Brooding cat is deep and sexy
Yes, yes, very funny. Now open the fish oilz!
Waz dancing bear in previous life.
Telekinesis cat pretty good actually.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Friday Cat Blogging
I gotz those happy feetz! Now I eatz dem!
Brooding cat is deep and sexy
Yes, yes, very funny. Now open the fish oilz!
Waz dancing bear in previous life.
Telekinesis cat pretty good actually.
Brooding cat is deep and sexy
Yes, yes, very funny. Now open the fish oilz!
Waz dancing bear in previous life.
Telekinesis cat pretty good actually.
Smart Things
A bunch of people saying smart things about writing.
Lilith Saintcrow on the importance of dreaming, and on persistence.
Scalzi on why attempting to punish a publisher for bad behavior by not buying an author usually hurts the author but doesn't much impact the publisher. Lilith Saintcrow agreeing.
Sarah Monette on craft vs inspiration in art.
Judith Tarr on 10 things writers and others get wrong about horses. Very useful this. Also things horse people take for granted. I'm a bit less sanguine on this one as it kind of elides the difference between horse people in a modern culture where horses are an expensive luxury and people who have to use horses in a pre-machine age culture where there is no reasonable alternative, but it's still got valuable and important insights for the fantasy author.
Stacy-Deanne talking about traditional publishing vs. self-publishing, and how much better off you are in the former.
Lilith Saintcrow on the importance of dreaming, and on persistence.
Scalzi on why attempting to punish a publisher for bad behavior by not buying an author usually hurts the author but doesn't much impact the publisher. Lilith Saintcrow agreeing.
Sarah Monette on craft vs inspiration in art.
Judith Tarr on 10 things writers and others get wrong about horses. Very useful this. Also things horse people take for granted. I'm a bit less sanguine on this one as it kind of elides the difference between horse people in a modern culture where horses are an expensive luxury and people who have to use horses in a pre-machine age culture where there is no reasonable alternative, but it's still got valuable and important insights for the fantasy author.
Stacy-Deanne talking about traditional publishing vs. self-publishing, and how much better off you are in the former.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Other Debuts
Because she'd never mention it herself (being far too Icelandic,) it should be noted that Kelly isn't the only one with books out this month. Eleanor has two:
The product review says: "Shaggy herds of mammoths still roam the Great Plains—to the delight of President Thomas Jefferson—in this imaginative alternative history in which the beasts thunder over the grasslands as living symbols of the oncoming struggle between the Native peoples and the European invaders. This unforgettable saga soars from the Badlands of the Dakota Territory to the icy wastes of Siberia, from the Russian Revolution to the American Indian Movement protests of the 1960s and one woman’s attempt to harness DNA science to fulfill the ancient promises of her Lakota heritage. In addition, this volume includes the essay “Writing During World War Three,” a politically incorrect [sic] take on multiculturalism from a science fiction point of view and an outspoken interview with the writer of some of today’s edgiest and most uncompromising speculative fiction."
Personally, I think rather than "politically incorrect" it should say "politically progressive." But I guess that's just IMHO. Buy it for yourself and find out --
http://www.amazon.com/Mammoths-Great-Plains-Outspoken-Authors/dp/1604860758/
and
Of which Publisher's Weekly says: "Lydia Duluth—interstellar traveler, holovid location scout, and star of several of Arnason's short stories—explores the purported lost home world of the matriarchal, lizardlike Atch in this stand-alone adventure. She's joined by her occasional lover Olaf Reykjavik; Vagina Gina Dentata, a modified pseudo-ape; Precious Bin, a male Atch; and several artificial intelligences (one of which resides in her head). Lydia discovers warlike female Atch descendants who have killed off the males and now reproduce by cloning, but when she and her team try to leave, they're trapped by a slightly barmy AI intent on keeping the violent Atch from traveling in space. Fans of Arnason's dry wit, entertaining character interactions, and complex, imaginative futures will be delighted by this tale and the promise of a forthcoming Lydia Duluth collection. (June)"
http://www.amazon.com/Tomb-Fathers-Eleanor-Arnason/dp/1933500360/
The product review says: "Shaggy herds of mammoths still roam the Great Plains—to the delight of President Thomas Jefferson—in this imaginative alternative history in which the beasts thunder over the grasslands as living symbols of the oncoming struggle between the Native peoples and the European invaders. This unforgettable saga soars from the Badlands of the Dakota Territory to the icy wastes of Siberia, from the Russian Revolution to the American Indian Movement protests of the 1960s and one woman’s attempt to harness DNA science to fulfill the ancient promises of her Lakota heritage. In addition, this volume includes the essay “Writing During World War Three,” a politically incorrect [sic] take on multiculturalism from a science fiction point of view and an outspoken interview with the writer of some of today’s edgiest and most uncompromising speculative fiction."
