Anne Gray's World

Memories

2011-08-11T12:21:00.002-04:00

Just finished reading Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson, about a woman who wakes up each morning not knowing who she is, remembering nothing from her life. Although she can keep the memories of the day intact as long as she is awake, she loses even those memories each night when she goes to sleep. If you can't remember anything or anyone, who do you trust?

It left me thinking about memories. How much of what we are is governed by memories? How different would we become if our memories were erased?

A good example of this is the William Monk series by Anne Perry. Monk is a policeman who has lost a large slice of his memories. He can carry on with his work and forms new memories with no problem, unlike the character in Before I Go To Sleep, but Monk has to forge a life with no knowledge of, for example, how he alienated so many people.

A different problem is shown by the Ian Rutledge character in the Charles Todd books. Rutledge remembers all too well, and one memory in particular haunts him. How different would his life be if just that one memory could be excised?

It is scary to think about waking up and not knowing who you are and remembering nothing about your life. But it is also scary to think about how much of our vision of who we are is influenced by memories of who we have been.

Back Again .... Again

2011-08-01T12:32:00.002-04:00

Almost two years since my last post. This has been an arid time for me but I'm hoping to get back on track. Had a lovely trip in May. Visited Ireland with my dear niece and then on to Sweden and England where I visited friends I haven't seen for many years. Reminded me of one of the many, many wonderful things about friends: distance doesn't diminish friendship.

Back Again

2009-10-20T13:58:00.002-04:00

I haven't written anything in the blog for a long while. Partly I've been away a fair bit -- visits to Montreal, Peterborough and Ottawa --but I have also been working. I'm almost through with my first revision of the new book.
Haven't seen anything recently to comment on except the Inspector Lewis series on PBS. It is
really a wonderful series. Wish there were more of them.

Oh, Well ....

2009-09-06T19:46:00.002-04:00

Today ... or last night ... or sometime, my freezer went kaput. Have had to toss over two thirds of the food in it but should be happy about the third I've managed to save.

On a happier note, my tomatoes are doing pretty well though they will soon be gone.

And on a happier note still, I've finally finished the first draft of book 3. Not sure what will come of it as my publisher has been sold, but let's hope they will want it when the time comes.

Time Passing

2009-08-15T16:08:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I posted but I've been very busy. Lovely outings with friends (among other things a lunch cruise on the Grand River, a trip to wine country, and a swim and wok lesson at a friend's house), enjoying the yard on nice afternoons (far too few of those this rainy summer) and reading.
But mostly I've been very busy writing. Finally. If I can just keep the momentum going, I may be able to report a first draft by early next month.

Characters and Gardens

2009-07-15T16:57:00.003-04:00

As I continue with my Alan Rickman movies (I've recently seen What the Lord Made, Michael Collins and am now working through The Barchester Chronicles where he plays a wonderfully repulsive Slope) I'm trying to figure out how he becomes each character and not just Alan Rickman playing at being the character, which is how it seems with a lot of actors. Johnny Depp and Robert Duval also have the knack of becoming the characters they portray. It's wonderful to watch.

Rickman's voice is quite distinctive, he has certain gestures, mannerisms, eye and mouth movements that seem to show up in each role yet, somehow, they become part of the character.

It makes me think about how writers create characters, for really, a character is nothing more than black marks on a white page (assuming the story is printed in black and white) yet those marks can conjure up characters in the mind that stay there for years. Some writers have mastered the art, though I suspect it is a new challenge with each story.

My outdoor garden is doing pretty well. I cooked some mustard greens the other day, the yellow squash plants are doing well and there are quite a few small, green tomatoes doing their best to grow and ripen.

As to the other 'garden', it is not growing a well as I would like, but it is growing.

Alan Rickman, Strawberries and Gardens

2009-06-25T13:42:00.002-04:00

My Alan Rickman marathon continues. I recently saw Dogma, Galaxy Quest, Close My Eyes, and Blow Dry. Of these four, Blow Dry was my favorite, a sad, serious but very funny movie. As always, Rickman was great, but there were also wonderful performances by Bill Nighy and Warren Clarke. More coming soon ...

Yesterday I went strawberry picking. Fresh, local strawberries. Mmmm. Good.

My outdoor garden continues to do well. Tomatoes growing beautifully. I've even spotted an occasional flower. Unfortunately the southern vegetables aren't doing as well. A few of the butterbean seed germinated and a couple only of the okra, but no sign of the pink eyed peas. I suspect it was a combination of old seed and the cool, wet weather that came after I planted them.

