Horror for Newbies

I Know What I Did This Summer

Summer technically doesn’t end until next month, but already, my kids are back to school, which means our Summer Break is officially over. It went by in the blink of an eye, full of travel and fun with some actual rest managed in between.

I finished the cosplay I’d been working on in time for Gen Con Indy at the beginning of August. At the end of last year, when Doctor Who celebrated its 60th Anniversary and (my favorite Doctor and actor) returned for three glorious episodes, I decided to revisit my Doctor Who cosplay, but as Fourteen instead of Ten. Surprisingly, I found someone online selling the screen accurate brown with blue and white striped tartan wool I knew I would need for Fourteen’s waistcoat and trousers. I bought the fabric and then procrastinated on starting the cosplay.

Mostly, I was busy, but also, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to attempt the trousers. I’m going through perimenopause, and my body weight has fluctuated considerably over the past few years due to the pandemic, chronic illness, and back pain. I was afraid that if I made the wool trousers, not only would they be too hot for an Indiana August, but I might only wear them once before gaining or losing weight again. I think it was my seeing in a kilt in one of his first episodes as the Fifteenth Doctor that gave me the idea to attempt one for this cosplay. Not only would it be a lot cooler to wear (both in terms of temperature regulation as well as just being plain cool), it would be a nod to both Ncuti’s and David’s Scottish heritage. Also, I could adjust the fit later as my body changes over time.

Thus, began my journey into the art of kiltmaking. I bought a book and went down the endless rabbit hole of YouTube videos before finally getting up the courage to start. I made some personal choices and deviations throughout the creation process, including using my machine to sew the pleats, which is a no-no in traditional kiltmaking, but I would still be hand stitching those pleats to this day if I hadn’t. The end result is far from perfect, but it turned out beautifully anyway, and it did the job better than expected on the day. I also decided to try my hand at some tailoring techniques in the waistcoat’s collar and lapels, which also turned out great. I even did a makeup transformation, a la Rachel Maksy, to make my face appear more like David’s, though I wore a mask at Gen Con, so nobody could really see it anyway.

A white woman dressed as the Fourteenth Doctor takes a selfie of herself in a bathroom. She wears round glasses, a bouffant wig, a brown wool waistcoat with a blue and white striped tartan fabric, a silver neck tie, and a white collared shirt. The same woman dressed as the Fourteenth Doctor, seen from the back, showing off the blue linen back of her waistcoat and the pleats of her brown wool kilt with a blue and white striped tartan pattern as well as black socks with blue Tardises on them and ivory Converse sneakers. The same woman dressed as the Fourteenth Doctor, from the front, with her hands on her hips. Her brown wool waistcoat and kilt with their blue and white striped tartan patterns are clearly visible as well as the silver knitted tie and white collared button down shirt. The white woman dressed as the Fourteenth Doctor also wears a KN95 mask. She takes a selfie in front of a shelf of Doctor Who branded board games, including one with a Weeping Angel on the front called The same woman dressed as the Fourteenth Doctor wears a KN95 mask and stands in front of a colorful background. She wields a Sonic Screwdriver. The woman dressed as the Fourteenth Doctor has removed her wig, revealing her light brown hair in a short pony tail. Her waistcoat is also removed, showing her white collared shirt. From the back, her kilt pleats are clearly visible.

Gen Con itself was fun, but super crowded and a bit overwhelming. I participated in three writing classes through the Gen Con Writer’s Symposium and came away from the con with more writing than I had done in a long time, which made it all worthwhile. I also demoed several games, played some with friends and my family, and generally had a blast. Because the kids were able to attend the entire convention with their dad and I, it was an extra special convention for all of us.

Now that the convention is behind us and school is back in session, I’ve returned to having the house to myself during the day. The weather here has been absolutely gorgeous for the past several days, which allowed me to get a nice walk in around our local university’s campus and a much needed sketching session. My spouse and I have finally started watching “The Last of Us,” which is so much better than I thought it would be. (I’m not a horror fan.) In celebration, I decided to sketch a sad, protective as Joel Miller for my next portrait.

A sketchbook is open to a page featuring a pencil sketch of Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller from

As far as writing goes, I have several pieces out on submission, but I haven’t had anything accepted in a long while and the rejections have been coming very slowly. I just started revisions on a trunked story to see if I could turn it into something else for a submission call. We’ll see if anything comes of it. I hope to work on more poetry and maybe even publish a chapbook (or find a small press to publish it for me). Everything is up in the air, right now, and surprisingly, I’m okay with that.

I suppose that’s all for now. I hope you are having a wonderful August and staying comfortable wherever you may be. Have a great finish to your own holidays and restful beginning to your next season.

And, as always, thanks for reading.

A. Cook

View more on Amanda Cook's website »
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on August 12, 2024 14:45
No comments have been added yet.