Meradeth Houston's Blog, page 11

Picture Post: Adventures in Mexico City

This past week I've had the awesome pleasure of traveling to Mexico City to work with some fabulous people who work here:

This is the Instituto National de Medicina Genomica. Or, the National Institute of Genomic Medicine :) Talk about a work perk! This campus was awesome--sparking clean, fabulous labs, all sorts of great tech (there's nothing like high throughput sequencing machines to make yours truly geek out!). Seriously, this place was incredible. And the people were even more amazing. The lab here is chock full of some of the best researchers on the planet, six of whom I had the pleasure of working with extensively. I've never been treated so well anywhere else that I've traveled, either for work or personal.
We had one of the most amazing meals at this 300 year old Hacienda. Super fun!
The central place in Tlalpan--an older neighborhood in the city, where the priests used to go to rest. Now it's completely engulfed, but super cute to explore. 
So I was trying to figure out why there was a minaret (or something that at least looked like such), in the middle of the city. No one knew, and guessed that someone just wanted to build one :)
I'm a *tad* bit addicted to cool murals and street art in all its forms. This was on the side of women's and children's center.
Church. Through the front gates because it was closed. 
Mary, blessing the cars in the parking lot she guarded.
The National Museum of Anthropology. Which is, of course, the coolest place in the city. Spent a day in the back collections, looking at mummies and teeth that had been drilled to inlay turquoise, as well as the 1000's of skeletal remains. AKA, heaven.
And one last silly one from a menu from an Argentinian restaurant we went to. Meat Juice anyone? (Why, yes, I am sometimes ten years old, why'd ask? :)Anyhow, just a few little highlights (and not the best photos--I've been a little busy this trip! Lots of cool work to do!) of a fabulous week in a country I love :)

Monday Musings: the end of the school year

It's been a while since I did a little update, so today I'm going to borrow Kelly Hashway's meme and do a quick post :)

I survived the end of the semester. Sometimes I wonder if that'll actually happen, or if at some point I will be buried by paperwork and emails in my office and not discovered until the forensic students have a new body to study. (Well now, that's a pleasant thought...lol!)This year I had a Masters and Doctoral student finish. This is the fifth MA that I've been in charge of, and first doctorate that I've led. It's kind of amazing that anyone lets me do this, but my students have all been really successful and I am crazy proud of them!The number of times I've been asked if I now get to relax over the summer is a big mind boggling. Um, NO. I have my research agenda that starts full steam on Monday at 6am. Of course, this is full of cool samples (mummies, vampires, and poop, oh my!), and lab work, and travel, but very little rest. But it'll be good. At least I don't have to try and work in the lab in heels and a dress like I do during the teaching year ;)I also plan on getting some writing time in this summer. It's going to happen. Really. I just need to get myself into a better schedule.And tenure packet due in the fall. *gulp*!Keeping all of the plater spinning in my life is as crazy as ever. But, life is good. I've watched so many people struggle to find good academic jobs, which are so incredibly scarce, and I've seen way too many people struggling with depression, which is rampant in the halls of higher ed. I can't complain :)

#Inkripples: Fairy Tales and fun times

#InkRipples  is a themed meme hosted by Mary Waibel, Katie L. Carroll, and Kai Strand. We post on the first Monday of every month. If you would like to participate compose your own post regarding the theme of the month, include any of the images displayed on this page, and link back to their three blogs. Feel free to post whenever you want during the month, but be sure to include #inkripples when you promote so readers can find you. The idea is that we toss a word or idea into the inkwell and each post is a new ripple. There is no wrong interpretation.

Okay, so I'm going to buck the trend here a bit and admit something: I'm not a huge fairy tale person. I kind of hate most of them. They tend to be mysogynistic, cruel, and generally their roots are kind of terrifying. Maybe that's because I've read too many of the originals, and they're often a little O.O and kind of make you want to back away slowly. 

Now, don't get me wrong, I've seen some great re-tellings where the story has been crafted to carry some of the elements of the original, but also have an awesome take on things. Mary Waibel (linked above) has a few of these, and I've caught some others. But in general, for me to really enjoy a fairy tale retelling, it's got to be different from the original in order for me to get into it. And this does not mean Disney.


Sorry, not to dog on Disney, because they have their place and I do enjoy the parks for their escapism (and I love a rollercoaster), but most Disney princesses, especially in the way they are pandered to young girls, make me kind of want to be ill. That was not me as a kid, and I am grateful to my mother for the thinking that I could be more. (True story: I was Peter Pan for Halloween for a couple of years. Not Mary, not Tinkerbell. I wanted a sword and to fly, haha!) 

