Narrelle M. Harris's Blog, page 54
June 14, 2010
One of these things is not like the other one
I've just completed the first draft of a new short story, called 'So hard to find good help'. It's a vampire story, of course. The trouble is, it started out as a comic horror story, and ended up a gruesome little drama. In the rewrite I will have to find a way to make it sit as a drama, and then change the name. Or maybe I can up the humour, and keep the title. It's a bit frustrating when stories go and change their sub genre on you without your permission.
It's fun writing short stories...
June 12, 2010
Repurposed memories
I lived in Egypt in the early 1990s, when my husband and I taught English as a Foreign Language at a school in Cairo. When we left after two years (to go to Poland), as a farewell present I was given a watch which had the numbers in Arabic lettering. The strap was a slightyly odd design so when it broke the first time it was a bit tricky to replace it. Over the years it broke several times, and eventually a replacement couldn't be found. I hung onto it for sentimental reasons but it sat in a ...
June 9, 2010
Win an embroidered bookmark
Join my Facebook page and win an embroidered bookmark from Hungary by telling me your favourite bookshop!
Review: Subversive Activity by Dave Luckett
I picked up this book from Dave Luckett at Swancon in April. It's been a while since I read one of Dave's books, but I have always enjoyed his vivid, laconic style.
"Subversive Activity" is a reminder of why I like his work so much! Wry, deadpan humour; distinctive characters; fresh, deft writing; solid research that enhances rather than overwhelms the story – it's very satisfying!
It's especially delightful that this book is about one of my favourite themes – someone waking up to life...
June 8, 2010
This is a test. Do not adjust your head.
I try to look all tech savvy, but I'm not really. Hence frustration. On the plus side, I have watched several episodes of Stargate while failing to work out how to export this blog. Go me.
An introduction to the mortal word
I was just considering what to call my new blog, and the phrase 'in the immortal words of…' came into my head and were immediately recognised as too pompous for consideration. But the mortal word, that's another thing. That's all the stuff we mortal's write, in our attempt to capture this life and these thoughts of ours, to share with others.
It also ties in neatly with my recent writing themes – life and death, living vs living forever.
So Mortal Words it is. Stay tuned
Gary and Lissa tweet each other
LissaWilson83 - @GaryHooper44 I'm trying to convince Beatrice to play this when we open the library every day What do you think? http://tinyurl.com/2eh2gcp
GaryHooper44 - @LissaWilson83 Do you mean in the lunch room?
LissaWilson83 - @GaryHooper44 They'll learn. Besides, I think a morning library song on using the catalogue is educational.
GaryHooper44 - @LissaWilson83 Don't they already kno...
June 7, 2010
June 6, 2010
GaryView: The Vampires of Bloody Island
Gary: I know. I'm pretty sure there is not a single thing in that film which reflects anything about real vampires.
Lissa: Or real life.
Gary: It's kind of fun, though, with the demons and the garlic cola. Who makes garlic cola?
Lissa: Companies with very poor market research skills?
Gary: They made a fish sauce drink as well, didn't they?
Lissa: What were we just saying about this film and reality?
Gary: True. But you were laughing at it.
Lissa: Some of the dialog...
Book meme: Dave Luckett's Subversive Activity
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 4-7 sentences on your LJ along with these instructions.
I picked this book up from Dave at Swancon. I haven't read it yet but it's the next one on my list. I hope there are no big spoilers in this:
Fifth sentence:
"And...eh?"
Next 4-7 sentences:
De la Terre had been going on, but this startled him.He hadn't got up to what yet, the question of why only confused him.
"So, his contact is in H...
