All kinds of wRITING

All kinds of wRITING http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html These drawings, by Michael Spark (www michaelspark.com), are some of those planned for the new edition of Jane’s first published children’s novel. You can read more about it in ‘About Jane’ (click here), and in the blog entry Below the Green Pond (click here). http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html#0 88ced9e2-48c1-4652-a64d-06a4ec2fa862 http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/0%20Cover.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/0%20Cover.jpg?derivative=micro

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"/></div> Owen decided to stretch his arms sideways and open his fingers wide to make himself less streamlined. This worked well. He could feel his hair fold slightly and fall closer to the top of his head and he felt himself descending slightly. http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html#1 4bc17636-a27a-4493-9dd7-42247a012330 http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/Pond_illustrations.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/Pond_illustrations.jpg?derivative=micro

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Owen decided to stretch his arms sideways and open his fingers wide to make himself less streamlined. This worked well. He could feel his hair fold slightly and fall closer to the top of his head and he felt himself descending slightly.</p></div></div> My name’s Sedilla, Order Crustacea, family Cladocera or water-flea, and species Sida Crystallina ... you have to be a wee bit formal and give your genera, class or species, or you wouldn’t know where you were with anyone, would you? http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html#2 993b9402-c252-406d-8106-fff6c82ab336 http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/Pond_illustrations2.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/Pond_illustrations2.jpg?derivative=micro

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">My name’s Sedilla, Order Crustacea, family Cladocera or water-flea, and species Sida Crystallina ... you have to be a wee bit formal and give your genera, class or species, or you wouldn’t know where you were with anyone, would you?</p></div></div> The Salamander’s body was long, the skin rough and horny like a crocodile’s, but with horrible warts and wrinkled pores all over it. The creature’s underbelly was the brightest yellowy-orange that Owen had ever seen, and covered with black spots like some awful disease. http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html#3 c56c1bde-755c-428f-88ce-ef11518115d7 http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/4%20The%20Salamander.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/4%20The%20Salamander.jpg?derivative=micro

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">The Salamander’s body was long, the skin rough and horny like a crocodile’s, but with horrible warts and wrinkled pores all over it. The creature’s underbelly was the brightest yellowy-orange that Owen had ever seen, and covered with black spots like some awful disease.</p></div></div> “With the help of their chlorophyll, which is the greenness we see in the Algae, they’re able to take in and store light from the Sun. Then with carbon dioxide which they extract from the aitr or water they make sugars, and as a waste product they give out oxygen for us to breathe through our skins”. Owen pondered for a while, entranced. http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html#4 d31919d0-b27a-4980-abb7-0e9f2efe6030 http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/Pond_illustrations3.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/Pond_illustrations3.jpg?derivative=micro

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">“With the help of their chlorophyll, which is the greenness we see in the Algae, they’re able to take in and store light from the Sun. Then with carbon dioxide which they extract from the aitr or water they make sugars, and as a waste product they give out oxygen for us to breathe through our skins”. Owen pondered for a while, entranced.</p></div></div> The shoal of Copepods was upon them. They stopped and huddled closely together as the purple, orange and green mass exploded above their heads. At once the water was filled with bristling feet scrabbling at their faces, lashing at their arms. http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html#5 f6376603-40ef-4b7d-b335-14cd9bc37422 http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/Pond_illustrations%20%28dragged%29a.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/Pond_illustrations%20%28dragged%29a.jpg?derivative=micro

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">The shoal of Copepods was upon them. They stopped and huddled closely together as the purple, orange and green mass exploded above their heads. At once the water was filled with bristling feet scrabbling at their faces, lashing at their arms.</p></div></div> Wherever the shafts of light touched the moss, streaks of silver bubbles welled up from its depths. Pond-creatures of all shapes and sizes were bouncing on the springy carpet or playing with the bubbles. Larger creatures were being carried to the surface clinging to the outsides of the bubbles. http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html#6 9de0f652-f421-465a-9620-f8cf0e1897ee http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/7%20The%20Centre.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/7%20The%20Centre.jpg?derivative=micro

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Wherever the shafts of light touched the moss, streaks of silver bubbles welled up from its depths. Pond-creatures of all shapes and sizes were bouncing on the springy carpet or playing with the bubbles. Larger creatures were being carried to the surface clinging to the outsides of the bubbles.</p></div></div> They all swam down to the wedding ceremony, alighting on a leaf of a huge Water Milfoil plant, where Bosmina was waiting. Above and below them, on other leafy platforms, smiling creatures chattered together excitedly. http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html#7 b89cd775-c53d-4195-848e-57e2557e34c1 http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/The%20Wedding%208.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/The%20Wedding%208.jpg?derivative=micro

