Tray Ellis's Blog, page 11
October 1, 2017
plenty of links and a few recs
I thought I'd take a moment this morning to throw out some links to various things.
First, links to my goodreads and librarything accounts, because I've been using them to load up books I've been reading and listening to. I'm actually surprised at how many things I read that aren't necessarily primarily romances. I think this is a good thing. I use reading as a way to learn about the world and ways to think about the world, so exploring a variety of topics can only make me a better writer.
https://www.librarything.com/catalog/...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
And I wanted to give a shout out to Delilah and her new story, The Bounty:
https://delilahscollections.com/
She's a very good writer with a great sense of character and plot.
I've been included in two anthologies she has put together.
Here they are:
https://delilahscollections.com/blue-...
https://delilahscollections.com/rogues/
(het stories, for those who lean that way)
And, then on the m/m and other wonderful orientation and identity side of things:
An awesome looking noir and vampire story by Kim Fielding:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075YRKV22/
(pre-order, it looks very good!)
And Skylar M. Cates very intriguing story about athletics:
https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/boo...
And, now I'm off to do some cooking for the day and make some healthy lunches for the week. I came across this link to a lentil dahl recipe:
https://minimalistbaker.com/1-pot-len...
I love curry and I like using ingredients that are good for me (like lentils, which rock the world) so I'm going to give this one a try and see how it turns out. It also looks like it will take very well to freezing, which makes life so much easier to have back-up food in the freezer than can be microwaved at a moment's notice.
First, links to my goodreads and librarything accounts, because I've been using them to load up books I've been reading and listening to. I'm actually surprised at how many things I read that aren't necessarily primarily romances. I think this is a good thing. I use reading as a way to learn about the world and ways to think about the world, so exploring a variety of topics can only make me a better writer.
https://www.librarything.com/catalog/...
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
And I wanted to give a shout out to Delilah and her new story, The Bounty:
https://delilahscollections.com/
She's a very good writer with a great sense of character and plot.
I've been included in two anthologies she has put together.
Here they are:
https://delilahscollections.com/blue-...
https://delilahscollections.com/rogues/
(het stories, for those who lean that way)
And, then on the m/m and other wonderful orientation and identity side of things:
An awesome looking noir and vampire story by Kim Fielding:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075YRKV22/
(pre-order, it looks very good!)
And Skylar M. Cates very intriguing story about athletics:
https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/boo...
And, now I'm off to do some cooking for the day and make some healthy lunches for the week. I came across this link to a lentil dahl recipe:
https://minimalistbaker.com/1-pot-len...
I love curry and I like using ingredients that are good for me (like lentils, which rock the world) so I'm going to give this one a try and see how it turns out. It also looks like it will take very well to freezing, which makes life so much easier to have back-up food in the freezer than can be microwaved at a moment's notice.
September 29, 2017
the list of books I couldn't find
After coming across the controversy here today http://www.hbook.com/ , wherein I suggest any readers only take in the letters/articles, and don't look at too many of the comments because people are so full of rage and indignation that it practically saturates through the page and reaches out to give you a headache (I now have a headache), I was thinking about how this was still Banned Books Week.
I wondered...are there any lists of books that have never been banned?
I found lots of lists of banned books, with some spectacular recommendations:
https://www.hypable.com/banned-books-...
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/16/we...
http://www.readbrightly.com/authors-o...
I found a few books that people seemed to think weren't too controversial. But I couldn't find a list (and perhaps it only because my google-powers are less than intimidating) of books that have not ever been challenged. It makes me wonder, why are humans so darn intent on keeping others from exploring, from learning to think for themselves? Because it is a means of control, I think is at least one major answer. So, it follows on, that the groups working to do the banning must be given the side-eye of alarm.
Keep thinking for yourself. Keep questioning. Keep researching. Keep on.
May your library card never fail you.
I wondered...are there any lists of books that have never been banned?
I found lots of lists of banned books, with some spectacular recommendations:
https://www.hypable.com/banned-books-...
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/16/we...
http://www.readbrightly.com/authors-o...
