Sally Ember's Blog, page 36

Speculative Fiction #Genres, According to one Jaded #Feminist

Speculative Fiction #Genres, According to one Jaded #Feminist (and two other, actual experts…)

Here are two great sources of info about the overall genre of Speculative Fiction (Spec Fic) and all its subgenres, (also the two main sources of the images, below):

—About Speculative Fiction, from blogger/author, Sherry D. Ramsey at http://www.sherrydramsey.com/?page_id=1005; and,

—The Difference between Speculative Fiction and Science-Fiction, from SPi Global, at http://www.spi-global.com/blog/cs-blog/the-difference-between-speculative-fiction-and-science-fiction/

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from http://www.sherrydramsey.com/?page_id=1005

So, you don’t have to go by my jaded, biased, perhaps not entirely fair or accurate descriptions, below.

Also, check out many of the Spec Fic online and hard-copy ‘zines and subscription magazines that publish short stories, plays, graphic novels or excerpts, art, poetry, novellas and announcements, such as: Heliotrope: Online Speculative Fiction Magazine, http://www.heliotropemag.com/

JUST MY OPINIONS, below.

Science-Fiction (also known as sci-fi):

◙ Stories about what could be or might have been that feature science, tech, weaponry that does not exist (yet); mostly written by men and somewhat invisible women; mostly about men and almost invisible women; if in graphic novel form, the females are scantily clad for no apparent reason, while men are wearing body armor; mostly about men, with one or no female main characters, except to support or be loved by males.

◙ If part of a series, “good guys” do not prevail for the long-term but do win in skirmishes, until the end, which can be dystopian (no HEA–Happily Ever After) or partly HEA (at least, for the romantic component).

◙ If politically and/or social commentary-oriented, can illustrate the ways our current cultures are harsh (but accurate) regarding racist, species-ist, misogynistic practices and attitudes.

◙ Main characters can die, but usually not in the first parts of a series.

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from http://www.sherrydramsey.com/?page_id=1005

“Hard” Science-Fiction:

◙ Futuristic stories mostly about the male “heroes” (and steroid/testosterone-ridden women, cyborgs and robots) fighting alone or in groups against whom/whatever, using lots of weaponry and spaceships; see above, for costuming; mostly about men, with one or no central female main characters, except to support or be loved by males or inhabit computers.

◙ If part of a series, “good guys” do not prevail for the long-term but do win in skirmishes, until the end, which can be dystopian (no HEA–Happily Ever After) or partly HEA (at least, for the romantic component).

◙ If dystopian (typically), often includes destruction of one or more planet, victors’ having slaves, horrible classism and race/species discrimination and other awful plot points and outcomes.

◙ Main characters can die, but can be reborn into tech creatures. Often, a “space opera” that spans many years/centuries and vast expanses.

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from http://www.spi-global.com/blog/cs-blog/the-difference-between-speculative-fiction-and-science-fiction/

Steam-Punk Fantasy/Science-Fiction:

◙ Stories about what might have been or could be, written by both men and women; depicts women in low bodices, wearing corsets, and carrying fans; men have pocket watches, vests, and private (“public” in England) educations or tutors; everything is run by steam engines; characters are mostly Anglo and espouse or resist British/American Anglo upper- and middle-class Victorian values (e.g., either virginal or whorish women, class distinctions, elitist “manners,” rigidly gender-ized clothing); stories are mostly about men, with one or no central female main characters, except to support or be loved by males.

◙ If there are GLBT characters, they are usually depicted as deranged/homicidal, stereotypes, and/or objects of ridicule or pity. Rarely has human characters who are not Anglo (so I deliberately included a drawing that has males of color, here).

◙ Can include murders and other crimes in which females are the victims or need to be rescued.

◙ May not be clear who the “bad” guys are, at first (think, prostitute or crime lord with the “heart of gold”).

◙ Main characters cannot die unless already replaced by a successor.

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from https://writingcareer.com/black-power-the-superhero-anthology-is-seeking/

This anthology, whose prototype cover is above, Black Power: Superheroes of Color, was released last month, February, 2017: https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2017/02/27/black-power-the-superhero-anthology/

edited by Balogun Ojetade, with a great line-up of authors within it.

Real cover: [image error]

Fantasy:

◙ Usually set in some pseudo-medieval or -Renaissance, Earth-like setting or Earth’s own possible past or present, but with talking animals, mythical creatures, imaginary creatures (e.g., fairies, gnomes, dwarves, trolls, dragons, giants, ogres, witches, warlocks, wizards); usually includes some kind of magic or pseudo-science mixed with magic; if there are non-human creatures, they are almost always male or overly glamorized females (large breasts, small waists, heavy make-up); could have human shape-shifters who usually become large predators (wolves, bears, lions, panthers, etc.); can have vampires, whose subplots usually include some kind of incapacitation and then sexual assault accompanying the blood-sucking, usually of women by both males and females.

◙ Always has “good guys” and “bad guys,” with the “good guys” prevailing in the end.

◙ Main characters cannot die unless already replaced by a successor.

[image error]

from http://www.sherrydramsey.com/?page_id=1005

High Fantasy:

◙ Similar to Fantasy, but with more court-like/royal characters and class conflicts/settings; usually some star-crossed royalty romance for the teen or young adult main characters that ends HEA (Happily Ever After); usually has dragons or other mythical creatures centrally featured; for specious reasons, characters often speak in upper-class British accents/styles and/or insert French- or Spanish-sounding words randomly; often heavily laced with sword fights, quests, riddles and other “tests” for the main characters (usually male), which they have to lose at least twice before becoming victorious (“getting the girl” is usually part of their “prize”).

◙ Duels are common.

◙ Usually HEA (Happily Ever After).

◙ Main characters cannot die unless they’re old or can become mythologized and/or unless already replaced by a successor.

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from the cover of Issue 5 of http://www.heliotropemag.com/

Urban Fantasy:

◙ Similar to Fantasy, but set in decaying cities; usually dystopian/post-apocalyptic; can blend magic with tech, though not as originally or interestingly as the author believes; not enough female characters and frequent fighting among the males; duels are common; cyborgs, androids, political and social tyrants, crime and criminals abound.

◙ Only HEA (Happily Ever After) for about 3 “beats,” then more fighting.

◙ “Good Guys” can be ethically challenged and compromised frequently.

◙ Main characters can die.

[image error]

from http://www.spi-global.com/blog/cs-blog/the-difference-between-speculative-fiction-and-science-fiction/

Dark Fantasy:

◙ Exactly like one or both of the above Fantasy genres, but with more sex (sometimes BDSM or hard-core porn, here); lots of blood, gore, fighting, elements of Horror, etc.; has conflicts that maim, kill off or otherwise harm the female characters severely, who then need to be rescued (when possible); hauntings, ghosts, evil from other dimensions and realms, summonings gone wrong and other horror-like elements can occur frequently, usually showing the main characters to be idiots; features ominous castles and fortresses a lot.

◙ Does not usually go with HEA (Happily Ever After) because the main characters get to be “happy” (have amazing sex and lie around together afterwards) for about 3 “beats” before someone tries to kill one or both of them.

◙ Main characters can be cursed, ensorceled and/or die.

[image error]

from http://wallpaper-gallery.net/wallpapers/dark-fantasy-wallpapers.html

Horror:

◙ Similar to Dark Fantasy or Dystopian Sci-Fi, but with more gore, blood, death, suspense, killing, maiming, scaring, scarring, psychological and physical trauma of all kinds as both the causes/ motivations and outcomes for the characters AND the readers (can you tell I do not read Horror?); often has demons, demonic forces, battles between “good” and “evil” embodied in various physical and spirit bodies.

