Laura Anne Gilman's Blog, page 2

This week's BookQW is "Take"

And I would be sharing the image with you, but despite being told I can now upload images, the images don't seem to want to display.  So if you want to see the cover, you need to check out the link.

“Tell me again about the ocean.”

He settled her snugly against his shoulder, watching the dust rise under pony hooves stomping around the edges of their corral. “At night, the sky is darkest blue, and the stars are polished silver like knifepoints cutting through. And the moon opens a path on the darkling waters that you would swear you could walk, if only you could take that first step…”

from "Turnings," one of my rare honest-to-dog love stories, from DARKLY HUMAN.

I am Easily Amused, Take Whatever

So this was a thing I saw last night, driving along 522: A billboard that said "She holds it all together" or something like that, and I have no idea what it was actually advertising, because there was a Starbucks sign a little in front of it so, so help me, the first thing I saw was the Starbucks mermaid in front of that slogan and I thought THAT was the billboard.
And I'm like "yeah, that works. All hail Caffeinea," before I realized it was an optical illusion.
I still think it would be a damn effective campaign, though.

How do you worsen your rep when you're already known as an impacted turd? Ask Milo.

So, over the weekend, noted piece of shit Milo Yiannopoulos officially expanded his shittiness by stating that he advocates for sex with underage partners, and doesn't believe in this silly fiction of "age of consent." Adults having sex with (extreme) minors? Fine by him.

This goes beyond 'freedom of speech,' however much I abhor words that come out of his mouth. This is a man advocating sexual abuse of children (and, possibly, depending on how you read his words, having endorsed and enabled same).

His defense is that he wasn't talking about pedophilia because that's about attraction to someone without secondary sexual characteristics, but if they're sexually mature at an early age (male or female), that's ok.

And still, the CPA (Conservative Political Action Conference) is featuring him as a guest speaker, and S&S is giving him a book deal. If his contract with S&S is standard, there's a clause in it that would allow them to break that contract, if they chose to, at this point. We'll see if they choose to. Obviously, as an S&S author myself, I hope they do.

I have no expectation of CPA revoking their speaker invitation: they knew what he was when they invited him, and they seem perfectly comfortable with that being associated with them. I'd be delighted to be proven wrong, however.


Ironically but not unexpectedly, his racism and anti-semitism barely made a ripple in conservative circles, but this seems to have upset them. Because white Christian children are suddenly at risk, too. /bitter AF

Commentary

I had to create some images for The Other Job, and figured while I was there...

The day's addendum...

and we end the day with most of the work accomplished but also a (probably) broken big toe. I have iced and elevated and compressed and done all the necessary things, so nobody should feel the need to offer advice - the swelling's gone down, the bruising is impressive, and it hurts like a flaming fuckety, but there's nothing to be done for broken toes except wear sturdy boots until it heals.
So it looks like hiking boots for the duration. Good thing I didn't have any fancy dress balls scheduled...

Checking in...

Someone with a large dog in my neighborhood has a collar for said dog that not only glows in the dark but shifts color. It's a #RavePup!
I know this because it is very dark and rainy outside. Oh well, blue skies, you were a nice reminder of what's coming in a few months. We'll wait.
Meanwhile, the next few days are split, about 30% winery stuff, 70% writer-stuff, and 20% activism. Wait, you say, that's more than 100%? Why yes, so it is. And I have a cold, too.
*Squints at sinuses. Sinuses squint back, then sneeze*
Coffee is required.

How be you?

Last Writerly Appearance for A While....

The last appearance of the least-spotted meerkat will be at the Kitsap B&N in Silverdale, WA TOMORROW (Saturday) at 2pm, where I will be doing my Thang for THE COLD EYE.
After that, I dive back into my more reclusive writing phase, and getting anything signed will be far more difficult.
And yes, this is a B&N so you can probably have signed copies shipped to YOUR local B&N. You just have to ask (seriously, ask 'em today).

Seattle-area Appearance this Thursday!

For the Seattle-area folk - I'll be at Third Place Seward Park this Thursday, February 9, 2017 - 7:30pm to 8:30pm!
And, in addition to signing books, someone there will go home with a wee Buffalo of their own!


I realize it's a school night, but it would be great to see everyone (especially since this is the newer branch of Third Place, and I want everyone to know where it is!) Spread the word and invite your friends...

Patreon Update

Whoops, looks like I'm going to owe my patrons an audio this month - we hit the "have Auntie Meerkat read each episode of the serial" bonus level of the Patreon!
(thankfully, we've just started the newest serial, so I should be able to catch up easily enough.)
Remember, $1 gets you the written and the audio version, and the monthly Rant!  $3 and $5 bonus levels also available - and if you pledge $9/month,  you get the full package!
- "Author's notes" video updates, discussing each new episode and whatever else is on my alleged mind
- Monthly deleted excerpts from works that will never be seen elsewhere (warning: there may be spoilers!)
- Each complete serial you supported (in mobi or epub format), digitally "pawmarked" and numbered.
- An original flash fiction, every month.

Walking with Ents

This afternoon I logged off and took two hours to hike in a nearby state forest, up and down narrow, winding dirt trails.  There will be a blogpost coming from that, as soon as I gather all my many thinky thoughts, but for now I just need to say

1. woodpeckers are ridiculous
2. people who dirtbike on rooted trails are probably nuts
3. I strongly suspect people who live without greenspaces are slightly more insane (and in a worse way) than the rest of us.
3a. by 'greenspace" I do not mean "never going anywhere with a population of more than 107," but "having access to places where you can be surrounded by greenery and dirt for a few hours."  So don't get cocky, isolationists. 
4. Hiking for two hours, even on non-mountain trails, is kinda exhausting.  Especially when it's under 50 degrees (layers keep you warm, but only so much).