Do You See What I See?

What is this? What is its purpose? Who uses it? Discuss.

Getting to Know You: Musical Talents

This weekend, my home – the French Quarter of New Orleans – was inundated with music lovers from far and wide. Residents and tourists alike had come for the 28th annual French Quarter Festival – one of the largest free music festivals in the American South. Featuring hundreds of musical performances – from solo guitarists to lively zydeco bands – the festival was, as usual, a huge success, filling the streets of my beloved neighborhood with song and merriment.

All that revelry made me wish that I were a little better at playing my own guitar – and also made me wonder about the musical talents of the authors and characters that visit CIC. Though I'm aware of some – like Abigail and her flute, Marcus and his voice (despite his relatives' constant ragging) – I'm curious about other musical abilities, obvious or otherwise.

So, authors and characters, I ask you:

Do you have any musical talents? If so, what are they? And if not, what instruments would you most like to learn?

Getting to Know You: Duty

Lately, you might have noticed that two of our authors – Betsy and Christine – have been participating in a series of experimental “story threads” on Come In Character. Such ongoing sagas have allowed them to merge their fictional worlds and simultaneously explore their (very different) characters – which may even give them fodder for their actual novels. Frankly, I've found such brainstorming sessions to be quite inspiring – if not a bit time-consuming to read!

Still, to make sure that no one feels left out, Christine and I will try to keep posting prompts that appeal to everyone. Also, if any other authors are interested in setting up “story threads” between their own characters, please let me know (by emailing me at laura@rubyhollow.com). I'd be more than happy to facilitate such creative endeavors.

In the meantime, I thought we could explore a concept that seems to crop up a lot on this site – most notably, in the recent story threads between Aidan and Marenya. That's, of course, the concept of duty – that is, the action, task, or chore that is required of you because of a military position, a professional occupation, a familial responsibility, a legal obligation, or another reason altogether.

So, authors and characters, I ask you:

What is your specific duty, and why do you strive to fulfill it? Of course, if you choose to ignore such duties, feel free to share that, too.

(As I've already said, I don't want anyone to feel left out – even authors and characters who shirk their duties.)

Social Saturday: Meet and Greet

We have some new faces here at CIC, so today it's time for a character "Meet and Greet."

Bring some of your favorite food to share, check your weapons at the door, come on in and introduce yourself.  There are lots of comfy places to sit, a big fireplace to gather around, and even a piano if anyone feels like playing a song or two. You can be yourself here, everyone is welcome!

Let's start off by sharing your name, where you live and what you spend most of your time doing. Oh, and what did you bring to eat?