tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62839682011-11-07T00:41:26.328-08:00As a writer, my mind is a morass of information read, heard, or observed. Every once in a while, things bubble up I think are interesting and so I decided to give in to the blogging revolution. Welcome. I hope you enjoy the contents of my cluttered mind.<br> <b>Note:</b> Updates posted monthly with occasional extras.Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.comBlogger2541100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-24055229444466976192011-11-07T00:41:00.000-08:002011-11-07T00:41:26.352-08:00

Here's a week in the life of Tales to Tide You Over. I hope you find something interesting, amusing, or inspiring. Posted on: Monday, October 31, 2011 10:30 AM On the Eve of NaNo 2011 So, in classic form, the National Novel Writing Month (NaNo) starts tomorrow, and I feel horribly unprepared. For the last couple of years, I decided not to do NaNo only to decide at the last minute...

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-89411802214014863932011-08-23T17:43:00.000-07:002011-08-23T17:48:05.942-07:00

I have moved my posting activity to the blog on my site rather than maintaining an LJ and Blogger blog. I occasionally remember to crosspost, but if you want to keep up with me, please go directly to Tales to Tide You Over Blog. For my Renovation (WorldCon) 2011 experiences, go to the Renovation Tag.

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-83291673020232495882011-04-17T22:08:00.000-07:002011-04-17T22:08:21.377-07:00

I fell a bit behind in the crossposting, so here's what you might have missed out on. 5 Interesting Links for 4-15-2011 Life A sideways look at education that reflects the students’ skills and needs rather than a rubber stamp plan: Read the rest of this entry » Shotgun Bride by B.J. Daniels I received this romance through the Tell Harlequin program where Harlequin sends out examples of their

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-87369446607144026802011-03-25T13:52:00.000-07:002011-03-25T13:52:27.301-07:00

Interesting Links for 3-25-2011 Have you ever had one of those weeks when you lose track of what day it is? On top of that, Forward Motion started the March Madness challenge this morning. I’m a little over 1k into a new steampunk novella. Well, better late than never, here are your interesting links. Life A look at sleep, needs and consequences of too little, as well as some tips for

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-47281108367471835202011-03-04T19:50:00.000-08:002011-03-04T19:50:43.588-08:00

This week has a lot more entertainment than usual, though there are a few writing posts as well. Take a break, enjoy what’s below, and then maybe learn something too.Just for FunTalking with my family about a TV show called Dweebs, we tried to remember the difference between a geek, nerd, or dweeb. Found this Venn diagram that explains it all: http://laughingsquid.com/

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-40245563628990555262011-02-12T11:20:00.000-08:002011-02-12T11:20:24.591-08:00

Life got a bit interesting, but I hadn't realized how far behind I'd fallen in my crossover posts. While I'm seeking a better mechanism, here's what you've missed if you don't follow my main blog on http://margaretfisk.mmfcf.com/blog/: Interesting Links for 01-14-2010 ~~~~~~~~~~ Online Reads This poignant story, Flower Fairies, will only be available free until the end of the week, but

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-31852599790386513922011-01-12T20:27:00.000-08:002011-01-12T20:27:49.781-08:00

Warrior Wisewoman 3 edited by Roby James is an anthology of science fiction stories focused around strong female characters. These characters may not be the lead, and the definition of strength is a broad one, opening the potential for a wide variety of interesting tales.As with most anthologies, some stories resonated with me more than others, but none of the included tales jarred me, which is

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-46354071382997984192011-01-07T22:45:00.000-08:002011-01-07T22:45:22.614-08:00

This week has been a good one for discoveries, and so I bring you a broad range of areas, including a beautiful short story. I hope you enjoy them.AnthropologyA glimpse into the death practices of an ancient city: http://heritage-key.com/blogs/owenjarus/ancient-city-petra-tombs-reveal-61-burials-and-islamic-gold-medallion Read the rest of this entry »

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-5959751231099999072011-01-05T10:59:00.000-08:002011-01-05T10:59:20.657-08:00

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is the book I have reread the most. It’s my comfort read, the one I turn to every five to ten years. While normally I talk about more recent books in the hopes of encouraging you to try out some new authors, or of getting suggestions of similar authors for me to try, something interesting happened while I was rereading Pride and Prejudice that I would like to

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-59887587358054383542010-12-31T16:48:00.000-08:002010-12-31T16:48:11.369-08:00

Happy New Year’s Eve. Hope you all have wonderful plans and will have fun. Me, I’m hanging out and relaxing after enjoying a holiday trip. Everything’s pretty slow and mellow here, the reason these links are up in the late afternoon, but for those looking for something interesting to read, please enjoy.Just for FunA visual delight of time-lapsed photography set to music: http://vimeo.com/

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-35354880180377516052010-12-19T21:54:00.000-08:002010-12-19T21:54:41.286-08:00

Just for FunWhen I was a kid, my grandmother would take me in to New York City to look at the window displays, but they had nothing like this back then. Enjoy a YouTube video of Saks Fifth Avenue’s Snowflake and Bubble 3D holiday light show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_9AYqhaw64 Read the rest of this entry »

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-50888974197901939722010-12-16T17:18:00.000-08:002010-12-16T17:18:39.515-08:00

Several people recommended J.R. Ward so I figured I’d give her a try, but when I first started Dark Lover: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood I thought I’d already read it. The beginning feels a little generic and I almost stopped, something I would have regretted. Rather quickly, the tough guy beginning changes into a fascinating story.Ward puts together a complicated tale with an alternate

