hogwarts gone wild

*smacks head*

Good news: Starfighter has been updated!

Bad news: I FORGOT ABOUT IT WHEN YULETIDE NOMS CAME AROUND. And it didn't make the list from anyone else either. Arrrgh.

Title: Diamonds, a Club, and a Couple of Hearts
Author: Flora (florahart)
Artist/Mixer: elanorofcastile
Beta(s): Several people have read bits and parts; lauriegilbert has been the most involved culler of commas and shortener of sentences (half of which I defied her about anyway).
Series: Reboot/ST XI
Characters/Pairings: primary pairing is Kirk/McCoy; however, there is a Kirk/Gaila scene and Spock/Uhura and Pike/Number One are referenced.
Rating: NC17
Warnings: mostly just smut (het and slash), AU.
Word Count: ~23,500
Summary: Jim Kirk is a hotshot new shortstop in the Constitution League. His team is young, but they have a lot of potential, and oh by the way, the team doctor? Is hot.
Notes: Written for startrekbigbang. Baseball AU in which all the characters are human, and the setting is some nonspecific time between now and 2258. Lots of nods to various baseball movies mashed up with lots of moments from/rearrangements of ST XI. Lots of other nods to things from the Trek canon (of any timeframe/reality) and para-canon, such as character names and backgrounds. Concept is inell's fault.
Art: here
Fanmix: here

( The Quibbler Report: Friday, November 6, 2009 )

Friday Night Lights

( spoilers )

***

White Collar

This episode was full of "Hey it's that guys!" ( spoilers )

***

pet peeve of the day:

it's spelled PER SE. It means by, in, or of itself : as such : intrinsically. not PER SAY, which is just WRONG. If you don't know how to spell it, DON'T USE IT. Because spell check is not going to pick that one up.

Whew. I feel better now.

***

I barely managed to stay awake on the subway coming home tonight, so I took a long nap, but I am still all sleepy. I am very much looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow.

***

This entry at DW: http://musesfool.dreamwidth.org/91247.html. people have commented there.

Okay, so yeah. We went to see Zombieland tonight. I was 500 words shy of daily quota (but am still ahead by nearly half of tomorrow's, thanks to yesterday's push,) and I decided that I wanted a real, grown-up date, with dinner out, and nice drinks, and, apparently, zombies.

It was laugh out loud, ridiculously funny, that movie. Predictable leik whoa, and probably the closest America will ever get to a zombie movie in league with Sean of the Dead. Zombies come from eating mad cows, apparently. Who knew?

Look, this movie isn't gonna change anybody's life, but it will make you guffaw at Woody Harrelson fan-humping *Secret Stealth Celebrity Cameo who's name I am withholding*'s leg in an epic geek-out moment. Or the four-gun funeral salute, with pause in the middle to reload the double-barrel. Or the Purel scene. Or the squeaky nose.

I'm just sayin.

And I'm also sayin, for a movie in which The Rules Of Survival play such a prominent role, how the HELL is it that when the Hummer rolls up on the gates of Pacific Playland, and pushes gently through as twilight gives way to dusk, Dominus and I were the ones who leaned over to each other and murmured "Rule one: Don't go at night. Rule two: Don't go alone. Rule three: Save the last bullet for yourself." Sadly, none of those rules made an appearance in this film. Though they should have done, as they were all broken at one point or another.

Still, I believe I will officially add Zombieland's rule two to the list from now on, as it bears keeping in mind.
Double tap. Always double tap.

Title: Lost and Held
Author: gatewaygirl
Characters: Sirius, Peter
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Castration, sex, cross-dressing, manipulation
Themes/kinks chosen: Eunuchs/Castrati, Costumes
Word Count: 5,317
Summary: An accident gives Sirius and Peter a shared secret
Author's notes: November prompts included the theme "eunuchs/castrati". It's listed in the tags as "castration", which would have been a rather different story. I have been as accurate as I could manage with the theme, but certainly do not guarantee all details are correct. ;-) Thanks to Clauclauclaudia for very short-notice beta work.


