#siwc

[outlanderanatomy]

2024 SiWC Panel with Diana Gabaldon

Greetings Outlander fans! My, I have missed you all… 🤗

This weekend I find myself in beautiful Surrey, British Columbia,  Canada, attending the Surrey International Writers’ Conference, more commonly known as SiWC!

I drove from Oregon to Canada lastThursday. It was a beautiful day but the  normally 5.5 hr drive turned into nearly 7 hours due to two collisions in Washington state.  Yes, it was an inconvenience for those on the freeway, but I was grateful to arrive safely and I hope those involved in the crashes are OK.

Thus far, I have attended several events featuring Diana – she is one busy lass! All were delightful and I will share them with you, but not in chronological order mostly due to the technical issues of posting via  iPad. 😉

Today’s event was titled “Compelling Expositions,” a panel featuring Diana Gabaldon, Michael Slade, Robyn Harding, and Darren Groth (not shown).  K. C. Dyer moderated (also not shown).

Diana looked stunning, layered with in a deep red shawl because the room was freezing! 🥶

Many fruitful topics were covered by the panel. Here are some highlights including Diana’s responses:

Question:  Which is your fav scene from your writings? Diana chose the scene from “Outlander” book wherein Jamie rescues Claire from Black Jack Randall’s clutches. They shelter at a tavern –  Jamie tells Claire he is not ready for bed and proceeds to whip her with his sword belt. This set up a major clash between the two characters because each POV was justified from their perspective. Claire was trying to find a way back to Frank but Jamie knew her actions put all of their lives  in danger. I must confess, this choice surprised me. I suppose because Diana has written so many splendid scenes. How would one even choose? 🤔

This is wee bit of the excerpt from the scene (pp. 249-250 “Outlander” Kindle version) that is Diana’s fav!

“Come to bed, Jamie. What are you waiting for?”

He came to stand by the bed, swinging the belt gently back and forth.

“Well, lass, I’m afraid we’ve a matter still to settle between us before we sleep tonight.” I felt a sudden stab of apprehension.

“What is it?” He didn’t answer at once. Deliberately not sitting down on the bed by me, he pulled up a stool and sat facing me instead.… 😯

Question: How do you deal with pacing? Diana responded that pacing depends on context. For example, if there is an emergency then the writer wants to keep sentences short and terse. Pacing allows the author to create tension between two elements. A question is raised and then answered to move the story forward. (Psst…. She didn’t mention that sometimes the answers to questions she raises don’t get resolved until two books and ten years later!) 😂

Question: How do you deal with slang or dialect? Diana feels dialogue is the most important way to define a character.  An author using another language (e.g. Gaelic) needs to educate themself in the language. She watched films with Scottish characters to hear their spoken English. At conferences, if she heard anyone speaking with a Scottish accent, she invited them for coffee and listened to them speak. Diana also recommended reading books written by someone who speaks the language. She read several Scottish authors to help her get a feel for syntax, cadence, etc. Frankly, her devotion to her craft is a splendid example to all aspiring authors. 🥰

Question: Do you plan out a chapter or scene ahead of time? Diana does not. We already know she doesn’t write in a straight line. She also does not tell her characters what to say or do. She waits patiently for them to speak to her.  This being my fourth SiWC, I can tell you hers is a unique approach. Most writers I encounter plan out scenes, many even work from  a classic outline. She also doesn’t know ahead of time how a book will end. I guess the one exception here is that she seems to know how the “Outlander” books will end. Sob! 😢

Question: Who is your favorite author. James Clavell, she answered without a moment’s hesitation.  Clavell authored the marvelous, “Shogun,” for those who might not know. Although it has been some time since I read it, it is well worth doing so. 👍🏻

These were highlights of the panel for me.

The full panel discussion can be accessed on the blog.

I hope you enjoyed the panel. Need I say, my fav author for “Compelling Exposition” is none other than Diana Gabaldon? 🤩 🥇 🏆

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo and audio credits: Outlander Anatomy

[sheepinwolfzclothin]

