Which Way is Up?

Recently, Barry Eisler and Bob Mayer rejected contracts from their big name publishers to go the self publishing route.

Bob Mayer states the writing is on the wall, that in the next few years sales for ebooks will surpass paperbacks and hard covers. He cites Barnes & Noble as evidence. When you walk in these days, the tables of hard covers on sale aren't there. Instead there is a Nook stand. http://writeitforward.wordpress.com/

Yup. I meet with my critique group at a Barnes & Noble [because they have a Starbucks inside with tables] and the Nook thing has been there front and center for at least a year.

So, I have to wonder ... what does this mean for us? The aspiring unknowns? I'm not really sure. What are your opinions on this? Are we going to now have to scramble for crumbs on our own in the world of self publishing, or do we still have to fight for agents? Or, is the traditional model for getting published crumbling? Will the big names make it harder for us to go indie?

I'm trying to figure out what this means for us aspirings as big names abandon their publishers. Must be making agents and publishers nervous.

Amanda Hocking got a rumored $2 million deal for her next four titles. http://amandahocking.blogspot.com/  So, she went the other way. I had to check her out and download one of her books as I try to puzzle all this out.

I know several of you have gone the self publishing route. How have you found the experience so far?

I got the leads on Eisler and Hocking off Nathan Bransford's blog. http://blog.nathanbransford.com/ He's featuring author monitization this week. A great series to familiarize yourself with the business side of publishing.

I heard of Mayer off Twitter. We're twitter buds. He's a nice guy.

 Anyway, it has me thinking. What? To find a way to get into this game, especially ebooks. Seems like no matter which way we go, we still have to do a lot of our own marketing. I don't want the train to leave the station without me. I'm sure the rest of you get that. Does all this have you thinking? What are you thinking?

Matchmaker, Matchmaker Make Me a Match

Traveling around cyberspace, some links:

CP Matchmaker -- my friend Paty Jager has launched CP Matchmaker to help those in need of finding a critique partner. For those seriously interested in improving their writing. Critique partners is one of the best ways to break out of your own head and learn to improve your craft. I learn as much from giving feedback on my partners' work as what they have to say on mine.

Ten Rules for Writing Fiction -- Rules for writers written by top selling, respected authors.

Urban Dictionary -- for up-to-date lingo and ugly lingo other dictionaries won't publish

The Fiction Writer's Guide to Psychology -- create characters beyond the cliche

Preditors and Editors -- a place to check out potential publishers and other too-good-to-be-true offers made to writers

In the same vein, Writer Beware, from Science Fiction Writers of America

On the Twitter from Tor, I won an arc copy of Dark Jenny by Alex Bledsoe. His stories blend fantasy with detective.

Bledsoe whips up a perfect blend of Arthurian legend and hard-boiled detecting in the third novel featuring "private sword jockey" Eddie LaCrosse (after 2009's Burn Me Deadly). While tracking a client's wayward husband on the island kingdom of Grand Bruan, which is ruled by King Marcus Drake and his Knights of the Double Tarn, LaCrosse falls under suspicion when a knight dies of a poisoned apple he snatched from a tray prepared specially by Queen Jennifer. Fortunately, the detective manages to convince the king's seneschal that he may not be guilty, and is asked to help identify the real criminal. The mystery and its ramifications for the Grand Bruan royals will seem familiar to readers of Thomas Malory, but Bledsoe skillfully combines humor, action, deduction, and emotion to make the material fresh and engaging for fans of both fantasy and noir.

Sounds intriguing. I look forward to reading it.

I've been burning through The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi. I caught one of those Klingon bugs week before last [a bug that just won't go away -- mild symptoms persist much longer than is civilized] and cuddled up with this book on the couch. It's the Wistful Bookclub's read for June. It's fabulous. Really fabulous. Raw and gritty dystopian and so rich, I really felt as if I were in Thailand. Intelligently written and written so well, I didn't once think about structure or style or anything else, but getting lost in it. For more on Paolo and his work, visit: http://windupstories.com/

For more on the Wistful Reads Bookclub, go HERE


Sci-fi TV:

V's season two ended as juicy and intriguing as the season became. I feel V has gotten better. It started crossing some lines, which is why it interests me more than it used to. Now there's nothing to watch on Tuesdays. Except Glee, which Husband runs in horror from.

The Event came back once The Cape's brief opening season ended. It's as compelling as it was when it started. Can't wait to see what happens next. Good show.

Stargate Universe began it's final 10 episodes on Syfy on Monday nights at 10 p.m. After The Event, making Mondays the new science fiction night. Universe is my favorite show and I'll be sad once it goes off the air. So, I watch these episodes bittersweet -- knowing they will leave me hanging and knowing I won't get any more of my space opera fix. I hope some other great space opera will fill its shoes.

Husband came home a few weeks back with season one of Babylon5. Ooo! A great blast from the past. It will do when SGU goes off the air. I hope by the time we're done with it Torchwood's season 4 will be out on dvd. Makes me want to move to England this summer.

So what have you been reading and watching?

qo' vIvan

Fantastic Friday Writers - Language

The above is Klingon for 'hello world'.

How language is used is important no matter what you write. It comes more into play for sci-fi and fantasy writers.

We build worlds and cultures, with that comes language and words and expressions. Readers of the genre expect unique words and concepts. It helps immerse them in our world. Incorporating unique language without bogging the beginning of a novel or story down and maintaining clarity is quite a trick. A real juggling act.

So how does a writer handle it?

Use a word or object in context is one way. 'She pulled the jaju from her holster.' From the action and context, the reader can make an accurate guess as to what a jaju is.

Some objects and concepts are going to need more explanation. In chapter one, these need to be kept as brief as possible. And the depth should be fit in later chapters without an information dump. Study the masters - the most recent Hugo and Nebula winners and nominees is a great place for study.

And keep a list / glossary of your unique terms and concepts, so you can keep them straight. I'll usually list them in multiple places -- by the name I use and by what it is. Ie, weapons, ships, places, etc ... In alphabetical order. I love doing this as part of my world building. The key is to be very organized in mantaining the list so you can find those words in chapter 26 you haven't used since chapter 3 and be consistant.

When writing in a foreign or alien language, the meaning should be so obvious it hits you over the head. Otherwise you need to provide a translation of some kind. I used some alien language in one of my stories. The characters are establishing contact with the aliens, so they are guessing what is said through context and action. Just like the reader. Or just provide a straight-up translation. The foreign words are to be followed by the English equivalent. The accpeted format is: She pulled the jaju, gun, from her holster.

A lexicon reflects the culture and world built into the fiction. I consider it a fun part of world building -- what is centrally important to these people - what do their thoughts and language center around.

Look at our own planet and how different cultures use language. It colors each people and culture, which I think is fascinating.

In your own household, folks have different lexicons. Husband has one different than mine. We grew up in different regions of the country and have different professions. It colors our thoughts and things we say. So, too, in a fictional world -- whether sci-fi or ordinary. Your character's language colors his/her perspective, actions and thoughts.

An exercise I learned at a workshop last fall was to create a lexicon for each major character. A lumberjack has a different lexicon than a ballerina. Their views on the world will be different.

The only thing different in sci-fi and fantasy is that we may create professions and perspectives very foreign to the reader. We need to ground it and pick and choose what we decide to flavor.

Yeah, it's tricky deciding how much flavor. That's where crit partners and beta readers come in handy. Yet remember who your audience is and write for them. Readers of some genres are willing to work harder [and find it fun] than others. For more information, visit the blogs below. And here's an article I found on the topic: ARTICLE

Have you used foreign or alien language in your books/stories? How?

Visit the other Fantastic Friday Writers

CassaStar

CassaStar by Alex J. Cavanaugh


To pilot the fleet’s finest ship…


Few options remain for Byron. A talented but stubborn young man with a troubled past and rebellious attitude, his cockpit skills are his only hope. Slated to train as a Cosbolt fighter pilot, Byron is determined to prove his worth and begin a new life as he sets off for the moon base of Guaard.

Much to Byron’s chagrin the toughest instructor in the fleet takes notice of the young pilot. Haunted by a past tragedy, Bassa eventually sees through Byron's tough exterior and insolence. When a secret talent is revealed during training, Bassa feels compelled to help Byron achieve his full potential.

As war brews on the edge of space, time is running short. Byron requires a navigator of exceptional quality to survive, and Bassa must make a decision that could well decide the fate of both men. Will their skills be enough as they embark on a mission that may stretch their abilities to the limit?

I was very excited when this book finally arrived. I ordered the paperback from Amazon and there was some strange shipping snafu. I got the usual 'your order shipped' email. Then a day later, I got a weird one that said, 'we f***d up, nevermind.' ??? I wasn't sure what that meant, but the book did arrive about a week later.

CassaStar follows a young man's journey through the rigorous military training of flying a Cosbolt. Byron is closed off and has an attitude. Fitting for the profession he's shown a talent for. Reminiscent of Ender's Game by Orscon Scott Card.

This is a very character-driven story of Byron and his instructor Bassa who later becomes Byron's partner. I found their relationship very touching. I wouldn't have been as patient as Bassa and would have slapped Byron in the head a couple of times. lol


I came to know Byron and Bassa so well, their story made me cry. Wringing a high level of emotion out of the reader takes great talent. I will have to read CassaStar again and study how Alex achieves this deep well of emotional connection.

A classic coming of age tale, there is plenty of action. Lots of battles to make you cringe and cheer. CassaStar was an excellent read. A good, solid space opera. I look forward to the sequels Alex is working on.

Visit HERE to find out where to purchase CassaStar

Alex J. Cavanaugh blogs at Alex J. Cavanaugh

A round of applause for Alex. Yip, yip!

Know Your Rights

I'm no expert at publishing contracts, but I do understand copyright, rights and entertainment contracts. I once handled television programming contracts for a network.

Over and over, I hear these nightmares authors are living. If you do not have an agent helping you, it is imperative you understand what you are signing. Find someone to explain the terms to you if you do not understand them.

We had a standard contract. It was rarely signed 'as is'. It was a starting point. Contracts are negotiable. If it is not negotiable and the terms are unfavorable to you, walk away. Never be so desperate as to give your work away. You can give it away if you want to, but make sure the 'gift' has an expiration date and the rights are limited to the purpose. For instance, if it's an American publisher, you don't want to be signing away world rights without due compensation. If it's a print publisher, you don't want to be signing away audio and epublishing rights.

The most important things to look out for - when does the contract end and how. This should be specific and it would be prudent to put in multiple 'out' clauses. Termination upon notice if the publisher is nonresponsive. An end date when ALL rights revert back to the writer. Specifically spell out what rights the publisher is purchasing and specifically state all rights not mentioned are retained by the author.

Do not let someone keep your work forever and publish it forever without paying you. There should be a clause speaking to subsequent publishings and payment plus accredidation -- that they can not publish your work without giving you the byline. That your title and name are inseparable.

Talk about your rights to use excerpts, etc ... for promotional purposes. What can you do to help promote sales, what can't you do.

But most important is to have multiple ways to get your rights back and end a bad relationship. You do not want to be stuck. You do not want your work published into infinity without getting paid for it or acknowledged for it. You do not want to give away subsidiary rights. Some of those are extremely lucrative. Ie, film rights.

And again, if you don't understand it, ask somebody. The other party to the contract can not lie to you about the terms and negotiate a valid contract. So, you can ask the publisher to explain its terms. I used to explain our terms to producers and was always very honest about what parts of the contract protected them and what the convoluted legal speak meant. But I realize not everyone is ethical. So, it would not be unwise to go visit a lawyer and have him / her explain the terms to you. Make sure they understand rights / copyrights. It's not an easy field to understand unless you have experience in it and know what can be bought and sold and what can't.

Most of my company did not understand our contracts and what the terms meant. There were several times I had to stop them from breaking contract terms. But again, you probably won't have someone as conscientious as I was looking out for you. You have to look out for you and police what your publisher does and doesn't do. They are most likely not going to notify you if they violate the terms of your contract.

Get everything in writing. EVERYTHING. Even ask them to send 'written' explanations of terms. It may seem unimportant to you in the moment, but later on you might be mighty glad to have that 'proof'. For a contract to be valid [in the US], it must be entered into in good faith. One party lying to the other is not good faith. You being ignorant does not violate good faith. The contract will stand. Require written notice every time they publish or use your work, or a periodic statement of sales, publication, promotional use, etc ...

How can they use your work? Can they hack it to bits and publish it in a shortened form? Do you want to get paid for that? Can they use your work in promotion? How? Think about these things.

There are many sharks out there ready to pounce on the desperation of aspiring writers. Don't be a victim. You research your book, research a potential publisher [especially if you've never heard of them]. Science Fiction Writers of America keeps a list of the unscrupulous. Ask to speak to other clients, especially for a novel. Be skeptical. Be suspicious. Write terms of the contract with the worse case scenario in mind.

Research copyright and rights. Know the possibilities of what and how your work can be sold and used. Know your rights.

I hope this cautionary post will keep you from floundering into a nightmare. Protect yourself.

Have any words of wisdom to add on this topic?

Beware the Ides of Supermoon

Apogee and perigee moon photographed by amateur astronomer
(Image: science.nasa.gov)

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

Maybe if folks would actually look into science a bit instead of believing every hoaxy, 'the world is ending' bit of crap out there, there'd be less ... I'll leave that part up to you.

First of all, what phase the Moon is in makes no difference -- whether full or new. Because the Moon is full, does not mean there is more moon up there. Only that in its position in its orbit around the Earth, it is reflecting more sunlight at us. Just because there is little moonlight at new moon, does not mean there is less moon in the sky, only that the reflective part is not pointed at us. In other words, the Moon does not phase in and out as it phases. Parts of it do not disappear and reappear. Its mass stays the same. Its effect on tides, etc ... therefore is no different no matter the phase it is in. The pull on the Earth is the same whether a new moon, a partial moon or a full moon.

And it is the Moon's position in its orbit that gives it phases. Only planets and moons between us and the Sun have phases. Phases are due to the amount of light being reflected toward us. It is not the Earth's shadow on the Moon. That's a lunar eclipse.

The Moon's orbit around the Earth is not a perfect circle. It is an elipse. Therefore, it does appear to be closer than usual at times because it is. This happens every twenty-eight days, the length of time it takes the Moon to orbit the Earth.

Aaaaa! The world already ended and we didn't notice. :-O

It is slightly closer than usual this March 19th, because of the imperfect orbit. According to NASA it will only result in higher tides of a few centimeters, an inch or so. Local geography can increase the effect. But it's nothing to worry about.

If some world disaster happens this March 19th, it won't be the Moon's fault ... unless that man up there starts shooting spitballs at us or something.

No, the only thing you have to worry about is whether the sky will be clear enough to get some nice photos of a closer than usual full moon.

So yeah, no hocus pocus superstitious crap. It's science. Logical, hysteria-free science. Exciting. Interesting. An opportunity for some nice photography.

I know, these facts are not near as fun for fiction as the hocus pocus crap. But fiction should be restricted to stories. It has no place impacting reality, everyday living.

Journey of Tara

Tara Vanderpool, specialist in acquiring rare items usually of historic importance. Spy, cat burgular, or problem solver. She lives a pretty good life until she encounters the gruffy, independant and sour Dirk Bran, the Captain of the Marcel. Once their paths cross they begin a journey neither can come back from the same.

Available at Smashwords. And Barnes & Noble.

Brian Hutchinson blogs at Writing in the Dark.

He's also published The Set'la, also available from Smashwords. Barnes & Noble.

The Journey of Tara is a wonderful treat. So imaginative and creative, Brian kept surprising me from inventive tech to plot twists to sci-fi references.

The novel starts with a bang when Tara makes a heist for a client using some of that inventive tech. When she boards Dirk's ship, The Marcel, for an unauthorized trip to Earth things get even more interesting. Then the plot ups again once on the former homeworld. There was a lot of unexpected in this story, which is something I enjoy. And Brian didn't take a bunch of left turns or conveniently all of a sudden place things to create the interesting twists. They make sense. It's a very satisfying ending, too.

I enjoyed this journey a lot. Brian caught my attention from the intriguing prologue and held it. He's a very talented storyteller with original ideas.

I'm glad I bumped into him on the Twitter.

Thanks for the fantastic entertainment, Brian.

The Wistful Bookclub has its next read up. In June, I will discuss The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi. This novel won the Hugo and Nebula awards.

In a future Thailand, calories are the greatest commodity. Anderson is a calorie-man whose true objective is to discover new food sources that his company can exploit. His secretary, Hock Seng, is a refugee from China seeking to ensure his future. Jaidee is an officer of the Environmental Ministry known for upholding regulations rather than accepting bribes. His partner, Kanya, is torn between respect for Jaidee and hatred for the agency that destroyed her childhood home. Emiko is a windup, an engineered and despised creation, discarded by her master and now subject to brutality by her patron. The actions of these characters set in motion events that could destroy the country.

I'm really looking forward to reading this. For more on the bookclub, go HERE

Any great reads you've bumped into lately?

