(no subject)

I feel very impudent today. I feel like saying "None of my friends need introductions" and leaving them to discover you and you to discover them. Except that all three friends: Russell Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth Chadwick, Kaaron Warren have senses of humour of the sort that would enable them to get even with me. They might introduce me when I get back, for instance, in a way I could never live down. So I will verge on politeness for a moment and let you know why my blog is a must-read zone next week.

Kaaron you already know. She is the mild-mannered mother of two who loves cooking and chocolate and writes fiction. The fiction is horror stories that make you think your skin has peeled off. You feel the world in a whole new way. She brought some yummy recipes to my blog last time she visited, and I *think* everyone's skin was where it belonged when I returned.

Elizabeth Chadwick loves romance and swashbuckle and she and I share a sad addiction to the Middle Ages. She writes about the same period of the Middle Ages I research and teach and hers is one of the very few fictional Middle Ages I recommend to students. We email back and forth about crucial Medievalish things. We also talk about changes in English food terminology (what is simnel? what was simnel? what are regional variants?) and have a bunch of friends in common. Naturally I am the one who gives a hard time to said friends, and Elizabeth feeds them tea and scones. Right now our writing overlaps (except she has a publisher and I don't for the works in question) because she is writing about William Marshall and my fantasy Middle Ages uses that period and some of the same places. Her Medieval England doesn't contain a kitten called Stuff.

Russell Kirkpatrick is famous for his cartography of New Zealand, Bahrain and other places known to lovers of high fantasy. Which he writes. His books can mostly be found in Australia and New Zealand, though I believe they will soon sprout elsewhere. Russell's books are very good winter reading as are Elizabeth's, unlike Kaaron's stuff which is only good winter reading if you cherish nightmares.

eneit has already pointed out that Russell has a lego addiction. One day I fully expect to see a lego creation of his first trilogy, since he already has mapped it out fully. By 'mapped', I don't mean cute fantasy sketchmaps. I think of him as Gandalf: the mapcase in which he carries the map of his fantasy world is about the right height for a Gandalfian staff. Also because he comes from New Zealand. He maps almost as well as he stirs. I am in awe of his one-liners.

I am going away to write now. Be back soon. Be good while I am away, but if you can't be good, then be witty.

A hard act to follow

I don't know whether Gillian is inspired, mad or just too trusting to let me - Elizabeth Chadwick - help mind her blog while she's away. The latter two I suspect. I've known Gillian on a couple of e-lists for several years now. Between the mayhem created by the left-field senses of humour we possess and the hurley burley of busy daily lives, we talk about the Middle ages for which we share a passion. From Gillian I have learned all about the undergarments and anatomy of various saints and sinners. The state of Thomas Becket's underpants at the time of his death and the detail that Henry II had an ingrowing toe-nail are no longer mysteries to me thanks to our friendship. Gillian is incredibly generous with her knowledge, as well as being a lovely person, and I know how fortunate I am to have her for a friend.
Our paths are indeed crossing on the writing front at the moment via Medieval Winchester. I don't know what her heroine is up to, other than it involves latrines and hiding. My hero, a hundred years behind her heroine, used to have a house there. From what I was able to tell, it's now a branch of the HSBC bank. I am amused by this, as he used to work for the Exchequer. I have to add that I don't have a kitten called Stuff - that's unique to Gillian. I wonder why it's called Stuff. Several alternatives spring to mind... I do, however, have a three-legged dog called Tripes and the name is courtesy of Gillian's superior knowledge of Latin.
Anyway, I have waffled on long enough for a test piece and introduction. I'm looking forward to meet any droppers in, and I'll happily talk about mostly anything... although Becket's knickers and Henry II's toe nails are probably best left for Gillian on her return.
I hope, if she's listening in, she has a great time!