Cast a shadow, create a doubt

More from the man who photographed the rusting cans, David Maisel, who has the best website. I love the idea of this project, Oblivion, about which William L. Fox says, "The term “shadowland” that Maisel uses when discussing the Oblivion photographs is appropriate. When you cast a shadow on a fact, you create doubt. When you shadow someone, you follow them invisibly. Shadowland is what the military calls those blacked-out areas where they wish to operate unseen, whether they are testing an experimental aircraft or interrogating people beyond lawful means. It is a land of spies and spooks, a place where ghosts live, and what Los Angeles looks like in Oblivion. The city is almost recognizable in Maisel's negative prints and yet not quite, as if we are seeing both more of what we know and less." Spooks, spies and smoke. Brilliant.

Beauty in strange places

I bought a copy of The New Scientist to read on the train home from London yesterday. The article that intrigued me most was accompanied by this image, of a rusted copper can containing the remains of a patient who died at an insane asylum in Salem. So many stories suggest themselves from this one image. Thank you to Tania for reminding me to dip into The New Scientist from time to time. I'm resolved to buy a different magazine each time I travel home from London. If anyone has any suggestions for good reading matter that might spark story ideas, please let me know.

Two minute silence

The nicest thing that happened yesterday was seeing the final artwork from the illustrator who's been working on my story for Smokelong Quarterly.

The story opens with the line, 'Molly Cottle was burying stolen spoons in the garden.'

The picture is just perfect. I love it. The illustrator, Venetia Sarll, has captured the essence of my heroine and her story. Here's a sneak preview of the inked version. The final artwork features red poppies. Smokelong say they are honoured to be publishing my story. Well, I'm honoured to have it illustrated so wonderfully. Thank you, Venetia!

On the bright side

Today was a wash-out, as far as writing went. I had so many good intentions, had reached the start of a new scene for the novel, but work intervened and one thing and another, but I won't say nothing got done. In fact I'm going to record three good things about today. Firstly, the post brought Tania Hershman's The White Road, which I've been dying to read. Secondly, I found several great website links for visual images and ideas for this new scene I need to write. Thirdly, I cleared some office work out of the way in advance of next week when I shall return to the novel anew. Isn't this a amazing picture? It's of a swan under Kingston Bridge. I love the colours, and the swan's shape in the water. If you click on the image you will be able to view it in a larger size.

Refresh, Refresh

Woot! The latest issue of The Short Review is online. Another superb selection of stories and interviews to whet the appetite. I just loved reading the interview with Benjamin Percy whose book, Refresh, Refresh, I reviewed for the site. What'd I think? Find out here. A taster below.

Rides a double-headlighted, Billet mirrored, 75 horsepower Night Train (that’s a very big bike) through the neutered scrubland of the Metrosexual Male, at full throttle

I'm so proud!

Of my seven year old, who is one of only three children in her class of 30 at school who is reading at what they call 'stage 11' which, as far as I can tell, is about three years above the required reading for her age. Plus she's been given the job of trainee librarian at the school - a great honour as usually the school won't allow anyone below the age of nine to be responsible for the library. But she asked whether she could be a monitor and her new class teacher was so chuffed she created this trainee role. Way to bond with the new teacher.

Spam

Does anyone know how to block a specific "user" from these blogs? I've got a very obvious spammer who keeps posting "comments" (not even a real person, just an auto thing) and I'd like to block/ban based on their "name" without blocking other readers who come here. Any tips?

I've switched on Comment Moderation which means I now have to approve the comments before they appear. I don't like doing this but it looks like the only way unless someone can tell me how to block a specific user?