Subject: Well, about The Disappearance...
Author:
Posted on: 2014-03-23 02:00:00 UTC
It's second in a series of dystopic novels written by an author called Amebelin Kwaymullina. The first one's called The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf, and I guess it's a sort of steampunk genre, except there's not many machines. Hard to explain, I guess.
www.thefirstwood.com is the website.
Just wanted to start a thread askng people to share a slice of their life with us. What books are you reading? How's Real Life? Anything you feel that needs to be yeled acros the Grand Canyon?
Like me, for example. I am toiling away, working towards Permission. I'm currently reading The Disappearance of Ember Crow, which is such a fantastic book. Also reading another issue of Fairy Tail, this one's... gripping.
So, what about you?
~Kitty
Alright at the moment, been hit with a ton of coursework and working up to the end of year exams that will appear after Easter, but getting through most of it reasonably comfortably. I'm currently reading The Dragon's Path by Daniel Abraham, it's a good book once you get past the first chapter or two which dump you into the world with little information. Also working on my original piece of fiction, which I've now decided to split into fourteen short stories of around 5-6k each ending with a 10-15k longer story before going back to do the prequel. Going around revamping a couple of the characters and renaming a couple more so that their alias actually have something to do with their super power like the rest of the main cast. And reworking the second pair of Agents I'll be using, so hopefully I'll have their profiles ready soon (not that I'm going to use them for a while though).
Madly happy after the weekend cos Chelsea smashed Arsenal 6-0 in football, practically securing our place at the top of the Premiership.
That's about it, to be fair.
Storme Hawk
Not to great at the moment. Thats why I haven't been on much. My mom and dad just sat my siblings and I down, and my dad told us that he's been addicted to painkillers for five years now, and it came as a huge shock. He's getting help, but I'm feeling betrayed, and a little lost. He's been lying to us, and it's not a good feeling. I love him, and just want to help, but I don't know how.He's never let his addiciton affect us, which is why we never guessed. He's the best father anyone could ask for, and thats why this is so hard. But writing is helping a lot, as usual, so thats nice. I'm actully looking for a new novel, so if anyone has any suggestions, please tell me:)
PS-Sorry fro any typos, I'm using a phone keyboard
PPS-Sorry for the emotional rant. I hate to dump my problems on y'all, I just haven;t been able to talk to anyone.
Well, I am moping about how Spring Break is almost over, reading Buso Renkin and Fullmetal Alchemist, and trying to wrap my head around how to write my first Interlude and Mission. Any ideas?
On another note entirely, I have no idea whatsoever what 'The Disappearance of Ember Crow' is. Is it good?
I'm on spring break right now and so far have had a friend spend the last two days at my house. Activities included climbing a fallen tree that extended over a creek and nearly falling in, exploring a drainage tunnel under the neighborhood lake, shooting trees with slingshots, and wrecking stuff and getting wrecked in Monopoly.
And then the same friend will be coming over Thursday, and then Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be spent at Louisville Wizard World Con! And I'm gonna get to meet Matt Smith! *squeal*
Also I've been working on both the next mission with World-Jumper and a Harry Potter fanfic that I've had to take a break from because I was starting to freak myself out.
As a freshman in high school, I still have the liberty to procrastinate on my homework, so I do. Meanwhile, I'm reading The Elenium (Sparhawk, killing people is not always the best course of action. Listen to Sephrenia.) and working on a Welcome to Night Vale/Dresden Files crossover fic, the writing of which is far too much fun.
-Aila
I've been flip flopping between reading different things, including the PPC TOS.
I've been slowly building up my characters for the PPC.
Just finished reading The Pendragon Adventure, (it took me forever to track down books 9 and 10) read Judgement at Proteus, the last of Timothy Zahn's Quadrail series, during January, I'm re-reading Mort (It's a discworld book,) and I'm attempting to watch all of Code Lyoko in order.
I'm writing a detective novel - well, mostly pulling it up in word and looking at it, but this week that's going to change because I'm on spring break.
