tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-123796342024-03-07T18:44:06.264+00:00cuttlefishwriting, quilting, and tentaclesAlys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-54989055431376634362012-04-28T11:50:00.001+01:002012-04-28T11:50:34.335+01:00Back From the Dead<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/41179649?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/41179649">Witching Hour Double Feature - Directed by Derek Frey - Special Appearance by Tim Burton</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/derekfreyfilms">Derek Frey</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-26304592200943565942009-03-02T15:32:00.003+00:002009-03-02T15:37:01.497+00:00Back, new and improved, with Poppets<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_O91msKow5E5qFgQEJfmoSbrXgLE_nrD5PDwKsoWV35cWQLvRtluYVV4QYAVBkoPczlFdTMTKVlqtVvhfaP3SEYonUGXLSHJlyziG8XYNV4ZjUyvTLTeEpyu7gCQCUT49w8s2Pw/s1600-h/whatsapoppet.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 170px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_O91msKow5E5qFgQEJfmoSbrXgLE_nrD5PDwKsoWV35cWQLvRtluYVV4QYAVBkoPczlFdTMTKVlqtVvhfaP3SEYonUGXLSHJlyziG8XYNV4ZjUyvTLTeEpyu7gCQCUT49w8s2Pw/s200/whatsapoppet.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308614143927590258" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://slaughterhousestudios.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-we-know-about-poppets.html">What We Know About Poppets</a><br /><br />Because Poppets improve everything.Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-68090198154431908172008-07-02T22:53:00.005+01:002008-07-03T15:20:07.689+01:00Splodey Thing<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qSkH5GFYEzo"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qSkH5GFYEzo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object><br /><br />What happens if a bunch of fast-motion camera science geeks from Imperial College give you a water balloon and tell you to hold your hand just there while they count to three?<br /><br />It 'splodes on the count of two, and you get a bit wet. And then they give you a copy on disk so all your friends can see! "Your hand moved really fast when it went," the guy on the camera said.<br /><br />Also there were nematodes, having their neurons analysed, with the aid of glow-in-the-dark jellyfish genes engineered in - poke the worm and the neuron which responds to poking will glow, how cool is that? (That's only a tiny tiny bit simplified. And they had live nematodes under a microscope to demonstrate with!) Apparently nematodes, by virtue of not having very many neurons, and also being transparent, make ideal test subjects...<br /><br /><br />I love the <a href="http://royalsociety.org/">Royal Society</a> <a href="http://www.summerscience.org.uk/">science fair</a>.Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-11105421459020947062008-05-06T14:45:00.002+01:002008-05-06T15:14:04.016+01:00SciFi London UpdateGreat films, weird films, and films you'd never get to see anywhere else - for me, the highlight was seeing <em>Wizard of Oz </em>on the big screen! And apparently I still have no trouble staying up all night, especially when watching films is involved... <br /><br />Some recommendations: <br /><br /><em>Dragon Hunters </em>is really good - it's French, 3-D modelled animation, but the plot and characters are like something from Studio Ghibli. I loved everything about this film, but especially the part where, instead of putting in jokes for the adults in the audience, they'd put in something kids would laugh at where you'd expect the adult joke - for me, this made it even funnier. My inner ten-year-old is never that far from the surface, though! <br /><br />If you liked <em>Shaun of the Dead</em>, then <em>Wasting Away </em>is even funnier, and the first film to show what it's like being a zombie from the zombie's point of view. It's a new genre - Zombie Comedy Romance. Is that ZomRomCom? To go along with that, there's <em>Netherbeast</em>, which is VampRomCom, with a touch of The Office. Recommended as a double feature!<br /><br />Also hilarious was <em>Dai Nipponjin</em>, not likely to be coming to a theatre near you, but you never know - it's a Japanese fake documentary about "Big Man Japan", a monster-fighting superhero who can grow to Godzilla-size with the application of electricity - except he's not very popular (due to all the incidental property damage, and not being a very good fighter, and so on) and kind of a loser, and he's got this interviewer with a camera following him around. It's the weirdest Japanese film I've ever seen, and believe me, that's weird. See it if you can, but brace for weirdness!