I have uploaded a one minute video (actually stills in a slide-show with music/sounds)as a Book Trailer for 'Eland Dances'
try http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGQduFuI5qg; copy and paste
April 23, 2010
April 18, 2010
Book ideas percolating
So now, recent news concerns several crucial brain manipulating technologies :-
1)Sound frequencies, for gross level mood influencing, or simply trophic-like responses.
2)Magnetic influence on specific parts of a brain can influence 'moral' judgement
3)Electrode arrays can now be implanted directly on the brain surface, and so can monitor and potentially influence activity. Currently this would be at the level of preventing epileptic seizures and perhaps overcoming nerve damage to receive and transmit messages to muscles. Could be much more though.
Very interesting, from a 'what if?' perspective.
1)Sound frequencies, for gross level mood influencing, or simply trophic-like responses.
2)Magnetic influence on specific parts of a brain can influence 'moral' judgement
3)Electrode arrays can now be implanted directly on the brain surface, and so can monitor and potentially influence activity. Currently this would be at the level of preventing epileptic seizures and perhaps overcoming nerve damage to receive and transmit messages to muscles. Could be much more though.
Very interesting, from a 'what if?' perspective.
Brain control advance- getting scary?
A brain-recording device that melts into place
April 18, 2010
Neural electrode array wrapped onto a model of the brain. The wrapping process occurs spontaneously, driven by dissolution of a thin, supporting base of silk. Credit: Please credit C. Conway and J. Rogers, Beckman Institute
Scientists have developed a brain implant that essentially melts into place, snugly fitting to the brain's surface. The technology could pave the way for better devices to monitor and control seizures, and to transmit signals from the brain past damaged parts of the spinal "These implants have the potential to maximize the contact between electrodes and brain tissue, while minimizing damage to the brain. They could provide a platform for a range of devices with applications in epilepsy, spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders," said Walter Koroshetz, M.D., deputy director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health.
The study, published in Nature Materials, shows that the ultrathin flexible implants, made partly from silk, can record brain activity more faithfully than thicker implants embedded with similar electronics.
The simplest devices for recording from the brain are needle-like electrodes that can penetrate deep into brain tissue. More state-of-the-art devices, called micro-electrode arrays, consist of dozens of semi-flexible wire electrodes, usually fixed to rigid silicon grids that do not conform to the brain's shape.
In people with epilepsy, the arrays could be used to detect when seizures first begin, and deliver pulses to shut the seizures down. In people with spinal cord injuries, the technology has promise for reading complex signals in the brain that direct movement, and routing those signals to healthy muscles or prosthetic devices.
"The focus of our study was to make ultrathin arrays that conform to the complex shape of the brain, and limit the amount of tissue damage and inflammation," said Brian Litt, M.D., an author on the study and an associate professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia. The silk-based implants developed by Dr. Litt and his colleagues can hug the brain like shrink wrap, collapsing into its grooves and stretching over its rounded surfaces.
The implants contain metal electrodes that are 500 microns thick, or about five times the thickness of a human hair. The absence of sharp electrodes and rigid surfaces should improve safety, with less damage to brain tissue. Also, the implants' ability to mold to the brain's surface could provide better stability; the brain sometimes shifts in the skull and the implant could move with it. Finally, by spreading across the brain, the implants have the potential to capture the activity of large networks of brain cells, Dr. Litt said.
Besides its flexibility, silk was chosen as the base material because it is durable enough to undergo patterning of thin metal traces for electrodes and other electronics. It can also be engineered to avoid inflammatory reactions, and to dissolve at controlled time points, from almost immediately after implantation to years later. The electrode arrays can be printed onto layers of polyimide (a type of plastic) and silk, which can then be positioned on the brain.
To make and test the silk-based implants, Dr. Litt collaborated with scientists at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and at Tufts University outside Boston. John Rogers, Ph.D., a professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Illinois, invented the flexible electronics. David Kaplan, Ph.D., and Fiorenzo Omenetto, Ph.D., professors of biomedical engineering at Tufts, engineered the tissue-compatible silk. Dr. Litt used the electronics and silk technology to design the implants, which were fabricated at the University of Illinois.
Recently, the team described a flexible silicon device for recording from the heart and detecting an abnormal heartbeat.
In the current study, the researchers approached the design of a brain implant by first optimizing the mechanics of silk films and their ability to hug the brain. They tested electrode arrays of varying thickness on complex objects, brain models and ultimately in the brains of living, anesthetized animals.
The arrays consisted of 30 electrodes in a 5x6 pattern on an ultrathin layer of polyimide - with or without a silk base. These experiments led to the development of an array with a mesh base of polyimide and silk that dissolves once it makes contact with the brain - so that the array ends up tightly hugging the brain.
Next, they tested the ability of these implants to record the animals' brain activity. By recording signals from the brain's visual center in response to visual stimulation, they found that the ultrathin polyimide-silk arrays captured more robust signals compared to thicker implants.
