Musical Interlude: Stone Roses

Wordy Wednesday, News, Views...

That's weird. I was sure I'd posted about my WordyWednesday interview before. Guess not. I shall post about it now, because it's one of the interviews I most enjoyed doing - some refreshingly original questions posed by the eminently eminent @tattooed_mummy: Wordy Wednesday with Marion Grace Woolley

I read a recent article saying one in ten writers make a full-time living from it. Considering how many writers there are on social media, I actually thought that was pretty good odds.

Also, just a note that my July newsletter is now available. Talking refugee camps (again), and life after The Children of Lir.

Finally, a little advanced notice: I am scheduled to give a talk at Kendal Library in Cumbria at 3PM on Thursday November 12th 2015. I'll be reading from, and talking about, Those Rosy Hours at Mazandaran.

What Pet Should I Get?

There's a brand new Dr. Seuss book out! What Pet Should I Get. 

Released posthumously, twenty-four years after his death (spooky, he died on the twenty-fourth), the new title was found in a box and pieced together by his wife, Audrey, and former art director, Cathy Goldsmith. More in the article: Dr. Seuss Book: Yes, They Found It in a Box.

Growing up I adored Green Eggs and Ham, Horton the Elephant, Fox in Socks and his Sleep Book. Looking forward to reading this one.

The Book of Sand

After mentioning yesterday's Library of Babel discovery on my Facebook page, my friend Karen suggested I read The Book of Sand. Only had time to read the title story, but I am completely in love with Borges.

Surrealist painting, I understand. In literature, I must admit I haven't encountered it so often. 'Magical realism' is a phrase I desperately wish to explore further. What fun! 

The above picture is taken from a work of art created by Isabel Urbina, developed around The Book of Sand. I think it's such a beautiful piece.

It's been a while since I last felt so enthused by a literary concept. Whilst reading about Borges's life on Wiki, I came across this line:

Later in life, Borges regretted some of these early publications, attempting to purchase all known copies to ensure their destruction.

Clear as day the cover of Shadow of the Wind floated before my eyes. 

Well, you have to wonder, don't you?

Anyway, it's nice to have something new to think on, and new influences to absorb. 

The Library of Babel

This! This, this, this, and a thousand times this!

How utterly, wonderfully clever.

After mulling over Gilgamesh yesterday, along with the origins of literature, I stumbled upon a tweet by @parisreview.

It led to an article by Jonathan Basile, author and computer programmer, regarding a short story by Jorge Luis Borges called The Library of Babel.

The story describes a universal library containing, in 410-page volumes, every possible permutation of twenty-two letters, spaces, commas, and periods—every book that’s ever been written and every book that ever could be, drowned out by endless pages of gibberish. 

This extraordinary fellow has actually created The Library of Babel online!

Mind officially blown.

If anyone needs me, I'll be in 9x, examining side three, shelf three, book gtrxu.

omqurkerfccbe - love it.

Just for kicks, love appears intact: ableyomlpdyrtdlur.exnstar Page: 20.

And for larks, hover your cursor over the landing page menu titles and watch them whiz through the alphabet.

I'm going in. I may be some time.

Gilgamesh

Sometimes weird stuff happens when I'm writing or researching. Just strange little occurrences, like snuggling down to read on Christmas Eve to discover the first line is Christmas Eve... 

Been depressingly stuck in a plot loop this week. Can't write until I know how to fix it. Had the flipchart paper out and everything. In desperation, I decided to do a bit of research, see if it threw up anything useful I might be able to use. Two minutes turned into twenty. I read all about the development of writing, paper, literature and the like. Quite fascinating stuff. Led me to Gilgamesh, which I read yesterday morning (free online).

I was researching about it until I became tired and decided to head to bed with the book I'm currently reading.

Power up the Kindle. Page one...

(click to enlarge)
Line 3, Word 10 - Seriously?

Dawn Chapter

More writing-related cartoons here.