Bruce Glassford won a coupon for a free Baen ebook of his choice for his winning entry in the Week Five Do It Like a Delm Challenge!
You can see the winning entry here; and all of the entries here.
Challenge Week Six starts tomorrow, Monday, September 21. Only two more weeks to enter and show the world that, whatever you do, and wherever you do it, you always do it like a delm!
This is in the nature of a catch-up post.
For those who have been following along with the numbers game at home, the latest information garnered from the latest blood test is that the 1 mg dose of thyroid medicine is a winner. The poor pituitary has stopped with overtime manufacturing of kick-me hormones for the thyroid, and the thyroid is producing numbers in the normal range without being kicked, and — this being the important part — I am fully awake and at optimum crankiness and sarcasm levels for the first time in. . .years.
Come to think of it, that should serve as a Public Service Announcement.
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Also — this repeats news shared on Facebook yesterday evening — I have successfully concluded a project years in the making — a ceiling fan in my office. I’m so happy — I can’t tell you. Here’s a picture:
. . .isn’t it BEAUtiful?
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I have been reminded to remind y’all that! Registration for BaltiCon 50, held over Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-30, 2016, at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, is now open. Here’s the direct link.
In addition to Guests of Honor George RR Martin, John Picacio, Bill and Gretchen Roper, and Martin Deutsch and Shirley Avery, BaltiCon 50 aims to welcome back as many of the con’s previous Guests of Honors as are interested and able to come. So far, 21 Alumni GoHs have agreed to return for BaltiCon’s 50th anniversary, including Steve and me (Writer GoHs, BaltiCon 37, 2003).
This is a big, big project, and BaltiCon is asking for your help in funding the travel for the returning GoHs. There’s a donation page here, where you may donate to your favorite GoHs. (Yes, I know that Steve and I are listed separately; I don’t know what’s up with that, but at the bottom line, I don’t think it actually matters.)
BaltiCon 50 is also selling a limited edition promotional tshirt in order to raise funds. You can view and/or purchase a tshirt here.
Finally, for all the latest news about BaltiCon 50, you can sign up for the Twitter feed: @balticon50
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This is a Hard Writing Weekend, which means I’ll be somewhat scarce on the web. The beginning of next week includes an interview, and a visit from the generator guy, as well as Yet Another Phone Call to the health insurance company, which seems stuck in an Endless Loop of sending me a form I’ve now filled out and returned three times, while at the same time being unable to generate a monthly invoice. Sigh. Also, the Colby Art Museum is hosting an Open House on Thursday evening. I always like to go to the Art Open House. So, not an insanely busy week, but busy enough with mundane things — and writing, too.
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Extra credit paragraph: From the Department of Anthropomorphism, Cats Are Not Social Committee, we have the following Observer Report.
This morning, I was sitting at the kitchen table finishing the wonderful tuna melt Steve had made for breakfast. I have a direct line of sight into the living room from my place at the kitchen table, and was able to see Trooper in the cat hammock, Belle stretched out on the rug close to the kitchen, near, but not on, the cat scratchers. Sprite walked into the living room, fell on Belle, cleaned her up, cleaned herself, up, cleaned Belle up and in due time, as frequently happens, the grooming morphed into a wrasslin’ match.
This morning’s match was. . .vigorous. Sprite broke twice, but came back, and Belle, seeming slightly put-upon, finally threw her Whole Being into the thing, grabbing Sprite around the waist and kicking her in the stomach. There were no growls, but Belle, at least, was clearly intent on teaching Sprite a lesson, rather than savoring the Joy of the Wrassle.
Sprite tried to break a third time — Belle wouldn’t let her. Sprite renewed her efforts to get free, Belle held her closer. I was on the edge of producing a loud, “Ahem!” when. . .
Trooper jumped down from the hammock and approached the melee.
Belle let go of Sprite and twisted to her feet to face him; Sprite escaped to the hall, where she sat down and began to groom her shoulder. Trooper walked directly up to Belle, tail slightly higher than straight behind, but not a full upward sweep, and put his nose against hers. She allowed this — then swatted him in the head.
Trooper went back a couple steps and walked carefully around her, as if he was going to go check on Sprite. In fact, he paused by the television stand, where he could see her in the hall, cleaning up, stroked his cheek against the wood a couple times, turned, and went back to the cat hammock.
Belle began to bathe.
I stood up and got myself another cup of coffee.
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Everybody have a nice weekend.
35. The Princess Bride, William Goldman (re-re-read; and–it’s official–I definitely prefer the movie)
34. The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
33. Cooking the Books, Kerry Greenwood (e)
32. Forbidden Fruit, Kerry Greenwood (e)
31. Maisie Dobbs, Jacqueline Winspear
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
So, I have a cold. I’m not happy about this. I also have work to do, so best to get at it.
But! Before I quite get there, I’d like to share some articles about “strong female protagonists,” and the notion of “likable (female) characters.”
