Sharon – Page 232 – Sharon Lee, Writer

Y’know? They’re growing mechanical trees. They grow to their full height; then they chop themselves down

So lately, most of the energy around the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory has been focused on The Gathering Edge, and I would just like to say that, by my stars and garters, I am never, ever again participating in a Theo book!

I feel so much better.

Even if it is an empty threat. Sigh. Theo is, I fear, going to have to be in the next book. But! The next book is not going to be a Theo book.

*glares at Theo*

*Theo glares back*

Yeah, well. . .

In other news, and in addition to the deadline we’re racing — there is a deadline approaching for you! Yes, you, too, over there in the corner.

What deadline you ask? Why, the deadline to pre-order a personalized hardcover copy of Alliance of Equals from Uncle Hugo’s SF Bookstore in Minneapolis. If you want a signed-and-personalized book, you have until June 1 to preorder.

Here’s your link.

This will be the last reminder you’ll get from me on this topic, because — BaltiCon.

Yes, we will be at BaltiCon. Will you? Here’s the link.

This morning, I took a break from glaring at Theo to go into town and have my hair cut, mail a package at the post office, get rid of some old meds at the police station, and to take on groceries. Because I had cleverly (sigh) made the appointment for my haircut for nine o’clock a.m., I ate breakfast in town, after, at Toast Xpress. If you’re ever in the area, I recommend the blueberry crepes, though there many, many delicious things to choose from.

I came home to find that my new corset had arrived. I asked Belle if she’d model it for y’all, but she’s busy, so you’ll just have to wait ’til BaltiCon to see it.

And that? Is all I’ve got. It bodes well to be a Crazy Few Days here on the Confusion Factory side of things, so I’ll just wish everybody a pleasant weekend.

Today’s blog title comes to you courtesy of Laurie Anderson, “Sharkey’s Day.” Here’s your link.

Books read in 2016

22. War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-read)
21. Wheel of the Infinite, Martha Wells (e)
20. Algonquin Cat, Val Schaffner, illustrated by Hilary Knight
19. Karen Memory, Elizabeth Bear
18. Ancillary Mercy, Ann Leckie
17. When Falcons Fall, C.S. Harris
16. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read)
15. Uprooted, Naomi Novik
14. Strong Poison, Dorothy L. Sayers
13. Written in Red, Anne Bishop
12. Andy & Don, Daniel de Visé
11. The Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
10. Foxglove Summer, Ben Aaronovitch
9.   Broken Homes, Ben Aaronovitch
8.   Soul Music, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
7.   Whispers Underground, Ben Aaronovitch
6.   Moon Over Soho, Ben Aaronovitch
5.   Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
4.   Conflict of Honors, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (e) (re-read)
3.   Mort, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
2.   The Sculptor, Scott McCloud
1.   A Short History of a Small Place, T.R. Pearson

Books read in 201

21. Wheel of the Infinite, Martha Wells (e)
20. Algonquin Cat, Val Schaffner, illustrated by Hilary Knight
19. Karen Memory, Elizabeth Bear
18. Ancillary Mercy, Ann Leckie
17. When Falcons Fall, C.S. Harris
16. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read)
15. Uprooted, Naomi Novik
14. Strong Poison, Dorothy L. Sayers
13. Written in Red, Anne Bishop
12. Andy & Don, Daniel de Visé
11. The Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
10. Foxglove Summer, Ben Aaronovitch
9.   Broken Homes, Ben Aaronovitch
8.   Soul Music, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
7.   Whispers Underground, Ben Aaronovitch
6.   Moon Over Soho, Ben Aaronovitch
5.   Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
4.   Conflict of Honors, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (e) (re-read)
3.   Mort, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
2.   The Sculptor, Scott McCloud
1.   A Short History of a Small Place, T.R. Pearson

Books read in 2016

20. Algonquin Cat, Val Schaffner, illustrated by Hilary Knight
19. Karen Memory, Elizabeth Bear
18. Ancillary Mercy, Ann Leckie
17. When Falcons Fall, C.S. Harris
16. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read)
15. Uprooted, Naomi Novik
14. Strong Poison, Dorothy L. Sayers
13. Written in Red, Anne Bishop
12. Andy & Don, Daniel de Visé
11. The Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
10. Foxglove Summer, Ben Aaronovitch
9.   Broken Homes, Ben Aaronovitch
8.   Soul Music, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
7.   Whispers Underground, Ben Aaronovitch
6.   Moon Over Soho, Ben Aaronovitch
5.   Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
4.   Conflict of Honors, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (e) (re-read)
3.   Mort, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
2.   The Sculptor, Scott McCloud
1.   A Short History of a Small Place, T.R. Pearson

Five minutes of fame, and! an important reminder

Hey, look! Publishers Weekly has reviewed Alliance of Equals, to wit:

“. . .this space opera continues to delight with genteel interactions between mild-spoken characters who are capable of great passions and swift actions, and its immense scope encompasses a well-realized and comfortable universe.”

