Just saying hello!

Hi, Forumshire!

I've been out of the picture, not writing and not foruming since I moved my mom into assisted living. It was tough at the beginning but has improved lately. I've also had some scattered hours at my day job, which is much-needed.

I posted a new excerpt from Superfriends Of The Ring in Creative Corner. It's VERY slow going. But this weekend I was able to do some promotion of The Wobbit on Amazon that actually may have reached a new audience. I've sold more books in the last two days than in the last two months.

Thanks to whoever recommended Neil Gaiman to me. Was it PT, Odo, Eldo, or Bart Simpson? I just read Stardust and loved it. It has the same sort of charm that The Hobbit has, even though it's pretty intense.

We're going to see Hugo tonight. My wife and I enjoyed the book. Any comments on the movie?

-Paul

Good to have you back Wobbitt.
I have all the sympathy and empathy in the world for your plight with your mother, but I am sure you did the best by her and that is all you ever can do. Any associated feelings you might have of guilt, regret, or anything else are common to everyone in your situation who has a heart, so if you have suffered any of these all its proves its you are human, one of the good ones at that. Its the ones who can put family into care without those feelings you have to watch in my experience.

That's good news on your book- congrats on the new sales and here's hoping its the start of a small wave that becomes a big wave. Long may it continue.

Can't remember if I recommended Gaiman, might have been Kafria or Ally actually, that seems to ring a bell, but in a buckied memory. I did mention him ages ago as he wrote a Doctor Who episode, and oddly enough I just posted a short interview with him talking about his favourite Who episodes of series six, its on the Doctor Who thread.

Thanks, PT. Yes, I have all of those feelings! Your insider perspective is reassuring.

Good to see you around again, Paul. I'm very sorry to hear about your mom, but I'm glad things are getting better. I'm glad you've been able to make progress on promoting The Wobbit and working on Superfriends, too!

I don't think I recommended Gaiman to you but I did discover him in an airport bookstore (during a four hour layover) where I bought American Gods. That was a pretty great book and I'd love to read more of his stuff. I've heard the movie version of Stardust isn't half bad either. As to Hugo, I don't really have any familiarity with either the book or the movie, but I'd love to see it since I've seen a lot of good reviews for it.

You should catch his Doctor Who episode, The Doctor's Wife- its classic Gaiman.

Pettytyrant101 wrote:You should catch his Doctor Who episode, The Doctor's Wife- its classic Gaiman.

Will do, PT. Thanks!

Eldorion wrote:Good to see you around again, Paul. I'm very sorry to hear about your mom, but I'm glad things are getting better. I'm glad you've been able to make progress on promoting The Wobbit and working on Superfriends, too!

Thanks, Eldo!

I read Coraline, too, which was great. The movie was not nearly as good, I thought. Not as creepy OR as charming as the book.

I have read all Gaimans books and my absolute fav is Neverwhere, its true genius, and very magical, its a kind of surreal modern Alice in Wonderland, its set in London and the hero is an ordinary guy that has a strange and wonderful adventure.

Thanks, Mrs. Figg! I like strange and magical. I looked forward to reading Stardust every night. Maybe Neverwhere would be a good next book.

Yes Neverwhere is one of my all time favorite books, also The Graveyard Book is good, it sounds creepy, and it is, but in a good way.

You're right, Mrs. Figg, The Graveyard Book is VERY good. Funny and sad and beautiful all at once.

I wish Gaiman would do a sequel to The Graveyard Book, it kind of lends itself to continuing the story I think, or at least I did think so once I had finished it, I wanted to know what happened next to Bod, I wanted to know who the mysterious Silas was, or what he was. Gaiman doesnt seem to have written a new book recently, and I really hope he does.

He was good in a guest appearance on The Simpsons. He played himself, and he was helping Homer and his buddies to team-write a young-adult fantasy novel.

sounds good, but I really want something meaty to get my teeth into, something to read on cold winter nights, something to transport me into a mysterious netherworld.

Gormenghast?

I have a feeling thats a bridge too far for me, I have tried to read his stuff in the past but given up a few chapters in, dont know why, its like Game of Thrones, I love the idea of the book, but I found it heavy weather, and I gave up. Its not like I dont have the patience for meaty reads, some flow better for me I suppose. Gaiman has such a light touch, even when the story gets intricate and grim, it flows like silk. Philip Pullman is another writer who I love but I cannot for the life of me re read his books, they are like quick sand, I feel like I am drownding in sadness. At the mo I am rediscovering Alan Garner, The weirdstone of Brisingamen and the Moon of Gombrath are brill.