Other than that, I just do school stuff, like thesis draft corrections, homework, etc. And I've got to start applying for jobs, because I graduate college in May. 0.0
The past couple of weeks have been dull and stressful at the same time, due to ongoing problems with the plumbing. Most of my spare time has been spent hanging around for the plumber! Luckily it nearly all seems to be almost sorted by now.
I've just started reading Jack Vance's Lyonesse books (still on the first one) and am also forcing myself to read a few badfics to be prepared in case I ever decide to ask for permission.
IRL, I'm job hunting, so, y'know, that's fun. On the writing side of things, I just finished a ~25K story for the Gabriel Big Bang over on LJ, and am now just awaiting the artwork that goes with it. Also, I'm vaguely working on an original story (it's still in the planning stages) set in an urban fantasy universe where magical beings and creatures live side-by-side with humans. I think it's going to focus on a centaur living in the big city, but I'm still working out the ideas/world-building for that.
IRL, I've had a stressful week at the army due to a variety of reasons. Having been sick for the whole prior week, I had to get back into the loop; I had to do so while doing double shifts because my partner was sick, and had to start moving things that ground to a halt while I wasn't there. It was also my grandfather's Yahrzeit yesterday.
As to reading, I'm reading a book by John le Carré as well as a book about military theory in the 20th century.
Writing-wise, my latest mission is in the beta-ing stage.
I'm in the soul-sucking period of my life known as the Job Search. 'Nuff said.
In other news, I recently published another two chapters of my Pokemon/Bakugan crossover on FFN, and my beta should be starting to look at the next chapter sometime soon.
I'm also betaing a fic for another Boarder, and I'd better get it back to her sometime soon.
Obviously, today being Saturday, I do not wish that I were working today! But in general...
College, mostly. I have two exams coming up next week--Japanese 1202 and US History--so I need to study for those. (And yet I sit here typing. Fail.)
I just finished Terrier by Tamora Pierce and am rereading The Two Towers. (I borrowed the books from my grandma a few months ago. Gotta make sure I catch everything before I give them back.)
Tell me about The Disappearance of Ember Crow, it sounds really cool. :)
It's second in a series of dystopic novels written by an author called Amebelin Kwaymullina. The first one's called The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf, and I guess it's a sort of steampunk genre, except there's not many machines. Hard to explain, I guess.
www.thefirstwood.com is the website.
In RL I have tons of kid drama. My oldest just turned 14, but my 12 year old is the one that gives me all the teenage nonsense. Then I've also got a 5 year old who has some special health concerns that aren't that serious, but keep us at doctor's offices and therapists, and requires daily medication (I really suck at at keeping schedules, so that's difficult for me.)
But, things have settled down the last six weeks or so, so overall I am doing pretty good in RL.
I'm planning on trying yet again to grow a bit of a garden this year. I can kill mums, and have failed at the garden thing...four...maybe five years running, so not entirely promising, but I haven't given it up yet! Someday I'll harvest something!
PPC-wise, I am working with Caddy to get some things finished. Between co-writes and individual things, there are eight PPC interludes or missions in varying states of completion in my Gdocs files.
Otherwise, I recently finished a 39k fanfic for Haven, and I am working on another, smaller fic for it.
I am also working on an original fiction novel that involves refugee faeries, human (faery) trafficking, a malfunctioning medieval spell, a Beauty and the Beast type plot, and true love saving the day. And it's set in the extremely likely (sarcasm) location of modern day Arkansas (obviously with magical elements added to it). I should stop now. I'm still in that excited stage where I could ramble on and on about it. :P
For reading, other than National Geographic and Game Informer magazines, and fanfic, I am reading a series of books "The New Church's Teaching Series" about Episcopalian beliefs and practices.
That's weird.
Do you ever talk with your older kids about the PPC, or not? If you do, do they think you're just weird? My mom has overheard me and Randa talking about it and she just gave up asking questions when I mentioned the Flowers that Be. :P I guess not everyone can just accept the idea of talking, sapient plants.
I'm 34. I will be 35 in June. My two older boys love hearing about the PPC. I've read them some of the Miah and Cali missions, and they liked them. The 14 year old has developmental delays and doesn't have the reading and writing levels needed for the PPC.
I do give up on some of the stuff they talk about though. I am never going to get into AQW for one. Or some of the joke Youtube things they like.
