A year ago today, Hamas, a terrorist organization, carried out a horrendous and unprovoked attack on innocent men, women, and children in Israel.
More than 1,200 were slaughtered.
Many of the women were brutally raped before being murdered.
Whole families murdered in their homes.
250 people, including very young children and the elderly, were abducted and taken to Gaza.
Many of them are still being held against their will.
This is not okay.
Never Forget.
Bring them home.
The Baltimore Book Festival is back and I will be there on Sunday, September 29th from 2:00-3:00 PM!
The entire festival is free, so come have fun!
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) has a booth and a stage at the Peabody Heights Brewery on E 30th Street.
I’ll be at the SFWA booth so stop by and say hello.
While you’re there, you can get some great books.
SFWA Booth & Stage
Peabody Heights Brewery, 401 E 30th St, Baltimore 21218
Saturday 9/28 Booth hours: 12-5
Sunday 9/29 Booth/Panels/Signings: 11-6
A schedule and map is on the Book Festival website.
Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.
Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.
Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.
One step toward understanding.
One stride toward survival.
One leap toward flying free from the past.
Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.
Especially when your powers can get you killed.
Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.
Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.
Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.
A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret
Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.
But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.
We ended our trip back in Edinburgh. (My Trip to Scotland: Part 1)
Dinner in Edinburgh Castle.
Then the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. It was a spectacular show.
The Nelson Monument, on the left below, is a commemorative tower in honor of Vice admiral Horatio Nelson who died in the Napoleonic wars in 1805. The Scott Monument, in the center below, is for Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. This Victorian Gothic creation is the second-largest monument to a writer in the world. On the right below is another view of the castle. If you look closely, you can see the stadium they erected for the Tattoo.
On our last day, we went to the Edinburgh Art Museum. I majored in art and have enough credits for an art history minor, yet as I walked around the galleries, I didn’t recognize any of the Scottish artists.
I think I need to have a “chat” with my undergrad and graduate schools.
Dinner that night was delicious.
It was a fantastic trip. I hope you enjoyed my posts.
We spent the next six days in Glasgow.
August 8-12, 2024 was the 82nd World Science Fiction Convention which was held at the Scottish Event Campus.
Trying out VR was really cool.
My panels were fun. “Look! I Have Raised a Geek!” and “Why Do We Still Love Paper and Tangible Things?”
We went on a walking tour of the bridges.
And saw some of the many murals in the city.
Neat buildings.
Some sculptures
Scottish people have a great sense of humor.
This is a display in the Kevingrom Art Gallery and Museum.
Also spotted this Pterosaur fossil. It looks a bit like the one I found at the Yesnaby coast. (see My Trip to Scotland: Part 5)
The Heads by Sophy Cave
Near the museum.
Langoustine for Lunch.
How often do you see pull chain bathrooms? I found two!
Glasgow Cathedral was founded in the 1200’s as a Catholic church, but became a Protestant Kirk in 1560. Before the Protestant Reformation, the interior was beautifully painted.
The Tardis!
This pretty building is the City Chambers in Glasgow.
George Square and it’s decorated sculptures.
A pint of beer and dinner at The Citizen after a long day. The food was excellent.
On our way out of Orkney on August 5th, we stopped at the Italian Chapel. It was built by Italian prisoners of war during World War 2. This unassuming little Catholic chapel was beautifully painted inside.
There was a sculpture outside the church.
Sands of Wright and Dam of Hox were pretty.
I also tried some Irn Bru. This caffeinated orange colored drink, known as Scotland’s other national drink after Scotch whisky, was good with a slight bubblegum like flavor.
Some pictures at Kyle of Tongue in northwest Highland.
Smoo Cave was neat! But the walk down to it was steep.
Smoo Cave is a sea cave and a freshwater cave. Unfortunately, it’s been a bit dry, so the waterfall in the cave wasn’t flowing. It was still very pretty.
So was the surrounding area.
We stopped at Ardvrech Castle and the Calda House by Loch Assynt. At least what was left of them. The castle was built around 1490 by the Mcleods. The Calda house was built in 1672.
Then it was off to Ullapool for the night. We didn’t get there until almost 7:30 and wanted to go to the Seafood Shack for dinner. They close at 8:00 and we were warned that they close early when they sell out. We dropped our bags and walked quickly. The langostinos were wonderful. They look like miniature lobsters. Sorry, I didn’t get pictures of the food. There was no wind and that night and the midges came out in force. (Tiny, gnat-like flies that bite. It was the one time we didn’t have the bug repellant with us. Figures. We ate as quickly as possible and fled to our room.
On the way back, I spotted this sign down the road from our bed and breakfast. I’m a huge Lord of the Rings fan and couldn’t resist taking a picture.
Remember my post the other day on the Ring of Brodgar? In August an article came out saying that analysis showed that the grey-green sandstone of the altar stone at Stonehenge came from northern Scotland, possibly Orkney? Well, now new information has surfaced. They still think it came from Scotland, but have determined that it did not come from Orkney.
You can read the articles here:
CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/13/science/stonehenge-altar-stone-orkney/index.html
BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2g55ly0e6o
The mystery continues.
A beautiful morning on August 3rd as we left our B&B in Inverness.
The next stop was a memorial of the Scottish Clearances in Helmsdale. Between 1750 and 1860 many tenants in the Scottish highland and islands were evicted from lands they had been on for generations. (Around 70,000 people) It made way for more sheep pastors. Many of these people emigrated to Canada, America, Australia, and New Zealand.
THE EMIGRANTS was created by Gerald Laing in 2004. And no, he is not wearing anything under his kilt except what god gave him in this anatomically correct sculpture.
In case you can’t read Gaelic: The Emigrants: Commemorates the people of the highlands and islands of Scotland who in the face of great adversary sought freedom, home, and justice beyond theses shores. They and their descendants went forth and explored continents, built great countries and cities, and gave their enterprise and culture to the world. This is their legacy. Their voices will echo forever thro the empty straths and glens of their homeland. Unveiled by the first minister of Scotland, Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP, 23 July 2007.
Then we grabbed lobster rolls for lunch in Dunbeath and saw Dunbeath Castle.
The next stop was the Duncansby Head Lighthouse.
Along the coast.
Then it was off to John O’Groats.
We took the Pentland Ferry to Orkney Island. The ride was nice, but as soon as we moved, all the car alarms went off. It made for a noisy ride.
We road over several Churchill barriers build between 1940 and 1944 as naval defenses. Since 1945, these causeways have linked the Orkney Mainland to the other islands.
The land was beautiful, flat, with no trees in sight.
Our first night in Kirkwall, we saw St. Magnus Cathedral and the Bishop’s and Earl’s palaces.
I liked the Orkney Museum.
The bed and breakfast was nice. This time we were able to put the beds together.
It was a good night for Fish and Chips at Harbour Fry.
And in case you are wondering.
By the water.
Will you be at Glasgow 2024: A World Con for our Future?
This will be the 82nd World Science Fiction convention and runs from August 8-12 in Glasgow, Scotland.
I am thrilled to be part of programing. Here is where you can find me.
Sunday, August 11: 11:30 AM in Alsh 1
Look! I Have Raised a Geek! — Or else, you might say – parenting done right. We’ve invited some of the unconventional parents who will share with you the parenting methods they used to raise a proper geek and, hopefully, future fandom members as well. Some stories may be funny, others quite unexpected!
Sunday, August 11: 2:30 PM in Argyll 1
Why do we still love paper and tangible things? — Printed progress reports, souvenir books, pocket programs, conbooks, fanzines, books, and other common items in the fandom and at fandom conventions. Even though all of them exist in their digital PDF versions (or sometimes in-app versions as well), we still have a deep sentiment for paper itself. Why is this so? What makes us stick with old ways when the future has already arrived?
Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.
Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.
Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.
One step toward understanding.
One stride toward survival.
One leap toward flying free from the past.
A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret
Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.
But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.
Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.
Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.
Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.
One step toward understanding.
One stride toward survival.
One leap toward flying free from the past.
A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret
Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.
But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.
This August is the 82nd annual World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow, Scotland, and I will be a program participant. I can’t tell you what panels I’ll be on. That is still top secret.
Check out the WorldCon website for more information.
Hope to see you there.
If you haven’t had a chance yet, picked up a copy of one of my books.
Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.
Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.
Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.
One step toward understanding.
One stride toward survival.
One leap toward flying free from the past.
A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret
Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.
But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.