◙ Doesn’t even think about including “Happy” endings, except as punctuation marks between disasters and/or parodies.

◙ Main characters can and do die, usually horrifically (pun intended).

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from http://www.spi-global.com/blog/cs-blog/the-difference-between-speculative-fiction-and-science-fiction/

Young Adult Speculative Fiction (usually known as YA Spec Fic):

◙ Usually dystopian, futuristic Sci-fi or Fantasy; features an abundance of orphans or single-parent-raised main characters; usually has one female for every two male main characters; often includes a plot/characterization that starts with the MC as an undistinguished, low-living, bullied, betrayed, enslaved or harried young person who then experiences the uncovering of special powers or previously unknown importance revealed in the first few chapters.

◙ Big on “destiny,” “fate,” “saving the world” and such…really, the MCs are attempting to help only a small number of beings within or a local geographic section of their/”our” world.

◙ Can be leaning more toward Fantasy or Sci-fi or blend both.

◙ Main characters can die, but usually only within an extended series; most do not.

NOTE: YA Spec Fic is probably the best source among all Spec Fic subgenres for finding stories that feature people of color, those with disabilities or who are neuro-atypical, queer and other non-mainstream main characters and sidekicks.

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image from a guest post by Julia Ember (no relation) on Jamie Kramer’s Books and Ladders blog, http://booksandladders.blogspot.com/2016/06/guestpost-unicorn-tracks-by-julia-ember.html

I told you I was jaded. I am not the only one, by any means. The following quote and analysis (please read entire article; link below) sums up my major complaints perfectly:

[Spec Fic is] not just about shiny, phallic rocket ships populated by deep-in-the-closet Aryan brethren conquering the Final Frontier, people. It’s about different futures, alternate realities, dangerous fantasies. You’d think such places, where dragons dwell, would be heavily populated with equally unusual people, but nope. Looks like everybody important there is white, male, anglophone and straight. Not to mention perfectly healthy physically and mentally.

—penned by Paula R. Stiles, “Diversity in Speculative Fiction,” on http://www.fantasy-magazine.com/non-fiction/articles/diversity-in-speculative-fiction/, from the Dec., 2016 (Issue 60) – People of Colo(u)r Destroy Fantasy! Special Issue [NOTE: “Fantasy Magazine has merged with its sister publication, Lightspeed, so this site will no longer be updated with new content. However, the fiction and interviews you would have found here at Fantasy will now be part of Lightspeed, so please sign up for our newsletter (sent out once or twice a month) to receive updates about the release of new issues of Lightspeed Magazine, news about the magazine, and more.”]

——-Lightspeed Magazine also published, starting in 2014, Queers Destroy… each of the subgenres (Fantasy, Horror, Fantasy), starting with Science-Fiction Special Issues, which you can find out about here: http://www.destroysf.com/queers/

And, on that same page, they have links to their POC [People of Color] Destroy… series of Special Issues for each subgenre (Fantasy, Horror, Fantasy)

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2015’s Queers Destroy Science-Fiction cover

—Women are at the forefront of these critiques and do them so well, I have so many to choose from. Here is another, from an interview conducted by Alexandra Alter with N. K. Jemisin [Jemisin was the the first African-American writer and the first woman of color to win a Hugo Award for “best novel” (others have won for short fiction)], “N. K. Jemisin on Diversity in Science-Fiction and Inspiration From Dreams,” published by the New York Times (!?) on https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/25/books/n-k-jemisin-on-diversity-in-science-fiction-and-inspiration-from-dreams.html?_r=0

Jemisin says she “decided to focus on an oppressive society at the macro scale and what that society does to individuals” in her spec fic novels. Why? Because “a woman of color from an impoverished culture, being brought up among wealthy, privileged white people and having to cope and perform in ways that she has not been raised to do… was obviously drawn from some personal experiences. I do that in everything — explorations of power, identity and belonging.”

—Another great article, “Genrequeer,” by Theodore McCombs at http://www.fictionunbound.com/blog/2016/4/6/genrequeer, offers this excellent insight: “To make space for black achievement and transcendence, speculative fiction lets us change all the rules that should never have been rules in the first place.”

So, there is a lot of hope for increasing diversity, better representation of women and girls, more interesting stories and compelling ways to resolve conflicts than wars and violence in the Spec Fic genre and all its subgenres, with dozens of websites, groups and other resources to help us find them.

Here are some:

—The Black Science Fiction Society: http://www.blacksciencefictionsociety.com

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Logo from Black Science Fiction Society website, 2017

—The Speculative Literature Foundation offers “Diverse Writers and Diverse Worlds Grants …The two $500 awards support any purpose that writer recipients may choose to benefit their work.”

FMI: http://speculativeliterature.org/ and a resource list of orgs for writers of Spec Fic: http://speculativeliterature.org/writers-resources-2/writers/writers-organizations-2/

—African-American Sci-Fi:

—Latino Spec Fic: http://www.latinospeculativefiction.com/, which published Latin@ Rising: An Anthology of Latin@ Science Fiction and Fantasy, which “is the first anthology to bring together U.S. Latinos/as who are working in science fiction, fantasy, and other speculative genres”; edited by Matthew David Goodwin.

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Cover of Latino@ Rising: An Anthology of Latin@ Science Fiction and Fantasy

—Two other not-so-recent anthologies: Dark Matter: Reading the Bones (2005), edited by Sheree R. Thomas, and Cosmos Latinos: An Anthology of Science Fiction from Latin America and Spain (2003), edited by Andrea L. Bell and Yolanda Molina-Gavilán, which “showcase African-American and (mostly) Spanish-speaking spec-fic writers, respectively.”

—Check out writers in the sub-category of Afrofuturism, which is defined in Wikipedia: “Afrofuturism addresses themes and concerns of the African diaspora through a technoculture and science-fiction lens, encompassing a range of media and artists with a shared interest in envisioning black futures that stem from Afrodiasporic experiences.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrofuturism

—Tracy Mumford, about a year ago, wrote, in: “‘We want to hear new voices’: Diversity in sci-fi and fantasy” for https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/04/05/books-diversity-in-sci-fi-and-fantasy [as part of The Thread newsletter, which I recommend you sign up for right now (on that page)], some great commentary about those topics.

This article also has a great recommended reading list, curated during and prior to 2015, mostly, of diverse writers’ work in spec fic.

—Queer Sci-Fi has so much to offer, now, and via so many sites. Here is one website that may list the majority of them and offers more resources, besides: https://queerscifi.com/

Weigh in, please. I’d love to have great discussions, here, about other elements of Spec Fic and intersectionality (the places that social identities overlap and in which we analyze privilege, oppression and efforts to effect change). What have I left out, got wrong, etc.?

I’d love to hear from you. I also welcome Guest Bloggers (see my site for Guidelines): http://www.sallyember.com/

Filed under: Opinions, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Writing Tagged: #urban fantasy, African-American, Afrofuturism, Anglo, Black, dark fantasy, disabilities, dystopian, fantasy, genres, GLBT, HEA, people of color, queer, sci-fi, science fiction, scifi, Spec Fic, speculative fiction, steam-punk, YA, YA Spec Fic, young adult

Look who’s included in “Sci-Fi Women Interviews: The 2016 Collection,” by Natacha Guyot!

Look who’s included in “Sci-Fi Women Interviews: The 2016 Collection,” by Natacha Guyot!

Thanks, again, Natacha, for including me in your roster of #women #scifi #authors for 2016 and now, in this compendium of your interviews as a #free #ebook on #Smashwords (which has all ebook formats available for download).

