Membro: JannyWurts

Me again!

As I'm sure you are always short of authors to read I thought I'd recommend 'Ill Made Mute' by Cecilia Dart-Thornton. I've just finished it and thought it was fun. I haven't read the rest of the series, and as a debut novel it can get better or worse! This one though is an interesting blend of celtic folklore in a novel world. Gently charming characters and an intruiging premise.

'fox

publicado por reading_fox às 5:12 am (EST) em Nov 24, 2009

HI
Just a quick note just say how much I enjoyed Stormed Fortress. For some reason I wasn't quite so taken with Traitor's Knot, but I really enjoyed Stormed all the way through. It was a great ending to that arc, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next instalment next year sometime?

Thanks for the books so far, I've enjoyed them all.

'fox

publicado por reading_fox às 11:07 am (EST) em Nov 16, 2009

Hey lady,

I'm enjoying my my re-read of Bishops series and wondered if you'd haved a chance to get into it yet. It's funny that for something so dark it can be so light at the same time.

Also read and enjoyed The Dragon Charmer by Jan Siegel. I read its predecessor, Prosperos's Children, a lifetime ago. They're very different in character, it seems (unless my memory fails me -- a real possibility) but that makes sense since they're set mostly in vastly different areas. And while theis one wraps up fairly satisfactorily, it's still enough of a cliff-hanger that I want the sequel for real closure.

Getting the rest of yours for Christmas :) Finally. :)

Latest news its that we'll probably be here a full extra year (June 2011) -- who knows... LOL

hope you and yours are doing well and that the re-release is a smashing success!

publicado por suslyn às 12:24 pm (EST) em Nov 9, 2009

Hi Janny
Hope you had a great anniversary!
I must have gotten mixed up over the release date (oops!). Just makes me even more impatient now!
I've just got the new Robert Jordan book, Gathering Storm. I was really disappointed to find out it wasn't the final book like it was suppost to be, but the first part of a three part final book! Twenty years since the first, whats a couple more i suppose? At the same time im kind of happy that its not finished either - weird.
I wasn't a huge fan of the Rigante books either, but they definitely got better at the third one.
Just started Exile's Return by Feist. It's intriguing in that being the third book of the Conclave of Shadows, the main character is now the villian of the previous two books. I'll let you know how that goes.
Anyway, hope you are well. My family are doing great and its a really happy time for us all at the moment. Long may it continue(fingers and toes crossed).
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 1:13 pm (EST) em Nov 8, 2009

thanks for rejoicing with me!! us...

i look dead in periwinkle -- you wanna bury me quick! Certain teals and grey-tinged purples, the same... :)

publicado por suslyn às 7:50 pm (EST) em Nov 3, 2009

Your ring sounds to die for :) Mine's a ceylon sapphire. My best college buds have sapphires too :)

So I opened thedoor to call the cat sfor dinner and threw in sooty's name ofr good measure. he walked in the door before Buckaroux! The husband is in heaven and Gabriel's pissed!! He really hates that cat! LOL tough. he already spent time in the box (we do time out) for attacking him...
xox

publicado por suslyn às 1:51 pm (EST) em Nov 3, 2009

No idea about Kindle version - stupid publishers competing formats! - but the Epub versions begin at Peril's gate, with no dates on the others. I'm surprised that 1 email from 1 reader can shift the process along, but if it's helped in any way then your welcome to any such assistance you might want.

Crown Conspiracy - does this get any better? I've listed it as a wishlist, after chatting to the author on here, but I recently broused the preview on smashwords and found it very clunky, so I'm undecided at the momemnt.

Caving is going very well, had an enjoyable exploring trip the other weekend - but the party season and wetter weather soon combine to make life less active for a while.

Hope the irritations of publishers and distractions of LT aren't keeping you from putting pen to paper on schedule!

'fox

publicado por reading_fox às 12:44 pm (EST) em Oct 27, 2009

Good news at last, Waterstones have finally sorted out the futz with Traitor's Knot and it's available as an ebook, along with Hell's Chasm. http://www.waterstones.com/waterstoneswe...

'fox

publicado por reading_fox às 5:23 am (EST) em Oct 27, 2009

I'm glad you had a great day! "Sublime" sounds perfect! :) Except for the flights here and back I think you'd be thrilled to your bones to visit -- it is really an amazingly beautiful country. The castles, ruins, mountains and rivers are very inspiring!

publicado por suslyn às 7:25 am (EST) em Oct 23, 2009

Hi Janny
How are you? It's been awhile. All my correspondence is suffering lately i'm afraid. It's the busy time in work for me with all the christmas deliveries coming in already! I'm also delighted to tell you my wife has given birth to a beautiful baby girl! 'A proper gentleman's family' i keep getting told. So, as you can imagine the reading is suffering, nevermind the online time.
I'm just about to start Feist's King of Foxes. So, my target of trying to get all of Feist's books read before the baby (Jessica) was born has hit the rocks! Still - really enjoying them.
I was checking release dates for your new book - so i could put it on my Christmas list (very childish i know, and there doesn't seem to be much information over here, other than its due in November. However, there's no date or bookcover, which implies to me that it has been delayed?
Anyway have to go now. Hope your keeping well. Talk soon.
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 3:18 pm (EST) em Oct 21, 2009

quickie -- Hope you get to *enjoy* the book! more later except to say I've torn therough Michael Marhsall's The Straw Men today -- completely mesmerizing. I'll be ordering books soon from The Book Depository which now ships to Romania -- hopefully I can continue your series soon! Congrats on the progress!

publicado por suslyn às 7:29 pm (EST) em Oct 20, 2009

I made it here! Thanks for the recommendation, Janny. Now I just have to find time to look around. Thanks for the group suggestions too. I took them all. - Jim

publicado por jimmaclachlan às 7:48 am (EST) em Sep 27, 2009

Hey Janny,

Back to try again :)

I have little recall of the details of the lost msg so I'll not attempt to reconstruct it and just being anew.

Ages ago you asked me about fantasy authors I've read. My first response was full of authors you have & read. So here are some others which have impacted me in some way or other (I reread these).
-Elizabeth Haydon's Symphony of Ages trilogy. I don't care for the post-trilogy books to the same degree at all, but really like the trilogy
-Anne Bishop's Black Jewels trilogy. Here I like the additional books in the same universe, but don't think they make a lot of sense apart from the trilogy.
-Hobb's Assassin and Fool series. Oddly enough I really hate the ship books and they're set in the same universe... Okay "hate" might be a bit strong... so substitute "I really don't enjoy reading but have read" :)

And on a much lighter side, I enjoy Brooks' Magic Kingdom For Sale Sold series. Read that one outloud in the car and Stephane, who rarely laughs or even smiles at jokes in movies etc, was snorting! I find Wrede's Talking with Dragons the same (funny), but Stephane didn't crack a smile...
And like the latter book, another YA series I really love is Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain.

I *know* this is not what I wrote you last time I tried :)

I think I was catching you up on my news instead. Well that will have to wait a bit. Gotta go feed cats.

Bless you!
Susan

publicado por suslyn às 5:12 am (EST) em Sep 26, 2009

Hey,

Just wrote you a long note... and my internet connection got lost during posting. grrr.

I'll try again later, but my main point was to let you know I'd been thinking of you.

Bisous,
S

publicado por suslyn às 11:40 am (EST) em Sep 21, 2009

Yes you mare is beautiful!! Dolly was my last horse, I can't ride any more(back injury). She was still giving rides in her late 30's. We did picture pony at my duaghters school fair. The DARE people,two booths over, thought she was deaf. they where give away baloons and quite a few popped. We did a couple of parades when my girl was in kindergarten. I never went out on the road and the streets had been resurfaced and painted. Were going along at a trot andDolly puts on the brakes I look over her shoulder to see what she's looking at they had painted STOP across the street. And I said "She can read!!" Set everyone to laughing. I'll bet you have a million stories about your horses.
Pebblesgmc

publicado por Pebblesgmc às 11:22 pm (EST) em Sep 17, 2009

I just visited my author cloud, and saw you with a very pretty horse. Was that the track rescue or one from your mare? When I was 3-4 years old my family visited a pony farm, I wanted the white one, not because he was beautiful but because the others where picking on him. We didn't get the pony, Dad was in the army and we had to move again.
What are the names of your horses? My last pair where Dolly and Nellie after my great grandma's derric team. There owner was abusive, and that made up my mind to buy them. they were half sisters Nellie was a Mustange and Dolly was half Arab. They were sorrel and white paints. Dolly lived to 44 and was a grand old girl.
Pebblesgmc

publicado por Pebblesgmc às 10:18 pm (EST) em Sep 16, 2009

Mom nd I have a 13 year old poodle(Ready), a 3 year old ginger cat(Jasmine), and a kitten thatwe found while traveling hom rom the family reunion in Dillon Montana.He was staving and dehydrated, now he is the most love cat. His name is Dillon. I have had all kinds of kritters in the past. Goats calfs, horses my big love. I trained a 8 year old Rott, as a therapy dog.
Pebbles

publicado por Pebblesgmc às 6:52 pm (EST) em Sep 15, 2009

The answer is
Fractal,
Rorchach,
Moonshadow,
And
Magic.
I have read and enjoyed some of your works.
Am looking forward to reading more.
Pebbles

publicado por Pebblesgmc às 8:11 pm (EST) em Sep 14, 2009

Hi Janny,

Yes, I loved the Dragoncon. It's always great!

Now if only I can process all of the info :)

BTW, I enjoyed the illustrators panel

publicado por NightHawk777 às 6:40 pm (EST) em Sep 10, 2009

Aren't you a sweetheart?! I shall as soon as it's done! LOL The project moved to the backburner where, sadly, it must remain for a bit. Absolutely swamped atm! Another cat ran away last night but came home 3 hrs later. And, we found out why. The gardner left the gate open. He's not a climber, but he will walk through an open door!

Hope you and your clan are doing well!

Susan

publicado por suslyn às 8:10 am (EST) em Sep 10, 2009

Hey Janny,

Wanted you to know that Blackie, at least as of 2 weeks ago, is alive and well. Steph was driving to work and saw him walking along the top of a wall (fence). He stopped the car and called him. Blackie turned around, looked at him, and then continued his walk. LOL Steph decided next time he's going to try "din din" which always got his attention.

Hope all is well on your side of the pond.

Susan

publicado por suslyn às 6:59 am (EST) em Sep 2, 2009

Thank you for offering your table; I'm sure we'll meet up there. We are also staying at the Hyatt, so it should be easy to get together! We'll see you in a week. :)

publicado por GeorgiaDawn às 8:21 pm (EST) em Aug 27, 2009

Hi Janny
Hope your keeping well. All is very hectic here at the moment. Doing up the baby room now and trying to get the few bits and pieces ready there. Baby's due in October and we're all so excited about it!
How's the writing coming? Have you a release date yet? I'm really looking forward to it.
At the moment i'm reading Rage of a Demon King by Feist - i'm really flying through his books and i'm really trying to have read all of Feist work before the baby is born. Don't think there'll be much reading done after that lol! I've just preordered Robert Jordan's final book. I had read the first four books in his Wheel of Time series and stopped because they were coming out too slow, so i decided to wait until the series was finished. I never thought there would be 12 books! Sad that he died. I understand that his final book was finished through his notes - i wonder how that will go. A writer was hired to finish it. In David Gemmell's case, his wife was very involved in his work when she finished his final book. I wonder how much that is going to affect this one.
Anyway, hope all's well with you and Don. Talk soon.
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 2:55 pm (EST) em Aug 8, 2009

Thx Janny -- still no sign of him. I've been hoping the thunderstorm will drive him home!

That was not one of my better scrap pages, but it served well as a dumping place for grief.

thx again.
Susan

publicado por suslyn às 2:28 pm (EST) em Aug 6, 2009

We lost one (he ran away)
http://www.librarything.com/topic/64116#... (pic)

publicado por suslyn às 7:12 am (EST) em Aug 6, 2009

Hey Janny,

Nope, I didn't fall off the planet! Hope you didn't either! Hope as well that your cats, horses, mom and you guys are in good form. Wonder how that May deadline went and how the competition went.

May and June were consumed by getting ready for the folks 50th celebration. Our plans seemed to change day x day until finally we decided to do a scrapbook. So out went the letter with details about where they would be on their anniversary (which was wrong in the end) and how they could contribute. The folks said it was better than a party would have been. *sigh of relief*

So end of May I started hunting for scrapbook materials... nada, rien ici! So I went online, but we don't get half the stuff sent through Romanian post... Finally I noticed something about digital scrapbooking so I went that route. Some of the pages I did are just so so , but I'm really happy with a few of them. Still working on them, but taking it easy now to finish the lot. (you can see them here if you like: http://www.faithsisters.com/photopost/sh...)

Then my nephew came over for the month of July. That was an experience! Mostly good :) Hope it serves him well as he's on the cusp of manhood.

Thought of you as we hiked, saw cool stuff, talked fantasy, etc.

Til later, but hopefully not 2 months later,

Susan

publicado por suslyn às 3:20 pm (EST) em Aug 2, 2009

Great! I'm getting my Kindle this weekend, but am sending it back to get the Kindle DX. I'll have to wait about 3 weeks for that, so hopefully that will coincide nicely with your books' Kindle versions becoming available.

publicado por mrgrooism às 3:53 pm (EST) em Jul 17, 2009

Will your current reissues be available on a Kindle? I'm getting one shortly, so I'll definitely have to see what's available!!!

publicado por mrgrooism às 1:57 pm (EST) em Jul 17, 2009

regarding Traitor's knot: I wrote to HarperCollins having had no luck from the retailer Waterstones and I recieved the following today:
"
Dear Reader
I can understand your irritation at being unable to buy book 7 in the series. We had some problems with the ebook file so there was a delay in our making it, but it should now be available in a three weeks’ time. I apologise for the inconvenience.
"

Which is good news!

publicado por reading_fox às 9:08 am (EST) em Jul 14, 2009

Hi Janny
Hope you are keeping well. I've been really busy lately and haven't had too much time to go near the computer. I've just finished reading Mistress of the Empire, my third time reading it, and i still love it. I was wondering if you would be keeping in touch with Raymond's work since? Have you read all his stuff? I had read as far as the Serpentwar saga orginally, so i'm debating with myself whether to read his Krondor series next, his Legends of the Riftwar series or keep reading them in order of publication.
I hear The Hobbit is being made into two movies by Peter Jackson now and i can't wait. Were you a fan of the Lord of the Rings movies?
My wife is now about 26 weeks pregnant and baby is kicking like mad! My son Jack is very excited and everything just seems to be great at the moment. Maybe the weather could be better lol. Anyway, i hope lifes is treating you as well as it is us! All the best.
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 2:57 pm (EST) em Jul 5, 2009

Thank you for the kind words about my recommendations in FantasyFans! They made my day:-)

publicado por amberwitch às 2:47 pm (EST) em Jul 5, 2009

Hi there! So nice to hear from you--I think I've reread Daughter of the Empire so many times it has impressed itself on my RNA.

Um, to answer your question... right now, I'm most proud of the Ink & Steel/Hell & Earth duology, which is historical fantasy/secret history. Thank you for asking. *g*

--Bear

publicado por matociquala às 2:43 pm (EST) em Jun 16, 2009

Hi
Hope life/writing/drawing/riding/playing is going well.

Ebooks: I now have an ebook reader, is there a particular site you'd recommend for buying your books as eworks? I was somwhat staggered that the main UK retailer, Waterstones, had only Peril's gate, Grand conspiracy and Stormed fortress as ebooks! What happened to the rest?! especially Traitor's Knot. Is this somethign odd on their side? or one of the vagracies of the publising world?

On a related note have you seen what CJ Cherryh is doing with some of her back catalogue and her new 'Closed Circle' site.

'Fox

publicado por reading_fox às 10:20 am (EST) em Jun 6, 2009

Hey Janny,

Hope you're doing well. Things have been really, really crazy around here. Deadlines aplenty but none with a publisher on the other end! The new cat is doing well. Turns out he's exactly what Stephane was hoping for when he selected Buckaroux. The other cats are pretty well acclimated as well. Gabriel still hisses a lot, but he's a grouch.

Thought of you when I saw the following. Just wanted you to know that while I've been absent from your page, you've not been absent from my thoughts.

XOX
Susan
"Message 203: tututhefirst -- #61 Longitude by Dava Sobel

"I won't claim to be able to explain or review this book. I think I understood about 1/2 of it, but it was short, and well written. It's the story of the development of the chronometer and the discovery and standardization of measuring longitude for sailors at sea. There is political intrigue, some history, and lots of technical science. If you're a sailor, and do any celestial navigation, you'll probably love it. My husband did, but then he's the guy who still takes his sextant to sea with him and shoots stars rather than depend on satellites! It did fill in a blank on my Dewey decimal challenge also.

