The book for the September book chat will be decided in the Brenda Novak Juvenile Diabetes Auction. It's a one day auction to be held May 29th (eastern US time). If there are those who can't get the book or can't afford it, and who wish to take part, I'm hoping a few of those who do get the book will be willing to read it early and ship it to someone who needs a copy. We'll let the author have input into the day and time of the chat, assuming he/she wishes to be present.
This month's chat on Twilight will be presided over by Kiersten, who has read the book three times and is an expert on it. I'll be there, of course, to make sure things don't get out of hand. Let's set up a date and time, Kiersten.
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1 – 200 of 250 Newer› Newest»If the person is willing to donate money, the least I can do is buy the book if at all possible. I'm in for September.
And as far as a good time for the book chat, starting at 3 PM pacific (5 PM Eastern?) has worked pretty well for me because then it goes into my two-year-old terror's naptime. 2 would be even better, but then most people are probably still at work. Any day of the week works for me.
I'm so excited...I'm going to bring up issues you didn't even know existed!
Hey - looking forward to it, Kiersten and EE.
Hope we talk about the extended foreplay aspects.
Well, I'm up and wide awake - home now, and bored.
Anybody else?
That was one long hair appointment.
Hey, Robin.
Kiersten, you will have the book.
Yeah, just how long is your hair?
Hair and brows at 2:00 pm. We were there until 5:00. Then home to change- Blondie and boyfriend took the Metro to their night out - but I had to take them to the Metro- then night out for drinks and dinner, then too much wine for the one of us that isn't me, and, yeah, I'm up alone again.
Hi.
That guy. Half the time he's in another country and the other half he's sleeping it off.
Yep. He's going to the British West Indies early next week.
Oh, Robin, trying very hard to bite my tongue.
Oh, Julie. Don't bite girl. don't bite it. Spill it.
Comment moderation off. Robin's married to the Secretary of State.
Yeah. Sure. That's it, all right.
Hmmm, after I made my comment earlier about at least pretending to have some class.
Where's that comment? I don't see it.
After 30 years of being alone I finally said if I'm going to be alone all the time, why do I need someone passing through to complain about what I'm doing?
Does the Secretary of State have to make the state coffee, and buy birthday presents for the state's wife?
Robin, I said it in my blog. In the tag, name three bad habits. One of mine is running my mouth.
ril, rofl
In this household, the state drinks tea. The Secretary can only make omelets for any meal. But he does other stuff.
So seriously, you weren't thinking of Sweeney Todd?
Who is thinking of Sweeney Todd?
Seriously. Or not overtly, anyway; Freud might say something different...
Oh, got it, Julie.
Well, Julie, the Secretary does have some good and redeeming qualties on his side.
But if someone hassled me for thirty years- they'd be booted. Actually - thirty is a long time to be that nice to someone who isn't nice back. I think there's a good chance you're a lot nicer than I am, sweetie.
I didn't remember anything about STodd except the throat slitting, so at the workshop we were discussing which continuation to use and I said I liked yours, but I didn't get the pies, and someone explained what you were getting at, so then I chose it.
Apparently some people can't get him off their minds...
So, the point to Robin is, being alone isn't a lot of fun. And now, moving on to the next subject...
ril- are you kidding - Mrs. Todd and pie?
I rented the recent Depp movie and watched it today.
Robin, doubtful.
Well they were right that the implication was the kids were in the pies, but I didn't really have the Sweeney Todd thing in mind. Again, not consciously, anyway...
Isn't it creepy? I say that because Blondie liked it- and she likes creepy movies.
What did you think of the movie? I am going to pass if it's about making people pies.
The "Mrs. Todd" wasn't me...
I'm not complaining though. It's fine just as it landed.
The movie: I found the attempt at political allegory a bit heavy handed in the Burton version.
It's visually amazing. I had some trouble understanding what was being said (sung) frequently, but I got enough to know what was going on.
The movie: I found the attempt at political allegory a bit heavy handed in the Burton version.~
Grrrr. I definitely won't be seeing it.
