Julia Roberts (not my favourite actress in the world) is sublimely calculating and mean and sarcastic.  I thoroughly approved of her as the Queen.  Lily Collins – whose eyebrows look like angry caterpillars – did a credible job of being the heroine Snow.  The music was so so good, as were the costumes which I loved! All in all, it was hugely entertaining and oddly, Tarsem Singh also did the travesty called Immortals, yet completely succeeds in Mirror Mirror.  I’ve just been on IMDB and realised he also created THE FALL which has to be one of my all time favourite movies of ALL time.  Well, I’m not utterly prepared to forgive him for inflicting Immortals on us.  He clearly was having an off period when that was being put together.

As for CITW – no spoilers, I promise – but wow, what a good flick.  Joss Whedon clearly had so much fun making this. Tongue firmly in cheek he messes around with the staple diet of teen horror flicks and still manages to surprise us.  Even if you think you know the twist…you don’t.  Not until you go see it.

Both movies are highly recommended!

Grimm 4.0 WIP score: 31,856 / 75,000

The supposed "Titans" that look more like zombies

Last night I watched the travesty called Immortals. Apart from a few good action sequences and fight scenes, the movie was awful. Don’t get me wrong – I’m all for retellings and reworkings and changing things around but come-on, turning TITANS into things that look like they are 3 month old zombies showcased in The Walking Dead and the film-makers expect us to BELIEVE that an entire war was fought to release them because they are so very fearsome, when all they can do is run fast…yeah, that leaves me cold. The Titans, these inglorious creatures from mythology who put the fear into the hearts of man…are reduced to wan imitations? And as for Zeus and his family of super warriors to be eviscerated as easily as all that? Come on. Get a grip. Pull the other leg.

Moving on from the closing scenes with the awful Titans running around like eejits, before that we get something that’s supposed to be Theseus’s story. Gone is all the truly interesting bits and we’re left with a rather pretty but very dull Henry Cavill flexing his muscles by leading us around a sound-stage that is so dark you need the green lantern to see where you’re going. His speech to the army who initially rejected him is so bad, did a three year old write it? It stirred my ire, not my lust to fight some Bad People!

Surprisingly, the only person who seemed to be having fun was Mickey Rourke as the Bad Guy. His character Hyperion was said to have been one of the Titans and Mr. Rourke has great amounts of fun milking it. And he is fearsome. And frightening and single-minded. The pale imitation Titans we see at the end of the movie, after their release from Mount Tarsus, who go toe to toe with Zeus and his golden clad family…not so much.

What is wrong with telling a decent mythology story? Surely, they would not have survived for all these thousands of years, if they did not speak to us on a very base level? I genuinely think, after the trash that was Troy, Clash of the Titans, Wrath of the Titans and Immortals, the world is probably ready for a decent version of any gorram mythology.

Well, I must apologise for being a bit of a ranty-Liz. It just really bugs me that with all that money at their disposal, not a single decent movie can be made. These stories are important and because more people in parts of the world tend to go to movies, rather than read books, it’s sort of duty of care. Also, pride: how can you make drivel like that and still hold your head high? Surely it must wither your soul a bit? Because there is no way that you don’t know, whilst in the process, that you’re going the wrong way and producing something sub-par.

Film audiences are intelligent enough to follow decent story lines, complex and layered things that make you sit up and take notice. I’m tired of getting movies from Hollywood – sorry that I’m picking youse lot in Hollywood – that make me feel dumb. Admittedly, it is my choice to go and watch them, but if it’s the only thing that’s being made, where does the fault lie? And as I’m not a fan of rom-coms, where does that leave me?

Oh right, watching excellent movies like Wall-E.

But really, mythology is important.  This quote by one of my favourite writers, Karen Armstrong, manages to say it far more eloquently than I can:

It is, therefore, a mistake to regard myth as an inferior mode of thought, which can be cast aside when human beings have attained the age of reason. Mythology is not an early attempt at history, and does not claim that its tales are objective fact. Like a novel, an opera or a ballet, myth is make-believe; it is a game that transfigures our fragmented, tragic world, and helps us to glimpse new possibilities by asking ‘what if?’ — a question which has also provoked some of our most important discoveries in philosophy, science and technology.

