32 Touch Not the Cat, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
31 Miss Moriarty, I Presume ( Lady Sherlock Book 6) Sherry Thomas (e)
30 New Tales of Space and Time, ed. Raymond J. Healy (re-read)
29 Trust Me on This, Jennifer Crusie (re-read)
28 Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Sue Lynn Tan (Celestial Kingdom #1) (e)
27 Summer in Orcus, T. Kingfisher (e)
26 A Gentleman Undone, Cecelia Grant (Blackshear Family #2) (e)
25 A Lady Awakened, Cecelia Grant (Blackshear Family #1) (e)
24 Nettle and Bone, T. Kingfisher (e)
23 Shadow of the Swan, Nicola M. Cameron (Hidden Empire #1) (e)
22 Amongst Our Weapons, Ben Aaronovitch (Rivers of London #9) (e)
21 To My Muse, Nicola M. Cameron (e)
20 Unfit to Print, KJ Charles (e)
19 When Blood Lies, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #17)
18 The Last Revival of Opal and Nev, Dawnie Walton (e)
17 Bruno, Chief of Police: A Mystery of the French Countryside, Martin Walker (Bruno, Chief of Police #1) (e)
16 Spellswept, Stephanie Burgis (The Harwood Spellbook #2) (e)
15 Last Guard, Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling Trinity #5) (re-read aloud w/Steve)
14 Dragonsbane, Barbara Hambly (Winterlands #1) (e)
13 Naked Once More, Elizabeth Peters (Jacqueline Kirby #4) (e)
12 The Pride of Chanur, CJ Cherryh (Chanur #1) (e) (re-read)
11 Written in Red, Anne Bishop (The Others #1)(re-read)
10 Shadow Scale, Rachel Hartman (Seraphina #2) (e)
9 Seraphina, Rachel Hartman (Seraphina #1) (e)
8 Grave Reservations, Cherie Priest (Booking Agents Series #1) (e)
7 Gothel and the Maiden Prince, W.R. Gingell (e)
6 A Gathering of Gargoyles, Meredith Ann Pierce (Darkangel #2)
5 Crystal Lattice, Paul Aurelius (The Crystal Cities #1) (pre-pub provided by the author) (e)
4 The 5th Gender, G.L. Carriger (A Tinkered Stars Mystery) (e)
3 Magic Lessons, Alice Hoffman (Practical Magic #1 or #3, depending) (e)
2 Snowspelled, Stephanie Burgis (The Harwood Spellbook #1) (e)
1 Widdershins, Jordan L. Hawk (Whyborn and Griffin #1) (e)
Blog Without A Name
Books read in 2022
31 Miss Moriarty, I Presume ( Lady Sherlock Book 6) Sherry Thomas (e)
30 New Tales of Space and Time, ed. Raymond J. Healy (re-read)
29 Trust Me on This, Jennifer Crusie (re-read)
28 Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Sue Lynn Tan (Celestial Kingdom #1) (e)
27 Summer in Orcus, T. Kingfisher (e)
26 A Gentleman Undone, Cecelia Grant (Blackshear Family #2) (e)
25 A Lady Awakened, Cecelia Grant (Blackshear Family #1) (e)
24 Nettle and Bone, T. Kingfisher (e)
23 Shadow of the Swan, Nicola M. Cameron (Hidden Empire #1) (e)
22 Amongst Our Weapons, Ben Aaronovitch (Rivers of London #9) (e)
21 To My Muse, Nicola M. Cameron (e)
20 Unfit to Print, KJ Charles (e)
19 When Blood Lies, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #17)
18 The Last Revival of Opal and Nev, Dawnie Walton (e)
17 Bruno, Chief of Police: A Mystery of the French Countryside, Martin Walker (Bruno, Chief of Police #1) (e)
16 Spellswept, Stephanie Burgis (The Harwood Spellbook #2) (e)
15 Last Guard, Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling Trinity #5) (re-read aloud w/Steve)
14 Dragonsbane, Barbara Hambly (Winterlands #1) (e)
13 Naked Once More, Elizabeth Peters (Jacqueline Kirby #4) (e)
12 The Pride of Chanur, CJ Cherryh (Chanur #1) (e) (re-read)
11 Written in Red, Anne Bishop (The Others #1)(re-read)
10 Shadow Scale, Rachel Hartman (Seraphina #2) (e)
9 Seraphina, Rachel Hartman (Seraphina #1) (e)
8 Grave Reservations, Cherie Priest (Booking Agents Series #1) (e)
7 Gothel and the Maiden Prince, W.R. Gingell (e)
6 A Gathering of Gargoyles, Meredith Ann Pierce (Darkangel #2)
5 Crystal Lattice, Paul Aurelius (The Crystal Cities #1) (pre-pub provided by the author) (e)