"I wish there had been a few diagrams, and illustrations....I think it would have helped a lot."

publicado por suslyn às 5:51 pm (EST) em May 6, 2009

Hi Janny,
Congrats on passing your exam and best of luck in your competition. Weather here is a bit touch and go - either lashing rain or the sun's spliting rocks. No happy inbetween! Still, not as bad as its been for the last two summers with the floods - yet! I think we're due a nice summer this year. I'd send some rain over to you if i could.
That Feist book was called 'An Atlas of Midkemia' and written with Stephen A. Abrams. The year of publish is 2000, but there's no images, data or anything anywhere on it. It's as if it was cancelled before publication. I usually use a website called FantasticFiction.Com - which is great if you want a list of everything an author has done, and it is listed there under Feist.
Just finished Daughter of the Empire today, still as great as i remember it being. Will start Servant of the Empire tommorrow.
I checked for the first time on the internet to find if any authors were doing any book signings in Ireland. My God, but it is hard to get the information from the book stores themselves! I had more luck checking the authors websites themselves. I was heart broken to see Feist was in Dublin in March. Well, at least i know to look out for them now.
Years ago, i got wind of David Gemmell doing one up in Dublin, so i got the day off work and got a load of friends to go up with me in the car only to find a sign stuck in the door of the shop saying 'cancell due to being sick'. I was gutted.
There was an time when i was just shopping in Dublin, and i entered the bookstore from the street to find a massive crowd staring at me. Not knowing that there was a signing going on by Spike Milligan. I don't know if you've heard of him but he was a famous comedian over here. So anyway, i looked behind myself and there he was laughing at me - i think i stole his thunder. But he was really nice and i was the first to talk to him after everyone had waited however long! A great moment for me.
Anyway got to go,
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 2:23 pm (EST) em May 6, 2009

Hi Janny,
Hope your keeping well. It's been a long time since i've had a working computer. Still not sorted - we've decided to just save up for a new one. Probably be christmas before we can afford it - better off waiting for the January sales at that rate. Sigh!
Anyway, i've started reading Raymond E. Feist from scratch! Flew through the riftwar trilogy and i've just started Daughter of the Empire. Really love those books! I was checking for a book about the worlds of Feist's books and apparently there was one a few years ago, but for some reason can't be found - out of print, no image, never in stock. It's as if it was cancelled and never published. Weird.
How's the book coming? I hope your not being too tough on my friends in it! lol!
Be in touch, enjoy the bank holiday weekend.
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 2:06 pm (EST) em May 2, 2009

oooh, maybe you meant about being woken up in the middle of the night :) LOL I don't think their pranks like that ever caused them problems. They probably brought the fixin's with them and cooked it up. They could cook! Ciao

publicado por suslyn às 10:11 am (EST) em Apr 13, 2009

No, that's the funny thing. She was completely charming, winsome, witty and engaging. Except with family. She was so good at being who she was 'out there' that folks never saw the meanness, bitterness, unforgiveness, etc which was almost her only coin within the family. crazy. And the horrible thing is her folks were worse... Thank God my mom was determined to break the chain. :)

Have a great week!!!

publicado por suslyn às 10:09 am (EST) em Apr 13, 2009

Hey -- Yup, we're relieved there was no cat splat! :-)

Managed to write something for the funeral that sounded kind without lying! LOL As one cousin said, 'yeah, she was mean, but she was my grandma.'

here 'tis: My grandmother was 39 when I was born -- too young, she said, to be a grandmother. From that time on she has been "Nanny" to me.

Nanny was a great storyteller. She had her favorite stories about me as a child she'd drag out whenever we came to visit. :) But my favorites were of the early years of her marriage, like the times when grandpa would be out hunting a job and she'd hunt dinner -- literally!

She was a courageous woman, following her man all over the States as he followed the jobs. That courage allowed her to say 'yes' to a position he took in the outback of Australia where it was often 140 degrees!

I don't think Nanny ever met a stranger. She was great at making friends, and perhaps even better at keeping them.

And Nanny loved to have fun. She and grandpa showed up at friends' houses in the middle of the night, rousting them out of bed and sharing an early breakfast. They were avid square dancers. She made wonderful scrapbooks before it was a craze, and kept a mural of photos on the wall of their home.

I regret that I waited to get an oral history from her -- oh the stories that may now be lost. She taught me reverance for the Word of God, reinforced the idea that it is possible to keep friends for a long, long time!, and that there can always be something to celebrate.

Thank you Nanny -- You'll be missed.

publicado por suslyn às 8:21 pm (EST) em Apr 12, 2009

Hi
CONGRATULATIONS on finally getting the US launch sorted out. I'm sure this will mean a big boost in your sales. And of course more publisher support for further books. Hurray! I'm looking forward to following the rest of the series!

3rd anniversary already?! Blimey! Where does time go. It's been really great to see you around LT, I'm glad you are enjoying it.

House wise we're all done. The Sofa was delivered Friday, and once we've managed to find space to put all the tools away we can just sit on it for a while, until the next project beckons. There's always something else to do. Hopefully this will be more cosmetic than structural!

publicado por reading_fox às 10:35 am (EST) em Apr 8, 2009

Thanks

Forgot to tell you. I have a stool with wheels on the balcony. Buck decided it made a good perch. One morning I thought -- one of these days he's going to launch himself from the stool for the railing and miss because the stool will roll. That afternoon I saw it happen -- and over the railing he went. And indoor cat, he immediately went to the door to be let in, apparently no worse for wear. Whew!

publicado por suslyn às 2:59 pm (EST) em Apr 7, 2009

Update.

The fam's been in an uproar, but a polite one. My grandma went from her home to the hospital to a nursing home and is now on morphine. My aunt (mom's sis) who was her caretaker thought her mind was gone too due to the morphine but 2 days after a milkshake was promised she got the nurse to call my aunt back in the room and rasped out 'milkshake' LOL

The same aunt injured her good shoulder trying to catch my gma in a fall which precipitated all of this. Her other shoulder was already injured. Now she has two useless arms and the first appt with surgeon avail is April 28 -- and that was made back in March.

Hope your book is coming along well. I keep thinking about you and your deadlines.

Sooty is all settled in and the other cats are almost, but not quite, back to normal. Buckaroux is a generous soul. Sooty, who is the original lap cat, purrs on command. Buck begins to purr if Sooty is happy -- LOL

Gabriel played --nicely-- with Soot today, a first. Blackie seems fine with him. He was the first to resume his normal schedule of sleep, eat, sleep, play briefly, sleep, get some luvin, sleep... He's fine with everything.

the fruit trees are in bloom and the fragrance wafting in is incredible! It's nice to look at too :) And with spring the cats are in shedding mode -- hair all over, and Buckaroux has decided he doesn't want to be brushsed. Sooty might do something interesting and he'd miss it. The nice thing is that Soot grooms Buckaroux. The other two think he has too much hair (they're right).

Bless you and yours,

Susan

publicado por suslyn às 5:38 pm (EST) em Apr 4, 2009

Ahhh Legend ... will always have a place in my heart. My first! (read that is - laugh). Hope you enjoy. Talking about enjoying - finished Stormed Fortress. Congratulations - just brilliant. I'm kind of sad now because i've to wait for the next one - but then happy because there's more to come! If you are short of any quotes to put on the cover of your next one, i'm sure i can give you a good one!
Anyway, I'm starting Feist's Magician now and am planning on reading the whole lot of his, so that'll bring me to the Empire series soon. I read them before and loved them, but that was ages ago.
I'm still having to go to internet cafes at the moment - don't know if the computer is ever going to work again. Its head wrecking having to do without!
Got to go - keep well
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 12:27 pm (EST) em Mar 30, 2009

Oh my God - we won!
Brilliant game. It has actually been 61 years since Ireland won the grand slam. We had fairly sore heads yesterday! It came down to the last kick of the game and couldn't have been closer. My son, Jack had a ball and it was a great experience for him - good father/son time. Won't be forgetting that one in a hurry ( not the next 61 years anyway!)
Anyway, hope you had a good weekend too!
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 1:29 pm (EST) em Mar 23, 2009

Happy St. Patrick's Day
I'm a day late, sorry. My computer is down again - in an internet cafe at the moment.
Like the picture of your cats ... but whats this one's called Rorschach and yet you haven't read the Watchmen? Curious! I saw it last week in the cinema and loved it so much i read the graphic novel straight away afterwards! Now, i'm going back to see it again tonight to compare properly!
You mention your hoping to get to Scotland next year. It's only a hop, skip and jump to Ireland from there - you've got to make it over. Would love to meet you.
Anyway, i'm halfway through stormed fortress, but i don't think i'll be doing much reading this weekend - the final games for the six nations (rugby) are being played. Ireland have an chance to win the grand slam for the first time since the forties i think. My father doesn't remember it happening in his lifetime anyway! To say there's a real buzz in the air is an understatement! Our final game is against Wales and whoever wins the tournament will be decided in that game! Wales or Ireland! What a way to finish the season. We have won the tournament a few times, but a grand slam is when you win every single game in doing so.
Anyway, have to go.
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 1:27 pm (EST) em Mar 18, 2009

What great suggestions! We're about settled on Soot/Sooty... :)

I'll see if I can't get those bowlegs in a photo...

publicado por suslyn às 10:51 am (EST) em Mar 14, 2009

We have a problem...the kitten was raised with a dog and doesn't know cat behavior. He is desperate, absolutely desperate, to play with my other guys. He keeps lying down in a doggy submissive posture in front of them. They absolutely have no idea of what to do or how to take him.

It's very noisy around here as he, the newbie, meows piteously and the other three hiss and growl.

He's all black except a triangle of white below his neck and one on his belly. Steph suggested Charcoal ("blackie" is taken!), and I thought of Sterling ('cause he seems to be all a kitty should be). He's bowlegged so I asked steph if he wanted to call him that. He was not amused. I asked, 'if it's okay to call a three-legged dog Stumpy, what's wrong with calling the cat Bowlegged?' We know no dog called stumpy... he was even less amused. LOL

publicado por suslyn às 8:26 am (EST) em Mar 14, 2009

Thought of you today as I read the dedication on the book I've just begun, Paradise by Mike Resnick. He writes: 'to my friend Daniel P. Mannix, who is responsible for more of my science fiction than he'll ever know'. Just finished one chapter and am on pg 26 of 323, but it looks good so far. To this point it's sort of like a memoir of an old man who was a pioneer on a newly opened planet. Light and engaging. Have you read it?

publicado por suslyn às 10:18 am (EST) em Mar 11, 2009

Well I'm glad all your work paid off! We're getting a 4th fella soon. He was fixed last weekend -- hopefully before he started spraying! I moved around furniture today and Gabriel is disconsolate. I had a matress on the floor in the office where I'd sit and work on my portable. Gabe would sit by me -- he likes to be just out of reach, but still close. We bought a chair yesterday so I'm now at the 2x2 meter L-shaped desk with Steph. He's meowed quite a bit tonight asking what's up -- this is unfortunate because he has a really grating voice! LOL He'll just have to adjust.

Cheers :)

publicado por suslyn às 6:08 pm (EST) em Mar 9, 2009

What beauties! Our Blackie fits right in with Fractal and Rorschach! How'd you ever get all 4 in a row?!!

publicado por suslyn às 2:44 pm (EST) em Mar 9, 2009

Hi Janny,
Just finished Traitor's Knot. Well done - brilliant! To be honest i wouldn't expect less from you! I have to mention that that was some sex scene!!!!! I beginning to think Dakar may well be going too above and beyond for Arithon! (Grin). Anyway, will be starting Stormed Fortress this weekend. Seems lately that i get most of my reading done at weekends now. Jobs are starting to build up around the house!!!!
I'll be going to see Watchmen on Friday, so i'll let you know if i enjoy it. I never did read the graphic novel, so it will be new to me.
Anyway, hope your keeping well (and writing). Talk soon.
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 1:23 pm (EST) em Mar 4, 2009

Goodie -- pics coming. I have sooo wanted to see your kitties :)

asthma and allergies aren't fun. I've had them all my life (since birth). But, a long story I'll save for another day, the reason I cook today is because I was so sick I spent 3 years in bed with them except when I dragged myself off to class

sorry my head is pounding... off to get some aspirin.

Sorry for the 2 week hiatus. just not feeling super

publicado por suslyn às 11:34 am (EST) em Feb 24, 2009

Hey lady,

The Indian dinner was a success. Thanks for asking :) The menu was truncated due to time and that turned out to be a good thing as 3 folks were unable to come. As it was the 5 of us left enough food for the rest of the week! Finally disguised some of it in chili! LOL I did learn that one cannot make chapati early and then keep it warm in the oven. Or, rather, one can, but the poof disappears and that fluffy look is half the fun! They are an amazing amount of work for the simplicity of the recipe (salt, flour, water -- that's it).

The smoke smell is disappating but I still detect it... I do smoke, but NEVER inside. And the gal who stayed at our house knows I NEVER do so inside. I consider it some kind of punishment, i suppose, for my sins when I stand outside freezing or sweltering... Guess I'm hoping i'll figure out it's not worth it! No success so far.

My allergies have been acting up. Happily I know how to address it, but the remedy is a lot of work --> food rotation. But I'm fairly certain if I don't things may progress to asthma attacks. bother.

Forgot to mention that at several points in the Fugitve Prince I was reminded of things I've read in the Bible. The one I remember at the moment was because of your description of Athera and the sorcerors asking for permission from the various elements, 'The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.'

My Blackie just climbed up for a snuggle. I do hope Rorshach is much better.

Cheers,
Susan

publicado por suslyn às 11:01 am (EST) em Feb 24, 2009

Hi Janny
Hope your keeping well, I don't go on the computer half as much as i used to, so i'm sorry for the long gaps in correspondence.
Anyway, really looking forward to the weekend because i'm starting Traitor's Knot! I've put it off now long enough that my anticipation is at bursting point.
I'm glad your enjoying David Gemmell's Troy books - did you ever get the final one? Thanks for recommending Jennifer Roberson for me, i'll definitely check her out. I'm debating now about getting the graphic novel The Watchmen - i know there's a movie coming out soon and its hailed as the greatest comic of all time. Did you ever read it?
Anyway, i've still held onto my job (so far) but the last two weeks alone have been scary - job losses here seem to be snow-balling out of control. Even when you go to the shops now, there are a fair few shut down - a few of my regular places too! There was a piece on the news last night on how our government is the most unpopular since ....ever! They just seem so unable to deal with everything. They're still pumping money into the banks - who still won't give out loans to anyone. I'm going to stop talking about it - too depressing!
Anyway, good news - just found out last week that we are expecting another baby. Exciting times ahead - already fighting over baby names. Great fun!
Have to go, talk soon
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 3:37 pm (EST) em Feb 13, 2009

While I do like Xmas deco that's not why they're still up. They're in a room we don't use a lot so it's not easy to remember... And our houseguest allowed folks to smoke in there for the New Year's Eve party -- atrocious. So I haven't wanted to spend any time in it. Sad thing is our orchids and other fragile plants are also there so I can't just throw open the doors to the cold outside and air it out...

So sorry Rorschach isn't all better. that's got to be so stressful for you guys. Praying he's as good as can be soonest!

Must run :)

publicado por suslyn às 5:53 pm (EST) em Feb 12, 2009

Dear Janny,

I finished and loved the Fugitive Prince. My complaint is that I do not yet have the sequels. But I'm working on correcting that problem.

I'm in the throes of preparing for a dinner tomorrow, last minute, celebrating a friend's birthday. He's single, grew up in America and Lebanon, and works for Renault with Stephane. As one of his fav cuisines is Indian that's what I'm trying to do. One couple has never had it so they have no idea if they like it. I'm planning a wide assortment of dishes and hope they find something which pleases their palates.

Hope this finds you well. Must run and put away the Christmas decorations! LOL

xo
Susan

publicado por suslyn às 1:23 pm (EST) em Feb 12, 2009

Hi
Hope the american weather hasn't been too awful. Over here, media hysteria to the contrary, it's been pretty average and not troublesome. At least where I am.

On the Greg bear thread you wrote "His works are often catagorized along with Benson and Brin "
Liking Greg Bear and loving Brin's works I probably ought to know Benson but I don't. Is there any particular work that's especially well considered?

Fox.

publicado por reading_fox às 4:35 am (EST) em Feb 10, 2009

Many thanks for the notes on Greg Bear. I specially appreciate that an expert such as yourself took the time to give a thoughtful answer to a dumb question from the back of beyond.

publicado por hfglen às 3:17 pm (EST) em Feb 9, 2009

New word: lour -- my thanks :)
funny thing happened when reading today. The sentence reads, "Attrition still reigned." First time I read it, I left out the 2nd 'i' in Attrition and wondered, 'who is Attriton?' Then the 2nd and 3rd times I read it, I still tried to figure out who Attrition was (read At-tri-ti-on). There was a break in the page at that point. When I picked up the book several hours later I got it. Duh! LOL

publicado por suslyn às 1:42 pm (EST) em Feb 4, 2009

So did you guys have fun? Do you know yet if you were 'glimpseable' by TV viewers? Hope it was a blast.

publicado por suslyn às 9:37 am (EST) em Feb 2, 2009

I think you summed up Gemmell well, perfect for your needs. Jaran I liked a lot, in my opinion you didn't miss much by not continuing. Very different in flavor and it isn't until the last book with a rather surprising ending that I was glad I persevered in the series. I treat Jaran as a stand alone novel and am happier that way.

publicado por suslyn às 4:28 pm (EST) em Jan 30, 2009

So you're reading Elliot? I've only read her Jaran series, and as you may have noted on Willie's profile, I only really cared for the first. Glad to see you enjoyed Gemmel as well. I found him consistently enjoyable. I'm back into Furtive Prince *happy sigh* :)

publicado por suslyn às 3:44 pm (EST) em Jan 30, 2009

Hi Janny
I hoped you would enjoy the books! I think he did his best in those ones just before he died! His wife finished the last one - i think he had it half written. I wonder would you be able to tell where he left off and she took over - i know i couldn't.
I haven't been on the computer in a while - January is actually a busy month at work. Nearly a full month off stock taking!! Loads of little ones to slowly get stock levels right and then a big 'offical' one at the end. I reckon it's cheating - but hey as long as the boss is happy!!!
I'm back reading Simon Scarrow now. I plan to read two of his (nearly finished the first already) and then i'm going to jump back into yours - just two left! Can't wait! I really like drawing out the anticpation. I proably will read Kate Elliot then - still not decided yet. Plenty of time to decide anyway - probably come down to what humour i'm in.
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 2:15 pm (EST) em Jan 30, 2009

Oh my gosh, was that a great book!!!

publicado por suslyn às 11:26 am (EST) em Jan 28, 2009

you've got me salivating about FL :)

Some of the sex in this story I think fits the titillating category, but it's a small percentage. I had to take a break from the book as it's really emotionally charged atm. I do the same in movies -- I have to get up and walk around and then come back...

publicado por suslyn às 10:09 am (EST) em Jan 28, 2009

re: Painted Lives. There is some sexual content at a level I imagine the author feels is necessary for the story... and it may be. It's no bodice ripper, but its presence has me wondering how/if to recommend it.

And yet its a wonderful exploration of relationships, their impact, the sources of self-loathing, our responsibility to deal with it as adults. I imagine some folks would read it and not see these 'lessons' -- it certainly isn't pedagogic in form.

