Like all aspects of the geek universe, cosplay is gaining popularity. I first heard about it from Thing1 who absolutely wants to be a part of it. For that reason, I looked into it and, personally, find cosplay fascinating.
Female Klingon Cosplayer and I at 2012 ConCarolinas
The “Great Camps” of the Adirondack Mountains of central New York State were built in the late 1800s, early 1900s by the fabulously wealthy from New York City. They were “rustic” lodges with all the amenities the wealthy required to get away from the city and relax in the wilderness.
Sagamore Camp, historic “Great Camp” on Long Lake, NY, 2009, via WikiCommons and Mwanner
I am an unapologetic lover of pop culture and so this isn’t an anti-TV tirade. I stumbled on this only because we couldn’t afford multiple TVs with cable when our kids were little.
Life is weird.
Via Flickr Creative Commons, courtesy of smays
When I grow old, I want to be as kick ass as the characters in the Red movies.
This has been a week full of distractions to my writing, but also a week filled with life. And yet, somehow in the midst, I managed to get a nice chunk of revision done.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had this crazy notion knocking around in my head that I needed large blocks of time in order to write. I waited around for the perfect set of circumstances to line up. Now, I’m a slow writer anyway. Add this and, well, it’s no surprise it took me so long to write my first draft or that I’ve been working on my revision for a year and only half way done.
Holy crap, has it been a year already?!
Yes, I’ve seen contrary advice before. I’ve also managed spurts in which I worked like mad at every opportunity. But it didn’t last and didn’t really change my thinking. Until I read examples in the blogs of two writers, husband and wife, Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith.
Lately, I’ve read some fantastic non-fiction books and this one is near and dear to my heart. The following is my review from Goodreads.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
For many years I’ve known I was an introvert. But it wasn’t until I read Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain that I truly began to understand what that meant. It satisfied my need to understand myself and others – introverts and extroverts – and backed it up by the science. Yet, the tone of the book is conversational, as if you are sitting in a comfortable nook with the author explaining it all in easy-to-understand language.
If you devour dark urban fantasy like a vampire slurps down a blood meal, you’ll love Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series.
Jane is a vampire hunter for hire with the coolest motto I’ve ever heard: “Have stakes, will travel.” Jane is one of the more unusual characters in urban fantasy right now and each book in the series is multilayered and exciting. Don’t believe me? Check out this list.
The last two months I was seriously in need of help and support. The Insecure Writer’s Support Group made me feel welcome, calmed me down, and pointed me in a new direction.
Thursday’s announcement that the Pentagon has opened combat roles to women inspired me to list my favorite female warrior characters in scifi and fantasy books, tv, and film. These are the women, in no particular order, I’d want on my side in a battle.
E. K. Carmel 