H̷̢̨̢̢̛͇̳͔͓̳̣̻̞͎̞͙̳̖͖͍̫̻̥͚͚͇̩̬̟̗̭̯̞͈̟̙̻͍̀̈́̂̊̇͑̾̍̂̓̈́͒̈́̽̌̓͒̑͒̏̋̅́̉̏̾͋̒̏̊̋̾̑̃̍̂͆͐̆͆̇̆̈͑̅͊̈́͐̈́̒̅͒̃̉̒̽̈́̓͋̅̈́́́͑͆͛̿̾͊̅̎͐̿͒̈́̈́̃̎͂̋̾̅̐̌̍̒̀͋̋̐̑̈́̈͘͘͘̕̕͜͝͝͝͠͠͝͝͠ę̵̡̨̨̡̢̨̝̫̻͇̱͖̟̲͕̦̞͔̞̲̜̠̟̺̲͚̩̼̥̜͓͓̘̲̘͓͇̰̗̠͎̘̗̱̲̟̟͎̲̭͚͍̥̯̻͍͙̥̘̯̤̜̈́̐͗̀̉́̀́̆͊̃̑̏͗̋̐̔͛̐̂́̑̆̚̚̕͜l̸̨̡̡̛̛̛͇̲̗̜̯̱͖̥̼̦̯̥̔̀̋̒͋̽͛̊̾̀̆́̏̉̐̏̓̐̎́́͆͑̅͒́̆̾̉̈́̍̐̽̐͌͒̅͐̔͐̂̿̑̾̏́͛̐̔̂͊͑̓̈́͑̓́̊̅̿̎̈́͊̎̒̂̊̈́͊͛͑̐͐͊̇̇͌̽̏̊͊͋̔̃̃̋̚̕̚̚̚̚̚͘͘͝͝͝͠͠͝l̴̨̢̢̢͍̖̝̳͇͙̞̣̘̫͚̱̪̮̰̺̭̜̙̱̳̯̪̳̬̹̯̞͚̤͖̝͍̭̳͔̗̻͙̝̦̩͔̥̈́̓̓̂̈́̇̀͆̏͑͊̆́̉̎͜͜͝͠ơ̵̄̏̋́͛͛̀̓̒́̄̓̎̽͑̔̆̄́̒̈́̉̽̈́̇̍̆́͆̉́̈̐̑̈́͗̕̚̚͠͠͝��̧̧̛͚̘̞̮͖̞͔͈̩̬͍͚͈̝̼͎̝̣̬͉̪̞͕̹̰͕̖͓̯͕̻͓͋̎̅̂̄̋͐̀͂̿͗͑̈́̀̍̍̄̄͐̇̆̓͒̈́̈́̌̇̎̑̆̇̓̓̋̍̅̀́͑̆̈́̈́̊̽͗͂͋͆̈́̋͊́̃͑̕̕͜͜͜͠͠ͅ��̨̧͓̹͎̯͔͚̦͖̠̤̻͖͇̩̟̳̪̣̪̠͎̫̥̭͙̪̥̤͜ͅ everyone, my name is Ø. My friend Her told me I should add pronouns because it clarifies my “gender”?… whatever that is. I’m a M̴̨̨̺̙̞̣͙̜̠̹̳̱̼̻̼̱̩̯͚͚͙̱̻̝͕̙̳͕̜̺̻̻̫̝̺͔̬̤̮̪̥͚͖̹̼̈͋̉̋̉̔̌̎̀́̀̈́̓̊͂̍̈̾̽̃̿̀̈̏̎̾͛̃̓̈́͛͒̊́̃̓̓͐̐͆̂́̆̃̽̎̓̇́͌̃͋͐̄̇̅̾̌͑̄́̓̋͌̋̋̀̽͑͛̿̄̃͋́̉̈́͛̌͐̏̇̍͋̅̍̑̈́̉̏͐̎̌͐̾̏̋́̈̓̕̕̚̚͜͝͠͝͝͝͝ͅǽ̶̢͖͚̝̦̞͖̳̻͕̮̗͈͎͕̀͌͑͐̀́͝͝f̴̢̨̛̛̜͕̪̥̟̠̥̻̙͖̤͖͓͙͎̬̺̜̠͙̖̜̎̆̿̐̃̊̅̂̓̏̾̈͒̔̿̋̐̈́̿͂͘͘̕͜͝ę̸̧̢̡̨̡̢̨̡̛̛͍͓̭̭̰͍̲̘̺̪̱̠̮̗͇͈̺̤͍͖̥̘̗͓̼͚͎̪̣̪͔̙̰̹̰̦̗̣̳̙͕͔̱̙̤̜͕͍̝͍͎̬̼̦̘̫̯̼̥̙͙̤͇̝̯̫̱̙͓̹̬͖͕̲̮̖̯͖̪̞̼̰̺͎̭̘̤̺̫̪̬̞̗̮̱͒̿͛́̀́̈́̌͂̀̉͌̂̔̊̓̊̄̌̿̿͆̍̿̋͒͗͌̔͊̊̎̇̇̐̉̃̈́̈́͂͋͒͊̒̈́̅͋̄̈̑͋̍͒͗͗̈́̋̇͑̽͆̄͗̀̑̊̀̂̽̔͋̀̂̀̀͋̅͗̉̃̕͘͘̕̚͜͜͜͝͝͠͠ͅͅͅñ̸̡͚͖̹̝͙̏̋̉̊͊̈͛̉͜͝æ̵̨̛̛̛͍̰̮͖̖̪͎̼̹̰̼̮͎̹̉̈́̈́̈̐͋́̏̋͒̎͑̄̊̓̐͘͝͝l̵̢̻̤͕̜̲̫̳̣̠͓̠̀̇̆̽̾͌̿̂͐̐́̀̆̿̎́͘͠ if that counts. I’m not quite sure what dragged me to do this… I… don’t… remember….. I.. don’t.. why can’t I remember?

