Laura Anne Gilman's Blog, page 23
November 17, 2015
Soup Weather
Mixed Winter Veggie Soup
Make apple-butternut soup.
(basically, a butternut squash and a few apples, cubed and simmered in herbed broth until soft, then pureed to the preferred consistency. It really is that easy.)
Have some of it for dinner, store the rest in the fridge.
The next night, make a curried veggie stir-up.
(cube yellow squash, celery, and carrots, and season them with sweet curry powder, salt, and pepper, pan-fry them in oil with garlic and onions).
Eat the stir-up for dinner (or as a side with meat), store the rest in the fridge.
On the third night, put the remaining soup in the blender, add the leftover fry-up and a cup more broth, and blend until smooth. Optional: adding more curry powder to taste.
Easiest Ever Red Lentil Soup
In a medium (2- to 3-quart) saucepan or Dutch oven, heat about a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add a couple ribs of celery, a carrot or two, and a quarter of an onion, chopped coarse, sprinkle with a bit of salt, then cover and let the vegetables sweat until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
Add a cup of (washed & strained) red lentils, four cups of broth, a sprinkling of sweet curry powder, a dash of ground cumin, and a bay leaf. Bring up to a boil, then turn the heat down to low and let simmer, covered, until the lentils begin to fall apart, about 20-25 minutes. Add a dollop of ground grana padano (or parmesan) to the top. Serve.
Make apple-butternut soup.
(basically, a butternut squash and a few apples, cubed and simmered in herbed broth until soft, then pureed to the preferred consistency. It really is that easy.)
Have some of it for dinner, store the rest in the fridge.
The next night, make a curried veggie stir-up.
(cube yellow squash, celery, and carrots, and season them with sweet curry powder, salt, and pepper, pan-fry them in oil with garlic and onions).
Eat the stir-up for dinner (or as a side with meat), store the rest in the fridge.
On the third night, put the remaining soup in the blender, add the leftover fry-up and a cup more broth, and blend until smooth. Optional: adding more curry powder to taste.
Easiest Ever Red Lentil Soup
In a medium (2- to 3-quart) saucepan or Dutch oven, heat about a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add a couple ribs of celery, a carrot or two, and a quarter of an onion, chopped coarse, sprinkle with a bit of salt, then cover and let the vegetables sweat until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
Add a cup of (washed & strained) red lentils, four cups of broth, a sprinkling of sweet curry powder, a dash of ground cumin, and a bay leaf. Bring up to a boil, then turn the heat down to low and let simmer, covered, until the lentils begin to fall apart, about 20-25 minutes. Add a dollop of ground grana padano (or parmesan) to the top. Serve.
They're easy, they're healthy, they're tasty as fuck, they reheat well in a microwave, and because most of the ingredients aren’t expensive, it’s budget-friendly. Unfortunately, the winter veggie soup doesn’t freeze all that well. No meal’s perfect.....
November 14, 2015
I am not Paris. I am not Lebanon. I was New York.
40 people killed in Lebanon’s bombing Thursday. A still-being-counted number of dead in the Paris attacks last night.
I was in Manhattan on 9/11, within the shut-down zone. I know some of what goes through your head, how your heart races, and your brain is never quite the same afterward. And I know that there is a cry to DO SOMETHING, to STOP THEM. But we can’t bring fear and violence on that enemy and win, because their entire goal is to force us to violence.
(we should have learned this already)
The moment we let fear and anger override compassion and sense, we fail. In that failure, we've set the stage for a repeat, the return of an enemy who has no nation, has no civilians to protect, has no goal except to drag us down into the same pit of hate and loss they have chosen to reside in. Hate, masquerading as righteousness.
I don't know how to break that cycle. But I know that we have to.
I was in Manhattan on 9/11, within the shut-down zone. I know some of what goes through your head, how your heart races, and your brain is never quite the same afterward. And I know that there is a cry to DO SOMETHING, to STOP THEM. But we can’t bring fear and violence on that enemy and win, because their entire goal is to force us to violence.
(we should have learned this already)
The moment we let fear and anger override compassion and sense, we fail. In that failure, we've set the stage for a repeat, the return of an enemy who has no nation, has no civilians to protect, has no goal except to drag us down into the same pit of hate and loss they have chosen to reside in. Hate, masquerading as righteousness.
I don't know how to break that cycle. But I know that we have to.
November 11, 2015
Midweek Good News....
Considering the top five names, I am not at all depressed to be #6. :-D
(thanks to everyone who bought copies - there or elsewhere!)
(thanks to everyone who bought copies - there or elsewhere!)
November 10, 2015
New Review Happiness for SILVER ON THE ROAD....
The Vampire Book Club reviews SILVER ON THE ROAD, and invokes both Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock and Diana Gabaldon's Claire in OUTLANDER in their discussion of why they gave it 4.5 stars....
"I’m happy to think they can keep traveling the Road indefinitely"
"I’m happy to think they can keep traveling the Road indefinitely"
November 9, 2015
#Willwrite2FeedOthers 2015
Okay, we’re doing this. Or you’ve got the chance to do this, and in turn make me do this.
