Deborah J. Ross's Blog, page 125

Auntie Deborah Advises…Concerning Flying Objects

Dear Auntie Deborah,
I’ve suddenly found myself in a land of many colors, where troubles melt like lemon drops. My problem, though, is that this green-faced woman keeps sky-writing love letters to me…for everybody to see! I don’t return her affections, so what should I do?—Dorothy
Dear Dorothy,You’ve clearly ended up in a slash version of your own book. My advice is to click your heels like crazy before the flying monkeys get any ideas.—Auntie Deborah

Glory in the skies

The Carina Nebula: the pillar's convoluted outlines are shaped by the winds and radiation of Carina's young, hot, massive stars. But the interior of the cosmic pillar itself is home to stars in the process of formation. In fact, a penetrating infrared view shows the pillar is dominated by two, narrow, energetic jets blasting outward from a still hidden infant star.





 The Milky Way galaxy is made up of more than just stars and a new series of galactic maps has captured that diversity of gas, dust, particles and magnetic fields in amazing detail.

Making Music, the February 2015 edition

I began studying piano about 8 years ago, the first formal musical education I’d had. Having schlepped two kids through a gazillion lessons (piano, voice, a second instrument), it was finally my turn. I haven’t taken lessons for a few years now but I still play almost every day for 30-45 minutes. I’ll probably never progress much beyond low to mid intermediate level, but since it’s for my own pleasure and there’s plenty of wonderful music within my skill, I don’t care.
Here’s what I’m playing now, both repertoire and new pieces. Some are challenging, some are way too much fun, and some are old familiar friends.
Chopin: Preludes Op. 28, no. 4 and 6; Waltz in d minor Op. 69 no. 2 post.Brahms, Waltz in A flatBach, FughettaKabalevsky, Novelette and WaltzSatie, Gymnopédie No. 3O’Carolan, The Queen’s Dream and The Separation of Soul and Body (from Allan Alexander’s The Celtic Collection for Piano)Finn, Song of the Lonely Mountain (the Dan Coates easy piano/voice arrangement)Türk, Children’s Ballet

Thunderlord snippet - Betrothal

Please remember that this is a work in progress and drafts have a habit of changing drastically from inception to finished book.

From Thunderlord Chapter 3

Kyria found herself seated next to Dom Ruyven at the dinner following the betrothal ceremony. He greeted her formally and then proceeded to eat his dinner, slowly and silently. It was as if, having discharged his duty, he had no further interest in the Rockraven family…or in her. Everyone else was in a subdued mood, as well. In fact, the prevailing sentiment seemed to be one of stunned relief rather than celebration. Kyria swallowed her food without tasting any of it. She could not have sworn whether she’d eaten rabbithorn or dead leaves. The wine warmed her belly and eventually she was able to draw an easy breath. At a sharp glance from Ellimira, she pushed away her goblet. It was one thing to be less tense or even pleasantly relaxed at such a gathering, and entirely another to drink more than was seemly for a promised bride. She glanced her father’s pensive face as he sat isolated at the head of the table, then at Valdir at his right hand and Ellimira opposite her husband.

One more day, and then I will never sit at this table or see these people again.

The thought sent a pang through her breast. To distract herself, she turned to Dom Ruyven. “I thank you for bringing the portrait of Lord Scathfell.”

“It was my duty, damisela.”

“Nevertheless, I do thank you. Tell me, what manner of man is he, beyond his appearance?”

“He is Lord of Scathfell.”

Kyria looked down at her half-uneaten meal and took a deep breath. “I understand that. But as we have never met and I intend to please my husband, will you not help me by telling me something of what I am to expect? Is he a hunter? A musician? A –” She could not think what else a great lord might do with his time, what interests or concerns he might have. Surely, he need not worry about how to feed his family and household, or where to get the materials to patch this wall or that window.

Dom Ruyven set down his eating knife, leaving only a few bread crumbs on his plate. For a long moment, he seemed to be considering his answer, and Kyria’s stomach clenched. If his own agent, so clearly devoted to him, could not think of anything good to say, what kind of monster was she betrothed to? Then Dom Ruyven’s expression lightened.