In the future, the researchers hope to design implants that are more densely packed with electrodes to achieve higher resolution recordings.
"It may also be possible to compress the silk-based implants and deliver them to the brain, through a catheter, in forms that are instrumented with a range of high performance, active electronic components," Dr. Rogers said.
April 18, 2010
Neural electrode array wrapped onto a model of the brain. The wrapping process occurs spontaneously, driven by dissolution of a thin, supporting base of silk. Credit: Please credit C. Conway and J. Rogers, Beckman Institute
Scientists have developed a brain implant that essentially melts into place, snugly fitting to the brain's surface. The technology could pave the way for better devices to monitor and control seizures, and to transmit signals from the brain past damaged parts of the spinal "These implants have the potential to maximize the contact between electrodes and brain tissue, while minimizing damage to the brain. They could provide a platform for a range of devices with applications in epilepsy, spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders," said Walter Koroshetz, M.D., deputy director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health.
The study, published in Nature Materials, shows that the ultrathin flexible implants, made partly from silk, can record brain activity more faithfully than thicker implants embedded with similar electronics.
The simplest devices for recording from the brain are needle-like electrodes that can penetrate deep into brain tissue. More state-of-the-art devices, called micro-electrode arrays, consist of dozens of semi-flexible wire electrodes, usually fixed to rigid silicon grids that do not conform to the brain's shape.
In people with epilepsy, the arrays could be used to detect when seizures first begin, and deliver pulses to shut the seizures down. In people with spinal cord injuries, the technology has promise for reading complex signals in the brain that direct movement, and routing those signals to healthy muscles or prosthetic devices.
"The focus of our study was to make ultrathin arrays that conform to the complex shape of the brain, and limit the amount of tissue damage and inflammation," said Brian Litt, M.D., an author on the study and an associate professor of neurology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia. The silk-based implants developed by Dr. Litt and his colleagues can hug the brain like shrink wrap, collapsing into its grooves and stretching over its rounded surfaces.
The implants contain metal electrodes that are 500 microns thick, or about five times the thickness of a human hair. The absence of sharp electrodes and rigid surfaces should improve safety, with less damage to brain tissue. Also, the implants' ability to mold to the brain's surface could provide better stability; the brain sometimes shifts in the skull and the implant could move with it. Finally, by spreading across the brain, the implants have the potential to capture the activity of large networks of brain cells, Dr. Litt said.
Besides its flexibility, silk was chosen as the base material because it is durable enough to undergo patterning of thin metal traces for electrodes and other electronics. It can also be engineered to avoid inflammatory reactions, and to dissolve at controlled time points, from almost immediately after implantation to years later. The electrode arrays can be printed onto layers of polyimide (a type of plastic) and silk, which can then be positioned on the brain.
To make and test the silk-based implants, Dr. Litt collaborated with scientists at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and at Tufts University outside Boston. John Rogers, Ph.D., a professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Illinois, invented the flexible electronics. David Kaplan, Ph.D., and Fiorenzo Omenetto, Ph.D., professors of biomedical engineering at Tufts, engineered the tissue-compatible silk. Dr. Litt used the electronics and silk technology to design the implants, which were fabricated at the University of Illinois.
Recently, the team described a flexible silicon device for recording from the heart and detecting an abnormal heartbeat.
In the current study, the researchers approached the design of a brain implant by first optimizing the mechanics of silk films and their ability to hug the brain. They tested electrode arrays of varying thickness on complex objects, brain models and ultimately in the brains of living, anesthetized animals.
The arrays consisted of 30 electrodes in a 5x6 pattern on an ultrathin layer of polyimide - with or without a silk base. These experiments led to the development of an array with a mesh base of polyimide and silk that dissolves once it makes contact with the brain - so that the array ends up tightly hugging the brain.
Next, they tested the ability of these implants to record the animals' brain activity. By recording signals from the brain's visual center in response to visual stimulation, they found that the ultrathin polyimide-silk arrays captured more robust signals compared to thicker implants.
In the future, the researchers hope to design implants that are more densely packed with electrodes to achieve higher resolution recordings.
"It may also be possible to compress the silk-based implants and deliver them to the brain, through a catheter, in forms that are instrumented with a range of high performance, active electronic components," Dr. Rogers said.
April 14, 2010
book trailer
I've made a trailer for Eland Dances, with royalty free images I found online and some sounds and music that were in the Mac i-movie program. Problem is getting it online now, as my internet connection is a bit slow.
If possible I'd like to get it on this blog, but probably will load it to U-Tube and put a link on here.
If possible I'd like to get it on this blog, but probably will load it to U-Tube and put a link on here.
April 12, 2010
Roseandthornjournal Spring edition
Rose and Thorn Journal will publish their Spring 2010 edition on the 15th April. My story 'Have you Seen the Elephant' will be in it.
