Writing

Some thought-provoking links you will surely like

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Since I stumble across a number of interesting links and articles, I figure I’ll keep sharing them in little round-up posts like this.

Controversial Star Wars opinion: Jar Jar Binks is good

I realize if I’m going to keep doing links posts, I may have to just admit many (most? all?) of them are going to feature some discussion of Star Wars. Here’s an article by Bryan Young, who’s had some very smart things to say about the movies on Twitter, about why Jar Jar Binks is not only important, but a crucial character. Not just to The Phantom Menace (and I’ll admit, my dislike for Jar Jar is why I rarely re-watch that movie), but to the entire original trilogy as well. Yes, it’s a stretch. And I’m not entirely convinced by his argument! But it does show that Lucas may have been going for more than a mere gimmick with Jar Jar. Read why Jar Jar Binks is secretly one of Star Wars’ most important characters.

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Things I Wish I Could Say to Roger Zelazny

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As every year passes, I become more convinced Roger Zelazny died way too soon.

I first encountered his work when I was fourteen, thanks to a friend who thrust Nine Princes in Amber into my hands and swore it was one of the best books he’d ever read.

Nine Princes in Amber by Roger ZelaznySince I was already reading two huge fantasy series concurrently at the time, I don’t know why I agreed to start reading a third – maybe his enthusiasm won me over.

Unfortunately, my brain does not enjoy trying to fit a trilogy and two quintilogies (is that a word?) in at the same time, so I eventually abandoned Nine Princes after chapter two and didn’t pick it up again for months.

Funny thing, though.  I couldn’t stop thinking about it; and when I picked up the book again I started from scratch and was hooked.  An amnesiac prince whose bloodline allows him to walk through any reality he can conceive of has to overthrow his brother for the throne of Amber, the one true reality. Plus, he swears, smokes, makes offhand references to literature, philosophy, politics and history like a boss, all with a sharp sense of humour? I’m there.

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Some interesting links to posts you may like

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I haven’t done much in the way of blog posts that consist largely of links. I suppose I came close with Fake Metal Bands That Should Have Existed. However, the maestro of such posts is Natalie Luhrs, and if you’re not already following her blog, get thee hence and see what you’re missing. Then come back here!  I have compiled a bit of reading that caught my eye and made me think this week. You may enjoy these, too.

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Writing and career help, from my dog

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Spoiler: my dog is not a writer. However, he needs walks regularly and that, I’ve found, helps my writing.

Dash is a black Lab cross, which means as far as the Humane Society could tell he looks like a Lab but that’s clearly not all that’s in his parentage.  He’s just over two years old now. If I wanted to walk my legs off taking him around the neighbourhood, he would be very happy — and still not be tired when we got home.

So: we go on regular walks, weather permitting, as well as the dog parks. That’s the good, healthy thing about walking the dog in the dead of winter: you go outside even if you’d rather not. Fresh air and all that. Also, nobody in their right mind is out walking at night when it’s -20 to -30 C (plus windchill! Bonus!), unless they also have a dog. You dress for it and off you go.

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Updating my bookshelf in early 2018

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Weelllll it’s been a long time since I blogged about this, mainly because I’ve barely posted about the books on my bookshelf about stories I have out there in the world. Also because I’ve been preoccupied with longer-term projects for the last couple of years! So if the new stories published have been fewer and farther between, that makes it a bit silly to write a blog post showing a Bookshelf of Things I Have Stories In with only one new addition.

Also, for longtime readers of this blog (waves): you may have noticed the site looks a little different. I’ve cleaned it up, changed to a different WordPress theme, and started getting some new posts ready. I think it looks better. I hope you do too.

Anyway, here’s what’s new (ish).

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‘Les loups de Vimy’ out now in Ténèbres 2017

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I’ve been waiting a while to announce this, but it’s finally available — my first short story published in translation is “Les loups de Vimy,” now available in the anthology Ténèbres 2017, published annually in by Dreampress in France. Translated by Sabine Sur, ‘Les loups de Vimy” was originally published in English as “The Wolves of Vimy” in Kneeling in the Silver Light: Stories from the Great War.

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