I just erased Reckless Kelly from my favorites over political crap.
Whne you say visually amazing - are you talking about the quality of the cinematography?
It was those damn British accents.
Johnny Depp got to use his Jack Sparrow accent again (same one he used in the Jack the Ripper movie.)
I really like Tim Burton's stuff. It was a good movie, but I thought he got carried away with the ending...
The quality of the spurting blood. And the cinematography.
OK, I was kidding about the political allegory. Don't write off the movie because of that.
It's gory, though.
*fondles her Jack Sparrow jack-o-lantern*
This is only related in a tangent kinda way- but I thought the cinematography in a movie made in the 70s or early 80s - Days of Heaven - was breathtaking.
Anyone here see it long ago and far away?
No, don't do gore either, thanks for warning me.
Don't think so, Robin.
I can't handle gore. I really can't.
Even the thought of it sends me out there. I remember watching The Deer Hunter in the russian roulette scene with Christoper Walken, and almost not being able to keep watching the movie.
No, never saw it.
I like David Lynch's stuff as well for visual flair. And Terry Gilliam.
It's really a black comedy. Not a slasher flick.
What films, ril?
Yeah -- comic book gore.
And they guy who did Ali G and Borat gets it first. Worth seeing just for that.
I can't handle gore. I really can't.~
Yep, my youngest son screens movies for me to see if they are Mom rated.
Black comedy - I'm there.
I just don't like spuring guts stuff- unless it's old Monty Python sketch stuff. Then I do.
Gilliam: Brazil was my favorite.
Lynch: I like Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, Mulholland Drive. Eraserhead was disturbing. Straight Story was beautiful.
The Borat stuff disturbs audiences - you could just about see them squirm in the theater I was in when we saw it. I laughed my ass off.
I'm fascinated by their ability to bring actors back to life after they've had their throats slit by a razor.
Good Lord- I feel like a hick.
Haven't seen any of those films.
Bet EE has.
It's OK as long as the blood doesn't flow away from any vital organs. If they cut a leg off, diaster.
I've seen Mulholland rive, Blue Velvet and as much of Brazil as I could stand.
Haven't seen any of them, Robin. I was trying to remain silent about my ignorance regarding them.
I loved Brazil. But it must be more than ten years since I last saw it.
Did you watch Twin Peaks?
Lawsy, I loved Twin Peaks.
Yes, at the beginning. I enjoyed the ones Lynch did, but I kind of faded later. There was a noticeable difference when he came back to direct an episode occasionally.
The movie was OK.
Well, Julie my dear, we are from the South. A notoriously backwater background, don't ya know.
But at least we have Cormac McCarthy, who's sorta from Tennesse, even though he's not.
No to the Twin Peaks thing. My life timing may have been off for that one.
Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet are mesmerizing, but then you watch Blue Velvet with your date and Dennis Hopper keeps saying You Fuck! which you forgot about, or you watch Mulholland drive with your kid and suddenly there's hot lesbian sex you forgot was in there.
You forgot about that??
Damn. Sounds like I missed out. I need to see about fixing that.
That's how visually great the film is. I forgot about the hot lesbian sex.
The main thing I remembered was that I didn't get the ending.
Blue Velvet stars a much younger Kyle MacLachlan and a very beautiful Isabella Rossellini.
It's the epitome of the David Lynch thing.
Robin, just between you and me, I refuse to read CM. Please don't tell anyone as I'm sure I will be banned from all writers' sites if anyone finds out.
Yeah. That's believable, Sparky.
We should discuss one we've all seen. Anyone seen Juno?
I tend not to worry too much about getting the ending with Lynch's stuff.
No, I didn't see Juno yet. It gets her next month I think.
Well, Julie - don't worry about it, to each his or her own, my dear - but I will say- I think his best was "All the Pretty Horses". If you haven't read it - toss anything else you've tried aside- and give it a shot.
EE, y'all go ahead and discuss whatever. I'm kind of like a Christmas puppy, just glad to be here and out of the box.
We'll discuss The Graduate.
OK. Hang on a minute while I call my grandfather.
