Shelfari…
I spend much of my time gazing off into space above my computer screen. When my eyes focus, they read the spines of several books, so I figured why not spend a few minutes and open up a Shelfari account. Plus, if I have them all up there and need to refresh my memory about whether or not I have a particular book, I can just do a search of my Shelfari shelf to find out if I should waste my time digging or just buy a new copy.
It’s kind of a fun way to get to know people, too. It’s like whenever I’m at someone’s house and I find myself next to a bookshelf, I gotta read what’s there just to see what kind of stuff the person’s interested in.
Right now, all I have are books that I’ve written whether solo or as Ashleigh Raine and about a quarter of the ones I can see over my computer screen. It’s the non-fiction section, but I suppose that does say a lot about my interests since I read more non-fiction than anything else. Mostly Medieval and Celtic, too… I couldn’t see all the ghost story books or the tarot and divination ones. Also, the books are double-deep. It’s gonna be awhile before I get everything posted.
I’m actually surprised how fun it was. I suppose as I dig through the mountain and realize just how monumental an undertaking it really is, I’ll change my mind on all that supposed fun. But hey, in the mean time, it brings me joy, so why not?
It’s Friday and I have pics from Second Life!
Doing a little here and a little there isn’t always conducive to getting anything done, but I’m really excited about what I’ve done so far in Second Life… Well, what Twyla Briggs has done!
When you walk up to Publishing Island from Book Island, this is what you see:
Be like a ghost and walk through the castle wall, and you’re in a reasonably close replica of the Chronicle Room under the Ward Manor…where Tayna drinks tea and scours the Chronicles in Otherness: Rift.
Here’s a close-up of the shelves. I made a few things, bought a few things and got a few more for free. I’m still amazed that I built the crystal ball myself. It’s got a particle system in it. Jason helped me do some fine tuning on the object as a whole. All in all, for it being the first thing I created, now that I’ve been in-world working for awhile, I’ve discovered that I could’ve started with something a little less involved! Like the odd-shaped things in the middle of the top shelf. I like to think they’re crystals, but I know they aren’t. That’s one of the things I’m working on creating. I want to do a whole line of realistic-looking crystals and such.
And finally, here’s me–Twyla Briggs–sitting at Tayna’s table with the Rede, scrying in my crystal ball while enjoying tea like I always do in Second Life. I can’t drink it 24/7 in real life, so I might as well get my jollies in Second Life!
Feel free to IM me in-world. I’d love to hear from you!
Booth 59 on Publisher Island
In Second Life, I go by the name Twyla Briggs. I’m still learning the ropes, but I just set up a booth on Publisher Island. #59 to be exact. It’s in view of Book Island, too. I put a phantom castle on the front. You can’t miss it.
Beyond the castle is Tayna’s Chronicle Room from Otherness: Rift. How nifty is it that anyone can write a book and then create its world in Second Life? And, like, walk around in that world? Good golly, the possibilities are endless and I look forward to doing Ashleigh Raine books there, too.
I had tons of fun scouring SL for props and scanning various things in my Real Life repertoire (aka stashes of precious junk) for correct textures. The castle image on the front of my booth is actually 3 photos from various vacations in England. Yay! For re-purposing vacation pictures!
My favorites from the whole experience were seeing the big ol’ book laying on Tayna’s table, Tayna’s tea cup and Twyla’s crystal ball.
In Otherness: Rift, the book is called the Rede. Right now, in SL, the Rede is just a simple object. I have much planned for it in the future. Much more than what’s in the novel I wrote…because, well, I can play with it more in Second Life!
While Tayna’s tea cup isn’t exactly like any of the ones she drinks out of in Otherness: Rift, it’s close. Plus, it was the first thing that was given to me (thank you, Weasel Gough), so to modify it was also kind of special. It started as a very simple, white cup of black tea. I transformed it into a celtic-patterned cup of green tea. Feel free to stop by my booth and copy one for yourself. I left the drinking script in it, so your avatar can enjoy!
And finally, Twyla’s crystal ball. Well, that’s a sort of funny thing. I’d gotten a box of miscellaneous lights that included some particle balls. None of them were quite right for my idea of the ball Tayna was using to scry in Otherness: Rift, so I opened up the script to see if I could figure out how to modify it. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I kept changing numbers until I got the right colors, the right movement and the right speed. My husband was so shocked, he helped me build a base for it from scratch. What a fantastic learning experience.