Part of the reason for its success with me, a small part I think since it is so good, is because of some of the work I've doing (or seeing done) in myself along those lines. Thought about posting here, but it's too long. :)

publicado por suslyn às 6:55 am (EST) em Jan 28, 2009

Why can't I get it all said in one post? Right now British Air has stupidly cheap flights from most US cities to London. This happens regularly in January, but not always with or just with British Air. Booking direct to Romania costs a fortune, but from most major cities in Europe one can find dirt cheap flights to Bucharest. Last month Ryan Air had flights for 1 euro -- no typo!!! Last week it was 19 euros each way from Berlin (not Ryan Air, I forget the carrier). And Blue Air is selling 48 euro one way fares from a mess of cities to Bucharest. This is typical, more fuss, but depending on the flight from the US to some European city worth the hassle.

publicado por suslyn às 11:09 am (EST) em Jan 27, 2009

Dear Janny;

What a lovely letter -- have you ever thought about writing? ;>}.

>This guy rumbles.
Buck does the same thing! Stéph sleeps through anything, usually, but Buckaroux has woken him up! He really enjoys being with us when we watch movies (we have a 2x1 meter screen). A friend was over and Buckaroux was louder than the dialogue LOL

I'm so pleased Rorschach is doing better -- and your horse too. It is so distressing when they're ill. All our cats are just over 2 years old. I'm not looking forward to the separation after a long attachment (God grant we have a long attachment!)

>That is SO COOL you got a heap of books! Wonderful - many may be duds for your taste, but, oh, the FINDS! I used to be sent books by a friend in the bookshop business, after he made his hauls at book seller conventions. Got some nice stuff, amid the - wow, who'd read THAT? grin. shrug.

Yeah it cost a bundle to get them here, let me tell you! But they were free in the first place. It was only possible because the movers messed up when we came here (shipping stuff to storage that was supposed to come here and vice versa) and contractually had to pay for the stuff that didn't show up, even if we were all confident of where the things were. Bizarre, but a happy circumstance which covered the shipping ($4K).

I loved the story about your dad -- what a hoot! same for the description of Hodgell. Occasionally, I rather like seeing someone do what they love with no regard for their audience. It's like pure joy in motion.

I read Gemmel's Lord of the Silver Bow and liked it well enough. But as I have to buy it to read it and I prefer straight fantasy to historically-inspired fantasy, I haven't purchased any more nor touched the Alexander series. In fact, I like Gemmel's fantasy well enough that I bought Lord of the Silver Bow thinking it was another his fantasies, mais non. I wasn't happy at the time but was consoled since it was a good enough read. Now if I had a library; I'd probably read the whole thing. But as I have to purchase to read, nah.

>Writingwize - I am in the middle bits of Initiate's Trial - and doing a bit of plot rearrangement as some scenes wrote themselves out of order - typically for a book that kicks off an arc - it will be a bit difficult but smooth by the end, as I grasp the starting threads and get them interwoven to emerge into the right degree of suspense.

I've been asked to write by folks at different times. I just cannot imagine the discipline involved, the perseverance required, the hours of rewrite, the desperation for inspiration (which *would be* a problem for me), required to produce more than a school paper or newsletter. Bon courage. I am not alone in hoping it goes smoothly so it gets published so we can read it! (yes I know that was a run on sentence :)

I've been playing more myself -- decided to make one of my 999 categories (9 books in 9 categories in 2009) piano. I figure if folks count audio books as reading (I count it as consumption, but *reading*...) I can play through books I have. It has the added advantage of actually getting me back to the keyboard!

We don't have TV or satellite, just the screen for movies (it could play tv, but we just haven't done it. So I'll not be able to glimpse you if it is actually possible, and I hope it is for your friends and family who don't get to be there. What fun -- I hope you guys have a blast!

Thanks for brightening my day :)
Susan
PS Looks like Painted Lives is going to be the first in my 999 not-for-real-but-just-for-fun category of *Books I absolutely adored.* I'm engrossed and lovin' it.

publicado por suslyn às 10:56 am (EST) em Jan 27, 2009

PS I hate, detest and despise spoilers. I think if I'd gone on about Painted Lives into a minor spoiler you'd pick it up just to see...

publicado por suslyn às 8:52 am (EST) em Jan 27, 2009

Hey Janny,

You asked once what recommendations I might make for reading. I've come across two books that I wondered if you'd read. The Shipping News by Annie Proulx really surprised me. My expectation would be to dislike anything that looked so ... glitzy? (I was lamenting to someone that after 10 years living in non-English speaking Europe my vocabulary seems to have evaporated). Regardless, it looks 'popular' and that often translates into 'yuck' for me. But this was a charming, very funny, light read set in a NE fishing community. Good stuff.

And the second one I'm reading now: Painted Lives by Charlotte Vale Allen. A woman is hired to be a companion to the widow of a renowned painter. Interspersed with the 'today' story are this widow's remembrances of yesteryear. I just confirmed that I've read another by her. I enjoyed Sudden Moves very much as well but the voice in this is so different that I was loath to assert I'd read her before.

Thought I had conquered the sleeping prob but last night got none. It's 2:30 in the afternoon, head is throbbing and feels like it's stuffed with cotton... peut-être demain.

Blessings,
Susan

PS I like that Hopi saying below!

publicado por suslyn às 7:44 am (EST) em Jan 27, 2009

Hey lady,

I feel like I've been off-planet! I've been reading Susan Dexter's trilogy that beings with The Ring of Allaire. At first I was heartily bored, but little by little it drew me in til I finished the first book content. The second was better, with the character development well under way in the first, I suppose she did more with the story in the second. Although, now that I write that I'm not sure that's accurate. Well, for whatever reason, I enjoyed the 2nd a lot. While not as weighty as yours (by a long shot), they're still too much for my brain atm, so I'm in a really stupid romance. Well it will make more room on my shelves :)

Did you know I was given 3000 books (my bro-in-law purchased the contents of a store going out of business for a paltry sum and included were these books)? The shipping costs were astronomical, and dad pared them down for me to 1000 or so, still at a horrible price. Anyway, most of them are ones I never would have even touched in a library or bookstore, hence... making lots of room on my shelves. I've got A-L of the non-sf/fantasy books arranged and am starting with A and going forward. Read one, trashed one after page 2 (a forensic psychologist got aroused at the idea of making love to his wife just before viewing a dead body -- his words, not my interp... didn't think I needed to read any further), and then the stupid one I'm reading now. I just realized I'm probably babbling and filling your page with stuff you have no itnerest in -- sorry.

I actually wanted to tell you about Buckaroux. I can't remember if I mentioned that he is an auto-purr kitty. You think you're alone in the room and all of a sudden this rumble begins. He's actually startled me more than once. Ours learn from each other, picking up their habits -- I imagine you've seen this with yours as well. Well just last week Blackie pulled the auto-purr number for the first time. Pretty cute. He was just sitting at the foot of the bed looking at us and started to purr. Normally he and Gabe only purr if we pet them, and then usually only if they're petted just so. :)

Hope your clan is doing well. Loved the ships info you wrote last time. I think it's great that you and your husband have so many ways your interests, passions and livelihoods intersect. What a blessing.

Til later,
S

publicado por suslyn às 2:17 am (EST) em Jan 27, 2009

"Wisdom of the Elders"
(Oraibi, Arizona Hopi Nation)


There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift, that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold onto the shore.
They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore,
push off into the middle of the river,
keep our eyes open,
and our heads above the water.

And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally.
Least of all, ourselves.
For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!
Banish the word 'struggle' from your attitude and your vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
WE ARE THE ONES WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.

publicado por theoldman às 12:53 pm (EST) em Jan 22, 2009

Glad I didn't ignore the impulse!

publicado por suslyn às 2:12 pm (EST) em Jan 20, 2009

Figured you have this or know about it, but just in case I am wrong, here's a review I read this am which made me think of you: "American Sailing Ships -Their Plans and History by Charles G. Davis

"This is written by an old school sailor ... and by 'old school' I mean he was born in 1870.

"The book was originally published in 1929 seems to be intended for model ship builders... they need to know exactly how these ships were built so that they can reproduce them in miniature. Fortunately for me, the author can't seem to resist going on about how and why they were built like that, and what it was like to actually sail ships like these. When he sticks to the subject of actually setting down the dimensions of the ships, he kind of loses me. Okay, to be frank, he frequently loses me anyway, as he assumes the reader will be familiar with ships and sailing, and the specialized vocabulary of the same is used with casual disregard for the possibility of any landlubber readers.

"This doesn't stop the book from being stuffed full of cool and valuable information.... Like the Watch Bill and Station Bill of a First Class Frigate of 54 Guns, and explanation of what the make up and duties of the gun crews for a 24 and 32 pound cannon were (as described from *personal experience* from his time spent crewing on a frigate). I kid you not. In a book apparently intended for model ship builders."

publicado por suslyn às 11:29 pm (EST) em Jan 19, 2009

Hey lady -- hope you're doing great. I'm still toast -- so much so that I'm holding off on your next book til my brain arrives. the other day I said neutron instead of neuron and it took me about 4 hours to figure out what was wrong. Guess I should just be grateful that I noticed :)

Just wanted you to know you weren't forgotten. Oh -- great news on the re-releases scheduled! I think that's fantastic.

til later,
S

publicado por suslyn às 10:14 am (EST) em Jan 15, 2009

Hi Janny
I have a couple of Kate Elliot's books but i still have to read them. They are from her Crown of Stars series - have you read those ones? They look good (that's why i bought them).
I been reading the Lindsey Davis books as they are re-issued, they're coming out in batches of 4 every six months or so, so the books 9 - 12 are coming out next month. I'm on Posideon's Gold at the moment and Falco is accused of murder and suffering for his dead brother's schemes. Brilliant - and it seems the more misery piled on poor Falco - the funnier it gets!
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 4:09 pm (EST) em Jan 13, 2009

Hi Janny
Finished Peril's Gate! Brilliant! I'm getting to the stage now where i want to slow down reading your books because i want them to last. I think i'll be upset once i finish Stormed Fortress! So, i've started reading Poseidon's Gold by Lindsey Davis today. I still have to thank you for recommending her to me! I also just finished Terry Pratchett's Nation - good book as long as you like his other stuff.
My wife took me to see Twilight in the cinema yesterday. I was dreading it but actually quite enjoyed it in the end. I still don't know whether it was my wife's ethusiasm rubbing off on me! She's a huge fan of the books.
Anyway Happy New Year.
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 2:32 pm (EST) em Jan 11, 2009

I'm back, but fear it is just my body that got home at this point. No need to reply to this just wanted you to know that we are home and did manage to snag The Fugitive Prince (through Barnes and Noble).

More later,
S

publicado por suslyn às 9:53 pm (EST) em Jan 8, 2009

That was a great post on my favourites of 2009. It could serve as a guideline for a blog about the discussion of series length, delivery, etc...

I hadn't meant to get into such a discussion on the subject and don't know if we have started to bore any of the others on the list.

I suppose one thinks that you'll never be able to engage in deep discussions with writers whose work you really enjoy (I do really enjoy your and Ray's Kelewan) And I am also not sure what is the age group of many of the other readers here on Library Thing. I get the feeling now that I have hit middle age, that I am in a group of ever diminishing elders of many things.

I have the Robin Hood novels by Parke, I found those quite good, but so far just read once. I have so many unread books that these last six months I have tried to curtail the purchase of most books so I could go into the garage and get previously unread books to finally explore.

Finding this website was quite an unexpected pleasure. I think they get a great deal correct.

David

publicado por DWWilkin às 7:57 pm (EST) em Jan 6, 2009

Thanks Janny,

I have King Hereafter and have read it (way back in my early 20s). Whilst I loved it I did not feel comfortable with the merging of Macbeth and Thorfinn as one character.

My love affair with the historical novel began when I was 16 (early 80s) and my grandmother loaned me Nigel Tranter's 'Macbeth the King' (soon after that was Canning's 'The Crimson Chalice' and a Roman story 'The Legate's Daughter' but I can't remember the author's name)

How did you like 'The Wind from Hastings'? I can reccomend Sile Rice's 'The Saxon Tapestries' as a story in a similar vein. It covers the story of Hereward.

The Norman Conquest, Richard III, Akenaten and Nefertiti and of course King Arthur are often the subject of historical novels, I have many flavours of this story.

Cheers

publicado por Macbeth às 6:46 am (EST) em Jan 1, 2009

Happy new year from Australia

Cheers

publicado por Macbeth às 7:30 am (EST) em Dec 31, 2008

Hi Janny
You will not regret it! I loved the Troy books - i really hope you do as well! I'm about halfway through Peril's Gate and as usual - loving it! I'm a bit annoyed i'm not getting enough time to read lately. I'm sure i'll have plenty of time come January.
Unfortunately, alot of my friends are getting let go from their jobs lately due to the 'credit crisis'. I don't feel particularly 'safe' at the moment in my work either - maybe if i can hang on through till March, i think we'll be through the worst of it. I heard a funny ad on the radio doing a 'skit'. There was an appeal for those 'less fortunate' than us like the bankers. What with the bailouts their getting off the governments at the moment. You'd probably have to hear it.
Anyway, hope you have a great christmas if i'm not talking to you before then.
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 3:35 pm (EST) em Dec 19, 2008

We leave in less than 12 hours!! and I'm not done packing... but I finally did find the NW baggage allowances on line -- one chore down, a thousand to go!

We return the 7th or around there of January. Not sure the exact date!! LOL

Wish we could have a cuppa! I will be 7 hours from some extended family I dearly love but no time to see them -- that will be after an 8 hr drive each way from Amarillo where the folks are now to Springfield Missouri for New Years with my best friend and college roommate. We're flying my best friend from Philly in for the occassion. Should be great fun. My college friends and I knit very closely together and still keep in touch after all these years...

Do have a wonderful Christmas. I'll enjoy the snow for you that you are most unlikely to have in the Keys!

Blessings on you and yours my friend,

Susan

publicado por suslyn às 11:17 am (EST) em Dec 18, 2008

Warhost was wonderful. A few times I thought I'd read it before. But I think, instead, that you let us know the characters so well that some things, like Lady Talith's 'escape' from the island were foreseeable. I guess this because there is absolutely no way I could have forgotten Dakar's gut-wrenching and slow conversion or his sacrifice; Diegan's betrayal and death; or Lysaer's abandonment of Talith. No way.

I'm glad I'm off to the States Friday. (I should be landing in Schipol this time tomorrow.) For that means I should have the next book in my hands by Saturday afternoon :)

Thanks for yet another wonderful read.

publicado por suslyn às 1:29 am (EST) em Dec 18, 2008

It's great that you've got the american re-print issues sorted for the US.

I hadn't convinced myself that Elaria is a major character, and was hoping that she doesn't fade away as minor characters have to! I'll pick up fugative prince soon enough, and keep an eye out for Red Wolf. I've only chanced across one or two of his.

Take care and have a great christmas / New Year.

publicado por reading_fox às 8:28 am (EST) em Dec 17, 2008

re: french migrant. I did find Douanier... so maybe they just bastardized the form? Checking with some old english folks to see if there ever was an 'a' on the end that someone can point to ... we'll see

publicado por suslyn às 10:52 am (EST) em Dec 16, 2008

Hey I was surprised when I started reading Warhost to find it was the second half of Ships. So completely satisfied with the ending was I, that to find the story half done left me shocked! Happily moving forward now... Arithon is unhappy atm finding his fleet burnt. You know what comes next, but as I don't I shall continue -- NOW! :)

publicado por suslyn às 10:50 am (EST) em Dec 16, 2008

Poignant and gripping, The Ships of Merior, is done. So glad I have the next one.

Two things I really appreciate about the series thus far. Each book left me satisfied. I was pleased to read on (eager even), but not compelled because the story was incomplete. Thank you for that.

I borrowed a 'trilogy' from a library to take on vacation. The last sentence of the third book was something like, "And he recognized the shadow." Of course the fourth (and final) book was not out yet. I was not a happy camper.

The other thing I liked was how you wove the recap of bk 1 into this one. Not with the oft-employed foreward or in boring catchups tucked into the story. How did you manage to weave the background into the story so that it fit so well? Good job.

Blessings friend,
Susan

publicado por suslyn às 8:09 am (EST) em Dec 16, 2008

I'm afraid i'm littering again. Found a jewel of a page: http://historyofwork.iisg.nl/list_hiswi....

Here are two of over 200 names for customs officers in a mess of languages.
32 Customs official
33 Excise officer

PS I won't write on this topic again unless I find it :)

publicado por suslyn às 7:01 pm (EST) em Dec 15, 2008

further reading in the history of the customs house on Isle of Wight shows them called 'officers of customs' which I much prefer to customs officers... um, if it's fantasy (or even if it wasn't) why can't you use the word even if it isn't one (or you lack proof that it is). Seems it's close enough that anyone should be able to figure it out.

publicado por suslyn às 6:36 pm (EST) em Dec 15, 2008

My brief search on 'customar' turned up nothing and I'm not surprised. Will keep an eye out now... you've got me interested. Did find that customs officers in the 1600s on the Isle of Wight were called 'Collector' -- I find that to be more elegant, non? Note the qualifier. I don't find it elegant, just 'more elegant' :)

publicado por suslyn às 6:26 pm (EST) em Dec 15, 2008

well i found some new ones today and the day before too, plus a word used in a new way. dunts was one, dict says it comes from dints and I suppose there is a connection, meaning-wise, but it's a reach for me. Limnned has shown up 5 times so far, but in no way do I feel it has seemed overused. Isn't that funny?

I was dismayed when, after the Lysaer set the date, next time we visited the wedding was accomplished. I wanted to know all about the wedding customs and had forgotten somehow that it was fantasy and you'd have to make it all up to share! LOL Then we got the wedding in Merior and I felt somewhat better, but the icing on the cake was the non-courtship taking place over herbing. Next came the bittersweet healing. As before, I am really enjoying the story, again. Looking forward to the third, but this will be my first time for that volume. Hope your December is just great -- we fly to TX Friday, about 24 hours since we're going from nowhere to nowhere...

publicado por suslyn às 2:30 pm (EST) em Dec 15, 2008

Weren't you going to be on Author Chat sometime this winter? Have I missed it? or mis-remembered?

publicado por reading_fox às 8:44 am (EST) em Dec 15, 2008

Thanks for the cogent advice and encouragement. My new words today, grace a toi (where's my French keyboard when I need it?), are moil and scurf. Thanks :)

publicado por suslyn às 6:09 pm (EST) em Dec 13, 2008

oh -- I missed the first line -- griped -- gotcha

Also, while I'm not bad with words, I stink at numbers! It's 14 hours, not 10, til the party :)

publicado por suslyn às 6:19 pm (EST) em Dec 12, 2008

What a nice reply -- I agree that 3 times in two books or even 3 times in one book the size of these (or even smaller) is not overdone!

