More grrrr

[ellenkushner]

Computer still in the shop, and I'm still slogging my way through the copyedited ms. of THE PRIVILEGE OF THE SWORD at a snail's pace, so you won't get much joy of me. (All praise is due, however, to Copyeditor Supremo Nancy C. Hanger, who also copyedited THE FALL OF THE KINGS, and is tactfully reminding me of how my people celebrate holidays and what they call their money . . . also offering tatting lessons - and very sensitively surveying my prose and punctuation. Far from messing with my style, she is actually stetting my idiosyncratic commas and word choices against potential less-sensitive proofreaders... If you've been unhappy with a copyeditor who doesn't deal well with historical/fantastical material, make them get Nancy for you! She's at: http://www.windhaven.com/home/ ) - no, the slogging is due to the fact that it's my last chance to tinker with the clocks - I mean, pages, and I'm scrutinizing everything - every comma, every word choice. . . . and it always takes me nine and ninety days to make decisions.

HOWEVER: For local yokels, I can recommend some very fine music coming up soon. Tim Ericksen, formerly of Cordelia's Dad, at Passim's in Harvard Square this Saturday night. And an old friend, Solomon Murungu, is playing mbira at a Harvard Square art opening in 2 weeks. Solomon writes:

"Join me for art and mbira music at the Cambridge Art Association on Dec 2nd, 2005.
Where: University Place Gallery - 124 Mt. Auburn Street, Cambridge
When : Friday December 2nd, 2005 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Music: Mbira - Spirit Music from Zimbabwe
Cost: Free
Contact: www.cambridgeart.org or 617-876-0246
What Else? - After Party at RedLine - 59 JFK Street, Harvard Square.
I hope you and your friends will join me in this relaxed setting for art,music and friendship. See you then."

If the idea of spirit music from Zimbabwe intrigues you, visit Solomon's excellent mbira webpage at:
http://www.zambuko.com/
Solomon has been a great resource for Sound & Spirit, esp. our show OUT OF AFRICA: THE SPIRIT OF MBIRA, which you can hear (and read my interviews with the amazing Stella Chiweshe) at
http://www.wgbh.org/pages/pri/spirit/alphabetical.html#081

'nuff said?

Comments

[pnh.livejournal.com]

Nancy is a fine copyeditor, and good on you for saying so.

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

I'm really looking forward to The Privilege of the Sword. :)

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Thank you - and what a pretty calling card you have here!

[wild-patience.livejournal.com]

Nancy's offering you tatting lessons? If you're interested, you might as well take her up on it. Tatting was the most difficult craft I learned. After learning it, I decided I didn't like it. I like the result but it's very tricky to do (which is why a teacher is more helpful than a book) and I didn't like the having both my hands tied in knots doing it. I'll stick to crocheting, if it's lace I want.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

I stink at crafts. Even crocheting was too much for me. I'll let my characters do it, instead.

tatting

[editrx.livejournal.com]

Aw, come on, Ellen ... It's only two "stitches," like knitting (yes, I know knitting is also daunting, two stitches otherwise; and don't I know it, being one who does both). And you only tie yourself up in knots if, well, okay, it does sort of tie up both hands in tatting string rather like a perverted game of cat's cradle ... but honestly, you'd like it! If nothing else, you can then say you know how to tat. And tie other people up like cat's cradle gone bad. :-)

Ask Sherwood Smith someday how I taught her tatting at a con, many moons ago, which she picked up like a champ, despite telling me she had two left hands. And it looks so very genteel.

Re: tatting

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

All right - I'll ask her!

[pdcawley.livejournal.com]

Speaking of Cordelia's Dad, Cath Tyler (nee Oss), late of Cordelia's Dad used to be a regular at my favourite singing session in Newcastle. Doesn't she have the most amazing voice?

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

Tinker with the clocks and run up and down secret staircases and all that so they have to tell you the book is done and take it away from you?

At least I thought that's where I recognized the phrase.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

You got it!

[aurenfaie.livejournal.com]

I've just stayed up until 5AM (and I am still disinclined to sleep) finishing The Fall of the Kings. Needless to say, I am imaptiently looking forward to The Privilege of the Sword. I was hoping, perhaps, it'd take place afterwards, but stuck between Sowrdspoint and The Fall of the Kings is as good a place as any! Good luck!

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Thank you *very* much for that - Delia & I are both warmed by your enthusiasm for Kings.

I hope you'll like TPotS - it'll give you a whole new take on Katherine & Marcus!

[aurenfaie.livejournal.com]

And I wasn't quite sure I was going to like Swordspoint. I don't really read a lot of political intrigue (I usually go for the stories that are more about the swordfighting and less about the politics), but since it was recommended to me, I figured I'd give it a shot. Who knew I would end up loving it? Now, if anyone asks me for recommendations, you can be sure both Swordspoint and The Fall of the Kings will be on the list.

When I was reading The Fall of the Kings, I was conversing with my dad, when I wondered just how two people can write a book together. Did one of you think up the plot and characters, and the other wrote and filled in the blanks? Or did you two alternate chapters, or did you split the characters and write them? I'm so very curious how you two worked it all out. And you guys work so well together, it's amazing. *_* Did you and/or Delia do any interviews on the matter?

I can't waaaaiit. But I do have enough to tide me over... I haven't even gotten my mitts on George R. R. Martin's A Feast for Crows, yet! Plus, I've also got Thomas the Rhymer to read by... well, you know who! :P

[aurenfaie.livejournal.com]

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving. May you stuff yourself with pie and other goodies. ^_~