This is about the longest I’ve gone without a post. Yikes! But yes, I really have been focusing on the rewrite of Chaos Book 4, and the rapidly approaching deadline. So it’s going to be like this for a while, I’m afraid. I’ll touch base when I can.
Here are a few highlights of what I wanted to write about, but didn’t have time:
Xena is now Eris, and Pluto is now a dwarf planet. Well, nuts. Still, Eris as goddess of chaos and discord isn’t bad. Sort of describes the current state of astronomy. And the world.
Another family brag: my sister Nancy Lorey and her video production partner Matt Star received three Telly Awards for videos they produced at their I-Conn Video Productions firm in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. There were over 13,000 entries for the award, which recognizes excellence in local, regional, cable, and nonbroadcast video. Way to go, Nancy!
On the national political front…oh, just new legislation abolishing habeas corpus for political and war prisoners, and legitimizing torture any time the prez decides to reinterpret the Geneva Conventions…nothing major (except—doh!—this is not what America is about, guys). Oh yeah, and Senator McCain (for whom I once held some respect) selling out completely to the radical right. Don’t get me started. But do read this New York Times editorial on the subject. Or this from InformationLiberation, which is a little more out there on the edge, but probably not too inaccurate.
On the local front, I am now co-teaching an SF writing workshop in Cambridge, Mass., along with Craig Shaw Gardner, at the Pandemonium bookstore. Depending on how it goes, this may become a regular event.
Also, I’ll be signing books at Pandemonium Books, on Saturday, October 7, from 7–9 in the evening. Stop by, if you’re in the Cambridge area! Craig and two other authors will be signing at the same time.
And now…back to the Chaos!
VictoriaB
Props to sister Nancy and her partner! You come from a family of high achievers.
About that political/war prisoner thing, and no habeas corpus for same: ANYONE the administration doesn’t like could become a “political” prisoner. You. Me. Anyone. I don’t know how to get people to wrap their heads around this idea — it’s not just about some imagined “bad guys” in some distant place. It’s about anyone the government wants to silence.
One can hope that the Supreme Court will strike this stupid, un-American law down on the first challenge, but hope doesn’t count for much when it’s YOUR life that’s being ruined. Gack. There isn’t much in this world that scares me any more, but this legislation and all its implications are a good candidate.
Peace, Victoria
VictoriaB
Re: the Geneva Conventions, and that little thing called the “Constitution,” you and your readers might be interested in this.
Peace, V.
Charlza
Congrats to your sister!
I try very hard not to think where this country is going, otherwise it scares me to death. You do what you can, hope it’s enough, and also hope they will continue to destroy themselves from within their party. If they continue to cast their own members out with ‘holier than thou’ attitudes, it shouldn’t take too much longer.
I started working on several stories several years ago. If your classroom was (or is that were?) closer, I might be more inclined to dust them off and work on them again. There’s just not enough time in the day to do everything I want to!