Vampiric fey! Give it a listen. I'll be posting her readings after I return from Readercon.
Still, I arrived safely, without getting lost, so I'm not complaining. I had loaded my iPod with the audio version of the second book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, which I've actually already read, but that I wanted to hear again so I'd have the story in my mind as I watched the second season of True Blood. Producer Alan Ball has said that the series won't follow the books directly, and I'm fine with that. I just think it's fun to see what he's changed. Listening to the book made the traffic jam less irritiating, but it was sstill pretty irritating, especially since I drive a standard transmission and had to keep shifting and clutching.
I'm having a quick glass of wine with hubby and then I'm calling it a night so I can get up bright and early tomorrow to get in before the first session at 10.
On Sunday at noon I'll be reading with Broad Universe in the Vermont conference room. If you're at the con, stop in and listen. I think there are 10 of us doing short excerpts from our work. It's always interesting to hear such a diverse selection of science fiction, fantasy, and horror.
- Mood:
relaxed
- Mood:
pleased
That series, in which he played Kwai Chang Caine, a Shaolin priest, had a big impact on pop culture, if I remember correctly. Suddenly things from Asia were interesting and the spiritual aspect of martial arts became unveiled.
But more than that, it influenced many young men (and women, I'm sure) to follow a disciplined path, and one such person became the basis for my non-vampire character Evan in The Old Power Returns. At one point (no pun intended), the vampire Frederick taunts Evan, calling him "Kung Fu man," a direct allusion to Carradine's character.
We'll miss you, David.
- Mood:
sad
In it I have brief comments on the following panels:
"So You Want to be Published"
"Book View Cafe: A New Venture in Online Publishing"
"Treatment of Aging in Science Fiction"
"Witches and Wizards: Gender and Power in Portrayals of Magic"
- Mood:
sick
Another reason for keeping a landline is for phone interviews. I have a podcast (www.vampireswitchesandgeeks.com) and do interviews either using Skype or over the phone. Cell phones generally don't have the best quality sound, though I'm sure that depends on the phone and the carrier. Still, I've had the best results when the interviewer has a landline, wired phone (not a cordless).
Still, I had to get a podcast out, and I did, raspy voice and all. It's at www.vampireswitchesandgeeks.com
- Mood:
sick
The days flow together so much that I have to constantly remind myself what day it is. Sunday, Today is Sunday. Tomorrow I fly home.
Attended two panels in the morning, one on getting published, the other on Book View Cafe. Yes, just about every con I attend has a panel on being published, but it's interesting to hear different viewpoints and to keep an eye on industry changes. Besides, occasionally you hear something phrased just a little differently that makes a point so much more poignant. For example, we all know that a cover letter for a submission should be professional, interesting, and without grammatical error because it represents you and your writing ability. One panelist, though, phrased it in a way that really drives home how important it is. She said, "It sets up an expectation in the editor's mind." In other words, if your cover letter is only mediocre, but the editor decides to read a page of your submission anyway, the editor starts reading with the bias that the writing is probably going to be mediocre, too.
Book View Cafe: Very interesting project by some very talented women. I'll let the site speak for itself: http://www.bookviewcafe.com/ I registered while attending the panel. (Don't you just love free WiFi?)
Speaking of talented women, I met
catherineldf, who I had interviewed for Vampires, Witches, and Geeks. She and her partner are absolutely wonderful (darn, I forgot to congratulate them in person on their upcoming nuptuals) , of course (I expected no less). One of their friends, S. N. Arly, is going to be on the panel I'm moderating on Monday morning and it was nice to meet her ahead of time.
Took a turn at the
broaduniverse table, where I met author Larrissa Niec, who was also volunteering at the table. We had a lot of people stopping by between panels. WisCon has this wonderful schedule where there's usually a 15-minute break between panels. It gives you time to go to the toilet or make a quick stop at a vendor or information table.
I attended two more panels Saturday evening: Treatment of Aging in Science Fiction and Witches and Wizards, both quite interesting and well attended. The Witches and Wizards one, which focused on how the two are portrayed differently in fiction (at least in the past) ran from 10:30 until 11:45 but was interesting enough to keep me awake.
After that, I visited the party floor and flitted from room to room, sometimes seeing people I knew and other times striking up conversations with panelists who had impressed me or absolute strangers. I felt more at ease than I did last year, my first year at the convention. WisCon has a panel for first-time attendees, but I missed it both years. Maybe next year I can make it ;-)
Well, an evening of events awaits and I just realized that I forgot to eat. That meal replacement bar I had as backup won't last for long, I'm sure, so I think I'd better get changed and try to stop somewhere on the way. I could get something at the hotel here, but I'm not really that hungry. Hmmm. Maybe I'll wait and then see what shows up at tonight's parties.
