Tales from the Raven

We have a new fridge!  It’s been a very long wait–I could go back and count the days, but since that would only make me angry, I won’t–but at last it has arrived.  Given how crippled my cooking has been, I’m half tempted to to buy a small back-up, just in case this one ever [...]

I tried to leave a comment on James’ blog, but since I lack the Belonger of Google password and such, I’ll have to link it instead.  His post was about how to make characters more interesting, and how to choose what defines that character.  As he puts it, the character becomes much more interesting to the [...]

And flipping cartwheels–that too.  Becca’s got a contract on her book, Hush, Hush!  After going to auction, no less.  I’m beside myself thrilled for her, and feel highly privileged to have seen it in the premie stages.  It’s also very encouraging, since I know Becca put lots of love, sweat and tears into rewrites and [...]

We adopted two cats, just past kitten age, that have since taken over the barn and property.  The grey-striped and well-dressed fellow below is Shadow,

And this lovely orange lady is Apricot.
 
With just a bit of persuasion they’ve agreed to put in cameo appearances in my books, so long as the reference is clearly flattering.  Shadow would [...]

Still working on Green Silence, and it’s coming along nicely–if you count “in reverse” a progressive direction.  I realized after a chapter or two that the story needed a stronger beginning on which to stand.  In the course of working out that beginning, I decided to throw in a twist or two because I’m easily [...]

I’ve never actually watched the Emmy’s–nor the Oscar’s, for that matter–but I find it amusing to sometimes click over the red carpet pics and the lists of best and worst dressed.  I find it entertaining because the division between these two lists has always seemed a bit arbitrary.
Look for yourself, and see what I mean.
Heading the best dressed list, [...]

We’ve made two additions to our reef tank.  One of them, sadly, is a replacement Lawn Mower Blenny.  The old one, Moe, did not survive the somewhat erratic care of those watching our tank while we were away out west for WorldCon and my graduation.  So in a cold turn of the phrase, we have dubbed the [...]

Our six-year-old has recently decided that going to the hospital is tantamount to dying.  Probably in the worst way.
I’m not sure what led to this decision.  The fact that she worried over three great grandparents last year, all of whom made regular visits to the hospital, and all of whom died within a period of six [...]

In honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day, today I ditched the car and spent some four or five hours treasure hunting on foot.  During the course of said treasure hunt, I encouraged my young swashbuklers to mess with the fountain while I daydreamed of my book-bound friends’ celebration of Pirate Day, fed the whole crew fried chips and fish for lunch, [...]

To our beloved fridge, 
You always kept our food cold
With your hum and occasional racket
Your exterior was off-white and old
But we loved your magnetic jacket
You served us well for all of three weeks, may you soon rest in recycled pieces.