I found a few books that people seemed to think weren't too controversial. But I couldn't find a list (and perhaps it only because my google-powers are less than intimidating) of books that have not ever been challenged. It makes me wonder, why are humans so darn intent on keeping others from exploring, from learning to think for themselves? Because it is a means of control, I think is at least one major answer. So, it follows on, that the groups working to do the banning must be given the side-eye of alarm.
Keep thinking for yourself. Keep questioning. Keep researching. Keep on.
May your library card never fail you.
September 27, 2017
a misty snippet set after Pyresnakes
Not too long ago, there was a very misty day here and it made me think I should have written in more scenes of a foggy nature into Pyrensakes. I'm not going back to change that story, but I can press on with a few snippets of follow-on adventures as the whim strikes me! So, indulge me, and I hope you enjoy a moment of Wysta and Ruth having a foggy, misty day of their own.
~~~
"Where are we?" Ruth tried to peer out the window but a thick fog banked against the glass. A lichen covered rock jutted up through the dense grayness but the world clouded away beyond that to a space where depth had no meaning.
"You said you wanted a view so I took us to the top of the nearest mountain." Wysta filled the kettle with cold water and set it on the burner. "There should be a lovely vista."
"Stop making tea for one minute and come over here." Ruth moved from the window. She flung open the door. An unsettling mist pervaded the world, cloaking anything more than a few feet away. "We're socked in!"
Wysta joined Ruth at the door. "Do you think it'll burn off later on?"
Ruth waved her hand through the pea-soup air. She could feel the air move, but the blanket of light gray didn't shift at all. "I think this is cloud cover. Without a breeze, this is going to sit here all day."
"Not much of a view." Wysta made a face. "I'll move us again."
Ruth shut the door and turned back to face the kitchen. While the fog pressed gray and gloomy against the window, the kitchen glowed with warmth and comfort. She could hear the beginning pop-pop sound from the bottom of the kettle signaling that the water would boil very soon and she smelled the barest hint of the cream scones baking in the oven. Tea and scones against the press of a shroud of gray-white.
"Maybe later," Ruth said. "Let's have breakfast first. You know, it does give us the perfect excuse to curl up on the sofa with our books. We have been so busy sightseeing that I can't remember the last time we spent a day relaxing."
"Ah," said Wysta with an indulgent smile. "A view of a different sort. Not a bad plan. Let's do it."
~~~
Pyresnakes can be found at Dreamspinner Press here:
https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/boo...
~~~
"Where are we?" Ruth tried to peer out the window but a thick fog banked against the glass. A lichen covered rock jutted up through the dense grayness but the world clouded away beyond that to a space where depth had no meaning.
"You said you wanted a view so I took us to the top of the nearest mountain." Wysta filled the kettle with cold water and set it on the burner. "There should be a lovely vista."
"Stop making tea for one minute and come over here." Ruth moved from the window. She flung open the door. An unsettling mist pervaded the world, cloaking anything more than a few feet away. "We're socked in!"
Wysta joined Ruth at the door. "Do you think it'll burn off later on?"
Ruth waved her hand through the pea-soup air. She could feel the air move, but the blanket of light gray didn't shift at all. "I think this is cloud cover. Without a breeze, this is going to sit here all day."
"Not much of a view." Wysta made a face. "I'll move us again."
Ruth shut the door and turned back to face the kitchen. While the fog pressed gray and gloomy against the window, the kitchen glowed with warmth and comfort. She could hear the beginning pop-pop sound from the bottom of the kettle signaling that the water would boil very soon and she smelled the barest hint of the cream scones baking in the oven. Tea and scones against the press of a shroud of gray-white.
"Maybe later," Ruth said. "Let's have breakfast first. You know, it does give us the perfect excuse to curl up on the sofa with our books. We have been so busy sightseeing that I can't remember the last time we spent a day relaxing."
"Ah," said Wysta with an indulgent smile. "A view of a different sort. Not a bad plan. Let's do it."
~~~
Pyresnakes can be found at Dreamspinner Press here:
https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/boo...
September 26, 2017
the freedom to read
Celebrate the freedom to read!
It is Banned Books Week.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks
The week we remember that censorship tries to define what we're allowed to know and think, and what we're not. (All the better to control us, eh?)
But that we will not accept that! Books are knowledge and freedom and opportunity.
Be daring, and read something.
And....
The top ten challenged books by year.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/fr...
What have you been reading?
It is Banned Books Week.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks
The week we remember that censorship tries to define what we're allowed to know and think, and what we're not. (All the better to control us, eh?)
But that we will not accept that! Books are knowledge and freedom and opportunity.
Be daring, and read something.
And....
The top ten challenged books by year.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/fr...
What have you been reading?
September 25, 2017
pumpkin pie spice
It looks like the fall flavors are here!
September 24, 2017
Throwback Thursday about How Sweetly the Whippoorwill Sings
I had a wonderful post go up on Grace R. Duncan's blog where she does a regular feature focusing on stories that have been out for awhile -- it went live last week and I got caught up in the hurly-burly of life and didn't realize I hadn't shared the post with everyone on my blogs -- so here it now, with all the fanfare it deserves!
http://www.grace-duncan.com/throwback...
I discuss my story How Sweetly the Whippoorwill Sings -- which is a romantic get-together of Jake (brother to the bride) and Everett (best man to the groom). It's still September, so the sentiment of weddings in late summer/early autumn apply! Go and check it out!
http://www.grace-duncan.com/throwback...
I discuss my story How Sweetly the Whippoorwill Sings -- which is a romantic get-together of Jake (brother to the bride) and Everett (best man to the groom). It's still September, so the sentiment of weddings in late summer/early autumn apply! Go and check it out!
September 22, 2017
Renewal
I have an entry in the Queer SciFi 4th annual Anthology -- tell a story in 300 words or less, on the subject of "Renewal". And I understand there were 207 writers this year who gave it a go, their imaginations all ablaze.
I really liked my entry for this year. It was science fiction through and through, with a hint of looking back while looking forward, and still with a contemporary thread to it. I'm very proud of it.
You can find the anthology for sale here:
http://www.mischiefcornerbooks.com/st...
https://www.amazon.com/Renewal-Fourth...
I really liked my entry for this year. It was science fiction through and through, with a hint of looking back while looking forward, and still with a contemporary thread to it. I'm very proud of it.
You can find the anthology for sale here:
http://www.mischiefcornerbooks.com/st...
https://www.amazon.com/Renewal-Fourth...
September 21, 2017
pine needle rain
I went for a walk at lunch today in a wooded area. The pine trees are taller than the deciduous trees and there was a gentle breeze blowing. It sounded like rain when the pine needles dropped down onto the lower leaves, but there was nothing but gorgeous filtered sunlight. I was the only one on the trail and it felt a like a mini-symphony just for me.
September 20, 2017
a variety of things
Dreamspinner has a sale going on, 10 books for $10 in their Young Adult fiction:
https://www.facebook.com/dreamspinner...
Shira Anthony had a release for a new book a few days ago:
https://www.facebook.com/shira.anthon...
She's one of those authors I love to read. Her style and form of storytelling make me happy.
And I am thinking I will get to bed early tonight. I've been working on my outline for a contemporary romance that I want to write, and daydreams of writing something outlandish and adventure-ish have been whispering in my ear. The problem right now is staying focused on one task at a time, or else I will have outlines stuffed into every drawer in my desk, but no finished stories!
https://www.facebook.com/dreamspinner...
Shira Anthony had a release for a new book a few days ago:
https://www.facebook.com/shira.anthon...
She's one of those authors I love to read. Her style and form of storytelling make me happy.
And I am thinking I will get to bed early tonight. I've been working on my outline for a contemporary romance that I want to write, and daydreams of writing something outlandish and adventure-ish have been whispering in my ear. The problem right now is staying focused on one task at a time, or else I will have outlines stuffed into every drawer in my desk, but no finished stories!
September 19, 2017
car wash magic
I totally treated my car to a car wash today. I hadn't been in a really long time (I know, that's not good) and it was dry, and I do really like the whole process. The circus-colored foam (yellow, pink, blue!) that gets sprayed on the car, the whirring, rotating rubbery scrubbers that go along each side and over the top. Then, my car comes out squeaky clean, and I've gone through a strange, magical, washing world.
