Friday Finds: For the Love of Notebooks

There is something to be said of the allure of a blank page – or even a blank book. It is not always a page waiting for a writer’s blood to be poured on it, but it is definitely calling to be filled. Filled with shopping lists, diary secrets, love letters, doodles, artwork or literature. 

I have amassed a collection of notebooks – collecting them probably since I was able to write. Diaries with locks, plain school notebooks, soft covers, hard covers, spiral bound, saddle stitched and one custom made (refillable) in blue leather with one of my favourite quotes in silver lettering on it.

"A Writer's Tools" by Rae Grimm

I usually use more than one notebook at a time – one for studies, one for “other writing” and one for Airthai stories and worldbuilding. I feel naked when I go out without having a notebook on me. I usually end up using my phone’s notebook in such cases anyway!

While rummaging around the internet one day, I came across a wonderful notebook blog – Notebook Stories - which made me feel less alone in my love of notebooks! Not only do they show some of the best and most beautiful notebooks/journals available, but they also showcase a specific addict – I mean collector – every Friday. Take some time to browse through their blogroll as well – there are some very yummy books contained in those pages!

Paperbacknote Notebooks

One of their posts highlighted the company “paperbacknote” – which uses old paperback covers to make custom notebooks. Paperbacknote truly gives new life to these paperbacks – and you can see the love that went into their making. If you want, you can get the original book shipped to you when you order one of the notebooks.

In their own words:

“Every paperbacknote notebook is made with an original cover from a used paper back novel in its found condition. Each notebook is hand-assembled and contains stitch-bound blank pages allowing the book to open flat, as well as rounded corners and an embossed logo on the back cover. The size is approximately 11cm x 17cm x 1.2cm with 30-60 pages (depending on the thickness of the original book). The cover is original from used books culled from thrift shops, garage sales, and boxes in basements and attics. At first glance, these notebooks appear as though they are real paper back novels. Only when you open them up do you discover the true secret inside. They are blank! At least until you fill them with your own thoughts, stories, pictures, and words. A perfect gift for an aspiring writer, note taker, list maker, journal writer, or anyone who wants to keep their notes under cover.”

Do you still use paper notebooks? Or do you find digital notes are better? I would love to hear from you!

Airthai Legends: Alaila’s Daughters

Last week I wrote of one of the legends of the Midlands of Airthai – Whythe Tellerassar’s cry is so sorrowful. This week I’m continuing the story with a second legend – that of Alaila’s Daughters.

To read the first part, click here.

Alaila’s Daughters

Just as some believe that Alaila died on the fateful day Ikaira and his followers became the Tellerassar, so many believe that she was spared; even though she would never be able to return to her people. It is told among the people of the Midlands that, even as Alaila fell pierced by an arrow of King Markus’s soldiers, she did not change back into a mortal woman, but became the first of the water women. Able to breathe under water as easily as in the open air, she was able to escape from the soldiers into the deep waters of the river.

Frightened and hurt, Alaila hid in the dark waters of the gorge for many days. The soldiers left the gorge and retreated back to their lands south of the Great River. But Alaila still hid, until she heard a single cry sounding above the water. In the mournful song she recognised her name and went towards it with all haste. An eagle swooped down, changing into the form of Ikaira. He walked along the bank of the river, ever calling her name with the hope that she had not perished.

But even when she went to him, she could not leave the water entirely. So they would still be apart except when the moon was full, for, on that night, Alaila was able to leave the river and walk again on the green banks of the river. Ikaira returned to her as often as he could and the road towards the river was safe for travel. In time Alaila bore a child – a daughter who could live in water like her mother and was also bound to the river.

Rumours of the water women filtered to the people living close to the river and soon other tales were told of other women becoming water women themselves when pity was taken on them by Alaila and her daughter. Soon the water women were all called “Alaila’s Daughters”. But not all lived in the deep waters of the gorge and some took to living in the deep waters where the Great River flowed slowly. And it was through one of these women that evil came to the water women. 

Dalath was one of the Vídolf, servants of the Lewjan who held dark magical powers. She sought out one of the pools where a water woman had been spotted and searched for her on the night of the full moon. She dressed herself in mourning clothes and wore a mourning veil to hide her face as the Ciph did. In this manner she walked along the bank of the river and wailed about the awful lot which had befallen her. One of the water women went to her and, after hearing her story, gave to her the gift of being able to breathe under water. As soon as Dalath had entered the water, however, she murdered the one who had taken pity on her. One by one she made five of her sister Vídolf water women, but, instead of being benevolent towards others like the other water women, they lured men and children to their deaths in the water.

Rumours of these happenings reached the Keepers of Théotriewe and, from there, Ikaira who hastened to Alaila. For a whole day and a whole night he waited on the bank of the river, calling her name. But she did not answer and she did not come to him. At last, when the day was dawning once more, he gave up hope of finding her and wept where he sat.

Next week: Alaila’s Daughters, part 2

One of the Tellerassar plays an important role in the short story “ADragon’s Freedom”, which can be downloaded and read here.