So was it griped or gripped? LOL I wanna know :)

Your books are on my list for purchase when I get home; I'll keep you posted.

Copyrights etc must be a nightmare! It must be scary -- I've thought about that just for submissions ... how do you know they'll deal honestly with you? etc.

Had two parties this weekend. One down, and one to go with a great deal of things to get dodne in the next 10 hours including sleep! I'm hosting the next one.

You know, I'd rather not count words and other things like that, but that's the way my brain works. At the same time I can't remember names and/or faces -- a major hindrance for an extrovert like myself!

Thanks for the nice reply and for taking it my comment as meant, that is, not as a criticism. whew!

g'nite.

publicado por suslyn às 5:39 pm (EST) em Dec 12, 2008

Well if it had musical I might have had a chance!

publicado por suslyn às 5:38 pm (EST) em Dec 11, 2008

and yet another: chiaroscuro

publicado por suslyn às 1:36 pm (EST) em Dec 11, 2008

Hey -- You and Willie caught my attention. Here's my post to his comments:

Hey Willie --

You don't know me, but I've followed your comments to Janny and something you wrote caught my eye and made me look closer. I agree wholeheartedly that a book about the worlds as you described, or Janny called a travelogue, would be fantastic! What fun that would be. The Simarillon and Jordans WOT are just no fun for me, even though I bought both. I'm a map fiend and could really enjoy owning something like [this] -- maybe even as a coffee table book. I think this idea is worth pursuing!!

publicado por suslyn às 12:12 pm (EST) em Dec 11, 2008

Well a happy belated to you! Glad to contribute to your celebrations :) Out to dinner and shopping for books -- sounds like a dream match to me LOL (I'm totally serious.)

Today you improved my vocabulary -- thanks. That doesn't happen very often, so it's always a joy. The word? limned

Loved the benediction -- my thanks!

Ciao

publicado por suslyn às 12:00 pm (EST) em Dec 11, 2008

Ah Janny,
Is it possible for you to write too well? It is the wee hours of the morning here and I made the mistake of picking up book 2. Now I must read in bed with my pen light! LOL Happily as it dims, I can rewind it and Steph doesn't mind -- he sleeps through it or just surfaces for a moment, rolls over and goes right back to sleep.

But I to share my predicament! bonnenuit

publicado por suslyn às 9:27 pm (EST) em Dec 10, 2008

Hi Janny
Hope you're keeping well. Sorry its been so long since my last comment. My computer was down and its not easy to get someone to look at it around here.
Anyway, I finished Grand Conspiracy and loved it! Then i had a quick read of the Reincarnationist by M.J. Rose - it was only ok. Now, i'm just starting Peril's Gate- can't wait to get into it.
You mentioned Carolyn Cherry in your last comment - i never heard of her, is she worth checking out? Also, thanks for the advice. I don't think i'd be able to do something like that though - i'm more into reading words rather then making them. (Might make a nice private hobby though)
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 4:53 pm (EST) em Dec 9, 2008

With a satisfied, deep-set peacefulness, I write. Those feelings are the leftovers from finishing your first volume again. How nicely (abysmal word "nice") you dealt with the aftermath of the battle. I love the ballad and how you interwove it with A to give his war chief understanding. His conversion was a beautiful thing.

Don't know how long I can put off getting into book 2! LOL There is so much to do, but I am ever so eager for book 3 which I haven't yet read...

Blessings,
Susan

publicado por suslyn às 11:58 am (EST) em Dec 9, 2008

I'm guessing something's up with the weather as my furry barometers are going nuts. Blackie, predictably, is sleeping, but the other two are zipping back and forth -- buck almost went over the edge of the balcony railing in his haste, and gabriel almost got smushed underfoot...

publicado por suslyn às 5:25 pm (EST) em Dec 8, 2008

Hey lady,

I hope things are going well there, the writing, the cats, the fam and whatever brand of seasonal craziness your clan has. I'm wiped. g'zillion things to do before leaving. the recipe book isn't happening. decided to use it for the folks 50th next summer and invite their friends to contribue. A great solution for that, but it leaves me needing a mess of gifts!
I can hardly believe it but I'm barely reading either, except some (mostly not great) christmas fluff. Your book is found and beckoning, but I really need a brain to read it.

Did you know I fell? i have that tendency. It's been a week now but I am still so sore. Happily nothing broke this time, although I was uncertain for a while about my tailbone -- happily it was just bruised.

last summer steph's sis was given two kittens by her employer. Not knowing how to refuse, she took them home. We were in France with our car and offered to take them. they thought about it and decided the kids had become too attached. I'm not sure a 1.5 and 3 yr old would know the difference, but...

Now steph's mom asks if we'd like the cats. her reason? they've been traumatized by the dog and won't leave their room upstairs. Steph, as you may recall, has a thing against taking in that type of animal. I told him your story and he's considering it. These were really adorable kittens and I don't think it would require a lot to find the sweet kitty inside again.

better go iron, fold, do laundry, wash floors, dust, vaccum or clean the kitchen! lol

Ciao

publicado por suslyn às 6:26 am (EST) em Dec 8, 2008

Found it -- just about to read the first slaughter. sad.

publicado por suslyn às 11:26 am (EST) em Dec 4, 2008

Curse of the Mistwraiths has gone missing -- c'est la vie. So after multiple searches of the house, I gave up and am reading a Christmas Regency. I'd rather be in the other -- hope it turns up soonest!

publicado por suslyn às 8:29 am (EST) em Dec 3, 2008

Well congrats on your success! It's always nice to pass those milestones.

It wasn't hot today; it just wasn't cold. So, they were basking in the sunshine on the balcony and hoping for flies.

I do believe I've added all the books I got in that shipment. I'm sure there is a straggler or two, but it's done. very nice. And very nice to see that I have 900 books to read :) -- maybe I'll even like some LOL

Must go iron pants for Steph. Bye for now.

publicado por suslyn às 10:42 pm (EST) em Dec 2, 2008

Hey I hope y'all are safe and having a great time. I also hope your weather is as great as ours was today -- sunny and no coat needed!

Arithon was just crowned by Steiven -- slow going this time around with the season and all. It was nice to revisit Lysaer when he was likeable. I'm afraid I need to borrow a bit of Arithon's compassion for the rest of the series -- I loathed him. LOL

Looks like the recipes aren't going to happen and I have no clue what to do for gifts. An IOU? what a drag.

Somebody staying with your kitties? We're having a house-decorating party the 13th so the gal who will be here over the holidays can do it with a bit of external cheer.

Blessings,
Susan

publicado por suslyn às 9:01 pm (EST) em Dec 2, 2008

I love this sentence:

"In a wild stretch of grasslands, on the crest of a windswept scarp, four tall towers loom above a ruined city, while rainfall gentle as tears rinses the shattered foundations of a fifth. . . ." (Portents, Mists)

It's like poetry, so evocative. I collect sentences in a non-disciplined way. This one definitely makes the cut.

publicado por suslyn às 5:10 pm (EST) em Nov 29, 2008

hmmm maybe you meant the books I'm adding. Recently received a big shipment of books (800+) and am inputting them so I don't buy duplicates...

wish they were all books I would have chosen! The reprint of victorian porn went immediately into the trash! LOL I'm sure it's of historical significance but I don't need it in my home.

publicado por suslyn às 6:53 am (EST) em Nov 29, 2008

>Hardrock cafe... all those beautiful instruments, behind glass, and played no more.
I know! And some of them are sooo amazing...

My undergrad was music ed. My recital was in piano. I played flute in band and sang in the choirs. I toodle on my recorders a bit as well. My sis-in-law loves all things Bretonne (from Brittany). She plays what? the penny whistle? and her husb the bombard. I have a beautiful bass recorder, but it needs some work -- 2 keys stick.

I envy the collection of stringed instruments! At mutopia I saw a collection of tunes for mandolin -- I really like mandolin. But I have to say, I'm a wimp. The stringed instruments hurt too much for me to persevere. I know you build up callouses, but I didn't get that far. I let the plectrum or hammer hit the key for me :)

>I am always amazed by how many new books you've added, it's a different screen each time.
Well I'm afraid those covers will be there for a while. Lately my mind has been mush. Your book, for example, requires more facility than I've had of late (despite the fact that I'm 1/3 through). Mostly I've been plowing through regencies where you can sleep through a chapter and miss nothing -- LOL. I'm bad.

I'm also pleased for you that your mom is doing better. We're going home to see the folks because dad's been iffy this year. Of course, our desire would be to visit every week or so. You should see Steph and my dad together. It's almost like love is tangible, it flows so thick between the two of them. Steph's dad was uncommunicative and spoke with his 4 sons only about things technical (wonder why each is an engineer?), and then he passed away. So in my dad Steph has a real daddy. It's very sweet.

>Our cats hunt HUUUGE roaches - always a comedy show.
Don't I know it! I grew up not far from Houston and lived another 3 years in Columbia, SC. Those critters can get soooo big! My cats would go ballistic. They already do with June bugs, or their Romanian cousins -- have no idea what they call them here.

>Folk tunes - my thing is old ballads and maritime. Have a loft full of stringed instruments, for the sheer fun and enjoyment. Next week, we go off to the pirate reenactment festival in Key West, where my husband does much of his photography for painting (see the Don Maitz Pirates! calendar, published by Tidemark Press). I get to play pipes on a period schooner, drink lots of beer, and play with some crazy fun people.

Wondered if you did anything like that. With your interests I figured you must. But I had no idea this type of reenactment existed. No idea why I'm surprised. Have you heard of/been to the Tall Ships festival in Rouen, Normandy? I went to a super recital/concert of Canadian folk songs. Imagine there is a lot of material from Nova Scotia et al. Wish I could take in a brew and listen to your chanties. What fun. Hope it's just great! btw, what do you mean by pipe? as in bagpipe type?

Slainté

publicado por suslyn às 6:35 am (EST) em Nov 29, 2008

I just found the most marvelous site off a link @ Project Gutenberg.

http://www.mutopiaproject.org/browse.htm... -- they seem to have a nice collection of folk tunes. Some might even fall within your preferred genres. I found some keyboard gems I'm going to print up -- who knows maybe I'll even start to play again?

And I just found this recorder or SATB tune, El Grillo, whose lyric made me chuckle:

The cricket is a good singer
Who sings for a long time
The cricket sings just for fun
The cricket is a good singer

But unlike the birds
who fly off when they've sung a bit,
The cricket just stays where he is.

When the weather is really hot,
he sings solely for love.

publicado por suslyn às 8:27 am (EST) em Nov 28, 2008

Hello friend,

You leave the nicest notes that leave me feeling happy for quite some time. Thanks for that. Being physically cut off from my loved ones, I appreciate my net contacts all the more.

Bucharoux had a difficult choice today. Come inside for lunch or stay on the balcony to chase flies. The cold weather blew off last night and it's quite pleasant, no jacket required. In the end lunch won, but he moved slowly, checking with every step to see what flies were about. All three are happily ensconced once again on the balcony, basking in the sun and waiting for their next victims.

As to Thanksgiving, I did the most shocking thing! I didn't prepare the feast. I've been working since the summer on a recipe book I want to give for Christmas and it's still not done. The inputting is. Photos, permissions, a snag on the website and proofreading are still holding up the "go" for printing. I can't believe all the work that has gone into a paltry collection of 18 recipes.

Hubby and I and an American colleague of his from work who was our guest last year went to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. A very loud live band started half way through the main course eliminating all efforts at conversation although we did enjoy some good mimes. The happy news is the food was okay (meaning just under "good" rather than so-so), some of it even good. The Romanians are excellent at their food -- and boy howdy is it good. Usually their attempts at other cuisines fail miserably. So this was pleasant. And, the band was good. In tune, nice balance with an okay selection from the 70s and 80s.

Hope yours was blessed and that the sensation continues. :)

publicado por suslyn às 8:05 am (EST) em Nov 28, 2008

Hope you have an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving.

publicado por suslyn às 9:07 am (EST) em Nov 26, 2008

Glad to hear your mom is doing better. whew!

Well you go girl and turn up the heat -- I'm sure you'll cook up something absolutely fab :)

publicado por suslyn às 11:46 am (EST) em Nov 25, 2008

Thanks for the chuckles. My mom bought a cat (a maine coon too, but small, er... a regular sized cat) just to socialize her bichon who went bezerk each time they went to my sisters' with her passel of barn cats.

I do hope your mom recovers soon. One of the things I dislike most about getting older is that the folks (and grandfolks, I still have one left) keep getting older too. It can be very difficult.

A different thought: I wish Buckaroux would learn to close the doors he opens, especially when he comes in off the balcony. And I am SOOOOO glad he doesn't have opposable thumbs, or we'd be in a world of hurt! 8->

publicado por suslyn às 11:14 am (EST) em Nov 24, 2008

Hey Janny,

I fear I misspoke in an earlier comment. I have not read your Daughter of the Empire. Seems I had a bit of dyslexia. The book I read is Simon Brown's The Empire's Daughter.

My shelves are mostly done. I've got my scifi/fantasy loaded and inputted most of the books I got in that big shipment. The room looks much better with most of the boxes gone too!

Buck got locked in the library -- I think he was on the balcony which is entered from that room. A few hours later I opened up and went in. Then I went out to the balcony for a cigarette (sad, but true -- still shocks me that I smoke again after years without, but that's another story). Generally he goes out with me. I asked him if he wanted to go out. I've never heard such a reply -- it was really comical. A very long series of meows like he was saying, "are you crazy? it's cold out there! And I've been stuck here with nothing to do for 2 hours!" It's more than possible that this is one of those "you had to be there" things :)

Have a great week.

publicado por suslyn às 8:32 am (EST) em Nov 24, 2008

Oh good news :) Just finished going through the remaining boxes. Found a box of regencies (my fluff reading of choice, especially when ill, which is too often), and Warhost!! I'm psyched. Steph should finish my shelves this weekend and once I get them on the shelves I can start Mist again -- I'm really happy about this. Cheers.

publicado por suslyn às 4:25 pm (EST) em Nov 21, 2008

Facebook has a "status" line which shows up on 'friends' profiles if they so choose. The status box has a default "UserName is" but you can change the verb. Earlier today I posted, "Susan needs a good proofreader for 18 recipes. 2:58pm"

Then I got a comment so it looks like this:

Susan needs a good proofreader for 18 recipes. 2:58pm
- 2 Comments
Krista Foster at 3:45pm November 21
send em to me - happy to do it if you'd like :D
Susan Rizzo at 3:52pm November 21
perfect! thanks!!

So I now have a new status line and comment:

Susan is thrilled she got the proofrreader! Thx Krista! 3:53pm
- 1 Comment
Susan Rizzo at 3:54pm November 21
obviously I need it! LOL

Feel absolutely free to erase this drivel! Back now to getting those recipes ready for Krista.

Oh I was happily reading Kipling's Puck on Pook Hill (which really surprised me), but misplaced it -- c'est ma vie. So am now in another book I'm surprised to be enjoying, Mickey Spillane's Black Alley. Hope you're having a great day!

publicado por suslyn às 9:16 am (EST) em Nov 21, 2008

I wrote a big old answer and poof! it disappeared -- lost the internet connection, typical.

Facebook -- I'm there for the friends I'm not geographically close to. A neighbor I had in France now lives in Japan; we chatted this a.m., as did I with my best friend from college who now lives in Kansas. Found a fellow I knew through work who lost his wife to cancer, learned he had remarried and got to see some wedding pics! As for the rest they offer, I'm not interested. I chat about books here on LT -- I'm in a great group. And I blog on multiply.com, posting photos there too.

So I can just see you and Magic. Do you use a laptop then? Please don't tell me you write long hand! Ouch -- writer's cramp! But maybe that's better than tendonitis?

Hope you are pleased with your progress today and get to curl up with that book a bit tonight.

Cheers,
Susan Oh yes, thanks for dropping by to see my boyos -- the orange one is the noisy door opener, Buckaroux.

publicado por suslyn às 4:02 pm (EST) em Nov 20, 2008

Hello again,

It's chowder tonight, mostly comprised of those veggies that couldn't wait any longer! oops.

My cats are going ballistic over some flies that came in today with the slightly warmer weather. Was surprised they had snow in the Philly area last night. Joined Facebook and friends from there were lamenting the fact.

Posted pics of my boys here on my profile. Thought you might not start at the top next time you dropped by and miss them. We wouldn't want that!

Almost finished with Grafton's M for Malice and won't be sad to have it done! But this is in her favor. She makes me laugh -- out loud. Guess there's too much of Kinsey Mallone in me :)

Have a great rest of the day,

Susan

publicado por suslyn às 1:11 pm (EST) em Nov 20, 2008

Well, no, turns out it's Keeper of the keys. hmmm and it seems I'm already missing one: Warhost. Bother.

I'm eager to see where you and the story take us :) Thanks for the update. I am going to have to look into that space opera author :)

And I love Daughter of the Empire but still don't have the rest of that series either.

publicado por suslyn às 11:29 am (EST) em Nov 18, 2008

LOL -- I can relate. There have been times when my boyos (4 including the husband) haven't left room for me! Stephane took me to Varna this weekend in Bulgaria. It has been called the pearl on the Black Sea and seemed deserving of the name. Had a lovely time doing nothing :)

Reading book 4 in The Videssos Cycle by Harry Turtledove right now. No, I haven't read the others... it just came by itself in the box. But the author includes a breif "catch you up" at the beginning (most thoughtful), and I'm enjoying it. Surprising. Liked one of his books, hated the next one by him that I read, and now I'm finding this one very satisfactory. Well he's diverse :)

And, I was thrilled to find another in your series last night in a box! I do hope it's book 4 but am not sure. I have the first three, but had to wait a couple of years to get the third. That means I've read the first one several times, the second a couple and the third once. So now I get to read them again. So far I think the first remains my fav. I like the others a lot, and the first one leaves me hungry for more. I think it was just the discovery of the new universe that I enjoyed so much in the first. Very inventive -- it really drew me in. I have the rest of the series on my wishlist for when I'm home again at Christmas :)

Ah, Buckaroux just opened the door to come in. We've been boycotted by the cats -- punishment, I suppose, for leaving them with their sitter this weekend. Actually she comes here, but she's not us...