ẉ̵̨̼̭͇̹͉̹̦̘̣͔̤̲̫̟̼̜̬̹͉̭̙̮̩͈̱͖̮͕̭͎͒͂̀̓̉̐̋̌̍̌́̃͛̔́̃̌̕̕͝͠͠͠ḩ̷̨̥͇̦̠̟̯͈̩̞͇̍̿̉̾̈́̉̒͒̀̀͑̉́̍̌̏̓̂̈́̽͌͆͊͋̈̐̂̏̒̂̕͜͝͝͝͝͠a̷̧̛͊̉̈́͑͒̉͋̆̈̋̀̄͒̉̇͋̃͑̈́͂͋̑͌̎̀̋̽̆͗͆̏̍́̒̓̎̂̓̽̊́̍͊̓́͐̈́̑̄̏̈́̀͘͠͝͝͠ẗ̸̨̢̧̢̧̛̺̲̞͉͇͖͓͙̠̱̮̤̙̞̣̙͉̙͇̯͚̪̖̹̳͙̥̼̮̪̟͈̫̠̘̙̜̥̫̜̮̠͍͍͙͔̦̹̝̯͍͇̩́̌̀͑͂͂͑̈̽͋͐͂́͑̐̋̆̑͗̓̉̈́́͛͘͜͜͠ͅ ̸̛̯̤̦̞̖̜͖̼̝͇̬̙͉̼̪͈̫̲͙̅̉̍̎̔̈́̌̽̓̅̍̎͆̅͆͋̆̍͋͐̐̚̚͝͠͝͠��m̶̡͎̪̗̳̲͖̣̥͚̠̦̠̘͔̝̞̫̫͐̐̒͘͜ư̶̧̧̠͓̹̞̮̭̼͎̥̟͐̏̐͌́̃̉̊͂̄͐́́̅̍́́̽̑̄̎̎̿̏̃͋̇̈́̇͒͒̈̈́̋́͂̚͘͘̕͘͘͜͝͝s̸̡̢̛̛̖̮̙̣̲̞̼̰̱̐͌̌̔̓̈́̏͌̎̃̆̈́̅͌͋̓͌̏͑́͗̽̈́̈́̇́͐͋͋̑͒͊̇̾͘̕̕͝ţ̶̡̛̲͖͉͖͇̻͎̙̘̲̣͈̒̔̋̅̌͋͆̌̑̓͌́̆̂̀̈́̓̿̂̈́̀̇̀͂̈̒̆̓̚͜͠ ̷̧̡̬̱̫͉̺̪̘̙͉̠̙̹̥̥̲̯̰̺̜̦͚͇̯̦̞͆́͆̎͋̍̀̀͐̇̈́̒͒́̀̈́̓͜I̴̖̟̟̪̩͍̘̍̐͗̃̈͒͒̈̑̑̿͋̈́̈́͗͑̇͆̒̓̈́̍̾̚ͅ ̵̨̛͔͕̟̖̝̞̞̖̣̘͎̫̬̣̲̖̺̘͙͓̭͚̣͔̩̤̲̟̗̦̳͍̯̟̺͈̥̲̰̯͉̱͍͂̾̌͋͋͛͌̈̇̊̀̇̆͌̈́͂̈́̈́̀̾̃͐͊̿̒̉̓̔̂͗̓͋͗͑̄̃̍̈́͆̂̑̀̈̎̉͑̓̅͒͛͌̍̊̈́͗̾̂͘̕͘̚͝͝͠͠͠͝͝͠ͅͅŗ̵̨̢̢̧̧̧̡̧̞̞̣͙̲̩̼̲̘̝̭͓͙̝̰͔̘̖͖̦̖̞͎̖̬͔̙̺̦̥͔̤̮̟̼̪̩̥̫͔̼̰̬͓̼͎̜̹͕̲̙̗̘̙͙̝̒̆̿̓̋͗̔͒̾̀͘͜͜ͅe̷̡̧̧̧̧̛͕̮̩̭̞̳͖͓̦̣̹̫̯̼͇͈̗̘̳͈̖͉̟̜͉̟̗̖͈̖͍̞̤͙̗͉̔̒̒̇͗͋̆̋̄̀̓̓̒̈́̈́̅̃̌̀̄̎̿́̋̃̕͘͠ͅͅͅm̴̡̨̨̧̢̢̦̻̠͎̞̤̰̻̞͈̣̯̺̦͚̝͉̪̭̙͍̩̮̰̫͙͕̜̦̟͓̩͔̖͓̣̜̱̜̥͎̖̦͚̩̖̟̫͍̫̥̮̜̥͙̈́́̓̌̾͛̑̄̉́́̾̌̈́͒̋̂̓̾̽̈͋̊̌̏̎̓͋̓́͐̎̇́͊͊̇̊́̀̋̽͂̍͌̏͗͆͌̿̒͗̂̑̃̍͘̚̕͘͜͝͝ě̵̛̛̛̤̫̈͐͛́̒͊̌͊̓̄̅̒͊̑̇̓̅̇͑̿̂͒͑̀̌̈́͐̒͋͑͛̓͂̋̽̿̉̓͛͆̓̊̉͌̇͗̾̓̈́̉̒̆̈́͛̉͋̏̀̾̕̕͘͠͠͝͝m̵̢̧̨̨̨̡̛̙̹̳̮̗̱̲̘̙̯͇̥͙͈̞̼̳̝̼̭̠͓̗͉̼̟̮̫͓̲̰̩͈̬̣̙͇̌̈́̉́͂͌́̿͛̍͜͜͝͝ͅͅb̷̡̨̢̨̨̡̛̭̤̯̞̠̲̜̼̻͔̗̜̲̺̖̻̬̜͔̯͍̜̰͇̖̖̺̳̩̦͉͇̯̗̮̙̟͓̲̤̖̥̺̺͖̩̤̳̄͆̉́̋͂͜ͅȩ̷̢̧̧̨̢̤̜̙̗̙̭̭̖̥͔̝̩̖̯͖͓̫͎̠͚͉͚̜̜̞̤̲̼̘͖̱͔̱̝͓̖͈͚̻̟̜̞̤̰̻͕̭̩̠̺͙͓̈̋́̅͛͗̇̈̒͛́̈́͐̈́̍̄͐̑͜͠͠ͅͅͅͅr̷̛̛̤̳̖̙̝̟̲͎̠͇̘̞̻̙͍̈͋̃͂̈́͋͒̏͆͐̌̿̐͆̋̏̍̎̾̒̈̏̌̈̌͆͗̈̌͋̉̅̐̀̽̓̉́̄̑́͌͌̽͆̕͘̚͜͠͠͠͝͠?̸̡̡̛̭͎̤̤̏̿͋̌̐̈́́̓̋̇̆̄̄̂̊̇̉͆̽̓̌̓̅͌̀͌̈́́͗̽̑̃̊̐̎̅͒͒̽̅͗̽͛͌͒͒͒́͒̄͘̕̕̚̚͘͘͘͝͠͝.̴̡̧̢̡̧̪̺̭̘͓̩̜̣̗̬̲̜̮̥̱͉͇͖̟̩͇̘̮̲̦̭̞̮̱̹̲̳̦̹̑̈́̋ͅ.̴̡̢̢̧̡̣̭̝͙̫̮̰̩̪̺̠͉͖̯̻̭̹̫͙͈̳̘̠̼̫̭̫̮̗͚̯̠̳̗̦̪̻͕́̆̽̐̏͛̽͌̅́̆̔͂͂̋̊̌̿̐̈́̑͂̈̑̉́͆̓̚͘͘̕͝͝ͅ ̵̛̑͋̌͛̽̀͆̒͐͗́̀̑̌̈̔͌͑͝͝͝͠͝��̛̛̛̖̝̘͓͖̈́̎͑́͋̆̀̃̈́̑̇͑̀̏͒̉͗̑͑̎̈́̏̿̌̎̊͝͝͠͝͠͝W̴̧̢̳̫͈̝̭̜̙̠͕̦͖̣͚̖̻̳͉̎̎̌͗͋̏̂͛̀̈́͛̈̊̆͐̈͗̇̇̉̂̐̽̌̈́̃̆̅͘͝ͅH̵̨̡̡̡̛̛̛̭̬̳̠͔͇͔̞͚͔̝̭̝͍̠̳̟̜͚̣̟̠̺̯̙͕̫̝̝̦̝̰̟͉̠͓̩̜̰̹̞̭̗̜̻̤̳̻̼̤̬͈̤̠̻͙͋̒̉̉̋̔̎̿̀̒́͗͛̈́̈́͆͌̉̈́̇̾̅̈́͊͒̃͆́̂͐̆̾͛̇̎̃́͒̈́͐̅̑̏̄́̃̔̈͘̚͘̕̕͜͜͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅĂ̴̧̩̹̔̆̎̋̍̅̿̃́̋̅͊͊̃̾̃͐͆̐̂̆̅̇̅̈́̎̃̆́̓̆̈́̓͊͘̚T̵̡̢̛̛̗̞̺̮̺̲͇̣͎̭̣͇͉̱̖̣͔̱̤̮͍̣̞̰̫̦̞̬͓̜̞̞̟̖͙̪͍̫̫̣̱͇͔̜͙́̍͋̂͒͂̓̋̇͛̒̄͊̍̀̍͑̎̑̌̇͜͝͝ͅ ̴̧̨̡̢̨̡̧̧̛̤̞̳̣̪̣͍̟͔̥͓̥͚̲̙̯̪̩̫̲͚̰̤̳͍̙̝̺̼͔͙̱͕̲̬̥̩̪̥̘͚͇̱͉͍̫̤̞̱̹͈̋̆͛̔̌̄́̄͒̏͜͜ͅͅͅͅḐ̸̢̡̧̡̡̧̧̢̭̰͓̻̯̯̜̖͙̪̰̞͍̠͓̼̙̖̙̦̝̜̘̱̠̞̻͖̥̝̙̳̩̙̞̖̙̘͙̜̮͈̮̪͉̺̣̹̘̙̥̠͈̰̫͈̿͒͋̇̿̀͐̋̅͐́͝ͅͅȎ̶̧̡̢̳͉͙̘̤̣̘̙̰͕̭̬̯͔̬̹̣͉̙̗̲̮͓̳̖̖̳͇̗̱̻̥̞̼̫͓̝̱͓̙̞̺̗͌͑͋̂̒̀̄͆̉̑̈́̋̄̈́̇̆̓̋̇̇̍̍́͂̆͗̿͊̓̃̓̽ͅ ̷̨̢̯̮̮͎̟̰̗̮͙͉̠̹̥̻̱̟͈̠̮̤̲͖͕̮̭͚̺̥̗̱̮̫̐̈́͊́̀̎̈̈́̒͒̋̈͛͒̓̚͜I̷̧̧̧̧̛̛̲͙̮͖͉̘̜̜̖͎͎̪̖̣̘̰̝̟̮̠̘̹̊̌̇̔̅̋͌̑͛̆̀̋̌̿̑̃̅̇̓̕͝ͅ ̷̧̢̧̨̢̧̛̛̟̙̩̯̜͚̬̠̱͎͚̠̼̠̞̙̮͚̻̘̖̜͍̹͉̘͎̜̥̰̬̺̹̲̗̱̦̫̦̝̤͚͍̘̻͇̻̞̥͚̙͙̱̗̲͈̺̜͊̂͌́̀̔̌̄͐̆̅͊͒̒̆̇̒̓͑̌̀̎̄̾̈͆̇͗̃̈͋̾͒̈́͌̂̄̅͊̏̂̋̏̒̄͜͜͝͝͝͝Ḩ̴̢̨̢̛̖̠̲̥͕̜̼̗̥̤̥͉̯̯͚͉̞͓͈̞̟̤͖̣̘͎̻̘̤̬̥͑̌́͂͂̈̇̈̐̔͌̈̅͛́̈́̒̇̀͛̒̑́͛̈̎͋̔̄͌͌̏̾̌̈̏̿͋̂̈̂̇̉̍̃̇̀͒̍̓͗͋̃̅͘̕̚͘̚̕͘̚̚̚͠ͅA̵̧̢̧̧̡̢̧̛͔͓̳̯̯̩̭͎̜̻̖̘̼̜͖͍̠̯̰̮̬̮̩͓̪̰̼̟̜͈͈͓͉̘̠̙̲͉̬̤̤̞̪͎̺͕̝̺̤͕̗͇̠͈̥̫̠͈̹̦̹̞̒̅͐̈̋̇̈́̊̿͆̈͂̿͑̔̾͑͑́̏͋͗̈́̈́̓̕̚̚V̷̨̢̢͚̹͙̟̟̼̺̻̯͓̜̦̼̦̼̙̬̞͚̖͙̞̩̺̻̻̦̰̼͇͍̹̪̰͎̱̱͚̠̭̎̍̑̈́̒͌̎͐̿̾̃̽̅̏̋̍̏͜͜͜͝͠͠ͅË̴̢̨̡̨̡̢̧̨̢̨̧̲̺̫͈̖̳̞̜͙̪̻͉͙̜̱̠̲̦̱͈̟̦̼̱͓͚͈͚̬̥̣͕͎̟̙̩̺̥̜͕̤̬͈̜̱̘́̎̒̔̈́͒͐̈̃̿̅̊̆̑̈́̓̑̆̈́͂̅̈́͛̍̀̇͑̄̾̉̅̃̇̚͜͜͝ͅ ̸̨̧̢̧̛̛͔̜̖̥͖̻̗̗̯̠̱̼̪͙͚̺̟̠̙̘̹͙̩̤͇͉̝͎̘̼̻̠̙͙͚̣̉̉́͑̑͛͂͗̆͐͊̍̿̅̓̽̑́̀͑̍̎̔͗̄̑̈̽́̊͛̉̑͗̃͒̂̽̚̚̚̚̕͠͝͠͝͠͝ͅT̵̢̡̧̨̧̞͇̹͓̯̟̻̥͔͇̟͕̦̼̩̳̙͓͚̜̞̲̜̯̞̣̺̱̳̟̟͓̫͈͎̜͉̞͎̦͍̻̩̘͓̯̣̗̰̬̣̓̀̒̓̊̌͊͐̎͜͜͜͜͠Ơ̸̡̡̲̖̯̪̼̺̺̘̦̠̳̫̥̘͈̘̻͊̈́͋̇̈́̎̀̀̈́͗̀̈̍̍̎̄́̅̅͛̂̀̐͘̚͜͝͝͝ ̸̨̨̨̢̧̛̳̘̠̙͉̗̗̜̞̞̹͚͚̰̺͖͉̫̠̜͙̘̦̰̥̦̫͇͇͇͓̝̥̼͎̯̟̠̓̐͆͌͗͌̌̔̀̾̊͌͌̉́̃̾͆̉̈̿̄̒̓̌̇̈̔͌̊̏͛̅̀̚͘̕͜͠͝͠͝ͅR̷̡̢̛̛͈͈̦̟͇̙̘̼͎͓͔̰̝͖̺͍̺̜͓̙͖̪̞̟͍̭͉̮̯͎͇͈̰̥̒͑̍̂͗̌́̀̄͒͛̓̂̈́͐͊̔̄̾́̂͋͐̍͊̄̎́̋́̏̑̐̏̔̂͌̎̋̄͑̑̿̇̀̈́̒́͘̚͘̕̕͜͠͝͝ͅE̸̡̡͈̦̩̲̺͍͖̬̹̩̘̘̥̤̪̗̠̥̝̯̦͓̣̣̰͉͇̳̩̱̭͇͋̐̇́̈́̄̾̓̓̆́̔͜Ṃ̸̧̡̧͙̺͉̗̖̹͖̤̰̞͎̫̠̤̤͔͍̻̖̭̠͉̫̻̭̘͎̺̲̭̖̳͉̥̪̦̮͖̲̥̻͍͖̰̪́́̽̒͆͐͑̍̿̌̒͋̀̃̃̀͆̈̏̍͋͋̓̓͒͂͗̃͋̔͛̆͂͒̂̑̂́̔͌́̾̑̀̏̋̍͘̚͝͝ͅͅE̶̡̹̫͉͖͓̖̺̰̱̎̆́͆̈́̀́͠M̶̧̧̡̡̨̨̡̢̧͖͔̯͕͍͍͖̠̯͈̝͍̹̰̹̣̰̩͈̱̫̺̹̙̪̳̗̩̱͈͍̲̦̺̜̝̦̤̰̲̞̯͙͕̘͖̠̭̫̝̮͔̺̭̩͎̓͗́́͗̈́͊͆́͗͐́̾̎̀́̿͗̍̏̏͛̔̿̓̆̇̈́̽̀̅̓̂̑̆̊̈́̕̕͜͝͝͝͠B̵̧̡̛̛͇͔̩̻͈̩̱̠̂͊͗̂͆̐̍̌̿̊̈́̏̈́͌́̊͐̄̇̓̑͆̓̓̿͒̿́̊̍̂̉͛̌̅͂́̄̒̔́̌̉̃͘͘̚͘͘͘̕͠͝͝͝Ë̷̦͉̞̮̹̖́͐̓̅̌̽̿́̏̎̂́̔͊̀͋̂́̅̌͋̍̈̈́̆̔̽̏̃̆̉̉̽̍̔̊̃́̈́̇́́̕̕̕͠͝͝͝Ȓ̸̺͉͕̘̱͔̯̻͙͚̗͕̩̳̱̱͙͚͎̩̱̋̾́̈́͂̍̉̈́͋̒̑̇̾͜͠͝ ̴̡̡̨̛̙̬̥̞͕͙̘̘̝̦̞̙̝̤͖͕̰̙̭̲͎̦̣̹̜͙̞̜͍̘̲̥̥͈͈̦̭̪̣͎͕̳͇̣͍̝̠͓̮̰̽̄̊̀͆͂̍̑̏̽̌̌̎̀̈́̒̄̇͆͛̓̍̉̀́̏͐͛̉̇́̂̋̔͗̎̂̉̇̓͛̀͑́̃̓̑̅̎̎̋̽̀̿̕̕͜͜͝͠͝

