Friday, March 31, 2006
Site update: Diary of Elizabeth Sheffield
The first entry from Diary of Elizabeth Sheffield is up on H.S. Kinn.com.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Teaser for Appointed by the Gods, Book One in the Tales of Ourania
Sarah Rivers is a lowly lady's maid, when a call goes out through the land, to find the Sybilla. When Sarah is chosen, she is thrust into a world of magic, nobility and intrigue. Is she just a stepping stone to the throne?
Acelus Strifen is Ourania's finest warrior, sent to find the new Sybilla. When he lays eyes on Sarah, he knows he can choose no other, not for himself, not for Ourania. But civil war is threatening to tear the kingdom apart, and he may lose all he holds dear. Will he choose duty or love?
***
A fanfare sounded in the outer court. “Sarah! He’s here!”
I hurried to her side, and we went to the Great Hall to receive his entourage.
Acelus Strifen entered the hall, flanked by his men, all clad in matching armor. I’d seen him in the scrying mirror, where we traded news, gossip, spells and anything else of interest, but seeing him in person was awe-inspiring. He had sandy hair that was cropped short, but still had the hint of a wave to it. His eyes were an impossible shade of deep blue. He moved smoothly for one so tall, and he radiated confidence. He caught me staring, and he winked at me!
I ducked into a quick curtsy, as my cheeks flamed red. I was barely worthy of my position as the lady’s maid, what right did I have to such a brazen stare?
“Lord Strifen,” Lady Ellynore extended her hands, and he kissed them. “May I offer our hospitality to you and your men?”
He held up a hand. “I am here but for one reason, my Lady,” he drew out a simple wand, made of willow.
It was the Sibylla’s wand. Only a truly powerful magic user could use it; anyone of a lesser talent would be overwhelmed. I took a step closer, to get a better look. A crystal gleamed at its tip. A frisson of delight ran through me at the sight of it. What must it be like to handle such an instrument? A murmur went through the hall.
“I search for the Sibylla.”
My Lady smiled. She and I had practiced many times for this day; in fact, the only reason I became her maid was because of my family’s particular affinity for magic. My father was a blacksmith, and my mother, an apothecary. I shared her skill for plants and potions. When my mother took ill, Lady Ellynore took me on as her handmaiden. We agreed I would make potions and teach her how to augment her own magical abilities, and in exchange, I would have unlimited access to her gardens, so that I might better treat my mother’s illness.
Ellynore took the wand from Acelus’s hand, and held it over the table. Slowly she released it, and it hovered in midair a brief moment, before clattering to the ground.
Acelus looked decidedly unimpressed. He glanced back at me, and his brow furrowed. “I’d like to try another lady here,” he said.
Ellynore gave him an odd look. “I am the Lady of this house, sir, my mother passed on some years ago.”
He picked up the wand, and looked directly at me. “This lady.”
“My Lord, she is only a maid,” Lady Ellynore scowled. I was sure this wasn’t one of the many scenarios she’d considered since she brought me to the manor.
Acelus’s gaze on me was steady. “I want her to try the wand.” He handed it to me. “What’s your name?”
“Sarah,” I said.
Acelus Strifen is Ourania's finest warrior, sent to find the new Sybilla. When he lays eyes on Sarah, he knows he can choose no other, not for himself, not for Ourania. But civil war is threatening to tear the kingdom apart, and he may lose all he holds dear. Will he choose duty or love?
***
A fanfare sounded in the outer court. “Sarah! He’s here!”
I hurried to her side, and we went to the Great Hall to receive his entourage.
Acelus Strifen entered the hall, flanked by his men, all clad in matching armor. I’d seen him in the scrying mirror, where we traded news, gossip, spells and anything else of interest, but seeing him in person was awe-inspiring. He had sandy hair that was cropped short, but still had the hint of a wave to it. His eyes were an impossible shade of deep blue. He moved smoothly for one so tall, and he radiated confidence. He caught me staring, and he winked at me!
