Darlene's Digest

This is the time of year when normally I'd be packing my snow boots and winter gear (the picture is from a previous Boskone in front of the hotel) and keeping a weather eye on the Northeast. But not this year. The last trip I took before the pandemic shut everything down was to Boston in February 2020 for Boskone57, little realizing that it was about to be the end of the world as we know it. That may seem dramatic, but I remember when one could just walk onto an airplane with a ticket in the 1990s. Then everything changed on 9/11 and now we have a "new normal" of taking off shoes and nobody waiting with you who's not flying, and bottles holding less than 3 oz. of liquid. So no, I don't think we'll ever go back to "normal". Even after I get vaccinated and we're told the coronavirus is in our rear-view mirrors, I intend  to take masks with me when I travel for an extra layer of protection from the unknown. After Boskone57 I took the train down to N...

Yes, it's that time of year. I'll be winging my way (weather permitting) up to Boston for New England's Longest-Running Science Fiction Convention, Boskone57 . Despite having to dig out my seldom worn snow boots, I do love visiting my friends and meeting other fans. I'll also be on a few panels, so here's my schedule. Where you see the "M" next to my name, I'm the moderator: Journalism in Speculative Fiction* Format: Panel 14 Feb 2020, Friday 17:00 - 17:50, Marina 2 (Westin) From Wells and Orwell to Neil Gaiman, Cory Doctorow, and Annalee Newitz, there’s a long tradition of reporters becoming writers of SF/F/H. Our veteran newshounds report on what a background in journalism can bring to genre work. Are you already accustomed to research, deadlines, and low wages? Does the drive to get the facts mean it’s harder to make stuff up? Can reporters be written as good genre characters? While pounding out a hot story, must you wear a fedora? Darlene...

When she turned back to him, Dr. Murray had a chest of instruments open and was examining them. “Is that what you will take with you?” He held up a lancet, wiped it on his coat sleeve, then examined its edge in the light. “My chest is the most valuable item I own. If there is time to take any one thing with me, this is what I will take.” He put the blade down and looked at her. “Again, abandoning ship is a last resort and I do not expect that to happen. It is always best to be prepared for the worst situation, though. If it happens, you are ready; if it does not happen, you can count yourself pleasantly surprised.” --CASTAWAY DREAMS I wanted to post some more pictures from the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum  in Savannah because it had so much cool stuff, or at least cool to someone who writes about scurvy and scabies and surgery below decks. This chest on the right is a surgeon's chest of the kind that would have been used by Alexander Murray in Castaway Dreams or Charley Alc...

“Judith has told us of your plans, Mrs. Stephenson,”Jacob Kahn said. “As a local businessman myself, I am pleased to see any venture that brings fresh products and dollars into the economy.” He shook his head. “Savannah has suffered greatly in recent years. The fire and the yellow fever epidemic left us reeling, but we are putting ourselves back on course.” “As a businessman, do you think I will have problems with local merchants? My being a woman on her own?” “There will always be those who have prejudices,” he said slowly as he stirred his tea. Pale blue eyes much like his daughter’s studied Amanda from behind his own spectacles. “I encounter it myself, even though I was born in this city. But Savannah is proud of its ‘merchant princes,’ as we call them, and also prides itself on promoting growth and industry. It was only a few years ago we cheered the launch of the Savannah , the first steam-powered vessel to cross the Atlantic all the way to Russia. Your money is good, Mrs. St...

It's February, so time to look at my once-a-year winter wardrobe and think about packing for #Boskone, New England's longest running science fiction convention. Yes, that's how much I love science fiction and my friends and fans who will be at Boskone56 . Despite this week's Big Chill I'm willing to go from Florida to Boston because, books. Of course, it helps that I have a return ticket that says "Florida". You can buy memberships at Boskone.org and at the door, and it's a great way to spend a weekend. There are YA and family-friendly program items as well.  Here's my schedule, and where it says (M) next to my name, I'm moderating that panel. I'll also be reading from What the Parrot Saw , available now for pre-order and releasing on February 26 in print and ebook. The Streaming Universe Format: Panel 15 Feb 2019, Friday 18:00 - 18:50, Marina 2 (Westin) Just wave your magic clicker to enter a new universe of space and time, wher...

“I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move.” ― Robert Louis Stevenson The older I get, the more I value being able to move, and to travel. I'd long had an overseas walking tour on my bucket list, with the Scottish Highlands at the top. This year I decided to make it happen. In December I made the reservation with  Country Walkers   for their Highlands and Isle of Skye tour, and I knew I needed to up my game when it came to walking. I was used to doing my daily 10K steps, and loved to walk around cities for pleasure when I'd be traveling, but I was nowhere ready for a walking tour. I spent the next six months investing in new hiking boots, a daypack, trekking poles, a hydration pack and some good socks. I also purchased a Florida State Parks pass. The latter was an important motivator. I'm blessed to live in North Central Florida, a land of slightly rolling hills and numerous outdoor activity sites including s...

