Sharon – Page 248 – Sharon Lee, Writer

Words could never explain, I just wish it would rain

So, let’s see. . .

It’s hot, for Maine values of hot, and it’s gonna get hotter. Next week, in fact, is looking to be a scorcher from edge to edge. Well. . .it is August.

Let’s see, today started with the arrival in the mail of the eroyalty checks. Steve and I will therefore be having a week at the ocean, for a much-needed ohmighodwillthisyearjustSTOPalready break. We have Planned this excursion so that we will have two viewings of fireworks over the sea. Clever, no?

Today also encompassed Cleaning, which meant a strategic deployment of the Cat Eating Machine, which did not find favor with the Feline Contingent, as Per Usual, though they seem to have forgiven me, now. I suspect it may be too hot for even a cat to hold a grudge.

I’m taking a blog-writing break from cleaning off my desk, which has become cluttered with notes that had been sitting on the kitchen table, Awaiting Attention. Sigh. We really need a House Desk. And a House Secretary, why not, while we’re at it.

In other news, the Alien Artifacts and Were anthology Kickstarter campaign has passed the $9,000 mark, which means that! Two new anchor authors have been added: C.S. Friedman, and David Farland/Dave Wolverton.

Though the goal of this campaign is $10,000; I would just like to point out a stretch goal to those who may be on the fence. If funding reaches $15,000? All the authors in both anthologies will receive a penny a word raise! Lest you scoff at the power of a mere penny — for a 5,000 word story, that’s an extra $50, which is more than enough to buy a lobster dinner where I live.

Here’s the link to the Alien Artifacts/Were Kickstarter.

Also! Monday, August 17 — that’s the day after tomorrow! — we will begin receiving and posting your photographs in the Do It Like a Delm challenge. Rules and general information may be found at this link.

Today’s blog title brought to you by The Temptations, “I Wish It Would Rain.”

And — there are three cats in my office. Photographic proof:

Books read in 2015

31. The Emperor’s Edge, Lindsay Buroker (e)
30. Trick or Treat, Kerry Greenwood (e)
29. The Golden Hawk, Frank Yerby (reread; six pages fell out at various spots during this reading; it was reread many times, when I was 14)
28. The Wave in the Mind, Ursula K. Le Guin
27. The Boy from the Burren, Sheila Gilluly (e)
26. Dead Heat, Patricia Briggs (e)
25. Girl Genius: The Beast of the Rails, Kaja and Phil Foglio
24. A Bollywood Affair, Sonali Dev
23. Who Buries the Dead, C.S. Harris
22. Killer Instinct, Zoe Sharpe (e)
21. Devil’s Food, Kerry Greenwood (e)
20. The Making of a Marchioness, Frances Hodgson Burnett (e)
19. A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett (e)
18. Geekomancy, Michael R. Underwood (e)
17. The Perfect Rake, Anne Gracie
16. The Martian, Andy Weir
15. Blaze of Memory, Nalini Singh
14. Tracker, C.J. Cherryh (read out loud with Steve)
13. Chanur’s Legacy, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
12. Chanur’s Homecoming, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
11. The Kif Strike Back, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
10. Why Kings Confess, C.S. Harris
9. Chanur’s Venture, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve) (Note: the publisher’s note at the end of the book states that the next-in-series is Chanur’s Revenge. This is false. The next-in-series is The Kif Strike Back.)
8. Angels’ Blood, Nalini Singh (read out loud with Steve)
7. The Pride of Chanur, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
6. What Darkness Brings, C.S. Harris
5. When Maidens Mourn, C.S. Harris
4. Where Shadows Dance, C.S. Harris
3. What Remains of Heaven, C.S. Harris
2. Where Serpents Sleep, C.S. Harris
1. When Gods Die, C.S. Harris

Liaden Universe® Challenge!

Now that there’s new Liaden Universe® gear, not to mention two! new! books! out loose in the world causing who knows what havoc and consternation, Steve and I said, What the heck; let’s have a contest.