This is an adapted version of a chapter in 'Eland Dances'-- in the book this chapter is 'Bad Moon Rising'
This is an adapted version of a chapter in 'Eland Dances'-- in the book this chapter is 'Bad Moon Rising'
March 30, 2010
Magnetic morality
Now here's some meat for the next book, after I finish my 2009 Nano-novel, that is. That deals with the possible ramifications of using high and low frequency sound to influence the moods and actions of others. I have 50,00 words, but it needs a lot of work, and I've been busy with Authonomy.com,where 'Eland Dances' has been posted for 6 weeks now. Got to #380 out of about 5,000 on their site, so far.
Anyway, this news about the Moral Compass being vulnerable to magnetism has me going hmmm.
Turning off someone's moral compass is as easy as holding a magnet up to their head, new research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests.
Rather than judging people based on their actions, most people tend to judge based on the intent of those actions, too.
If a man trips his girlfriend on the sidewalk, for example, we determine if he is morally wrong based on whether it was by accident or on purpose.
But when a small area of the brain just above the right ear, called the right temporo-parietal junction, is disabled, we lose that ability entirely.
Instead, we judge the morality of an action based solely on its outcome. In this case, whether the girlfriend was hurt. If she came out of the trip unharmed, then the boyfriend was, morally speaking, in the clear regardless of whether he meant to injure her.
In the research project, led by Liane Young at MIT, people were asked to evaluate different scenarios like the one above and grade the morality of each person in question. Then a magnet was applied to the outside of their head just above the temporo-parietal junction, disabling the subject's ability to interpret intent.
The results astounded the researchers.
"Subjects were asked to judge how permissible it is for someone to let his girlfriend walk across a bridge he knows to be unsafe, even if she ends up making it across safely," said Anne Trafton, a spokeswoman at MIT.
"In such cases, a judgment based solely on the outcome would hold the perpetrator morally blameless, even though it appears he intended to do harm."
“You think of morality as being a really high-level behaviour,” she continued. “To be able to apply [a magnetic field] to a specific brain region and change people’s moral judgments is really astonishing.” Next, researchers want to examine perceptions of luck in moral judgment. A drunk driver, for example, may or may not kill someone as a result of their actions and whether they do is largely considered to be up to luck.
But the unlucky driver tends to be judged "more morally blameworthy,"
researchers suggest, even though both drivers did the same thing.
Young now hopes to discover if disabling the same part of the brain that determines intent has any effect on peoples' perceptions of luck.
Environment
Anyway, this news about the Moral Compass being vulnerable to magnetism has me going hmmm.
Turning off someone's moral compass is as easy as holding a magnet up to their head, new research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests.
Rather than judging people based on their actions, most people tend to judge based on the intent of those actions, too.
If a man trips his girlfriend on the sidewalk, for example, we determine if he is morally wrong based on whether it was by accident or on purpose.
But when a small area of the brain just above the right ear, called the right temporo-parietal junction, is disabled, we lose that ability entirely.
Instead, we judge the morality of an action based solely on its outcome. In this case, whether the girlfriend was hurt. If she came out of the trip unharmed, then the boyfriend was, morally speaking, in the clear regardless of whether he meant to injure her.
In the research project, led by Liane Young at MIT, people were asked to evaluate different scenarios like the one above and grade the morality of each person in question. Then a magnet was applied to the outside of their head just above the temporo-parietal junction, disabling the subject's ability to interpret intent.
The results astounded the researchers.
"Subjects were asked to judge how permissible it is for someone to let his girlfriend walk across a bridge he knows to be unsafe, even if she ends up making it across safely," said Anne Trafton, a spokeswoman at MIT.
"In such cases, a judgment based solely on the outcome would hold the perpetrator morally blameless, even though it appears he intended to do harm."
“You think of morality as being a really high-level behaviour,” she continued. “To be able to apply [a magnetic field] to a specific brain region and change people’s moral judgments is really astonishing.” Next, researchers want to examine perceptions of luck in moral judgment. A drunk driver, for example, may or may not kill someone as a result of their actions and whether they do is largely considered to be up to luck.
But the unlucky driver tends to be judged "more morally blameworthy,"
researchers suggest, even though both drivers did the same thing.
Young now hopes to discover if disabling the same part of the brain that determines intent has any effect on peoples' perceptions of luck.
Environment
March 9, 2010
Short story to be published
Just got an e-mail from Rose and Thorn Journal that they will be publishing my 2000 word story 'Have you Seen the Elephant?'in their spring 2010 issue. www.roseandthornejournal.com
This will be an unpaid publication, but every little bit helps.
This will be an unpaid publication, but every little bit helps.
March 1, 2010
One year later, here we are again
Time to get doing again. I have recently uploaded the latest version of 'Eland Dances' on Authonomy.com. There are quite a few other aspiring writers, together with some published authors, who frequent the site.
The carrot is the long-shot possibility of some browsing agent or editor noticing your work and perhaps signing a contract. There is the even more unlikely possibility of Harper Collins, who run the site, liking something they see. The top five books in any given month get a review by Harper Collins editors.
Oh yes, everyone reads and 'backs' work they like. Each backing earns points, and these accumulate. The top five have each been backed by at least 1,200 others. After 2 weeks, mine has been backed by 97.
I don't expect to reach the top rating, but have had feedback from some, either praise or minor critique. Essentially if someone just plain doesn't like your stuff, you don't hear of it, because they simply pass over to something else.
I have been sending out short stories, with some success, and have sent queries to a couple of agents, and the manuscript to one publisher, with no success.
during November i did the NanoWrimo thing again, and now have something over 50,000 words, the bones of another book. Before I get into completing that, I would like to get 'Eland' going again, perhaps published. If there's nothing doing from conventional routes, I shall self-publish, and let Amazon sell it for Kindle.
The carrot is the long-shot possibility of some browsing agent or editor noticing your work and perhaps signing a contract. There is the even more unlikely possibility of Harper Collins, who run the site, liking something they see. The top five books in any given month get a review by Harper Collins editors.
Oh yes, everyone reads and 'backs' work they like. Each backing earns points, and these accumulate. The top five have each been backed by at least 1,200 others. After 2 weeks, mine has been backed by 97.
I don't expect to reach the top rating, but have had feedback from some, either praise or minor critique. Essentially if someone just plain doesn't like your stuff, you don't hear of it, because they simply pass over to something else.
I have been sending out short stories, with some success, and have sent queries to a couple of agents, and the manuscript to one publisher, with no success.
during November i did the NanoWrimo thing again, and now have something over 50,000 words, the bones of another book. Before I get into completing that, I would like to get 'Eland' going again, perhaps published. If there's nothing doing from conventional routes, I shall self-publish, and let Amazon sell it for Kindle.
January 4, 2009
Eland Dance
During the last couple of weeks I have sorted out chapter titles, mostly derived from Sixties song titles. Otherwise I have rewritten a few short sections and added a little here and there to link chapters better, and remove references to earlier events which have now been taken out of this version. All in there are just under 67,000 words now. This will probably be close to the final length, though I expect changes will be called for when it finally gets to a publisher.
Next time should be easier. Should have a better idea of what to aim for, and I think my techniques have improved, so less rewriting at least.
I need Beta Readers, though. People who read fiction and can give some sort of objective opinion on the book. With this in mind, I have sent my daughter a PDF and a Word version,to send on to any of her contacts who might fit that bill. Doing it at arms length,through her, might help in getting honesty. Anyone I know would probably have difficulty giving a clear unbiased opinion. Those in my writers group have seen it piecemeal over the past several years, and having had it under the microscope,see it differently to fresh readers.
Next time should be easier. Should have a better idea of what to aim for, and I think my techniques have improved, so less rewriting at least.
I need Beta Readers, though. People who read fiction and can give some sort of objective opinion on the book. With this in mind, I have sent my daughter a PDF and a Word version,to send on to any of her contacts who might fit that bill. Doing it at arms length,through her, might help in getting honesty. Anyone I know would probably have difficulty giving a clear unbiased opinion. Those in my writers group have seen it piecemeal over the past several years, and having had it under the microscope,see it differently to fresh readers.
December 21, 2008
Eland Dance will be the title
Here is a synopsis of the novel
Peter Fitt is forced to face the realities of the Sixties in Central Africa. In the Congo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe greed and corruption fuel the growing turmoil. “Make Love not War” and “Peace and Love” are mantras often spoken, but rarely practised. Major forces are self-interest and each individual’s ideology. Red Communists, the Green agrarian Revolution, and the pervasive White Man’s way all have their partisans.
Old African beliefs about healing medicine and spirit powers come to the fore. A medicinal concoction should have three major parts, red, green, and white, to be fully effective, he learns.
Pete identifies with the spiritual herbivores of the world, the eland in San tradition, or unicorn in European mythology, against the predators, the exploiters, the lions. He is a defender, not an aggressor.
He helps with a development project in Zambia. In this he uses a Soviet aeroplane to transport fish to a lake straddling the southern border. The Russians take this opportunity to supply arms to the Rhodesian regime. While they claim to be peace lovers, in fact the Communists try to escalate the civil war, in order to assist their cadres into positions of power in the future Zimbabwe. Shit rises to the top when stirred. Thus they supply arms to both sides.
Pete shoots his girlfriend’s brother when he tries to prevent a gunfight between now well armed Rhodesian and Zimbabwean forces. Pete realises his culpability in this and other events. He can’t stop the war, or corruption and selfish power seeking, he can only look around for opportunities to assist others against these, and to influence the outcome of the war.