But I do get to be the cool mom that likes Marvel comics and stuff like the PPC. :D
I'll be seventeen in May. :3 My mom's 48 now, and I don't have any older siblings.. but then again, she didn't get married until she was 30 and had me when she was 35, so maybe she's not the best comparison? Hm.
That sounds really neat, either way. But my mom is building an Iron Man suit. So nyah. ;)
My brother's fourteen and although he can do my math homework, he can't write essays to save his life. No developmental problems (we think...); it's just not his strong suit. But you know what? Just because your son has delays doesn't mean he's not smart. He'll just have to work harder and that'll make him better for it, especially considering other kids who don't have to work for it. ...am I making any sense? Sorry if this seems offensive; I'm just not sure how else to phrase it... Oy.
Maybe I shouldn't try to post right after I've woken up.
What kind of Iron Man suit? foam, plastic, metal? I love costuming, but I'm not all that good at it. Have to do the mom thing nad share kid photos now. :D
Cutest thunder god ever!
Oh my 14 year old is pretty smart. And he's sweet. He's managed as the new kid to get a seat at the basketball team's table at lunch, so that's been a big confidence booster for him. The school still gives all A certificates even if the A's are in resource/adapted classes, so he's been super proud of that (and so have I). He's been really rubbing it in on the 12 year old, who is barely scraping up a C and D and occasional F grade level. (12 year old is a lazy student, perfectly capable, just doesn't care to do homework/classwork.)
And is that the villain from Captain America in the second photo? Seriously, those are great!
She's making hers out of fiberglass, paper, and resin. Her suit is almost finished except for the second helmet, which needs wiring for the lit eyes and the automated face plate. Her first one was too big, so she had it signed by Stan Lee. :3
Oof. That laziness is gonna hurt him later if he doesn't get better. What? No, I'm totally not speaking from experience! ^_^' There is a bit of a fine line between pushing enough to motivate and pushing so much to cause discouragement- too bad my own mom hasn't figured that out yet. Wish I could offer advice, but 1) I've no idea what I'd say and 2) I'm freaking 16, so I shouldn't offer advice about parenting anyway! :P
When I tell people that I sometimes write, they invariably ask what. So I ask them: "Do you want the short and simple version or the long version?" because fanfiction, let alone the PPC, is nigh-unheard of here.
My mom understood the first time and can actually follow what I say when I talk about the PPC, though.
IRL, I'm starting to wind out my Master's degree, so there's that. And lemme tell you, that's a lot of work, especially when it comes to organizing a graduate recital.
As for writing, I've got a lot going on. I have a PPC mission in the works (it'll likely be the first Hunger Games mission to see the light of day here), I've got the snarkings in the Library of the Damned, and then I recently started a fic that's meant to be a deconstruction of a particular subgenre of ME fanfiction that has somehow gotten to spawn a rewrite of a fanfic of a plagiarism of a fanfic. (Loooooooooong story.)
I'm almost done with my current mission. I'm hoping to have it ready for beta reading before I have to go into high gear for a local gaming convention; I'm running several games, including one demo for a RPG setting that won't be hitting the stores until August. The author customized the magic system a bit, so I want to be certain I have clear "cheat sheets" available for the players.
Tearing apart my Shinrone gown and trying to get it to fit better has been put on the back burner. A group of us are talking about a trip to the KC RenFest this fall, and I'd like to go in costume. But there's plenty of time for that, since the faire doesn't start until Labor Day.
I've got several books in progress. I was reading "Rum Across The Border" (a history book on the Prohibition era) at breakfast this morning. I've also recently gotten hooked on the Ciaphas Cain novels for the Warhammer 40K setting, and picked up four of them in e-format to read at work.
I'm focusing on finishing all the mini pages on the wiki. I'm also trying to get through certain sections of the older Pokémon games to get some of the Pokémon that require trades, since they're shutting down the online trade services for the older ones on May 20.
After that's settled, I'll get back to saving hard copies of every scrap of PPC writing I can find. I've been working on this for over a year now (what with my off time being what it is). I've pretty much put my own mission writing on the back burner until everything else is backed up, although I do have one already-finished mission I'll be releasing once I reach the Es in the mini project.
