Nancy E. Dunne's Blog

Reet...
Y'all that know me know I'm a Newcastle United supporter by marriage, and at first I will admit that I didn't get what that meant. Even when I lived in the UK, I didn't completely understand. But I made a concious effort to understand the sport (football) and the team. I read about the history and the famous names...and then the height of my education came last November when we took a tour of St. James's Park, NUFC's home stadium.
But y'all, the city is pretty amazing as well. It has its issues like all cities of that size do, but the people there are so kind. I have officially added it to my list of "when we move, I'd like to live in" places in the UK. This song is an example of the love Geordies hold for their home, and I love that it has the lyrics on the screen to help you with that gorgeous accent.
Hinny Howay!

Y'all ignore me. I'm exhausted, but in a good way. I spent this weekend at the Upstate Renaissance Faire with my book babies, finding new homes for quite a few of them and enjoying time with folks I only see once a year. Big shout out here to Michelle from Livy & Co. for being a great neighbor and for always supporting The Hounds of East Fairhaven at URF!
So, on to the music...there was a lot of it this weekend as we were between two stages but this one is stuck in my head now...imagine a quartet with guitar and fiddle and a female voice with the lyrics and you've got my weekend in your head too! I need a nap... Huzzah! 

I will be brief today because the song takes a lot of breath control. Give it a try! Also, it will forever remind my of my Irish Fae Dog, Bryn, who would thump her tail in time to version.

O-ro the rattlin' bog, the bog down in the valley-oO-ro the rattlin' bog, the bog down in the valley-o
And in that bog there was a tree, a rare tree, a rattlin' treeWith the tree in the bogAnd the bog down in the valley-o.
Now on that tree there was a limb, a rare limb, a rattlin' limbWith the limb on the tree and the tree in the bogAnd the bog down in the valley-o.
Now on that limb there was a branch, a rare branch, a rattlin' branchWith the branch on the limb and the limb on the tree and the tree in the bogAnd the bog down in the valley-o.
(Repeat, adding a line each time)Now on that branch there was a twig, a rare twig, a rattlin' twig.....
Now on that twig there was a nest, a rare nest, a rattlin' nest.....
Now in that nest there was an egg , a rare egg, a rattlin' egg.....
Now in that egg there was a bird, a rare bird, a rattlin' bird.....
Now on that bird there was a feather, a rare feather, a rattlin' feather .....

My wee bookshop, September 2023 So it won't look exactly like that, but you can look for the tapestries and some bunting to find me! The Upstate Renaissance Festival is one of my best events all year, and I'm so excited for next weekend. I started out with this faire working with The Hounds of East Fairhaven, who are hosted each year by Livy & Co, purveyors of the finest collars and other accoutrement for your canine friends. But after that I thought about applying to sell my books and I believe the first year (not 2022, when the monsoon hit and my canopy tried to pull a Mary Poppins) I was one of only a handful or less of authors there. Last year I was inside a building which was fantastic because SC isn't quite convinced to move on to autumn by September.

The booth indoors, September 2024
This year the faire has outgrown the lovely spot in downtown Greer and will be at the Piedmont Interstate Fairgrounds in Spartanburg, SC. I'm excited, but this will be a new experience for me. I always have help setting up and breaking down thanks to Hubs, but the last time I was solo in my tent outdoors I was still in the throes of chemo. We'll see! I did the faire last year solo, but as I've mentioned I was indoors.

I will be right next to the Livy & Co. tent, though, which will be good because our new Irish Wolfhound, Stanley, will hopefully be making his HOEF debut with my friend Anne...you may remember her as Bryn's "Auntsie" and resident Wolfhound Whisperer. Fingers crossed, and more on our big blond boy in another post. 

But if you're in the area next weekend and looking for something to do, this faire has been charming fun for the last few years and can only be more so with more space. Come see me, get copies of my books signed (as well as the other authors that will be there), and just generally enjoy the day! The faire opens Friday the 12th at 5pm - 10pm, then Saturday and Sunday from 10am - 6pm both days. There is more information here, so have a read and then come visit!

