tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21690406396759088722024-03-04T23:13:10.344-05:00the voices in my headA home for my musings, prose, poetry, story snippets, & other stuff... Some published, some unpublished. I've named this blog "The Voices in My Head" because my Muse often speaks to me as though she is a voice in my mind, needling me until I write down whatever it is she has to say.suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-53776419544372144832016-01-05T16:35:00.001-05:002016-01-05T16:35:25.562-05:00New Website!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi All! And thanks to those of you who have been following me here the past few years!<br />
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I've set up a new wordpress website at<a href="http://suzannereynoldsalpert.com/" target="_blank"> suzannereynoldsalpert.com</a>. Why? 1) Wordpress is an infinitely better platform than blogger. 2) It's easier for people to engage with me (and each other) on the new site. 3) Since I manage wordpress websites, it sort of made sense for me to create one for myself :-)<br />
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The new site is still a bit of a work in progress, and I'm figuring out some of the quirks of the template I'm using there, but please do take a look and I hope you'll visit me periodically. ;-)<br />
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suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-69054898989848562812015-11-10T18:28:00.001-05:002015-11-10T18:28:12.322-05:00Review: The Deep Dark Woods
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27430063" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1446686463m/27430063.jpg" border="0" alt="The Deep Dark Woods" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27430063">The Deep Dark Woods</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7828668">Christina Escamilla</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1439196972">0 of 5 stars</a>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1439196972">View all my reviews</a>
suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-5971728919130241302015-09-23T08:23:00.000-04:002015-09-23T08:23:47.185-04:00New Website Coming Shortly!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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!<br />
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The new site will be replacing this Blogger site, which doesn't have the customization options and flexibility I desire.<br />
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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.<br />
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suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-66339262435390168122015-09-03T12:21:00.000-04:002015-09-03T12:21:30.627-04:00Short Story Acceptance!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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 <i>Traitorous, Lying, Little Star. </i>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.<br />
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It's also a pro-paying market! :-)</div>
suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-38429135909399626212015-07-29T15:28:00.001-04:002015-07-29T15:29:20.551-04:00My Pi-Con Panel Schedule<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'll be attending the very last <a href="http://pi-con.org/" target="_blank">Pi-Con</a> 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:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">SAT <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1553682997" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">10:00 am</span></span> Separate But Equal (I'll be moderating this one)<u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">SAT <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1553682998" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">1:00 pm</span></span> I Don't Mean to Offend<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">SAT <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1553682999" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">3:00 pm</span></span> The Nature of Gender<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">SAT <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1553683000" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">4:00 pm</span></span> Team Bang or Team Whimper<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">SAT <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1553683001" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">6:00 pm</span></span> Spoilers and Trigger Warnings<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">SUN <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1553683002" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">11:00 am</span></span> It Drives Me Nuts When Readers Do This!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'll also be participating in the <a href="http://broaduniverse.org/" target="_blank">Broad Universe</a> Rapid Fire Reading, taking place at noon on Saturday. I believe I'll be reading from my apocalyptic/horror short story, <i>Traitorous, Lying, Little Star</i>, which is currently out for consideration for an anthology.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4RNZX8Psy5YKwG4GtzYx2UqzIHYrLKtfmQm47BEr4DFMSjgUogK7oldiTb1yUxh32bLa2cJ64pRcjTBuW2Zlt7hVb7J8Wix4WWiEuzxEyMrQX7K_d_oVZJkn_R5VmddS1F1j9Radbz8/s1600/2015Pi-Con+Rapid+Fire+Reading_Page_1-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4RNZX8Psy5YKwG4GtzYx2UqzIHYrLKtfmQm47BEr4DFMSjgUogK7oldiTb1yUxh32bLa2cJ64pRcjTBuW2Zlt7hVb7J8Wix4WWiEuzxEyMrQX7K_d_oVZJkn_R5VmddS1F1j9Radbz8/s320/2015Pi-Con+Rapid+Fire+Reading_Page_1-sm.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-49947695335641548272015-05-08T13:22:00.000-04:002015-05-08T13:22:17.375-04:00Jumping Back In<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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.<br />
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I've just sent off a short to two markets.<br />
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*DEEP. BREATHS.*</div>
suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-61427182664084115422015-01-06T15:42:00.000-05:002015-01-06T15:44:58.961-05:00My Arisia 2015 Panel Schedule<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm excited and happy to have been accepted as a program participant for the upcoming <a href="http://www.arisia.org/" target="_blank">Arisia</a> conference. This is a large, annual science fiction/fan/lifestyle convention that takes place in Boston, at the Westin Boston Waterfront.<br />
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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.<br />
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I'll also be participating in the <a href="http://broaduniverse.org/" target="_blank">Broad Universe</a> 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.<br />
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Without further ado...<br />
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<dt style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.952941); color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px; padding: 0.4em 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Do We Need Science Fiction?</b> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— Science, Panel</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— 1hr 15min</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— Marina 1 (2E)</i></dt>
<dd style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.952941); color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">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?</dd><dd style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.952941); color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#JamesLCambias" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">James L. Cambias</a> (m), <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#BDianeMartin" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">B. Diane Martin</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#SuzanneReynoldsAlpert" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#JeffWarner" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Jeff Warner</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#StephenRWilk" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Stephen R Wilk</a></i></dd><dd style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.952941); color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><br /></dd><dd style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.952941); color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"></dd>
<dt style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px; padding: 0.4em 0px; text-align: left;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Face Off: The Best Reality Show for Geeks</b> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— Media, Panel</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— 1hr 15min</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— Marina 4 (2E)</i></dt>
<dd style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.952941); color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"></dd><dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;">Plenty of geek-oriented reality shows have sprung up in recent years, but few have found the success of SyFy's <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Face Off</i>, 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.</dd><dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#MarkLAmidon" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Mark L Amidon</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#ToniLeighPerryKelner" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Toni "Leigh Perry" Kelner</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#ResaNelson" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Resa Nelson</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#KateNepveu" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Kate Nepveu</a> (m), <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#SuzanneReynoldsAlpert" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert</a></i></dd><dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><br /></dd><dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"></dd>