( Lost and Held )

I have decided to start a temp agency. If you are looking for work or looking for prospective hires, you may want to check out this post over on LJ. :)

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/11/final-reminder-for-bookshops.html

A quick reminder (as I was just asked) that today is the day that the bookshop Graveyard Book party reports have to be in to Harper Collins. By 9 pm PST.

http://files.harpercollins.com/Mktg/HarperChildrens/PDF/GraveyardContest_rules.pdf are the rules and info for those who lost them.

Hi Mr. Gaiman,

I was disappointed today to read you won't be part of the judging for The Graveyard Book contests. My not-wealthy, middle-of-nowhere bookstore just sent in its entry, and something we're concerned about is the fairness of judging.

For example, independent bookstores like Powell's (I'm sure you know) easily have enough money and are in a convenient enough location to ask you to come at one time or another. Against stores like that, who were able to put more money into their parties, we stand little chance.

I don't think that it's a lost cause for us; we were very creative. I'm just nervous to know you won't be judging. Can you tell me whether you think the judges will take things like size and location of bookstores into account? It would make me sleep a little easier until the results are announced.

Tusen takk,
Allison

Well, per the rules, the judging is based on:

(i) Overall creativity of the Party, as demonstrated by the invitations, signage, decorations, activities, entertainment, and refreshments.
(ii) Customer attendance and response (i.e., enthusiasm, costumes, participation).
(iii) Ability to capture and represent the spirit of The Graveyard Book.
...specifically to reward creativity, and not the ability to outspend other shops. (That was also why the party had to actually be at the bookshop, and not at another location.)

I asked my editor, Elise Howard, and she said,

Gosh, yes. Here's what we think is happening. We are looking at all the entries. On Monday, we'll send you the best 11, from which you will choose the Grand Prize Winner. The rest will get the first-prize package. So the short answer is that you ARE helping to choose.

The longer answer is that we will be very fair and will consider creativity, which includes work done with available resources, along with pure execution. (Don't you think? We haven't done anything yet; still waiting for more entries to come in.)

...which means that

a) I was wrong and will be the ultimate judge, from the shortlist. (Damn.)

and

b) everyone's on a level playing field.

Does that help reassure you?

PS -- Widgett's Graveyard Book Dessert competition winners have been announced over at http://www.needcoffee.com/2009/11/06/graveyard-book-dessert-challenge-winners/.

This one had NOTHING to do with me at all. But lor' the winning desserts look tasty...

Bullet points!

• I finished the first draft of my long-overdue LLM fic for accioslash, the continuation of Thicker Than Water. Anyone want to beta? It's very very chan and mpreg (knocked-up 11yo Harry ftw).


• 2 out of 3 Mini-Commission spots got claimed, so unless the 3rd goes today, that'll be the only ones I offer for the holiday season.


• I've decided not to do Yuletide this year -- someone got my tiny fandom disqualified (if I'd known anyone would bother, I could have easily defended it, but since it didn't occur to me to check it's now too late), and I just don't have the heart to play after that.


• Which means I only have santas_lap to write this season, and that's it, since I'm also not doing nanowrimo. It hardly feels like the holiday at all!

It may not shock you to learn that after six months of intense RPG action, the Askworld kids have kept in contact. Because we both work for nonprofit agencies, snaxcident and I tend to have the occasional "Hey, NFPs could use this!" moment, which I swear is all that I intended when I sent an innocent email...that prepared me for WORLD DOMINATION.

( Canadians fucking love webinars. )

Between this and getting metaquoted last night, my conquest of the internet continues apace.

So, a lot of you asked for the recipe for/location of the peppermint-tea ice cream. WELCOME TO MY KITCHEN!

Basically all the ice cream I make comes from one recipe.

( Universal Ice Cream Custard Base )

HEY GUYS

WE SURVIVED THURSDAY

And now I have freshly made peppermint-tea ice cream in the freezer, and fresh bread for gashouse eggs for dinner tonight.