4 The 5th Gender, G.L. Carriger (A Tinkered Stars Mystery) (e)
3 Magic Lessons, Alice Hoffman (Practical Magic #1 or #3, depending) (e)
2 Snowspelled, Stephanie Burgis (The Harwood Spellbook #1) (e)
1 Widdershins, Jordan L. Hawk (Whyborn and Griffin #1) (e)
Books read in 2022
30 New Tales of Space and Time, ed. Raymond J. Healy (re-read)
29 Trust Me on This, Jennifer Crusie (re-read)
28 Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Sue Lynn Tan (Celestial Kingdom #1) (e)
27 Summer in Orcus, T. Kingfisher (e)
26 A Gentleman Undone, Cecelia Grant (Blackshear Family #2) (e)
25 A Lady Awakened, Cecelia Grant (Blackshear Family #1) (e)
24 Nettle and Bone, T. Kingfisher (e)
23 Shadow of the Swan, Nicola M. Cameron (Hidden Empire #1) (e)
22 Amongst Our Weapons, Ben Aaronovitch (Rivers of London #9) (e)
21 To My Muse, Nicola M. Cameron (e)
20 Unfit to Print, KJ Charles (e)
19 When Blood Lies, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #17)
18 The Last Revival of Opal and Nev, Dawnie Walton (e)
17 Bruno, Chief of Police: A Mystery of the French Countryside, Martin Walker (Bruno, Chief of Police #1) (e)
16 Spellswept, Stephanie Burgis (The Harwood Spellbook #2) (e)
15 Last Guard, Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling Trinity #5) (re-read aloud w/Steve)
14 Dragonsbane, Barbara Hambly (Winterlands #1) (e)
13 Naked Once More, Elizabeth Peters (Jacqueline Kirby #4) (e)
12 The Pride of Chanur, CJ Cherryh (Chanur #1) (e) (re-read)
11 Written in Red, Anne Bishop (The Others #1)(re-read)
10 Shadow Scale, Rachel Hartman (Seraphina #2) (e)
9 Seraphina, Rachel Hartman (Seraphina #1) (e)
8 Grave Reservations, Cherie Priest (Booking Agents Series #1) (e)
7 Gothel and the Maiden Prince, W.R. Gingell (e)
6 A Gathering of Gargoyles, Meredith Ann Pierce (Darkangel #2)
5 Crystal Lattice, Paul Aurelius (The Crystal Cities #1) (pre-pub provided by the author) (e)
4 The 5th Gender, G.L. Carriger (A Tinkered Stars Mystery) (e)
3 Magic Lessons, Alice Hoffman (Practical Magic #1 or #3, depending) (e)
2 Snowspelled, Stephanie Burgis (The Harwood Spellbook #1) (e)
1 Widdershins, Jordan L. Hawk (Whyborn and Griffin #1) (e)
Communique from the Collected Denizens of the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory
Let it be known that yesterday’s Writers’ Day Off” trip to New Hampshire was not only occasion for a leisurely drive to the Plymouth, NH environs but also a well-researched opportunity to meet with and adopt to our household one 21 month old Maine Coon cat from Kelimcoons, the same home that brought us Trooper, Sprite, and Belle. Currently going by the call-name Firefly, she is slated to assume the vacant fourth cat position.
Our new young friend was remarkably calm during her one hundred and fifty mile drive across state lines to the Cat Farm, only complaining once or twice – as who would not? – during several unexpected turn-and-bump situations.
On arrival at the Cat Farm, Firefly took up overnight residency in the second bathroom in order to recoup her energy. She took short meetings with the other cats in the household last evening and all agreed it would be good if she in fact were allowed to relax alone in her suite.
Consideration of a nom-de-Cat Farm will take place over time, as she sorts her place and her responsibilities.
As of this morning Firefly has been given unrestricted access to the house. Most recent sighting showed her exploring the comfort of The Place Behind the Freezer in the basement, as well as the Place Beside the Ice Chests, having tested Belle’s once favorite spot of The Place Behind the Washer and Dryer and found it interesting but not that all it could be.
