Jim Dale, the voice behind the Harry Potter audio books, was at a Washington D.C. bookstore earlier tonight to read from the books and share with fans how he invented the various characters’ voices. The place was packed and standing room only, but definitely worth it.
It was fun to learn that the voice of Marge Dursley is of a guy he’d met at a bar. I was even more excited when the first thing he chose to read was the passage on bubotuber pus! Yeah!
He only read for half an hour, and with the remaining time, he gave the children in the audience an opportunity to imitate him doing the different voices, including one of Molly Weasley’s howler and one of the Sorting Hat’s song. The audience had to vote on which kid did the voice best and the winners each received three of the Harry Potter audio books. Jim Dale stayed for a few minutes afterwards to autograph items, but had to leave to catch a plane.
( More pictures from the Jim Dale event )
I’m on such a Harry Potter high now.
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Yeah, this has got to be the lamest LJ update ever, as I'm still processing HBP, which I finished not fifteen minutes ago.
All I can say is, at least Draco didn't do the AK. I was quite disappointed with him when he broke Harry's nose, but I really like the fact that he seems much more vulnerable in this installation and that Harry is seeing him in a different light. Yes, I've got hopes for Draco's redemption. I hope we see more of Draco in Book 7 and that he won't end up like Karkaroff---a one-liner end.
I think I 've been reading waaay too much fanfiction---none of ships were surprising, not even RL/NT. I thought that was cute. Though I did entertain a bit of hope for NT/BW. And contrary to many naysayers, D/Hr is NOT dead---if anything, I think HBP will bring about a resurgence of an old D/Hr cliche, redeemed!Draco.
Looking forward to all the ensuing D/Hr fics...bring it on!
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First, Happy Birthday to ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) cunning_croft!
This picture of Emma Watson reminds me of Bluemidget's Hermione during the seventh year dinner at Felton Arms in "Pansy's Volcano." Blue describes Hermione was wearing green robes to the even, and I squeed when I saw this picture of Emma in a green dress.
I couldn't resist making this photo manip:
This manip is in honor of Croft's birthday :) She is one talented gal for making all those cool icons, and for beta-ing my stories when I've had the time.
In, other news, I spent hours reading Kyra4's "Sometimes When We Touch.". What an emotional roller coaster! I'm just glad the last chapter ended on a positive, hopeful note...
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When I’ve gotten home from work this week, I’ve checked my
personal e-mails first. Why is this unusual? Because the norm has been to check
D/Hr archives and LJ as soon as I get online before I check RL e-mail. Having
dealt with RL most of the day, fandom has always proven to be an effective way
for me to decompress. Seeing an update to a fic I enjoy or finding well-written
D/Hr one-shot is all I need to temporarily shoo away RL.
Lately, however, there has been a lot of negativity and
apathy swirling around the D/Hr fandom. The talented and wonderfully eloquent bunney spoke of this on her LJ post. I could just kiss her
for expressing how I feel.
It has not helped that since I only ‘ship D/Hr, most of the
people on my Flist are also fellow ‘shippers, therefore their opinions are much
more pronounced. People are entitled to their opinions, of course. And these
opinions, I agree, have some merit. I can see why there are several writers and
fellow ‘shippers who’ve sort of stepped back from D/Hr. There is a lot of crap writing out there
(heck, I probably contribute to it myself with my inability to write anything
but fluff).There is a general lack of new concepts with D/Hr. It’s just natural
that a once-creative concept, like forced marriage or HB/HG, becomes cliché and
gets written three times over by less talented writers. Fic exchanges, which
not only are a great source for new D/Hr stories but also serve to re-energize
the ship, are so friggin’ difficult to manage. Writers go AWOL and flake out on
their commitments, and the fic exchange managers are often left holding the
bag. Then there are those who plagiarize
either other D/Hr writers’ work or outside work that they pass off as D/Hr.
