Sarah A. Hoyt's Blog, page 319

There will be a post late

Probably while I’m at the lab, waiting to get blood drawn, or maybe at Dan’s doctor, while waiting for him to be done (yes, it’s that kind of day, and since we haven’t changed doctors yet, it’s in another city.)

Meanwhile, I made an announcement at MGC, which you might be interested in.

And Be A Dog.

When Teacher is Wrong – David Burkhead

When Teacher is Wrong – David Burkhead

I have a daughter. She’s bright (in her school’s “high ability” program”. She’s athletic (swim team for a couple of years now). And she’s utterly adorable. (Don’t challenge me on that. Just…don’t.)

Unfortunately, she’s in public school and there’s not a lot I can do about that. As much as I’d love to homeschool, I’ve got to keep working to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. And my wife can’t do it because while I bring home the bigger payc...

Motivation

Writers like me suffer from a very strange impairment. We tend to trust what our character tells us. This is possibly a form of insanity, because my characters tend to be the epitome of “unreliable narrators.”

I’ve been struggling with Darkship Revenge since I lost the second half since the move. I’ve been doing the equivalent of adding a new layer of paint, then removing it all with solvent, then again and again.

This is an unhappy state of affairs and it usually betokens a huge issue in wha...

Sunday Vignettes by Luke, Mary Catelli and ‘Nother Mike

*Yes I should give you my opinion on last week’s, and will. Sorry, we had “stomach flu” the reprise, only lighter, but enough that I couldn’t really function. Also, yeah, no Sunday book promo. I’m not sure why, but I figure the Oyster hasn’t been commenting either, so life must have got interesting for him suddenly. I’m sure he’ll be back. (Or I’ll have to make different arrangements.)-SAH*

Sunday Vignettes! – by Luke, Mary Catelli and ‘Nother Mike

So what’s a vignette? You might know them a...

Rolling in the Deep

I wasn’t going to write a post today. I have a guest post from David Burkhead, and at any rate, Dan and I ran away halfway through the afternoon, to a hotel room, so we could spend the weekend catching up on writing, because between stomach flu and family, November has been a disaster, I have books WAY overdue, and he’s barely started 9th Euclid’s War.

Of course, because someone (likely several someones) has a voodoo doll of me. So Dan is having a second bout of stomach flu and while I don’t...

Thresholds

For some reason I remembered this morning the day I turned fourteen. I was so unholy excited I told EVERYONE. By everyone, I mean everyone. The train conductor, the ticket checker at the train station, the waiter at the coffee shop where I had breakfast, and all my classmates and teachers. It became a joke for my teachers, because I had been telling them about it for DAYS.

In retrospect, I have absolutely no idea why. I mean, it was a nice birthday. I had my friends over. I got several books...

California Potheads and the Half-witted Twits – E. Marshall Hoyt

California Potheads and the Half-witted Twits – E. Marshall Hoyt

Economics is a complicated beast. More importantly, it’s incredibly hard to measure, understand, or even predict. One little change to how you do business and the effect ripples. A small change in interaction in a large business and everything that business does is effected, and effects other things. Everything that is connected to money- and several things that aren’t- form this massive spider web.

This is why it can be hard t...

We Won’t Wear Pants, Even if You Make Us

I’m not going to claim to be a woman of the people, or part of the working class. I did grow up among working class people, my grandfathers were carpenters, and I have an unaccountable enjoyment of working with my hands.

However, my working class neighbors considered me a little daft, running around with a book in my hands all the time. My mom’s brother who was a plumber cordially disliked me, and at least half of it was thinking I put on airs (I didn’t, but that’s how he perceived it.)

My fa...

The Finger of Blame

I never thought I’d say this, but I’m getting really tired of the crazy.

I mean, look, I’m aware that none of my characters is exactly sane. I am aware that none of my worlds is exactly rational. That’s because reality isn’t.

But when my countrymen take a plunge into crazyville, I start getting worried. Oh, no, I’m not worried the country will be set on fire. Also, I’m not worried that — in compliance with the dictates of some Hollywood celebrities — there will be a revolution. Let’s face it,...

Late Monday

So, derpfish really is dying this time, though he’s putting up a hellofafight. I am sure any less stubborn fish would already have died as the growth around his head is now bigger than his head. Doesn’t seem to be fungus, or at least no fungus cure works, or ick or velvet or anything else vaguely listed in any books. I’ve found before the problem with small “cheap” pets is that even “simple” diseases can take them, as there’s no real vet knowledge. The advice seems to be “flush him and move o...