The Girdle of Melian

odge podge post!

It's been a while since I've written one of these hodge podge posts.

Thinking of ROW80 goals, I am still not where I'd like to be, editing-wise. This popped up as a timely reminder:

Things To Say While Doing Final Revisions To Meet A Deadline, from Dr Throop (on Twitter) On the other hand, I don't think I'd ever say no to more maps...

I need to finish entering that last round of edits for The Handful of Time, but I might shelve that for a few days to look over, again, Captive of the Sea. Harlequin has a call out for historical romance, including medieval ones!


My current earworms, from Johnny Marr:






In other news, the Tolkien: Maker of Middle-Earth exhibition is now open at the Bodleian in Oxford.



"Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth explores Tolkien’s amazing legacy from his genius as an artist, poet, linguist, and author to his academic career and private life. The exhibition takes you on a journey through Tolkien’s famous works, The Hobbit and The…

laylists!


I made a playlist back when my characters hosted the writers' houseparty in Constantinople, but for some reason didn't make any other playlists until the houseparty in San Francisco.

Since then, I've made a playlist each time!

Given that our characters come from many different periods, with writers taking their inspiration from all kinds of music and musicians, they make very eclectic lists.

Enjoy!


Constantinople, 1492

San Francisco, 1860

Grand Finale, Christmastime

Never Have I Ever

Today is Insecure Writer's Support Group Day!

This month's question is: What's harder for you to come up with, book titles or character names?

The title, I suppose. It takes a bit of research and some thought, as I try to come up with something symbolic to the story, never or hardly ever used before, and with an element of mystery. They're all working titles until they find a publisher, though!

I find both aspects lots of fun. Names usually come quickly, though they might…

short post!

Following on from the first time I ever made such an announcement on this blog, here comes announcement number two:

The first day I knew what was coming...
Bump!
Here he is!
This explains the hiccough in many of my ROW80 plans. Somehow, sleep seems to be the most important thing right now. I've been doing a lot of writing for the Never Have I Ever exercise (nearly 30,000 words and the month's not over yet!), but haven't done any editing.

Please share any exciting news that you have!

owling and Harry Potter!


Over a week ago I read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stane, the Scots translation (by Matthew Fitt) of the first Harry Potter book.

I thought it could be a one-off read, but no. I find myself rereading the entire series for the umpteenth time, and thought I'd collate most of the J. K. Rowling and Harry Potter mentions on this blog, from 2008 until now. Including this Harry Potter prequel, which I'd completely forgotten about! Apparently the original has been stolen. (Updated link to the prequel in the comments on the old post.)


questionnaires and memes:
Books Read meme
oddball books and reading questions and an updated version of the same questionnaire (with scathing notes to myself)
a list of young adult books
15 books in 15 minutes
reading habits


a cup of tea


an item from my wishlists:
Harry Potter series audiobook, narrated by Stephen Fry


which book would you want to live in?


interview with Rowling
The Elephant House, Edinburgh


what if J. K. Rowli…

eviews!

Just two of the books I've read over the past month or so.




Watch Over Me by Kait Nolan


"The only thing Rowan Beale ever wanted was to be a cop. But in the wake of her partner's death, she still hasn't been cleared to return to duty. Amid rumors of PTSD and struggling under the weight of survivor's guilt, she's starting to believe she never will be. Already at loose ends, when her Uncle Robert has a heart attack, she doesn't hesitate to go to Wishful to take care of him.

Reserve officer Nash Brewer is a born care-taker, so of course he pitches in after his neighbor and mentor has heart surgery. But it's not just the former Wishful police chief who needs his help. Robert's strong, gutsy niece is hurting and haunted -- and someone's been targeting her. Nash can't help but fall as he and Rowan investigate, while keeping the secret from her fragile, but sharp-eyed uncle.

When evidence points to Rowan herself as the perpetrator, the former…

ooks!

There was one of those games making the rounds a couple of weeks ago: Seven days to post a book you love without explanation, comment or review.

I posted the following:

A History of the World in 101/2 Chapters by Julian Barnes
From Anna by Jean Little
The House With the Clock in Its Walls and The Treasure of Alpheus Winterborn by John Bellairs
Who Is Frances Rain? by Margaret Buffie
Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary
Mockingbird Wish Me Luck by Charles Bukowski
and, on the first day, The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien

I didn't get a chance to include Madeleine l'Engle or E. Nesbit!

But it got me thinking of some of the books I've read that no one else seems to have read. Of course, other people have read them, just not anyone in my immediate circle of friends and acquaintances.

Here are a few of those books:

The Chimes by Charles Dickens
The Booky series by Bernice Thurman Hunter
The Margaret series by Bernice Thurman Hunter
The Road to Endor by E. H. Jones (the only oth…