The inside 'garden' is coming along. Not as much progress as I'd like, but some progress all the same. I'm beginning to think (hope, anyway) that a first draft might be ready by late summer or mid fall.

Movies and Books

2009-06-13T21:39:00.002-04:00

Having been told by several friends what a wonderful actor Alan Rickman is .. one friend even described him as 'lovely', I decided to have a look at some other films. I know him mostly as Snape in the Harry Potter movies, and yes, he is wonderful in that role. As it happens, I had seen some of his earlier movies some time back but the name hadn't stuck in my mind, while others are new to me. Tonight I watched Snow Cake, a very sad but quite wonderful film. One of the things I like is that he is the character he portrays not just some 'star' playing at a role. I'm looking forward to seeing some others.

It's a bit like discovering a writer who has several books out and reading them all starting with the first. Quite a different experience from reading them with a year or so inbetween.

Gardens and Books

2009-06-06T12:55:00.003-04:00

Today I had my first taste of what's to come in the outside garden. There are several types of lettuce and other greens and I made a wonderful salad for lunch. It's amazing what a difference there is when you have freshly picked, tender greens. Mmmm Good. It will be a while before there is anything other than the greens, but I'll enjoy them in the meantime.

We've had cool weather so whether the okra, pink-eye peas and butter beans will germinate remains to be seen.

I must also mention Graceling, a book I finished in sitting. I really enjoyed it.

My own work is progressing slowly, but progressing.

Gardens and Road Trips

2009-05-29T22:40:00.003-04:00

Had a lovely visit with my sister and took the second road trip to deliver her to Buffalo Airport. Happily we had good weather and that trip went well too. Today I did some more work on my outside garden and have almost finished planting the vegetables. Will likely do a few more flowers. It was a super day to work outside and it felt good afterwards to sit and read (The Time Traveler's Wife) and enjoy the wild phlox and buttercups. Now it's time to get to the computer and get back to work on the other garden.

2009-05-22T22:09:00.001-04:00

Recently got back from my first solo road trip in quite a long time. I was a little nervous and I missed having my co-pilot with me but the trip went well. I visited my nephew and his wife and my sister who was visiting them as well. Brought her back with me so for a few days we'll be doing our 'thing' assuming we can find a 'thing' to do.

Books

2009-05-16T15:17:00.003-04:00

Just finished the fourth book in the Steerswoman series (Rosemary Kirstein). I've enjoyed the books very much so I was glad to see that the series wasn't finished, but disappointed to find that the next book hasn't been written yet. It's always fun to find a series that you like which already has several books. But it's hard to wait for that next one. I'm finding the same thing as I wait for the next Katherine Kerr book in the Deverry series.
And I get a bit irritatied when I have to wait too long. I've been waiting ages for Melanie Rawn to write The Captal's Tower. There are rumors that it's in the works but by now it has been so long since I read the others, I'll need to start from scratch. But will I?

How Will My Gardens Grow

2009-05-06T16:26:00.002-04:00

We'll see.

Today my neighbor and I finished preparing the soil for the vegetable garden and put in a few things that (I hope) don't mind cool weather: four kinds of lettuce, Swiss chard, spinach, beets,
carrots and cucumbers. I'm waiting for warmer weather before I put in tomatoes, okra and yellow squash. I also have some old bean and mustard seeds which I hope may still be good. So, if the seeds are good, the plants healthy and Mother Nature cooperates, it may be looking good out there in a couple of months.

I've also made some progress on the novel. If that continues to go well, I may have a good start.

Let's hope both gardens grow well.

Grrr...not so much .... maybe

2009-04-29T21:03:00.001-04:00

Well, I grabbed my courage by the scruff of the neck, gave it a shake and tried one more time to see if I could fix whatever went wrong with my Word program. I’m always reluctant to fiddle with things in the Control Panel especially if I don’t know what I’m doing which, when it comes to computers, is almost all the time. However, I gave it a try and it looks like it worked. Now if it just stays working.

And I'm back at work. Finally.

Grrrrr.... again

2009-04-29T13:01:00.000-04:00

I’m beginning to think the Fates are conspiring against me. I had just got back to work and was making some reasonable progress I thought when this morning my Word program starting giving me trouble. Something about a template being screwed up. (That’s not the proper computerese, but that’s what it is.) One might ask how that happened and what to do but I’m not sure where one would get an answer. I’ve followed all the instructions given in Help but have had no success. On top of that my internet is still not working properly. I’m about ready to join the Luddites.

