30. These Old Shades, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-read; read aloud with Steve)
29. The Prince and the Dressmaker, Jen Wang
28. The Talisman Ring, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-read; read aloud with Steve)
27. The Moon-spinners, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
26. The Cat Who Went Underground, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. Winterglass, Benjanun Sriduangkaew (e)
24. The Cat Who Sniffed Glue, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
23. The Tea Master and the Detective, Aliette de Bodard (e)
22. The Persian Boy, Mary Renault
21. Heart of Obsidian, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
20. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey
19. Woman Without a Past, Phyllis A. Whitney (e)
18. The Mermaid’s Sister, Carrie Anne Noble (e)
17. All Systems Red, Martha Wells (e)
16. Burn Bright, Patricia Briggs (e)
15. The Ivy Tree, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
14. Kiss of Snow, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
13. Throne of Jade, Naomi Novik (e)
12. His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik (e)
11. The Cat Who Played Post Office, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
10. The Faded Sun: Kutath, CJ Cherryh (e)
9. Emergence, CJ Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
8. The Faded Sun: Shon’jir, CJ Cherryh (re-read) (e)
7. The Faded Sun: Kesrith, CJ Cherryh (e)
6. My Brother Michael, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
5. The River Bank, Kij Johnson (read aloud with Steve)
4. Still Life, Louise Penny
3. Thick as Thieves, Megan Whalen Turner
2. The Furthest Station, Ben Aaronovitch (e)
1. Romancing the Werewolf, Gail Carriger (e)
Author: Sharon
Liaden Universe® Infodump No. 120
GETCHER RED HOT SPACE OPERA STORYBUNDLE NOW!
Curated by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, the Space Opera Storybundle features 18 novels of space adventure, by authors such as Stephanie Bedwell-Grime, Mike Shepherd, Jennifer Foehner Wells, Don Sakers, Vera Nazarian, Terry Mixon, Lee and Miller, and more! This opportunity ends on May 31, so now is the moment to act! Here’s your link: https://storybundle.com/scifi
Curated by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, the Space Opera Storybundle features 18 novels of space adventure, by authors such as Stephanie Bedwell-Grime, Mike Shepherd, Jennifer Foehner Wells, Don Sakers, Vera Nazarian, Terry Mixon, Lee and Miller, and more! This opportunity ends on May 31, so now is the moment to act! Here’s your link: https://storybundle.com/scifi
RELEASE THE VIRGINS! KICKSTARTER
Release the Virgins is an original anthology built around the phrase — wait for it — “Release the virgins.” No, we don’t know why. But! It sounded like fun and Steve agreed to do a story; then Sharon agreed to do a story, too, joining a host of other writers with a playful streak, including Jody Lynn Nye, David Gerrold, Cecelia Tan, Lawrence Watt-Evans, Shariann Lewitt — and more! The campaign runs until June 17.Here’s your link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/667435382/release-the-virgins
Release the Virgins is an original anthology built around the phrase — wait for it — “Release the virgins.” No, we don’t know why. But! It sounded like fun and Steve agreed to do a story; then Sharon agreed to do a story, too, joining a host of other writers with a playful streak, including Jody Lynn Nye, David Gerrold, Cecelia Tan, Lawrence Watt-Evans, Shariann Lewitt — and more! The campaign runs until June 17.Here’s your link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/667435382/release-the-virgins
LEE AND MILLER WILL NOT ATTEND WORLDCON 76
We had intended to attend WorldCon; we had budgeted time and money; arranged schedules, and then — in late February, we looked at a house in town (we have long been looking to move into town, closer to services and conveniences), fell in love with the place, made an offer, and — the long and short of it is that, all the money and time we had budgeted for attending WorldCon instead went to moving into the new house. We’re very sorry that we won’t be at the con with our friends and readers, old and new. But we’re very happy with our new situation.
On the topic of conventions — this is the first time since 1997, that we haven’t had a convention, or three, on the schedule. That feels. . .strange, indeed.
Everyone who is going to WorldCon — have fun!
