Sunday 2nd December, 2012

Well, welcome to Advent. First, let’s start with you Advent presents.

Advent Calendars

There are numerous online calendars out there but the one I’m attached to (as ever) is the TTA Press one. You can find the latest links from the website ([External Link]) and there is a forum thread for discussion ([External Link]).

Of course, you’ve guessed the reason why I’m attached to it: I have a story up on the 9th.

Also, if you want me to mention another Advent calendar or you feel my ignorance of them needs fixing, put something in the comments or get in touch!

UnSeasonal Videos

Those of you who’ve been before at this time of year know that I like to post videos during Advent. So, here’s two. Yes, two. I recently “re-found” the Moondial series on YouTube and thought I’d share. I’m going to be a bit odd in that I’m going to post two episodes (there’s a total of six) each weekend. This means that the Sunday before Christmas will have to be something else. I have no idea what, yet, but I will post something.

Moondial, Episdoe 1:

Moondial, Episode 2:

Right, now the presents are out the way, here’s the “business” stuff.

Last week, I was nominated by Bob Lock to take part in the “The Next Big Thing” blog roll (direct link to Bob’s version here: [External Link]). This goes up on Wednesday 5th December and I nominate a couple of people to carry on from me (I’m not publicly naming and shaming until Wednesday). There are also a selection of links to other friends and acquaintances who have already taken part.

The second thing I want to mention is Flattr [External Link]. It’s a new(ish) way to leave tips for websites that looks promising. Basically, you put some money on a Flattr account. You wander the internet and tip things. At the end of the month, the money you put on account gets split between all your tip notices. It doesn’t seem like a lot (a tip could end up being as little as a Euro cent) but if lots of people do it, it could add up to signifcant recognition and recompense for the people who put a lot of time and effort into their web content.

Anyway, I’ve signed up and intend to trial it for December. My main aim is to be able to give recognition to others without having to give a chunk of money (Paypal, etc, make it difficult to, say, give just 50p for a good story). This also means, as I’m self-serving this way, I’ve set up the buttons on my website, too. I only intend to have them active on the fiction I make available but, until I get on top of the plug-in, they can turn up on any post I haven’t disabled them on. Please have patience with this and please consider putting them on any content you offer in case someone feels like leaving a tip!

Finally, the Outlaw Bodies information:

  • The blog carnival [External Link] can be found here. Nothing has gone up lately. Please let us know if you have a review up that isn’t mentioned or you’ve seen one.
  • Some of the stories have been released as the latest The Future Fire issue (#25 is here: [External Link]). My story is one of the ones available as a webpage.
  • If you look up the EPUB or mobi format copies of the anthology on Wizard Tower Books [External Link], my story (being the first in the book) is the taster.
  • And if you want to talk about that story, there’s room in the comments on the background post.

Sunday 25th November, 2012

With one month to go to Christmas (bah, humbug!), I’ve not achieved too much. Yet again. I always feel I should have done more when I get to the end of the weekend – even though I enjoyed doing nothing but thinking about it before!

Aside from Christmas shopping, this week I’ve finished off transcribing that acquaintance’s script I mentioned. I’ve also got back into editing a couple of works that have been critiqued in the last few weeks. You never know, I might even get around to sending a few things off again, soon!

Another repeat of the Outlaw Bodies information (but a bit longer this week):

  • The blog carnival [External Link] can be found here. Nothing has gone up lately. Please let us know if you have a review up that isn’t mentioned or you’ve seen one.
  • Some of the stories have been released as the latest The Future Fire issue (#25 is here: [External Link]). My story is one of the ones available as a webpage.
  • If you look up the EPUB or mobi format copies of the anthology on Wizard Tower Books [External Link], my story (being the first in the book) is the taster.
  • And if you want to talk about that story, there’s room in the comments on the background post.

Sunday 18th November, 2012

Can you guess what I’ve achieved this week? Sweet f*** all. (I bet you guessed right, even if not in so many words.)

I’ve been ding some reading – partially spurred on by having signed on to Goodreads [External Link]. Not only so I have a profile but it’s an author profile: [External Link]. (After having sorted myself out from several other Jo Thomases. I swear there are times when I think you could throw a stone from anywhere and hit one of us.)

