from Ireland

[adelaidesean]

After weather related-delays in Heathrow, an unplanned stopover and a check-in computer crash in Dublin, some lost luggage and a cryptosporidium outbreak, I am pleased to discover that Galway is really quite delightful. The food is mostly fried (yum), the hot chocolates are delicious (double yum), the summer is cold and wet, and the buildings are stupendously ancient. I'm not so fond of the crowds, but that's just me. Luckily our base camp, The Western Hotel, couldn't be more comfortable. I can't recommend it highly enough. Now we're here, I don't want to leave.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, a couple of pleasing podcasts have gone online.

The first, with Stage Noise, features interviews with Jeff Wayne and myself (separately, alas) and can be located here. I talk about The Books of the Cataclysm, Star Wars and all manner of things.

The second comes from Adventures in Sci Fi Publishing, where both Tobias Buckell and Lou Anders are interviewed at some length. Toby very kindly plugs the Cataclysm series, describing it as the best fantasy series he's read recently. I am seriously chuffed.

Anyway, I don't intend to sit here at the computer all day. Amanda and I are off to Connemara this afternoon. This should tie with the experience of drinking Guiness on Irish soil as a highlight of the trip (in the touristy sense) so far--assuming we survive the drive. This will be my first time behind the wheel in a foreign country (under which term I include such places as Sydney, where the roads aren't flat or at right angles to each other) so fingers tightly crossed...

Comments

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you're surviving all the trials...

Ireland wow! I want to go there. Are you planning to see the Book of Kells? As a calligrapher, seeing the Book is a serious ambition. I saw one part of it when it came to Canberra several years ago...now I need to see the rest.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

You'll hate us. During our unplanned stopover in Dublin, we were staying right next door to the Book of Kells' resting place (literally one minute's walk away) but didn't have a chance to see it.

Or maybe you'd hate us more if we *did* see it. :-)

I was disappointed, anyway. Next time, definitely.

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Oh, how could you miss that???? I don't hate you, I feel terribly sorry for you.

Anyway, if you ever visit our place, you can look at my very beautiful fascimsle (please excuse my spelling) copy.

[mireille21.livejournal.com]

Had the pleasure of meeting Jeff Wayne earlier this year. He was lovely. And Shannon Noll on the other side of the room seemed confused as to why all the attention wasn't focussed on him.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Hee hee! Poor old Shannon. I'm looking forward to seeing him being harvested by the Martians in September.

[mireille21.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was for the launch actually, and you could tell that Shannon really didn't know much about WOTW beforehand, but I think he had a bit more of an inkling afterwards :)
Does this mean you're coming across to Melbourne for the show? I noticed it wasn't on in Adelaide and managed to twist Bean and Medge's arm into coming across (OK, so I didn't have to twist too hard.) I'm looking forward to it, should be awesome.

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

My best friend bought me front-row seats, dead centre, so we will be there with bells on!

[calico-reaction.livejournal.com]

So you might think me crazy, but I thought I'd pass this along to you:

http://calico-reaction.livejournal.com/38637.html

I got to read an ARC of the third book in your Cataclysm series, and in a word, I enjoyed it quite a bit. That's saying something, since I hadn't yet read the first two books. A hundred pages into this one though, and I couldn't resist ordering the first two.

Hopefully, I'll get around to them soon. If the other piles of books don't topple over and kill me first. ;)

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Crazy to write such a wonderful, thoughtful and honest review of one of my books? I'd be mad to think so! :-)

Whole-hearted thanks, in spades. It's put a real shine on a tricky day (survived the Galway, Oxford and London legs of the honeymoon, but am currently struggling with more lost luggage in New York--sigh).

I really hope you enjoy the rest of the series, when you get the chance.

[devilwrites.livejournal.com]

No prob! Good luck with your luggage though...

[gloripebbles.livejournal.com]

But you don't mention the most important thing *LMAO* the ending......you know what of. All I'm gonna say is D even got one surprise, after surviving watching with a nearly 13yr old running commentary hehehehehe.

Glad you're having a trip of experiences!

Murasaki - the common denominators between us keep on growing. I too do calligraphy :o Sean, I can't believe you didn't go stare at the shiny book, then again, you write shiny books :)

Enjoy your trip, driving notwithstanding.

The Broken Cataclysmic Change

[(Anonymous)]

Hello old friend,

Been a long time!

Just curious about your 'change' series - have read the very first two books, and now that it seems you have developed quite an in-universe, was wondering what *your* recommended reading order is, and if you ever plan on doing a timeline of the universe?

Cheers,

Michael Potts