Darlene's Digest

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...

Thunder rumbled to the west and a breeze sprang up, whipping the tree branches. Sophia paused to let the cooler air flow across her. “We have to stop, it’s going to rain.” “We cannot stop yet, Jack, there is still daylight!” “Sophia, I am not going to stand here and get soaked—” His sentence was punctuated with the plop! of a large drop of water at his feet. A moment later one hit Sophia on the nose, and then in the next instant while she looked at Jack, the sky opened and the squall came down in torrents, soaking them where they stood. Sophia turned to run for the less than adequate shelter of their lean-to. Jack grabbed her hand and raised his voice over the pounding of the water falling on them. “Wait!” “Why?” she yelled back, blinking rain out of her eyes. “’Cause it feels good,” he said with a soggy grin. -- The Bride and the Buccaneer I love sitting on the back porch when a storm's coming up. The wind begins to whip around, the temperature drops to tole...

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.

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!

OK, I don't write these posts just to make those of you in Massachusetts and similar frozen environs feel bad, but today was such a perfect spring day I had to write about it. My task today was to travel to three branch libraries in outlying cities to pick up art that the Alachua County Library District Foundation is having re-framed. It would have been prudent, given the price of gas, to take the hybrid. But the temperature was 81F (27C), the sky was absolutely blue, and there aren't that many days like this left before the heat of summer sets in. I took the convertible. I traveled back roads to get to my libraries, through twisting farmland and rolling hills dotted with oak shaded homesteads. The dogwoods and azaleas were in bloom, and magenta phlox covered the roadside. A trip that would have taken 30 minutes on the interstate took 2 hours and I loved every minute of it. I hope wherever you are that spring comes soon, and when it does, take time to enjoy it.

Try not to hate me, but I have to say this: It's 72F. I'm sitting on my back porch, admiring my pots of pansies. I hope it's a lovely day wherever you are, and if not, hang in there. Spring is coming.

Cold Front Coming ...which means I'll have to take care of the three P's: cover the plants and protect the pipes (the pet's smart enough to come in and snuggle on her own). The only plants I'm worried about are the impatiens, since I brought the ferns onto the porch and they should be warm enough next to the house. It's a shame, too, 'cause the impatiens are all abloom. As a good Floridian I also feel compelled to apologize to my house guest who's coming in tomorrow from Canada. One doesn't expect to find lows in the 20'sF and highs in the 40'sF on one's Florida vacation. Ah well, it will be back in the 70's by Sunday.