These people taint our ship and cause divisions within the ranks (because there
are always those who will defend them). I know plagiarism isn’t unique to D/Hr
or this fandom, but every single instance of plagiarism undermines the beauty
of this pairing and devalues the talents of those writers whose work is plagiarized.
I’m sorry to say that I’ve let these negative vibes affect
me. I’ve let other people’s rants and disdain of the ‘ship bring me down.
Granted that I will never leave this ship, nor will I switch to another more “it”
‘ship, but still…It’s quite a downer when something you’ve come to count on to
help you de-stress gets shot down by others whose opinions you value because
they were the ones who got you excited about the ‘ship in the first place. It’s
like having a rug pulled from under you (in a less dramatic fashion).
Be that as it may, I can only blame myself for letting other
people’s opinions, rants, disdain, and apathy affect my mood. I alone am
responsible for how I feel and what I can do about it.
Reading bunney’s post and the comments left on her LJ felt like
having a Patronus. The Dementors that have tried to suck the life out of my
love for this ‘ship have been effectively banished. There is still a lot of
love out there for this ship, and more importantly, there is a lot of hope. We
definitely can look forward to Book 6 (assuming JKR doesn’t kill off Draco) and
the GOF movie to help spark new D/Hr plot bunnies. There are talented writers
out there that have yet to be converted to D/Hr, bringing new concepts with
them. Likewise, there are talented artists out there that can be compelled to
create new D/Hr fanart. Perhaps when they feel it’s the right time, my favorite
writers will rid themselves of their writer’s block or carve time out of their
RL to write D/Hr.
For now, I will join those of my fellow ‘shippers in waving
the Dramione flag. I will continue to check archives to look for D/Hr treasures
that may have been overlooked, or updates to fics that I enjoy. I will continue to check my Flist, and
consider the less-than-positive posts while taking to heart the supportive
ones. And I am glad I did this, or I would have missed out on the announcement
that jadarene has finally finished her Toast
trilogy!
What a Patronus!
Here's a photo manip to celebrate this hope.
5 comments | post a comment
Wow, two posts in one night. That's a first for me.
I couldn't resist after Staci posted this message on the dracohermionecommunity on YahooGroups.
Here's my take on this:
( You Know You're A Draco/Hermione Shipper When... )
2 comments | post a comment
| Date: | 2005-01-25 20:45 |
| Subject: | Le D/Hr Icon |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  uncomfortable |
My LJ icon was just shared in a newbie's post at the Sleeping with the Enemy D/Hr community on YahooGroups.
Some of you may remember the grief associated with this particular icon back in the fall.
As I said in my post on SWTE, I have not posted this icon anywhere else
other than this LJ. I don't feel comfortable doing so
because I have not properly credited nor asked permission for
using the Emma Watson photo because I can't remember where I got it
from. The Tom photo I got from his blog.
Anyway, it seems that this icon/manip has been around the web. I don't
know if someone lifted it off my LJ and posted it on some web site
somewhere. It certainly wasn't me.
Do you think I should stop using this icon until proper credit has been given for both photos?
7 comments | post a comment
| Date: | 2005-01-14 12:11 |
| Subject: | A new D/Hr story |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  creative | | Music: | Music of the Night |
I've been on medical leave for two weeks, following minor surgery. I
can't wait to return to work next week. Lookie what too much pain
medication and slight cabin fever led to:
Title: Planning a Perfect Wedding
Author: BobotuberPus
Pairing: D/Hr
Rating: NC-17, with fluff
Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. I am borrowing
characters from JK Rowling, until she sees the light and writes D/Hr.
A/N: For IATQO Weekly Challenge # 20, which asked for the
following elements to be included: rain, a hug, something yellow, a song,
broken glass. I really just wanted to write a PWP that involved Dramione
elevator sex.
Summary: Planning the perfect wedding may have cost Hermione
her own marriage
++++
( Planning a Perfect Wedding )
6 comments | post a comment
| Date: | 2004-12-31 19:39 |
| Subject: | HAPPY NEW YEAR |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  pleased |
Silly me just discovered how to upload an image onto my LJ entry.