All The Pretty Horses was the one I picked up after all the glowing reviews. I'm too much of a hick to get the artistic merit of no, or gimmicky, punctuation.
EE, go ahead with Juno.
Actually, although I'm not that young, I have to confess I never saw The Graduate.
We could talk about Tootsie, though.
Juno is one of the most amazing characters in recent movie memory.
Try reading it aloud, and take your time. Just my opinion - you know- your fellow hick, half of whose family tree hails from
Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.
Yeah- the land of the urbane.
The Graduate may be the best movie comedy ever. I demand that you see it immediately.
Right after I've tried reading Tootsie allowed. Thanks, Robin.
I didn't see Juno for probably a dumb reason. The thought of it upset me because I have a teenage daugher - who- by the way- saw it and loved it - which freaked me out all over again.
Hey- we could all promise to see The Graduate this week and reconvene next weekend. How does that sound?
Love Dustin Hoffmann.
It has so many opportunities to sink into cliche, and never does. Your daughter is right.
I'm hoping it might be on on the plane when I travel next month. That's where I see most movies now.
What is amazing about Juno?
I liked The Graduate. But best comedy? Nah. Monty Python & The Holy Grail or Dr. Strangelove get my vote for top honors.
Hi all.
Her attitude and wit. If I had a daughter I'd want her to be like Juno.
Robin, his writing is breathtaking, but the punctuation issue just irks me too much to enjoy it. It's would be like trying to ignore the fact that George Clooney keeps slapping me in the face. Nothing is pretty enough to put up with the irritation.
I thought Life of Brian was better than Holy Grail.
Peter Sellers was a troubled genius.
Hey, phoenix!
Cool. The urbane types are now outnumbered, three to two.
Hey ril, is that 'allowed'!!!?
I seem to remember your rants about non-trad punctuation, Julie, over at Bookends :o)
It's kind of like Rock, Paper, Scissors. You never quite know who is going to win.
So, out of curiosity, what makes a memorable or amazing character?
Well EE - then you'd freakin' love Blondie.
Why don't I send her on up for a few months, so I can put my feet up?
She's full of wit. And candor.
Sounds like EE has a little crush on somebody...
Oops, Phoenix. Yes, as I confessed on my blog today, I am searching for duct tape for my mouth.
Does she have a blog?
I almost put Life of Brian in there, Ril. But I'm the Arthurian era has been good to me, so that colored the decision.
Glad to know someone else loved Brazil.
Who you calling urbane, Robin? (Um, is that a GOOD thing?)
I thought the Simpsons Movie was disappointing.
It's a good thing, but she was counting you in the other group.
The Futurama movie was horrible.
Who- Blondie? now - just the MyFacePlaceSpace whatever the hell.
But I've been memed (what the hell does that stand for, anyway) for teh second time in two or three weeks. I'm thinking about hvaing an actual blog- but I'm worried it will eat into my EE time. And my novel-finishing time.
Didn't know there was a Futurama movie...
More importantly, does she read my blog? If she's moving in with me she has to be a fan.
Candor is good, Julie. No duct tape needed!
Thanks, EE ;o)
Phoenix, I was dealing on a multi-million dollar real estate venture years ago and the architect asked me to have some papers typed up for her.
My secretary capitalized all the people's names, as most people do, and we got informed in a very imperial way, that was not the way "modern" people do business correspondence.
Apparently, I haven't been modern or educated for many, many years.
I'm doing good to figure out my comma confetti dilemmas.
No, phoenix. The three of us from below the Mason-Dixon line Americans are the non-urbanes.
We could have a pretty good discussion about whether or not urbane is or isn't like The Emperor's New Clothes.
Present company accepted, of course.
Possibly it was DVD only. Bender's Big Score.
Ril, that's 'cause it hasn't been made yet - Futureama.
I didn't see The Simpsons Movie, but the TV show has been going a little stale. Still love Lisa. I relate to her big time.
I saw "The Graduate" in a crowd of old people. I laughed they glared.
Robin, I am considering deleting my blog.
