Joe Martin is the third week winner in the Do It Like A Delm challenge! Joe wins a coupon good for a Baen ebook of his choice. You may view his entry here.
Challenge Week Four opens tomorrow, Monday, September 7, and do you know who we want to see a photo from?
You!
33. Cooking the Books, Kerry Greenwood (e)
32. Forbidden Fruit, Kerry Greenwood (e)
31. Maisie Dobbs, Jacqueline Winspear
30. Trick or Treat, Kerry Greenwood (e)
29. The Golden Hawk, Frank Yerby (reread; six pages fell out at various spots during this reading; it was reread many times, when I was 14)
28. The Wave in the Mind, Ursula K. Le Guin
27. The Boy from the Burren, Sheila Gilluly (e)
26. Dead Heat, Patricia Briggs (e)
25. Girl Genius: The Beast of the Rails, Kaja and Phil Foglio
24. A Bollywood Affair, Sonali Dev
23. Who Buries the Dead, C.S. Harris
22. Killer Instinct, Zoe Sharpe (e)
21. Devil’s Food, Kerry Greenwood (e)
20. The Making of a Marchioness, Frances Hodgson Burnett (e)
19. A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett (e)
18. Geekomancy, Michael R. Underwood (e)
17. The Perfect Rake, Anne Gracie
16. The Martian, Andy Weir
15. Blaze of Memory, Nalini Singh
14. Tracker, C.J. Cherryh (read out loud with Steve)
13. Chanur’s Legacy, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
12. Chanur’s Homecoming, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
11. The Kif Strike Back, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
10. Why Kings Confess, C.S. Harris
9. Chanur’s Venture, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve) (Note: the publisher’s note at the end of the book states that the next-in-series is Chanur’s Revenge. This is false. The next-in-series is The Kif Strike Back.)
8. Angels’ Blood, Nalini Singh (read out loud with Steve)
7. The Pride of Chanur, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
6. What Darkness Brings, C.S. Harris
5. When Maidens Mourn, C.S. Harris
4. Where Shadows Dance, C.S. Harris
3. What Remains of Heaven, C.S. Harris
2. Where Serpents Sleep, C.S. Harris
1. When Gods Die, C.S. Harris
All righty, then.
This is a post about magic.
As some of you may know, I have long, on-going (unrequited) love affair with the Maine resort town Old Orchard Beach. So great was my love that, against the advice of Practically Everybody, I wrote three books (Carousel Tides, Carousel Sun, Carousel Seas) set in a just-slightly-different Maine resort town — Archers Beach. The major differences between the two towns, besides some liberties taken with the coastal geography, and a very little smudging along the edges of history — one of the differences is that, in Archers Beach, magic works.
Sort of.
Sometimes.
For some people.
And for others, who may not be, precisely, people.
The other difference is that, in Archers Beach, things are starting to turn around for the town, as the residents find renewed hope, and the energy to take up their destiny.
In Old Orchard Beach, over the years of our relationship, hope had been lost, and the residents had stopped believing in destiny. I say this with love, and also with the understanding that love does not blind us to the loved one’s faults.
An example. . .One of the centerpieces of the Carousel books is — surprise! — a carousel. An old, hand-carved wooden carousel populated, granted, by some Very Odd animals, but, yes a carousel. A carousel, in fact, that had been modeled (in the author’s head) on the P(hiladelphia) T(obaggon) C(ompany) (#19, I do believe) that had been in place the very first time Steve and I visited Old Orchard Beach, many years ago.
The machine was in need of some upkeep, but old wooden carousels are expensive to keep up, and the sea air is kind to no machinery built by man. But, it was running, the band organ was playing, and — oh, it was grand.
The next time Steve and I got down to Old Orchard Beach, maybe a decade after that first visit (stone broke, no gas money, you know the drill), we found a changed scene. The PTC machine was gone, and in its place was a fiberglass carousel, not as old, obviously, and. . . not very well kept. You could see the poles shudder when the flying animals went up and down; you could hear the cranks grate. Worse, oh, far worse! The band organ, which had been ragged, but working, had been left too long unprotected in the seaside environment. It was mildewed, it was cracked, it was peeling. . .it was. . .heartbreaking.
Now, the carousel in Old Orchard Beach — the Chance Menagerie Carousel, is its name — is part of an amusement park. And, well. . .let’s just say that, as went the carousel, so went the amusement park. It was a sad, sad place, the last time I had been there at length, in 2012. It needed — oh, paint! and maintenance, and. . .hope.
