Warbreaker, by Brandon Sanderson

One of the more original fantasies I’ve read in a while. This Sanderson guy’s pretty cool :-)

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by [...]]]> Elantris, by Brandon Sanderson

Warbreaker, by Brandon Sanderson

One of the more original fantasies I’ve read in a while. This Sanderson guy’s pretty cool :-)

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley

I’ve kept that taste for noodles into adulthood. And then I was taken to The Bite, during my stint on [...]]]> When I was little, I went on a trip to Portugal to visit my grandparents, who were wintering in the Algarve. I got given a nickname over there, due to my general love of pasta: Senhorita Macaroni.

I’ve kept that taste for noodles into adulthood. And then I was taken to The Bite, during my stint on Martha’s Vineyard for Viable Paradise. Kidnapped, really. And my tormentors force-fed me deep-fried macaroni & cheese.

I’m ashamed to admit it. I blame Stockholm Syndrome. I partook. And it was fine, oh so fine. More than fine. It’s probably one of the more dangerous substances known to mankind. But it was OK, I told myself. How often will I be back to Martha’s Vineyard? One taste. One taste won’t hurt me.

Except now I find it not 20 km from me in Sidney, BC, from the pushers known as Fish on Fifth. No problem. There’s a large body of water in the way. I only get to Sidney 3 or 4 times a year.

But I can’t escape the deep-fried mac & cheese mob. Fish on Fifth now has an outlet on Pender Island: Fish on Pender. Does the “it followed me home” excuse exonerate me?

I’m also told the “best” deep-fried mac & cheese comes from the cheese factory on Waikiki. Maybe I should set myself up as the judge of what’s “best”.

I sense a future trip to Waikiki to sample and critique the warez. After all, Senhorita Macaroni knows her pasta.

My favourite part of the fair is watching the kids use a real fire hose set [...]]]> Amid all the poultry, rabbit, sheep, goat and lamb exhibits, tucked away from the preserves, flower arrangements and quilts, I discovered this prime specimen of geekitude at the Pender Island Fall Fair (a misnomer since it occurs nowhere near the equinox).

My favourite part of the fair is watching the kids use a real fire hose set up by the volunteer fire department to put out a fake fire. Too bad I’m too old. The blackberries we picked at the side of the road were yummy too.

I’m launching a new feature here at KatTales that I’m calling “Prime Writing”. It’s a platform for debut authors to talk about their first book. I’m soliciting guest bloggers to write a piece timed around the launch of their book.

I’ve chosen to focus on debut writers because I [...]]]> Are you a debut author? Do you know one?

I’m launching a new feature here at KatTales that I’m calling “Prime Writing”. It’s a platform for debut authors to talk about their first book. I’m soliciting guest bloggers to write a piece timed around the launch of their book.

I’ve chosen to focus on debut writers because I know of several sites that support all authors, but I know just how hard it is to break in to writing and wanted to provide a forum for new writers. Established writers, I know you don’t have it easy either; when I get a good idea for a feature for y’all, I’ll let you know :-)

For details, please see the Prime Writing home page and the Prime Writing FAQ.

Spread the word!

Note to [...]]]> Well, better late than never. The previous post should give some hint as to why I’ve been AWOL around here. We did get the place cleaned up and had a lovely anniversary party. But in all the hoop-la I realized I didn’t get my July reading log up. July was all about the Hugo nominees.

Note to the people who put together the Hugo reading package:

1. THANK YOU!
2. While I understand the DRM issues around the EPub format, it really is the way to go. I did a lot of my Hugo reading on the plane, and the pre-formatted PDFs publishers supplied in the Hugo voter packet are impossible to read on my smartphone. My small laptop didn’t like a couple of them either (the ones with two pages to a screen). The EPub entries simply rocked in terms of easy of transfer from laptop to phone, and readability in terms of adjusting for font size, etc.
3. THANK YOU!

