asking. I would be able to move it along if some deep pocketed individual or entity bought the rights. Ahem.
I'm also working on another project that has a deadline for the end of January. More about that soon.
In the meantime, I wish you all, dear readers, the happiest of holiday seasons.
December 2, 2015
Is it Vulgar to Scream "Sale!" "Sale!" ? (sorry).
Hey there! Put down your derby hat and cane and stay awhile.
If you've read the book you might like to poke around here, especially some of the older posts where I reveal my inspiration and other fascinating things.
If you haven't read the book yet, well, you're in luck because from now to December 8, if you can scrounge 99 pence or 99 cents, depending, you can get the eBook from Mr. Amazon.
Here's a link for you Staties
and here's one for you readers in Mother England.
When you've finished, come and talk to me about what you thought (so long as you're nice).
November 15, 2015
Have You Read the Book?
If so you may be curious about the "banded stone." For those who haven't yet read Up, Back, and Away , the stone is a key element in the time traveling (and, by the way, what are you waiting for?)
Anyway - there is a real banded stone. This is it:
Time travel sine qua non?
I went hunting for it with my children one day while I was writing the story. I found it in one of the most magical places I know in Vermont, the wooded trails at Shelburne Farms. I'll admit that I haven't tested it for time traveling purposes. Of course, that would be pointless since it only works when you also have the correct bicycle and handlebar bag in which to place it. And those are not available to me. Still, it is a talisman. Maybe someday I'll pass it on to a specially interested reader...
Anyway - there is a real banded stone. This is it:
Time travel sine qua non?I went hunting for it with my children one day while I was writing the story. I found it in one of the most magical places I know in Vermont, the wooded trails at Shelburne Farms. I'll admit that I haven't tested it for time traveling purposes. Of course, that would be pointless since it only works when you also have the correct bicycle and handlebar bag in which to place it. And those are not available to me. Still, it is a talisman. Maybe someday I'll pass it on to a specially interested reader...
