catherineldf | Entries tagged with reading

It has been a week of job rejections and interviews and financial anxiety and other fun stuff. Jana's event at Dancing Bear got canceled due to potential COVID exposure (not ours), so we both had crap Fridays. But today brought better things in the form of a reprint acceptance, a lovely lunch with friends, a nice trip to the farmer's market and some time at Twin Cities Pagan Pride where Michael and Sherry Merriam were kind enough to put out some Queen of Swords Press titles for sale. Everyone had a good day and decent book sales, so good all around.
Other stuff:

Submitted another story.
Worked on more publicity-related things for Foxhunt and Obviously, Aliens.
Met with my intern, Shannon, who's back for the Fall (yay!).
Talked to yet more recruiters, had another couple of interviews and applied for multiple jobs. Also, finished a nonIT resume and sent it out a few places.
Saw The Legend of Shiang-Chi and liked it.
Spent Labor Day in a canning haze - spaghetti sauce, apple sauce and salsa. Then roasted a tray of beets for funzies.
Mailed copy of Foxhunt off to the Library of Congress (obligatory when you get a catalogue number).
Saw Ladyhawke at the Parkway. Best line from the audience: "But what if she wants to be a hawk?" A question we did not ask in 1985.
Went to see "The Unplugging" performed by New Native Theatre. This was an interesting play about two middle-aged women, cast out of their community for being too old and forced to make their way through a post-apocalyptic landscape (after everything has "unplugged"). It was staged in a field in one of the burnt out parts of Lake Street that is not yet being rebuilt and was very well done.
Wrote a lengthy Twitter thread about small press finances and, for the first time in 5 years, met our baseline goal for monthly support on Patreon. Thank you, lovely people, for making that happen!
Spent time with friends and watched sundry things.
Next up: tackling the project backlog.

I'll be reading from my story "A Splash of Crimson" from RESPECTABLE HORROR and from "Medium Mechanique" in OUT OF THIS WORLD at Bingley's Teas in Minneapolis at 5PM today. It's Bingley's Teas first anniversary as a tea shop/salon so there are other fun festivities planned. I recommend dropping by some local indie bookstores for Indie Bookstore Day or checking out the Guillermo del Toro show, "At Home With Monsters" at the MIA (closing soon!) on the way over, since Bingley's is down the street from the MIA on 26th. I will be steampunking out but costumes are not obligatory. :-)

For folks who couldn't make to my reading last week (or for those who want to reminisce?), the live recorded version, completed with my stuffed ears, cell phone musical accompaniment and other great stuff! Thanks to Conrad Zero for preserving all our efforts at achieving immortality. :-)

Addendum: my shirt is from GoodGoth, because someone will want to know.

Crossposts: http://catherineldf.livejournal.com/403756.html

In the way of such things, I heard back from my insurance about my proposed breast reduction surgery. It was affirmative, which is awesome, because so much ouch between the back pain, the headaches, the sundry associated discomforts and such, and because it means they'll cover a big chunk of it. My new surgeon leapt upon the approval with alacrity (which gives one an idea of how bad things are) and scheduled me for the beginning of November. Yay for an end in sight (I really wanted to get this done this year, from both pain and insurance perspectives) But that means that Teslacon has to get dropped from the schedule since I'll still be recovering on physical and financial levels. I'm pretty sure that however quickly I rebound from this, I will not be up for being laced into Victorian-style corsets three weeks after surgery, let along being up for driving 4 hours to get there. Sigh. I like Teslacon and I did want to go this year, but this has to take precedence. So this means that I have 2 tickets at $65 each available for an immersion steampunk convention that is likely to sell out this year. The immersion part is that they "ask that you make an effort"; my wife wore jeans, a bowler with a clockwork pin, a Western-style gentleman's shirt vest and work books and no one batted an eye. She even got complements on the vest. However, we were in some semblance of steampunk dress all weekend, as was everyone else, so it's not like a hall costume, a few hours and you're done, thing. At any rate, there are balls, teas, a banquet, panels, actors playing out a roving story line, a spectacular dealer's room, some good history and costuming panels, craft demos and other kinds of fun. Let me know if you would like to acquire our tickets and I'll get back to you with details.

