New Interview up by Selah Janel

Check out my new interview by Selah Janel.

http://selahjanel.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/

METAPHORIC MUMS

We have a fall tradition. Every year, we pick up a couple of pots of mums and put them out on the porch. Since we’re renters, we don’t plant them. We just leave them on the porch and enjoy them there. In the spring, usually around the time of the first grass cutting, we toss out the last years’ pots. This year, however, the first grass cutting was in mid March when it was already in the eighties. When I went to toss the mum pots, I noticed that one of the pots had plants with green leaves. That pot I kept.

By May, the mums were blooming. We had a large number of cheery flowers, bobbing and swaying in the tepid spring air. The blooms were still going strong at the start of the summer’s record breaking streak of consecutive days over eighty-five. Then came Fandomfest weekend and to my shame and horror, the untimely demise of the Chrysanthemum Spring Uprising.

Over Fandomfest Weekend, we arranged for a friend to come over and feed our cats. But I forgot to tell her to water the mums. After several days of baking in St. Louis’s hundred plus degree oven, the mums shriveled and turned brown. When we got home from Louisville, not a single little messenger of hope greeted us.

Head hanging, I watered the pot daily during the next couple weeks of record setting heat. Despite the oppressive atmosphere, in the third week, I noticed the first flushes of green. Week by week, new leaves appeared. Today, there is once again more green than brown, and the plants are full of new flowers. The Miracle Mums are alive!

Watching the growing buds, it occurred to me that not only are these mums miraculous, they are also metaphoric. These mums represent writing as an avocation. At times they flourish. They come into their own at the most unexpected times. Following periods of floral fecundity, they go dormant for a while to recharge. At times they take hard hits and appear completely moribund, but deep within, the spark is still there. With a little nourishment and encouragement, they come roaring back.

Like the mums, at the peak of the heat, I couldn’t write a damn thing. As the heat wave crested, I turned out a novella and a short story. Now that it is cool enough to sleep through the night, I’m ready to go back to work on some of my larger WIPs. In September, I pushed ahead and finished a new science fiction novel in time to submit it to the Harper Voyager open call for submissions. Intellectually, I’ve always understood that there will be dry periods when writing. But emotionally, there is a corresponding need to fight the pessimism that accompanies such dry periods. Now that I have an avatar to focus on, it will be easier to remember that so long as the desire is there, eventually the words will come.

CK Copyright 10/21/12; Moral rights to be identified as the author of the foregoing article asserted worldwide (including in Great Britain in accordance with Sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act of 1988) (See prior blog on Moral Rights).

Welcome to the Seven Realms Earthside Communications Center

Greetings Traveler, and welcome to the Seven Realms Earthside Communications Center (SRECC). Whether you've just arrived Earthside, or have been stranded here for a while, the SRECC will provide you with valuable information during your stay.

Access to the Golden Way is available in most metropolitan areas, and at several burned out rest stops along old US Route 66.

For the sake of uniformity, the SRECC uses Earthside English as its principal language. Plans are under consideration for mirror sites in Qpiad and High Sidhe, subject to funding availability and limitless temporal resources.

The SRECC will be updated continuously, beginning with the next update, and continuing thereafter whenever an update is available. All updates are retrospective in nature and may be considered concurrently, sequentially, or out of natural order.

The SRECC is not responsible for any temporal anomalies resulting from fluctuations in the Veil.

The next meeting of the Board of Directors will be open to the public at Djinnie's Bar and Grill on 9th St., starting promptly at 12:00 (that's half past anvil on your Godmother Clock) on the last vernal equinox.

Any questions may be directed to the Oracle at Delphi, or sent directly to Charlie Kenmore, Administrator at this Blog or charliekenmore@gmail.com

Alexx Momcat and I are at Archon 36. So far, we've seen R2D2, several aliens and three foot tall Iron Man.

Welcome to the Seven Realms Earthside Communications Center

Greetings Traveler, and welcome to the Seven Realms Earthside Communications Center (SRECC). Whether you've just arrived Earthside, or have been stranded here for a while, the SRECC will provide you with valuable information during your stay.