For reading right now, I have two books going during work shifts, depending on whether I need a book that fits in my lunch box or not. For when I need it inside, I bring The Puritan Dilemma: The Story of John Winthrop by Edmund Morgan. (It's non-fiction, but hey, it was free.) For days I can have the book sitting out, I'm reading The Dark Tower VII by Stephen King.
Could you leave the Bionicle one for me to write? As it's one of my core fandoms, I have all of the information necessary to create a mini-Rahkshi page, and I have a personal interest in doing so. I'll help with some of the others, but I plan to make Mini/Bionicle first.
Also, have you checked to see whether the Special:Undelete page works on the wiki? If it does, we'd be able to isolate and remove the pages not supported by canonical links without the risk that you mentioned earlier about the pages being irretrievable in case their original author comes back wanting to use the character again. I'd try to determine it myself, but the page restricts access unless you're a logged-in admin.
That was a fandom that would have required research on my part, anyway.
And yes, the Special:Undelete page does let us retrieve pages in case we need them again. Furthermore, looking through the delete log, there does appear to be precedent for deleting agent pages made before Permission was secured. I'll go ahead and get to that Idunno-next-time-I-have-no-night-shift.
(The delete log also revealed the existence of a team of inter-wiki spam and troll deleters who nixed advertisement pages without leaving any trace noticeable to most of us at the time. Which is fantastic, because CYBERSPACE SPAM NINJAS.)
There'll definitely be some images mixed in the to-be-deleted category, too, since there are plenty of pageless images that are left unattached because they are out-of-date, replaced with better images, or simply don't work any more. There are some others that are pageless for better reasons, though, and I'll leave those alone.
The greatest heroes of our world are those who perform their tasks without being seen or recognized by those they protect. For it is not who you are seen to be that matters, but rather, it is what you do that defines you.
(looks to the shadowy spot near the door) Did I get that quote right, Batman?
"Not even close."
Darn it.
The Candidates for Deletion category is now filled with redundant images, unattached images, or unneeded images, as well as sixteen pointless or unsupported articles and three redirects to those articles. There's also a continuum page for Trigun that was there when I started, but I heard on the Board a while ago someone was planning on making a mission there, so it's really up to you in that case, and the page on Agent Cold is still there, because it's been in the Candidates for Deletion category since before I came to the Board and evidently no one is quite sure what to do with it..
Once those have all been cleaned up, I am almost entirely sure that, due to the way the world works, I will discover a few stragglers that I missed and will need to start a Round Two, but until then, happy deleting!
I've got three projects on at the minute.
1) My second PPC mission, concerning Luna's murder by a hack for ZOMGDRAMA
2) An actual fic; more specifically, an attempt to write a Rational!slashfic for a fandom I'm barely part of. It's a birthday present, and I'm perennially skint. As an aside, is anyone here familiar with Attack On Titan?
3) A column for my local magazine about a spoof art critic. I've actually considered having an art historian character in the PPC as part of the support staff. It'd be interesting to see a small man with too-clean shoes running an art gallery in some of the disused RCs.
I know it! Well, up to episode 27 of the anime. (We're watching it in my school's anime club and keeping a body count. It's somewhere around 30 on-screen deaths now.) Do you need help? What's the pairing? Are you watching the show or reading the manga? Cause I can only help with the anime.
Also, I'm pretty sure it's going through a fanfic explosion. The one group dedicated to it I'm in on deviantART has lots of reader inserts (some in modern AUs as well) and slashfic. Anybody want to confirm that with evidence from another website?
However, I only got up to about episode 7 or so before I just got bored. The story doesn't grip me, and I'm not entirely certain why, and that makes me less forgiving of the choice of colour palette (i.e. so brown it's like watching a modern military shooter that's been dipped in tea).
Anyway, the pairing's Ymir/Christa in a highschool AU where Ymir is a cheerleader and Christa is far too clever for her own good, so any help you can give me would be very much appreciated. =]
I've seen quite a bit on ff.net and the Circle of Lemmings. I'm not so sure about Ao3.