<dt style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px; padding: 0.4em 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Shame on Slut-Shaming</b> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— Communities, Panel</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— 1hr 15min</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— Douglas (3W)</i></dt>
<dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;">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?</dd><dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#TerryFranklin" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Terry Franklin</a> (m), <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#MeganSMarkland" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Megan S. Markland</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#MichaelMcAfee" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Michael McAfee</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#MelissaPerreiraAndrews" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Melissa Perreira-Andrews</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#SuzanneReynoldsAlpert" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert</a></i></dd><dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><br /></dd><dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"></dd>
<dt style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px; padding: 0.4em 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Reading</b> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— Writing, Reading</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— 1hr 30min</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— Douglas (3W)</i></dt>
<dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;">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.</dd><dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#TerriBruce" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Terri Bruce</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#AnnaErishkigal" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Anna Erishkigal</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#LisaJEvans" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Lisa J. Evans</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#JustineGraykin" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Justine Graykin</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#ElektraHammond" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Elektra Hammond</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#ElaineIsaak" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Elaine Isaak</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#JenniferAllisProvost" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Jennifer Allis Provost</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#SuzanneReynoldsAlpert" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#MorvenWestfield" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Morven Westfield</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#TrishaWooldridge" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Trisha Wooldridge</a> (m)</i></dd><dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></i></dd><dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></i></dd>
<dt style="font-style: normal; line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px; padding: 0.4em 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Worldbuilding with the Soft Sciences</b> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— Writing, Panel</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— 1hr 15min</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— Hale (3W)</i></i></dt>
<dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">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?</span></dd><dd style="font-style: normal; line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#VikkiCiaffone" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Vikki Ciaffone</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#AlexanderFeinman" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Alexander Feinman</a> (m), <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#JamesMeickle" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">James Meickle</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#SuzanneReynoldsAlpert" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert</a>, <a href="http://www.arisia.org/Bios#WBJWilliams" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">W. B. J. Williams</a></i></i></dd><dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><br /></dd><dd style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.952941); color: #5a5a5a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"></dd><dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"></dd><dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><br /></dd><dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><br /></dd><dd style="line-height: 21.5999984741211px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><br /></dd></div>
suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-18478755634487735172014-12-01T10:27:00.001-05:002014-12-01T10:29:06.898-05:00NANOWRIMO: The Aftermath and Lessons Learned<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Well, NANOWRIMO was not exactly what I'd hoped it would be. As usual, life happened and I was beset by health issues and sick kids.</div>
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I did get about 6,000 words into the novel (fantasy) I was writing. I also began a new short story this past month (horror/scifi), and have about 4,000 words, and I will need another 1,000 to finish it off, which I hope to do this week. </div>
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This may be the most I've written in any month. Pretty good for me!</div>
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This is only the second time I've attempted NANO. I will not do it again. The reasons are:</div>
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<li><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">I learned much of what I needed to learn--for example, yes, I can write every day (at least a little!) for two weeks in a row. (That's where my streak ended when I was sidelined with back and neck pain.)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">I learned that when you DO write more frequently, it is easier to keep up your enthusiasm, and easier to see yourself improving.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">I learned that the NANO forums and particularly the Facebook page were a colossal time waste. The messages coming through to the FB page were mostly inane. My local forum was not at all user friendly.</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">I will continue to write more frequently. I will continue to foster relationships with other serious writers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">I will get the short story draft done this week, and run it past my critique group. Then, I have a market I may submit it to if it passes muster.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">Then back to the novel.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">I'll do my best to stay focused, and get these projects done.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">And know that life is always going to happen. </span></span></div>
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suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-69420186286964695692014-10-30T17:23:00.001-04:002014-10-30T17:25:38.433-04:00Getting Ready for NANOWRIMO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
NANOWRIMO, for those of you who don't know, is short for "National Novel Writing Month." That's right--November is reserved for millions of insane people who decide they are going to give up sleep, television, socializing, and other vestiges of humanity for an entire month--all so that they can write a 50,000 word first draft of a novel..<br />
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For the math challenged, that is an average of 1,666 words per day.<br />
<img src="http://nanowrimo.org/widget/LiveSupporter/suzgoddessmom.png" />
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Of course, even if (and that's a BIG if) I get to 50,000 words by Dec.1, I'll have just that. A big pile of words. You're not supposed to edit as you go, so it will be the draftiest draft that ever was. And December will be the beginning of editing the morass.<br />
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I've got to get to outlining (because as usual, I've joined this party late) but for any of you who want to follow my progress, feel free to come here for periodic updates.<br />
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I can tell you this:<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>I'll be consuming vast amounts of coffee.</li>
<li>I'm writing a contemporary fantasy novel.</li>
<li>The working title is <i>Fragments.</i></li>
<li>I plan to get up at 5 am every morning and spend an hour writing (I have to get up 6 am on weekdays for my kids.)</li>
<li>Coffee.</li>
<li>I plan to judiciously split my time between the paying the job and doing this (instead of letting the paying job creep in and spending more time on it than I need, which often happens.)</li>
<li>Giving up evening TV--except for the Walking Dead. <i>Because The Walking Dead</i>.</li>
<li>Coffee.</li>
</ul>
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Wish me luck!!</div>
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<br />
<br /></div>suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-87242398235278399342014-10-21T13:19:00.002-04:002014-10-21T13:19:40.810-04:00I've Updated Links to My Works...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
... Because I was missing some stuff. On a related note, I am the worst promoter of myself ever.</div>
suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-17934509072888280502014-08-19T18:05:00.000-04:002014-08-19T18:05:43.155-04:00People Really Need to Reassess What's Enraging Them<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The last two weeks have brought us additional unrest in the Middle East, the tragic suicide of Robin Williams, and unarmed black youth being gunned down in the street.<br />
<br />
And the worst offender of all...<br />
