K.A. Laity's Blog, page 165
November 7, 2010
Publication: Sex and How to Get It
Drop by Polite Company magazine to see my humor piece, "Sex and How to Get It." Worth a chuckle or two, I hope. Feel free to leave a comment or repost it to Twitter or Facebook. That's how word of mouth spreads these days.Which reminds me: Kit Marlowe's The Big Splash can now be purchased through Amazon as well as with the publisher, so now it's listed on GoodReads and LibraryThing as well. Reviews or recommendations would be really helpful! If you've read it, consider offering your opinion in any of the above.
Off this afternoon to catch the last performance of Stoppard's The Real Inspector Hound at Shakespeare & Co. You know much I love Stoppard. I've seen other productions of this play, so it will be fun to see S&Co's take on it. Witty and lively and full of clever twists and turns, it's a play as much about the theatre experience as it is a tightly plotted murder mystery.
November 5, 2010
News Round-Up
Okay, the week has been massively mad -- more than usual? Oh I don't know! -- and I feel like I am scrambling just to be caught up on something. Or maybe I'll just distract you with this li'l doggie from CuteOverload. So... cute...!Yesterday Steve and I took the tour around Albany, going to bookstores, a coffeeshop and lunch at Karavalli's (mmmm!) and then just hanging out here watching some comedy. It was good to have a chance to hang out with my big brother.
I've been working on the website for Women's and Gender Studies: I hate the web interface we have to use for the college. It's one of these "idiot-proof" systems that means it's infuriating to someone who knows what they're doing. Frustrating. So I've been listening to The Fall a lot ("Stop mithering!"). My endless cries for minions or acolytes go unheeded: there are articles that need reformatting to be sent back to editors. Tedious work! I hate tedious work.
On the plus side, I placed two humor pieces this week. More about these when they become available, but it was doubly pleasing because one of them was requested of me in very flattering language, which really bowled me over. I don't get asked to contribute to a lot of things and if I do, it's generally because I know the editor. This came out of the blue. Quite a boost to the ego, I can tell you. The editor said she really loved "The Last Ant" and wanted a piece like it. She thought the one I gave her to be "absolutely hilarious," so I am pleased.
What else? Over at the League, we've had interviews with the staff and next week with some of the contributors. I have a column this week at BitchBuzz, but it hasn't posted yet (not quite sure why, but there are some major changes about to occur at BB, so that probably has some effect). Patti Abbott's got part five of La Ronde, the ongoing round robin story I was part of over at her blog. Todd's got the latest entry in Friday Forgotten Books. Un:Bound is about to unveil a super secret project. Of course, there's always something interesting to see over at the Queen's Eyrie. There's lots going on!
November 3, 2010
Publications: High Plains Lazarus / Fear and Loathing in Deptford
I'm pleased to let you know that the zombie anthology, Rotting Tales, is now available from Pill Hill Press and it features my short story "High Plains Lazarus" -- obviously influenced by spaghetti Westerns as well as Joe R. Lansdale his own self, but with a mystical twist.The book will be available on Amazon soon, but until Thanksgiving, Pill Hill will be selling the collection for a discounted rate of $15.49 so if you're thinking of picking it up, that's a great reason.
The story has a funny history, having been written at the last minute as I headed off to Trinoc-con one year and hated everything I'd ever written (it happens) and so started writing something just for fun. It was a big hit, with one exception: I'd only got half the story written. People were ready to kill me for stopping in the middle, but that's all I had. I finished (and read the rest the following year at Trinoc-con) and sold it to an anthology, who then proceeded to slowly reel out the days while contributors waited, and waited, and were reassured that it was coming, it was coming -- and then after two years, they just stopped responding. Sigh. Unfortunately, that's the life of small publishers. I'm glad it's got a home at last.
Over at the Women's League of Ale Drinkers, where the first issue of the journal is available for a mere 99¢ (such a bargain!), you can get the lowdown on our design director, Stephanie Johnson AKA the Queen of Everything. We'll be getting to know many of the contributors to the first issue throughout the month. Enjoy!
November 1, 2010
WLoAD #1 and a Book Trailer Review
Hey kids, get yourself a fine publication for just 99¢! Yes, it's the inaugural issue of the Women's League of Ale Drinkers journal featuring some wonderful art by pal Stephanie Johnson (who designed the whole issue) and a whole lot more -- like my long unplaceable story, "Fear and Loathing in Deptford," in which I imagine how Christopher Marlowe's last night might be if he wrote in the style of Hunter S. Thompson (albeit with Elizabethan sensibilities). I got lots of compliments on the story from editors who nonetheless did not buy it because it was too this or too that (too obscure, too much strange vocabulary, and -- oh no! -- even some Latin!). Check out the table of contents for more delights including some familiar names.My book trailer for Pelzmantel received a review over at 1st Turning. I'm learning a lot from people's comments -- things that never occurred to me. It's hard when you know the story inside out to think about how to introduce it to someone unfamiliar with it. Feel free to add your comments as well. I need all the feedback I can get as I'm starting to think about the trailer for The Mangrove Legacy: whatever will that have?
