Party on, Garth!
Authors Caro Frechette (@CaroFrchette) and Cait Gordon (@CaitGAuthor) know how to party (and cosplay!).
Give Me a Gift for my 34th Birthday… please
Hello My Imaginary Friends,
On Monday I’ll be turning 34. It’s not old for our modern world but it’s kinda terrifying for someone who has had both parents die before they reached sixty. I’m considering a midlife crisis… maybe buying a couple of DVD boxsets or some more books.
Since I’m turning 34, I’d like you all to give me a gift. Please!
I’d like you to review my book! If you haven’t read it you can get it on Amazon Canada, Renaissance Press, or even from the public Library.
Once you’ve read it please go review it on Goodreads and/or Amazon (You can even copy paste your review from one to the other)
Reviews on those sites help bring the profile of the book up and have both sites recommend it to others. It helps with sales, name recognition, and building a readership.
I’m not asking you to give it a good review, be honest and write what you feel.
Thank you!
Éric
Movie Park Germany
Nestled in Northwestern Germany is a major theme park that had not crossed my radar until recently, when they announced a new roller coaster based on Star Trek. Movie Park Germany‘s name speaks for itself.
Of course I would notice Star Trek. Read more about the ride here.
There are lots of other rides based on other movies (I noticed Dora the Explorer, Ice Age, Indiana Jones, and Walking Dead, among others).
Based on reviews, this theme park would be good for people who like movies and thrill rides. Think Universal Studios, but with more rides.
Visiting Movie Park Germany would be a nice little add-on to your European vacation if you are already visiting Belgium, Netherlands, or Northern Germany (and that area).
Are you interested in travelling to Europe? Jen has retired from working as a travel agent. Hope you’ve enjoyed Fandom Travel.
Dear Dragon – I Miss You!
Dear Little Dragon,
You still hate sleeping but you’re getting better at falling asleep… sometimes.
You are growing so fast in every way possible. Last week I watched you learn how to climb off the couch safely and Sunday you took your first shuffling steps. Just two little steps but they were steps. You’ll be running around soon enough.
I’ve been at work for over a month and I miss you a lot. It’s hard not being with you and watching you grow every day. I know I see you when I get home but it’s not the same.
I miss you and someday I hope I’ll be able to work from home permanently and see you every day. (You’ll probably be going to school by then.)
I miss seeing your smile when you wake up in the morning. I hope you never lose that easy smile, even if it’s just with family and close friends. Your joy is infectious and even when you’re being mischievous it makes us so happy.
I Love you little Dragon!
Your tired, sappy, and a little sad,
Papa
Fishy
There’s something fishy going on here – if we were visiting Ariel as a mermaid, then why isn’t the crochet TARDIS wet?
Apologies for the blurriness. I blame how dark it was.
Lily and Snape
Say what you will about Snape’s character, this pair cosplayed Lily and Snape brilliantly. I love their props so much!
I’m Sorry and an Update
Hello My Imaginary Friends,
I’m truly sorry about missing April for this year’s Serial Story. As a punishment I will be writing two updates during one of the following months.
I’ve been struggling lately with pain in my upper back and it’s been draining all my energy. I should be doing so many things, but all I want to do is lay on the couch and rest. Thankfully the pain seems to be made worse by lack of movement, which means I’m okay to do life things and walk around.
It’s also been sucking the anger-energy from me. I keep coming across perfect rant material and then ignoring it because it would be too long.
Honestly all I want to do right now is write and I will start again soon, once I’m done these edits on Everdome.
I hope you’re all doing well and I’ll be back to my old ranty and forgetful ways soon.
Later days,
Éric
Blush: Asexual Spectrum
I was amiss in not writing a Blush post in June about Pride. I apologize. I wasn’t thinking.
To make up for it, I would like to talk about one of the least talked about and most erased letters of the LGBTQIA+ family: the A.
(Also, this article by Talia C. Johnson was written yesterday on this subject. You need to go read it, because she was so much more eloquent than I.)
This video was released on June 5, 2017. I almost turned it off when I saw what they chose to use for the A – Ally. Seriously? As someone who used to call themselves an ally (it’s a four-letter word…this post by Talia C. Johnson is a good one to read about that), I was extremely offended that that was included in the LGBTQIAlphabet instead of Asexual. But I decided to continue watching. Perhaps they would include Asexual in some other letter? But D was used for Drag, G used for Gay, and as I kept watching, none of the letters included anything on the Asexual Spectrum.
I was annoyed.
But then I realized that I also don’t talk much about Asexuality on this blog, and other than this guest post by S. M. Carriere, I have been remiss.
I will attempt to rectify this now.