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-76486996129326459042010-12-10T13:10:00.000-08:002010-12-10T13:10:07.008-08:00

EditingWeronika Janczuk offers some suggestions for how to turn familiar text into unique text so the errors stand out. I am boggled by the idea of posting something on the wall (of course I can’t reach any of my walls because of furniture), but most of her techniques are similar to what I already do except for the conversion to PDF, something I’m going to adopt. http://www.weronikajanczuk.com/

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-40198146713099193752010-12-08T23:04:00.000-08:002010-12-08T23:04:18.909-08:00

If you’ve been reading my reviews for a while, you’ve probably got the impression that I like Suzanne Brockmann’s writing. The funny thing is that when she was recommended to me, I gave the books to my husband first since from the description they seemed more his type of book. Now we take turns buying more (and we came in late on a HUGE backlist) for each other…okay, more like try to jump the gun

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-37291595832054101122010-12-04T14:18:00.000-08:002010-12-04T14:18:38.428-08:00

Sigh. Kids having a party and my computer decided to lock up, while I’m in a scramble to finish my NaNo so I can put together the synopsis for the Harlequin challenge. However, I might not have many, nor have them posted on Friday (though missing by only 8 minutes), but I think you’ll enjoy the links I’ve gathered this week.Just BecauseI didn’t mean to look at these, but they were just too

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-86292876007755556132010-11-26T14:09:00.000-08:002010-11-26T14:09:50.306-08:00

Posting these a little late ’cause I’m moving slow after a fun Thanksgiving celebration. I hope each of you, whether in the US so with Turkey Day or not, had a grand Thursday.ResearchBefore there was the Swiss Army Knife, there was the Roman Gourmet Utensil: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1247230/The-Roman-Army-Knife-Or-ingenuity-Swiss-beaten-1-800-years.html Read the rest of this entry

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-14296892280493671152010-11-19T22:59:00.000-08:002010-11-19T22:59:02.544-08:00

Sorry for the missing week. The flu has caught me in its grip, but now you get two weeks for one. Interesting Links for 11-19-2010History Renaissance Rome comes to life in the video game Assassin’s Creed through the assistance of historical scholars. Intriguing enough to make me consider whether I want to try the game. http://www.livescience.com/culture/

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-246936806222336662010-11-05T10:29:00.000-07:002010-11-05T10:29:33.922-07:00

PromotingSome solid tips on the difference between traditional and social marketing so that your efforts to promote aren’t received the wrong way: http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2010/11/03/two-ways-to-transform-your-book-marketing/Read the rest of this entry »

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-31494274289457881622010-10-29T23:24:00.000-07:002010-10-29T23:24:16.688-07:00

LifeIt’s always nice to see signs that what I love has earned a place in popular culture, but this is one step further: http://www.sfwa.org/2010/10/star-trek-cited-by-texas-supreme-court/ Read the rest of this entry »

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-73167430891957333542010-10-27T10:11:00.000-07:002010-10-27T10:11:07.023-07:00

You never know what to expect when reading a book by Elizabeth Bear, and All the Windwracked Stars is no exception. This is a post-apocalyptic novel centered around figures of Norse mythology who are trying their best to stave off the next round of apocalyptic disasters. The main character is an immortal who has managed to keep her naivet&eacute; mainly because she believes in black and white and

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-70872493472726156532010-10-15T11:13:00.000-07:002010-10-15T11:13:02.183-07:00

This week is a bit of a mishmash. I’m still up to my gills in the Muse Online Writers Conference, but poked my head up enough to catch a few things I wanted to share.EnvironmentA wonderfully simple presentation on the impact of oil dependency with hope for the future: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrrVpf45w5E&feature=player_embeddedFunRead the rest of this entry »

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-9411254596793849492010-10-08T12:04:00.000-07:002010-10-08T12:04:20.102-07:00

I’m neck deep in the final preparations for the 2010 Muse Online Writers Conference, where there are writing workshops, networking opportunities, and even pitch appointments all from the comfort of your home, as well as bleeding red ink all over my latest edit, so the pickings are a little slim, but for all that I think you’ll find them fun and worth your while.FYI, if you’re interested in coming

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-13449945633128996392010-10-06T13:47:00.000-07:002010-10-06T13:47:29.254-07:00

This novel got caught up in my blog reorganization and so didn’t even get the quick comments that I’ve previously done on top of my interesting links but that in no way reflects my reaction to the story. dream called time is a bit of a torment for me because I’ve been reading Stardoc since the beginning (though I started a year or two late) and it seems like Cherijo and Reever have been part of

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-35110988641944492672010-10-01T23:19:00.000-07:002010-10-01T23:19:39.674-07:00

Is it just me, or is the year flying by? This week is mainly focused on the writing side. Maybe it’s a sign, or more likely that I had very little time to search things out, and coincidentally, I’m knee deep in a massive edit. Editing Here is a nice list of four common problems manuscripts have, along with examples and resources to explore them in more depth: http://joanyedwards.wordpress.com/

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-1415443948721551492010-09-22T12:38:00.000-07:002010-09-22T12:49:12.927-07:00

C.E. Murphy has delighted me for years, and the Truthseeker world shows all the signs of doing the same. Certain elements are familiar enough from the Walker Papers series to make this right in Murphy’s sweet spot while in other ways, Truthseeker takes a huge leap into the unknown. Like Joanne, Lara Jansen is unaware of the true extent of her abilities. Unlike Walker Papers, though, acceptance