Personally, I think rather than "politically incorrect" it should say "politically progressive." But I guess that's just IMHO. Buy it for yourself and find out --
http://www.amazon.com/Mammoths-Great-Plains-Outspoken-Authors/dp/1604860758/
and
Of which Publisher's Weekly says: "Lydia Duluth—interstellar traveler, holovid location scout, and star of several of Arnason's short stories—explores the purported lost home world of the matriarchal, lizardlike Atch in this stand-alone adventure. She's joined by her occasional lover Olaf Reykjavik; Vagina Gina Dentata, a modified pseudo-ape; Precious Bin, a male Atch; and several artificial intelligences (one of which resides in her head). Lydia discovers warlike female Atch descendants who have killed off the males and now reproduce by cloning, but when she and her team try to leave, they're trapped by a slightly barmy AI intent on keeping the violent Atch from traveling in space. Fans of Arnason's dry wit, entertaining character interactions, and complex, imaginative futures will be delighted by this tale and the promise of a forthcoming Lydia Duluth collection. (June)"
http://www.amazon.com/Tomb-Fathers-Eleanor-Arnason/dp/1933500360/
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
More from NASA
The tracks of the Mars rover Opportunity.
I really like this one. That's Mars! Those are the tracks of a machine made on Earth!
SpellCrash launches today, eep!
Despite this being my fifth book launch, I find myself as elated and baffled and nervous and delighted and just plain punchy about the idea that something I wrote is hitting shelves all over the country today as ever. I don't think that I shall ever get used to the idea.
It's an enormous privilege that I get to do something I love so much as my job, and that I get to see my work on the same shelves with the writers who were such a huge part of making me who I am today. I grew up on books, reading every chance I got in my childhood. From the time I learned to read until fifteen or so I read pretty much every day. Sometimes only a little bit, but more often a couple of chapters, and in summers when I was off from school, a book or two a day. With adolescence and then the demands of adulthood that tapered off a bit, but it's been a rare month when I haven't knocked off at least a couple of books.
Science fiction, fantasy, and superhero comics formed the core of my younger reading, though I branched into historical and mystery, myth and legend, even the odd bit of mainstream fiction. My ideals and goals, and even the way I think were shaped by endless hours of Tolkien and Norton, McCaffrey, Dickson, Niven, Piper, Kjelgaard and Heinlein among many others. To say nothing of Stan Lee, and all the writers at Marvel and DC. As I've gotten older the list has only got longer and stronger: Powers and Pratchett, Bujold, McCullough (Colleen), Lackey, Weber, Cook, Hughart, Martin… I could go on and on and not reach the end, because it will continue as long as I do.
Writers weren't my heroes when I was younger, but they created them, and I loved and honored them for giving me their worlds to play in and peopling them with my heroes and villains--gods, demons, monsters… I wanted a fire lizard of my very own, a magic ring, a blaster… Again, the list is endless. But most of all what I wanted was a doorway into other worlds, and despite the fact that I didn't realize it right away, my writers gave me exactly that. They did it again and again and again with each new book. And it is my dearest hope and fondest ambition to provide a few of those same doors for my readers.