- Karen Armstrong

And another quote by Jack Zipes:

Over the centuries we have transformed the ancient myths and folk tales and made them into the fabric of our lives. Consciously and unconsciously we weave the narratives of myth and folk tale into our daily existence.

Another thing:  I thoroughly enjoyed 300.  I loved the graphic novel but I do think far more could have been done with the movie.  Although, the imagery is very strong, brutal and to the point.  Troy…the only thing they did right in Troy is cast Sean Bean as Odysseus.  And Eric Bana as Hector.

With each new movie that comes out, my heart hopes beyond hope that his time around they’ll get it right, and yet they don’t.  I can’t wait to proven wrong in the near future.

There are a lot of simmering things happening all around me with various friends and close acquaintances.  It’s exciting and thrilling and I think I’m also keyed up about them waiting to hear about things from them.  There’s only so much strain my tiny heart can take, dammit!

We’ve been to see John Carter (of Mars) which I genuinely enjoyed.  It’s a great pulpy matinee movie and I dearly hope Disney sucks up the bad press they’ve given it to realise that people actually liked it.

I’ve also been to see The Hunger Games (twice) – what a show.  I wore my pin and everything.  I sobbed, I grinned, I saluted.  I wasn’t convinced about Peeta at the casting, but now I think they’ve been wise.  So far, Gale has to prove his acting chops and not just look emo.

Mark and I are really enjoying Grimm the TV Show – we like the sub-culture of all these creatures existing in Real Life and Our Times.  I also like that they have these incredible German names.  If only they would get rid of the utterly pointless girlfriend – I suspect she’s going to become fodder for a creature.

And miraculously, we managed to miss the first episode of ONCE this Sunday past.  I know – get us.  However, it will be on catch-up so we’ll get round to watching it sooner, rather than later. We were delighted to see the trailer for Mirror Mirror at both the movies we’ve been to see.  Now that looks like a mad romp.  I cannot wait to see it.

There are so many great movies coming up, including Cabin In The Woods, helmed by Joss “God” Whedon and by all counts, it’s going to be all out fun.  I’m all for subverting genres and I’m very interested to see what’s been made of this “college kids go to a cabin in the woods” horror.  If it’s as good as Tucker and Dale VS Evil, I’ll be happy.  (see what I did there?)

I’ve joined up over at Kaz Mahoney’s mad writing for April so I can kick Grimm 4.0 in the butt.  I’ve been coming in to work early every morning for a past few days now, getting words down.  It’s not as much as I’d like, but it’s still far more than I would have if I weren’t doing them.  But I’m worried about the pacing and worried I’m having people sit around talking too much.  But it will get fixed.  I hope.

This Easter weekend is going to be such fun – lots of reading and writing time, I think.  Also going to gym! I even bought some exercise clothes – mostly because my boardshorts I used to wear to gym are a bit too big now so they make my legs look spindly.  And we get to visit our friends for Easter Lunch on Sunday, which will be fun.  I think this is the first Easter in about…seven years that I’m not cooking up a storm for hordes of peole.

It will make a nice change! Hopefully I will be able to climb stairs and use cuterly as, as I’m sitting here writing, I can feel my muscles aching from gym abuse.  And all I want to eat is toast and scrambled eggs.  Mad, right?

I mentioned this charming looking movie from Disney Pixar in the past and a new trailer has hit the interwebs.  To be fair, it’s a bit more a movie extract than an actual trailer and it is fantastic.  It looks stunning and I love everything about it – from the overall look, the scenery, the clothes, the archery (grin) to Merida’s feistiness.  This is the main Brave website where you can watch the movie trailer and check out what the story is about and ogle the gorgeous look of it in general.

Onto the Other Things now – as per usual.

I stumbled across this news the other day and sobbed into my cornflakes.  It would seem as if I’m tapped into this well of story ideas that Hollywood are plundering at the moment.  I have a moleskine packed full of character info, world building etc. for a story similar to Disney’s new rumoured Order of the Seven, a Snow White spin-off.  I stared at my screen agog when the news broke a few days ago and couldn’t believe it.  So what do you do? Shrug and carry on – pretty much, because clearly, I’m a trend-setter, innit? (chortles)  Even if it is only in my head.

But no, to be honest, what Disney is doing will be visually arresting and with Soarise Ronan taking part in it, how can it be awful?  I love what a great actress she is and how easy it is to underestimate her quietness for weakness.  She is a great heroine and I am looking forward to seeing Order of the Seven should / when it comes out.