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-7105297595736309052010-09-17T11:08:00.000-07:002010-09-17T11:08:40.576-07:00

Here is the first installment of my newly focused blog posts. Below, you’ll find links, links, and more links, each with a little explanation and/or commentary as it suits my mood. I hope you’ll see something interesting, and would love to hear back from you if you’re so inclined. Heck, you could even offer up a favorite link of your own, but be warned that I might prod you for a website

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-54686349685583306902010-09-15T10:39:00.000-07:002010-09-15T10:39:08.368-07:00

Note: As part of my new plan to post my thoughts about various books on Wednesdays, here is the first installment. I’m including both my brief comments at the top, and if you want to hear more, there are longer comments to follow. Brief Comments:I finished On the Edge by Ilona Andrews and it was everything I’d hoped it to be. The balance between paranormal adventure and romance is nicely done,

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-2796345818380664462010-09-10T10:48:00.000-07:002010-09-10T10:48:11.420-07:00

Note: I’m moving the mini reviews to Wednesdays in a grand effort to focus my blog posts. I’ll post full reviews there too as they come available. Writing I couldn’t have asked for a better follow up to my posting of Karen McGrath’s stages of editing on Monday if I’d contracted one. A view from the other side of the revision letter: http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/2010/09/

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-46976783354064143882010-09-03T10:05:00.000-07:002010-09-03T10:05:23.856-07:00

What I Am Reading I finished Infamous by Suzanne Brockmann. She manages to bring everything together in the thriller plot, paranormal plot, and romance plot for a satisfying and fun read. I’m reading On the Edge by Ilona Andrews, another wonderful urban fantasy offering from this writing husband and wife team. This one focuses a little more on the romantic aspects than the early ones in the

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-85977732794571310562010-08-27T08:06:00.000-07:002010-08-27T08:06:57.979-07:00

What I Am Reading I’m currently reading Infamous by Suzanne Brockmann which reminds me once again why my husband is willing to read romance novels by her. Brockmann is extremely talented and has established herself well enough to get away with the first person POV of a dead man in a romance novel. I can’t wait to get to the end, and I’m dreading it being over. Fair Ladies by Theodora Goss (on

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-47497017345749747162010-08-20T11:01:00.000-07:002010-08-20T11:01:14.059-07:00

This week vanished too quickly, and I’ve had little time for research or reading on line. What this means is that the links are incredibly spare, but that also gives you the opportunity to read all of them rather than having to choose based on your own limited time. What I Am Reading I have finished Elizabeth Bear’s All the Windwracked Stars, and not surprisingly, I’m happy to discover there’s

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-43076533874848629732010-08-18T18:07:00.000-07:002010-08-18T18:07:50.363-07:00

I was first introduced to Michelle Rowen through a blog contest. While not generally a fan of chick lit, when I won Bitten and Smitten, I found Rowen’s combination of chick lit, vampires, and comedy to be great fun. It’s not every day that I can read a paranormal romance aloud and have my two young boys rolling on the floor, but that’s what happened with several passages including ones about

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-36416102420097202352010-08-16T23:41:00.000-07:002010-08-16T23:41:10.452-07:00

I’ve been thinking about this on and off for a long while, but the question still bugs me. When I pick a book out of my TBR pile and open the first page, I start with the assumption that I have this book for a good reason. That could be because the premise caught my eye, because I like the author, because someone recommended it to me, or even because I won it in a contest. The reason doesn’t

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-13514011035340548922010-08-13T22:39:00.000-07:002010-08-13T22:39:22.339-07:00

Welcome to Friday the 13th. Hope you’re all having a magical, rather than mundane, day. What I Am Reading Nearing the end of Elizabeth Bear’s All the Windwracked Stars, and so far it’s holding up well. I’m interested in seeing how she’s going to pull this all together in the end. Just finished Public Affair, Secretly Expecting by Heidi Rice (part of a Harlequin reader reaction program I’m in).

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-46932923711141279542010-08-13T22:37:00.000-07:002010-08-13T22:37:34.203-07:00

Sorry folks. Forgot to crosspost this for those of you who link to me on blogger. What I Am ReadingElizabeth Bear’s All the Windwracked Stars is proving to be a complex and rather fascinating read. A Stroke of Dumb Luck By Shiloh Walker, on Tor.com, is a fun urban fantasy story that does an excellent job of establishing the world all the while maintaining tension: http://www.tor.com/

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-6920183414823373492010-08-02T11:14:00.000-07:002010-08-02T11:14:35.072-07:00

Plot Summary: Demon Hunts by C. E. Murphy begins with a newly, if not confident, then grounded, Joanne Walker. She and Billy have teamed up as the official unofficial paranormal arm of the Seattle Police Force with Morrison’s blessing. They’re investigating an unusual serial murder with the characteristics of human bites and no forensic evidence, only Joanne and Billy can’t sense anything either

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-7381624450733131502010-07-30T08:04:00.000-07:002010-07-30T08:04:51.643-07:00

What I Am Reading I finished Demon Hunts by C.E. Murphy this week. It was everything I’ve come to expect of her writing and more. I’ll try to get my comments up next week. I also finished the Irlen book. A lot to think about, but nothing that changed my mind about going forward with the lenses. If just having my monitor tinged green has helped my focus and online reading, how much more will

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-3124214063853988242010-07-23T16:01:00.000-07:002010-07-23T16:01:42.289-07:00