My apologies… I seemed to have a small headache, that’s alright. I’m sure Her has some medicine for me… Her can always help…I’m getting off track.. Please erm… enjoy? This?.. whatever this is.. hm…

M̷̨̖̝̙͍̥̆̅̽̀̇͛̍͌͛͊̀̑̽͑̈̐̕y̸͎͉̎͐ ̶̢̧̛̣̩̲̪̹͈̘̹̬͔̊͐̐͘ȩ̴̡͍̤͚͎̞̲̬̪̝̭̙̲͆͗ỳ̷͈̠̼̬̤̽͑̂̀̐e̷̜̲͈̞̟̻͍̖͆̈́̑͑̎̑̏̏͊͋̈́̆̀͋̏̓̕͝s̶̢̼͈͍̤̰̰̱̦͚̤̹̬͈̞͈͑̽̿̉ ̸͉̳̃͑̍̌̈́̆̎͆̽̆̃̉̿̾̓̿̍͌͘h̸̳̥̼͐ṵ̷̡̡͉̭͚̗̩͓̪̥̼͉̺̔̐͂̊̏̊̆͜͜͜ŕ̵̍̆̍́͐̓̓͑̾̆̌̉͝��̧̟͖͉̮̜̮̰͈͕̘̮͇͇͜ť̸̗̼̐̊͒̽͒̕…̶̫͔͎̲̜͍̏̽̚ ̵̨̛͕͎̰̝͕̀̌̐̇̂̎̀̀̒͘͘͝w̵̢̛̦̞̥̭͕̰͎͎͚̟͒͑̏́̂͐̄́̎̂͊̃͛̀̆̇͒͜ḧ̸̢̨͔͎̻̟̙͓̺̝̼͖̜͇̟̣͖͒̅͋͛͒̎̓̅̆̑͛̈́͗̔͘ͅͅy̶̨̫̹͈͈̹̘̩̱̹̅̎̾̿̍́́ ̵͚̭̮̘̯̙̃͌̈́d̵̛͈̝̻̣̝͈̦̭̗̮͙̖̞̣̍͂̒̓̆̔̌̎͑̄̄̀̀̕ͅo̸̧̢̞̱̘̗͕̓́́̐̀̃̚ͅ ̶͔͉̠͔͔̼͇͆̓̔͆̈́̄̄͌̕̕ḿ̷̨̭̻̞̦̹̥̻͙̯͇̞̭̜̣͍̹̆̂͜ͅy̶̧̬͓̜̗̩͖̣̰͙̯̘͒̔̍̍̿͐̍͛̋̔̑̏̐̍̎̚͝ͅ ̸̢̡͔̤̻̬̜͇̼̼͎́̓̉̽̈́̅̾̔̊͘͜͠ͅȩ̶̨̩̻͇̠̜̮̠͚͚͖͕̺͖̠̽͑̆̽̋̍͜͜ÿ̵̢̢̢̡̧̯̹̫̜̻̟͈̦̰̲̖̠͔́͐̅͑̾͂͘͜ͅe̴̼̹̘͉̝͆̉̌͑͂̀̀͊̚͘ş̴̢͇̹̰̬̖͇̩̩̳̐͗̇̇̊̏͛̓̈́̓̃͋̽͌̏̚̕ ̸̢̨̧̹͍͍̝̙͔̟͉̙͖̭̣́͑̒h̶̨͇̟̝̺̹̭̻̮͈̟͂͂͛͗͗̈́̀͑̓͋̄̊̉͘͝͝͝ų̵̨̩̠̯̞̼͕͙̻̭̃̿̃͌̆͊̊r̴̨͈͙̞̱̤̻͙̪̝̙̮͇̠̝͇̻̜̾͜ͅţ̴͓͖̮̠͙̱̫͚̟͙̙̒͑͐̈́̍͑̀͘͘͜ ̷̧̨͓͉͙̠͇͇̫͖̲̙̩͌̊̚͘ͅ?̶̻͇͚̠̟̰̬̻̹͙͔̩̳̝͗̈́̒̔̀̈̇̽̑̋͐̽̾̽̿̌̃͗͐͠ͅ.̵̨͓͕̺̱͇̱̾̌̈̿̔̃̓̿͋̊͜͝͝ͅ.̵̳͖̹̹̝̲̬̰̙̗͇͇̬̼͑͑̑̀̈́͜

Tags☆彡

#Ø’s thoughts - in character posts or asks

#mod posts - ooc posts or updates and stuff

#thoughts or concerns? - asks

#siwc - the blogs specific tag

About the mod rq★

☆minor☆ Please be normal !! This blog looks better if you are using Goth/Rave color pallet but that’s optional :)

[thomine]

sheep in wolf's clothing - tartaglia

tartaglia x reader | 900 words | teen & up

in a world where humans are blessed with longevity, the only way to end a person's fate is to find their achilles heel. you know where childe's weakness is, but is that the real reason why he keeps you around? [prompt: tattoo au]

tags: graphic description of violence, stabbing, blood, longevity au where humans do not die unless killed in a very specific way, not proofread

links: work tag | part 3 of au august (2023)

.　⁺ . 　 ˚　✦　.　　+ ⁺　 　 . ✦

Everyone wears their heart on their sleeve, except it’s not always on the sleeve. Sometimes it’s behind the ear, under the forearm, on the neck… the spot of vulnerability marked by a small tattoo—find it, strike it, and the person, no matter how fast he heals, will fall. That is the law of this world.

