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alfreda89 ([personal profile] alfreda89) wrote2011-01-24 01:06 pm
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Well, Allie and I have stopped arguing....

You see, the next thing in the book just seemed ridiculous to me, and she wasn't explaining anything other than to say "This is when I met him" and "But I NEED her!"

"You don't need a Chinese wizard in 1810 New York. There were hardly any Chinese at all in North America at that time!"

"He's a wizard. He's on the run, and he had to save his family by getting them out of China. He teaches me about kudzu root."

Well...I don't want to give away too much, but of course he could get to America -- or London first, in this case -- in this book, and even if he's not a major player in this story, he might figure in. So I went poking around in some research, and lo and behold, China was beginning a horrifying famine in 1810 -- one that, over two, two-year periods, would kill 45 million people.

Yes, you read that correctly. So "Li Sung" (I think all practitioners except Allie's family use pseudonyms, and Esme's real name is not Esme!) has ample reason to be where he is right now.

Then there is the woman who is a cat.

"She may be the transformation teacher, but you don't learn anything about transformation in this book!"

"But she teaches me how to be a spy!'

"And her name can't be Abigail Brown, she must have become a practitioner in self-defense. She doesn't look like an Abigail."

"Her name is XXX."

"So she is Russian, or named for a Russian?"

"No, that's not her real name, either -- "

So now I am reading about Moldavia, and having Kira tell me she's left it all behind, ignore it -- but we all know your past marks you and can bite you when you aren't watching for it. So...I expect more progress on the book this week, now that I know what Allie is trying to tell me.

After the biscuits with teeth, why should anything surprise me?
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[identity profile] shannon seal (from livejournal.com) 2011-01-24 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
fantastic news! Glad it's all going well with the book and with the hunt for gluten :)

[identity profile] jacardie.livejournal.com 2011-01-24 09:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Fun times with bossy characters. :)

Vicki

[identity profile] jacardie.livejournal.com 2011-01-24 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so looking forward to a new Allie book. :)

Vicki

[identity profile] jacardie.livejournal.com 2011-01-25 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
It's a deal! :)

Vicki

[identity profile] apricot-tree.livejournal.com 2011-01-25 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
I try not to poke too hard for details and status on the new story. But I hope you won't mind if I go, "SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE!" I just re-read the first two again a little while ago. :)

[identity profile] tylik.livejournal.com 2011-01-25 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Oo, oo, oo!

It's an interesting time period in Chinese history. All the prequel to the opium wars with the smuggling and attempts to control the same. Hm... not sure how much anti-Manchu sentiment was in the offing (it's often portrayed that way, but while I can think of a lot of early Qing and late Qing examples, nothing from right around then is springing to mind).

Are there practitioners that focus on ships and such? (I'm thinking that many of the Chinese who were turning up in odd corners were involved with trade. Which might not work for you character, but maybe a friend?) 'Cause darn, shipping was crazy hazardous, and profitable, and it kind of seems natural that there would be...
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