And I'm hauling a bunch of stuff home from work so I get to take a taxi, and tomorrow I'm going to the Art Institute (!!) to see the exhibit of Caldecott book art and the Victorian photocollage and the freshly opened Apostles Of Beauty.

And it's member discount week, so I am going to treat myself to the fancypants restaurant instead of the cafeteria for lunch. I love the fancypants restaurant!

*MAKES RESERVATIONS LIKE A MOFO*

Happy birthday, Hero Tiffin!

• Actors and Movies: New still of Rupert Grint from Wild Target and international distribution details
  
  New deals on DVDs of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  
  
• Communities: Words On The Wind is a new fanfiction awards site based on 'out-of-the-norm'/paranormal/supernatural fandoms, including Harry Potter
  
  3fan_holidays, a tri-fandom fest, has begun sign-ups
  
  
• Fandom: lupin_snape is looking for pinch-hitters for their Snupin Santa fest
  
  
• General Interest: New demo video for Harry Potter Wizarding World DVD game
  
  
• Hot Rec: Focus by Anonymous (Remus/Sirius; PG-13)
  
  Reasonable Adjustments by weasleywench (Harry/Draco, NC-17)
  
  In the Stream by musamihi (Harry/Draco, PG-13)
  
  
• News: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince site revamped
  
  
• Searches: daily_snitch is looking for fan-works and resources featuring Theodore Nott
  
  

Send your fandom news to Daily Snitch!

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/11/note-to-self-nights-are-for-sleeping.html

Still trying to get back onto a diurnal schedule. (And, I should add, failing.)
And, of course, although I posted it before, it bears repeating that you can watch the film that Steven-Charles Jaffe made of the "Dark and Silly Night" comic Gahan and I did for art spiegelman and Francoise Mouly's Little Lit at the New Yorker site, or here:



And if I'd been here for Hallowe'en I would have posted it here then. Which reminds me, The Graveyard Book party season is over. Over thirty independent bookshops had Graveyard Book parties (The ABA's Bookselling This Week reports on thirteen of the parties -- and the shops -- at http://news.bookweb.org/7149.html.) The very best one of all will get me in their shop doing a signing in December and, looking at these thirteen, I am very glad I am not any kind of a judge for the awards.

My only hope is that the shop that wins will be somewhere warm. But most of the places on the party map will be just as cold by December as my house. (Vague and only climate-based relief that HarperCollins said No to Alaska in the rules mingles with vague and selfish disappointment that they also said No to Hawaii.)

It looks like the CBS Sunday Morning profile on me is going out this Sunday, the 8th, 9:00-10:30 AM, ET. According to this website:

Correspondent Serena Altschul visits author Neil Gaiman -- the tender-hearted master of the macabre -- whose books, including Coraline and The Graveyard Book have topped best-seller lists for 25 years.

.. which left me wanting to go "I am NOT a tender-hearted master of the macabre, I am in fact VERY SCARY INDEED," but I suspect I would convince nobody.

Thrilled to see that Odd and the Frost Giants was listed as one of Amazon.com's Best Books of 2009. While I was in China The Graveyard Book was listed as one of the ALA's teens top ten for 2009 as well, an award voted on by over 11,000 teens. (And I made it onto the list with lots of other good people.)

Also, Fragile Things was awarded the French 2010 Les Grands Prix de l’Imaginaire Award for translated short fiction. My thanks to the judges, but mostly to the translator, who in this case is the incredibly talented Michel Pagel. If I ever look good, do well, sell books or am popular in a foreign country, it's because of the translators, and they never get enough thanks or acclaim. And I think I'll post the cover here, because I never have.

You're welcome. I think this link has everything for sale in the auction: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/scrawldog/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

* 3,000 words today. An entire action scene. I am exhausted, but I still rock.

* I officially adore Hairy Meg. I predict I may have trouble keeping her from upstaging the main characters if she keeps on being so very awesome.

