Lake Taupo

Howl's lake echoes sky

Castles built in the mind's eye

Morgan's caldera
A.J. Ponder

yes, there's a story to go with the Haiku - I was travelling back from Auckland today with three teenage girls (and a Vogel award) and they happened to be discussing that Lake Taupo looked just like a spot in Dianna Wynne Jones' very popular book, "Howl's moving castle."

 Of course - I'm quite useless at pulling out my camera - even though the scene looked so pretty - partly because my brain kept on telling me there was no way we could really capture that wonderful panoramic on the spot view and partly drivers stress.  Hopefully I'll post a shot of the mountains from desert road - or something from our trip up.  Anyway, it was a fun journey - and I've rather enjoyed the wordplay in this - although I was rather sad not to be able to put in "Dianna's caldera" for the obvious reason that there is one too many syllables and it just didn't quite work - so then I thought it would be fun to give that honour to Howl's son - Morgan.  Hopefully he'll remember to look after it!!!

To check out the Tuesday Poem scene on this week - This week the lovely, talented and hard-working Kathleen Jones is the editor with "Joseph" by Michael Woods, as well as the current contributions from Tuesday Poets on the sidebar.

 A.J. Ponder

 A.J. Ponder's work is available through Rona Gallery, Amazon, and good Wellington bookstores

Authors and Poets

Busy week, there's lots to do in the build up to Christmas - there's the obligatory making of Christmas Cakes and scramble to tidy the house and the garden, not to mention all those social event -  books, writing, books and more books - in my case ;)   

And like most people these days I'm also working - although some of it is fun -  Rona Gallery is putting on "The Santa Trap" (One of Peter Friend's and my School Journal Plays) for Christmas.   Not to mention the Christmas exhibition itself - and all the advertising.... so

So for a change I'm putting up about twenty favourite authors -  and in as few words as possible why they are so fab.  Feel free to contribute, I'm sure I've missed more than a few!

JRR Tolkein 

       for historical fiction that went the extra mythological mile

John Wyndham

        for disconcerting and surprising children     

A A Milne

         a bear however hard he tries grows tubby without exercise, 

         he gets what exercise he can by falling off the ottoman --

         and yet other authors seem to lack a certain good willed knack

         of finding love in little things, in toys and chairs - and crackpot kings.

Frances Hardinger

           the newest inductee.  Not for the prizewinning "Fly by Night,"

           but the bottomless well that is Verdigris Deep

C. J. Cherryh

          Down Below Station -  Enough said

Andre Norton

          The lady of science fiction herself   

Helen Cresswell

           There was winter, and there was birds --

            but I although I read the same words I could never read the same story twice

Roald Dahl

           Danny the Champion of the World, not to mention an abiding love of chocolate.

CS Lewis

          For opening the wardrobe door.

Terry Pratchett

           for raising a smile, and adding footnotes.

E.B White

          Thankyou for Charlotte, and your even more endearing mute swansong.

Diana Wynne Jones

           Ged

Mary Norton

           For making little people big.

Astrid Lindgren

          Two strong arms, plaits and an indomitable personality. 

Ursula K Le Guin

           Ged - and  more recently the little known Lavinia. 

Lewis Carrol

          A glimpse into madness,

Maurice Sendak

            One night Max made mischief - and the rest is history involving a boat and some very cute monsters.

Dr Seuss

           And the song of the swomee-swans rang out in space

Douglas Adams (both really I guess, but this one in particular) 

          Got towel - can travel. Don't panic.     

HG Wells

          For travelling back in time to get there first.

I hope you enjoy these authors as much as I do,
A.J. Ponder

A.J. Ponder's work is available through Rona Gallery, Amazon, and good Wellington bookstores

My very popular, Wizard's Guide to Wellington on my author webiste.