Rachael Arsenault's Blog, page 4
August 31, 2020
August Wrap-Up
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
The stakes have started ramping up in the series now, with this being the first book that has a real major plot twist. Definitely one of my favourites in the series, and I’m looking forward to digging into the next one.
Articles
Why A Medieval Woman Had Lapis Lazuli Hidden in Her Teeth
The way we find out stuff about past societies and peoples is really wild to me sometimes. I never would have imagined it was possible to figure out someone was a painter by the particles in their teeth, but that’s what happened when examining the teeth of this medieval nun. And that means a lot of really interesting things! People always talk about monks as being involved in high-quality book production, but this new evidence helps show that nuns were involved, too, and that they were highly-skilled in their own right.
Teaching Indigenous Star Stories.
Astronomy has been a largely Eurocentric field for a long time, and it’s exciting to learn that efforts are being made to incorporate more diverse knowledge bases, such as indigenous star stories and teachings. Oral histories are often dismissed as myths or unreliable narratives, but these stories are often centuries or millennia old and can carry really important, interesting insights – for example, a lot of stories about great disasters line up with evidence of actual geological events. Stories about the night sky and its constellations are no exception to that.
Babies Prefer the Sounds of Other Babies to the Cooing of Their Parents
I know, I know – I’ve had some serious baby-brain lately. But this is also just a genuinely interesting article with some useful info for new parents or parents-to-be who want to help their little gremlins with early language development.
How the Library of Congress Unrolled a 2,000-Year-Old Buddhist Scroll
I never thought I would find it nerve-wracking to read about someone unrolling a piece of paper, but oh boy, did parts of this make me feel tense. It’s absolutely mind-boggling the lengths experts can and will go to in order to both preserve and study artifacts like this, and I can’t even wrap my head around how much history would be lost to us if they didn’t.
Bessie Coleman, the Black Cherokee Female Pilot Who Made Aviation History
I’ll never get over the incredible perseverance and accomplishments that go unacknowledged or deliberately hushed up throughout history, especially when it comes to women and people of colour. Bessie Coleman should be a household name, just as much as Amelia Earhart is.
Other
Woman dancing ‘on a river’ finds fame online in China
I don’t have a lot to say about this except that it’s really, really cool and beautiful to watch. I hope this unique tradition is preserved for generations to come.
Castle in the Sky
I remember seeing the trailer for this film when I was super young – I think it was one of the previews included on the Lion King VHS. I was fascinated by it and always wanted to watch it, but I was never actually able to until early this month. And I loved it! It’s such a cute movie, with beautiful animation and whimsical world-building. Definitely need to watch me some more Ghibli in the near future.
What I’ve Created
Articles
Don’t Talk to Me About My Stretch Marks
Just some thoughts that have been percolating in my mind recently.
A Study of Scarlet: Storytelling on Social Media
As I writer, I love storytelling in all its forms, and I especially love seeing how less conventional mediums tackle narrative. That also means I’m more sensitive to when those types of stories fail to deliver, which, unfortunately, is the case with Scarlet.
Plotter, Pantser, Plantser: What Are They, and How Do You Know Which Type You Are?
I’ve come across some people in the writing community who expressed confusion about the difference between plotters, pantser, and plantsers, and how to tell which they are, so I thought it might be helpful to explain it all in one little article.
Books
Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
The stakes have started ramping up in the series now, with this being the first book that has a real major plot twist. Definitely one of my favourites in the series, and I’m looking forward to digging into the next one.
Articles
Why A Medieval Woman Had Lapis Lazuli Hidden in Her Teeth
The way we find out stuff about past societies and peoples is really wild to me sometimes. I never would have imagined it was possible to figure out someone was a painter by the particles in their teeth, but that’s what happened when examining the teeth of this medieval nun. And that means a lot of really interesting things! People always talk about monks as being involved in high-quality book production, but this new evidence helps show that nuns were involved, too, and that they were highly-skilled in their own right.
Teaching Indigenous Star Stories.
Astronomy has been a largely Eurocentric field for a long time, and it’s exciting to learn that efforts are being made to incorporate more diverse knowledge bases, such as indigenous star stories and teachings. Oral histories are often dismissed as myths or unreliable narratives, but these stories are often centuries or millennia old and can carry really important, interesting insights – for example, a lot of stories about great disasters line up with evidence of actual geological events. Stories about the night sky and its constellations are no exception to that.
Babies Prefer the Sounds of Other Babies to the Cooing of Their Parents
I know, I know – I’ve had some serious baby-brain lately. But this is also just a genuinely interesting article with some useful info for new parents or parents-to-be who want to help their little gremlins with early language development.
How the Library of Congress Unrolled a 2,000-Year-Old Buddhist Scroll
I never thought I would find it nerve-wracking to read about someone unrolling a piece of paper, but oh boy, did parts of this make me feel tense. It’s absolutely mind-boggling the lengths experts can and will go to in order to both preserve and study artifacts like this, and I can’t even wrap my head around how much history would be lost to us if they didn’t.
Bessie Coleman, the Black Cherokee Female Pilot Who Made Aviation History
I’ll never get over the incredible perseverance and accomplishments that go unacknowledged or deliberately hushed up throughout history, especially when it comes to women and people of colour. Bessie Coleman should be a household name, just as much as Amelia Earhart is.
Other
Woman dancing ‘on a river’ finds fame online in China
I don’t have a lot to say about this except that it’s really, really cool and beautiful to watch. I hope this unique tradition is preserved for generations to come.
Castle in the Sky
I remember seeing the trailer for this film when I was super young – I think it was one of the previews included on the Lion King VHS. I was fascinated by it and always wanted to watch it, but I was never actually able to until early this month. And I loved it! It’s such a cute movie, with beautiful animation and whimsical world-building. Definitely need to watch me some more Ghibli in the near future.
What I’ve Created
Articles
Don’t Talk to Me About My Stretch Marks
Just some thoughts that have been percolating in my mind recently.
A Study of Scarlet: Storytelling on Social Media
As I writer, I love storytelling in all its forms, and I especially love seeing how less conventional mediums tackle narrative. That also means I’m more sensitive to when those types of stories fail to deliver, which, unfortunately, is the case with Scarlet.
Plotter, Pantser, Plantser: What Are They, and How Do You Know Which Type You Are?
I’ve come across some people in the writing community who expressed confusion about the difference between plotters, pantser, and plantsers, and how to tell which they are, so I thought it might be helpful to explain it all in one little article.
July 31, 2020
July Wrap-Up
Some light reading, a book release, and a very exciting short story publication. Let's dig in to July!
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter
I would love to pretend that everything I read is super deep or intellectual or even just part of uplifting lesser-heard communities, but… that’s not true. Sometimes your brain needs a little bit of candy, and right now this is the candy I’ve been craving. Maybe next month I’ll have something a little more exciting on my list – but I’m not gonna force myself.
Articles
The Teenage Girl Gang that Seduced and Killed Nazis
A harrowing and triumphant tale of two young sisters who gave their all to protect Jewish refugees and take down Nazi Germany. It’s not a unique tale, by any means – there are other teenage girls who did their part in the war effort – but that doesn’t make it any less important or heroic.
The Kung Fu Nuns of Kathmandu
While “Kung Fu Nuns” is certainly an interesting premise, these women are so much more than that. They’re dismantling gender inequality within Buddhism, learning kung fu to protect themselves and teaching it to other Indian women so that they can defend themselves against assault, and offering humanitarian aid after natural disasters and during this pandemic. These are women worth knowing about and worth celebrating, and they have certainly earned their shared title of The Fearless Ones.
Fast-Growing Mini-Forests Spring up in Europe to Aid Climate
I love the idea of planting small but dense and diverse sections of trees throughout cities, and really hope to see a future where there are cute little patchwork forests teeming with wildlife everywhere.
The College Student Who Decoded the Data Hidden in Inca Knots
There is so much indigenous history that we don’t know or can’t glean from indigenous historical records, so any breakthrough of this kind is pretty amazing. That it came about because of a perfect storm of well-matched skills and interests is… well, perfect.
The Forgotten Drink that Caffeinated North America for Centuries
I’m not a caffeine drinker myself (it doesn’t mix well with my insomnia), but, as I’ve said before, I love history. This piece was particularly interesting because it explored how conflicting goals and capitalist interests may have contributed to the mislabeling of cassina as a purgative, making people reluctant to drink for centuries – even though it would be a much cheaper alternative to coffee and tea in many parts of North America.
Other
Critical Role: Campaign Two
This show went on hiatus back in March, and the months without my weekly dose of dice rolling nerdy-ass voice actors was definitely a struggle – not least because they ended on a cliffhanger. But it’s back and I’m loving it and I’m crossing my fingers that the almost-inevitable re-hiatus doesn’t put fans on another cliffhanger for three months.