For lunch I wandered down State St and got a Gyro from Parthenon Gyros, It was excellent, but HUGE! Now I'm ready for a nap ;-) BUT, nap I can't because I've got plenty to do to prepare for tonight's opening cermonies (I'm participating in a skit) and the Broad Universe reading at 10:30 pm. After that, I'll be ready to crash, I'm sure.
• May 17th, 2009
Author Tate Hallaway reads from her latest novel, Dead if I Do, which came out in May 2009. You think you had problems when your parents met your fiance? Think again as you enjoy this reading from Tate’s latest.
Listen to the episode at www.vampireswitchesandgeeks.com
Visit Tates’s web site at www.TateHallaway.com
- Mood:accomplished
Short story: I wanted to import my Palm desktop calendar into Yahoo so that I could try using Yahoo as my calendar.
I'm using v4.1.4 of Palm Desktop. In the Calendar view, if you choose Export, you can save as either:
Calendar Archive (*.dba)
Datebook Archive (*.dba)
I chose the first one, not realizing there were two, or maybe I just thought the first one was the one I should use. It created the .DBA file successfully, but when I tried to import it into Yahoo, I got the following error message:
Yahoo! Calendar Problem (Code 0)
I searched the internet to see if anyone else had the same problem and there were plenty of people who did, but I couldn't find a solution that worked for me.
Somehow yesterday I noticed that there was that second export choice, Datebook Archive. I tried it and it works, sort of.
When I imported the correct .dba file, I got ALL events, including old repeating events that had ended. That might not sound bad, but I've been using Palm Desktop since I got my first Palm Pilot back in something like 1997 or 1998. Having all my old repeating events show up in my Yahoo calendar made it totally unusable.
I tried this:
1. Made a copy of my Palm Desktop user file.
2. In Palm Desktop, used the purge feature to get rid of any dates more than 1 month old.
3. Exported as a Datebook Archive (second export choice).
4. In Yahoo, I erased my Yahoo calendar (great feature, but as they say, use with caution).
5. I imported the new, smaller file.
That worked so that now I have all my current events in Yahoo, but not the history. Since the history is important to me, I'll still keep my Palm Desktop. Maybe I'll try exporting Yahoo data and importing it into Palm. Still not an opmtimal solution, but I'm getting there.
- Mood:accomplished
I've got to hand it to the WisCon programming committee. They have really good communication with their moderators. They tell you who your co-panelists are, give you their email addresses, and actually suggest that you introduce yourself before the event. They have great tips and reminders on the moderating process. Some of it I knew instinctively, some I picked up from moderating prior panelists, but some was new and welcome information. I feel really prepared this time ;-D (Knock on wood!)
This is my second time at WisCon. I know a lot more people than I did last year, so it should be a lot of fun. I also know what events I like and which ones I can sit out. I won't be staying at the main hotel, which is different. I'll also be arriving earlier than I did last year, so I'll have more time to get into the spirit of things.
Well, I've got plenty of errands to do today. I suppose I should get to them. It's not like I can just say, "I'll do them next weekend."
- Mood:busy
Here's what I've been working on the last couple of months:
VWnG012 Interview with Author Catherine Lundoff
• March 4th, 2009
In this episode, accomplished author and editor Catherine Lundoff, whose collection, Night’s Kiss: Lesbian Erotica, has just been released by Lethe Press, talks with me about her vampire stories.
VWnG013 News and Updates
• April 4th, 2009
News items on Dark Shadows, True Blood fan podcast, and Angel star Andy Hallett. Contest results. Geek talk. Past & upcoming events. Info on upcoming episodes. Recorded April 4, 2009.
VWnG014 Interview with Author Gail Z. Martin
• April 19th, 2009
Gail Z. Martin is the author of The Summoner, The Blood King and Dark Haven in The Chronicles of The Necromancer series. Book Four, Dark Lady’s Chosen, makes its international debut in early 2010.
Gail Z Martin Reads from Dark Haven
• May 2nd, 2009
Author Gail Z Martin reads from her latest novel, Dark Haven, which came out in February 2009.
----
"Vampires, Witches, and Geeks" is available through iTunes, PodcastAlley.com, your favorite podcatcher, or directly from www.vampireswitchesandgeeks.com
http://www.wiscon.info/
Weekend of May 22-25, 2009
"The first and foremost feminist science fiction convention in the world," WisCon is an amazing convention in beautiful Madison, WI.
I'll be participating in the Broad Universe rapid-fire reading, where eleven members read from their work, an assortment of fantasy, science fiction, and horror and I'll be leading a panel called "Tech Tools for Writers" (see description below).
