by YatPundit | May 30, 2019 | Books, Lit Thursday, Podcast, Writing
It’s another Lit Thursday edition of YatPundit’s Pub 30-May-2019.
YatPundit’s Pub 30-May-2019
Two literary-themed brews on tap in YatPundit’s Pub 30-May-2019. First, we’ll talk about Memorial Day as a writing theme/prompt. Then we’ll review a novel, The Carousel Carver, by Perdita Buchan.
Memorial Day in New Orleans
Fort Pickents in Pensacola, Florida, is a popular Memorial Day destination for New Orleanians.(National Park Service photo)
While other parts of the country continue school well into June, Memorial Day weekend is traditionally the end of the K-12 school year in South Louisiana. There are two reasons for this. First, we start school early here. Up in New England, folks spend the “Indian Summer” days squeezing the last little bit of relaxation and daylight out of the summer season. They grudgingly go back to school after Labor Day. Many schools here used to start after Labor Day. They learned that kids fare better taking the hot days on the chin at the beginning of the year. By the end of May, they’re done. Done with a D. The other reason we end school in May is hurricanes. We build “storm days” into the schedule by starting in August. If things go badly, well, then we stretch into June. Otherwise, time gets built in.
So, by the end of May, families are ready for a vacation, even if it’s a quick run to the coast, to Florida, or to Disney. Let’s look at writing potential in that.
The Carousel Carver
The Carousel Carver by Perdita Buchan, blurbed by Edward and Susan!
A couple of months back, I received a message from a friend. He asked me if I’d read the galleys of a new novel from his friend’s publishing company. I said sure. The novel was The Carousel Carver, by Ms. Perdita Buchan. I figured, skim it, get a feel for it, say something nice. Well, that was the plan. I read the book and enjoyed it. While it’s not my regular reading fare, The Carousel Carver was a fun read. It’s a period piece, starting in Philly in 1912, following the main character to the Jersey Shore in the lead-up to World War II. I enjoyed it very much.
Book Details
- Hardcover: 143 pages
- Publisher: Plexus Publishing, Inc. (May 14, 2019)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1940091047
- ISBN-13: 978-1940091044
- Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
- Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
Last week’s Lit Thursday!
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by YatPundit | Apr 26, 2019 | Books, Dragon's, Podcast
Talking about teens, high school, expectations, and guitars in the first segment of YatPundit’s Pub 25-April-2019.
YatPundit’s Pub 25-April-2019
I’m in-between books in a sense at the moment. I finished the Rebus novel, but not ready to do a full review of it. I started Mitch Landrieu’s book, but not into it enough to talk sensibly about it. So, there wasn’t much to go into with respect to my personal reading. I thought we’d talk about two writing themes.
Teen expectations
Progressive Guitar Studio on Canal Blvd.
Tweens entering eighth grade, particularly here in New Orleans, have interesting expectations. As they approach their senior year, however, things change. Parents foster expectations. Therefore, a dad who was on the football team in high school wants his kid to play that sport. Maybe the young man wants to wrestle, or run cross country, or (heaven forbid!) join the Debate Team! Some kids will start out doing what the parents push, move on.
Some expectations are more subtle. So, an eighth grader may start in marching band. By tenth grade, kids with a lot of talent “outgrow” the school band. They join after-school orchestras, bands, and other projects (like musical theater). Conflict arises when they do less for the school. Then there are the musicians who, while they enjoy their horn or wind instrument, want to play guitar or bass. They invest in lessons and practice, putting aside growth on the band instrument. It’s called growing up.
Trains!
The old Louisville and Nashville passenger terminal on Canal Street
I’m a train nut. Y’all know that, I’m sure. As old passenger cars from the 1940s and 1950s die off, we lose a part of mid-century culture. I want to write about those railroad days. So, a story arc about a Pullman Porter in 1940-1941 interests me. Europe is already at war, but the US hasn’t made the move to actual combat. Spies and intrigue abound! I keep seeing an African-American man who wants to defend his country in a unique way.
