Three Strikes and You're DNF (Did Not Finish)

If I get far enough in a so-so book, I'll often force myself to finish it for the sake of completing my annual Goodreads Reading Challenge. However, if a book is bad enough in the beginning, it goes in the Did Not Finish pile (though I remove unfinished books from my Goodreads collection). Here are three reasons why I recently set a book aside:

1. Cliched characters.
2. Poor handling of POV--The viewpoint character didn't just see other characters' body language but also knew the mixed feelings that created them.
3. Plot holes--This particular book was a cozy mystery. Even though the POV character had just arrived in a small village, well after a murder had been committed and with documentation to prove she'd been traveling, the local police still suspected her of the crime, and it was strongly suggested that they would be able to convict her. No one suggests she hire a lawyer, so naturally, even though other characters tell the protagonist to do nothing, she decides to investigate the crime herself. I don't see many cozy mysteries that mention lawyers, and there obviously needs to be a reason why the main character becomes the detective. I just couldn't suspend my disbelief in this case.

I should point out that almost all the reviews for this book on Amazon and Goodreads are positive. Several reviewers mentioned that they liked a snarky side character, so perhaps he kept them reading.

What makes you set a book aside? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

World Book Day and Birthday Sale!

Today is not only the anniversary of William Shakespeare's death, but also World Book Day. My husband can confirm that every day is Book Day for me. It's a happy coincidence that I'd planned to announce the start of my annual birthday sale today. My birthday is this Saturday, so from now through next Monday (April 30th), Twinned Universes, Scattered Seasons, Chaos Season, Fifth Season, and Summon the Seasons are only $0.99 each. The Season Avatars Complete Box Set is also on sale for $4.99 (as opposed to the normal price of $9.99). Take advantage of this offer while you can, and I hope you enjoy the books!

Science of the Week, 4/20/18

Here are some of the most interesting science news stories I read this week:

The end of the breathalyzer?

What makes someone believe or reject science?

All of the world's yeast probably originated in China

Surviving climate change, then and now

Quantum radar will expose stealth aircraft

Scientists explore underwater frontiers with submersible tablet computers

Warming climate could speed forest regrowth in Eastern U.S.

Salty subglacial lakes could help search for life in solar system

Have a good weekend, and I'll see you Monday!

Fierce Hearts: Women of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Giveaway

One of the ways I've been promoting Scattered Seasons is by giving it away on Instafreebie. Currently, it's part of the Fierce Hearts: Women of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Group Giveaway. This event runs through the end of the month and features over 130 free books. Even if you already have my book, check out all the other ones available! You just might find a new favorite book or author.

Predicting Plot Twists

As a writer, I think about plots and plot twists when I'm reading other people's work. It's a bit of a challenge to guess the plot twist before the big reveal. However, the story can feel too predictable if the plot twist is exactly what I thought it would be, and of course it's not fun if you're completely wrong. Perhaps the happy medium is getting the plot twist right but realizing there's more to it than you first assumed.

Writing satisfying plot twists is also a challenge. They need to be the right kind of twist, deepening the story. Darth Vader's big reveal at the end of The Empire Strikes Back wouldn't have meant much if he had turned out to be Han Solo's father, since Luke and the audience had no emotional connection to Solo Senior. (Perhaps he'll show up in next month's movie.) Since Luke's goal was following in his father's footsteps, finding out his father was his nemesis was much more dramatic. Twists also have to arise organically from what previously happened in the story. It's not satisfying if they come out of nowhere, and that doesn't play fair with the reader either. There ought to be clues embedded in the story. Fortunately, if they're not in the first draft, they can be seeded in later.

One of my favorite plot twists that I wrote occurs in Twinned Universes (though I can't obviously reveal what it is). What's your favorite plot twist, either one you wrote or one you read? Feel free to share in the comments.

Science of the Week, 4/13/18

Here are some of the most interesting science news articles I read this week:

Bacteria can pass on memory to descendants, UCLA-led team discovers

Physicists design a model of Martian winter

Lessons from lemurs: to make friends, show off your smarts
(Too bad it doesn't always work as well for people)

Start of most sensitive search yet for dark matter axion

A cosmic gorilla effect could blind the detection of aliens

Gene jumpstarts regeneration of damaged nerve cells

The raw power of human motion

Swamp microbe has pollution-munching power

Have a good weekend, and I'll see you Monday!