He helps to expose a Revolutionary, Bad Boy, who illicitly sells arms and ivory. This man is forced to go into Rhodesia on active service, which he has avoided. He is captured and jailed. Pete meets Marjorie’s mother and brother, and must try to explain and apologise
Later, Pete realises that those sitting out the war in captivity may become a large part of any new regime, while idealists who continue to fight on the front lines suffer high mortality. He helps with an amnesty/surrender deal between the Rhodesians and the Freedom Fighters. Pete is able to persuade some leaders that this is a good idea
Pete meets his spiritual other half, a one horned eland he had rescued from a fire years before, and is reunited with Marjorie. Despite the intervention of Bad Boy, the amnesty is a success.
Peter Fitt is forced to face the realities of the Sixties in Central Africa. In the Congo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe greed and corruption fuel the growing turmoil. “Make Love not War” and “Peace and Love” are mantras often spoken, but rarely practised. Major forces are self-interest and each individual’s ideology. Red Communists, the Green agrarian Revolution, and the pervasive White Man’s way all have their partisans.
Old African beliefs about healing medicine and spirit powers come to the fore. A medicinal concoction should have three major parts, red, green, and white, to be fully effective, he learns.
Pete identifies with the spiritual herbivores of the world, the eland in San tradition, or unicorn in European mythology, against the predators, the exploiters, the lions. He is a defender, not an aggressor.
He helps with a development project in Zambia. In this he uses a Soviet aeroplane to transport fish to a lake straddling the southern border. The Russians take this opportunity to supply arms to the Rhodesian regime. While they claim to be peace lovers, in fact the Communists try to escalate the civil war, in order to assist their cadres into positions of power in the future Zimbabwe. Shit rises to the top when stirred. Thus they supply arms to both sides.
Pete shoots his girlfriend’s brother when he tries to prevent a gunfight between now well armed Rhodesian and Zimbabwean forces. Pete realises his culpability in this and other events. He can’t stop the war, or corruption and selfish power seeking, he can only look around for opportunities to assist others against these, and to influence the outcome of the war.
He helps to expose a Revolutionary, Bad Boy, who illicitly sells arms and ivory. This man is forced to go into Rhodesia on active service, which he has avoided. He is captured and jailed. Pete meets Marjorie’s mother and brother, and must try to explain and apologise
Later, Pete realises that those sitting out the war in captivity may become a large part of any new regime, while idealists who continue to fight on the front lines suffer high mortality. He helps with an amnesty/surrender deal between the Rhodesians and the Freedom Fighters. Pete is able to persuade some leaders that this is a good idea
Pete meets his spiritual other half, a one horned eland he had rescued from a fire years before, and is reunited with Marjorie. Despite the intervention of Bad Boy, the amnesty is a success.
December 20, 2008
I have joined Facebook and also begun a Fan Page there. This is to build a Web Presence, which apparently is good for prospective book or ebook sales - readers and publishers can find your stuff more easily.
December 19, 2008
Short Story
Things are rolling. This morning I got an e-mail from "Joyful" magazine telling me they like Sunbird, and it will appear in their March 09 issue. They will pay, I think very little, since they asked for my Paypal details.
I have been sending stuff out quite busily the past couple of weeks, in the hope that a publishing history with any type of online or print magazine will help convince publishers to take my novel. Some accept reprints, which means I can submit stories from Heavy and Light Tales.
The other thing I have been busy with is investigating E-book readers and download sales for them. Kindle is only available from Amazon USA, and to sell downloads for it you need a US address, bank account and IRS tax number. Not just yet.
I have been sending stuff out quite busily the past couple of weeks, in the hope that a publishing history with any type of online or print magazine will help convince publishers to take my novel. Some accept reprints, which means I can submit stories from Heavy and Light Tales.
The other thing I have been busy with is investigating E-book readers and download sales for them. Kindle is only available from Amazon USA, and to sell downloads for it you need a US address, bank account and IRS tax number. Not just yet.
December 18, 2008
Poet
Yup, it is official. I am now a Published Poet. Sent in something I wrote way back in 06, to Willows Wept Review, and they like it.
I have sent stories out to several magazines, but the best response so far has been an Honorable Mention from Glimmer Train, for my entry to their Fiction Open competition. In the Valley is 9,000+ words, which is an awkward length, a long short story but not yet a novella.
Perhaps that will be the start of my second novel. Oh yes, the first is pretty much complete, but it would be better to send it out to publishers with some kind of publishing history, hence the push to get stories out there.
The title is Eland Dances-- you will have to read it to see why.
I have sent stories out to several magazines, but the best response so far has been an Honorable Mention from Glimmer Train, for my entry to their Fiction Open competition. In the Valley is 9,000+ words, which is an awkward length, a long short story but not yet a novella.
Perhaps that will be the start of my second novel. Oh yes, the first is pretty much complete, but it would be better to send it out to publishers with some kind of publishing history, hence the push to get stories out there.