Legends of Airthai – The Tellerassar’s Cry

Welcome to the first Worldbuilding Wednesday of 2013. This legend from the world of Airthai is about the race of shape-shifters called the Tellerassar. To read more about the Tellerassar, the kingdom of Guldargan, and king Markus, follow the links at the bottom of the post.

Why the Tellerassar’s Cry is so Mournful

Photo by Sias van Schalkwyk

It all happened on the day on which Ikaira, fleeing the Kingdom of Guldargan with his people, was trapped in a gorge near the Great River, which flows across the breadth of the Midlands of Airthai. A clear river flowed from crevices at the far end of the gorge, the water cutting deep into the light coloured rock as it rushed towards the Great River. Ikaira realized that there was no way for his followers to escape and that they would all surely perish at the hand of King Markus’ soldiers who were by this time driven mad with bloodlust for their hunted quarry. He called out to the Creator, begging him to save his people from Markus’ wrath.

They watched with horror as the soldiers approached, and some of Ikaira’s followers tried to climb up the steep sides of the gorge, but all slid on smooth boulders or loose rocks and fell to the bottom with horrible cries. Again Ikaira prayed and begged, joined by his people, for they saw their deaths approach.

Even as they pushed the women and children to the back of the group a mist began to form around them. The strange mist rose from the deep waters, becoming thicker and thicker as it rose until the group was hidden from sight. Each of Ikaira’s followers felt a strangeness overcome them as their bodies changed and moulded to the forms of eagles.  

"Morning Mist" by Cbcs

Ikaira and his followers beat their wings and soared into the sky. But the archers among the soldiers of Markus nocked their barbed arrows and shot a volley towards the mist and, when the eagles rose above the mist, another volley was ordered.

Only six of Ikaira’s followers were hit, but among them was Alaila – the young woman Ikaira dearly loved and to whom he was engaged. With a shriek she fell from the sky, turning back into her human form. Ikaira saw her blue-clothed form disappear into the fog above the river.

Driven back from the river by the soldier’s arrows, Ikaira’s followers headed north at the command of his call – the language that they all could now understand. But Ikaira stayed behind, landing on a tree on the edge of the cliff, his heart broken in countless pieces and unable to understand why he had been saved and Alaila had not. When his breast could contain the grief no longer, he threw his head back and shouted her name to the heavens even as his voice was wrecked with sobs. This mournful call became the cry of all Tellerassar.

"Water and Rocks" by Stephen O'Neill

And to this day the Tellerassar’s cry as it flies above rivers and lakes haunts all those who hear it. It is even said by some that Ikaira still lives on in a ghostly form, always returning to the gorge and the river where Alaila perished, still seeker his love. Only when he at last finds her would his soul finally be at rest.

A real fish eagle Tellerassar...

In the next Worldbuilding Wednesday: The Daughters of Alaila

More Worldbuilding:

• The Tellerassar
• Guldargan and the Shape-shifters

Durf die die Nuwe Jaar aan (Met musiek en baie koffie)

Welkom by die eerste inskrywing vir 2013! Soos ander jare het die feesseisoen te vining verby gevlieg en is die Nuwe Jaar goed opdreef. Die eerste paar dae voel in elk geval vreeslik vreemd – mens eet nog kerskoekies, daar is byna niemand by die kantoor nie en mens skryf of tik aanhoudend die datum verkeerd.

"Love and Coffee" deur Luca Baroncini

Nadat 2012 so ’n tuimeltrein jaar was – met meeste van die “af” dinge wat gebeur het goed was wat ek nooit so raai oor my pad sou kom nie – het ek besluit om nie ’n Groot Plan vir die jaar saam te stel nie. Jon Acuff se idees oor nuwejaarsvoorneme blyk ’n baie beter manier te wees om die volgende twaalf maande aan te pak.

Die bloginskrywings wat ek sover vir die jaar beplan het bevat nogal heelwat verrassings en ook meer “ander goed” en oordenkinge. Ek gaan steeds twee keer per week ’n inskrywings plaas – dalk meer gedurende sommige weke. Maar, voordat ek begin gorrel, laat ek eerder net sê – hoop jy het die nuwe Josh Groban liedjie geniet! Mag jou jaar gevul wees met seëninge, wonderlike leesstof, lekker musiek en baie koffie!

Braving a New Year (With music and much coffee)

Welcome to the first post for 2013! As always, the festive season has simply flown by and the New Year is well under way. Those first few days of the year are always a kind of “limbo” anyway – barely anyone is at the office, you’re still eating Christmas cookies and nearly all the dates you type or write down is wrong.

"Love and Coffee" by Luca Baroncini

After 2012 was such a rollercoaster of a year – with most of the downs being things I would never have guessed at to happen – I have decided not to put to paper a grand plan for the year. Indeed, Jon Acuff’s approach to resolutions for the year sounds a lot better way to approach the next twelve months.

I will say about the blog posts I have planned so far that there are a few surprises, more “other stuff” and musings. I’ll still post twice a week – perhaps more during some weeks. But, before I start with unnecessary ramblings, I would rather say  - hope you enjoyed Josh Groban’s new single! May your year be filled with many blessings, great reads, awesome music and much coffee!