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<i>The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.</i><br /><br />Most of you should be familiar with this by now. I live in Massachusetts, a state where this ridiculous-looking trend really took off. So I was aware of it fairly early on. And I recall thinking, <i>Why are people dumping ice water on heads</i>? and likening it to a less-vile version of the "set yourself on fire" meme.<br />
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Several days later, I was passing by the TV, and <a href="http://www.necn.com/" target="_blank">NECN</a> was covering the local angle. That's how I learned that dumping icy water on your head was more than just a trend--there was a cause behind it.<br />
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But curmudgeon that I am, I thought: <i>Sure, people are dumping water on their heads. It's probably not raising any money.</i> As if on cue, the talking heads on the magic TV box addressed that very question. The Ice Bucket Challenge was actually raising money. Donations were up by 200%.<br /><br />And I was happy to hear that something appearing so idiotic was actually doing some good.<br /><br />A few more days passed, and I began to see torrents of icy water splashing across my Facebook feed. Then... the unthinkable.<br /><br />A high school friend nominated me.<br /><br />Typically, I'm not a fan of trends. Because, you know, <i>they're trendy</i>. But knowing that this was actually raising money to help an incurable disease, I decided to go for it. Pour a large pan of ice-cold water on my head.<br />
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To the delight of my children.<br />
<br />
During the week that followed, I noticed an interesting trend (at least on my Facebook feed.) The people participating in the Challenge were predominantly "sporty" people--and perhaps this is due, in part, to the fact that the Challenge has a sports-related origin. But I noticed a relative absence of the Challenge occurring among other loosely categorizeable groups. As someone who writes and loves scifi, for example (and has a general penchant for geekery), I noted that my nerdy compadres were staying dry.<br /><br />And that's when I noticed the backlash.<br /><br />Some of the "non-sporty" crowd were not only dissing the Challenge (and hey--that's right) but they were doing it vehemently. <i>Angrily</i>. And I found it completely bizarre.<br />
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These are some of the arguments against the challenge I came across:<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>"No one's going to tell me what to do!" (<i>Sure.</i>)</li>
<li>"It's stupid, and I'll bet donations aren't even affected." (<i>Untrue</i>.)</li>
<li>"No one's going to bully me." (<i>Yes. I swear the word "bully" was used. Which really cheapens the word</i>.)</li>
<li>"I can choose myself how and where I'm going to donate my money!" (<i>Of course you can. And you know what? There is no ALS police monitoring Facebook to see who has and has not donated $100. Really. No one is going to rip you from your bed in the middle of the night.</i>)</li>
<li>"There are more pressing issues and diseases than ALS." (<i>I actually agree. But no one I know has ALS, either. Above, I mentioned several horrible things going on in the world right now. If you feel outraged that people are sending boatloads of cash for ALS research, send your own contribution to your cause of choice</i>.)</li>
<li>"It's just another stupid viral campaign that ultimately will have no impact." (<i>Again, I refer you to the facts. It has had a real impact. Granted, some viral marketing campaigns are pretty stupid, and don't have the impact this one has. [I'm looking at you, 'what color is your bra' Breast Cancer campaign. Which I was not a fan of, because of the way it adds to the public perception that breast cancer is a "female" disease.]</i></li>
<li>"I already gave money to this charity. Now I feel like I have to again!" (<i>Um, if you feel that way, that's your choice. No one is "making" you feel anything.</i>)</li>
</ul>
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As I processed the backlash I saw come across my little corner of the Internet, the sporty/nonsporty divide again struck me. Maybe it's the sociology degree, but I couldn't help but view much of this criticism through a lens of <i>high school.</i> It's US versus THEM. If THEY are into something, then it's certainly not for US.<br /><br />And I thought to myself, <i>just wait until Neil Gaiman or Tom Hiddleston or Felicia Day or some other Geek God/Goddess gets in on this action. Then the tide will turn.</i><br /><br />I present to you <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzmNI1JFOnM#t=12" target="_blank">Exhibit A</a>. And here's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9iPuEcsaGA" target="_blank">Exhibit B</a>.--Nathan Fillion. BECAUSE NATHAN FILLION.</div>
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(I would like to point out, for the record, that, I mentioned Joss Whedon in my challenge. But I didn't actually tag him, because I was just being cute. But if he ends yup doing it, I'm still taking credit, y'all.)<br /><br />So, <i>I get it</i>. We have our own subcultures, and the things we think are cool, partly because they<i> are </i>cool, and partly because other people think they're cool. And if you don't think something is a good idea for any reason, <i>don't do it</i>. But don't be so obnoxious about it. And try to have your facts straight.<br /><br />And most of all, realize that these things are not zero-sum games. Just because the charity of your choice is not the one in the spotlight, it doesn't mean that the one in the spotlight is unworthy. I suggest turning your outrage into something useful, for something you agree with, instead of spouting anger across the Internet.<br /><br />In the wise words of my ten-year old daughter, "Don't judge. Just love."</div>
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<i><br /></i>
<i>p.s. See how the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge started <a href="http://time.com/3136507/als-ice-bucket-challenge-started/" target="_blank">here</a>. </i><br />
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suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-74049966901889426032014-08-17T13:49:00.000-04:002014-08-17T13:49:08.580-04:00Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading from Pi-Con 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A quick post--sharing the<a href="http://broaduniverse.org/" target="_blank"> Broad Universe </a>Rapid Fire Reading from <a href="http://pi-con.org/" target="_blank">Pi-Con</a> 2014, made into a Broad Universe podcast by the fabulous (and 2014 Pi-Con Guest of Awesome) <a href="http://justinegraykin.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Justine Graykin</a>.<br /><br />This is a really fabulous sampling from Broad Universe members--including humor, intrigue, fantasy, science fiction and horror. I read two of the poems from <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Interview-Faerie-Part-One-Darkness/dp/1493542869/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408297528&sr=8-1&keywords=interview+with+the+faerie" target="_blank">Interview with the Faerie Part One: And Other Poems of Darkness and Light</a></i> at about 10 minutes in.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
<a href="http://broaduniverse.org/podcast/august-2014-broadpod/">http://broaduniverse.org/podcast/august-2014-broadpod/</a><br />
<br /></div>
suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-79442684061191139452014-06-24T12:48:00.002-04:002014-06-24T12:48:53.909-04:00My 2014 Pi-Con Panel Schedule<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Without further ado...<br />
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<u><b>FRIDAY </b></u><br />
<u><b><br /></b></u>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24.375px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How to be a Good Panelist</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px;">—</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px;"> </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Agawam 6pm </strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24.375px;">Susan Hanniford Crowley, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Morven Westfield (M), Michelle Wexelblat</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </em></strong>We’ve all been to panels where things got wildly off-topic or where a panelist or audience member hogged the panel. Sometimes it’s been a lot of fun or extremely interesting. Other times, it’s been aggravating. In this panel, experienced panelists talk about preparing for a panel, participating on a panel, being a good moderator, handling someone who’s obviously aggravating, and how different cons have different styles.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Same Old Story</span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> — </strong><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Somers 8pm </strong></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold;">Lisa Evans, Kate Kaynak (M), Misty Pendragon, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">ROUNDTABLE: Vampire teenage romance, fairy tales in modern settings, Star Trek programs that mimic police procedurals and medical response programs (actually being discussed right now) and, coming up, TWO shows (at least) set in OZ. With all of the stories there are in the world and all of history to draw on why do storytellers (and TV producers) keep telling the same stories over and over again? With all of the rehashing of the Civil War we have never had a series about espionage in that period. Given all of the westerns there have been, we have never seen the story of Bass Reeves (a real U.S. Marshal) who captured 30,000 criminals in his lifetime. Given people’s love of pirates, why have we not seen the story of the various pirate queens? Come and discuss what stories need to be told, and maybe find a few that you want to tell yourself.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b><u>SATURDAY </u></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feminism: What’s It All About</span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 10am — </strong><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Agawam </strong></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold;">Eric, Lisa Evans, Jennifer Pelland, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert (M)</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;">The term “Feminism” has suffered a great deal of abuse. What does it mean and why is it still relevant, and how do we deal with the dissing?