Confessions of a hack: I used to keep a copy of cut and deleted scenes from my stories, and I still do.
In the old times, I simply did a cut & paste into a TXT file I kept in the same folder of my main text, and nowadays I have an overflowing trash bin in my Scrivener file.
Turns out it’s a good practice if you have a Patreon page, because fans are sometimes interested in taking a tour of your dustbin in search of what does not get in the final edit, and maybe discover why that stuff was cut.
But the reason I always did it is, I recycle my trash – going through the cut scenes for good paragraphs of description or god snippets of dialogue that I can use somewhere else in the text. Continue reading
Exploring the trash bin
Going with the Zeitgeist
Sometimes I think I’m getting too old for comics.
One of my Christmas gifts was a complete set of the first ten issues of Flash Gordon Zeitgeist, the series by Dynamite Comics written by Eric Trautmann and Alex Ross with art by Ron Adrian.
And I said, hey, it’s Flash Gordon, right?
Now I’m somehow halfway through it, and I will do a more in-depth review as soon as I’m through, and I wonder what that will look like, because right now I am still trying to decide if I like it or not. Continue reading
A relaxing hobby for the long winter night
The new year started and I crashed.
Bad health, cough and cold (but luckily no flu, so far) and then, two days ago, my brother noticed I was rambling and suggested I should take a break.
I can spend two days without writing and still make all the deadlines.
Hopefully.
Incidentally, I have just delivered (with one week of delay) the first episode of The Curse of Fantomah to my patrons. So I’ve reason to rejoice, and take a break. Continue reading
An interview with Christina Dodwell
So, I am opening this 2018 with a something big, and of which I’m very proud and happy.
And here’s a little introduction…
Christina Dodwell’s been one of my real-life heroes for the last 25 years, ever since I discovered her books in a London bookstore (Hatchard’s, if you really must know).
My personal favorites are An Explorer’s Handbook (great fun, and a great resource for a writer) and A Traveller in China (because of my old fascination with China and all that — we discussed this already), followed suit by A Traveler on Horseback in Eastern Turkey and Iran.
Now, the great news: I was granted permission to reprint an interview that was originally posted on the website of the Long Riders’ Guild, in which Miss Dodwell talks about her experiences as a traveler and an explorer.
I am extremely grateful to Christina Dodwell, to Basha O’Reilly who conducted the original interview, and everybody at the Long Riders’ Guild, for this great opportunity.
So, here goes. I’m sure you guys will enjoy the ride. Continue reading
Day one
First day of the year, the countryside is bleak, dreary and devoid of life, and I have spent the day in idleness, wrapped in thick blankets, eating leftovers and planning what’s to come.
I’ve one course starting in a week and another to launch, a serial starting in two weeks, two short to post on Patreon for my supporters, and we’re still working full tilt on Hope & Glory, speeding towards a release that’s currently labeled “soon”.
I have just delivered a translation, and there’s two more on the plate, one of them Lavie Tidhar’s Central Station.
I’ve also developed a certain yearning for change – I wanted to redesign the blog, that is now entering in its 6th year, but really, I like the current template, and it seems to be pretty functional. There’s a number of other things I’d like to do, to improve, expand and grow Karavansara, and I’ll try and work a few out in the next weeks.
2018 is here.
Yesterday night, on the national TV show that was supposed to usher the new year in, one of the artists wished a happy 1918 to all the audience.
If it’s any sign, we are in for a very surreal twelve-month.
Season’s greetings
The hardest bit of the End of the Year post is finding a picture too go with it, or a music video, or something.
The content is easy – this year easier than the last.
It’s just a big THANK YOU to all my readers.
2018 approaches.
The sixth year of Karavansara.
We’ll do stuff.
But in the meantime, HAPPY NEW YEAR.
And here’s a song that’s fifty years old. Wrong city, but a stunning voice…
Karavansara 