E.M. Markoff's Blog, page 6
February 17, 2020
Mexica New Year 2020: The Year of Chicyei (8) Tecpatl (Flint)
Photo Credit | https://www.aztecadancers.com/
Mexica New Year is nearly here, and I will FINALLY be able to attend the celebrations in San Jose, CA! Unfortunately, the past two new years (Chicoace Tochtli/6 Rabbit and Chicome Acatl/7 Reed), FogCON have fallen on the same weekend as the celebrations. Calpulli Tonalehqueh’s celebrations are held in San Jose while FogCON is in Walnut Creek … not an easy trek. Also, did I mention I got sick just in time for last year’s FogCON?
Thankfully, because I live in a city with a strong Latinx culture that is proud of its indigenous roots and celebrates it to the fullest, I was able to attend Mexica New Year 7-Acatl in San Francisco. I am talking about the Mission, of course. Sadly, because of ongoing gentrification, communities of color and local shops are being pushed out of the neighborhood and city.
Latin culture is part of San Francisco culture,” says [Silvia Ferrusquia]. “When we go, the Mission is not the Mission anymore. If everyone goes, it’s just one more city in the whole U.S. — and it’s boring. Who cares about San Francisco if it’s not San Francisco?
— Nuala Sawyer Bishari at SF Weekly
Photo Credit | https://bit.ly/2wqs5KZ
Not only did I attend, but I was fortunate enough to help set up the altar alongside so many others. I learned a lot that day. These spaces and celebrations exist in San Francisco because of the Latinx community. Without them, there would not be a 13th Annual Mexica New Year in San Francisco.
I’m looking forward to celebrating 8-Tecpatl in San Francisco on March 11 and in San Jose on March 14-15
February 8, 2020
The Assistant Travels to Nepantla (the In-Between Space)
We are the spirits of pandemonium, thrust into this world by the actions of one man. Before this journey ends, we will claw out our eyes and wander crazed, in pursuit of an illusion, so the Land may have its false, fragile peace of mind returned.
— The Deadbringer
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E. M. Markoff
Happy #Caturday: The Assistant Travels to Nepantla (the In-Between Space)
We are the spirits of pandemonium, thrust into this world by the actions of one man. Before this journey ends, we will claw out our eyes and wander crazed, in pursuit of an illusion, so the Land may have its false, fragile peace of mind returned.”
— The Deadbringer
February 1, 2020
The Assistant Ventures Across the Land
The day had dawned gray, as it had for the past week, thick with storm clouds barring the sun.
— The Deadbringer
ICYMI: RedStarReviews is hosting a group read of The Deadbringer this February on Bookstagram (Instagram) !! If you’d like to join please head on over to his Instagram page so he can add you to the Group Read DM. I will taking part in a Q+A on Feb 29, 2020.
Writer's Life Blog RSS
E. M. Markoff
Happy #Caturday: The Assistant Ventures Across the Land
The day had dawned gray, as it had for the past week, thick with storm clouds barring the sun.
— The Deadbringer
ICYMI: RedStarReviews is hosting a group read of The Deadbringer this February on Bookstagram (Instagram) !! If you’d like to join please head on over to his Instagram page so he can add you to the Group Read DM. I will taking part in a Q+A on Feb 29, 2020.
December 25, 2019
Happy Holidays from the world of the Ellderet!
Sending love, whiskey, and good wishes to everyone during this holiday season - and, of course, cat hair. Cat hair for everyone, lol! To everyone driving: Safe travels.
I confess that I’m not a huge fan of X-mas carols, but the Hub might have found a holiday tune I can finally get behind, bwahahaha
December 13, 2019
Podcasting and Quilting Pumpkins with HorrorAddicts.net
Lo! Christmas is nigh. And thus I bring a bit of October back with a podcast glorifying all things dark, including a quilted pumpkin project. To everyone driving for the holiday season, stay safe!
Back in October, I was invited by HorrorAddicts.net to be a guest on their podcast’s season finale. I was super excited to be a part of the project and thankful that I could help out. This marked the fourth time I’ve appeared on a podcast or broadcast, but the first time I’ve been able to see the podcaster at work. Previously, I was a guest on Unreliable Narrators via Skype, did a live reading of “Leaving the #9” at SF in SF, appeared on FCC Free Radio (FFR) alongside Tales for the Camp Fire: A Charity Anthology editor Loren Rhoads.
But of course, anxiety decided to rear its ugly head.
Participating in the HorrorAddicts.net podcast episode as it was being recorded was a very insightful experience. I got to see the podcaster (Emerian Rich) at work directing, narrating, planning, troubleshooting, stabbing repeatedly at a craft pumpkin, sound checking, checking on her crew between takes, etc. The number of moving pieces was way more than I had ever expected, and I only saw one part of a very large beast … mind blown. Mad respect to all the podcasters out there!
The number one thing that stood out to me about podcasting is how forgiving it seemed to be. Stumble on a word? Say something you wish had not left your pie hole? No problem: re-record and edit. There had been no such accommodation on the live radio show, which was also a great experience, but different (I now have the cutest lucha libre rubber duck courtesy of FFR’s host)!
The other difference with podcasting was being able to see the questions ahead of time, although even then my mind blanked. While talking about favorite cursed places with Emerian and crew, I forgot to mention one of my favorite YouTubers who explores abandoned places: Exploring with Josh. It’s like knowing what books you want and forgetting them all the moment you step into the bookstore!