Hobbies and Writing

Hobbies can be a good break from writing, and they can also generate ideas for stories. However, they can compete for scarce writing time. I'm experiencing this with my crocheting. I enjoy doing it, and people seem to like the Star Wars characters I create. On the other hand, I'm making less progress with my stories because I'm crocheting. For instance, when we drive somewhere, I take my crocheting along instead of my netbook. I'm actually thinking of selling some of my amigurumi characters at a craft fair or bazaar at some point, so I need to build up inventory for that. (I'd also bring books to sell.) But the faster I crochet, the slower my writing goes.

What do you think is the ideal ratio of hobby time to writing time? Any tips on keeping them in balance or for participating in a local craft fair? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

Things I Did at C2E2 2018....

1. Spent wayyyy too much money.
2. Sold Star Wars amigurumi (though unfortunately I can spend money much faster than I can crochet Porg.)
3. Helped my husband win a whopping $0.56 on HQ Trivia.
4. Showed off my status as "Mother of Porgs." I actually had two of them safety pinned to my shoulders.
5. Hunted droids until I dropped.
6. Saw local and out-of-state friends.
7. Reunited with a high school friend.
9. Became Empress of the Galaxy--for a moment.
10. Fulfilled every Jawa's dream of catching K2SO and Chopper.

Science of the Week--4/6/18

Here are some of the most interesting science news stories I read this week:

Researchers find a galaxy without dark matter

Researchers develop a novel RNA-based therapy to target West Nile virus

New study finds world's largest desert, the Sahara, has grown by 10% since 1920

Is there life adrift in the clouds of Venus?

Scientists confirm water trapped inside diamonds deep below Earth's surface

Researchers develop injectable bandage

Garbage-collecting aqua drones and jellyfish filters for cleaner oceans

Have a good weekend! My family and I will be attending C2E2. I'm not sure if I'll have a chance to write a blog post by Monday, so my post on the convention may be delayed. We'll see how long it takes me to catch K-2SO....

IWSG: April Showers for Authors

A new month means another post for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. If you're not already familiar with this group, you can find out more about them on their website, Facebook group, or Twitter feed. This month, our hosts are Olga Godim, Chemist Ken, Renee Scattergood, and Tamara Narayan.

Here's our question for April: When your writing life is a bit cloudy or filled with rain, what do you do to dig down and keep on writing? 

I've been writing for over twenty years now, and yes, I've experienced plenty of clouds and rain in that time. Here are some of the things that have kept me going over the long hall:

• Belief in myself
• Passion for my stories and characters
• Support from my husband
• Support from other writers
• Confidence in what I've already accomplished 
• Security in knowing I can publish anything I think is ready to find an audience
• Pure stubbornness/habit
• Maturity (or at least being a lot busier and having more responsibilities now than I did when I was younger)

What about you? What keeps you going when the writing isn't? Feel free to share in the comments.

The Owl and the Spider's Son Now Available!

For all of those participating in the A-Z Blogging Challenge this year, I wish you the best of luck! I was planning on joining the challenge again, but with all the writing and crafting projects I'm already working on, I decided blogging six days a week was too much this year. Maybe next year, if I start preparing posts sooner, I'll participate.

Anyway, I do have some exciting news today. My short story, "The Owl and the Spider's Son," was published yesterday by Enchanted Conversation Magazine as part of their Animal Tales issue. Here's the direct link. The story is about the weaving contest between the goddess Athena and Arachne, told from Athena's owl's point of view. I hope you enjoy it! Don't forget to read the other stories as well.

Science of the Week, 3/30/18

Here are some of the most interesting science news articles I read this week:

A broken sink

In field tests, device harvests water from desert air

Soft robotic fish swims alongside real ones in coral reefs

Plants really do feed their friends

Using solar power to bring clean drinking water to remote areas

Unique crystals could expand the search for dark matter

Paper-folding art inspires better bandages

Newfound "organ" had been missed by standard method for visualizing anatomy

Have a good weekend (and Easter, if you celebrate it), and I'll see you Monday!

Interview with Jay Chalk

Today I have an interview with Jay Chalk, author of Revolution 2050, which will be available on April 3rd.

