Beth Cato's Blog, page 155
December 3, 2012
A poem at Liquid Imagination and Waylines Magazine Kickstarter
My urban fantasy poem, "For Artemis Has Heard Their Cries," can be read in the new issue of Liquid Imagination.
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One of my recent story acceptances was for the first issue of Waylines Magazine. The editors are currently running a Kickstarter to gain funding. They've made the minimum goal (whoo hoo!) but if they make it to $3,000, they'll pay their authors pro rates. (As you can imagine, I think that's a pretty spiffy idea!) Plus, their whole magazine concept is innovative--they want to publish short genre films along with short stories.
Check out their video and what they have planned. The funding campaign ends on Thursday.
---
One of my recent story acceptances was for the first issue of Waylines Magazine. The editors are currently running a Kickstarter to gain funding. They've made the minimum goal (whoo hoo!) but if they make it to $3,000, they'll pay their authors pro rates. (As you can imagine, I think that's a pretty spiffy idea!) Plus, their whole magazine concept is innovative--they want to publish short genre films along with short stories.
Check out their video and what they have planned. The funding campaign ends on Thursday.
December 2, 2012
Sunday Quote impatiently waits for winter
“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one.” ~ Elbert Hubbard
November 30, 2012
My first professional review!
There's a magazine of the genre publishing industry called Locus. In Locus, there's a review column by one Lois Tilton. She is known for her... select opinions. It's the rare story that gets a "recommended" rating.
Of all the magazines, of all the serious and heart-rending stories of my creation, Tilton read the latest Stupefying Stories with my tale, "Toilet Gnomes at War." By her own admission in this same column, she doesn't favor humor stories. My story didn't get a recommended rating, but it did get a one-word review that leaves me pretty darn happy.
"Funny."
I'll take that.
Of all the magazines, of all the serious and heart-rending stories of my creation, Tilton read the latest Stupefying Stories with my tale, "Toilet Gnomes at War." By her own admission in this same column, she doesn't favor humor stories. My story didn't get a recommended rating, but it did get a one-word review that leaves me pretty darn happy.
"Funny."
I'll take that.
November 28, 2012
Bready or Not: White Chocolate Orange Cookies
I have a serious weakness for stuff on clearance. This is especially true of post-holiday sales. I tend to stock up on those half-price bags of candy and then use them for as treats for my son or as baking goodies. Heck, once the wrapper is off, no one can tell I'm using Halloween candy in the middle of the summer! The stuff stays fresh forever--though here in Arizona, the biggest issue is that things melt.
After last Christmas, I bought a Terry's White Chocolate Orange. I have seen the milk chocolate versions for years and always thought they were kinda cool looking. My husband loves citrus and he loves chocolate, so I figured this Orange would be a nice treat for him.
Then suddenly it's late summertime and the stores are starting to stock Halloween candy (and Christmas stuff!) and I still have this Orange in its pretty foil wrapper. I made those candy corn cookies and loved the fresh citrus taste. I got to thinking about that Terry's Orange. What if I modified my white chocolate macadamia nut cookie recipe and included the Orange? I could tweak it to be like the candy corn cookies in some ways, including a few tablespoons of orange juice and zest, and then add some flour to compensate for the extra liquid.
I gave this blend of two recipes a shot.
The verdict? AWESOMENESS. The recipe creates a unique, very fresh-tasting white chocolate cookie.
Since it's the holidays, it's the time to readily buy a Terry's Orange (you don't need to wait for them to be on clearance, though a good sale never hurts); I imagine the milk chocolate Orange will work just as well in this recipe, and might even make it prettier as it adds more color.
White Chocolate Orange Cookies
Recipe by Beth Cato
Ingredients
1 bag (10 ounces) white chocolate chips
1 Terry's White (or Milk) Chocolate Orange
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup (11 tablespoons) butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs, room temperature
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (more if needed)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 orange, zested, with two tablespoons of juice reserved
Steps
Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Place 1 cup of white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on 50% power in short increments, 20-30 seconds, and stop to stir between passes until the chips blend smoothly. Keep an eye on it! The chocolate will burn very fast. Set the bowl aside to cool.
With another bowl handy, use your fingers to break the Chocolate Orange segments into smaller chunks. (Using a blender is overkill--it pulverizes the chocolate into powder. Which isn't awful, but not ideal, either.)