I have no idea what a meme is and I normally avoid them like the plague, but got caught in a moment of weakness this time.
My daughter just found my Simpsons DVDs and they're playing now in the background.
I actually enjoyed "The SImpson's Movie." It was all sorts of silly fun.
I'm a big Krusty the Clown fan.
Robin, you need to go to the Surrey conference.
Yeah, Krusty's got life all figured out.
The only clowns I like are in Cirque De Soliel... It's been to Pittsburgh twice and is spectacular. Well worth the price.
I like The Simpsons. I love Family Guy. Love.
Julie, just consider old-fashioned your personal style and you'll be fine! And if you didn't use ANY punctuation in your writing, you wouldn't have to worry about where to put those darned commas. Pretentious? No. Just people who did poorly in English trying to beat the system. ;o)
Get your hair done again. Go to Surrey with a fringe on top.
My favorite Simpsons scene is when they were at family therapy and had the ability to give each other electric shocks.
What's the Surrey conference?
You confer in England? Seriously?
Oh, yeah -- I saw that one.
If the Sharper Image sold cattle prods, they wouldn't be going under.
How DOES one avoid the plague? I've always wondered...
Don't return its calls.
No one confers at a conference. Is that what your husband told you?
had the ability to give each other electric shocks.
That's even funny as a one liner...
Phoenix, good point.
*Hugs her Deluxe Transitive Vampire Grammar Guide for the Eager, the Damned and the Doomed.*
Fringe? Surrey?
My hair is never fringed, mister, unless you count the way my bangs are kind of shaved so they look casuall placed even when they're not. Ever.
Robin, Surrey BC in October. It's the conference Diana Gabaldon goes to.
They don't confer?
Oh.
What do they do? Drink? Carouse?
If so, I'm there.
I avoid the plague by avoiding people.
I like to think of myself as the Jeremiah Johnson of writers, except I don't eat livers.
Is that what your husband told you?
Sounds like you need to have a chat with your DH before next week, Robin.
Janet Reid will be there so I am sure there is drinking. I know I plan to hunt a drink or two up.
Who's Diana Gabaldon? Apparently I'm out of the net. Many nets.
There's a Canadian Surrey?
I shouldn't be shocked - there's a Kentuckian Athens, Baghdad and Versailles. Yeah. And the pronuniciations are a bit, shall we say, different.
I did enough conferences and technical meetings to last a long, long time.
Robin, if you go to Surrey, I will hire you to translate for me.
Have you submitted your query to the Shark, Julie?
Diana Gabaldon wrote the Outlander series. I think you would like them. Surrey isn't too far north of the Washington border.
EE, do you ever go to these conferences?
ril? Do you?
phoenix?
Julie - if you were with me at a conference, we'd probably get in trouble. Could be fun. I like trouble.
I've never been to a writers' conference.
What, Julie, you don't speak Canadian?
Robin, my editor once told me when I sell a book I need to hire a publicist to speak for me. She likened my voice to Loretta Lynn on downers and she is from Tennessee.
Yes, we need to hit a conference together.
I went to one conference. It was good in one way - and dull in all others.
I've been to a few conferences.
Phoenix, I actually used to pony some Canadian chariot racers. Loves my Canucks. I've just been told I don't even speak American very well.
Robin look up the Surrey conference and let's go. We can convince others to go and play "what's my name?"
I don't go to writer's conferences. And I try to duck out of work conferences whenever possible. I used to speak at SFF conferences in the area, but that was awhile ago. Heck, if I have to go into town for groceries more than once a month, I get all antsy.
EE, did you enjoy them or were they just exhausting for you?
A homebody. Bake your own bread?
Well, the spousal unit is goung to spend a week in Ireland playing golf in September with his Brit buds. I'm good with that - because it will be my turn next.
Tell me somewhere to go that isn't hell, and I may do it.
I think this is the answer for the EE meeting. EE can be there at the conference - but we won't know which guy he is. It'll drive us crazy - which will be kind of fun.
But ril - you have to spill the beans that it's you there with us.
Is that OK?