<br /><br />On the anime front, I missed the new <em>Appleseed</em> (kind of on purpose, since I really love the old traditionally-drawn version). <em>Girl Who Leaped Through Time </em>is what I think of as traditional, but a good story - the sort of thing I'd get the DVD of for my just-gone-teenage nieces. <em>Tekkon Kinkreet </em>I had to miss half of due to desk duty, which means I'll have to get the DVD myself when it comes out to see how it ends, though I think I would anyway. It was a bit of a strange choice for the third film of an all-nighter, since it's very slow-moving, and the story is convoluted, but the artwork is interesting and sometimes beautiful, and really, I can't wait to see it all the way through. <em>Vexille</em> is gorgeous, with the most doom-laden (for Japan, anyway) plot I've yet encountered, in the tradition of doomed-Japan storylines. And it has sand-worms made of junk. What more could you want?<br /><br />And to complete my screening list: <em>La Antena </em>is atmospheric and strange, though not what I was expecting from the billing, which was Metropolis-meets-Tim-Burton; for me it was more a collision of early fantasy, like Cocteau's <em>Beauty and the Beast</em>, Surrealist films like <em>Le Chien Andalou</em>, and film noir. <em>Chrysalis</em> was also not what I expected - the trailer, screened with an earlier film, made it look more like Hollywood's interpretation of Philip K. Dick, whereas it's actually a French future-noir.<br /><br />There were also some most excellent shorts screened - they show one for every film, which I really like. One of these was a surprise screening of a Joker-altered <em>Dark Knight</em> trailer, and all I can say is I can't wait!Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-55821339495358694922008-04-26T16:28:00.003+01:002008-12-09T10:18:55.692+00:00I Can Haz Posse<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8N1wYFV-uMc95diPMhUvYLncaUAXVsFNKFXQlr0xu1mRfZM8QsTh8tFCVbUS0fIyoCkS-zJZ0TZXg8RDdAIyEBpqG5xZg448tnZfi8MeUhMnM4jK_LnJXghMff5c7LhwQF4jSrA/s1600-h/trainee+stormtrooper+small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8N1wYFV-uMc95diPMhUvYLncaUAXVsFNKFXQlr0xu1mRfZM8QsTh8tFCVbUS0fIyoCkS-zJZ0TZXg8RDdAIyEBpqG5xZg448tnZfi8MeUhMnM4jK_LnJXghMff5c7LhwQF4jSrA/s200/trainee+stormtrooper+small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193577388444653266" /></a><br /><br />You know how it goes. When you're doing loads of interesting stuff, there's no time to blog. And when there's finally time, there's a backlog. So I haven't blogged about New York, or the gig in Madrid, in fact, I haven't even had time to look at my own photos.<br /><br />For now, here's one of me from yesterday, hanging out with some new friends. If you happen to be in London next week, check out the <a href="http://www.sci-fi-london.com/">SciFi London Film Festival</a>. I'm volunteering (hence the t-shirt), so you might see me there!<br /><br />Meanwhile, from the department of you-can't-make-this-stuff-up, Wednesday evening, on my way home from work, I passed a woman walking the breed of dog I think is called a pug (sort of a brick in cream fur, pushed-in face, cute in an ugly sort of way). Nothing unusual there, except the dog had on a pearl necklace. Really. I am not making this up.Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-87121401908076783642008-02-14T12:50:00.006+00:002008-02-18T14:13:47.921+00:00A Different Kind of Pole Dancing<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/h62rfBArMtk"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/h62rfBArMtk" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />Starts a bit slow, but keep watching! <br /><br />This was part of the real Chinese New Year celebrations, on the 7th, in London Chinatown. I'd seen it done in a Jackie Chan film, but never for real. They did have crash mats underneath! At the end, the lion is going for the bok choi tied to the pillar just underneath the little tiny platform it's standing on. <br /><br />And now I feel the year has started. I think the Year of the Rat is going to be a lot of fun, though filled with big changes - but good ones!Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-69512189467129866472008-01-28T15:15:00.001+00:002008-01-28T15:15:05.166+00:00Burns Night<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/metasepia/2226185636/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2097/2226185636_a869ec28c0_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/metasepia/2226185636/">Burns Night</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/metasepia/">Flyingsquid</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>Outside the White Horse pub, last Friday. I conclude the pub had hired him, as he looked quite fed up, and didn't have a hat out for change.<br /><br />Too dark to photograph without standing in the road (though plenty of people did, much to the annoyance of passing traffic) so I've gone for an antique sort of effect... guy in the door with the phone sort of spoils it though.