I know, I know, I am clearly shallow – but I liked it!

For starters, the French settings (especially in this time of Covid when travel is largely on hold) are ooh-la-la, in the most pristine of tourism-poster ways, and as for the clothes— Did I say ooh-la-la already? Well, I’m saying it again!

While I am not a fashionista at all, I can appreciate the art, so thoroughly enjoyed the ensembles Emily and other cast members got to wear. Another scene, another ensemble – but I am not saying that like it’s a bad thing.

OK, a great many of the characters are clichéd – but they strut their clichés with panache. Plus the show is lighthearted and funny, which is what you (I!) want in a comedy. And although I understand it’s been described as “ridiculous”, I felt that was pretty much the point…

Mindy

An aspect of the show I felt was a strength was the women’s friendship between Emily, Mindy, and Camille, along with the brief appearance of Mindy’s friend Li. (There is a wrinkle in the friendship angle, but no spoilers…)

The other strength of the show, one that saved it from being mere eye-candy floss of the sort that swiftly cloys, is the way in which it canvasses—albeit within the lighthearted format—more serious subject matter. Starting with Emily’s assumption that it’s OK to come to Paris to live and work and not speak French, and carrying on with #Me,Too and the “Sexy or Sexist” conversation, along with Mindy’s need to move on from a public failure.

Emily is rom-com so of course (rolls eyes) there is a love triangle. Sometimes who you fall for can be complicated, but I am reserving judgment on how the show handles the triangle going forward. Not least because it appears to intersect several of the strengths that made Emily work for me, such as the women’s friendships and #Me,Too aspects.

On balance, though, if you’re looking for something light, funny, and with fashion pizazz, you may well enjoy Emily In Paris.

Last week I shared a few pics from the Christmas-New Year holiday, and also let fall that it had been a fairly rainy experience. The great thing about that, though, is that it totally justifies concentrating on catching up on reading and viewing, both ‘at home’ (TV!) & ‘abroad’ (cinema!)

When it came to the film viewing, the surprise positive was Nomadland. I say ‘surprise’ because I didn’t really know what I was going to see, and the format was unexpected. Nonetheless, I was immediately interested in and engaged by the film.

The unexpected format was a hybrid between a documentary and a drama, with (I believe) only two of the main characters being fictional. It was not a “docudrama”, though (imo), because the “arcs” of the main characters were fictional, albeit within a very “slice of life” format (hence putting the reference to character arcs in quote marks.)

Otherwise, the majority of those that appeared in the film were real people, the “nomads” who have chosen or been forced by circumstance to live in vans / mobile homes, following an itinerant lifestyle. I call the film “documentary” in the sense that it documents their lives, albeit through a fictional lens. Some give the impression of choosing the lifestyle voluntarily, while others move continuously in order to obtain casual seasonal employment.

Frances MacDormand as Fern

What holds it all together is the central figure of Fern, played by Frances MacDormand. Her fictional arc of an ageing woman who has lost her home and livelihood due to adverse circumstances, but whose determination to remain independent leads her into the nomadic, itinerant worker existence, provides a “window” into the lives of America’s real nomadic community.

Frances MacDormand’s performance is stoic and the narrative minimalist, the film’s physical and emotional landscapes stark. Together, this troika deliver a film experience that is understated and powerful in inverse proportion.

While the past has famously been said to be, “… a foreign country: they do things differently there” (LP Hartley, The Go-Between) I felt Nomadland opened a window into an aspect of America that was previously unknown to me, where people do indeed live in a way that is foreign to my experience. I found the viewing experience thought-provoking and rewarding. Accordingly, I’m recommending the film.

Note: I understand Nomadland is based on a book, Nomadland: Surviving America In The Twenty-first Century (W.W. Norton & Company, 2017) by Jessica Bruder. The book is non-fiction.

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Recently, a reader asked whether the character of Kalan, in The Wall Of Night series, is based on a real person.

In penning my reply, it occurred to me that others might be interested in my answer, so am sharing it here:

“Kalan isn’t based on a real person, but is his own character, one who has been shaped by the events and experiences of the narrative, which has itself evolved from my original concept. Having said that, I think stories and characters are undoubtedly shaped by the experiences and observations of the author. Such experiences and observations, though, can be very broad-based, going well beyond the author’s own life to accounts in the media, biographies and autobiographies, historical accounts, and the archetypes and traditions of myth and legend. So although I feel sure characters are born somewhere amid such material, pinpointing a particular event or other character determinant is usually very difficult, and most often impossible.”

I could have just said “no”, of course, and left it at that — but I feel this is a more interesting, as well as more informative, response. 😉

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The weather was not particularly clement over the Christmas — New Year break, but whenever the sun came out, even if only a break in the clouds, I tried to grab some photographic evidence of having gone “there and back again.”

