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Well, it’s day one of teaching young adult writing at Sage Hill Writing Experience. The course takes place at St. Michael's Retreat near Lumsden, SK. As you can see it's a lovely place. There are several courses being taught so all of we "faculty" get to arrive a day early, get settled in, and get a good sleep before the massive onslaught of students arrive. My class will be 4 students who have completed novels and want to "improve" them. A bit of lecturing, some class discussion, and then one on one discussion--for twelve days.
This is my room. You know those Franciscan friars didn't need much space. At least there's a nice view (though the view is rather curious since we're looking across a valley at a highway--odd to sit in this peaceful place and to see all these people whizzing by). Ah, well, I better do a bit of "prep" work.
In 1837 the first sighting of Spring Heeled Jack occurs in England. He was tall and thin, had metallic claws, fiery eyes and could leap great distances. He committed various devious crimes then would leap over a wall or fence to escape the bobbies. The last reported sighting was in 1904 (at which point he must have been a Spring Heeled Jack with a walker).
I love book covers. I admit it. And I often do judge a book by its cover. Then later on I judge it by the story, etc., But a cover is your first introduction. It's the book saying, "Hello, how are you, pleased to meet you."
Odd Victorian Factoid#24: It took fictional character Phileas Fogg 80 days to go around the world. In 1889 Nellie Bly (a real person) did it in 72 days. She was a journalist and her real name was Elizabeth Jane Cochran. She also faked insanity in order to study a mental institution from the inside.
Odd Victorian Factoid # 23: On May 17, 1884, P. T. Barnum proved the Brooklyn Bridge was stable by having Jumbo, and a parade of 21 elephants, walk over it. Very clever marketing.