Cherries and cherimoya



Farmer's Market this morning - through the past two years the market had shrunk down as the craftspeople stayed away, and it's nice to see them return. One of the musicians there was in the process of learning what he described as "a new song": a folk version of the old Carpenters' hit "We've Only Just Begun". I'm embarrassed to say I knew every word.

Wrapping up the final proof-reading of "The Iron Princess," and hoping to have the whole day to work on the next Hollywood book, in quiet and in peace.
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Iron Princess

Image
  The Iron Princess - my first fantasy novel in 16 years - will be available February 28: pre-order on Amazon is available now. It's a story I've worked on, on and off, for almost ten years, and I'm delighted that it's finally going to see print. As I think I've said before, it involves Princess Clyaris - Clea, known to her friends and followers as the Iron Princess (in contrast to her older sister, the Golden Princess) - and her complicated battle against not only otherworld monstrosities, but her own family. Like Queen Elizabeth I, she has to pick her way around the debris of her father's matrimonial chaos while trying to figure out who is responsible for the appearance of these deadly - and rapidly multiplying - creatures, when it may in fact be Dear Old Dad... or somebody who's using him as a pawn. The fact that she has to blackmail the most evil wizard in the world into working for her doesn't help matters. Fingers crossed!
Read more

Sample Post

Image
     A girl once went to the fair to hire herself for servant. At last a funny-looking old gentleman engaged her, and took her home to his house. When she got there, he told her that he had something to teach her, for that in his house he had his own names for things.      He said to her, "What will you call me?"    " Master or mister, or whatever you please, sir," says she.      He said, "You must call me master of all masters . And what would you call this?" he said pointing to his bed.      "Bed or couch, or whatever you please, sir."     " No, that's my barnacle . And what do you call these?" said he, pointing to his pantaloons.     "Breeches or trousers, or whatever you please, sir."     "You must call them squibs and crackers . And what would you call her?" he said pointing to the cat.     "Cat or kit, or whatever you please, sir."     "You must call her white-faced simminy . "     &quo
Read more

Well, that was tiring.

Image
  On or about the first of February - 6 days before my Western Civilization class was due to start at the community college at which I have been an adjunct instructor for the past 17 years - I was contacted by the History Department that a) my class had been cancelled due to low enrollment (community college enrollments have been in the toilet for several years) and b) they could offer me another class, this one in US History. I accepted, knowing it would be pretty rough. I had taught US History many times, before the pandemic. When the pandemic hit, and I switched over to "synchronous" classes - I lecture to a Zoom meeting attended by students of the class - I learned very quickly that, although I can lecture in a live classroom from scribbled notes, I need a full script for a screen performance. Otherwise, I freeze. Over several years of live-screened lectures, I scripted Western Civ - that's what I usually teach - and had my standard exams and written assignments. I ha
Read more