"And we sing our songs to the headframe's creaks and moans."

[greygirlbeast]

Sunny and cold. Same old same old.

S.T. Joshi loves The Drowning Girl: A Memoir, and that makes me smile:

"The Drowning Girl features all those elements of Caitlín R. Kiernan's writing that readers have come to expect – a prose style of wondrous luminosity, an atmosphere of languorous melancholy, and an inexplicable mixture of aching beauty and clutching terror. It is a ghost story, but also a book about the writing of ghost stories. It is about falling in love, falling out of love, and wondering whether madness is a gift or a curse. It is one of those very few novels that one wishes would never end."

Yesterday, I wrote 2,593 words. Quite respectable, indeed. Especially when you take into account I was pretty wiped out from the seizure the night before and the pills. I'm sort of loving "Random Thoughts Before a Fatal Crash," and sort of not wanting it to end.

If you haven't ordered yet, Herr Platypus reminds you that Mondays are a fine day for reserving your copy of Two Worlds and In Between. Subpress now has the full ms. and all the artwork. It's gone off to grow up into a book.

---

Lo mein and dumplings last night. Also, a great episode of Fringe, "Bloodline." Anna Torv continues to rock my socks, and she gave good Fauxlivia last night. And yes, I'm hugely relieved that the series was renewed for another season.

Extremely good rp last night. The last three or four nights have restored my faith in rp as a storytelling device, a means of creating improvisational theater that is cathartic, smart, sexy, and simply fun. I'd pretty much given up. I think I may have mentioned this in an earlier entry, that I'd been so battered by the idiocy of SL and etc. that, lately, I simply haven't been able to take joy in any sort of rp. I thought it might be a permanent state of disillusionment. But, I'm glad to say I was wrong. Thank you, B. More than ever, I believe the secret is to keep any rp small. Two or, at the most, three people. Oh, and I did have a major culling of my SL friend's list last night. I'm removing anyone who stirs even an inkling of bad association.

Later, Spooky read more of The Book Thief to me, and, eventually, there was sleep.

Comments

[olivia nishkian (from livejournal.com)]

Keeping it small is the key, yes. It allows time lapse, conflict, and other mundanity that's integral to basic storytelling to take place without having to go to some ridiculous GM for approval, or risk the keen whining of someone you don't know bitching about you RPing something or some way you don't like.

Public RP blows. I absolutely hate it, and nothing good ever really comes of it, unless your entire goal is to just have cybersex with random people. Then it's basically just a very sad, virtual singles bar. But bear in mind, that IS how we met, and how I've met a lot of people I like.

But I'm glad you liked it a lot. I liked it too. I've considered trying to make my own kind of separate canon WoD sim when I graduate, if I find the time, the help, and the means to sustain it.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

Keeping it small is the key, yes. It allows time lapse, conflict, and other mundanity that's integral to basic storytelling to take place without having to go to some ridiculous GM for approval, or risk the keen whining of someone you don't know bitching about you RPing something or some way you don't like.

Exactly. And especially the whole approval-by-GM thing. And the who-knows-what stupidity that springs from a mob of rpers.

I've considered trying to make my own kind of separate canon WoD sim when I graduate, if I find the time, the help, and the means to sustain it.

It could be cool. I might be interested, time permitting.

[olivia nishkian (from livejournal.com)]

Oh, speaking of RP! I remade Molly in a fantasy sim as a half human, half fae sorceress/assassin/classy bitch. She's mega sexy.

You should totally meet her.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

You should totally meet her.

I expect I shall, inevitably!

[pisceanblue.livejournal.com]

What an absolutely lovely piece of praise, but I would expect no less (and imagine my response will be similiar - if not exactly the same - when it's our turn to read the book).

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

What an absolutely lovely piece of praise, but I would expect no less

Like I said, it made me happy.

[ashlyme.livejournal.com]

That's a lovely summing-up. I'll look forward to next year (my first thought was: bugger, I was convinced Two Worlds was out this autumn). You give good languor.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

You give good languor.

Now, that's high praise.

[kurtmulgrew.livejournal.com]

I see you like The Decemberists quite a bit. The other day I heard their song "Yankee Bayonet" and I was surprised the lyrics mentioned Oconee, the place of my birth. Then I thought of this weird underground railroad tunnel going under the mountains that was never finished because of the civil war. I think the workers were mostly Irish Immigrants. Of course a strange tunnel under the hills made me think of you. Thought you might find it interesting. http://oconeecountry.com/stumphouse

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I see you like The Decemberists quite a bit.

I've been a huge fan of theirs since 2005. Got to see them twice before they became such a hit tickets became unaffordable and venues far less intimate.

the lyrics mentioned Oconee

For me, that line always brings to mind the Oconee River, which flows through Athens, GA (where I lived from 1994-1997).

[kurtmulgrew.livejournal.com]

Cool, didn't know there was an Oconee river there.

[spank-an-elf.livejournal.com]

This morning ice laced over the puddles. Gaaah! One daffodil in my little garden started opening four days ago and just fucking halted the process. I want to pick it but I also want to see if the brave bloom will finally grunt past the return of 20 degree night temps.

It's supposed to snow on Wednesday. Cue the second gaaah!

Excited.

[pilamin.livejournal.com]

Wow. S.T. Joshi said that? "It is a ghost story, but also a book about the writing of ghost stories." That particular description causes my brain to produce more endorphins. Maybe it's because I picked up The Red Tree in the middle of Straub's Ghost Story, which was, well, a letdown considering it's aspirations. I bought it on a whim; I had never heard of the construct known as Caitlin R. Kiernan. The Red Tree turned out to be an emotionally meta experience; more than just a story. After I read it I was disappointed...because I knew I wouldn't find anything else like it, as Blackwood, Dunsany, Machen and Lovecraft were all dead and I had already read all their stuff. Oh if only I could access Lucien's library where I could read the stuff they never wrote.

Now I hear about this book called The Drowning Girl: A Memoir, which is "a ghost story, but also a book about the writing of ghost stories." Which is to say that it is so much more than a ghost story.

Anyway, I'm excited. That's what I wanted to communicate.

[sovay]

and that makes me smile

Cool.

I'm sort of loving "Random Thoughts Before a Fatal Crash," and sort of not wanting it to end.

I am especially curious to find out what this one will be like.

[greygirlbeast.livejournal.com]

I am especially curious to find out what this one will be like.

Perrault in Paris. Probably should have been in the book.

[sovay]

Perrault in Paris.

Prrrrrt.

Probably should have been in the book.

Special edition.

[kendare-blake.livejournal.com]

Fauxlivia! I love Anna Torv's portrayal, so subtly different and yet consistent. Was also glad to hear about the show's renewal, though mid way through this season I wondered (Fate of universes decided by who makes Peter's heart go pitter pat? Felt like a bobble.). But the portrayal of both universes is great and we may find no villains.

Excellent early review of The Drowning Girl.