“You must understand that my lord has never known a time of true peace. He was but a child when the Witch-Child of Aldaran blasted all the lands around. His brother perished then, and his father too long afterward, leaving him alone to defend Scathfell.”

The Witch-Child of Aldaran? That could not be Great Aunt Aliciane – could it?

“He loves Scathfell above all other things – excepting, of course you, his new betrothed. He would do anything and make any sacrifice to prevent Aldaran from perpetuating a second such outrage.”

Auntie Deborah Advises…Regarding Pesky Elves

Dear Auntie Deb,My companions and I are on a desperate mission to save Middle Earth by throwing the One Ring into the fires of Mt. Doom. Our message to the eagles, imploring them to carry us thither, has gone unanswered. Now a misshapen, gangrel creature seems bent on blocking my every move. He insists that “Frodo Baggins must not go to Mordor!” He calls himself an elf, although he bears not the slightest semblance to them. Why have the eagles failed us and what should I do about the creature?— Frodo

Dear Frodo,Your creature, Dobby, is a House Elf, quite a different breed from the folk of Lothlorien and the Woodland Realm. Clearly, he suffers from Periodic Saving The Hero Disorder (PSTHD). As a result, he has acquired considerable experience in intercepting missives to helpful fowl, so it is entirely likely that the eagles never received your message. Reasoning with him will do no good, and you have no power to compel him. The only person who can do that is his master, Lucius Malfoy. As you may have suspected from Malfoy’s long, straight, white-blond hair, he is distantly related to the elves you know, although of greatly reduced circumstances, power, and nobility. My advice is to ask Legolas to have a word with Malfoy on the subject of keeping his House Elf in the proper book. You could swear never to go to Hogwarts, but I really think Legolas is your best bet. — Auntie Deborah

Nifty Links to Enliven Your Weekend

(an occasional series of tidbits I found delightful)

Writers Sherwood Smith and Judith Tarr discuss Writing: Where history, fantasy, and science fiction intersect.

“The Pomegranate Architect“: A previously unpublished essay by Ray Bradbury

Asteroid M44 streaks across the night sky. On Monday, January 26, well-tracked asteroid 2004 BL86 made its closest approach, a mere 1.2 million kilometers from our fair planet. That's about 3.1 times the Earth-Moon distance or 4 light-secondsaway.

Vesta is the second most massive body in the asteroid belt, surpassed only by Ceres, which is classified as a dwarf planet... and other cool stuff about Vesta

Barns Are Painted Red Because of the Physics of Dying Stars Red ochre—Fe2O3—is a simple compound of iron and oxygen that absorbs yellow, green and blue light and appears red. It’s what makes red paint red. It’s really cheap because it’s really plentiful. And it’s really plentiful because of nuclear fusion in dying stars

Thunderlord snippet - The Summons

Please remember that this is a work in progress and drafts have a habit of changing drastically from inception to finished book.


From Thunderlord Chapter 2

The strip of carpet was so worn that it did not cushion the thumping sound of Valdir’s boot heels. He marched along, gaze fixed in front of him and expression somber. Kyria had to jog a few paces to keep up with him. At this rate, they’d arrive at the presence chamber without time for her to ask a single question. “Val! Slow down, will you? What’s going on?”
He did not look at her, although he moderated his pace. “You’ll find out soon enough. It’s not for me to say.”
Kyria, near the end of her temper, came to a halt. If he wouldn’t talk to her, she’d stay right here until he did. “Now you’re frightening me. What do these men of Scathfell want with me? And why can’t you tell me? Is it bad news?” Although what that news might be and why it must be delivered to her and none of the other women of the family, she had no idea.
Valdir turned to face her. They’d never been close for their ages were too dissimilar, but now he seemed almost sympathetic. “No, it’s not bad news. At least, I don’t think so. But the outcome is not yet determined. You must trust me – or if not me, then our father – that much good may come to you – to us – from this. Please, they are waiting.”
His words, although kindly spoken, did nothing to dissipate Kyria’s unease. Thinking that the problem, whatever it was, was best faced quickly, she hurried after her brother so rapidly that they soon arrived at the presence chamber. She hadn’t been in that room more than a handful of times in her life, for the chamber was dim and chilly, even in high summer. Valdir opened the door and indicated she should proceed him. Candelabra of their most expensive beeswax candles pushed back the gloom. Her father sat in his usual high-backed chair. A strange man, also seated, faced him. Kyria had only a moment to study him and the two others who stood at attention behind him. Even at a glance, she noticed the armor under their travel cloaks. Their hands rested on the hilts of their sheathed swords.
Wear no sword at kinsman’s board, she recalled the old proverb. But these men were not kin.

