Asaric Tales e-book update #10

Posted on September 2, 2018 by crispina kemp

Asaric Tales update 10

September already; the year is closing on these updates. My first was 9th December 2017. So, what has this month brought, how much achieved?

Asaric Lies (Asaric Tales Book One)

It seems to have taken for ever, but in fact it’s under the year. On 18th August 2018 I made the last amendment Asaric Lies and with a sigh of relief tucked it in multiple storage against the day I’m ready to publish. And when will that be? Depends how long to takes to bring the remaining four books to print-ready state. But progress is definitely made.

Asaric Axis (Asaric Tales Book Two)

I’d like to thank those readers who have returned their comments and critiques for their speedy responses. Reading through them I see they’ve highlighted two troublesome issues which need (hmm) slight adjustments. But, problem: do I attend to that before moving on, or do I wait until everything’s in? As of today, there are two beta-readers with comments outstanding, and a kindly critiquer who says she’s about half-way through. I’m hoping all three will deliver before my next update. If I had nothing else to tie my time, I might work on it straight away. But since there’s another three books … yea, I think I’ll wait till the end of the month.

Asaric Skies (Asaric Tales Book Three)

At the last update I reported that I’d completed the read-through, chapter analysis and first revision of Asaric Skies and while happy with the plot, this third book is word-heavy. I was going to attack that this last month but then got waylaid into the final amendments for Asaric Lies. I’m glad that I did.

Meantime I have claimed my prize for hitting target in Camp NaNoWriMo back in April: the Windows version of Scrivener. (Please, when is the new version to be released? From the videos I’ve seen on YouTube the Mac version aces the Window’s version on every count.) Great, I thought, I’ll import Asaric Skies into Scrivener, and use it to identify the places where redundant words lurk. All very well, but first every chapter and every scene must be named. Ho-hum. Long story, but in the process, I went deeper into the analysis with the happy result that I can now see where to apply the pruning shears. So this is next on my agenda. Prune Asaric Skies.

I hope to have completed my gardening job by the next update, first weekend in October. I hope all the readers will have made their returns by then. I hope thereafter to work on the final rewrite of Asaric Axis (Asaric Tales Book Two). I hope I will still have keen beta-readers to help me with Book Three. I hope these hopes aren’t ‘some hopes’.

Posted in On Writing, The Spinner's Game | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Multi-car Pile-up

Posted on September 1, 2018 by crispina kemp

Not my usual subject when out with the camera, but these cars awaiting scrapage called loudly to me.

multi-car pile-up

A motor pile-up on the outskirts of Norwich: Photo 3rd May 2018

#2018picoftheweek: Transport

Posted in Photos | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

A Prickly Subject

Posted on August 27, 2018 by crispina kemp

Today’s walk, from the most easterly point in England, Lowestoft, to my home town of Great Yarmouth turned up some unexpected plant life.

Sea Holly

Sea Holly, up close and prickly. Photo 27th August 2018

The beach is shingle with stretches of sand. The eroding cliffs are forming sand-dunes that coastal flora are colonising. I just loved the way the light caught the glaucous leaves.

Confession, I hopped on a bus at nearby Gorleston cos I’m not a saint or a saviour to walk upon water and there’s a navigable river barring the way.

Posted in Photos | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

When Cleanliness Was Next to Godliness

Posted on August 25, 2018 by crispina kemp

I visit many churches on my rambles. This week I visited St Mary’s at Long Stratton (Norfolk, England). The stained glass east window was a delight being a ‘modern’ creation (hmm, 1929) incorporating medieval fragments, some very early, from both England and Flanders (and probably places beyond). Yet it was the bootscraper by the south door that really caught my eye.

Footscraper Long Stratton church

Bootscraper at the south door of St Mary’s church, Long Stratton: Photo 23rd August 2018

I’ve seen many neglected and forgotten, rusty battered old scrapers set to one side of couuntry church doors. This one was different: I don’t know its age, but it was clean, it was treasured.

#2018picoftheweek challenge: Details

For the tiles, the eroded carved stone, the exposed flint wall, the once flush flush-work, the leached minerals but, most of all, that bootscraper.

And for those interested, the aforesaid east window.

Stained Glass St Mary's Long Stratton

Medieval stained glass assemblage at St Mary’s Long Stratton; Photo 23rd August 2018

Posted in Photos | Tagged , | 24 Comments

Sub-Urban Art

Posted on August 19, 2018 by crispina kemp

I like graffiti. Maybe it’s my (long-long ago) Art School training (graphic design). So yet again I’ve been unable to resist.

Graffiti on Marriots Way

Graffiti under road-bridge along Marriot’s Way, Norwich: Photo taken 14th August 2018

And then there was this:

some bright spark

some bright spark …: Photo taken 14th August 2018

Love it!

It sat beside the same Marriot’s Way.

Posted in Photos | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

In Awkward Places

Posted on August 18, 2018 by crispina kemp

I have posted a photo featuring graffiti for the #2018picoftheweek challenge before. Then it was on a stand-alone wall, in woodland. This time we’re under a bridge.