Now, there are some Disney princesses who have movies in which they are the force behind change, but then they are twisted into these costumes and tea parties and other things that turn my stomach when it comes to how they are used by the toy market. That bugs me. Can't the toy manufacturers come up with something a little less stereotypical for kids, both male and female? I know I'm not a parent, so I can't say what's right or wrong for individual kids, but the images I sometimes see make me be like "no wonder little girls don't think they'll be good scientists!"

Anyhow, enough of my rant. Just my two cents on the matter. What do YOU think about fairy tales?

After Reading: THE CHEMIST by Stephanie Meyer

In this gripping page-turner, an ex-agent on the run from her former employers must take one more case to clear her name and save her life.

She used to work for the U.S. government, but very few people ever knew that. An expert in her field, she was one of the darkest secrets of an agency so clandestine it doesn’t even have a name. And when they decided she was a liability, they came for her without warning.

Now, she rarely stays in the same place or uses the same name for long. They’ve killed the only other person she trusted, but something she knows still poses a threat. They want her dead, and soon.

When her former handler offers her a way out, she realizes it’s her only chance to erase the giant target on her back. But it means taking one last job for her ex-employers. To her horror, the information she acquires only makes her situation more dangerous.
Resolving to meet the threat head-on, she prepares for the toughest fight of her life but finds herself falling for a man who can only complicate her likelihood of survival. As she sees her choices being rapidly whittled down, she must apply her unique talents in ways she never dreamed of. (Goodreads)

Okay, so I'll admit, I was a little wary of this novel. I mean, the potential for really lousy science (and you all know how much that bugs me), and a love triangle, coupled with some potentially trite sappiness, kept in on my shelf for a few extra weeks. But then I decided to pick it up, and I'm quite glad I did! There were a couple of eye-roll-worthy science goofs, but for the most part, Meyer skates over them with enough ambiguity that they didn't take me out of the story. There wasn't a love triangle, and actually I was kinda shocked there was a love story at all. But I liked it :) And I loved the growth of the characters, their layers and depth, and especially the kick-ass heroine. Because Meyer hasn't really managed this before, but she really nailed it in this novel! It hit all the other points I've been enjoying lately: bioterrorism, spies, gov't intrigue, massive plans to uncover a nasty political plot. All of it was deeply enjoyed. Really, this novel read like someone completely different wrote in: there wasn't a trace of Twilight in there, imho, and while I enjoyed the Twilight books (mostly as a sugary treat that I knew wasn't good for me), this is a tight-paced novel that was just fun and interesting, and I'm going to stop gushing now. Go read it. It's great. Meyer has grown a ton as an author and it was totally worth it!

Have you read any of Meyer's work? What did you think?

After Reading: UNIVERSAL HARVESTER by John Darnielle

Life in a small town takes a dark turn when mysterious footage begins appearing on VHS cassettes at the local Video Hut

Jeremy works at the counter of Video Hut in Nevada, Iowa. It’s a small town—the first “a” in the name is pronounced ay—smack in the center of the state. This is the late 1990s, pre-DVD, and the Hollywood Video in Ames poses an existential threat to Video Hut. But there are regular customers, a predictable rush in the late afternoon. It’s good enough for Jeremy: It’s a job; it’s quiet and regular; he gets to watch movies; he likes the owner, Sarah Jane; it gets him out of the house, where he and his dad try to avoid missing Mom, who died six years ago in a car wreck.

But when Stephanie Parsons, a local schoolteacher, comes in to return her copy of Targets, starring Boris Karloff—an old movie, one Jeremy himself had ordered for the store—she has an odd complaint: “There’s something on it,” she says, but doesn’t elaborate. Two days later, Lindsey Redinius brings back She’s All That, a new release, and complains that there’s something wrong with it: “There’s another movie on this tape.”

So Jeremy takes a look. And indeed, in the middle of the movie the screen blinks dark for a moment and She’s All That is replaced by a black-and-white scene, shot in a barn, with only the faint sounds of someone breathing. Four minutes later, She’s All That is back. But there is something profoundly disturbing about that scene; Jeremy’s compelled to watch it three or four times. The scenes recorded onto Targets are similar, undoubtedly created by the same hand. Creepy. And the barn looks a lot like a barn just outside of town.

