My much-vaunted freedoms, let me show you them

Chaz is born free, and is everywhere in chains.

At least, right here and right now, he is. Frustratedly.

I was all ready to go out: boots on, thermos filled. Laptop, biscuit. Bag packed and slung. Hand almost on the door, when I remembered I had to stay in for a delivery.

Big sigh, retreat, retrenchment. Everything unshipped, unpacked. Laptop plugged in again, fired up again; Chaz soothed - inadequately - by self, "Never mind: we have capon, soup, bread. Work to do. We're fine..."

But we are not fine, and--

Hold hard. Hark!

*departs*

*returns*

Oh blessed be DHL, who come when they say they will! Delivery has been delivered (we haz cheezes, Cornish cheezes...), and I am free again, tra-la.

Alas, I have drunk the contents of my thermos. Still'n'all, there is always more coffee. That's a law. Something akin to the conservation of energy, only more important. (Now I want to write a story called The Conversation of Energy, on account of my mistyping.)

(I should perhaps not tell you this, but the story I am now working on? Is called "'Tis Pity He's Ashore". Which is a title I have treasured for something more than thirty years, only waiting for the story to attach itself thereto. Which it now has, hurrah.)

Starred review...

Hem. This is slightly difficult, on account of (as you all know by now) my next novel is pseudonymous, and I'm not supposed to be spreading the new name about.

However, Publishers' Weekly has just given the book a starred review; so I will over-indulge myself with a discreet quote or two:

"... captures the foggy mysteries of feudal China in exquisite style with this
rich fantasy series opener. Pirate captain Li Ton needs a new ship's boy,
having worn out the old one, so he captures apprentice scribe Han, who
becomes infected with magic in a duel. When Li Ton kills the monks who forge
links to the chain binding an ancient undersea dragon, he and Han are caught
up in a multilayered tale of supernatural creatures, a deposed emperor on the
run and jade that grants extraordinary powers. ...'s concisely elegant style
mirrors the light brush strokes and deep colors of ancient Chinese paintings,
finely balancing detail, emotion and action. Where many Western authors try
and fail to capture the nuances of Chinese culture and mythology, this
melodious tale quietly succeeds."

Hee. I love that. Pirates and dragons and jade, all snared in a paragraph (took me a whole book, forsooth...). And "concisely elegant". That's not what I said about it, but hey. I could be wrong.