See? Partially pulverized. A lesson learned. The chunks on top are because I broke it apart by hand.
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the sugar, butter, vanilla, and eggs until they're creamy. Mix in the melted chips. Add in the tablespoons of orange juice. Stir in flour, baking soda, zest, and cream of tartar. If the mixture seems too wet, add more flour to improve the consistency--you don't want runny dough! Add the remaining chips and Chocolate Orange pieces.
Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to place dough in rounded lumps on cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges begin to turn very light golden brown. Cool on the sheet for several minutes, then move to a rack to cool.
Makes about 35 cookies using a tablespoon scoop.
ON NOM NOM.
After last Christmas, I bought a Terry's White Chocolate Orange. I have seen the milk chocolate versions for years and always thought they were kinda cool looking. My husband loves citrus and he loves chocolate, so I figured this Orange would be a nice treat for him.
Then suddenly it's late summertime and the stores are starting to stock Halloween candy (and Christmas stuff!) and I still have this Orange in its pretty foil wrapper. I made those candy corn cookies and loved the fresh citrus taste. I got to thinking about that Terry's Orange. What if I modified my white chocolate macadamia nut cookie recipe and included the Orange? I could tweak it to be like the candy corn cookies in some ways, including a few tablespoons of orange juice and zest, and then add some flour to compensate for the extra liquid.
I gave this blend of two recipes a shot.
The verdict? AWESOMENESS. The recipe creates a unique, very fresh-tasting white chocolate cookie.
Since it's the holidays, it's the time to readily buy a Terry's Orange (you don't need to wait for them to be on clearance, though a good sale never hurts); I imagine the milk chocolate Orange will work just as well in this recipe, and might even make it prettier as it adds more color.
White Chocolate Orange Cookies
Recipe by Beth Cato
Ingredients
1 bag (10 ounces) white chocolate chips
1 Terry's White (or Milk) Chocolate Orange
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup (11 tablespoons) butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs, room temperature
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (more if needed)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 orange, zested, with two tablespoons of juice reserved
Steps
Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Place 1 cup of white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on 50% power in short increments, 20-30 seconds, and stop to stir between passes until the chips blend smoothly. Keep an eye on it! The chocolate will burn very fast. Set the bowl aside to cool.
With another bowl handy, use your fingers to break the Chocolate Orange segments into smaller chunks. (Using a blender is overkill--it pulverizes the chocolate into powder. Which isn't awful, but not ideal, either.)
See? Partially pulverized. A lesson learned. The chunks on top are because I broke it apart by hand.
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the sugar, butter, vanilla, and eggs until they're creamy. Mix in the melted chips. Add in the tablespoons of orange juice. Stir in flour, baking soda, zest, and cream of tartar. If the mixture seems too wet, add more flour to improve the consistency--you don't want runny dough! Add the remaining chips and Chocolate Orange pieces.
Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to place dough in rounded lumps on cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges begin to turn very light golden brown. Cool on the sheet for several minutes, then move to a rack to cool.
Makes about 35 cookies using a tablespoon scoop.
ON NOM NOM.
November 27, 2012
Tenacity Pays Off (Sometimes)
In the past few weeks, I've managed to sell three stories that have each been on the submission-cycle for over a year. It's always nice to make a sale, but it's especially nice when it's a story that's been out for such a long time.
The first of these stories is now out: "Toilet Gnomes at War," at Stupefying Stories. This story had some of the kindest rejections I've ever gotten (including an editor who loved it, said he read it multiple times, but that it was too funny for his magazine) so I'm really happy for my wandering gnomes to finally have a home.
"Toilet Gnomes" also features one of my all-time favorite lines:
All the dozens of times I've read this story, and that still makes me giggle.
The first of these stories is now out: "Toilet Gnomes at War," at Stupefying Stories. This story had some of the kindest rejections I've ever gotten (including an editor who loved it, said he read it multiple times, but that it was too funny for his magazine) so I'm really happy for my wandering gnomes to finally have a home.
"Toilet Gnomes" also features one of my all-time favorite lines:
The wailing within the walls worsened, like someone packed a hive of banshees inside and told them to sing Michael Bolton.