This evening I’m off to the Children’s Book Circle event – “Behind the scenes…” which is described as follows:

Ever wanted a glimpse inside the minds of the agents, editors and booksellers that decide which books make it onto the shelves? Now’s your chance. For the CBC’s first event of 2012, a panel of four industry experts will reveal their top publishing secrets – including insights on how certain manuscripts really stand out from the crowd, and personal perspectives on the ever-changing landscape of children’s publishing.

I shall report back with a write-up on the event.  It promises to be an interesting one.

Simon Mayo, who some of you may know, has a kids’ book out later this year.  It’s called ITCH and I’ve started reading it this morning on my commute and it is so much fun.  Itch is a very likeable character and the writing is smooth and easy on the eye (and in the head). I’m liking it plenty and can’t wait to read more of the book!

We got to re-watch Fright Night last night on DVD and I have to say Colin Farrell really does know how to turn on the creep-factor.  It’s all in the eyes, and facial expressions – he just exudes menace.  I loved it as much as I did when we went to the preview.

This weekend the London Super Comic Con is happening and we have tickets to attend – we’re not yet sure what our plans are to be honest, as Mark has been felled by the lurgee and so it would seem, as of last night, so have I.  *plugs nose with tissues* I know, var sexay indeed.

Oh! My Lisa Snellings poppet arrived yesterday.  Isn’t he just lovely? He’s reading The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.  I posed the poppet with my signed copies of the book last night.

My nose and I are now retiring, gearing up for swollen face and general miserablenicity, wish us luck.

A bit of a promo for one of my fave “how to” titles:

From Amazon’s description it says: Learn what a young adult novel is, how to write young adult fiction, how to get it published, and how to promote it. This title covers writing for young adults from start to finish: offering instruction on writing for this special audience including discussions of plot, setting, characters and revision. It gives tips on getting your novel published and promoting it once you have a book contract; and offers insight from teenage readers.

So far, so the same, you may think. But no, I wish I could take Ms. Going’s chapter on the History of YA and copy it and post it on the internet so that those who don’t understand what YA is and where it comes from could read it and understand where this dynamic section of fiction originates, who the leaders were and the struggles it’s had coming of age.

I’ve had, according to Amazon, this book since 17th Feb 2009.  I’ve read it a few times now.  I remember reading it the first time and getting annoyed with the way it was subdivided into things like “Homeroom” “History” “Social Studies” “Lunch”.  Bah – why would you do that to a book? I am not in school, I have not been for a long while.  I don’t want to read a book broken down into fictitious school periods and sit through dull lessons.

And then I’ve come to realise why the author did it – she linked each “period” to a valuable lesson – both in writing instructions, but also how genuine teens surveyed for the book feel about what’s being written for them.

It’s taken me a while to fall in love with Writing & Selling the Young Adult Novel but now I really do think that it is one of the better “how to” books out there.  The author uses great examples, both modern and old, and it makes a lovely change to have contemporary writers books mentioned, rather than harkening to the first tranche of YA novels that now falls under the “golden age of YA” section.  Admittedly, it’s now dated slightly, but the advice remains sound and it’s written in a friendly, informal and yet very informative way.  You really just have to pay attention.  <- this is me alluding to the fact that I did not pay proper attention the first few times I read it.

Onto other things: 3 people whom I trust implicity has read the new bits of Grimm and the verdict seems unanymous: I’ve found my book’s real voice.  Bloody hell, it’s only taken (counts in head) four drafts, one recent false start, a meltdown of apocalyptic proportions, tears and me dumping EVERYTHING I’ve ever written on Grimm and starting from scratch.  And you know what? I feel pretty pure about it.  I don’t know how else to put it.  It feels like I’ve worn an ugly tattered dress for the longest time, wading through various incarnations of Grimm and the dress was just getting heavier with muck as I could no longer see what made me love it in the first place, but now, after going through what amounts to a carwash, my dress is new and clean and tidy and look, not a splatter of blood or gore on it.  Well, not yet anyway.  The relief is immense.  As is personal pride.  It turns out the whole thing about “read read read” and “write write write” seems to be true! Who would have thunk it?

Yesterday the hot chicks over at Novelicious announced a brand new competition on their website and I had to blog about it because it is such a grand competition for aspiring writers.  Go check it out.

