Posts Tagged by bone walker kickstarter
Music transcription is hard!
| February 24, 2013 | Posted by annathepiper under Bone Walker |
My new task to contribute to the soundtrack for Faerie Blood and Bone Walker: transcribing some of the more challenging sets that Dara’s putting together! In particular, the one that goes along with the fight scene in Chapter 7 of Bone Walker. That’s got some fun, fun Japanese stuff going on in it along with a heavily mutated version of “Road to Lisdoonvarna”–and Dara’s also doing some fun almost orchestral things here as well, with interlocking themes representing Christopher and Kendis fighting with the nogitsune.
It sounds really bitchin’ cool in Dara’s work track, especially given the drums she’s laid in!
But Dara doesn’t read sheet music; she learns music by ear. I am pretty much exactly the opposite. I’ve been trying to improve my ability to learn by ear, but I am still very, very much better at learning something if there’s sheet music for it in front of me. That said? It was challenging and FUN to take Dara’s track, slow it down to half speed in my Tempo Slow app, and try to get all the notes and rhythms right on my piccolo so that I could transcribe them into actual musical notation.
My head is very full of notes now and I cannot brain any more tonight. I’m here to tell ya, it’s almost easier writing the book. Well, almost! ;D Not to mention that this is only the first part of the fun with this piece–now I have to actually learn to play it properly. And I’m actually going to have to break out my seldom-played flute with keys, since I don’t have a proper Irish flute with keys on it yet, and this bastard is changing keys WAY too often and into way too annoying keys for me to handle on Norouet at my skill level. (Read: my generally sucking at half-holing.) The piccolo’s too high and perky for this, so it’ll have to be the flute.
I’ve flung the PDF as well as the original Finale Songwriter file over to the others who’ll be playing on the soundtrack with us, and have shared the PDF with the Kickstarter backers as well. Really looking forward to doing my part for the recording–even if it means YIKES Dara’s going to record me! This won’t be the first time my flute playing’s been recorded; there are still the old MP3s from our Three Good Measures days. But this’ll definitely be the first time for something as formal as a soundtrack album, with studio work on it and everything! YIKES! *^_^*;;
Long overdue update
| November 15, 2012 | Posted by annathepiper under Bone Walker, Valor of the Healer |
Most of you who follow me on the various social networks, or who read the posts I make via my personal blog annathepiper.org (whether there or on LJ/Dreamwidth), know this already–but for those of you who don’t, a couple of weeks ago I was briefly, violently ill. I had to spend four days in the hospital, but happily, the problem was relatively easy to deal with. And I’m feeling a lot better now! This did mean though that I was thrown for a pretty massive loop for a couple of weeks, while I dealt with recovering.
The good news though (well, aside from yay! I’m feeling better!) is that Valor of the Healer is officially DONE and has been handed off to my editor. Now comes the waiting for exciting things like cover art! And final blurb copy! And learning about how Carina’s ARC process works!
In related news, I’ve also finally officially signed the Carina contract. You guys, I’m a contracted Carina Press author. I feel all grown up. *happysniff*
Meanwhile! Now that Valor is done, this frees up my brain for returning to Bone Walker. The goal is to try to finish this puppy up by the end of November. I think I have two chapters left, at which point I’ll be putting out a brief call for beta readers before the book is handed off to JoSelle Vanderhooft for formal editing. Those of you who backed my Kickstarter have gotten a longer, more detailed update about this!
Groundwork continues to be laid as well for getting the Bone Walker soundtrack ready. My belovedest Dara, rock star that she is, has thrown together a bunch of practice tracks of the various tunes we’re interested in for the instrumental sets, so that we can start learning how to play them the way she’s envisioning they should sound. It’s going to be exciting, and I’ve got a LOT of tunes I’m going to have to learn how to play really fast. This is what happens when an author is also a musician, you guys!
And, artist Kiri Moth (may her PhotoShop always swiftly load! May her pencils be ever sharp!) has sent me an initial sketch for the soundtrack’s cover art! Check it out!
Bouzouki Cat Says TWANG
So, lots of stuff still going on, and I’m hoping to finish the year strong–and with another finished book to show for it. Hopefully I won’t be flung any more health surprises. Wish me luck, folks!