I ducked into a quick curtsy, as my cheeks flamed red. I was barely worthy of my position as the lady’s maid, what right did I have to such a brazen stare?
“Lord Strifen,” Lady Ellynore extended her hands, and he kissed them. “May I offer our hospitality to you and your men?”
He held up a hand. “I am here but for one reason, my Lady,” he drew out a simple wand, made of willow.
It was the Sibylla’s wand. Only a truly powerful magic user could use it; anyone of a lesser talent would be overwhelmed. I took a step closer, to get a better look. A crystal gleamed at its tip. A frisson of delight ran through me at the sight of it. What must it be like to handle such an instrument? A murmur went through the hall.
“I search for the Sibylla.”
My Lady smiled. She and I had practiced many times for this day; in fact, the only reason I became her maid was because of my family’s particular affinity for magic. My father was a blacksmith, and my mother, an apothecary. I shared her skill for plants and potions. When my mother took ill, Lady Ellynore took me on as her handmaiden. We agreed I would make potions and teach her how to augment her own magical abilities, and in exchange, I would have unlimited access to her gardens, so that I might better treat my mother’s illness.
Ellynore took the wand from Acelus’s hand, and held it over the table. Slowly she released it, and it hovered in midair a brief moment, before clattering to the ground.
Acelus looked decidedly unimpressed. He glanced back at me, and his brow furrowed. “I’d like to try another lady here,” he said.
Ellynore gave him an odd look. “I am the Lady of this house, sir, my mother passed on some years ago.”
He picked up the wand, and looked directly at me. “This lady.”
“My Lord, she is only a maid,” Lady Ellynore scowled. I was sure this wasn’t one of the many scenarios she’d considered since she brought me to the manor.
Acelus’s gaze on me was steady. “I want her to try the wand.” He handed it to me. “What’s your name?”
“Sarah,” I said.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Yay for Shakespeare Smut!
From the Observer Online:
David Smith
Sunday March 26, 2006
The Observer
Sexing up Shakespeare is a handy trick for directors seeking to exploit the Bard's bawdy humour to put bums on seats. Now one woman has gone further with the most intensive search ever for sexual innuendo, toilet humour and smut buried deep in the national poet's oeuvre.
'The plays are absolutely packed with filth,' said academic Héloïse Sénéchal. 'I've found more than a hundred terms for vagina alone.' That the author of As You Like It would, were he alive today, be writing for Viz magazine is implied by Sénéchal's research for the footnotes of a new Royal Shakespeare Company edition of his complete works which promises to be the most candid ever.
She claims that previous editions of Shakespeare have been too prudish, and that by using computer techniques she has uncovered unrecognised double entendres. These were aimed at the working classes who crowded into the Globe in London for their fill of bawdy entertainment. Sénéchal has identified seemingly innocuous words such as carrot, pencil and horn as terms for penis, while she pinpoints pie, fruit dish and 'buggle boe' as references to the vagina.
'We are trying to resist the cultural embarrassment that has permeated footnotes in the past,' she said. 'Shakespeare is now an institution, and there is an assumption, especially in schools, that he was using high rhetoric. But the majority of his audience were labourers, craftsmen, ordinary people being catered for in a popular way. They were as smutty-minded then as we are now.'
***
I'd go on, but you can read the rest of the article at the Observer's site. Bill really was a naughty boy! The whole reason for blogging it is that I find it amusing that Shakespeare, a pulp author of his time is so revered today, but if you are a "pulp" or genre author nowadays, you're somehow less than those who aspire to be "literature." I used to write "literature" and I've long since decided my ability to tell a good yarn is more useful to people than providing my personal opus on live, the universe and everything. Yay for bawdy Bill! :D
David Smith
Sunday March 26, 2006
The Observer
Sexing up Shakespeare is a handy trick for directors seeking to exploit the Bard's bawdy humour to put bums on seats. Now one woman has gone further with the most intensive search ever for sexual innuendo, toilet humour and smut buried deep in the national poet's oeuvre.
