More writing

[lizwilliams]

I have finished LEUCROTTA and started on another short story, WINTERBORN. On some accounts, a winterbourne is a submerged or hidden river, which returns in times of trouble or war or (most likely) in winter, when there's more rain. London's hidden rivers have always fascinated me - even Brighton has an underground river, which rather memorably re-emerged above ground several years ago, along the main road out of town.

Seem to be writing more fantasy at the moment, but there's some SF on its way.

Apropos of none of the above, a customer just put his head round the door and said 'Is it dangerous?' To which my reply was: 'Not usually.'

It was a bit more dangerous earlier on because the wine merchant showed up. We have all been very restrained.

Comments

[desperance.livejournal.com]

I've come across winterbournes as intermittent springs - but I like them as hidden rivers. We have those in Newcastle too; too deeply buried to re-emerge, alas, but that's the reason 'High Bridge' is not a bridge but just a street now; they took its river away...

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Newcastle isn't somewhere I know at all - that's interesting. I think the Fleet is one of the ones that used to be a river...and now isn't!

[ex-triciasu.livejournal.com]

The winterbourne thing is sooo imagistic...what a great concept.

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

This is one of those short stories that was knocking around for ages, as an idea, but has only recently acquired a story to go with it. Now all I need to do is make the story work...!

[ianmcdonald.livejournal.com]

I have a wonderful book 'London Under London: A Subterranean Guide', which does exactly what it says on the tin and has a great chapter on London's lost rivers. If I remember correctly, there's a string of villages outside Salisbury all of which are Winterbourne something --Winterbourne Earls, Winterbourne Dauntsey, Winterbourne Gunner... presumably spring-line villages.

[sugoll.livejournal.com]

Curses! Beaten to it! Oh, well - it's still a wonderful book. It's disturbing to see how hollow Kings Cross is, and I love the thought of all those disused Tube stations...

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

I have a feeling my mum has either that book, or something similar - we were talking about it a while back. I used to know someone who lived in one of the Winterbourne villages - they're not far from here and I used to drive through them regularly.

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

New York City had a forgotten subway system; about a mile of a pneumatic railroad, if I recall correctly. More about this can be found in Robert Daly's The World Beneath the City, along with much else. (Including, unfortunately, the "alligators in the sewers" story.)

Above ground: Columbia University misplaced a railroad locomotive for a period of years, I've been told.

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

I'll have to check out the Daly!