Day 37 - 6th January - Prosfic - Who Caught and Sang the Sun

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Well, finally, in the nick of time, by the skin of my teeth, and with sleepsy eyes and not much snow - but extra added pretentious titling! - a wee little something that has taken me a while to write...

Who Caught and Sang the Sun
by Slantedlight

Yes, it's my NaNoWriMo fic, and truth be told it probably shouldn't technically be considered finished, because although I have to thank both angel_ci5 and magenta_blue for beta comments and generally not killing me when it probably would have been quite understandable, neither of them have seen either the end, or this whole version, and not even I've read it from Word One to Word Sixty Three Thousand, Five Hundred and Twelve all at once, so... there could be anything going on in there. I have read various combinations and variations on all those 63,512 words, just... not all one after another. Yes, it's rush-to-post syndrome... So do feel free to let me know if you spot anything a bit off, and I may or may not agree with you, and may or may not change it, but I'll thank you anyway! *g*

Here's a version without page numbers for people who'd like to read via Kindle - I gather .mobi doesn't convert pdfs with page numbers very well at the moment...
Who Caught and Sang the Sun - no page numbers for .mobi conversion

And finally - if anyone would prefer it up over at Automatic Hatstand, do let me know and I'll post it there tomorrow. I just had to be speedy tonight - there are only 8 minutes of my day left..! - ETA - I've posted to Automatic Hatstand now too, if anyone prefers an html version! *g*


Trailer for those who require it:
Title: Who Caught and Sang the Sun
Author: Slantedlight
Slash or Gen: Always B/D!
Archive at ProsLib/Circuit: Not just yet, thank you
Disclaimer: Bodie, Doyle and the CI5 universe do not belong to me, but I'll help keep them alive - rage, raging...

Comments

[etain-antrim.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! What a lovely pressie to end the holiday. I'm looking forward to reading it later, when I have more time.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hope you like it - I'm well aware that I should have had just a few extra days to spend on it... Do let me know if you come across any clunkers, too! *g*

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Great! Congratulations! It's going to take me a while to have the time to read it, I'm afraid, but it's wonderful to have it out there! A novel *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hee - thank you! It's kind of not really finished, cos I know there's a few typos to take out, and a spare blank page, for some reason, so if you don't download it straight away that might be a good thing! *g*

[sineala.livejournal.com]

Yay! Would you like an actual Kindle file (.mobi) instead of a large-font PDF? .mobi tends to read better on Kindle, because you can adjust the font size yourself and you can highlight, search, etc. (We're playing around with file conversion for Kindles here tonight, if you can't tell, and made one, but haven't yet checked it.)

[ETA: I can confirm that the converted .mobi file works very well on the Kindle, although, since the originating PDF had page numbers, the resulting file has the page numbers shoved into the middle of the text, though it's perfectly readable other than that. If you have a PDF without page numbers, I can try again if you like...]

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! I have no idea about Kindles, but a friend did say that she'd have probs with the Dialj Christmas Special download on her Kindle cos it was a pdf and the font wouldn't change - sounds like she's worked out the mobi conversion thingie though, so I suspect I won't need to post one... But I shall know who to come to if anyone else mentions it! *g*

Oh, although if *you'd* like a Kindle copy without the page numbers, do let me know, and I'll email... *g*

[windrain10.livejournal.com]

I only just started this but so far, it looks great. Thanks for writing it and thanks for letting us read it.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I hope you like it - thank you for reading! Do let me know what you think in the end, and if you find anything that makes you blink too hard! *g*

[siskiou.livejournal.com]

Aaahh! The novel! Thank you! :)

I so want to start reading right now, but would you believe that my husband won two tickets to "The Wedding Singer" for tonight?!
And then tomorrow is work and a long, boring, repetitive, annoying all staff meeting, where we talk about the same things we've been talking about for the past 8 years, and nothing ever seems to get resolved.
But then there will be time to read! :)

And oh, I just realized today is the 6th, so this is the end of the wonderful offerings for this Christmas season.
Thanks you for organizing this!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It is indeed, the NaNoWriMo official novel! *g* I hope you like it, when your whirl of a social life calms down... I didn't even know The Wedding Singer was... on stage? A musical?!

The 6th is the last day... on the 7th it will all be over, bar the tidying away for next year... *sighs sadly* Everyone does so brilliantly, it's always kind of sad...

[robeau.livejournal.com]

What is there to say but "Bloody Brilliant" even if it did keep me up past me bedtime. Will go to sleep now with warm fuzzy thoughts of the lads. Thank you :D

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Heeee! Well thank you - you made me smile hugely when I saw this! Warm fuzzy thoughts of the lads were exactly what I was aiming for... *g* I'm so pleased!

[zana16.livejournal.com]

Sweet! Longfic! I heart longfic!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hee - hope you still say that when you've read it! *g*

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

OK I have completely thrown the day away - printed the story off as soon as it appeared & went back to bed to read. Have been getting strange looks & muttered comments from the bloke *g*.