UPCOMING PUBLICATIONS
“Revolutionists,” The Razor’s Edge, Zombies Need Brains Press, July 2018
The Gathering Edge, mmp, Baen, August 2018
Agent of Change 30th Anniversary Edition, mmp, Baen, November 2018
Liaden Universe(R) Constellation, Volume Four, Baen, Summer 2019
WORKS IN PROGRESS
Untitled Liaden story for Infinite Stars 2, deadline August 15
Untitled story for Release the Virgins, Steve, deadline August 30
Untitled story for Release the Virgins, Sharon, deadline August 30
Accepting the Lance, 22nd Liaden Universe(R) novel, deadline January 15, 2019
REMEMBER TO VISIT THESE SITES:
Lee and Miller Patreon Support Page: https://www.patreon.com/leeandmiller?ty=h
Pinbeam Books: http://www.pinbeambooks.com an online catalog, with vendor links, to all Lee-and-Miller, Miller, and Lee self-published works
BLOGS AND OTHER WEBLY THINGS OF NOTE
Sharon Lee’s blog, Eagles over the Kennebec: https://rolanni.dreamwidth.org/
Sharon Lee’s “Professional” blog: http://sharonleewriter.com
Steve Miller’s blog, Journeyman: https://kinzel.dreamwidth.org/
FACEBOOK CONNECTIONS
http://facebook.com/kinzel — Steve Miller
http://facebook.com/rolanni — Sharon Lee
Clan Korval: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=38719490864&ref=ts
Friends of Liad: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=16280839259&ref=ts
Flaran chamenthi: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=2213414696&ref=ts
TWITTER
Steve’s on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bechimo
Sharon’s on Twitter, too: http://twitter.com/ClanKorval
Pinbeam Books: http://www.pinbeambooks.com an online catalog, with vendor links, to all Lee-and-Miller eChapbooks
Splinter Universe: http://www.splinteruniverse.com features outtakes, splinters, oddities from the Lee&Miller writing career, currently changes irregularly.
Welcome to Liad — The official homepage for Liaden Universe® news — http://www.korval.com
The Hyperspatial Boardwalk Shop: T-shirts, mugs, more! — http://www.cafepress.com/hyperspatial
DISCLAIMER STUFF
This InfoDump is a product of the Liaden Universe®, accept no imitations. You have received this message because you asked for it. If you wish to subscribe to the Liaden Universe® email list, to unsubscribe from the Liaden Universe® email list, or to change your delivery email address, go here: http://www.fireopal.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/liadenuniversenews
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Second Breakfast
First breakfast was Cheerios and half a banana, around 8 am. Second breakfast is six Ritz cracker with cream cheese, and my second cup of tea.
I have News of sorts, for those of you who have been Patiently Bearing with All The Boring House Stuff, and waiting for us to get back to the Important Stuff.
We here at the Confusion Factory have a number of projects currently on our plates, and while they have deadlines as far-flung as August and January, those are delivery deadlines. Internal deadlines are another thing entirely, because, while Everything May Happen At Once, it has to be handled One Thing At A Time.
So! We have the following projects in hand:
May 26: Finish proofing the Anniversary Edition of Agent of Change. August delivery
May 31: Sharon finishes first draft of as-yet-untitled space opera story for Infinite Stars 2 and passes to Steve. August delivery
June 1: Sharon begins Actual Writing of Accepting the Lance. January 2019 delivery
June 1: Sharon begins proofing Liaden Universe® Constellation Volume 4. Steve begins writing mini-intros for each story. Collaborate on volume intro. August delivery
July 1: Sharon begins writing story for Release the Virgins. Steve begins writing story for Release the Virgins. August delivery?
You will deduce from this list that we are in a position of needing to Beat Feet and keep on beating.
On top of this — those who are bored with House Stuff may avert your eyes — we still do need to get the Old Digs ready for sale, and finish settling into the New Digs.
We will therefore be Somewhat Scarce on the Information Superhighway. Email may languish. We will try to surface occasionally to fill y’all in, but work, by which I of course mean, Feeding the Cats, comes first.
Stay safe. Keep busy. Be kind. Take out the trash. Call your mother. Tell the people in your life how much they mean to you. And, always, always. . .