So, if it strikes your fancy, open SpellCrash and step through into some other place for a little while. That's what doors are for.
Updated to add some book and author links that should have been in there in the first place:
The first chapters of all five books are up on the online fiction page of my website for anyone who wants to see them, along with some short stories.
My website, where I blog. Also Twitter and Facebook
Reviews of the new book: Huntress (currently the top review on the page), and Skunk Cat. And, for flavor, probably the most thorough review of book I in this series, WebMage.
Oh, and a few buy link for the series. Dreamhaven and Uncle Hugos both usually have signed copies of most my stuff. Also: Indiebound, B&N, Amazon
It's an enormous privilege that I get to do something I love so much as my job, and that I get to see my work on the same shelves with the writers who were such a huge part of making me who I am today. I grew up on books, reading every chance I got in my childhood. From the time I learned to read until fifteen or so I read pretty much every day. Sometimes only a little bit, but more often a couple of chapters, and in summers when I was off from school, a book or two a day. With adolescence and then the demands of adulthood that tapered off a bit, but it's been a rare month when I haven't knocked off at least a couple of books.
Science fiction, fantasy, and superhero comics formed the core of my younger reading, though I branched into historical and mystery, myth and legend, even the odd bit of mainstream fiction. My ideals and goals, and even the way I think were shaped by endless hours of Tolkien and Norton, McCaffrey, Dickson, Niven, Piper, Kjelgaard and Heinlein among many others. To say nothing of Stan Lee, and all the writers at Marvel and DC. As I've gotten older the list has only got longer and stronger: Powers and Pratchett, Bujold, McCullough (Colleen), Lackey, Weber, Cook, Hughart, Martin… I could go on and on and not reach the end, because it will continue as long as I do.
Writers weren't my heroes when I was younger, but they created them, and I loved and honored them for giving me their worlds to play in and peopling them with my heroes and villains--gods, demons, monsters… I wanted a fire lizard of my very own, a magic ring, a blaster… Again, the list is endless. But most of all what I wanted was a doorway into other worlds, and despite the fact that I didn't realize it right away, my writers gave me exactly that. They did it again and again and again with each new book. And it is my dearest hope and fondest ambition to provide a few of those same doors for my readers.
So, if it strikes your fancy, open SpellCrash and step through into some other place for a little while. That's what doors are for.
Updated to add some book and author links that should have been in there in the first place:
The first chapters of all five books are up on the online fiction page of my website for anyone who wants to see them, along with some short stories.
My website, where I blog. Also Twitter and Facebook
Reviews of the new book: Huntress (currently the top review on the page), and Skunk Cat. And, for flavor, probably the most thorough review of book I in this series, WebMage.
Oh, and a few buy link for the series. Dreamhaven and Uncle Hugos both usually have signed copies of most my stuff. Also: Indiebound, B&N, Amazon
Monday, May 24, 2010
SpellCrash Launch Event Tomorrow/New Series
Heyo folks,
Sorry for the infrequent posting on my part. Been both busy and constrained in what I could talk about writing wise while I was in talks with Ace about the next series. Hopefully now that the latter is settled I'll be around more again. More on that below.
First though, I'd like to note that I've got a book launch event for SpellCrash Tuesday May 25th at the Har Mar Barnes and Noble in the Twin Cities. It starts at 7:00 pm and runs for an hour. Mostly Q&A and book signing, but there might be a bit of a reading as well if time permits.
And on to the books thing. My agent just announced it, so that makes it officially public news. The Chronicles of Aral Kingslayer sold to Anne Sowards at Ace. It's a high fantasy/detective noir hybrid and the initial deal is for three standalone books built around the same lead character, with a possibility of more later if these do well.