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">They all swam down to the wedding ceremony, alighting on a leaf of a huge Water Milfoil plant, where Bosmina was waiting. Above and below them, on other leafy platforms, smiling creatures chattered together excitedly.</p></div></div> The table was loaded with the prettiest, most colourful shapes and looked so splendid, it was met by a series of high squeaks, low growls and gurgling noises from everyone. http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html#8 b39baa56-34ef-441e-9540-4cfdd7665c10 http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/9%20The%20Feast.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/9%20The%20Feast.jpg?derivative=micro

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">The table was loaded with the prettiest, most colourful shapes and looked so splendid, it was met by a series of high squeaks, low growls and gurgling noises from everyone.</p></div></div> Owen could see the Hydra witch stuck to a fat branch and, fortunately, immobile. Her tubukar body, like an old sack, was a violent green. Out from her head a crown of ten long ropey tentacle swayed this way and that through the water, rippling with the current. http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html#9 6d5ee8ba-8160-4e42-861b-477782dc74c6 http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/Pond_illustrations6.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/Pond_illustrations6.jpg?derivative=micro

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Owen could see the Hydra witch stuck to a fat branch and, fortunately, immobile. Her tubukar body, like an old sack, was a violent green. Out from her head a crown of ten long ropey tentacle swayed this way and that through the water, rippling with the current.</p></div></div> The Rat-tailed Maggot had been here all the time. He was so vast and so white and so lined that the shadows of wrinkled string from the roots above camouflaged him perfectly. He stood motionless, contemplating the area of the Pond in front of him with serenity. http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html#10 727709b6-c0dc-4c58-94be-a2e799f80560 http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/14%20The%20Rat-tailed%20Maggot.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/14%20The%20Rat-tailed%20Maggot.jpg?derivative=micro

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption"> The Rat-tailed Maggot had been here all the time. He was so vast and so white and so lined that the shadows of wrinkled string from the roots above camouflaged him perfectly. He stood motionless, contemplating the area of the Pond in front of him with serenity.</p></div></div> “These are Planarian worms, renowned for their evil ways. They’re so thin and flat, they can glide smoothly over the Bottom on a layer of slime they secrete. When they detect you they dash after you with amazing speed, throw themselves upon you and roll you flat.” http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html#11 0986ec33-319c-427c-9cd7-e1a3e04007f4 http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/Pond_illustrations7.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/Pond_illustrations7.jpg?derivative=micro

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">“These are Planarian worms, renowned for their evil ways. They’re so thin and flat, they can glide smoothly over the Bottom on a layer of slime they secrete. When they detect you they dash after you with amazing speed, throw themselves upon you and roll you flat.”</p></div></div> “The Pond Bear has a whole forest of Algae growing just outside his Bucket,” said Daphnia, “so he doesn’t have to walk very far. He is very slow and ambles along. That’s why he’s called Tardigrada or ‘slow-walker’, “ http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html#12 cff6b530-9212-46e8-8a63-dee014ace37e http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/Pond_illustrations8.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/Pond_illustrations8.jpg?derivative=micro

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">“The Pond Bear has a whole forest of Algae growing just outside his Bucket,” said Daphnia, “so he doesn’t have to walk very far. He is very slow and ambles along. That’s why he’s called Tardigrada or ‘slow-walker’, “</p></div></div> Soon they reached the outer banks of Spawn. The gelatinous edges formed cloud-shaped mounds, each one surrounded by a border of glowing light. On the underside of the banks where the Sun couldn’t reach, the darkness pressed itself against the eggs. http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html#13 0ed355b4-87b8-4a85-8a6d-c56e0053d283 http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/Pond_illustrations9.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/Pond_illustrations9.jpg?derivative=micro

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Soon they reached the outer banks of Spawn. The gelatinous edges formed cloud-shaped mounds, each one surrounded by a border of glowing light. On the underside of the banks where the Sun couldn’t reach, the darkness pressed itself against the eggs.</p></div></div> Owen stared aghast at the holes before him. From each one, white teeth flashed and bright eyes gared back at him. There were red ones, yellow ones, gleaming like headlights ... and around them, darkness and silence. http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html#14 4b3dec26-b32f-444d-b6d6-7be6dcbe7e16 http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/18%20The%20Furry%20Monsters.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/18%20The%20Furry%20Monsters.jpg?derivative=micro

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<div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="Caption">Owen stared aghast at the holes before him. From each one, white teeth flashed and bright eyes gared back at him. There were red ones, yellow ones, gleaming like headlights ... and around them, darkness and silence.</p></div></div> He turned and looked at the Pond, then walked quietly to sit by the edge. http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond.html#15 627d416e-f9ec-4334-a496-f790882e3356 http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/19%20Metamorphosis.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.michaelvr.com/Site/Photos/Pages/Below_the_Green_Pond_files/Media/19%20Metamorphosis.jpg?derivative=micro

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