The best resource I have found for Asexuality questions is The Asexual Visbility and Education Network. I am really impressed by their FAQ section.
The Asexuality Spectrum is fluid, and if you identify as Ace (Asexual) you might find yourself identifying as Asexual, Gray-Asexual, or Demisexual. Aromantic can also fall under the spectrum.
Definitions
Asexual: Someone who does not experience sexual attraction.
Demisexual: Someone who can only experience sexual attraction after an emotional bond has been formed. This bond does not have to be romantic in nature.
Gray-asexual (gray-a) or gray-sexual: Someone who identifies with the area between asexuality and sexuality, for example because they experience sexual attraction very rarely, only under specific circumstances, or of an intensity so low that it’s ignorable.
(From asexuality.org)
If you have further questions about asexuality, I highly recommend reading about it.
If you’re enjoying the Blush blogs, consider learning more with Blush: The Card Game from Renaissance Press.
Database of the Ageless Kings (Serial Story) Part 3.5
Apparently I forgot to write an update for April. So this will be a flashback that happens between part 3 and part 4.
Part 3.5: No Emu in this one; it’s a flashback
“You can’t live the rest of your life making silly videos. Someday you’re going to have to grow the Quiznak up!”
“That’s not how you use that sister,” Phil looked at his older sister and smirked. She was beat red with indignation.
Giving a loud sound of frustration Samantha took a deep breath from her nose and then said, “You are a Prince of the Ageless Kings, start acting like one.”
Snorting in derision, he replied, “I’m eighth in line. Who cares? You should just relax, you’re fifth in line and both our parents are healthy and ruling. It’s most likely to be Elli’s future kids that get the throne anyways.”
A slow smile crept over her face, “Ageless King is only a title brother, we don’t really live forever.” She stomped off as if she’d won an argument. She’d been like this as long as he’d known her. She was twenty years his senior and had spent most of her life in fosterage in some distant duchy.
“She’s right you know,” Alexia had snuck up on him and he had to fight the urge to jump out of his skin.
“Why are you skulking around here?” Here being the royal ship yards. Phil was filming an in depth look as the construction of his personal ship. His fans would love it.
“Brother. I don’t skulk, I’m just not as noisy, or flashy as most of our siblings.” She was right about that, she was the quietest of the family and that’s why everyone thought she was the new spymaster. “I’ve heard that sister dear may be planning something.” Comments like that made it almost painfully obvious that she was the new spymaster or really wanted to be.
“I don’t care. I’m not a player in this game. I don’t want to know.” He’d done his best to stay out of the power games and ridiculous feuds between his siblings. When he was five, his favourite brother died mysteriously. It brought Phil to eleventh place in line for the throne but made him realize what he’d have to do to get there.
“Just make sure to hug mommy and daddy tonight at dinner. You never know what will happen.” She laughed and disappeared into the shadows. If any of their other siblings had said those words, he’d have reported them to their parents (Regicide was kind of a big deal) but she had removed herself from contention saying she didn’t want the trouble of ruling.
Family dinners were a monthly duty as far as his parents were concerned. All the fosterlings, siblings, and cousins had to attend. There weren’t as many as there should have been. The Ageless Kings procreated like rabbits but died like flies.
Dinner was always a formal and frustratingly pompous event, streamed live to bored people all over the galaxy. He’d once joked that he could get better viewing numbers in his sleep and then proceeded to prove it by filming himself sleep for eight hours.
It was after dinner that was always his favourite time. They’d all move into the large family room and spend time together, playing games, watching vids, or just chatting. The family split into groups and each of the children would be called up to spend time with their parents.
“You look worried. What’s wrong?” his mother asked while sipping on her drink. She looked like an ordinary woman sitting in her high backed chair, not like the ruler of the galaxy.
“I’m worried about Samantha. We argued at the docks and I think she’s planning something.” He felt like a kid tattling.
“I know she is.” His mother smiled and the warmth of it comforted him.
“How?”
“Your siblings are always planning something. I’m sure whatever she has planned isn’t that bad.”
Hearing his mother talk about it made any worries he had seem distant and silly. His parents were fine and they were going to be there for a long time.
They weren’t, and their deaths less than a year later made Phil paranoid about his siblings. He was convinced one of them had them killed but no one believed him, least of all the newly crowned Ageless King Eli. He didn’t hate his family; he both feared them and feared for them. It got so bad that he moved to another planet and avoided them and any form of politics he could.
Now being held by the young, and pretty, earth woman; he wondered if he should have been more involved. If that meant they’d all still be alive.
If you’re enjoying this year’s serial story why not check out those from past years?
Ariel
Ariel sings “Part of your World” until she meets the Doctor. Now she sings “Part of your Universe”!