Excellent work! Yay for 21st century CI5 and all the lads and lasses :) And our lads too, all the little touches like the text messages (and Bodie's blasted mobile, heh). I'd better not say too much here in case I spoil the story, but I loved one character in particular and I was really worried...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Heee! Thank you! Oh, I'm so glad you liked it, and that it made you worry (well, you know what I mean... *g*) and... oh, yeay! It was fun to write (and agonising too, of course) and I feel kind of lost without needing to write more of these lads every minute of the day... *g*

It did occur to me that, in the story's universe, Doyle would be coming up for 60 this January... *g*

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! That's a fantastic achievement and you have every right to be proud. I look forward to curling up with it once I get my new laptop.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hee - thank you! I hope you like it when you do get to curl up - and I hope your laptop comes soon, too! *g*

Sunshine! In mid-winter!

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

I am so going to indulge in this as soon as I get the chance - what a wonderful present! Thank you! (and after all that crap at work, too) You're an absolute star.

ps just checking if you got my reply to your email - this seems daft, but they've been so erratic I thought I'd better make sure you knew I'd sent one! I mean about the detective thing; just let me know where it's to go {{}}

Re: Sunshine! In mid-winter!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hope you like it when you do indulge - let me know if you find yourself blinking at oddness after oddness, or anything like that... *g*

And I wrote back today! I hope you got that too! Just think - one day, perhaps, we'll just presume that our emails arrived to each other safely... one day... *g*

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Well done you, to meet that deadline!

I'm some way off having a chance to read, you'll probably have archived the final version by the time I do, but oh, maybe I'll just have a look. kiwisue's comment above isn't so much a spoiler as a temptation...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hee - thank you! Hope you like it even vaguely, when you do get a chance to read... eeep! I was going to do edits tonight, but I'm too sleeeeepy... Tomorrow! Friday, oh the bliss of Friday! Early finishing, and then two whole days at home... oh, Friday!

[cloudless-9193.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I‘m looking forward to reading it. :-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hope you like it once it's read! *g*

[solosundance.livejournal.com]

Wow, what a labour of love, how brilliant *g* And 152 pages, that's so cool! Will get the printer whirring later and take it to bed tonight. Well done, mate, a great achievement and just nyeeergh to the stoopid job and stoopid Boss :-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh it was, love of the laaaads! It feels quite strange to not have them sort of chattering in my ear all day... Very strange... not sure I like it... *wants lads* And hee and nyeeeergh! *g*

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Safely retrieved from the toe of the stocking!! I might keep this to take to Portugal to read when I'm offline, so don't expect feedback for a while!
I am amazed at the amount you do for us - running comms, keeping us all informed and entertained and writing long fic!! Thank you for all of it!

I suppose this is the last use of the Christmas icons (*tidies them away gently for next year*) - I've adored this Christmas Stocking. Thanks again!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Heee! I is a little tangerine... *g* Hope you like it once it's read though...

And you're welcome! Everyone is just so brilliant at Christmas in Pros, it's always so ace... I'm keeping my snowy icon out for a bit in honour of... you know, the snow... *g* But it will have to go away soon, I guess.. *sighs sadly*

[3745rule.livejournal.com]

Thank you for a wonderful last present in the stocking. As I cannot get out due to the snow this is just what I needed to curl up with. I echo the comments above, thanks for all you do for us. You are very special. *g*

(Hope today is better at work)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I hope you liked it - and hee, thank you! Pros is so much fun at Christmas, everyone does a gorgeous job, don't they! *g*

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

Whoot! You squeezed it in just before midnight - go you!

And what a fab pressie too - a great big fic. Are you trying to spoil us, or what? *g* Ta muchly luv - it'll be the weekend before I get time to read, but I'm really looking forward to snuggling up with it.

And repeating what everyone else has said - thank you so much for all your hard work and all your organising and encouraging. We're lucky to have you. ::snogs you silly::

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Minutes before midnight - that's me! And eep - hope you like it once you've read it! *g*

Everyone does such a brilliant job at Christmas - hurrah for Pros! *g*

[rosie55.livejournal.com]

What a fantabulous thing to find in the toe of the stocking! And thank you also for the Kindle version. I was without net access for some time last night (snow on the wires, I expect!) so am just catching up in my lunchhour.
And as I am not at home I can't try the big font version, though from what sineala says above, it converts fine to a mobi file which I have learned to do now, as .pdf conversions are still a bit iffy which I think is Kindle rather than me.
However, I just had a quick peek, 'cos I couldn't resist and now I am reading it in my lunch hour and I am absolutely hooked because I adore older lads and you have made me very happy! Do I have to stop and do some work? Must I?
Thank you so much for all the hard work you do for us Pros-y girls and especially for this! The Stocking has been brilliant and I shall miss the daily goodies.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeay for figuring out the conversion thing - well done, you! *g*

And hee for sneaky reading at your lunch hour - I hope it keeps working for you, and do feel free to tell me if you suddenly start blinking very quickly and wonder what on earth's going on... *g*

Christmas at Pros is just sooooo good - my favourite grown-up Christmases, I think! Everyone is just fab and it's all so ladsy and happy! *g*

[cornishcat.livejournal.com]

How on earth have you managed to write something of such quality and at such a phenomenal rate? It's an amazing talent, you have there!
I adore older-lads fic that have *our* lads trying not to grow old too gracefully and you have depicted them, brilliantly, true to character.
This is bloody fantastic and I just loved it. Thank you!!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Well, just heee and shucks - thank you! I'm so glad you liked it - I can't believe you've read it already either! *g* Oh, I'm so pleased, you've made me all smiley... *vbg* Thank you!