Bridge over the Wensum

Graffiti beneath a bridge over the Wensum: Photo taken 14th August 2018

#2018picoftheweek title: Symmetry.

But what boggles my mind is how the artist accessed that wall. While I stood on an apron of dry muck beneath the bridge on my side of the river, beneath that graffiti there was just a very narrow brick ledge.

Posted in Photos | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

A Liminal Time

Posted on August 11, 2018 by crispina kemp

Where land becomes sea; when day becomes night; when the tide rests at its height: these are liminal times and liminal places where the veil that hides the Other-World becomes a permeable thing and allows the magic to slip through. Sometimes we just happen to be there to catch it.

Sunset over Breydon

Sunset over Breydon Water: photo taken 6th August 2018

The recent heat wave has held me away. But tempted out by a cooler evening, I took the camera for a walk along Breydon Water, and hit just the right time.

#2018picoftheweek: Sunset, though strictly speaking this isn’t sunset. Technically there was still an hour to go. But the conditions were perfect.

Sunset on Breydon

Sunset on Breydon #2: Photo 6th August 2018

Breydon Water is a tidal estuary that sits at the back of Great Yarmouth; the remants of the Great Estuary into which flows three main rivers of Norfolk (England). And being on my doorstep, one of my favourite haunts.

 

Posted in Photos | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

Asaric Tales e-book Update #9

Posted on August 5, 2018 by crispina kemp

Asaric Tales update 9

Gosh, is it really another month gone? And what have I done? I confess I have wilted into lethargy in Britain’s current heatwave. Even so, I’ve not been idle. And nor have my beta-readers and critiquers though one or two are a little behind schedule with their returns.

Asaric Lies (Asaric Tales Book One)

As of today, I’m still waiting on two readers’ returns. But, don’t fret, my friends, I know how easily good intentions can go astray during vacation season. Besides, how could I possibly crack the whip at anyone who is generous enough to volunteer, and it’s not like I have a publisher breathing down my back.

Most of the changes arising from the previous round of reads and critiques were incorporated as they came in; ditto for those coming in during this last round. But there are two scenes which need reworking, and which I’ve saved till now. So this is next on my To-Do, along with anything that might yet arrive in my In-Box. Then, I hope, I can set that book aside until ready to publish.

Overall, I’ve been more than pleased with the comments. And that each reader/ critiquer has then volunteered to read/critique the next book in the series is definitely encouraging.

Which brings me to …

Asaric Axis (Asaric Tales Book Two)

This has now been out with the beta-readers and critiquers for up to a month. So far one reader has completed the book and returned her comments; others are at various stages. At this point, I’m not chasing the returns, though I will be delighted when the overdue first parts show up in my In-Box. (Subtle nudge, no cracks of whips; full appreciation of the commitment you’re taken on.)

Asaric Skies (Asaric Tales Book Three)

I have now completed the read-through, chapter analysis and first revision of Asaric Skies.

As far as plot and structure are concerned, I’m happy. The stages unfold to hit all the right marks. Yay! But I am disappointed that I couldn’t delete more than 5000 words from its total (which now stands at 139k). So, next revision will include an extremely critical eye cast over descriptive passages, i.e. I noticed excessive attention to the environment (trees, hills and flowers), far more than in the previous two books.

While I am itching to get on with this, I hope I’ll need to delay it in favour of the returns from Asaric Axis (Book Two). Yep, that’s another nudge. But soft key, friendly. I am so appreciative of what you’re doing. And I know how ‘life’ can get in the way. And, well, to be honest, I’m not exactly skipping and jumping myself—as might be noticed by how short this update and how lacklustre.

So, that’s that for now. My many thanks to those participating. Asaric Tales e-book update #10, due first weekend in September.

 

Posted in On Writing, The Spinner's Game | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

Fibre … Structure

Posted on August 4, 2018 by crispina kemp

The heat with its debilitating effects continues to hold me prisoner; alas, no walkies for my camera and me again this week. It’s just as well I have a backlog of photos I can draw on for our #2018picoftheweek challenge.

fishing net at Southwold

“Fishing net draped over fence”: Southwold 26th June 2018

Seen at the small fishing port of Southwold in Suffolk, this rather tatty net tidied a treat when subjected to the simplest of edits.

#2018picoftheweek: Texture

Posted in Photos | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Light on the Water

Posted on July 28, 2018 by crispina kemp

Some days when I take the camera out the light falls just right for capturing the finer details on close-ups of plants. Other times the brush needs to be broader …

Breydon overlooking town

Beside Breydon Bridge, looking across the confluence of Yare and Bure to the town of Great Yarmouth beyond: Photo taken 20th July 2018

The sun had been up for about four hours when I took the photo, looking obliquely across the water with the sun still relatively low to the east—which produced just the right effect for this week’s #2018picoftheweek: Silhouettes.

Posted in Photos | Tagged , , | 10 Comments