October 31, 2010
Happy Halloween!
Busy weekend, busy autumn: I never got around to my traditional Halloween card, so here's a blast from the past which has come to mind several times this week, so clearly she wants to make an appearance:
Devil's Night
It was called Devil's Night in the town where I livedThat veiled night before Halloween,When goblins came out and devils ran wildAnd some said that witches were seen.We kids stayed inside, safe in our bedsAnd whispered of what there might be—But one year we intended to see for ourselves,My sister, my black cat and me.
The sun had long set and the darkness had comeTo wrap all the houses in black,When we crawled out the window and crept 'cross the lawnAnd none of us even looked back.Though the wind tapped our shoulders and played with our hairAnd ran through the leaves with mad glee,We were stalwart and true like the heroes we knew,My sister, my black cat and me.
We had never quite said, but each knew in our headsThe goal of our late night foray;There was only one house whose black shutters and spiresCast long inky shadows by day.The house of nightmares was the subject of daresFor children much older than we,But we knew we must try to sneak in and spy,My sister, my black cat and me.
As we walked on our own down the mist-shrouded laneThe goblin cries rang through the night.My sister told me, with an air of disdain,That I should not take any fright."It's only some kids wrapped in sheets that they hid,That they took from their mother's laundry."And we continued along with much knocking of kneesBy my sister, my black cat and me.
The house loomed ahead with its turrets like spikesAimed at a portentous skyThe old shutters rattled and the chimney howled doomBut the wind smelled like pumpkin pie."An old witch lives here and she eats little kids,"My sister heard from Katie LeeAnd we were likely to die if we drew too near byMy sister, my black cat and me.
"I'll go up on the porch and ring her doorbellthen run—like the wind—quick away.You go 'round the back and give a sharp ratatat,Before she can come out this way."Her plans carefully laid, my sister then stayed As I walked toward the back door slowly,I'll admit I was scared and I felt ill- prepared,No sister, just black cat and me.
As I prowled through the gloom I saw a bright roomAnd an old woman dressed all in black."It must be the witch," I said to my catAnd shivered and shook in my tracks.I wanted to run but I heard the doorbellAnd I knew that my sister's safetyWas all in my hands, so we gathered our breaths,Poor little black cat and me.
I made a small fist and raised up my arm To deliver the thunderous tapBut I froze to the spot when I saw a dark shapeThat opened the door with a snap."I know what you want!" I hear the witch sayBut my feet would not move to fleeAnd she swept us inside the warm kitchen's light,Poor little black cat and me.
My tears trickled down and I begged for my lifeAnd the life of my little kitty.The old witch just smiled and patted my headAnd said to me, "Don't be silly.I've got oodles of pie and candy and fudgeAnd a gingerbread house so pretty,And I wish you would share all the food I've prepared—It's too much for my big cat and me!"
I looked all around and my fear dissipatedThe kitchen was cheerful and cleanAnd the huge oaken table was filled 'til it groanedWith more treats than I'd ever seen—Pies of all kinds and cookies with chipsAnd a big steaming pot of green tea,And in front of the fire a great big cat yawnedAt my ravenous black cat and me.
I said "Thank you ma'am!" and plopped down in a chairAnd she set a blue plate before meAnd I piled it up high with some warm pumpkin pie And a big taste of each sweet dainty.I was feeding my face and telling the witch of our chaseWhen my sister's gaze fell upon me.But it took little time before we brought her insideTo eat with my black cat and me.
So when you see a witch and your knees start to shakeAnd you're tempted to run to the hills,Just remember the night that we wandered quite lateSeeking out Devil's Night thrills.Some witches are good, and some witches are badBut they all make amazing candy!If you're sweet and not rude, they might share their foodWith your sister, your black cat and thee.
Devil's Night
It was called Devil's Night in the town where I livedThat veiled night before Halloween,When goblins came out and devils ran wildAnd some said that witches were seen.We kids stayed inside, safe in our bedsAnd whispered of what there might be—But one year we intended to see for ourselves,My sister, my black cat and me.