What I’ve Created
Books/Short Stories
Living With No Reflection
I’ve been sitting on news of this story for a loooong time, and now I can finally share it! I found out a few months ago that my short story had been accepted for publication in audio format by Manawaker Studios, and I am very excited that my first audio-format story is now available to the world.
Those Who Fall (A New Age of Magic #2)
My book released this month! Aaaah! The build up to a book releasing is always a bit nerve-wracking, so I’m thrilled to finally have this out in the world for everyone to see. Please check out the series if you’re up for some magic and dragons and chaos. And keep your peepers peeled for a sale next month! ;D
Articles
’Just So Pitiful and Ugly’: Blackface, Bigotry, and Dehumanization in P.C. Cast’s ‘Moon Chosen’
I think thoughtful, critical analysis of the media we consume is incredibly important, especially when a piece of media presents deeply troubling or problematic topics. Sadly, this book is one such example of that sort of problem, and I didn’t feel right not addressing it in my own small way after reading it.
Ways to Boost Your Baby’s Brain Development
I’ve had babies on my mind in recent months, and that’s definitely influenced my decision to write this little piece. I think the complexity and malleability of babies’ brains is really fascinating, so researching this and sharing what I learned with the world was super fun. Definitely brought me back to the early days of university when I thought I wanted to be a psychologist!
As always, feel free to share what you've enjoyed this month in the comments below. :)
What I’ve Enjoyed
Books
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter
I would love to pretend that everything I read is super deep or intellectual or even just part of uplifting lesser-heard communities, but… that’s not true. Sometimes your brain needs a little bit of candy, and right now this is the candy I’ve been craving. Maybe next month I’ll have something a little more exciting on my list – but I’m not gonna force myself.
Articles
The Teenage Girl Gang that Seduced and Killed Nazis
A harrowing and triumphant tale of two young sisters who gave their all to protect Jewish refugees and take down Nazi Germany. It’s not a unique tale, by any means – there are other teenage girls who did their part in the war effort – but that doesn’t make it any less important or heroic.
The Kung Fu Nuns of Kathmandu
While “Kung Fu Nuns” is certainly an interesting premise, these women are so much more than that. They’re dismantling gender inequality within Buddhism, learning kung fu to protect themselves and teaching it to other Indian women so that they can defend themselves against assault, and offering humanitarian aid after natural disasters and during this pandemic. These are women worth knowing about and worth celebrating, and they have certainly earned their shared title of The Fearless Ones.
Fast-Growing Mini-Forests Spring up in Europe to Aid Climate
I love the idea of planting small but dense and diverse sections of trees throughout cities, and really hope to see a future where there are cute little patchwork forests teeming with wildlife everywhere.
The College Student Who Decoded the Data Hidden in Inca Knots
There is so much indigenous history that we don’t know or can’t glean from indigenous historical records, so any breakthrough of this kind is pretty amazing. That it came about because of a perfect storm of well-matched skills and interests is… well, perfect.
The Forgotten Drink that Caffeinated North America for Centuries
I’m not a caffeine drinker myself (it doesn’t mix well with my insomnia), but, as I’ve said before, I love history. This piece was particularly interesting because it explored how conflicting goals and capitalist interests may have contributed to the mislabeling of cassina as a purgative, making people reluctant to drink for centuries – even though it would be a much cheaper alternative to coffee and tea in many parts of North America.
Other
Critical Role: Campaign Two
This show went on hiatus back in March, and the months without my weekly dose of dice rolling nerdy-ass voice actors was definitely a struggle – not least because they ended on a cliffhanger. But it’s back and I’m loving it and I’m crossing my fingers that the almost-inevitable re-hiatus doesn’t put fans on another cliffhanger for three months.
What I’ve Created
Books/Short Stories
Living With No Reflection
I’ve been sitting on news of this story for a loooong time, and now I can finally share it! I found out a few months ago that my short story had been accepted for publication in audio format by Manawaker Studios, and I am very excited that my first audio-format story is now available to the world.
Those Who Fall (A New Age of Magic #2)
My book released this month! Aaaah! The build up to a book releasing is always a bit nerve-wracking, so I’m thrilled to finally have this out in the world for everyone to see. Please check out the series if you’re up for some magic and dragons and chaos. And keep your peepers peeled for a sale next month! ;D
Articles
’Just So Pitiful and Ugly’: Blackface, Bigotry, and Dehumanization in P.C. Cast’s ‘Moon Chosen’
I think thoughtful, critical analysis of the media we consume is incredibly important, especially when a piece of media presents deeply troubling or problematic topics. Sadly, this book is one such example of that sort of problem, and I didn’t feel right not addressing it in my own small way after reading it.
Ways to Boost Your Baby’s Brain Development
I’ve had babies on my mind in recent months, and that’s definitely influenced my decision to write this little piece. I think the complexity and malleability of babies’ brains is really fascinating, so researching this and sharing what I learned with the world was super fun. Definitely brought me back to the early days of university when I thought I wanted to be a psychologist!
As always, feel free to share what you've enjoyed this month in the comments below. :)
June 30, 2020
June Wrap-Up
I feel like these months keep getting shorter, but I'm going to stop making excuses for it. Sometimes I read and write a lot; sometimes I don't. These wrap-ups aren't about meeting an arbitrary quota - I just want to share what I've enjoyed so other people can enjoy it too.
So, without further ado: Let's dig into June!
What I’ve Enjoyed:
Books:
Maiden, Mother, and Crone: Fantastical Trans Femmes by Gwen Benaway et al.
It took me longer to get around to reading this than I would have liked, but I loved it once I dug into it. Literally about a third of the stories in here could be considered my favourites, which says a lot about the quality of work presented. Plus, I just love being able to read a variety of stories about such an underrepresented group. I definitely gotta find more collections like this.
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
Listen. Sometimes, your brain needs a break. You want to read, but you don’t want to deal with heavy stuff or stressful topics – you want fluff. And this book does a good job of that, especially since I’ve read it before and already know what to expect as I read. I will probably be reading more fluff like this in the near future, so be warned.
Articles:
Why Do Dogs Love Us? Science Explains
What did we do to deserve dogs, honestly? They’re an endless source of cuteness and love, and now we can say that’s scientifically proven.
Thoughts on Hysteria
It shouldn’t come as any surprise at this point that women and their problems are routinely dismissed as irrational and/or trivial, and the history of hysteria shows that quite well. While it’s funny to think about 19th century physicians prescribing orgasms to treat hysteria, it’s also disheartening to remember that hysteria was not a silly little thing – it was regarded as a serious condition, to the point that accusing a woman of hysteria could paint even the most rational and justified behaviour as completely illogical and deluded.
The Ancient Peruvian Mystery Solved from Space
So, the title of the article obviously hooked me in. Native American history? Check. Bizarre and weirdly specific premise? Check! But I obviously couldn’t exactly predict what the article itself would be about – and I was pleasantly surprised. It discusses puquois, these massive, spiralling holes whose exact age is uncertain and whose purpose has only recently become clear: They allow reliable access to water from aquifers, which is of critical importance in the extremely arid region. This means the Nasca people who invented them had incredible knowledge of geology and engineering, and I, for one, LOVE seeing indigenous ingenuity properly spotlighted.
Eleanor Roosevelt and the Soviet Sniper
I read this while doing research for one of the articles I wrote this month (it won’t be hard to guess which one once you see the titles), and it made me fall a little in love with Lyudmila Pavlichenko’s steadfastness, wit, and unwavering determination. I love learning about women who forced history to make room for them.
What I’ve Created:
Books:
She Who Rises
This book came out last year, but the sequel releases July 15th, plus it’s currently available for free download, so I wanted to share the link and give a heads up to make sure anyone whose interested doesn’t miss out on the sale. The deal ends on July 3rd.
Articles:
4 Cute and Chaotic Cats from Mythologies Around the World
There’s a lot of weird folklore throughout the world, which I love, and there’s a lot of different kitties around the world, which I also love. So I combined those two awesome things into one cute, quick little piece here, for your reading pleasure.
Storytelling in Critical Role: What We Can Learn, and What Can’t Be Replicated
I’m a nerd. A big, big nerd. And one of my biggest nerdy obsessions over the last three years has been Critical Role. I fell in love with D&D a few months before I started watching this show, and the love of the game combined with the amazing acting, storytelling, and shenanigans of the cast is just a match made in heaven. I could gush about this for hours, so it was hard to condense my thoughts on CR’s storytelling into just a short article. There is a none zero chance that I will write more of this in the future. Especially since they’re FINALLY BACK FROM HIATUS! (Just pretend there’s an explosion of confetti, okay?)