All the dozens of times I've read this story, and that still makes me giggle.
November 25, 2012
Sunday Quote is on the road
“Let the world burn through you. Throw the prism light, white hot, on paper.” ~Ray Bradbury
November 23, 2012
Guest Post from Bryan Thomas Schmidt: 10 Tips for Getting Past Writer's Block
Are you in the thick of NaNo? Has your novel-in-progress stalled? Today I welcome author Bryan Thomas Schmidt with great tips on breaking through that mental block. Thanks, Bryan!
Write Tip: 10 Tips For Getting Past Writer’s Block
I did a Write Tip before on Fighting Off Writer’s Block in which a lot of published authors offered their advice. But the other day a friend told me she’s been stuck forever on her book, and I realized there are some tricks I can suggest as well, so here are my 10 Tips For Getting Past Writer’s Block.
1) Identify What Went Wrong. If you’re stuck, it’s usually because something went astray at some point. You’ve either tried to push the story where it doesn’t want to go or taken a wrong turn that your subconscious can see but your conscious can’t and thus are having trouble moving on. It may not be in the previous scene you wrote or even the previous chapter. It may be a little further back, but it’s in there somewhere and so the best way to get past it is to identify it.
2) Know Your Plot Points. Whether you write it intentionally or not, Western storytelling tends to be structured around three acts and key plot points. Your first act is your set up and then a major turning point happens that requires action from your characters and propels you into Act Two, the longer middle of your book. A second major turning point happens propelling you toward your conclusion and Act Three. In screenplays, the first turning point is around page 30, and the second page 90. But novels are a little different in page count. Between each major plot point (about every 15 pages in a script) are minor turning points. Also, each storyline will have this same structure, so turning points for subplots may occur in different places as well). The trick is to find these turning points and make sure they are paced correctly and that each propels your story on toward the next, keeping the momentum. If anything pulls it off track by slowing it down, taking it on a detour, etc., that may be why you’re blocked and you can fix it. Often times, writers have not formally studied this but do it on instinct, having learned it from their reading, etc. I don’t even think about it anymore but just write it. I studied it to death in college though. Yet if you don’t realize you’re doing it, you need to be aware and finding these plot points can help you get unstuck when you experience a block.
3) Rewrite From Page 1 To Where You Are. This may violate your “that’s not how I work” sense of craft, I realize, but truly, going back to reread and then polish from the first page through where you are stuck is a great way to not only identify plot points but find inconsistencies and issues you don’t even realize are there. It also gets the whole plotline and all of the arcs fresh in your mind, making it easier to figure out where the story wants/needs to go next. It really works. And often, along the way, whether conscious of it or not, you’ll fix that issue which caused the block. In the process, you’ll also rediscover your enthusiasm and momentum for writing the story.
4) Outline Your Plot and Character Arcs. I get it. You’re a pantser. But your story takes on stucture as you write it regardless. Taking a moment to go through and write out the outline as it now exists on what you’ve written so far doesn’t mean you have to outline the entire book, just what you’ve got on paper. In the process, you’ll find those pesky plot points or realize where they’re missing and probably figure out what works and what doesn’t to remove that block. It doesn’t have to be a lengthy outline. Just identify which scenes go with which plotline and character arc and write a one or two sentence description of events that move it forward.
5) Give Yourself Permission To Write Crap and Write Anyway. Even Robert Silverberg has told me he writes junk from time to time. It’s okay. Everybody does it. No one has to see it but you, but if you don’t give yourself permission to write, exercising your muscle, releasing your creativity, you might stay stuck. Write anyway. You might actually write past the junk and start producing good stuff again.
6) Skip To The Scene And Come Back Later. Paul S. Kemp doesn’t write linearly anyway, which amazes me. K.D. McEntire starts with the ending then goes back. There’s lots of ways to do it. I tend to write in chronological order or what I think it will be. But sometimes, a particular scene just isn’t coming along, and one way around that is to skip it for scene you can picture more clearly and write that first. In the process, sometimes things will come out that steer you in the right direction for the scene where you’re stuck and allow you to write it. It’s jogging the muscles a bit, perhaps, but it can definitely work.