</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How Do We Make Cons Safe for Everyone?</span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 12pm — </strong><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Agawam </strong></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold;">Lisa Evans, Justine Graykin, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Michelle Wexelblat (M)</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Harassment and safety at conventions is not a new topic, but it has been very much in the spotlight for the past couple of years. Many conventions are taking steps to prioritize safety. What are the best ways to make convention attendees safer? Should we be looking at convention polices and enforcement, reporting procedures, or social change on what fans tolerate as acceptable behavior? How do our current strategies work, how could they work better, and who is doing it well?</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Undead and The People Who Love Them</span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 1pm — </strong><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Suffield </strong></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold;">Susan Hanniford Crowley (M), Ken Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Jennifer Pelland, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">ROUNDTABLE: Let’s get down to it and talk about Vampire, Ghouls, Zombies, Ghosts and assorted undead that we love and why do they have such a grip on our hearts. Audience participation is encouraged!</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading</span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> — </strong><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Suffield 7pm </strong></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold;">Terri Bruce, Ellen Larson, Jennifer Pelland, Jennifer Allis Provost, Roberta Rogow, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, Morven Westfield, Trisha Wooldridge, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;">These talented writers have six minutes each to blow you away! Broad Universe is an international organization supporting women authors of SF, fantasy and horror. Visit them on Dealer’s Row!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><u>SUNDAY</u></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fiction has no Place in Our Curriculum</span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> — </strong><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Somers 12pm </strong></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold;">Justine Graykin, Ken Kingsgrave-Ernstein, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Kristi Petersen Schoonover (M)</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;">The new educational Common Core standards marginalize fiction in favor of non-fiction. What effect is that going to have on the imagination and inspiration of students? Hasn’t SF been traditionally marginalized? Now all of fiction is getting pushed aside.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Last Two Years in SF/Fantasy Movies</span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> — </strong><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Somers 1pm </strong></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold;">Lisa Evans, Misty Pendragon (M), Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.375px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Since 7Pi-Con in 2012, we’ve had <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gravity, The Hobbit</em> (parts 1 and 2),<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ender’s Game, Her, I, Frankenstein, Vampire Academy, Byzantium, RoboCop, Winter’s Tale, Divergent, Captain America: Winter Soldier, Thor:The Dark World, Transcendence, Amazing Spider Man</em> (1 and 2),<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Godzilla, Edge of Tomorrow,</em> and <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oz The Great and Powerful</em>—just for a representative sampling. What do these films say about our current tastes in SF/F, and where are we going from here?</span></div>
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suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-71652224913219049442014-04-16T19:19:00.001-04:002014-04-16T19:19:17.284-04:00Some of my Work Has Been Translated and Published in Poland!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi All,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just a quick note that you haven't heard from my blog much because the winter here in New England was awful... and I was sick for most of the winter and into Spring. It has a huge, awful impact on my energy levels and ability to get anything done effectively. But things are looking up, fingers crossed!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">****</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>On to the good news</b>! Many months ago I was contacted by a representative from the Polish science fiction/fantasy magazine <a href="http://creatiofantastica.wordpress.com/creatio-fantastica-44/" target="_blank">Creatio Fantastica</a> (CF). They'd found my poem <a href="http://www.talesofworldwarz.com/stories/2011/11/02/the-lies-parents-tell-by-suzanne-reynolds-alpert/" target="_blank"><i>The Lies Parents Tell</i></a> and wanted to know if they could translate it and publish it in their magazine. After some questions to them and research on my part, I said yes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">They translated both <i>The Lies Parents Tell</i> and <i>Interview with the Faerie (Part One.)</i> They also interviewed me about my writing, being a working/writing Mom, and themes in my work--as well as that ubiquitous "voice in my head!" This interview is also featured in the current issue. (I'll post the original English version soon!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A bit about CF... it currently operates<span style="line-height: 16.100000381469727px;"> under the auspices of the Laboratory of Literature and Popular Culture and New Media at the Department of Modern Languages, University of Wroclaw, Poland. And the editor and translator I worked with, Margaret Mika, was fabulous! Super professional.</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYW64A2JTYYkdIQm16f5e0cibk8GrrxDEWrYcY-30lFVuAev0gpat7XOYwX6X97nAbUvzeyorE5p76iyRj54-4c9kqOt8oeRKmYTL13aqXWP1lEdswwE9P3bp7Euo3qHnvDIUuHIGqlc/s1600/creatiofantastica44cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYW64A2JTYYkdIQm16f5e0cibk8GrrxDEWrYcY-30lFVuAev0gpat7XOYwX6X97nAbUvzeyorE5p76iyRj54-4c9kqOt8oeRKmYTL13aqXWP1lEdswwE9P3bp7Euo3qHnvDIUuHIGqlc/s1600/creatiofantastica44cover.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My name is on the cover. Really!</td></tr>
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suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-79270971066431095352014-02-12T09:13:00.003-05:002014-02-12T09:13:47.357-05:00Presidential Statement Regarding the SFWA Bulletin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, if you're a member of the scifi community/a fan, there's been a kerfluffle about the official bulletin of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). It roughly started <a href="http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/will-fantasy-genre-ever-grow-and-ditch-chainmail-bikini-150004" target="_blank">here</a> (with the cover and some content within this issue.) Then, two Bulletin columnists defended the cover and added fuel to the fire by making statements such as:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; line-height: 23px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reason for Barbie’s unbelievable staying power, when every contemporary and wanna-be has fallen by the way-side is, she’s a nice girl. Let the Bratz girls dress like tramps and whores. Barbie never had any of that. Sure, there was a quick buck to be made going that route but it wasn’t for her. Barbie got her college degree, but she never acted as if it was something owed to her, or that Ken ever tried to deny her.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; line-height: 23px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She has always been a role model for young girls, and has remained popular with millions of them throughout their entire lives, because she maintained her quiet dignity the way a woman should.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I am sorry to say that this and other offensive, sexist, outdated remarks were made in context of how women can be successful writers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I know. I'll give you a moment for your head to explode.<br />***</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The continuing brouha has devolved into <a href="http://radishreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Bulletin-petition3.pdf" target="_blank">this</a>. This "petition" has no merit. It invokes the First Amendment, which doesn't even apply in this case. It is so clearly an attempt to capture and freeze the "golden days" of scifi--when the genre was white-male dominant, and women "knew their place." When writers of color and those who wrote non-hetero-normal themes were simply curiosities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />And here is the very restrained, classy <a href="http://www.sfwa.org/2014/02/presidential-statement-regarding-sfwa-bulletin/" target="_blank">response </a>to this non-petition petition by the current SFWA President:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Over the past few days, there has been much public discussion about a non-member’s petition to SFWA regarding oversight of our member publication, the Bulletin.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>While this petition has not been formally presented to SFWA, I have seen versions and they express concerns for something that does not and will not exist:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Specifically, the editor of the Bulletin will not have to go to any selection or editorial review board to approve material.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>In compliance with the by-laws and the will of our members, there will be regular oversight of the Bulletin to ensure that it is inclusive of and reflects the diversity of all our members, and that it continues to address the changing needs of professional writers.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>With all of our publications, SFWA will continue to stand strong for the rights of writers. This includes opposition to censorship.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Finally, I want to thank the Bulletin Task Force for all their hard work on updating the magazine and to all the members of SFWA for their patience while we make the changes that many of you have asked for. I think you’re going to be proud of what we’ve done.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a perfect world, this would be end the matter. But it won't. Because some people just have to push forth their bullshit. Some people have to apparently take an oppositional position to everything they see.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And some of the authors who have signed their support of this petition are off my reading list.</span></div>