Kickstarter and Bone Walker update goodness
| October 17, 2012 | Posted by annathepiper under Bone Walker, Faerie Blood |
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For those of you who haven’t already seen this update go out to my Kickstarter backers list, I’m delighted to report that there’s some movement on the Kickstarter front!
Backer and friend and fellow session player Ellen, who is made entirely of awesomeness, threw me a boatload of tunes recommendations that will plug very nicely into the instrumental set tracks for the soundtrack, as well as into the bridge of our take of “Lukey”. Moreover, since Ellen is a fine dulcimer player, she’ll be joining us on the soundtrack work! Dara and I feel that she’ll very well represent the presence of Kendis’ house brownies, musically speaking.
I’m feeling particularly happy about the selection of tunes for what’s going to be the battle track for the climax of Bone Walker–Pigeon on the Gate, Tam Linn (a.k.a., appropriately, ‘Howling Wind’), and Farewell to Erin. Those of you who are Irish/trad tunes people, you may be able to get an idea of what that set’s going to sound like just by that alone. I encourage you to seek those tunes out if you’d like to get an idea of what we’re shooting for!
(And this of course means now I actually have to LEARN these tunes. Eep! *^_^*;;)
I’m on tap for a copyedit run through Lament of the Dove–my first formal copyedit run, woo! But that’s due on the 24th. After that, my plan will be to charge through the rest of Bone Walker, which means finishing up Chapter 21 and then a couple more chapters of denouement after that. I’m talking with my editor for that about scheduling–whether this means she’ll be able to do the editing round in December, or whether that’s going to slide to January.
And, happily, the postcards and posters of the Faerie Blood art are now on their way to me! Kickstarter backers have claim on just about all of the initial run of postcards, though it’s highly likely I’ll do a second run if the first run comes out okay. The first run of posters will leave me with several extras, though. So I’ll have enough to offer to people if they want them, once my Kickstarter backers are taken care of!
Fun times at the Murkworks! 
Seeking tunes help for the Bone Walker soundtrack
| October 14, 2012 | Posted by annathepiper under Bone Walker, Faerie Blood |
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Things have been pretty wacky around the Murkworks these last few months what with this whole book deal thing going on with Carina–but I do still have the Free Court of Seattle books and related things going on for all you fine folks who supported my Kickstarter. And it’s time for Dara and me to get back to working on the soundtrack for Faerie Blood and Bone Walker!
Which means I need to make some musical decisions. Part of the plan for this soundtrack, as y’all may remember, is that it will include a few instrumental sets of traditional tunes. I am on tap to make final selections for the tracks that need them–but here’s the thing. I am hampered by lack of personal repertoire, and by the sheer staggering tsunami of tunes from the Irish, Scottish, Quebecois, and many other traditions to choose from!
Internets, this means I’m going to turn to you. I know a couple people who’re reading me on Dreamwidth are Irish music people, and I have quite a few musicians Friended on Facebook who may click over to read this. So for any of you who may be reading, I seek tunes to fit the following scenarios:
1) A jaunty hornpipe in G or D (though I am capable of transposition so will consider other keys if the hornpipe is suitably awesome). We intend to plug this in as a bridge for a take of the Newfoundland trad song “Lukey”. Since we would like to distinguish ours a bit from the versions recorded by Great Big Sea, the hornpipe should NOT be “Staten Island” since that’s the one they use in their original studio recording. I’d like something similarly jaunty, though, which does not need to be played super-fast in order to sound good.
2) Tunes to fill out the set which will represent the big fight scene in the climax of Bone Walker. I want these to be reels or reel-like tunes in minor keys, and I want them fast and furious and badassed. Tunes with more than two parts to them are acceptable, e.g., Farewell to Erin. (Which is a candidate for going into this set, but I want other options to consider.) Bonus points if the tunes have names that evoke storms, lightning, thunder, or wind, as severe weather will be a major factor in the scene in question.
So talk to me, session/tunes/music people! What tunes do you know and love that fit these bills? If you fling me a good one, I’ll get your name into the liner notes!