I used this on the SU for Jan 1: it’s Raumati South on the Kapiti Coast, looking toward Kapiti Is. The ‘spike’ is a NZ flax flower.

Sometimes, though, the season even managed a skerrick of sunshine — chiefly when I was en route with a ferry to catch or commitment to keep, so couldn’t linger too long to enjoy it.

Looking south toward Mana Island

Still, as alluded to on Christmas Eve, I’m grateful (to both our government and my fellow citizens for all playing our part) to have been in the position to travel and be with family and friends at all.

Mana & Kapiti Islands again, seen from the Cook Strait ferry, leaving Wellington harbour

And indeterminate weather and fleeting clear moments or not, some of the photos still ‘paint a picture.’

Entering the Marlborough Sounds, at the top of the South Island

The crossing between the North and South Islands always makes for a sense of “return”, even with ca. half the island still to go before reaching home.

Rain or shine, some sights never pall: seal colony on the Kaikoura Coast

But the sun was definitely out by the time we reached Kaikoura township.

The beachfront at Kaikoura

I hope you’ve enjoyed this road journey slice of my “there and back again.”

Take care, wherever you are, and stay as safe as possible in what appears to be the darkest hour before the dawn of widespread rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine.

It’s here!

On January 5, Crown of Bones (Amassia #1) was published by Entangled Teen — and I was pleased to interview the author, Kim Falconer writing as AK Wilder, on the Supernatural Underground.

The interview is the first instalment in the Magic Systems in Fantasy series that is my theme for 2021 on the Supernatural Underground. As noted here on Monday, wherever possible I hope to not just feature a book that’s grabbed my interest in magic system terms, but to e-chat with the author to gain their insight into the magic within a book and/or world. As you may quite correctly surmise, this points to a focus on still-living authors for this year’s series. 😉

I hope this will prove to be as interesting for readers as it for me. 🙂 I’m also really pleased that timing meant Kim could take the first Q&A spot, because the path to publication for this book has encountered several delays, including a year for production reasons, and publication being pushed back again for Covid-related reasons. Now, though, it’s here at last — and a quick look at GoodReads indicates that the advance review response is very positive.

So I would love it if readers here would consider supporting Kim by reading the Q&A, and if that sparks your interest, by purchasing the book or requesting it to read at your local library. First up, though, here’s a taste of what Kim has to say:

“HL:  As one of the lucky advance readers for Crown Of Bones, one of the aspects of the book that I really loved was the magic system, especially the twinned concepts of “throwing the bones” and “raising your phantom.” Can you tell readers a little more about what these terms mean and how they’re integral to the magic in the book?

AKW:  You are right. These two concepts are cornerstones in the story world, really what all else is built on. “Throwing the bones” is a phrase used by all the peoples of Amassia, but only a select few, the black-robe Bone Throwers, learn this art of divination and utilise it. And these bones they throw are no ordinary charms. Every piece is carved into a whistle and etched with one of the 108 steps to An’awntia, the highest state a person can reach along the Path – the way to their perfected state of being. When played, they make up the song or story in the cast, revealing the message therein. …”

Raise. Your. Phantom.

To read the full interview — and see more of the lovely art generated for this book — go to:

Magic Systems in Fantasy: AK Wilder Talks Crown Of Bones with Helen Lowe on the Supernatural Underground

See you there! 😀

Happy New Year, dear “…on Anything, Really” friends. 🙂

Happy New Year!

I’ve been ushering the new year in on the Supernatural Underground (SU) as well — how not since the first of the month is my slot!

In 2019, taking a leaf from the book of friend and fellow author, Amanda Arista, I decided to have a theme for my SU blogging and embarked on a Year of Romance in Fantasy.

In 2020, it was the turn of Worldbuilding (again) in Fantasy, wrapped up here.

A Year of Worldbuilding wrapped up

This year, I’m turning the spotlight onto Magic Systems — and wherever possible, I’ll be doing this by e-chatting with fellow authors about the magic in their work. Starting with talking with my friend and fellow SU author, AK Wilder, about her new-out Fantasy, Crown of Bones, on her release day, which is tomorrow—5 January!

Almost here!

To read all about it, click on:

Ushering In A Year of Friends, Fellow Authors, & Magic Systems

And do check in tomorrow for my interview with AK Wilder—whom some of you will already know well as Kim Falconer. 🙂 Because this series is YA/New Adult she’s writing as AK Wilder, to mark the distinction from her adult series.

Keeping an eye on the horizon

As noted on December 24, Christmas Eve really is the beginning of the end of the old year in NZ—but December 31 is really *it*, the last day of the year.

As also noted on December 24, what an extraordinary and demanding year 2020 has been. Unquestionably, it’s been the year of Covid-19 everywhere in the world—but in finding out my top ten posts for the year it became clear that in coming here you were looking for something other than Covid.

Something I learned from the Christchurch earthquakes a decade ago is that it’s actually really important to keep going with your life and work, as best you can, despite extraordinary events and times. So I’m glad if my wee blog has been part of the antidote to some of the life events that have been weighing on us all.

Although I also get that it’s most likely readers were looking out for that signal that WALL#4 may be close to being done! 😉

At any rate, it is New Year’s Eve and so the best possible time to focus in on the ten posts that really grabbed your attention during the course of the year. You’ll note the posts are ordered chronologically (rather than in an exact ranking of “views”) from the year’s beginning to its end.

Enjoy! And Happy New Year for tomorrow — may it “exceed expectations” on 2020!

‘Exceeding expectations’ on 2020…

And Here They Are…

January 6 — Starting As We Mean To Go On

So much of what I said in this post, when reflecting on the times we’d come out of in 2019 and on what was already happening in 2020 with the Australian bushfires et al, as well as our responses to such challenges, could really serve as a summation for the whole of this year. So I’m glad so many of you found something worthwhile in the read.

January 13 — A Few Thoughts On “Word Of Mouth”

This post was kind of about books and getting the good word out to readers — but it was also about wine. But then, wine and literature do have a long history of keeping each other company. 🙂

February 17 — A Little Alchemy

This was the first in the sequence of posts that seemed to really interest you all, which — funnily enough 😉 — is about the actual process of writing The Wall Of Night #4 and the ins-and-outs, challenges and gnarly moments thereof (in both senses of ‘gnarly.’)

April 22 — Reflections On Writing The Long Form—And WALL #4 Progress

This was both a reasonably indepth look at the writing process around WALL #4 and an update on where the w.i.p. was actually at. It also heralded the “Inside the Writing Life” post series, since I was starting to grok that such posts do interest you…

May 01 — Inside The Writing Life: A Little About the Writing Itself

Inspired by a few insightful reader comments, I discussed a little of what I try to achieve when writing, especially when developing characters and wrangling plots.

May 11 — An Interview With AJ Fitzwater, Author Of “The Voyages Of Cinrak the Dapper”

AJ is a fellow Christchurch author and friend-in-writing, and I found CINRAK delightful, so was pleased to support the book release by interviewing AJ.

May 28 — Inside The Writing Life: Naturally Self-Isolating

This post in the “Inside” series focused on what it means “to write alone” and something of “the loneliness of the long distance writer.” (Although not, I hope, in a tone of self pity!)

July 23 — Inside The Writing Life: Another Milestone Ticked Off

Yes, that was another WALL #4 milestone! And yes, you were keenly interested!

Han Solo the quintessential “lovable rogue”

August 27 — Inside The Writing Life: ‘A Game Of Two Halves’

Following on from the July 23 post, I returned to the writing life to specifically discuss transitions between sections of the book in progress. And again, you showed great interest.

September 14 — Having Fun With Epic Fantasy #13: We All Love To Love — The Lovable Rogue

This year, I also returned to the Having Fun With Epic Fantasy post series and this instalment on “The Lovable Rogue” garnered particular interest. So did the follow up post on A Quintessential Female Lovable Rogue, although it didn’t quite make it into the top ten, which is why I’ve given it a related “honourable mention.” 🙂

Faith from Buffy — also a mostly lovable rogue

Wrappin’ Up

So there it is—the Ten Most-Read Posts for 2020. I’m glad you enjoyed them, and appreciate your dropping by to read and leave the occasional comment. Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, I hope you may have a very happy new year.

On December 31 I’ll fulfil what is now becoming an end-of-year tradition and post the ten most-read posts of this year here on my own “… on Anything, Really” blog.

I say “my own” because I do blog other places as well, chiefly on the Supernatural Underground on the first of every month, as well as the occasional guest spot like the Women in SFF interview on Fantasy Hive earlier this year. But yep, the end-of-year roundup is all for the home blog and checking out what m’visitors here (yep, all of you!) were into in 2020. 🙂

Before we get there, though, I decided I couldn’t really windup the year without another update on WALL#4 progress — and YES, it is progressing! This year I’ve wrapped up another major section of the book, think equivalent to the ‘Bride of Blood’ in Daughter of Blood, and another that’s closer in size and scope to the Grayharbor section in DAUGHTER.

Then (deep breath) shortly before Christmas, I commenced writing the intro into what is effectively the endgame of the book and series. I say ‘effectively’, because as I’ve indicated before, there is a lot of wrap up to do for this series. Nonetheless these are the sections that definitely wrap it up. And although I hope this will not prove to be wildly optimistic (touches wood, takes an even deeper breath, and casts a wary eye toward the muses), I am aiming for the middle of the year to reach the endpoint.

In the meantime, this post is to assure you that I am writing on, and the story is rolling toward its close. Good news, huh — if not quite the best, which will only come when its done. (Of course!)

I’ll try and slip in a few more “Inside the Writing Life” posts for you, too, while I’m getting there, since the most-read statistics suggest you like ’em. 🙂

Pohutakawa flowering: yes, it really is midsummer here…

Here in NZ, Christmas Eve always feels like the real marking point of the beginning of the end of the old year, because it’s not only the beginning of the Christmas-New Year break, but also the summer holidays.

Plus, because of that, everyone tries to cram everything possible, workwise, into those last few weeks before Christmas, as well as having all the “end-of-year” workplace get-togethers. In a word, it’s crazy, and we all collectively arrive at December 24 feeling utterly exhausted.

That’s in situation-normal times. Yet I think we can all agree that this year-of-covid has been far from usual. Certainly, over the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on how the year has simultaneously felt extraordinarily long, at the same time as rushing by.

Here in NZ we’ve been extraordinarily fortunate at the leadership response to Covid taken by the government, particularly in identifying pubic health and economic wellbeing as twinned, rather than mutually exclusive, goals. In simple, everyday terms, though, that means we’re looking at a holiday period where we can travel and gather with friends and family with a reasonable degree of confidence—while still being careful, needless to say. At a time of year that has come to be all about such gatherings here in NZ, that is no small thing.

At the beach: New Year in summer

I am very much aware that this is not the case in many parts of the world, and that many of you may not be able to be with family and friends this year, despite similar traditions being the norm. Some of you may also have lost family, friends, and colleagues to the pandemic, or to other causes but with the loss exacerbated by Covid related restrictions on travel and gatherings.

Wherever you are, and whatever you are doing, I hope you are and will continue to be as happy, safe, and well as it is possible to be. If you are travelling and celebrating, travel and celebrate safely, giving thought and effect to the safety and wellbeing of others. If you are not able to travel or be together with others in realtime, I hope you may still find ways to share and connect that are meaningful and fulfilling. And may we all find some joy, however small the moment.

“I’ll be back” here, in the usual way, before the holiday season and 2020 both draw to their close—but in the meantime, and again, let’s all take care, for ourselves and others.

KimFalconer

Over on the Supernatural Underground currently, fellow author and friend Kim Falconer has another post-of-excellence on Books, Tea, and Magic. Kim’s post looks at the wider literary connection between books and tea, as well as the direct connection to the tale told within her about-to-be-released new novel, Crown of Bones — which will be out on 5 January (2021: oh my!) Only 15 sleeps to go!

Books, Tea, And Magic — with Kim Falconer, writing as AK Wilder

Kim very kindly invited me to contribute to the post with a reference to tea in The Wall Of Night series, but unfortunately I didn’t receive the message until too late, being far awa’ in the vasty wilds of writing retreat and so off t’interwebs.

Nonetheless, I thought, “Why not feature Kim’s post here today and feature a WALL series reference by way of added interest?” So far, the chief reference to tea comes in WALL #3, Daughter Of Blood.

Mistress Ise, who is the former governess to Myr, one of the main characters, hails not from Myr’s House, which is Blood, but from the House of the Rose. Drinking tea, or tisane as Ise and Myr refer to it—since the teas they take are chiefly herbal—is definitely part of the Rose culture, although not so much in the House of Blood. OK, not at all, in the House of Blood… 😉

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The following passage introduces the reader to both tisane and the Rose custom:

“The night lamp in Ise’s sitting room was turned down, and Myr tripped against a low table in the dimness. Her heart pounded as she crouched down, steadying the antique silver tray on its stand. Each leg was carved into the shape of a dragon, with the tray held between their open jaws. When Myr was very small she had liked to rub the snarling heads and trace the moon-and-star patterns incised into the tray. Ise had brought the table with her from the House of the Rose and always used it for their court’s rituals of calligraphy and taking tisane. Now Myr left her note there…”

~ from © Daughter of Blood, The Wall of Night Book Three: Chapter 23 — The Midnight Keep

Now you may be thinking, Helen wrote: “So far, the chief reference to tea comes in WALL #3.” I wonder if that means that tea appears in some way in WALL #4?

The answer is yes, as the work-in-progress currently stands, it does. It doesn’t concern the House of the Rose either, but although I can’t tell you more than that right now, it may be the basis for a sneak preview at some stage in the future…

In the meantime, Kim’s book is coming out very soon, plus there’s that genuine in-this-world Ochee tea. To find out more about Crown of Bones, you can go here:

AK Wilder: Crown Of Bones

Or if you’re crying out for more details on the swag offer ( 😉 ), just go here:

Crown Of Bones Pre-Order Swag Offer