7) Work On Something Else To Clear Your Head. Taking a walk, doing dishes, playing with the kids, watching TV, reading—all kinds of activities can be used for this. OR you can switch to another writing project and fiddle with that until your head clears. Often the worst thing you can do is to sit there and stress out, trying to force it. Release the tension, take a break, switch gears and see if the block resolves itself. Often by going off to something else, I find my mind working 0n the story anyway and, in the process, discover how to write the scene which had me stuck. Earlier today I did that and plotted out the scene, came back, and wrote 2000 words in a straight shot. Give it a try.
8) Don’t Be Dismissive. It happens to most writers from time to time. I’ve had writers tell me they don’t believe in writer’s block and I laugh. It’s a silly thing to say. Writer’s get blocked. We all deal with it differently, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. It’s like someone who’s rarely been sick saying they don’t believe in disease. No, you’ve just been really lucky. Don’t insult everyone else. So don’t be dismissive. Admit you’re blocked. Admit it happens. It doesn’t mean your story is crap or that everything you wrote is worthless. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer or won’t succeed. It has happened to many writers who are NY Times Bestsellers. They got over it and so will you. But know this: the way to get through it is not to deny it and do nothing. Like anything else, it takes work. And you may have to try several things to find the right path through.
9) Deal With Life. Sometimes your creative blocks come from external sources rather than within your manuscript. When I wrote The Worker Prince, I wrote 2-6k words a day for four months straight. It was great. Then life fell apart and got stressful with work layoffs, my wife’s health issues, marital issues, money issues, etc. From January 2010 to July 2012, I struggled and felt lucky to get 1000 words a day. 12-1500 was a great day. Then July 30th, as I started The Exodus, my third Davi Rhii novel, I started having 2500 word days again regularly. I’ve had a few 1k days in there but I also had 3k. I’ve written 57000 words since then. The life issues which affected me were a big part of the problem. The unemployment issue is still a problem but the marital and health issues went away. I found my focus again and it’s made a huge difference. Sometimes living life takes priority and you have to surrender to that.
10) Journal It Out. I am not a journal writer myself. Instead, I blog a lot. But I know many writers who’ve told me that writing it out is a great way to work through these types of issues. Just sitting down and writing about their day, their thoughts, their struggles—anything that comes to mind—can be a huge release for writers. For one, it gets them writing which helps keep the writing muscles and creative muscles in shape but also allows them to clear their minds of pent up junk that might be inadvertently blocking them. For another, it provides a way to emotionally release stress and feelings that they’ve been carrying around, which might also be part of a mental block. You don’t have to start a formal journal to journal through troubles like this. You can throw it all away when you’re done but just get it out there.
So there you have it, 10 Tips For Getting Past Writer’s Block. Not all of them work for everyone because every writer and every block is different. But like any tools, having an arsenal at your disposal gives you options to find a way through that wouldn’t be there otherwise. Please let me know how they work for you. And, by all means, if you have other tips, share them in comments so we can all benefit. For what it’s worth…
----
Bryan Thomas Schmidt is the author of the space opera novel The Worker Prince, the collection The North Star Serial, and has several short stories forthcoming in anthologies and magazines. He’s also the host ofScience Fiction and Fantasy Writer’s Chat every Wednesday at 9 pm EST on Twitter, where he interviews people like Mike Resnick, AC Crispin, Kevin J. Anderson and Kristine Kathryn Rusch. He can be found online as @BryanThomasS on Twitter or via his website. Excerpts from The Worker Prince can be found on his blog.
Originally posted here.
Write Tip: 10 Tips For Getting Past Writer’s Block
I did a Write Tip before on Fighting Off Writer’s Block in which a lot of published authors offered their advice. But the other day a friend told me she’s been stuck forever on her book, and I realized there are some tricks I can suggest as well, so here are my 10 Tips For Getting Past Writer’s Block.
1) Identify What Went Wrong. If you’re stuck, it’s usually because something went astray at some point. You’ve either tried to push the story where it doesn’t want to go or taken a wrong turn that your subconscious can see but your conscious can’t and thus are having trouble moving on. It may not be in the previous scene you wrote or even the previous chapter. It may be a little further back, but it’s in there somewhere and so the best way to get past it is to identify it.