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Download your copy today! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/710894

The 2016’s women science-fiction authors Natacha interviewed and put into this book:

December 2016: Kate M. Colby

November 2016: Tonya R. Moore

October 2016: Alison Berrios

September 2016: Tracy Gardner

August 2016: Marie Bilodeau

July 2016: D. Wallace Peach

June 2016: Philippa Ballantine

May 2016: Amanda Ward

April 2016: Diana Gordon

March 2016: Sally Ember

February 2016: Jennifer A. Miller

January 2016: Robin Rivera and Heather Jackson

Visit Natacha’s website and read more of her work and blog: http://natachaguyot.org

She also has another compilation ebook and an ebook of some of her #feminist blog posts in another compilation on Smashwords, plus, the individual archives of her 2015’s interviews and the beginning two months’ worth of 2017’s interviews on her website.

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“Natacha Guyot is a French researcher, author and public speaker. She holds two Master’s degrees: Film and Media Studies (Paris III Sorbonne Nouvelle) and Digital Culture and Technology (King’s College London). Her main fields of interest are Science-fiction, Gender Studies, Children’s Media and Fan Studies. Besides her nonfiction work, she also writes Science-Fiction and Fantasy stories.”

Filed under: Blogging and others' content, Indie or Self-Publishing, Science Fiction and Fantasy, The Spanners Tagged: authors, ebooks, free, Natacha Guyot, Sally Ember Ed.D Author, sci-fi, science fiction, scifi, Smashwords, The Spanners Series, women

LAST DAY! #SMASHWORDS’ “Read An #Ebook Week”! #ebookweek17 Many #sales and #discounts, some #free, March 11, 2017!

#SMASHWORDS’ “Read An #Ebook Week”: LAST DAY! #ebookweek17 Many #sales and #discounts, some #free, March 11, 2017!

Get any ebook format you want on Smashwords!

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The Story Behind “Read an Ebook Week” (RAEW): Read an Ebook Week was created by Canadian Smashwords author, Rita Toews. If you’re interested to learn the story behind her creation of Read an Ebook Week, read the 2010 interview with Rita over at The Huffington Post . Please note that the prior web address mentioned in the interview, www. ebookweek.com, is now controlled by a squatter and is not associated with this promotion, so please don’t link to or promote the old address.

The Smashwords’ RAEW page is: https://www.smashwords.com/books/category/1/newest/1

The official Read an Ebook Week Facebook page, operated by Rita, is at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Read-an-E-Book-Week/193882590629749

Show your support for RAEW by “Liking” it on Facebook and sharing it.

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All three published Volumes of the sci-fi/romance/multiverse/utopian/paranormal (psi) ebooks in The Spanners Series for adults/NA/YA are participating in this great sale! And, if you prefer or want also to have paperbacks, scroll to the end of coupon codes on CreateSpace to purchase those!

Volume I, This Changes Everything, The Spanners Series, by Sally Ember, Ed.D.

Dr. Clara Ackerman Branon, 58, begins having secret visits from holographic representations of  beings from the Many Worlds Collective, a consortium of planet and star systems in the multiverse. When Earth is invited to join the consortium, the secret visits are made public. Now Earthers must adjust their beliefs and ideas about life, religion, culture, identity and everything they think and are. Clara is selected to be the liaison between Earth and the Many Worlds Collective and she chooses Esperanza Enlaces to be the Media Contact. They team up to provide information to stave off riots and uncertainty. The Many Worlds Collective holos train Clara and the Psi-Warriors for the Psi Wars with the rebelling Psi-Defiers, communicate effectively with many species on Earth and off-planet, eliminate ordinary, elected governments and political boundaries, convene a new group of Global Leaders, and deal with family’s and friends’ reactions. 

In what multiple timelines of the ever-expanding multiverse do Clara and her long-time love, Epifanio Dang, get to be together and which leave Clara alone and lonely as the leader of Earth? This Changes Everything begins the 30-year story of Clara’s term as Earth’s first Chief Communicator, continuing in nine more Volumes of The Spanners Series. Are you ready for the changes?

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Vol I is PERMA-REE!  

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/376197

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Volume II, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever, The Spanners Series, by Sally Ember, Ed.D.

COUPON CODE for 25% off: RAE25

Intrigued by multiple timelines, aliens, psi skills, romance and planetary change? Clara and the alien “Band” are back in Volume II, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever, The Spanners Series. Now as Chief Communicator, Clara leads the way for interspecies communication on- and off-planet. Fighting these changes are the Psi-Defiers, led by one of the oldest friends of the Chief of the Psi-Warriors, its reluctant leader, Rabbi Moran Ackerman. Stories from younger Spanners about the first five years of The Transition fill Volume II. How would you do with the changes?

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Usually $3.99; “Read an Ebook Week” Promotional price: $2.99

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/424969  

Enter the code prior to completing checkout. COUPON CODE for Vol II, 25% off: RAE25

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Volume III, This Is/Is Not the Way I Want Things to Change, The Spanners Series, by Sally Ember, Ed.D.

COUPON CODE for 50% off: RAE50

Clara, Moran, Espe, Epifanio and the alien Band of holos are back in This Is /Is Not The Way I Want Things to Change of The Spanners Series. Psi-Defiers launch increasingly violent protests during this five-year Transition, attempting to block Earth’s membership into the Many Worlds Collective. To join, Earth’s nations and borders must dissolve and Psi-Warriors must strengthen in their battle against the rebels.

Clara, continuing as Earth’s first Chief Communicator, also juggles family conflicts and danger while creating psi skills training Campuses to help Earth through the Psi-Wars. Clara timults alternate versions of their futures as the leaders’ duties and consciences force them each to make difficult choices across multiple timelines while continuing to train and fight.

Will the Psi-Warriors’ and other leaders’ increasing psi skills, interspecies collaborations and budding alien alliances be enough for Earth to make it through The Transition intact? If there is no clear path for Clara’s and Epifanio’s love, does she partner with Steve or go it alone?

What do you do with wanted/unwanted changes?

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Usually $3.99; “Read an Ebook Week” Promotional price, Vol III: $2.00

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/588331

Enter the code prior to completing checkout. COUPON CODE for 50% off: RAE50

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Cover art and logo for The Spanners Series all by Aidana Willowraven: http://www.willowraven-illustration.blogspot.com/

BOOK TRAILERS for all three volumes, here:

Volume I, This Changes Everything

https://youtu.be/QJDEt1O8yQ8?list=PLPbfKicwk4dE_bsvzZO7X8-IIqqLY15uS

or

https://goo.gl/8OLVSr

AND

https://youtu.be/X_8ZFVY9BMg?list=PLPbfKicwk4dE_bsvzZO7X8-IIqqLY15uS

or

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AND

https://youtu.be/WL9lPK8IhRk?list=PLPbfKicwk4dE_bsvzZO7X8-IIqqLY15uS

or

https://goo.gl/APrn9P

Volume II, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever

https://youtu.be/WenvYeasiik?list=PLPbfKicwk4dE_bsvzZO7X8-IIqqLY15uS

or

https://goo.gl/ERqLHY

Volume III, This Is/Is Not the Way I Want Things to Change

https://youtu.be/uINdFH0XS18?list=PLPbfKicwk4dE_bsvzZO7X8-IIqqLY15uS

or

https://goo.gl/q9NGsg

AND

Find ALL books participating in the Smashwords’ Read An Ebook Week sale and stock up on your favorite genres, authors and titles OR scout out some new talent! https://www.smashwords.com/books/category/1/newest/1

PAPERBACK LOVERS:

25% off SALE for all three Volumes of The Spanners Series!