If you're at the convention, stop in. Here are the details, including room info.
Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading
Fri 10:30 - 11:59PM Assembly
Nancy Moore, J. Kathleen Cheney, Tina Connolly, Lori Devoti, Moondancer Drake, Gwynne Garfinkle, Kimberley Long-Ewing, Kathryn Sullivan, Katherine Mankiller, Morven Westfield, Phoebe Wray
Tech Tools for Writers (moderator)
Mon 8:30 - 9:59AM Senate A
Morven Westfield, Kelly Jones, S. N. Arly, Caroline Stevermer, Alex Wilson
Are you still writing out your manuscripts long–hand, or are you one of those fearless warriors who's using the latest and greatest mind–mapping tool? For some of us, only index cards will do for the outlining phase, whereas others swear by spreadsheets. In this panel, writers will discuss some of the tools they use to maximize the time they have for writing.
The SignOut
Mon 11:30AM - 1:00PM Capitol/Wisconsin
Authors sit around at tables and sign books and chat with readers. Lots of fun because there are so many of us. Great chance to say goodbye before we all hop on planes or jump in cars and go home.
[Arrgh! What happened to the rest of my post? Let's see if I can remember what I said.]
Nu Aeon (www.wlpssp.com) is at 88 Wharf St (Pickering Wharf). Gypsy, one of the owners was in, and it's always wonderful to see Gypsy. Rumor has it she's working on a musical project at the moment. She has a strong, beautiful voice, so I can't wait.
After we went to New England Magic (www.newenglandmagic.net) and Joanna, the owner, was in, so we got to see her (and her fab dog Pumpkin). She's at 131 Essex Street.
Though Gypsy's shop (Nu Aeon) is crammed with delightful items and really cozy, Joanna's is large, with very tall ceilings, and very roomy. What a contrast! I love both shops, though, mainly because of their owners and staff, and try to stop in when I'm in Salem.
Time passed quickly and I didn't get a chance to meet up with my niece, who lives in the next town. I'll have to make arrangements to see her first next time. It's so easy to get lost in time while looking at all the goodies on all the shelves in the shops.
http://www.amazon.co.jp/s/ref=nb_ss
Cool!
- Mood:
pleased
Loved the walk downtown. Loved the multitude of restaurants and eateries, but mainly the throngs of students and the mild spring day. Robins, I could hear robins.
After lunch, more time attending panels/presentations, but mainly taking my turn at the Broad Universe table. The windows behind me were open and I could hear more robins and the sound of laughter and chatter of the boffing war outside on the lawn.
For dinner, I went to Lhasa Cafe with fellow writers Trisha Wooldridge and Phoebe Wray. We had a sliced yak dish, a vegetable/tofu dish, and dumplings (similar to potstickers). The food was excellent.
After that, it was back to the hotel where Trisha, Inanna Arthen, and I practiced for our early morning reading with Broad Universe and then checked our emails and otherwise caught up with internet life.
I'm glad it was such a glorious day; I hear that tomorrow it's supposed to rain :-(
I think it's just being away from the daily ratrace and being in Northampton. It really *is* a cool place, and there are so many restaurants and so many students here. It's like everything's alive again. Of course, having the temperature in the 50s and 60s and hearing the spring peepers from my driveway before I left today certainly have a lot to do with it ;-)
- Mood:
rejuvenated
The One Love Cafe in Worcester is amazing. It's tiny, homey, and bright. The walls are covered with real art, vibrant and unique, and certificates of appreciation for charitable activities.
The food is homemade cuisine from Jamaica and the West Indies. Though they have amazing vegetarian food and fish dishes, hubby and I had a savory chicken and rice dish that was pure comfort. The fried plantain appetizers were served fresh and hot (hot temperature, that is), and there were assorted bottles of spicy sauces to eat with the plantains. Hubby couldn't find one with habanero, his favorite pepper, so he asked. "I'll make some up" was her cheerful reply, and she did! I saw her throw a handful of the bright orange peppers into the food processor. (That was another pleasure: The cooking is just on the other side of a counter; you can see and smell the delightful preparation.)
The unusual reading was arranged by Trisha Wooldrige and included Trish, Elaine Isaak, Inanna Arthen, and myself, all members of Broad Universe, an organization that encourages and promotes science fiction, fantasy, and horror written by women. After a first round of readings, the owner/cook asked us to talk a little bit about Broad Universe and its mission.
If you live in the area, you've got to check this place out. It's absolutely charming.
One Love Cafe
800 Main Street,
Worcester, MA
508-753-8663
- Mood:
pleased