The City & the City, by China Miéville

Interesting noir mystery set in two cities whose inhabitants must co-exist without acknowledging anything about each other. Even though I had a hard time accepting that one could train oneself to see or unsee the world in the particular manner described, this was a major feat of world building and a solidly plotted murder mystery.

The Windup Girl, by Paolo Bacigalupi

Genetic food and crop plagues, climate change and a post-peak oil energy collapse create a calorie-based economy in which various parties try to exploit or protect Thailand’s carefully hidden seed banks. Another impressive feat of world building.

Palimpsest, by Catherynne M. Valente

A sensual read about a group of people trying to find the secret to immigrating to the “dream” city of Palimpsest.

Boneshaker, by Cherie Priest

Seattle steampunk with zombies! And zeppelins! Fun read. YA appropriate.

Julian Comstock, by Robert Charles Wilson

Post-apocalyptic North America is now the Dominion of Jesus Christ. More impressive world building and very strong voice in this one.

Overall, world building seemed to be de rigueur in this year’s Hugo nominees, and almost every nominee exhibited amazing skills in this area, and I believe achieved what the author set out to do. I had a hard time picking out my top choice. Those looking to know how I voted will be disappointed; I don’t generally kiss and tell :-)

This is the current state of the house (nervous titter).

The above also offers a bit of an excuse as to why the blog posts have been thin and far between lately.

However, in the ray of hope [...]]]> I’m hosting a party in three weeks.

This is the current state of the house (nervous titter).

[View with PicLens]

The above also offers a bit of an excuse as to why the blog posts have been thin and far between lately.

However, in the ray of hope department, this is what the new floor looks like.

[View with PicLens]

PS: potential guests, don’t be scared. This is my way of motivating myself. :-)

My semi-random “read a classic to better myself” book :-). This one makes me glad as a woman I was born now and here, and not then and there.

The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein

Great read. Big emotional button pusher, but it pushes the buttons really well. [...]]]> Tess of the d’Urbervilles, by Thomas Hardy

My semi-random “read a classic to better myself” book :-). This one makes me glad as a woman I was born now and here, and not then and there.

The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein

Great read. Big emotional button pusher, but it pushes the buttons really well. It’s a rare book that will make me cry in the first 3 pages.

Wake, by Robert J. Sawyer

Read this for Hugo voting, although by coincidence I bought it before downloading the voter packet. Interesting technology concepts relating to vision, and the emergence of consciousness in artificial systems.

Winner of the Hugo for Best Related Book. Funny, at times profane, at times moving. I may not always agree with Mr. Scalzi, but I AM entertained.

The Knife of Dreams, by Robert Jordan

A re-read to get caught back up

The Gathering Storm, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

I was [...]]]> Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded, by John Scalzi

Winner of the Hugo for Best Related Book. Funny, at times profane, at times moving. I may not always agree with Mr. Scalzi, but I AM entertained.

The Knife of Dreams, by Robert Jordan

A re-read to get caught back up

The Gathering Storm, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

I was very curious to see how Mr. Sanderson would do picking up this series after the death of Mr. Jordan. I’m very impressed. I’ll admit to feeling frustrated with the pace of some of the latter novels, but The Gathering Storm moved along well, and I found myself relating better to the characters than I have in a long time. I look forward to finally reading the end. I was so impressed I went out and bought one of Mr. Sanderson’s other novels.

I tweeted the other day about having a VOC hangover, and below you can see why. A significant amount of elbow grease and oil fumes went into putting the finish onto these babies, our new staircase.

VOC = Very Original Climbers? Actually, I [...]]]> … or half a stairway to heaven?

I tweeted the other day about having a VOC hangover, and below you can see why. A significant amount of elbow grease and oil fumes went into putting the finish onto these babies, our new staircase.

[View with PicLens]

VOC = Very Original Climbers? Actually, I can’t claim that. I stole the idea off website stairporn.org. I mean, how can you resist a site like that? :-)