So, yay! good review!

Which leads nicely into this reminder to them as wish to have signed copies of the hard cover edition of Alliance (coming to a bookstore near you, in July).

Uncle Hugo’s SF Bookstore is handling the pre-orders of personalized and/or signed books. Here’s what you need to know:

A. There is a deadline for pre-ordering personalized books (where “personalized” means the authors, in addition to their signatures, write something specifically requested by the person buying the book. Fair warning: If the authors feel, in their sole judgment, that the requested personalization is too long, or offendeth them in some other way, they will not — that’s not — personalize the book, though they will sign it. This is in the authors’ sole judgment, and there is no appeal. Thank you.). Deadline for pre-ordering personalized books is June 1.

B. If you do not want your book personalized, but you do want a signed copy, there is no deadline. Typically, Uncle has us sign an extra few books to have in the store. However! It’s best to pre-order to ensure that you will receive a signed book, as our signed editions have been known to sell out.

C. Here’s your link.

Here at the Confusion Factory, today encompasses vampires and an annual medical check-up, as well as a trip to the grocery store. Also, having now written the story (still untitled, alas, and I don’t think a Marx Bros. title if going to work for this one; may have to resort to Shakespeare. Or Tiny Tim.), and taken Steve’s input, I need to edit it, and bring it into shape to go to the editor.

A typical day, really.

Hope your day is relaxing and productive, wherever you may be.

Books read in 2016

19. Karen Memory, Elizabeth Bear
18. Ancillary Mercy, Ann Leckie
17. When Falcons Fall, C.S. Harris
16. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read)
15. Uprooted, Naomi Novik
14. Strong Poison, Dorothy L. Sayers
13. Written in Red, Anne Bishop
12. Andy & Don, Daniel de Visé
11. The Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
10. Foxglove Summer, Ben Aaronovitch
9.   Broken Homes, Ben Aaronovitch
8.   Soul Music, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
7.   Whispers Underground, Ben Aaronovitch
6.   Moon Over Soho, Ben Aaronovitch
5.   Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
4.   Conflict of Honors, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (e) (re-read)
3.   Mort, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
2.   The Sculptor, Scott McCloud
1.   A Short History of a Small Place, T.R. Pearson

I ain’t been, but I been tole, streets of Heaven’re paved with gold

So, that? Was a learning experience. I can understand why some younger voters are frustrated by the system, and according to yesterday’s narrative, the Democrats are the good guys.

I (and thousands of my fellow delegates) sat in a cramped space that Steve characterized as “steerage” for hours, listening to some folks speak sensibly, while other folk blathered, and one guy had a screaming argument with the chair of the convention. Why he wasn’t evicted, I don’t know. Perhaps the convention had failed to appoint a sergeant-at-arms, or the facility’s bouncer was busy elsewhere.

Despite truly awe-inspiring levels of incompetence and general confusion, the convention did manage to get some work done. You’ll have perhaps seen in media that the Maine Democrats have “abolished” their super-delegates, which is kinda yes and kinda no. For one thing, the super-delegate system remains in place for this election, as the majority of the convention could see no benefit to changing horses in mid-stream. The new system, which does not abolish super-delegates, but requires them to cast their votes in accordance with the will of the popular vote, will not go into effect until the next presidential election, in 2020.

Two of Maine’s five super-delegates, in the spirit of this resolution, have said that they will vote the will of the convention. The other three remain committed to Mrs. Clinton, though Mr. Sanders won the popular vote in the state of Maine handily.

The people trying to sell the super-delegate system as a Good Thing took a Very Strange Path, IMHO. They kept telling the members of the convention that the super-delegates were the check on the popular vote. They are political insiders with experience gained by years of being in the biz, and it is their job to be sure that the election goes “properly” — which I gather to mean “by the numbers” — thus they are apparently a force to prevent the nomination of a Democratic Donald Trump. This was a bizarre strategy, given the tenor of the convention as a whole, and the presence of Very Many people who are just so very tired of establishment politics.

Mr. Barney Frank spoke for Mrs. Clinton, and he spoke well. Sadly, he was heckled by boors, and again! the convention felt the lack of a sergeant-at-arms. Mr. Frank’s purpose was clearly to persuade supporters of Mr. Sanders to vote for Mrs. Clinton when she secures the nomination, and once again his reason for knowing that Mrs. Clinton would win the nomination was “numbers.” Which leads one to ask, “If this is Only a Numbers Game, why the freaking hell are we going through these shenanigans?” — but that could be Just Me.

