Monday, October 4, 2010

Of pens and paper...

I knew it couldn't last, that I wouldn't be able to down pen and just let things be for a week or two. No, the writing urge just wont let up and yesterday I relented and popped down to the University Book Shop to buy my traditional new notebook for the new novel. It couldn't wait another day...

So let me introduce you to my new friend, a novel called The Faceless, a notebook - a Paper Blanks Cartella Collection Lussuria, and my New Banker fountain pen. No I don't hand write my novels, but I do like to jot things in a good notebook, it's a symbolic and ritualistic thing.


I have always had a thing for paper - you should see my stationery drawers, and have always been a fan of handwritten letters - I help keep New Zealand Post in business. And I have more beautiful notebooks than I can possibly justify. But it is only recently I have discovered the joy of fountain pens. I've always used good pens, but now I have realised there is a whole new world out there of fountain pens, and ink. And don't get me started on mechanical pencils. There may even be a couple of new, er, acquisitions arriving this week, ahem. There are a few people, well aware of my total lack of self-control, who send links to temptation my way. (You know who you are!)

My tempters sent me this link, to Andy's Pens, and the Conway Sterwart Detection Collection - yes, Conway Stewart are releasing a series of limited edition fountain pens inspired by crime writers. The first release is Michael Jenks. I wonder who else will be immortalised with a stylish writing implement?

Has any fictional character been murdered with a fountain pen? I wonder...

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Vanda - That's a lovely 'photo! I can see how you were tempted! You've now made me curious - I'm going to have to find out if there are any murderers committed that way. Intriguing...

Damon Young said...

"I needed a drink, I needed a lot of life insurance, I needed a vacation, I needed a home in the country. What I had was a pen, a bottle of ink and a notebook." - Philip Marlowe, Farewell, My Lovely

Well, I'm paraphrasing.

Great photo, Vanda. I'm always a little buoyed by a new notebook. It's that combination of tactile pleasure and open, white paper possibility. Or something...

Vanda Symon said...

Hi Margot. Yes, murder by fountain pen. Brings new meaning to poison-pen letters.

Damon - I love that quote! I'm still salivating over those Pilot Iroshizuku inks you linked me to.

Uriah Robinson said...

Vanda, didn't Joe Pesci kill a made man with a pen in Good fellas?
I have become a Moleskin notebook and diary addict; it is rathe rnice to write on good paper and get truly organized. Or at least try to.

Vanda Symon said...

I have never seen Good Fellas, Uriah. Now I'm curious. I love Moleskine notebooks too and have quite a few of the smaller ones for my non-specific jottings. When I was shopping for the new project notebook the other day it was a toss up between a Moleskine and the Cartella. I know that I've ever been truly organised though, something to aspire to? Or maybe I know my limitations too well (-:

Damon Young said...

I wrote much of my last book in Moleskines, but then I discovered much, much better notebooks, like the Quo Vadis Habana. They look like a Moleskine, but the paper is French, 90gsm, sustainably made (rather than cheap Chinese-made), and it is very, very smooth.

Moleskines have the hype and the distribution, but there's lovelier paper out there...

(See my 4/10 link above for a review of the Habana.)

Vanda Symon said...

Hmmm, Damon. Might have to investigate one of those now... thank you so much for leading me astray...again...

Damon Young said...

Once again, my work is done.

I'll email you with an AU supplier. You might find it in NZ too...