Dragon’s Danger
The Pullman Porters of West Oakland
Last Thursday’s Pod
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by YatPundit | Apr 18, 2019 | Books, Podcast, Talents
Welcome to YatPundit’s Pub 18-April-2019 – it’s time to talk books and writing!
YatPundit’s Pub 18-April-2019
The shock of the fire at Notre Dame in Paris weighs heavily. A few introductory thoughts here, then we’ll get on with getting on.
Writing about churches
Let’s talk about other churches for a moment. So, sticking to “write what you know,” I focus on New Orleans. There are two stories that may turn into a full-blown Talents book, set in Europe. While one can write about well-known places, it works to write about the cities I walk around. Vienna is a setting in Trusted Talents for that reason. Utrecht, Stockholm, and Copenhagen figure into the in-progress cities. Work cities for me. I”m comfortable there. Oslo as well!
American cities, too
Same goes for American cities. The Orthodox church on High Street on Columbus calls me. It’s easy to visualize the great, potentially evil Nationwide Plaza. Transporting to Midtown Atlanta clicks. Switching to Manhattan Beach is easy.
When travelling, I stop in not only the Big Church. It’s fun to explore the parish church blocks away. Take time to check out the synagogue. When a character tells me something, I know exactly where they are. While I could make a Notre Dame scene happen, it’s more likely going to be a scene set in Nice.
Books
Edinburgh
Reading for YatPundit’s Pub 18-April-2019. So, I’m finishing up the 21st “Rebus” novel by Ian Rankin, Rather Be the Devil. John Rebus is retired. Therefore, he’s sticking his nose in the cases of DI Siobahn Clarke. Malcom Fox figures prominently in the story as well. There’s another “retired Rebus” book out, but I’ve got a ton of stuff to get to first.
IRA
Something that will jump the line, however, is Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland. As I flew up to Columbus a couple of weeks ago, a friend messaged and said, read this book. So, last week, Pesca had the author, Patrick Radden Keefe on his pod, Slate’s The Gist. The book is fascinating! Two recommendations move it up to read-now.
Don’t forget Art in the Bend on Saturday!
Last Thursday’s pod.
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by YatPundit | Apr 11, 2019 | Books, Dragon's, Talents
YatPundit’s Pub 2019-04-11
YatPundit’s Pub 2019-04-11
YatPundit’s Pub is back! Starting here with YatPundit’s Pub 2019-04-11, we’re going to attempt to be consistent with this now. Tuesdays will be politics and commentary, Thursdays will be books and writing. So, there are two taps at the bar.
The first is a remembrance. Ms. Margie Person passed away last week. She was mom to two of my friends going back to Brother Martin, John and Bob Person. Ms. Margie was also grandmother to Lady Artist, Elizabeth Person. Liz is Bob’s daughter. She’s a brilliant artist. I was very flattered when Bob told me one day that his mom really enjoyed my first urban fantasy novel, Hidden Talents. I never thought a lady in her 90s would fancy the magick and dueling, but he said she really liked how I described New Orleans. So, when it came time to write the sequel, he mentioned she would occasionally say, tell your friend he needs to finish that next book! Personally, I think she wanted to see what her granddaughter had in mind for the cover. 🙂
(On a side note, Lady Artist did a wonderful job with both Dragon’s Discovery and Trusted Talents. If you can hire Liz, you should!)
Dragons Update
Dragon’s Discovery by Edward J. Branley (cover art by Elizabeth Person)
Dragons 3, tentatively titled Dragon’s Defience, is in progress. The first five chapters have been red-penned by Dara, and I’m done with chapter seven. It’s going to be eleven total. The Fading Signs of New Orleans book for The History Press ate up a lot more of my time, so the fiction’s taken a back seat.
Talents Update
Talents 3 doesn’t have a name yet, much less a firm outline, but I have an idea of how things turn out. It felt odd, I had a bit of a dream/daydream of what happens after the third novel. So, I have the end of novel three and the beginning of novel four! Who knows if things will stay that way, of course.
Next week
We’ll do a Tuesday sit-down in the pub, talking local stuff, like the airport and traffic cameras, then more books/literary on Thursday.
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