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Coupon Code is H93664AM for 25% off for YOU for an or all three Volumes, below!

CreateSpace paperbacks’ links:

Vol I: https://www.createspace.com/5837347 

Vol II: https://www.createspace.com/5844431  

Vol III: https://www.createspace.com/5844474

All published by Timult Books

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Filed under: All Volumes, Indie or Self-Publishing, Marketing, Science Fiction and Fantasy, The Spanners, This Changes Everything, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever, This Is/Is Not the Way I Want Things to Change, Timult Books, Volume I of The Spanners, Volume II of The Spanners, Volume III Tagged: #ebookweek17, #RAEW, CreateSpace, Discount, ebook, free, paperbacks, Read An Ebook Week (RAEW), Sale, Sally Ember Ed.D Author, Smashwords, The Spanners Series, This Changes Everything, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever, This Is/Is Not the Way I Want Things to Change, Timult Books

#SMASHWORDS’ “Read An #Ebook Week”: 3 more days! #ebookweek17 Many #sales and #discounts, some #free, March 5 – 11, 2017!

#SMASHWORDS’ “Read An #Ebook Week”: 3 more days! #ebookweek17 Many #sales and #discounts, some #free, March 5 – 11, 2017!

Get any ebook format you want on Smashwords!

[image error]

The Story Behind “Read an Ebook Week” (RAEW): Read an Ebook Week was created by Canadian Smashwords author, Rita Toews. If you’re interested to learn the story behind her creation of Read an Ebook Week, read the 2010 interview with Rita over at The Huffington Post . Please note that the prior web address mentioned in the interview, www. ebookweek.com, is now controlled by a squatter and is not associated with this promotion, so please don’t link to or promote the old address.

The Smashwords’ RAEW page is: https://www.smashwords.com/books/category/1/newest/1

The official Read an Ebook Week Facebook page, operated by Rita, is at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Read-an-E-Book-Week/193882590629749

Show your support for RAEW by “Liking” it on Facebook and sharing it.

[image error]

All three published Volumes of the sci-fi/romance/multiverse/utopian/paranormal (psi) ebooks in The Spanners Series for adults/NA/YA are participating in this great sale! And, if you prefer or want also to have paperbacks, scroll to the end of coupon codes on CreateSpace to purchase those!

Volume I, This Changes Everything, The Spanners Series, by Sally Ember, Ed.D.

Dr. Clara Ackerman Branon, 58, begins having secret visits from holographic representations of  beings from the Many Worlds Collective, a consortium of planet and star systems in the multiverse. When Earth is invited to join the consortium, the secret visits are made public. Now Earthers must adjust their beliefs and ideas about life, religion, culture, identity and everything they think and are. Clara is selected to be the liaison between Earth and the Many Worlds Collective and she chooses Esperanza Enlaces to be the Media Contact. They team up to provide information to stave off riots and uncertainty. The Many Worlds Collective holos train Clara and the Psi-Warriors for the Psi Wars with the rebelling Psi-Defiers, communicate effectively with many species on Earth and off-planet, eliminate ordinary, elected governments and political boundaries, convene a new group of Global Leaders, and deal with family’s and friends’ reactions. 

In what multiple timelines of the ever-expanding multiverse do Clara and her long-time love, Epifanio Dang, get to be together and which leave Clara alone and lonely as the leader of Earth? This Changes Everything begins the 30-year story of Clara’s term as Earth’s first Chief Communicator, continuing in nine more Volumes of The Spanners Series. Are you ready for the changes?

[image error]

Vol I is PERMA-REE!  

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/376197

[image error]

Volume II, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever, The Spanners Series, by Sally Ember, Ed.D.

COUPON CODE for 25% off: RAE25

Intrigued by multiple timelines, aliens, psi skills, romance and planetary change? Clara and the alien “Band” are back in Volume II, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever, The Spanners Series. Now as Chief Communicator, Clara leads the way for interspecies communication on- and off-planet. Fighting these changes are the Psi-Defiers, led by one of the oldest friends of the Chief of the Psi-Warriors, its reluctant leader, Rabbi Moran Ackerman. Stories from younger Spanners about the first five years of The Transition fill Volume II. How would you do with the changes?

[image error]

Usually $3.99; “Read an Ebook Week” Promotional price: $2.99

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/424969  

Enter the code prior to completing checkout. COUPON CODE for Vol II, 25% off: RAE25

[image error]

Volume III, This Is/Is Not the Way I Want Things to Change, The Spanners Series, by Sally Ember, Ed.D.

COUPON CODE for 50% off: RAE50

Clara, Moran, Espe, Epifanio and the alien Band of holos are back in This Is /Is Not The Way I Want Things to Change of The Spanners Series. Psi-Defiers launch increasingly violent protests during this five-year Transition, attempting to block Earth’s membership into the Many Worlds Collective. To join, Earth’s nations and borders must dissolve and Psi-Warriors must strengthen in their battle against the rebels.

Clara, continuing as Earth’s first Chief Communicator, also juggles family conflicts and danger while creating psi skills training Campuses to help Earth through the Psi-Wars. Clara timults alternate versions of their futures as the leaders’ duties and consciences force them each to make difficult choices across multiple timelines while continuing to train and fight.

Will the Psi-Warriors’ and other leaders’ increasing psi skills, interspecies collaborations and budding alien alliances be enough for Earth to make it through The Transition intact? If there is no clear path for Clara’s and Epifanio’s love, does she partner with Steve or go it alone?

What do you do with wanted/unwanted changes?

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Usually $3.99; “Read an Ebook Week” Promotional price, Vol III: $2.00

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/588331

Enter the code prior to completing checkout. COUPON CODE for 50% off: RAE50

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Cover art and logo for The Spanners Series all by Aidana Willowraven: http://www.willowraven-illustration.blogspot.com/

BOOK TRAILERS for all three volumes, here:

Volume I, This Changes Everything

https://youtu.be/QJDEt1O8yQ8?list=PLPbfKicwk4dE_bsvzZO7X8-IIqqLY15uS

or

https://goo.gl/8OLVSr

AND

https://youtu.be/X_8ZFVY9BMg?list=PLPbfKicwk4dE_bsvzZO7X8-IIqqLY15uS

or

https://goo.gl/MvYFH3

AND

https://youtu.be/WL9lPK8IhRk?list=PLPbfKicwk4dE_bsvzZO7X8-IIqqLY15uS

or

https://goo.gl/APrn9P

Volume II, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever

https://youtu.be/WenvYeasiik?list=PLPbfKicwk4dE_bsvzZO7X8-IIqqLY15uS

or

https://goo.gl/ERqLHY

Volume III, This Is/Is Not the Way I Want Things to Change

https://youtu.be/uINdFH0XS18?list=PLPbfKicwk4dE_bsvzZO7X8-IIqqLY15uS

or

https://goo.gl/q9NGsg

AND

Find ALL books participating in the Smashwords’ Read An Ebook Week sale and stock up on your favorite genres, authors and titles OR scout out some new talent! https://www.smashwords.com/books/category/1/newest/1

PAPERBACK LOVERS:

25% off SALE for all three Volumes of The Spanners Series!

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Coupon Code is H93664AM for 25% off for YOU for an or all three Volumes, below!

