Stephen King

I'm ashamed to say that I'm quite behind the times when it comes to Stephen King. I've seen some of the films, but only ever read a book of short horror stories which I think contained a Stephen King story, or it was full of them.. I can't remember...

I'm feeling drawn towards The Dark Tower series. Maybe it's because I watched Firefly not long ago, which kinda has that same wasteland feel to it. I dunno. I don't even know what it's about, but for some reason I'm drawn to it.

I'm still trying to read The Great Gatsby, but it's not going very well. I'm finding it difficult to even remember that I'm supposed to be reading it.

I feel like we're living in a futuristic world now, where imaginations are running wild but attention spans are shrinking. In only the few minutes it's taken to type out this post I'm bored with it already and want to move on to something else. Perhaps that's just the influence of Homeland's bipolar character, Carrie, coming through. I just finished watching that series, and the agitation her character emanates is a little catching.

I think I'm going to go horizontal on the couch for the rest of the day.. and try to shake off this looming migraine. That's probably what's eating me at the mo. Although this snowing weather has also sapped my energy. Snow in March. Snow in fucking March! It's after the spring equinox for fuck's sake. Enough already! Bring out the sunshine.. I need it!

Vegas Baby!

I am going to Fantasy Con in Vegas next year! I dunno how I'll afford it, or how I'll get there, where I'll stay, or whatever, but I'm definitely going!

http://www.fantasy-con.com/

Yeah!

The Next Book

So, until I can actually get my fat ass into a bookshop to go through all of Feists books to figure out which one I'm up to, I can't really download anything onto my phone (via Kobo) to start reading just yet.......

I read an interview in the newspaper the other day with Isla Fisher about her role in the film adaptation of The Great Gatsby, and she gushed on and on about what a good book it is. I've heard of it, but I've never read it. To be honest I never even knew what it was about. So, I googled a synopsis of it, and it sounds kinda ok, so I thought I might give that a go. There's no dragons in it, but perhaps I can look past that if the actual writing is good.

That reminds me, I also downloaded a free preview of it, but haven't started it yet. perhaps I'll do that before I go to sleep.

Watching Skyfall tonight. Love it! I saw it at the Odeon in Leicester Square, sitting in the Royal Circle in the centre with the perfect view. Now I shall watch it from the comfort of my couch with my trusty little heater keeping me warm while my roast beef bubbles away in the slow cooker. Shit, I don't have any red wine. Ah well, almost a perfect evening!

Feist Is Finishing It!

So, the riftwar saga is ending! I'm not sure what I think about this. Magician was my very first fanasy novel that I read.. waaaay back when I had glandular fever and was confined to bed for a week.

I can't remember where I got up to in reading these.. I think I'm four from the end, so perhaps they can fill the void until Goodkind's new novel is out later this year.

Yes, that sounds like a mighty fine plan. After that Grey bollocks I need some fabulous fantasy to return me to normal! I still don't understand why anyone would want to write a book without any dragons or magic in it. Sex can't fill a void like that! If a book is not at least medieval style with a war or two thrown in then its just a means to a snooze!

I gotta get back to reality and get my head into fantasy, quick smart!

Normality, here I come!

Bookless

I haven't got a book to read....

Terry Goodkind is publishing another Richard & Kahlan novel soon! FUCK YEAH!

I'll have to find some trash to read until then.

Grey

I've stooped so low.....

I'm reading Fifty Shades of Grey.

Purely as research, of course!!! ...to find out why it's so popular. Apart from all the sex, which actually gets quite boring after a while, I'm not yet sure why it has become such a phenomenon.

The main characters have got to be the most annoying people in the world! Anastasia is a vapid wench who 'explodes' at the mere thought of a shag, and Christian has no redeeming qualities at all except that he's good looking (which you can't see anyway coz its just words on a page).

The car chase in book two, and the kidnapping plot in book three weren't bad.. but far too brief.

And there are no dragons or wizards.

And there is no war between good and evil in which the main character must overcome surmountable odds and travel vast distances on an adventure where they meet lots of different creatures to not only grow as a person but to save all of humanity with the knowledge and powers they have acquired along the way.....

So... I'm finding it quite lacking.

On the plus side I guess the writing is fairly easy to read, and the descriptions are quite creative.

That is all.

Phone

Testing sending a post from my0 phone

So Much To Do

I've got so much to do... this picture really sums it up:

Time Flies

Has it really been months since I last blogged? Time certainly does fly.

I've been on the Exante Diet since April.. lost almost 2stone, but I seem to have lost my momentum and drive to continue.