A Plague of Strong Female Characters
These articles are interesting to me, as a writer — and as a writer of characters often described as “likable.” Which is somewhat baffling, considering the histories of many of our characters, at least on the Liaden side of things. Among my/our other characters. . .Well. . .
Poor Becca Beauvelley gets all kinds of abuse for allowing herself to fall into the hands of an ancient and powerful magic-wielding villain from whom she has no hope of freeing herself. She should, one gathers, have Done Something.
Jenn Pierce, a middle-class woman of the last century, who doesn’t know judo, or sword-fighting, or anything at all about guns — as most of us, I will argue, do not — has her lack of martial skill scorned, and is advised to get some basic training in weapons. Her lack of skill in these matters is called “unbelievable.”
Kate Archer is described by one reader as “repulsive” and by another as “uncaring.”
And Val Con yos’Phelium, who really will kill you, if necessary. . .is seen as kind of a nice guy, a little shy. . .While the Uncle, whose probable sins I suggest that we dwell not long upon, is “fascinating.”
Anyhow, these are things that concern me nearly, as matters of craft and art, and it’s interesting to see how other people have thought about them.
Speaking of likable characters and reality. . .There’s an article in this week’s New Yorker about the defense lawyer who specializes in defending our most notorious criminals, most lately, she has been the lead defense attorney for Dzbokhar Tsarnaev. Her idea, as far as I understand it, which may not be very far at all, is that — while Society has an obligation to rid itself of Monsters; it has the corresponding duty not to dispose of those who are. . .less than. . .Monsters merely because it would be convenient to do so. To this end, she undertakes to show juries the humanity of her clients. Here’s the link to that article.
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Week Five of the Do It Like a Delm Challenge is well underway. You view this week’s challengers here.
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In other news, I received a package today from Amazon, and Sprite has found a use for the box.
Today’s blog title is brought to you by Juice Newton, “Queen of Hearts.” Here’s your link.
So, this morning, Belle* visited the vet so we could see what’s up with her newly acquired limp. Best guess is that, in the course of pursuing her Justly Appointed Feline Duties and Honors, she strained, or possibly sprained her left front leg. She weighs in at 16 pounds (which the vet pronounced “lean”), and insists on levitating to the top of six foot bookcases — and then, naturally enough, jumping down again. Apparently, it is the “jumping down again” segment, coupled with the 16 pounds at 32 feet per second per second, which is the problem.
She is, foremost, a cat, and telling her not to jump is Completely Out of the Questions — see “Justly Appointed. . .Honors,” above, so, after a thorough evaluation, the vet prescribed a non-steroid muscle relaxant for the next three days. Hopefully, this will give the soft tissues some relief, but we are cautioned that soft tissue injuries do take Forever to heal, especially when the patient adamantly refuses RICE.
Belle thanks everyone who expressed concern for her, and wishes to assure them that she is not at risk, and that Sharon and Steve are Old Worry Warts.
So, that.
After we brought Belle home, I. . .went to town, to get my hair cut (“You’re purple!” said my hairdresser. “Yes,” I said. “Yes; I’m purple.”, pick up our tickets to Rocky Horror at the Opera House, and our mail at the post office box, then got gas, and a tuna sandwich at Subway, which we are, I believe — yes — about to cut in half and eat.
And so the day goes forward.
Hope everyone is having a lovely Tuesday.
Today’s blog post brought to you by Modern English, “I Melt With You.” Here’s your link.
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*Pop Quiz! How do you — yes, you! — pronounce “Belle”? We here at the Cat Farm say “Bell,” as in “Ring that bell, mama!”, or, perhaps “Belle of the Ball,” which is Belle’s formal name. However, several people we’ve subsequently met pronounce “Belle” as “Bella.”
So, here we are at the start of a new week! Let’s see what’s on the roster.
And that? Is all I got.
Here, have a picture of Belle and Sprite to start your week off right:
So, yesterday was my birthday, the 63rd repetition of the event. Many thanks to everyone who sent me natal day wishes, by email, mail, and facebook. What an age we live in, to be sure.
Yesterday was a day of quiet celebration. Mostly, Steve and I doodled around with certain technical arrangements in order to prepare for a Skype interview we’ll be doing sometime in the next couple weeks. As a result of this, I am now the proud owner of a webcam, which is not something I had ever imagined myself either owning or wanting to own. What an age we live in, to be sure.
In the evening, we did go out, first to Ruby Tuesday, to have what we imagined would be a leisurely snack and a glass of wine before we went off to Railroad Square Cinema to view The Princess Bride on the Big Screen. Sadly, our waitress at Ruby Tuesday was not on-board with the “leisurely” clause in our schedule. I would have had some (not a lot, but some) sympathy for her, if the place had been packed, but there were empty tables even the in the section where we were seated. Barely had our shared appetizers arrived then she was back at the table, asking if we would like a box — she gave us, perhaps, five minutes, which, even though we had the small glass of wine, wasn’t really enough time to properly dispose of it, much less the befores.
