The previous post containing Diamond Fire wallpaper has been updated with a high quality file, included here for your convenience.
The audio reader for IRON AND MAGIC has been chosen, and we are super stoked, because he did a sample and it is brilliant. To answer your questions, Renee Raudman will not be reading this book. The book is primarily from the male point of view and Renee is a woman. We will share a sample as soon as the agency greenlights it.
Yona of the Dawn is the bestest anime ever. Having finished both the Ancient Princess Bride and the Yona of the Dawn, I am now more than halfway through the Assassination Classroom and also rewatching Ghost Hunt. I want to share with you the hilarity that is Neo Yokio.
The English speaking cast is brilliant.
In other news my hands have taken a beating. A lot of words in a short time. So I bought an ergi ergonj oh dear Lord, hang on, an a ergonomic keyboard. It’s just been delivered while I wrote thid post. No hand pain but I am not a touch typo typist. It has takem take, taken me 5 min;uted mimutes ti type thus 5 sentences. Send help>
FIRST. Yeah I was thinking about one of those but no thanks I’m good with the old one haha
Excited for EVERYTHING Diamond Fire is now on my TBR pile at the top!
What the heck?! Good luck with that, sister.
I volunteer to type while you ramble! I type 80 wpm!
pardon my language but holy cr*p that’s fast!!
Not really. I have tested at 136 WPM, but that was with errors. The last time I was tested for a job I slowed down and did backspaces to correct typo’s I was down to 86 WPM. I have known a few people who could do over 100 WPM with no errors.
I used to play the piano when I was a kid. 🙂
Wow! I can type at 70 wpm on a good day. Bad day…you don’t want to know. ?
I don’t know my speed but you can tell it’s me in the office typing:
tap,tap,tap,tap,tap,tap,tap,tap, backspace, backspace, backspace, tap,tap,tap,tap,tap,tap,tap,tap, backspace, backspace, backspace, backspace,… I type fast but make sooo many mistakes. Thank goodness we no longer use typewriters + whiteouts!
I haven’t tested my speed in years, but I’m probably around that. I used to type faster but slowed down when word processing started using the mouse for more and more actions (I started with WordPerfect and its function keys).
I used to be really fast on a 10-key, but I don’t know if they have speed tests for it.
I miss Wordperfect 🙂
Me too. And the original Printshop.
+15,000! I barely made it through typing class due to errors, not speed. Typing was the bane of my existence in college and grad school. I LOVE word processing software, scrimped and bought a computer and software when it first came out in truly useable form in the 80’s. It wasn’t that good, but it was better than a typewriter!!!
That’s nothing, I can type 90 words per hour hehehe
I could type 100 wpm, no mistakes a few years ago. Not sure today :/
I love assassination classroom. Of course the ending had be bawling ?.
Oh my God, the ending of Assassination Classroom killed me.
I had one of those ergonomic keyboards years ago, but it didn’t look like that one. My, the times they are a-changin’!
“Hunt and peck” on that keyboard does NOT seem like fun. You are going to put your neck out swiveling from side to side ;-).
One achingly gentle snort of amusement at that trailer. No wonder I recommend Rook rather than Kate Daniels when people ask for funny UF.
Who’s rook?
Rook by Daniel O’Malley, absolutely hilarious.
That keyboard looks interesting! I’m sure there is a learning curve. If your hands are fried give it time to become normal lol!
Highly recommend the Microsoft Sculpt ergonomic keyboard. Only thing that saved me from tendonitis.
I’ve considered one of those keyboards before but never made the leap. Let me know how you like it in a few days, once you get used to it!
I agree with you about Yona of the Dawn. If you like manga at all, you should read the manga. It goes so much farther. Though I’m crossing my fingers for a second season of the anime.
The keyboard looks super weird, good luck with getting use to it.
I agree re yona manga . So funny when they are fighting and he yells I love you and the fight is over.