Not as many links as I’d hoped to offer, but once again, I’m on the road (and this time not fast enough to post ahead of time. Still, there should be something of interest for pretty much everyone in the mix I’ve included. Enjoy. What I Am Reading While I’m still reading the Irlen book, I’ve also started Demon Hunts by C.E. Murphy. Not surprisingly, I’m enjoying this continuation of the Walker

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-11749233291615957122010-07-16T13:29:00.000-07:002010-07-16T13:29:29.708-07:00

What I’m Reading I am still reading a non-fiction book called Reading by the Colors by Helen Irlen (ISBN: 0-399-53156-4), but I haven’t had much reading time, in part because of the focus I’ve achieved with my first steps in Irlen Syndrome correction. I’ll soon be jumping back on the reading bandwagon. And I forgot to mention I read Winters Passage by Julie Kagawa as well, a novella set in

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-41968090913727433172010-07-11T09:57:00.000-07:002010-07-11T09:57:33.343-07:00

My mind is still over in Canada, and I haven’t gotten back into the swing of things, so the pickings are a bit sparse. That said, here’s some solid links for you, plus some compelling reading choices to try. What I’m Reading: An aftermath of my wonderful trip to Canada has been that I’m walking in the mornings again. However, unlike there, I lack a furry companion to keep me interested. I had

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-17070644540190221292010-06-25T22:38:00.000-07:002010-06-25T22:38:19.199-07:00

What I’m Reading I managed to take in a bit of short fiction while waiting for my son to finish the book he’d borrowed, Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews (which I now have). There are a bunch of good reads out there for the enjoying. The Dead Man’s Child by Jay Lake on Cosmos Online offers a lyrical narrative that builds on itself to resolution in the manner of the old teaching tales. It’s not

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-67212343883084311402010-06-21T10:06:00.000-07:002010-06-21T10:06:22.649-07:00

My husband recommended this novel for me, and it meets a lot of my interest areas. This Is Not a Game talks about the gaming world gone one step further into the real one, and then explores the social and economic consequences of same. The novel has a very cyberpunk feel to it while at the same time showing none of the traditional modifications. It reminds me a lot of The Windup Girl by Paolo

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-18682244496683729112010-06-11T22:30:00.000-07:002010-06-11T22:30:52.505-07:00

What I Am Reading I just read Michelle Rowen’s The Demon in Me, and as usual, she did not disappoint. While the novel shows her characteristic upbeat style, it also provides a deeper main character than her Bitten and Smitten series who must deal with some heavy questions and circumstances. Like has happened before, I quibble about the classification of a romance novel, but that doesn’t reduce

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-53948178495643127622010-06-09T13:46:00.000-07:002010-06-09T13:46:05.748-07:00

I was at a restaurant with my husband last night and we started talking about social media, specifically the differences between Twitter and Facebook. Something clicked for me, and I thought I’d share what I figured out. My parents are both retired Foreign Service officers which means that I spent much of my childhood surrounded by reams of fascinating adults. This included other diplomats,

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-16827783218582581552010-06-04T23:03:00.000-07:002010-06-04T23:03:54.287-07:00

This week has been all about catching up after BayCon (I returned to a deluge of over 600 emails and 100-200 more come in each day) so I don’t have very many links for you to enjoy. However, I’ll give my first real con report below them to make up for it. What I Am Reading I finished This Is Not A Game by Walter Jon Williams while at BayCon and haven’t had time to write up my thoughts. It’s

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-15012291856155797092010-05-25T21:24:00.000-07:002010-05-25T21:24:32.259-07:00

I’d been meaning to check out Katie MacAlister because of recommendations, but then I ‘met’ her in the Romance Divas class on steampunk where she mentioned Steamed. I have a soft spot for steampunk that dates back to my early childhood and travel watches I used to take apart and sometimes repair…with a few pieces left over. That was enough to push Steamed to the front of the list the next time I

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-13786464104068271472010-05-21T13:42:00.000-07:002010-05-21T13:42:36.271-07:00

What I Am Reading This has been a crazy week, so I didn’t get much reading time, but I have finished Steamed: A Steampunk Romance by Katie MacAlister and will be posting my review next week. Submitting While I’d be cautious about some of the style tips at the very end, this process for constructing a synopsis is similar to what I taught in my synopsis class and can be quite effective: http://

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-45031680487301642812010-05-14T07:54:00.000-07:002010-05-14T07:54:22.699-07:00

What I Am Reading I’m in the middle of Steamed: A Steampunk Romance by Katie MacAlister. It’s not quite what I expected, but I’m enjoying the ride so far. Ballsy characters in a neat setting make for a fun read. The Last Stand of the Ant Maker by Paul Jessup on Apex Magazine is a bizarre almost prose poem. I skimmed the first few lines, thinking I wouldn’t like it, but ended up reading the

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-91331088977289930542010-05-10T07:55:00.001-07:002010-05-10T07:55:59.783-07:00

Alexia Tarabotti, the barely tolerated eccentric, Italian-colored spinster without any prospects no longer exists in the second Alexia Tarabotti novel. Instead, she’s been replaced by Lady Maccon, just as eccentric, just as Italian in appearance, and suddenly a hot property in society. While her change in status offers convenience, it does little to mold Alexia into someone society can bill and

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-63011105648489180202010-05-07T18:16:00.000-07:002010-05-07T18:16:34.329-07:00

Sorry for the late post. This week has scrambled out from under me as I enjoy the rush of Forward Motion’s annual Story A Day challenge. I have 5 stories completed so far, and I’m quite happy with the lot of them. What I’m Reading This week I read Changeless by Gail Carriger. It lives up to the pure fun of Soulless while offering a tour of the British Isles (not really but some) and adding a