Glamour pic:
Books read in 2022
29 Trust Me on This, Jennifer Crusie (re-read)
28 Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Sue Lynn Tan (Celestial Kingdom #1) (e)
27 Summer in Orcus, T. Kingfisher (e)
26 A Gentleman Undone, Cecelia Grant (Blackshear Family #2) (e)
25 A Lady Awakened, Cecelia Grant (Blackshear Family #1) (e)
24 Nettle and Bone, T. Kingfisher (e)
23 Shadow of the Swan, Nicola M. Cameron (Hidden Empire #1) (e)
22 Amongst Our Weapons, Ben Aaronovitch (Rivers of London #9) (e)
21 To My Muse, Nicola M. Cameron (e)
20 Unfit to Print, KJ Charles (e)
19 When Blood Lies, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #17)
18 The Last Revival of Opal and Nev, Dawnie Walton (e)
17 Bruno, Chief of Police: A Mystery of the French Countryside, Martin Walker (Bruno, Chief of Police #1) (e)
16 Spellswept, Stephanie Burgis (The Harwood Spellbook #2) (e)
15 Last Guard, Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling Trinity #5) (re-read aloud w/Steve)
14 Dragonsbane, Barbara Hambly (Winterlands #1) (e)
13 Naked Once More, Elizabeth Peters (Jacqueline Kirby #4) (e)
12 The Pride of Chanur, CJ Cherryh (Chanur #1) (e) (re-read)
11 Written in Red, Anne Bishop (The Others #1)(re-read)
10 Shadow Scale, Rachel Hartman (Seraphina #2) (e)
9 Seraphina, Rachel Hartman (Seraphina #1) (e)
8 Grave Reservations, Cherie Priest (Booking Agents Series #1) (e)
7 Gothel and the Maiden Prince, W.R. Gingell (e)
6 A Gathering of Gargoyles, Meredith Ann Pierce (Darkangel #2)
5 Crystal Lattice, Paul Aurelius (The Crystal Cities #1) (pre-pub provided by the author) (e)
4 The 5th Gender, G.L. Carriger (A Tinkered Stars Mystery) (e)
3 Magic Lessons, Alice Hoffman (Practical Magic #1 or #3, depending) (e)
2 Snowspelled, Stephanie Burgis (The Harwood Spellbook #1) (e)
1 Widdershins, Jordan L. Hawk (Whyborn and Griffin #1) (e)
Chicks in Tank Tops: TOC and Cover
Yesterday on Facebook, fearless editor Jason Cordova revealed the not-quite-final cover of the upcoming Chicks in Tank Tops (Baen, January 2023), and the Table of Contents.
Lee and Miller have a story in this anthology, and so do a bunch of other talented writers, which adds up to quite a TOC.
Don’t take my word for it, though, have a look for yourself.
Chicks in Tank Tops Table of Contents:
“Gadreel’s Folly” by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
“Hold the Line” by Kevin Ikenberry
“A Girl and Her K’t’ank” by Jody Lynn Nye
“Airborne All the Way” by David Drake
“Airborne: The Next Mission” by David Drake
“Goddess of War” by A. C. Haskins
“Barbie and Gator Ken versus the Hurricane” by Joelle Presby
“Jeanne d’Architonnere” by G. Scott Huggins
“Operation Dad Liberation” by Lydia Sherrer & David Sherrer
“Between a Knight and a Hard Place” by Philip Wohlrab
“Next Question” by Marisa Wolf
“Belle’s Fantastical Mechanical Beast” by Jason Cordova & Ashley Prior
“Mother” by Robert E. Hampson
“Tread Softly” by Esther Friesner
Below, the not-quite-final cover, art by Dave Seeley, inspired by the story “Goddess of War” by A. C. Haskins.