Gondor calls for aid
hehe
I am a HUGE fan of ergonomic keyboards. I bought a Microsoft Natural keyboard nearly 15 years ago when I first started having problems with my hands & wrists, and I never regretted it. I think my adjustment period was around 30 minutes for plain typing, but much longer than that for numbers and where all the “special” keys were located. Then again, those seem to change on every keyboard anyway. I eventually wore the letters off that keyboard, went on to buy another, then had to buy yet a third when I got a new computer and it wouldn’t support the connector on my old keyboard!
Yours keyboard is certainly unique. I may need to check it out.
Thanks to a typing class back in 7th grade I can touch type – it still took me a couple 8+ hr days to get used to an ergonomic keyboard but once you get through the painful first few days you’ll never want to go back! They make an amazing difference for your wrists and hands 🙂
I took typing in high school. I had that thing where, when I concentrate, my legs shake in hyper speed, I didn’t notice I was doing it until my typing teacher smacked me in the head. lol Drove her crazy. Poor gal. I also got sent to the principal’s office for typing out the lyrics to Van Halen’s Running With the Devil. Oh man. Good times. 🙂
Ergo Kinesis keyboard! I have one at home and one at work and have used them for something like 18 years. They last forever as they are mechanical. It took me about a week or so to convert but granted, I touch-typed before that. I type 120+ wpm with my Kinesis. Mine are white with grey and blue keys and look very old Star Trek. ?
I am in awe of all you speed demons. I am able to touch type since I can see it on my computer screen. And yeah I am very fast with certain standard email replies but on a regular basis or something unique – not even close!!!
But I would still rather type than handwrite. My hand now starts to cramp up after 5 minutes or so!
Maybe it is time to take an on-line typing class? It looks like it is ready to launch a rocket ship! I have never been able to try an ergonomic board cause I can not switch back and forth, and my husband will not try the ergonomic board.
Enjoy!
Lo these many years ago, since I did not touch type anyway, I decided to try a Dvorak keyboard. (It actually has the letters in a logical place.) I got halfway decent with it, but the computer industry no longer supports it.
No one made an actual keyboard, so rearranging the keys was fun. Then software changed the assigned values to the Dvorak set up. (The “qwerty” keyboard is actually designed to slow down a typist because people were tangling the mechanical keys of the typewriters.)
Ah, well, ancient history…
I’m not sure qwerty was actually designed to slow down the typist, the way I heard it was that the keys were positioned so that letters that were most often used close together were not linked to the letter hammers that were next to each other thus reducing the chance of them tangling. It may also have reduced the typists speed when they first had to get used to it.
Theoretically the qwerty keyboard became unnecessary when the dial type writer appeared and obsolete with the word processor but everyone is so used to it that it has become a fixture. I’ve even seen it on touch screens.
Hey if you liked “Ancient Magus’ Bride” and “Yona of the Dawn” you’re up for another sweet slice of life one, try “Snow White with the Red Hair”. If you’er up for something with more action but still sweet try “Sword Art Online”. I watch various anime based on my mood. Below are a list of recent favorites of mine.
“Irregular Magician”
“Food Wars!”
“Darker Than Black”
and for kicks and giggles “Girls und Panzer”
Sorry “Irregular Magician” should actually be “The Irregular at Magic High”
I have loved everything on that list that I’ve seen. Need to watch Ancient Magus’ Bride and Food Wars!
Snow White with the Red Hair is “rot your teeth out of your head sweet”, I was rewatching some of season 2 last night. I also love SAO and SAO2 (that avatar!), I’m not sure why people give it hate online.
Y’all need to watch sword art online abridged. Its 13 episodes are on youtube. It’s funny as hell and there are a lot of changes that make the story and animation even better.
I am kinda wondering if Gordon has a house pool on how long that keyboard lasts?
And if it pleases you may the sin be on my head.
Who is the woman in the diamond fire picture???
catalina
Don’t know if this’ll help but – I was a typesetter (printer) for many years when I was younger and hence am a very fast touch-typist. Important thing is to keep your fingers very relaxed. Tensing them up can cause wrist strain.