GRIMM the TV show has finally aired here in the UK.  Again, utterly full of me-me-me here but I can’t tell you how relieved I am that I followed my gut-instinct and changed major things in my Grimm.  The first episode of the TV show came so ridiculously close to parts of my original storyline, I might have been part of the original crew sitting down to script the story.  However, the show looks promising and I’m looking forward to watching more of it!

We are almost done with Season 2 of Fringe.  The show just keeps getting better and my love for the Kurtzman and Orci bruvs just keeps growing.  I’ve succumbed and  bought Friday Night Lights and we sat down and watched the first episode over the weekend.  Wow.  Just wow.  Yes, it’s about American football but it’s also about so much more.  The opening episode really struck me as the framing episode, the one setting up a lot of the forthcoming storyline and you know, I really don’t mind.

Emma Watson

I saw yesterday that his majesty, Guilermo del Toro, has been signed up to make a version of Beauty and the Beast with the lovely Emma Watson to star – I quite like the idea of Emma being the Beast…as it will subvert the story completely.  I have high hopes for this to happen – the movie, not really my madcap idea of Emma being the Beast.  Although…

And it looks like Hansel and Gretel: Witchhunters (starring Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton) have been moved to January 2013 release – it makes me wonder why.  Too many fairy tale movies and shows out this year? Are they worried about oversaturation? Who knows!

Speaking of the delicious Jeremy Renner, I watched the new Bourne Legacy trailer and can’t wait to watch it.  It looks really good – Bourne Legacy.

Wordle from http://bornstoryteller.wordpress.com/

A friend of mine, Graham Marks, recently told me about these TED lectures that someone sent him the link to and how interesting some of them are. We were speaking about writing and creativity and interesting subjects and research and such.  I watched a few since then and they are genuinely interesting.  Randomly I followed a link someone tweeted this morning and have subsequently claimed it as a discovery to share with you.

The chap doing the talk is Rex Jung.  Here is a bit of blurb about him:

Rex Jung explains how creativity works in the brain.

A leading scientist in the emerging field of positive neuroscience — the study of what the brain does well.  As an Assistant Professor at the UNM Health Sciences Center Department of Neurosurgery, his groundbreaking research led to the first model describing a network of brain regions critically linked together in service of intellectual pursuits. Over the last several years, he has turned his attention to the manifestation of creativity in the brain — a cognitive capacity perhaps critically dependent upon, yet distinctly different from intelligence.  The author of over 40 scientific publications, his research has been widely featured in popular media outlets including CNN,BBC, Psychology Today, New Scientist, The New York Times, and Newsweek. His work is based on patients diagnosed with brain disease and disorder and is enhanced by a research perspective grounded in both neurological disorder and “what the brain does well.”

And I found it utterly fascinating – he debunks these untruths we hear about creativity:

• you have to be a genius to be creative
• the notion that you have to be mentally ill to be creative
• the whole left brain / right brain thing (watch the video)

And he tells some trueisms but one that struck me the most is: creative people have a lot of creative ideas.  He uses Picasso as an example, explaining that the creative person has to have so many creative ideas in order to get the dud ideas out.  How not everything will be amazingbut that creativity is a process and how creative people are constantly trying out new things, to see what works for them. And how important that is but then he counters this with the author of To Kill a Mockinbird, how this solo piece of work is so incredible and iconic, and that it burst onto the scene back in the day, and it still remains as one of the most powerful modern novels ever written.  This, he says, is the exception to the rule.

On twitter and in my conversations with writerly friends I often see and hear this:

“I have so many ideas!”

“I have no ideas!”

“I will never have any ideas ever again!”

“How do I choose??”

And from now on, I’ll point them to Mr. Jung’s video on creativity and I think there will be many heaved sighs of relief.

Rex Jung – Creativity and the Brain

There were many familiar faces, but also some new faces, which was exciting. We all settled in at the Bullfrog, our usual haunt and chatted whilst Bekki set up her equipment. We had been warned to “bring along a lot of paper as you will be working hard”. I broke out a new moleskine for this. I know, any excuse.

Bekki started us off on our first slide.

First Slide

It looked daunting, but it formed the framework of her class.