We are therefore announcing the DO IT LIKE A DELM contest. Here’s what you have to do to play:

Take a picture (a selfie, or ask a friend to help you out) of yourself, wearing your cool! new! Liaden gear, in. . .a bookstore. . .at WorldCon. . .in a hang-glider. . .at the top of Mount Washington. . .swimming with dolphins. . .at a family picnic — you see where we’re going with this, right? Right.

What’s that you say? You don’t have any cool! new! Liaden gear?

We got you covered.

You may also play by taking a picture of you and one of the two! new! books just out from Baen — those being Dragon in Exile, and Liaden Universe® Constellation, Volume 3 — in exciting situations similar but certainly not limited to those listed above.

OR!

If you are one of the few and the proud who still own your original green-and-gold Plan B tshirt, or the second-run navy-and-white I Dare tshirt — take a picture of yourself wearing this historic gear, and you will have a Bonus Point added to your entry.

Entry?

Yes, entry!

You didn’t think we just wanted you to take photos to post to your Facebook Wall, did you?

Heck no! After you take that picture, we want you to send it to us! We’ll post it on korval.com, and every Sunday, starting August 23, we will choose a winner from all entries.

Cool, huh?

OK, here’s the rules in 1-2-3 format.

1. Take a picture of yourself in your new or historic Liaden gear doing something interesting. ALTERNATIVELY, take a picture of yourself with one of the two new Liaden books doing something really interesting — but not dangerous! No, really. This isn’t worth getting killed.

2. Send that picture to liadenuniverse@gmail.com, be sure to include an email address that you check regularly with your entry.

3. Multiple entries are allowed, but! No more than one picture per day may be submitted.

4. All submissions may be posted to a gallery on korval.com

5. On Sunday we will choose a winner, and the winning picture will be posted on korval.com in Isolated Glory.

6. In addition to Glory, the winner will receive a coupon for one free Baen ebook of their choice.

7. Contest starts Monday August 17 at 1:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, and ends at noon EDT on Saturday, October 3, 2015. Pictures received before Monday August 17 will not be admitted to the contest. The last winner will be posted on korval.com on Sunday, October 4.

Want to play, but don’t have a shirt? Order one here: Offworld Designs

Want to play, but don’t have a book? Look to the Uncle. Uncle Hugo, that is.

To get y’all in the mood, here are a couple of sample shots:

Steve, doin' it like a delm — Steve, doin’ it like a delm. A delm slightly in his cups, perhaps, but a delm, nonetheless.

Sharon doing it like a delm. — Sharon doin’ it like a delm. Those kids just can’t keep outta trouble on the streets, can they?

In which all the cats are sleeping. . .on my desk

So, what a day!

First, the mail: If there were no checks in today’s mail, there were at least no bills.

Also! My new pedometer arrived, which it wasn’t supposed to until Friday, and I’m very glad it did because today! was the day that my old pedometer, which had been tottering along for some weeks, showing half-numbers and fuzzy screens, this despite a new battery — died the real death. The new pedometer is blue (Sprite picked it out), and has a slightly larger screen, while being itself slightly smaller overall than the now-deceased machine. Set up was extremely easy and there’s a simple lock/unlock switch to get into the battery compartment, instead of a teensy-tiny little set screw, as in the previous model.

Maisie Dobbs was also in today’s mail from my good friends at Yankee Clipper Used Books. As is often the case with them, the book appears to be brand-new. This is speedy, speedy service, as I only placed my order on Sunday.

Finding ourselves so very fortunate in the mail, I decided to drive in to town to do some errands, while Steve finished up his read of Alliance of Equals, with an eye toward proposing some sell copy. When I left, he was being ably assisted by Sprite, who aspires to a career of writing promotional copy from home, in order to make millions, though she’s not exactly clear on millions of what. I’m sure she’ll get it all worked out eventually.

In town, I actually found a pair of (women’s) Columbia sandals to fit me at Super Shoes. These sandals replace a pair of men’s Columbia sandals from at least a decade ago, which had finally given up their soles.

A swing by KMart for some needed items, and likewise the grocery store, and so to home in plenty of time to join Steve for the midday meal.

