Back Among The Boxes
In which things arrive and we take up residence. Plus some news about new writing projects.
There shall come a day, a day like no other when two large trucks shall arrive at the loading bay of the building where our new condo is located. And that day was last week. As a result, we are now resident in our new space.
Although the renovations aren’t complete yet. We are currently missing a kitchen and the main bathroom - but we do have wifi, furniture, and boxes. Lots of boxes.
Each day is now a fun game of Tetris as we rearrange furniture and move boxes around into what we think are the appropriate rooms, only to open one and find it actually belongs elsewhere.
I’ve often heard it said that opening boxes after a move is like Christmas each day. In some ways, it does indeed feel like that as each is a voyage of discovery. Unfortunately sometimes that discovery is a sad one.
This 2ft Batman statue has stood as our family hallway guardian in every one of our homes for the last 25 years.
I guess this was one move too many…
He will be missed.
Alan
Other Stuff
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Word Slinging
It’s been a busy week on the writing front.
In a moment of rashness, I signed up for another swash-buckling Musketeers story for an upcoming anthology. I had great fun with my last go around with Alexander Dumas’ immortal swordmasters and I jumped at the chance to return to 17th Century France for another adventure.
And in other news a few days ago I received an email from a publisher showing some interest in another non-fiction book proposal, - nothing concrete on this yet but it’s good to get a positive response asking for a sample chapter or two (now I just have to write them!)
Podcast Procrastinations
In the latest Rogue Agents episode on the On Her Majesty’s Secret Podcast we talked about a movie that included a character named Ian Fleming, and a well-respected Bond actor portraying a Prime Minister - and I had thoughts.
You can give it a listen HERE.
Pages and Screens
Books Read in 2024 - “Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays The Rent” by Judi Dench & Brendon O’Hea.
Extracted from four years of conversation between the incomparable Judi Dench and fellow actor Brendan O’Hea this is part memoir, part Shakespeare primer, part an examination of stagecraft, and part rumination on the future. It all adds up to a highly entertaining and absorbing read.
The basic structure of the book has Dame Judi talking through the various Shakespearean roles she has played in her long career, but it doesn’t matter if you are familiar with them or not as she and O’Hea act as friendly guides through the various plots and characters along the way.
It reads like what it is. Two old friends discussing and reminiscing about something they are both passionate about.
This book immediately demands to be heard and read, and I ordered the audiobook to listen to on an upcoming road trip before I was halfway through the text.
A brilliant celebration of an outstanding actress, her career, and an appreciation of the works of the Bard and their continuing relevance
If you haven’t seen it before and want to get a flavor of the book, check out this clip of Judi Dench appearing on The Graham Norton Show during the book’s promotional tour.
Our online bookstore at Bookshop.org is fully up to date with the books read so far in 2024, so you can pick up copies of any that interest you, while also helping out local independent bookstores . You can check it out HERE .
Weekly Web Round-Up
The journey through Batman’s comics publishing history continues over the week with comics from May 1969 published in Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Germany, Italy, and Lebanon
YouTube Channel- I have finally got around to updating and organizing my very own YouTube channel which you can find at https://www.youtube.com/@AlanPorterWriter
On it you’ll find goodies such as:
Bond Music: Six of the Best - Cover Versions
Rogue Agents - Bond trailers and BBC radio adaptations
Before They Were Beatles podcast - music
The Forgotten Beatles podcast - music
The Savage Young Beatles - live performances
Bristol Brabzon - various videos used in book research
Track Visits - on-track at a variety of iconic race circuits
Check it out and hit the Subscribe button while you are there.
Where on the Web is Alan?
You can now find links to all the places you can find me online, websites, newsletters, social media, and more in a single LINKS page on my personal website.
As always, thanks for joining me this week. If you know someone else who might enjoy the contents of this week’s newsletter, or just my weekly ramblings in general - please feel free to share by clicking the button below.
See you next time
Alan J. Porter
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