CreateSpace paperbacks’ links:

Vol I: https://www.createspace.com/5837347 

Vol II: https://www.createspace.com/5844431  

Vol III: https://www.createspace.com/5844474

All published by Timult Books

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Filed under: All Volumes, Indie or Self-Publishing, Marketing, Science Fiction and Fantasy, The Spanners, This Changes Everything, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever, This Is/Is Not the Way I Want Things to Change, Timult Books, Volume I of The Spanners, Volume II of The Spanners, Volume III Tagged: #ebookweek17, #RAEW, CreateSpace, discounts, ebooks, free, paperbacks, Read An Ebook Week (RAEW), Sale, Sally Ember Ed.D Author, Smashwords, The Spanners Series, This Changes Everything, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever, This Is/Is Not the Way I Want Things to Change

#SMASHWORDS’ “Read An #Ebook Week” is NOW! #ebookweek17 Many #sales and #discounts, some #free!

#SMASHWORDS’ “Read An #Ebook Week” is NOW! #ebookweek17 Many #sales and #discounts, some #free, March 5 – 11, 2017!

Get any ebook format you want on Smashwords!

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The Story Behind “Read an Ebook Week” (RAEW): Read an Ebook Week was created by Canadian Smashwords author, Rita Toews. If you’re interested to learn the story behind her creation of Read an Ebook Week, read the 2010 interview with Rita over at The Huffington Post . Please note that the prior web address mentioned in the interview, www. ebookweek.com, is now controlled by a squatter and is not associated with this promotion, so please don’t link to or promote the old address.

The Smashwords’ RAEW page is: https://www.smashwords.com/books/category/1/newest/1

The official Read an Ebook Week Facebook page, operated by Rita, is at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Read-an-E-Book-Week/193882590629749

Show your support for RAEW by “Liking” it on Facebook and sharing it.

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All three published Volumes of the sci-fi/romance/multiverse/utopian/paranormal (psi) ebooks in The Spanners Series for adults/NA/YA are participating in this great sale! And, if you prefer or want also to have paperbacks, scroll to the end of coupon codes on CreateSpace to purchase those!

Volume I, This Changes Everything, The Spanners Series, by Sally Ember, Ed.D.

Dr. Clara Ackerman Branon, 58, begins having secret visits from holographic representations of  beings from the Many Worlds Collective, a consortium of planet and star systems in the multiverse. When Earth is invited to join the consortium, the secret visits are made public. Now Earthers must adjust their beliefs and ideas about life, religion, culture, identity and everything they think and are. Clara is selected to be the liaison between Earth and the Many Worlds Collective and she chooses Esperanza Enlaces to be the Media Contact. They team up to provide information to stave off riots and uncertainty. The Many Worlds Collective holos train Clara and the Psi-Warriors for the Psi Wars with the rebelling Psi-Defiers, communicate effectively with many species on Earth and off-planet, eliminate ordinary, elected governments and political boundaries, convene a new group of Global Leaders, and deal with family’s and friends’ reactions. 

In what multiple timelines of the ever-expanding multiverse do Clara and her long-time love, Epifanio Dang, get to be together and which leave Clara alone and lonely as the leader of Earth? This Changes Everything begins the 30-year story of Clara’s term as Earth’s first Chief Communicator, continuing in nine more Volumes of The Spanners Series. Are you ready for the changes?

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Vol I is PERMA-REE!  

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/376197

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Volume II, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever, The Spanners Series, by Sally Ember, Ed.D.

COUPON CODE for 25% off: RAE25

Intrigued by multiple timelines, aliens, psi skills, romance and planetary change? Clara and the alien “Band” are back in Volume II, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever, The Spanners Series. Now as Chief Communicator, Clara leads the way for interspecies communication on- and off-planet. Fighting these changes are the Psi-Defiers, led by one of the oldest friends of the Chief of the Psi-Warriors, its reluctant leader, Rabbi Moran Ackerman. Stories from younger Spanners about the first five years of The Transition fill Volume II. How would you do with the changes?

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Usually $3.99; “Read an Ebook Week” Promotional price: $2.99

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/424969  

Enter the code prior to completing checkout. COUPON CODE for Vol II, 25% off: RAE25

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Volume III, This Is/Is Not the Way I Want Things to Change, The Spanners Series, by Sally Ember, Ed.D.

COUPON CODE for 50% off: RAE50

Clara, Moran, Espe, Epifanio and the alien Band of holos are back in This Is /Is Not The Way I Want Things to Change of The Spanners Series. Psi-Defiers launch increasingly violent protests during this five-year Transition, attempting to block Earth’s membership into the Many Worlds Collective. To join, Earth’s nations and borders must dissolve and Psi-Warriors must strengthen in their battle against the rebels.

Clara, continuing as Earth’s first Chief Communicator, also juggles family conflicts and danger while creating psi skills training Campuses to help Earth through the Psi-Wars. Clara timults alternate versions of their futures as the leaders’ duties and consciences force them each to make difficult choices across multiple timelines while continuing to train and fight.

Will the Psi-Warriors’ and other leaders’ increasing psi skills, interspecies collaborations and budding alien alliances be enough for Earth to make it through The Transition intact? If there is no clear path for Clara’s and Epifanio’s love, does she partner with Steve or go it alone?

What do you do with wanted/unwanted changes?

[image error]

Usually $3.99; “Read an Ebook Week” Promotional price, Vol III: $2.00

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/588331

Enter the code prior to completing checkout. COUPON CODE for 50% off: RAE50

[image error]

Cover art and logo for The Spanners Series all by Aidana Willowraven: http://www.willowraven-illustration.blogspot.com/

BOOK TRAILERS for all three volumes, here:

Volume I, This Changes Everything

https://youtu.be/QJDEt1O8yQ8?list=PLPbfKicwk4dE_bsvzZO7X8-IIqqLY15uS

or

https://goo.gl/8OLVSr

AND

https://youtu.be/X_8ZFVY9BMg?list=PLPbfKicwk4dE_bsvzZO7X8-IIqqLY15uS

or

https://goo.gl/MvYFH3

AND

https://youtu.be/WL9lPK8IhRk?list=PLPbfKicwk4dE_bsvzZO7X8-IIqqLY15uS

or

https://goo.gl/APrn9P

Volume II, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever

https://youtu.be/WenvYeasiik?list=PLPbfKicwk4dE_bsvzZO7X8-IIqqLY15uS

or

https://goo.gl/ERqLHY

Volume III, This Is/Is Not the Way I Want Things to Change

https://youtu.be/uINdFH0XS18?list=PLPbfKicwk4dE_bsvzZO7X8-IIqqLY15uS

or

https://goo.gl/q9NGsg

AND

Find ALL books participating in the Smashwords’ Read An Ebook Week sale and stock up on your favorite genres, authors and titles OR scout out some new talent! https://www.smashwords.com/books/category/1/newest/1

PAPERBACK LOVERS:

25% off SALE for all three Volumes of The Spanners Series!

[image error]

Coupon Code is H93664AM for 25% off for YOU for an or all three Volumes, below!