Books read in 2022
28 Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Sue Lynn Tan (Celestial Kingdom #1) (e)
27 Summer in Orcus, T. Kingfisher (e)
26 A Gentleman Undone, Cecelia Grant (Blackshear Family #2) (e)
25 A Lady Awakened, Cecelia Grant (Blackshear Family #1) (e)
24 Nettle and Bone, T. Kingfisher (e)
23 Shadow of the Swan, Nicola M. Cameron (Hidden Empire #1) (e)
22 Amongst Our Weapons, Ben Aaronovitch (Rivers of London #9) (e)
21 To My Muse, Nicola M. Cameron (e)
20 Unfit to Print, KJ Charles (e)
19 When Blood Lies, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #17)
18 The Last Revival of Opal and Nev, Dawnie Walton (e)
17 Bruno, Chief of Police: A Mystery of the French Countryside, Martin Walker (Bruno, Chief of Police #1) (e)
16 Spellswept, Stephanie Burgis (The Harwood Spellbook #2) (e)
15 Last Guard, Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling Trinity #5) (re-read aloud w/Steve)
14 Dragonsbane, Barbara Hambly (Winterlands #1) (e)
13 Naked Once More, Elizabeth Peters (Jacqueline Kirby #4) (e)
12 The Pride of Chanur, CJ Cherryh (Chanur #1) (e) (re-read)
11 Written in Red, Anne Bishop (The Others #1)(re-read)
10 Shadow Scale, Rachel Hartman (Seraphina #2) (e)
9 Seraphina, Rachel Hartman (Seraphina #1) (e)
8 Grave Reservations, Cherie Priest (Booking Agents Series #1) (e)
7 Gothel and the Maiden Prince, W.R. Gingell (e)
6 A Gathering of Gargoyles, Meredith Ann Pierce (Darkangel #2)
5 Crystal Lattice, Paul Aurelius (The Crystal Cities #1) (pre-pub provided by the author) (e)
4 The 5th Gender, G.L. Carriger (A Tinkered Stars Mystery) (e)
3 Magic Lessons, Alice Hoffman (Practical Magic #1 or #3, depending) (e)
2 Snowspelled, Stephanie Burgis (The Harwood Spellbook #1) (e)
1 Widdershins, Jordan L. Hawk (Whyborn and Griffin #1) (e)
Books read in 2022
27 Summer in Orcus, T. Kingfisher (e)
26 A Gentleman Undone, Cecelia Grant (Blackshear Family #2) (e)
25 A Lady Awakened, Cecelia Grant (Blackshear Family #1) (e)
24 Nettle and Bone, T. Kingfisher (e)
23 Shadow of the Swan, Nicola M. Cameron (Hidden Empire #1) (e)
22 Amongst Our Weapons, Ben Aaronovitch (Rivers of London #9) (e)
21 To My Muse, Nicola M. Cameron (e)
20 Unfit to Print, KJ Charles (e)
19 When Blood Lies, C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr #17)
18 The Last Revival of Opal and Nev, Dawnie Walton (e)
17 Bruno, Chief of Police: A Mystery of the French Countryside, Martin Walker (Bruno, Chief of Police #1) (e)
16 Spellswept, Stephanie Burgis (The Harwood Spellbook #2) (e)
15 Last Guard, Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling Trinity #5) (re-read aloud w/Steve)
14 Dragonsbane, Barbara Hambly (Winterlands #1) (e)
13 Naked Once More, Elizabeth Peters (Jacqueline Kirby #4) (e)
12 The Pride of Chanur, CJ Cherryh (Chanur #1) (e) (re-read)
11 Written in Red, Anne Bishop (The Others #1)(re-read)
10 Shadow Scale, Rachel Hartman (Seraphina #2) (e)
9 Seraphina, Rachel Hartman (Seraphina #1) (e)
8 Grave Reservations, Cherie Priest (Booking Agents Series #1) (e)
7 Gothel and the Maiden Prince, W.R. Gingell (e)
6 A Gathering of Gargoyles, Meredith Ann Pierce (Darkangel #2)
5 Crystal Lattice, Paul Aurelius (The Crystal Cities #1) (pre-pub provided by the author) (e)
4 The 5th Gender, G.L. Carriger (A Tinkered Stars Mystery) (e)
3 Magic Lessons, Alice Hoffman (Practical Magic #1 or #3, depending) (e)
2 Snowspelled, Stephanie Burgis (The Harwood Spellbook #1) (e)
1 Widdershins, Jordan L. Hawk (Whyborn and Griffin #1) (e)
Guest post: Steve Miller
Steve explains the origins of Tinsori Light:
many years ago — say in the mid 1990s — we were established enough in Maine (and the publishing world) to begin taking short vacations “at the ocean” … which for us meant Old Orchard Beach, since it was both the closest in time and the closest to what we expected of a beach, then — a sort of honky tonk boardwalky feeling, even if there was no real boardwalk.
