Tales from the Raven

I’ve added a list of fantasy and sci fi conventions to my Links page.  Of course, it’s there mostly for my benefit so you’ll notice they cluster strongly in this corner of the country.  Exotic and far away locales will have to wait until I grace their honorary guest list.
The most comprehensive conventions link I’ve [...]

I did get my Ruins story finished and off, and have sent two other stories as well.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a patent filed on how to write in your sleep, so I’ve yet to make my fortune.

We just dropped our double-whammy checks in the mail, then came home singing George Harrison’s Tax Man song.
Here’s hoping your deductables were accurate, your refund will be generous and you will never meet the tax man face to face.
Happy Tax Day.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the people at Virginia Tech tonight, and all those caught in this storm.  We’ve had no power most the day, but feel grateful to have recieved so little.  What a Jonah day.
God Bless.

I came across this article on MSN Real Estate.  They’ve got some good pointers to prevent the kind of damage that can really get out of hand.
In the bonus tips they mention making sure your dryer vents are kept clean of lint buildup.  According to the article, dryers account for 15,000 fires every year, often [...]

I finally took my own challenge to write a hook for a novel I’m outlining, just to give myself practice and maybe get it ready for a Miss Snark-style hook critique.
Gift of the Magpie
Urban Fantasy
Raven is being stalked by a man who’s decided that she’s his ex-wife.
It all started when her cousin went home from their Grandmother’s [...]

I’ve lifted this message from the body of an email sent by a friend of mine.  When I read of her ‘cop fear’, I had to confess that I have it too.  Just this week I was followed a short way by a Sherrif, and was so busy checking my speed and watching him in the [...]

10 - Tell your employees that from now on, you’re all doing aerobics during meetings.
9 - Give your phone to the neighbors dog and tell him it’s a bone.
8 - Make three giant casserols every Sunday, then eat them all week.
7 - Fill your cupboards with extra food, then just keep the dishes in the dishwasher.
6 [...]

Sarkin stood quietly in the shadows, watching the table where Emily sat.  The waiter had come and gone twice.  Emily had cut a piece of bread, but only nimbled on it.  He would join her soon.
Emily folded her hands in her lap, then placed one on the table and leaned back.  The tension around her eyes was joined by a finger [...]

This was a grea hoax, and a great article by the Washington Post.  I am grateful to feel confident I would have stopped, because I always stop for the street musicians if they’re any good at all.
But that brings up a point.
You see, I’m not a commuter.  I work from home, on a flexible schedule, and take [...]