Sorry for the infrequent posting on my part. Been both busy and constrained in what I could talk about writing wise while I was in talks with Ace about the next series. Hopefully now that the latter is settled I'll be around more again. More on that below.
First though, I'd like to note that I've got a book launch event for SpellCrash Tuesday May 25th at the Har Mar Barnes and Noble in the Twin Cities. It starts at 7:00 pm and runs for an hour. Mostly Q&A and book signing, but there might be a bit of a reading as well if time permits.
And on to the books thing. My agent just announced it, so that makes it officially public news. The Chronicles of Aral Kingslayer sold to Anne Sowards at Ace. It's a high fantasy/detective noir hybrid and the initial deal is for three standalone books built around the same lead character, with a possibility of more later if these do well.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Courtesy of NASA
Suspended by magnetic fields above a solar active region this dark filament stretches over 40 earth-diameters. The ominous structure appears to be frozen in time near the Sun's edge, but solar filaments are unstable and often erupt. The detailed scene was captured on May 18 in extreme ultraviolet light by cameras on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory. While the cooler plasma of the filament looks dark, hotter, brighter plasma below traces magnetic field lines emerging from the active region. When seen arcing above the edge of the Sun, filaments actually look bright against the dark background of space and are called prominences.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Friday Cat Blogging
We are not amused.
Sun + ledge = happy.
I sleep to win, baby!
Does this thing taste of fishies? Does it crunch? Is it yummy?
Sun + ledge = happy.
I sleep to win, baby!
Does this thing taste of fishies? Does it crunch? Is it yummy?
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
A Chaotic Star Birth as Seen by the Spitzer Telescope
From NASA:
Located 1,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Perseus, a reflection nebula called NGC 1333 epitomizes the beautiful chaos of a dense group of stars being born. Most of the visible light from the young stars in this region is obscured by the dense, dusty cloud in which they formed. With NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, scientists can detect the infrared light from these objects. This allows a look through the dust to gain a more detailed understanding of how stars like our sun begin their lives.
The young stars in NGC 1333 do not form a single cluster, but are split between two sub-groups. One group is to the north near the nebula shown as red in the image. The other group is south, where the features shown in yellow and green abound in the densest part of the natal gas cloud. With the sharp infrared eyes of Spitzer, scientists can detect and characterize the warm and dusty disks of material that surround forming stars. By looking for differences in the disk properties between the two subgroups, they hope to find hints of the star- and planet-formation history of this region.
The knotty yellow-green features located in the lower portion of the image are glowing shock fronts where jets of material, spewed from extremely young embryonic stars, are plowing into the cold, dense gas nearby. The sheer number of separate jets that appear in this region is unprecedented. This leads scientists to believe that by stirring up the cold gas, the jets may contribute to the eventual dispersal of the gas cloud, preventing more stars from forming in NGC 1333.
In contrast, the upper portion of the image is dominated by the infrared light from warm dust, shown as red.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Writing
Okay, let's talk about writing. What I'm curious about is how do people keep track of complex plots. Do you use notes? Keep the whole thing in your mind?
I'm working on two YA novels at the moment; and I keep both in my mind, which isn't a problem yet, because I'm at the start of both, and don't have an outline of either.
I would like to have outlines. But these particular novels aren't taking a clear shape yet. I suppose I ought to settle down and write outlines, simply force myself to make up a plot.
I have worked both ways, sometimes knowing what a story is about when I start it, and sometimes having no idea. Just starting with a situation, an image or a line. Usually, at some point in a story, I figure out the direction and the ending.
But right now I have not a clue. When I do have a clue, I will probably still keep most of the story in my mind. I write down details -- the number of the days in a year on an alien planet, military ranks if I'm writing a military space opera, the number of moons a planet has, their sizes and colors, how they move in the sky...
I'm working on two YA novels at the moment; and I keep both in my mind, which isn't a problem yet, because I'm at the start of both, and don't have an outline of either.