Watch the skies.
Books read in 2018
29. The Prince and the Dressmaker, Jen Wang
28. The Talisman Ring, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-read; read aloud with Steve)
27. The Moon-spinners, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
26. The Cat Who Went Underground, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. Winterglass, Benjanun Sriduangkaew (e)
24. The Cat Who Sniffed Glue, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
23. The Tea Master and the Detective, Aliette de Bodard (e)
22. The Persian Boy, Mary Renault
21. Heart of Obsidian, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
20. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey
19. Woman Without a Past, Phyllis A. Whitney (e)
18. The Mermaid’s Sister, Carrie Anne Noble (e)
17. All Systems Red, Martha Wells (e)
16. Burn Bright, Patricia Briggs (e)
15. The Ivy Tree, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
14. Kiss of Snow, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
13. Throne of Jade, Naomi Novik (e)
12. His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik (e)
11. The Cat Who Played Post Office, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
10. The Faded Sun: Kutath, CJ Cherryh (e)
9. Emergence, CJ Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
8. The Faded Sun: Shon’jir, CJ Cherryh (re-read) (e)
7. The Faded Sun: Kesrith, CJ Cherryh (e)
6. My Brother Michael, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
5. The River Bank, Kij Johnson (read aloud with Steve)
4. Still Life, Louise Penny
3. Thick as Thieves, Megan Whalen Turner
2. The Furthest Station, Ben Aaronovitch (e)
1. Romancing the Werewolf, Gail Carriger (e)
Shameless Self Promotion and the Saga of the Pantry
Asyouknowbob, the SFWA Big Bundle of Space Opera vanishes into hyperspace in 9 days, 14 hours, and yada-yada minutes. This bundle includes books by Mike Shepherd, Stephanie Bedwell-Grimes, Terry Mixon, Vera Nazarian, Lee and Miller, and so! many! more! You want this bundle, you know you want it! Satisfy your craving now! Here’s your link.
Also! There’s a kickstarter running for the publication of original anthology Release the Virgins! Lots of swell authors on board for this one, if it’s funded, among them Jody Nye, Keith R.A. deCandido, Lawrence Watt-Evans, Gail Z. Martin, Shariann Lewitt, Sharon Lee, Steve Miller — and more! Here’s your link.
Here at the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory’s new location, proofreading of the 30th Anniversary Edition of Agent of Change continues to go forth. Given the sorts of errors that have been identified — dropped words and paragraphs — this one may warrant a third pass. Happily, we have until August to return it to Baen.
Work also goes forth on a Liaden short story commissioned for a space opera anthology; which has an August delivery. And of course planning continues on Accepting the Lance.
We have also been continuing with Necessary Adjustments to the house. This week’s triumph was the installation of the pantry, which was completed yesterday. Today, April will stop by to measure for the countertop, and I need to ask her about the microwave shelf, which needs some adjustment, but, for all intents and purposes, we have pantry! And now I get these stupid boxes out of my living room.
. . .which will then, of course, be replaced with whole other stupid boxes, as we get the Tech Room sorted out.
Sooner or later, we’ll achieve a State of No Boxes and no contractors/installers, but I fear it will not be soon. And I do have to keep reminding myself that we haven’t even been living here for a full month.
*deep breaths*
For those interested, here’s the Before and Afters of the dining room/pantry situation.
. . .and now, to work.
On changes and being older than dirt*
So, yesterday, I bought shoes. And the clerk who was helping me with this project, commented on the laces for the Athletic Shoes, which are kind of a soft, stretchy material. They reminded me instantly of something I haven’t thought of for years, and I said, “Oh, they’re like the jersey loops that you use to make potholders.” She stared at me. I tried again, because, honestly, I never learn: “You know, when you were a kid, you had a bag full of jersey loops and a little metal loom, and you stretched the loops one way and then wove other loops through them and made so many potholders not even your grandmother wanted more?” If possible, her stare got blanker, though she produced a tentative, but willing smile. “Never mind,” I said; “cool laces.”
But! That’s not why I called you together today.
