Posted by Draft #6 of In a Corner, Darkly: Volume 3 is done!
It always brings a feeling of accomplishment when a draft of a manuscript is completed. And this case, for my newest short story compilation, the sensation is no different. Short stories might seem easier on the surface than writing an entire novel, but the work, thought, and effort are still the same. Even so, I’m glad (and a bit relieved) that (draft) number six is in the books. My plan is to start on Draft #7 at the very end of February/very early March. Once that one is finished, I hope to send it off to my layout person (and go through the two final edits). 🙂
Other than that, I haven’t been writing much, but have certainly been occupied. Family visits, planning for our office/den upgrades, and getting taxes in order have taken over the past couple of weeks. I’ve also been scouring the internet in search of events, trying to make up for the few big shows that aren’t happening this year.
I managed to score what might be a HUGE one – the Shower of Arts/Crafts Fair at the College of Dupage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The table fee is the most expensive I’ve ever paid, but having lost other big events this year, I thought that financially, it might all come out in the wash. Fewer shows with higher table fees should come out about the same, right? Anyway, I’ve been able to line up five events (so far) for 2025 and plan on more. We are supposedly having our gargantuan garage sale in late May/early June AND take our twice-in-our-lifetime trip to Norway/Denmark later this year, so some chunks of time are already “marked off the calendar” as booked. But, as they say, “Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht” – an old Yiddish adage meaning, “Man Plans, and God Laughs.”
Biscuit, our now 7-month-old little nugget boy is still adorable (and screamingly so), but has taken to harassing his sister, Monkey, our 7-year-old kitty. She holds her own, but she definitely gets annoyed.
Biscuit ^^^ (don’t let the sweet act fool you! Or maybe do….lol)
Monkey ^^^ (probably being annoyed at something Biscuit is doing)
Other than that, it’s time to get to what we’ve been watching!
Kingdom of The Planet of the Apes (2024) – Many years after the reign of Caesar, a young ape goes on a journey that will lead him to question everything he’s been taught about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike. (Google) We are big fans of the original movies and some of the more current offerings, so we thought we’d give this a shot. Big mistake. I’m not sure what kind of technology they used, but we both found it pretty off-putting. I also thought that the dialogue was extremely stilted and leaned heavily on a YA feeling. (Nothing wrong with a YA movie, but we were NOT expecting that, nor were we in the mood for such a story). We tapped out after about 30 minutes. I gave what I saw a 1.3 and Charlie came in at a 1.0. Your mileage may vary.
Madeleine Collins (2021) – Judith leads a double life between Switzerland and France. On the one hand, there is Abdel, with whom she is raising a little girl, and on the other hand is Melvil, with whom she has two older boys. (Google) My sister and brother-in-law stayed with us for a few days and this was her request. I kept an open mind (this wouldn’t normally be my go-to genre, but hey, I can adapt sometimes (lol) ) and actually came away really liking it. While it took a bit to get into the story and figure out who was who (there’s a number of characters and location changes), it was a decent, well made, interesting film. Yes, I pretty much hated the main character, but I’m certain that was the point. If you like dramas, foreign films, and relationship stories, you’ll dig this. I settled on a solid 7.3 and Charlie gave it a 7.6.
Found (2012) – A bullied and misunderstood boy (Gavin Brown) must grapple with the knowledge that his older brother is a serial killer. (Google) This was a revisit for us. We watched this years ago but wanted to see it again. Wow. What a stunner. It’s graphic in all the “right places” and pushes boundaries when you think it won’t. It’s based on the book by Todd Rigney (same title) which I have NOT read, but might seek it out after having watched this twice. It’s horror, no doubt, but there’s a LOT more to it than that. Quite a lot. I’m at an 8.8 here and Charlie is close at 8.9.
Number 24 (2024) – The transformative potential of war and its tragic aftermath is captured in Norwegian war drama Number 24, which primarily acts as a biographical account of Norway’s celebrated war hero, Gunnar Sonsteby, who played a major role in the country’s anti-Nazi resistance movement during the Second World War. (IMDb) Great, serious, and frank film. Does not shy away from the horrors of war, but rather places the audience right in the middle of all the action and emotion. If you like movies about WWII, foreign films, intense and heightened scenarios, you can’t go wrong here. I’ll stand on the hill at an 8.4.
ValleyHeart (2024) – In the middle of the hot California summer, Jane Francis must decide how far she’s willing to go to help her small-time criminal brother get out of a jam with the Russian mob. (Google) One word – Blech. Okay, more words – save yourself the time and trouble. Eye-rolling dialogue, monologues that go nowhere, silly, goofy predicaments, and an overall mess. I was kind by giving it a 1.2, but Charlie nailed it with his 0.2. Just don’t.
And of course…we watched Season 6 of Cobra Kai. Great, heartfelt, and nostalgic in a good way. High recommend.
Okay, that’s the latest. Stay warm. Keep cool. And keep reading!
Sue Rovens 