Writing? wha'?

[erastes]

Not a lot of writing going on today but I've been busy nevertheless:

1.Agents are apparently like buses--you have no luck for months and then several arrive all at once. I had a partial request from another agent yesterday. The wonderful incomparable Lee Rowan helped me out with my synopsis (and by "helped me out" I mean she picked me up, moved me away from the keyboard and did the whole thing herself and good job too, I was making a massacre out of it) and it's lovely and I want to squeeze it and call it George. Partial sent and thumb holding commences.

2. I've written to the Sealed Knot asking for permish to use a few of their photos in a book video. I am not holding my breath as I doubt they will want the taint of homosexuality on their photos, but if you don't asks, you don't gets.

3. I've started said video. Anyone got any 17th century music they can recommend? I know I've asked this before. Or something suitably english civil warry - or not jarring, at least. Don't blame me. I'm stupid.

4. I've had a look at someone's first chapter and contrary to her own opinion it's really engrossing and I want more.

5. I've been asked:(Gawd knows when I became The Authority on Everything) "about books or movies showing the british lifestyle (and gaystyle) at 80's, mainly at London and Oxford"  Sheesh!  Isn't Google working in other countries?  Grumbles. I'll do me best.

6. And I've been sent an ARC to read and comment on.

No wonder I don't get time to write!

Comments

[the-sea-to.livejournal.com]

1.Whee! Not surprised about the agents. Obviously the word has got out. Go buy a broom. You may need to beat them off.

Or a slave boy with a broom. Probably better.

2. Good luck

3. OMG you are brave! Am scared of videos.

4. Whee. But just like someone else I know *looks pointedly at you*

5. You are the authority on life. Deal with it.

6. Arc? Arc of the covenant? You really are the authority. *bows*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

6. Close your eyes, Marion! DON'T LOOK AT THE LIGHT!!!

[aunty_marion]

Re. 2 - tangentially: you remember I said I had a pair of gay friends who made their own costumes? Well, I don't know if you'll be able to see this or not: I had to go to photobucket because the LJ entry is f-locked, though I can't understand why you don't know Teddy anyway, everyone else does...

Here is Tom in his rather nice uniform...

[erastes.livejournal.com]

That's lovely! Shame it's the wrong blooming era! I must show this to Alex and Lee!

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

Oh, goodness! If he was only Army instead of Navy!

What m/m fiction needs is a handful of good-looking gay guys who want to dress up and be coverboys. I wouldn't think that'd be be too difficult. Maybe in your *koff* spare time you can round 'em up?

Re the synopsis - it was all a Cunning Scheme to get a look at your book, not at all difficult to describe. Best thing you've done so far, which is saying a LOT. Good luck with swarming agents!

[baritonejeff.livejournal.com]

What video? - and you'll have to be more specific about the parameters for the music.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Video for Transgressions - English Civil War, set between 1642 and 1649

[baritonejeff.livejournal.com]

Well, we're getting closer. Sacred music, dance music, consort music, militaristic music, ceremonial music, folkish music, harpsichord music, organ music, orchestral music...?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

orchestral, definitely - there's not much of the period that isn't sacred music and it needs to be military but sad - gehayi's link is the sort of thing i'm after. would be good to have a couple of videos. But then if I can't get pictures... *glum*

Try this...

[baritonejeff.livejournal.com]

http://baritonejeff.vox.com/library/post/jordi-savall_lachrimae.html

Re: Try this...

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Oh i like that - I've done one trailer, but I could certainly work something else up, something which reflects the darker element of the book, the witchfinders and the torture, with this.

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

3. I've started said video. Anyone got any 17th century music they can recommend? I know I've asked this before. Or something suitably english civil warry - or not jarring, at least. Don't blame me. I'm stupid.

You might try Jean-Baptiste Lully's Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme-11. Marche pour la Ceremonie des Turcs--it's Baroque music (i.e., from the right time period), it's a march, and despite the tempo, it's sad.

If you want to go with a late Baroque composer, try Antonio Vivaldi's Opus 4 Concerto 4 "Winter" Movement 1: Allegro non molto. It's fast-paced, and alternately cheerful and sad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:10_-_Vivaldi_Winter_mvt_1_Allegro_non_molto_-_John_Harrison_violin.ogg

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Ooo - no - that's LOVELY.

[kittymay.livejournal.com]

You are glorious (because I heart Lully more than anything in the world ever)

Though I think a better song would be his 'Les folies d'Espagne'...I have massive amounts of Baroque music.