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suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-60737581280354885932014-01-30T10:21:00.003-05:002014-01-30T10:22:13.025-05:00Some of the Report-Out/Suggestions from My Arisia Panels<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you took my card at <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Schedule" target="_blank">Arisia</a> so that you could get the notes and/or book and movie suggestions from my panels, you may have already <a href="http://suzannereynoldsalpert.blogspot.com/2014/01/update-on-report-out-from-arisia-panels.html" target="_blank">seen my post</a> that I lost all of my notes due to technical/user error. (Never again will I take notes on my Google Nexus tablet--it's all paper and pen from here on.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the help of some fellow panelists and audience members--and my memory--I'm able to provide SOME of the information I had collected. See below, by panel topic. I'm including panelist names, as they may have information on their blogs that you can refer to.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read All the Things!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Panelists: <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Randee Dawn, Greer Gilman, Adam Lipkin (m), Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, JoSelle Vanderhooft</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The authors that were
championed were: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jonathan
Carroll, Angela Carter, Shirley Jackson, Octavia Butler, and Roger Zelazny. I
championed Octavia Butler. The first works I read of hers were<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Parable of the Sower</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Parable
of the Talents</i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I'd recommend
starting there. If you have any questions about other works by Butler, feel
free to <a href="http://suzannereynoldsalpert.blogspot.com/p/contact.html" target="_blank">contact me</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14.079999923706055px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14.079999923706055px;"><b>Zombies, More Zombies, and Even More Zombies</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 14.079999923706055px;">Panelists: </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#GayleBlake" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">Gayle Blake</span></a>, <span style="color: black;">Jeanne Cavelos, Gail Z Martin, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert (m), Barbara A Woodward</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We talked about:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• The appeal of zombies-- the themes they tend to convey, and how those things connect to our modern world.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• What do zombies represent today?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Zombie evolution--Shambling vs. sentient; personality or not (i.e. the movie Warm Bodies)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Variations on the zombie theme (i.e. the Borg)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Lesser-known zombie works.There were many great suggestions for zombie works, which I've lost. Some are: Dan Shamble PI, Dead Set, Spoiler</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spirituality in Fantasy and Science Fiction</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Panelists: <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Erik Amundsen (m), Max Gladstone, Kate Kaynak, Daniel Jose Older, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">A lot of content came out of this panel. One of the books mentioned was <i>A Canticle for Leibowitz</i>, </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><i>Chronicles of Narnia</i>, </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">also the <i>Hyperion</i> series. From my neo-Pagan perspective, I mentioned <i>The Mists of Avalon</i> and <i>The Fifth Sacred Thing</i> as works having influenced my spirituality. An audience member mentioned <i>Dies the Fire</i>.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wish I could provide more... if any audience members or fellow panelists want to add more in the comments below, please do so!</span></div>
<br /></div>
suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-20970743807472629542014-01-28T07:40:00.000-05:002014-01-28T07:40:12.813-05:00Update on Report-Out from Arisia Panels...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, I just posted the below to the Arisia Facebook group...<br />
<br />
<br />
"Apparently, I saved ALL the notes from my panels incorrectly on my Google Nexus tablet. So, I have NO NOTES to share. I was purposefully taking notes/book-movie suggestions, etc. so that I could share them on my blog.<br />
<br />
The panels I was part of were:<br />
* Read All the Things<br />
* Zombies, More Zombies & Even More Zombies<br />
* Spirituality in F/SF<br />
* Fear of Science--On the Rise?<br />
* Get Off My Lawn: Backlash Against Progress in SF<br />
<br />
If any of my fellow panelists or audience members have some notes to share, I'd appreciate it!<br />
<br />
I'm SO GOING BACK to pen and paper. :-( "<br />
<br />
I do have a few notes/things I remember, and I will post those. But I'm hoping to get some more info. from others. UGH! Sorry, and I'm SO mad at myself...</div>
suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-71475781875549579522014-01-22T14:24:00.003-05:002014-01-22T14:28:25.517-05:00Placeholder for Report-out from Arisia...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi y'all! I know a dozen or so of you took my card at Arisia, so that you can access the lists of books/authors, zombie movie suggestions, and other notes from my panels. I promise it's forthcoming! I need to get my work life in order, deal with my kids, and get a writers' group submission in... then I'll be on it!<br />
<br />
If you want to receive a notice when that blog post goes up, you can follow my blog and then a notice will go right to your inbox. Otherwise, check back in a week or so!<br />
<br />
Thanks for the memories!<br />
<br />
<3 Suzanne<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcptFkxNdT0NcjrD-0MeMTk0zQOgu6FR5ZeWB35SEc7qJMgT2aP69JqLrjRKJxtbyU6DfLmdBkrSNLpBmBYPo8UclFHRJqlicGlmTsLa7FnPepectAfETtXMUhUMEbG2q6won_g8WwrS8/s1600/ashkaylee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcptFkxNdT0NcjrD-0MeMTk0zQOgu6FR5ZeWB35SEc7qJMgT2aP69JqLrjRKJxtbyU6DfLmdBkrSNLpBmBYPo8UclFHRJqlicGlmTsLa7FnPepectAfETtXMUhUMEbG2q6won_g8WwrS8/s1600/ashkaylee.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the meantime please accept this picture of my daughter with the Kaylee look-alike.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-84819286459345821032014-01-17T09:47:00.000-05:002014-01-17T09:51:06.743-05:00Some Writerly Announcements and Updates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Arisia</h3>
Headed to the <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Schedule" target="_blank">Arisia</a> Conference in Boston today--"New England's Largest and Most Diverse Science Fiction and Fantasy Conference." Hubby and I are taking our kids this year. Hopefully it will work out OK and everyone will have fun!<br />
<br />
I have some announces about the conference and some cool announcements related to my writing. If you want to jump down to the announcements, just scroll to the bottom...<br />
<br />
First the Arisia announcements...<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>I belong to the group <a href="http://broaduniverse.org/" target="_blank">Broad Universe</a> (BU), an international organization promoting women who write genre fiction. We are hosting an open party tonight at 8pm. If you're at the conference, come by and meet me and other 'Broads'! BU will also have a table in the dealers' room where you can find Broads hanging out throughout the weekend.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzsOBszZhrYkRyFeh8LLEtMDyYaLy8GQn6OMfd0A8jV5X-1XeWatbXnuZEbdV3Blq2IEqdgdkAIJnCvZav5qdFjA27uOSDwvkktYvgaH_BinkR11nqmDyUvmSRaYCwy8Qxn_OpOJTQnE/s1600/BUPartyFlyer14-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzsOBszZhrYkRyFeh8LLEtMDyYaLy8GQn6OMfd0A8jV5X-1XeWatbXnuZEbdV3Blq2IEqdgdkAIJnCvZav5qdFjA27uOSDwvkktYvgaH_BinkR11nqmDyUvmSRaYCwy8Qxn_OpOJTQnE/s1600/BUPartyFlyer14-sm.jpg" height="320" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BU parties always have THE BEST food!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