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-50349994195942616012010-05-07T18:15:00.001-07:002010-05-07T18:15:09.189-07:00

I’ve read another book by Michele Hauf before I received this advanced copy as part of the Library Thing program so I knew I enjoyed her romances, but I’ll have to say Her Vampire Husband surprised me on two levels. Read the rest of this entry »

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-41932436345735429892010-05-01T18:39:00.000-07:002010-05-01T18:39:50.587-07:00

What I’m Reading This week I finished Her Vampire Husband by Michele Hauf. This is not the first one of hers I’ve read, but this one surprised me on several levels. It was closer to an erotica than I’d expected, and was a little too detailed on vampire love making for my comfort, but what caught my attention the most was the overall story where two distinct culture groups with a lot of reasons

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-26860410458817351402010-04-22T00:20:00.000-07:002010-04-22T00:20:17.314-07:00

I don’t normally talk about my kids much, in part because my oldest is a private sort of person and also because it’s not fair to tell their stories for them. However, this time I can’t resist. I’ve just had my own assumption handed to me by my youngest in the best way possible. P.S. My oldest isn’t offering a shoddy showing either having just been named a contender for the National Merit

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-4817254331515838822010-04-14T19:44:00.000-07:002010-04-14T19:44:34.148-07:00

Description: “I am Iron Man.” With those words, billionaire industrialist Tony Stark revealed his secret identity. Now a famous high-tech superhero, he uses his powers to protect mankind. Yet things are not going well for Tony Stark. The U.S. military demands control of the most powerful weapon on earth…the Iron Man suit. His beautiful new assistant has a strange, mysterious agenda while his

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-6393442505560224482010-04-14T07:27:00.000-07:002010-04-14T07:27:03.060-07:00

Several people have been asking me about my pulse pen and what I thought about it. Only thing is that I hadn’t had the chance to take it out on a road trip yet. Well, now I have and here are the results. This is what the pen captured. You can see my lousy handwriting in its full glory…and I was even sort of trying to write well, okay, trying when I remembered :p. Then I ran it through the OCR

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-28904287409325999242010-04-12T07:32:00.000-07:002010-04-12T07:32:56.043-07:00

What I’m Reading Iron Man 2 by Alexander Irvine was an enjoyable romp with some amazing insights. I had a lot of fun reading what is most likely my first novel adaption of a movie adaption of a comic. Another sweet story from Strange Horizons, but nothing like the last. This is much more traditional fantasy. The Duke of Vertumn’s Fingerling by Elizabeth Carroll: http://

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-69019007111382664742010-04-12T07:27:00.000-07:002010-04-12T07:27:31.510-07:00

I’m coming to this book quite late in its popularity, so there isn’t much that hasn’t already been said. However, as a mother, I love the fact that my son, who largely keeps to Forgotten Realms novels, chose A Game of Thrones to branch out…and that I can share the experience. Why it took me so long to read this novel is easy. It didn’t exist in my teens when I read veraciously, and I am

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-32182184141285451532010-04-02T11:03:00.000-07:002010-04-02T11:03:10.214-07:00

What I’m Reading I just finished Silky, a novel by Lazette Gifford who happens to be a friend as well as a talented writer. My sister, years before I knew Zette, had already read and enjoyed the first edition. Now I know why. Silky is available through Holly Lisle’s Shop: http://shop.hollylisle.com/index.php?crn=207&rn=403&action=show_detail My current read is Iron Man 2 by Alexander

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-60121109039432243132010-03-26T12:07:00.001-07:002010-03-26T12:08:06.165-07:00

What I’m Reading I finished HeartMate by Robin D. Owens earlier in the week. This is a novel my older sister leant me some time ago that got lost in the volume of my TBR pile. By luck and persistence, I rediscovered it while adding books to LibraryThing. Owens introduces a fascinatingly complex future society in what is clearly a science fiction romance. The romantic thread has center stage and

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-19997828430209664362010-03-19T08:33:00.001-07:002010-03-19T08:35:24.908-07:00

What I Am Reading I finished George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones, and now I understand why people are so opinionated and desperately waiting for the next installment. That book epitomizes the epic part of epic fantasy, following several different ruling families and their conflicts in a compelling narrative that manages to juggle a huge cast of POV characters with very few slips. I also read

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-23048736432329344782010-03-17T10:46:00.000-07:002010-03-17T10:46:13.429-07:00

From the title and the use of spring technology, it’s clear to me why people would think of The Windup Girl as a Steampunk novel. However, I found this fascinating look at a dark future falling more into the cyberpunk side of the “punk” categories, not because of advanced technology so much as the focus on corporate entities and genetic manipulation. The tale is set in a post-apocalyptic world

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-48465689038407674632010-03-12T15:31:00.000-08:002010-03-12T15:31:32.091-08:00

What I’m Reading I wish I could say I finished something, but things have been very chaotic and I’m loving this huge novel Holly Lisle’s making me read, Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. Not only is it a good, complicated story, but it’s a book I can share with my oldest son, who read it before me and wants the next couple of books. I also started a second novel, The Rat Catcher by Kate

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-51838819877520409562010-03-11T08:10:00.001-08:002010-03-11T08:10:56.220-08:00