The title is Eland Dances-- you will have to read it to see why.
August 17, 2007
getting published
Wow I never thought getting published was so difficult. There are lots of wanna-be writers, and only a limited number of magazines for short stories, and as for books, well they want a history of publication. So the whole thing is like the job market for new immigrants, where they ask for Canadian Experience, and discount totally anything from elsewhere.
Right now I am plugging away at one story, my Hunting Elephant theme, trying to get it to a point where it is irresistable to editors(as if). I have about 8 versions, of various lengths. Part of the difficulty is presenting the scientific rationale behind the infra-sound concept in a readable and engaging way. At least now a mainstream scientist has done a Scientific Study that proves elephants communicate in this way. Inevitably this is presented as a brand new Discovery, all prior knowledge of this not acknowledged at all. Ah well
Right now I am plugging away at one story, my Hunting Elephant theme, trying to get it to a point where it is irresistable to editors(as if). I have about 8 versions, of various lengths. Part of the difficulty is presenting the scientific rationale behind the infra-sound concept in a readable and engaging way. At least now a mainstream scientist has done a Scientific Study that proves elephants communicate in this way. Inevitably this is presented as a brand new Discovery, all prior knowledge of this not acknowledged at all. Ah well
April 26, 2007
book
For the past while i have been working on a novel, which is now around the 70,000 word mark, and some days i think it is complete, and of course some days, well, not yet. Having a small group of other aspirant authors read and critique my work has helped a lot, as has seeing their works develop. Tomorrow we meet again, as we have once every month for a while now. Right now I am looking for a (new) title for the book, and then a publisher, or perhaps an agent.
Doubt it will a big seller, it doesnt fit any particular Genre. But once it it out there in the world, perhaps I can start something else.
Before I begin the next, I shall be sure to narrow down my target field, my audience, into some definable category.
Doubt it will a big seller, it doesnt fit any particular Genre. But once it it out there in the world, perhaps I can start something else.
Before I begin the next, I shall be sure to narrow down my target field, my audience, into some definable category.
August 27, 2006
book
Heavy and Light Tales is now available from Amazon in Canada, USA and UK, and can be ordered from any bookstore worldwide, the ISBN number is 978-1-84728-890-5 (thats what is on the cover of the copy I have anyway). Prices vary, even allowing for currency differences. For some strange reason Amazon UK lists it as a used book at about twice the cost of a new book. Perhaps they get a copy printed, pay someone to look at it, then sell it as used?
Anyway, it would be nice if someone could read it and post a few comments, either here or on Amazon, or directly to me ; philvan@tcc.on.ca.
Doesnt have to be a full Review, just some feedback.
Anyway, it would be nice if someone could read it and post a few comments, either here or on Amazon, or directly to me ; philvan@tcc.on.ca.
Doesnt have to be a full Review, just some feedback.
July 18, 2006
book now published
I have self-published a book of short stories through Lulu.com. This is largely out of curiosity, to see just what is involved in self-publishing, and also learn about marketing I suppose. So with that in mind, here is a link for you to have a look at the merchandise --
Some weeks from now it should be available through booksellers in USA and UK, everything takes time; for now it is only available from Lulu as either a Print-On-Demand hardcopy(paperback) or as an E-book, downloadable, which you could print out if you like of course.
Some weeks from now it should be available through booksellers in USA and UK, everything takes time; for now it is only available from Lulu as either a Print-On-Demand hardcopy(paperback) or as an E-book, downloadable, which you could print out if you like of course.
June 14, 2006
back again
OK I think it will be alright if I post only exerpts from short stories, or partial chapters from any longer works. This would serve any publisher by perhaps drawing interest without actually giving the stuff away free, which is what they dont like. So then, any avid readers who might stumble across this site, here is a bit from a story I have submitted to Glimmer Train;
Hunting Elephant
Rich worked for the Zambian Game Department, doing an elephant count. He liked to joke, “You get to sleep much more heavily that way than by counting sheep.”
He didn't get too many laughs, unless the joke was helped by a toke, though most people couldn’t help but grin along with him, since his enthusiasm was infectious. That was a really good thing, at the Department’s Main Camp in the Luangwa Valley.
There were a lot of poachers around, heavily armed and always prepared to shoot, while the rangers just had a few old rifles. Things were so bad that the poachers sometimes fought among themselves for valuable ivory. In fact today all the regular Department men were busy, as they cleaned up after a particularly nasty incident. They had heard gunfire in the night, and when they investigated this morning, had found the aftermath of a vicious gun battle. There were six corpses around a hidden campsite, all shot at close range, apparently in some kind of quarrel. There seemed to be no survivors.
“Hey man, how was your day?” Rich said to John Adams, the visiting biologist, “I got the full count on three big herds today, from yesterday’s flight. We made sure we covered every bit of that map grid, so every elephant in that area is on those films.”