What’s this? #WillWrite2FeedOthers. Year three.
You donate. I write.
As many of you know, one of the charities I give to regularly is my local food bank. Because a warm meal makes everything else, no matter how hard, seems a little easier to manage. Especially for kids. No kid should ever go to bed hungry.
Bt this isn’t meant to be a guilt trip: you can’t coerce charity – well, you can, but guilt only goes so far.
A carrot, on the other hand…..
So here’s the deal. If I get at least 30 people to send in a screen shot* of a donation made to their local food bank/soup kitchen/whatever, of no less than $5 (of your local currency)** by 15 December, I will post an original short story to my site on 1 January 2015. Yes, for everyone.
If we get 60 people or more…well, I’ll up the stakes in a yet-to-be-named way.***
Because Thanksgiving dinner tastes better when you know other people are sitting down to a meal, too.
*send the screenshot to lag@lauraannegilman.net
**I specify cash because most organizations can make money go further than we can, due to their connections. But yes, a screen shot of at least $10 worth of goods being donated will count. As will proof of an hour or more of volunteer time.
***oh god, I want people to rise to the challenge, but I also fear it….
What’s this? #WillWrite2FeedOthers. Year three.
You donate. I write.
As many of you know, one of the charities I give to regularly is my local food bank. Because a warm meal makes everything else, no matter how hard, seems a little easier to manage. Especially for kids. No kid should ever go to bed hungry.
Bt this isn’t meant to be a guilt trip: you can’t coerce charity – well, you can, but guilt only goes so far.
A carrot, on the other hand…..
So here’s the deal. If I get at least 30 people to send in a screen shot* of a donation made to their local food bank/soup kitchen/whatever, of no less than $5 (of your local currency)** by 15 December, I will post an original short story to my site on 1 January 2015. Yes, for everyone.
If we get 60 people or more…well, I’ll up the stakes in a yet-to-be-named way.***
Because Thanksgiving dinner tastes better when you know other people are sitting down to a meal, too.
*send the screenshot to lag@lauraannegilman.net
**I specify cash because most organizations can make money go further than we can, due to their connections. But yes, a screen shot of at least $10 worth of goods being donated will count. As will proof of an hour or more of volunteer time.
***oh god, I want people to rise to the challenge, but I also fear it….
Practical Meerkat's Advice About Advice.
There are a lot of books out there about How To Write (hell, even I have one, although Practical Meerkat is less about writing than it is surviving the writing life). But here's the thing.....
The thing about writing advice is that it's not only NOT one-size-fits-all, but we (hopefully) grow out of advice that did fit, once.
Therefore, be wary of anyone who says 'this works!' All they are saying 'this worked for me, maybe it will help you too.' Shop around. Don't trap yourself in something that's not helping - or worse, something that HURTS.
November 7, 2015
dude, no, what?
Best new meh review of SILVER ON THE ROAD over on Goodreads includes the following line:
"Oh, and also, the cover is atrocious, but I guess that's par for the course, given the genre."
Yeah, okay. I may have some issues with the story-accuracy of the cover art, but overall it's hot damn with chocolate sauce.
"Oh, and also, the cover is atrocious, but I guess that's par for the course, given the genre."
Yeah, okay. I may have some issues with the story-accuracy of the cover art, but overall it's hot damn with chocolate sauce.
A cool, dark morning with warm, dark coffee...
Part I of THE COLD EYE is now marked up with red ink (notes) black ink (rewritten bits), and post-its tacked to relevant passages. 5 more parts to go, and then another pass to put it all together, and then another to polish it, and...
Yeah. And people ask me if I ever read my books once they're done. After an average of 10 passes, including the copy edit, would YOU?
Meanwhile, today there is more revising, and some editing of Other Peoples' Work, and dealing with the ACA for 2016, oh joy...
Tomorrow there will be socializing. And probably some whinging about the ACA paperwork. Because Tis the Season.
Yeah. And people ask me if I ever read my books once they're done. After an average of 10 passes, including the copy edit, would YOU?
Meanwhile, today there is more revising, and some editing of Other Peoples' Work, and dealing with the ACA for 2016, oh joy...
Tomorrow there will be socializing. And probably some whinging about the ACA paperwork. Because Tis the Season.
November 6, 2015
breaking news...
“The State Department has decided that the Keystone XL Pipeline would not serve the national interest of the United States - President Obama #ActOnClimate
It’s not the entire war, or even a deciding victory, but it’s a significant battle won.
One Month Later....
Excuse me while I hit some of the review highlights for SILVER ON THE ROAD....
"In this delightful start to The Devil’s West series... Gilman skillfully plays with western folklore and history, infusing them with ambiguity and subtle strangeness to deliver a memorable adventure out on the untamed frontier. Refreshingly, her vision of the American West includes respectful portrayals of Native Americans. Isobel’s coming-of-age story is very accessible to teens, and there’s plenty for adventure-minded adults to enjoy as well." - Publishers Weekly
“Silver on the Road takes an underused setting for fantasy—the American West—and uses it to explore coming of age, the limits of power and responsibility, and the importance of mingling compassion and justice. It’s fresh and original and the language is both stark and lovely. The descriptions of the natural landscape of the West fit beautifully with descriptions of talking animals, travelling magicians and terrifying supernatural forces. 4.5 stars ” - RT Reviews
“The characters and setting keep the interest of fans of atmospheric, strange Wild West stories." – Library Journal STARRED REVIEW
“One of the things I most love about [Gilman’s work] is the way she takes folklore and myth and makes it her own, rendering the familiar into something new and strange, but at the same time coherent and consistent... I think Silver On The Road, the first of Gilman’s Devil’s West series, has surpassed her own previous efforts for world building, and that is no small task.”