2) Know Your Plot Points. Whether you write it intentionally or not, Western storytelling tends to be structured around three acts and key plot points. Your first act is your set up and then a major turning point happens that requires action from your characters and propels you into Act Two, the longer middle of your book. A second major turning point happens propelling you toward your conclusion and Act Three. In screenplays, the first turning point is around page 30, and the second page 90. But novels are a little different in page count. Between each major plot point (about every 15 pages in a script) are minor turning points. Also, each storyline will have this same structure, so turning points for subplots may occur in different places as well). The trick is to find these turning points and make sure they are paced correctly and that each propels your story on toward the next, keeping the momentum. If anything pulls it off track by slowing it down, taking it on a detour, etc., that may be why you’re blocked and you can fix it. Often times, writers have not formally studied this but do it on instinct, having learned it from their reading, etc. I don’t even think about it anymore but just write it. I studied it to death in college though. Yet if you don’t realize you’re doing it, you need to be aware and finding these plot points can help you get unstuck when you experience a block.
3) Rewrite From Page 1 To Where You Are. This may violate your “that’s not how I work” sense of craft, I realize, but truly, going back to reread and then polish from the first page through where you are stuck is a great way to not only identify plot points but find inconsistencies and issues you don’t even realize are there. It also gets the whole plotline and all of the arcs fresh in your mind, making it easier to figure out where the story wants/needs to go next. It really works. And often, along the way, whether conscious of it or not, you’ll fix that issue which caused the block. In the process, you’ll also rediscover your enthusiasm and momentum for writing the story.
4) Outline Your Plot and Character Arcs. I get it. You’re a pantser. But your story takes on stucture as you write it regardless. Taking a moment to go through and write out the outline as it now exists on what you’ve written so far doesn’t mean you have to outline the entire book, just what you’ve got on paper. In the process, you’ll find those pesky plot points or realize where they’re missing and probably figure out what works and what doesn’t to remove that block. It doesn’t have to be a lengthy outline. Just identify which scenes go with which plotline and character arc and write a one or two sentence description of events that move it forward.
5) Give Yourself Permission To Write Crap and Write Anyway. Even Robert Silverberg has told me he writes junk from time to time. It’s okay. Everybody does it. No one has to see it but you, but if you don’t give yourself permission to write, exercising your muscle, releasing your creativity, you might stay stuck. Write anyway. You might actually write past the junk and start producing good stuff again.
6) Skip To The Scene And Come Back Later. Paul S. Kemp doesn’t write linearly anyway, which amazes me. K.D. McEntire starts with the ending then goes back. There’s lots of ways to do it. I tend to write in chronological order or what I think it will be. But sometimes, a particular scene just isn’t coming along, and one way around that is to skip it for scene you can picture more clearly and write that first. In the process, sometimes things will come out that steer you in the right direction for the scene where you’re stuck and allow you to write it. It’s jogging the muscles a bit, perhaps, but it can definitely work.
7) Work On Something Else To Clear Your Head. Taking a walk, doing dishes, playing with the kids, watching TV, reading—all kinds of activities can be used for this. OR you can switch to another writing project and fiddle with that until your head clears. Often the worst thing you can do is to sit there and stress out, trying to force it. Release the tension, take a break, switch gears and see if the block resolves itself. Often by going off to something else, I find my mind working 0n the story anyway and, in the process, discover how to write the scene which had me stuck. Earlier today I did that and plotted out the scene, came back, and wrote 2000 words in a straight shot. Give it a try.
8) Don’t Be Dismissive. It happens to most writers from time to time. I’ve had writers tell me they don’t believe in writer’s block and I laugh. It’s a silly thing to say. Writer’s get blocked. We all deal with it differently, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. It’s like someone who’s rarely been sick saying they don’t believe in disease. No, you’ve just been really lucky. Don’t insult everyone else. So don’t be dismissive. Admit you’re blocked. Admit it happens. It doesn’t mean your story is crap or that everything you wrote is worthless. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer or won’t succeed. It has happened to many writers who are NY Times Bestsellers. They got over it and so will you. But know this: the way to get through it is not to deny it and do nothing. Like anything else, it takes work. And you may have to try several things to find the right path through.