D/Hr photo manipulation done on photos from Tom Felton's blog and E-W.net (I think).
Hope everyone has a Happy New Year!
1 comment | post a comment
| Date: | 2004-12-18 21:20 |
| Subject: | |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  giddy | | Music: | My Grown Up Christmas List |
Happy Holidays, everyone!
I'm off to spend the week with family on the other side of the country,
where it is lots warmer. I'm just in time to miss the first snow flurries
of the season! I'm going to be in so much trouble when I return!
I leave you all with this drabble I wrote almost a year ago and posted
in the Cookie Jar at Fiction Alley.
( All I Want Next Christmas Is… )
8 comments | post a comment
| Date: | 2004-12-12 23:24 |
| Subject: | IATQO Secret Santa Fic |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  sleepy | | Music: | Love Actually soundtrack |
Finished my secret santa fic today. Not completely happy with it, but I don't think it'll improve much even if I asked for another week extension, so I just sent it off to inell.
Read at your own risk:
Title: Saving Christmas
Author: BobotuberPus
Pairing: D/Hr
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the characters; I am merely borrowing them for my own perverse pleasure until JKR sees the light and writes D/Hr
Summary: A disagreement over holiday traditions threatens Draco and Hermione’s first Christmas together.
A/N: Written for Tricia for the IATQO Secret Santa Fic Exchange. I’m sorry this is late. I was attacked by the grinch bearing procrastination. Information included here about Kwanzaa and Chanukkah are from http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org and http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday7.htm, respectively.
( Saving Christmas )
9 comments | post a comment
| Date: | 2004-12-08 00:46 |
| Subject: | |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  contemplative | | Music: | Sunrise, Sunset |
I had back to back meetings from 8:30 a.m. through 6:30 p.m. tonight (with half an hour for lunch). I thought my head was going to explode.
By 3 p.m., I was really wishing I had magic and was able to use a pensieve to dump all the new information I acquired. I mentioned this to a colleague, who gave me a blank stare. This person hadn't read any of the HP books and had only seen the Sorcerer's Stone.
New York City is such a vibrant place, but I would not want to live here. I admire those who can and do. Much like I admire those who maintain a healthy long-term romantic relationship and those who have children. I don' think I can do that. At least, not yet. I don't know if I'll ever get to that point.
Saw "Fiddler on the Roof" on Broadway tonight. Alfred Molina was awesome as Tevye. My half-done IATQO Secret Santa Fic may have some shades of "Fiddler..." in it.
I return to D.C. tomorrow, and hope to have most of the afternoon/evening to work on the fic (I hope I don't jinx myself just by saying that. Watch the train be delayed or something else happening tomorrow that'll keep me from working on it. Augh! I don't like that I've had to ask for an extension for it, like I've let other people down). Oh, well...
Happy Hanukkah to those celebrating this holiday.
1 comment | post a comment
| Date: | 2004-11-29 23:45 |
| Subject: | |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  thankful |
Belated Happy Thanksgiving!
( Post-Birthday, Post-Thanksgiving Post )
Other things I am happy about and thankful for:
-Updates of my favorite fics: Kyra4’s “Valentine Encounter”,
Bluemidget’s “Pansy’s Volcano,” Athena Linborn’s “A Thread of Innocence,” bunney ‘s “Dowry of a Single Galleon,” and ficlets by purnilla and inell
-cunning_croft’s screencaps of
Draco eating the apple (somehow I didn’t react the same way when I watched the
scene again and again on DVD) and POA icons.
-bunney’s link to the GOF Draco
pic
-being able to push a button on the remote that slows the
action so that I can ogle Draco as he walks toward Harry, taunting him. I am
such a perv.
4 comments | post a comment
| Date: | 2004-11-02 23:00 |
| Subject: | Dubya's Dreams |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  gloomy | | Music: | NBC 4 News, News Channel 8 |
Something that was forwarded to me weeks ago that I thought I'd post here to make myself feel better as I'm watching the election results updates:
( Dubya’s Dreams )</lj-cut
4 comments | post a comment
| Date: | 2004-11-02 11:08 |
| Subject: | |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  energetic |
I voted!