I would like to have outlines. But these particular novels aren't taking a clear shape yet. I suppose I ought to settle down and write outlines, simply force myself to make up a plot.
I have worked both ways, sometimes knowing what a story is about when I start it, and sometimes having no idea. Just starting with a situation, an image or a line. Usually, at some point in a story, I figure out the direction and the ending.
But right now I have not a clue. When I do have a clue, I will probably still keep most of the story in my mind. I write down details -- the number of the days in a year on an alien planet, military ranks if I'm writing a military space opera, the number of moons a planet has, their sizes and colors, how they move in the sky...
Hubble Panorama of the Whale Galaxy
From the Astronomy Photo of the Day commentary:
NGC 4631 is a big beautiful spiral galaxy seen edge-on at only about 30 million light-years away. This galaxy's slightly distorted wedge shape led to its popular moniker of the Whale galaxy. The Whale's dark interstellar dust clouds and young bright blue star clusters highlight this panoramic color image. The band of NGC 4631 not only appears similar to band of our own Milky Way Galaxy, but its size is truly similar to our Milky Way as well. The galaxy is also known to have spouted a halo of hot gas glowing in x-rays. The Whale galaxy spans about 140,000 light years and can be seen with a small telescope toward the constellation of the Hunting Dogs (Canes Venatici).
Click on the photo to get a bigger version.
If Kelly can post photos of cats, I can post photos of galaxies...
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Sidewalk Poem
Here is one of my poems, which is set in concrete in the St. Paul sidewalk system. Patrick decided to go out yesterday and photograph the poem in two places. There is a third place, which we haven't visited yet.
A man loads his home—
two carts stuffed full of stuff—
on the bus.
Two of us move back.
One helps with the carts.
A man has a right to room and help
when his whole home
is on the bus.
A man loads his home—
two carts stuffed full of stuff—
on the bus.
Two of us move back.
One helps with the carts.
A man has a right to room and help
when his whole home
is on the bus.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
2010 Nebula Awards
Congratulations to the winners of the 2010 Nebula Awards, presented this evening at a banquet in Cape Canaveral, Florida.Novel
The Windup Girl, by Paolo Bacigalupi (Night Shade Books, September 2009)
Novella
The Women of Nell Gwynne’s, by Kage Baker (Subterranean Press, June 2009)
Novelette
"Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast,"
by Eugie Foster (Interzone, February 2009)
Short Story
"Spar," by Kij Johnson (Clarkesworld, October 2009)
Ray Bradbury Award
District 9, by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell (Tri-Star, August 2009)
Andre Norton Award
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente (Catherynne M. Valente, June 2009)
Solstice Award (for impact on the field)
Tom Doherty, Terri Windling, and Donald Wolheim
Service to SFWA
Keith Stokes
Author Emeritus
Neil Barret Jr.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Friday Cat Blogging
Ahhhhh!
Me? I wasn't doin' nothin'.
Here I come to save the day!
That's right, I'z laughin' at you, Bucko.
Me? I wasn't doin' nothin'.
Here I come to save the day!
That's right, I'z laughin' at you, Bucko.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Friday, May 07, 2010
Goodbye Party
Date: Saturday, May 8, 2010
Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Location: Uncle Hugo's/Uncle Edgar's Bookstore
Street: 2864 Chicago Avenue
City/Town: Minneapolis, MN
Say good-bye to Garnet Lacey by celebrating the last book in this popular series -- HONEYMOON OF THE DEAD.
On Saturday, May 8, 2010, in my persona as Tate Hallaway, I will be signing HONEYMOON OF THE DEAD, the last in the Garnet Lacey series, at Uncle Hugo's in Minneapolis starting at 1:00 pm. The Uncles are located at 2864 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55407. You can call for directions or more information (612) 824-6347. If you are not able to attend, but would still like a signed copy of the book, you can find information on how to mail order on the bookstore's website: www.unclehugos.com
Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Location: Uncle Hugo's/Uncle Edgar's Bookstore
Street: 2864 Chicago Avenue
City/Town: Minneapolis, MN
Say good-bye to Garnet Lacey by celebrating the last book in this popular series -- HONEYMOON OF THE DEAD.