</p>Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-47181007755558146022008-01-14T15:02:00.001+00:002008-01-14T15:02:38.152+00:00Photographic evidence<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/derekfrey/2192277708/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2203/2192277708_70131bc2e4_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/derekfrey/2192277708/">L1040276</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/derekfrey/">FREYSnap</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>That's me on the right. That's a raspberry martini I'm drinking. Do not ask how many that was.</p>Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-91926144989749305052008-01-11T15:59:00.000+00:002008-01-11T16:09:03.408+00:00Sweeney ToddReally, go see this. It's good.<br /><br />I was lucky enough to be at the Leicester Square premiere last night, though I had already seen it over Christmas, and it's just as good the second time round, except for the part where you know it's about to end, and you don't want it to.<br /><br />Yes, there were meat pies at the party afterward.<br /><br />Yes, I met Johnny Depp. And he was charming, and smiled, and I managed not to say anything stupid. (The first time I met Tim Burton, I did say something stupid, but he claims not to remember.)<br /><br />And I met Alan Rickman, but did not quite dare say "By Grabthor's Hammer". And Timothy Spall is not at all villainous in person, despite being so good at playing them. And the raspberry martinis were perhaps a little too tasty, in that I really shouldn't have had quite so many of them...Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-40718760002841176322007-12-18T10:24:00.001+00:002007-12-18T10:24:45.994+00:00Aliens invade Regent Street<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/metasepia/2119549001/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2264/2119549001_7b2ce61acb_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/metasepia/2119549001/">Aliens invade Regent Street Pink</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/metasepia/">Flyingsquid</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>This year, Regent Street has been settled by aliens disguised, perhaps not altogether convincingly, as Christmas lights. <br /><br />And they change colour.</p>Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-75986212661491267682007-12-10T15:08:00.001+00:002007-12-10T15:08:27.982+00:00Covent Garden Extravaganza pt 1<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/metasepia/2100939028/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2301/2100939028_5a3b7f737f_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/metasepia/2100939028/">acrobat</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/metasepia/">Flyingsquid</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>I only managed to catch one of the acts at Covent Garden this weekend, hence the part 1.<br /><br />They've gone all out for Christmas, with rows of those icicle chandeliers, and professional acrobats.<br /><br />Small child in front of me "I bet she hung the lights."</p>Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-52612835661570964972007-11-06T14:10:00.000+00:002008-12-09T10:18:55.818+00:00Halloween 2007<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQYdMuvCTUxviMQKiLyLCFVtWoZOddexLrmMocVupfZGPI6XIZSxdEZEs2cxaAJQJcxVCxMTp8pKPb9LahPjJ0JrVce0q-b-nYQtcfaJXT-IsSroBmjMsEx7KZvgOf6BkON8LOw/s1600-h/halloween+2007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQYdMuvCTUxviMQKiLyLCFVtWoZOddexLrmMocVupfZGPI6XIZSxdEZEs2cxaAJQJcxVCxMTp8pKPb9LahPjJ0JrVce0q-b-nYQtcfaJXT-IsSroBmjMsEx7KZvgOf6BkON8LOw/s320/halloween+2007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129729768122959602" /></a><br /><br />Much more laid-back than last year. No costumes, no gig, just excellent food, friends, and some pumpkin carving. Mine is the one on the left.Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-86146474671340567952007-05-04T14:29:00.000+01:002007-05-04T14:31:24.424+01:00world take-over a success, thenHm. I know it's been a while since I last blogged. And honestly, I have been meaning to. I didn't mean to leave you alone for so long. Still, it's disconcerting to return and find Google has taken over Blogger in my absence.<br /><br />Not that I don't use Google every day, for other things. <br /><br />Lots of other things.<br /><br />Hm.Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-1165330129881906212006-12-05T14:47:00.000+00:002006-12-05T14:48:49.896+00:00One Hundred and Fifty Seven Thousand WordsAnd a bit. <br /><br />In case anyone wondered how much I wrote in November, or where I was, or anything.Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-1163263222807681982006-11-11T16:37:00.000+00:002006-11-11T16:40:22.816+00:00Snakes on a Hat<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/1600/preparty.