Hope you're having a great day.

publicado por suslyn às 7:56 am (EST) em Nov 18, 2008

Hi. I just started a thread in my group '75 Books Challenge for 2008' about Christmas Recommendations.

Here 'tis:

I meant 'to be read by us during Christmas', but gift giving (the other idea that came to mind when I saw the title in print) might not be a bad idea either:)

So here goes my 'off the top of my head' contributions:

to read: Grisham's Skipping Christmas. Absolutely hysterical. One phrase in the book has become a standard in our home. Not your typical Grisham and well worth the time. We tried it as a read aloud but it didn't catch.

to give: The China Study by Campbell. My dad, like the author, is a recently retired biochemist (PhD Berkeley) who worked in pharmaceutical research. He says this guy's science is right on. Absolutely essential for anyone with a family history of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

(ugh, below 2nd para, 1st sentence s/b Thx for the tips -- husb loves to laugh but RARELY) [does it show that I worked for a bit in editing?]

publicado por suslyn às 7:57 pm (EST) em Nov 13, 2008

Well I hope your evening leaves you refreshed and invigorated rather than something less savory. Interruptions can seem to me like such a bane -- I do hope it turns out to be a blessing instead. (You did not hint that you were dreading it -- but I might be in your place.)

Thanks for the tips -- husb loves to laugh but rather does so in response to media. Brooks' Magic Kingdom For Sale Sold was a happy exception to it -- we read it aloud on the road trip back from France last summer.

Going away this weekend but I don't know where -- it's a surprise. I'm to take one nice outfit and normal clothes (but he didn't mention hiking boots). So... we'll see.

Finished the a Darkover novelette (Bradley) today -- wasn't feeling well at all and wanted some comfort reading. Am a bit better now and went back to Perry's Monk myster Slaves of Obsession. I had my doubts at first, but now at p 52 it is grabbing my interest and allaying my fears of a continuous sermon (they were debating slavery and secession, et al).

So in case I'm not back to say it later, have a great weekend -- and take a ride or something. We want you in good form for the next book ;->

publicado por suslyn às 11:34 am (EST) em Nov 13, 2008

Just finished Edwards' Bright and Shining Tiger. It seemed to me very unlike her other works, except in that I enjoyed it :)

Made a veggie lasagna tonight. They sell pureed, frozen eggplant here. I used that as the 'sauce' over the veggies between the noodles. I was afraid it would be barely passable. Happily it turned out just fine. Nothing wonderful, but good enough to eat and not groan at leftovers :)

Hope you've had a good day. -- Susan

publicado por suslyn às 6:41 pm (EST) em Nov 12, 2008

Your current read sounds like a winner. Unfortunately, I've misplaced the Edwards book I'm reading (I do that ALL the time!), and so am back to Edghill's. And, I chuckled for the first time on p. 93. Let's see if it's transferrable:
Xena-type movie star transferred to a fantasy realm and her guide are on their way to consult the oracle.

"And [her guide's explanation of the oracle's complex] would probably be chock-full of helpful useful information, Glory reflected, if only she were the right kind of hero. But she wasn't the anthropological ancient-cities-finding sort, who could figure out the answers to riddles from antediluvian tomb carvings and whatnot. She wasn't really sure what sort she was, but she wasn't that."

publicado por suslyn às 3:59 pm (EST) em Nov 11, 2008

No, no - sorry. I didn't read *all* those interviews, but I read a few. And, I didn't catch the PA connection -- what fun. I lived in Wayne on and off for 10 years.

publicado por suslyn às 12:50 pm (EST) em Nov 11, 2008

I joined the 'Group: 75 Books Challenge for 2008' on recommendation of a friend.

Posted this there: "11/10 Just finished King's Man and Thief by C Golden -- really enjoyed it. Creative world with creative troubles. Doesn't appear to be a sequel, but I won't hesitate to try her stuff again.

"Ooops, forgot. I was reading along in Golden's book and she introduced the place: Byrn. Having moved to Europe from the Philly area, I immediately thought of Bryn Mawr and how in fantasy one of the hard things must be names. Then, shebang!, in the next paragraph, she introduces the neighboring country: Mahr. Hmmm... :)"

Did I intuit correctly as to the challenge of finding names? LOL what a trivial question!

just in case, here's the link for my reading list:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/49243#...

publicado por suslyn às 10:30 am (EST) em Nov 11, 2008

Thanks for the recommendations -- I'll look for them when I'm home at Christmas. I'm currently reading Claudia Edwards' lovely "Bright and Shining Tiger." I'm also in the middle of a non-lovely book by Rosemary Edghill which promises to be fast, funny, and serious. So far I've found only ho-hum and annoyance. Maybe the second half is better? One can hope ;->

Changing the subject, I must say I appreciate very much what you said about war and Culloden. One of the things I like most about your books is how the characters are real -- no one is wholly bad or good (though some few do approach unity on one extreme or the other). I'm proud of you for the way you used that experience to make yourself a better writer and, I trust, person.

I've been groping through the murky reaches of my brain to respond to your comment on patience. It's not yet fully formed, but close, I think. You'll have to judge for yourself if it was worth the effort when it's posted.

Hope you have a wonderful day & a great week. -- Susan

publicado por suslyn às 10:21 am (EST) em Nov 11, 2008

Yes, I guess Buckaroux is still young. He was 2 in Sept. The brothers are one month older than him. I noticed something today. Our door handles are a bit lower than they are in the States, so maybe that's why he doesn't fully extend himself ;-> All the doors here have locks. We just don't always remember to lock them behind ourselves. The kitchen is off limits, but sometimes they get in -- happily they don't linger, but rush on to the living room. The living room is off limits unless we're there with them. They like to eat the plants.

Too bad your doors don't lock! Did you consider toddler locks on the cabinets?

The lasagna was edible plus, but nothing to rave about. This weekend Steph should finish my new bookshelves! I'm psyched. Right now, they are in stacks on the floor. And, the cats keep knocking the stacks over, walking on them, etc.

Do your cats talk a lot? Buckaroux was the only talker, but the other 2 caught on. For a while there everytime Buckaroux said something it was like I was doing transcription -- ascending perfect 4th, descending minor third and then up a 1/2 step. That went on for almost 2 weeks (my analyzing the different cries), but finally stopped. I don't think I would have lasted much longer!

When you mentioned Moonshadow the first time I started singing the song right away and had it in my head for a while. That's better than the year I caught Jingle Bells in July and didn't lose it til Christmas! Ciao.

publicado por suslyn às 7:34 pm (EST) em Nov 7, 2008

We have no knobs. Door knobs are not that common in Europe. Instead we have levers -- pull down and voila it's open. He doesn't even have to extend himself fully to reach. Just puts his paws around and pulls. My neighbor insists the other two ask him to open doors they want to go through -- might be true! Buckaroux's dad is 25lbs. Buckaroux's still skin and bones but the sellers predicted he'd get to be 22-23. He's got the size for the weight if I could just get some meat on his bones.

It's like with Bichons. Soaking wet you can see they are fragile, petite bones. But dry you think they're stocky like pugs. Same thing with Buckaroux -- mess of fur over a rangy frame.

Just read the best book, not my style at all, but I laughed and cried. Called my sis, an English teacher, to tell her to get it :) http://www.librarything.com/work/424615/...
Hope you're having a great day. Must go cook, lasgna, I think. Hope it's good -- never a sure thing when I'm creating! My poor hubby. He never complains when it doesn't work out. I'm grateful for him! Thanks for the tip on the cat book.

publicado por suslyn às 11:41 am (EST) em Nov 6, 2008

Hi Janny
Thanks for leaving such a great comment. I hope i'll be able to track down your calender when it comes out. For the last few years i've always gotten the Tolkein calender every year. Usually, if i haven't tracked it down by November - its too late. So, i'm getting worried now this year as i haven't seen it anywhere! Anyway, there's plenty of rooms in the house to hang different ones!
I was thinking about these books about fantasy worlds that come out - like i mentioned before - and wondered that wouldn't it be great if someone released a book that instead of being like a fantasy enyclopidia (which i never really liked - probably because they're too general), but would focus on many actual fantasy worlds from many authors. Kind of like a book of shortstories, but instead of shortstories, the authors contribute histories, characters, pictures, etc. It would be the ultimate what's what of fantasy! I know its just wishful thinking and too big a thing to organise, but would be cool though!!!!
Fortune's Favourites is the 3rd book in Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series. It's brilliant! I believe its suppost to be the most accurate history of Rome your going to get in a historical fiction book. The first book is called First Man of Rome and follows Gaius Marius and Cornelius Sulla from 110BC and the series continues through to Anthony and Cleopatra (so far). I found it fascinating. It would be very political, with very little action. The only problem is the difficulty with names in it. The series can follow through generations of families and family members often had the same name - could get confusing sometimes. Well worth the effort though!
I saw the pictures of Kenya celebrating Obama - brilliant to see! Did you see the town called Obama in Japan (i think) that had the same celebrations? I never saw so much celebrating around the world when the pope was appointed!
Anyway, got to go.
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 6:33 am (EST) em Nov 6, 2008

LOL I'm afraid I was the unclear one -- I understood yours were rescues -- but I'm so glad I got to hear the story of how you got them!

Stephane, my husb, is against taking in animals like that -- his mom did but neglected to protect him and the other kids from the vicious dogs! Apparently they (the animals) got all the attention and the kids were left to fend for themselves. Poor guys.

So if I'm gonna get a Bengal some day, it's next to certain I'll have to buy it. My maine coon is clingy like yours. Follows me around all over. And, disturbingly enough, he has decided to sit behind me on the toilet seat! LOL true! He used to sit on the tank, but the past two days he has opted for the space between me and the tank. Urrr...move it! :)

He opens doors, you see. So even when you want privacy, unless you lock them (not an easy thing with these doors, or always possible), he's going to be with you.

I'm so pleased your kitties got a home where they were able to blossom. Good going!

publicado por suslyn às 12:25 pm (EST) em Nov 5, 2008

Hi Janny
Just finished Fugitive Prince - brilliant! I think i got into it a bit too much - i was tense myself reading it! I'll be starting Grand Conspiracy straight away and i was delighted to receive Stormed Fortress through the post on Monday.
Delighted to hear about your contract to do the calender for 2010. Does that require you to do whole new artwork? Can't be a bad thing. Would you put any stuff from your books in it? Or do you keep that separate? Anyway, best of luck with it!
I was wondering if you think you'll ever have a book released just concerning the world of Athera - like Robert Jordan and Terry Brooks did? I know that from reading your books that you'll definitely have enough history, geography, character information to put in it. I'd buy it!
I just watched on the news here, that Obama has won the presidental election. I have to say that even here in Ireland, i've never seen so much support (or interest) in a foreign election. Also, there is a positive feeling for the future. I just find it amazing that one man can inspire such feeling and i hope he does well. (Sorry for talking politics - don't usually do that!)
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 6:54 am (EST) em Nov 5, 2008

Happy to help in any way. Thanks for the description of your cats. The choice to buy a cat was not mine; I'd just get them from the pound (where we did get the brothers). But if I ever were to do so, it might be a Bengal -- such interesting guys.

publicado por suslyn às 5:39 am (EST) em Nov 5, 2008

Live frogs! Exciting :) Our house in Normandy is old and all sorts of things creep in. Found a dead snake on the 2nd floor! Freaked, but was glad it was dead. I'm generally okay with snakes -- but not in the house! Blackie, of whom I was reminded when I saw your Sekhmet, kills our musaraigne, a funky little mouse. Buckaroux just gets lizard tails -- we're awash in them, lizards, that is.

The "mouse" in the mouth the other night was nothing special except that he doesn't do that -- or didn't :) Gabriel's the one who carries them around, and then plays with them. So it was just humorous, but it's no wonder that didn't translate! (Why did I include that?!!)

Congrats on your UK release -- I hope that kind of thing is still exciting even after all this time. Have a great day.

publicado por suslyn às 9:35 am (EST) em Nov 3, 2008

PS If you're interested, you can see our cats under "photos" on my multiply site -- the link's on my profile. As I was writing this our maine coon ran into the room with his 'mouse' in his mouth and gave me a muffled meow. LOL

Reqding Kathryn K Rusch's The White Mysts of Power right now and thought of you -- about a bard :)

publicado por suslyn às 7:13 pm (EST) em Nov 1, 2008

You're too kind!
Not surprised you've read those -- it would be more surprising if you hadn't! Here is the list of my favs -- maybe they'll inspire a choice even if it's not something on the list :) A caveat: most favs make it onto that list because they moved me deeply, I found the approach fascinating, or because I find myself turning to them again and again when I want a light read.

Boom, Corrie Ten -- The Hiding Place (biography, favs)
Brooks, Terry -- Magic Kingdom for Sale--Sold! (The Magic Kingdom of Landover) (fantasy, humourous, read out loud w/husb)
Bujold, Lois McMaster -- Cordelia's Honor (storage, SF)
Dickson, Gordon R. -- Dragon and the George (storage, fantasy)
Edwards, Claudia J. -- Eldrie the Healer (Bastard Princess, No. 1) (storage, fantasy)
Fletcher, Inglis -- Raleigh's Eden (fiction, romance)
Grisham, John -- The Testament (fiction)
Haydon, Elizabeth -- Destiny: Child of the Sky (fantasy)
Jones, J. V. -- The Barbed Coil (storage, fantasy)
Kay, Guy Gavriel -- Tigana (storage, fantasy)
Mckillip, Patricia A. -- The Riddle-Master of Hed (fantasy)
Moon, Elizabeth -- Remnant Population (SF)
Norton, Andre -- The Mark of the Cat (fantasy)
Peel, John -- The Secret of Dragonhome (fantasy)
Pilcher, Rosamunde -- Winter Solstice (fiction)
Pollock, John Charles -- A Foreign Devil in China: The Story of Dr. L. Nelson Bell, an American Surgeon in China (storage, biography)
Potok, Chaim -- The Chosen (fiction, storage)
Rose, Darlene Deibler -- Evidence not seen: A woman's miraculous faith in a Japanese prison camp during WWII (biography, WW2, SE Asia)
Rosenberg, Joel -- D'Shai (fantasy)
WATT-EVANS, LAWRENCE -- THE UNWILLING WARLORD (YA fantasy, favs)
Weber, David -- The Excalibur Alternative (storage, SF)
Wilhelm, Kate -- Skeletons (mystery, thriller)
Wilson, Dorothy Clarke -- Granny Brand: Her Story (storage, biography)
Zahn, Timothy -- Manta's Gift (SF)

I am curious to know if you've read Edwards' book and to know what you thought of it if you recall.

Have a great day :)

publicado por suslyn às 9:04 am (EST) em Nov 1, 2008

Sorry -- littering your page here, but I missed the rest of your comments the first read (I do that on books too -- in one of Jordan's Wheel of Time books I missed a battle! lol)

If you haven't tried Bishop's Black Jewels series you might give that a whirl. I noticed you had a Bujold I don't so I'll be looking for that, but her Paladin of Souls is one of my favs (a sequel, but like all of hers the predecessor is not necessary to enjoy the book). Have you read Cherryh's Cuckoo's Egg? That's my fav of hers but I've never been able to get ahold of the sequel :( And then there's the J.V. Jones' Cavern of Black Ice -- again I don't have the full series of those -- or yours either. It's really hit and miss unless you can afford huge postal fees.

Getting books here is a challenge. Actually, the real challenge is getting books I want to read. But the lack of my preferred reads has led me to some jewels that I might not have found otherwise, along with a mess of clunkers (horrible thing to say about the result of all that work!)

We'll be visiting my folks at Xmas in Tx when I'll raid the 2nd hand shops, among others. And when we go 'home' to France I buy a mess at the San Francisco Book Co., a second hand store there. The reg price English bookstores are just way to expensive for me.

publicado por suslyn às 8:06 pm (EST) em Oct 30, 2008

:) Just in case you were serious... it's my 2 color bell pepper soup -- yummy stuff. That was the dinner table last Thanksgiving. I know soups aren't traditional Thxgiving fare, but I'm really good at soup!

publicado por suslyn às 7:52 pm (EST) em Oct 30, 2008

I love your books and am so thrilled tot see you here. Looking forward to browsing your library,
Susan

publicado por suslyn às 3:33 pm (EST) em Oct 30, 2008

Hi Janny
Hope your keeping well. Really enjoying Fugitive Prince - about 350 pages in now and wow! I'm finding it very tense! My nerves are nearly shot! Caolle is just after besting Lirenda - delighted for him. Unfortunately, my work is getting into busy period now and is intruding on my reading (shame on it). I'd normally read on lunch and breaks - but at the moment, i'm getting little or none of that.
My copy of Stormed Fortress is in the post now - so all i want to do is plough through the books. Between that and going to the cinema to see the new James Bond film are whats got me excited at the moment
Talk soon
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 3:39 pm (EST) em Oct 28, 2008

We share Dorothy Hartley's charming/informative "Lost Country Life." If you haven't dipped into it lately take a time out from 2008. . . I'll do the same.

publicado por Esta1923 às 2:01 pm (EST) em Oct 23, 2008

Hi Janny
Glad to hear your enjoying the Rigante books. The fourth one is very good. You will enjoy the troy series - i guarantee it! Other works by David Gemmell - Lion of Macedon and Dark Prince are a great two book series about Alexander the Great - well, Lion of Macedon concerns Philip and Parmenion, while Dark Prince concerns Alexander - more fantasy fiction than historical fiction! If you ever want to see what i rate his books i have star rating on all of them - just check out my David Gemmell tag!
I'm reading the Truth by Terry Pratchett at the moment - light humour before i start into Fugitive Prince! Not one of his best - but nobody can do what Pratchett does, i feel. A recovering vampire with a suicidal fasination for flash photography - genius! Have you ever read any of his?
Anyway, hope your keeping well. Talk Soon
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 2:03 pm (EST) em Oct 6, 2008

I wish I could pick up CJC's works new. I face something like a 2year delay after initial publication before the paperback edition arrives in the UK, I don't have space for hardbacks. I've only read about 1/2 her works, but enjoyed all of them, perhaps the middle of the Fortress series being the weakest. What was the one you found hard?