I've got an upcoming reading at DreamHaven Books in Minneapolis on 9/21 at 6:30PM (website should be updated soon). Everyone I know seems to be working or taking a class or out of town that night, so I'm hoping for the best on attendance, but hey, bribes for folks who do show up: a.I'll be reading from a couple of newish not yet published short stories and one of my novels in progress, all new to a local audience. b. I have Vagenda of Manocide Sparkle Pens to distribute to a limited number interested parties (you know who you are). c. Cookies provided and pizza/beverage/stuff to follow. Come on down!

What else is going? Sekrit Project has cleared the last hurdle, at least for my story so I'm just waiting for other folks to finish up and permission to announce it.
I'm working on a new collection of my sfnal stories (there will be 3 other collections of other stuff), which will be released by Queen of Sword Press, my new publishing effort. So far this week, I've done edits and acquired ISBNs, so hey, progress! I'm also working on a new novella and other projects, announcements to follow.

I'll be going up to Duluth for the First Folio Events and Exhibit in October. Check out the link for the miscellaneous Shakespearian-themed fun times, plus viewing times on the tome itself. Should be fun.

Crossposts: http://catherineldf.livejournal.com/403182.html

I'll be back at DreamHaven Books in Minneapolis for the Speculations Reading Series sponsored by SF Minnesota on September 21st at 6:30 PM. I'll be reading from stuff, recent stuff, audience requests and so forth. C'mon down for a chat and a listen! I hear there'll be cookies too.

Crossposts: http://catherineldf.livejournal.com/402628.html

March 26 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

The Quatrefoil Library in conjunction with The Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection is happy to announce our annual March Women’s Author Event. For ten years, this event has been one the Quatrefoil Library’s most popular and well attended.

This event will take place at:
Elmer L. Andersen Library
222 21st Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455

All authors will read and a question and answer session will follow.

Jessie Chandler—Award-winning author Jessie Chandler lives in Minneapolis, MN with her wife and two mutts, Fozzy Bear and Ollie. In the fall and winter, Jessie writes, and spends her summers selling T-shirts and other assorted trinkets to unsuspecting conference and festival goers. She has written books such as Bingo Barge Murder, Hide and Snake Murder, Pickle In The Middle Murder, Chip Off The Ice Murder She co-edited in Lesbians on the Loose, Crime Writer on the Lam with Lori L. Lake. Learn more at www.jessiechandler.com

Rachel Gold is the award-winning author of Just Girls (Bella Books 2014) and Being Emily (Bella Books 2012), the first young adult novel to the story of a trans girl from her perspective. She has an MFA in Writing from Hamline University and has spent the last 14 years working in marketing and publicity–but if that makes her sound too corporate and stuffy, you should know that Rachael is an all around geek and avid gamer. For more information visit: www.rachelgold.com

Catherine Lundoff is an award-winning author, editor and publisher from Minneapolis, where she lives with her fabulous wife and cats. She toils in IT by and day and writes all the things by night, including a series for SF Signal on the history of LGBT science fiction and fantasy and lots of tales about things going bump in the night. Her recent stories have or will appear in Tales Of the Unanticipated, The Mammoth Book of Jack The Ripper Tales and the Mammoth Book of the Adventures of Morriarty. Her novel Medusa’s Touch (written as Emily L. Byrne) is forthcoming from Queen Of Swords Press. Additional information can be found at www.catherinelundoff.com

Judith Katz—she is the author of two published novels, Running Fiercely Toward A High Thin Sound and The Escape Artist. She is currently working on sequels to both novels.

Ellen Lansky was born in Minneapolis and grew up in Overland Park, Kansas. Her fiction has appeared in local, regional, and national publications, including Evergreen Chronicles, and her first novel, Golden Jeep, was published in 2011. She lives in Minneapolis and teaches literature, composition, and creative writing at Inver Hills Community College.