I showed up at my polling place at 6:30 a.m. this morning, thinking it would be a quick jaunt. I stood in line for an hour!
It would have taken longer, but the line (to check that one is registered) for those whose last names were A-K was much shorter. Of course, this fast-tracking didn’t happen until after I’d been waiting an hour. I didn’t mind, though. It was a beautiful Northern Virginia morning. The fall leaves were out in full force. It was sunny. The air was crisp. There was a sense of hopeful anticipation.
Someone behind me whined that he’d been voting at this same polling place since ’88 and this was the first time he’d ever had to wait in line. “It’s the nature of this particular election, “someone else qualified. I feel bad for those who planned on voting after work. I just hope people won’t get discouraged by the wait and decide not to vote. When I left, the line of people waiting to vote was wrapped around the building. I didn’t see a single person leave in a huff. This election is too important.
Some people called their loved ones to tell them to they better get their butts to a polling place soon because the lines were not going to be shorter later on in the day. Then, I heard it. Somebody’s cell phone rang. They had the Harry Potter theme ring tone. It made me smile, especially when I saw it belonged to lawyer-type in a suit. There is hope.
2 comments | post a comment
| Date: | 2004-10-06 20:47 |
| Subject: | |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | happy |
wynn's essay on D/Hr as submitted
on ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) ship_manifesto</o:p>
<br>
Placing it here so I can always find it.
Thanks to inell for the heads
up.
post a comment
Oh boo-hoo, I got kicked out of d_hr_ficlets.
I could care less because this community is such a small part of where I go to fuel my D/Hr addiction anyway. What irks me most, though, is being accused of being rude/sneaky/backhanded to someone in the ‘ship.
( This )
is my response to the mod, who wrote this
http://www.livejournal.com/users/fiveoclocktea/20159.html on her LJ
This whole thing is completely petty. It undermines the ‘ship and the fandom in general and I shouldn’t even waste my time replying.
But I am curious as to what my Flist thinks, because honestly, only their opinions matter. Here's where it all started:
( How it played out with boome )
So, whaddya think? Was I rude?
8 comments | post a comment
Got this halfway done during the U.S. presidential candidates' debate.
It's technically an hour and a half late where I am but it's still September somewhere in the U.S. so it's not that late.
Title: Again
Author: BobotuberPus
Pairing: D/Hr
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I own nothing. These characters are JK Rowling’s and I’m only borrowing them for my perverse pleasure.
A/N: Written for the IATQO September Fic Challenge in which the kink is masturbation and the theme is back to school. PWP.
+++
( Again )
1 comment | post a comment
| Date: | 2004-09-28 22:46 |
| Subject: | |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: | bouncy |
Yay!
My request for the "Fall in Love with Draco and Hermione" Fic Exchange has been posted.
Thanks to Della dracodew17 for writing the wonderful "Nostalgic Notions."
I really enjoyed it!</b></a>
post a comment
Of all the stuff I’ve written, I’m the least satisfied with this one.
( Sorry )
So I turned in my DMHG Fic Exchange assignment on time, but am not happy with the way it turned out. I realized I don’t much like writing Hogwarts fics. I feel that most of it has been written by more talented writers and I just don’t think I can offer any original ideas. Unfortunately, I didn’t specify that when I signed up, so I had to make the best of it.
I hope the requester, Rachel Summers, doesn’t hate me too much.
3 comments | post a comment
| Date: | 2004-09-22 22:23 |
| Subject: | gratified |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  impressed |
I made slight revisions to my drabble, "Love Letters" and posted it at Astronomy Tower.
Of the six reviews I've received, four were from non-D/Hr fans, who commented that they enjoyed the story despite the 'ship.
I am extremely gratified.
3 comments | post a comment
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calm
annoyed
blah