As I mentioned a couple posts back, I volunteer at the Nevada Humane Society. It’s a no-kill shelter that is overloaded with cats and dogs of practically every shape and size. We even have various rodents and bunnies. My Humane Society is running a free adoption deal this weekend (starting Thursday) and it got me thinking about how much people might not know about shelters. So, here are some of

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-12754331239176688162010-03-05T11:24:00.000-08:002010-03-05T11:24:11.636-08:00

What I’m Reading This has been a crazy week on the home front, and I didn’t make any notes of short fiction I’ve read, but I have been reading. I am just over a third of the way through George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones. I’ve been intending to read this novel for a long time, and luckily I got assigned the read in Holly Lisle’s How to Revise a Novel class. My to-be-read pile has reached

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-59775536472640493942010-02-25T22:41:00.001-08:002010-02-25T22:41:38.713-08:00

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll find the statement that I enjoy Steampunk a little obvious, but I learned as I read Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi that I have a very clear sense of what Steampunk is to me. I have devoured the current Steampunk trend, delighting in the innovative designs and the literary analysis of the phenomenon. I can’t tell you how many attempts to define

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-36060517483309883162010-02-19T22:50:00.000-08:002010-02-19T22:50:31.007-08:00

What I’m Reading I’m still enjoying The Windup Girl. It’s not a candy book and so I’m taking some time in the read, but I’d say it’s definitely worth the effort. I haven’t had the chance to read any online short fiction this week. Have you read anything wonderful lately? Link it in the comments to share. Writing A good explanation of how to use setting description well: http://

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-75296427013265332742010-02-19T22:48:00.000-08:002010-02-19T22:48:17.393-08:00

Note: Extracted from an older Friday’s Interesting Links Post Dragonfly by Frederic S. Durbin is a modern fairytale adventure written by an author I met at World Fantasy. I picked up the book out of curiosity and in support. There are no regrets. If I had to classify this book, I’d say it’s a little like Nightmare Before Christmas crossed with Narnia, with a good dose of unique elements. A

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-13759278471811880022010-02-17T07:23:00.000-08:002010-02-17T07:23:50.297-08:00

During my vacation, I enjoyed an eBook called Price of Passion by Susan Napier on my Sony Reader. Why I started this one when I was already in the middle of a paperback and an audiobook is simple: I am not able to focus on the audio unless I’m doing something mechanical, and I didn’t have the paperback with me. My Sony fits nicely into my purse and so when I had a moment where I had nothing else

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-41217217912873265142010-02-12T12:50:00.000-08:002010-02-12T12:50:34.826-08:00

What I’m Reading I finished How to Teach Physics to Your Dog this week and reviewed it here: http://margaretfisk.mmfcf.com/blog/?p=951 I read a short story on Strange Horizons that is a mellow mood piece with a real kicker ending. You know it’s coming, and you start to guess just what the big secret is. You probably won’t get it. I didn’t, and I’m quite good at that process. But it’s still a

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-53348076570179449752010-02-05T11:33:00.000-08:002010-02-05T11:33:35.023-08:00

What I’m Reading * Finished The Cardinal Rule and posted a review: http://margaretfisk.mmfcf.com/blog/?p=934. * Almost finished with How to Teach Physics to Your Dog. * Started The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi. I also read an interesting story on Strange Horizons. It doesn’t meet any traditional story standards, but it has a compelling voice and when you get to the end, it’s said

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-25752553732814907582010-02-04T19:42:00.001-08:002010-02-04T19:42:57.882-08:00

I feel a little guilty putting up a review of The Cardinal Rule because it is a Silhouette Bombshell that was published in December of 2005, so it’s not that easy to get a hold of.  I, myself, went through some trouble to collect this and the two sequels, but I’ve read pretty much all of C.E. Murphy’s writing (Cate Dermody is a pseudonym) and she hasn’t let me down yet. First of all, let me

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-83642991378373155502010-01-29T11:12:00.000-08:002010-01-29T11:12:47.470-08:00

What I’m Reading I am still working my way through How to Teach Physics to Your Dog, but I have finished Judge and posted a review here: http://margaretfisk.mmfcf.com/blog/?p=913. I’m currently enjoying The Cardinal Rule by Cate Dermody (I finally got a hold of C.E. Murphy’s other series). This is more of a candy read than Judge so I don’t expect it to take two weeks . I also read a Holly

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-65672633707817190432010-01-27T14:18:00.000-08:002010-01-27T14:18:00.418-08:00

If you’ve been following my reading habits, you’ll know that I adore Karen Traviss. I ran into the second book of this series through an Early Reader program and have been hooked ever since, even to the point of contacting her to say how thrilled I was about a new series in sociological science fiction, my first ever time contacting an author who I didn’t already know. Because of the above, I am

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-85685262936549163602010-01-22T16:02:00.000-08:002010-01-22T16:02:27.370-08:00

What I’m Reading This week is a recap of last week’s because I have finished neither. Some weeks it’s a breeze to finish 2 or more books, while others I struggle to finish one. This is an odd case of reading two at the same time, but they’re very different in content, even beyond the non-fiction to fiction, simply because one is philosophy and one is physics…though they end up having a lot in

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-67862527859373303062010-01-16T17:18:00.000-08:002010-01-16T17:18:13.740-08:00

Dragons have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My father told us bedtime stories about an unusual dragon he met while boating in Lake Michigan. My parents were Peter, Paul, and Mary fans, so Puff the Magic Dragon was a common song on our many road trips. Even Elliot made an impression as he tried to rescue Pete from slavery in the Disney movie, Pete’s Dragon. Since those

