Raven Oak's Blog, page 46
December 30, 2015
Top 5 Songs to Write to, But Never to Drink to
I liked the last post I did like this so much, I decided to do it again! This time, instead of driving being the issue, I wanted to focus on drinking…well, specifically drinking alone. These depressingly & achingly beautiful songs are great when you need to write a sad scene, but if you’re depressed and drinking, you should probably stay away from them.
So here you go–Top 5 Songs to Write to, but Never to Drink to
5. Shipwrecked by Shane Alexander
4. Remains by Maurissa Tancharoen & Jed Whedon
(...
December 25, 2015
Flashback Friday: Christmas Past
The first Christmas I remember involved a fake Cabbage Patch doll–fake because we were really poor and my family couldn’t afford the $40 or $50 stores were charging for the new “hot toy.”
I remember being disappointed that it wasn’t a real one. I knew it wasn’t because it lacked Xavier Robert’s signature on the doll’s butt (On the butt? Really?). The doll’s nose was also deformed–as in the nostrils resembled boogers more than nostrils.
But it was all...
December 24, 2015
Book Cover Throwback: The Night Before Christmas
What I Love about This Cover: It’s an iconic cover of Santa and his reindeer.
What I Don’t Love about This Cover: The snow on the chimney looks more like cake icing than snow. And I’m not sure why the North Pole is floating in the sky…
Click here to view other Book Cover Throwbacks.The post Book Cover Throwback: The Night Before Christmas appeared first on Raven Oak.
December 23, 2015
Top 5 Songs to Write to, but Never to Drive to
Ever had a song come on the radio that was so good, you found yourself doing 70mph in a 55? Where you realized you weren’t a NASCAR driver as the police officer pulled you over? Yep. Me too.
Oddly enough, some of those songs are, to me, the best songs to write novels to as they put that ball of tension in my gut, push me to go faster–NO FASTER–and get the blood pumping like nothing else.
Writers are often asked what music they listen to while writing. It’s so common a topic that many authors wi...
December 22, 2015
Rustycon 2016 Schedule
For those attending Rustycon 33 on January 15-17, 2016, I’ll have a table in the dealer’s room. I’ll also be a panelist. Here’s my Rustycon schedule:
FRIDAY
4-5 PM Climate Change in Dystopian Worlds in Orcas B Panelists: Marilyn Holt (Moderator), Mike Birch, Raven Oak 5-6 PM Kicking Butt in Heels--Realistic Women in SF/F in Emerald D Panelists: Janine A. Southard, John (JA) Pitts (Moderator), Raven Oak SATURDAY 10-11 AM The Myth of Writer's Block in Emerald D Panelists: Cheryce Clayton, Grant...December 21, 2015
Monday Night Gaming: Fallout 4
Those that know me, know my love of Fallout. My husband would argue his deep love for its predecessor, Wasteland, which I respect, but for me, Fallout 3 is what began my Bethesda love. Of course, like any Bethesda game, Fallout 4 is plagued with bugs, but fewer than previous games.
Unlike Fallout 3, #4 begins before the bombs drop. We see our main character running for Vault 111 as the bombs fall. It sets the stage for everything else that happens in...
Winter Wish on the Solstice
Winter solstice…the shortest day of the year. The day when it’s dark at 3:30 PM in Seattle, and everyone sighs with relief that eventually the sun will return.
It’s also the day of my birth, which is always interesting as one year often feels like the last in terms of age. I could say that my body feels the cold more, but it always has. I could say that I’ve more grey hair, but I keep my locks in such bright colors that honestly, I’m not sure I’d be able to tell.
So yep, there I am, age 38. And...
December 18, 2015
Reddit AMA!
For those Reddit users, Maia Chance, Janine A. Southard, Gayle Clemans, and me will all be over in /r/books doing an AMA (Ask Me Anything).
So…come ask us anything! About our new book Joy to the Worlds, other books we’ve written, live in the Pacific Northwest, or anything else that comes to mind. The AMA officially begins at 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET.
https://www.reddit.com/r/books/The post Reddit AMA! appeared first on Raven Oak.
December 17, 2015
Book Tour Review
Two weeks ago, four authors kicked off a regional tour for a holiday speculative fiction book. And what did they learn?
Well, I can’t speak for my co-authors, but…
Touring is exhausting. Driving, signing, smiling. All things hard to do with a migraine, as I discovered the last tour event.Touring is fun. Lots of new people to meet and chat with.Touring is expensive. What they don’t tell you is that new and mid-list authors pay all the expenses of a tour (gas, hotel, food, etc.). And if you have...Throwback Thursday: Olive the Other Reindeer
What I Love about This Cover: It’s a neat style of art. I like the animated look.
What I Don’t Love about This Cover: The top half of Olive’s body doesn’t match the bottom. She’d have a broken spine and/or shoulders moving like that.
Click here to view other Book Cover Throwbacks.The post Throwback Thursday: Olive the Other Reindeer appeared first on Raven Oak.