Access to the Golden Way is available in most metropolitan areas, and at several burned out rest stops along old US Route 66.

For the sake of uniformity, the SRECC uses Earthside English as its principal language. Plans are under consideration for mirror sites in Qpiad and High Sidhe, subject to funding availability and limitless temporal resources.

The SRECC will be updated continuously, beginning with the next update, and continuing thereafter whenever an update is available. All updates are retrospective in nature and may be considered concurrently, sequentially, or out of natural order.

The SRECC is not responsible for any temporal anomalies resulting from fluctuations in the Veil.

The next meeting of the Board of Directors will be open to the public at Djinnie's Bar and Grill on 9th St., starting promptly at 12:00 (that's half past anvil on your Godmother Clock) on the last vernal equinox.

Any questions may be directed to the Oracle at Delphi, or sent directly to Charlie Kenmore, Administrator at this Blog or charliekenmore@gmail.com

Ken Charles's "Venus and Marks" Released

Check out the latest CP collection "Venus and Marks" by Ken Charles.
http://noboundariespress.com/2012/07/04/now-available-venus-and-marks-by-ken-charles/

YES, VIRGINIANS, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS -- AND OTHER RANDOM MUSINGS AND AWARDS FROM FANDOMFEST

     It’s official. Yes, Virginians, there is a Santa Claus. Santa Claus is about seven miles south of US 64 at Exit 63 in Indiana. For the skeptics among you, a picture of Alexx Momcat and Santa at the city limits of Santa Claus, Indiana can be found on Facebook and Alexx Mom Cat’s Gateway Book Blog. 

     Special thanks and kudos to Stephen Zimmer. It’s not easy to cram a year’s work into a couple of months, but he did it (despite having his staff appropriated out from under him). 
 
     I hate “I told you so’s,”, but FandomFest Weekend was filled with food and family, just as I warned. It was tremendous meeting so many of our e-family in one place. An extra star for Raven, Bill, Susan and Mama who let us hold Baby Alice.
 
     Gentleman Celebrity of the Fest Award -- We have a tie. On Friday morning, I ran into John Rhys-Davies. I took a moment to tell him that I’ve enjoyed his work for many years. I didn’t expect to take up any more of his time, but he saw my “Author” tag, and asked me about my writing. This brief exchange won me the “neener, neener” battle with Alexx Momcat.
  
   On Saturday, someone gave me lots of Kharma points by scheduling me for a reading with Angelia Sparrow in the Holly Room past the swimming pool at the same time as one of Timothy Zahn’s presentations. Although I missed the presentation, at least I had time to make a pitch to Inkstained Succubus Productions. However, on Sunday, we found Mr. Zahn wandering the vendor area. He not only signed Alexx’s autograph book and bookplates for us (since we pulled his books out but forgot to bring them), he also came over to where Alexx was nursing her sore knee so we could get his picture with her.
 
     Honorable Hearsay Mention goes to James Marsters for his brilliant performance in “The Photo Op” co-starring Selah Janel.
 
     Say What? Award-- Hands down, this award goes to Galt House Parking. We were charged three different rates on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
 
     Just Nod and Agree with Them Award -- We have another tie. This one goes to the tandem of Lee Martindale and James Tuck. In the immortal words of Stan Lee, “‘Nough said’.”
 
     Best “Take That, You homophobic, diabetic!” Award -- Crymsyn Hart.
 
     Shortest Skirt Viewed on the Third Floor Breezeway Award -- sorry, what were we talking about?
 
     Breast of Show Award -- the Eyeballs Lady.
 
     Best Concealed 30 Foot Aquarium Award -- Al J’s (the Breezeway bar).
 
     Highest Hotel Speedbumps in North America Award -- the Galt House.
 
     Thickest Still Intelligible Accent Award -- Tally Johnson.
 
     Pout of Show -- Raven (I earned it. But two chocolate muffins later, I think I’m forgiven. Hope so any way.)
 
     Best Refill My Psycodelic Pen Supply Award -- Kathleen Sullivan
 
     I had high expectations for the weekend, and they were met and exceeded. Looking forward to seeing some of you at Archon this fall, and the rest of you next year. 
CK