In a kind of foreshadowing, and as a bow to Doc Smith, we’d chosen a place called “The Skylark Inn” for this adventure….
For some reason we’d decided to travel with a small AM-FM-Weather radio that could (if necessary) be powered with hand-crank. The radio had been used once or twice during snow-events at home in Kennebec County, but it did have batteries and we took it with as part of the general “my ghod, we’re really getting out of town!” kind of attitude, and not knowing if the room would have a radio.
What we hadn’t realized was that once we were at the ocean that radio could provide round-the-clock entertainment. There was a local OK kind of rock station and too many mock-country stations, but what we listened to nearly constantly that trip, and for many thereafter, was — the weather radio. Some days we were getting a very weak signal from the top of Mt. Washington, which we hadn’t realized was basically line of sight to OOB. Most days at the ocean we’d we’d turn the radio on as soon as we rose, and listen to the rotating litany of coastal weather news. We were amused to hear regular warnings about how dangerous the cold water could be, and sometimes paid attention to the wave-height news which could, after all, predict great waves at the beach itself.
Eventually that listening told us there was a place whose signal was often missing, a phrase delivered mechanically, and as if with a slight sense of irony, delivered dryly. The phrase became a catch phrase for us, an in joke for many uses — “Matinicus Rock is not reporting.”
Some of the reporting spots were lighthouses, some were ocean buoys, but the one that stuck with us most was Matinicus Rock.
Through this joke and considering the inevitable “ocean of stars” thing … we ended up talking of places that came and went, places that reported to the rest of the universe at whim rather than necessity … places that darn well refused to report! darnit! and eventually came to name some place Runig’s Rock, and another place “Tinsori Light.”
The minds of writers are strange. Where do we get our ideas, you ask? We get ours from Matinicus Rock.
Alas, the old weather radio gave up the ghost when the cheap batteries it came with gave up the ghost by splitting and leaking into the interior. We achieved another, nicer radio soon after, one without a crank, and today — to get into the mood for a trip to the ocean — I set it out on the refrigerator top (in order to get the best signal) and listened to the Dresden station churning out reports. Sharon laughed when we got to the “beware of cold water” warnings and then we both were sure we heard that message echoing through deep space: “Matinicus Rock is not reporting.”
Where do we get our ideas, you ask? We get ours from Matinicus Rock.
A Draft Declared! and other news of note
Last night, I finished the Good Enough Draft of Salvage Right (the 25th novel in the Liaden Universe®, built and maintained by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, publishing since! 1988, with a brief hiatus because Big Publishing), which presently weighs in at +/- 106,000 words.
Am I going to leap Right Into revision? you ask.
I am not. I have done, and doubtless with do again, but this time? The book is due to Madame in June. Which means I have the Incredible Luxury of taking two weeks off to rest my brain and Think About Other Things before I leap into Revisionland.
Why does my brain need rest? Aren’t I a writer? Isn’t Making Stuff Up(tm) What I Do?
My brain needs rest because writing is hard. One definition of Writer is “someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people;” I am definitely a writer. And while Making Stuff Up is cool, then you have to Keep Track of It.
Tinsori Light has been eating my brain since — checks notes — November 15, 2021. Six months of riot, bedlam, and derring-do. Jeez, no wonder I’m tired.
But most of it’s on the page now, and my head feels weirdly empty, as it does when a long project is complete.
So, today, instead of choosing faces, or leaping into the fray with Jen Sin, I will be doing housework, and hope to make a good start clearing six month’s worth of Chore IOUs.
In other news — I did promise other news — Steve is simultaneously working on a commissioned short story and the next Jethri novel — Trade Lanes.
We will be attending the ChiCon 8, the World Science Fiction Convention to be held in Chicago September 1-5. We have purchased train tickets and reserved a hotel room. No word yet on if either of us has been chosen for panels. Be sure that we’ll publish our schedule in All The Usual Places, once we have one. Yes, we are hoping to host a Friends of Liad breakfast. More news on that front as we have it, as well.
Fair Trade, which came out in hardcover and ebook* just last Monday, continues to do well. If you’ve read the book, please consider posting a review in the venue of your choice. Reviews not only drive the Algorithm Engines at the Big Stores, but they also help other readers make Important Buying Decisions.
And here we are, all caught up.
Now I need to clean the bathroom.
_____________
*Nope — no word on an audiobook. The person at Baen who is responsible for this aspect of things is reportedly “working on it.”