Wednesday 1 December 2010

Vivien Leigh said, “It’s much easier to make people cry than to make them laugh.” But Vivien Leigh was an actress, not a writer.

Thursday 23 September 2010

I had planned for the last chapter, “Estrid names the finest treasure,” to begin with a scene in Ana’s room, wherein Eadwyn is permitted to cross the threshold of that hallowed chamber before the appointed time, in order to tell Estrid that Brede is here. I decided that part was unnecessary, but it meant I wasted a few shots.

And since the baby might not be a baby any more by the time she gets a chance to appear in another chapter, I really don’t want to waste baby pictures. So here are a few outtakes—this time of a scene that really happened, but which didn’t make it into the final cut.

Sophie decides to admit Eadwyn on the advice of her colleagues:

Thursday 1 July 2010

I’ve added a new page that may help you figure out who is who among the many Scots we’ve seen and heard mentioned.

Index to the Clans

Saturday 15 May 2010

After the latest chapter, “Gunnora comes to the crossing of seven roads,” I thought we needed a good map of the area, so I threw one together this morning. (Click for a big version.)

Thursday 29 April 2010

Stacy asked on the forum for some clarification about the “Nine Mothers,” and I realized I still haven’t written a Verso post about this subject. It seems like a good time to gather all the information we know so far, since I know that some of you have been catching on to a few things.

Tuesday 27 April 2010

As some of you guessed when Eirik mentioned it to Harald Leki in “Eirik pays a neighborly visit,” some of the refugees from Ramsaa were bound for Lothere. And as of “Kuntigern admits he cares”—namely February 11^th, 1086—they finally made it to the valley. I’ve already randomly generated the full cohort and distributed them among the households where they will be going, at least at first, though as of February 11^th they’re still resting in Wintermere after their journey before heading deeper into the valley. Eirik headed on alone.

I haven’t made any Sims yet, and some or all of these people might never be so much as mentioned in the story, but I wanted to write them all down here so I can erase them from the notes I added to my outline.

All of the refugees are either widows or the children of widows. Most of them were widowed during the sea battle that preceded the uprising of the town, when most of the Norsemen were slain by Diarmait’s Gaels while still on their ships.

Friday 2 April 2010

Sir Selwyn and Lady Edeltrude are proud to announce the birth of their son

Sunday 24 January 2010

While writing the next chapter, wherein Malcolm and Cubby meet King Malcolm III of Scotland, I had to take a step back and figure out exactly what is the history between Malcolm III and the clan of Black Colin. That led to figuring out the history of the clan itself.

Monday 14 December 2009

A post of links from my research, so I don’t lose them. But there might be something here to interest some of you too.

Saturday 17 October 2009

I have been saying recently that Sigefrith must never have publicly affirmed that Colban was not his son, and that Colban would therefore have continued to be called a prince and be treated with the same deference as Caedwulf and the girls.