Now. . .back in 2010, right around Halloween, Jeanne Bartolomeo, who at that time owned an art gallery in Old Orchard Beach called Beggars Ride, kindly put together a launch party in the gallery, for Carousel Tides. One of the surprising number of people who attended that party came up to me, excited by the town and the book, which she had already read as an ebook, and said, “I want to see it!”
“See what?” I asked her.
“The carousel! I’ve already been to Bob’s and the Pier, Tony Lee’s and I have to see the carousel!”
Oh. I cleared my throat.
“I’m so very sorry,” I said. “You can’t see it. It’s. . .not there.”
She stared at me, and I could see the betrayal creep into her eyes.
“You made it up?” she demanded, and I could see that she was hoping that I’d deny it, but. . .
“Yes,” I admitted. “I did. I made it up.”
In the same way, I made up the. . .revival of Archers Beach.
Or. . .not.
See, this year, Steve and I are doing a weird little split vacation at the ocean. He and I were down at Old Orchard Beach together Thursday afternoon and evening; I came home to be with the cats, and Steve is doing a bachelor weekend at the ocean. Monday, we’ll swap places; he’ll come down on Thursday, and Friday we’ll shift all of us back home. The reason Thursday is important in this is that there are fireworks on the beach every Thursday night during Season, courtesy of the amusement park.
So, anyway, we went to see the fireworks Thursday night, and after that, we wandered ’round the corner to look at the carousel. . .
. . .which has been completely revamped. The panels were new; the rounding boards were new; the mirrors shone! The sweeps were lit, and not only that! The lifting poles no longer shuddered; the cranks moved with quiet authority, and!
The band organ.
The band organ had been. . .restored.
And it was playing music.
I burst into tears. Honest to ghod. It was. . .it was magic. See for yourself.
Before:
After:
Carousel Before:
Carousel After:
We walked through the whole park, and we noticed new paint, and bright new lights, and a feeling of hope amid the crowd.
When we came to the arcade, I said to Steve, “I want to visit Grandma.” I always visit Grandma when I’m in Old Orchard Beach. If I have a quarter, I’ll pay her to read my fortune.
Now, since Forever, Grandma has been shoved in a dark corner next to a service door in the arcade. I walked right to the place, only to discover that!
She was gone.
I turned around, found Steve some distance behind, shaking his head and pointing.
They’d moved Grandma out into the main corridor. They’d cleaned off her case, and they’d fixed the light. Someone had. I saw this because there seems to be an. . .addition to Grandma’s bracelet. A charm with names on them. Steve and I are in disagreement. I say the charm is new; a marker from the people who paid for her restoration. Steve says there was always a charm. I don’t have a picture after, but here she is, last time I saw her:
And so that’s it.
Who says there’s no magic, any more?
Today’s blog post title brought to you by Loreena McKennit, “Beneath A Phrygian Sky”. Here’s your link.
31. Maisie Dobbs, Jacqueline Winspear
30. Trick or Treat, Kerry Greenwood (e)
29. The Golden Hawk, Frank Yerby (reread; six pages fell out at various spots during this reading; it was reread many times, when I was 14)
28. The Wave in the Mind, Ursula K. Le Guin
27. The Boy from the Burren, Sheila Gilluly (e)
26. Dead Heat, Patricia Briggs (e)
25. Girl Genius: The Beast of the Rails, Kaja and Phil Foglio
24. A Bollywood Affair, Sonali Dev
23. Who Buries the Dead, C.S. Harris
22. Killer Instinct, Zoe Sharpe (e)
21. Devil’s Food, Kerry Greenwood (e)
20. The Making of a Marchioness, Frances Hodgson Burnett (e)
19. A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett (e)
18. Geekomancy, Michael R. Underwood (e)
17. The Perfect Rake, Anne Gracie
16. The Martian, Andy Weir
15. Blaze of Memory, Nalini Singh
14. Tracker, C.J. Cherryh (read out loud with Steve)
13. Chanur’s Legacy, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
12. Chanur’s Homecoming, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
11. The Kif Strike Back, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
10. Why Kings Confess, C.S. Harris
9. Chanur’s Venture, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve) (Note: the publisher’s note at the end of the book states that the next-in-series is Chanur’s Revenge. This is false. The next-in-series is The Kif Strike Back.)