On Saturday, May 8, 2010, in my persona as Tate Hallaway, I will be signing HONEYMOON OF THE DEAD, the last in the Garnet Lacey series, at Uncle Hugo's in Minneapolis starting at 1:00 pm. The Uncles are located at 2864 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55407. You can call for directions or more information (612) 824-6347. If you are not able to attend, but would still like a signed copy of the book, you can find information on how to mail order on the bookstore's website: www.unclehugos.com
Friday Cat Blogging
I votez nay.
No matter how hard I paddle dis boat never goes anywhere.
It's good to be the cat!
Who put sunbeam way out there?
No matter how hard I paddle dis boat never goes anywhere.
It's good to be the cat!
Who put sunbeam way out there?
Thursday, May 06, 2010
A Bunch of Stuff Including Smart Things and Fanfic
Lets start with Brenda Novak's charity auction fundraiser for diabetes research. Among the many many things that are being auctioned off are fiction critiques of varying lengths by 98 authors including yours truly, 60 agents, and 50 editors. Plus there are all kinds of other goodies from signed books to fine crystal. This is a great fundraiser and its a cause that I believe in both in the abstract and the concrete. My grandmother, who did the bulk of the work of raising me was killed by a heart attack which was ultimately a complication of her diabetes. I lost an aunt to complications to the disease as well, and have a couple more family member dealing with it. If I'm lucky I take after the McCullough side of the family and won't develop it myself.
I'm going to hit the general smart things here and use that to segue into fanfic because the current internet writing kerfuffle is all about people saying things smart and not so smart about fanfic.
Kristin Nelson is making the best argument I've ever seen for not self-publishing if you want to make a career of selling novels via the large or medium presses, or at least for not doing it under your own name. Basically, if you self-pub in any way that generates an ISBN, the sales of that book are going to be tracked by bookscan and forever tied to your name. And every time an editor looks at your stuff they're going to be able to check bookscan and find out that your first book sold 75 copies and they'll know that that number is going to come up when they try to sell you to the bookstores and that's a very bad thing.
Jim Van Pelt with some interesting thoughts on fiction and essay and tools of writing.
Patrick Nielsen Hayden saying official things about Tor.com's submission policies for short fiction.
Finally, Charlie Stross to provide that segue into fanficton. First, saying more smart things about writing in the 8th part of his publishing misconceptions series, this one on the life and income of a writer. Hint, it's a rough job in a lot of ways.
Next, Charlie talks about his own personal position and feelings about people fanficing in his worlds and says pretty much what I would have said in terms of substance. I also like Jim Butcher's statement on fanfic in terms of outlining some practicalities and politesse. Likewise John Scalzi's take. And as a reference publishing/entertainment lawyer C.E.Petit talking about the legal landscape of fanfic in great depth.
Going back to Charlie, let me quote the part of his fanfic FAQ* that I am especially taken with: "In summary: I am not a precious sparkly unicorn who is obsessed with the purity of his characters — rather, I am a glittery and avaricious dragon who is jealous of his steaming pile of gold. If you do not steal the dragon's gold, the dragon will leave you alone. Offer to bring the dragon more gold and the dragon will be your friend."
*Which, btw, is terribly fun to say.
I'm going to hit the general smart things here and use that to segue into fanfic because the current internet writing kerfuffle is all about people saying things smart and not so smart about fanfic.
Kristin Nelson is making the best argument I've ever seen for not self-publishing if you want to make a career of selling novels via the large or medium presses, or at least for not doing it under your own name. Basically, if you self-pub in any way that generates an ISBN, the sales of that book are going to be tracked by bookscan and forever tied to your name. And every time an editor looks at your stuff they're going to be able to check bookscan and find out that your first book sold 75 copies and they'll know that that number is going to come up when they try to sell you to the bookstores and that's a very bad thing.
