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It's a birthday!
Sep. 15th, 2017 07:28 am![[personal profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shireboundHappy Birthday to lindahoyland! I hope the lads brought you breakfast in bed (or at least extra snuggles), and that you enjoy your special day. You have so many friends who love you and your fur-family!
lindahoyland! I hope the lads brought you breakfast in bed (or at least extra snuggles), and that you enjoy your special day. You have so many friends who love you and your fur-family!What Am I Reading Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Sep. 13th, 2017 09:33 amjust_ann_nowThis was a great week for reading, even if not everything I read was that great. But a lot of it was!
What I Just Finished Reading
The Immortal Descendants, Books 1-3 by April White. I feel bad giving only two stars, since this series did provide hours of entertainment, but, yeah, two stars.
Time's Child, by Rebecca Ore. Oh, this could have been so good. The premise was a killer - hearty peasant stock (with a few broad-minded intellectuals thrown in) brought through via time travel to rebuild society following a devastating worldwide plague. The political and social worldbuilding - city states, warring future factions sneakily making the time-travel possible - was really thought provoking. Alas, the narrative was absolutely flat, and the characterization of the time travelers was ridiculous. The whole read more like a clean first-draft of a novel, rather than a finished work. So disappointing.
Wyrd Sisters, by Terry Pratchett. Hilarious, and a perfect palate-cleanser after the two previous!
Taste of Marrow, by Sarah Gailey, the sequel to River of Teeth, which I LOVED. At first I thought, "Where are the feral hippos? This is reading like a soap opera." But eventually the hippos showed, and YES. (Also, I never expected to see a case of mastitis as a significant plot detail, so yay for that! Also, ouch. I really felt for Adelia. )
What I Am Currently Reading
Golden Age and Other Stories, by Naomi Novik. This is a very slender book - 177 pages - and illustrated with assorted bits of fanart, some of which inspired the stories herein. They are Temeraire-verse stories ("Now that I'm writing other stuff, let's clear all this dragon stuff off the hard drive. I'm sure somebody will buy it.") but so far, I'm not delighted. *sad*
Dreaming Death, by J. Kathleen Cheney. Secondary-world sort of police-procedural fantasy, very engaging, intriguing characters!
What I Am Reading Next
Not sure! I bought a copy of Good Omens, and won a copy of Reincarnation Blues at our local bookstore, and have a load of things on hold at the library, so I am pretty spoiled for choices right now.
Question of the Day: Weather, weather, weather - how's yours today?
What I Just Finished Reading
The Immortal Descendants, Books 1-3 by April White. I feel bad giving only two stars, since this series did provide hours of entertainment, but, yeah, two stars.
Time's Child, by Rebecca Ore. Oh, this could have been so good. The premise was a killer - hearty peasant stock (with a few broad-minded intellectuals thrown in) brought through via time travel to rebuild society following a devastating worldwide plague. The political and social worldbuilding - city states, warring future factions sneakily making the time-travel possible - was really thought provoking. Alas, the narrative was absolutely flat, and the characterization of the time travelers was ridiculous. The whole read more like a clean first-draft of a novel, rather than a finished work. So disappointing.
Wyrd Sisters, by Terry Pratchett. Hilarious, and a perfect palate-cleanser after the two previous!
Taste of Marrow, by Sarah Gailey, the sequel to River of Teeth, which I LOVED. At first I thought, "Where are the feral hippos? This is reading like a soap opera." But eventually the hippos showed, and YES. (Also, I never expected to see a case of mastitis as a significant plot detail, so yay for that! Also, ouch. I really felt for Adelia. )
What I Am Currently Reading
Golden Age and Other Stories, by Naomi Novik. This is a very slender book - 177 pages - and illustrated with assorted bits of fanart, some of which inspired the stories herein. They are Temeraire-verse stories ("Now that I'm writing other stuff, let's clear all this dragon stuff off the hard drive. I'm sure somebody will buy it.") but so far, I'm not delighted. *sad*
Dreaming Death, by J. Kathleen Cheney. Secondary-world sort of police-procedural fantasy, very engaging, intriguing characters!
What I Am Reading Next
Not sure! I bought a copy of Good Omens, and won a copy of Reincarnation Blues at our local bookstore, and have a load of things on hold at the library, so I am pretty spoiled for choices right now.
Question of the Day: Weather, weather, weather - how's yours today?