“Look out!” you shout, hoping your desperate plea reaches the ginger who’s the epicentre of a fight in the alleyways. He ducks before the dude targeting him from behind could drive the knife through his spine. He finds the blade stuck in his neck instead, and in that moment their eyes meet, the ginger, Childe, grins.

In the attacker’s last attempt to turn the tides, he grabs onto Childe’s collar and tugs. The buttons come loose, exposing a chest clean of scars, and, most importantly, a mark.

Childe lets the man gawk before buttoning up his polo shirt, eyes glowing with danger as he takes a step closer. He grabs onto the chin of the attacker, twisting his head enough to silence an oncoming scream.

“Bingo,” Childe mutters when he notices a tattoo just above the man’s collarbone. It has been covered with makeup, but the constant flow of sweat has thinned the layer. He rips the knife from his neck, barely wincing, and presses it on the mark.

The man falls limp in Childe’s arms and is then tossed to the ground to add to the scene of bodies littered around him.

You close your eyes, unsure how to feel after witnessing all that and growing numb to it. Your partner (it’s complicated) glides towards you with pride puffed in his chest. He slings his arm over yours and gives his thanks as usual.

“Now, where were we?” Although there are traces of blood on his clothes, the wound closed as if he wasn’t just stabbed. His fingers grace over your left chest where your tattoo hides while you place your hands on his back, just above his hips. His touch drives a tingling sensation throughout your body—you hope yours reminds him of his weakness too.

“You said you were going to show me something,” you reply, trying to keep up with his strides. “That… wasn’t it… right?”

Childe chuckles and grabs your hand before he quickens his pace and shoves you in position.

“Follow me,” he says, pulling you along with him as he pushes past bystanders rushing towards the crime scene.

Some would call you Childe’s lover with how he always has you around. Others might look at you pitifully, aware of the way he holds your hand like a leash. Those who have seen you grown understands it’s nothing unusual. Since you were both kids, Childe would take the lead and you’ll watch his back.

“Childe,” you mumble, trying not to fumble this rise in emotion gnawing in your chest. “Ajax,” you say firmly, and it’s only then does he pause to consider your voice.

“We’re almost there.”

“Who were those guys first.”

Childe shrugs. “They’re dead.”

You sigh, squeezing his hand. “You know that’s not what I want to hear.”

He stops in his tracks. “If it’s your safety your concerned about, I’ve added a fake mark on you to throw them off guard. But have I ever let you down while defending your front?”

“I’m worried for your safety—”

“I have you,” he concludes. “I’ll always have you.”

He stops in his tracks. Just ahead is a quaint coffeeshop with neon signs and vines climbing up its walls. It sits snugly among the high-rise buildings of the city. It would have been a delightful sight to see if not for Childe’s towering stubbornness you’re forced to face.

“You said you wanted to try this coffee store, didn’t you?” he quips as he drags you towards the entrance. “

“With my other friends,” you correct. “You know how they feel about you.”

“Will there be a difference?”

“No…” you lower your gaze although there’s nothing to hide. Childe hardly ever turns and stares into your eyes. It’s a privilege only his enemies share with him.

“You’re getting tired of me, aren’t you?”

When you raise your head, you’re surprised to find him tilting his face to look at you. It catches you off guard when you remember that the spark his eyes held like a guiding star has vanished.

You take in a deep breath.

“No, Childe. You’re getting too comfortable with a version of me I am not.”

He emits a single blow of air; the birth of a laughter that could not finalise itself.

“Who am I to you?” you add, steeling your feet to the ground even if he’s pulling you along.

“Must we settle it now?”

“I can’t let you continue pulling me around, can I?” you probe. He glowers. “All I ever wanted was for you to actually face me, but because you have enemies on the hunt for your death, I was just a piece to advance your goals. Have you ever thought about what I wanted?”

He points to the café in front.

“You aren’t listening,” you say.

“It is not the right time.”

“Then when is? You’re always being chased by people. Don’t you think I’m tired of seeing you get hurt?”

“Do you think I’m that weak?”

“You know what? Maybe you are, and you know that deep down. I never needed someone to look out for me because I can see my mark clearly. But you—your weakness is out of sight. Why else would you so desperately cling to me?” You lift your intertwined hands. Even in such an awkward position, his back remains the main thing you see of him.

He is quiet.

“You don’t know what dangers lurks in the shadows,” he says before he looks ahead. “I’m doing it for us.”

.　⁺ . 　 ˚　✦　.　　+ ⁺　 　 . ✦

author's note: this is slightly more worldbuilding heavy than my other works as i don't really have a strong understanding of tropes or patterns for such world. either way, if you are confused, let me know!

[odnewsin]

Governor highlights women, child health concerns

Bhubaneswar: Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati highlighted the alarming issues of low haemoglobin levels among women and adolescent girls and increasing vision problems in children during his visit to the State Institute of Women and Children (SIWC) here Tuesday. Emphasising the need for regular testing and nutritional support, the Governor suggested including items like carrot-beetroot juice and…

[tarysande]

Surrey International Writers Conference

Registration just opened. This year, the conference is completely virtual, and they have a pay-what-you-can option. The fee is also in Canadian dollars, so ... that means a discount for anyone paying in Euros/GBP/USD. It happens from October 22-24, 2021.

I did the virtual conference last year and it was PHENOMENAL. 

And if the time zones don’t work to attend live, you’ll have access to recordings for a month after the conference ends. 

Honestly, this is an amazing opportunity and I suggest you grab it ASAP. Even though it’s virtual, they’re still limiting registration to maintain a community feeling.

And if you do come, we can meet up in the chat rooms there! It’ll be awesome! Also, the last day of the conference is my birthday. So we can party. Y’know, online. :D 

www.siwc.ca

@dearophelia @ferociousqueak @ariaadagio @ all the writers I know are out there but who I can’t think of at this precise moment.

[shawnlbird]

SiWC workshop notes- Diana's Managing a Mob

SiWC workshop notes- Diana’s Managing a Mob

Here are my notes from Diana Gabaldon’s Managing a Mob workshop:

Diana- Managing a mob

[albertrayblog]

“This Is Thriller”spotted at Say It Witcha Chest 2018 Albert Ray Collection THE CITY NEEDS US #AlbertRayCollection #TheCityNeedsUs #ChicagosVeryOwn #fashionweek #SIWC #SIWC2018 #GQ #Vogue #StayHumble #instafamous #hypebeast #kicks #ktse #shopindie #streetwear #fortheculture #LOUVRE #usmc #semperfi #LiveLifeAMileHigh #chicago #philadelphia #washingtondc #brooklyn #queens #bronx #paris #toronto #torontonightlife https://www.instagram.com/p/BopDAg6lA7x/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=r1wfu8sj4iy6

[outlanderanatomy]