9) Deal With Life. Sometimes your creative blocks come from external sources rather than within your manuscript. When I wrote The Worker Prince, I wrote 2-6k words a day for four months straight. It was great. Then life fell apart and got stressful with work layoffs, my wife’s health issues, marital issues, money issues, etc. From January 2010 to July 2012, I struggled and felt lucky to get 1000 words a day. 12-1500 was a great day. Then July 30th, as I started The Exodus, my third Davi Rhii novel, I started having 2500 word days again regularly. I’ve had a few 1k days in there but I also had 3k. I’ve written 57000 words since then. The life issues which affected me were a big part of the problem. The unemployment issue is still a problem but the marital and health issues went away. I found my focus again and it’s made a huge difference. Sometimes living life takes priority and you have to surrender to that.
10) Journal It Out. I am not a journal writer myself. Instead, I blog a lot. But I know many writers who’ve told me that writing it out is a great way to work through these types of issues. Just sitting down and writing about their day, their thoughts, their struggles—anything that comes to mind—can be a huge release for writers. For one, it gets them writing which helps keep the writing muscles and creative muscles in shape but also allows them to clear their minds of pent up junk that might be inadvertently blocking them. For another, it provides a way to emotionally release stress and feelings that they’ve been carrying around, which might also be part of a mental block. You don’t have to start a formal journal to journal through troubles like this. You can throw it all away when you’re done but just get it out there.
So there you have it, 10 Tips For Getting Past Writer’s Block. Not all of them work for everyone because every writer and every block is different. But like any tools, having an arsenal at your disposal gives you options to find a way through that wouldn’t be there otherwise. Please let me know how they work for you. And, by all means, if you have other tips, share them in comments so we can all benefit. For what it’s worth…
----
Bryan Thomas Schmidt is the author of the space opera novel The Worker Prince, the collection The North Star Serial, and has several short stories forthcoming in anthologies and magazines. He’s also the host ofScience Fiction and Fantasy Writer’s Chat every Wednesday at 9 pm EST on Twitter, where he interviews people like Mike Resnick, AC Crispin, Kevin J. Anderson and Kristine Kathryn Rusch. He can be found online as @BryanThomasS on Twitter or via his website. Excerpts from The Worker Prince can be found on his blog.
Originally posted here.
November 21, 2012
Bready or Not: Pumpkin Spice Smoothie
The holidays are a time of temptation. I know I probably haven't helped matters with all the sweet and yummy goodies I've been posting. So, in this final installment of the 2012 pumpkin theme, how about we go healthy?
That's right. Pure goodness in the form of a smoothie.
If you've been baking with pumpkin and have a dab leftover from a can, this is the perfect way to use it up. The first time I tried this recipe, I used a 1/2 cup of organic pumpkin puree that had been stuck in my freezer for a long time; I thawed it out in the fridge and blended it in, and that's the version you see in the pictures here.
When I made this a second time, I used a freshly-opened can of Libby's pumpkin, and the resulting smoothie tasted the exact same, but the texture was much thicker and a deeper orange. This isn't a big surprise, as I've noticed that the organic pumpkin tends to be more watery straight from the can (and takes longer to bake in pies), plus freezing probably made it even more watery.
No matter if you use organic or not, thawed-frozen or from a new can, this thing tastes GOOD. It's a luscious pumpkin and vanilla blend. The spices seem like a lot, but the flavor is perfect.
Pumpkin Spice Smoothie
adapted from Eating Bird Food
Ingredients
½ cup pumpkin puree
½ frozen banana
¾ cup vanilla almond milk
1 heaping tablespoon vanilla protein powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
sprinkling of ground ginger
Instructions
Put all ingredients in blender. Blend. Drink.
OM NOM NOM.
Edited: Fixed image links. Dear LiveJournal, why do you randomly destroy links that that?! Grr.
That's right. Pure goodness in the form of a smoothie.
If you've been baking with pumpkin and have a dab leftover from a can, this is the perfect way to use it up. The first time I tried this recipe, I used a 1/2 cup of organic pumpkin puree that had been stuck in my freezer for a long time; I thawed it out in the fridge and blended it in, and that's the version you see in the pictures here.
When I made this a second time, I used a freshly-opened can of Libby's pumpkin, and the resulting smoothie tasted the exact same, but the texture was much thicker and a deeper orange. This isn't a big surprise, as I've noticed that the organic pumpkin tends to be more watery straight from the can (and takes longer to bake in pies), plus freezing probably made it even more watery.
