The blog of D Kai Wilson-Viola

Author, advocate, designer, mental health advocate and parent. 

C is for….

C is for….

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I bet everyone can tell what this post is going to be about.
Yep.
Cats!

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I love my cats. We recently lost my adorable girl, so after we got everything cleaned (she had a permanent URI) and grieved, we adopted the girls.
The grey girl in the photos is Haley, the little mountaineer, Eiryss.
Both are nine months old – Haley’s fairly placid, Eiryss quite skittish, but they’re settling in really well.

The Blogging A to Z – a is for Allonsy

The Blogging A to Z – a is for Allonsy

So.  I signed up for the ‘Blogging A-Z‘ project, and though I thought that I’d be doing something else by now, I thought I’d go with this idea.

A is for Allonsy.

I think I’m really showing the geek streak for this first one.  Allon-sy is what the 10th Doctor (Dr Who)  said when he ran off to do stuff.  And of all the Doctors, David Tennant was my favorite of the most recent ones.

It’s not the reason a lot of people think of.
Dr Who was something I loved growing up – like many other geeky kids, I have fairly unfocussed, but vivid memories of hiding behind the couch when the Cybermen came on TV, or the Daleks.  So having Dr Who back was great.  And it came back as my life began to change for the better.  By the time the 10th incarnation came onto our screens for the first time, I was deeply into the relationship I’m still in now (it’s our 9th anniversary this month),  I was settled, and I was writing.  By the time the catchphrase ‘Allon-sy’ came up as often as it had, it was 2007, and I’d moved house, and was about to start Uni.  So that specific catchphrase is something I associate with some of the happiest and most settled times of my life.

The fact that it was David Tennant probably helped though. And given the BBC produce one of my absolute favorite programs (Sherlock – I’ll talk about that later), I’m just glad that some of the writers that are now doing the stuff I really love had a hand in the show.

The thing about Dr Who is though, when you think about it, is that you’re getting great storytelling, drama and interest in a sci fi show that has become cult.  And though I disliked one of the writers and felt his shows were weaker when watching, some of the absolute BEST things I’ve seen have come from there.  I loved ‘Blink’ (and am making a little cubee for my desk of the Weeping Angels), I loved all of the library episodes, and I really REALLY enjoyed the first of what I hope will be many Neil Gaiman episodes.  Though, I know that was the 11th Doctor 😉

A is also for…

Alexandria Publishing Group.  That’s the writing and publishing co-operative I’m involved with.  We keep a blog and lots of great content appears on the site – but there’s also some of the most amazing indie books that you’ve maybe never heard of on the site itself – we’ve got some incredible writers, so if you want to, go over and explore !

 

Free download – project cover sheet

Free download – project cover sheet

Now Where Did I Put Those Cover Sheets
Image by mattymatt via Flickr

I’ve got these deadlines in my calendar for writing short stories, based on the duotrope theme calendar.  But my main problem is I have to do three or four of em in a month, or at least attempt an idea at them – I could postpone submitting till March and roll up to it slowly, but it’s easier, in most cases, for me simply to jump in both feet.

So I designed a deceptively simple cover sheet for my projects – it’s got space to track the idea, or outline, the title, the link, notes, and each draft status.  You can print it or simply open it and update it once a month, and is also a handy dandy cover sheet for any contracts you may need to later file.

You can download, modify and mess with the file from deadline planning – let me know if you get any use out of it?

Wanna see my birthday cake?

Wanna see my birthday cake?

For once, the cake is not a lie...

For once, the cake is not a lie...

I’m marrying one of *the* most amazing people on the PLANET.  Seriously.  My beloved not only got me something I really wanted for my birthday, but he made sure I was going out to Uni, then came home and made me an amazing cake, then took me out for tea.  I discovered the cake when we came home.

For those that don’t understand the caption – it’s a companion cube cake, from a game called Portal.  Which is one of my favorite games, ever.  I’ve got a cuddly, plushie Companion Cube, and think this cake is about the most adorable thing, ever.

🙂

The Blogging A to Z – a is for Allonsy

The five most alluring words in the English Language

I don’t remember exactly where I saw this, but the words, quickly, naturally, easily, instantly, and freely have an odd effect on people. They cause them to percieve your copy as both upbeat and ‘honest’ and therefore makes it easier to associate postively with them, which in turn COULD boost your sales message.
(from the random grammar nerd department)