Holy crap! Are we doing a free-for-all chat every Saturday now? And I actually missed all of this because I was actually writing and even finished a short story, too?
It's kismet.
EE, were you a free spirit at your conferences or did they shackle you to panels and pitch sessions?
Heck, if I have to go into town for groceries more than once a month, I get all antsy.~
Yep. I'm not really much on crowds, but Surrey is my emancipation party. I keep destroying applications to Blizzard because California terrifies me.
Being on a panel is boring but giving or attending readings is fun.
I want the first 150 words of that story immediately, ww.
A homebody. Bake your own bread?
Not sure who that was directed to, but I bake my own and I did make my own cheese when I had my house. I don't in the apartment.
I suppose if minions attended a conference, we could all wear buttons with EE's avatar on them. Of course, then he'd probably avoid us all!
I think it would be fun to do something like this however. so you guys all decide and I'll check in in the morning, because I need to get to sleep. Long day at work.
Hey WW, you mentioned you had a deadline today. I guess it's still Saturday in some parts of the world :o) Is it just getting it subbed or is it going to publish?
I think this is the answer for the EE meeting. EE can be there at the conference - but we won't know which guy he is. It'll drive us crazy - which will be kind of fun.~
So, if we get bounced out of the conference for doing Martha and Tilley impersonations to strange men will it upset you?
You guys already had it. It was the zombie one, and instead of a horror, it's strangely HEA. My critique group will likely shred the hell out of it.
Hold on, please.
EE - can you give us a hint which ones you attended?
Tonight was a good night for writing.
I wrote the start of a short story and it's good stuff at about 600 words.
WW, congratulations. Where will the story be published?
Hey WW - good night, then!
Never choose humor for a reading. I learned that lesson.
Dave, good job. I went to a baseball game and ate myself into a stupor instead of writing.
I keep starting new novels and shifting projecs when I hit the 80K mark, so I decided I'd seque into short stories and retrain my ADD addled brain to work toward completion.
The deadline was both because I have a critique group I need to submit to (dead line pressure is good) and because I wanted to submit to a particular publication and the cutoff is in June.
I love baseball but I don't get a chance to get to ballparks and see it too much.
Never choose humor for a reading. I learned that lesson.~
Yeah, that would be tough. I come out of my shell a bit if I have a few drinks, but doing humor in a pitch would require more than a few drinks.
Yeah- Dave and WW were good.
I still have to write my EE exercise. I'm bad.
Did we lose EE?
Sorry to confuse Julie. it's not getting published yet. HOpefully soon, however.
For some reason, I have one friend who just has great ideas. Sometimes, it only takes a sentence for me to start.
I wrote comments for the last opening and the face lift. Does that count toward my daily writing quota?
I always choose humor for a reading.
I haven't done the exercise.
You DO readings?
EE, seriously?
I'm here. Sometimes I stare at the screen and then realize I was supposed to refresh.
You can likely get away with it, EE. I think you have to have the knack. I am quite sure I lack that particular skill.
And now I really am departing.
G'night all.
Good luck with it, WW.
Dave, do you work with your friend?
good night.
Speaking of the exercise, y'all some my inspiration for my entry in the comments on the Writing Exercise post.
Encapsulate the desired scene in one sentence and let the mind do its work.
I discovered that technique and now I use it. I delete a lot of junk, but eventually, out pops a beginning.
Mind if we pick your brain a bit?
You've already admitted you have gone to a few conferences. Is there something about them you enjoy?
What?
You're a brave man, EE. Or else you actually write funny stuff (which, of course, you've amply demonstrated here!). I once got Roger Zelazny to laugh (though he might have just been being polite), but I've also tanked big time. As in dead, dead, crawl-into-a-hole silence.
EE - are you still there?
Do I do work with a friend.
No, I've only done one collaboration and that was OK.
The friend just comes up with ideas. 3 out of 4 ideas of his ideas work to inspire me.
I also take other ideas. one of my new beginnins here is undergoing a sex change so that the "professor" will be a woman and not a man. That was thanks to the minions who set my mind in a different direaction.
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