I look forward to many more builds and such in Second Life. Say hi if you see Twyla Briggs!!!!
5 hearts for Otherness: Rift from The Romance Studio!
“Otherness: Rift is a novel which captured my imagination from the first page and drew me into the story’s world, so that for the duration of the novel I found myself transported and forgetting I was simply reading, and not living along with the characters. As a lifelong reader, I realize how rare such an event is, and treasure each book in which this happens. Rina Slayter has quite a way with words and has composed an excellent beginning to a new fantasy series which will attract many readers who love mystery, suspense, fantasy, magic, and romance.”
Wow! That’s not just a 5 to me, that’s a 500! Thank you!!!!!!!
5 cups for Otherness: Rift from Coffee Time Romance!
“Rina Slayter has created a mesmerizing page-turner with this novel. The characters are funny, sophisticated and fascinating. OTHERNESS: RIFT is an original and deeply intriguing tale complete with secret mysteries and prophesies but set in modern day California. With both a vivid cast of characters and mystical lore, the reader is hooked from the very beginning. This is the kind of novel that takes you to a different place and allows your imagination to soar.”
~Bonnie Lass, Coffee Time Romance
This was my very first review and I will always cherish it… Not just because she gave Otherness: Rift a 5! Thank you!!!!!
4.5 stars for Otherness: Rift from Euro-Reviews!
“Rina Slayter is a very talented writer who knows what readers want and also knows how to deliver it. Otherness: Rift left me breathless by moments. I particularly liked the part where Liz awakens in the earthquake, I could almost feel it myself. This book contains magic, mystery and witchcraft. A powerful warlock is also present. The earthquake reveals alot that was better kept hidden. Rina Slayter has written a really enjoyable and fascinating story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
Another great review! Thank you so much!!!!!!!!
4 lips for Otherness: Rift from Two-Lips Reviews!
“I enjoyed Rift and the world the author laid forth. This fantasy tale and its themes of friendship and the history and ancient historical magic made this a unique tale. The characters were well drawn and engaged my attention and emotions… I can see Ms. Slayter’s complex world-building in evidence here. This appears to be her first solo work, and I’m interested to see what else she has up her sleeve.”
This series is really closest to my heart. It has been a long time coming, so I’m glad it’s finally here and being well received. Thank you!!!!!
Video Teaser for Otherness: Rift
Check this out!
Otherness: Rift is now available in print!
Magic is only a small part of the real dangers lurking in a future of dark otherness.
It’s official. Otherness: Rift is now sitting on my coffee table. It just didn’t seem real until that moment. I dunno know why.
…And I just did a video for it. Oddly enough, I had to move my book in order to shoot some of the footage for the video, too!
What an experience this has been. From research, to writing, to rewriting, to editing, to rewriting, to release in ebook, to release in paperback and now doing this video. Wow. Life is insane, but very, very good.
Otherness: Rift is now available!
In celebration of my first solo novel being released from Samhain Publishing, I’m posting a somewhat cancan-Leeloo-related pic.
This was the day that my best friend Eddie went with me to Hollywood to get an orange wig. Leeloo’s hair isn’t traffic cone orange and this was the only non-traffic-cone-orange wig on the Boulevard it seemed. No, I didn’t wear the peacock outfit to Hollywood, I bought it there, though. I love vintage shops…
Yeah, in this pic, the wig is too long to be Leeloo from the Fifth Element. My hairdresser did an awesome job hacking the wig into shape, but you’ll see her masterful handywork when I get the Leeloo pics up.
I’ve already got a set of sleeves lined up to put onto the peacock jumpsuit. Now, if I could just find the time to do it…
This last weekend was spent working on my car. Jason made the mistake of not believing me when I said, “Shit, I can take that intake off in about twenty minutes.” He didn’t challenge me to do it, but I still felt the need to prove that I could. I’ll be posting those pics as soon as I choose the better ones. And, yes, I did it in about twenty minutes. Neither of us had looked at the clock because it hadn’t been a real challenge, so I don’t know down to the second how long it took me.
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