A Hazardous Occupation

Today's SFSignal Mind Meld asked for the perfect genre crossovers - go take a look and see what we came up with!!

If you're looking for something glittery and thrilling to do on Sunday, May 6, let me suggest you buy your tickets for the MidEast Dance by Yasmine Belly Oasis show! The event features the various dance ensembles and troupes of Yasmine's school, showcasing many different styles that have evolved from the Middle East as well as the vast influences of surrounding cultures and the Western World. Tickets are only $10 for adults. We'd love to see you there!

I really do not love books written in second person, present tense. This afternoon, feeling the desire to read for a little while, I picked up a book I'd checked out from the library, only to discover it was second person present tense. Yep, it was all "You open the door. You press the elevator button." and on and on. It's like reading a Choose Your Own Adventure without the freedom to choose anything.

Shenanigans have been achieved. It was a great weekend, but sleepy Misty is sleepy.

Countdown to Stellarcon...

Shenanigans have been planned, and the arrangements for them are underway.

Mine is an evil laugh.

I received my StellarCon schedule - yay! My panels look pretty cool. Take a look and see what you think!

Friday 4:00
Origins of Modern Fantasy
A discussion of early fantasy literature from some of the brightest minds working within the genre today.

Saturday
9:00
The Worlds of Richard Dean Anderson
From MacGyver to Stargate SG-1, Richard Dean Anderson has spent decades within genre television. Fans share their favorite moments from their favorite shows.

2:00
The Role of the Publisher in Today’s Market
With writers now able to bring their works to print themselves, are publishers still need? Authors and publishers discuss e-publishing, small-press publishing, and the large publishing houses.

4:00
The Heroine's Journey
Does the Heroine's Journey differ in some way from that of the Hero? An examination of the heroine's role in genre fiction.

Okay, yeah, the Richard Dean Anderson one is...unusual. My son had a moment of fan jealousy when he thought RDA would actually be there, and frankly, that would have been awesome. But hey, it's given me a good excuse to watch episodes of Stargate again. You know, as homework.

A little news about my friends...

"Colin has become a master of three of the five magics, and has gifted the human, Dwarren, and Alvritshai races with magical protective Trees. But the power of the dark spirits is spreading despite this. Can Colin unite the races against this menace and prevent their enemy from complete control of the land's magic?" Benjamin Tate's latest, Leaves of Flame, is available now! If your local store doesn't have it, ask them to get you a copy right away, because this is one you don't want to miss.

You've got a chance to win a copy for yourself, too. Go to his Livejournal and check out the Word of Mouth contest!

And my friends Faith Hunter and Christina Stiles have launched a Kickstarter project to fund their Rogue Mage RPG. A little bit of money will go a long, long way toward helping them out, and if you're an RPG player, this is definitely a game you'll want to check out.

I hardly think cutting down on my whiskey will help anyone. Especially if I intend to connect with my inner Blackbeard...

[Klah] is generally served hot, possibly with milk and/or sweetening, sometimes with a splash of a warming liquor. It is brewed from the bark of a native tree. The flavor is something like cinnamony chocolate, with a touch of hazelnut and coffee. It can be drunk cold, but the preferred taste is warm. Klah contains a mild stimulant like caffeine and is used as the morning drink.

--The Dragonlover's Guide To Pern, Second Edition, by Jody Lynn with Anne McCaffrey)

Several of us are raising a cup of klah to Anne tonight. If you'd also like to, here's a recipe.

Directions:

2 tablespoons sweet ground chocolate
1/2 cup dark cocoa (same as Dutch cocoa)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon dark instant coffee, ground to a powder (you can substitute a shot of regular coffee if necessary)
1 pinch nutmeg

Mix all ingredients together.
Use 2 to 4 tsp per cup of boiling water.
Mix well.
The klah should be thick, much like hot cocoa.

When I was a teenager, I saw myself as plain and clumsy and definitely not someone anyone might ever want to hang around with. Often friendships surprised me, because deep in my heart I couldn't believe anyone really wanted to be there. I found much of my solace in books, and the dragons of Pern taught me that while my body might be earthbound, my imagination could soar.

The author of those amazing books, Anne McCaffrey, passed away suddenly yesterday. Please join me in raising a glass to her memory. Thank you, Anne. You did more for me than you'll ever know.