Let me just preface this by saying I love this book. It’s my first book by the Disinformation folks, so I had no idea what to expect when I ordered it. I do love lists, however (can you tell?), and was very intrigued by the content the book’s synopsis claimed it would contain.

Once I received the book, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was even better than promised.

The Disinformation Book of Lists by Russ Kick is a 288-page book filled with lists about all kinds of things that you would never learn in school. Some are quite scary. Some make your stomach turn. Some are just plain hilarious. Here are a few things you’ll learn if you read the book…

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One word could sum-up this well-intentioned book, and that word is meh.

I’m not sure what I expected when I picked up Queen Latifah’s Put on Your Crown: Life-Changing Moments on the Path to Queendom. Though I’ve been a huge fan of both her films and music—I was a big Living Single fan in the ‘90s, if that tells you anything—I’ve always felt like the actress has always received the short end of the stick; that she’s so awesome, lovely, and talented, but she always ends up with roles that are way too small or, in my opinion, beneath her talents. I’ve never really read anything that she’s written, and figured I’d give her book a whirl.

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It would appear that most science fiction is given over to the figuring that if a strong enough case is made against the total emersion in technology, that mankind will not be prey to the worst possible future imaginable. Ok, maybe not all, but a huge portion of Phillip K. Dick’s and John Brunner’s work do. And each of those figures comes from drastically different backgrounds in different countries.

Brunner’s best known novel, based partially on Alvin Toffler’s Future Shock, is entitled The Shockwave Rider and covers an interesting possible future for the United States subsequent to a tremendous earthquake centered in the Bay Area.

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Digging through some old totes in our basement, I was delighted to run across one of my favorite pagan books. Ancient Ways: Reclaiming Pagan Traditions is chock-full of not only technical knowledge—from pagan lore to historic traditions—but also incredibly fulfilling activities, celebrations, recipes, and rituals to celebrate each season in turn. Written by Pauline Campanelli and illustrated by Dan Campanelli, the book is an absolute wonderful resource. It’s no wonder my old copy has so many dog-eared pages!

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 This week, author Peggy Bechko take time out from her busy writing life to spill the beans on what it means to be a writer.

Our series of writer interviews is intended to show the wide variety of work involved in being a writer, as well as the highs and lows of the writing life.  I also hope that these interviews will help to dispel many of the preconceptions and myths that some new writers hold, only to have lead to disappointment later when reality hits home.

What is your primary type of writing (e.g. sci fi novels, articles, legal papers, poetry)

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The richness of Firefly's story is that just about any one of the characters who make their home on Serenity could carry their own fully realized series. The only real exception would be Kaylee, who is more or less having her first adventure away from home with Mal and his crew. Everyone else is a show unto themselves. If one were to take the story of Simon and River Tam as its own, stand-alone feature, it would still be a compelling tale of a brother and sister braving the unknown and surviving by little more than their love for each other. This is why the little glimpses of that story we get in the handful of Firefly episodes are as interesting as they are. Simon and River, like everyone else on Serenity, are already fleshed-out characters who have a complex story to tell.

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Whenever I pick up an advice book, be it a book on self help, business, productivity, or whatever, the first thing I do is read the introduction carefully.  A lot of people skip the introduction to books; this was once my bad habit, as well.  But I have learned that you can find out almost everything you need to know about a book just by reading the introduction.  The introduction sets the tone and parameters, and lets you know what kind of ride you're in for.

I didn't know anything about this book when I picked it up, except that Amazon kept saying I would like it.  Amazon's recommendation engine can be a little wacky at times, and I'm not generally that interested in straight up self help books.  But I noticed that I was seeing the book on bestseller lists and book store end caps as well, and thought it was worth having a look.


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Tom Clancy

This is yet another installment in the Writer's Remorse series on quotes from famous writers. Check out the quotes from everyone from Stephen King to Shakespeare to see what these authors have to say about the art of writing.

 

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You've heard about it, you even seen it from authors like Anne Rice and Candace Sams. It's the "writer's worst mistake." It's a case of authors behaving badly in response to reviews, especially online. Now, here it is, in video from Writing Life Films: "Amazon Reader Reviews."

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“Do you like Twilight?”

“Of course not!”

“Thank you! I don’t understand it. My boyfriend and all his friends love it and I thought I was the only sane person left in the world because I can’t stand it. I tried it, but isn’t it for kids?”

“Exactly.”

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Twilight- EclipseI have a little theory that the Harry Potter books and movies gave adults (especially women) the permission to enjoy kids’ books and movies. Since the Twilight series is a combination of what every woman secretly lusts for (Vampires and dangerous romance in books that can be read in a day or two), women across the US have seemingly lost their collective minds over Twilight.  


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