First test copy of Faerie Blood Second Edition!
| June 18, 2012 | Posted by annathepiper under Faerie Blood |
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YOU GUYS! YOU GUYS! We have the first test copy of the Second Edition of Faerie Blood, and OMG, it looks beautiful. Dara and I are slightly dubious about the loss of some of the background color–but other than that, the layout is amazing, Kendis pops right off the cover, and there’s a bar code and ISBN and retail price and everything and HOLY CRAP it looks like a real book.
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- Front Cover of Faerie Blood Second Edition
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- Back Cover of Faerie Blood Second Edition
Paul says he really likes the cover even if we’ve lost quite a bit of the background golden hue. Dara’s going to have a conversation with our guy at Third Place about this, and see whether it’s fixable. If it’s not, though, honestly, I will be very happy with this as the shipping version. Stand by for further updates! Hopefully we’ll have a full print run ready to begin shipping out to Kickstarter backers this weekend!
Faerie Blood Second Edition ebooks released to Kickstarter backers!
| June 16, 2012 | Posted by annathepiper under Faerie Blood |
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I’m thrilled to announce that the second edition of Faerie Blood has been released in ebook form (epub, PDF, Mobi, and HTML) to all my Kickstarter backers! Big, big thanks go out not only to the backers in general, but specifically to all backers who helped test the ebook files before their general release, to Dara who did all of the layout for the PDF, and of course to Kiri Moth for providing me such amazing cover art!
Now that the ebook version has been deployed, the next step will be to get the print versions ready to go out. Dara and I will confirm with Third Place that they have the final versions of the interior and cover art PDFs, and then they can start printing us some books! When those are ready, I’ll pick those up and start mailing them out to folks!
And once THAT’S done, then, I’ll start arranging to deploy for general sale! I’ll be arranging with Third Place to sell print copies on consignment, and meanwhile, the ebook editions will go up on the various big ebook-selling sites as soon as I familiarize myself with all the appropriate systems and procedures.
So those of you who didn’t get a chance to support the project but who are perhaps interested in getting hold of a second edition copy of this book–stand by! There will soon be formal opportunities for you to do so!
And meanwhile–y’all may remember that I was hand-selling copies of the Drollerie release of Faerie Blood for five bucks a pop to all interested parties. That offer is now officially voided by the completion of the Second Edition, and the new offer is this: you may buy an ebook copy of the Second Edition from me directly as of NOW, for the same five bucks a pop and in the format of your choice, if you can pay me via PayPal.
I’m EXCITED, you guys! And I’ll be even more to get this thing up for sale on all the formal channels!
Faerie Blood Second Edition is imminent!
| June 14, 2012 | Posted by annathepiper under Faerie Blood |
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For those of you who may have missed me yakking about this on the various social networks, or who are not in on the updates I’ve been sending to my Kickstarter backers:
The release of Faerie Blood Second Edition is EXTREMELY NIGH. My belovedest Dara has finished up the print layout, both the interior and the cover, and our contact Vladimir at Third Place Press has acquired a formal ISBN for us and given us a bar code and everything to put on the cover.
Meanwhile, I have Release Candidate 3 versions of the epub, mobi, and HTML files, which are awaiting final signoff from the beta readers who are checking them for any last bugs before I deploy them all to backers! Likewise, the PDF version awaits final signoff before Dara spins off a backers version which will include the same cover graphic the other ebook versions do.
I have issued a deadline to beta readers of Saturday morning, and assuming I don’t get any last-minute bugs that need fixing, I will deploy the ebook editions of Faerie Blood to all Kickstarter backers at that time! The final interior and cover PDFs will also be deployed to Third Place, and hopefully printing will therefore begin next week!
Much gratitude to all my beta readers who’ve gone over the various ebook files and found all the broken accented characters, weirdnesses with styling, and such! Especial huge shoutouts go to backers Ellen and Oliver, for Ellen is a GODDESS of typo discovery, and Oliver appealed to my little QA Engineer’s heart by sending me a bunch of screenshots! (When you’re fixing bugs, ladies and gentlemen, screenshots are beautiful, shiny love. Whether it’s for software, or for ebooks!)
Check out what the RC3 version looks like when I look at it in iBooks on my iPad, y’all!
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