Badass Women Who Killed Nazis
The rise of fascism, neo-Nazis, and the alt-right is equal parts disheartening and infuriating, and sometimes you need to read about killing Nazis for some catharsis.
That's it for June. What have you guys been enjoying this month?
So, without further ado: Let's dig into June!
What I’ve Enjoyed:
Books:
Maiden, Mother, and Crone: Fantastical Trans Femmes by Gwen Benaway et al.
It took me longer to get around to reading this than I would have liked, but I loved it once I dug into it. Literally about a third of the stories in here could be considered my favourites, which says a lot about the quality of work presented. Plus, I just love being able to read a variety of stories about such an underrepresented group. I definitely gotta find more collections like this.
I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
Listen. Sometimes, your brain needs a break. You want to read, but you don’t want to deal with heavy stuff or stressful topics – you want fluff. And this book does a good job of that, especially since I’ve read it before and already know what to expect as I read. I will probably be reading more fluff like this in the near future, so be warned.
Articles:
Why Do Dogs Love Us? Science Explains
What did we do to deserve dogs, honestly? They’re an endless source of cuteness and love, and now we can say that’s scientifically proven.
Thoughts on Hysteria
It shouldn’t come as any surprise at this point that women and their problems are routinely dismissed as irrational and/or trivial, and the history of hysteria shows that quite well. While it’s funny to think about 19th century physicians prescribing orgasms to treat hysteria, it’s also disheartening to remember that hysteria was not a silly little thing – it was regarded as a serious condition, to the point that accusing a woman of hysteria could paint even the most rational and justified behaviour as completely illogical and deluded.
The Ancient Peruvian Mystery Solved from Space
So, the title of the article obviously hooked me in. Native American history? Check. Bizarre and weirdly specific premise? Check! But I obviously couldn’t exactly predict what the article itself would be about – and I was pleasantly surprised. It discusses puquois, these massive, spiralling holes whose exact age is uncertain and whose purpose has only recently become clear: They allow reliable access to water from aquifers, which is of critical importance in the extremely arid region. This means the Nasca people who invented them had incredible knowledge of geology and engineering, and I, for one, LOVE seeing indigenous ingenuity properly spotlighted.
Eleanor Roosevelt and the Soviet Sniper
I read this while doing research for one of the articles I wrote this month (it won’t be hard to guess which one once you see the titles), and it made me fall a little in love with Lyudmila Pavlichenko’s steadfastness, wit, and unwavering determination. I love learning about women who forced history to make room for them.
What I’ve Created:
Books:
She Who Rises
This book came out last year, but the sequel releases July 15th, plus it’s currently available for free download, so I wanted to share the link and give a heads up to make sure anyone whose interested doesn’t miss out on the sale. The deal ends on July 3rd.
Articles:
4 Cute and Chaotic Cats from Mythologies Around the World
There’s a lot of weird folklore throughout the world, which I love, and there’s a lot of different kitties around the world, which I also love. So I combined those two awesome things into one cute, quick little piece here, for your reading pleasure.
Storytelling in Critical Role: What We Can Learn, and What Can’t Be Replicated
I’m a nerd. A big, big nerd. And one of my biggest nerdy obsessions over the last three years has been Critical Role. I fell in love with D&D a few months before I started watching this show, and the love of the game combined with the amazing acting, storytelling, and shenanigans of the cast is just a match made in heaven. I could gush about this for hours, so it was hard to condense my thoughts on CR’s storytelling into just a short article. There is a none zero chance that I will write more of this in the future. Especially since they’re FINALLY BACK FROM HIATUS! (Just pretend there’s an explosion of confetti, okay?)
Badass Women Who Killed Nazis
The rise of fascism, neo-Nazis, and the alt-right is equal parts disheartening and infuriating, and sometimes you need to read about killing Nazis for some catharsis.
That's it for June. What have you guys been enjoying this month?
May 31, 2020
May Wrap-Up
Another month, another wrap-up. Let's go!
What I’ve Enjoyed:
Books:
Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman
This is a sequel to Seraphina, a book I read last year and absolutely adored. Though it took me a lot longer than I expected to get through this one, it didn’t disappoint – I just wasn’t in the ideal headspace to dig into something this long. But Hartman delivered exactly what I expected and wanted from this series, with continued political intrigue, deceit and mind games, plenty of twists, and so much more of that incredible world-building and gorgeous prose. This is one of those books that leaves me pining for the author’s skills, because damn. I definitely want to reread this series sometime in the future.
Articles:
Top 10 Design Flaws in the Human Body
Listen, the human body is a fascinating nightmare and I love learning about all its oddities. This is a great little exploration of that.
How the Ballpoint Pen Killed Cursive
History is weird and complicated and often develops in unexpected ways that, even looking back, we misunderstand. This not only explains how the difference between ballpoint pens and fountain pens contributed to a shift from cursive writing to print, but also gives an overview of how ballpoint pens came to be and rose in popularity. Let me tell you, I did not expect the British Air Force to have an important role in that story.
"The First One That Died Sure Unnerved Me."
I don’t normally read a lot of epidemic-related writing, especially not right now – it’s part of every conversation I’ve been having lately and inescapable on social media, so I usually want my reading to be an escape from that. But this article intrigued me. And I’m glad I read it. Lutiant offers an interesting perspective on a dark period in history, and insight into a situation that is now repeating in our time. It feels like looking in a mirror and something about that makes this situation feel more… human, maybe? It’s a strange sort of comfort.
How 25 London Neighbourhoods Got Their Names
I’ve never been to London, but I’m still a sucker for history and etymology. Plus, stuff like this makes for great research/inspiration when it comes to creating my own worlds and naming places within them.
How the 18th Century Gay Bar Survived and Thrived in a Dangerous Environment
I know the queer community has always been around and has a long, proud history and culture, but it hadn’t occurred to me that gay bars, specifically, dated all the way back to the 1700s in London. While this isn’t exactly a happy story (because queer men had to hide who they were, and because of what happened when they and their molly houses were discovered), it is an interesting one, and certainly one we should be careful not to forget.
Pompeii Ruins Show That the Romans Invented Recycling
History. Is. WILD. There are so many things that seem very modern but turn out to have ancient roots, and recycling, apparently, is one of them. It also makes it so much more obvious that we can do better with reusing the goods we throw away, given how much our tools and know-how have grown in the thousands of years since Vesuvius erupted.
Other:
Mighty Vibes Vol 1: Lo-Fi Beats to Doodle To
This actually came out last month, but I’ve found myself listening to it over and over again during May. Not only is the animation adorable and full of awesome little Easter eggs for Critical Role fans, but this mix is perfect for helping me focus when my brain doesn’t want to work. I actually listened to it while reading some of the articles I include in this list!
Volume 2 came out near the tail end of the month – I haven’t had a chance to listen to it as much as the first one, but I love it, too, and look forward to having it on in the background as I plug away at creative projects.
What I’ve Created:
Books:
Those Who Fall (A New Age of Magic #2)
This book isn’t out quite yet, but it is available for pre-order and I am super excited for it to release in July. There’s an excerpt you can read in my previous blog post if you’re interested!
Articles:
Is Fanfiction a Valid Form of Writing?
Fanfiction has long been disparaged by authors and critics alike, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to find the dismissiveness irritating. I delve into that a little bit here, explaining how all writing can build skills, as well as providing some examples of professional fanfiction. If you’re a huge fan of fics or just don’t understand the appeal, maybe give this article a look.
Did My Cat Just Hiccup?
Research for this was part concern and part genuine curiosity. I was looking after my sister-in-law’s cat one night when she made a strange noise in her throat, so I starting looking into what it could be and if I should worry. The cat is fine, thankfully, and I was able to put together this little article from my research.
The Laws and Conventions of Naming Children
I don’t usually pay much attention to celebrity news, but seeing Elon Musk’s, uh… creative name choice for his son made me question how there aren’t stricter regulations on baby names. Turns out, there are – but it varies from country to country. And thus, this was born!
That's all for May. What have you been reading or creating? Any recommendations?
What I’ve Enjoyed:
Books:
Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman
This is a sequel to Seraphina, a book I read last year and absolutely adored. Though it took me a lot longer than I expected to get through this one, it didn’t disappoint – I just wasn’t in the ideal headspace to dig into something this long. But Hartman delivered exactly what I expected and wanted from this series, with continued political intrigue, deceit and mind games, plenty of twists, and so much more of that incredible world-building and gorgeous prose. This is one of those books that leaves me pining for the author’s skills, because damn. I definitely want to reread this series sometime in the future.
Articles:
Top 10 Design Flaws in the Human Body
Listen, the human body is a fascinating nightmare and I love learning about all its oddities. This is a great little exploration of that.