– Green Man Review
" In Laura Anne Gilman’s stark, sparkling Silver on the Road, the star of the show is the devil’s nimble, freshly minted left hand: Isobel, not a day over 16, reared alongside saloon girls and gamblers, and very suddenly sent off on a Western odyssey she cannot begin to understand....While Isobel may perfectly capture all the feelings of inadequacy of adolescence…she’s also a modern encapsulation of the hero’s journey. In fact, that’s what Gilman does best here, infusing the classic with the modern. Her cocktail of Western folklore, Native American mythos, and known history are seamless, and will be a particular treat to fans of the other master of that kind of mashup, Neil Gaiman." – BarnesAndNoble.com
“[Gilman] not only has a knack for writing kick-ass female characters who are also – SHOCK! – allowed to have weaknesses, she has a knack for worldbuilding, sneaking in all the little details of the world that make it believable…. The end of the book feels real to Izzy’s character, and was, actually, eminently satisfying. 5/5 – when does the next one come out?” – Book In The Bag
"[A] fresh take on the hero's journey......I liked Izzy and loved seeing her growth. At only sixteen she's already quite strong and courageous; I can't wait to see what else she has in store. [Silver on the Road] was entertaining, fascinating, and a wonderful story. I'll be looking for the next book." - Bea’s Book Nook
"I've enjoyed Laura Anne Gilman's previous novels and stories but with SILVER ON THE ROAD she creates an entirely different level of fiction, an exciting mix of world creation and character study and realignment of fantasy and history. Part road novel and part coming of age story, SILVER ON THE ROAD is well written and insightful...I look forward to the sequels and highly recommend this novel to others."
- Jason Sanford, “Novel of the Week”
"In this delightful start to The Devil’s West series... Gilman skillfully plays with western folklore and history, infusing them with ambiguity and subtle strangeness to deliver a memorable adventure out on the untamed frontier. Refreshingly, her vision of the American West includes respectful portrayals of Native Americans. Isobel’s coming-of-age story is very accessible to teens, and there’s plenty for adventure-minded adults to enjoy as well." - Publishers Weekly
“Silver on the Road takes an underused setting for fantasy—the American West—and uses it to explore coming of age, the limits of power and responsibility, and the importance of mingling compassion and justice. It’s fresh and original and the language is both stark and lovely. The descriptions of the natural landscape of the West fit beautifully with descriptions of talking animals, travelling magicians and terrifying supernatural forces. 4.5 stars ” - RT Reviews
“The characters and setting keep the interest of fans of atmospheric, strange Wild West stories." – Library Journal STARRED REVIEW
“One of the things I most love about [Gilman’s work] is the way she takes folklore and myth and makes it her own, rendering the familiar into something new and strange, but at the same time coherent and consistent... I think Silver On The Road, the first of Gilman’s Devil’s West series, has surpassed her own previous efforts for world building, and that is no small task.”
– Green Man Review
" In Laura Anne Gilman’s stark, sparkling Silver on the Road, the star of the show is the devil’s nimble, freshly minted left hand: Isobel, not a day over 16, reared alongside saloon girls and gamblers, and very suddenly sent off on a Western odyssey she cannot begin to understand....While Isobel may perfectly capture all the feelings of inadequacy of adolescence…she’s also a modern encapsulation of the hero’s journey. In fact, that’s what Gilman does best here, infusing the classic with the modern. Her cocktail of Western folklore, Native American mythos, and known history are seamless, and will be a particular treat to fans of the other master of that kind of mashup, Neil Gaiman." – BarnesAndNoble.com
“[Gilman] not only has a knack for writing kick-ass female characters who are also – SHOCK! – allowed to have weaknesses, she has a knack for worldbuilding, sneaking in all the little details of the world that make it believable…. The end of the book feels real to Izzy’s character, and was, actually, eminently satisfying. 5/5 – when does the next one come out?” – Book In The Bag
"[A] fresh take on the hero's journey......I liked Izzy and loved seeing her growth. At only sixteen she's already quite strong and courageous; I can't wait to see what else she has in store. [Silver on the Road] was entertaining, fascinating, and a wonderful story. I'll be looking for the next book." - Bea’s Book Nook
"I've enjoyed Laura Anne Gilman's previous novels and stories but with SILVER ON THE ROAD she creates an entirely different level of fiction, an exciting mix of world creation and character study and realignment of fantasy and history. Part road novel and part coming of age story, SILVER ON THE ROAD is well written and insightful...I look forward to the sequels and highly recommend this novel to others."
- Jason Sanford, “Novel of the Week”