Working . . . Or Not

2009-04-19T14:19:00.000-04:00

My internet woes continue. I can get connected . . . most of the time but it’s still a bit of a hassle. However I don’t feel like another hour session with someone who will likely only make it worse so I’m leaving it for the time being.

Meanwhile I’ve been caught up in frenzy of house work. I won’t claim the house doesn’t need tidying and cleaning but I’m aware that there is an element of “I’ll get to work as soon as I clean this floor with a toothbrush” in all the action. (I don’t recall who I heard put it like that but it is quite apt.) I have made a start . . . a couple of times. Maybe next time it will take.

Computers .... Grrrr

2009-04-02T21:48:00.002-04:00

After a couple of false starts, I was just getting to a schedule and working well ... almost well ... when I got internet problems. After 3 sessions over two days, wasting about 3 hours or more, I think it is working ... almost... though I have to talk with them again tomorrow to see. To add insult to injury, I managed to disconnect something that I have no idea how to reconnect.
Of course, none of this affects my word processor, but the whole thing is so time consuming and frustrating that it really threw me off course. Let's hope I can get back.
It has left me very frustrated and cranky.

Success . . . sort of

2009-03-21T20:10:00.001-04:00

I didn’t manage to actually write anything new, but I did pull out the work I did last summer and made some notes on the material that’s been rattling around in my head. Not a great step forward but more than I’ve been able to manage before now. I need to try to keep the momentum going though. Maybe I’ll even get something new written before long.

Procrastination

2009-03-19T11:29:00.001-04:00

Have been trying to get back to work with little success, so have set myself a deadline. The Spring Equinox is coming, a good time to start fresh. So, I've set Saturday as a day to get to work. It will be very embarrassing if I have to admit that I didn't do it.

2009-03-17T18:16:00.001-04:00

I have started reading That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis, but I don’t remember why. I have a bad habit of noting the name of a book that has been recommended by someone because it is interesting or relevant in some way to what I was reading. Unfortunately, I don’t write down who recommended it or in what way it is supposed to be interesting or relevant. Now I have the book and have started reading it ... fine ... but why did I think I wanted to read it? Perhaps as I get further into it I’ll remember. Or just enjoy it ... or not ... for its own sake.

Interview

2009-03-11T17:47:00.002-04:00

After some mix up with time, the interview took place on Monday at 3:00 Central time. I did have a link to take you to the interview but I was told that the sound quality wasn't too good and that it would be better to go the the Book Bites For Kids site where the sound quality is better. I have deleted that link and suggest that you go directly to Book Bites for Kids.

Interview

2009-03-08T16:45:00.003-04:00

My interview with Book Bites for Kids is scheduled for Monday, March 9 at 2:00pm Central time.

I started back at the gym this week, after being away for over a year. It was good to get active. Also, together with my neighbors, I signed up for a waterfitness class. Started yesterday and it felt great. So ... I'm hoping for a newer, fitter me.

Now if I can get back to work on Book Three of Dovella's story. I know pretty much where I want Dovella's part of the story to go but I'm having some trouble with a couple of new characters. I don't know them well enough yet. So, as soon as I can get a better idea of exactly who they are, I'm hoping I'll be able to get to work. For me, knowing the 'plot' doesn't work until I know the character.

Time Flying

2009-02-27T18:41:00.002-05:00

I can't believe it's been over two weeks since my last post. I know I've kept busy but I'm not sure what I've accomplished.

Well, I have read a lot. The Memory of Water is a family drama featuring two estranged sisters and the son and ex-husband of one of them. I don't read a lot of literary fiction. I find too often that I can't care about the main character . . . or any of the others. But this one took hold of me.

I also read the Quickening trilogy of Fiona McIntosh. It had some interesting twists which she handled beautifully. There was one thing near the end that didn't really convince me, but I enjoyed the books all the same.

I've also been reading some non-fiction. How important is ritual? Not empty ritual that one practices by rote without thinking, but meaningful rituals that mark the stages of life, or perhaps the seasons. Some interesting questions have been raised and it has set me to thinking about this.

In a week or so I'll be doing an interview on podcast. More on this later when all is settled.

Meanwhile, we've had some weather that makes me think Spring will come this year after all. Eventually.