Very good to hear Ships of Merior is back in print. I'll keep a close eye out. (Is it a good or bad thing not to find your works in 2nd hand bookshops?)

DragonCon sounded, and from the photos, looked great fun.
Take care
Fox

publicado por reading_fox às 6:38 am (EST) em Oct 2, 2008

Hi Janny
I was on play.com again and they've fixed the description for the listing of your book. You must have sorted it! I have preordered Stormed Fortress and can't wait to get it now!
Anyway, hope your keeping well.
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 1:52 pm (EST) em Sep 24, 2008

Hi Janny,

Thanks for the note. Power makes everything almost normal, I've never been so happy as when it came back on.

My hopes are aligned with yours. But I know large numbers of people did not get out. They saw category 2 and thought it would be OK. They must not have realized the full danger of the storm surge. Those that did get out still have a long wait until they get back home again and longer until things get back to normal. A lot of homes are just gone. Tough times for them.

regards,
Dan

publicado por dchaikin às 2:34 pm (EST) em Sep 15, 2008

Hi
I just finished reading (The Master of Whitestorm) that I got from you at Dragoncon. I enjoyed it. It was different than the standard "live happily ever after" books you see so often in fantasy. It makes you think which many authors are afraid to do.

I am going to start (Here be Dragons) next.

Thank You for your condolences for my grandmothers death. She was 86 and told the doctors she did not want to go on life support. She did not see the reason to continue a battle she could not win or even fight to a draw.

Look forward to seeing you next year at Dragoncon if not before.

Thank You, David

publicado por BOSK às 9:28 pm (EST) em Sep 9, 2008

Hi Janny
Hope your keeping well. I've pre-booked stormed fortress on Play.com!!!! Finally. They mixed up the title description of the book on the website - calling it The Alliance of Light. I recognise the cover though and when i clicked on it, then it says that its Stormed Fortress. I nearly missed it!
So, i have it all planned out now. Read a few books for September, than start Fugitive Prince in October and should have everything read just in time to get Stormed Fortress. Really exicited about it!
On Clive Cussler - i really enjoy his books, but i need to leave a good gap in between reading them. I think they can be a bit repeditive otherwise. Then i'm going to read the next Colleen McCullough book, Fortune's Favourites. Brilliant series - but a marathon read!!
Anyway, going to watch a dvd now - In Bruges. A black comedy staring Colin Farrell. Keep well.
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 5:54 am (EST) em Sep 9, 2008

Hi, Janny! We got back from DragonCon late Monday night, and I went right back to work Tuesday at 7 a.m. -- so I've been catching up on work and sleep all week! I haven't posted any of my DragonCon pics yet -- just haven't had a chance -- I've been so busy at school, working on curriculum and advising kids on entering the History Fair, Embracing Our Differences, and the First Freedom competitions after school. I haven't even had a chance to unpack my classroom library yet!

Both CERT and the Red Cross are in battle readiness mode for Hurricane Ike, and I've promised to create a presentation for CERT that's due 9/17 -- so my free time is a lot less free right now! I'm probably not going to be as active on LT for the next few months as I was -- I'm also taking some seminars up at USF in Tampa for the next few months, so time is really crunched right now.

When I get a chance I'll post my DragonCon pics, and you may certainly use any you like on your site.

Talk to you soon!
Rachel

publicado por RachelfromSarasota às 11:16 am (EST) em Sep 7, 2008

Hi Janny
I have to admit i wasn't a big fan of the Rigante books - but the Troy series i thought was brilliant! For a story that everybody knows already, Gemmell shook it up and wasn't afraid to change things. In some ways, it was more realistic and than in others ..... you'll have to read it yourself!
I'm going to read Clive Cussler's Fire Ice next. Have you ever read him? You can tell he loves the water - maybe you have that in common!
I just found a release date of the 3rd November on the harper collins website! It has to be one of the worst websites i've ever seen! You can't access anything on it, whatever is going on there i don't know. And other websites don't seem to be getting the information from them!
Anyway have a good weekend, keep busy writing that book for me!!!!
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 2:24 pm (EST) em Sep 5, 2008

Hi Janny
Hope all's well with you. Finished Warhost of Vastmark - loved it. Though i have to admit towards the end when i thought Dakar was dead, i was about to put down the book and send you a very angry comment straight away. Luckily i decided to read on! Anyway, i'm going to take a break and read a couple of other books now before i read Fugitive Prince. Hopefully, i'll have Stormed Fortress fairly soon and i can read straight through then.
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 8:25 am (EST) em Sep 5, 2008

Hi Janny
Hope all's well. Just finished The Ships of Merior and started into Warhost of Vastmark. A real solid ending to the book - i was expecting it to just stop when you told me it was orginally to be one book. Anyway, loved it.
I'm really having trouble tracking down a copy of stormed fortress. Its out of stock everywhere i check. I think that is the large paperback edition. I wonder do you know when the small paperback is due out?
Have you heard about Terry Goodkind's Wizards first Rule becoming a tv series? I wonder will it be any good - i never read the book.
Anyway have to go now.
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 8:33 am (EST) em Aug 25, 2008

Hi Janny,
Hope your well. The pirate festival sounds like a hell of a lot of fun. We don't have anything like that over here. Pity. The closest we'd have is the Tullow Show - unfortuately its been cancelled for the second year in a row due to really bad weather. August is really turning into a rainy month.
I'm delighted you met your deadline for your shortstory - i never realised that shortstory's had deadlines, but i suppose it makes sense.
I checked out the David Drake book and while he is available over here,(i have a few of his books), that particular one is only in America at the moment. I'm sure i'll track it down eventually though! You recommended Barbara Hambly to me before - still on the lookout for it.
I've a question for you - You know the way that Raymond E. Feist has revised two of his books now, years later after they were first published? Would you ever feel the same about a book of yours? I'm not for a minute suggesting that you need to!!!! I guess its more a question of whether a book should be changed at all after so long? Just a thought thats been on my mind.
Anyway, halfway through The Ships of Merior and loving it. Gonna get a fair amount of reading done this weekend with this weather! Give Don my regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 6:33 am (EST) em Aug 16, 2008

Hi Janny,
Hope your well. I had to go back and see the Dark Knight a second time! Even better - there's so much going on, i don't think its possible to take it all in the first time around. I've just started The Ships of Merior today - i love Dakar! Great start! Really looking forward to getting into it.
I've spent ages putting tags on all my books in librarything - its brilliant. Now i can bring up all an author's books on their own or just ancient rome ones. Great idea - whoever thought of it.
I just got the next four Lindsey Davis books, so i'll read them when i can. Nothing but great reads lined up now for the next while.
Got to go, take care
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 3:11 pm (EST) em Aug 11, 2008

Hi Janny
Hope your having a great weekend. Its a bank holiday over here, so an extra day off work. Love it. I took my son Jack and wife Natasha off camping. It was our first time, really great fun.
David Gemmell's wife finished the final Troy book. He had written alot of it and left detailed notes on how it would go, so she was able to do it. I didn't notice any change in style while reading it and i was looking for it to be honest. Your the professional - maybe you will. All i know is that, it was his best work in years - if not the best. The Rigante series was good - not one of my top favorites. Good fun though.
Jack loves the Jungle Book - though he does have it on dvd. He enjoys his bedtime stories and there is war if we try to put him to bed without one!!!
I've just seen the new batman film. Brilliant. I don't know if your interested, but well worth a watch.
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 2:20 pm (EST) em Aug 4, 2008

I enjoyed our meeting too. Leah and I will plan on popping by your booth at DragonCon. And I'll get in touch with you in September about having you and Don (if he's willing) come to SMA. Thanks! Good luck with the plot snarls!

publicado por RachelfromSarasota às 9:24 am (EST) em Aug 2, 2008

Hi Janny
Hope your keeping well.
I like to read series' straight through. In most cases i usually buy the books and don't read them until the series is finished or at least a few books in. There is a great flow through the books when i read them like that. So, i couldn't wait any longer with yours!!!
I think i'll have to buy up a load of your books to make sure you get over to Ireland! Get you number one in the bestsellers list! Actually, that makes me wonder - where i live in Carlow, there isn't a good bookshop. There was a great one that closed down a few years back. Nice small one - but every time i came in the door the owner would have a couple of books under the counter that he'd know i'd like. He knew all his customers. Now, there's a bookshop that's part of a chain. Don't like it - only gets in loads of copies of bestsellers. You don't get those 'gems' - not so well heard of. Anyway, as a result i buy online from abroad. I think alot of Irish do it now as Ireland is the most expensive country in Europe. Cheaper to get a book imported, then go to your local bookshop. That probably affects your sales in Ireland then? You've probably great sales in Britain and have alot of those going to Ireland?
Anyway, Legend by David Gemmell is his first ever book. It's the one that got me 'hooked' and i've always recommeded it to people who aren't interested in reading. It always ends up turning them in fantasy fans! He is very 'fun', not complicated, heroic fantasy. 'Waylander'and 'King Beyond the Gate' are two follow ups - also great. The Troy trilogy is a great read too.
Got to go - but enjoy your trip.
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 1:45 pm (EST) em Jul 31, 2008

The two books I got were THERE LIES CAMELOT (the paperback copy you signed for the Fruitville branch) and TO RIDE HELL'S CHASM. I love your dedication in the latter -- as the teacher of some of our current warriors, I have done my best to keep both their minds and hearts open. I have a couple of "my" kids heading off to Iraq and Afghanistan this fall -- I don't know how their parents cope with that. I'm worried sick about them and I'm not even their mother!

I'll lurk around the F/SF section until we spot each other!

publicado por RachelfromSarasota às 9:24 pm (EST) em Jul 30, 2008

Hi Janny.
Hope alls well with you. Just finished The Curse of the Mistwraith. Fantastic! I know i'm going to enjoy the series. Totally original and I love reading something that's not been done to death!
How are you getting on with Harry Potter? I haven't read those books yet - so you won't be the last person in the world to read them - i will! I was in New York in January and my wife found a great case with all the books in hardback with american covers ( the case looks like a suitcase)- so we got it. Looks really good. Different for this side of the pond.
I wonder do you ever do book signings in Ireland? If you're ever over, i hope you let me know. Its probably a bit out of the way for you though.
I wonder if you've ever heard of David Gemmell? He's a great writer of heroic fantasy - died a couple of years ago, but did his best work just before he died. It was a trilogy about Troy. He died before he could finish the third book, but his wife finished it. Brilliant and not the obvious telling of the story - he puts a more of a realism to parts of it and probably a bit more fantastic to others.
Also, another question - while i'm in the wondering mood. Do you think you'd ever work with Raymond E. Feist again on another project? The empire series was my personal favorite of all Feist's works.
Anyway, i'm looking forward to starting the Ships of Merior and i hope work on the forthcoming books is progressing (speedily!!!)
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 4:40 pm (EST) em Jul 29, 2008

Right now your schedule is tighter than mine -- so if something opens up for you next week or the week after, give me a call. My literacy class for tomorrow was actually just canceled, b/c the instructor is ill. I'm sorry for her, but happy for me, b/c that means I can now take the defensive driving class for the Red Cross. That's the first step I need in order to be certified to drive the ERV. The class is offered (for free and in person) very rarely, so I'm happy I'll be able to take advantage of that.

If the literacy instructor gets better (and I hope she does, for many reasons -- the selfish one being she's the only literacy "coach" or reading specialist I've ever worked with who really knows her stuff, and I've been looking forward to taking the class with her for six months!) then I'll be up in Sarasota Monday through Friday.

Have you found that work expands to overfill the time you have allotted for it? I had such grand plans for the summer, both in terms of household chores and getting some nuts & bolts stuff done for school. Although it's been a fantastically productive summer for me, there's still so MUCH I still need to get done! At least I'm old hand enough not to panic as the clock ticks down to back to school!

I do enjoy hearing from you, and if we can get together before DragonCon, great! If not, we'll meet each other there.

BTW, Leah showed me the two books she has that YOU wrote (as well as the hardcover she has of Don's). She owns both DAUGHTER OF THE EMPIRE, and SERVANT OF THE EMPIRE, which you wrote with Raymond Feist. She told me she enjoyed both books very much. The NP library has TO RIDE HELL'S CHASM in for me, and I'll try to swing by and pick it up tomorrow.

I know you love horses -- do you own your own steeds? Have you any other pets (husbands don't count!)?

publicado por RachelfromSarasota às 8:04 pm (EST) em Jul 25, 2008

Just wanted you to know that our conversations are frustrating the heck out of my daughter Leah -- I told her that we'd emailed each other a few times now, in just a few days, and she's now going around wringing her hands, moaning: "Why couldn't this have happened while I was still at Ringling? I could have walked into class and everyone would have been so impressed!" Evil chortle from Mom.

But I'M going to impress the heck out of my literacy class on Saturday! (I hope. . .see diatribe below.)

I would love to get together with you to talk about books! Books and potato chips and dogs -- my great weaknesses! And in the circles I move in, none of the three are popular!

Since I'm a single mom (though, thank the gods, two of my three are in the process of flying the nest) two of the above are quite a challenge on a teacher's salary. That's one of the reasons I ended up living in North Port, even though I work in Sarasota. But I manage to assuage my cravings by haunting the Sarasota County library -- in the summer I visit the NP branch one or two times a week, and in the winter I patronize Selby, b/c it's so close to SMA. I also prowl through the great used bookstores we have in the area -- though not Brant's. I pop in there once a year, but the place is so termite-ridden and airless that I can't stay in the store for more than ten minutes. And I kid you not, the last time I went to Brant's (this June), when I opened a book I was interested in there was a swarm of termites huddled inside the front page. (I'm all too familiar with the leetle beasties b/c my classroom at SMA has a swarm of them -- ick!) So even though I wanted the book, I hastily put it down and made for the door.

I haven't been downtown in a month -- do you know if Main Books has reopened? It was one of my absolute favorite places in Sarasota. I guess their new construction went awry and they had a sprinkler malfunction, back in June.

Right now I'm reading two books for reviewing purposes: THE TRIUMPH OF DEBORAH by Eva Etzioni-HaLevy (DON'T rush out to buy this one -- the writing is stilted and she's put a rather 21st century mindset into her Israelite heroine), and LEGERDEMAIN: THE PRESIDENT'S SECRET PLAN, THE BOMB, AND WHAT THE FRENCH NEVER KNEW by James J. Heaphey. That's the story about what was happening in Morocco in 1952. Well-written and fascinating. The publisher even sent me a media kit -- and I'm definitely going to work it into my curriculum this year.

For fun, I just finished David Gerrold's LEAPING TO THE STARS, the 3rd book in the series about a dysfunctional family trying to survive Earth's "polycrisis". I love everything Gerrold writes, even though, like Robert B. Parker, he's always working through his own life via his characters. It may be voyeuristic of me, but I enjoy these peeks into others' souls. Having had to totally recreate myself after my divorce, I find it fascinating to see how other people deal with some of the same issues. I'm trying to get my hands on Gerrold's A MARTIAN CHILD, which is the true story of his struggle to adopt his son as a single, gay man, and his odyssey to parent a child with so many physical and emotional challenges. I don't know if you've encountered David Gerrold -- while still wet behind the ears he wrote the original "Trouble with Tribbles" Star Trek episode, and then went on to write one of my favorite series, THE WAR AGAINST THE CHTORR -- the story of an alien ecological invasion of Earth. Great stuff -- but he apparently stopped writing the series right in the middle! Leaving us fans hanging on by our fingernails after the cliff-hanger in Book Four. Not fair!

I just finished Steven King's IT a week ago -- I had gone rather "off" King after CUJO -- he can always punch my buttons with what he does to dogs in his stories. But Leah read IT, to compare it with the mini-series, and raved about the book, so I had to read it too so we could talk about the book. I'm glad I did -- like Koontz (whose books I dip into now and then), the man CAN write.

I'm also, for my own satisfaction, rereading THE EARLY STORIES OF LOUISA MAY ALCOTT so I can review each tale. Back in the early 80s I stumbled across Madeleine Stern's work unearthing Alcott's "unknown thrillers" and I've been hooked on Alcott ever since. The contrast between her "children's friend" (as she herself termed herself) stuff and her blood-and-thunders is fascinating! And I'm kind of a nut about the Victorian era (both in America and England) so reading Alcott in either of her incarnations is like a trip through time for me. Their world, both physically and mentally, was just so different!

I am also skimming through Elizabeth George's A TRAITOR TO MEMORY, one of her Lynley mysteries. I have only caught glimpses of the Lynley series on PBS, and wasn't really enamored of the show, but enough folks one the mystery thread raved about George's work that I decided to give it a try. She is a wonderful writer, I think -- but the book is very dense -- plots and subplots and a whole slew of fascinating characters. I just don't have the attention span right now that I feel the book needs. I'll return it to the library and get it out again when I'm more in the mood to devote a big chunk of time to one book. Right now I'm in my "grasshopper" phase (no reference to David Carradine intended), and I am looking for quick reads: shorter works that I can escape into for a brief stay, and then get back to getting my stuff ready for going back to school.

A few weeks ago I soared through the Quinn Parker books (there are only four, darn it all!) by Bruce Zimmerman -- the closest series I've encountered that comes close to filling in the gap left by the passing of John D. MacDonald and the inimitable Travis McGee. Those were fun! Don't know if I want to own them, though.

Oh, yes, I also recently finished Jerome Adler's HOW TO READ A BOOK, which was yet another LTer's recommendation. A great book, though the writing is definitely dated, but way too advanced, unfortunately, for most of my colleagues. But I've gleaned some tips from it to pass onto my students (SMA's literacy coach agrees with me -- the writing is well beyond what even pre-service teachers can handle).

