Friday 29 November 2013

“With the bedtime stories for little girls, there is a trick, which I tell you. When you see she is almost asleep, you must skip to the end.”

— Osh, Malcolm learns the trick of bedtime tales

Today is the Eighth Anniversary of the beginning of this story.

Monday 3 December 2012

To everyone who commented on the anniversary post, on one of the new Prologue Chapters, or really, on anything I’ve written here ever – thank you. I’ve thanked you all before for all you’ve given me by acting as the canvases on which I’ve been able to paint this story, but I also appreciate the support you’ve given me over the years, and especially the encouragement these last days. I am honoured and flattered by your praise, but more than that you’ve made me feel less guilty about my doubts about what I’m going to do next. You’ve turned it from something I “failed at,” because it has sputtering out lately, into something I have perhaps grown beyond, but which I will always look back on with fondness.

Thursday 29 November 2012

I haven’t posted a new chapter since mid-​September, and I haven’t posted here on Verso since March. I’ve commented a few times here and there, but I know some of you have been worried about me. So to start this anniversary post, I want to thank everyone for missing my story, for missing me, for your emails, and for your concern. I am still here and I am fine. I have missed you. I have presents for you.

Prologue Chapter Advent Calendar

2012 Edition

“Sigefrith meets a man in love”

“Githa’s dowry gets an airing”

“Ethelmund’s wife returns home”

Coming December 16^th…

Coming December 23^rd…

Intentions

It has been seven years since I started the story of Lothere.

Wednesday 29 February 2012

“Murchad is let down by the rules” was originally intended to be much longer. In fact it was supposed to be two chapters, the second being the scene in Dublin Castle’s hall. (It even had a preview banner ready.)

Monday 14 December 2009

A post of links from my research, so I don’t lose them. But there might be something here to interest some of you too.

Sunday 6 December 2009

This morning I was led to think more deeply about my “Warning” blocks at the tops of some of my more graphically violent chapters.

Sunday 8 November 2009

maruutsu wrote:

Despite everything, it was a beautiful chapter. I noticed it wasn’t as lenghty in lyrical descriptions, but the most recent chapters have been that way too. Is this part of your new style, Jenny?

Friday 30 October 2009

I just read an article on Writer Unboxed that made a dozen blinky lightbulbs go on in my head.

Wednesday 7 October 2009

This was how his dreams fell apart.

I wrote that last night just before I climbed up to bed.

Like most nights, for a few lucid minutes ideas about the coming chapter twined themselves up with a plan of attack for a programming problem I’m having at work. Then I fell limp, suddenly exhausted. And still I slept awfully.

Sunday 6 September 2009

In a comment to “Condal learns a lot about a man”, maria wrote:

Lothere, why all these babies lately? And mostly in awful or negative contex? (killing babies, abortion, rape baby, demon babies) Is it intentional or just a coincidence? Or am I just more prone to notice that kinds of things?

It’s a good question, but the question within the question—“why mostly in awful or negative contexts”—is part of the answer, so I will tackle both of the questions together.