Fortune and Fate

2009-02-12T12:53:00.001-05:00

Just finished the latest Sharon Shinn novel, Fortune and Fate, the fifth in The Twelve Houses series. I highly recommend this series. You can pick it up at any point, of course, as she works in the necessary back story quite well, but it’s best to start with the first, Mystic and Rider, and pick up the story at the beginning.

I’ve been trying to decide just what it is that I like so much about the series. It has a gripping plot and an interesting world but, as is most often the case, it’s the characters that keep me returning. In fact, as soon as I clear the pile of books sitting by my chair, I think I’ll start all over. (Of course, I’ve got some good ones waiting there, so it may be a while.)

What makes a character so compelling? That’s a question I think every writer would like to be able to answer. It only takes Shinn a few paragraphs to bring her characters to life. And she does the ‘evil’ characters really well. I think it’s harder to create a villian -- one you really, really want to see come to a bad end -- who seems real than it is to create a loveable character. But then, as much as we love the good characters, it’s the bad guys that keep us turning the pages. When will they get what they deserve?

Busy Week

2009-02-05T21:16:00.002-05:00

It’s been a busy few days. I was in Toronto for the Ontario Librarian’s Association convention where I signed books last Friday. I stayed on for another day to go to a concert of early music which I enjoyed very much. Then back to Hamilton on Sunday morning, and more cold and more snow. And it looks like that pesky groundhog saw his shadow so I suppose there will be even more to come.

I finished the P.D. James book then read the new Carol O’Connell (Bone by Bone), J. A. Jance’s Cruel Intent, and Blood on the Strand by Susanna Gregory, all of which I liked a lot. So it looks like I’m back in reading mode. Now if I can just get back to writing mode.

I’m afraid the writer’s block isn’t going to be as easily overcome as the reader’s block. I met with my writing group today and took in the draft of a story I started last fall, so I am at least looking at work, but I really need to get on with the third book in the series. I know how I want to get started, but can’t seem to get myself going.

The blog heading has a new look thanks my terrific niece who is my ‘blog guru’, so to speak. A book and a cat. Not quite like 'a loaf of bread, a jug of wine ....' but I'm sure a poem could be made from it. I'll have to see what I can do.

Reader's Block Revisited

2009-01-29T08:36:00.004-05:00

I think it was mostly the books I had started that made reading so difficult because I just read with great pleasure the new Juliet Marillier book, Heir to Sevenwaters. In fact I read it in one afternoon and evening, staying up until after one o'clock to finish it. I had very much enjoyed The Sevenwaters Trilogy as well as Wolfskin and Foxmask, so I had been looking forward to this book, and am happy I wasn't disappointed. I've now started The Private Patient by P. D. James. Let's hope it continues to go as well as it started.

And then there is my interest in nature. Well, all this snow we are getting is not what I had in mind. It is beautiful, and I'll grant that snow removal is great exercise (though not so great for the back) and the fresh air is good for me, but I'm ready for some sunshine. Still, when it is piled up, if you just squint a bit, you might almost think of it as dunes of sand on the Gulf Coast. Almost.

Reader's Block

2009-01-27T17:51:00.003-05:00

We hear a lot about writer's block --a topic for another post -- but what about reader's block? I am an avid reader , yet I have recently returned two books -- and may well return a couple more -- to the library unread. These are books by authors I generally like a great deal and for which I've been eagerly waiting for some time. I just could not get interested in them. In some cases I found the characters uninteresting and in one book I found myself put off by the writing style. It seemed to be straining for humor where humor had always come naturally before.

So what's going on? I'm hoping this condition won't last as long as writer's block often does. Has anyone else had reader's block? Can it be the winter blahs or is it just me?

Families

2009-01-24T13:53:00.003-05:00

I recently had a visit from one of my nieces who helped me get my physical world in a bit of order and also helped me get this blog world set up, for both of which I am most thankful. I have a wonderful family.

This set me to thinking about families and literature. Almost every book has something to do with the family background of one or more characters, even if it's only hinted at. And more often than not it is a troublesome relationship in some way. I'm sure that most of us would want to have a good relationship with the members of our family, yet it is these troublesome relationships that most interest up when we are reading. Conflict. Oh, yes. We might want to avoid it in real life, but a book without it would be very boring.

First Post

2009-01-19T12:44:00.000-05:00

My world is mostly about writing and reading since those activities take up the biggest part of my day. But it is also about family and friends, music and nature and whatever else captures my fancy that day.