Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff's Blog: #42 Pencil: A Writer's Life, the Universe, and Everything, page 40

BVC Announces DAUGHTER OF LIR by Judith Tarr

DAUGHTER OF LIR

Book 3 of The Epona Sequence

by Judith Tarr

Long years after the White Mare came to the people of the Mothers, bringing the wild horsemen from the sea of grass and changing the world forever, the world is changing again. The Mother of Lir is dead, her heir cast out amid dire omens. War is coming–such a war as the people have never seen, fought with a new and terrible weapon: the chariot.

Rhian, potter’s child and White Mare’s chosen, ventures with Emry the prince of Lir into the s...

Bright Sparkling Sun Drops

As it turns out, I haven’t been much on blogging this past month or more–not since I lost Rena Beagle. Actually, almost two months now–but I had some blogs saved up, so it hasn’t been truly evident.

Some things just take the wind out of you.

But the monsoons have briefly visited our neck of the southwestern woods, bringing with them some spectacular views as well as boy Beagles who are no longer entirely dusty. And it brought to mind a blog I wrote last year at this time, because…well, pretty m...

Story Excerpt Sunday: from Islands by Sara Stamey

Islands

by Sara Stamey

I stood at the edge of the sea, squinting against sun dazzles, waves rolling in to fret at the blazing white sand. I was rooted there, sucked back into my nightmare and waiting for the shadow man to stride out of the waves and drag me into the depths –

A piercing shriek. A pigtailed little native girl ran past, laughing and chasing a beachball.

I shook my head, slapped on some sunscreen, pulled fins and mask from my carryall. I’d taken the Scuba course after receiving John’...

Blog Hop with Cat Kimbriel–Four Questions for the Writer

This is all writer Laura Anne Gilman’s fault. After being tagged herself by Mindy Klasky in an ongoing blog hop, she generously spread the love. She tagged me to answer the following questions:

1) What am I working on?

I have several things going on right now. I am editing Spiral Path, which is the working title for the next Alfreda Sorensson novel. It has been peered at by first readers, and I am now slaying hydras and clarifying everything I rolled through on my way to the end. Plus–I have be...

The Tajji Diaries: “Cats and Dogs Living Together…”

Shakir invites Tajji to play

In recent blog posts, Dave and I have discussed Tajji’s progress in dealing with other dogs. Tajji is our newly (5 months) adopted retired seeing eye dog, a 10 year old German Shepherd female who had major reactivity issues, especially with small dogs. The extraction of a fractured tooth has resolved her chronic pain, and enrollment in a reactive dog class (“Reactive Rover” taught by Sandi Pensinger of Living With Dogs, using only positive techniques, never punishm...

SEX!

Now that I’ve got your attention, I want to talk about, well, sex. I’ve been thinking about sex a lot lately.

On the positive side, I’m thinking about sex a lot because I’m getting some after a very long drought, and I’m having an insanely good time.

But on the negative side, I’m noticing the effect of such things as the Hobby Lobby ruling and the right wing campaign against women’s reproductive rights on both our freedom and our sexuality.

And, of course, sexual harassment and the sexual object...

What’s in a Word?

I imagine everyone has heard of the dueling court judgements regarding the nations’s new healthcare law—the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—lovingly referred to as Obamacare. (No, I am not being at all facetious, in my household “Obamacare” is an affectionate pet name for a law that has had a positive impact on our healthcare situation, even though we’re covered by Jeff’s employer.)

A three-member panel of the Washington DC appeals court (or at least the majority from one party), determined that onl...

WWW Wednesday – July 23

WWW Wednesday. This meme is from shouldbereading.

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

• What are you currently reading?

Dashiell Hammett’s THE BIG KNOCKOVER (a story collection). Originally published in 1924, and it’s fascinating to see what’s changed in mystery writing…and what hasn’t. Also, dear dog could Hammett pack a punch in a sentence.

Summer, I’ve found, i...

Dog Days of Summer Sale Is Off and Running

The freak July polar vortex has come and gone, and a quick look at the temperature map indicates that the dog days are upon us in the United States. Triple digits in the southwest, lots of 80s and 90s almost everywhere else (go ahead and gloat if you live in Seattle). Europe looks warmish as well. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is definitely time to curl up under a shade tree or in front of a fan with a cold drink and a good book.

We can’t make your lemonade, but at Book View Cafe we can make...

BVC Announces Maker-Teacher-Monster by Leah Cutter

The Maker, the Teacher, and the Monster

by Leah Cutter

Five years have passed. The worlds above and below have recovered and changed.

The fairies from the Clockwork Kingdom return every year, asking for Dale’s help in vain. This year, Cornelius, the head of the fairies, brings dread news: Kostya has returned.

The Maker has taught herself what she could about magic, but no teacher has ever arrived. Finally, a herald manages to break through the spells surrounding the town to warn Nora that somethi...