“It’s common in Old English to count time by ‘winters’ – to speak, for instance, of someone having lived a certain number of ‘winters in the world’ – and we’ll see that winter is a season which looms large in Anglo-Saxon poetry.” –Winters in the World, by Eleanor Parker
I’ve been reading a wonderful book, “Winters in the World,” by Eleanor Parker, in which she takes readers through the medieval Anglo-Saxon calendar. A really enjoyable read, and she is so adept at making Old English, and some pretty arcane subjects, accessible to non specialists, which is a rare gift in academic writing.
Winter for us is a time that might be rather irritating or difficult, especially if you live in an area that gets lots of snow and cold weather. To ancient peoples, it could mean death. In a modern context, George RR Martin did a wonderful job of using winter as an oppressive force to be feared. Parker takes the reader through Anglo Saxon poetry that spoke of winter and its hardships–it’s a journey well worth taking. I highly recommend this book.
I’m just up to the section on Candlemas, which was celebrated February 2, when the Christmas season came to an end. I propose we go back to having the entire month of January off and starting up work again after Candlemas. It’s the right thing to do!
I have always enjoyed the winter solstice–the idea of ancient peoples celebrating the shortest day of the year, in anticipation of longer sun-filled days to come, gives me a good feeling about my fellow-passengers to the grave, as Dickens put it. I wish everyone a peace filled, happy holiday season, and all the best for the new year.
I’ll be taking a break from posting for the duration of the holidays, as I work on some projects and get some things ready for the new year. I’m looking forward to all that the future is going to bring. My very best to you, and thanks to all who have supported my creative endeavors over the past year.
Here’s one of my very favorite seasonal songs. See everyone next year.
I was reading this interview with Andrew Vachss, a writer I admire, and I love this quote.
“Writing is not a meritocracy. Nor is it a fair fight. By what criteria is writing measured? That’s right: by the personal tastes of the reader. And most readers are sheep who prefer to be guided by “reviewers” or bestseller lists. So just as I know there are better writers out there who will never get published, I believe there are better actors out there who will never get their chance before the cameras, better directors who will never get the financing, better singers than will ever get recorded…so, if it were truly up to me, I’d have an “open call” and let the best man (for that role) win.”
Here’s the record of THE OSPREY MAN at my local public library. Look for my book at your library, or ask your librarian about it! It’s available as an ebook in the hoopla database, or they can order a physical copy.
My children loved the new animated version of this classic tale, which is now streaming on Netflix. I read that it’s an update of the 1970 musical starring Albert Finney, and I recognized several of the songs from this earlier version. One of the funniest sequences in this movie was the song “Thank You Very Much,” where Scrooge watches as characters celebrate his death. There was enough humor and heart to keep everyone engaged. My seven year old can be a tough critic when she doesn’t enjoy something, but she has already watched this one twice and picked it out for family movie night. I’m now planning to read the story together with my kids.
A Christmas Carol is one of my favorite stories. This new version may not replace your favorite version of Dickens’ classic, but it’s a fun contribution for the season that the whole family should enjoy.
I just started Stephen King’s newest, Fairy Tale, the other day. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a King novel, though I have read many of them. He has a way of sinking the hooks in quickly, and making you care a lot about regular people in some dire situations. I am loving it so far.
It’s nice, I found, to not read any reviews or buzz about a book. I often read reviews, but had read almost nothing of this book, except that many people were enjoying it. I didn’t even read the blurb on the back cover. I guess after awhile a writer like King earns this trust, since you know you’re in good hands. But it’s been a real treat over the first 100 pages of this one to see where he is leading us.
I can see why so many people are excited about this newest one. Great stuff from a writer we’ve been lucky to have all these years.
I’ll be at the Indepdendent Artists and Comic Book Convention this Saturday, November 19, in Fishkill, NY with copies of THE OSPREY MAN. If you’re in the area, please stop by and say hello. There will be a lot of great artists and vendors attending, and I’m looking forward to it. Check out the link for all the details. https://www.facebook.com/IACCONNY
Last night was such a fun event, one I’m still thinking about the next day: George RR Martin and Neil Gaiman in conversation, at Symphony Space. There are few authors who can sell out a concert hall, but George and Neil are two of them.