'The plays are absolutely packed with filth,' said academic Héloïse Sénéchal. 'I've found more than a hundred terms for vagina alone.' That the author of As You Like It would, were he alive today, be writing for Viz magazine is implied by Sénéchal's research for the footnotes of a new Royal Shakespeare Company edition of his complete works which promises to be the most candid ever.
She claims that previous editions of Shakespeare have been too prudish, and that by using computer techniques she has uncovered unrecognised double entendres. These were aimed at the working classes who crowded into the Globe in London for their fill of bawdy entertainment. Sénéchal has identified seemingly innocuous words such as carrot, pencil and horn as terms for penis, while she pinpoints pie, fruit dish and 'buggle boe' as references to the vagina.
'We are trying to resist the cultural embarrassment that has permeated footnotes in the past,' she said. 'Shakespeare is now an institution, and there is an assumption, especially in schools, that he was using high rhetoric. But the majority of his audience were labourers, craftsmen, ordinary people being catered for in a popular way. They were as smutty-minded then as we are now.'
***
I'd go on, but you can read the rest of the article at the Observer's site. Bill really was a naughty boy! The whole reason for blogging it is that I find it amusing that Shakespeare, a pulp author of his time is so revered today, but if you are a "pulp" or genre author nowadays, you're somehow less than those who aspire to be "literature." I used to write "literature" and I've long since decided my ability to tell a good yarn is more useful to people than providing my personal opus on live, the universe and everything. Yay for bawdy Bill! :D
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Research: Survey of Medieval names, according to the Domesday Book
Judith
Mabel *snort*
Constance
Matilda
Emma
Lucy
Agatha
Edith
Albreda
Medieval name I'd swear is a LotR Mary Sue: Aelfeva
Winner for "most interesting male name so far": Iudhael of Totnes. *tries to picture screaming it in the throes of ecstasy* *fails*
Winner for "you can't make this shit up": FitzAzor, Henry - Holdings in Beds.
Winner for most interesting female name: Edeva the fair - Possibly King Harold's mistress or sometimes identified with his first wife, Edith Swanneck. (Swan neck? *consults A Concise Dictionary of Middle English* Nope, swan neck doesn't mean anything else...so it's probably synonymous with "graceful neck." Interesting, the things you can find out just looking for a minor character name.
source: The Domesday Book Online
Mabel *snort*
Constance
Matilda
Emma
Lucy
Agatha
Edith
Albreda
Medieval name I'd swear is a LotR Mary Sue: Aelfeva
Winner for "most interesting male name so far": Iudhael of Totnes. *tries to picture screaming it in the throes of ecstasy* *fails*
Winner for "you can't make this shit up": FitzAzor, Henry - Holdings in Beds.
Winner for most interesting female name: Edeva the fair - Possibly King Harold's mistress or sometimes identified with his first wife, Edith Swanneck. (Swan neck? *consults A Concise Dictionary of Middle English* Nope, swan neck doesn't mean anything else...so it's probably synonymous with "graceful neck." Interesting, the things you can find out just looking for a minor character name.
source: The Domesday Book Online
Friday, March 10, 2006
Fabulous!
Well, I have a fabulous new haircut, given by a fabulous hairstylist. *giggles* He said it "draws its influence from the 80s." It does indeed! Pass me the AquaNet, guys!
In other news, my mother cracks me up. Upon receiving my email about creating my author site, she replied:
I bookmarked it - not sure I am ready to read it..........
LOL! I guess it's one thing to know your daughter writes erotic romance, and another to read it, eh?
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Yippee!
Here's the cover art for Immortal Reveries!
Well, it's not a final, our art director has to give it a once over and see if it requires any changes, but here's a peek!
*does happy dance*
Okay, my AA girls, who's next?
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Who is Miss Snark?
Is it Anna Genoese? I have been sent this link by a couple of people, claiming it's proof that she is. She says no, and if that's true, then perhaps she needs to edit her entry to make it a little clearer. I do think it's a great thing that Ms. Genoese answers people's questions about the business, in a polite and friendly manner.
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