8. Angels’ Blood, Nalini Singh (read out loud with Steve)
7. The Pride of Chanur, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
6. What Darkness Brings, C.S. Harris
5. When Maidens Mourn, C.S. Harris
4. Where Shadows Dance, C.S. Harris
3. What Remains of Heaven, C.S. Harris
2. Where Serpents Sleep, C.S. Harris
1. When Gods Die, C.S. Harris
I shall sum up.
1. Liaden Universe® Constellation, Volume 3 (in paper) is temporarily out of stock. There are still books in the distribution stream, though Amazon is presently only offering it for sale through third-party vendors, and Baen has said that they will be reprinting. In the meantime, if you need a book now, remember those third party vendors — especially Uncle Hugo’s, where there are still at least a dozen signed copies available. Here’s your link.
2. On Monday, we put out a call for help in spreading the word regarding our effort to increase the monthly pledge level at our Patreon account to $2,000, so that we can get a generator in here before winter falls on our heads. At this moment, we have $2,004.50 in monthly pledges. You guys. . .You’re just awesome.
3. Pursuant to #2, above, we yesterday had Mike the Master Electrician in to scope out the place and make recommendations for generators. This is going to be complicated, involving site prep, a visit from Central Maine Power, from the propane company, and Mike himself. Still, barring a stupidly early winter, we ought to be able to get this thing done in good time.
4. We are into Week Two of the Do It Like a Delm Challenge — you may view the current entries here. Remember! Each week’s winner will be awarded a coupon good for a free Baen ebook of their choice. Plus, yanno, we’d really like to see what y’all are up to. Here are the contest rules.
5. Trying to get your friends and acquaintances “hooked” on the Liaden Universe®? Of course, you are! Remember that Agent of Change (the Very First Liaden book ever written) and Fledging (the book that starts the Theo arc) are free! from Amazon and from the Baen Free Library.
6. Belle and Trooper have been helping me write:
Today’s blog title brought to you by Gaelic Storm, “Beggerman.” Here’s your link.
Week Two of the Do It Like a Delm Challenge has commenced, with two entries right out of the gate.
Here’s your link to this week’s Gallery of Delms.
Here’s your link to last week’s Gallery.
And, of course, last week’s winning photo by Jennifer McGaffey.
In other news, we have revamped our Patreon page, with a goal. You can see the new page here.
Now, I want to say a few things about this: First, we are amazed by and appreciate the fact that so many people leapt up to pledge when we began this experiment, in April. This is not a demand that everyone dig deeper for another few pennies throw into the plate. Indeed, it’s not a demand at all; it’s an opportunity to assist, if you are so inclined, and are able.
What I would like to ask, though, is that you share this news with other people who might be inclined to become patrons. I’m asking this because there seems to be no very good mechanism for people to find artists to fund from within the Patreon system. So we’re looking for some outside help in getting the word out.
Also, if any Patreon veterans could point me to an internal networking system were potential patrons and artists can discover each other, that would be wonderful.
Thanks very much, for all you do.
I’m just back in from a run to town, whereupon I learned two things: (1) Bangs trims at JC Penney is free; (2) There is not a gallon of white vinegar to be found in this town. I’m guessing this a result of people canning the yield from their gardens, but geez, all the vinegar?
For those playing along at home — a report on the hair color. It’s still purple. I’ve washed it three times, and it fades a little each time, but it has not entirely washed out. This is evidently the effect of layering in the color across multiple days. I’m still pleased that it’s purple, and will add more color the next time I shampoo.
And that?
Is all I got.
Oh, no, wait. I have a picture of Scrabble in the sun:
The winner for the Do It Like A Delm Week One Challenge is!
Jennifer McGaffey, with a little help from Lt. Colonel Anderson.
You can see the winning picture here.
Congratulations to the winner — and a big thank you! to everyone who took the time to play.
Tomorrow, Monday, August 24, starts the next challenge week. Get your Liaden gear and your sense of adventure together!
When I make notes for a short story, I pretty often write them by hand, with a gel pen, on one of those cheap 8.5×11 inch so-called “legal pads” with the rough paper that takes the ink well.
Belle, as per Maine Coon Standard, has tufts of fur between her toes. She likes to paddle around in the cat water fountain with her big, hairy feet, and then jump onto my desk and wander over my papers before curling up for a nap.
These two factoids are related. And not in a Good Way.
*peers at smeared ink*
*peers at page beneath note page, also smeared with ink*
Sigh.
I guess it’s just as well that the story flipped, anyway.