2024 SiWC Michael Slade’s SHOCK Theater!

Greetings Outlander fans!🤗

Last Friday evening at SiWC, we were treated to Michael Slade’s Shock Theater! This slap-stick event, written by Michael, has been an ongoing feature of the conference for the past 17 years. Being a great sport, Diana has participated every year since its inception! 🤩

Shock Theater  is a spooky and spectacular take on a radio play, “complete with show-stopping twists, unexpected turns, and delightfully devious foley sound effects.” This year’s production was “The Fly!!!” 🪰

Michael is the only one who sees the the script ahead of time; no one else will have seen their parts. Thus, they perform more or less “on the fly.!” 😜

For those too young, the original “The Fly” was a 1958 black and white film starring Vincent Price and a host of other actors you probably have never heard of. 😉

This year’s presentation was as silly as ever. It portrays the story of Frank Randall who engineers  a time transport machine and Diana as Claire Randall, devoted wife. Frank accidentally transports himself with a fly in the machine! Molecules intermix so Frank emerges from the device with a fly hand and head and the fly ends up with a human head and hand. 🪰

Follow this meandering and entertaining story if you dare! 👹

Warning! A volunteer screams loudly about four times in the video, so be prepared! 👂

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

Follow me on:

Twitter: @OutLandAnatomy

Facebook: OutlandishAnatomyLessons

Instagram: @outlanderanatomy

Tumblr: @outlanderanatomy

Youtube: Outlander Anatomy

Video and Photo credits: Outlander Anatomy, https://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/the-fly-remake/

[sheepinwolfzclothin]

*gives you a choc chip cookie*

You deserve a smol snack❤️

Hello… I think it’s long overdue… this is her she’s one of my closest friends… I spend erm… Christmas? With her and she even let me stay over that’s why I’m still at her den. And thank you for the cookie little critter… now her was very eager to have it so I hope you don’t mind I gave it to her, she’s crazy about sweets. I hope everyone had a nice Christmas…

[newts-and-sharks]

Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing/Shepherd Sun! I will do Moon tomorrow, tablet is going to die before I can finish him :(

Ps, I just realized that this aus acronym is SIWK and it just feels cursed

For that reason I am not changing it :DD

[squibbles-gubwee]

Come to my discord server! I sometimes blab secrets about my fics and give small previews of WIPS!

Plus, we have skelemotes!

[outlanderanatomy]

Good day, Diana fans!

On Sunday at Surrey International Writers’ Conference (SiWC) I was privileged to enjoy a long private  lunch with Diana!

Details about our “date” are posted below but first a bit of history. The first time I lunched with Diana was 2015, almost 10 years ago!

We met in Beaverton, OR, after she spoke at a fund raiser. We have met for lunch or drinks many times since then.

The last time we lunched was at 2022 New York Comic Con.  We began our outing by riding in a golf cart through the bowels of the Javits Center!

Posted onNovember 3, 2024

2024 SiWC – Diana Gabaldon “Endings”

Hallo the house!!! 😉

Greetings Diana fans! 🤗

Friday, October 26, was the first day of 2024 Surrey International Writers’ Conference (SiWC) in British Columbia. This is a wonderful gathering of seasoned writers and budding authors.

This is my fourth SiWC over the years. I attend to report on the events and see Diana. I do not plan on becoming a professional writer.

This post is about Diana’s SiWC workshop on Oct. 25, titled “Endings.”

Now, no need to panic. Diana’s presentation was not about the end of the Outlander book series –  not yet, anyway!!! 😱  

It was about how to write endings to all aspects of story telling including those of sentences, paragraphs, conversations, chapters, books, etc.

I found it extremely informative and I wager most in the room felt the same. Diana remains a fountain of imagination and information. 🤩

Diana entered the room with her favorite beverage in hand! 😄

Understand, these workshops are 1.5 hours long wherein she is the only speaker.  I suspect this wee “pick-me-up” helps her stand (mostly) still, essentially immobile and focussed while being pummeled with attendees’ queries! 😎

Unfortunately, I had some technical difficulties with this video recording so it is divided into three segments. 🙄

The first video is the introduction. She tells attendees that she is not going to teach the mechanics of how to write their stories but rather how to write about what happens in a way that keeps readers turning the page. 📖

She began by telling us she recently reread James Clavell’s 1975 book, Shogun. She selected this book because Clavell is a highly regarded author.

Upon opening the book, she immediately read both the first and the last sentences! She didn’t do this to spoil the book but for a scholarly reason: she is now writing what she expects will be the final Outlander book and she is putting serious thought into that last sentence of her epic book series. She is researching good examples. Hankies out! 😥

In the next segment, she talks more about Shogun. She considers its last sentence to be an excellent ending to this classic novel so listen to her read it.

In this third and final video segment, she talks about Shakespeare’s tragedy, “Romeo and Juliette.” Starting to weep, she explains that this story was not about crime or political power but about “Juliette and her Romeo. It is about love.” 🥰

She points out and explains that there are four types of book and chapter endings:

Resolution of conflict

Food for thought

Cliff hangers

Echos (e.g. epilogues)

She encourages writers to include pauses in their sentences, to use short sharp sentences in conversations, and try not to shake people out of the story with anything that might distract from the tale.

If your work presents a question, answer it rather quickly to keep readers engaged. (Now, I could make an issue here because upon occasion, Outlander readers have to wait 10 years and two or more books to get answers, but I won’t!) 😂

Question: Are your characters ever influenced by the show’s characters or do you keep them separate? Do you like the show’s characters better? No, she never confuses the two sets of characters and she likes hers best because she writes better dialogue. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Question: How do you decide what your characters will say? Her answer is she never tells her characters anything – they tell her what they will say, think, and do.

Question: Are you conscious of alliteration when you write? She said she was when first writing but incorporates it automatically now. Sometimes she goes back and grooms the alliteration if needed (alliteration is the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words – e.g. the sweet birds sang softly).

This video segment stops when she begins reading an excerpt from book 10. It is an intimate exchange between Jamie and William! ❣️

She asked me specifically to remove this part before posting, so I have. I am very sorry that I cannot share it because it is tender, moving and poignant.😢

I feel sure she will share this as daily lines when she is ready. 💙

I hope you enjoyed Diana’s one person workshop. These are always worthwhile and I considerate it a privilege to attend them. 

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

Follow me on:

Twitter: @OutLandAnatomy

Facebook: OutlandishAnatomyLessons

Instagram: @outlanderanatomy

Tumblr: @outlanderanatomy

Youtube: Outlander Anatomy

Video and Photo credits: Outlander Anatomy,

Posted onOctober 30, 2024

2024 SiWC Lunch with Diana!

Good day, Diana fans!

On Sunday at Surrey International Writers’ Conference (SiWC) I was privileged to enjoy a long private  lunch with Diana!