How the Ballpoint Pen Killed Cursive
History is weird and complicated and often develops in unexpected ways that, even looking back, we misunderstand. This not only explains how the difference between ballpoint pens and fountain pens contributed to a shift from cursive writing to print, but also gives an overview of how ballpoint pens came to be and rose in popularity. Let me tell you, I did not expect the British Air Force to have an important role in that story.
"The First One That Died Sure Unnerved Me."
I don’t normally read a lot of epidemic-related writing, especially not right now – it’s part of every conversation I’ve been having lately and inescapable on social media, so I usually want my reading to be an escape from that. But this article intrigued me. And I’m glad I read it. Lutiant offers an interesting perspective on a dark period in history, and insight into a situation that is now repeating in our time. It feels like looking in a mirror and something about that makes this situation feel more… human, maybe? It’s a strange sort of comfort.
How 25 London Neighbourhoods Got Their Names
I’ve never been to London, but I’m still a sucker for history and etymology. Plus, stuff like this makes for great research/inspiration when it comes to creating my own worlds and naming places within them.
How the 18th Century Gay Bar Survived and Thrived in a Dangerous Environment
I know the queer community has always been around and has a long, proud history and culture, but it hadn’t occurred to me that gay bars, specifically, dated all the way back to the 1700s in London. While this isn’t exactly a happy story (because queer men had to hide who they were, and because of what happened when they and their molly houses were discovered), it is an interesting one, and certainly one we should be careful not to forget.
Pompeii Ruins Show That the Romans Invented Recycling
History. Is. WILD. There are so many things that seem very modern but turn out to have ancient roots, and recycling, apparently, is one of them. It also makes it so much more obvious that we can do better with reusing the goods we throw away, given how much our tools and know-how have grown in the thousands of years since Vesuvius erupted.
Other:
Mighty Vibes Vol 1: Lo-Fi Beats to Doodle To
This actually came out last month, but I’ve found myself listening to it over and over again during May. Not only is the animation adorable and full of awesome little Easter eggs for Critical Role fans, but this mix is perfect for helping me focus when my brain doesn’t want to work. I actually listened to it while reading some of the articles I include in this list!
Volume 2 came out near the tail end of the month – I haven’t had a chance to listen to it as much as the first one, but I love it, too, and look forward to having it on in the background as I plug away at creative projects.
What I’ve Created:
Books:
Those Who Fall (A New Age of Magic #2)
This book isn’t out quite yet, but it is available for pre-order and I am super excited for it to release in July. There’s an excerpt you can read in my previous blog post if you’re interested!
Articles:
Is Fanfiction a Valid Form of Writing?
Fanfiction has long been disparaged by authors and critics alike, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to find the dismissiveness irritating. I delve into that a little bit here, explaining how all writing can build skills, as well as providing some examples of professional fanfiction. If you’re a huge fan of fics or just don’t understand the appeal, maybe give this article a look.
Did My Cat Just Hiccup?
Research for this was part concern and part genuine curiosity. I was looking after my sister-in-law’s cat one night when she made a strange noise in her throat, so I starting looking into what it could be and if I should worry. The cat is fine, thankfully, and I was able to put together this little article from my research.
The Laws and Conventions of Naming Children
I don’t usually pay much attention to celebrity news, but seeing Elon Musk’s, uh… creative name choice for his son made me question how there aren’t stricter regulations on baby names. Turns out, there are – but it varies from country to country. And thus, this was born!
That's all for May. What have you been reading or creating? Any recommendations?
May 13, 2020
Those Who Fall [excerpt + pre-order link]
She Who Rises, the first book in A New Age of Magic, came out almost exactly a year ago. And now I'm getting ready for the release of its sequel! Those Who Fall will be coming out as an ebook on Amazon July 15th, and its available for pre-order here.
And for a little teaser, here's a scene from the book:
Those Who Fall
A blast of fire slammed into the glass, shattering it. I threw my arms up to shield my eyes, phone clattering to the ground. “Farida, what are you doing?”
“That wasn’t me!”
The glass settled; I lowered my arms. Outside, a terrifyingly familiar woman with dark skin and a matted, wildly curly ponytail was smirking as she strode closer. Imani. She was followed closely by the guy I recognized but couldn’t remember, the one who had fought with her last time. I instinctively stepped back, looking for somewhere to run — but where? And what was the point? A black car was parked on the lawn several yards behind them, meaning they still had speed on their side. We might be able to lose them in the woods, but that was a big maybe.
How had they found us? And since when could either of them throw fire like Farida?
Imani’s fists lit up with flames; she punched a ball of fire toward me. Heat sailed past my shoulder as another burst of flames collided with Imani’s, the two blasts destroying each other. Then Farida was shoving past me, leaping through the broken window and onto the damp lawn. She threw a rapid series of punches toward Imani and her ally, the air around her bright and hot. It gave me a little satisfaction when the guy dove for the ground, apparently not competent enough with his magic yet to fend off the barrage, but Imani didn’t waver. She held her ground and devoured the series of fireballs with an arcing wall of flames.
The ground steamed as the wall faded, creating a smokescreen-like affect. The two cousins stood studying each other through the mist, both breathing heavy. The air was charged and volatile; I glanced back and forth between the two women, wondering who would strike first, if I should hide, if I could help, if, if, if—
The puddles filling the hollows of the uneven ground suddenly roiled as though brought to a boil, darkened like storm clouds, and then exploded upwards. A flurry of small, black birds had emerged. I threw my hands up to shield my face again, but no attack came — the screaming I heard wasn’t Farida, either.
Imani was flailing wildly, trying to knock the birds away from her face as they dove and pecked at her with their yellow bills.
I glanced toward Farida. She was ashen and panting, the sleeves of her sweater pushed back to reveal an unfamiliar golden bracelet decorated with a variety of studs. It held a stone of swirling brown, white, and grey that reminded me of marbles.
“F-Farida?” I said, stepping toward the shattered window. I paused. What could I even do? I wanted to reach out to her, to touch her shoulder — as though that could somehow snap her back into herself or dispel this illusion or… something. But there was too much space between us and, when she turned toward me, the look in her eyes frightened me. It wasn’t the grim determination I was used to seeing in her when she fought. It was darker.
For the first time, she really did look like Imani.
She surged forward, hurling a fistful of flames at her cousin. Imani barely managed to dive out of the way; the cloud of shrieking birds followed her every move.
Nausea seized my gut as I watched Farida use both birds and fire. I had travelled with her long enough and seen her fight often enough to know that the birds weren’t part of her normal set of powers. They had to come from a different stone — undoubtedly the one in her new bracelet. But using more than one stone was dangerous. Masika had said it was destructive, more so than magic usually is, and that it could blacken a heart and corrupt it with greed and bloodlust.
Farida knew that. She was too smart to do something that reckless.
Imani darted away from another streak of fire, trying to evade the swarm of blackbirds at the same time. I expected the earth to heave and form a barrier between her and Farida, but it never did. Was she not using her old stone?
A gust of wind surged up around Imani, catching in the blackbirds’ wings and tossing them violently aside. They squawked and shrieked and fought to right themselves. Imani recovered quickly and hurled a massive burst of flames toward Farida, who tried to swallow it in her own wall of fire. But just before the two fires met, another gust of wind kicked up behind Imani’s, propelling it forward and amplifying it. It crashed into Farida with concussive force. She screamed hoarsely as she was thrown backwards.
The man had joined the fray. And he was definitely stronger in his magic than he was last time, no longer shaking and panting from the exertion of a simple strike.
The blackbirds dove at Imani again, but the man was ready this time. A whirlwind sprung up around the birds, trapping them in a spinning current of air. He was clenching his teeth now, holding his hand up toward the mini cyclone as veins appeared in his forehead. Farida and Imani continued trading blows, once more evenly matched, but as I watched I realized it wasn’t going to last long. The birds were dissolving as the tightening spiral of wind tore them apart.
Once Farida’s backup was gone, that guy would team up against her.
‘I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.’ I tried to calm my racing heart with deep breaths as I leapt out the window. The ground was still slick and I nearly fell on my ass, but managed to find my balance. I was glad everyone was too busy fighting to pay any attention to me. Taking another deep breath, I set off across the lawn toward the man. He was distracted right now. If I could get to him while he was distracted…
I reached down to the imaginary pool of blackness inside me and called it to my palm. As I closed the distance between us, I thrust my hand forward. A thin mist of poison curled out. The man was startled as the black mist drifted by his face. Coughing, he swung one hand toward me, simultaneously knocking my arm aside and dispersing the airborne poison with a puff of wind.
I was trying to summon more poison, stronger this time, when the last of Farida’s birds dissolved and the man rounded on me. A gale buffeted against me. I stumbled back a step before planting my feet and leaning into the wind, raising an arm to shield my eyes from dirt and debris. The man let out a growl of frustration and the wind immediately died. I looked up in time to see a burst of light.