No matter if you use organic or not, thawed-frozen or from a new can, this thing tastes GOOD. It's a luscious pumpkin and vanilla blend. The spices seem like a lot, but the flavor is perfect.
Pumpkin Spice Smoothie
adapted from Eating Bird Food
Ingredients
½ cup pumpkin puree
½ frozen banana
¾ cup vanilla almond milk
1 heaping tablespoon vanilla protein powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
sprinkling of ground ginger
Instructions
Put all ingredients in blender. Blend. Drink.
OM NOM NOM.
Edited: Fixed image links. Dear LiveJournal, why do you randomly destroy links that that?! Grr.
November 18, 2012
Sunday Quote Gears Up for Thanksgiving
“Don’t think about why you question, simply don’t stop questioning. Don’t worry about what you can’t answer, and don’t try to explain what you can’t know. Curiosity is its own reason. Aren’t you in awe when you contemplate the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure behind reality? And this is the miracle of the human mind—to use its constructions, concepts, and formulas as tools to explain what man sees, feels and touches. Try to comprehend a little more each day. Have holy curiosity.” ~ Albert Einstein
November 16, 2012
Guest Post from E. C. Ambrose: Researching the Middle Ages
Researching the Middle Ages
If there is one period of time most associated with fantasy fiction, it's the Medieval—from about 1100—castles, crusades, and courtly love—to the middle 1500's, at the cusp of the European transformation through its interactions with the plants, peoples and products of the New World. But many authors rely upon vague knowledge of the period from some distant World History course, reading a few of the Canterbury Tales, or watching a lot of the History Channel. Many fantasy manuscripts owe their world building to the bastard offspring of "Braveheart" and N. C. Wyeth's The Boy's King Arthur. Or, heaven forbid, only from reading other fantasy novels.
No, this is not the blog where I will chide you all (and you likely know who you are) or catalog the failings of a subgenre we love. Rather, I would like to help you find the tools to make it better, without getting a degree in Medieval History. Though, if you have the time and inclination, that could be a lot of fun. There are some good books out there to give you an overview, so I’m going to suggest some offbeat, more interesting approaches to research.
If you can, fly to Europe. Visit a few castles and cathedrals, tour some period houses, find exhibits, artifacts and museums to study. Do some research in advance—find out if there are special open days, historical re-enactments, lectures or exhibits that would be of use to you. Look for specific places or buildings that will help with your fantasy project. Hire a guide to tell you all about it while you're there on the ground. Take notes, take pictures of details they don't put in books, ask questions. If you can't get there from here, look for some local museums: try the Cloisters and the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Higgins Armory in Worcester.
Yes, many castles, cathedrals and museums have great websites where you can learn many things. Some of them are even putting their audio tours on-line, which is invaluable. However, what I'm talking about here is the material culture of the Middle Ages. What kind of stuff did they have? How is it made? How does it look, feel or smell? Experiential learning is great if you can get it. Take a falconry workshop (yes, you really can—I took mine here). Ride a horse. Sew something by hand. Cook a medieval meal (No, those lovely big turkey legs at the Renn Faire are *not* period).
Now that you have a little more grounding in the physical realm of the Middle Ages, what about entering the mindset and cultures of the people you're portraying? Check out the Internet Medieval Sourcebook hosted by Fordham University where you can find hundreds of translated documents on-line, ranging from trial transcripts and laws, to papal decrees and poetry. Read the stories they knew and consider the implications of the laws they enacted. What frightened and inspired them? What metaphors and images drew their attention? What behaviors did they condemn and how harshly? This part is about primary sources, the written matter that captures the time.
Find some enthusiasts. There are researchers, re-enactors and museum curators who love their subject matter. This is especially handy if you are researching a specific, narrow topic. Likely someone out there has a blog just for that—introduce yourself and ask questions.
And, if you can, my personal favorite: the International Medieval Congress at Kalamazoo. This annual event happens around Mother's Day weekend in May, and features thousands of scholars and students in a huge array of specialties, organized into groups like the Societas Magica (for the study of magic in the Middle Ages) or the Richard III Society. You can select from thousands of sessions where these scholars present papers about obscure and often fascinating topics. You can pursue a particular area of interest (like Norse studies through literature and archaeology) or sit in on a broad array of presentations, as if you compressed that entire degree in Medieval History into a single long weekend. It's tiring—and incredibly stimulating at the same time.
