@2433bcdf A couple of months ago, I signed up for an Instagram course for authors run by two German women (waaaaaaay too expensive - I'm really annoyed with myself that I signed up for that thing), and the stuff I've seen and experienced in this context is... not good.
These past few days / weeks have made me REALLY glad that 24 years ago, I decided to write in English and try to get published in the USA. The casual racism and bigotry I've seen and (in regard to the bigotry) experienced among an overwhelmingly white cishet German author bubble is something else.
What I'm doing today:
1) Finished the first draft of the Christmas epilogue for Castle of the Wolf (basically writing fan fiction for my own books - wheee!) (naturally, the gargoyles will make an appearence and the special grandfather clock!)
2) Left Miss Hetty, went home.
3) Experiments with curls (first attempt still in the making, but it doesn't really look like a complete success...)
One of the lovely things about writing a Christmas epilogue for Castle of the Wolf is that I can show what an utterly cute couple Cissy and Fenris are - something that was not really possible within the drama-filled novel.
Re-watching old episodes of Midsomer Murders is always a lot of fun: Oh, is this the one where the priest jumps off the bell tower at the end? Is this the one where that guy ends up drowned in tomato sauce???
#PennedPossibilities 83— MC POV: What keeps you awake at night?
Maius: I--
Caomh, leaning on his shoulder, grinning: Me. I keep him awake at night.
Maius: 😒
Caomh, grinning more broadly: It's true. At least during those nights when you come to the Nemean Lion. 😁
Maius: 🙄
Caomh: 😎
#wordweavers Sep. 25
Your antagonist gives a spontaneous speech. What is it about?
Nah, my antagonist has been eaten by a bear by now. And the poor bear is suffering from indisgestion as a result. 🐻
#WritersCoffeeClub Day 16: Do you have prologues in any of your writing? How do you feel about them?
I have prologues in several of my novels, including The Gladiator's Passion. I like them. And I also like epilogues. I'm OLD-FASHIONED. 🤷🏻♀️
Who would like to visit Traiana, one of the main settings of The Gladiator's Passion, with me?
In this video, you get to see a bird's eye view of the amphitheater where Caomh fought as Rufulus (at the time of the novel, the seating area was built of wood).
The L-shaped building a short distance behind the arena is the inn (The Nemean Lion!), and then you'll also get to see the large temple by the harbor.
https://youtu.be/WUgkp3-pSlk?si=roMDHPpZCQTerR-G
#PennedPossibilities 72 — MC POV: Describe a recent dream.
Maius, smiling: It’s not a recent dream, but a dream I have for the future. A shady courtyard in summer, swallows dashing through the sky overhead, their shrill cries mingling with the tinkling of a small fountain. There is a comfortable bench, where I sit with my arm around Caomh’s shoulders, and we are both old and grey-haired and–
Caomh: Is there a fig tree? There ought to be a fig tree. You like figs.
1/3
#WordWeavers 12: Side character POV: What do you find difficult to say to other people?
Adelphios stares: What kind of question is this? Do I look as if I have difficulties talking to people?
Phimenios: Er... excuse me?
Adelphios (doing his very best to imitate a basilisk's glare): Nobody has asked you, and what are you doing here anyway?
Phimenios: 🙄
Damianus, happily: I don't think there is anything I find difficult to say to other people.
Phimenios: *That* I readily believe.
1/2
#PennedPossibilities 70 — Is your MC making the world a better place?
Caomh, shouting: Of course, he is! After all, the Roman is a medicus, isn't he?
Maius, mildly: I thought this was a question for the author.
Caomh: Pah, the author! Who cares about the author! The author would probably forget to mention how generous you are and how you're way too kind to everybody.
Maius, a slow blush covering his face: I... That is...
Caomh, with emphasis: That is the *truth*.
Maius: 😳🫣🥰
#MaiusAndCaomh
It's interesting that these days, everybody and their auntie is a "writing expert". But sweetie, if your super duper author summit consists of 90% white people, you obviously missed quite a lot of conversations in the publishing world (and in this case, in the world of romance in particular). 😬
#WritersCoffeeClub 8. Did you like to read as a child? Which books did you read?
I loved reading from a very young age. Among my childhood favorites were Michael Ende's Neverending Story, Astrid Lindgren's Ronja Robbers' Daughter, Rosemary Sutcliff's novels (*all* of them), Auguste Lechner's retellings of medieval epics, Simon & Desi Ruge's Katze mit Hut, the German editions of Enid Blyton's Mallory Towers and St. Clare's, L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables books, & Frederica de Cesco's bks
The German editions of Blyton's books are quite interesting bec they're not translations as such. The books were heavily revised for the German market with different names for the characters & schools. In addition, both series were continued by ghost writers.
Moreover, in Germany we have a whole series of Enid Blyton books for which there is no English equivalent: The first 3 novels of the Tina & Tini mystery series are based on stand-alone titles written by Blyton, the rest are ghost written.
Yesterday, I stumbled across the most awesome review for Castle of the Wolf:
"Don't tell my Mom
I remember being in high school and sneaking this book from my mom's bookshelf when she wasn't paying attention. I really found this book so lovely and sweet back then. Yesterday, about a decade after reading this book, I suddenly remembered it. After searching Google, I devoured it in two days and it's still as sweet as ever. I have a new appreciation! Highly recommended."
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