I loved Assassination Classroom Anime, but liked the manga (which is easy to find and read online) even more. Hope you keep writing forever – so something that helps you is to be celebrated!
I’m counting days to Hugh’s book. And then Kate and Diamond Fire. So much goodness from you this year <3 We (the BDH) truly appreciate you.
That keyboard looks really futuristic. Good luck with it. Have you ever tried voice dictating? I think that they create a script for the words you speak, you just need to speak out the punctuation.
That’s actually more painful though Dragon Naturally Speaking is much better than it used to be.
>I’m counting days to Hugh’s book.
Personally, I’m letting the countdown on the website do the counting for me. 😛
I have had that keyboard for 15 years now and it took a bit of time to learn but it’s amazing. No more pinky strain. But I also am a touch typist – maybe it’s time for you to play some Typing of the Dead! https://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/246580/
Wait, is pinky strain a real thing? I just thought I was developing arthritis in my pinky ever since the shift key on my work keyboard started malfunctioning.
If you find you can’t get on with the ergonomic keyboard, try the comfort keyboard – it’s not so drastic but still helps with the wrist strain. I’ve been using one for about 20 ago and wouldn’t swap. 🙂
I have used various keyboards due to repetitive strain injury and tendonitis.. I became quite fast with my one handed keyboard but even better when I was still working were the speech to text software applications especially in the old days before the world expected fancy stuff from the beginning of using any technological equipment.
I loved it when the software developed enough to be used in a busy/ noisy environment.
Good luck with the keyboard. It is well worth persevering. It made a lot of difference to my work speed , never mind the reduced pain…
I *adore* Akatsuki no Yona!! The about face in that first episode was SERIOUS whiplash. I’ve been waiting for the next season since forever. I watched Snow White with the Red Hair after that (Akagami no Shirayukihime) and it was quite sweet but just not on the same level. I just don’t know who I’m rooting for in Yona – her or her cousin. After reading the manga I’m even more confused. I need more of it in my life!
Also, your books are pretty good too ;p
You discovered Yona?! Yay!!! You liked it? Double, triple, quadruple yay!!! I love, love, love the story! The manga is still ongoing, with a new chapter released approximately every two weeks, and the story just becomes more and more intriguing and amazing!
I’d love to know your take on King Il and Su-Won. As a staunch pacifist, King Il apparently allowed his kingdom to be taken advantage of and weakened. He seemed to have no qualms to being referred to as a ‘cowardly king’. Yet, on the other hand, Hak still somehow thought he was a strong leader worthy of respect.
Su-Won, by contrast, has no problem with using violence to obtain his goals and seems to lack any form of scruples. He is extremely brilliant and demonstrates a deep understanding of human psychology to where he can effortlessly win the respect of people from all walks of life. He seems to possess an exceptionally high level of political savvy and wants the best for his country, yet morals are easily discarded for the sake of his goal.
Both King Il and Su-Won’s back story haven’t been told yet so it’s not clear yet what made them the people they were/are, but I’d really like to hear your thoughts on King Il and Su-Won’s characters.
Su-Won is a leader who seems to care about the overall good of the country, yet ultimately thinks that individuals are expendable as is evident by his actions. Is that what leadership takes – detachment and disregard for an individual’s plight in pursuit of the overall good? Or is it the greatest sign of a leader when he is willing to make sacrifices for an individual, as ultimately a country is comprised of individuals?
I’ve been dying to have this conversation with someone! As an author whose portrayal of the dynamics of power and people’s characters are unparalleled, I’d love to hear any and all insights you have whenever you have time! ^_^
In the Kate v. Curran Alpha vote KATE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whoa! I would love to hear Cuuran’s POV on that. ?
And it wasn’t close either.
Curran is clearly the ALpha. Kate is the lone wolf. I still fondly remember ‘tea party with unicorns’ in book 6.
‘tea party with unicorns’?