Trick or Treat Exchange letter
Sep. 10th, 2017 08:16 amsholioThank you for writing for me! :) I will admit that I'm generally a fluff aficionado and kind of a wuss when it comes to gore and sad/tragic endings, but I've offered a number of "trick" prompts for things I think I'd enjoy. Hopefully my prompts will give you a good feel for the kind of thing I like.
In every one of these fandoms, I love every requested character and would be very happy with any of them that you wish to write. I don't have a unique prompt for every possible character or pairing, but feel free to mix'n'match however you want. Most of my prompts can be used for any individual character or group of characters in that fandom.
Fandoms: Agent Carter, MCU, Stranger Things
( Likes/dislikes and general prompts/suggestions )
( Fandom-specific requests and prompts )
In every one of these fandoms, I love every requested character and would be very happy with any of them that you wish to write. I don't have a unique prompt for every possible character or pairing, but feel free to mix'n'match however you want. Most of my prompts can be used for any individual character or group of characters in that fandom.
Fandoms: Agent Carter, MCU, Stranger Things
( Likes/dislikes and general prompts/suggestions )
( Fandom-specific requests and prompts )
Snagged from... "Elsewhere"
Sep. 10th, 2017 04:38 pmla_samtyrYou are walking in the woods and the moon is shining. suddenly you realise there is something carved on stone and you realise it's this door.
Where would this door lead?
What character is waiting for you on the other said to show you the land and of course share an adventure with?
( Read more... )
Where would this door lead?
What character is waiting for you on the other said to show you the land and of course share an adventure with?
( Read more... )
(no subject)
Sep. 10th, 2017 01:18 pmmarta_beeA story nugget I may flesh out when I'm less cold med-befuddled. It seemed like a good idea in the shower and I don't want to forget it, at least.
Meneldil (Anarion's son, Elendil's grandson, maybe 1-2 years old at time of Akallabeth) lands in Middle-earth and is promptly sent off to foster in Dol Amroth. When the Faithful first landed, their situation would be tenuous at best, not exactly the safest situation for a two-year-old prince, and there was a more-established community of the Faithful that could protect him. Maybe some of the other children, too, but certainly not his adult family members who'd be needed to build their settlement. The upshot being: Meneldil survives the storm, and then he's bundled off to live with strangers.
Enter another storm. Just a regular one, but a real howler if you're so young with that history. So he does the only thing he can think of: finds the highest ground he can think of, specifically the aviary. This is a community of Faithful who are back in Middle-earth where Manwe's eagles might actually be expected again, on top of which there was an elven setlement not too far off they'd probably be communicating with. Of course they'd have an aviary. (Though, what is it with me with stories set there?) And he finds (or is found by) another boy, maybe one of the attendants or just another child in the stronghold -- working idea is he's a very different kind of refugee, maybe from a family that escaped Sauron out of Harad who dreams of becoming a Swan Knight if he's very smart and lucky -- and they just have a bit of conversation. And the other boy shows Meneldil how high the cliffs are and how the waves are breaking not even half way up, that kind of thing.
Basically: Meneldil is sent away for his own good (though it would hardly feel like that) and makes a friend of an unexpected sort.
Meneldil (Anarion's son, Elendil's grandson, maybe 1-2 years old at time of Akallabeth) lands in Middle-earth and is promptly sent off to foster in Dol Amroth. When the Faithful first landed, their situation would be tenuous at best, not exactly the safest situation for a two-year-old prince, and there was a more-established community of the Faithful that could protect him. Maybe some of the other children, too, but certainly not his adult family members who'd be needed to build their settlement. The upshot being: Meneldil survives the storm, and then he's bundled off to live with strangers.
Enter another storm. Just a regular one, but a real howler if you're so young with that history. So he does the only thing he can think of: finds the highest ground he can think of, specifically the aviary. This is a community of Faithful who are back in Middle-earth where Manwe's eagles might actually be expected again, on top of which there was an elven setlement not too far off they'd probably be communicating with. Of course they'd have an aviary. (Though, what is it with me with stories set there?) And he finds (or is found by) another boy, maybe one of the attendants or just another child in the stronghold -- working idea is he's a very different kind of refugee, maybe from a family that escaped Sauron out of Harad who dreams of becoming a Swan Knight if he's very smart and lucky -- and they just have a bit of conversation. And the other boy shows Meneldil how high the cliffs are and how the waves are breaking not even half way up, that kind of thing.