During the podcast, we talked horror movies, gothic music, and upcoming dark literature releases, and that was just in the segment I was part of! Afterward, we somehow wandered into the topic of hats, and I learned something new about my friend: she makes tea hats. The Craft(ing) is strong with Emerian. Not so much with me. Need a button or patch sown? I gotcha. Need that hemline raised? That’s what safety pins and staples are for
November 30, 2019
A Bookish Recipe from ‘To Nuture & Kill’ For a Chilly Day: Atole de Maiz (Sweet Corn Beverage)
Kira took a huge gulp of his own drink, which was made of finely ground corn, milk, and sugar. ‘My dwink is the best.’
— To Nurture & Kill
Hello!! I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. It’s a cold and rainy day in San Francisco as I write this post. The Assistant is sitting in his chair beside me, buried under a blanket because the room that is my office doesn’t really heat up. He could easily go to another, much warmer room, yet he remains here with me in solidarity.
One blanket to rule them all.
The holidays are bittersweet for me, as I’m reminded of my mom and the countless hours we would spend making food. In that tradition, the husband and I made chicken mole chatino. And yes, it’s true what they say about Mexican mole: it does tend to have a lot of ingredients and steps, but the end result is always worth it. The other recipe that I made was the sweet corn drink that little Kira enjoys during the Corn Festival in To Nurture & Kill.
When thinking of the dishes and drinks to include in To Nurture & Kill, I naturally tapped into my own culture’s cuisine. Corn, or maize, is the heart of Mexican cooking, and so in the world of the Ellderet it is the staple crop of the southern half of Moenda, especially Florinia.
They were natural mazes, mazes forged of rows of plowed dirt and leafy walls carrying the divine kernals that would nourish the people through the winter.
— To Nurture & Kill
The sweet corn drink enjoyed by Kira during the Corn Festival is a Mexican drink known as atole. The foundation of most atoles is usually masa harina, milk, sugar, and spices like Mexican cinnamon and vanilla. Some variations add fruit, fresh corn, or chocolate and piloncillo (champurrado) to the atole.
Don’t piss Granny off.
My version uses masa harina and fresh corn, since the beverage enjoyed by Kira in the book takes place during the Corn Festival that is held every year in Florinia at the beginning of the harvest season. Corn aplenty, y’all. You can also expect to see atole make an appearance again in the forthcoming The Faceless God. And this time, not only will you know what the characters are drinking, but you’ll also know how this warm and luscious drink is made. Plus, for a behind-the-scenes look at how the beverage was made, check out my IG Story Highlights!
Let me know if you’ve had this drink before and if you decide to make it yourself tag me on Instagram @tomesandcoffee :) I’m a bit slow with responses, but if you have a cooking question, please feel free to ask and I will answer it asap.
Now, off with you to the corn fields, dear, and pray that you reach their end without being bitten by a tezca snake. I hear that it’s a terrible way to die.
Ingredients:How-to pictures below recipe
6 fresh corn ears
1 cup water
1/4 - 1/2 sugar, or to taste
4 cups milk
1-2 tablespoons of masa harina
*1 tablespoon corn scratch (if you can’t find masa harina)
To a medium pot, add the water + cinnamon sticks. On low to medium-low heat, slowly infuse the water until it’s tinted a deep red. Add sugar to taste and dissolve. Remove the pot from heat, add 2 cups of milk, and set aside. Move on to preparing the corn.
Remove the husk and silk from your 6 ears of corn. Discard those, then rinse the ears, dry them, and carefully remove the kernels without offering up a finger to the Faceless God.
Add half of the kernels + 1 cup of milk to a blender. Blend to a smooth consistency. Add the remaining kernels + 1 cup of milk and repeat.
Place a fine mesh sieve over a bowl or pot. Pour the blended corn + milk mixture into the sieve, gently helping to push the liquid through with the back of a wooden spoon. Make sure to sieve and squeeze out as much of the liquid as possible. This will take a good 10 minutes.
Over medium-low heat, cook your mixture for 30-40 mins. Do not boil. At this stage, you will have to repeatedly stir to prevent the milk from burning/sticking to the bottom of the pot. Bouts of existentialism might occur as you stir stir stir away your life. Fun times for all!!!
After 15-20 minutes of cooking, proceed to the next step while continuing to cook. Dissolve 1-2 tablespoons of masa harina in a small bowl with a bit of the corn-milk mixture from the cooking pot. It will remain kinda clumpy, but that’s okay. Now, sieve the mixture into the pot while using the back of your wooden spoon to help push the masa harina clumps through the sieve. If you still have clumps hanging around in your sieve, ladle some of the milk-corn mixture and repeat the above step until most of it is gone. Discard whatever clumps/grains remain. This step is super important! You want to make sure your atole is smooth. You don’t want to piss off the Faceless God with grainy atole. Unless, of course, you want to …
*ALTERNATIVELY: Dissolve corn starch in a bit of cold water and then slowly pour and stir the mixture into the pot. If you can’t find or don’t like the taste of the nixtamalization process (calcium hydroxide), then use corn starch. Masa harina is what was used in To Nurture & Kill, and I personally love the taste.
Continue cooking and stirring over low heat until the atole thickens to the consistency of hot chocolate. Remove from heat when done.
Serve warm in a cup, grab a book and blanket, and settle in for comforting goodness.
Note: If your atole becomes too thick for your taste, warm up some milk and slowly stir it into the pot (or cup) until it becomes the consistency you want. This will dilute the corn flavor, but I feel that enjoying the texture of your drink is important.
November 9, 2019
Happy #Caturday: The Assistant Listens for the Swiftest Bird Alive
“I should like one day to catch Gossip and wring its neck.” -E’sinea (The Deadbringer)
Happy #Caturday: The Assistant Listens for the Rarest Bird Alive
“I should like one day to catch Gossip and wring its neck.” -E’sinea (The Deadbringer)