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/320/preparty.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/1600/snakes%20back%20small.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/320/snakes%20back%20small.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/1600/snakes%20front%202%20small.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/320/snakes%20front%202%20small.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/1600/snakes%20front%20small.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/320/snakes%20front%20small.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Some close-ups for you.Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-1162219757434424152006-10-30T14:43:00.000+00:002006-10-30T14:49:17.436+00:00And The One In The Middle Is<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/1600/party%20trio.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/320/party%20trio.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Tim Burton. <br /><br />And yes, those are snakes on my head.Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-1162219303628790692006-10-30T14:29:00.000+00:002006-10-30T14:41:43.670+00:00It's Been How Long?Eight years, we figure. Since the last time <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=113324523">Witching Hour</a> appeared live.<br /><br />But not any more! Now, should anyone ask, we can say 'Why, we played just last Friday. At the best Halloween party ever. And the photos are up, right <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/derekfrey/sets/72157594349648227/">here</a>.'<br /><br />I'm not going to tell you who everyone is, because even I don't know - I only found out yesterday who that was in the shark costumes... Those ones on stage with the two people playing red guitars, that's us.Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-1161869843150057042006-10-26T14:34:00.000+01:002006-10-26T14:37:23.160+01:00Da Boots<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/1600/new%20boots.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/200/new%20boots.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I've been trying to post a photo of these since I bought them, about a month ago. Ha, finally, it worked!<br /><br />I love my new boots.Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-1157462968499986222006-09-05T14:23:00.000+01:002006-09-05T14:29:28.563+01:00Arvon<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/metasepia/234042582/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/234042582_77a2f53c83_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/metasepia/234042582/">arvon 2</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/metasepia/">Flyingsquid</a>.</span><br clear="all" /><p>I've just been on a week-long residential writing course run by the <a href="http://www.arvonfoundation.org/"> Arvon Foundation</a>. This is the scenery, or some of it - for more, click the photo to go to my flickr stream. It's a little embarassing, but I was so enamoured of the surroundings, I forgot to take pictures of any of the other participants. Well, I live in London, I can see people any time. Some of the same ones, I hope, since many of them are from London too.<br /><br />I found a story out in the woods and brought it home with me. (Actually, I thought it was going to be a nice little well-behaved short story. But when I got it back to the house, it turned out to be more of a novella, and I'm not at all sure it won't be a novel in the end. You have to watch what you feed these things.)<br /><br />And I know how to fix the book I was revising back in June, and what's wrong with one of my short stories. <br /><br />The tutors were <a href="http://adamroberts.com/">Adam Roberts</a> and <a href="http://www.justinarobson.co.uk/">Justina Robson</a>, whose books I highly recommend.</p>Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-1155739166371188572006-08-16T15:33:00.000+01:002006-08-16T15:39:26.373+01:00They're Here<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/1600/first%20one%20out.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/200/first%20one%20out.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/1600/all%20three%20are%20out%20now.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/200/all%20three%20are%20out%20now.jpg" border="0" /></a> <br /><br />The <a href="http://slaughterhousestudios.blogspot.com/2006/07/what-seemed-tiny-intruder.html">Poppets</a> have arrived. I didn't tell Trev they were coming, or anything about them, so his reactions are amusing...<br /><br />When he came in, they had just emerged onto the ironing board.<br /><br />"What are those? They're cute," he said.Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-1155738789082963812006-08-16T15:26:00.000+01:002006-08-17T13:08:17.630+01:00What Are They Looking At?