Midwifing a Story: Editors

Once upon a time, editors were the gold standard of book midwifery. Editors loved books and had the time to not discover budding authors, who received nurture and guidance for their entire careers. The best editors took the “long view” and invested patience in allowing “their” authors time to develop, find their audiences, and achieve their full potential. If a single book didn’t do well, author and editor soldiered on; this loyalty and refusal to give up on the partnership encouraged authors to try new and challenging projects. Editors understood that not every book will be a best-seller and that new writers need time to find the true power of their voices. 
Nowadays, with a few happy exceptions, the situation is very different. In some traditional publishing houses, one editor may acquire a book and another may edit it. Authors who do not rapidly achieve success (measured in dollars, not the quality of their work and the depth of their vision) are dropped or ordered to change their bylines so that poor sales figures do not affect pre-orders of their next books, or even to change the story to make it fit into current marketing niches. More and more, editors spend their time wrestling sales figures for multinational conglomerates instead of working with their authors. Even so, most editors are in the business because they love good books; for them, the thrill of discovering a new talent and seeing it blossom overrides the long hours and the impossible task of satisfying the bean-counters.
So what does a (good) book editor do and how is that different from what a beta reader does? Every editor/writer partnership is different, of course, but in general the term I used — partnership — is what distinguishes an editor. The book rights have been bought, which means that the editor believes readers will love it. Just about every book, no matter how many times it’s been critiqued and revised, needs further work beyond the acquisition stage. No matter how experienced a writer is, we all have blind spots. We see what we meant to write, not what we actually did. The editor brings professional-level expertise and experience to the process of bringing out and honing the author’s vision. Editor and author are not or should not be at cross-purposes but working together for the same goal — making the book as good as it can be. 
Working with a good editor feels like that person has looked into the core of the story and offers skilled insight into how to make the words on the page better convey it. Because the book is now in production, these are likely to be the final round of significant changes (minor ones can be made in proof stage). Editing is the last step in closing plot holes, making characters vivid and their motivations clear, balancing tension, shaping the plot arc, and in general making the book a satisfying and memorable read.  Editors are more likely than beta readers or critiquers to have conversations with give-and-take about the shortcomings of the manuscript, but they also may propose solutions.
Generally speaking, an editor has a great deal more authority (read: power) than does a critiquer or beta reader. This arises partly from the authority that comes from skill and partly from the fact that the editor represents the p/u/r/s/e/s/t/r/i/n/g/s publisher. When there is a disagreement, the author is free to refuse to make the requested changes, but sometimes this means the deal is off. The editor has the final say on whether the revised manuscript is acceptable. This is one of many reasons why it’s crucial that author and editor develop a relationship of mutual respect. 
Many times, I’ve heard authors express appreciation for the benefit their work has received from skilled editing. A good editor can make the difference between a book with potential but flawed execution and one that goes zing! At the same time, even the best editor is not right for every author. While it is not longer common for a single editor to work with an author throughout that author’s career, when the match is good and has time to develop, it can make an enormous difference to the success of not just a single book but of the author’s work over a lifetime. 
A wise author will listen carefully to the editor’s feedback, keeping in mind that editors are not mind-readers, so if a problem is brought up, there very likely is one. A wise editor will let the author do her job — tell her story in her way, keeping in mind that the problem may very likely not be the one the editor notices. Neither profits from being intimidating or intimidated, autocratic or arrogant. Both are wise to remember that publishing is like an extended family; sooner or later, unprofessional behavior — gossip, rudeness, temper tantrums — comes back to bite you.  Nowhere is this more true than in the editorial relationship.
Other topics in the "Midwifing A Story" series:Midwifing A Story: The Trusted ReaderMidwifing A Story: Beta Readers and Critiquers

