Review: The Deep Dark Woods

The Deep Dark Woods by Christina Escamilla
My rating: 0 of 5 stars



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New Website Coming Shortly!

After three years of dealing with *other* wordpress websites (for clients, volunteer work, work-work, etc.) I am finally in the process of setting up my own wordpress-based website!

The new site will be replacing this Blogger site, which doesn't have the customization options and flexibility I desire.

At the new site, I'll post more frequently (really!) and it will contain a combination of writing-related news, advice, and reviews; and my own musings on various things I feel passionately about.

Short Story Acceptance!

I'm thrilled to relay that one of my favorite short stories has been accepted by an anthology. I will relay (for those of you who know my work) that the story is Traitorous, Lying, Little Star. Because I have not yet signed the contract, I'm holding off on providing the name of the publication, but hope to release that information soon.

It's also a pro-paying market! :-)

My Pi-Con Panel Schedule

I'll be attending the very last Pi-Con conference (boo!) this weekend for the fifth year in a row. Pi-Con is a "celebration of geekery," with panels on science fiction and fantasy books, movies, and culture; "geek" culture; feminism; and science. My panel schedule is:

SAT 10:00 am Separate But Equal (I'll be moderating this one)

SAT 1:00 pm I Don't Mean to Offend

SAT 3:00 pm The Nature of Gender

SAT 4:00 pm Team Bang or Team Whimper

SAT 6:00 pm Spoilers and Trigger Warnings

SUN 11:00 am It Drives Me Nuts When Readers Do This!

I'll also be participating in the Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading, taking place at noon on Saturday. I believe I'll be reading from my apocalyptic/horror short story, Traitorous, Lying, Little Star, which is currently out for consideration for an anthology.

Broad Universe will also be hosting a book launch party, as several of our members have new books out. That will be Friday at 8pm. Come check it out, have some munchies, and meet some fabulous writers!

Jumping Back In

I'm dangling my toes into the writing well again. This time, I'm going to try and stay grounded in the fact that I write because I love it, and because I must. Not for any one else's pleasure or approval. And I must do it in my own way, on my own time.

I've just sent off a short to two markets.

*DEEP. BREATHS.*

My Arisia 2015 Panel Schedule

I'm excited and happy to have been accepted as a program participant for the upcoming Arisia conference. This is a large, annual science fiction/fan/lifestyle convention that takes place in Boston, at the Westin Boston Waterfront.

This is, I think, my sixth year as a panelist. Every year is so different in terms of the panels you get placed on. A few years ago I was on three gender-related panels. Two years ago I was very zombie-heavy. Another year I had several religion and spirituality-related panels. Last year I has two science panels, and a few very cool literature panels. My schedule this is year is very eclectic--one writing panel, a fan interest, gender, and science.

I'll also be participating in the Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading, where I *think* I'll be reading from my current novel-in-progress, a contemporary fantasy novel. That takes place Sunday at 11:30 am. I hope you'll come listen! The conference itself runs from Friday, Jan. 16 to Monday the 19th.

Without further ado...

Do We Need Science Fiction? — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Marina 1 (2E)

The BBC's Business section recently asked whether or not we need science fiction to encourage the development of new technologies. What technologies have been inspired by SF? Would they have happened without SF? What devices in SF do you think are likely to be the next new technologies? As we enter the future described in SF books and movies, are our expectations changing?

James L. Cambias (m), B. Diane Martin, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Jeff Warner, Stephen R Wilk

Face Off: The Best Reality Show for Geeks — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Marina 4 (2E)

Plenty of geek-oriented reality shows have sprung up in recent years, but few have found the success of SyFy's Face Off, about to head into its eighth season. With its parade of Oscar and Emmy-award winners as judges and guest judges, some truly entertaining challenges, and incredible insight into the world of make-up and practical f/x, it's become a huge hit. Join us as we discuss what makes the show work creatively and how it's changed the way we view special effects.

Mark L Amidon, Toni "Leigh Perry" Kelner, Resa Nelson, Kate Nepveu (m), Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert

Shame on Slut-Shaming — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W)

Slut-shaming is the act of making a woman feel guilty or inferior for engaging in sexual behaviors that deviate from the norm, failing to uphold gender expectations, dressing in sexually provocative ways, requiring access to birth control, or even for being sexually assaulted or raped. What are the psychological and sociological causes of slut-shaming? What can be done to change people's attitudes?

Terry Franklin (m), Megan S. Markland, Michael McAfee, Melissa Perreira-Andrews, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert

Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Reading — Writing, Reading — 1hr 30min — Douglas (3W)

Broad Universe is an international organization of women and men dedicated to celebrating and promoting the work of women writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Come listen to dramatic live readings from works of members of the Broad Universe organization. Participants are members of the Broad Universe writers' group.

Terri Bruce, Anna Erishkigal, Lisa J. Evans, Justine Graykin, Elektra Hammond, Elaine Isaak, Jennifer Allis Provost, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Morven Westfield, Trisha Wooldridge (m)

Worldbuilding with the Soft Sciences — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W)

Let's skip past geology and cosmology and go straight to the sciences that study culture: linguistics, psychology, cultural anthropology, and the like. How does knowledge in these areas inform (or laughably fail to inform) speculative fictions' world building? How can we use insights from these disciplines to build worlds with a realistic diversity in their cultures?

Vikki Ciaffone, Alexander Feinman (m), James Meickle, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, W. B. J. Williams