Parental Advisory
This entry is all about child safety.
The first thing to remember is that my “Louise Curtis” pen-name will never write above a PG rating (generally for piratical violence, or it’d be a G rating throughout).
It should also be noted that I am a Christian and one of my characters is faintly based on Jesus (is there any more interesting person in history?) My first priority is to write an excellent story, but if you’re sensitive to religious themes it’s best you know one of the characters may be offensive to you – on a more subtle level than Aslan in the Narnia books.
“Felicity Bloomfield” writes for adults, and doesn’t hold back on topics. For an example, download “Tar”, a short story available at:
http://drolleriepress.com/needles-bones/
This is NOT NOT suitable for children.
I recommend the twittertale for age 10 and up.
Flashmob safety:
The flashmob is an open-invite event, so don’t assume everyone in a pirate person is well-meaning. There will be free (non-nut) lollies, but the peope I know and trust will be carrying my signature. If you email me in advance, I will send you a picture of it (and answer any other questions you have). My email address is fellissimo @ hotmail. com (no spaces).
If you are looking for me at the flashmob (eg for a copy of my signature so you know who to take lollies from), this is what I’ll be wearing:
Long black gloves, black corset, green lacy wrap (bare shoulders), full-length skirt in either dark green or dark red.
I’m also 175cm with long brown hair, so I’m pretty easy to spot (although when I show up I’ll have a baggy jumper over all but the skirt).
And while we’re here, here’s some more blogs I’ve been linking to:
WARNING: Blogs are the property of their writers and might not be G-rated. Most of them look okay to me (with the exception noted), and are rather good because they’re all written by writers.
http://thewriterssideofthelookingglass.blogspot.com/
Charleevale.blogspot.com
http://paigeofabook.blogspot.com/
warning: the above is a crime blog, and is often upsetting.
http://jannettejohnson.blogspot.com
http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com
(‘Hel’ is an abbreviation for ‘Helen’)
http://www.jmstrother.com/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=1&postId=237
GREAT for brand-new twitter users.
http://editorunleashed.com/2009/01/15/twitter-tips-for-writers-25-good-follows/
GREAT for people (especially writers) who need help sorting out who to follow on twitter.
Free sample
I’ll be tweeting the very first post of the twittertale this Saturday 25 July. (It’s a bit weird calling it a free sample when the whole thing is free, but oh well.)
Harper Collins is within a month of making a decision on one of my novels – the first I ever wrote that had pirates in, in fact.
If I can get famous by the end of July, they’re sure to say yes (the last time they rejected it was only because it lacked a market – not because the writing was lacking. And it’s a LOT better since then, believe me).
So please, join me on twitter. It may mean the difference between a three-book deal and yet another glowing letter telling me how fabulous – but not saleable – I am. Make your housemates/children/pets follow me. use your backup email. Just make me famous, please. . .
Louise_Curtis_
“Why are you helping me?”
“Because you inspire terrible pity” –Dollhouse quote.
Real Time Weather
The “novel” will be told in real time – so if the characters are eating lunch, I’ll post that tweet at lunch time.
Whenever I add a tweet to the novel, I’ll check the real-time weather in Jakarta (since my fantasy world is based on Indonesia). So you can check the novel weather, too (because it won’t be mentioned much in the actual tweets…but I’ll know what it is).
In my head
Can’t sleep. Can’t sit still. Hands shaking. Locked keys in car. Got my name and gender incorrect. Throbbing headache.
This is what hypergraphic mania looks like.
And in many ways it’s kinda fun. I’m getting HEAPS done (it HURTS my head – I swear I can feel the thoughts marching across my left cheekbone).
My mental illness is pretty minor, especially the bipolar bit of it. I can think and talk rationally, though I’m somewhat distracted and it’s very difficult to listen to anything anyone else has to say (“Oh, and how is that different?” from the chorus). I know I’m going to crash, so I plan for it – saving up my chocolate quote for when I need it to stay awake/civil/at work.
It’s all gonna be juuuuust fiiiiiine.
Eating pancakes now. Yum.
Twitter for. . . well, for twits
It is waaaaay easier than I expected.
Go to:
http://twitter.com/Louise_Curtis_
and join from there.
You’ll need a name, an email address, and the ability to invent a password and type in a word verification. That’s it!
It will ask you if you want to follow various celebrities, and my little icon should be on the right-hand-side of your screen.
If it’s not, comment here or write me an email at fellissimo @ hotmail. com (no spaces) telling me your user name.
Shameless Advertising
One of the concepts new writers struggle with is self-promotion. I don’t. (*gasp of shock from the crowd*)
Here are some of the blogs I’ve snuck this blog address into (most belong to writers, and are well worth visiting):
WARNING: Blogs are the property of their writers and might not be G-rated.
http://ripping-ozzie-reads.blogspot.com/
http://terrytaylor.posterous.com
http://onzeproductions.com/Site/Home.html
www.susancrosswrites.blogspot.com
http://antiquityoaks.blogspot.com
http://jaijoshiz.blogspot.com/
http://writingwonder.wordpress.com/
jentropy.com
If you love me, follow me on twitter.com (and if you love me a lot, make your friends follow me).
Prequel
Here’s a present to while away the long minutes (over 15,000 to go) until the TwitterTale begins. This story features the main character (though unfortunately Salty’s name changed to “Sol” after publication), and is effectively a prequel.
It is NOT NOT NOT okay for children. Contains child and other abuse.
Title: TAR
http://drolleriepress.com/news-and-commentary/needles-bones-2/
I have written the first seven days of the tale – they took about an hour each, and range between 1 and 3 posts each day.
Flashmob Launch
Always wanted to be part of a flashmob? Or join a pirate crew?
To help “launch” my twitter novel on Saturday 1 August, dress in your most piratical gear and relax calmly in/around Tilleys Devine Cafe (Lyneham shops, Canberra, Australia) or browse in/near the excellent secondhand bookshop next door. Attempt to arrive/don pirate gear at 2pm (park at the nearby schools if necessary), and vanish or change into an ordinary citizen at 2:30pm.
Bonus points for speaking as a pirate.
Yes, there will be candy and free flash (under 1000 words) stories. I and my minions will be randomly handing them out to any pirates we see/hear.
Extra candy for children. Because pirates care.
Flashmob Launch
Always wanted to be part of a flashmob? Or a pirate crew?
To help “launch” the twitter novel on Saturday 1 August, dress in your most piratical gear and relax calmly in/around Tilleys Devine Cafe (Lyneham shops, Canberra, Australia) or browse in/near the excellent secondhand bookshop next door.
Arrive/don pirate gear at 2pm (park at the nearby schools if necessary), and vanish or change into an ordinary citizen at 2:30pm.
Bonus points for speaking as a pirate.
Yes, there will be candy and free flash (under 1000 words) stories. I and my minions will be randomly handing them out to any pirates we see/hear.
Extra candy for children. Because pirates care.
One Canberran who is prepped and ready to go.
Yo ho ho!
Hello and welcome (you scurvy landlubber with the face of a rotting dog). It’s almost two weeks until the tale begins, so here’s a few things to think about in preparation: ADD. Pirates. Tropical sunsets and a blind first mate. Do parrots tweet?
If you want to join, write a comment and I’ll automatically get your email and go from there.