CreateSpace paperbacks’ links:

Vol I: https://www.createspace.com/5837347 

Vol II: https://www.createspace.com/5844431  

Vol III: https://www.createspace.com/5844474

All published by Timult Books

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Filed under: Indie or Self-Publishing, Marketing, This Changes Everything, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever, This Is/Is Not the Way I Want Things to Change, Volume I of The Spanners, Volume II of The Spanners, Volume III Tagged: #ebookweek17, #RAEW, Book sale, Discount coupon, ebooks, free, Read An Ebook Week (RAEW), Sally Ember Ed.D Author, Smashwords, The Spanners Series, This Changes Everything, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever, This Is/Is Not the Way I Want Things to Change

#RESIST #FIGHT #NEVERAGAIN #whichsideareyouon #clearandpresentdanger #revolutionisneeded

#RESIST #FIGHT #NEVERAGAIN #whichsideareyouon #clearandpresentdanger #revolutionisneeded

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— stealing the election

— nominations that are now mostly approved of incompetent, inappropriate, illegal cabinet nominees

— putting Bannon where he does not belong and is not legally allowed to be and keeping him there, undeterred

— closing down/diminishing the power of protective government agencies, like the EPA

— the Jewish cemetery desecrations (now, 3)

— the bomb “threat” phone calls to Jewish community centers (over 40 in the last 5 weeks)

— the Nazi graffiti and online/TV/radio broadcasts demonizing Muslims and Jews (too many to count)

— the burning of mosques, the exclusion of media from the White House,the travel bans

— the “show me your papers” TSA and border patrol demands to random (targeted) people at many airports and exit/entrance points

— the violence against peaceful protesters and the demonizing of protests

— the ICE raids and imprisonment of the ill, the parents, the elderly immigrants

— defunding/discrediting public schools…

— the erosion of civil rights

— the attack on reproductive freedom

— the demonizing of LGBT individuals

and so much more.

These are all test runs, folks. And, so far, they are getting away with it all.

If too many citizens ignore these first 6 weeks of horrific #notmyPresident’s actions, if too many of us get “activism” or “compassion” fatigue, if too many get scared, if the privileged crawl back into private and protected bubbles (only coming out to protest when we personally are affected), the fascists will certainly escalate… and we’re all doomed.

This is the Hitlerian/totalitarian playbook, page by page, unfolding all around us.

I am 62 years old and partly disabled. BUT, I am seriously considering buying boxes of adult diapers, gallons of water and dried food so that I can stay in a long-term sit-in, chaining myself to a government office doorway or stairwell, until these attacks and this fascist regime are DONE.

Or, what? Welcome ideas, here. Petitions, marches, whatever we’re already doing is NOT ENOUGH.

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Filed under: Opinions, Politics Tagged: #clearandpresentdanger, #FIGHT, #NEVERAGAIN, #NotMyPresident, #RESIST, #revolutionisneeded, #whichsideareyouon, anti-Semitism, cemeteries, fascism, fightfascism, Jewish [image error] [image error]

Happy #Losar (#Tibetan New Year)!

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Happy #Losar (#Tibetan New Year)!

May all beings benefit and all beings have happiness, peace, safety, compassion and the sources of these.

Filed under: Buddhism, Gratitude, Tibetan Vajrayana Nyingma Tagged: Losar, Tibetan New Year

#bookreview guidelines, updated

#bookreview guidelines, updated

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Hi, #Author,

Your book sounds interesting, but I don’t have a lot of time or interest in most reviewing activities and I am very picky. Review the below carefully.

I might be interested in reading and reviewing your novel, if your novel:

— has NO graphic or, if it has violence, it is mostly “offstage” and not often repeated (no serial killing plots)

— there are a minimum of plot-reduction devices (fights, car chases, bomb blasts, etc.)

— the character development and plot devices are good to excellent

— has no raping

— has no torture

— has no BDSM scenes

— has no romanticizing helpless women

— has no gratuitous or abusive (even if “consensual”) sex, strip clubs, boxing, mixed martial arts, car races, motorcycle races, circuses or rodeos or other such settings/activities, for “atmosphere”

— has no human trafficking

— has no mutilation of animals or people

— has no child predators

— has non-plot-advancing violence

— does not have your trying to get “inside” the mind of the villain and writing in his/her “voice”

— has any Middle Eastern, Russian or other stereotyped ethnic villains.

I AM NOT A PRUDE, and not a censor. It’s that I now consider the aforementioned to be boring and lazy writing as well as disrespectful and hate-mongering and /or these elements give me bad dreams.

If your book fits my criteria, then one final note: I cannot read a PDF on my Kindle (I can’t enlarge that document’s font size and it is always about 6-pt, for some reason). The document has to be in a .mobi format.

Finally, I only submit honest reviews. If your book is truly horrible or has severe editing problems, I may email you after reading a few chapters and ask if you want me to continue or not, since that would definitely earn it only 1 or 2 stars, at best. I do not post DNF “reviews” unless the author refuses to respond to that question in an email within 2 weeks.

So, let me know.

Best to you,

Sally

Sally Ember, Ed.D.

http://www.sallyember.com

Filed under: Indie or Self-Publishing, Reviews Tagged: authors, Book Reviews, Bookreviews, Guidelines

Reblogging: 300+ Mind-Expanding Documentaries

300+ Mind-Expanding Documentaries

[“DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE WE GO! 300+ MIND-EXPANDING DOCUMENTARIES”]

curated by KYLE PEARCE, DECEMBER 5, 2016

https://www.diygenius.com/mind-expanding-documentaries/

Divided into 32 sections, this curated list is well worth your time and effort to determine which you’d like to watch and how to find them. The site has been providing this or an earlier list for several years, now.

When you click on a link, it takes you directly to the film, ready to be watched, free!

E.g., from Section #15, “Eastern Religions,” I chose The Yogis of Tibet, and got this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIHN2Yhs_o4

Filed under: Blogging and others' content, Film Reviews Tagged: documentaries, free

Which Celebrities Would Have Gone/Did Go to Virtual/Actual High School with You?

Which Celebrities Would Have Gone/Did Go to Virtual/Actual High School with You?

My cohort includes those born between about 1951 – 1957 (our “high school” had only grades 10, 11, 12 in the building), those who would have been/were in high school in the USA between 1968 – 1972.

Imagine us all in one building during one of my four years: sitting together at the same lunch table, being on the same teams, dancing at proms, singing in choirs, acting in plays, studying together and attending the same classes, sharing bus rides, going to pep rallies and games, getting high together, dating, arguing, ignoring each other and perhaps, remaining friends.

It is entertaining to imagine, isn’t it?

By “celebrities,” I mean that these are people who have:

been on the covers of national magazines and/or featured speakers/presenters at national/international events/conferences;
won national or international awards or positions of great importance;
invented/started something significant;
wrote/starred in/produced something significant in the way of art/music/books/movies/plays;
achieved a high level of renown in their chosen field;
are known by many others as “great” in their field;
been stars of series TV shows and/or featured on popular talk shows;
are known by and hang out with other celebrities.

These individuals encourage(d) me by their example, inspire and motivate me to be better, dare to dream bigger, do and try things I might not have, and enjoy life more. I am proud to “be” with them on my virtual or actual campus.

