AntipodeanSF is an Aussie online magazine that's devoted to the monthly publication of fabulous and original science-fiction, fantasy, and horror mini-stories of about 500–1000 words each, with occasional longer feature stories.
Books:
 | |
| I read more than two books in April, but these are the best |
Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch (Known in the UK and Oz as The Rivers of London). The voice in this book is a real treat. It had me laughing out loud quite a bit. It's a police procedural set in London with a bunch of magic thrown in. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are currently working on adapting the series for TV, so think Hot Fuzz meets Harry Potter ;)
Shows:
Avengers: Endgame
No Spoilers here. I just wanted to say how much it surprised me. I loved it. With it being 3 hours long, I had thought they were going to drag it out and get all indulgent, but no. Every scene mattered. The movie had so much unexpected heart. I was thrilled.
Game of Thrones.
No spoilers again. So glad it's back. I've been thoroughly enjoying it. I think I want more surprises than we've got so far. The last episode in particular. But I'm still loving it.
Insecure Writers Support Group:
The question for the month: What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
There's a silly children's chant I learned when I was young because I was bullied a lot: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." I wish it were true. Words do hurt. They can build a person up and they can pull them down and tear them apart. I was pulled down and torn apart an awful lot. It hurt worse when it came from people who were supposed to be my friends. I became small and escaped into stories where the weak overcame overwhelming odds, the little guy who was dismissed by society became the hero. Would I change any of it? No. Everything I've experienced--the good, the bad, the ugly--has shaped me into the person and the writer I am today.
What books have you been reading? What shows have you been loving? What's been your experience with the power of language?
56 comments:
Congratulations! Is that the one Ion Newcombe runs?
Endgame did have a lot of heart.
I was surprised who killed the Night King though. Thought it would be someone else.
I think I escaped into books to avoid a lot of those painful sticks and stones, too. Congratulations on your story being online!
Congrats on the published story.
As foster parents, we saw first hand how words can destroy someone.
Congratulations!
So happy GoT is back, too. Can't wait to see where it goes these next few episodes, although I really don't want it to end!
I think I have Six of Crows on my To Read list....
Super cool about your story being published. Congratulations! And don't get me started about GoT. LOL I almost had a heart attack at the end of this last episode.
Congrats on your publication!
Endgame is three hours long? Wow. Everyone is raving about it. I might need to see it.
Congrats on the story publication.
Books have always been my refuge, a buffer over the years against harsh and hurtful words...
Happy IWSG Day.
Congrats on the publication! So exciting.
I've always thought the "sticks and stones" rhyme was utterly ridiculous. Words are like razors, and can cut sharp and deep, leaving lasting scars. Books were a refuge for me, perhaps even a salvation.
Congratulations on our release in the online magazine. I hope you get lots of exposure.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Congratulations on your sci-fi story publication.
I've heard a lot about Six of Crows, must read it fast.
Congrats on your success. And you are so right, without our past we would be different people. :-)
Anna from elements of emaginette
I've seen a lot of people mention the "sticks and stones" line today. Words can definitely hurt.
I literally have Six of Crows in my TBR pile! Like, an actual pile of books. I'll get to it eventually!
Congrats on your story being published! I was bullied a lot as a kid too.
I know how words can hurt too, but it's amazing we can turn it around and use them for good now. Congrats on your acceptance - fantastic news!
I've never understood that chant - because it is completely untrue. I guess it's supposed to be an armour we don to protect ourselves, but it doesn't work very often!
Congrats on the story!!
Yep!! It is! He is a great supporter of Australian speculative fiction.
I wasn't surprised....
Thanks, Liza
Yeah, it's scary the impact words can have.
Read it! You'll love it.
heart attacks are part of the fun!! ;)
Yep, it's a great movie (will make more sense if you've seen all the others though)
There are so many ways books are awesome
I totally agree
Thanks so much Pat
It's so great!!
Everything that happens shapes us :)
It was an IG recommendation for me so I went out and bought it. I wasn't disappointed.
I suspect all the great readers and writers were.
Exactly!! And thanks! :)
It's a thin armour, but when you have nothing else, it helps.
I will have to check out Midnight Riot. I've been reading a ton of Sherlock Holmes YA adaptions and really enjoyed them. Truly, Devious and the sequel were truly amazing. Congrats on your publication!!
Words sure have power, but sticks may hurt a bit more at the time and linger into old age if hit hard enough haha
Words definitely have power to cause pain, but they also have the power to heal, even if it does take 10 positives to get rid of a negative. We can overcome those negatives!
I haven't seen Endgame yet ... it's partly because my family has been busy and partly because I want to savor it when I get to the theater.
Thanks, Jennifer.
wish that weren't true ;)
Hopefully you'll be able to avoid any spoilers before you see Endgame.
Love Six of Crows and everything that Leigh writes. I'm enjoying GoT and like you, could do with more surprises. I'm distressed that so many of my writer friends were bullied in their younger years.
Congratulations on your sci-fi story being published today, Lynda! What a thrill that must be for you. I just finished Tonja Drecker's "Music Boxes," and I'm well into "Masquerade Oddly Suited." Both are very satisfying reads. I'm closing in on the end of Yuval Harari's "Sapiens" which is a fascinating take on the history of humans from their earliest beginnings. Movies/Shows ~ Definitely sad as GOT draws to a close. The "Sticks and Stones" chant never made any sense to me either. As a third grader teacher I used it when my class and I discussed the importance of names and how words can hurt. If you want to know the power of words, just ask third graders!
Congratulations Lyn. Read about it on my phone this morning but it was in one of its moods and I couldn't comment. Such great news. Can't wait to read Six of Crows.
I meant to tell you when we had lunch, but it totally slipped my mind, lol. Too much yacking... ;)
It's why we're writers :)
Oh yes, third graders would be good teachers in that regard ;)
I disliked that saying because bones will heal, and sometimes wounds from words never do. I remember from my childhood too. Congrats on the publication. Wahoo! happy IWSG.
Congrats on your story publication!
I wish I could read more than two books a month. I struggle to read one.
Happy May!
I LOVE your short story. LOVE it. "...this traveller could rearrange the ticks so the one after the next could go before and the one before could wait until tomorrow." If only.
Hi Lynda - congratulations on getting your story published ... while the publication sounds a very professional one. I've made a note of the Ben Aaronovitch London one ... cheers Hilary
Thanks, Juneta
30 mins a day can achieve a lot of reading. It's well worth it :)
I'm so thrilled you like my story. Super thrilled. Thanks so much for taking the time to read it. Hugely appreciated.
Thank you so much, Hilary
How long did it take you to write it?
Not long, but I did sit on it for a long while then I changed the ending. It originally had a darker ending, but I can't do them anymore, lol.
Big congrats! You must be so proud:)
What a great post! That is so true – that everything a person experiences influences their writing and who they are/have become. I know I would definitely be a different person/writer without the life experiences I've had.
I'm a little late, but congrats on the publication of your story! That's awesome!
With Love,
Mandy
Thanks, Mark
Thanks, Mary
Post a Comment