Friends – Activity – Chris A

Athelstone started the topic Things that go bump in the forum Blogs 5 years, 9 months ago

Well, I’ve gone and done it again. Time for a short story challenge I believe. This one has a ghostly and supernatural theme. If you’d like to find out more then hurry over to the group Things that go bump. Once you have joined, you can read all about it in the forum.

You know you want to.

You’ll be sorry if you don’t.

Sandra replied 5 years, 9 months ago

Phew – it’s been on mind for the past week or two … on my way.
Kate replied 5 years, 9 months ago

That time of year already. Hooray.

Athelstone replied to the topic A Want of Discipline: Abergele, 1868 in the forum Blogs 5 years, 9 months ago

Fascinating, Richard. Rich’s words may have been ahead of their time, but that serves to emphasise how persistent the root causes of these disasters are. We still do it, even with our modern safety culture. Sadly, there are forces working to erode what gains have been made. The “Health & Safety Gone Mad” slogan may not belong to a formal campaign;…[Read more]

Athelstone replied to the topic A gasp escaped me! in the forum Blogs 5 years, 10 months ago

There are degrees to this and a dependency on the type of book being written. I am not searching for an artificial precision in moral culpability. I am not saying that there are some absolute rules at play. I am saying that if you bend the truth to suit your story, while at the same time maintaining that what you write is authentic, then there are…[Read more]

Athelstone started the topic A gasp escaped me! in the forum Blogs 5 years, 10 months ago

This is a lightweight blog.

I was just settling down after reading about the astonishing performance by George R R Martin at the Hugo awards, when my son approached brandishing his phone.

‘Look at that,’ he said.

I looked. My son has been a fan of the Zelda video games since he was little. I played a few along with him in the last few years,…[Read more]

Libby replied 5 years, 10 months ago

I didn’t gasp – too world weary – but I can see why you’re annoyed, Ath. On a lighter note I was disappointed, having hoped to learn something more about nightshade! Woody nightshade grows in our garden, is pretty and you could imagine the berries being used for dye. It’s also poisonous. But when I got a bit further I’d have switched off if you h…[Read more]
- Libby replied 5 years, 10 months ago
  
  Here’s a review of the book https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/aug/06/a-traveller-at-the-gates-of-wisdom-by-john-boyne-review-an-ambitious-era-hopping-epic
  - Athelstone replied 5 years, 10 months ago
    
    Thanks, Libby. A really interesting review. I hadn’t realised that the Zelda mistake was one amongst many. Aside from characters deep in history musing about their peers in the language of C20th psychology, we have ‘…kimonos and obis to the Chinese, igloos to the Norse Icelanders, and steel and horses to pre-Columbian South Americans. Potatoes…[Read more]
  - Kate replied 5 years, 10 months ago
    
    That makes me flippin mad! All the hard work we put into our MSs, and he just… 😫
    - JaneShuff replied 5 years, 10 months ago
      
      Absolutely agree. I accept that the ‘worlds’ we base our stories in have a lot of the unlikely and improbable in them but there is a big difference between that and not bothering to do proper research.

Athelstone replied to the topic Richard's Literary Byways: The Beginning Place, by Ursula K Le Guin in the forum Blogs 5 years, 11 months ago

Aha, this was the first Ursula K Le Guin book that I read and it made quite an impression on me.

I think you’ve put your finger on why a mixture of normality and fantasy is so effective. The magic becomes a metaphor for the way that changes happen in our lives. As well as providing entertainment for those of us who like a bit of magic in our…[Read more]

Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp: July 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 11 months ago

Month of the Cat

To be clear, although Gus didn’t get on with the cat, he was never cruel to it. When his wife, Mildred, died he didn’t want to go on taking care of it.

‘It’s vindictive,’ he said, ‘it kills half a dozen birds every day. It craps on the decking, wrecks my flower borders, and last week it scratched up the wallpaper.’…[Read more]

Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition: June 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 11 months ago

Congratulations, Squidge. Great story.

Squidge replied 5 years, 11 months ago

Thanks, Ath. Dare I say it was something I rushed off? Not sure why, but they seem to be the better of my short pieces. Perhaps because I didn’t examine it too much?

Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition: June 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 5 years, 11 months ago

Midsummer Magic

Frankie wiggles his shoulders in a figure of eight and exhales. He flicks his hat back and mops his brow with a handkerchief. Then he loosens his tie another quarter inch and Matzo slaps his hand down on the table, making all three of us jump.

“For Christ’s sake, Frankie. Yeah – it’s hot. I’m hot. Eddie’s hot. It’s the longest…[Read more]

Athelstone replied to the topic That old enemy, Perfectionism in the forum The Writers' Lifeboat 5 years, 12 months ago

Am I allowed to agree with all of you? When a writer like Stephen King just says something and it works, it’s because he is utterly confident with his voice. I’m not his biggest fan, but I have read a lot of his work and I do appreciate the extraordinary flow of his prose. I’m willing to bet he’s not on the heavy side when he edits.

I’m terrible.…[Read more]

Athelstone replied to the topic Fantasy Anthology in the forum Podium 6 years ago

Huzzah, Kate! I shall keep my eyes open for it.

Athelstone replied to the topic Tilda and the Mines of Pergatt in the forum Podium 6 years ago

I’m SOOOOO late in saying a huge “WELL DONE”. I’ve bought the Kindle edition and hopefully I can get a signed paperback in future – even if I have to wait until York next year.

@chris-allison