“Well, I think I’ve really got something today,” said John, “I’m quite excited about this. When I played back those tapes we recorded here in the camp, at high speed, there were all kinds of noises that you can’t hear otherwise. Those elephants make low frequency sounds back and forth all the time. Even more interesting, we recorded right after you had gone up in the plane, so we know there were only those two young bulls in this neighbourhood. However, there are sounds from at least five different animals on the tape.”
“Slow down, have a beer,” said Rich, “So you tell me elephants can hear each other across a distance of miles, and we can be close by and not hear anything?”
John took a cold Castle, opened it with the opener that hung on a string beside the fridge, and took a nice long swallow, “Ah, that’s good,” he said, “We can say they hear one another, but that’s not proven yet, with scientific accuracy. They certainly seem to communicate, because it sounds like only one makes sounds at any one time, while the others are quiet, and then another will start, so they seem to respond to one another at least.”
Rich grabbed another beer from the fridge and opened it, but had to gulp it quickly as he stood when foam started to spill out, “Damn, I hate it when that happens!” he said.
“Slow down a bit yourself then, you grabbed that bottle like you were dying of thirst, and then you swung around and opened it so fast it looked like you were in a beer opening race, or something,” said John, “I actually fast-forwarded the tape, not really to listen, you know, when I noticed what had to be low frequency sounds. Then I slowed it a bit, to about twice normal speed, and there it was, a whole new set of noises we didn't even know was there.”
“So hang on a bit,” said Rich, “Didn’t I read somewhere that low frequency sound can affect people and animals,
Hunting Elephant
Rich worked for the Zambian Game Department, doing an elephant count. He liked to joke, “You get to sleep much more heavily that way than by counting sheep.”
He didn't get too many laughs, unless the joke was helped by a toke, though most people couldn’t help but grin along with him, since his enthusiasm was infectious. That was a really good thing, at the Department’s Main Camp in the Luangwa Valley.
There were a lot of poachers around, heavily armed and always prepared to shoot, while the rangers just had a few old rifles. Things were so bad that the poachers sometimes fought among themselves for valuable ivory. In fact today all the regular Department men were busy, as they cleaned up after a particularly nasty incident. They had heard gunfire in the night, and when they investigated this morning, had found the aftermath of a vicious gun battle. There were six corpses around a hidden campsite, all shot at close range, apparently in some kind of quarrel. There seemed to be no survivors.
“Hey man, how was your day?” Rich said to John Adams, the visiting biologist, “I got the full count on three big herds today, from yesterday’s flight. We made sure we covered every bit of that map grid, so every elephant in that area is on those films.”
“Well, I think I’ve really got something today,” said John, “I’m quite excited about this. When I played back those tapes we recorded here in the camp, at high speed, there were all kinds of noises that you can’t hear otherwise. Those elephants make low frequency sounds back and forth all the time. Even more interesting, we recorded right after you had gone up in the plane, so we know there were only those two young bulls in this neighbourhood. However, there are sounds from at least five different animals on the tape.”
“Slow down, have a beer,” said Rich, “So you tell me elephants can hear each other across a distance of miles, and we can be close by and not hear anything?”
John took a cold Castle, opened it with the opener that hung on a string beside the fridge, and took a nice long swallow, “Ah, that’s good,” he said, “We can say they hear one another, but that’s not proven yet, with scientific accuracy. They certainly seem to communicate, because it sounds like only one makes sounds at any one time, while the others are quiet, and then another will start, so they seem to respond to one another at least.”
Rich grabbed another beer from the fridge and opened it, but had to gulp it quickly as he stood when foam started to spill out, “Damn, I hate it when that happens!” he said.
“Slow down a bit yourself then, you grabbed that bottle like you were dying of thirst, and then you swung around and opened it so fast it looked like you were in a beer opening race, or something,” said John, “I actually fast-forwarded the tape, not really to listen, you know, when I noticed what had to be low frequency sounds. Then I slowed it a bit, to about twice normal speed, and there it was, a whole new set of noises we didn't even know was there.”
“So hang on a bit,” said Rich, “Didn’t I read somewhere that low frequency sound can affect people and animals,
December 5, 2005
Eland
Eland
Flames and black smoke covered the upper slopes of the mountain over Fishhoek, the fire engine had been there since the evening before, and this morning most of the men had gone up the track carrying sacks and axes and shovels. Where else would three boys go, on a Saturday morning, breakfast bolted down and pocket money already spent? Not that there was any prospect of actually participating, but all the action made the area interesting, especially from the house on the far side of the valley, where the flames were visible, way taller than the ant sized men moving around in front of them.
