Raven Oak's Blog, page 45
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!
January 22, 2016
Flashback Friday: Good Faeries, Bad Faeries
My first exposure to the land of Brian Froud was through the filmsThe Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. Though at the time, I didn’t know the name of the creator of such interesting creatures. It wasn’t until my husband snagged me a copy of the book Good Faeries, Bad Faeries that I discovered the world of the Frouds.
His artwork is gorgeous–add in a great sense of humor and you have quite a humorous book. It’s meant to be read l...
January 21, 2016
Book Cover Throwback: Brian Froud
What I Love about This Cover: The fact that the front and back sides are their own covers. Way too cool.
What I Don’t Love about This Cover: Nothing. Brian Froud is amazing as usual.
Favorite Faery: Buttered-Toast Faery!
Click here to view other Book Cover Throwbacks.The post Book Cover Throwback: Brian Froud appeared first on Raven Oak.
January 18, 2016
MNG: Firefly Shiny Dice
Publisher: Upper Deck Entertainment
# of Players: 1-5
Best with: 2 players
Playing Time: The box says 30 minutes. For 5 players playing the first time, it took us 3.5 hours to go 2 of 3 rounds.
# of Expansions: None yet
This game is a Firefly themed “Push-Your-Luck” game, though I suspect they created the game and threw in the theme as an after thought.
General Mechanics: This game lasts three rounds. Whoever has the most points at the end,...
January 15, 2016
RustyCon
Instead of a Flashback post, I’m just going to remind folks that I’m at Rustycon 33 all weekend. If you’re attending, stop by the dealer’s table and say hello (when I’m not at a panel that is), or hop in to one my panels. Schedule is below:
FRIDAY
4-5 PM Climate Change in Dystopian Worlds in Orcas B Panelists: Mike Birch, Raven Oak (Moderator), Thomas Gondolfi 5-6 PM Kicking Butt in Heels--Realistic Women in SF/F in Emerald D Panelists: Janine A. Southard, John (JA) Pitts (Moderator), Raven Oa...January 14, 2016
Always
I was going to post something about the passing of Alan Rickman–another great artist taken by cancer–but tomorrow is RustyCon, and I honestly don’t have the strength or the time.
I saw him first in Die Hard, loved how he carried the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
He made me love villains and when he played Professor Snape in the Harry Potter movies, he was brilliant.
I saw this quote weeks ago, but seeing it again this morning reminded me how much he loved the characters he played and how...
January 11, 2016
Lessons in Weird from the Goblin King
The year was 1986.
Jim Henson was all the rage–especially to me, age 8. Labyrinth came out in June that year and was a “box office disappointment.” So much so that Jim Henson’s son, Brian, called it “one of the most difficult periods in his father’s career.” My eight-year-old self didn’t care. This was a movie from the Muppet man!
It was a movie for me, a movie full of magic and questions. By this age, I’d already discovered the land of fantasy through Red Sonja, Ladyhawke, and The Dark Crystal...
January 4, 2016
MNG: Champions of Midgard
Publisher: Grey Fox Games
# of Players: 2-4
Best with: 3-4
Playing Time: 60-90 minutes, though the first time, it’ll probably take you an hour just to read the rules & set up the board.
# of Expansions: None yet
This game came at the recommendation of Mox Boarding House employees who knew we enjoyed Lords of Waterdeep. They claimed it was a Norse/Viking version of the game, and they were dead correct. The board, layout, and general mechan...
January 1, 2016
Flashback Friday: A New Year
Flashbacks are typically about looking back, but why do we bother if not to find our way forward? I’m a firm believer that the decisions and events of our past form and shape who we are, which in turn influences our decisions rolling forward.
2015 was, in most ways, very good to me.
And while I found my first year as a published author to be a whirlwind of amazing chaos, not everything was perfect. Not every day was 110%.
My broken wrist, the flood, new...