<li>Broad Universe also has an RFR (rapid fire reading) on Saturday at 1pm in the Hale room. These events are lots of fun! Twelve BU members read from their works. It's a great way to hear your favorite authors, and find your next favorite! I'll be reading from <i>Interview with the Faerie</i> to help promote my newly-released book of poetry.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1Om3R3X6_HWJ46ivvGHpYbCT_3skdigIwh1dhM7gdcfEuFYTnMqzziz2GaWiyqIrwuEGAu7P2bkXG4WalWYmd9jMnNLKmYBuYnBUyDQxWxoLd7FAze1rAb2WyZyRN1XsL6D5aGQZHQ4/s1600/RFR_Arisia_2014_Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1Om3R3X6_HWJ46ivvGHpYbCT_3skdigIwh1dhM7gdcfEuFYTnMqzziz2GaWiyqIrwuEGAu7P2bkXG4WalWYmd9jMnNLKmYBuYnBUyDQxWxoLd7FAze1rAb2WyZyRN1XsL6D5aGQZHQ4/s1600/RFR_Arisia_2014_Front.jpg" height="320" width="248" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJYa5_C43NInzeAzt5QPpKWRdtkezBa1VMSPzpSBJZ_-0p0CtmO0sftWjoOPlm_qqLzQePZqPwpsMBU8Nodv5jZdVQYTdOYDGHo3gFji6oXlPnTYa7FqhSwBB6GiVq2NrrKWYUnqjfmo/s1600/RFR_Arisia_2014_Back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJYa5_C43NInzeAzt5QPpKWRdtkezBa1VMSPzpSBJZ_-0p0CtmO0sftWjoOPlm_qqLzQePZqPwpsMBU8Nodv5jZdVQYTdOYDGHo3gFji6oXlPnTYa7FqhSwBB6GiVq2NrrKWYUnqjfmo/s1600/RFR_Arisia_2014_Back.jpg" height="320" width="248" /></a></div>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Writing Updates</h3>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The issue of <a href="http://www.creatio.art.pl/" target="_blank">Creatio Fantastica</a> that some of my work and an interview will appear in is scheduled to be released the last week of January. So, it's coming soon and be sure to check it out!</li>
<li>The second big update is that I have started a new novel! And I wrote my first sex scene! The new novel is an urban fantasy romance--not normally what I write. But the idea just struck me, and I've been moderately depressed over the lack of progress of my other WIP, <i>Ownership of the Gods</i>. I will be writing this new novel under a pseudonym. Stay tuned for more information on this!</li>
</ul>
</div>
suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-19311891217739802982014-01-11T15:31:00.000-05:002014-01-11T15:35:11.567-05:00My Arisia 2014 Panel Schedule<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Once again, I'll be attending <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/" target="_blank">Arisia</a>--a science fiction and geek-culture convention in Boston. I love this con! Every year I am given the honor of being on such diverse and interesting panels. The composition is different every year! In the past, I've had many feminism-related panels. This year, I have none. I do have two science-related panels this year. And another zombie panel! I do love me them zombies :-)<br />
<br />
Without further ado...<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Schedule#427" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Read All The Things!</a></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<dt style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 6px 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Literature, Panel</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— 1hr 15min</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— Faneuil (3W)</i></dt>
<dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;">Sure, we have limited reading time, but there are some authors whose works clamor to be read in their entirety! Which authors? Come to this panel and find out! Each panelist will discuss the author whose complete works they deem absolutely essential. Come develop your reading list for the next year!</dd><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Schedule#427" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"></a></span><br />
<dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#RandeeDawn" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Randee Dawn</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#GreerGilman" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Greer Gilman</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#AdamLipkin" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Adam Lipkin</a> (m), <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#SuzanneReynoldsAlpert" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#JoSelleVanderhooft" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">JoSelle Vanderhooft</a></i></dd><dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><br /></dd><a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Schedule#131" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Zombies, More Zombies, and Even More Zombies</a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<dt style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 6px 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Fan Interest, Panel</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— 1hr 15min</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— Douglas (3W)</i></dt>
<dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;">The past few years have seen a resurgence of zombies in print and media. Why? From <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Walking Dead</i>and <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Zombieland</i> to Mira Grant's <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Newsflesh</i> trilogy, what's the appeal? Do zombies still represent consumer culture as in Romero's films, or do they mean something different now? Come join the discussion on the origins and portrayals of zombies.</dd><dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#GayleBlake" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Gayle Blake</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#JeanneCavelos" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Jeanne Cavelos</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#GailZMartin" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Gail Z Martin</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#SuzanneReynoldsAlpert" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert</a> (m), <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#BarbaraAWoodward" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Barbara A Woodward</a></i></dd><dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><br /></dd><a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Schedule#667" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Reading</a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<dt style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 6px 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Writing, Reading</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— 1hr 30min</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— Hale (3W)</i></dt>
<dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;">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 hear samples from the works of several members of the Broad Universe organization.</dd><dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#TerriBruce" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Terri Bruce</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#KellyHashway" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Kelly Hashway</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#RachelKenley" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Rachel Kenley</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#EllenLarson" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Ellen Larson</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#CatherineLundoff" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Catherine Lundoff</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#GailZMartin" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Gail Z Martin</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#KTPinto" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">KT Pinto</a>,<a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#JenniferAllisProvost" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Jennifer Allis Provost</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#SuzanneReynoldsAlpert" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#RobertaRogow" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Roberta Rogow</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#ConnieWilkins" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Connie Wilkins</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#TrishaWooldridge" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Trisha Wooldridge</a>,<a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#PhoebeWray" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Phoebe Wray</a></i></dd><dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><br /></dd><a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Schedule#596" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Spirituality in Fantasy and Science Fiction</a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<dt style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 6px 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Literature, Panel</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— 1hr 15min</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— Faneuil (3W)</i></dt>
<dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Chronicles of Narnia</i> are famous for, among other things, incorporating many of C.S. Lewis's Christian beliefs. But did it inspire its readers to be more religious? Are there fans of fantasy and science fiction who look to their favorite works in times of crisis or to inspire their faith (or, possibly, lack there of)? What works of literature have people in fandom, whether Christian, Wiccan, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, agnostic, or none (or all) of the above, found formative to their beliefs?</dd><dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#ErikAmundsen" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Erik Amundsen</a> (m), <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#MaxGladstone" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Max Gladstone</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#KateKaynak" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Kate Kaynak</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#DanielJoséOlder" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Daniel José Older</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#SuzanneReynoldsAlpert" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert</a></i></dd><dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><br /></dd><a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Schedule#475" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Fear of Science—On the Rise?</a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<dt style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 6px 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Science, Panel</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— 1hr 15min</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— Alcott (3W)</i></dt>
<dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;">Why do people fear science? What is this fear doing to our society? Is this fear on the rise, or has it always been around? And what, if anything, can be done to quell this fear?</dd><dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#CarlFink" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Carl Fink</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#AbbyHafer" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Abby Hafer</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#RichardMoore" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Richard Moore</a> (m), <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#SuzanneReynoldsAlpert" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#AlexandraThorn" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Alexandra Thorn</a></i></dd><dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><br /></dd><a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Schedule#390" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Get Off My Lawn: Backlash Against Progress in SFF</a></h3>
<div>
<br />
<dt style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 6px 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Literature, Panel</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— 1hr 15min</i> <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">— Adams (3W)</i></dt>
<dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;">Over the past few years, we've seen many a kerfuffle in genre that amounts to "you kids get off of my lawn". There are some who seem wedded to the SF/F they grew up with to the point of excluding anything or anyone new and progressive—which seems antithetical to the whole concept of science fiction! We'll discuss progress in genre and the backlash against it.</dd><dd style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2.5em; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#MarkLAmidon" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Mark L Amidon</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#LilaGarrott" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Lila Garrott</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#JamesNicoll" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">James Nicoll</a>, <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#DanielJoséOlder" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Daniel José Older</a> (m), <a href="http://2014.arisia.org/Bios#SuzanneReynoldsAlpert" style="color: #3881e8; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert</a></i></dd></div>
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', 'DejaVu Sans', Meiryo, 'Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro', 'MS PGothic', Osaka, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></i></div>
suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-71025488546143066822013-11-18T13:28:00.000-05:002013-11-18T13:28:20.463-05:00My Book of Poetry is Available on Amazon!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yay! <i>Interview with the Faerie (Part One) and Other Poems of Darkness and Ligh</i>t is available at Amazon!<br />
<br />
I haven't even received my copies yet :-)<br />
<br />
The link to purchase is below. It will also be searchable and purchasable by libraries and other outlets within the next few weeks.<br />
<br />
If you (or anyone you know) reviews poetry--or poetry or fiction dealing with Celtic, dark fantasy, science fiction, or Pagan themes--and may want a review copy, <a href="http://suzannereynoldsalpert.blogspot.com/p/contact.html" target="_blank">let me know</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Interview-Faerie-Part-One-Darkness/dp/1493542869/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384793073&sr=8-1&keywords=interview+with+the+faerie">http://www.amazon.com/Interview-Faerie-Part-One-Darkness/dp/1493542869/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384793073&sr=8-1&keywords=interview+with+the+faerie</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nt1-eXpMSBj82auVMhHpZhJUUAD0OWpU3CUJNIEFbff9uSBgLUyiobFYswE4zz0PApprfmOTkvh9j9b9kdY0ibH-uuqkhjcD8niziS3qIfqAJx8ghkm6pyeFgQPsdS8LTUMINmIjzII/s1600/InterviewFrontCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nt1-eXpMSBj82auVMhHpZhJUUAD0OWpU3CUJNIEFbff9uSBgLUyiobFYswE4zz0PApprfmOTkvh9j9b9kdY0ibH-uuqkhjcD8niziS3qIfqAJx8ghkm6pyeFgQPsdS8LTUMINmIjzII/s320/InterviewFrontCover.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this cover!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-61578532414601173992013-11-12T21:47:00.000-05:002013-11-12T21:49:20.015-05:00Lots of Cool Writerly Stuff Happening...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So much of my musings get posted on Facebook, that I often forget to update my blog. Here's a quick synopsis of recent goings-on:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>My first chapbook of poetry is almost ready for purchase! I received the final proof today, and so far so good. It is titled<i> Interview with the Faerie (Part One) and Other Poems of Darkness and Light.</i> It contains five "dark" poems (including <i>Interview</i>), one "grey" poem, and five "light" poems. These categories are of course somewhat arbitrary, as most of the stuff I write has an a dark edge. It may be more fair to say that some are more hopeful than others. In any case, it will be available on Amazon and for Kindle. It also has two cool illustrations--created for <i>Interview</i>--by my friend and artist Tony Gerardi. I'll update this blog with links once it's available.</li>
<li>An editor for the Polish speculative fiction magazine<i> <a href="http://www.creatio.art.pl/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Creatio Fantastica</a> </i>discovered one of my poems on <i><a href="http://www.talesofworldwarz.com/" target="_blank">Tales of the Zombie War</a></i> and I've granted them permission to translate it into Polish and feature it on their site. They will also be running a translation of part of <i>Interview with the Faerie</i>, and an interview with me. It's currently slated for their December/January issue. Again, stay tuned for final details!</li>
<li>I have submitted a zombie short story--which also happens to be one of my favorite pieces of writing--to a new market. The story is, I think, hampered by the fact that it's a "zombie" story; really it is a speculative apocalyptic horror story told through a 12-year old boy's eyes. I love this story, and I really believe it needs to be published! So fingers crossed.</li>
<li>After yet another 3-month hiatus, I wrote a chapter of my novel-in-progress today (The YA novel about the teen-aged embodiment of the Goddess Kwan Yin, working title <i>Ownership of the Gods</i>.) I really want to put forth sustained effort on this in the coming months.</li>
</ul>
<div>
That's all for now, folks!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-14882036145374573052013-10-09T09:46:00.000-04:002013-10-09T09:46:10.641-04:00It's Possible<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It can be frustrating to be a writer without much time to write (to say the least.) Luckily, there are other writers out there who are doing it. They are writing. They are actually finishing entire short stories and even (gasp!) whole books. Some of them even have families and children and jobs.<br />
<br />
And for those of us who are not able to allocate much time to writing, it's a blessing that others have done it. It's a sign that <i>it's possible.</i> </div>
suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-8529482226221605462013-09-26T10:58:00.001-04:002013-09-26T10:58:57.359-04:00An Example of Sexism (and other 'isms') Among Writers -- A Rant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm not
*that* easily offended. Things that get many of my liberal/feminist friends and
colleagues offended typically don't rile me in the same way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">THIS
RILED ME.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Because this is the essence of
why sexism exists. This, my friends, is the reason women authors (on the whole)
are not treated as being "equal" to men authors. Why they are not
taken "seriously." This is the essence of why<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>both</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>men and women feel they need to fit
into two genders and two quaint little boxes proscribing "optimal"
male and female behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
First, I invite you to read the article that got me so riled<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.randomhouse.ca/hazlitt/blog/david-gilmour-building-strong-stomachs" target="_blank">here</a>. The title is quite apt, because I needed a strong
stomach to read it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
So, go ahead and read it. I'll be waiting here.<br />
. . .<br />
All done? Take the time to munch a few saltines if you're feeling nauseous.<br />
. . .<br />
Back? Good. Let's discuss. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
I'll start with the preliminaries. Mr. Gilmour has every right to read what he
likes. We all like what we like. He wants to teach what he loves. He has that
right also, and it appears he was perfectly upfront with the University of
Toronto about the content of his course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
Mr. Gilmour writes: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">I teach modern short fiction to third and
first-year students. So I teach mostly Russian and American authors. Not much
on the Canadian front. But I can only teach stuff I love. I can’t teach stuff
that I don’t, and I haven’t encountered any Canadian writers yet that I love enough
to teach.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Um, okay. I was
taken aback by the assumption that<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>only</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Russian and American authors qualify
as (apparently) being good writers in this genre. But again, we all read what
we like and if Mr. Gilmour has had success<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>only</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>reading authors from these countries,
he has every right to continue doing so. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
But then, I almost fell out of my chair:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">I’m not interested in teaching books by women.