Jeremy doesn’t want to be curious. In truth, it freaks him out, deeply. This has gone far enough, maybe too far already. But Stephanie is pushing, and once Sarah Jane takes a look and becomes obsessed, there’s no more ignoring the disturbing scenes on the videos. And all of a sudden, what had once been the placid, regular old Iowa fields and farmhouses now feels haunted and threatening, imbued with loss and instability and profound foreboding. For Jeremy, and all those around him, life will never be the same . . . (Goodreads)

So, this was a little outside my normal fare of novel, but I loved the sound of the blurb (although, dang, that's a long one!). And indeed, it was interesting. I loved the stories intertwining and coming together at the end. The explanation of the strange interspersed scenes on the videos finally all made some sense (although, I feel like the reasoning could have been delved into more). It was well written, but to be honest, not captivating. At first it had a great, creepy vibe, but it just got lost along the way. Also, the jarring switches in narrative made it difficult for me to feel connected to any one character in the novel, which I recognize isn't always necessary, but something I personally prefer. There were definitely times I went back pages to see if I'd somehow missed something, and that's not the best thing to have happen while reading. Anyhow, overall, an interesting premise and very good writing, but not something that really got me at a gut level, and I'll admit did not hold my attention as some other novels can.

Heard of this one? How does the blurb strike you?

BookFish Books Feature: DEAR DIARY, E.P. Thompson Here, by Judith Natelli

I have a fun BookFish Books novel to share today! Enjoy :)

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Dear Diary, E. P. Thompson here. Worst. Year. Ever. First semester in sixth grade, and my best friend Debbie has dropped me because my boobs aren’t big enough. Well, she didn’t say that exactly, but I just know that’s the reason. Then I got paired with Adam Berry, the biggest pencil-protecting geek of the decade, for the never-ending, semester-long math project. And as if that’s not bad enough, Thomas Maxwell, the cutest boy in my grade, only pays attention to me when I’m making a total fool of myself. Ugh. Weirdest thing of all: it seems Lucas C. Tanner Middle School has a full-on, bona fide thief! Now all the teachers are going crazy and all the students are too, because Mrs. Peule has promised to make this year a living nightmare until the culprit is caught. We have to find out who is ruining sixth grade. Like, now! Well, at least the criminal activity has taken the focus off my lack of bra ownership. Sigh. I have to go. I’ll write again soon. Promise. Snag a Copy!!
[image error]About The Author
Judith Natelli McLaughlin grew up reading a solid diet of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Louisa May Alcott, and Shel Silverstein. Her mom was famous for telling her, "You are never alone if you have a book," and her dad, a lover of words, was always reciting poetry to her.

She went on to write, illustrate, and publish her own poetry book,Poems on Fruits and Odes to Veggies—Where Healthy Eating Starts With a Poem. Her other works include a women’s fiction novel titled This Moment and a soon to be released children’s chapter book, Mackenzie Goode Makes A Mistake—A Big One.

She lives in New Jersey with her husband Brian; her three daughters Katie, Lindsay, and Maggie; and her faithful writing companion, a Westie named Duke.
Find Her Online:GOODREADS: TWITTER: WEBSITE: YOUTUBE

Cover Reveal: PIRATE ISLAND by Katie Carroll #amreading

Katie is one of my favorite people and I am so excited about her new MG novel! Check out this fabulous cover:
PIRATE ISLANDby Katie L. Carroll (katielcarroll.com)Cover Illustration by Susan Tait Porcaro (susantaitporcaro.com)Coming October 2017! A thrice cursed island, a legendary pirate treasure, and one not-so-brave boy. What could possibly go wrong? For centuries, the whereabouts of Captain William Kidd’s lost pirate treasure has remained a mystery. When Billy’s best friend, Andy, proposes they look for it on nearby Pirate Island, Billy thinks it’s just another one of their crazy adventures. It’s usually Billy who ends up in trouble as a result, but he goes along for the ride…like always. The more he delves into the life and death of Kidd, the more he thinks the treasure is real and that it might be buried on the small island in Long Island Sound. Billy—nope, call him William—becomes obsessed with the captain of the same first name. He even believes he’s possessed by Kidd’s restless soul. Now he and the spirit of a long-dead pirate are leading the crazy adventure on Pirate Island. And what they find is far bigger than the treasure they imagined.
 About the Author: Katie L. Carroll always says she began writing at a very sad time her life after her sister Kylene unexpectedly passed away. The truth is Katie has been writing her whole life, and it was only after Kylene’s death that she realized she wanted to pursue writing for kids and teens as a career. Since then writing has taken her to many wonderful places, real and imagined. She has had many jobs in her lifetime, including newspaper deliverer, hardware store cashier, physical therapy assistant, and puzzle magazine editor. She works from her home in Connecticut that is filled with the love and laughter of her sons and husband. In addition to PIRATE ISLAND, Katie is the author of the YA fantasy ELIXIR BOUND. Find Katie on her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