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

A lovely long fic to print off and take away on holiday with me! That's if I can resist the temptation to start reading it before I go... *g*

Congrats on sneaking it in just under the wire!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Yeay for sneaky wiring! Hope it works for you when you do get a chance to read it - and let me know if you find any dodgy bits! *g*

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

Well, as you know, I love this! Your Bodie and Doyle are bang on, and it's an absolute joy to have them living and working in today's world.
I'm looking forward to reading the end, but not to it being over!
Congratulations and thank you!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! And thank you too, for being a fab don't-panic-reader as I went along, it was very brave of you! *g* It's so weird not to be thinking about writing them all day today, sort of... going about their business right in front of me... just weird! Maybe I'll go mad and just have them there the whole time - that'd be fun, right? *g*

[emmamydog11.livejournal.com]

Lovely! Older Lads in a modern world. I've read the 1st 30 pages and had to put it down to go to bed, but really didn't want to! Looking forward to reading the rest of it.

Love the voice over sections too

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so glad it's working for you so far - hope the rest of it makes sense too! *g* Thank you!

[alicambs.livejournal.com]

Wow, that was some story with very enjoyable characterisation of an older Bodie and Doyle. I enjoyed the pop references and the sly asides (the Scarlet Pimpernel for starters!) and the feeling of them both running CI5. The documentary idea was fun, while setting up the apparently innocent Kerri as the main mover and shaker behind the attempt to make B and D fall apart was rather clever. :-)

Thanks for a highly enjoyable read.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh yeay, I'm really plased you liked it - thank you! And it sounds like the bits I wanted to work did work, so yeay for that too! *g*

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

Excellent pressie! I'm looking forward to reading this. Thank you for sharing.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I hope you like it after the reading too! *g*

[cloudless-9193.livejournal.com]

That was great: older lads, plot and characterisation. Bodie always forgetting/losing his mobile – just as I would imagine him. Thanks!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad you liked it - thank you! *g*

Warning - spoilers in this comment!

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

I sat down this evening and thought 'hey, got a bit of time, I'll treat myself to some Pros fic before NPPW... I know! I haven't started bsl's novel yet!'

Ahem. That was hours ago, and I have just surfaced, having been completely engrossed. It sucked me in right from the first paragraph - this is just brilliant! Your older lads running a modern CI5 are totally believable, and so many great little touches - Bodie continually changing Doyle's ringtone (heh! - I can so see Bodie doing that!) and deliberately leaving his mobile everywhere... and Doyle still so determined to do the right thing, and fight the good fight, still somehow hanging on to his idealism in our grey-on-grey, shop-worn world! And all that lovely snark and banter - yes, this pair are still essentially 'our' Bodie and Doyle!

And your OCs... do you know, Kerri had me fooled for quite a while? It was Salma that I was suspicious of! *sigh* Well,I'm always the last one to figure out whodunnit so I suppose it's hardly surprising.

I loved the way you updated CI5 so believably, as well - all that modern technology, but I still felt that should Cowley somehow return, he would still recognise it as 'his' CI5. And the totally believable way you mixed in old and new agents, (Benny taking over from Stuart - yes, I can see that happening too!) with the occasional reference to canon which gave such a sense of CI5 'history'... all so nicely done, almost in passing, and all adding to the texture of the story - of that whole universe.

And - Chauvelin! You even got a mention of Chauvelin in there! *bg*

Awesome. Totally and utterly wonderful. I will be reading this again before long, simply to savour and appreciate it now I am not frantically turning the page (as it were) to find out what happens next!

Thank you for a brilliant story, which makes the perfect end to another great Pros Christmas challenge - and many thanks for all your hard work organising that as well! I mean - don't you ever sleep, woman?? *g*

Seriously, though - thank you, J. For the story, and the challenge, and everything you do for Pros fandom. You rock!

Re: Warning - spoilers in this comment!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Aww, what a lovely comment - thank you so much! And heee - I'm so glad Kerri had you fooled and you were all sus of Salma, cos that was my wicked plan... *g* And hee - I did get Chauvelin in there - I was looking for dvds that were released in 2005, and guess who popped up right in front of me! Couldn't resist... *g*

And yeay for challenges and Pros and everything - makes life happy, dunnit... *g* Thank you!