Join me in rehabilitating the medieval fantasy into a genre we can be proud of—and have a great time doing it!
____________
E. C. Ambrose is the author of The Dark Apostle historical fantasy series about a medieval barber surgeon to start in July 2013 with DAW books. E. C. blogs about history, fantasy and writing at http://ecambrose.wordpress.com/ and can also be found at www.ecambrose.com, on twitter @ecambrose, or in a tiny office in New England with a mournful black lab lurking under the desk.
If there is one period of time most associated with fantasy fiction, it's the Medieval—from about 1100—castles, crusades, and courtly love—to the middle 1500's, at the cusp of the European transformation through its interactions with the plants, peoples and products of the New World. But many authors rely upon vague knowledge of the period from some distant World History course, reading a few of the Canterbury Tales, or watching a lot of the History Channel. Many fantasy manuscripts owe their world building to the bastard offspring of "Braveheart" and N. C. Wyeth's The Boy's King Arthur. Or, heaven forbid, only from reading other fantasy novels.
No, this is not the blog where I will chide you all (and you likely know who you are) or catalog the failings of a subgenre we love. Rather, I would like to help you find the tools to make it better, without getting a degree in Medieval History. Though, if you have the time and inclination, that could be a lot of fun. There are some good books out there to give you an overview, so I’m going to suggest some offbeat, more interesting approaches to research.
If you can, fly to Europe. Visit a few castles and cathedrals, tour some period houses, find exhibits, artifacts and museums to study. Do some research in advance—find out if there are special open days, historical re-enactments, lectures or exhibits that would be of use to you. Look for specific places or buildings that will help with your fantasy project. Hire a guide to tell you all about it while you're there on the ground. Take notes, take pictures of details they don't put in books, ask questions. If you can't get there from here, look for some local museums: try the Cloisters and the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Higgins Armory in Worcester.
Yes, many castles, cathedrals and museums have great websites where you can learn many things. Some of them are even putting their audio tours on-line, which is invaluable. However, what I'm talking about here is the material culture of the Middle Ages. What kind of stuff did they have? How is it made? How does it look, feel or smell? Experiential learning is great if you can get it. Take a falconry workshop (yes, you really can—I took mine here). Ride a horse. Sew something by hand. Cook a medieval meal (No, those lovely big turkey legs at the Renn Faire are *not* period).
Now that you have a little more grounding in the physical realm of the Middle Ages, what about entering the mindset and cultures of the people you're portraying? Check out the Internet Medieval Sourcebook hosted by Fordham University where you can find hundreds of translated documents on-line, ranging from trial transcripts and laws, to papal decrees and poetry. Read the stories they knew and consider the implications of the laws they enacted. What frightened and inspired them? What metaphors and images drew their attention? What behaviors did they condemn and how harshly? This part is about primary sources, the written matter that captures the time.
Find some enthusiasts. There are researchers, re-enactors and museum curators who love their subject matter. This is especially handy if you are researching a specific, narrow topic. Likely someone out there has a blog just for that—introduce yourself and ask questions.
And, if you can, my personal favorite: the International Medieval Congress at Kalamazoo. This annual event happens around Mother's Day weekend in May, and features thousands of scholars and students in a huge array of specialties, organized into groups like the Societas Magica (for the study of magic in the Middle Ages) or the Richard III Society. You can select from thousands of sessions where these scholars present papers about obscure and often fascinating topics. You can pursue a particular area of interest (like Norse studies through literature and archaeology) or sit in on a broad array of presentations, as if you compressed that entire degree in Medieval History into a single long weekend. It's tiring—and incredibly stimulating at the same time.
Join me in rehabilitating the medieval fantasy into a genre we can be proud of—and have a great time doing it!
____________
E. C. Ambrose is the author of The Dark Apostle historical fantasy series about a medieval barber surgeon to start in July 2013 with DAW books. E. C. blogs about history, fantasy and writing at http://ecambrose.wordpress.com/ and can also be found at www.ecambrose.com, on twitter @ecambrose, or in a tiny office in New England with a mournful black lab lurking under the desk.