The creature that appeared had massive, brown-feathered wings. Its head resembled an eagle’s, with a sharp, hooked beak and intelligent eyes. It was four-legged, the front bird-like and taloned, the back two furry and clawed and enormous as a lion’s paws. From the backside emerged a long, thin tail with a tuft of fur on the end. It towered over me, breath hot in my face, before rearing back on its hindlegs and letting out a fearsome battle cry.
I raised my shaking hands, trying to call on my poison but only able to think of the monster’s talons and claws and my frozen legs and blood pounding in my ears and I needed to run—
As the creature swung back down onto its forelegs, it slammed into me, talons tearing at my shirt and slicing the skin on my chest. I hit the wet earth — lights dancing in my eyes — sharp, hot pain—
And then the world was whitewhitewhitewhite.
And for a little teaser, here's a scene from the book:
Those Who Fall
A blast of fire slammed into the glass, shattering it. I threw my arms up to shield my eyes, phone clattering to the ground. “Farida, what are you doing?”
“That wasn’t me!”
The glass settled; I lowered my arms. Outside, a terrifyingly familiar woman with dark skin and a matted, wildly curly ponytail was smirking as she strode closer. Imani. She was followed closely by the guy I recognized but couldn’t remember, the one who had fought with her last time. I instinctively stepped back, looking for somewhere to run — but where? And what was the point? A black car was parked on the lawn several yards behind them, meaning they still had speed on their side. We might be able to lose them in the woods, but that was a big maybe.
How had they found us? And since when could either of them throw fire like Farida?
Imani’s fists lit up with flames; she punched a ball of fire toward me. Heat sailed past my shoulder as another burst of flames collided with Imani’s, the two blasts destroying each other. Then Farida was shoving past me, leaping through the broken window and onto the damp lawn. She threw a rapid series of punches toward Imani and her ally, the air around her bright and hot. It gave me a little satisfaction when the guy dove for the ground, apparently not competent enough with his magic yet to fend off the barrage, but Imani didn’t waver. She held her ground and devoured the series of fireballs with an arcing wall of flames.
The ground steamed as the wall faded, creating a smokescreen-like affect. The two cousins stood studying each other through the mist, both breathing heavy. The air was charged and volatile; I glanced back and forth between the two women, wondering who would strike first, if I should hide, if I could help, if, if, if—
The puddles filling the hollows of the uneven ground suddenly roiled as though brought to a boil, darkened like storm clouds, and then exploded upwards. A flurry of small, black birds had emerged. I threw my hands up to shield my face again, but no attack came — the screaming I heard wasn’t Farida, either.
Imani was flailing wildly, trying to knock the birds away from her face as they dove and pecked at her with their yellow bills.
I glanced toward Farida. She was ashen and panting, the sleeves of her sweater pushed back to reveal an unfamiliar golden bracelet decorated with a variety of studs. It held a stone of swirling brown, white, and grey that reminded me of marbles.
“F-Farida?” I said, stepping toward the shattered window. I paused. What could I even do? I wanted to reach out to her, to touch her shoulder — as though that could somehow snap her back into herself or dispel this illusion or… something. But there was too much space between us and, when she turned toward me, the look in her eyes frightened me. It wasn’t the grim determination I was used to seeing in her when she fought. It was darker.
For the first time, she really did look like Imani.
She surged forward, hurling a fistful of flames at her cousin. Imani barely managed to dive out of the way; the cloud of shrieking birds followed her every move.
Nausea seized my gut as I watched Farida use both birds and fire. I had travelled with her long enough and seen her fight often enough to know that the birds weren’t part of her normal set of powers. They had to come from a different stone — undoubtedly the one in her new bracelet. But using more than one stone was dangerous. Masika had said it was destructive, more so than magic usually is, and that it could blacken a heart and corrupt it with greed and bloodlust.
Farida knew that. She was too smart to do something that reckless.
Imani darted away from another streak of fire, trying to evade the swarm of blackbirds at the same time. I expected the earth to heave and form a barrier between her and Farida, but it never did. Was she not using her old stone?
A gust of wind surged up around Imani, catching in the blackbirds’ wings and tossing them violently aside. They squawked and shrieked and fought to right themselves. Imani recovered quickly and hurled a massive burst of flames toward Farida, who tried to swallow it in her own wall of fire. But just before the two fires met, another gust of wind kicked up behind Imani’s, propelling it forward and amplifying it. It crashed into Farida with concussive force. She screamed hoarsely as she was thrown backwards.
The man had joined the fray. And he was definitely stronger in his magic than he was last time, no longer shaking and panting from the exertion of a simple strike.
The blackbirds dove at Imani again, but the man was ready this time. A whirlwind sprung up around the birds, trapping them in a spinning current of air. He was clenching his teeth now, holding his hand up toward the mini cyclone as veins appeared in his forehead. Farida and Imani continued trading blows, once more evenly matched, but as I watched I realized it wasn’t going to last long. The birds were dissolving as the tightening spiral of wind tore them apart.
Once Farida’s backup was gone, that guy would team up against her.
‘I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.’ I tried to calm my racing heart with deep breaths as I leapt out the window. The ground was still slick and I nearly fell on my ass, but managed to find my balance. I was glad everyone was too busy fighting to pay any attention to me. Taking another deep breath, I set off across the lawn toward the man. He was distracted right now. If I could get to him while he was distracted…
I reached down to the imaginary pool of blackness inside me and called it to my palm. As I closed the distance between us, I thrust my hand forward. A thin mist of poison curled out. The man was startled as the black mist drifted by his face. Coughing, he swung one hand toward me, simultaneously knocking my arm aside and dispersing the airborne poison with a puff of wind.
I was trying to summon more poison, stronger this time, when the last of Farida’s birds dissolved and the man rounded on me. A gale buffeted against me. I stumbled back a step before planting my feet and leaning into the wind, raising an arm to shield my eyes from dirt and debris. The man let out a growl of frustration and the wind immediately died. I looked up in time to see a burst of light.
The creature that appeared had massive, brown-feathered wings. Its head resembled an eagle’s, with a sharp, hooked beak and intelligent eyes. It was four-legged, the front bird-like and taloned, the back two furry and clawed and enormous as a lion’s paws. From the backside emerged a long, thin tail with a tuft of fur on the end. It towered over me, breath hot in my face, before rearing back on its hindlegs and letting out a fearsome battle cry.
I raised my shaking hands, trying to call on my poison but only able to think of the monster’s talons and claws and my frozen legs and blood pounding in my ears and I needed to run—
As the creature swung back down onto its forelegs, it slammed into me, talons tearing at my shirt and slicing the skin on my chest. I hit the wet earth — lights dancing in my eyes — sharp, hot pain—
And then the world was whitewhitewhitewhite.
April 30, 2020
April Wrap-Up (+ a free book!)
April has been a strange month for me, one in which I found it hard to read or create as much as I normally would. But everyone has ups and downs, and there was still quite a lot I enjoyed this month, so here's my second monthly wrap-up.
What I've Enjoyed:
Books:
Moonflower by Sabina Laura
I cannot recommend this poetry collection enough. I love short, free-verse poems but always have a hard time finding ones that actually manage to be vivid and emotional within just a few lines. Sabina Laura does that masterfully, and I definitely see myself coming back to these poems over and over to bask in their beauty.
Articles:
The Woman Who Smashed Codes: The Untold Story of Cryptography Pioneer Elizabeth Friedman
There are a lot of unsung women who were hugely important to their fields but are largely forgotten by history – or outright erased. This article is about one such woman, Elizabeth Friedman, giving an overview of her life and her accomplishments, while also pointing readers to where they can learn more about her.
Why Cats Do the ‘Slow Blink’ at Their Owners
Look, I’m a simple woman: I see cute cat facts, I click. This is one I had already heard a little bit about before, but it’s nice to reconfirm my understanding of how cats communicate. Plus, the article includes some cute cate pictures. Who doesn’t want to look at cute cat pictures?
Beyond Dungeons & Dragons: A Guide to the Vast, Exciting World of Tabletop RPGs
About three years ago, I started playing D&D with my husband and was almost instantly hooked. It’s an awesome game for someone like me, who loves storytelling and magic and fantasy, but it is admittedly a bit overwhelming when starting out. This article has a great list of recommendations for games to check out if you’re new to RPGs, or even if you’ve been playing for a while but want to try out something different. Definitely taking note of some of the games listed here.
An Open Letter to Women in Tech
I’m not in any STEM career myself, but this was still an encouraging read and full of important tips and reminders for all women in all fields.
What Is It About Yawning?
There’s a lot of oddities in human behaviour that we don’t quite understand, including – apparently – yawning. I like seeing the hypotheses for weird stuff like this, even when it’s still unresolved – and the inclusion of studies about yawning in dogs is just bonus points.
