Collective memory is such a strange thing. Living in the moment we often take for granted that movie stars, pop stars, world renown authors, earth shattering historical happenings will never be forgotten. Sadly (or gladly depending on one’s point of view) this isn’t the case. The societies we live in whether nations or extended tribes, make choices as to what we will and won’t remember collectively. That which is replayed or repeated most often will be the winner whether it deserves a place in history or not. The English have this saying, ‘Remember, remember, the fifth of November.’ Nearly four hundred years old, this childhood chant (that all English people know) calls the people to remember Guy Fawkes (and his associates) who nearly managed to blow up parliament with kegs of gun powder in 1605. Every November 5th the English build bonfires and burn effigies of Guy Fawkes. This is an excellent example of collective remembering. Whether some individuals getting drunk and setting off fireworks can remember anything specific about Guy Fawkes is irrelevant. They remember collectively! [Read more…] about Remembering Lummox…
Dancing the Maypole
The evil eye…
Today I went for an eye check. For a while now I’ve been taking off my glasses (I’m nearsighted) to work at the computer and to read books. The eye doctor’s verdict; my eyes are aging. In a week I’ll own my first pair of reading glasses. At last I have an excuse to treat myself to one of those spectacle-chains worn by librarians (real librarians, the ones who gave you the evil eye if you made the slightest noise). Through my teens and into my early twenties my mother would regularly rant that I should become a librarian. I always rolled my eyes. Just because you think every moldy book should be cherished as treasure, cataloged and kept on a shelf (in alphabetical order with all the other books one can go without food to afford) doesn’t necessarily mean one has the talents to be a librarian! At least not the kind of librarians I grew up with. Those ladies (and gentlemen) had degrees in librarianisms. They probably had fantastical dreams of living the Dewy Decimal System. [Read more…] about The evil eye…
Hitchcock, my hero…
I’ve just finished Chapter 39 of Dancing the Maypole! I can practically feel myself riding down the hill to the finish. I see three more chapters and then the epilogue (I shouldn’t need to bang my head on any brick walls…shouldn’t, shouldn’t, shouldn’t…) The story now has 105,672 words. I would have preferred the book to be shorter (as it would have been done by now) but my characters are willful creatures who couldn’t care less what I think. [Read more…] about Hitchcock, my hero…
Hole in the Heart…
My life often seems liken a string of coincidences that all somehow come together to make a strange magical collage. About five months ago I was randomly combing through i-tunes and somehow came across a Scottish singer-songwriter named Karine Polwart. The sample of her song ‘Hole in the Heart’ off Scribbled in Chalk really struck me so I listened to some more. I decided I wanted to buy the actual CD so I put it on my Amazon list intending to get it sometime soon, but I couldn’t wait so I went back and bought the song off i-tunes. Listening to the words I realized this was the song I’d been looking for. It’s the perfect theme for Dancing the Maypole, the book I’ve been working on for the last three years. The song has helped bring certain aspects of both the hero and heroine into focus and made my characters more real to me. Last week I was thumbing through the tri-yearly magazine for Stamford’s Art Center’s upcoming events and classes. When I saw a woman’s face and the name Karine Polwart it took me several seconds to realize what I was reading. Yes, in October she’s going to be performing in the Ballroom and I shall be gutted if I can’t get a ticket. The next time I’m in Stamford I’ll have to see if they’re selling tickets and if so to buy one. Have a listen to Hole in the Heart!
If you enjoy my photos, here’s a few of my favorite from Sunday. About three in the afternoon the Goblin decided he wanted to go to the beach…so we drove down to Aldeburgh and got there about 5:30. It was gorgeous with the orange setting sun on the endless pebbles. [Read more…] about Hole in the Heart…
Sharing photos…
Dancing the Maypole now has 99,527 words. I’ve finally finished chapter 37 (hopefully for the last time). I’m now working on chapter 38. I ended up doing the usual ‘beat my head against the wall’ exercise until I finally gave in and deleted a chunk and wrote some more. I think I’ve figured out how to unblock Once Upon a Wager as well, but now I have to decide how much to delete. I’ve deleted quite a bit, but I have an awful feeling I need to delete more. Excuse me while I just bang my head on that brick wall!
The last few months have been really weird. I’ve been having problems remembering what day or month it is. I can’t believe it’s nearly the end of June. I think I was traumatized by moving house. The rest of the Universe has moved on, but I’m somehow stuck in April. The last few months I’ve had a number of adventures that I meant to share. I took pictures…lots of pictures. I now I have too many to share, but I wanted to share some of my favorite. [Read more…] about Sharing photos…
A brief Update on my books in progress…
If you’ve been wondering where I’m at in my books in progress here’s a brief update :
Dancing The Maypole – 60,025 words (finished book will have about 80,000)
The story without a definite title – 44,962 words (finished book will have about 65,000)
Both stories have reached critical scenes. I’m hoping both will be done by the end of the year though I can’t promise as my writing speed fluctates and then there are the mental brick walls which can appear without warning. I hope I’m done with those for the year…that would be an excellent Christmas gift to self!
Today I went down to London with a friend. I’m absolutely shattered, but I had a great time. Hopefully I’ll wake up feeling refreshed and have a really productive writing day tomorrow.