I have been formally invited to attend this year's Local Authors event at the Wesley Chapel Barnes & Noble bookstore on Saturday May 21st.
It will be in the afternoon from 2pm to 4pm, and most likely on the Second Floor as always.
This year, I will have a few more ebooks to promote as well as the third volume of the Strangely Funny series.
I really would like to see my friends in the Tampa Bay area show up for moral support.
There will be more details to follow.
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Happy Easter and Some Writing Announcements
Just saying, this Easter Sunday, that I want to announce a few things.
1) Mystery And Horror LLC publishing has accepted another humorous short from me for their upcoming Strangely Funny III, their popular ongoing humor/horror anthology series. Still waiting on word for when the release date will be - hopefully soon in April - but meanwhile here's the cover for the upcoming print:
2) I've been invited back to the Barnes & Noble Local Authors Event in Wesley Chapel, FL this year. This event will be on Saturday afternoon during May 21st from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. There hasn't been final confirmation and paperwork yet, but I should get something soon.
3) Finishing up a pair of stories for the FWA. The story I hoped to submit to the "Hide and Seek" anthology - a science fiction idea I've had for a decade called "Problem Solver" that needed to be finished - is turning out too long. It's twice the length of the word count, so there's no way I can whittle it down. So I've started a second story about finding the Book With the Blue Cover in the Library Infinite (What's the classical Greek for "Infinite"? Same word, just pronounced a bit different?) which I have to keep below 1500 words.
1) Mystery And Horror LLC publishing has accepted another humorous short from me for their upcoming Strangely Funny III, their popular ongoing humor/horror anthology series. Still waiting on word for when the release date will be - hopefully soon in April - but meanwhile here's the cover for the upcoming print:
2) I've been invited back to the Barnes & Noble Local Authors Event in Wesley Chapel, FL this year. This event will be on Saturday afternoon during May 21st from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. There hasn't been final confirmation and paperwork yet, but I should get something soon.
3) Finishing up a pair of stories for the FWA. The story I hoped to submit to the "Hide and Seek" anthology - a science fiction idea I've had for a decade called "Problem Solver" that needed to be finished - is turning out too long. It's twice the length of the word count, so there's no way I can whittle it down. So I've started a second story about finding the Book With the Blue Cover in the Library Infinite (What's the classical Greek for "Infinite"? Same word, just pronounced a bit different?) which I have to keep below 1500 words.
Thursday, March 17, 2016
The Quiet Man: The 2016 Remembrance
Checks calendar
Realizes it's St. Patricks Day
Finds a travelogue of the town of Innisfree.
Also finds a blog reporting how there are difficulties surrounding efforts to rebuild White O'Morn, which had fallen to ruin. The article is a few years old, but anything more recent doesn't seem as reliable. Ach.
One of these days, I gotta go visit. I need to be able to afford the trip, though. :/
Realizes it's St. Patricks Day
Also finds a blog reporting how there are difficulties surrounding efforts to rebuild White O'Morn, which had fallen to ruin. The article is a few years old, but anything more recent doesn't seem as reliable. Ach.
One of these days, I gotta go visit. I need to be able to afford the trip, though. :/
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Another Caturday in March 2016
Well, I couldn't stay away on this topic, and I also needed to mention my kittehs' current status.
As it were, their claws needed clipping: I can't do it by myself, neither Ocean nor Mal will sit for me long enough, and I can't train them to accept it. They never equate the snacks I try to bribe them with towards good behavior on their part.
Also, Ocean had been getting mottled (?) matted (!) hair along her back for the past year since her vet's visit, and she needed a bath and grooming.
Unfortunately, it was so bad that the cat beautician had to shave.
She's pretty much in the need for a kitteh sweater to wear right now.
She was not happy about this.
And it turns out the reason why Ocean was getting matted fur was due to her unable to clean off the oils during a cat's natural tongue-bathing. And she wasn't doing that because it seems she still has tapeworms.
She may have had it from being a feral kitten when I adopted her, she may have picked it up from the fleas that were in the townhouse we moved into, I thought I had treated her for the fleas - hadn't seen them since her treatments - and thought she had taken enough of the pills I tried to serve her that the vet gave me. Apparently, Ocean still has the parasite in her. Mal likely does as well (although his fur is fine).
Poor kittehs.
And Mal's hissing at her because the bath and grooming probably makes Ocean smell different now. This afternoon has been a series of hiss staredowns.