When we declined the box, she went away, to return five minutes later — mind you, we’re still munching, and talking, and sipping — to ask if we would like dessert. And maybe seven minutes after that, she arrived bearing the bill, delivered a smile and a chirpy, “I don’t want you to be late for your movie, so you just pay when you’re ready, ‘k?”
Well.
The movie was splendid, as always. It was the first time Steve and I had seen it in a theater, and the big picture did add an unexpected depth. I am all admiration for Mr. Goldman’s iron hand with foreshadowing (“I said I would come back for you.” “But you were dead!” Soft smile. “Death cannot stop True Love. All it can do is delay it for a while.”). I had half-expected that we would see the audience in costume, shouting out favorite lines with the actors, but it was a seemly and respectful audience. The difference, I suppose, between the children of the 80s and the children of the 70s.
We somehow failed to have ice cream and cake yesterday, so that’s on-board for the day, along with the usual Writerly Chores.
I hope everyone has a pleasant and productive weekend.
34. The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison
33. Cooking the Books, Kerry Greenwood (e)
32. Forbidden Fruit, Kerry Greenwood (e)
31. Maisie Dobbs, Jacqueline Winspear
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
An Alert Reader has discovered these amazing sketches, of interest to those who may be awaiting Alliance of Equals, the nineteenth novel set in the Liaden Universe® created by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, which is scheduled to be published July-ish 2016.
Alliance of Equals, sketch one by David Mattingly
Alliance of Equals, sketch two by David Mattingly
So we here in the US have an end-of-summer holiday which we call Labor Day, a day devoted to drinking beer, eating grilled food, ritually mowing the lawn, and in general striving to forget that tomorrow, Tuesday, will be the end of a nice three-day-weekend, that summer is, indeed, over, and the next work holiday is Thanksgiving Day. Unless one works retail, of course.
Steve and I took a strange, fragmented little vacation at Old Orchard Beach — we went down together for a night, so we could both see the Thursday fireworks; I went home on Friday, returning on Monday, when Steve went home, returning on Thursday so we could both see the Thursday fireworks, and then removing the whole encampment back to Central Maine on Friday. I read a lot, walked a lot, and in general vegged out. It was great.
Real work will recommence on the morrow, with such things on the roster as a visit to the vampyres (to determine if the new dosage of my thyroid meds has done the trick); a call to the town to determine its interests and necessities in the matter of siting generators — and, depending on what we learn there, subsequent phone calls to various contractor-type persons. We will also be taking up the writing reins again — at the moment, we have two short stories and a novel on our plates — and will be winding the week down with a small natal day celebration.
While we were away, Madame the Agent let us know that Dragon in Exile, the eighteenth novel set in the Liaden Universe® created by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, is Number 6 on the Locus Bestselling Hardcover List for June 2015 (reported in the September issue). Number 1 is Seveneves, by Neal Stephenson, and the funny thing about that is that Neal was in Boston doing a tour in support of his book the day before we were in Boston, doing a tour in support of our book.
Small world.
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While I was on vacation, Eset decided to Protect Me from posting to my own blog. I am therefore reproducing here an account of one of my walks, which I would have posted here, but which instead went to Facebook (because Eset thinks Facebook is Totally Safe?). Anyhow, here’s that entry, for those of you who don’t Facebook, and for me, so that I actually have some hope of finding it again.
September 2, 2015, reporting from New Temp Headquarters, Old Orchard Beach, Maine
So, this morning’s walk. . .
I left New Temp Headquarters and walked up East Grand to Old Orchard Street, took the left at 1st Street and walked through Veteran’s Square Memorial Garden, up Heath Street to see if the A-Z Market (in the Old Orchard Beach timeline) had ever really come back after their “temporary” closing, three years ago. The answer to that is…sorta. There’s a kind of lunch counter/video rental/wine shop in a much, much smaller space than the old IGA occupied. Happily, in Archers Beach, Ahzie’s IGA is doing fine.
Curiosity satisfied, I continued up Heath Street to Portland Avenue, to Walnut Street, took a left on Leavitt Street and walked to the end, to see how far I could walk along the old road to the ustabe Kite Track. Answer — about 500 feet before the trenvay who cares for that land noticed me and obscured the path with bushes and leaves. I can take a hint, so I turned around and headed back the way I’d come. Just before I hit the asphalt of Leavitt Street, an acorn flew out from one of the surrounding trees and struck the path at my feet. I know a gift when I see one, too. I murmured, “thank you,” put the acorn in my pocket and moved on.
Leavitt to Walnut, Walnut to Grande, and so again to New Temp Headquarters, 4,671 steps, or 1.7 miles on the odometer.
I do believe I’ll have that third cup of coffee.
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Labor Day or no Labor Day, today is the beginning of Week Four in the Do It Like A Delm Challenge! You can view the challengers — and the winners! — for the previous three weeks here (the drop-down link in the menu is your friend).
Want to join in the fun? Of course you do! Rules to enter the challenge may be found here.
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