Actually it was “brunch with unicorns?”
Actually it was that scene that showed Curran she could just go, drop out, never be found, and be fine. He had the whole Alpha responsibility trappings on his shoulder. Even though he dropped it for her, he still had to be an Alpha and became leader of Mercenaries because being Alpha is just part of his DNA. I don’t see being a Guardian/Paladin as same as Alpha. I guess because I’m equating Alpha as leader. But if a lone wolf is Alpha, its a different, “don’t mess with me” alpha, not necessarily I’m the leader of my people alpha. Although Kate is growing into that, but reluctantly, forced by circumstances. Whereas with Curran, regardless of circumstances, he gravitates to being a leader.
hahahaha this is hilarious! I hope you feel better!
I tried an ergonomics years ago but couldn’t get used to it. It was for home, though; if I had it at work I probably would have gotten used to it, since I do more typing at work.
BTW, Ilona, I saw that link to the YouTube video on your Twitter page that had a guy playing a game with Alexa. I don’t know if that’s a real game or not, but that was hilarious.
I’ve got anti-YouKnowWhoHands, and write off my laptop, usually. I use a gaming keyboard with clickback, which helps, and it’s wider than the poor little laptop, for which my wrists thank me immensely. Good luck w/your new input device!
I have often wondered about speed of typing for authors. I would think that its a matter of style and work pattern. John Ringo regularly turns out 3 or 4 100K plus novels in a 3-4 month period, which wipes him out for the next 10 or 11 months. Ilona and Gordon kick out close to the same output over the same total length of time and don’t seem to be as wiped out.
Agreed, Yona of the Dawn is one of my absolute favorites! The manga is totally worth the read, too!
Illona, I sometimes struggle from sitting at the keyboard too have you tried any speech to text software instead of typing?
I use speechnotes online but there’s a Google version amongst others. They are quite accurate and it sped up my productivity substantially! You do need to speak clearly or you may get some interesting results 🙂
I was going to retro and suggest a dictphone and a secretary…
Neo Yokio is amazing. Jaden Smith is the perfect deadpanned guy to play the lead. I love it! Ive watched it 3 times already.
(I’m not being snarky.) I do believe that the Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing software still exists. It helped my kids a lot. I can’t believe that you churn out the quantity and quality that you do without being a touch typist.
I’m sorry to say, but ergonomic keyboards are for touch typist. If your not one, you’ll just wind up hurting in new ways.
There’s really only a few options: learn touch typing (and you may still have problems if your on the keyboard all day), regulating switch between at least 3 different keyboard types so your repetitive motion varies or try dictation software.
(If it’s just your wrist that are hurting, you could try wrist braces that bowlers wear. They support your wrist, they’re inexpensive and your hands don’t sweat wearing them. When I started developing carpal tunnel they worked for me.)
If I didn’t know touch typing, I think I would go for the dictation software. You may need to do a lot of punctuation corrections, but it would save your hands, wrist, whatever.
My sons father-in-law has carpal tunnel syndrome, he’s had to modify his typing method. His business centers around computer use.
Sounds as if you have found your solution!
That is definitely an odd looking keyboard. When I was doing transcription I used an ergonomic and loved it. Mostly it was a gentle curve with some elevation and a wrist rest in front of it. I cannot use a straight keyboard worth a darn, constant aggravation. Pay close attention to your most comfortable hand positioning to find the best one. Also, there are simple easily done exercises to rehydrate connective tissue in the hands which work well. Sue Heitzman(?) MELT Method. I haven’t had a massage in two years since I started using her method, prior to finding it was twice a month. Took three weeks to fix my ankle pain, no problems since.
I hope it’s Oliver Wyman, but if not that’s ok too. 🙂 Can’t wait for the 26th, so excited!! As for Mavis Beacon program, man! that brings back memories of being a telephone operator for Piedmont Hosp in Atlanta. They had that program downloaded on our computers so we could practice in the downtime. I worked there in the AGE BEFORE CELL PHONES, and you would not believe the calls we got. We always knew when it was a full moon. It would frustrate the hell out of me when ppl called to ask for the time of day. I mean, really, if you don’t know what time it is, who thinks “Oh I know, I will call the hospital and check.” lol Haven’t thought of that in ages. Crazy.