First, the famous people whom I know/knew personally:

D. Scott Bassinson, J.D., one of my first serious boyfriends and long-time friend, is an Attorney who has argued at the USA Supreme Court, now a Judge and always, a Musician/Composer. It is due to Scott and his brother, Kevin Bassinson (also a celebrity)’s resignations that I became Ladue High School’s rehearsal and performance accompanist and a professional accompanist for musicals, choruses and performances. http://www.albanyjazz.com/musicians/scottbassinson.html

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Karen S. Raskin Kleiman, MSW, LCSW author of several books, founder of The Postpartum Stress Center, and leading researcher in Postpartum Depression and its treatments (featured on many TV talk shows, including OPRAH, in magazines and websites), was my award-winning partner in Duet Acting, for which we won 4th place for the state of Missouri and first or second in many local and regional competitions in 1971-1972. http://postpartumstress.com/karen-kleiman-msw-lcsw/

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Rich Rubin, journalist, playwright, Founder/Producing/Artistic Director, Quince Productions and GayFest! (Philadelphia), was my first piano-playing duet partner under Deborah Rosenblum in the early 1960s, and we graduated from Ladue together in 1972. “Rich Rubin has written about travel for over twenty years now. He’s thrilled to be back in touch with the team behind ManAboutWorld, having been an early contributor to OUT&ABOUT. He has served as travel editor for Genre and is currently Food and Wine editor for Passport Magazine. His stories have appeared in Saveur, Caribbean Travel & Life, Bride’s, Modern Bride, Travel & Leisure, and many other publications. In his copious free time, he is Producing Artistic Director of Quince Productions, which produces Philadelphia’s only LGBT Theater Festival, GayFest!. He serves on the board of the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus.” http://www.quinceproductions.com/about.html

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Craig Pomranz, singer, recording artist, live cabaret performer, children’s book author of Made by Raffi, was another one of my high school “more than friends” that I’m still in touch with and regard highly. http://craigpomranz.com/

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Dr. Alice Conway, J.D., Ph.D., AB ’76, MA ’79, JD ’83, PhD ’83, is a trained vocalist, fluent in multiple languages (including Braille), and a trusted commercial and employment attorney for Monsanto. She holds four degrees from Washington University and is a committed volunteer and donor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeXcPa4bAV4attorney and philanthropist, blind since aged three, first blind Board Chair of the The St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Alice and I had many classes together in junior and senior high school.

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Dr. Michael Green, M.D., Ph.D., Professor at UMASS Medical Center in Gene Function and Expression, Director of the Cancer Center since 2015, the recipient of the Searle Scholar Award, the Presidential Young Investigators Award, and the McKnight Neuroscience Award and Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. “Michael R. Green received his MD and PhD degrees from Washington University School of Medicine in 1981. He was awarded a Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellowship to perform postdoctoral work at Harvard University in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He became a faculty member in that department at Harvard in 1984, where he remained until he joined the Program in Molecular Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1990. He has been the recipient of the Searle Scholar Award, the Presidential Young Investigators Award, the McKnight Neuroscience Award, and in 1993 was invited to deliver a Harvey Lecture. In 1994, Dr. Green was made an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.” Michael was my second serious high school boyfriend and I went to the first college I attended partly because he was there (sorry, feminists). I knew his little brother, Eric, as well (see below). http://www.umassmed.edu/news/news-archives/2015/04/michael-green-appointed-director-of-umass-cancer-center/

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Dr. Eric Green, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, recipient of numerous awards and author of many scholarly articles. https://www.genome.gov/27535200/director-eric-d-green-md-phd/

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Joel Meyers, longtime sports broadcaster (currently play-by-play announcer of the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association). Joel and I went to school together from Kindergarten through high school, but we weren’t exactly friends. Host of Above The Rim, weekdays from 10-1pm ET, Joel is a multi-time Emmy award-winning broadcaster with over 25 years of experience that includes calling games for both the Lakers and the Spurs on TVas well as the St. Louis baseball Cardinals (our home team). Joel is a graduate of the University of Missouri.

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Fran(ces) Ginsberg, Opera Singer (deceased) with the New York City and Spanish operas before her death several years ago sang in our high school’s Chorale (select show choir) and annual musicals. I accompanied her solos. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Ginsberg

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And, of course, my brother, Dr. Jonathan D. Fleischmann, M.D., MMS, FACS,

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a urological oncologist who has created/patented medications, usages and surgical techniques in his field for decades. “Dr. Fleischmann received undergraduate, graduate and medical degrees from Brown University. During residency training at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, he was a National Kidney Foundation Fellow specializing in kidney cancer research. Between 1985 and 1992, he was on faculty at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, during which time he was admitted as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. In 1992, he joined the Albert Einstein College of Medicine faculty as the chief of service at the Weiler Hospital division and director of urologic oncology. In 1997, he entered private practice in the Bronx and has maintained a continuing interest in specialized cancer care, particularly of the prostate, kidney and bladder. He has privileges at Montefiore Medical Center Hospitals, Westchester Square Medical Center, Calvary and Morningside House.” https://www.google.com/patents/US5145859

Want to see more about some of these Ladue alums and more? In 2012 (the year of my 40th high school reunion), Ladue held its 60th “Distinguished Alumni” Awards Ceremony and it is on YouTube: http://bit.ly/10vTEaP

From Camp Hawthorn (the St. Louis Jewish Community Center Association’s Missouri Ozarks overnight camp, until 1969):

Sheldon Mirowitz (also from Ladue Schools), soloist musician, producer/arranger and sideman, professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston and conductor/arranger of the Berklee Silent Film Orchestra (which tours!), film and TV composer, winner of awards at the Sundance Film Festival and other accolades for his music, including three Emmy nominations and one Peabody Award. I met Sheldon in 8th grade at camp and then we we re-met in high school and have been friends ever since. https://www.berklee.edu/news/berklee-silent-film-orchestra-has-secret-weapon

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Chuck Blitz, became independently wealthy in the first dot.com boom and turned that to opportunities to be a philanthropist, environmentalist, social/environmental activist, particularly in the Santa Barbara, CA, area; with Ram Dass and the White Lotus Foundation, he has been doing ecological, social community and world service—SEVA—programs and yoga teacher training), and recently, he is an author http://biography-ebooks.com///693266/five-years-in-five-months. I went to camp with Chuck; his sister, Judy (“Jay”) was my first counselor, but he and Glenn Savan were/are my brother, Jon’s, age, so we weren’t really friends.

Glenn Savan, (deceased in 2002), author of White Palace, a semi-autobiographical novel turned into the film in 1987, starring James Spader in Glenn’s role and Susan Sarandon as the love interest, using the local “White Castle” hamburger joints as the setting. I knew Glenn from camp, but we weren’t exactly friends. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/17/arts/glenn-savan-49-the-author-of-white-palace.html

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Colleges and New England living (University of Wisconsin/Madison and University of Bridgeport/Connecticut (undergrad) and University of Massachusetts/Amherst (graduate)

Dr. Rahima Wade, Ph.D. (deceased, 2012), almost single-handedly brought “service learning” into public schools in the 1990’s. She also introduced me to the idea of returning to school as a parent of young children and we both attended UMASS/Amherst at the same time. I first met her in Keene, NH, since we belonged to several of the same community groups. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/recorder/obituary.aspx?pid=156772652

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Dr. Mary Kalantzis, Ph.D. http://education.illinois.edu/faculty-finder (b 1949, so an “age outlier,” really, but I include her because of her husband, Dr. Bill Cope, Ph.D. (b. 1957) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Cope_(academic) . Both are Professors, authors/researchers in Multicultural Education and Workplace Diversity globally. I met them when Mary came to Keene State College in New Hampshire as a Fulbright Scholar from Australia in 1990-91 with her husband and colleague/co-writer, Bill, and son, Philip. I traveled with my then-partner to visit them in Australia in 1996. Mary and Bill are now at the University of Illinois/Champagne, where she has been the Dean of the College of Education, until recently.

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Dr. Caroline Myss, Ph.D., best-selling author, speaker, medical clairvoyant, teacher. I met Caroline in 1983 in New Hampshire and we became close friends, seeing each other almost weekly until she moved to back to Chicago in 1992. Since then, we stayed in touch, sporadically, but she travels internationally and is unusually busy even when she “lands” somewhere. She mentions me and our friendship in several of her books’ dedications/acknowledgements. https://www.myss.com/

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Other notables from the Antioch/New England Graduate School in Keene, NH: Faculty members/authors/ researchers, David Sobel, Rick (Youst) van der Poll,

From Camp Med-O-Lark (in Washington, ME)

Bari K. Willerford, actor in the National Deaf Theatre and star of MathNet children’s TV show on PBS as well as continuing to appear in many other TV series, movies (American Gangster) and TV episodes.

