Archive for June, 2012



I got another Music Moment! Not that there’s much time to listen to music right now, but when I do, I find that the boys really enjoy Tenacious D and Lady Gaga. Interesting, but that’s probably because I sing along to tracks by them, which means they get to hear my voice. Also, Michael seems to enjoy Michael Jackson tracks, which puts me in a wonderful mood. ^_^

Anyway, today… because I actually feel ok right now, I thought that this particular track by the Black Eyed Peas was enough to sum up how I’m feeling. Or hoping at least. Last night wasn’t terrible in terms of being awake and handling screaming newborns. Fingers cross that tonight is going to be a good night.

Outtie!


Pick up a random object that has special meaning to you and describe it in as much detail as possible.


I’m a gamer, as you know. There are certain things that you pick up as a gamer that have special places in your heart. Some for their shininess, some for their coolness. Some just because of their sentimental value.

Well… the first set of polyhedral dice I ever bought I think has to be the object I’d like to talk about in brief.
Chessex dice, gemini black blue polyhedral set
There’s nothing special about them; they’re just a pretty, blue, dice. But they are my first set. The set I rolled when drawing up my very first rogue character who had a bit of an attitude problem and a love for shiny daggers. The set I picked up and cooed over with my boyfriend at the time, trying to establish which shape meant which number (its crazy how quickly you learn to identify a D8 from a D10 just by feel).

I still have them, now mixed up with the very many other sets I have, but every now and then, when I have a particular character in mind, or when I have an especial feeling about a night, I pick out that set. Many of my characters have a set of dice that I use just for them; especially rogues as they tend to need far more D6 (SNEAK ATTACK!) than any other character. Or my sorcerers who need a hell of a lot more D4s than usual (yey magic missile!). That doesn’t stop me, however, when the occasion calls for it, from picking up my very first set, laying them out in order on the table and enjoying a game with them.

My 80 Post Challenge is brought to you with help from Tom Slatin’s 80 Journal Writing Prompts.

Book Review: Indigo


Indigo book cover, Graham JoyceAuthor: Graham Joyce
Title: Indigo
Genre: Suspense
ISBN: 9780671039370
‘Indigo is a color the human eye can never truly see, a slice of the spectrum imbued with the promise of invisibility. But in the dark world occupied by Jack Chambers’ father, indigo will also lead to places of unknown treachery, and ultimately, to madness.’


Despite having met Graham a couple of times now, I realised at Alt Fiction that I’d never read any of his books. I did promise myself I would when I met him at Leicester Writers all that time ago; feeling that it would be a nice thing to read his work knowing he was Leicester based and a writer of fantasy. It took getting to Alt Fiction to finally get around to grabbing a book of his and he’s the one who recommended I try this one.

So… Jack Chambers, estranged from his father, is called to the states to work through a list of tasks from the will. He meets his half sister, his nephew and a colourful array of other characters who join him on his journey in search of the elusive colour indigo. A colour said to exist only to the eyes of a special, trained few.

Weird. That is my best description for this book, very, very weird, but I did enjoy it. It was a step away from fiction that I might normally read, but I think I enjoyed it more as a result. The story bimbled along at comfortable pace – I wasn’t about to get lost – and the characters were colourful enough to keep me turning pages. Though Jack’s infatuation with his sister was just a little bit odd for me.

Meh.

Anyway, if you like weird and more than a little bit spacy, pick this book up for a read. It will certainly keep you entertained.


I can’t believe how fast the time is going! My boys are two months old now. And with change. What’s that, like ten weeks or something? Waaah! ^_^ Anyways, its time for another entry to the wonderful funness that is Six Sentence Sunday.

Still on the A-Z of Flash Fiction, we’ve reached ‘K,’ the trigger word for which is King. So… let’s get one with it, shall we?

~Shamalan has words with his subjects…

King Shamalan frowned. “You contradict me?”
“Of course not, Your Highness!” The woman’s voice became high and thready. Little gasps hitched her breathing and made the next words shudder from her lips. “I… I would never think to do such a thing.”

Yeah… scary when he’s in a mood, ain’t he?

Hehee. Now, as ever, use the banner below to take you to the main Six Sunday website where you can check out what other authors are up to. I’ll catch you all next time.

Six Sentence Sunday


Describe 5 things you want to see or do before it’s too late.


Hmm. Five things? Okay that should be easy enough. Behold…! My things in no particular order:

Visit Egypt
egyptian carvings sphinx nahdetI’m sure this has come up before, but I really want to visit Egypt and see the pyramids. I want to see the golden sand and the pieces of history that have spawned so many films and books (The Mummy). I want to see the obelisks and sphinx and what’s left of the incredible treasures of a people who were so advanced that they were able to build things that we can only dream of.
More than that, I want to get a feel of the place because so much of Silk Over Razor Blades is set there. I want to pick up enough of the country (through the touristy gunk) to add a splash of authenticity to my writing. I know the scenes that take place there are in ancient Egypt, but one can tell a lot about the past by looking at the present.

 
Learn To Play Guitar
accoustic guitarI was supposed to be doing this already. But my obsession with long nails and my choosing to prioritise other things have prevented me from doing much about it. A pity, because I love music. The idea that I might be able to play (or write) my own music is one that is incredibly attractive to me. And… I dunno… more than ever, the idea that I might be able to play guitar feels like it would bring me even closer to Dave. Whether or not that’s the case is irrelevant, but I can’t deny that I’ve had a dream or two in which we’ve played together. Aww….

 
See The Giant’s Causeway
Giants Causeway in IrelandYeah, the Geologist in me is still there. Quietly lurking. I want to see the Giant’s Causeway and walk across those hexagonal basalt slabs. I haven’t done much research into it (terrible, terrible, lazy!), but the idea that something so ordered can exist in a geological world where lots of it is anything but, is just incredible. In fact, that’s something I should look into when I have time. What geological processes made the Giant’s Causeway. Then I can see about visiting it.

 
Perform on Stage
red curtains on a stageI used to do a lot of performing. I was in the musical production each year at school and then at university I joined the theatre group. I love acting (even if I’m not all that great at it) and performing for an audience is one of the biggest thrills one can ever experience. I remember at my drama school when I performed in one of their shows (Millennium Child) in my first speaking role. It was fantastic watching the crowds and playing up to their reactions. Then at university when I acted in The Memorandum, I got to experience that thrill all over again. Its been a long time though; long enough that standing up at Alt Fiction to read my flash fiction piece was a little nerve wracking. With the twins I have no idea when I’ll ever get to perform before a big crowd again, but I really would love a chance to try.

 
Publish a Novel
book icon, novelYeah, I know, I know. You might think its a cop out, but I think its mad to expect me to write a list like this and now see this as an option. After all, that’s what this blog is about. I. Want. To. Get. Published.
Not that there is a time limit on this exactly, but I feel that if I want to enjoy publication as much as I feel I should, then I don’t want to spend too long faffing around. After all, I’ve been trying to do this since sixteen years old. Meh… I’m twenty eight now; I still have time!

 

 

My 80 Post Challenge is brought to you with help from Tom Slatin’s 80 Journal Writing Prompts.

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