Happy St Patrick's Day

[erastes]

When I lived in Ireland it always amused me how St Patrick’s Day happened in the middle of Lent. Where I lived (deep in the Midlands in a tiny-blink-and-you’ll-miss-it village called Dromod) most people gave up drinking for Lent, and the pubs were next to empty. Yes, pubs. Plural. Two shops, one hotel, four pubs. So St Patrick’s Day was a welcome respite!

I’ve read two “my favourite books” threads in the last couple of days and find it amusing that people list one or more of their own.  It’s the English in me, perhaps—but I’d rather die than do that.  Just having an interview is enough publicity, without pimping ones stuff too!

Spring is here. At bloody last. It’s warm enough to have the window open—which is lovely. Cats prefer to use the window, for some odd reason. Still no daffs.

“Heavy Rain” is a wonderful game. Not for ye gun-toting players, it’s slow, interactive – a mixture of a point and click and an interactive movie. It’s a bit harrowing too, dealing with a serial killer of young boys aged around 11. I also picked up a copy of Tomb Raider Anniversary for £2 – which makes me laugh. I never managed to finish the original version—got to the last level but couldn’t kill the final boss, so I very much doubt I’ll do much better with this revamped super swish version.  I have very fond memories of Tomb Raider One: I think it was just about the very first playstation game I ever bought, and I literally screamed my head off when the T-Rex rumbled into sight. (But then again, I’m a bit of a game screamer, I screamed yesterday when I was sneaking through a meat warehouse and the suspect jumped out at me, and I KNEW that was going to happen…)(hopeless)

Check meta writer in about an hour, as we are running a “Query Letter Clinic” there today – planning on making it a regular event if it proves popular.  Five brave souls have sent me their query letters (to agents or publishers) and the members of the community are invited to critique it.  So do join the party – but play nice. I’ll be moderating very firmly. Critique=good, Flaming and arguments will get you banned.

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Comments

[paddynmoon.livejournal.com]

I literally screamed my head off when the T-Rex rumbled into sight. (But then again, I’m a bit of a game screamer, I screamed yesterday when I was sneaking through a meat warehouse and the suspect jumped out at me, and I KNEW that was going to happen…)

Did you ever play Resident Evil? There was a bit where a previously empty corridor was suddenly filled with giant spiders on the ceiling. Got my brother to play it, and he screamed like a five year old girl when one dropped on his character's head. I nearly died laughing. XD

[erastes.livejournal.com]

LOL - I did, yes. I was SOOO bad at that. I don't think I got to the spiders! The zombies were bad enough. Remind me never to play games with your brother there would be so much screaming

[paddynmoon.livejournal.com]

XD I'll try and remember! That game was so good, a total classic. Not that I was any good at it, I just cowered behind the cushions and watched as it got worse and worse. There were these things with massive long arms that ran around the ceiling later on, like the nightmare version of Mister Tickle who could disembowel you.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I think I still have it, in the "I'm crap at this one but I might improve" pile - I can't bear to throw any games away.

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

I read the same interviews and, trust me, even this German cringed a bit inside. It makes me think actually less of the author. I could name a dozen fantastic writers; this kind of thing makes me wonder if people are just so full of themselves or if they even read other people's stuff in their self-grandiouse ivory bubble.

But that's just me.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Nod nod. I just couldn't do it. It's not a chat show where you KNOW the person is only there to chat to Jonathan Ross or Terry Wogan or whoever because their film is just out or their book or whatever. Readers want to know what YOU like, they don't want to hear "I think Standish is the best thing EVAH" (i don't) i'd say they are much more interested in knowing what I read for fun.

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

I’ve read two “my favourite books” threads in the last couple of days and find it amusing that people list one or more of their own. It’s the English in me, perhaps—but I’d rather die than do that. Just having an interview is enough publicity, without pimping ones stuff too!

Oh, wow, I had no idea people did that. It wouldn't occur to me at all -- I have too many favourite books to remember to begin with, and nothing I've written comes close in my opinion!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Agreed!!!

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

Yes. They want an authentic author experience, and instead get a dose of marketing. Do authors catually believe readers can't tell the different? /snerk.