Apparently, the convention also gained a delegate for Mr. Sanders from Mrs. Clinton’s side. Maine will be sending 19 delegates in support of Mr. Sanders to the national convention; and 11 in support of Mrs. Clinton.

There was other work to be done — a list of amendments to the party platform was tabled earlier in the day and was picked up again in the evening session. I, however, had collapsed into a quivering heap of jelly long, long before 7 pm, so the amendments had to make do without me.

So, as I said, a learning experience. I will, I think, be joining the new Progressive Party when it is formed because, my ghod, the present system is. . .archaic and opaque, at best.

And now I am going to follow the advice of a trio of Very Wise Cats, and take a nap.

Today’s blog post brought to you by Bruce Springsteen, “Keep Your Eye on the Prize.” Here’s your link.

Let no box be discarded. Sprite asserting her royal dominion. Photo by Sharon Lee

Seis de mayo

So, the text of the talk I delivered at Ravencon is online, for your viewing pleasure. Here’s your link.

Steve is shortly on his way to Portland to partake of the secret delights offered by the Maine State Democratic Convention; I will join him there tomorrow to do my duty as a delegate for Bernie Sanders. Today, with luck and tailwind, I will finish the first draft of the story that’s due on May 15.

In the meantime, I am soliciting recommendations for novels that are. . .light-hearted. They don’t have to be comedies, but they do have to be. . .soothing and generally uplifting — along the lines of The Goblin King, or Uprooted. I foresee finishing Karen Memory (which I’m enjoying very much) this weekend, and the books remaining on my TBR pile lean somewhat toward the Grim and Improving, which is not what I need to read right now.

And, now? I am turning the internet off, in order to get with the as-yet nameless short story.

Everybody have a fun-filled Friday, ‘k?

Today, we do laundry

We are back from RavenCon, where we were feted and treated like sci-fi royalty. Despite the 1900 mile round-trip from Maine to Williamsburg and back again, we arrived home fresh and bouncy and ready to deal with the laundry. Or maybe not.

If you get a chance to go to RavenCon, do it! Splendid con, well-run, and offering something for everyfan. Kudos to Chair Mike Pederson, and his staff (whom I will not name, for fear of inadvertently leaving someone out). And a special shout-out to Ginny Barnett, who volunteered to be our minion for the weekend, and did a superb job.

The week going forward includes the writing of a short story, now that a workable idea has, however belatedly, finally shown up; finishing The Gathering Edge, which no, is not playing nice, but which will, byerlady, be off our desks before we leave for BaltiCon, or I’ll know the reason why.

Steve will be leaving for Portland and the Maine Democratic Convention on Friday; I plan to join him on Saturday morning, for a full day of Democracy. Since Bernie won Maine in the caucuses, I remain somewhat baffled as to the purpose of this particular exercise, but I suppose All Will Become Clear in time.

In other news, Baen has republished in ebook form Janet Kagan’s Mirabile and also Hellspark. Those who read here regularly know that Hellspark is one of our — that’s Steve and me — favorite books in any genre; and between us, we’ve read a LOT of books. Here’s your link to Baen’s Janet Kagan page; I hear that Mirabile has made it into Amazon’s catalogue, but that Hellspark has yet to make an appearance. (And, forestalling the inevitable — No, Baen was not able to acquire Uhura’s Song, which was of course, written as a work for hire in the Original Trek tie-in series.

In other, other news, we came home from RavenCon to find that the house-sitter had taken delivery of a case of Dragon in Exile mass markets. They’re pretty!

And that? Is all the news that’s fit to print.

What did y’all do while I was gone?

Books read in 2016

18. Ancillary Mercy, Ann Leckie
17. When Falcons Fall, C.S. Harris
16. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read)
15. Uprooted, Naomi Novik
14. Strong Poison, Dorothy L. Sayers
13. Written in Red, Anne Bishop
12. Andy & Don, Daniel de Visé
11. The Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
10. Foxglove Summer, Ben Aaronovitch
9.   Broken Homes, Ben Aaronovitch
8.   Soul Music, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
7.   Whispers Underground, Ben Aaronovitch
6.   Moon Over Soho, Ben Aaronovitch
5.   Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
4.   Conflict of Honors, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (e) (re-read)
3.   Mort, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
2.   The Sculptor, Scott McCloud
1.   A Short History of a Small Place, T.R. Pearson