The sun had long set and the darkness had comeTo wrap all the houses in black,When we crawled out the window and crept 'cross the lawnAnd none of us even looked back.Though the wind tapped our shoulders and played with our hairAnd ran through the leaves with mad glee,We were stalwart and true like the heroes we knew,My sister, my black cat and me.
We had never quite said, but each knew in our headsThe goal of our late night foray;There was only one house whose black shutters and spiresCast long inky shadows by day.The house of nightmares was the subject of daresFor children much older than we,But we knew we must try to sneak in and spy,My sister, my black cat and me.
As we walked on our own down the mist-shrouded laneThe goblin cries rang through the night.My sister told me, with an air of disdain,That I should not take any fright."It's only some kids wrapped in sheets that they hid,That they took from their mother's laundry."And we continued along with much knocking of kneesBy my sister, my black cat and me.
The house loomed ahead with its turrets like spikesAimed at a portentous skyThe old shutters rattled and the chimney howled doomBut the wind smelled like pumpkin pie."An old witch lives here and she eats little kids,"My sister heard from Katie LeeAnd we were likely to die if we drew too near byMy sister, my black cat and me.
"I'll go up on the porch and ring her doorbellthen run—like the wind—quick away.You go 'round the back and give a sharp ratatat,Before she can come out this way."Her plans carefully laid, my sister then stayed As I walked toward the back door slowly,I'll admit I was scared and I felt ill- prepared,No sister, just black cat and me.
As I prowled through the gloom I saw a bright roomAnd an old woman dressed all in black."It must be the witch," I said to my catAnd shivered and shook in my tracks.I wanted to run but I heard the doorbellAnd I knew that my sister's safetyWas all in my hands, so we gathered our breaths,Poor little black cat and me.
I made a small fist and raised up my arm To deliver the thunderous tapBut I froze to the spot when I saw a dark shapeThat opened the door with a snap."I know what you want!" I hear the witch sayBut my feet would not move to fleeAnd she swept us inside the warm kitchen's light,Poor little black cat and me.
My tears trickled down and I begged for my lifeAnd the life of my little kitty.The old witch just smiled and patted my headAnd said to me, "Don't be silly.I've got oodles of pie and candy and fudgeAnd a gingerbread house so pretty,And I wish you would share all the food I've prepared—It's too much for my big cat and me!"
I looked all around and my fear dissipatedThe kitchen was cheerful and cleanAnd the huge oaken table was filled 'til it groanedWith more treats than I'd ever seen—Pies of all kinds and cookies with chipsAnd a big steaming pot of green tea,And in front of the fire a great big cat yawnedAt my ravenous black cat and me.
I said "Thank you ma'am!" and plopped down in a chairAnd she set a blue plate before meAnd I piled it up high with some warm pumpkin pie And a big taste of each sweet dainty.I was feeding my face and telling the witch of our chaseWhen my sister's gaze fell upon me.But it took little time before we brought her insideTo eat with my black cat and me.
So when you see a witch and your knees start to shakeAnd you're tempted to run to the hills,Just remember the night that we wandered quite lateSeeking out Devil's Night thrills.Some witches are good, and some witches are badBut they all make amazing candy!If you're sweet and not rude, they might share their foodWith your sister, your black cat and thee.
October 29, 2010
BitchBuzz: Spooky Chicks
Setting off the Halloween weekend, here's my latest column in which I wax rhapsodic over some fave femme films (oh dear, alliteration overload):
Spooky Chicks: 4 Films Full of Female Mayhem
It's nearly Halloween and if you're like most people these halcyon days, you're feeling more than a mite pinched in the wallet and depressed about your status in the world. Doubly so if you are female, because we always bear the brunt of austerity measures.
Well, nothing raises the spirits and boosts the ego like a little female mayhem. Sure you want to go on a rampage through the high street and smash windows, but you'd also like to have the possibility of keeping your job and acquaintances. Better to snack on your favorite high fat snack and let these women carry out the bloodshed for you.
Read more: http://culture.bitchbuzz.com/spooky-chicks-4-films-full-of-female-mayhem.html#ixzz13geQEopZ to see what films I recommend!
A busy weekend ahead: of course! So many Halloween things going on, it will be hard to choose. Definitely a bonfire out at Mandi's tonight with a bunch of folks and probably Sunday out at Mary's in Berne, but in between...? Still making up my mind. Maybe I'll just stay home and watch scary movies :-)
I have been quoted in this article from the Schenectady Gazette , but as it's behind a paywall, so you may need to take that into consideration. It's in conjunction with a spooky dramatic reading program that's going on Sunday afternoon by the Schenectady Civic Players. Not quite in time for Halloween, my zombie Western "High Plains Lazarus" will be available in the anthology Rotting Tales from Pill Hill Press next week. If you're on Facebook, you can see a teaser of the story there.