Tell us about yourself.
First off, thanks, Sandra, for inviting me.  My name is Jay Chalk.  I’m a former trucker turned high school teacher.  I received a Bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in English from the University of Texas at Tyler and have been teaching high school social studies the past 20 years.  I’ve written four novels and I’m working on a fifth.

Please tell us about your latest work.
Revolution 2050 is a dystopian sci-fi due out April 3rd.  In the novel, America has suffered through another, albeit brief, civil war.  A political party called the Directorate restores order east of the Mississippi River, where it begins its stranglehold on constitutional freedoms.  By the 2040s, it’s morphed into a full-blown totalitarian regime.  Those escaping its claws have fled west, forming the U.S. Western Alliance.  The protagonist, Sam Moore, is a young high school teacher and Directorate member, living in what was once South Carolina, now renamed Carolina Province.  The adoptive son of a wealthy Directorate Commissar Colonel, Sam lived the sheltered, pampered life of the ruling elite.  The nucleus of the story is his realization that he’s nothing but a facilitator, brainwashing young minds into the Directorate’s anti-God, anti-American ideology.  The story follows his transition from follower to leader to revolutionary.

What drew you to writing?
I was always an avid reader and hoped one day to have the time and fortitude to sit down and actually write a story.  As a trucker I would keep a journal describing where I’d been and what emotions my surroundings evoked.  While in college in the early 1990s, two English professors told me there was “voice” in my writing and encouraged me to continue writing once I graduated.  I wasn’t sure what “voice” meant at the time, but continue writing, I did.  Writing just seemed a natural form of expression to me, like talking, or playing the guitar.  Yet I’m still humbled that people will read my work.

Do you have any writing habits, such as writing in a certain location or time day?
I’ve got a small desk in one corner of my living room with a great outside view.  That’s my favorite spot to write.  If working on a novel, I usually start before sunup and write until everything I have to say is out.  It could be a few minutes, but usually turns into an all-day affair, sometimes stretching into the evenings.

How do you get the inspiration for your stories?
I teach U.S. government and enjoy political spectacles.  I’m also a student of history.  So, you probably know where I’m going with this.  In today’s world with 24/7 mass media reporting, I’m surrounded by inspiration.  Three of my four novels have a political “reaction” to not only historical but also current events.  Russian author and Cold War dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn, along with Orwell, Bradbury and Huxley heavily influenced my writing.

Of all the stories you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?
That’s a tough question.  The smart answer would be Revolution 2050.  However the sequel, which for now will remain untitled, actually moved me more.  There were times when I was writing Revolution 2050’s sequel that I freaked out inside.  “Desperation” describes Revolution 2050.  “Sacrifice,” describes its sequel.  The sequel would be my favorite by only a “tad” because the story unfolds closer to home.

Do you write in other genres?  If so, which ones?
As a matter fact, I do.  My unpublished novel, Final Run, is a present-day thriller.  The protagonist is a trucker who inadvertently becomes  involved in human trafficking.  The head of the human trafficking ring is the son of a prominent U.S. Senator.

Who are your favorite authors and why do you admire them?
John Steinbeck—hands down.  To me, Steinbeck’s writing gives emotions a flavor I’ve never known.  His novel, East of Eden (my personal favorite), could be the bible for character development.  I’m also fond of Stephen Coonts and how he develops his protagonists’ inner voice and conflict.  And of course I can’t leave this topic without mentioning my love for JRR Tolkien’s fantasy world and his trilogy, Lord of the Rings.  I still have the box set I purchased in high school for $2.95 sitting on my bookshelf.  I often wonder if Tolkien were a new writer today, could he breakout in today’s instant gratification world?

What other writing projects are you currently working on?
I’ve mentioned the sequel to Revolution 2050.  It’s completed and waiting for some serious editing.  I’m currently bogged down in the final book of the series.  It’s set in the early 22nd century.   The  protagonist is the adult son of one of the previous characters.  That work is heavy with the sinister use of bio-technology,  its symbiotic attachment with social media and its effect on humanity.  I’m not sure what direction I’m taking the story, though.

What’s one of the goals you hope to achieve with your writing?
My main goal is once people read the novel, I’ll hear them say something along the lines of, “This author is on to something; this could actually happen.”

What are your favorite non-writing activities?
I’m a private pilot and absolutely love flying.  I hope one day to own my own plane.  I’m also a beekeeper, but more on the hobbyist side.

