Tag Archives: Books

WTD!

Before I forget or get sidetracked (for the umpteen millionth time -.-), my copy of Wind Tunnel Dreams by Shira Lipkin arrived on Monday. Shiny! I’ve started thumbing through it a bit. I think this is going to be one of those collections I open at random and read a story or two per sitting. I love books like this! Peter S. Beagle’s Immortal Unicorn duology is another great collection. (The link goes to the second volume in the set. Apparently there’s not an Amazon-direct entry for the first one. :/)

…of Kherishdar

I got my copies of The Aphorisms of Kherishdar and The Admonishments of Kherishdar today (both by MCA Hogarth)!

I’m looking forward to being able to curl up and revisit all the stories without being tied to the computer. It’s interesting to note the similarities and differences in the way they are designed and put together. Subtle things like different fonts for titles that fit the drastically different mood of each book, yet similar layout/formatting for the text itself, and similar styles of page numbering that, again, subtly fits each book. And then there’s the color scheme in the illustrations. The author actually gets into the thought process behind the Admonishments illos here. Exploring these aspects of these books is going to be as interesting as re-reading the stories themselves!

Independent Books New in Print

Two incredibly talented web-based writers have new books in print in the last couple weeks, both works of cyberfunded creativity: MCA Hogarth’s Admonishments of Kherishdar, and Shira Lipkin’s Wind Tunnel Dreams.

I’ve been following Ms. Hogarth for a few years now, and she’s never been anything short of inspiring. Her blog hosts stimulating discussions with an engaging audience, and her art is complete eye-candy. 2007 saw the beginning of her “incense stories,” short, individual tales which eventually became the community-sponsored project known as The Aphorisms of Kherishdar*. These introduced the readers to the Ai-Naidari people and their society through the person of the Caligrapher, and his stories of beauty, and having a place, and therefore a purpose, in society. In February 2008, MCA Hogarth began writing and sharing the stories that now comprise the companion volume to the Aphorisms, The Admonishments of Kherishdar. The character Shame is the main figure in this series, a person who’s role in Ai-Naidar civilization is to correct those who transgress against civilization and make them suitable to return to society. To say the Admonishments are darker than the previous set is a huge understatement, but they are just as well-told and thought-provoking. You can now purchase the Admonishments on Amazon as a bound, illustrated volume, or read them for free on the Admonishments Website.

Admittedly, I don’t know Shira Lipkin’s work as intimately as I feel I know MCA Hogarth’s. I’ve only been actively following her for a short while, and she wrote the Wind Tunnel Dreams stories in 2007 and 2008, but the shorts and poems I’ve read so far are eloquent and original. Enough so that I’ve already purchased a copy of the nearly 400-page book, and eagerly await its arrival. You can buy a copy of Wind Tunnel Dreams here, or dig through the free archives on LiveJournal.


*As of March 2008, the Aphorisms are available as a bound volume on Amazon, or you can still read them for free on the Aphorisms website.

Cyberfunded Creativity, as defined on the Cyberfunded Creativity LiveJournal community: “a new, growing business model. It allows writers, artists, musicians, crafters, and other creative folks to sell their goods and services directly to audiences online. It allows ordinary, individual people to support performers and artisans they admire, which encourages them to produce more of what their audience members enjoy. It cuts out the middleman, putting more money in the hands of hard-working creators and more control in the hands of enthusiastic consumers. CFC is most often done through blogs and personal websites, and there are many variations on how people do it.”

Random Bits of Update

Been a little while. Things are still going well. The new place is coming along nicely. Lankylad and I painted the living room/dining area last weekend, and it looks great. I haven’t actually started moving in yet. Been trying to clear out a bit of a bug problem that apparently came with the territory. They supposedly sprayed a couple weeks ago, and I’ve put out bait, but (lovely little bug carcasses notwithstanding) they seem reluctant to let up. I need to pick up some caulk and a little plastic sheeting to seal up a couple holes under the kitchen sink to reduce their points of access.

Packing hasn’t exactly begun in earnest, but it’s getting started. I’ve managed to purge a bunch of junk and consolidate three plastic storage bins into one. I’ll probably be packing books and going through clothes tonight to sort out winter stuff and things I don’t want, or that don’t fit anymore. That should hopefully clear up a ton of space by itself.

Lankylad gave me a fantastic idea for something to do with the dining area. See, the thing is, I’ve never really eaten in a dining room since I left home. It’s more efficient to eat at my desk, or sitting on the couch, or wherever I happen to be working. I don’t even own a dining table or chairs. So I don’t particularly have use for the dining area in the new place.

But.

It’s been suggested that I could turn it into a book nook or “study,” and I’ve kinda taken the idea and run with it. Sometime next month probably, I’ll be buying some lumber and some nice looking brackets to build wall-to-wall (or nearly) shelves for my books. It’s unlikely that I’ll be able to fill them with what I have, but then it’s just potential book-space :D When I can afford it, I’m gonna see if I can find a comfy old loveseat for sale somewhere to put in the corner, and maybe a papasan or two, or some other manner of comfortable seating. And I’ll find a low table at some point, or just use the coffee table I have now (that’s currently serving as bedside table/altar) for the times when I actually DO want to eat there. Dining surrounded by books? How decadent!

And speaking of books, I picked up/read the final installment of the Harry Potter epic. I’m pretty sure it’s my favorite in the series. It ties up a LOT of loose ends and mysteries, and that always has a nice feel to it, though I didn’t particularly like the type of ending Ms. Rowling decided to use. Seemed kind of tacked-on to me. No spoilers from me, really, but lemme just say, Hermione ftw, like all through the book. Hell, the series! Harry and Ron would’ve been dogmeat long ago (in some cases, literally) if it weren’t for her. But yeah, that’s my two cents on that subject. Started reading The Golden Compass. I wanted to read it before I saw the movie. And I’m building a queue of books to read. The stack just keeps growing, and I may never escape! I really need to get the hang of this reading-multiple-books-at-a-time thing. Then again, I <3 good stories, so no big :)

Work has been a little hectic this week. Monday through Wednesday, I was the only one in my “department” (in quotes because we have a grand total of nine people that work here, but we each have specialized positions). The other girl I work with has been out taking care of her daughter, who’s got some sort of stomach thing. Yick! And yesterday, our owner, our production manager, and our graphic design guy left for a convention in Las Vegas, and won’t be back til Monday. So I get to fill in with graphic design stuff, as well as working my department, alone.

Yeah. Fun.

At least it’s been relatively quiet yesterday and today. Tuesday I wanted to strangle people. Hopefully the other girl will be back tomorrow, and save me at least a little bit of headache :p But anyway, after work I’m off to Lankylad’s place for a fun-filled evening of avoiding my own packing by helping him with his unpacking (having just moved, himself) :)