Huzzah!

And not just because I'm a Clemson fan...

I love Florence and the Machine and this new album looks great. But when I listened to the first released track, one of my newer characters whispered in my ear that this would be a great song for dancing by a picture window with a glass of wine. So this is for Lark. I hope y'all get to meet her soon. 

And now for something completely different... 
The inspiration for choosing this for our Music Monday this week is twofold: 
1. It's getting toward the end of summer, which means it is pre-spooky season for those of us who love a cold snap and a jump scare. I am firmly in the first camp, but the writer in me is constantly looking for spooky and paranormal things once it stops feeling like the surface of the sun outside.
2. This is definitely for my adopted brother Tony, who is ALL IN for scary, horror, etc. He talked me into watching Sinners, recently, which you will know from my previous Monday's post was life-changing for me as an author...
The lyrics are below because on my screen the captions were tiny and, sadly, auto-generated. I love you Duran Duran, and have for years, but for the love of all that is unholy and goes bump could you PLEASE caption your videos? Ta very much. Now, run along and get ready...Halloween is just (2 months and change) around the corner...


Danse Macabreby Duran Duran
Halloween girl seize the frayBrothers and sisters, lead the wayShackled to the rhythm, your soul is weighedSo you better get down on your knees and pray
Comin' up for The Hawsker Mad-BullJumpin' on the hot seat, lyin' in the dead poolDelivery quake, expensive mistakeThe damage, the damage, the damage, the damage
Hey, no waySome ghost jive in an AC CobraAuto-da-féGet dirty up on the Danse Macabre
Hey, no wayI had you down for the cat's pyjamasAuto-da-féGet dirty up on the Danse Macabre
If you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind diggin' down the gold mineIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind diggin' down the gold mine
Heaven sake, don't blow your karmaLiberate your Danse Macabre
Zombie in the back room, nuns in the bedKids in KISS makeup, toasting the breadAn Elvis' moans a lone Natty DreadWith death in the living room, offering a head
Are you watching? Are you watching?Collars and chains and cuffs are matchingKami-kaze stag-do, twist and shoutAt Sudan Archives on a girls' night out
Hey, no waySome ghost jive in an AC CobraAuto-da-féGet dirty up on the Danse Macabre
Hey, no wayI had you down for the cat's pyjamasAuto-da-féGet dirty up on the Danse Macabre
If you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind diggin' down the gold mineIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind diggin' down the gold mine
If you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind diggin' down the gold mineIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind diggin' down the gold mine
If you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind diggin' down the gold mine(Liberate your Danse Macabre) if you don't mind, if you don't mind
If you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind diggin' down the gold mineif you don't mind, if you don't mind
If you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind diggin' down the gold mine(Liberate your Danse Macabre) if you don't mind, if you don't mind
If you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind, if you don't mindIf you don't mind

No need for explanation. This is beautiful. Go watch Sinners. You won't regret it.


Troubled Waters/Homesickby OG DAYV, featuring Ryan's Uncle James at the end. 

Hmm, hmm

Hmm, that sacred ground

I was lost, but then I found

In the shadows, an abandoned home

But the soil was drenched in blood

I seek, I sought, I conquered demons

I teach, I fought, I fostered healing, I'm whole

I arrived as one

When I leave, I'll drift towards the sun

When kingdom comes

When kingdom comes

When kingdom comes

When kingdom comes

Mm, I pledged my life to glory

I studied every word

I walked into the valley

With a Bible in my nerve

This weight is not a burden

I'm guided by His name

No light, no glow

Still filled with hope

Mm, no (no), Mississippi water is so troubled

Troubled (troubled, troubled)

Troubled

Said it's troubled

Hmm, I hear the call

I pray to save us all

Betrayal, that's all I've seen

My faith is all I need

I preach, I pray, I'm chosen

I've seen plenty people go

We're not alone, we'll join the stars

My body's strong and able

And I've traveled roads with angels

I've come far, I'll say so long

Then I crossed my heart, protect my soul

'Til my veins run dry and skin turn cold

And now none of my prayers are etched in stone

But don't dance with the Devil, he'll follow you home

And I know

The world is wicked, I never walk alone, I know the Lord can hear me

I know

Forget my sins, I'm only human so I know I'm gonna do it again

Mm-hmm

Mmm, I pledged my life to glory (he pledged his life to glory)