Beyond Ishtar: The Tradition of Eggs at Easter
This article does a nice job debunking the commonly spread myth that Easter eggs and bunnies and even the name Easter itself come from the fertility goddess Ishtar. It explains the importance of eggs in a variety of different creation myths, which – as someone who likes history and mythology – is pretty cool.
Why 40% of Vietnamese People Have the Same Last Name
The title drew me in, and boy did the article deliver. I knew Nguyen was an extremely common last name, but I didn’t realize how common, nor did it ever occur to me how different the function of surnames is in other cultures. If you have any interest in etymology or history, this is a great read.
Remembering Nüshu, the 19th-Century Chinese Script Only Women Could Write
When I first saw the title for this article, I expected something clandestine and badass and amazing. A secret language! Just for women! What’s cooler than that? But instead, Nüshu was actually very mundane and commonly known – it wasn’t kept secret from men at all. And in some ways, that’s cooler. This script was a normal part of everyday life for women in Jiangyong, and there is art and stories and personal letters written in it, detailing and highlighting women’s experiences from the time it was still commonly used. The fact that it’s a dying script is bittersweet: It’s good that women have no need for it anymore now that they aren’t largely excluded from formal education, but it’s sad to see something with so much cultural and historical resonance falling out of use.
Other:
Harvest by Rebecca Roanhorse
I absolutely love the Sixth World series by Rebecca Roanhorse, so when I saw her announce on Twitter that one of her short stories was available online for free, I immediately went to read it. Harvest certainly didn’t disappoint, though fair warning: It’s graphic. I won’t say more, lest I spoil it.
What I’ve Created:
Books:
She Who Rises [A New Age of Magic]
This wasn’t published this month – it actually came out last year – but it is on sale right now! More specifically, it’s available for free for the next several days, so if you’ve been wanting to check it out but haven’t had the means to buy it, now is the perfect time to grab a copy.
Articles:
The Badass Histories of 3 Warrior Queens
I’ve been trying to make a point of writing fun, short little articles like this focusing on historical women, and the theme as of late has been warrior-types. I would be remiss not to include brief examples of a few of history’s incredible warrior queens, and hence this piece was born. I may write a sequel of sorts later, because there have been a LOT of incredible queen’s throughout history.
10 Famous Bisexual People From Throughout History
There were a lot of people in history who kept their sexuality a secret, as well as those who were publicly bisexual but have had their sexuality covered up/erased by history books. Just like I enjoy looking back and learning about awesome women throughout history, I love to learn about queer people from the past, too.
Does Metagaming Have a Place in Dungeons and Dragons?
I’ve played at a variety of D&D tables over the last few years, and in that time I’ve noticed some discrepancy in how different parties play the game – and sometimes that involves metagaming. So I have some thoughts on metagaming’s place in D&D and how to navigate different play styles at the table.
That's what I've been creating and enjoying this month. Any recommendations on what I should check out next?
What I've Enjoyed:
Books:
Moonflower by Sabina Laura
I cannot recommend this poetry collection enough. I love short, free-verse poems but always have a hard time finding ones that actually manage to be vivid and emotional within just a few lines. Sabina Laura does that masterfully, and I definitely see myself coming back to these poems over and over to bask in their beauty.
Articles:
The Woman Who Smashed Codes: The Untold Story of Cryptography Pioneer Elizabeth Friedman
There are a lot of unsung women who were hugely important to their fields but are largely forgotten by history – or outright erased. This article is about one such woman, Elizabeth Friedman, giving an overview of her life and her accomplishments, while also pointing readers to where they can learn more about her.
Why Cats Do the ‘Slow Blink’ at Their Owners
Look, I’m a simple woman: I see cute cat facts, I click. This is one I had already heard a little bit about before, but it’s nice to reconfirm my understanding of how cats communicate. Plus, the article includes some cute cate pictures. Who doesn’t want to look at cute cat pictures?
Beyond Dungeons & Dragons: A Guide to the Vast, Exciting World of Tabletop RPGs
About three years ago, I started playing D&D with my husband and was almost instantly hooked. It’s an awesome game for someone like me, who loves storytelling and magic and fantasy, but it is admittedly a bit overwhelming when starting out. This article has a great list of recommendations for games to check out if you’re new to RPGs, or even if you’ve been playing for a while but want to try out something different. Definitely taking note of some of the games listed here.
An Open Letter to Women in Tech
I’m not in any STEM career myself, but this was still an encouraging read and full of important tips and reminders for all women in all fields.
What Is It About Yawning?
There’s a lot of oddities in human behaviour that we don’t quite understand, including – apparently – yawning. I like seeing the hypotheses for weird stuff like this, even when it’s still unresolved – and the inclusion of studies about yawning in dogs is just bonus points.
Beyond Ishtar: The Tradition of Eggs at Easter
This article does a nice job debunking the commonly spread myth that Easter eggs and bunnies and even the name Easter itself come from the fertility goddess Ishtar. It explains the importance of eggs in a variety of different creation myths, which – as someone who likes history and mythology – is pretty cool.
Why 40% of Vietnamese People Have the Same Last Name
The title drew me in, and boy did the article deliver. I knew Nguyen was an extremely common last name, but I didn’t realize how common, nor did it ever occur to me how different the function of surnames is in other cultures. If you have any interest in etymology or history, this is a great read.
Remembering Nüshu, the 19th-Century Chinese Script Only Women Could Write
When I first saw the title for this article, I expected something clandestine and badass and amazing. A secret language! Just for women! What’s cooler than that? But instead, Nüshu was actually very mundane and commonly known – it wasn’t kept secret from men at all. And in some ways, that’s cooler. This script was a normal part of everyday life for women in Jiangyong, and there is art and stories and personal letters written in it, detailing and highlighting women’s experiences from the time it was still commonly used. The fact that it’s a dying script is bittersweet: It’s good that women have no need for it anymore now that they aren’t largely excluded from formal education, but it’s sad to see something with so much cultural and historical resonance falling out of use.
Other:
Harvest by Rebecca Roanhorse
I absolutely love the Sixth World series by Rebecca Roanhorse, so when I saw her announce on Twitter that one of her short stories was available online for free, I immediately went to read it. Harvest certainly didn’t disappoint, though fair warning: It’s graphic. I won’t say more, lest I spoil it.
What I’ve Created:
Books:
She Who Rises [A New Age of Magic]
This wasn’t published this month – it actually came out last year – but it is on sale right now! More specifically, it’s available for free for the next several days, so if you’ve been wanting to check it out but haven’t had the means to buy it, now is the perfect time to grab a copy.
Articles:
The Badass Histories of 3 Warrior Queens
I’ve been trying to make a point of writing fun, short little articles like this focusing on historical women, and the theme as of late has been warrior-types. I would be remiss not to include brief examples of a few of history’s incredible warrior queens, and hence this piece was born. I may write a sequel of sorts later, because there have been a LOT of incredible queen’s throughout history.
10 Famous Bisexual People From Throughout History
There were a lot of people in history who kept their sexuality a secret, as well as those who were publicly bisexual but have had their sexuality covered up/erased by history books. Just like I enjoy looking back and learning about awesome women throughout history, I love to learn about queer people from the past, too.
Does Metagaming Have a Place in Dungeons and Dragons?
I’ve played at a variety of D&D tables over the last few years, and in that time I’ve noticed some discrepancy in how different parties play the game – and sometimes that involves metagaming. So I have some thoughts on metagaming’s place in D&D and how to navigate different play styles at the table.
That's what I've been creating and enjoying this month. Any recommendations on what I should check out next?
March 31, 2020
March Wrap-Up
I’ve decided to try a little something new this month. It’s an idea I’ve kind of been toying with a for a while, though originally I had envisioned it as something I could do for journaling, sort of as a way to help myself remember what I read, watched, and created throughout the year. But I’ve also been wanting to make better use of this blog space and was trying to think of a sustainable way to do it. I decided to combine the two ideas, and now I can present you with the first of my monthly wrap-ups.
What I’ve Enjoyed:
Books:
A Blade So Black by L. L. McKinney
Absolutely loved this book. It’s funny, emotional, action-packed, and masterfully blends the real world with the magical world in a way that makes me a little envious. Alice is a fantastic lead, the Black Knight is an intriguing antagonist, and all the other characters are lovable in their own way – especially when they’re all playing off each other. Definitely a full 5/5 from me.
Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time by Hope Nicholson (editor), et al.
I was so excited when my husband got me this anthology for my birthday. It’s full of a great variety of stories, though I particularly enjoyed the cute and sweet pieces like Né łe, which is about lesbians and puppies in space. I mean, what’s not to love?