I have got up some of the books I’ve read and on my to-be-read pile but not loads. I’m also not much of a reviewer, so I’m not sure I’m really functioning in the intended spirit of Goodreads, but never mind. And, of course, a lot of the “read” ratings I’m putting up are from memory of anything up to fifteen years ago. Memory fails and tastes change, so there’s nothing to say I will continue to stand by the current rating.

I’m actually doing a re-read of Piers ANTHONY’s Incarnations of Immortality series that I remember enjoying a lot as a teen and reading through several times. I believe I’ve, er, evolved somewhat since than and I’m having a lot of difficulty getting through it. I still enjoy the memories of it but the actual books? They’re pretty dated, is probably the best way of putting it.

A repeat of what is becoming the standard notice: Outlaw Bodies. The blog carnival [External Link] is still going. Please let us know if you have a review up that isn’t mentioned or you’ve seen one. There’s also a Goodreads page if you’re that way inclined: [External Link].

As I’ve mentioned a few times, if you look up the EPUB or mobi format copies of the anthology on Wizard Tower Books [External Link], my story (being the first in the book) is the taster. And if you want to talk about that story, there’s room in the comments on the background post.

PS Where did this year go? I swear it was all in front of me not five minutes ago and now it’s mid November?

Sunday 11th November, 2012

I hope that Remembrance (Sun)Day / Armistice Day passed peacefully for you all, with those who fight and those who’ve fallen, and those who’ve been caught in the fallout, having some space in your thoughts.

Nothing much to report this week. I’m DIYed out for the rest of the year. There are things to do but the budget has run out. Which means time to start plotting for after Christmas!

On site, I’ve added a Cookie Policy, in keeping with EU law. Although as the site is hosted outside the EU – I think – then I’m not sure it matters. Still, I don’t think it hurts either way and you may actually want to know what cookie monsters I keep here.

Last bit for this week: don’t forget Outlaw Bodies is out. The blog carnival [External Link] will be continuing for some time yet. For what it’s worth, if you look up the EPUB or mobi format copies of the anthology on Wizard Tower Books [External Link], my story (being the first in the book) is the taster. And if you want to talk about that story, there’s room in the comments on the background post from last week.

(You see how I neatly made that whole thing revolve around me? Not that I’m selfish or self-centred or anything. Really.)

Monday 5th November, 2012

Remember, remember the fifth of November… I was supposed to do something yesterday, wasn’t I? Okay, people, we have a belated house-keeping post this week. Let’s start with:

Outlaw Bodies

The anthology came out on November 1st. On this site, there’s been an announcement post, a related post (background on my story in the anthology and maybe spoilers if anyone wants to talk in-depth about it) and I’ve added a note to the right so that everyone can get the links to order it. I won’t bore you with repeating the same details for a fourth time. (Look! It’s to the right! That way –>).

As said previously, there are links to all things Outlaw Bodies related here: Outlaw Bodies Blog Carnival [External Link]. If you know of something that isn’t linked there or you’ve seen an online review you think the team should mention, let Djibril know on the comments.

Other Writing

You may also have noticed that another announcement post went up this week. I’ve had another short story accepted for another anthology (No Monsters Allowed). More details as and when.

In terms of what I’m producing at the moment, I am most definitely not taking part in NaNoWriMo. One year, I will, I swear, but my usual work combined with life circumstances mean I can’t commit to writing every day. Yes, that is a cop out. Tough. That said, I’m also basically not writing. I’ll get back to redrafting a few things soon but I’m supposed to be working on typing up and commenting on an acquaintance’s script. The key phrase was “supposed to be”.

Just “Other”

The “supposed to be” is because I’ve been continuing the DIY on the living room. It may even be sorted for Christmas. I now have half a laminate floor down – with help yesterday from my sister. Yay us!

Fencing / Events

Swordfish came and went. I haven’t attended but I’m hoping to go next year. While sitting and staring at rough dates for these things (I hope to make SWASH, the Smallsword Symposium and Swordfish in 2013), it occurred to me that I miss off mentioning a large number of events that I hear about something like a week before they happen. I need to try and stay more on top of these things. And maybe find a way to display them better. Any suggestions?