It was neat hearing them talk about science fiction and fantasy royalty. Gaiman and Martin knew each other through a mutual admiration and friendship with Roger Zelazny, and Neil said they struck up a friendship when Zelazny passed away in 1995. Martin gave high praise to Zelazny’s writing, which made me want to read more of his books.
Martin spoke much about his life and career. There were some really interesting moments in what he said about how much he struggled to succeed as a writer. He sold his first professional story in the early seventies, but said that even after some sustained success and many writing awards, it was difficult to write full time. He eventually quit a teaching job to do so, but said that at a certain point he had a hard time selling anything, which is why he went to Hollywood in the mid-eighties. He had successes there, but also frustrations with how difficult it was to get anything made, and the way studios would want to change his stories and adaptations.
In 1996, Game of Thrones was released and though it was successful, it was not until the third book in that series, A Clash of Kings, that he made the bestseller list. On a book tour supporting the novel, Martin said he would sign for around ten or so people at various Barnes and Noble bookstores. He hilariously recalled a story of when he arrived at a bookstore packed with fans, only to find out they were there for another signing, that of Clifford the Big Red dog. Later, as the series became a sensation and then was adapted by HBO, hundreds and even thousands started showing up to see him read and sign.
It’s hard to believe that a writer of Martin’s gifts toiled for so many years, at times unable to pay his bills, but his career arc is a good reminder of just how difficult it is to make it as a writer. We all know and love Game of Thrones now, but he put in decades of work before achieving such immense popularity.
Gaiman had some great stories, as well, the best of which was how he at one point pitched an idea to George for the Wild Card series George edits, but was rejected. The story was about a Dream king which, of course, became Sandman.
There was a lot of other fun talk between the two about history, and historical fiction, and Martin’s interest in writing in many different genres. I left feeling so lucky to have seen the two of them together. Fantasy rock stars. It doesn’t get much better. If you have the chance to see him, I highly recommend it. This video from earlier in the week, on Colbert, is also brilliant. Colbert is so well read and is such a good interviewer.
Here’s an interview I did with Bee Lindy at her site, Bookpleasures. It was a lot of fun to do, and you can learn a bit more about my novel THE OSPREY MAN there.
Today is also the last day you can enter to win a copy of the book, through Teddy Rose Book Reviews
I’m lucky to have a ticket to see George RR Martin in conversation with Neil Gaiman at Symphony Space tonight, which should be a great event. I have seen Neil Gaiman give a talk before, several years back when his excellent novel The Ocean at the End of the Lane came out. But I’m a huge fan of George RR Martin’s work, and have never seen him in person, so I’m excited. I’ve been reading A Song of Ice and Fire since the early 2000s, when my brother in law gave me a copy of Game of Thrones one Christmas. I really hope I get to read Winds of Winter soon! I’ll be sure to report back on tonight’s event. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed House of the Dragon, which is a great show in its own right. I was concerned it might seem anticlimactic after Game of Thrones, but they’ve done a fantastic job bringing us back to Westeros.
When I finished Dance With Dragons, I was sorry that there were no more Westeros novels (though I happily read Fire and Blood when it arrived), so I set out to read the rest of Martin’s books. For those of you who haven’t read them, his other novels are enormous fun too. Tuf Voyaging is a wonderful collection of stories about space merchant Haviland Tuf. Fevre Dream is his vampire novel, and Armageddon Rag is another good one, about a rock journalist and a seemingly cursed band called the Nazgul (of course). And I recently got an early novel he wrote, Dying of the Light, that I’m eager to read. His story collections are also filled with great stuff.
I just finished Ray Russell’s Haunted Castles, a collection of his Gothic stories. I’d never read him before, but the book was so creepy and haunting that I immediately got his novel The Case Against Satan, which I’m halfway through. His stories are pretty grim, but I also find them great fun to read. Always so many good books to read, and not enough time.
Christopher Tuthill 