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...

[ex-triciasu.livejournal.com]

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

[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.

[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.