Monthly Archives: June 2023
View From a Hotel Window, 6/30/23: Norman, OK
Posted on June 30, 2023 11 Comments
It’s got a parking lot and an airport! Truly, a magnificent view from a hotel window. I will say that getting here was an adventure — My first plane left the gate and sat on the tarmac for close to an hour, blowing past any possibility of getting to my connecting flight, and then went […]
How Hazy Have the Canadian Fires Made the Skies Today?
Posted on June 28, 2023 15 Comments
Hazy enough that my camera was able to record sunspots without the benefit of a filter. That’s… pretty hazy, folks. I hope those in Canada affected by the fires are staying safe, and those in Canada and elsewhere affected by the smoke are doing what they can to avoid the worst effects. — JS
The Big Idea: Jason Fischer
Posted on June 28, 2023
When a story reaches the end, the lives of the characters in it often don’t… so what then? Jason Fischer had to tackle this question for The Jawbone & The Junkman. In this Big Idea, Fischer unveils a few conclusions. JASON FISCHER: When the big bad falls, what happens next? Do the Ewoks caper about […]
Keeping Up With The Joneses, Part 3: The Last Crusade
Posted on June 27, 2023 24 Comments
Many of you told me that Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was a better movie than its predecessors (especially Temple of Doom), and you were right! I liked this third installment much more than I did the first two. That doesn’t mean I loved it or anything, just that it’s a lot better than the other […]
“Slow Time Between the Stars” Now Out on Amazon and Audible
Posted on June 27, 2023 10 Comments
Today’s the day! My new story “Slow Time Between the Stars” is out on Amazon and Audible, as part of the Far Reaches collection, in Kindle and audio versions. If you buy the text version, you get the audio version, narrated by Kay Eluvian, as well; they’re bundled together. If you are a subscriber to […]
Requesting Recommendations From The Readers (That’s You!)
Posted on June 26, 2023 25 Comments
Hello, everyone! I am back in Santa Monica once again, this time for eighteen days. I would really appreciate some recommendations of what to do in the area, just some places you’ve been and love or places you think I should check out. If you recommend a restaurant, tell me what dish I should get! […]
The Big Idea: Brenda W. Clough
Posted on June 26, 2023 4 Comments
When one is a writer, laziness can be a virtue. Skeptical? Here’s author Brenda W. Clough to explain how laziness was key to creating the story of A Door in His Head. BRENDA W. CLOUGH: The wise writer is efficient because she’s lazy. She puts a lot of work into cooking up a universe, and […]
How Awards Work: A Quick Primer
Posted on June 25, 2023 20 Comments
Because I think it will come in handy for some folks, a quick primer about literary awards (this may or may not have relevance outside the realm of literary awards, but I’m going with what I know, here): 1. If an author/book has won an award, and you are unhappy with that, for whatever reason: […]
The Kaiju Preservation Society Wins the 2023 Locus Award For Best Science Fiction Novel
Posted on June 24, 2023 35 Comments
I am genuinely surprised and thrilled and, as I was not able to attend the awards ceremony myself, very happy I remembered in send in a video acceptance speech for if I won. It is above. It is very serious. Thank you to: Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Molly McGee, Rachel Bass, Peter Lutjen, Heather Saunders, Jeff […]
The Big Idea: Robin C. M. Duncan
Posted on June 23, 2023 6 Comments
How plausible do you need to be in your speculative fiction? It’s a question that interests Robin C.M. Duncan quite a bit, and this Big Idea for The Carborundum Conundrum, one well worth digging into. ROBIN C. M. DUNCAN: How much does realism matter in Science Fiction stories? My second novel, The Carborundum Conundrum (Yes, […]
“Between the Stars” EP Out and Available On All Streaming Platforms
Posted on June 23, 2023 4 Comments
Surprise! I have a new EP of electronic music out! As most of you know, a short story of mine, “Slow Time Between the Stars,” will be out next Tuesday as part of the “Far Reaches” collection, along with stories by James SA Corey, Nnedi Okorafor, Veronica Roth, Ann Leckie and Rebecca Roanhorse. When I […]
Pixel Tablet Impressions
Posted on June 22, 2023 4 Comments
Yes, in addition to purchasing an iPad Pro recently, I also picked up the new Pixel Tablet, complete with its recharging speaker stand. In fact, I ordered this thing first, but the iPad Pro, having already been in production, showed up first. I’ve had a couple of days to live with the Pixel Tablet and […]
A “Spot”light On Comedic Villains
Posted on June 22, 2023 19 Comments
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has been out for a hot minute now, and with it has come a million and one reviews of the film. Originally, I was going to add to this onslaught of reviews, but I don’t think y’all need another person telling you how amazing it is. Though, admittedly, it is amazing, and there […]
Starter Villain Gets a Starred Review in Booklist + Goodreads ARC Giveaway
Posted on June 22, 2023 4 Comments
The full review is behind a paywall so I won’t link it here, but here’s the kicker line: “Scalzi again examines tropes in a tale of an ordinary individual being cast into an extraordinary situation with his trademark quick pacing, clever banter, and ability to find humor in desperate situations.” There are far worse trademarks […]
Today’s Rather Silly Purchase
Posted on June 21, 2023 28 Comments
It’s my own personal cuneiform tablet! Does it actually say (more or less) “The failure mode of ‘clever’ is ‘asshole’”? I have no way to check! They say it’s a syllabic transliteration into Old Persian, which, okay, I believe them! Is the tablet even correctly oriented in this picture? Again, I would be the last […]
The Big Idea: Madison Davis
Posted on June 21, 2023
Stories are meant to connect those in our lives to us, even if those stories are about death. Author Madison Davis brings us a Big Idea about connection, community, and grief. Follow along as she tells us what led to the creation of The Loved Ones. MADISON DAVIS: I’ve written about the deaths in my family […]
Vote for The Kaiju Preservation Society in the Ohioana Book Awards “Reader’s Choice” Category
Posted on June 20, 2023 10 Comments
Or, if you like, any other book short-listed for this year’s Ohioana Book Awards that catches your fancy, although be aware you can choose only one. And if you do decide to choose Kaiju, well. Then you are my new favorite person in the whole wide world. Yes! You! Voting is extremely simple: Go to […]
The Big Idea: Liz Kerin
Posted on June 20, 2023 1 Comment
How much does real life inform a book about dark, magical creatures? As Liz Kerin explains in this Big Idea for her novel Night’s Edge, sometimes, a lot more than you might expect. LIZ KERIN: Full disclosure: I never set out to write a vampire book. But here we are, and it feels right. I […]
The iPad Pro Road Test
Posted on June 19, 2023 41 Comments
I went on vacation with Krissy for the last several days (to celebrate our anniversary), and rather than to take either my Pixelbook or my Dell XPS 13 with me, I took my new M2 iPad Pro with its Magic Keyboard to see if it was a suitable laptop replacement for a short trip. I […]
28 Years Married
Posted on June 17, 2023 39 Comments
We’re on vacation and have fun things to do, so I will be brief and note that 28 years is not nearly enough time to be married to such a spectacular person such as Krissy. I want another 28! At least! And will work every day to be worthy of the days I get with […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying