A journey to Iceland in winter is a wondrous adventure. We trekked on a glacier and into crevices carved into blue ice. A geyser erupted for us “on demand.” The sun set on Diamond Beach, igniting the ice crystals aglow. And we saw 3 views of the Aurora Borealis.
As I flip through the photos of this trip, I’m inspired to write. To write stories of hope and resilience. To write about cherishing and safeguarding this amazing planet.
Fuhgeddaboudit - Digging into my Brooklyn Roots
Moving to Northern NJ did little to lessen my NY accent. But it is mostly gone. When people ask me why I don’t sound like I’m from NY, I like to say, “Because I paid attention in English class.” More to the truth, a public speaking course and moving to Atlanta, GA, did more to chip the Brooklyn street lingo from my tongue.
And now that I’m in Italy speaking with Italians and folks from Africa, Iran, and other countries, who speak English as a second language, slowing down and enunciating aides smooth communication. So why am I reaching back into my (beloved) Brooklyn accent?
Thanks for asking. I’m starting to narrate my free book, Killing Time. Set in Brooklyn, this short’s about two cops interrogating a man suspected of killing his wife. They quickly conclude the guy’s nuts. But for Detective Murphey, the story being told scratches at his personal life, making him think not only of his wife, but also if the suspect might be telling the truth.
📺 Paradise is back on Hulu/Disney+ and opens with an episode entirely of new characters. Season 1 was fantastic, and I’m looking forward to where season 2 goes…
Tchaikovsky’s a talented and successful author, but some of his “hard sci-fi” isn’t the most approachable. I still never finished Children of Time, an evolutionary sci-fi novel. Service Model was much more readable for me and I enjoyed it.
We follow Charles/Uncharles the “Gentleman’s Gentlerobot, a valet, on a reluctant adventure. When he, for reasons he can’t compute or remember, kills his master, he sets out into the world. A world in collapse after humanity became completely dependent on artificials. Told completely from Uncharles POV, it is engaging and touches on some meaningful topics.
In a future where travel via "white space" enables traversing the galaxy, there is a consortium of species from various planets and systems. There are pirates, or revolutionaries, who resist the conformity and "mental/emotional conditioning" of the union upon its members. It is in deep first person as we follow Haimey and her crew of one other human and one ship mind (AI) on their job to scavenge a derelict vessel. From there, things go places Haimey never expected.
Behold a cosmic competition! Discover the strange, immortal aliens known as the Cruiskeen! Witness Shakespeare and Marie Curie in a galactic battle of wits with some guy from Knuckleville, USA!