Articles:
Star Wars fan with R2-D2 bionic arm has a big fan in Mark Hamill
This little story just checks all the boxes for me. Cool but practical technical advancements? Check! A community coming together to help a disadvantaged person improve their life? Check! A celebrity reaching out to and supporting a fan? Check! Just a sweet little feel-good read.
New Caledonian Crows Are Even Smarter and Scarier Than We Thought
I think crows are amazing animals, especially for their intelligence and playfulness. Learning that they’re even smarter than we previously thought just fills me with joy – even though crows’ intelligence is apparently scary to some people.
20 Slang Terms from World War I
I love language, etymology, and history, so this article was right up my alley. So many neat little tidbits and words we use casually without ever thinking about where they come from, as well as some terms and phrases I had never heard of before.
The Unsolved Case of the Most Mysterious Song on the Internet
In the digital age, we’ve all gotten fairly accustomed to being able to find information with a quick Google search. So it’s deeply frustrating and fascinating when something that seems like it should be straight-forward to identify is, in fact, an enigma. And sometimes you need a reminder that there are still enigmas in the world.
German Forest Ranger Finds That Trees Have Social Networks, Too
A super, super neat piece about how trees connect in more human ways than we expect. It may or may not contribute to how I write certain characters in the future…
Other:
Legend of the Dragoon
Technically I was enjoying this last month, too, but I wasn’t doing wrap-ups then and my husband and I are still working our way through it, so shhhh. In any case, this game is an oldie but a goodie. I had vague memories of playing this as a kid (might have been 8 or 9 at the time), but I didn’t get very far on account of the fact that I sucked at the combat system. Getting to properly take in the story and the worldbuilding while my husband plays through it (he absolutely loved this game as a kid) is pretty special. This game deserves way more hype.
Work I’ve Done:
Articles:
The Inventiveness and Ingenuity of South/Mesoamerican Indigenous People
I wrote this piece because I see a lot of misconceptions about indigenous people around the world, who are often portrayed as backward or primitive. This article is far from comprehensive, particularly because it only focuses on a specific region of the world, but I wanted to draw attention to the incredible skill and intelligence found in indigenous cultures. The ahistorical barbarian is a lie we need to do away with.
If You’re Angry About a Protest, Don’t Blame the Protestors
The public discourse around protestors and protests has always frustrated me, so I wanted to write a little piece highlighting the misconceptions/misinformation that often spreads about them, drawing especially on my own education on the subject.
What Can We Endure: Trans Representation in YA Fiction
For this, I wanted to explore a conundrum I’ve been facing when it comes to supporting diversity in fiction, with trans representation in YA fiction as a specific example. The issue I keep coming against is problematic or overly stereotyped portrayals, and the question of whether to support these works in the hopes that we get more trans characters who will hopefully be better written, or if supporting subpar representation begets more of the same problem.
Said is Not Dead
As a writer, I’ve seen a lot of different writing advice floating around the writing community. One popular tip is to avoid or limit using “said” in dialogue. I’ve always found this advice misguided, which is what I explore and explain in here.
YouTube Recommendations for While You’re Self-Isolating
With the outbreak of corona virus and surge of preventative closures, cancellations, and calls for social distancing, I’ve seen a lot of people on Twitter listing book recs, movie recs, Netflix recs, etc. So I figured I’d add my two cents and offer some YouTube recommendations, especially for those who want something to watch but don’t have Netflix.
Defeating Grand Dragons on Disc One of Final Fantasy IX
I’m not gonna lie: This is pretty much pure self-indulgence. I love FFIX – it and FFVIII were a big part of my childhood – and slaying Grand Dragons on the first disc is a must-do undertaking for every playthrough. So I figured I would share my methods for doing so!
That's what I've been enjoying so far this month. Any recommendations on what I should check out next month?
What I’ve Enjoyed:
Books:
A Blade So Black by L. L. McKinney
Absolutely loved this book. It’s funny, emotional, action-packed, and masterfully blends the real world with the magical world in a way that makes me a little envious. Alice is a fantastic lead, the Black Knight is an intriguing antagonist, and all the other characters are lovable in their own way – especially when they’re all playing off each other. Definitely a full 5/5 from me.
Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time by Hope Nicholson (editor), et al.
I was so excited when my husband got me this anthology for my birthday. It’s full of a great variety of stories, though I particularly enjoyed the cute and sweet pieces like Né łe, which is about lesbians and puppies in space. I mean, what’s not to love?
Articles:
Star Wars fan with R2-D2 bionic arm has a big fan in Mark Hamill
This little story just checks all the boxes for me. Cool but practical technical advancements? Check! A community coming together to help a disadvantaged person improve their life? Check! A celebrity reaching out to and supporting a fan? Check! Just a sweet little feel-good read.
New Caledonian Crows Are Even Smarter and Scarier Than We Thought
I think crows are amazing animals, especially for their intelligence and playfulness. Learning that they’re even smarter than we previously thought just fills me with joy – even though crows’ intelligence is apparently scary to some people.
20 Slang Terms from World War I
I love language, etymology, and history, so this article was right up my alley. So many neat little tidbits and words we use casually without ever thinking about where they come from, as well as some terms and phrases I had never heard of before.
The Unsolved Case of the Most Mysterious Song on the Internet
In the digital age, we’ve all gotten fairly accustomed to being able to find information with a quick Google search. So it’s deeply frustrating and fascinating when something that seems like it should be straight-forward to identify is, in fact, an enigma. And sometimes you need a reminder that there are still enigmas in the world.
German Forest Ranger Finds That Trees Have Social Networks, Too
A super, super neat piece about how trees connect in more human ways than we expect. It may or may not contribute to how I write certain characters in the future…
Other:
Legend of the Dragoon
Technically I was enjoying this last month, too, but I wasn’t doing wrap-ups then and my husband and I are still working our way through it, so shhhh. In any case, this game is an oldie but a goodie. I had vague memories of playing this as a kid (might have been 8 or 9 at the time), but I didn’t get very far on account of the fact that I sucked at the combat system. Getting to properly take in the story and the worldbuilding while my husband plays through it (he absolutely loved this game as a kid) is pretty special. This game deserves way more hype.
Work I’ve Done:
Articles:
The Inventiveness and Ingenuity of South/Mesoamerican Indigenous People
I wrote this piece because I see a lot of misconceptions about indigenous people around the world, who are often portrayed as backward or primitive. This article is far from comprehensive, particularly because it only focuses on a specific region of the world, but I wanted to draw attention to the incredible skill and intelligence found in indigenous cultures. The ahistorical barbarian is a lie we need to do away with.
If You’re Angry About a Protest, Don’t Blame the Protestors
The public discourse around protestors and protests has always frustrated me, so I wanted to write a little piece highlighting the misconceptions/misinformation that often spreads about them, drawing especially on my own education on the subject.
What Can We Endure: Trans Representation in YA Fiction
For this, I wanted to explore a conundrum I’ve been facing when it comes to supporting diversity in fiction, with trans representation in YA fiction as a specific example. The issue I keep coming against is problematic or overly stereotyped portrayals, and the question of whether to support these works in the hopes that we get more trans characters who will hopefully be better written, or if supporting subpar representation begets more of the same problem.
Said is Not Dead
As a writer, I’ve seen a lot of different writing advice floating around the writing community. One popular tip is to avoid or limit using “said” in dialogue. I’ve always found this advice misguided, which is what I explore and explain in here.
YouTube Recommendations for While You’re Self-Isolating
With the outbreak of corona virus and surge of preventative closures, cancellations, and calls for social distancing, I’ve seen a lot of people on Twitter listing book recs, movie recs, Netflix recs, etc. So I figured I’d add my two cents and offer some YouTube recommendations, especially for those who want something to watch but don’t have Netflix.
Defeating Grand Dragons on Disc One of Final Fantasy IX
I’m not gonna lie: This is pretty much pure self-indulgence. I love FFIX – it and FFVIII were a big part of my childhood – and slaying Grand Dragons on the first disc is a must-do undertaking for every playthrough. So I figured I would share my methods for doing so!
That's what I've been enjoying so far this month. Any recommendations on what I should check out next month?
February 11, 2020
A lil Valentine's reading
Hey all! I hope the last month has been treating you well. I've been pretty busy with writing and personal life stuff, but I have a little article I'd like to share with you.
Over on Vocal, I published a little piece about date night ideas - just in time for Valentine's Day! The article is focused on date nights in Fredericton, New Brunswick, but the ideas I share might spark some inspiration even if you live elsewhere.
My article is also entered in a little contest, so liking and sharing it would help a ton!
Over on Vocal, I published a little piece about date night ideas - just in time for Valentine's Day! The article is focused on date nights in Fredericton, New Brunswick, but the ideas I share might spark some inspiration even if you live elsewhere.