What’s something people wouldn’t be able to guess about you just by looking at you?
What an interesting question.  I’m sure other authors have experienced the following (at least I hope they have—or it could be just me!):  If it comes up in conversation that I’m a published author—especially of fiction—I get the strangest looks.  Then I hear something that goes like, “You’re kidding…” or “You don’t seem like a writer.”  Now there’s a dozen ways I could reply to that, but I usually just laugh it off.  Yet the question begs to be asked: what does a writer/author look like?  Most would reply to me with, “Not like you!”      

Coming April 3, 2018 -Revolution 2050 by @jay_chalk Amazon https://tinyurl.com/ycckco7o B&N https://tinyurl.com/y8p4q8kk Kobo https://tinyurl.com/ydx5zcvw #scifi #dystopian

Twitter: @jay_chalk

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100018563953135

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36233296-revolution-2050

Dozing with Dinos--and Porgs

Saturday night was our third Dozing with the Dinos event at the Field Museum. I don't think I blogged about it last year, but this year we brought Porgs in addition to Stan (the T-Rex), Rex (the brachiosaurus named after clone trooper Captain Rex), and Oscar (the stuffed orca we adopted on our honeymoon). The original trio may be a bit jealous of the porg, but surprisingly they all behaved when we got to visit the Fossil Prep area and the dinosaur storage area. (The first three pictures are from the fossil prep area outside the Evolving Planet exhibit, and the porg is checking out dinosaur eggs in the storage area.) They also checked out some other exhibits, as you'll see below.

Studying porgs' relationship to other birds.













I think the porg were a little too curious when they examined this cast of a T-rex skull.

 The boys check out Sue's new digs.

















The boys try to offer the porg to the Egyptian dead.
















Did the Egyptians have a porg-headed god?

 Off to all go exploring together!

Science of the Week, 3/23/18

Here are some of the most interesting science news articles I read this week:

NASA's Kepler spacecraft nears the end as fuel runs low

Diamonds from the deep: study suggests water may exist in Earth's lower mantle

Palm trees are spreading northward--how far will they go?

Research signals arrival of a complete human genome

Cutting carbon emissions sooner could save 153 million lives

After last male's death, is the white rhino doomed?



Have a good weekend, and I'll see you Monday!

Plot Points and Pacing

One advantage of reading eBooks is that you can see the percentage of the book at the bottom of the screen. Some books on writing offer suggestions as to what plot points should occur at what points in the story. It's cool to read a certain event, look at the book percentage, and realize, "Oh, yeah, this is about the time that should happen!" It gives me hope that even a pantser like me can internalize plot structure.

Of course, the scenes in between the plot points are where your characters develop and "earn" the next plot point. While developing the highlights of a story is important, it's also critical to make sure the rest of the story supports it. For example, once a character makes a decision to do something, I want her to do it. When it takes her half-a-dozen chapters after making a decision to do something, it can be a frustrating read, even if the intervening chapters wrap up subplots and increase the stakes. (That said, in a book I read recently, one character asked the protagonist to do something, but later sent her a message saying it was okay to wait. The message definitely worked against any sense of urgency the author was trying to create.)

Pacing at the beginning of a story can make or break the sale. For most eBooks, I download a sample first before buying it. If the story is supposed to have a speculative element, but the sample just sets up the normal, everyday world without a hint of fantasy or SF, I'm far less likely to read the entire book.

Do you have plot pointers or pacing peeves? Feel free to share them in the comments.

Milwaukee Trip

My family and I took an overnight trip to Milwaukee this weekend. My son is on spring break, so we thought it would be nice to take a short trip somewhere, even if we do end up revisiting the same attractions. After checking into our hotel Saturday, we had dinner at the Milwaukee Public Market and bought some games at a store we went to the last time we were in the area.

Sunday, however, we managed to check out some new places. One of the main reasons we went to Milwaukee was to go to the Milwaukee Public Museum. Although it's not as big as some of the museums in Chicago, it has some interesting exhibits, we have reciprocity with our Field Museum membership, and Alex likes a type of candy sold at the museum that he can't find elsewhere. However, they didn't open until 11:00 a.m., which left us with some free time in the morning. We wound up going to the Mitchell Domes. Eugene and I went there a long time ago; Alex has never been there. They had a special event going on to celebrate the spring equinox this week, so in addition to touring the different habitats, Alex also got to pet snakes and llamas. (The top picture is a sculpture in the Desert Dome.)