After the meal, I did some online shopping — I’ve decided to keep my hair purple/indigo for the next while, so I made an order at Overtone. And, for those who were following the debate on Facebook, yeah, I bought the quick-drying pants of many pockets.

Not only that, but the Alien Artifacts/Were Kickstarter Joint Campaign is going great guns. If you missed the announcement yesterday, here’s the link.

And! Lest I forget — Steve and I will be announcing a little something different later in the week, so I guess that’s a Watch the Skies.

Quite the exciting day, yes, indeed.

And now? I need to do some work.

Sharon, purple hair, Selah Tea tshirt, Chattacon denim. A plate of fashion, indeed. Photo by Steve Miller.

In which doin’s are being done

Lee and Miller are part of some exciting new projects that you — yes, you! — want to know about!

First! The Kickstarter campaign to fund anthology projects Alien Artifacts and Were have gone live! Anchor authors for these projects include: Phyllis Ames (Phyllis Irene Radford), Jacey Bedford, Patricia Bray, David B. Coe, Walter H. Hunt, Faith Hunter, Gini Koch, Gail Martin, Seanan McGuire, Juliet E McKenna, Danielle Ackley-Mcphail, Steve Miller, Sharon Lee, and Jean Marie Ward. The Kickstarter page has been up for just over an hour and already 65 eager and generous people have donated over $2,000 toward the $10,000 goal.

You know you want to be part of this, so!

Here’s your link!

Also!

BaltiCon 50 has determined on the Goal of having as many of their previous 49 Guests of Honor join the 50th GoH, George RR Martin, at the con. They are asking for funding. . .in a rather novel way. . .in order to make this happen. Read all about it at —

this link!

Books read in 2015

30. Trick or Treat, Kerry Greenwood (e)
29. The Golden Hawk, Frank Yerby (reread; six pages fell out at various spots during this reading; it was reread many times, when I was 14)
28. The Wave in the Mind, Ursula K. Le Guin
27. The Boy from the Burren, Sheila Gilluly (e)
26. Dead Heat, Patricia Briggs (e)
25. Girl Genius: The Beast of the Rails, Kaja and Phil Foglio
24. A Bollywood Affair, Sonali Dev
23. Who Buries the Dead, C.S. Harris
22. Killer Instinct, Zoe Sharpe (e)
21. Devil’s Food, Kerry Greenwood (e)
20. The Making of a Marchioness, Frances Hodgson Burnett (e)
19. A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett (e)
18. Geekomancy, Michael R. Underwood (e)
17. The Perfect Rake, Anne Gracie
16. The Martian, Andy Weir
15. Blaze of Memory, Nalini Singh
14. Tracker, C.J. Cherryh (read out loud with Steve)
13. Chanur’s Legacy, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
12. Chanur’s Homecoming, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
11. The Kif Strike Back, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
10. Why Kings Confess, C.S. Harris
9. Chanur’s Venture, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve) (Note: the publisher’s note at the end of the book states that the next-in-series is Chanur’s Revenge. This is false. The next-in-series is The Kif Strike Back.)
8. Angels’ Blood, Nalini Singh (read out loud with Steve)
7. The Pride of Chanur, C.J. Cherryh (re-read, read out loud with Steve)
6. What Darkness Brings, C.S. Harris
5. When Maidens Mourn, C.S. Harris
4. Where Shadows Dance, C.S. Harris
3. What Remains of Heaven, C.S. Harris
2. Where Serpents Sleep, C.S. Harris
1. When Gods Die, C.S. Harris

In which there is music, and words, and coon cats

A couple weeks ago, Steve and I were the delighted recipients of Violet, the first CD from the ensemble Reverie, of which includes Marni Rachmiel, who in addition to being a Friend of Liad, is a flutist. The story behind the CD is that, in early 2014, three musicians were doing what musicians do after a full day of making music; they were — making music together, as it happened, for the very first time. That jam session was a magical thing, in the way that music often is, and four months later, the three musicians — Karina Wilson, Terry Wergeland, and Marni Rachimel — all having cleared their schedules in respect of art, and magic, they met at a recording studio, with virtually no plans, except to recreate that first jam session, this time in a form that they could share.