My article is also entered in a little contest, so liking and sharing it would help a ton!
December 30, 2019
Look back on 2019 and looking forward to 2020
2019 has been quite the year. I know it's been a rough year for some, a great year for others, and a complicated mix for everyone else. The year certainly had its share of ups and downs for me.
Coming off the tail of a very rough 2018 (to make a long story short, my house got wrecked and I was technically homeless for six months), it would have been a tall order for 2019 to be worse or even comparatively bad. Still, the year had its share of stresses. My husband was in a minor car accident - he was uninjured, thankfully, but our poor old car kicked the bucket. A busy work schedule for my husband meant I didn't get to see him nearly as often as I would have liked. And, of course, there was the ongoing nightmare of watching all the upheaval in the news and global politics.
But overall, 2019 ended up being a pretty great year for me. I enjoyed some awesome new experiences. I started a new job. And I achieved some of the goals I had set for myself at the beginning of the year, along with some unexpected but really cool achievements.
1) I published She Who Rises, the first book in the A New Age of Magic series. It's available as an ebook on Amazon and I've really, really been enjoying working on the second and third books throughout the year. Which brings me to...
2) Finishing a draft of the sequel. In fact, I'm now in late editing stages. :D Hopefully Book 2 will be ready to publish in a few months time.
3) I wrote a poem every day - well, mostly. I was basing this goal around the word-a-day calendar that my husband bought me for Christmas, and there were definitely a few words I looked at and just said a big old nope to. But I still wrote way more poetry than I would have otherwise, even if I didn't stick to my plan of posting all of it to Twitter and Facebook.
4) I completed my Duolingo French tree. For one day. Then the app updated, adding a whole bunch more lessons and leaving my tree incomplete once again. Oh well - I still technically met my goal.
5) My short story "The Salt of Seas and Sorrow" was not only included in Polar Expressions Publishing's "Our Town" anthology, but it won honourable mention!
6) And on the tail end of the year, I received an email from Æther/Ichor telling me that my short story "One-Tenth Merperson" is being published in their January 2020 issue, "Beasts of Legend". Edit: And here's a link!
I didn't accomplish every goal I set for myself, but I also don't think it's necessarily realistic to expect that. Goals and priorities can change throughout the year. I'm just glad to achieve what I have, and I hope I can continue the trend into the new year. That being said, here are some loose goals I've set for myself in 2020:
1) Read more. This year I read something like 28 books, which is definitely way more than I've read in past years, but it was also mostly comic books. Not that reading comics is a bad thing, but I know I went long stretches of time without reading much of anything. I want to get better about setting a reading routine for myself. I love books and I want to read way, way more of them.
2) Finish and publish Book 2 of ANAoM. This one shouldn't be hard. Like I said, I'm already in the late stages of editing, so it's entirely plausible to have this one ready to go in the next few months.
3) Get to late editing stages on Book 3. Similar idea to the above - I'm already on draft two. It's not a tall order to get to a late stage over the next 12 months.
4) Finish draft of Book 1 in new series. This one I'm very excited for. I'm 100 pages into the first draft and absolutely loving it.
5) Submit to more contests and publications. Doing this has served me well in 2019, but I can't continue that trend if I slack off on submissions. So I want to make an effort to pursue short story publication more dedicatedly in 2020.
6) Write and promote more articles. I'm not sure I've even mentioned this here, but I've started writing articles on Vocal. They're a ton of fun and a good way for me to nerd out and write essays like I'm back in university again. (Incidentally, I have a bit of a strange definition of "fun" sometimes.)
7) Study German. In a similar vein to last year's French goal, I want to see if I can complete the German language tree on Duolingo in one year. I miiiight attempt the same with Irish, too, but we'll see. I don't want to overload myself.
8) Write a poem a day, v.2. I got a word-a-day calendar from my husband again, so I'm gonna take a shot at this challenge at least one more time. I'll take the pressure off by not posting everything online, though.
And that's about it. I'm excited to check back in 12 months from now and see what goals I stuck to, what I knocked out of the park, what I gave up on, and what came completely out of nowhere. If you want more regular updates on my life, Twitter and Instagram are probably the best places to check.
What kind of goals did you accomplish this year - planned or unplanned? And what do you have in mind for 2020?
Coming off the tail of a very rough 2018 (to make a long story short, my house got wrecked and I was technically homeless for six months), it would have been a tall order for 2019 to be worse or even comparatively bad. Still, the year had its share of stresses. My husband was in a minor car accident - he was uninjured, thankfully, but our poor old car kicked the bucket. A busy work schedule for my husband meant I didn't get to see him nearly as often as I would have liked. And, of course, there was the ongoing nightmare of watching all the upheaval in the news and global politics.
But overall, 2019 ended up being a pretty great year for me. I enjoyed some awesome new experiences. I started a new job. And I achieved some of the goals I had set for myself at the beginning of the year, along with some unexpected but really cool achievements.
1) I published She Who Rises, the first book in the A New Age of Magic series. It's available as an ebook on Amazon and I've really, really been enjoying working on the second and third books throughout the year. Which brings me to...
2) Finishing a draft of the sequel. In fact, I'm now in late editing stages. :D Hopefully Book 2 will be ready to publish in a few months time.
3) I wrote a poem every day - well, mostly. I was basing this goal around the word-a-day calendar that my husband bought me for Christmas, and there were definitely a few words I looked at and just said a big old nope to. But I still wrote way more poetry than I would have otherwise, even if I didn't stick to my plan of posting all of it to Twitter and Facebook.
4) I completed my Duolingo French tree. For one day. Then the app updated, adding a whole bunch more lessons and leaving my tree incomplete once again. Oh well - I still technically met my goal.
5) My short story "The Salt of Seas and Sorrow" was not only included in Polar Expressions Publishing's "Our Town" anthology, but it won honourable mention!
6) And on the tail end of the year, I received an email from Æther/Ichor telling me that my short story "One-Tenth Merperson" is being published in their January 2020 issue, "Beasts of Legend". Edit: And here's a link!
I didn't accomplish every goal I set for myself, but I also don't think it's necessarily realistic to expect that. Goals and priorities can change throughout the year. I'm just glad to achieve what I have, and I hope I can continue the trend into the new year. That being said, here are some loose goals I've set for myself in 2020:
1) Read more. This year I read something like 28 books, which is definitely way more than I've read in past years, but it was also mostly comic books. Not that reading comics is a bad thing, but I know I went long stretches of time without reading much of anything. I want to get better about setting a reading routine for myself. I love books and I want to read way, way more of them.
2) Finish and publish Book 2 of ANAoM. This one shouldn't be hard. Like I said, I'm already in the late stages of editing, so it's entirely plausible to have this one ready to go in the next few months.
3) Get to late editing stages on Book 3. Similar idea to the above - I'm already on draft two. It's not a tall order to get to a late stage over the next 12 months.
4) Finish draft of Book 1 in new series. This one I'm very excited for. I'm 100 pages into the first draft and absolutely loving it.
5) Submit to more contests and publications. Doing this has served me well in 2019, but I can't continue that trend if I slack off on submissions. So I want to make an effort to pursue short story publication more dedicatedly in 2020.
6) Write and promote more articles. I'm not sure I've even mentioned this here, but I've started writing articles on Vocal. They're a ton of fun and a good way for me to nerd out and write essays like I'm back in university again. (Incidentally, I have a bit of a strange definition of "fun" sometimes.)
7) Study German. In a similar vein to last year's French goal, I want to see if I can complete the German language tree on Duolingo in one year. I miiiight attempt the same with Irish, too, but we'll see. I don't want to overload myself.
8) Write a poem a day, v.2. I got a word-a-day calendar from my husband again, so I'm gonna take a shot at this challenge at least one more time. I'll take the pressure off by not posting everything online, though.
And that's about it. I'm excited to check back in 12 months from now and see what goals I stuck to, what I knocked out of the park, what I gave up on, and what came completely out of nowhere. If you want more regular updates on my life, Twitter and Instagram are probably the best places to check.
What kind of goals did you accomplish this year - planned or unplanned? And what do you have in mind for 2020?
November 20, 2019
Upcoming Sale!
Hey everyone!
Black Friday is nearing and so are all the Black Friday sales - including a sale on one of my books! From November 27th to December 4th, She Who Rises will be on sale on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. If you haven't had a chance to check it out yet, this will be the perfect time to do so.
You can read an excerpt from She Who Rises over on a previous blog post here.
Enjoy!
Black Friday is nearing and so are all the Black Friday sales - including a sale on one of my books! From November 27th to December 4th, She Who Rises will be on sale on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. If you haven't had a chance to check it out yet, this will be the perfect time to do so.
You can read an excerpt from She Who Rises over on a previous blog post here.
Enjoy!