#
So! I haven’t talked about my health here in quite awhile, you lucky people, you, but I did want to note that the new, higher dose of levothyroxine — that being the Whole Gig dose — is working a treat. I haven’t felt this well in. . .years, really. The random fall-asleep hasn’t happened for weeks, and I can actually get up in the morning when the alarm rings (though I often chose not to do so, because there is such a thing as taking it too far), and function, and my brain seems to be ticking right along (which, right enough, may be a mixed blessing for some, but I’m calling a positive from my side).
After Labor Day, there’s a follow-up visit with the vampyres, to quantify this, and I very much hope that the switch back to synthroid (mandated by the insurance company) doesn’t mess with success, but I am, at this point, very optimistic.
So, yanno: Yay!
#
New entries have been posted in the Do It Like A Delm Challenge. Here’s your link. Remember! This week’s entry deadline is tonight, Saturday, at Midnight EDT. Sunday we will announce the Winner of the Week, and Monday?
Monday we’ll start a new challenge round.
#
Today’s chores are almost done; I’ve got the grates and drip-pans soaking, but the rest of the dishes and the vacuuming are finished. Which means? The deck is cleared for working on that story this afternoon and evening.
Note to self: Research waterproof gel ink.
Hope everybody’s having a good weekend, wherever you are.
Well, let’s see. This morning started early when Trooper leapt from the floor directly onto my hip, instead of the bed. Eighteen pounds of Maine Coon gravity-assisted landing on a single point meant I jolted straight up in bed, Sprite, who had been asleep on my stomach, was catipulted off the bed and thence charged down the hall like all the demons of heck were on her trail. Trooper did the patented all-four-feet-together jump, twisted in mid-air and fled in her wake — and Belle watched the whole thing from the peace and tranquility of the headboard bookshelf, while Steve woke up, and demanded, crankily, “NOW what?”
I explained, got up and limped down the hall, returned to the bed, and so to sleep. Steve did not return to sleep, which is covered in the Spousal Equity Clause, Subsection 1C (i.e. “The party which needs sleep most will get it least”), and rose some minutes later, attended by Belle.
In the meantime, Trooper has become convinced that the Bed is Haunted, and tiptoes into the bedroom, craning his neck to see if The Giant Scary Thing is visible from the floor. I picked him up and put him on the bed, and he reprised the all-four-feet-together jump and ran down the hall to take shelter under the kitchen table, Neutral Territory for many generations of felines.
After coffee and breakfast, I did the business email thing, then updated the Do It Like A Delm gallery for this week, with two new photos, bringing us to eight entries from seven bold entrants. We’re hoping to see even more before this week’s Challenge closes.
To view the photo gallery of aspiring delms, follow this link.
After business was taken care of, I spent much of the rest of the morning getting to know my new phone, and doing the laundry. I have determined that MotoVoice can actually hear and mostly comprehend me — which may be a first for voice recognition systems. There are still a few glitches to be worked out. For instance, I can tell MotoVoice to turn music ON, but I don’t seem to be able to tell it to turn music OFF, which sort of limits its usefulness for situations in which I’m piloting myself. But, still, there may be a way. I’ve also been testing the phone’s camera, which is awesome; and the screen’s resolution — ‘way sharp enough for my old eyes to read a book — and trying to get some idea of how long the battery will last really. So far, looking like 30 hours of mixed heavy use, and standby. Which I’m not going to argue with, at all.
Having now consumed the afternoon meal, with the phone in need of a recharge, the laundry almost done, and all the cats napping — I guess I’d better get to work.
Here’s a picture taken with the new phone:
Oh, and a snippet, just for fun, from the Outtake File:
“Will I,” she asked, her voice sharper than she had intended, “ever be safe again?”
He inclined his head formally, as Jen Sar would do when an important point had been made.
“Scholar, I cannot say. However, it is an object with me, that those who are innocent of my errors will, one day, be safe again.”
Today’s blog post brought to you by Styx, “Mr. Roboto.” Here’s your link.
1. The Kickstarter Campaign for the Alien Artifacts and Were- anthologies has been funded! We’re now into the stretch goals, and there’s some really cool stuff on offer, including that raise I was telling y’all about a couple days ago — totally worth checking out. Here’s your link.
2. Today! is the release day of James A. Burton’s Dominions, sequel to 2012’s Powers. You may — and should! — download sample chapters here. After which, you will want to download the entire novel, which is only natural and good.
3. We have our first international! entry! in the Do It Like A Delm Challenge. Here’s your link to the entries received so far. And! It’s not too late to send in your own entry.
4. Here, have a picture of Belle and Scrabble:
