Welcome to another What’s Up Wednesday post, where I answer a few questions about my daily life and writing work.
What I’m Reading
I’ve been chatty on Twitter recently about my read through of GIRL OF NIGHTMARES. I’ve been loving it, though there’s been a few talking points:
“Girl of Nightmares” (“Anna Dressed in Blood” Book 2) is good, but the British-ness really feels false.
— Emma Maree Urquhart (@EMaree) September 22, 2013
It’s weird because I usually have a high tolerance for that kinda stuff. Super-stereotypical Englishness is a guilty pleasure.
— Emma Maree Urquhart (@EMaree) September 22, 2013
Possibly because I live my life being half haggis-and-anger Scottish stereotype and half tea-and-scones English stereotype…
— Emma Maree Urquhart (@EMaree) September 22, 2013
Okay, I’m digging how “Girl of Nightmares” transplants the Aokigahara suicide forest into the Scottish Highlands.
— Emma Maree Urquhart (@EMaree) September 22, 2013
Though I wonder if they’re going to mention the unScottishness of the polite “remember people love you” signs.
— Emma Maree Urquhart (@EMaree) September 22, 2013
A more accurate Scottish sign would be, carved into a tree trunk: “Oi! Dinnae off y’self, ye ken?”
— Emma Maree Urquhart (@EMaree) September 22, 2013
@EMaree “If you’re going to off yourself, please be sure not to litter en route as other people have to use the path too.”
— MyGodIt’sRaining (@mygoditsraining) September 22, 2013
I am really enjoying this book, flaws ‘n all.
Last week was payday, aka ‘book buying day’, so I picked up a few exciting new reads as well:
“Shadows” by Paula Weston: An angel YA novel that reviewers assure me is equally as good as “Angelfall”. I’m sold.
“The Dream Thieves” by Maggie Stiefvater: The sequel to The Raven Boys”. Really excited about this, Maggie has a way of forming a real connection between the readers and her characters.
“Fangirl” by Rainbow Rowell: This’ll be my first Rainbow Rowell book. The subject matter (being a fan, being part of a fandom) is very close to my heart, so I can’t wait.
What I’m Writing
I’m still working away on LEVIATHAN RISES. Putting this project away in July has worked wonders — now that I’m back to work on it this September, I’m coming up with all sorts of unexpected ideas to pull the plot together. Right now I’m knee-deep in research about Old Testament Leviathan and Behemoth myths, and the words are flowing at a satisfying rate.
Thanks to everyone who voted in the title poll last What’s Up Wednesday. A few of you liked THE SEA BENEATH, which pleases me because it seems to ‘fit’ well next to DIVIDE THE SKY.
But there was also some love for the LEVIATHAN RISES title. The problem with that is that it’s very similar to sci-fi novel LEVIATHAN WAKES, so I’m pondering if that’ll be a problem. There’s always the potential to change it to THE LEVIATHAN RISE or THE LEVIATHAN RISES… I’ve added those options to the poll.
[poll id=”5″]
What Else I’ve Been Up To
You miiiight have noticed I had a bad week last week. A bad month, really, thanks to the unending flu-like lurgy that’s hounded me for two months solid.
In the draft of this post, I said “things are looking up”. That was a mistake. I think I jinxed it.
At this point I’m just eager for September to be over.
When I’m not reading, writing or doing housework (those rare, shining silver slivers of ‘free’ time) I’m playing Kingdom Hearts 1.5, a really nice HD remake of the first Kingdom Hearts game. It’s lots of nostalgic fun.
I’m also trying out BookLikes, a Goodreads alternative. So far I’m diggin’ it’s Tumblr-inspired interface and it seems to have all the features I need. If you’re on it, add me–I’d love to follow some more familiar faces!