As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Announcement: Stone and Shell, by Lloyd Meeker

by
Stone and Shell

QSFer Lloyd Meeker has a new MM holiday romance out: Eight-year-old Howie Evinger is convinced that his dad would be happier if he found a new husband. Howie would be happier, too. And somewhere out there in the city of Vancouver, there’s the right man for his dad to love. But how to find him? That’s a problem, especially if you’re just a kid and your dad says he doesn’t want another husband. With the help of his quirky aunt who calls herself a Buddhist Wiccan, Howie builds his very own solstice altar with cool symbols to support his search. … Read more

New Discoveries Day!

by
New Discoveries Day

Hey all, Welcome to New Discoveries Day – a day once a month (usually on the last day of the month) when we discuss recent discoveries that fascinate us and that could spawn plot bunnies (or plot squirrels or plot mongeese – your plot animal of choice). So chime in and let us know about any new discoveries you ran across in the last month – links are always appreciated. Thanks to Freddy MacKay for the great idea! –Scott Come Join the Chat!

Tech: GPS Pizza Reindeer

by
GPS Pizza Reindeer

What if Santa brought pizza instead of toys? Domino’s seems to be trying to find out, at least in Japan, as a video released online shows the company training reindeer to deliver fresh, hot pizzas in snowy Hokkaido. The reindeer are equipped with GPS units so customers can track their pizzas ― but the footage indicates the system still needs a little more work. By Ed Mazza – Full Story at The Huffington Post

Announcement: Equipoise, by Kim Fielding

by
Equipoise

QSFer Kim Fielding has a new fantasy book out: Ennek, the son of the Chief, and Miner, a former slave, have escaped the totalitarian city-state of Praesidium and remain fugitives. Having defeated two mighty wizards, they begin to realize complete freedom can be as dangerous as absolute power. Now Ennek and Miner must face battles, corruption, and further journeys through lands both new and familiar. As they grow more secure in their relationship, they learn the greatest challenges sometimes come from very close to the heart and everything of value has a price. With the help of a few allies, … Read more

Riverdale – Lots of Abs

by
Riverdale

What if you took the world of Archie Comics and infused it with all the melodrama, affect, and mystery that populates much of the YA landscape on TV and in books? Well, you’d probably get Riverdale, The CW’s pulpy take on the comic book series. The network imagines the show as “A subversive take on Archie, Betty, Veronica, and their friends, exploring the surrealism of small town life – the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome facade.” By Sean Mandell – Full Story at Towleroad.com  

For Readers: Talk About Samuel Delaney

by
Samuel Delaney

FOR READERS Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer Kari Trenten: “Also, I’d love to have conversations about specific authors, whether it’s Plato or J.R.R. Tolkien, their particular works.” Today – Samuel Delaney. From Wikipedia: Samuel Delaney is an American author, professor and literary critic. His work includes fiction (especially science fiction), memoir, criticism, and essays on sexuality and society. His science fiction novels include Babel-17, The Einstein Intersection (winners of the Nebula Award for 1966 and 1967 respectively), Nova, Dhalgren, and the Return to Nevèrÿon series. After winning four Nebula awards and two Hugo awards over the course of his … Read more

Announcement: Wild Rose, Silent Snow, by Angel Martinez

by
Wild Rose, Silent Snow

QSFer Angel Martinez has a new MM fantasy book out: A huge bear at the door, a handsome, naked stranger in the snow, magic fish, enchanted beards—and Rowan thought his life was odd before. Content with the quiet isolation of their lake house, Snowden and Rowan Hadley survive on summer jobs and winter hunting, unable to move on since their parents died. Their peace is shattered by a strange, human-acclimated bear who insists on following Rowan like a giant hunting dog and again by the discovery of a naked, surly stranger in the snow. Both bear and man lead the … Read more

For Writers: In the Present Tense?

by
Verb Tenses

FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Julia AT Weaver Flowers: “Using different tenses and/or mixing them in your writing”. It’s an interesting topic. IIn general, most writers use third person, although even this is split into a few versions, like deep 3rd person POV and third person subjective. Some writers also choose present tense to give a story a more immediate feel. This can be jarring at first, but it does put the story right in your face, like sitting in the front row at the movie theater. I’ve tried mixing both in one story – deep 3rd … Read more

Announcement: The Sorcerer’s Guardian, by Antonia Aquilante

by
The Sorcerer's Guardian

QSFer Antonia Aquilante has a new MM fantasy romance out: Savarin, the most powerful sorcerer in Tournai, has honed his Talent through years of study and made magic his life. Among the wealthy and noble circles he moves in, no one would suspect the handsome, refined, and arrogant sorcerer’s humble beginnings, which is how Savarin prefers it. Tournai’s princes task Savarin with studying and strengthening the spells that protect the principality from magical attack. They are complex, centuries old, and exactly the type of puzzle Savarin is eager to solve. To his annoyance, the princes insist Loriot accompanies him. Loriot … Read more

Seagulls Attack Yoda in Bad Lip Reading Awesomeness

by
Yoda Bad Lip Reading

This new video, Yoda hates seagulls in. The Jedi Master expresses his severe dislike for the birds in this gloriously bonkers “Bad Lip Reading“ of “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.” “Everyone told me not to stroll on that beach, said seagulls gonna come, poke me in the coconut, and they did, and they did,” Yoda sings to Luke Skywalker in the catchy ditty. By Lee Moran – Full Story at Weird News