Ooooh. . .must resist. . .must resist. . .must resist the urge to go into a lengthy diatribe about the failures of the U.S. educational system. Fighting the urge. . .there, it's passed. I will just say this, however: math and science scores are steadily creeping up (why, in a decade our kids might even be where European students are now!), but our reading scores, in middle and high school are plummeting. Why, you ask? Okay, you didn't ask, but I'll pretend you did. I can give you one very simple answer -- 90% of American teachers don't read. Oh, I have no doubt they COULD read, if pressed, but for most teachers reading is a chore they find just as unpleasant as their students do. Don't believe me? Plant a listening device in any teacher's lounge across the country.

Want more proof? For my literacy skills in the content area class (which begins on Saturday) we're using a very good textbook aimed at pre-service teachers (aka "student teachers). The author, Sharon Kane, is a professor in the Education department at SUNY@Oswego, and the main refrain running through the book is her plea to teachers to themselves become passionate readers so their students can see first-hand how reading both fiction and nonfiction enhances one's life. She repeats this plea at least twice in every chapter!

I've got to tell you, this is an uphill battle. If I hear one more teacher (especially ENGLISH teachers) complain to me, "I wish I could read, but I just don't have the time. MY life is so busy that just keeping up with the kids' papers is all I can do." Of course that's nonsense to a real reader, who feels that one might as well say, "I just don't know when I'll find time to breathe."
The last "reading" course I took, over the winter, was an online class from UCF -- and part of our "grade" was to communicate with other students and the facilitator by email. Guess what? Not ONE of the participants, including the facilitator, had read either a novel or a nonfiction work in the last year! They were all too busy. This, despite a slew of research that indicates that a well-stocked classroom library and a well-read and enthusiastic teacher are two vital elements in improving kids' reading scores!

Okay. . .deep breath. . .end of diatribe! I promise to inflict no more of these on you!

To get back to my recent reading revels -- I loved THE PRISONER OF ZENDA and just got the sequel, RUPERT OF HENTZAU, out of the library. I am disappointed in it -- for one thing, the narrator has changed, and thus the whole tenor of the book is altered as well. Sigh.

And for school, and my own edification, I am reading Brooke Allen's MORAL MINORITY and Susan Jacoby's FREETHINKERRS, and Clyde Prestowitz's THREE BILLION NEW CAPITALISTS. These are books I pore over, highlighter in hand, laptop running, so I can read and take notes at the same time.

And now you know far more about me than you wanted to. . .forgive my literary logorrhea -- there are not many adults I can share my passion with and feel confident that they'll understand!

What are you reading? Do you have any favorite genres or authors? I was thrilled that you've read Zenna Henderson - I actually used to teach one of her short stories, "Hush" when I taught 9th grade Language Arts. I have often felt that real writers, like you, write at least in part because the worlds (and words) in their head are so much more interesting than the words others have already published. I lack the imagination to create my own plots, much less world visions, and I think I'm basically lazy -- I'd really rather read than do almost anything else -- at least anything my straitened finances permit.

publicado por RachelfromSarasota às 1:56 pm (EST) em Jul 24, 2008

Hi Janny
Just in case your interested - i spotted a book that's available for pre-order, its a long title : 'The Marcus Didius Falco Companion: Characters, Plots, Places, Events and Historical Elements in the novels by Lindsey Davis'. Its written by Michael R.Schuyler. Might be interesting - but i think i'll have to have read all the books first in case there's any spoilers!
Also, 300 pages into The Curse of the Mistwraith - can't put it down! Loving it.
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 1:55 pm (EST) em Jul 16, 2008

In case you didn't notice you're today's "featured author" on the home pages. I don't what if any benefits it brings, but I thought you'd like to know.

publicado por reading_fox às 11:52 am (EST) em Jul 16, 2008

Thanks for the Jerusalem Fire reccomendation, just finished it after picking it up last week. Very impressed with the characters and the twists at the end! Shad was fairly obvious but the rest suprised me. I'm not totally convinced that abrahamic religions are still going ot be significant in 3000 years time, nor that artifacts in Jerusalem will last that long, but if they are then the story is an enlightening look at the problems!
Fox.

publicado por reading_fox às 8:43 am (EST) em Jul 15, 2008

Hi Janny
I've just finished Shadowfane! Brilliant! My favorite book of the trilogy! Its not often that the final book betters whats come before - so well done! I'm going to start straight into The Curse of the Mistwraith now. Really excited about it.
Also, I've finished the first four books by Lindsey Davis now. I was looking into getting a few more, but it looks like the ones i had gotten already had new covers on them and the next four books are being re-released with new covers next month. Think i'll hold off for them - i like all the books to match coverwise! I'm weird that way!
Anyway, just wanted you to know how much i enjoyed your book. Hope your keeping well.
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 8:01 am (EST) em Jul 13, 2008

I guess when you carefully examine it, no matter how finely you parse the criteria, Sturgeon's Law always applies. Epic long fanstasy as equally as a short SF story. I don't often post in SFfans as you say it is often a "stream of curmudgeonly opinions"!

" I have too many writing projects on the burner at once" Is always good to hear!

publicado por reading_fox às 11:25 am (EST) em Jun 30, 2008

Hi Janny,

Not sure I have much to say except thanks for interesting comment. Especially the comment about "a degree of flexible imagination too many intelligent people allow to be browbeaten out of them." There is something strange about books in that sometimes they can really capture you and at other times it's like you're reading from a distance. Your taking in the words, but not experiencing the story. I don't think it has anything to do with "intelligence," but it does have to do with our thought processes interfering with the experience. As we become critical, we begin to lose the story part of the story, if the make sense. We lose the enjoyment. This is something I have a problem with. I want to get more out of what I read, but I don't want to drag myself through books just to know they are there. I'm not sure where that balance is. (I feel like I could keep going on about this for awhile).

In regards to Schrock, he created a strange thought-provoking atmosphere. But, he didn't tell me where to put my thoughts. So, yes, I could suspend myself and just take in the story. The problem is that then the story ended and I was left wondering what the point was. I know there was something there, and I find myself trying to reconstruct it in hindsight.

Anyway, thanks for the thoughtful comments.

Cheers,
d

publicado por dchaikin às 4:27 pm (EST) em Jun 22, 2008

Hi Janny,

Thanks for the feedback on Schrock. I think he's beyond me and I don't feel I was able to get that much out of Letters from Alf. Then again, I did enjoy it while I read it; and I still think about.

Cheers,
d

publicado por dchaikin às 5:42 pm (EST) em Jun 20, 2008

Hi Janny
Thanks for the pointers. I really can't wait to get started now. I have to knuckle down now and get onto them.

publicado por WillieD às 6:44 am (EST) em Jun 10, 2008

Hi Janny,

I recently read Letters From Alf by Gladden Schrock and, er, I have no idea what to make of it. I was wondering, since you recommended it way back in July of 2007, if there is any chance you might try to help me figure out what I read? :}

Thanks,
Dan

publicado por dchaikin às 1:28 pm (EST) em Jun 9, 2008

Yeah, i'm already enjoying Shadows in Bronze - picks up pretty much straight away after the Silver Pigs.
Thanks for the info on the proof copies. I have yet to read that series - but i have all your stuff up to Peril's Gate. I just have to reread the final book in your Cycle of Fire and then i'm going to start into them. Its seems to be two different series' in one series? I'll be reading straight through from the start anyway - really looking forward to it.
I've given myself the task of only buying one book for every three that i read out of my library. I've been buying books faster than i can read them and have alot of catching up to do. In most cases, this is so that i can have an entire series or trilogy, so i don't have to wait months/years for the next book. Anyway, wandering off the point a bit. Hope you well.

publicado por WillieD às 12:02 pm (EST) em Jun 5, 2008

Hi Janny,
You'll be delighted to know i've started the second Lindsey Davis book - Shadows in Bronze. If its half as good as the Silver Pigs, i'm in for a treat.
I was curious about something. I visited Raymond E. Feist's offical website and saw that a proof copy of your Grand Conspiracy was for sale on it. I was wondering what a proof copy was?
P.S. Hope your keeping well.

publicado por WillieD às 2:58 pm (EST) em Jun 4, 2008

Oh! Just found out Francis has a new book coming out in August - called Silks.
Wheeeeeeee!

publicado por eviltammy às 11:20 am (EST) em May 23, 2008

Hi--I saw your mention of riding this weekend on the GD thread. Yay! Another creative, book-loving horse person. I hope you'll check out the LT horses group http://www.librarything.com/groups/horse... . We're very small and pretty quiet--we haven't quite yet reached critical mass to keep conversations going, I think.

publicado por streamsong às 9:46 am (EST) em May 23, 2008

>Hi - I'm flattered, of course, and naturally curious about what >drew you to the library. Correspond if you like!

Was browsing the Library Thing Author list:)

The Empire trilogy with Raymond Feist - I loved the original Riftwar Saga and was blown away by the trilogy. I usually reread it around once a year or so - it'll pop into my head for some reason and linger until I give in to the urge :)

Must confess I haven't read anything that's solely yours, but I know I have a few things listed on my endless TBR list :) and looking through your library has made it more endless!

publicado por eviltammy às 9:14 pm (EST) em May 21, 2008

Hi Janny,
You've got me thinking - have you ever found an audio version of a book to be useful or even good? Just curious.

publicado por WillieD às 12:43 pm (EST) em May 12, 2008

Brilliant! Just finished The Silver Pigs and i really enjoyed it. Don't worry it wasn't an audio book. (I've never used an audio book.) When i got to page 50, i went online and ordered the next 3 books in the series. I could really tell i was going to enjoy it at that stage! Thanks a million again for the recommendation.
I think there is 16 books in the series, so, i'm going to be busy for a while.

publicado por WillieD às 12:54 pm (EST) em May 2, 2008

Just finished rereading Stormwarden. Really enjoyed it again. My favourite character was Emien - i just loved watching his character progress.
I'm going to start the Silver Pigs tomorrow. So, i'll let you know how it goes.

publicado por WillieD às 3:38 pm (EST) em Apr 28, 2008

Don't worry. i'll let you know.

publicado por WillieD às 1:53 am (EST) em Apr 22, 2008

Good! I hope you like them!
Colleen McCullough has a series called the masters of rome. I've only read the first
two books in the series. They are the best i've read in historical fiction. They are
as accurate as i think anyone can get. Very complicated, more political than action.
It is very hard to figure out the names of the characters. It took me until the second book to start getting the names straight in my head! But that being the worst complaint, they are worth reading.
The first book is called 'The First Man in Rome' and follows Gaius Marius and Sulla.
The second book is 'The Grass Crown' and continues with Marius and Sulla when they come close to tearing Rome apart between them. Meanwhile, Caesar is only a kid and sets up the third book which will follow his story.
They definitely are not books you would fly through, i find i like to savour them and make them last.
By the way, 'The Silver Pigs' came in the post today. Hopefully i'll get a chance to start it during the week.
Enjoy the books
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 1:58 pm (EST) em Apr 18, 2008

Under the Eagle is the first in Simon Scarrow's series. I don't know if it has a different name in America, but i'm sure you'll have no problems. You probably are back from the library at this stage anyway and figured it out for yourself!
Anyway, i'm waiting for the silver pigs to come - should get it before the end of the week. That gives me time to finish the book i'm reading. Did you ever read Colleen McCullough?
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 2:36 am (EST) em Apr 17, 2008

Just being nosy really - was the short print run issue you mentioned on that GD thread, behind the US publishers difficulties with Stormed Fortress?

Have you seen the recent LT blog post about an Author Chat program?

Recomendations - I'm always open to new recommendations... though I've still plenty to work through!

publicado por reading_fox às 6:16 am (EST) em Apr 15, 2008

"Sarah Zettel - she does some of the finest character driven SF, but if you haven't discovered her Isavalta series (fantasy) you are in for a real treat. Very fine characterization, and a well worked out backdrop of interlaced realities"

From long ago - but I've finally finished reading this. Thanks for the recommendation: I enjoyed it - slow but as you say well worked.

publicado por reading_fox às 10:03 am (EST) em Apr 13, 2008

Hi Janny
Thanks a million for those recommendations. I just ordered the first Lindsey Davis book 'the Silver Pigs'. Barbara Hambly seems to be hard to get this side of the 'pond', but never fear i will track it down.
Regards
Willie
P.S. Simon Scarrow has a great series following a centurion and his optio. Set around AD42, the time of the invasion of Britain

publicado por WillieD às 2:41 pm (EST) em Apr 10, 2008

Hi Janny.
I'm very new to Librarything and i'm amazed that such a thing exists! You can imagine my suprise when i saw that you were on it as well. Anyway, it's been a few years since i've read your books and i'm definitely feeling i should reread them as soon as possible. I mainly just wanted to wish you well and thanks for hours of enjoyment.
Regards
Willie

publicado por WillieD às 3:37 pm (EST) em Apr 9, 2008

You were right, I enjoyed "Jerusalem Fire" - Starts quite brilliantly, then I wasnt so sure for a while in the middle, but then it went to the backstory of 2 characters and from then it was a great ride of a book, with things making more and more sense and with plenty to make me chew about in between reading sessions... I'll try to write a review once I have chewed some more :) I will definitively look her other books up.

It is good news that the Empire trilogy is out in french, I will have to get them for my best friend. I read the empire trilogy a few years back after a reread of the "magician" and following series, and I enjoyed them best of the lot. Especially the last one which I just remember as one of the most satisfying books ever, the "take on the world and win" story is just one that makes you cheer inside.

publicado por iphigenie às 11:20 am (EST) em Apr 2, 2008

Wow.

Finished Mistwraith last night. Very impressed. Very curious about lots of details, time to start hunting down the rest of the series. How much of the backstory appears in the later works? I've had a quick skim through Paravia but I don't want to meet too many spoilers.
"You will see some of the "themes" of earlier novels handled in this series with a lot more power and depth" How true that is. I was lost in the depths, and I suspect will have to re-read many times to grasp it all.

I'm not an audio book person at all, though I have read some of the preview chapters on paravia - I'd expected the Mistwraith one to be at the start of the book rather than halfway through!

The rain held off over Easter, we got a plesant 1" of snow to build with instead.

"Got a loft full of instruments" !!! What sort? Do you play? - with horseriding skills you'd make a fine bard!

And to interupt your discussion with iphigenie, there's a "New Features" group which the LT staff use to promote additions to the site, and often blog posts too. Connection news is a few months old, tag mirror was disabled very quickly because it was so server intensive.

Thanks for Mistwraith it really was a stunning read
Fox.

publicado por reading_fox às 7:34 am (EST) em Mar 26, 2008

The connection page I mentioned is called "connection news" and it is hidden on the menu line at the top of the "your profile" page. You can then see what books your connections have added, but also new reviews about books any of them own, things like that

I have no idea how long it has been here, I only saw it a week or two ago when wanting to check my tag mirror.

publicado por iphigenie às 4:05 am (EST) em Mar 26, 2008

Hi again.

This comment feature is a bit hard to keep a track of! I wrote a long rambling thing, tried to tidy it up so it didnt take half the browser... I put my halfway-through-undertow answer back on my page, so i dont have others asking too ;)

First, I cannot agree with you more on not liking predictable, by-the-numbers plots. I guess most books are written for the "occasional reader", the people who read a book or two a month, and these people do not want to gamble with their reading (rightly so!). They want the comfort of the formula with only a twist of originality (or, in the case of thrillers, just try to up the intensity one level yet again). If I mistakenly pick one of those books I feel cheated. Talking-to-the-tv annoyed! I hate cliches and I would never pay to read something I think even I could write... we readers can be mean.

I hugely value originality (sometimes to the point of stupidity, some friends would say, since I tend to find mainstream success suspicious), and being surprised. It's very powerful, being surprised! You don't forget it. For example there is a book that will always be on my favorites list because of it, S. Tepper's "the family tree" - I will treasure that book for a very long time because I did not see it coming at all. But I keep putting off rereading it since i dont know how it will fare when you know the plot...

But sometimes predictable is good. For example when you as a reader see something coming that the author wants you to see - usually something dreadful - and you almost want to stop reading so you dont have to see it happen (Robin Hobb and George Martin do that a lot, and, closer to home, I had that a few times in the Wars of Light and Shadows too)...

But all in all after reading nearly a book a day for about 10 years, then still a few a week, I am a picky reader and surprise and originality are best - in plot, or topic, or style, or mixing things up, or turning cliches upside down.

PS: great news on the french translation! I'll keep an eye out for it and I can get my best-friend-from-school all eager about it! I got her hooked on fantasy and science fiction a few years ago and she always badgers me for suggestions, and the ones I make are never available in french.

PPS: You'll have to tell me more about places you remember in the southeast then! I have done the touristy things -darwin's house, various castles- but not much more. I plan to visit Rye as just from maps it looks like a nice estuary with lots of paths and besides I like the name (it's a bit too far but a walk from Rye to Sandwich just has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?)

publicado por iphigenie às 7:50 pm (EST) em Mar 25, 2008

Yes, I figured you had listed only one per author as a choice, and probably have hundreds more. Only seeing the tip of the iceberg makes it hard to venture suggestions though.

I haven't had that many new great reading moments last year - lots of books that were perfectly fine but not many 'wow' moments.

Scanning all the books into LT made me reread quite a few old favorites (mostly in magical realism and space opera scifi this time around) and put a batch of others on my TBR pile.

Books I hadnt read before which I read in the past few months and which really hit the spot:
Pat Barker: 'regeneration', 'the eye in the door' and 'the ghost road'. I dont know why I picked them up, the cover blurb isnt particularly enticing and it seems a very gloomy and dull topic, but the books grabbed me and stayed with made me think and even made me look up some of the real characters fictionalised in it.

Fannie Flagg:'standing in the rainbow' and 'i cant wait to get to heaven'. They are very easy to read but such happy books, a bit sappy perhaps but the author clearly loves people and their foibles so much it makes you love people more just reading the books.

