tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91637189077749118042024-03-18T02:48:15.397-07:00Have Book, Will TravelA blog for people who don't want to spend all their free time in the real world. After all, we live and work there. Escape the mundane with books, travel, and writing.Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.comBlogger712125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-92105875668513259882024-03-15T11:09:00.001-07:002024-03-15T11:09:00.137-07:00My trial run with backpacking equipment<p>We car-camped in a campground along the Arizona trail by Colossal Cave (but one night I only used my backpacking gear). Then in the morning I packed it all up and did a fairly rigorous uphill hike in Saguaro National Park. </p><p>Good news: I can carry the weight good distances (maybe not thru-hiker distances, but that's another story). I can carry the weight uphill (which I've also been testing by doing things like hiking up and down Camelback twice and then up and down Piestewa without resting much). The weight (non-ultra-light as it is) doesn't seem to be much of a problem. </p><p>Bad news: My pad and sleeping bag aren't good enough for the cold that night (there was frost in the morning on many surfaces, even though it was forecast to be in the mid 40s). Hopefully the bottom of the Grand Canyon will be warmer when I go. But I'm going to need to invest in better sleep gear. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7qBHXHYN5fv67J-RCCkfOS3if0Rzt_M77wQhot8A21mFTHdWB0bRCIGdqbOtm0MBxNKx_yfhdiZKLQuUv07rB0CRIjFwpHKDDX59qrZGeukRFRJj0MDG0bmv7kE61uE4q0bIUxDlscUxe32A0l4ivL_5K1Zn-2EgyJv6iUlCYnEM1IxgMb-RM_ne9yt6/s2848/101_4846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2134" data-original-width="2848" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7qBHXHYN5fv67J-RCCkfOS3if0Rzt_M77wQhot8A21mFTHdWB0bRCIGdqbOtm0MBxNKx_yfhdiZKLQuUv07rB0CRIjFwpHKDDX59qrZGeukRFRJj0MDG0bmv7kE61uE4q0bIUxDlscUxe32A0l4ivL_5K1Zn-2EgyJv6iUlCYnEM1IxgMb-RM_ne9yt6/s320/101_4846.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOAIg3ofzM6Ze_VLWMxESAmS0Mig_L_TBiwMXxVgsQDGJ0nBGUt7a_llJxL8CRISLTald99c3CcvVy6cRnpX5zjuRFknYeOGoCsQ_5PqEw7OA-fSjQE3od5WLb4Peqk4edQRW9ZwmGPGaFc0Ll4SJMaJ9YYLMmIALjBlvSj18VbQghleMr0DvYR-UFV8U/s2848/101_4876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2134" data-original-width="2848" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcOAIg3ofzM6Ze_VLWMxESAmS0Mig_L_TBiwMXxVgsQDGJ0nBGUt7a_llJxL8CRISLTald99c3CcvVy6cRnpX5zjuRFknYeOGoCsQ_5PqEw7OA-fSjQE3od5WLb4Peqk4edQRW9ZwmGPGaFc0Ll4SJMaJ9YYLMmIALjBlvSj18VbQghleMr0DvYR-UFV8U/s320/101_4876.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-4929235688348287672024-03-14T11:08:00.002-07:002024-03-14T11:08:30.199-07:00Colossal Cave, near Tucson, ArizonaMe enjoying the Colossal Cave Ladder Tour. We got to climb around in the cave, sometimes on cool ladders and catwalks and natural cave surfaces, sometimes on the regular route, once in the dark. We got to touch certain features (carefully, and with gloves on). So much fun! <div><br /></div><div>Here I'm playing music on the stalactites with a rubber spatula.