Matthew Alan Thyer's Blog, page 51
April 2, 2014
Book Discovery Day
Awesome Sauce
I noticed that THE BIG RED BUCKLE got some attention yesterday, and it was not a joke, in KBoard’s Book Discovery – newly-published and overlooked books!It appeared as part of a regular bit and got top billing. This is a great place to find out new authors and discover good reads. Even if you don’t read my book you’re likely to find something good.
It’s Book Discovery Day! Twice a week we bring you a selection of books that are newly-published, or that have been overlooked.
Every g...
March 26, 2014
Playing Favorites
HERO!
I am a fan-boy for science. From the purely theoretical, which I often cannot understand, but must necessarily cheer on, to the applied and engineered. The applied sciences has been my favorite since the days of yore when MacGyversolved weekly problems with a little bit of know how, two sticks and a pocket knife.
This morning Solar Impulseannounced the unveiling of the second, world-crossing, solar powered aircraft that is due to launch next year. The construction of the wing spars for th...
March 25, 2014
Hugo Awards Reminder
Okay, so I’m a day late, but here is my Hugo Awards reminder. My novelette THE BIG RED BUCKLEis eligible to be nominated, as is my short story JOULUPUKKIin each of the “Best” Hugo categories. I do not believe I’m eligible for the Campbell away this year, not even close.
If you attended WorldCon last year or have a ticket for this year you can nominate. Whether you nominate me or someone else (or both!), if you fit that description, go fill out a ballot and suggest the best sci-fi and fantasy y...
Bug Out Follow Up
Buggin’ Out
I’m feeling very slow this morning, but wow what a great run yesterday. I stuck to the pavement for most of the trip, only breaking from the hard surface to run up Serpent’s Trail and avoid the tunnel. Splits were slow, but considering the grade encountered on the whole run not too bad.
To everyone getting ready to ski The Elk Mountain Grand Traverse good luck to you, I was thinking about that course a lot yesterday and wishing that I could be there with you.
One quick announcement....
March 24, 2014
I’m Outta Here
Yeah nerds, you heard me right. Bills paid, laundry is done, and I nabbed a few hundred words toward the completion of UP SLOPE. Aral is hanging with the grand parents this afternoon. What’s that mean? It means Daddy has some free time. Oh yeah!
What does Daddy do with his free time? Does he microwave a pile of corn dogs and munch on their shriveled remains until a feeling of satisfaction and peace overcomes his heart? Nope. Does he practice the nose-harp in while holding onto the dream of one...
March 22, 2014
Not Feeling It
Settled on my head today and wont burn off
Last night I tossed and turned all night long. Despite my best efforts my sinuses are starting to swell, a leading indicator that I’m coming down with the cold that my little guy has been fighting all week. Add to this that my back, neck and shoulders are sore from Thursday’s sand pit run pushing Aral for nearly twelve miles and maybe you can understand that the words just are not coming today.
I think I need a nap. Followed by a massage. While I nap....
March 19, 2014
Regression to a Mean and Staying Possitive
Today has been a difficult one. I’ve felt like I need some grace. As if I need to pursue that sense of simple elegance even though I am currently surrounded by chaos and confusion. My oldest son Justin, who is visiting for Spring Break, has caught a bout of the stomach flu. My youngest boy Aral, spent an afternoon in Gunnison and walked away with a miserable head cold. External stress and just the pressures of life are riding me hard at the moment. Add to this my aptitude to draw the worst co...
March 15, 2014
Per Capita, Australians Rock!
I spent the morning driving about halfway across Colorado, through nasty snow and blowing winds, with my youngest son to pick up my oldest boy, then most of the afternoon driving back through the same to my apartment on the Western Slope. The drive gave me plenty of time to listen my way through the majority of Jeff VanderMeer‘s ANNILATION, which to this point, has been a real treat (BTW thanks Andrea). That, and plenty of quiet time to contemplate a story outline of something new.
Yeah, anoth...
March 14, 2014
Update to THE BIG RED BUCKLE
Of all the things that Microsoft Word fails to be good at one of the most profound to me has been its inability to do good typesetting work. With THE BIG RED BUCKLE I struggled mightily to get a printed version of the book out that was readable and not chocked full of artifacts and problems. I failed on my first go around.
I’ve just uploaded a new version of the manuscript, created using the Bookow conversion utility. Thumbing through the digital version of the converted file I am much pleased...
Interview with Author Peter Cawdron
Peter Cawdron
I very much enjoyed Peter Cawdron‘s contribution to FROM THE INDIE SIDE, and I say this while acknowledging that the story did not immediately pull me in. Yet, after a page or two I could not put the story down. The first time I read it, I set out to read a couple of pages and crash for the night; I had just run a good collection of miles. I was beat, but I couldn’t. THE MAN WHO REMEMBERED TODAYthat good. Honestly, it made me want to hear this anthology as an audio collection sim...