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-32350550549174804942010-01-15T13:09:00.000-08:002010-01-15T13:09:15.806-08:00

What I’m Reading: (Okay, so no mini reviews. This is just what I’m actively reading at the moment.) * I’m trying to catch up on Strange Horizons (http://strangehorizons.com/) and Beneath Ceaseless Skies (http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/). I did read a good story on the TOR website (http://www.tor.com/). The Starship Mechanic by Jay Lake and Ken Scholes is surreal and strange, but in some

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-77333593127006314942010-01-10T19:20:00.000-08:002010-01-10T19:20:18.854-08:00

Devon Monk has been recommended to me by friends, and even by Amazon based on some purchases I made, but I have an extensive to-be-read pile. Though I picked up a copy some time ago, I hadn’t gotten to it yet. Then, a friend was visiting and looked at the pile. She picked out Magic to the Bone as the “must read next.” Now I know why. (more…)

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-1170332785308790682010-01-08T14:53:00.000-08:002010-01-08T14:53:04.848-08:00

Books I’ve ReadI have decided to post the book reviews, even mini-reviews, as separate posts again. I swear this decision has nothing to do with the fact that I’m still 100 pages or so from the end of the novel I’ve been reading this week and barely started with the non-fiction one. That’s no reflection on either book. I just started very late and haven’t had much time to read, though every

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-92034842176269030042010-01-01T20:32:00.000-08:002010-01-01T20:33:38.661-08:00

What I’ve Read: This was a good reading week for me. I finished one book, and started and finished two others. Dragonfly by Frederic S. Durbin is a modern fairytale adventure written by an author I met at World Fantasy. I picked up the book out of curiosity and in support. There are no regrets. If I had to classify this book, I’d say it’s a little like Nightmare Before Christmas crossed with

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-27862352786825368992009-12-18T16:08:00.000-08:002009-12-18T16:09:25.772-08:00

There’s no “What I’m Reading” section for this week as I haven’t finished either reading the book or listening to the audio book. That said, both will be coming with me on my next trip, along with at least one other. Science More assumptions about ancient South American vanishing under new evidence: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20427383.800-

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-1758093511000882222009-12-17T10:31:00.000-08:002009-12-17T10:31:10.982-08:00

I signed up for and won A Most Lamentable Comedy on Lucienne Diver’s blog despite studiously not entering book contests to preserve my sanity…and the foundation of my house which is groaning under the weight of my to-be-read pile. That said, I couldn’t pass this book up. A Regency novel, which is a favorite era of mine, with scoundrels for protagonists? I was sold on the description alone. (

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-47336210144893684352009-12-11T17:47:00.000-08:002009-12-11T17:47:29.013-08:00

What I’ve Been ReadingI’m currently 3/4ths of the way through Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan as an audio book, and have to figure out how to work the rest with no long road trips planned, and I’m reading Dragonfly by Fredric S. Durbin. I’m enjoying both books, though they are very different in voice and approach.However, I did, in fact, finish a book this week. I took time I rarely manage to

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-861265085818528322009-12-07T12:18:00.001-08:002009-12-07T12:18:51.075-08:00

It’s been a while since I posted a canary post, but it seems the universe isn’t done making my everyday life interesting.I went down to the Bay Area (a drive of 4 hours in good weather and about 6 in bad) to go to my parents’ caroling party. Great fun was had by all and many songs were sung. The trip was totally worth it.That said, the way back became a little more interesting than expected.I

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-17933244058924132142009-12-04T18:36:00.000-08:002009-12-04T18:36:53.903-08:00

Notice: I have been getting up-to-date market news from Ralan.com for years, and so know that the information is kept up and accurate. That’s where I point people first. With the proliferation of searchable databases, apparently Ralan.com is slipping out of the public eye despite reliability being key. Ralan has asked, if you benefit from his efforts, that you tell Writer’s Digest, using the

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-66436397028597765082009-12-01T08:06:00.000-08:002009-12-01T08:06:56.375-08:00

Hawkspar shares the fascinating world Holly created for Talyn, but is not dependent on the early book except for a small bit of crossover. While Talyn focused in on the Tonk and their culture, Hawkspar takes us much further, both in physical movement and in broadening our knowledge of the world itself.The story begins with a young woman who was captured into slavery at a young age. She was bought

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-29084534703772967292009-11-28T08:49:00.000-08:002009-11-28T08:49:44.482-08:00

What I’m Reading:I just finished Soulless by Gail Carriger. It’s the first of her Alexia Tarabotti series and combines supernatural romance with Victorian England and a touch of steampunk. I’m planning a more lengthy review, but let me just say that I lost a few good work hours to this novel because I didn’t want to put it down. Delightful in all the right ways with enough interpersonal conflict

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-89461102683451516542009-11-22T12:59:00.000-08:002009-11-22T12:59:37.749-08:00

Last night I went to see a high school performance of a play that I have now seen three times, A Servant of Two Masters. This is not a major play like Cats, and I hadn't sought it out, but coincidence or what have you led me to seeing this same play multiple times. The first time was at a community theater in Alameda, California, enough years ago that I didn't remember having seen it until the

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-12060232688538294732009-11-20T19:55:00.000-08:002009-11-20T19:55:12.072-08:00

What I’m reading Fast Ships, Black Sails is, as I mentioned last week, a pirate-focused anthology that has some wonderful tales in it. This anthology spans the gambit of the past, future, and even pirates with fur over more than their chins. I could not name a favorite as I almost always found the next story as captivating as the previous, and only one story did not resonate with me at all, but