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kFIVnifClf2_Fdwj03yKlDn1q9dVoZN5SBzbP9zO8X6XPzbNnQBMeDYNMk2ls63GXQ_QLmFp8MN1Y3YvHGwJFoiyr9gVL0kvHqbxobVxvg0zaiOXcIYNFUXhyV7kLQFP7OUaiDW36yJLlBlzMBLfSW6Dqg9JRZPpIKSmYtgxtiFOb-t65bDYft2nb9zr/s2848/101_4862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2134" data-original-width="2848" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kFIVnifClf2_Fdwj03yKlDn1q9dVoZN5SBzbP9zO8X6XPzbNnQBMeDYNMk2ls63GXQ_QLmFp8MN1Y3YvHGwJFoiyr9gVL0kvHqbxobVxvg0zaiOXcIYNFUXhyV7kLQFP7OUaiDW36yJLlBlzMBLfSW6Dqg9JRZPpIKSmYtgxtiFOb-t65bDYft2nb9zr/s320/101_4862.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>And in this blurry one, you can see a little of the ledges we got to edge around. :) Sorry the pictures weren't better.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7hF6MMPAtPA16XQtXFqrXDeuCibC1kZ2JhzPLgh22YYsRBIoI80mlLtnCpi7kORimOGk39ZrDt6wK-YzoHaRkBESEaRSPQ4jU0a89i6LF7QfJrtMrdtiMQFkCN9aBMK61PXZFJjxizMsKT6Afh-kaIDTK_nF_P0o8rXmBpFQecy0F4XzStjfOsm8xQJO/s2848/101_4870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="2134" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7hF6MMPAtPA16XQtXFqrXDeuCibC1kZ2JhzPLgh22YYsRBIoI80mlLtnCpi7kORimOGk39ZrDt6wK-YzoHaRkBESEaRSPQ4jU0a89i6LF7QfJrtMrdtiMQFkCN9aBMK61PXZFJjxizMsKT6Afh-kaIDTK_nF_P0o8rXmBpFQecy0F4XzStjfOsm8xQJO/s320/101_4870.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>Some pretty cave formations:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxJEklfPd2HGmeRghJn8fyEUlcLvFui-dSab9nleteKnO5Csc3yHs4CeOiC91hLYShXu7HEqlpKrKLRFVdAJeqcD9FSLnkqckcP-AlOSAuTxSTF1SDyjMwneVx73zQ_fRSy767tvoVvOvHOLjsCfUNGA0Uyma03pQPn9GdNa-b23TnD4h8P2ew20xAjyL/s2848/101_4855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2134" data-original-width="2848" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxJEklfPd2HGmeRghJn8fyEUlcLvFui-dSab9nleteKnO5Csc3yHs4CeOiC91hLYShXu7HEqlpKrKLRFVdAJeqcD9FSLnkqckcP-AlOSAuTxSTF1SDyjMwneVx73zQ_fRSy767tvoVvOvHOLjsCfUNGA0Uyma03pQPn9GdNa-b23TnD4h8P2ew20xAjyL/s320/101_4855.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-79737555012331350322024-03-05T10:00:00.002-07:002024-03-05T10:00:00.275-07:00My story, "Palatable Potions," is live on Zombies Need Brains<i>Zombies Need Brains </i>just published my short story, "Palatable Potions," on Patreon. The story will also appear in an anthology this summer, available for pre-order here: <a href="https://zombies-need-brains-llc.square.site/">https://zombies-need-brains-llc.square.site/</a> (Look for <i>Zombies Need Brains Presents Year Two</i>)<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pe9Id060ytbp9T5xOPzjpYiu6BeHlyOwEVdqfESTSxiBjub68-o8XDZ5j40jC3yr7Uv2Y_Zn_mvZe6JsE4xYia-Kg0HtxFzu8l3qQZtDl55Q0nXrU3eHEqG4-Mj9lum_fw-zvdXsciQRom-YwlO36fqBZ32GcQ09hCvck1S7wRTuZtXCtJCTnfdYrtL5/s930/ZNBPresentsYearTwoFrontCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="620" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pe9Id060ytbp9T5xOPzjpYiu6BeHlyOwEVdqfESTSxiBjub68-o8XDZ5j40jC3yr7Uv2Y_Zn_mvZe6JsE4xYia-Kg0HtxFzu8l3qQZtDl55Q0nXrU3eHEqG4-Mj9lum_fw-zvdXsciQRom-YwlO36fqBZ32GcQ09hCvck1S7wRTuZtXCtJCTnfdYrtL5/s320/ZNBPresentsYearTwoFrontCover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div></div><br />Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-85834689510633123742024-03-03T13:04:00.003-07:002024-03-03T13:04:37.617-07:00Cover Reveal: Samantha Picaro's Recipe for Confidence<p> Look at this beautiful cover for Samantha Picaro's latest book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Recipe-Confidence-Samantha-Picaro-ebook/dp/B0CWVVTXHD" target="_blank">Recipe for Confidence.