There are quite a few films in that period. Do you mean that sort of vid footage, Erastes?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Oh that's lovely too... I just adore this sort of music--am so pleased I discovered Lully, he's definitely going to the top of my list.

No I wasn't going for vid footage, just stills. I've just found a great image site where the pictures are a couple of pounds each so I may go with those if the Sealed Knot doesn't reply. It's a shame because the photos I found over there were so great.

[kittymay.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad to hear that, his music is, to me, the most evocative thing in the world *fangirlizes*

I don't know if you are a French speaker, but there is a film about him too (which to me, really screams Louis XIV/Lully slash). It's called Le Roi Danse, and I tell you, if it had to be a guy...it would be the guy who plays JB, an actor called Boris Terral. My icon is a shot from that.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

No - but my DVD is multi clever so I can get dvds from all over - I'll seek it out!! I love me some wig-slash. I feel a baroche novel stealing over me. Oooo the knee ribbons....

I found this film earlier too.

Tous les matins du monde

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grbq6AoquhI&feature=related

[kittymay.livejournal.com]

Yes!! They have a good performance of 'Marche des Turcs', though I think the one in Le Roi Danse is better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO2HBhwk05g&feature=related

The film (lrd) is in French, I got mine from Amazon France but I believe there exists a dubbed version. Though that might lose something.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Isn't it funny - it's supposed to be a comedy, and yet both Gehayi and I think the march it's terribly poignant and suitable for Transgressions!!

[kittymay.livejournal.com]

It is! It's a very funny play written by Molière. I have the English translation of the script, as 'The Would-Be Gentleman'. When that tune starts up, there is a very funny scene with the Mufti, who was originally played by Lully himself.

[romankate.livejournal.com]

Okay 1, 2, 4 and 6 all sound like fun things to do, even if they eclipse writing time, but 3 and 5...

...are at least keeping things interesting?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I should have been writing, but stuff just gets in the way - and it's not like I don't let it. Worlds worst (best?) procrastinator!

[marquesate.livejournal.com]

If you need photos of reenactment of the period I should have some you can use, leftover from another life.

As for music I have several CDs of period music from the early to mid 17th century. However, it would all be copyrighted.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I would be hugely grateful! I haven't heard back from the chap at the SK since I pointed him to my website.....

[marquesate.livejournal.com]

Pah, how annoying. The ones I have of the period are useless because there is too much modrn stuff around (Fort Amherst) and all other ones start with 1660, which you could squeeze back to the mid-1650s but that's that. Sorry.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Not to worry -- hopefully the SK will say yes. I've found some lovely pictures on their gallery.

[sleveen.livejournal.com]

Yes, but look at all the great things you get accomplished...I can say this, having been the recipient this morning of your largesse... ^___^

Said gentleman is interested in my now out-of-print novel about that gent there in me icon... ^__^

You rock. I hope they let you use the photos.
(Am working on chapter two as we speak. Had to take a break to shovel snow. LOL)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Oh I didn't know you'd written about him! Will look at Chapter 2 as soon as I've surfaced from the miasma of sleep...

[sleveen.livejournal.com]

I've been obsessed with that chap in my icon since grade 9...writing about him...well, I couldn't resist. And you know I slashed him. :)

[sleveen.livejournal.com]

Oh! Oh! Have you tried the Prelinger Archives for public domain music?

http://www.archive.org/details/prelinger

They have all sorts. Also try Wikimedia Commons:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Not sure what they have, but up at the right hand corner there's an icon labelled Sound - that might lead to music...

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'll try that - I love the Lully piece, hoping I can find it in the Public Domain...

[sleveen.livejournal.com]

I have found bundles of great stuff on Prelinger - I made my short film about my grandmother with lots of things I found on the Prelinger...

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

Ooh, fingers crossed on the agents! Are you querying them with the Norfolk Broads novel, or just in general? I've been thinking of trying to find an agent myself, but until I start writing 'Dragon of the Fen' (which is my next serious one) I'm not sure I have anything to offer.

I'm failing to find music myself and haven't even started to look for pictures. I suspect that various crops of the book cover will feature heavily!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Sort of mainly Junction X but asking for help in on-marketing Trans and JX too. I'm not holding my breath, even though I'm holding my thumbs.

[crawling-angel.livejournal.com]

I can hear you buzzing from here!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes... well... that's far TMI......