One of the first things she did to get us started is to make a list of our goals, dreams and ambitions. She gave us around ten minutes to come up with as many as we could, spread across various aspects of our lives – we covered writing/illustrating; career; finances; leisure; travel; personal growth; family; health; etc. I managed 56 and out of that 56 about 30 of them were related to my writing.

My mind boggled.

I know some on the group managed near a hundred goals and ambitions but I found it really difficult to come to terms with thinking so big. And it would seem I’m not the only one. How often do we sit and think about US, ourselves? What we would love and want, for real in our lives? Not very often, I’d say. So thinking about something like this, even as an “opener” excercise really brought it home, how little time we spend on ourselves and what matters to us.

We did a set of affirmations by choosing our top three goals/dreams which again was very uncomfortable making, before we moved on to concentrating solely on our writing. Bekki had us speak to assigned partners about values and again, deeply uncomfortable questions were asked.

What do you enjoy about the act of writing?
What do you enjoy about being a writer?
What is it you want to achieve with your writing?
What is important about what you write?
What is important about being a writer?

Again, all of us were goggle-eyed. These were of course on the surface easy enough questions to ask, and no doubt we ask them of ourselves often, but how many of us actually answer them and do it truthfully?

My partner for the class (Linda) and I turned to each other in this helpless way and blinked. Then we bent to the task of answering these questions. It was really interesting to see how closely our answers correlated and how we could encourage the other to be more honest, more open about these big asks.

Bekki touched on Habits – helpful and unhelpful habits and I think almost everyone agreed that the biggest unhelpful habit was the internet, allowing us access to Facebook / Twitter / Email and Bekki gave us strategies how to compartamentalise these unhelpful habits and how to deal with them. We also got to work with our partners again to discuss our habits and it turns out Linda is a giant star, for turning one of my habits (my love for research) into a possible positive thing.

Bekki

The day wound down with Bekki taking us through a very strict self-talk and addressing external influences and how important it is for us to make time for ourselves and our writing and to ensure that we start using a diary, giving ourselves deadlines and making sure that our nearest and dearest remain aware of our private writing times.

All in all, it was a very useful workshop and class. And frightening and a bit of an eye-opener. I learned loads and realised that although I am luckier than most, with Mark understanding about my writing, being an aspiring writer himself, that my journey to self-actualisation (how American, darling!) is still a loooong way off. And I better get climbing otherwise it is never going to happen.

Do visit Bekki’s site and if you’re on twitter, she is @bekkiwritecoach.  Her book – Coach Yourself to Writing Success – is the kick in the pants we all need occasionally, with lots of common sense advice, that most of the time we’re too wrapped up to think about, but also with a suitcase full of tools to overcome things like procrastination, self-doubt and fear.

From Neil Gaiman's A Writer's Prayer

I think it is fantastic and charming and inspiring and eccentric and mad and I love it. I’ve got this little photo on my phone as my background – I know, random or what?

I spoke to an editor recently about Grimm, about my thoughts I had on feedback from two agents and this inner turmoil and conflict and self-doubt.  But also about how I could see what the agents were saying and thinking that if I listened, took my sore aching heart out of the equation, if I listened to the advice, how I could make this book golden and gorgeous.  And the editor turned around and said to me: your journey with this book is not yet done but talk to me when it is because I want to read it when you are done.  And you have to left go.  Remember.

I gaped as I read the email.  How true this was! I was not yet done, not after four revisions and tweaking and madness and late nights and no sleep. So I took her advice, I tried out a few things.  I started writing it from scratch.  I got just over 18k done when I realised that I was going about it all wrong.  The same nagging thing the agents told me to watch out for was happening again.

I listened, again, distilling it.  And I’ve started again.  And oh my god, that random thing when you get hit with a brick in the head, when you find your groove? Yes, that’s happened.  This, this, is what Grimm was supposed to sound like, this is Kit’s story. It’s so difficult to put into words – an alarming thing for an aspiring writer to say – but sitting down and writing this story now is new, fresh, vibrant and full of voice and attitude and bizarrely I had thought this is what it had previously.  I think I was wrong.

I confess to coming close to giving up, but I have big girl knickers and I pulled them up and I got going.  And you know what? Without this weird bit of madness, my life just won’t be the same.

