After the retreat, Kimberly Welchons, Natalie Parker, Tessa Gratton, and moi got in a car and headed into Austin, had lunch, then promptly drove north to see an awesome cave. Photos are just a click away~

Continue reading “The Trip: Austin” »

Previously, I left y’all on a cliffhanger.

Worry no more! The trip to Texas miraculously healed my feet.

(Sorry about that anticlimax.)

Anyway, my carefully ordered day-to-day reports will now end, on account of there being no rhyme or logic to writing retreats, merely writing and drinking, and it is easy to lose track of time that way.

Anyway, a bunch of us took a bus:

To a house:

A seriously pretty house:

With an even prettier view:

People spent a lot of time talking…

And laughing…

And looking pensive…

And walking…

And diligently working…

And, in general, being completely lovely.

(I, on the other hand, spent a lot of time chasing down squirrels and geckos.)

The absolute highlight of the retreat, of course, was Beth Revis shocking Victoria Schwab and Amy Plum TO THEIR VERY CORES by… actually really enjoying the salty liquorice I brought.

Beth, you have most excellent taste.

The first half of my trip consisted of a few days in Boston with my delightful friend and CP Helen Corcoran. Photos below!

Continue reading “The Trip: Boston” »

One day soon, I hope to make a proper post of my US trip–photos! the works!–but presently I have the excuse of jetlag, and will thus take the easy route and drop off a few links.

Fellow Texas retreat ladies Michelle Krys and Victoria Schwab have both blogged about it, photos included.

Man, that house was pretty. It’s especially pretty compared to my current environment, which is cold and wet, and will soon suffer from more gross wet snow.

Dear Netherlands: I like you. I would like you better if I wouldn’t have to wear a winter coat twice my size for most of the year.

In non-retreat news, I got two lovely reviews of short stories while I was out of the country.

First, Mieneke van der Salm–Dutch spec lovers unite!–reviewed FISH (now out from Dagan Books) the other day. This anthology features my short story “The Applause of Others,” about which Mieneke said:

I adored this story almost as much for its setting as its narrative. It’s set in Amsterdam and is written not with the eye of a stranger but someone familiar with the city and its character [...]

For the rest of the review, which includes lovely things about the rest of the anthology’s stories–including “Quick Karma” by April L’Orange, a personal favorite–check out her in-depth review.

Next, Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam reviewed the upcoming Clockwork Phoenix 4 anthology (coming soon from Mythic Delirium Books). She listed my story “Lilo Is” as one of the highlights, which makes me all warm and fuzzy. Check it out.

That’s two for two as far as reviews for this anthology goes. Not bad!

Now, off to make a dent in my reading pile before my edit letter arrives…

… of my seriously epic US adventure.

I’m about to start my last full day here–my flight tomorrow leaves around 10, so I think you can safely call it ‘my last day,’ period.

Monday morning, Amsterdam time, I’ll be home again. Ready to sleep. A lot.

(And then write a book or something.)

Anyway, until then, enjoy the mystery du jour of my present location:

(You might have to zoom in to read the name. And then you’ll understand my fannish giggles.)

(Also, witness my frozen yoghurt obsession in action.)

(And yes, I forgot to update last week’s location. Here it is, if you wanted to look. Hint: background!)

WHERE OH WHERE.

… I’m on vacation to a mystery location.

Can you put together the clues?!

Well, if you’re in the United States, that is.

And in one of the cities I’m planning on hitting up.

Out of idle curiosity, I entered the most outrageous trip schedule into The Interwebs to see what they’d come up with. Lo and behold–it’s actually within my budget.

This gives me a new mission. Find places to stay ASAP so I can book this while it’s still available. Do you know any affordable places to stay at in these cities? (I don’t require much luxury but it being near public transport would be nice.)

* New York City, around mid-June

* Washington DC, around mid/late June

* Chicago, late June

* Seattle, early July

* San Francisco, mid-July

Those dates can be played around with. (In fact, all of San Francisco can be played around with. I love the city but I don’t know as many people there. Recommendations for other cities are welcome!)

I really want to grab this opportunity. It’d mean the world to me if you could help me out <3

UPDATE: Looks like NY and DC are taken care of (though alternatives are still welcome in case something falls through). Another step closer to making this real…

‘Triumphant’ meaning that I’ve been lounging in my bathrobe for two days and catching up on the TV I missed while gone.

Okay, and I’ve been doing some work on short stories, and preparing to dig into BLINK edits this week. But mostly the TV thing.

Rhodes was pretty fantastic.

Also, pretty pretty, with a permanent view of Turkey on the horizon.

There are a couple of animals I adore for reasons I can’t even pin-point. The top three are bats, owls, and bears. Snakes and other reptiles are cool too, and I shouldn’t even have to mention cats.

Elephants have never made the list. I’m thinking I may need to change that for the following reason:

CUTEST SOUVENIRS EVER ZOMG. ♥