#Inkripples: Revisions #amwriting #amrevising

#InkRipples  is a themed meme hosted by Mary Waibel, Katie L. Carroll, and Kai Strand. We post on the first Monday of every month. If you would like to participate compose your own post regarding the theme of the month, include any of the images displayed on this page, and link back to their three blogs. Feel free to post whenever you want during the month, but be sure to include #inkripples when you promote so readers can find you. The idea is that we toss a word or idea into the inkwell and each post is a new ripple. There is no wrong interpretation.

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Ahh, the glorious part about writing: revising. I'll be honest: I kind of hate revisions. I love drafting and the organic crafting of a story--watching it unfold--but then comes to trying to make it all make sense and tell the story you want it to. Which can often lead me to some major hair-pulling-out madness. I guess there are some aspects of it I enjoy:
-Finally getting a scene *just* right, where it really sings.-Understanding a character's motivation to a deeper degree, as something clicks together.-Crafting a story that's so much richer than what originally showed up on the page.-Finding hilarious typos (like missing the 'r' in shirt) that make me laugh for weeks.-Being finished :)
There are so many elements of what goes into revising a novel. Sometimes that's what the hardest part is finding where to start and just digging in. Lately I've been making a lot of reverse outlines as I go back over what I've written. I find this helps me work out what does work, and where to hone in. Having a game plan is personally what I need to get started. And then...well, it's just getting it all to come together!
Easy, right? ;)
Someday I wish I could write a novel that didn't require quite so much work once I completed a draft, but knowing my style, I doubt that'll happen. Though, I'm always open to new things, so we'll see!
What's your favorite part about revisions?

Book Blog Tour: PIPER MORGAN MAKES A SPLASH by Stephanie Faris

I have a fun treat from an awesome author here today! Love a fun MG read? This one's for you!
Piper Morgan tries her hand at acting in the fourth book of the charming Piper Morgan series.

Piper’s mom is helping out at a local pool shop, and the owner wants to shoot a commercial for his store. Piper thinks it’s the PERFECT opportunity to get in front of the camera and experience a little bit of showbiz. But will Piper’s contribution to the TV commercial make a splash—or will it go belly-up?
Snag a copy: Amazon: Barnes & Noble: IndieBound
Bio:Stephanie Faris is the author of the middle grade books 30 Days of No Gossip and 25 Roses, as well as the Piper Morgan chapter book series. An accomplished freelance writer, her work has appeared in Writer's Digest, The Writer, Pacific Standard, Mental Floss, and The Week, among many others.
Links:Website: Blog: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram a Rafflecopter giveaway

WIP Wonderings: little bits of luck #amwriting #amwritingfantasy

Happy Monday! Well, maybe not, if you're like me and just back from Spring Break and have a giant conference to prepare for (eep!!). But still, happy Monday :) I hope everyone's doing well.
Isn't the anthology cover amazing? :)
Today I thought I'd ramble about the short story I'm working on for Untethered Realm's next anthology. The title is Spirits in the Water, which left me scratching my head as to what to write about. I don't do much with spirits...or water.... But, I finally hit on something that I had a lot of fun with and I can't wait to share with you all when the anthology releases.

Here's the thing: I came across this little clip from Tumblr that talked about how maybe we all have some kind of "gift" that we just don't really know about or appreciate. Sometimes it's more obvious, but not generally. It got me thinking. What if there were a world where this occurred? Where everyone had some kind of gift, but most of the time it was just like never really losing your keys, or if you drop your toast it always lands butter-side-up. Something that you probably wouldn't even think about because it was normal for you. I had a little fun with the idea and made it so that sometimes when parents with distinct gifts have children, sometimes the gifts don't mesh very well, which leads to all sorts of problems :)

But what about in real life? Some people do have little bits of luck. Like, they mostly hit green lights. Or they never seem to run out of salt. Or they always put their stamps on straight. It may be little, but it's kind of fun to think about. I happen to have relatively decent parking luck--not always, and not consistently, but I generally get decent spots :) Of course, I have really lousy red-light luck and hit them more frequently than one would think. (So much so that on family trips my family often argues about who I shouldn't ride with, just so they don't hit all the lights...)


This brings me to my question: do you have any little things, or big things, that you're lucky at? I'd love to hear them!