Enough navel-gazing! It’s my birthday this coming Sunday.  Exciting times! I will be *mumble mumble* years old and I don’t look a day over 50.  No, dammit, that’s 25.  Yes, 25. And because Mark is utterly made of win, my birthday present this year is a gorgeous item from The Filigree shop.

I realise that it may not be every person’s kinda thing, but you know? These little guys make me happy.  I wish I had the ability to create tiny creatures of whimsy like these but I don’t.  What I can do is use them to fire my muse and inspire me to write my own stories in which I can create tiny creatures and bigger ones made from whispers at midnight, of icy moonlight and obsidian shadows, with teeth as sharp as katanas and nails as long and curving as sickles.

And these little guys above are the items I already own from The Filigree.  And they serve as my prompts.  Only in my world they are far bigger and probably scarier.

It’s late, and I have new words to get done.

I remain, as always,

The Liz, She Who Buys Random Stuff

First up, my name in print from the Undiscovered Voices anthology – an honourable mention:

So grown up!

It really is thrilling and I can’t wait to hear some superb news from the honourary mentions and those in the anthology.  I’ve had the chance to speak to a few editors since the UV antho went out and I know they are all looking forward to reading the extracts and speaking to the writers.

The start of the year has seen the first SCBWI event – Editor’s Night at the Bullfrog near Charing Cross.  Caroline Hooton (or The Hooton as I call her) has written a superb write-up about it and it’s the above link.  Really one of the best panels I’ve been to and also really nice to see so many SCBWI peeps in attendance with a lot of interesting questions.

It’s also been exciting to see Amanda Rutter’s first aquisitions as commissioning editor for Strange Chemistry - am very proud of her, both as a friend and on a professional basis.  Amanda has followed her dream – a massive step – and remains an inspiration to me.

I attended the Chickenhouse breakfast on Friday past and as usual, it was a superb event hosted by Barry Cunningham and his team.  They have a new crop of writers out this year and new titles from existing authors, and I’m genuinely excited about them all.  I just have to somehow make sure I make time to read the titles I want to get to!

Chicken House Titles

Similarly, Saturday was the Random House Bloggers Brunch and the editorial team and publicity girls blew us away with a fabulous presentation packed full of great titles coming from them this year.  Got to meet a personal hero of mine: Bali Rai.  He is genuinely lovely and so down to earth and deeply funny.  I’m particularly excited about his upcoming new book from them this year – the cover looks gorgeous!

These are some of the books that came in on Saturday:

Variety of bought & review titles

Similarly, some of these are titles I picked up on the brunch at RHCB.  Starters looks very good as does The Brides of Rollrock Island.  The cover is also too lovely for words.

Bayou Moon and Fate’s Edge – I bought in from Forbidden Planet after a flying visit.  I’ve only recently discovered Ilona Andrews thanks to a tweet by Kaz Mahoney.  She mentioned On The Edge’s superb world-building and as that is something I’m working on at the moment, I picked up a copy of it and fell so hard for Ilona Andrews’ characters and world, my bones are still sore! I’m currently reading Bayou Moon, which is the second book in the Edge series and it is as much fun as the first one.  Although Rose, Declan, Georgie and especially Jack have stolen my heart; I get tears in my eyes thinking of the scene between Jack and William (with William being one of the MC’s in Bayou Moon) when Jack shows him his room and William sees how loved Jack is.  Man, no one whose not read the book will know what I’m on about, but it is just superb writing.  *nips a tear*

Sunday saw us walking for miles and miles around London and taking photos.  I had a superb time and Mark was a great tour-guide. Here are some arty photos I took with my Hipstamatic app on my iphone.

Tower Bridge

St Michael at St Michael's on Cornhill

Temple Church

The big plan for 2012 for me as aspiring writer: rewrite Grimm into first person (which I’m loving) and then revising it a couple of kazillion times and sending it out to agents.  Also re-read Curse of the Djinn and rewrite that as I’ve had some invaluable feedback which completely gelled.  So, a lot of writing and reading and hopefully one or two creative projects if I can get my mind around it.

Mark and I are attending the London Super Comic Con at the end of February and also Black Library Live in March.  I’ll be spending time at the SCBWI writers retreat in May and I think there is another Black Library event in November which I’m hoping to go to, as well as the SCBWI conference.  I am praying that these two events do not clash!

It’s a busy year, full of amazing things.  And words.  Lots of words.  Is that ever a Bad Thing?