The museum did have a special exhibit this time. It was on the Mayan culture. We toured that, along with the butterfly exhibit (you can see pictures from both exhibits), but we didn't go through as much of the museum as we normally do. Instead, we left a little early to go to a rock shop in one of the suburbs. My son picked up an arrowhead and a few fossils, then we returned home.

When you travel, do you like to explore new places or revisit familiar ones? Feel free to share in the comments.

Science of the Week, 3/16/18

I don't think there's much science news that can top the death of Stephen Hawking this week, although the news that space travel has long-term effects on gene expression might come close. Here are some of the other most interesting science news articles I read this week:

Bacteria-hunting virus fished from Connecticut lake treats infected doctor

Trauma and dementia patients give hope by "flashbulb memory" breakthrough

The "architecture of life" described by computer modeling

How brightly colored spiders evolved on Hawaii again and again...and again

How to make space molecules

Large-scale scientific investigation needed to combat fake news

Smelling sweetheart's sweaty shirt may lower stress

"Lazy lawn mowers" can help support suburban bee populations and diversity


Have a good weekend, and I'll see you on Monday!

Short Story Sale!

The contract is signed and mailed, so I suppose it's safe to make this announcement: I sold my urban fantasy short story "Henry's Harness" to Otter Libris' MCSI: Magical Crime Scene Investigation anthology. This is only my second sale to an anthology; the last one was so long ago my author byline for that story ("A Reptile at the Reunion" in Firestorm of Dragons) is my maiden name. I don't want to say too much about my current story, but it's set in my beloved city of Madison, Wisconsin, and the main character is a former pet detective. Further details about the anthology will be coming out soon, as the publisher is planning to start a Kickstarter to fund the project. I'll share more details once the Kickstarter is live. I'm excited to be part of this project and am looking forward to reading the other stories in the anthology. Hope you are too!

Project Updates

I have so many things going on right now it's difficult to keep track of them all, but here's a quick summary.

I'm continuing to crochet Star Wars characters and other items.Here's a TIE fighter I finished last week. My son thinks the wing arms are too long, so I'll make them shorter the next time I try this pattern. The Porg, of course, continue to be popular. At least they don't take very long.

Since I crochet so many Porg, I've decided to create a "Mother of Porg" outfit for C2E2 when I'm not in my Imperial Officer uniform. (I may leave the Jawa costume at home this year to simplify packing.) I have Porg-themed clothes and accessories from head to toe--though I'm still waiting for some of them to arrive. I'm planning to sew a skirt from Porg-print fabric in case the skirt I ordered comes late. When everything is complete, I'll post pictures.

All these other projects do take time away from my writing. Although I'm nearly done drafting a short story for Uncanny Magazine's Dinosaur issue, I don't expect to have it ready by the deadline, which is this Thursday. Maybe I'll save it for my newsletter subscribers. Hopefully I'll have more news to share about my short stories soon.

Science of the Week, 3/9/18

Here are some of the most interesting science news stories I read this week:

Two species of ravens exist nevermore? New research finds evidence of "speciation reversal"

Hormones may affect girls' interests, but not their gender identity or playmates

How Earth's earliest lifeforms protected their genes

Precision qubits achieve major quantum computing milestone

Mosquito gut may hold the key to preventing dengue and Zika

Current deforestation pace will intensify global warming, study alerts

IWSG: Celebrating Goals

It's the first Wednesday of the month, so if you've been following my blog for a while, you know it's time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group post. You can learn more about the IWSG online, Facebook, and Twitter. Our cohosts this month are Mary Aalgaard, Bish Denham, Jennifer Hawes, Diane Burton, and Gwen Gardner.

For March, we've been asked the following question: How do you celebrate when you achieve a writing goal/finish a story?

 I don't do anything to celebrate finishing a short story, but I have a tradition of finishing first drafts of novels with these lines: The End! 
The Very, Very, Very End! (Amen!) 
A Book Report on Peter Rabbit!


Rather than ask people to guess where that came from, I'll tell you: it's from "The Book Report," from the musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown:



I saw the musical performed when I was in school (I think middle school), and the final lyrics just stuck in my head. Of course, I do remove them during revision, but it's still a fun way for me to mark the end of the first draft.

