Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born on this day in 1859. In addition to being a physician and wildly famous author, he was quite the fashion plate.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1890.
QUOTE: “I have frequently gained my first real insight into the character of parents by studying their children.”
SOME WORKS: The Sherlock Holmes books; The Stark Munro Letters; The Maracot Deep; The Lost World; dozens of short stories.
A KEEPSAKE:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle print by Pemberley Pond. $19.92
Ain’t no party like a Gatsby party T-shirt [courtesy Skreened]
Ain’t no party like a Gatsby party T-shirt. $24.99. Image courtesy Skreened.
“Spring drew on…and a greenness grew over those brown [garden] beds, which, freshening daily, suggested the thought that Hope traversed them at night, and left each morning brighter traces of her steps.”-Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
Spring by Alfons Mucha, 1896
Orchard in Spring by Alfred Sisley, 1881
Springtime Landscape by Béla Iványi-Grünwald, circa 1910
Spring Garden by Ervin Plány, circa 1907-1909
This happened last night.
Legends of Steragos Kickstarter
Kevin’s project deserves every penny pledged by these 19 magnificent people. The book is set for a May release. If you’ll excuse me, I have a manuscript to edit.
If you missed my first Legends of Steragos post, go here.
Read a thousand books, and you will find a thousand selves. Look closer, for they are all incarnations of you. Some of these other selves, these other inhabitants of your brain, body, emotions, are but subtle variations of the well-worn person who stares at you disinterestedly from the mirror. Then there are the radicals, the rebels, the shockingly embarrassing mavericks. They are you, again and again and again. The shy, the bold, the terrifying. Still you, again and again and again. Initially, at least, they exist under the radar, below the surface; inchoate possibilities all. Some will die unknown and unnoticed. The rest will shoot to the surface, furtively or fanatically, one at a time. Once they are freed, they come and go: revolving, changing, ebbing and blooming. Eventually, the important ones settle in your psyche for eternity; others, having served a purpose, slough off like useless skin, spent. They are born because you have the courage, repeatedly, to do one of the most dangerous acts possible: open a book.
Reading is pretty cool shit, make no mistake. Few things ever approach the epic nature of discovering and savoring a good book. At the top of that exclusive list? Sharing your passion with like-minded people. Does that sound like fun or does that sound like fun? Yes? Good, because this is where I officially introduce the newest feature on A Small Press Life.
[R]evolving Incarnations: A Questionnaire For Passionate Readers is an interview series done in classic Q&A format. Each entry will feature one intrepid writer/blogger/artist/creative mastermind and their unique take on the same 40 reading-themed questions. The results are delightful. Don’t believe me? Come back here in an hour, as the series debuts with Jennifer Koe of Quirk’n It in the hot seat.
Our 2013 Burns Night Supper was a rousing success. It was a great reminder of what a wonderful, loyal, hilarious group of friends we have. The Chef and I spent months assembling every piece of the puzzle: the menu, music, guest list, drinks, poetry, toasts. Finally, on 25th January, everything locked into place: we had an amazing time. Once our friends started arriving, I more or less put my camera down for the night. Good photos are in short supply, but I plan on posting a video of the winning toast soon. To make up for lack of photographic evidence that the party, indeed, took place, I have decided to share my famous cupcake recipe. These cupcakes are, to be honest if a bit immodest, scrumptious. After concocting this dessert, I spent 2+ years refining the method and ingredients. Now you, dear readers, can benefit from my diligence. A few words of warning, however: one taste, and your friends and family will pounce on your cupcakes like a pack of wild beasties, leaving behind nothing but shreds of cupcake liners, pools of drool, and their dignity. The Burns Night revelers would tell you as much
VANILLA-BLUEBERRY-BACON CUPCAKES WITH CARAMEL ICING AND BLUEBERRY COMPOTE* (Makes 24 cupcakes)
Fear not: although this recipe is comprised of three components, with each one made entirely from scratch, it is easy. Trust me. Because of setting time, we’re going to cook backwards and assemble forwards. Continue reading
Too Many Choices
…is eclectic. I compiled the playlist earlier tonight, and had a finger in nearly every pie. While there are several Scottish or Scottish-born musicians in the mix, my goal was to keep the list as unpredictable and interesting as possible. We’ll see how well I succeeded on Friday. Want a sneak peek? Continue reading
BBC to Recreate Netherfield Ball for 200th Anniversary of Pride and Prejudice [courtesy of The Independent]
This morning, The Chef made a trip to the party store to pick up what he calls Produce of Scotland, which is a crucial component of our Burns Night Supper. Although we will also serve wine, beer, and miscellaneous alcohol, next to these lovelies they matter not.
Produce of Scotland. Photo by The Chef.
The McClelland’s, although not our favourite, is perfect for the Scotch Tasting event: there’s a Lowland, a Highland, and an Islay. The wee bottles of Glenfiddich are the Toasting Contest Prize. The Glenrothes on the right is just because. The Botanist Gin on the left is for the odd person who isn’t into whisky but still wants to enjoy a sip of sweet Scotland’s finest.
