[comes in. Pause.]...The hell?

James P-W replies: "*defensively* If that's in response to my picture change, all I'll say is that I enjoy mashing potatoes. If not, I'm not sure what to say. "

*very much amused by 'ly's reaction to the new picture, waves*

How be you? How fares the writing? And rewriting? I've done... almost nothing since August. (Well, mid-September actually) But since I'm swamped in essay writing, this seems bound to change for the better, if not exactly being creative.

James P-W replies: "writing goes well, no rewriting yet. good luck with the essays! "

[pause, then shrugs] ...but why the dead creature hat and the scuba gear? Had you just returned from duelling siberian sharks with that potato masher?

James P-W replies: "tis a fake dead creature. and scuba gear? "

Have you read Alyssa's The Queen's Man yet? I had a preview of the sequel that's just recently gone up and it is quite magnificent.

Also, book-wise, have you read A Clockwork Orange? I forget...

James P-W replies: "not yet, on my booklist is "heart of darkness", "catch 22", "dune", and "tigana"...clockwork orange is on my movielist, as are many of kubrick's films. I shall have to read it as time permits, I hear it's quite strange : ) "

Alyssa's on elfwood...

Erk. Do read Burgess' novel before the film. The film is a silly thing...

James P-W replies: "I just did her story, I was very impressed...no surprise there : ) I shall get around to the book whenever I can. I do love movies though. "

You should read the sequel to The Queen's Man too whenever you've time for it. *nods* Tintauri is mighty. On the topic of recommendations, have I yet recommended Becca's Dark Horses and Still Waters, both of which feature kelpies? I think I did. I forget. Good stories either way, though, and deserve to be recommended. And Jenna's Such a Sleep, which is Arthurian legend based. *nods*

How be you? *avoiding her coursework, ;avoiding/i>; it, I say!* What was that which I read about inspiration striking? That's lovely news. ^-^ I should really do my coursework so I can get back to the important things, like writing. ^-~

I do have story wheels churning, but they're all beyond my grasp. Don't know why. I think it's a sign that I should be working on the poetry present I started and get some work on that done... I've just had a friend visit me for Christmas, so I've been traipsing around the country a lot and visiting touristy things. 'twas good, but busy and odd to be in charge. *waves* I go now to do things like do coursework to avoid the doing of coursework... Hope you're having a wonderful time, had a good holiday and may the years end and start well!

James P-W replies: "Arthurian-based? *gobbles up* urgh for coursework...wheels churning are good. and even when you can't grasp them I find that they find ways of communicating themselves to you (while listening to music, viewing scenery, sleeping, or just pondering, my murky ideas often just suddenly make themselves obvious a few weeks/months later). never fear! good luck with all your work. "

*waves* Happy New Year ^_^

[enter an elven youth of mediterranean-dark complexion - albeit swirled with the thin scars of dark-tattoos - with a bottle of spirits, slice of cake and a lump of coal. Bows with a complex, vaguely avian formal gesture, and goes off]

((Scots tradition - happy new year!))

James P-W replies: "Ive always wanted to visit scotland....mmm, spirits. i would have been puzzled as to who sent this, but it says your email. haha, hoodwinked! "

Dear Murk, unfortunately my computer is screwy and I am unable to reply to your comments. And you are being anonymous and I can’t follow your link to your page. But thank you for the comments.

*careful poke* Hey, a friendly stranger here, wondering - how’s the writing going?