* Cat piss flouresces AK green under blacklight. This has led to some innovative, and infuriating revelations around Mandala House this week.

* No, I have NOT checked to see what other bio-fluids flouresce, thanks, I've been writing, like a good girl!

* Forgot to remind Allyson to come and visit tonight. Woe. Although solitude did contribute to wordcount win, so... *shrug*

* saw Chiropractor. Made The Noise. Now have fierce adjustment headache. (And am planning to raid the final hold-outs from last year's broken-shoulder painkillers, so I'll be able to sleep through it while my neck and back get used to things being where they're meant to be again.)

* Am suspicious that the writers of Criminal Minds are setting out to deliberately nail each and every one of Clue's personal squick-triggers this season. *Huddles under the bed, shielding eyes with fists, and rocking quickly back and forth. There might be keening as well...*

* Brother Godric wishes it known that he is not a fan of NaNoWriMo, as it drastically cuts down the availability of lap and pettins.

* I have a venus flytrap. Alas, I no longer seem to have any fruit flies infesting my kitchen for said flytrap to trap. Hamburger will do for now, I suppose.

* And now, to bed. More words tomorrow. Avaunt.

Title: One Dark And Stormy Evening
Pairing: Al/Scorpius
Rating: NC-17 for language, graphic sex
Word Count: about 2,050
Summary: Al and Scorpius drink Polyjuice to look like their dads; hilarity and fucking ensue.
Warnings: They're both 17 and acting their age.  Does teenage stupidity need a warning? 
Disclosure Statement: two large bags of Chili Cheese Fritos and a nice bottle of Riesling were killed in the making of this fic. 
Notes and thanks: Happy belated birthday, Jana!  I tried to combine your present with this month's drunken fanfic challenge -- hence the title, stolen from the prompt -- but didn't get off my arse in time to post it there, so it morphed into something even stranger.  Hope you enjoy it.  :D

ETA: Jana got the bunny for this fic from bryoneybrynn 's hilarious work of staggering genius, Another...and Another...and, Fuck It, Just Leave Me the Bottle.  It's 1,200 words of sheer brilliance.

WTF, Semagic? Posting my entries before I hit post, when I'm right in the middle of typing a sentence? O.o Sorry 'bout that.

Anyway...

( Supernatural 5x08 OMG HOW AWESOME ARE YOU? )

I did have things to say about Bones, but I don't remember what most of them were. ( spoilers )

***

Supernatural: Changing Channels

( rambling about the episode, with spoilers )

I will probably have more thoughts tomorrow.

( spoilers for next week's preview )

Oh, also, here is Matt Roush's review of the episode. (Spoiler: he really liked it.)

***

Damn, I totally didn't realize that the parade tomorrow is going to fuck with my commute (or my walk to the office after the subway, anyway). Maybe I will sneak out of work and try to see some of it. I did in 1996, when I worked down on Wall St. (I mean, I literally worked in a building on Wall St., not that I worked in the financial industry at that time.) and it was kind of awesome, even though they are not my team. Hmm...

***

This entry at DW: http://musesfool.dreamwidth.org/91064.html. people have commented there.

http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2009/11/5/video-of-ace-of-cakes-hogwarts-express-cake-creation-for-hbp-premiere-online

As readers will recall, the special Hogwarts Express cake created by master baker Duff for the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince premiere last July was featured on his Ace of Cakes program on the Food Network.  We have for you, care of our Video Galleries, the creation of the cake by the Charm City Cakes crew in this nice image quality video right here.This episode of the Ace of Cakes will...

Title: The Greater Goodzilla and the Doomed Gingerbread Castle of Doom.
Artist: didodikali
Media: pencil.
Characters: Albus, Gellert.
Rating: NC-17.
Warnings: Haha. No.
Themes/kinks chosen: costumes, symphorophilia

( Rarrrgh! Rahhhr! Graaahr! Arrrrhahahahahaha! )