The result of that is Violet, featuring seven variations on English Country dance music, three original compositions, and two free improvs. I wish I could tell you how much I enjoyed this album — well, here — I enjoyed this album, and it’s playing as I type this. If this sounds like your kind of thing — or even if it doesn’t, y’know, because life is risk, and risk so very seldom pays off so pleasantly — you might check out the Reverie Music Facebook page, here. Ordering information for Violet is also available. Here’s your link.

In other news, Steve and I have been story conferencing, writing, and rearranging. As of right now, The Gathering Edge stands at 12,343 linear words, many of them dealing with Theo, and another few thousand more regarding events that do not necessarily have to do with Theo. Steve is lead on this book; and he is concentrating on the Theo line. I am writing the around-pieces. Yes, this will be another woven book.

Tomorrow. . .is Monday. Tomorrow, therefore, I have a dental appointment, the office having come up with one somewhat ahead of September 29 — go office! After that. . .we shall see.

Hope everyone’s Monday is grand!

No, really, I do.

Here, have a picture of Steve and Scrabble, hard at work:

Yes, today my hair was purple

There was a call for a photo of the purple hair. Here we have Sharon modelling the purple hair and the always-stylish John Picacio art t-shirt from Chattacon 37.

Last Saturday night I got married; me and my wife settled down

All righty, then! You say you forgot to pre-order a signed copy of A Liaden Universe® Constellation Volume 3 from Uncle Hugo’s?

Well, honestly; what can I say to that?

Oh, wait! I know what to say to that!

Of the 200 Constellation Threes that Steve and I personally signed with our own personal names, with copious assistance from the Feline Contingent, Uncle Hugo has about 30 left.

So if you want that signed copy, run, do not walk to Uncle Hugo’s website — here’s your link — and order your book now, because you know they’re gonna go like hotcakes.

Today, Steve and I were out, walking — well, actually, driving — up and down the world, and we decided that, since we were hungry, we’d get lunch. As we were in Augusta, we thought we’d try the new Italian place on Water Street. We found a parking place right in front, got out, looked at the sign on the door with the hours (in Maine, in the summer, most especially on Friday, you Just Don’t Know what’s going to be open), saw that we fell in the sweet spot of after 11:30 am and before 11 pm, pushed open the door, strolled in to the very pleasant dining room. . .

. . .where we were greeted by the manager, who said, “I’m sorry, but we’re not open.”

We mentioned the sign, and the fact that the door was open.

“Yes,” he said. “I am sorry; we try to do lunch, but last night — we had a really good crowd last night, and they ate all our food. The chef just went out to go shopping.”

Ah.

We nodded, and wished the young man a nice day, got in the car and went to hunt and gather elsewhere*.

So ends today’s adventure.

Hope everyone has a wonderful, and stress-free weekend.

Today’s blog post brought to you by The Weavers (Ghod, my mother had this exact sheet music; I learned to play the song FROM this exact sheet music), “Goodnight, Irene.” Here’s your link.

______________

*Which turned out to be Ruby Tuesday, in Waterville, where we had a very pleasant meal in a quiet after-lunch restaurant, which made the lady who stopped at the table to geek out over my hair even. . .more astonishing. I’d forgotten that my hair is purple today. . .

Thursday Cat Spam

I haven’t Utterly Spammed the intertubes with cat pics for a while. Let’s make up that deficit, now.

For those fans of Belle, who have been wondering how she’s integrating into the household — I can report that, aside a certain tendency to swat Scrabble collegially in the butt, which Scrabble (amazingly) seems to accept in the spirit it is offered — that Belle is the Soul of Peace. One receives the impression that not having five kittens hanging off ears, toes, and tail is a Tremendous Relief. She does not sleep with Scrabble — which honors Scrabble’s preference in these matters — but she is perfectly at home snoozing with the Rest of the Coons, with us, or, with the cat toys.

Here, a photo of Belle and Sprite, hanging together:

Belle and Sprite

Here’s a picture of Sprite and her dad, sharing a sun spot. It’s nice to see that their Special Relationship continues, apart from the relationship each is building with Belle.