*sigh*

I'll get there.

Been doing lots of web development work lately. I've re-vamped my website, which still isn't finished yet.. but I've at least settled on a style.

www.swanstardesigns.com

Well, it's late and I'm tired. Bedtime.

Spammers Are Scum

Why do people think that the best way to market their website is to spam others?

I'd bitch-slap the lot of them if I ever saw them in person.

Fucking wankers!

New Books

Well, I finished the Book Thief.

Still not impressed.

So, I've bought some new books to read.

Robin Hobb's Rain Wild series.... I can't wait to start, the first one arrived in the post today.

I've read the Liveship Traders, and the other ones with Fitz (my favourite!!!), so hopefully this series will be just as good!

Plodding Along

So I'm still slowly working my way through The Book Thief. My opinion hasn't changed much. Its not a bad read, but then again I wouldn't give it the glittering stars that others have.

But anyway, I'm wondering what I should be writing... my simple urban fantasy story, or part one of my fully fledged high fantasy novel.......

Hmm... tricky. My lazy side says stick to the stand alone simple story, which would not only be easier to write but would probably be easier to get published (especially on the back of all this Twilight rubbish).

But somewhere deep down there is a kernel of long-lost and almost forgotten ambition that is smouldering away waiting to burst into the flames of my ravaging high fantasy novel which is set in the clouds above a world on fire. It keeps eating at me. Its what I want to write in the end. Ever since I had glandular fever and was bed-bound for a week and I picked up Feist's Magician I've always wanted to write a fantasy novel.

My first attempt (which is still in the pipeline!) was dragged out over many years and I really enjoyed exploring it. I think I managed to plan out two trilogies - with scope for more! In fact I may even set this latest trilogy in the same world, but set in the future. So, hopefully my first published fantasy trilogy will actually be the sequel, while the second to be published will be the prequel and the next one will be the prequel sequel.. or something like that. I dunno. Its going to be something like 9 books all up... give or take.. and I'll be starting at number 7.

But there'll be zero if I don't start writing sometime soon... grrr!

I'm just rambling now. I'm gunna goto bed and read some more of The Book Thief. Its just a shame that it doesn't inspire me to write. I don't actually like the way it's written. Some lines are too abstract. I can't stand that poncy bullshit. Keep it simple, people!

'Night.

Desiderata

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Reading

I'm still struggling through The Book Thief. Its written ok, and it can make your imagination fill in all the blanks, but I just can't care about the main character. I really don't care about a young girl growing up in Nazi Germany.

But I'm not even half-way through yet... I'll keep slogging along! I must finish reading a book!! If I put it down without finishing it I'll be bloody disappointed in myself!

I didn't finish reading Game of Thrones by George RR Martin, and I just watched the first season of the tv series just last week. Its an awesome story, and I'm glad I read at least some of it before watching the series. I think I might have to pick it up and finish it (even though I know what happens). I think it'll be worth it. I remember it was just so thick with characters and storylines that it was hard to follow if you put it down for a moment!

Hey yo.. I will try to stick to my guns and get back into this reading thing.. If I can't read how can I expect to write!!!

Shout Out

So, although I haven't been writing much in the past few years I have been doing other stuff.

Since I'm working as website admin for a company, I figured I'd try my hand at website build & design in my spare time.

I'm slooowly getting it together, while constantly battling all the distractions of life - especially laziness.

But anyway.. I've got a friend with a business who let me use him as a web design guinea pig, and after building his site from scratch and then redesigning it once I decided to redesign it again using a web design program. Made it easier to build coz these programs are made for dummies. I combat the guilt of cutting the corners by keeping in mind that I know I can write all the code from scratch... but really, is there any point in re-inventing the wheel? And also, just because you can build a wheel and build a car from the ground up it doesn't mean that its going to run well. These web programs mean any idiot can get on the web.. but unless they know what they're doing they're still idiots and they'll create an idiotic site.

Having said all that I'm sure I've just set myself up for a fall...hahaha..

Here's the site - www.adtdesignaspirations.co.uk

Writing is like web design. Any idiot can put a few words together to make a sentence, and can string a few sentences together to make a paragraph, then stitch paragraph on paragraph until they have a chapter, then repeat a dozen times. BUT - just because you can do that doesn't mean the book will be any good.

So I'm faced with wondering whether I'm any good.. at web design and writing...

Then I put the wondering aside and just get on with it because I'm having fun! ;-)

What Am I Reading?

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I'm not impressed.

I've only continued with it because my Mum recommended it, but its a struggle.