Local Astronomers Disappear, Presumed Dead

DATELINE: July 24, 2011, Oregon High Desert.

A call by Husband Pax to the Deschutes sheriff's office yesterday reported his wife, M. Pax, never came home from her job at Pine Mountain Observatory. Other reports came in for the other three volunteers, which resulted in an investigation up at the observatory where they were all last seen.

Campers at the public campground, across the road from the observatory, said the staff never opened up for the public viewing. They had seen the staffers arrive and walk up to the telescopes.

"It's like they vanished," said Mike Rook of Bend.

"Since it was a clear night," Robert Lamb of Sisters said, "I thought it odd. I come up here every summer and I know the staff to be really dedicated."

"They're here every weekend without fail," said the rancher at the bottom of the mountain. "And I know they all came up last night. Saw them drive up. I know their cars. Only one road goes up to the observatory."

The astronomers' cars were in the parking lot, but no sign of M. Pax or her three coworkers was found except for a bloody boot.

"Didn't hear nothing," Robert Lamb said. "If it was a cougar attack, it was a dang quiet one."

"Despite M. Pax's suspicions my cattle are out to get her, I know my steer had nothing to do with this," the rancher said. "Not a thing."

"I did see a flash of light," said Dora Davies of Redmond. "Ms. Pax told us those stone constructions on the summit are yeti houses. Do you think-"

"I read in that Weird Oregon book," Lamb said, "those cattle mutilations took place around here. They based an X-Files on that, ya know. The truth is out there. Yup. Right over there. Just gotta know what to look for."

"Yup. Call Mulder and Scully. They know what to look for. Other people have claimed alien encounters out this way," Mike Rook said. "It's the only logical explanation."

"We're not suspecting any such thing," the Sheriff said, "but the amont of blood ... well, we don't expect to find the PMO staff alive."

"Sounds like a plot straight out of one of her stories. M. Pax writes science fiction," the rancher said. "Although, I like the tales she tells me about my gangsta cows the best. But it wasn't them. It wasn't. And anyway they're steer not cows."

If anyone has any further information on the missing astronomers, please call the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office 555-5555.

Hmmm. Maybe it was a swarm of volcanic killer ash bees. :-O

All photos taken by moi except the last which was taken by one of the security cameras at the observatory. Click on any for a larger view.


Delusional Doom blogfest brought to you by Hart Johnson, Confessions of a Watery Tart. 

Thank you Hart! This was a lot of fun to do.

Happy Pi Day!

3.14. It's Pi Day! Everyone's favorite never ending decimal.

Today is a celebration with friends. You guys.

Brian Hutchinson, author of Journey of Tara. Tara Vanderpool, specialist in acquiring rare items usually of historic importance. Spy, cat burgular, or problem solver. She lives a pretty good life until she encounters the gruffy, independant and sour Dirk Bran, the Captain of the Marcel. Once their paths cross they begin a journey neither can come back from the same. Available on Smashwords and Barnes & Noble. I will feature Journey of Tara on Thursday this week.

Brian blogs at Writing in the Dark. Also available from Brian is The Set'la.

Alex J. Cavanaugh, author of CassaStar. To pilot the fleet’s finest ship… Few options remain for Byron. A talented but stubborn young man with a troubled past and rebellious attitude, his cockpit skills are his only hope …Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars. Available from several places. Visit HERE to choose your vendor. He blogs at Alex J. Cavanaugh. I will feature an article on his novel next week.

Sammy Sutton, author of King Solomon's Journey. Available from Amazon in paperback and Kindle. There are many tales of great treasures and extraordinary riches of the ancient world, buried or hidden beneath our very feet, some that are just waiting for someone to uncover them. From relics of untold power to hidden fortunes of unspeakable wealth, the hold of our past over our present is beyond measure. People spend their entire lives trying to uncover the clues, connect the dots, and discover the secrets history has left for us. Anthropologist Antonio Dominguez and spiritualist Amanda Messenger are two such people, devoting their lives to learning about those who have come before us, and the connection shared between us all. When they unearth the 3,000 year-old scrolls King Solomon sent up the Rio Grande in 939 B.C., however, they not only discover an invaluable piece of history, they unlock the key to saving humanity from potential catastrophe, embarking on an adventure greater than the sands of time could have ever predicted.

Sammy's blog: Sammy Sutton Author.