Poor poor kittehs.
As it were, their claws needed clipping: I can't do it by myself, neither Ocean nor Mal will sit for me long enough, and I can't train them to accept it. They never equate the snacks I try to bribe them with towards good behavior on their part.
Also, Ocean had been getting mottled (?) matted (!) hair along her back for the past year since her vet's visit, and she needed a bath and grooming.
Unfortunately, it was so bad that the cat beautician had to shave.
She's pretty much in the need for a kitteh sweater to wear right now.
 |
| WHY, HOOMAN? WHY YOU DO THIS TO WIGGLE CAT? |
She may have had it from being a feral kitten when I adopted her, she may have picked it up from the fleas that were in the townhouse we moved into, I thought I had treated her for the fleas - hadn't seen them since her treatments - and thought she had taken enough of the pills I tried to serve her that the vet gave me. Apparently, Ocean still has the parasite in her. Mal likely does as well (although his fur is fine).
Poor kittehs.
And Mal's hissing at her because the bath and grooming probably makes Ocean smell different now. This afternoon has been a series of hiss staredowns.
Poor poor kittehs.
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Caturday March 2016
It's been awhile since I've done this. Lemme check what photos I have on file:
Mal and Ocean overseeing the laundry folding taking place on my bed.
Will that suffice for the month?
Mal and Ocean overseeing the laundry folding taking place on my bed.
Will that suffice for the month?
Friday, March 4, 2016
Documenting FLA Conference 2016
As part of my professional duties, I attended this year's Florida Library Association conference. This year, due to ALA's Annual taking over Orlando in June, the state group held this conference earlier (March) and in Daytona Beach.
The same week as the bikers rolled in on their Hogs for Biker Week. Well, technically they start this weekend, but you know bikers, they show up early so they can cruise A1A.
So, with all the roar and thunder, we librarians did our best to survive... And thus did I document the atrocities...
As noted, I'm with the state's Standards committee, and we've completed a revision of Standards and Outcomes (PDF document) that we hope to deploy at volunteer "pilot" libraries to test-run those standards for real-world effectiveness. By next year, we're hoping to pass along the results to the FLA Board and begin applying these standards across the state. With hope, we can use these guidelines to convince the state legislature to improve library funding...
The same week as the bikers rolled in on their Hogs for Biker Week. Well, technically they start this weekend, but you know bikers, they show up early so they can cruise A1A.
So, with all the roar and thunder, we librarians did our best to survive... And thus did I document the atrocities...
 |
| The Plaza Resort made a swan on my bed! |
 |
| The street side view of Daytona Beach. Down below is A1A and a steady parade of motorcycle enthusiasts... |
 |
| Getting ready for the opening session event |
 |
| Opening Session speakers |
 |
| Bartow Library's donation to the Silent Auction. Sad to say, we had only two bidders on the basket of books. Apparently, librarians prefer bidding on wine and chocolates. |
 |
| Host county Volusia has a library system that employs a mobile mini-library for outdoor events. A keen idea, considering the scenery and amounts of outdoor events at a major tourist destination... |
 |
| I was told I have the best Florida tie at the conference! |
 |
| At the Local Authors presentation on how libraries can support local writers and boost local readership. |
 |
| Foolish me, I forgot to bring beachwear this trip. |
 |
| At the Mystery Writer's Breakfast. Sad to say, having the morning sun come through the window darkened too much of the room. This needs editing. |
 |
| Standing with Debbie and Susan for the Standards Committee meeting. Susan is departing Chair, Debbie incoming Chair, and I'm Vice Chair. |
 |
| The bandshell area near the Boardwalk. |
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
At the 2016 Florida Library Association Conference
hashtag FLACON2016
Although my Nook Samsung Tablet keeps wanting to autocorrect that to Falcon 2016.
I'm here for some professional development, some socializing, a lot of work with the Standards Committee to follow through on the revisions we made in 2015, and auctioning off book donations from Mystery & Horror LLC for library fund-raising! Thank you, Sarah and Gwen!
Pictures to follow.
Although my Nook Samsung Tablet keeps wanting to autocorrect that to Falcon 2016.
I'm here for some professional development, some socializing, a lot of work with the Standards Committee to follow through on the revisions we made in 2015, and auctioning off book donations from Mystery & Horror LLC for library fund-raising! Thank you, Sarah and Gwen!
Pictures to follow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)