As for celebrating other goals, I treated my family to dinner the first couple of times I published a book, but I don't think I've done that for the last few. I didn't plan anything special for completing the Season Avatars series last year, probably because I was too busy with the marketing. It's never too late to celebrate, is it?

What do you do to celebrate your goals? Feel free to share in the comments.

Wakanda Worldbuilding

This weekend was super busy, as I participated in three Star Wars troops. Here are a couple of pictures from the troop on Sunday. (I'm the kneeling Jawa in the top picture and the shortest officer in the bottom one--yes, I switched costumes mid-troop.) However, I managed to find time Sunday morning to see Black Panther. 

Before I share my thoughts on the movie, I'd like to mention that I don't see many superhero movies these days (still haven't had a chance to watch Wonder Woman or Guardians of the Galaxy 2), and although I've read a little about Black Panther and Wakanda online prior to seeing the movie, I'm very much a newcomer to this world.

My favorite character (and favorite part of the movie) was Shuri. How can you not love a female scientific genius with an attitude? I'd love to see her be the protagonist of her own stories. In comparison, T'Challa, though noble and admirable, seemed almost too perfect to me.

To me, Wakanda was the key part of the movie. I was definitely intrigued by the mix of green trees, traditional items and customs, and advanced technology in the cities. However, I wanted more background on this country. What other factors beside vibranium shaped Wakandan history? How much influence did tribal customs, Bast, and other factors have in making Wakanda so advanced while the country hid its true nature from the rest of the world? I'll probably have to track down comics collections or graphic novels to find these answers. Hopefully C2E2 will be a good place to learn more about Wakanda--and enjoy Black Panther cosplay.

Science of the Week, 3/2/18

Here are some of the most interesting science news articles I read this week (though some of them aren't for the squeamish):

Mind-reading algorithm uses EEG data to reconstruct images based on what we perceive

On second thought, the Moon's water may be widespread and immobile

Simple urine test could measure how much our body has aged

How biofuels from plant fibers could combat global warming

Scientists detect how words grow new meanings. Maybe computers will, too.

The gut bacteria of cockroaches provide a potential solution to antibiotic resistance

Facial recreation might be possible with just a sample of DNA

Omics, sweet omics--curing the incurable, one disease at a time

Have a good weekend, everyone, and see you Monday!

2nd Person Point of View

You open a novel, expecting it to be told from a third person ("She said something") or perhaps a first person ("I said something") point of view. Instead, the narrator addresses, you, the reader, directly. But is that true? Are you sure the narrator isn't talking to one of the other characters, perhaps even herself, and you're eavesdropping on the conversation? You're never really sure how to interpret this book, even as you force yourself to finish it.

Does this sound like a Choose Your Own Adventure book from the 80s and 90s? Those books were also written in 2nd person point of view, where the narrator talks directly to the reader. I recently read a more contemporary book where part of the story was told in 2nd person, and the point of view didn't work for me. I never felt that I was really the one being addressed, and at times the constant "you" was distracting. Maybe that's because second person is an uncommon point of view, at least in the books I read. There might be other stories where it's more effective.

Did you read the Choose Your Own Adventure books when you were growing up? If not, are there other stories you've read that you thought worked well in second person? Feel free to tell us about them in the comments.

Short Story Markets

One of my goals for 2018 was to submit at least three short stories to anthologies, magazines, or e-zines. I'm happy to report I've already reached this goal, though I don't want to say too much about the stories or submissions out of the (admittedly irrational) fear that I'll jinx them. Of course, any stories that do get rejected can be sent to other markets or indie-published. (I will say that two of the stories are set in my Season Avatars and Catalyst Chronicles worlds, so it might make sense to indie-publish them if they get rejected.) In the meantime, I thought I'd discuss briefly how I've been learning about and selecting markets.

I'm a member of the Facebook group Open Call: Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Pulp Markets. As the name suggests, it's a place for publishers, editors, and writers to share open calls for the specified markets. Many of the listings that I see are for themed markets that pay subpro rates. If the theme inspires me or aligns with a story world I've already developed, then I'll look at the pay and rights requested. If they seem reasonable, and if there's still enough time before the deadline, then I'll write the story and send it out.

I've been writing and submitting short stories for several reasons, but the two most important ones are to develop my writing craft and to potentially find new readers for my novels. (Working on short stories also allows me to work on other projects besides Dryads to Discover, which has been slow going. I'm not sure if working on other projects is helpful or harmful with this novel.) I would say more, but as I took a break from writing this blog to take care of a few things in the kitchen, I got another idea for a short story. This one's geared toward a professional market that closes March 15th. There are only a couple of openings, so this is very much a long shot. When you're not typing, please keep your fingers crossed for me!

Science of the Week, 2/23/18

Here are some of the most interesting science news stories I read this week:

System draws power from daily temperature swings

Hidden talents: converting heat into electricity with pencil and paper

Scientists shed light on biological roots of individuality

Unconventional superconductor may be used to create quantum computers of the future

Entomologist uses natural cravings to control invasive ants

New shark species confirmed

New structure discovered in human sperm tails

Urban mining to reduce environmental footprint of consumer goods

Researchers invent tiny, light-powered wired to modulate brain's electrical signals

Some black holes erase your past

Have a good weekend, and I'll see you Monday!

False Birthdays in Real Life and Fiction

George Harrison's birthday is coming up in a few days--but exactly when is it? For most of George's life, he thought he was born on February 25th, but family documents later shown he was born on February 24th--at ten minutes to midnight. However, if you look at official online biographies for George, they all list February 25th. I guess the best thing for a devout Beatles fan to do is hold a two-day celebration for George.

While there are real-life instances where someone claims to have been born in a different year, I'm hard-pressed to think of an example where someone changes the date. The best example from fiction I can think of is from my own work. The mother of one of the Season Avatars deliberately registered her daughter with a false birthday to  hide her magic potential from her father. (More details are available in Scattered Seasons.) I suppose other fictional reasons for hiding one's true birthday would be to change when one is or isn't ready for school or the draft. It could also be part of a larger plan to disguise one's identity.

Have you ever come across someone who found out later in life that they'd been celebrating the wrong birthday? If you had the chance, would you want to move your birthday, and if so, why? Feel free to share in the comments.

Beyond Barnes and Noble

Last week, Barnes and Noble conducted its own version of a Saint Valentine's Day massacre by laying off many of its most experienced employees--including receiving managers, the people who keep the shelves stocked. While this move is meant to save them money, my gut feeling is that it's a desperation move that isn't going to save them. Nate Hoffelder at The Digital Reader gives the chain nineteen months before they go under. I'm not that optimistic; I think they'll declare bankruptcy in less than a year.

Before I got married, I used to hang out at my local Barnes and Noble when I wanted to get out of my apartment for a while. It was nice to browse, buy some books, and get a drink and a treat at the cafe while I wrote. These days, I seldom make it to the bookstore, and I don't spend as much there as I used to. Many of the books I buy are ebooks, and when I do order a paper book, I tend to get it from Amazon or at a convention. So while I'll be sad to see Barnes and Noble go, losing it won't have a big effect on my daily life. It'll be much more difficult for all the people employed by Barnes and Noble, and for authors who see a drop in sales through no fault of their own.

That said, when Barnes and Noble goes, there may be more opportunities for local bookstores, especially if they can host readings and other activities. Personally, I think Amazon will continue to be my default book store due to convenience and selection.

What kind of bookstores do you have in your area? Would you be affected if Barnes and Noble goes bankrupt? Feel free to share in the comments.

Science of the Week, 2/16/18

Here are some of the most interesting science news articles I read this week:

Chimpanzee self-control is related to intelligence

Your gadget's next power supply? Your body

Programming drones to fly in the face of uncertainty 

Study finds gender and skin-type bias in commercial artificial-intelligence systems

Cultural cross-fertilization to rescue soils

Gene enhancers are important despite apparent redundancy

Cells "walk" on liquids a bit like geckos

Reprogrammed skin cells shrink tumors in mice

Have a good weekend, and I'll see you Monday!

Favorite Literary Couples

Happy Valentine's Day! I'm doing better, though it'll probably be a couple more days before I'm feeling 100%.

In honor of the day, I thought I'd mention some of my favorite literary couples. In general, I like reading about relationships where there's more focus on witty banter than body parts and the love develops over time. For banter, I like Benedick and Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing (particularly since I've seen the movie version a few times) and Alexia Tarabotti and Lord Maccon in Soulless. (In my opinion, their banter is best in this book.) I also liked The Time Traveler's Wife, since we see Henry and Clare's relationship develop over time (though it does feel a little odd that she developed a crush on him as a child).

