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Geeks and Sociopaths
I recently watched the first season of Dexter on DVD. For those not familiar with the show, the main character is a blood spatter forensic expert with the Miami police, who is also a serial killer. His father, a cop who was aware of his sinister proclivities, taught Dexter to only kill those who deserved it: i.e. murderers who had escaped justice ( Read more... ) -
Madeleine L'Engle has died
I saw eternity the other night Like a great ring of pure and endless light, All calm as it was bright, And round beneath it time in hours, days, years, Driven by the spheres, Like a vast shadow moved in which the world And all her train were hurled. -Henry Vaughn (quoted in A Ring of Endless Light)
I was twelve when I first read ( Read more... ) -
In Praise of Harry Potter
I am an avid devotee of the Harry Potter books. I have all the books, both in hardcover and paperback, I have the two related charity booklets R. K. Rowling published, one on "Fantastical Beasts" in the Potterverse and one on Quidditch. I have the first four movies on DVD.
My deepest desire, (and the one I would probably see reflected in the ( Read more... ) -
Melissa Marr and Tags
I drove down to San Diego with my husband for Melissa Marr's signing at Mysterious Galaxy. I had a great time. Melissa waxed on about writing, publishing, tattoos and piercings. Then, after I came home, I discovered that Melissa had tagged me in a game with the following rules:
The rules:
* Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about ( Read more... ) -
Ode to Ana
My best friend Ana died yesterday. It was very sudden, probably an embolism. I'm told there was no pain, but I wasn't there. She was only 46 years old. She leaves behind a 16-year-old son who has no other blood relatives ( Read more... ) -
Death by Soda and The Magic Castle
Is it possible to keel over from drinking too much diet soda? I'm putting that question to the test. I have discovered these sumptuous flavored Diet Pepsi's. They're called "Jazz" and they come in three flavors: Strawberries & Cream, Caramel Cream & Black Cherry-French Vanilla. I have been drinking massive amounts of them (at least five cans so ( Read more... ) -
Urban Faeries
I have just finished Melissa Marr's eagerly anticipated new novel Wicked Lovely and am entranced. The prose style is almost impossibly elegant for a young adult novel. I wish we had YA books like this when I was a teenager. Actually, I don't think of it as a YA novel - though it's being marketed that way. For me, it's just wonderful fantasy ( Read more... ) -
Lovable Protagonists
I'm immersed in writing my YA fantasy novel and I'm totally loving my protagonist. She's much like I was at that age - shy, unpopular, morbidly witty, lousy home life. Except she can do magic. Hee hee. I'm writing a chapter in which she accidentally stops time. I used to dream I had powers like that.
There are actually many wonderful novels in ( Read more... ) -
Cats & Birds, Predator & Prey
This morning, I was awakened by the most God awful screeching. I hoped it was outside, but no such luck. The inhuman screeching was coming from inside my bedroom.
Now, in my dreams, I am Buffy, I am Thorn St. Croix, I am Rachel Morgan, perhaps even Anita Blake with a much less confusing sex life. In REAL LIFE, however, I gently shake my husband ( Read more... ) -
The Pull of Fantasy
I love fantasy novels - especially dark or urban fantasy. I guess I just get way too much reality in my real life. I mean, I'm a pension analyst, for God's sake. My day at work consists of putting together pension plan documents, reviewing calculations and figures and making sure we stay on the right side of federal government. Not that I don't ( Read more... )