I'm not sure if that's because I've struggled to stay interested after the first chapter of any book for the past year or two.. but I'm not entirely interested in the story of a girl growing up during Nazi Germany anyway, even if it is narrated by death. Interesting concept, but I think its wasted.

I'm not even half-way through yet, so perhaps it'll get better and I'll change my mind.

But if it does I still won't be impressed that you have to read through a hundred dreary pages before the good stuff starts. The whole journey should be amazing otherwise its pointless!

These are the books I've tried to read in the past few years:

Game of Thrones - got about half way then put it down for too long and couldn't pick up the story again
Labyrinth - only got through the prologue, though I think it showed promise
Black Swan - I read about half of it, but wasn't really absorbing it
The God Delusion - only read a few chapters, but wasn't really in the mood for it
The Power of Now - same as above
The Mists of Avalon (I'm a bit ashamed of this one) - got about a third of the way through, and was enjoying it, but just wasn't in a reading mood

I have the attention span of..... oooh what's that over there?!

I'd say the last full book I read was The Pillars of the Earth (which is also a TV series). I really enjoyed that. I think the only reason I read it was because I was on holiday and was on a train for 7 hours from NY City to New Hampshire and it was the middle of winter so when we weren't skiing we were inside doing nothing (and I was with my folks.. we were staying with their 'friends' so you can imagine how bloody bored I was).

Hopefully 2012 will bring books back to me.

Listening to Lana Del Rey's album Born To Die.... love it!

Alphasmart 3000

I transferred all my writing off my dusty old Alphasmart the other day. I had six files of stuff, and some of it wasn't backed up anywhere else! So, I'm glad I downloaded it all ok and I've carefully saved it and backed it up so it doesn't dissolve back into the ether.. funny enough it was the first few chapters of my book 'Children of the Ether'.

I can't seem to turn the Alphasmart on now. It transferred files ok, but pressing the on/off button does nothing. I changed the batteries, but perhaps I need to plug it in. Shame I can't for the life of me find the damn adaptor!

Anyhoo.. I distracted myself with redesigning the site. Its probably still a bit bland, but at least its something.

Right, well, that's enough work for now. Don't want to strain a finger or anything.

Two in ten minutes

Wow, two posts in ten minutes.. I'm on a roll!

Just deleted hundreds of spam comments.. well, that's what I get for neglecting it for so long!

I might have a play around with the design tomorrow.. freshen things up a bit.

I'm trying to kick-start myself into putting writing at the top of the priority list. How I could have let it slip, I don't know, but hopefully I can salvage it.

I've got a new friend to help me along.. his name is Buddy. (But I will not make all my writing about a hamster! I am merely introducing him, tis all).

Time passes

Well I certainly have neglected my poor little ole blog.

I have no excuses.

Pure laziness.

And perhaps some wicked & wild distractions...

I'm not sure what my plan is yet... or whether I'll just stick to the no-plan plan. Perhaps I should plan to plan a plan.

All this planning is making me tired. I'll think about it later.

What's Next?

Well, the last few months have wandered by fairly uneventfully.

I did turn 31, though. It was Easter Saturday, and I had arrived in Australia the night before, so I had all my family around me. My Ma cooked her usual lamb roast (god, my mouth waters just thinking about it), and my older sister baked me a cake. Hooray! She didn't put icing on it, and she already cut it before she threw it in front of me. Hehehe. It was a nice thought, though.

So I had two weeks in Oz, soaking up the sun and enjoying the Easter festivities. For anyone wondering what to do for Easter, go to Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. The Easter parade on the Monday is famous for having the longest chinese dragon in the world. Its enoooormous!

The reason for my trip to Oz was to see my little sister have a baby! I was only in Oz for two weeks, so it was a bit of a gamble that she'd have it while I was there.

But she did!

On the Monday of the second week she started having minor pains for a while, and by Thursday morning (after a full day and night in hard labour - damn its hard to watch someone in that much pain!) she had a little baby girl.

Little Mina weighed 6lb 11oz, and everything went very smoothly. I was on video camera duty, so I saw the whole thing and had the best view. I tell ya, it was pretty damn amazing!

Everything has kinda slumped back into 'same old same old' now. I'm back in the UK, back at work, back in my little flat. I get to chat to my family on the computer every now and again, but its not the same as being there. But my sister says its 'same old same old' there too, so its an anticlimax all around. Little Mina eats, sleeps and shits... so I guess I'm not missing much.

Writing has taken a back seat again. How uninterestingly predictable. I do think about it constantly, though.

I'll get there one day.

Anyway, here's a pic of me holding the new bub, or is she holding me?