Actually when I was a resident physician I used to call the operator for the time. We mostly didn’t wear watches (because of the chance of losing them or getting them soiled) and we had to time all of our notes. The floor clocks were often not visible or not working, but the phones always worked. This was pre cell phone and pre electronic medical records.
Huh. Well, I never, ever, thought of that. We were always pleasant, regardless. I just couldn’t imagine the thought process of a person in the general populace that resulted in deciding a hospital was the place to call for information such as time of day, so thanks for sharing, it makes me feel better about humankind as a whole. 😉
oops, wrong pic. lol This was my finger and my granddaughter’s phone. I took the pic and texted it to her. 🙂 So, I don’t think you are after my phone or anything…
Jude Law!!!!!! Such a great voice.
Thank you for the tip.
You know, since you’re having to learn to adjust to this new keyboard and having to create a bunch of new typing habits via muscle memory ANYWAY, it might be killing two birds with one stone to give touch typing a go at the same time. The program I learned on, Mavis Beacon, now has what looks like a very robust free version to try out.
It took me about 9 months of 20-minute sessions 2-3x a week, but I went from 0 to 75 words per minute. So, SO worth it. They’re aimed at kids so they have cute games so that you don’t have to sit there in a bored stupor, and they constantly tell you your stats, which was pretty crucial in keeping my distractable butt in my chair typing.
Anyway, just thought I’d shoot you a link to it in case you found it interesting: mavisbeaconfree.com
Huh.
I just double-checked something and a reviewer wrote about a new feature I’d have LOVED back in the day.
REVIEWER:
“Mavis Beacon 20 (I have only tried the platinum edition) also has a new practice feature which I haven’t found anywhere else, where you can choose from a huge selection of articles where you just type right along with the text while the text you type appears in the lines in between the text to type (no looking halfway down the screen to see mistakes), errors appear in red and make a little noise to let you know that they have occurred. This is a great practicing tool for after you learn all the keys and want to stay sharp. I should also add that these articles are legitimate or legitimate style articles that are actually interesting and fun to type (such as outtakes from Ben Franklin’s biography, to scientific articles, many topics) unlike those boring, fake ones that usually are in place on typing programs (which make you feel like you’re back in elementary school) and you can even import your own text.”
My mind is boggled.
I have one of these keyboards. Good news: it will TOTALLY CUTE carpal tunnel in about 8-12 weeks. Bad news: You will want to toss it from a high place, then run over it multiple times as it’s hard to get used to. My +100wpm dropped to under 20 the first week. BUT, I could tell within a couple of days it was making a positive difference. By 30 days, your speed will nearly be back and you will be nearly pain free. By 60 days… Speed back and carpal tunnel CURED. Stick with it. Don’t stab it. You will never want another keyboard. Ever. They are worth every penny and the time to learn how to type on tjrm. Promise.
Now if only I could trust spellcheck. SIGH.
Typing tutorial programs designed for students are a lot more fun now than the clunky texts I learned on. You can pretty much take you pick of themes and avatars. There are even games involved 🙂
I’m trying to figure out where Hugh’s book is supposed to be is it supposed to be between Magic binds and Magic triumphs or what and is it supposed to be a trilogy you haven’t really clarified exactly the exact notion of the series and I love that we get to see a little bit more of exactly what happened to Hugh After Roland let him go because believe me I kind of want to know what happened for fact that Rowland’s kind of an a******
Sorry using Auto speak it supposed to say Roland not Row land
Yay! You watched Yona. The anime had only at least 40% awesomeness of its manga though imho hehe
..mostly because the ending of the anime is like within chapter 30-50 and the manga is still going strong at +100 chapters and not yet completed.