Basically: Meneldil is sent away for his own good (though it would hardly feel like that) and makes a friend of an unexpected sort.
Arky, Arky....
Sep. 10th, 2017 02:31 ammarta_beeFirst off: *waves* I have been thinking about you lot. I've also just been busy and tired and not really making the space for any kind of web activity that can't be managed while I'm waiting for the bus. (Which FB and Tumblr are set up for; El Jay really isn't.)
It's been a while since I've felt quite so hammered by reality. It's the weather. It's this current joke of a US presidency, and the hatred and callousness it enables. It's the fact that Angela Merkel, of all people, now shines as a paragon of liberal enlightenment, which is depressing by its own lights. But mostly it's the weather and what that represents, that people can't even have that most basic physical safety. I mean, America seems (and it's really not that much of an exaggeration!) half on fire and half underwater just now.
Still, I'm sitting pretty in New York enjoying the cooler weather and the return of pumpkin spice everything. Including the donut I just bought. (It really is good!). So whatever angst I feel is the second-hand abstract kind, not what a lot of you are dealing with in the flesh.
(Side note: if you're safe and living some place where I might worry, would love to hear as much!)
I did get a news alert on my phone tonight that the storm is changing directions toward Tampa, where I do have family. But they're used to storms, and there's not mobility issues or anything with them. So if there's a real threat to where they live they know well enough how to get out of there. Actually, the main thing the alert did was remind me of another Florida hurricane, I'm not even sure which one. Over a decade ago, I received some traumatic news and then promptly got locked down in my office at an ESL school where where I was teaching for the summer. But that's just a memory rather than a flash-back, so while I could do without the reminder, it's kind of nice to see how I've come a bit back from that.m
Fannish-wise, I'm afraid there's nothing much going on with me. Desire, drive, ideas, etc. - all there, but no real projects. Just got other RL stuff on my mind. I am enjoying consuming it a bit. And I'm rereading snatches of HP when I find the time - what a difference a decade makes, in how you read those stories!
What have you all been up to?
It's been a while since I've felt quite so hammered by reality. It's the weather. It's this current joke of a US presidency, and the hatred and callousness it enables. It's the fact that Angela Merkel, of all people, now shines as a paragon of liberal enlightenment, which is depressing by its own lights. But mostly it's the weather and what that represents, that people can't even have that most basic physical safety. I mean, America seems (and it's really not that much of an exaggeration!) half on fire and half underwater just now.
Still, I'm sitting pretty in New York enjoying the cooler weather and the return of pumpkin spice everything. Including the donut I just bought. (It really is good!). So whatever angst I feel is the second-hand abstract kind, not what a lot of you are dealing with in the flesh.
(Side note: if you're safe and living some place where I might worry, would love to hear as much!)
I did get a news alert on my phone tonight that the storm is changing directions toward Tampa, where I do have family. But they're used to storms, and there's not mobility issues or anything with them. So if there's a real threat to where they live they know well enough how to get out of there. Actually, the main thing the alert did was remind me of another Florida hurricane, I'm not even sure which one. Over a decade ago, I received some traumatic news and then promptly got locked down in my office at an ESL school where where I was teaching for the summer. But that's just a memory rather than a flash-back, so while I could do without the reminder, it's kind of nice to see how I've come a bit back from that.m
Fannish-wise, I'm afraid there's nothing much going on with me. Desire, drive, ideas, etc. - all there, but no real projects. Just got other RL stuff on my mind. I am enjoying consuming it a bit. And I'm rereading snatches of HP when I find the time - what a difference a decade makes, in how you read those stories!
What have you all been up to?
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"Small Hands", Chapter 3
Sep. 6th, 2017 08:26 amshireboundChapter 3, at last! Hooray for having time to write once again! I hope you enjoy.
Summary: Two late-comers to Cormallen are nervous about meeting the Ring-bearers. In the process of getting to know them, they learn a great deal about hobbits... and their new king. Characters include Aragorn, Pippin, Frodo, Merry, Sam, and Gimli.
Links to Chapter 3:
http://www.storiesofarda.com/
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12572274/
Summary: Two late-comers to Cormallen are nervous about meeting the Ring-bearers. In the process of getting to know them, they learn a great deal about hobbits... and their new king. Characters include Aragorn, Pippin, Frodo, Merry, Sam, and Gimli.
Links to Chapter 3:
http://www.storiesofarda.com/
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12572274/