</a></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOS9tJEYNzojOAFba3-gzj3V_Iq5Y3lf8y-kuqrmlV48CM1kljeQq1qbf9kiDgMeMDLDweoHCzKmMlcCsQSBkeVl0sMZnccfKe7akqflQvy-vvnoPChjOophJgtk-9950DWVHh3Q7hxI2UL9WtOV6EWwZ_dy3kVYbMW1MOQpaEbXBqJa0gon6YhoanB2IV/s2782/Ebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2782" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOS9tJEYNzojOAFba3-gzj3V_Iq5Y3lf8y-kuqrmlV48CM1kljeQq1qbf9kiDgMeMDLDweoHCzKmMlcCsQSBkeVl0sMZnccfKe7akqflQvy-vvnoPChjOophJgtk-9950DWVHh3Q7hxI2UL9WtOV6EWwZ_dy3kVYbMW1MOQpaEbXBqJa0gon6YhoanB2IV/s320/Ebook.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><p></p><p>To get to know Samantha and her book better, I asked a few questions. Here are her answers.</p><p><b>Who was your favorite character to write?</b></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My favorite character to write was Lana, Bryn's aunt and owner of the fictional bakery. Lana encourages Bryn to be herself and share her dreams with everyone, especially her parents. Lana has insecurities and has made mistakes but she undeniably loves her niece and Lana doesn't let anyone tell her what to do or how to feel.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Do you yourself bake, like your main character? If so, what's your favorite thing to bake?</b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love to bake, although I admit I like tasting more than baking. I like making Bundt cakes with my mom as well as ricotta cookies.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What do you find most difficult about the writing process? </b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The most difficult part of the writing process is adding in new elements of the story (i.e. new character or plot point) as I'm writing the book. Even if it makes the story or characters better, it's still a little frustrating to squeeze it into the plot without making everything unorganized or creating plot holes.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>If you'd like to read it, the pre-order price is currently only $1.99 for the e-book! Click <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Recipe-Confidence-Samantha-Picaro-ebook/dp/B0CWVVTXHD" target="_blank">here.</a></b></span></span></p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-45954136860012783402024-02-21T19:51:00.002-07:002024-02-21T19:51:22.458-07:00Tiny Chuckwalla on Piestewa Peak<p>Look at this little guy I saw today at Piestewa Peak in Phoenix. He was the tiniest chuckwalla I've ever seen. Too young to know that he should be afraid of us, Too young to go do what chuckwallas normally do. So I got to watch him for a while.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1baUr9xYFjo2XrbogdRV-Ufb_a5E3CcuCKF6mPLVDKetSQw-ZWIYgxCkTavhoy62I4uX8nsBcpWg3DCE0E9hiW8VguUz6Jr9dlvOKSIV0iKoK1foVP8SXuVb7cTrHglDgN09d9uPJqYvcBxn9GLCaJK0c3MIabV2r2mD7llJQbJQgM4T-CHgGr6ygn8Z/s4000/IMG_1499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1baUr9xYFjo2XrbogdRV-Ufb_a5E3CcuCKF6mPLVDKetSQw-ZWIYgxCkTavhoy62I4uX8nsBcpWg3DCE0E9hiW8VguUz6Jr9dlvOKSIV0iKoK1foVP8SXuVb7cTrHglDgN09d9uPJqYvcBxn9GLCaJK0c3MIabV2r2mD7llJQbJQgM4T-CHgGr6ygn8Z/s320/IMG_1499.