And, dates for SWASH 2013 have been released (see the BFHS news [External Link]) as March 9th and 10th 2013. Although they’ve changed the weekend, this still conflicts with watching the Six Nations (rugby union) so I probably won’t attend the whole weekend. I promise not to grumble too much but I can’t promise not to wear my Welsh rugby shirt. I’ll post an event note for it when there’s a page dedicated to it instead of just sending you all to the Fed home page.

Good Form: Story Background

Taking a cue from Aliette de Bodard [External Link], I’ve decided to put up some background on my published story Good Form.

But, first of all, the publishing details as I am trying to sell this baby.

Publishing Details

Good Form is the first story in The Future Fire’s latest anthology, Outlaw Bodies. The anthology is released today, Thursday 1st November.

More information can be found here: [External Link] and the … Continue reading

Sunday 28th October, 2012

In Outlaw Bodies related news, there has been another guest blog, a couple of interviews and a review. The guest post (by Kay HOLT of the Crossed Genres team [External Link] can be found here: Hush! [External Link]. Links to everything else can be found on this post here: Outlaw Bodies Blog Carnival [External Link].

Otherwise, still pretty much a “Nothing to see here” place. Still no fencing, done a bit of redrafting work and trying to find a way to make sure that life is more than work. The dogs also would like me to remember that, too.

That said, I thought I’d link another blog this weekend: Crazy Girl in an Aspie World [External Link]

The site is relatively new to me but it sums up a lot of my AS stuff a lot better than I could. It was pointed out to me by a friend on Facebook and the rest, as they say, is history. One thing that really stands out to mention is a post called “Mis-listenings and the ravine of no sense” ([External Link]), which mentions a phenomenon I don’t remember anyone else mentioning but I suffer from, particularly under stress. Basically, every now and again, my brain stops taking in what people are saying. You might as well be babbling brooks for all the sense I can get out of it. And, of course, I’m under stress when practising a new language, so, you know… If you ever see me with a blank look that doesn’t go away after the third time you’ve said whatever it was (I usually ask a couple of times before I give up) it’s best to give me a minute or two.

Sunday 21st October, 2012

So, my Outlaw Bodies story related guest post went up on Thursday (18th). (“Pygmalion and Galatea” can be found here: [External Link]) Did you read it?

The book itself (Outlaw Bodies, edited by Lori Selke and Djibril al Ayad, from The Future Fire) will be out in November. I have my own blog post to tie in with the release (part written, at the moment) and there will be more guest posts on the editor’s blog, so keep an eye on this link: [External Link].

Other than that, not much to report. I’ve not been to fencing since Edinburgh thanks to work interrupting my life. I’ve also been busy finishing off some decorating – that’s taken me an age. I’ve been working on my living room (on and off) since June or July and I’ve still got a floor to lay. I’m working on a story idea from last year that started life as a short story and is not about 15,000 words. I have a little more to go before the 1.0 draft (the first draft of the second, extended version – I’m a computer geek so I tend to start counting from 0) is finished. Then… back to working on another short story that I first drafted about a month ago.

Sunday 14th October, 2012

An additional post and two writing announcements to make this week.

In case you missed me mentioning it earlier in the week, I have unveiled my latest toy: A Jacob’s Armory Spadroon / Cleddyf Annwn. My Macdonald sword grip is currently with Jacob’s Armory / Joel MASON being re-wrapped to match (having lost the original wrap to enthusiastic dismantling), so I shall soon have Cleddyfau Annwn. For those who want to continue the welsh lesson, using cleddyf(au) is cleddyfa. Now I just need to find out the word for “historical”…

As for writing, you may remember I had a story accepted for the Outlaw Bodies anthology from The Future Fire [External Link]. The antho will be out in November and the publicity drive has started.

  • Announcement 1
    There is now a round robin interview post on the editor’s blog here: [External Link].
  • Announcement 2
    My story related guest post will be up on the same blog on Thursday (18th). I will of course be mentioning it next weekend but you can get all the Outlaw Body related posts on the editor’s blog by clicking here: [External Link]

(I will – when I get around to writing it – be writing a little more about the ideas behind my story in the anthology, which I intend to get on here at roughly the same time the actual book is released. So, expect more and more about Outlaw Bodies over the next few weeks.)