Sneak Peak - Thunderlord

I've been hard at work on the next Darkover (R) novel, Thunderlord. Marion Zimmer Bradley, who created the world of Darkover, intended to write a companion book to Stormqueen, but died before she could write it. In the few fragmentary notes she left, she indicated only that it would take place a generation after Stormqueen and feature the son of Donal Delleray and Renata Leynier, raised by Lord Aldaran as his son and heir. I submitted a proposal to write this book, and both the MZB Literary Trust and DAW Books approved it. Because readers have waited for Thunderlord for years now and it may be some time before it's published (since it's not finished yet), now and in the following weeks I'll post snippets for your enjoyment. Hopefully, I will find something in each chapter that is neither too confusing nor gives away too much. Please remember that this is a work in progress and drafts have a habit of changing drastically from inception to finished book.


Thunderlord Chapter 1, snippet:



“I knew you’d get into trouble sooner or later,” Alayna said. She was sitting on the bed she and Kyria shared, legs crossed under her full skirts, when Kyria closed the bedroom door behind her. The room was small and dark, the windows narrow and the few pieces of furniture old-fashioned and almost black with age, but it did possess a small fireplace, and a soothing warmth spread from the newly-lit flames.“Did I not say so?”
“You did, and you were right,” Kyria responded with a rueful smile. Alayna had teased her, sometimes unmercifully, but she’d never betrayed Kyria’s secret.
With a satisfied grin, Alayna bounced off the bed to help Kyria take off her wet boots. At least, the heavy winter socks had stayed dry, or mostly dry. She tsked in disapproval, very much like Ellimira did, as Kyria struggled out of the vest and breeches. “Those things must be older than the castle! Look at these seams – they’re falling apart! It was just as well you got caught now, or you’d soon be running around bare-arsed.”
“’Layna!” Kyria pretended to be shocked, but the quaver in her voice was not entirely feigned. Now that the interview with her father was over, and words said that could not be unsaid, she felt shivery all over.
Alayna folded the damp, mud-streaked clothes and set them in a neat pile on the chair just inside the door, all the while helping Kyria into the warmest of her nightgowns and wrapping her in a comforter. She brought out a basin and coaxed Kyria to put her feet into it. Tentatively, Kyria touched the toes of one foot to the water.
“Ouch!” Kyria jerked her foot back. 
“What’s the matter?” Alayna asked, glancing over her shoulder from the other side of the bed, where she was plumping pillows and arranging a warming brick under the covers. “Scared of a little water? Whatever shall you do when it comes to soap?”
“It’s hot! What are you trying to do, scald me?”
“It is not hot. It only feels that way because your toes are nigh onto frostbitten.” Alayna had unaccountably gotten herself around to Kyria’s side of the bed. She dipped her fingers in the basin. “See? It’s practically lukewarm.”
“I still say it’s too hot.” 
“And I say you’re acting like a spoiled child!”
“Now you’resounding like Ellimira’s evil twin sister!”
“Am not!”
The sisters glared at one another. Then Alayna’s expression softened. “I’m so sorry, dearest. Here you are, half-frozen, bossed around by our sister-in-law and then by Father – I’m dying to hear what he had to say to you! – and now instead of taking care of you, I’m being wretched to you!”

Guest Blog: Puberty Blockers, Trans Youth, and Bone Loss

Another thought-provoking article from Open Minded Health, this time a review on an article that examines a possible down-side of puberty blockers.