It was pleasant rowing, the cypress and sweetbays shading the creek against the rising heat. There was the flash of a deer’s tail as it headed deeper into the scrub oak. A red hawk soared overhead, looking for breakfast, and when she saw a family of otters sliding down the mud into the water, she laughed aloud at their antics. The creek widened and grew, joining with other waters until it was a small river. It was cool and restful in a way she’d never imagined Florida. Here was a side that showed itself like violets hidden in the forest, a face different from the mosquito-ridden, pestilent, humid sweat bath of the cities. Julia was so captivated by the sights that she shipped her oars, letting the current take her, and daydreamed until she glanced over the bow of the boat. And screamed. A massive sea creature bobbed in the water off the starboard bow, gazing at her with limpid eyes while it masticated a wad of greenery in its whiskered mouth. Julia’s hand clutched the front of her dre...

There's something poignant about retiring your hiking boots. These Mephistos have served me well over more than 25 years. They've trekked from the winding streets of Edinburgh to the ramparts of Masada, from the heights of Hawaii's Big Island to the depths of a North Florida cave, from the California coast to Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the Australian Outback. These Nubuck beauties were re-soled three times, got new laces more than once, and are still in good shape. However, technology has advanced over the decades and it's time to replace them with 21st century hiking boots, boots that are waterproof, boots that weigh less. Sure, I could still wear them on weekends and for casual walks, but there are people who need them more than I do. That's why I'm donating these boots and some of the hiking socks to our local homeless program. Shoes and warm socks, as well as packages of unworn underwear, are some of the greatest needs for people on the street. When the sea...

We were in Baltimore over Memorial Day, enjoying a relaxing weekend with friends at Balticon51, an area science fiction convention. It was my first visit to the city since Worldcon in '98 when I came down with mono. My memories remain mostly fuzzy about that time period. This time though it was all good. Even though we were there primarily to catch up with good friends (I'd list them all but I'm afraid I might leave someone off--they know who they are), it was also a very enjoyable convention. I volunteered for a Green Room shift, because cons run on volunteer power and as a Green Room manager at numerous Worldcons I knew exactly how important it was to have the room well staffed. However, Manager Eileen did a bang-up job and only needed me for a couple hours, so I was free to hang out and visit with people. I even attended some program items, including a valuable one on how to hand-sell your books. I also took time to see some sights. Baltimore, of course, is a his...

It's February, the azaleas and magnolias are bursting into bloom outside my window, and the frozen North continues to be hammered by snow and freezing rain. You'd have to be highly motivated to leave sunny Florida for Boston, right?*  It must be time for Boskone !  This will be Boskone 54, New England's longest running science fiction and fantasy convention. It's a weekend for book lovers, gamers, discussion of science fiction film, art, music and more. There's even going to be a special production of The Empire Striketh Back (aka, Shakespeare does SF). You can register at the Boskone website  and get more information by visiting their social media sites. *It makes it easier to go to Boston in February if you have a return ticket that says "Florida". I'm a program participant, so here's my schedule. The (M) next to my name means I'm moderating: My Toughest Book Friday 15:00 - 16:00 What makes a book difficult to write, or difficult ...

I'm heading up to Boston, where the weather is supposed to be above freezing most of the weekend (thank heavens!) That picture was taken in front of our hotel in 2015. Not much could convince me to travel from Florida to Massachusetts in February, but #Boskone  is worth it. It's the longest running science fiction and fantasy convention in New England, a weekend filled with books, film, art, music, gaming and bid parties. You can go to  www.boskone.org   to register, and follow the news at their  Twitter feed  or  Facebook page . I'm confident if we get snowed in, again, there will be enough party supplies that we won't have to draw lots to see who goes in the cook-pot. Actually, the Westin Waterfront has done an excellent job in past years coping with the occasional blizzard and a hotel full of science fiction fans. Kudos to them, and thank you for keeping the bar and restaurants well stocked. Here's my schedule. The (M) means I'm moderating that panel, ...

I'm in NYC for a family wedding, staying in lower Manhattan. I have a lovely view of the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park, and it startles me (in a good way) to look up from my walking and see the beautiful Lady out there on the water.  Even if I lived here, I don't know if I would ever tire of seeing one of the iconic symbols of our nation.  It's a glorious view.