Pat Schmatz—She is the author of five books for teens, including the award-winning Bluefish. Pat’s most recent young adult novel, Lizard Radio (2015) received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal. Kirkus calls Lizard Radio “Sophisticated, character-driven science fiction, as notable for its genderqueer protagonist as for its intricate, suspenseful plot.” Books she has written include: Mrs. Estronsky and the UFO (2001), Circle the Truth (2007), Mousetraps (2008), Bluefish (2011) and Lizard Radio (2015)

MB Panichi—is an author for Bella Books, and has two published novels, Saving Morgan, which won a Goldie Award For Science Fiction and Running Toward Home. Both novels are science fiction/adventure/romances. MB hails from MN and lives there with her wife of 19 years and their two shitzhu fur babies. MB’s obsessions, other than her writing, are reading, drumming, heavy metal music and Star Wars. She supports these obsessions with a day job as a software Quality Assurance Analyst and occasional developer.

There might even be a surprise, with additional authors added to this event.

This event is free and open to the public.

Crossposts: http://catherineldf.livejournal.com/392713.html

I'm doing a reading today with a bunch of other speculative fiction authors! The 2015 MNSpec Local Authors Showcase at Acadia Cafe in Minneapolis, from 3-6PM. Discover some new authors, enjoy good company and eat yummy food! http://www.meetup.com/MinnSpec/events/225930821/

Crossposts: http://catherineldf.livejournal.com/385077.html

I'll be reading ~~with author Benjamin Percy~~ tonight at DreamHaven Books at 6:30 to kick off Arcana: A Conference of the Dark Fantastic. I will have print copies of QUEERS DESTROY HORROR to sell and sign (and a brand new ghost story to read!) #Arcana45

http://dreamhavenbooks.com

Mr. Percy has a family emergency and can't make it tonight. Hopefully, he can make it to the con tomorrow (he was already booked in Toronto for the weekend so he was only going to be around tonight and tomorrow. In any case, this is why we always prep a second reading, just to be on the safe side. I'll be there with print copies of Queers Destroy Horror.

Crossposts: http://catherineldf.livejournal.com/384433.html

First, the signal boosts. There are, at last count, only 14 surviving feminist bookstores in the U.S, down form 100+ in the 1990s. One of them, Portland, Oregon's In Other Words Bookstore and Community Center (featured in Portlandia), and needs both volunteers and cash immediately to stay afloat. Please boost their Indiegogo and contribute if you can.

On a less dire note,despite historical evidence that women were the first brewers, they've been shoved out of the booming microbrewery business - only an infinitesimal number of the new brews are made by, let alone owned by women . Sidhe Brewing is out to change that ratio and is raising funds to open a new taproom and pub in St. Paul, MN. Women-brewed and women-operated, plus the east side of St. Paul really needs a destination location, just saying.

Speaking of fields where women were founders and once considered major players, there's a Kickstarter for a Notable Women In Computing playing card deck (2nd edition). The woman behind the deck is hoping to get them into schools and programs working with girls training for STEM careers.

Last, but not least, me! I'm doing a reading of recent work at DreamHaven Books, Art and Comics tomorrow (10/22) at 6:30. Details are here. I'll be reading from Blood Moon and from a new regency-style space opera and from something else. Plus, entertaining stories, cookies and going out afterwards.

Crossposts: http://catherineldf.livejournal.com/358509.html

Next Saturday (3/22), I'll be one of the authors reading at Quatrefoil Library, the Twin Cities' very own LGBTQ library (new location: 1220 E. Lake Street, Minneapolis) from 1PM-4PM.
Also scheduled to appear:
Mystery megastar Ellen Hart
Nonfiction and memoir best seller Catherine Friend
Mystery writer Linda Morgenstein
Novelist Ellen Lansky
Romance writer Eva Indigo.

It's going to be free and utterly kick ass and you should be there.

Crossposts: http://catherineldf.livejournal.com/344093.html

There are sundry posts going about, including this one about from various publishing folks which emphasize to one degree or another, that they or their colleagues or their particular sfnal institution isn't biased against Group X, it's that they just don't get enough submissions. And as long as those submissions are of a "uniform quality" or "do not compromise on quality," they "read everyone equally."

So I'm a middle-aged cisgendered, lower middle-class woman of Northern European extraction with a university education (B.A./B.A., MA), born on the East Coast of the United States, now living in the Midwest after stints of living around the country, particularly in the South. I can read in one language besides English (Spanish). In general, the breadth of my high school and early college reading in what are regarded as English-language fictional "classics" is enough to make Harold Bloom weep for joy: Plato, Dante, Aquinas, Virgil, Euripides, Graves, Melville, Dickens, Thackery, Maugham, Foster, Austen, the Brontes, Shakespeare, large chunks of The Bible in various translations, Milton, Twain, Alcott, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Gogol, Bulgakov, to name a few. And in Spanish or in translation into English: Allende, Marquez, Borges, Mistral, Belli, Cortazar, Galeano, Argueta, Lorca.

Do I or could I read all of them "equally"? No. That would be ridiculous and meaningless. I have favorites, I have things I read for class assignments, I have things I read because I was doing research. I have things I have read for editing, reviews or blurbing.

It''s clear that my reading has been pretty concentrated. There are no African authors or even African American authors listed above, or Asian authors, and very few women. The only L, G, B, T or Q authors noted are Lorca and Foster. I was in my junior year of college before I really started to work on diversifying my reading choices. Why? Because I thought i was missing out. Because I thought it would help me dismantle my own internalized racism, sexism and homophobia. Because I realized that it was something I had to make an effort to do and that it wasn't magic and I couldn't just wait for someone to "assign" something to me.

I read Maxine Hong Kingston, Amy Tan, Alice Walker, Pearl Cleage, Samuel Delany, Joanna Russ, Melissa Scott, Connie Willis, Rudolfo Anaya, Elizabeth Lynn, Tony Morrison, Octavia Butler, Nalo Hopkinson, Cherry Muhanji and countless other authors since graduate school, primarily in sf/f, mysteries, romance and historical fiction. I still have favorites. I still have comfort reading. I still have works that challenge me too much and that I don't want to read right now. Or ever. I have put down work that were written in a style that I couldn't relate to. I weigh my reading preferences toward books written from a female perspective because I have taken the time to learn to appreciate this done well. I weigh my reading preferences toward books written from a queer perspective because I have taken the time to learn to appreciate this done well. I still find myself reading more white women, so I know that I have to spend more time to learn to appreciate fiction written other cultural and gender perspectives. Because that is a way we can learn to diversify our reading. "I read everyone equally" is magical thinking. It's "I say it, and that makes it so." It's "I'll read you as long as you're writing in my comfort zone."

No, I don't read everyone equally. But I try to read meaningfully in a way that broadens my perspectives. I try to distinguish between books that I don't enjoy because they are poorly written versus books that I have been taught to regard as not worthwhile, or not "marketable" because of how they are written or who they are written by. That to me is a much more meaningful exercise.

Crossposts: http://catherineldf.livejournal.com/318259.html

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Accountability Post - It has been a month...er, a week and a few days since my last post
Reading today! Tea and ghost stories!
Me, reading at DreamHaven, con't.
Updates, upcoming reading, Teslacon, misc
Upcoming reading!
Women's Month Reading on Saturday at the University of MN
Reading today!
Reading tonight!
Signal boosts and reading tomorrow night!
Women's Month Reading at Quatrefoil Library - 3/22/2014
On judging everything we read "equally"

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Dwelling in Probabilities

Catherine Lundoff's blog

Entries tagged with reading

Accountability Post - It has been a month...er, a week and a few days since my last post

Reading today! Tea and ghost stories!

Me, reading at DreamHaven, con't.

Updates, upcoming reading, Teslacon, misc

Upcoming reading!

Women's Month Reading on Saturday at the University of MN

Women Author Event

March 26 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Reading today!

Reading tonight!

Signal boosts and reading tomorrow night!

Women's Month Reading at Quatrefoil Library - 3/22/2014

On judging everything we read "equally"