Puberty blockers (“GnRH agonists”) can be extremely helpful for transgender (trans) and gender non-conforming (GNC) children and their families. They are used to “pause” puberty. The pause allows time for negotiation, thought, and discussion. Schools need to be contacted and negotiated with. Families may need time to ask questions and do their own research. The trans/GNC young person is relieved from the distress of an unwanted puberty.
Simply, puberty blockers work by telling the body “It’s not time for puberty yet — stay as a pre-puberty body”. That message keeps ovaries and testes from producing their sex hormones. For young people just beginning puberty, it’s like pressing “pause” on puberty. But they can also be used post-puberty to reduce overall sex hormone levels. So “puberty blockers” can be used as testosterone blockers in trans women. They’re not used often in the United States that way because they’re expensive, but they’re very effective.

Puberty blockers are generally safe. They have been in use for a long time for children with precocious puberty. However there is one unknown that’s been a concern for both parents and their children: Bone health.

The time when we build the most bone density is in puberty, and it’s in response to sex hormones. The amount of bone we build in puberty and adolescence is associated our chances of osteoporosis and bone breaks later in life. The more bone with build, the less likely we are to have weak and brittle bones as we age. So physicians and scientists were left with a question: Will lowering sex hormone levels during this crucial period prevent them from building the bone they need for later in life?

All of that background brings us to this week’s article. Finally, a team in the Netherlands has published on the effects of puberty blockers on bone mineral density.

Who did they study, and what was the specific treatment? This paper reports data from 34 trans/GNC youth. These youth started puberty blockers (triptorelin) at 14-15 years old, added estrogen/testosterone (oral estradiol/IM testosterone) at 16, had genital surgery, and were studied at the age of 22. In total, they had an average of 1.3-1.5 years on puberty blockers alone and 2.2-3.1 years on combined therapy.

Those ages are important. They’re the standard years for treatment in the Netherlands. But note that 14-15 years old is past puberty. Despite that, after their natal puberty they had over a year of suppression of sex hormones. Could that have had an effect on their bones?

To find out, these researchers scanned them with DEXA scanners, similar to the ones used for adult screening. They were scanned when they started puberty blockers, when they started hormone therapy, and at age 22. Their bone mineral density was compared to the average densities of cis people of their natal gender. That is, trans men were compared to cis women and trans women were compared to cis men. This does make some sense. They were asking, in essence, “Did the treatment cause harm that would not have happened if we hadn’t treated?”

The answer is complicated.
Trans women in this study had low bone mineral density for their age. However, they also had low bone mineral density at the start of the study. The researchers point out that dysphoria may prevent them from playing and doing weight-bearing exercise. It’s hard to say whether their low bone mineral density was because of the puberty blockers or because they had low density to begin with.Trans men in this study did not appear to have low bone mineral density.Both groups stopped gaining bone mineral while on puberty blockers alone. They gained density after being on hormone therapy. This means they were behind their peers, but not necessarily that they lost density over that time. It appears to have “paused”.Since the study only went to age 22, the long term effects on their fracture risk are unknown.The researchers state that the study should be interpreted cautiously. I agree with their reasons, and I’m glad they pointed them out. The comparisons to people who shared their natal sex may not have been appropriate. The sample size was small, making it hard to find true statistical differences. They didn’t measure other factors, such as how much calcium they were eating. Lastly: the puberty blockers were given after puberty was basically done. So the blockers weren’t actually preventing natal puberty, as we hope they’ll be used to do in the future.

So what does all this mean to young trans people on puberty blockers, or who have been on puberty blockers? Not a lot that’s substantially different from everyone else. Get enough calcium in your diet. Get some sun to get o Do weight-bearing exercise if you can. And consult your physician if osteoporosis or other bone-related disorders or diseases run in your family.

Regardless, this study helps to shed light on what happens during puberty blocker treatment. They’ll be continuing to follow up with the individuals in the study. I’m looking forward to it.
The study was “Bone mass in young adulthood following gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue treatment and cross sex hormone treatment in adolescents with gender dysphoria“, from the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. The abstract is publicly available.

Blog reposted with permission.