As they got closer the flames were lost from view behind the houses and trees on the lower slopes, and firstly ash and black burnt grass and leaves, then hot and sometimes glowing bits, began to drift down on everything. They were beginning to wonder if this was such a good idea, with the roar and noise of the flames louder as they got closer, when the wind dropped away suddenly and the noise of the fire seemed to change. There was an outburst of shouting from the men up there, thin with distance, and then the wind switched around just like that and began to blow from behind them. The men were cheering and yelling now, something had happened and they weren't there yet! Wanting to be a part of this adventure, The Great Fire, they hurried up the track past the last houses
The fire engine was parked where a big rock blocked it from going any further uphill, and on any other day would have rated a good close inspection, unattended as it was, but not now. They hurried past on the footpath through scrub and tall grass, the air humming with insects disturbed by the fire and birds darting around with full beaks.
A great brown mottled mantis came whizzing along and landed on Peter’s right shoulder, turning its head on the thin neck and waving it’s barbed front legs in an agitated way. He called to his brothers, “Hey look here, he’s trying to talk to me.”
-----------------
To read more, youll have to wait til someone decides the story is worth publishing, or else read the book I shall be self-publishing through Lulu fairly soon. I have about 25,000 words in short story form, around 100 oages in a paper back, so I hope to put together a book of short stories during this summer.
Flames and black smoke covered the upper slopes of the mountain over Fishhoek, the fire engine had been there since the evening before, and this morning most of the men had gone up the track carrying sacks and axes and shovels. Where else would three boys go, on a Saturday morning, breakfast bolted down and pocket money already spent? Not that there was any prospect of actually participating, but all the action made the area interesting, especially from the house on the far side of the valley, where the flames were visible, way taller than the ant sized men moving around in front of them.
As they got closer the flames were lost from view behind the houses and trees on the lower slopes, and firstly ash and black burnt grass and leaves, then hot and sometimes glowing bits, began to drift down on everything. They were beginning to wonder if this was such a good idea, with the roar and noise of the flames louder as they got closer, when the wind dropped away suddenly and the noise of the fire seemed to change. There was an outburst of shouting from the men up there, thin with distance, and then the wind switched around just like that and began to blow from behind them. The men were cheering and yelling now, something had happened and they weren't there yet! Wanting to be a part of this adventure, The Great Fire, they hurried up the track past the last houses
The fire engine was parked where a big rock blocked it from going any further uphill, and on any other day would have rated a good close inspection, unattended as it was, but not now. They hurried past on the footpath through scrub and tall grass, the air humming with insects disturbed by the fire and birds darting around with full beaks.
A great brown mottled mantis came whizzing along and landed on Peter’s right shoulder, turning its head on the thin neck and waving it’s barbed front legs in an agitated way. He called to his brothers, “Hey look here, he’s trying to talk to me.”
-----------------
To read more, youll have to wait til someone decides the story is worth publishing, or else read the book I shall be self-publishing through Lulu fairly soon. I have about 25,000 words in short story form, around 100 oages in a paper back, so I hope to put together a book of short stories during this summer.
November 16, 2005
He aint heavy, hes my brother
Heavy guys doing the Ton
John had a Mark V Jaguar, 1952 vintage, equipped with a 12 cylinder Rolls Royce engine that drank like a tinker and flew like an arrow, too fast and heavy for the windy narrow roads but able to do The Ton with ease on any straight open road you could find. Hence the visits to the Busy Bee, which was right at the end of the M1 Motorway, frequented by truckers and rockers, bikers and bad boys. Somehow they would end up there most weekend nights, to sit and drink sweet tea and eat egg and chips or fried egg sandwiches, or even sausage egg and chips if someone felt like spending a bit. It was mostly guys, Pete felt awkward bringing girls along when the others were solo, though Brenda went along a few times. She was cool, confident and friendly, at ease with the boys and enjoyed the speed as much as they. She was a Meter Maid, bobbed blond hair and nice legs in her black uniform, gave parking tickets and politeness up and down High Street all week and hung out with the guys in pubs and cars on weekends. That all ended when she decided to try for a career, and joined up as a police trainee in London, moved away to somewhere in Hounslow and pretty soon found herself
John had a Mark V Jaguar, 1952 vintage, equipped with a 12 cylinder Rolls Royce engine that drank like a tinker and flew like an arrow, too fast and heavy for the windy narrow roads but able to do The Ton with ease on any straight open road you could find. Hence the visits to the Busy Bee, which was right at the end of the M1 Motorway, frequented by truckers and rockers, bikers and bad boys. Somehow they would end up there most weekend nights, to sit and drink sweet tea and eat egg and chips or fried egg sandwiches, or even sausage egg and chips if someone felt like spending a bit. It was mostly guys, Pete felt awkward bringing girls along when the others were solo, though Brenda went along a few times. She was cool, confident and friendly, at ease with the boys and enjoyed the speed as much as they. She was a Meter Maid, bobbed blond hair and nice legs in her black uniform, gave parking tickets and politeness up and down High Street all week and hung out with the guys in pubs and cars on weekends. That all ended when she decided to try for a career, and joined up as a police trainee in London, moved away to somewhere in Hounslow and pretty soon found herself
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