Today, Steve and I let the WorldCon know that we will not be attending. We’ve had to cancel out of the last several worldcons, for various reasons, but what makes this particularly poignant, is — we have no science fiction conventions on our schedule at all, for the first time since. . .1997. Not sure how I feel about that. On the one hand, we are kind of busy here on the home front for the next while. On the other, con travel had become, if not a constant, then a unremarkable event in our lives. It’s going to feel odd to stay home. Maybe we can produce another vacation; the last one was a lot of fun. And, Steve has decided to join me at the National Carousel Association Convention in September, which may scratch the con-going itch, a little.
Which leads me to the topic of Changes. Steve and I have been through some Changes, starting with his becoming a Bionic Being in January 2011. Not all of the Changes have been profound, and sometimes we went months at a time with hardly any Change at all, absent The Usual.
Around the middle of 2015, things started to heat up, with Steve’s stepfather, whose health had been fragile for several years, beginning to fail more seriouisly, requiring several family meetings, and trips to Maryland, to try to plan for the best good of Pete and Steve’s mother.
Pete died in the fall of 2016; soon after that, Steve was hospitalized for a cardiac event, and was forbidden to drive for six months. Right after he got his wheels back — his mom began to fail dramatically. More trips back and forth to Maryland for him, while I held the home front. During one such separation, I fell ill with. . .Something. . .which changed my metabolism in odd ways, and before I was fully recovered, it was necessary to make one last trip to Maryland, to tell Mom good-bye, and see her placed properly next to Pete.
Just when we were beginning to accommodate that Change, we up and bought a house, which is Changing our lives in all kinds of amusing, frustrating, and unexpected ways.
I hadn’t realized that we’d had such a. . .busy last couple years until I was putting the files back into the file cabinets, which gave me an Annual Overview. Apparently we are entering that Time of Life where Change will be the rule, but I hope Our Personal Changes will slow down just a bit, and give us so time to find our feet.
. . .and that’s what I’ve got today.
Hope you — yes, you — are enjoying the day.
_______
*I was going to use a Frank Zappa quote to title this blog post, but it turns out Frank Zappa didn’t say that, which is just so exactly like him, I can’t even. However! He did say something else, which I share with you because I can: “There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe. And its shelf life is longer.”
Day Off
So, today, I was scheduled for the mammogram following up January’s visit to Eastern Maine Medical Center’s Cancer Center in Bangor. Happily, the follow-up was done at our local hospital, which is now exactly 3 minutes from our house. Preliminary reading of the 3D picture indicates no change/no problem, so I get to do it again in December, to see if I’m three times lucky.
After the mammogram, Steve and I took the day off, as, in our opinions, we had earned a day off. We drove down to Old Orchard Beach (the new house is one! half! hour! closer to the ocean!), where the shape of the beach has changed, under the pressure of the several violent storms over the winter. We walked a little, observed the progress of the installation of the new rollercoaster in Palace Playland (Sea Viper. Really?), and eventually drove down to Camp Ellis, where the damage is. . .considerable, and rather shocking.
Eventually, we wound up in Kittery, where we turned around, sort of, arriving in York via back roads, and finally pausing at the Maine Diner for a late lunch of Maine-style crabcake and potato salad.
We paused at the Maine Mall to buy new shoes, which both of us have been needing for some time, and I find to my considerable joy that my beloved Dansko oxfords, which was discontinued several years ago, had merely been taken off the market briefly so that they could be made to accept a variety of orthopedic devices. They are now back! And yes, I bought a pair to replace the pair I have been wearing despite I shouldn’t — and also a pair of sneakers, though at that price, I ought to find — ah. Athletic Shoes.
We are now home, having stopped at the grocery to take on needed supplies, and I’m about to finish my day with some meditation followed by a glass of wine.
Tomorrow, is the rumored delivery of the long-anticipated pantry. If it does, indeed, arrive, it may be installed by Friday. *fingers crossed*
Beyond that — tomorrow, we go back to work.
And that? Is all I’ve got.