Lindsay Buroker, author of Encrypted. Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords. Professor Tikaya Komitopis isn’t a great beauty, a fearless warrior, or even someone who can walk and chew chicle at the same time, but her cryptography skills earn her wartime notoriety. When enemy marines show up at her family’s plantation, she expects the worst. But they’re not there to kill her. They need her to decode mysterious runes before their secrets destroy the world...


Get the links from her blog - Kindle Geeks: Ebooks for your Geeky Side. Also available from Lindsay is The Emperor's Edge.

Alexander M. Zoltai, author of Notes from an Alien, coming out May 2011. How Does A Civilization Grow From Devastating War To Enduring Peace? He blogs at Notes from an Alien. You can still get a free copy by visiting his blog.

Dennis Strachota, creator of Fun with Czech Fairy Tales. He doesn't have a blog, but does have a website: Tendrak Theate. He has three cds out, and I've gotten to meet his fantastic puppets. He's been hard at work on a historical fantasy about the adventures of Sir Marek, a journey across central Europe around 1300. Dennis has helped me grow as a writer and is a very talented guy.

Thanks to the extremely kind and sweet Melissa Bradely, blogging at Melissa's Imaginarium for the great shoutout on Friday.

Thanks to Christopher L. Ledbetter, blogging at The Oracle and the Muse for the Stylish Blogger Award.

Thanks to my youngest brother for creating my awesome website www.mpaxauthor.com It works great and looks great.

Kimberly Nicole, aka Video Genius, for my many fantastic story trailers. She really has talent and makes my stories come alive. She doesn't have a blog, but she does have a website: TrueNeVar. Several of her music videos have won awards. We've been friends a long time bumping into each other on the nets as fans of sci-fi and the space opera. Long before I finished writing anything. You have no idea how many drafts, revisions and mind changings she's endured. From the novice craptastic to the more polished versions that exist now. She reads my long rambling e-mails when I get stuck or frustrated, despite knowing I will resolve the issue before the email ends - usually. She also listens to my rants and disappointments, never failing to encourage me to keep at it. She's an awesome friend and a great talent. She has the most natural gift at writing suspense I've ever run across. What I execute [a poorer imitation], I learned from her.

From the lovely Lynda Young I was given the Friends for the Journey Encouragement, which prompted this whole post of gratitude. Rules state I'm to pass it onto 7 people who have helped me along the way. I owe Lynda a lot of thanks as she's someone who has helped me. Thank you, Lynda. Her blog: .W.I.P. It where she distills her pearls of wisdom for the rest of us to learn from.

1. Paty Jager, blogging at Paty Jager - A great friend who helped me ready for my pitches in August. Paty's many published titles, talent and success always inspire me. Plus, she's a lot of fun and has been very supportive and encouraging.

2. Loretta, blogging at Loretta's Journey - We've been friends a long time now. We met before I started this blog. She is always supportive and kindly created the original art for the Stopover at the Backworlds' Edge trailer. Otherwise, video genius and I would have had to resort to using eyes. Thanks for listening to me whine when the mood strikes me. Loretta is awesome.

3. Gary Baker, blogging at Anarchy on the Allotment. An inspiring writer who I learn from. I became aware of the word 'himbo' from Gary and many other English pub behaviors.

4. Tony Benson, blogging at Fireside Park. A very creative writer who I learn from. I've enjoyed getting lost in his dystopian world. Love the dystopian.

5. Misha, blogging at My First Book. A great storyteller who I learn from. Her world is rich, mysterious and emotionally charged. She piques my curiosity.

6.  Nomar Knight, blogging at Knight Chills. His series, Burning Love, on his blog is disturbing and very intriguing as it's so fresh and original, and he's been a great friend.

7. Karen Elizabeth Brown, blogging at Musings, Memos & Melancholy. She writes so fast and furious on her blog, she makes me jealous. I enjoy her imaginative space operas.

And to the rest of you, I have to say:

Thank you! All of you!

Now celebrate with pie! What's your favorite pie?

Sunsets

Sharing some sunsets I've captured this winter.

Sunsets are full of wonder. The colors are spectacular. Time shifts from day to night. The Earth turns her face away from our star out toward the vastness of the universe. After the beauty of the blue skies we are graced with the wonders of the galaxy spread over our heads like a dream. And what's out there takes my breath away. I never tire of looking at it and exploring the bits that sparkle and the bits that don't.

Sound like I miss the observatory much? As the seasons change, what are you missing?