What I'm watching, writing, and reading this week

[mollyringle]

1. TV: Why yes, I AM watching Once Upon A Time and it IS easing me off my Merlin melancholy, thank you for wondering. So far I'm only nine episodes into season 1, but I am already enamored of Emma's hair and her slightly-more-badass-Lorelai-Gilmore attitude. And I'm really liking looking at Jamie Dornan--oh. Well, I was enjoying looking at him. From the sympathetic glimpse into hitherto-slimy Rumpelstiltskin's past, I'm sensing this is one of those cool shows where everyone is deeper than they look at first, and some villains may become more heroic than we expected, and that's good, because I've always liked Robert Carlyle. Regina, though--I am still fully in "she's horrible" territory. (And I really don't like that mauve shade of lipstick they keep slathering on her. < /catty>) But I look forward to letting that opinion be changed too. (Not sure you'll convince me on the lipstick, though.)

2. Writing: I'm done with the ARC-level (advance reading copy) edits for Immortal's Spring. Whew! Back to newer projects I can go. Writing a series, like giving birth, was the kind of uber-complicated marathon that I'm in no hurry to do again. But, also like giving birth, at the same time it's something I'm immensely proud of having accomplished. Also, how beautiful is our cover art?



We had a solitary mysterious woman on the covers of Persephone's Orchard and Underworld's Daughter, but moved to a couple for the final book of the trilogy, because reunions and reconciliations and balance are the kind of themes you present at the end of a trilogy. But also because this photo was so gosh-darn lovely and we had to have it. (Photographer: the fabulously talented Felicia Simion.)

3. Reading: I just started Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, and totally love it so far. Introvert girl at college who'd rather stay in her room writing fanfiction (slash, no less) than go to parties: ha, yes, okay, that is totally me. (I mean, I'm not at college anymore, but it does sound a lot like me in my freshman year. Except I had no internet following at that time. Because I had no internet. Because it was 1992.)

How about you guys? Viewing/reading recommendations?

Comments

[dean mayes (from livejournal.com)]

I'm still hooked on The Blacklist, even after 2 and a bit seasons. James Spader's monologues are just visual poetry - of course, not written by him, the delivery - oh the delivery.

Funnily enough, I've put aside fiction for the time being (namely the revisions on my own ARC) and I'm reading a visual history of Westminster Abbey. My mother in law lent me a copy after we went down a wonderful rabbit hole talking about the history of the Royal Family.

Depsite my contemporary mindset, I have to admit to a grudging affection for the British Royals - mainly because they seem to be just as crazy as my own family - and with far more interesting skeletons in their closets.

My 'Walhalla' project is on a hiatus of sorts while I try to work out just what I am going to do with it.

[avari-maethor.livejournal.com]

I enjoy OUAT. I'm up to S4, been waiting for it to come to disc form on Netflix. S3 has Peter Pan in it. You'll either love his story or hate it, there is no middle. I <3 Rumple and Belle so much. I'm very intrigued by the...darkness that is coming. (trying to not give too much away haha)

My Dad and I watch Bones, Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, The Blacklist, Blindspot, Criminal Minds, The Flash, Agents of Shield & Gotham. I'm honestly surprised by how much I've enjoyed Chicago Fire & Gotham.

I wish I could say I've been writing but I haven't, other than some RP stuff, though that has mostly been brainstorming for a new story line. I really need to get back into writing my fanfics...

Reading: I started my 128th book of the year yesterday, Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman, it's okay, a little disjointed. I'm waiting for The Iron Warrior by Julie Kagawa to come in, either at the library or arrive at my house, whichever happens first. And I have Happily Ever After by Kiera Cass waiting on the hold shelf at the library for me. I also have 5 other books sitting on my counter waiting to be read. Once I finish the one I'm reading I'll probably wait for Friday and getting the one waiting for me, cause I really want to read it.

[maidenjedi]

Once Upon a Time!!!! Hurry up and get to this season, it's wonderful. But the journey is pretty great, too.

Seriously, Regina's lipstick is a non-starter for me. :-)

[wandererrob.livejournal.com]

I think it largely stands on its own, but will also come into play later on the series you're presently watching, but also consider checking out Once Upon a Time in Wonderland.

It was a fun, if short-lived, spinoff that mostly had its own separate story arc.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Oh cool, I'll put Blacklist on my list! James Spader is always fascinating. (Oh, the so-wrong-it's-right appeal of 'Secretary' and 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape'...)

I like the royals too, and find the whole system weirdly interesting. I mean, growing up with that insane level of constant public scrutiny: how do they stand it? Do all the perks really make it worthwhile? Then, yeah, the history of that family is full of so much craziness. The other year I watched 'The White Queen', about the War of the Roses, and jeeeeez, talk about a "what the hell is wrong with you people?" phase of history.

Good luck on revisions and brainstorming, meanwhile!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Ooh, many good watching ideas! Sweet.

And hey, fanfic counts as writing. Plenty of existing TV shows are, if you think about it, basically fanfic of earlier stories. (Sherlock, almost all superhero shows, even Doctor Who if you want to count it as new stories based on Classic Who...)

I've been meaning to check out Kagawa's fey novels. I keep hearing good things.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

I'm going to watch more today! Woo! :) Eck, I just want to wipe the lipstick off her. But Emma's mascara: love that!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Oh fun, I didn't realize they'd done a spinoff! Endless supply of stories in this universe, really.

Hope you're all geared up for Halloween! Enjoy. :)

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

I have been watching Once upon a Time since the beginning. I really love it, especially with all the twists and turns. If you haven't seen Humans with Colin Morgan, it's really outstanding.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

I just got to Belle's first episode - squee! I sense beautiful heartache ahead.

For Colin alone, I may have to track down Humans. He's just that awesome in everything he does.

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

Belle is wonderful all the way through.

Humans was terrific even without Colin but he was really excellent in it.

[avari-maethor.livejournal.com]

It does! But I haven't been doing any fanfic writing. My RPs are all original at this point. One of them was based on one of the Gundam shows originally but this "season" (we're on like 11) we went purely original with setting and such.

They are fun. I love Puck the most. I enjoy the sequel series more than my bestie does.