Details about our “date” are posted below but first a bit of history. The first time I lunched with Diana was 2015, almost 10 years ago!

We met in Beaverton, OR, after she spoke at a fund raiser. We have met for lunch or drinks many times since then.

The last time we lunched was at 2022 New York Comic Con.  We began our outing by riding in a golf cart through the bowels of the Javits Center!

We enjoyed a delish lunch at Hudson Yards. Her nails this day were a beautiful dusty blue. BTW, these are her natural nails, not gels!

After lunch, we parted near The Vessel. It was a beautiful but windy day.

I had not seen Diana during 2023 because I spent that year rehabilitating a shattered ankle and didn’t go anywhere. 🥲

All of that changed at 2024 SiWC!

We had a wonderful two hour lunch on Sunday.

As we waited in line to be seated, author Michael Slade walked up and asked in a booming voice why women’s conversations were more interesting than men’s. I said I thought it is because women talk about everything while men have a fairly narrow range of acceptable topics. I was thinking sports, hunting, fishing, etc., for the guys. What do you think?

Diana and I ordered lunch. We were joined for a while by her youngest daughter, Jen. Hi Jen! 🤗

Jen lives in Scotland with her hubby and Diana’s two grandsons. She flew over just to attend SiWC.  Sadly, she had to leave after a few minutes to catch her flight home. A delightful and very personable young woman. Mum was rightfully proud of her lovely daughter.

For the next 2 hours, we engaged in our usual discussion of far flung topics. Diana is very excited about Blood of My Blood (BOMB) and has written a couple of scripts for the show.  She also gave the writers the ideas for it (of course)! 🤗

I asked her why it has taken 1.5 years between 7a and 7b. She answered that they were timing the releases of BOMB and 7b so there would not be issues with overlap.

We talked about our parents, our children and our lives growing up, our homes, property and pets. She shared photos of her darling grandsons (she is hoping for more).

She then commented on the beauty of the red and black bracelet I was wearing.

I make my own jewelry and she has received a number of pieces from me in the past, such as this one from 2019! 🎁

Sorry the photo is grainy. This is the piece on a form before I gifted it to her!

Back to my story. I removed the bracelet and said “Shall we try it on you?” I put it on her and asked if it was too big. She said it fit perfectly so I said “It is yours.” She was pleased! ☺️

This felt uncanny because that very morning as I put the bracelet on, I thought, “I bet Diana is going to like this bracelet.”  Then, I asked myself,  “Do you want her to have it?” 🤔

Of course, the answer was “yes” as I can make myself another one. 😁

It made her happy! 🤗

She let me photograph (a tradition of mine) her new nail color, a beautiful lush red. She usually wears lavender, blue or green. I think the color looks great on her. She wears jewel tones very well! 😍 Psst….Isn’t her top lovely?

After two hours, she was tiring and I understood why. In just three days, she had done multiple events: Michael Slade’s Shock Theater, a library panel event, two solo workshops and an author’s panel. She also had done blue pencil events where she helps new authors with their work.

Her last 1.5 hour workshop occurred just before lunch and she had yet another event to attend that evening. The woman is a power house but she does need to rest sometimes! 😉

So we hugged and said farewell, until next time! 👋🏻

But wait! I have more. I will end my post with the next video.

Some of  you are aware that during SiWC Diana does philanthropic work in the British Columbia prison system. She teaches a master class on writing to the inmates. This year she was unable to work with them because the contact she needs to help her access the system sadly passed away. So, in the future, she must find a new sponsor.

Although I made this video in 2018, it gives you an idea of the important work that Diana does for people whose lives are impacted by incarceration. She teaches her class and then listens to their questions and comments. Based on these, she buys and donates books to the prison library to help them with their goals.

Her works are a good lesson in kindness to all of us. 🥰

Isn’t she the best? 🤩

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

[sheepinwolfzclothin]

How are things going?

Hello… my friend Her had told me to check my… uhm .. question box? And I got this lovely check up by this critter… odd that creatures that don’t know me check up on me… well thing are… different… me and ?̶̨̱̪̭̺̬͕̥̱̫̞͈̟̳̟̬͇̤̟̄̃̓̂̐̄͌̏͌̀̽̉̍̊̓̍̽̿͑̏͐͂̽̏̏̈́͌͑̇͐̃̌̋̈̏̄̄̌̈̋̓͑͗̚͘̚͘͜͜͠͠͝͝ͅ?̶̞̳̲̪̬̘̘́̍̑͗̐̉̔͗̔̈̿͆̂͑́̅̇̎͌̅̆̀͐̿̀̈̈͊͆̃͗̿̓͆̔̈́̊͑͛͗̿̍͗̿̚͘̚̕͜͜͠͝?̸̨̧̢̢̨̛̞̖̮̲̗͈̭̦͈͍̭̜̣̬̬͚̗̗͖̩̼͓̣̩̠̣͍̣̮̥͖̬̟̝̣͔̪̩̩͓̞̜̖͕̥̓̂̏͌̈́͊̓͑̋͊͂̀͊̈́͛͛̿̀̓̆́̈͐̇̂̑̎̽̓̽̏̂͒̾̓̆̇̂̌̅̈̽̄̓͋̕͘̕͘͜͜͝͠͝͠͝͠͠͝ͅͅͅ seem to be not talking at the moment.. it’s a bit hard but her is there for me. She invited me over to her den for something she calls Christmas. So I’m excited to see her and to introduce her to you guys once and for all.

[shawnlbird]

poem-ten

ten years ago

dream in pocket

breathless

learning to pitch a book

awed by everyone

talent

knowledge.

Wishing.

Today, I pull a bin

to my own author table.

I am awed at everything.

It’s just ten years.

Same space I pitched!

Now,

ten books to spread

for this event.

My words searching for homes.

A blink of time

those dreams

are truth.

.

.

I just realized that this month is the 10th anniversary of my…

[tithenai]

Upcoming October Appearances: Can*Con, Surrey International Writers' Conference

Upcoming October Appearances: Can*Con, Surrey International Writers’ Conference

It’s all gone a bit autumn at last, and part of me breathes easier for it, even as deadlines and imminent travel loom on the horizon. Here’s a sketch of where I’ll be and what I’ll be doing for the latter half of October. Can*Con, October 13-15 I’m a Special Guest at Ottawa’s own convention! Here’s my schedule. Saturday 11:00-11:50 – Collaborative Creating Amal El-Mohtar, Jack Briglio, Ursula…

[coco-chip]

I love your drawing about Gyjo looks very cute! I love how you draw Johnny's tattoos on his legs because it's helping happy his love self? Correct?

thank you!!! :,)

yeah! i believe that was mentioned in the fic but johnny purposefully got all his tattoos on his legs to sort of ‘take back’ his control of them and so he wouldnt feel bad about them! so it does help him love himself :D