PS: I realise I didnt answer all your questions, I lived in the french part of Switzerland for half my life, that's where all the french books/french libraries mentions stem from. I have since moved to the UK. As for hiking, I did most of it around Switzerland (every other weekend in the summer) and quite a few walking holidays in France (corsica, the cevennes, the dordogne etc). In England I mostly covered the dales and moors around Yorkshire when I lived there, and now that I have moved to the southeast I havent done anything... I really should since I have sent my application for the 4 days of Nijmegen and hopefully I'll make the draw, but i ought to get some miles under my belt!

publicado por iphigenie às 4:03 am (EST) em Mar 24, 2008

Thanks for the message and the suggestion - Someone had 'Jerusalem Fire' listed on bookmooch in the UK so I have already tried to snatch it. Hopefully I will get it next week. I am on a self imposed "book diet" where I cannot buy a new book unless I have either 1) read a book I own which I hadnt yet read, or 2) re-read 2 books I already own. But bookmooch books don't count, so I was thrilled to find it on bookmooch!

you ask what initially interested me in your inventory... it's quite mundane, really, like many people on LT curiosity made me look up authors I like that I could find on LT. Then I noticed that even though you listed only a small number of books there were a few significant ones in common (even more if you add my wishlist) so I figured I'd keep an eye on you. At the time the option was private watch but I recently discoved you could now have a public set of interesting libraries so switched to that. Interesting libraries sure make the "Connections News" page in LT fascinating.

As regards Kristine Smith I suspect many people picked up "code of conduct" when it got a lot of good reviews a few years back, and promptly got lost in it. I had not read her others and found it quite hard to get into. You get that nagging feeling that you ought to "get" more of what is going on... I went and found the previous books from the library and it was all far more enjoyable with a bit more context.

publicado por iphigenie às 7:07 pm (EST) em Mar 23, 2008

Yes, the non-spoiler thread sounds like a good way to go about it.
People will be more likely to click when they see that it's you that posted to the old thread.

publicado por clamairy às 2:48 pm (EST) em Mar 22, 2008

Oh, I think that is a most excellent idea! Go right ahead and post those links!
There are plenty of folks who will want to listen, those who've already read the book as well as those who haven't read it yet.
Thanks for thinking of us... seriously.

publicado por clamairy às 12:22 pm (EST) em Mar 22, 2008

Well Mistwraith has me hooked at the moment, I'm already surprised by the twists, and just about keeeping track of who is where and related to whom. I'll post a full review when I 've finished it - I'll heed your warning about the pace of the ending!

I'm unlikely ot be in the US anytime soon, but if you ever manage to get a book signing tour in the UK or even Europe, I'd be honoured to meet you IRL. Till then virtual beers are great!

Cheers and Happy Easter

Fox.

publicado por reading_fox às 5:43 pm (EST) em Mar 21, 2008

Almost a year already! Where does time go?! There's a 1 year aniversary thread somewhere on GD. I'll certainly join in beer drinking! I just hope I haven't distracted you from your writing, or the dedicated Paravians.

Mistborn - yes. Elantris had a exert in the back, a practise that I usually dislike*, but it worked this time! When I can find it: Brandon doesn't yet seem to be in UK real life bookshops, and I'm reluctant to use Amazon. Last time I tried that, fed up of waiting for Deliverer, I came away with an order for 7. However that included Mistwraith, which is likely to be my Easter reading ;-) and also Zettel's A Sorcerer's Treason from your recommendations.

What are you reading at the moment?

*Is this a publishers decision? or do authors get input on it?

publicado por reading_fox às 5:37 am (EST) em Mar 20, 2008

Hi, thanks for responding. I have not posted even half of my library yet, so we may have a few more books in common!Also your about me blurb really speaks to the way I feel about our creative capabilities and what could happen if we could connect to them more in our daily life, if we weren't forced as children to fit into someone else's idea of what our life should be. I do love the fantasy genre and hope to write some stories and submit them to the appropriate publications. I will be watching your career. Ill be looking for some of your books on Amazon! Good night, Mary Beth

publicado por mmignano11 às 10:50 pm (EST) em Mar 18, 2008

RYN: Apologies for not being clearer - I like reading, but I'm not so good at writing. I wasn't asking for recommendations, more expressing an interest in the books on your shelf. Many of them look very interesting!

publicado por fairy-whispers às 12:37 am (EST) em Mar 14, 2008

Hi!

Yes, Dan Millman's book on energy and numbers. Its really interesting, his own version of numerology and their influence in our life's energy patterns based on experience and Pythagorean mysticism. I have always been drawn to patterns, cycles, fractals and how they appear in the world. Frankly, now I'd like to find more on the pure Pythagorean teachings.

Funny story, the book was recommended by a woman I met a few years ago who is a rather famous English medium. I found her fascinating and she mentioned this book, so I made a point of finding a copy. Then, it got lost it in my shuffling offices around. I stumbled across it recently and picked it again. I calculated the formula with my own info and then all the other people in my house (three others). It seems uncanny and quite accurate (and not very flattering sometimes...) but of course, I find this stuff hypnotic and I can practically read meaning into a rock on the beach. I guess you have to take it with a bit of humor and an open mind; just to give you an idea, here is what Dan's book says about my energy and life purpose...

"...those on this path are here to work through issues of perfectionism, emotional expression, and self-doubt in order to bring forward their inspiring vision of life's possibilities, while appreciating the innate perfection of the present moment..."

Ha - sounded familiar to me. Not a bad purpose, I suppose.

publicado por villandry às 10:44 pm (EST) em Mar 12, 2008

I was so surprised (in a good way!) to get a comment from you. The reason I added you to my interesting libraries is because I am a big fan of your work. Since I love your writing so much, I figured I'd also check out some of the books you like to read. I have a huge tbr pile, but there are some books in your library I can't wait to get a look at!

Re my picture: Yes, it is beautiful at the moment, and for that reason has lasted a lot longer than most of my pics. I tend to change all my profile pics on the web to match my desktop. As you can see, I have waterfall theme at the moment.

Have a great day!

publicado por fairy-whispers às 6:48 pm (EST) em Mar 10, 2008

Janny,

Thanks for the author recommendations--one thing reading some of the posts on this site has encouraged me to do (since I'm reorganizing anyway) is to make a separate pile of my books to be read. I've already filled one box just with sci fi/fantasy--oh, and two Emily Loring romances, just for a flash from the past (Loring frequently describes her heroines as being "gay," and she means happy!).

I do think Holly Lisle's ebook is valuable, despite the anti-college bit. I don't expect my education to come up in my fiction writing efforts (didn't discuss it when I met with an agent at a conference--just my query letter, which she liked a lot), either; I just think it was a good thing for me personally. Certainly the historical mystery I'm working on has required ongoing research, but I like to think that having the perspective and methods of evaluating what I read that I gained in studying the subject formally are useful, too. Just as Holly's experiences in nursing and in some harrowing personal challenges (she's pretty forthright in discussing them) have contributed to her writing. Aren't we all the sum of everything in our pasts?

I've got a fair number of Dick Francis mysteries and have read a couple of Ngaio Marsh's; I like Robert Parker's Spenser books a lot (very snappy dialog) and a current favorite is Elizabeth George, who writes the Inspector Lynley mysteries. The books are much more complex than the PBS Mystery series based on them; she delves into the psychology of her characters a lot while still giving things like forensic evidence and police procedure their due. Paradoxically, she's an American who writes British mysteries--and makes it work.

I'm playing hookey right now from a project . . . best get back to reading articles and writing test questions on Global Issues . . . sigh. It's a slog.

Elizabeth

publicado por ejj1955 às 12:57 am (EST) em Mar 2, 2008

Janny,

I'm in the midst of massively reorganizing my books, so this seemed a serendipitous time to find this site and start cataloging my books. I used to have a database of them, but the computer died and then there was the flood of June 2006, in which I lost boxes of books not yet unpacked and the bottom shelf of every bookcase . . . still pretty traumatized when I think of that. One row of dictionaries; one row of Robert Jordan and Mercedes Lackey.

The survivors ended up in great messy piles in an upstairs bedroom, and I finally decided I can't stand any longer not knowing what I have and getting all the series together that belong together and maybe I'll want to use that room for something someday.

I'm a freelance writer/editor/proofreader/online bookseller. Most of my editorial career has been in reference works but naturally I want to write fiction! I have no desire to be famous but published and solvent would do it for me. Or, you know, fabulously wealthy from a string of bestsellers; I shall take what comes.

Cheers,
Elizabeth

publicado por ejj1955 às 6:01 pm (EST) em Feb 26, 2008

I saw on one thread that you mentioned The Heaven Tree as a great book; as this trilogy is one of my all-time favorites, I had to come visit your page here! I also really like Pargeter's ("writing as Ellis Peters") Cadfael books, but The Heaven Tree is something beyond those.

I found this site today and can't stop reading threads . . . oh, dear.

publicado por ejj1955 às 2:52 am (EST) em Feb 26, 2008

Hi Janny,

I love your "Cycle of Fire" trilogy. My copy of 'Keeper of the Keys' is falling apart from being read so many times. I tagged your library as one to watch because I thought thought that as I enjoy your books so much I might also enjoy some of the books you read.

publicado por penga_librarian às 9:55 am (EST) em Feb 4, 2008

Daughter of the Forest arrived today! thank you once again for sending it to me.

Cheers,

Rune

publicado por RuneFirestar às 10:39 am (EST) em Jan 22, 2008

Thank you sooo much!

Will make sure to let you know as soon as I get it!

cheers,

Rune

publicado por RuneFirestar às 8:50 pm (EST) em Jan 15, 2008

no TBR pile for me. I don't buy books until I've read my last purchases, so I've jumped straight into Empire and am really enjoying it so far.

Don't know how I managed to get Mistwraith and Merior muddled. I've been looking out for a copy of Mistwraith for a couple of years now - but I can't seem to find it in my local bookshops. Not ordering online is one way to avoid a TBR pile.

Glad you ar enejoying LT!

publicado por reading_fox às 7:15 am (EST) em Jan 10, 2008

Hi Janny,

I'm thrilled that you're thrilled. Mainly, I find your library interesting because I'm in the midst of reading To Ride Hell's Chasm and really enjoying it. It's the first of your books that I've tried although my boyfriend has been a fan of yours for some time. (By the way, can you tell us when we might see a US publishing of Stormed Fortress?)

More specifically, I see George R. R. Martin, who is a great favorite of mine, and other authors whose books I've been meaning to check out including C. J. Cherryh and Lois McMaster Bujold. Also, the titles The Discovery of King Arthur and The New View Over Atlantis immediately caught my eye as ones I might find interesting.

I recently came across the book on braiding by Jacqui Carey which you mentioned, and I thought it was really fascinating. It will probably find its way home with me at some point. I usually stick with knitting, but I always like to learn different ways to play with string.

Unfortunately, I have yet to figure out how to turn a cat into gold let alone get one to do anything else! ;) That book is one of three puzzle books by Christopher Manson whose clues are hidden in some wonderfully quirky stories and drawings.

Thanks for stopping by my library!

publicado por lkmiller às 8:27 pm (EST) em Jan 4, 2008

Hi!

I have read Daughter of the Forest and loved it. Its such a beautiful story.
My copy however got lost when I moves from the states to the UK and I haven't been able to get another copy.

IF you liked that you might like Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey its not as long and complex but its a fairy tale retold with a touch of magic :)

publicado por RuneFirestar às 8:21 pm (EST) em Jan 4, 2008

Hi Janny, must admit to being surprised to get a comment from you, but delighted as well.

One of the main reasons I selected you as an "Interesting Library" is that you are one of my Top 3 Authors EVA! (The other two are Guy Gavriel Kay and Lois McMaster Bujold FYI)

And while I dont own a copy of all of your books, I have many of them but have read all and been a fan from the beginning. Particularly a fan of the Wars of Light and Shadow series.

Always happy to discuss books and swap recommendations, its the best way to find new reading :)

publicado por bluerose às 5:58 pm (EST) em Dec 31, 2007

Janny,

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your help. There is a man I know who handles intellectual property law and I will ask for his advice. I'm doing my best to see that this is done professionally and yet I can appreciate the lack of control over the behavior of others once it belongs to the world and not just me... I'm filled with excitement and half terrified at the same time. I can just do my best to take thorough notes and document... and be redundantly honest about my intentions. Most of the time, the people I speak with will not read or write in my language or any other... So the verbal and eye to eye understanding will be critical and promises to be fascinating. This one feels like its hijacked me on an adventure that likely doesn't end, ever. My dream is of course that it will succeed beyond expectations, though, the process of getting it birthed is my first focus now. Your advise means the world - anything that you learn about this kind of thing will be eagerly assimilated if you can share it! And I will let you know what I find out as well!

Joy and peace!
Iris

publicado por villandry às 9:56 am (EST) em Dec 22, 2007

That's a logical approach with the library. There are quite a few in your list that I've had on mine too. I'm impressed with Sherwood Smith's Indy... and now there is Fox waiting too. (and CJ has been one of my favorites, though I slipped away from SF these last few years, not on purpose, really.)

I'll keep an eye on your list... Have a wonderful Holiday Janny!

Iris

publicado por villandry às 2:29 pm (EST) em Dec 19, 2007

Hi Janny!

Can't wait to check into some of your recommendations. I have all your books, of course, though half my library is not entered here as there just isn't enough time yet. Right now, I'm up to my ears in mythic poetry and research for work in progress. I'm really enjoying Hearny's version of Beowulf... it's been 20 years or more since I thought about the story and it's remarkable... the ground covered is rather impressive, guess Hearny can't take credit for all that though.

I've been drooling over Stormed Fortress since it arrived from across the ocean nearly a month ago! But I KNOW that I will not put it down when I open it up... and life has been dealing me a full plate lately. I'm thinking, this coming weekend I will give up on everything else and lock myself up with it. You may hear this a lot, but I LOVE your writing - stories, characters, the way the plot unfolds with such incredible finesse. You are my favorite author (even replaced Oscar Wilde -the rascal -in my heart!) - I've really enjoyed all your books, even the older ones that I had to go looking for between WOLAS installments!

I'm sure there will be more to discuss as soon as I'm up to speed with Stormed Fortress. I've been ducking the chat notes on your website since I don't want to know any spoilers.... LOL. Can't wait to catch up on all that too.

Peace - have a good holiday!

Iris

publicado por villandry às 8:08 pm (EST) em Dec 17, 2007

Hi Janny
It's so cool that we have books in common. It's so cool to hear from you here. BTW I just finished Stormed Fortress the other day and have to say congrats to the second author EVER to make me actually CRY...the first was Wilson Rawls who wrote Where the Red Fern Grows...great story, read it years ago.

anyway, recommendations???
well, you noticed I read a lot of different stuff but I noticed you have a King Arthur book by Geoffrey Ashe (awesome). If you want a good Arthur story pick up the Pendragon Cycle by Stephen R. Lawhead. The first book is called Taliesin. very good. He also wrote a book called Byzantium...not about King Arthur, but historical fiction and a stand alone novel that's really good.

I could wax on, and on, and on about other great books but that's a start.

do you have any recommendations? I'll read just about anything I can get my hands on. Love a good story.

thanks for the comment stop by anytime. I'll see you either here or on your other website.

Cheers
Sarah

publicado por sarjah às 2:04 am (EST) em Nov 28, 2007

Hi Janny -

I just finished reading and reviewing To Ride Hell's Chasm. I really enjoyed it. I was impressed by the ending too. I had two major predictions neither of which was right, and yours was a more satisfying conclusion than either! I'm not sure if you're the kind of author that likes to read reviews but one of the things I mentioned as really unique was the horses. I liked how when reading it I could really visualize them all and I think also your illustrations helped with that too. Just out of curiosity, do you draw the pictures from your writing or do you write about what you draw? Or were Anja's team based on real horses you know?

Thanks for a great book!
L :)

publicado por elbakerone às 9:50 am (EST) em Aug 2, 2007

Hi, Pondering amazon finds. Looking up Gladden Schrock, the absolute only thing I can find is "Letters from Alf." Is this a title you recognize/recommend? Thanks,d.

publicado por dchaikin às 11:32 am (EST) em Jul 29, 2007

hmmm... my library only has one of your suggestions - A sporting chance; unusual methods of hunting, by Daniel P. Mannix (one copy in the system). Maybe I'll start there.

publicado por dchaikin às 11:34 pm (EST) em Jul 15, 2007

Thanks for the Michell suggestion. I will try and take a look.

publicado por dchaikin às 2:48 pm (EST) em Jul 14, 2007

Five favorites...

A River Runs Through It - Norman Maclean
Goodbye to a River - John Graves
Crime and Punishment - Dostoevsky
Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides

The 1st three were easy. I'm not sure this helps any because there isn't any fantasy there... possibly because I haven't read that much of it.

publicado por dchaikin às 9:16 pm (EST) em Jul 12, 2007

RE: "So many books don't stretch enough to make me think! The ones I remember always do. "

I've got a pretty limited reading resume. There is so much out there I haven't read. So, I never know what to make of my own opinions on a book and whether they are valid. I saw a quote somewhere, by a major author, that was was something like: "We forget that for some people a hawk is just a hawk" I'm one of those people. As much as I try to look behind, around and between the words I still get to the end with only I only that story ... and few precious hints of something else. (unless someone else holds my hand and points out something I missed) So, I ponder those hints, and sometimes they make the book... make it stick.

I looked more closely at your library after your comments. They are almost all new to me (I counted.. I recognize only of 7 of the 49 authors listed... I've read five). Too many new ones, I don't know where to begin : )...

cheers,
d

publicado por dchaikin às 10:33 pm (EST) em Jul 11, 2007

Hi,

This connection feature is kind of funny, I wasn't expecting a response from you :} I'm glad you're flattered. Your account is an unusual opportunity for me to see a high quality author's library (... well, theoretically, since there only 54 books entered. Are these favorites?).

By the way: I really enjoyed "To Ride Hell's Chasm," and I've been thinking about constantly since I finished it last night. I even gave up a rare chance to read a bit this morning because I'm not ready to start my next book yet - I'm still pondering this one and making it out. I'm looking forward to more in the discussion.

Cheers,
Dan

publicado por dchaikin às 2:57 pm (EST) em Jul 11, 2007

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll start trying to hunt them down.

You may be pleased to know that LT lists a second book by Katie Waitman "The Divided". I know nothing else about it other than the information on LT. It hasn't recieved as high a rating as the Merro Tree, and less people own it. IF I manage to find it and read it I'll let you know!

publicado por reading_fox às 12:50 pm (EST) em Jun 27, 2007