Everybody have a good evening
Books read in 2018
28. The Talisman Ring, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-read; read aloud with Steve)
27. The Moon-spinners, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
26. The Cat Who Went Underground, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. Winterglass, Benjanun Sriduangkaew (e)
24. The Cat Who Sniffed Glue, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
23. The Tea Master and the Detective, Aliette de Bodard (e)
22. The Persian Boy, Mary Renault
21. Heart of Obsidian, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
20. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey
19. Woman Without a Past, Phyllis A. Whitney (e)
18. The Mermaid’s Sister, Carrie Anne Noble (e)
17. All Systems Red, Martha Wells (e)
16. Burn Bright, Patricia Briggs (e)
15. The Ivy Tree, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
14. Kiss of Snow, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
13. Throne of Jade, Naomi Novik (e)
12. His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik (e)
11. The Cat Who Played Post Office, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
10. The Faded Sun: Kutath, CJ Cherryh (e)
9. Emergence, CJ Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
8. The Faded Sun: Shon’jir, CJ Cherryh (re-read) (e)
7. The Faded Sun: Kesrith, CJ Cherryh (e)
6. My Brother Michael, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
5. The River Bank, Kij Johnson (read aloud with Steve)
4. Still Life, Louise Penny
3. Thick as Thieves, Megan Whalen Turner
2. The Furthest Station, Ben Aaronovitch (e)
1. Romancing the Werewolf, Gail Carriger (e)
In which there are announcements
So, the next Liaden novel — Fifth of Five/Accepting the Lance. After after close consultation with the characters, and of course the cats, Steve and I have spoken with Madame the Agent and Madame the Publisher, and — we have agreed upon a January 2019 delivery date*.
Madame the Publisher allows us to know that the thirtieth anniversary edition of Agent of Change will be on sale on October 30, 2018. We will be speaking with Mr. Blyly to find if he thinks the Uncle will find it possible to take pre-orders for signed copies of that edition.
Madame also lets us know that A Liaden Universe® Constellation: Volume Four has been penciled into the schedule for Summer 2019.
In not unrelated news, we have consulted with our bank account and our qe’andra and — we will not be attending WorldCon this year.
We will instead be badgering the contractors of Central Maine to paint and do small repairs at the Old Digs so that it can be shown and (we hope speedily) sold.
Steve and I apologize for being the authors of these inconveniences, but — necessity is.
In new house news, we have today put the rug down in the living room, signifying — something. Probably, boredom with having to dodge around it’s rolled up bulk every time we wanted to open the side windows.
Scrabble celebrated The Event with a dance composed for the occasion:
Here’s a picture of the whole rug, with the Mencken table and the sofa:
Everybody have a good weekend.
__________________
*This is a delivery date, not a publication date. “Delivery date” is when we turn the finished manuscript into Madame the Publisher.
Books read in 2018
27. The Moon-spinners, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
26. The Cat Who Went Underground, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. Winterglass, Benjanun Sriduangkaew (e)
24. The Cat Who Sniffed Glue, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
23. The Tea Master and the Detective, Aliette de Bodard (e)
22. The Persian Boy, Mary Renault
21. Heart of Obsidian, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
20. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey
19. Woman Without a Past, Phyllis A. Whitney (e)
18. The Mermaid’s Sister, Carrie Anne Noble (e)
17. All Systems Red, Martha Wells (e)
16. Burn Bright, Patricia Briggs (e)
15. The Ivy Tree, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
14. Kiss of Snow, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
13. Throne of Jade, Naomi Novik (e)
12. His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik (e)
11. The Cat Who Played Post Office, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
10. The Faded Sun: Kutath, CJ Cherryh (e)
9. Emergence, CJ Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
8. The Faded Sun: Shon’jir, CJ Cherryh (re-read) (e)
7. The Faded Sun: Kesrith, CJ Cherryh (e)
6. My Brother Michael, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
5. The River Bank, Kij Johnson (read aloud with Steve)
4. Still Life, Louise Penny
3. Thick as Thieves, Megan Whalen Turner
2. The Furthest Station, Ben Aaronovitch (e)
1. Romancing the Werewolf, Gail Carriger (e)