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Allegra Broughton and Sam Page, singers/songwriters, musicians, founders of Solid Air, members of The Wild Catahoulas, also play/have played in many other duos and bands. Solid Air has many great CDs available. http://www.solidairmusic.com/bio.html

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Dennis Hadley, musician, singer, member of The Hot Frittatas, The Wild Catahoulas, also plays/has played in many other duos and bands, including Gator Nation. Legally blind since birth, Dennis is one of the best accordion players and enthusiastic vocalists in northern California. http://www.gatornationband.com/about/about.html

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From Chagdud Gonpa, my Buddhist Community (Sangha):

My teachers, Lama Padma Drimed Norbu (born Alwyn Fischel, known as Lama Drimed) and Lama Padma Shenphen Drolma (born Lisa Leghorn, known as Lama Shenphen), who are also authors and Buddhist scholars. They and I were students of Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche before his passing in 2002.

Iron Knot Ranch, on the border of Arizona and New Mexico near Duncan, AZ, is led by Lama Shenphen: http://ironknot.org/about-iron-knot-ranch/

Lama Drimed teaches in California and Oregon and works from his home in the Bay Area, guiding students.

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Among our sangha members whom I know personally are several authors, but only one is in my cohort, that I know of: photographer/teacher, Cary Groner. http://www.carygroner.com/

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Now, all of these (still living) celebs can brag that they know ME!

Next, the celebs I only know from afar:

Athletes I paid attention to and admired…

Chris Evert (whose brand of tennis shoes I wore proudly during the years they were available, which coincided with the years I played tennis, myself, albeit mediocrely.

Cathy Rigby and Olga Korbut, who inspired me to become a gymnast, but injuries sidelined me in 10th grade. Oh, well.

Mark Spitz, a great swimmer( before Michael Phelps was even born!).

Dorothy Hamill (figure skater, actor), , who inspired millions to skate.

Theatre/Music Folks I noticed all along, whom I wish(ed) I could have (had) lunch with at least once… (culled from this list, first, from “my” class, 1953 & 1954 birth years starting on these pages: and ), then from 1952 , and 1955 , , , and

These are listed alphabetically by first name, but I considered grouping them by “lunch table,” according to what combos would make for great conversations with/around me….Cool idea, huh? YOU do it!

Adam Arkin

Al Franken

Al Roker

Alfre Woodard

Alfred Molina

Amy Heckerling

Amy Irving

Andy Garcia

Angela Cartwright

Anjelica Huston

Annette O’Toole

Annie Lennox

Annie Potts

Barry Williams

Bill Maher

Bill Nye

Bill Paxton

Bill Pullman

Billy Idol

Bo Derek

Bob Saget

Bonnie Tyler

Bruce Hornsby

Bruce Willis

Callie Khouri

Carol Kane

Caroline Kennedy

Carrie Fisher

Catherine O’Hara

Chaka Khan

Charlaine Harris

Cheryl Ladd

Chris Carter

Chris Cooper

Chris Noth

Chrissie Hynde

Christine Baranski

Christopher McDonald

Christopher Reeve

Corbin Bernsen

Crystal Gayle

Cyndi Lauper

Dan Aykroyd

Dana Delaney

Daniel Day-Lewis

David E. Kelley

David Morse

David Sedaris

Debby Boone\

Debra Winger

Delta Burke

Dennis Quaid

Denzel Washington

Desi Arnaz, Jr.

Drake Hogestyn

Ellen Barkin

Ellen Greene

Elvis Costello

Eric Roberts

Eve Ensler

Frances Fisher

Frances McDormand

Freddie Prinze

Gary Cole

Gary Sinise

Geena Davis

Geoffrey Rush

Glenne Headley

Gloria Estefan

Griffin Dunne

Harry Hamlin

Harvey Fierstein

Howard Stern

Imelda Staunton

Isabella Rossellini

J.K. Simmons

Jackie Chan

Jane Kaczmarek

Jane Seymour

Jay North

Jean Passanante

Jean Smart

Jeff Daniels

Jeff Goldblum

Jerry Seinfield

Jim Belushi

Jimmy Smits

Joan Allen

John Goodman

John Mellancamp

John Travolta

John Turturro

Jon Lovitz

Jonathan Frakes

Judith Ivey

Judy Davis

Julie Taymor

Karen Allen

Kate Burton

Kate Capshaw

Kate Mulgrew

Kathleen Turner

Kathy Najimy

Katie Couric

Kelly McGillis

Kelsey Grammer

Ken Burns

Ken Olin

Kenny G

Kevin Costner

Kevin Pollack

Kim Bassinger

Kim Catrall

Kirstie Alley

Kurt Russell

Laura Branigan

Laura Innes

Lauren Koslow

Lena Olin

LeVar Burton

Liam Neeson

Lisa Niemi

Lori Singer

Lucie Arnaz

Luther Vandross

Lyle Lovett

Lynda Carter

Lynn Whitfield

Mandy Patinkin

Margo Martindale

Marilu Henner

Marina Sirtis

Mark Hamill

Mark Harmon

Marta Kauffman

Mary McDonnell

Mary Steenburgen

Matt Lauer

Maureen McCormick

Mel Harris

Melanie Griffith

Melanie Mayron

Melissa Manchester

Michael Bolton

Michael Clarke Duncan

Michael Keaton

Michael Moore

Miguel Sandoval

Mimi Rogers

Nancy Cartwright

Nathan Lane

Nicholas Guest

Olivia Hussey

Oprah Winfrey

Orson Scott Card

Pam Dawber

Pamela Sue Martin

Parker Stevenson

Pat Benatar

Patricia Hearst

Patricia Kalember

Patricia Richardson

Patricia Wettig

Patrick Swayze

Patty Smyth

Paul Reiser

Peter Gallagher

Phil Collins

Pierce Brosnan

Reba McEntire

Rene Russo

Richard Kind

Richard Schiff

Richard Thomas

Rick Moranis

Rita Rudner

Rita Wilson

Robby Benson

Robert Gossett

Robin Williams

Ron Howard

Roseanne Barr

S. Epatha Merkerson

Sandra Bernhard

Scott Bakula

Sela Ward

Shari Belafonte

Spike Lee

Stellan Skarsgard

Stephen Fry

Sting

Susan Dey

Thomas Newman

Tim Allen

Tim Daly

Tim Gunn

Timothy Bottoms

Timothy Busfield

Tom Hanks

Tony Shalhoub

Tovah Feldshuh

Treat Williams

Vanna White

Wendy Crewson

Whoopi Goldberg

William Petersen

Yanni

Yvonne Elliman

And, some age “outliers” I would invite to my high school cafeteria table (or beg to go to theirs…):

Holly Hunter (b 1958)

Jamie Lee Curtis (b 1958)

Cybill Shepherd (b 1950)

Billy Joel (b 1949)

Jessica Lange (b 1949)

Meryl Streep (b 1949)

Sigourney Weaver (b 1949)

Sissy Spacek (b 1949)

(WOW! Look at the class of 1949!)

I love the idea of running into these folks from my cohort in some virtual hallways, study halls, parking lots, playing fields, locker rooms and classrooms of “our” high school, getting together for a class reunion (45th is coming up for me this year), and being able to chat with them (even if they’ve already passed).

Who are in YOUR cohort?

Filed under: Opinions, Personal stories Tagged: acquaintances, Celebrities