<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/1600/what%20are%20they%20looking%20at.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/200/what%20are%20they%20looking%20at.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />They moved over here to watch Trev program the new sequencer/drum machine/digital recorder. He noticed, after a bit.<br /><br />"What are they up to? I don't trust them," he said.Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-1155737622818771212006-08-16T15:09:00.000+01:002006-08-16T15:26:46.303+01:00A Tiny Invasion<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/1600/a%20tiny%20invasion.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6851/1046/200/a%20tiny%20invasion.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />They moved over here to look at the toys and the hamster. Trev noticed.<br /><br />"It's some sort of miniature invasion. Why do I get the feeling they're scouts for a larger force?" he said.<br /><br />"Exactly." I said.Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-1154432160779156992006-08-01T12:32:00.000+01:002006-08-01T12:36:00.780+01:00Happy Birthday To MeAnd happy DS Lite, with the game that made me want one, Electroplankton. Thank you Trev!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">nowIwishI'dtakenthedayoffwork</span>Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-1154009008058006492006-07-27T14:44:00.000+01:002006-07-27T15:03:28.106+01:00Peter F. HamiltonAnother post about writing.<br /><br />Last night's BSFA interviewee was Peter F. Hamilton. I ought to confess, up front, that I've never read any of his books. The reason for this is that the ones my local library has are the three-inch-thick space opera series. (Which, according to Peter, required special new book-binding technologies to be invented in order not to have to cut them in half, or even smaller parts, as has happened in the US and Italy.) Since the majority of my reading time occurs on public transport on the way to and from work, and those books would have my arm off at the shoulder if I tried to carry them in my bag, I haven't read them.<br /><br />But I now know that he has other books out, which are of a more practical size. (And if I like those, I can buy the space opera in smaller volumes next time I'm in the US...) So I'm looking forward to trying them.<br /><br />Meanwhile, a piece of advice Peter was kind enough to say I could post here. According to Peter (who was only drinking ice-water at the time) there are three things you need in order to be a writer:<br /><br />1. The ability to tell a story.<br />2. The ability to write prose.<br />3. The dedication to spend hours every day writing. "Even in weather like this."<br /><br />Some of you may be aware that London (and indeed all of England) has been experiencing a record-breaking heatwave this month. But it's a good point - and the only reason I'm not working on a book now is that I've just finished the second draft of one - during the afore-mentioned heatwave. So now I'm doing research for the next one.<br /><br />The thing I'm having trouble with is number 1. The story is all there in my head, it's just getting enough of it down on the page. I can do number 2, except when the story is giving me grief. If this heat keeps up, I know where I can find an air-conditioned library to write in. So watch this space.Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12379634.post-1152100788027856102006-07-05T12:48:00.000+01:002006-07-05T12:59:48.036+01:00Where did June go?I haven't blogged much about writing here, but I may have to start. June disappeared into the black hole of me trying to write the ending of novel #2, draft #2. The monthly re-cap goes something like this:<br /><br />June 1st: I've got it!<br />June 3rd: No I haven't.<br />June 7th: Yes I have, and it's bloody clever, too.<br />June 12th: No I haven't, it means making Jay act stupid on purpose.<br />June 15th: Well, back to the simple ending. At least it's finished.<br />June 20th: Noooooo! The simple ending sucks. I can't let anyone see it like this.<br />June 21st: But wait! If I just reverse what everybody does, the clever ending works after all!<br />June 23rd: Muahahahaha! It is written. Now to type it all in, carefully rearranging everything else so it fits.<br />June 30th: Phew! It's all typed in. It's done, I tell you, done!! Oh, except for the missing bits in the middle where I still haven't put real changes in, instead of notes to self.<br /><br />I've left out all the moaning and beating my head against the desk. And I'm still doing those last little bits. And every week, I tell you, every week, I sat there thinking 'this week I'll finish it.'<br /><br />So this week, I really will. Really.Alys Sterlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17644329488942201699noreply@blogger.com0