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-32998382714979460072009-11-13T10:43:00.000-08:002009-11-13T10:43:36.808-08:00

What I’m reading NaNo has started and I’ve got a lot going on so my reading has slowed down. That said, I’m currently taking in Fast Ships, Black Sails, a pirate-focused anthology that has some wonderful tales in it so far, some quite creepy, but still wonderful. Submitting I’ve varied between calling myself an optimistic realist and a realistic optimist most of my life with few segues into

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-91322104564785078132009-11-06T23:01:00.000-08:002009-11-06T23:01:52.236-08:00

Oops. I forgot to cross-post last week's Interesting Links, so those of you who missed the notice about my new blog may not have seen them. For October 31st: It must still be Friday because I haven’t been to sleep yet, right? World Fantasy is a wonderful experience, with interesting panels, enjoyable readings, and fascinating people to talk to (including a discussion on overuse of adjectives )

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-25004332262724449492009-10-23T23:20:00.001-07:002009-10-23T23:20:44.331-07:00

There's no reading section this week, because I'm not done with the book I am reading, and you'll find the selection on links is a little sparse. I've had an incredibly productive week, but it took me a bit to get back into the swing of things on the Web after the Muse Online Conference, so I didn't have time to read as many links as I usually do. You might also notice that my interesting links

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-2546107653763413132009-10-16T23:06:00.000-07:002009-10-16T23:41:36.943-07:00

What I'm Reading Drowned Wednesday by Garth Nix - This reads like Alice in Wonderland for a younger audience. Crazy things happen in an unreal world all tied to a human boy who has been chosen as the one to fix everything. It's fast-paced, full of reluctant choices, and holds together well. Though I enjoyed Nix's YA voice in Abhorsen, I think his MG voice is actually more my style in this

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-85662462470688268252009-10-09T10:50:00.000-07:002009-10-09T11:02:38.886-07:00

What I'm ReadingI'm going to the World Fantasy convention at the end of this month so I thought that I'd take a peek at books by those I know will be there. So far, I've finished Abhorsen by Garth Nix and Vamped by Lucienne Diver, and enjoyed both.Abhorsen is the third book in a series, and it says something about the author's skill that when I opened my mind to his world, I had no trouble at

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-46175147478116084412009-10-02T17:25:00.000-07:002009-10-02T17:32:23.033-07:00

Books I RecommendWalking Dead by C.E. Murphy The fourth in her Walker Papers urban fantasy series, Walking Dead offers a wonderful look into how Joanne is maturing into her shamanistic powers, though she still has doubts. I must admit, when I saw zombies, I was curious how she'd tackle one of the popular genre tropes in a way that is unique. Let's just say that while her zombies are traditional

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-50444246882903546462009-09-25T21:47:00.001-07:002009-09-25T22:27:06.232-07:00

Books I Recommend (I only finished the one.)Stakes & Stilettos by Michelle Rowen - How she manages to pull off a flippant, largely cowardly, main character, I don't know, but I love seeing what Sarah gets into. This novel largely resolves the relationship with her boyfriend Thierry (an ongoing thread of the series), and opens up a new plot to carry into the next book or two.Promoting/

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-20128456182186594522009-09-18T13:02:00.000-07:002009-09-18T17:17:28.263-07:00

Books I RecommendNote: Trying something new since I'm so slow in writing up book reviews. The books/magazines I list here may show up in a more complete review later, but I want to share the ones I really enjoyed.ShadowLight by Lynn Viehl - I've already reviewed this, but it still deserves a mention. This wonderful dark fantasy is coming out in October and is worth the trip to get it :).

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-72135849848348582122009-09-11T08:01:00.000-07:002009-09-11T08:11:44.305-07:00

Time ManagementI did something similar to this with an older version of my weekly to do list, but it's an interesting way to control over-commitment.http://procrastinatingwritersblog.com/2009/08/un-schedule/WritingI've been teaching a class on my outlining method and I keep emphasizing meaning, purpose, and focus. So when I saw this, I just had to share it. This is WHY your story has to have a

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-64712425880671184182009-09-10T11:55:00.000-07:002009-09-10T12:05:42.076-07:00

Today you get a two-fer. First the post I just wrote after stalling on the other post (you'll understand as you read it, Lynn's just too good :)), and then I managed to get my first post to a pseudo end point, so I hope you enjoy both. They take different approaches to the same book.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I finished Shadowlight a decent number of days ago. Long enough that I should have had

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-22784880098242745342009-09-04T22:34:00.000-07:002009-09-04T22:41:18.156-07:00

Writing/InspirationInteresting map of mythical animals:http://www.flickr.com/photos/preshaa/3847027500/sizes/l/Why are you writing? This article talks about choices and not driving yourself into a hole economically just to write. Seeing as I'm a stay at home writer, reading these kinds of assessments helps me evaluate and confirm.http://www.bizzia.com/articles/

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283968.post-37447844796719274762009-08-28T15:27:00.000-07:002009-08-28T15:32:17.990-07:00

WritingInteresting perspective on the "write what you know" advice:http://amyandthepen.blogspot.com/2009/08/writing-tip-incorporate-what-you-know.htmlFive things about writing as a career:http://www.deadlinedames.com/?p=1532Tips for planning your interaction with an agent at a conference:http://chipmacgregor.typepad.com/main/2009/08/cec-murphey-stops-in.htmlDecent dialogue tips. I'd also add

Margaret M. Fiskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537558539259791284noreply@blogger.com2