I studied every word (he studied every word)

I walked into the valley (he walked into the valley)

With a Bible in my nerve (with a Bible in his nerve)

This weight is not a burden (this weight is not a burden)

I'm guided by His name (guided by His name)

No light, no glow

Still filled with hope

Mm, no (no), Mississippi water is so troubled

Troubled (troubled, troubled)

Mmm, no (no), Mississippi water is so troubled

Troubled (troubled, troubled)

Said it's troubled

Troubled

So troubled

Hey, Ryan

You gon' talk back to me?

No, yeah, but man, I

How are you doing?

Yeah, I'm, I'm wishing you would be all right there, back there

I know you get kind of homesick, but, uh

Just like Albert King said, "Just hang in there"

Hey, you'll be alright

And we love you

So recently, my adopted brother Tony convinced me that Sinners was possibly the best horror movie he'd seen in a long time. If you know him, you know what high praise that is...and it's a vampire movie, but no sparkles. This is more Lost Boys fare, if that had been a scary movie.
So, I watched it and...man alive. It was scary, gory (I mean, vampires y'all, there's gonna be some blood), and one of the best things I've seen in awhile. The story was so compelling and the acting so good that I kept wondering who they'd found that looked so much like Michael B. Jordan. HE WAS TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, Y'ALL.
Anyway, to start off my Sinners Musical Selections, here's a scene from the movie plus the songs that, if you know me, you know spoke to my heart. Enjoy...and be warned, this isn't pretty. But soooooo good.

This week's tune is from the playlist for my current WIP, and it absolutely spoke to me about the FMC...I could see her standing in the picture window in her second floor flat in Savannah, watching humans walk up and down the street below as she sips her wine. She's looking for someone specific, and now and then a dark haired male will catch her eye...but it isn't him. 
Also, it's Siouxsie, y'all. Enjoy.

Last week our weary old world lost one of the biggest, loudest, and most honest artists of our age, Ozzy Osborne. I may not have been a fan all the way back to his Black Sabbath days (though I'm rectifying that), but his solo career happened just as I was on my own at university and so much of it spoke to me. This particular one is a later hit, but it resonates just the same, especially in the current political climate. Thanks for all the screams, Ozzy. We will miss you.

Let Me Hear You Screamby Ozzy Osborne
Let me hear you scream!I'm back and bruised, beat up, but still I take the blows'Cause all I need is blood and sweat and skin and bones!I'll take this rage, rattle your cageNobody said it's easy!It's do or die, only the strong survive!Get ready for the last stand!Get ready, I'm your hangman!
Let me hear you scream like you want it!Let me hear you yell like you mean it!If you're gonna go downGo loud, go strong!Go proud, go on!Go hard or go home!Let me hear you (Let me hear you)Let me hear you (Let me hear you)Let me hear you scream!
I'll pull you up and push you right back in your place!I'll take you down and wipe that smile right off your face!I'll watch you break, your mine to takeDon't blink; you just might miss it!It's all or nothing, nowhere left to run!Are you ready for the last fight!?Get ready with the war cry!
Let me hear you scream like you want it!Let me hear you yell like you mean it!If you're gonna go downGo loud, go strong!Go proud, go on!Go hard or go home!Let me hear you (let me hear you)Let me hear you (let me hear you)Let me hear you scream!
Let me hear you scream like you want it!Let me hear you yell like you mean it!If you're gonna go downGo loud, go strong!Go proud, go on!Go hard or go home!
Let me hear you scream like you want it!Let me hear you yell like you mean it!If you're gonna go downGo loud, go strong!Go proud, go on!Go hard or go home!Let me hear you (let me hear you)Let me hear you (let me hear you)
Let me hear you scream!