Spooky Chicks: 4 Films Full of Female Mayhem
It's nearly Halloween and if you're like most people these halcyon days, you're feeling more than a mite pinched in the wallet and depressed about your status in the world. Doubly so if you are female, because we always bear the brunt of austerity measures.Well, nothing raises the spirits and boosts the ego like a little female mayhem. Sure you want to go on a rampage through the high street and smash windows, but you'd also like to have the possibility of keeping your job and acquaintances. Better to snack on your favorite high fat snack and let these women carry out the bloodshed for you.
Read more: http://culture.bitchbuzz.com/spooky-chicks-4-films-full-of-female-mayhem.html#ixzz13geQEopZ to see what films I recommend!
A busy weekend ahead: of course! So many Halloween things going on, it will be hard to choose. Definitely a bonfire out at Mandi's tonight with a bunch of folks and probably Sunday out at Mary's in Berne, but in between...? Still making up my mind. Maybe I'll just stay home and watch scary movies :-)
I have been quoted in this article from the Schenectady Gazette , but as it's behind a paywall, so you may need to take that into consideration. It's in conjunction with a spooky dramatic reading program that's going on Sunday afternoon by the Schenectady Civic Players. Not quite in time for Halloween, my zombie Western "High Plains Lazarus" will be available in the anthology Rotting Tales from Pill Hill Press next week. If you're on Facebook, you can see a teaser of the story there.
October 28, 2010
Visiting the Vanderbilts
We headed over to the Vanderbilt place to check out how the other half lives (of course, at this point, it's not so much the "other half" as the super-rich 1%), but first we stopped to fortify ourselves at the diner.
I had a terrific burger cooked just the way I liked and everything was really fresh. My only disappointments: they have those coated fries with extra starch (bleh!) and they do not have real mayonnaise. But we did some more antiquing and saw a wonderful sight: an older woman in a leopard skin coat walking a cat in the rain. Wonderful!
Next we headed over to the Vanderbilt House. It's not quite as magnificent as the Biltmore, of course -- they only came here for a month each in the spring and fall -- but it is quite nice. The way they give you the tour is to take you through the experience of arriving there to spend the weekend as their fellow millionaire friends so you can see how the day was spent, but then you get to leave through the servants' area, so it brings you back down to earth. It was a bit rainy off and on, but a lovely day nonetheless.
Driving home last there was a whole lotta fog: the effects of rather too warm weather for this time of year and a lot of rain. A bit nerve-wracking for driving, but it always looks so cool.
I had a terrific burger cooked just the way I liked and everything was really fresh. My only disappointments: they have those coated fries with extra starch (bleh!) and they do not have real mayonnaise. But we did some more antiquing and saw a wonderful sight: an older woman in a leopard skin coat walking a cat in the rain. Wonderful!Next we headed over to the Vanderbilt House. It's not quite as magnificent as the Biltmore, of course -- they only came here for a month each in the spring and fall -- but it is quite nice. The way they give you the tour is to take you through the experience of arriving there to spend the weekend as their fellow millionaire friends so you can see how the day was spent, but then you get to leave through the servants' area, so it brings you back down to earth. It was a bit rainy off and on, but a lovely day nonetheless.
Driving home last there was a whole lotta fog: the effects of rather too warm weather for this time of year and a lot of rain. A bit nerve-wracking for driving, but it always looks so cool.
October 26, 2010
With my Brothers
Buck, the most good-natured dog in the world, supervises the process, while Robert makes the dough, Steve explains why rutabagas are always a bad idea and then the final product appears: mmmm, fresh pasties straight from the oven -- yum!
October 24, 2010
Keeping it Peel
Legendary DJ John Peel died on this day just six years ago. He could be curmudgeonly and peculiar in his tastes, but he had a profound effect on the musical tastes of people around the world, so I've joined in the effort toward Keeping it Peel -- passing on the legacy by sharing some of the extraordinary work that he brought to the airwaves, like this oddity from Peel faves (and yes, mine) The Fall. Sing a song in celebration of John Peel, like our pals Reticents did.
Find more artists like Reticents at MySpace Music
Find more artists like Reticents at MySpace Music
October 23, 2010
Into the Woods
Off on a retreat today with my friends in the lovely woods and hills (and cave!) of Berne. No cell phone reception, no wifi. Just silence in nature. Tomorrow I'll write up my review of the latest Woody Allen movie -- sigh! Short version: what a colossal waste of a stellar cast.
