Comments on: Twelfth Night

By: Courtney

Courtney — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:58:58 +0000

Oh, I love the sound of your next novel! I remember my dad telling me, when I was stressing over one of the stories I wrote as a child, that there really couldn’t be any NEW stories, that human beings wrap themselves around the same problems over and over and over again, and so my job would always be to tell old stories in a new way. It sort of takes the pressure off…

Shakespeare comedies are always good. I’ve always loved Noel Coward but I’m not sure he’s appropriate for your cause or not. Sam Shepherd. And really, you can’t beat some of Neil Simon’s work – those are the three playwrites off the top of my head I really enjoy…

By: bloglily

bloglily — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:49:21 +0000

Hello Jane! I think it will be a wonderful new year. I have just started looking for an agent for my first novel, The Secret War, which is set in Bavaria in the 1960s. I loved writing it, because it is the kind of book I like to read. There are no guarantees in life, but I do hope that at some point in the next year or so, someone will buy it and then I’ll be able to tell you how to get it! My second novel, the one I talk about in this blog post, is just a gleam in my eye at this point. But I’ll be talking about it a lot, because it’s something I love to think about. And, finally, I have begun to send out short stories, a series of them in fact, all about women who, finding themselves in the middle of their lives and increasingly invisible, make choices — often foolish, but always interesting — about how to continue on. If someone takes one of those, I’ll be sure to let you know.

Dear Cam, It’s monsooning outside my window this morning, and so that lush green world is sounding enticing. The funny thing is that I also think the world after a big winter storm can be a green world, because the storm so changes our familiar landscapes. I hope you’re having a very happy new year!

You are absolutely right, Mari. It’s the Feast of the Epiphany — King’s Day. In France (and at the French school my sons went to when they were little), there’s a great cake baking ritual, with a little favor hidden in the cake — the child who finds the favor gets to be the king for the day. In the Basque country, which is where my mother’s family is from, and in many other places too, that’s the present giving day. And, of course, it’s twelve days after Christmas, so Twelfth Night. I love your London story! London is so expensive. I try not to eat out when I’m there, which is actually pretty easy when you’re mostly alone, as I will be (although I love my brother, he’s a very independent, very busy guy!). It’s yogurt, and hummus and crackers and carrots and oranges and cheese. And then there’s money for theater tickets.

Oh Charlotte — That sounds like such a lovely, lovely tradition! And don’t you think being royalty is the best of all dress-up costumes? The wise men in our creche at home definitely have the most interesting clothing.

Gail — You are the kindest of writing partners. It’ll be so good to see you soon and have that cup of tea.

Litlove, I’ll remember that about inventive stealing! Thank you. xo

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:59:22 +0000

Hi happy new year to you bloglily. Hope it will be a good one. I´m just curious to know whether your books are published and available to buy in countries like Denmark, or on the net? Not necessairily in Danish…

By: Cam

Cam — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 04:29:37 +0000

I was thinking about the concept of the ‘green world’ just the other day — a lovely, lush world to retreat, a place where things are perfect. Steal away, Lily. You’re in good company — just look at all the retellings of A Midsummer’s Night Dream, (whether acknowledged or not).

By: mari

mari — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:14:23 +0000

I was just asking my husband if January 6th is also known as the Epiphany? Is it? Am I just completely mixed up? He said he had no idea. I think it’s because he was preoccupied with something else, not because he didn’t know.

Lucky you, going to London. I was there once on business, and was originally told I’d only be there for a month. I spent all of my money on the theater and museums and weekend travel. Then the month stretched into another, and another. And another. By the time I left, I was dead broke. It was great.

About stealing material: a great writing teacher said “Great writers steal. Good ones copy.” Go for it!

By: charlotteotter

charlotteotter — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:02:17 +0000

Lovely ideas for your new novel, Lily. I’d love to hear how that progresses.

I just thought I’d let you know that yesterday my daughters joined the throngs of 500 000 German children all over Germany who dressed up as the Three Wise Men to go door to door carol-singing and raising money for other children less fortunate than themselves. It’s a 50-year-old tradition and it was thrilling to have my kids participate.

Have fun in Londres!

By: openpalm

openpalm — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:38:27 +0000

“I’ve been thinking a lot about the next novel I want to write.” — music to my ears

By: litlove

litlove — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:58:44 +0000

I so wish I could recall the quote (but I can’t properly) about originality being only a matter of inventive stealing. Some of the books and films I’ve loved best in the past few years have taken a basic structure from a great work and had a lot of fun playing with it. It sounds like a fantastic new novel you are hatching over there, dear BL!!