Virginia Woolf is the only writer that interests me as a woman writer, so I do teach
one of her short stories… when I was given this job I said I would only teach
the people that I truly, truly love. Unfortunately, none of those happen to be
Chinese, or women. Except for Virginia Woolf… Usually at the beginning of the
semester a hand shoots up and someone asks why there aren’t any women writers
in the course. I say I don’t love women writers enough to teach them, if you
want women writers go down the hall. What I teach is guys. Serious heterosexual
guys. F. Scott Fitzgerald, Chekhov, Tolstoy. Real guy-guys. Henry Miller.
Philip Roth.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">*WOW*</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Mr. Gilmour writes, "</span><i>I say I don’t love women
writers enough to teach them."<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>Okay, we've got it, Sir. You
don't like women writers. But at this point, we--the readers--are really
getting the impression it's<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>not</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>that you don't<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>like</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>women writers, it's that<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>you haven't read enough of them.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>Because if you did, you
would see that there are amazing women writers. (Any reasonable lists of
"best writers," inevitably have women on them. If you’re looking
old-school, how about Austen, the Bronte sisters, Wharton, Shelley? Or more
contemporary writers such as Morrison or Atwood?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">And finally, the point that really blew my mind:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>What I teach is guys. Serious heterosexual guys.
F. Scott Fitzgerald(1), Chekhov, Tolstoy. Real guy-guys. Henry Miller(2).
Philip Roth. </i>[See my notes below]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Honestly, I'm not upset that Mr. Gilmour is not
"interested in teaching books by women." That is his preference, and
his right, and the University of Toronto accepted him on those terms. And every
major university that I know of offers a course or two that will specifically
address women writers.</span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's
one problem:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>You should be
well read enough to recognize and acknowledge the existence of great
women writers.</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Because
that is the reality. You might still choose not to teach them in your
class--that is absolutely okay. Women writers may not be your personal favorites (also
okay.)<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>But you don't even
acknowledge they exist. </i>The woman writer is invisible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Another problem: In Mr. Gilmour's warped mind, there is a “masculine” and a related heterosexual
benchmark. Obviously, in his estimation, non-contemporary men writing during
less enlightened times meet his criteria for optimal heterosexuality, for
"manhood," and for general validation as writers<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>and</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>as human beings.<br />
<br />
We are to assume, then, a homosexual man is not a “real guy?” And what makes a
heterosexual man a "<i>serious</i> heterosexual guy?" Because my husband
might want to know.<span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Mr. Gilmour, YOU
ARE THE PROBLEM. I pity every woman; pity every<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>person</i> of any gender who
must sit through your classes as nuanced human beings. Because you clearly
believe there is an Optimal Writer and an Optimal Way to Be a Human and it is
white, male, privileged and staunchly heterosexual and homophobic. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I despair for the dozens of students you have
made feel "less than." I'm disgusted, because you are an educator. You
should strive to do better. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">- - - - <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">NOTES</span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">(1) A "serious heterosexual guy"—which
Gilmour considers admirable—is in this case a "playboy" who succumbs
to alcoholism and was reputed to abuse his wife. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">(2) A "serious heterosexual guy"
in this case engages in numerous 'sexual escapades' even after marriage. And
marries five times.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Being a philanderer or having substance abuse
problems does not make you a bad person—that is not my point. <b>My point is: There is a certain profile emerging of what Gilmour
considers preferable "masculinity." And it obviously
carries over into what he reads, what he<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>doesn't</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>read, and who he considers "real
writers." And therefore, what he writes, teaches, and puts out into the world.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">As someone in a position of power and influence over younger
men and women, Mr. Gilmour is simply upholding the sexist, gendered,
imperialist beliefs that prevent</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>both</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">women and men from feeling comfortable
being their true, nuanced selves. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.99431800842285px;">He is upholding the erroneous belief that women are not--and <i>can</i> not--be "real" writers.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: kepler-std, Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: kepler-std, Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2169040639675908872.post-71423235346470971572013-09-06T15:45:00.000-04:002013-10-09T09:46:36.356-04:00On Love and Bliss<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This post is primarily about love, in some of its myriad forms.<br />
<br />
Earlier this week, I had a relatively rare moment of <i>bliss</i>. It was fleeting, it was unexpected, but it was very real.<br />
<br />
I was driving to my new job (yay!) which shows all the signs of being truly meaningful, fun, and playing to many of my strengths. I was also thinking about my kids... about my son who is off to a good start in junior high; about my daughter who is also doing well beginning 4th grade. And about how amazing they both are in their own ways. And how lucky I am to have them, and have the ability to be present for them in the ways they deserve.<br />
<br />
And I thought about my husband, who has taken the brunt of financial responsibility for all of us. And about how he has grown in the 20 years I've known him. And about how he has gracefully put up with my multitude of flaws during those same years.<br />
<br />
And then I really <i>thought</i> about how loved I am... and how lucky I am.<br />
<br />
And I thought about how self-love--being honest with yourself and striving to do what honors you-- is a component of being truly healthy and happy.<br />
<br />
And I experienced a moment of immense joy--right in the center of my chest. In my heart chakra. And the beauty of it almost took my breath away.<br />
<br />
I will carry the memory of it, because life does not often afford these moments. (At least, not to me!)<br />
<br />
Wishing all of you those snippets of bliss, also!</div>
suzanne reynolds-alperthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752213746776551690noreply@blogger.com0