What are your favorite literary couples? And would anyone be interested if I wrote a four-part series about the couples in the Season Avatars series? Let me know in the comments.

Cupid and Psyche and Romeo and Juliet....

I was originally planning to post this on Wednesday for Valentine's Day, but I got the flu over the weekend. Although I'm doing better now, I wasn't up for blogging much on Sunday, so I decided to switch the schedule around a little. Hopefully I'll be ready to post something longer on Wednesday.

Anyway, if you're looking for something to read for Valentine's Day, why not consider my short story "Letters to Psyche"? Here's the blurb:

When the Greek god Cupid visits Verona, he foresees no problems uniting the Montague and Capulet families. But when Elisabeth Capulet and Giovanni Montague's love ends in tragedy, Elisabeth places a powerful curse not on just the families, but Cupid himself. Unable to visit his wife Psyche, he sends her letters detailing his efforts to undo the curse. Can the two of them save another generation of lovers, or will Cupid and Psyche be forever parted?

Available today (and always) for $0.99.

Science of the Week, 2/9/18

Here are some of the most interesting science news articles I read this week:

Computer reads brain activity to find out the music each person is listening to

Sea anemone sting cells could inspire new drug-delivery systems

Remarkable spider with a tail found preserved in amber after 100 million years

(from the New York Times) This mutant crayfish clones itself, and it's taking over Europe

Dim light may make us dumber

(From Scientific American) Stronger than steel, able to stop a speeding bullet--it's super wood!

IWSG--Genre Love

February's post for the Insecure Writer's Support Group is hosted by Stephen Tremp, Pat Garcia, Angela Wooldridge, Victoria Marie Lees, and Madeline Mora-Summonte. To learn more about the IWSG, check out their website, Facebook group, and Twitter feed.

For this month, we've been posed the following question: What do you love about the genre you write in most often?

 I write both science fiction and fantasy, though the majority of my work is fantasy. One of the main things that drew me to both types of speculative fiction is the chance to escape the everyday. Part of my author tagline is "A sense of wonder," and that's what I seek in both my writing and reading. Wonder is an underappreciated emotion, something many of us lose forever once we're past childhood. Without wonder, we take the world for granted. These days, I tend to experience wonder most in science or in museum exhibits; I've read so much it's a rare book or author that can surprise me. I still strive for wonder as a way to unleash curiosity and creativity.

Speculative fiction, particularly fantasy, is a flexible genre. It can be set in any world imaginable, tell any type of story, and be blended with other genres. You can ask any type of "What if?" question and create your own answer. Themes can range from so-familiar-they're-comfort-reading to revolutionary ideas that inspire scientists.

Finally, fantasy and magic can feel very empowering. Who wouldn't want the ability to cast spells like Harry Potter or Hermione, wield lightning like my Season Avatar Kay, or bond with a magical telepathic horse as in Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar books? Many fantasies employ a "Chosen One" motif, but there are others where an ordinary person is able to have an extraordinary adventure.

What's your favorite genre? Feel free to share in the comments.

Maintaining Author Websites

Every time I publish a new work, I try to update my website. I maintain it myself. (I'm switching back and forth between this blog and my website as I write this post.) I'll feature my latest work with the cover, blurb, and buy link on the landing page and update any notes I've shared about work in progress. I'll also add the book or story to the appropriate page. If any of my links are broken, I fix them. Sometimes I also change the background or theme to freshen my website's appearance.

Authors, how often do you update your website, and what do you do to it? Readers, what are you looking for when you visit an author's website? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

Science of the Week: 2/2/18

As a Midwesterner, I know Groundhog Day doesn't matter; we're getting at least six more weeks of winter no matter what.

Here are some of the most important science news articles I read this week:

If you swat mosquitoes, they may learn to avoid your scent
(Though they probably don't learn much if you kill them)

Factories get more business when they treat workers right

Do our mitochondria run at 50ºC?

Researchers pose revolutionary theory on horse evolution

Higher education must change to prepare Americans for artificial intelligence revolution

Study: geoengineering the climate could imperil most animal groups

Engineers 3-D print shape-shifting gel

Gene therapy could provide long-term protection against HIV


Have a good weekend, everyone, and see you Monday!