Raven Oak's Blog, page 44
February 26, 2016
FF: Evoking an Emotional Response
I love that music can evoke such an emotional response in me. It’s one of the reasons that both myself and my husband were music majors for our first 3 years of college. While we both changed majors to more lucrative ones, neither of us have given up our love of creating and enjoying music.
Sometimes, however, the timing is piss poor–such as today. I’m trying to read and critique a story for a participant in the NorWesCon Writing Work...
February 25, 2016
Throwback Thursday: The Time Traveler’s Wife
I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I love this book. I know some see it as cheesy or cliché, but I genuinely enjoyed it. I do not, however, recommend reading it when home alone while your spouse works late. You’re gonna want the shoulder to cry on in addition to the Kleenex.
What I Love about This Cover: It’s intriguing. The first time I saw it, it made me think of all those cliché saying about “big shoes to fill,” which didn’t fit with th...
February 18, 2016
Throwback Thursday: Amaskan’s Blood
This time last year, I was having my first book signing event for Amaskan’s Blood, which was my first serious publication (though not my first). It’s been on my mind a lot as I’ve been working on Book II, but also as we move into our new home and I unpack my new office.
What I Love about This Cover: Stylistically, the cover is a throwback to the old school fantasy covers, which I love.
What I Don’t Love about This Cover: In some ways, I wish more...
February 13, 2016
Award Nominations
I always hate making these posts as it seems a bit weird to ask people to nominate my works for an award (even if they think it’s worthy of one), but I’ve found that many folks don’t know they can nominate or what to even nominate something for, so here goes.
If you’re a SFWA member, you can nominate for the Nebulas until 2/15.
Class-M Exile is eligible for Best Novella.“The Ringers,” which is in Joy to the Worlds is eligible for Novelette.“Ol’ St. Nick,” which is in Joy to the...February 12, 2016
FF: Gravitational waves
Yesterday, physicists announced that they had finally proven the last of Einstein’s theories–the existence of gravitational waves. For most people, this announcement is meaningless, but for science fans and science fiction writers, this is HUGE.
So what are gravitational waves and why does this matter?For one, they help us better understand the universe and how it’s shaped by mass. For another, it means a new way to stud...
February 11, 2016
Throwback Thursday: English Teacher
Before I was a writer, I was a computer teacher, and before that, an English teacher. And I promise there’s a reason I’m thinking of this today.
We closed on our house yesterday (yay!) and I’m soon to be busy with unpacking. While changing addresses everywhere today, one of our bank accounts where my car loan is situated thought I was still a teacher in Texas. I haven’t been that in over three years....
February 1, 2016
MNG: Professor Layton & the Unwound Future
The Professor Layton series is definitely one of my favorite game series–mystery coupled with puzzles and a full-fledged story line = WIN. The first two games played fairly straightforward, but with this 3rd game, the makers decided to turn the game on its head. Instead of a linear game as expected, we get a mystery-stuffed puzzle game that occurs in the present day and in the future...
January 29, 2016
Sneaky Little Snippets
I should be writing a Flashback Friday or something, but I’ve been way too busy writing fiction and prepping for our move. It’ll have to wait.
Sent off a revision of a short story last night for a possible anthology. If it gets accepted, I’ll let folks know. Spent this AM working on moving related stuff and this afternoon/evening working on Amaskan’s War.
I will not-so-sneakily share a snippet because I want to!
He cried. He shouted and writhed. And when he was done with that, he wet himself.
In...
January 28, 2016
Throwback Thursday: Space Exploration
Being a science fiction writer, the realities and dangers of space travel are part of my job and part of my research. But they are also part of a fascination that I think most sci-fi authors have with space. What’s out there beyond our solar system? Who’s out there? Are we alone, or are we one of many...
January 25, 2016
NorWesCon Schedule
This is a tentative schedule for NorWesCon 39. It may or may not change as we get closer to the convention. If it changes, I’ll make sure to update this page as needed. I’ve also got a READING and a SIGNING time below. I’m going to read a little something from Amaskan’s War as well as something else, so make sure you check out the reading. When I’m not at a panel, you’ll probably find me in the game rooms gaming. Come join me if you like!