I'm back from Boston (with a side trip to NYC) and catching up, finally!  Boskone 49 was fun and, as usual, a very worthwhile trip for me as a writer, a SF fan, and someone with lots of friends in Northeast fandom.  It was great catching up with people, and the weather cooperated this year.  In fact, it was so lovely when I got off the train at South Station that I walked to the Westin, rolling my bag behind me. Let me start by saying congratulations to the Program staff for once again pulling together a great mix of people and ideas.  I wish I'd had a chance to attend more of the other panels. My first program item was Friday night, "Dressing the Parties--Regalia and Symbolism" on rank, attire, clothing colors, sumptuary laws and more.  I was moderating, and the other panelists were Leonid Korogodski, Walter H. Hunt, Ellen Asher and Elizabeth Bear.  We each brought a unique background and perspective, which always makes for the most interesting discuss...

I'm passing through NYC on my way to Boston, taking advantage of the wifi in my eldest son's apartment.  I say "apartment".  His living space is the size of my screen porch back in Florida.  But it's in a great location, and he loves living by himself for the first time. I've got a train ride up to Boston for Boskone 49 , and I expect to spend the time productively working on Castaway Dreams edits.  On the other hand, the clack of the train wheels has a soporific effect, so I may end up napping in the quiet car.  One of the things I love about work and travel now compared to 10 years ago is the availability of wifi and cloud storage for my work.  I used to have to take copies of my work on flash drives, and then make sure I transferred everything back to my machine at home.  Now I know when I finish here, and open my machine at home, it'll show the updated manuscript.  I love life in the 21st century.

I'll be leaving for Boskone 49 this week, and as always the fun part is trying to figure out what to pack.  Snow or no snow?  Cold? Rain? Sun?  I know I'll do lots of walking, so good shoes and boots are a must, but if I want to take my smaller bag (and put copies of Sea Change in there for friends), some judicious packing is called for. In the meantime, I'm doing some edits on Castaway Dreams before sending it off to my editor.  I'm working on cover and ad copy also, and submitted my art proposal for the cover. I even got a little work done on my novel after Castaway Dreams , so things are coming along.

As I mentioned, I'm at the beach while my husband attends his annual state conference.  Poor guy, he's tied up in sessions all day while I get to do my work while looking out over a stormy Atlantic.  I took one of the resort bikes today for a ride south along A1A.  It was invigorating to be back on a bike, and when the rain blew in suddenly it was refreshing as well as invigorating.  If it clears up this afternoon I may go for a dip in the ocean. In the meantime, I'm aware the summer is winding down and I need to be hard at work on my next novel, so I'm hoping that this jaunt away from my normal distractions may stimulate some quality writing.  It's worked in the past, and I'm going to put some real effort into it. So later, gators.  Hope your summer is going equally well.

BOSKONE 48 or "How I Spent My Winter Vacation" I arrived in Boston a couple days before the convention to spend time with my son, who's in grad school in Cambridge.  We had a lovely visit, even though my credit cards were smokin' and begging for mercy by the time I kissed him goodbye and headed to the Westin Waterfront.  I didn't have any program items Friday afternoon so it was an opportunity for me to see some old friends, many of whom were working the convention, and get unpacked and ready for the festivities. The weather in Boston through Friday had been more than tolerable--highs in the 60s, and lots of slush and melting ice.  That all changed Friday night.  We were walking back from supper and about four blocks from the hotel a storm hit us sideways.  It was a combination of winds clocked at over 40 mph, driving sleet and hail.  One of our party had her glasses knocked off and blown away, another was a petite woman nearly blown off her feet! ...

BOSKONE 46 I'm here at the Westin Waterfront in Boston after a hair-raising and stomach churning flight into New York last night. I'm not a nervous flier, but that was the most turbulent flight I've ever been on--and it was a huge 757. The train ride up here was much calmer, and I'm getting ready for my first panel tonight. Be sure to say hello if you see me. Oh, and my hubby sent me lovely flowers since I'm not home with him on Valentine's Day. What a sweetie!

First things first--thank you to all of you who asked about Yofi. She is doing better, though some days are easier than others. At least she's walking again, and that's a huge relief. Second, I've just booked my flight for Boskone 46 . As usual, I'm flying into NYC to visit with my son and then taking the Acela up to Boston. I've become quite fond of train travel since I started making this trip some three years back. I hope I'll see some of you there, and as always, I hope I don't get snowed in. The best part about traveling to Boston/NYC in February is having a return ticket that says "Florida". In the meantime, work continues on Castaway Dreams. Here's the last paragraph I typed this morning, a conversation between the H&H. He was a secondary character in my as yet unpublished Sea Change , and I wanted to give him his own opportunity to shine: “I have not had many dealings with young ladies, Miss Farnham. I can tell you that all...