Jim Van Pelt with some interesting thoughts on fiction and essay and tools of writing.
Patrick Nielsen Hayden saying official things about Tor.com's submission policies for short fiction.
Finally, Charlie Stross to provide that segue into fanficton. First, saying more smart things about writing in the 8th part of his publishing misconceptions series, this one on the life and income of a writer. Hint, it's a rough job in a lot of ways.
Next, Charlie talks about his own personal position and feelings about people fanficing in his worlds and says pretty much what I would have said in terms of substance. I also like Jim Butcher's statement on fanfic in terms of outlining some practicalities and politesse. Likewise John Scalzi's take. And as a reference publishing/entertainment lawyer C.E.Petit talking about the legal landscape of fanfic in great depth.
Going back to Charlie, let me quote the part of his fanfic FAQ* that I am especially taken with: "In summary: I am not a precious sparkly unicorn who is obsessed with the purity of his characters — rather, I am a glittery and avaricious dragon who is jealous of his steaming pile of gold. If you do not steal the dragon's gold, the dragon will leave you alone. Offer to bring the dragon more gold and the dragon will be your friend."
Now, since I know everyone wants to know about the kerfuffle and is wondering about the dragon and the unicorn, here is a link to Scalzi's post summarizing the mess, and another to the blog of the unicorn.
*Which, btw, is terribly fun to say.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Released into the Wild!
Today is the official release day of the last book in the Garnet Lacey series, HONEYMOON OF THE DEAD.
I have some mixed feelings about this book because I'd just finished the final draft of the novel when I found out that it would be the last. I had always hoped that Garnet would be my "never ending" series, and had originally written in some plot points that I intended to pull out as the grist for the events of the next book. Thus, the book is not the nice, tidy ending I might have written had I known it would be the last.
For instance, there would have been a lot more Daniel Parrish had I known. Heck, the whole "Scooby gang" would have shown up a lot earlier.
However, I would LOVE for this book to go out with a bang, so, if you're so inclined, please consider purchasing this book in its first week (or two) on the shelf.
Thanks! And Merry Meet, Merry Part and Merry Meet Again!
Monday, May 03, 2010
Beltane in the Twin Cities
Of course, nobody officially says that's what it is, but, for the past thirty-six years, a Minneapolis-based theatre troupe called In the Heart of the Beast puts on a parade and free performance in Powderhorn Park on the Sunday closest to May 1st that has grown into a celebration of epic proportions.
A number of my science fiction/fantasy writer friends have talked about trying to write about this celebration in fiction. To a person, we've agreed that it would be almost impossible, if only because some of the most awesome parts of the pageant are, in point of fact, ACTUALLY magical. Trying to add fictional magic into the mix does something to the story to render it.... lifeless. Plus, there's the challenge of trying to describe this progressive "morality play" in a way that honors its awesome, without making it seem stupid or over-the-top.
Theatre, of course, has its own magic. The puppet troupe is well aware of that and always uses that at some point in the play. This year they transformed The People's baggage into the roaring tiger of activism (see how stupid it sounds out loud? It brought a tear to my eye live.) But one part of the play that doesn't change is that the sun rides a boat across the lake in the middle of Powderhorn park and comes to the western shore. When it arrives, even on a cloudy day like it was yesterday, the real sun always makes an appearance. Yeah, you don't believe me. But there was a group behind Mason and I on the hill who said, in an almost bored by it tone, "Happens every year." How could I write about that and have you believe it? It is, in its own way, a miracle of the Goddess witnessed year after year, by tens of thousands of Twin Citians of all denominations and faiths. But, if I wrote it in a book, you'd think THAT was the part I made up.
Here is a picture of the Goddess. Okay, so she's officially called "The Tree of Life," but her skirt is the May pole.
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