“I find that singing makes the time pass, Doctor. Not gloomy songs, but cheerful ones. Don’t you know any songs? Isn’t there some Scotsman named Brown, or Bowen who wrote some songs?” He stopped cleaning the fish and looked at her with an expression of deep pain. “Might you be referring to Rabbie Burns, the bard of Scotland?” Daphne thought about it for a moment. “That sounds right. He wrote a song about a red rose, and one about a hag.” Her brow scrunched. “Though why someone would want to write a song about a hag is beyond me.” Dr. Murray closed his eyes, then opened them and looked at her. “Not a hag, Miss Farnham, a haggis. A haggis is a dish enjoyed by the people of Scotland.” “Really? What is it?” Dr. Murray described, with loving detail, the inner workings ...
Posts
Rand opened the cabin door and spied Julia up on the center of the table, skirt hiked up in her hand, a shapely pair of ankles distracting him from what she was saying. "Snake!" she whispered, pointing with her shaking free hand to a darkened corner of the cabin. Rand dropped his bag and fetched the lamp and the broom. When he raised the lamp and peered into the corner, there was a faint susurrus--a sound like sand falling on the floor. He looked closer, set down the lamp and broom and said, "C'mon outta there, fella." He crouched down and waved his fingers in front of the snake, and when it coiled to leap he grabbed it behind its head. The snake wrapped itself around his arm and gave it a good squeeze, but Rand didn't let go of the snake's head. He straightened and turned to Julia, the snake clinging to his arm, tongue darting in and out in agitation. "This ain't nothin' but a corn snake, darlin'. He's likely more scared of you ...
The sun came out midway through my walk this afternoon, which was a delight, as was the walk itself. I worked out a couple sticky plot points for (working title) The Hot Pirate's Secret Baby, realized I needed a name change for one of the characters (thank you, "find & replace") and for the first time felt like I was into the rhythm of my newest work in progress. I often get mental breakthroughs on my daily walk, but this was the first time the WIP and its plot was foremost in my mind. I can't force it. I've tried that and it doesn't work for me, but when I realize that it's happening and the creative brain synapses are firing, it's a good feeling. I returned to the work this afternoon with a renewed sense of commitment, and some excitement at seeing the characters taking shape.
Boskone 48
Thinking about going to Boskone 48? The list of program participants is up (Yay! I made the cut!) and you can read an interview with Special Guest Charlaine Harris, here . It takes a lot to get this Florida gal to fly up to Boston in February, but Boskone always delivers the goods. If you want to attend a regional science fiction and fantasy convention with great programming and hospitable hosts, this is the one. I hope I'll see you there!