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The second chuckwalla I saw today was good at doing what chuckwallas normally do:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjFGTCZoKDYit2QAGGISh0SF_rbJt9jERJzA_UeOl638l_SBPL-ySO9Xtx6uitjKSpDw72V-ptaTeuYpno-AGKBjNUvk9fxP930d2dbnIi5vfRKPVgPaNLsezNyW5Q-BERpe4qrGXBvK_ePOHSau7vH9JgyIgtCkagscSMMv1XX25afT-K1U8wpfuHB8G/s4000/IMG_1506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjFGTCZoKDYit2QAGGISh0SF_rbJt9jERJzA_UeOl638l_SBPL-ySO9Xtx6uitjKSpDw72V-ptaTeuYpno-AGKBjNUvk9fxP930d2dbnIi5vfRKPVgPaNLsezNyW5Q-BERpe4qrGXBvK_ePOHSau7vH9JgyIgtCkagscSMMv1XX25afT-K1U8wpfuHB8G/s320/IMG_1506.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-46637128086826220412024-02-14T22:30:00.004-07:002024-02-14T22:30:56.566-07:00Words for "Kite" in Different Languages<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_0hxEf6RVduzJVj481uq48LNDib0K-RZh5ZcBRm2tEOCV5bWDFDT9-VjimRh5Gv9NPi3nPbzUCdHlHpyCd9fnUjT12-GmrWoJWKB7kQiFb8g_xgq8DBWBoHK2q_c5DKiIEZW_rIWfIaALaif3DXRXbbTeIcMtxYdk2_fqkhDIY_q3g4fgHp6in0XRpkM/s640/child-2887483_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_0hxEf6RVduzJVj481uq48LNDib0K-RZh5ZcBRm2tEOCV5bWDFDT9-VjimRh5Gv9NPi3nPbzUCdHlHpyCd9fnUjT12-GmrWoJWKB7kQiFb8g_xgq8DBWBoHK2q_c5DKiIEZW_rIWfIaALaif3DXRXbbTeIcMtxYdk2_fqkhDIY_q3g4fgHp6in0XRpkM/s320/child-2887483_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I was delighted when I learned the word for <i>kite </i>in Czech: <i>papírový drak</i>, which literally means "paper dragon." </p><p>One of the words for <i>kite </i>in Spanish is <i>cometa</i>, or "comet."</p><p>Today I was even more delighted when I learned the word in French: <i>cerf-volant, </i>which could be translated as "flying stag." </p><p>So I investigated. Lots of variations on dragons, birds, and other flying creatures (one Spanish term seems to come from the Nahuatl word for "butterfly," and in Georgian it's "bee"). But here's another favorite:</p><p>In Chinese, it seems to translate as "wind zither."</p><p>Anyone know any other cool literal meanings?</p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-57637873353231166212024-02-05T22:24:00.002-07:002024-02-05T22:24:19.358-07:00My article, "Postal Culture Shock," in The Mantelpiece <p>Check out my travel article in the February 2024 edition of <i>The Mantelpiece</i>: <a href="https://themantelpiece.org/recent-issues">https://themantelpiece.org/recent-issues</a></p><p>It's about my experiences with post offices in different countries, and it's a fun little read. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwzuPntkrOpya9ep4eO2-cMPOQvK87M8Hjpt4YX0SZCA2GNNzp46RQjLGKcVavNHNrQCDNO5LX6k9KHRuZ2K4XWBjs45nxu1mQFdcuvO4k-MM95X1MmpZ6JK44pToCKBwuS0YOD1QB_7eUYp9aIaQHFfbXaok1x1MAK2YCLVc_0hsw5H8OrbYXeKtqDUl/s1980/Mantelpiece%20cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1980" data-original-width="1530" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwzuPntkrOpya9ep4eO2-cMPOQvK87M8Hjpt4YX0SZCA2GNNzp46RQjLGKcVavNHNrQCDNO5LX6k9KHRuZ2K4XWBjs45nxu1mQFdcuvO4k-MM95X1MmpZ6JK44pToCKBwuS0YOD1QB_7eUYp9aIaQHFfbXaok1x1MAK2YCLVc_0hsw5H8OrbYXeKtqDUl/s320/Mantelpiece%20cover.png" width="247" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-62566600136033971682024-01-24T20:59:00.002-07:002024-01-24T21:00:17.815-07:00This is why we like rain in the desert<p> Enough said:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocVSZiT2DdQ3ybPmMeOPFWYui8CPOOmFqNLUbzd6asrTaka-pH7ZlpAvdv9zVPAr0kacmNlL9gn4pwtQJDpOS64aj5R-si_FkgnP_KhyphenhyphenbfPIZBQn3dU4qzNWTdwvpWodMx22AM_Bha9lJ2kEugMyuJTa8UeiS6EIHDQ4St0HV6Gr1pCIRKYS-scV9zxQu/s4000/IMG_1378.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocVSZiT2DdQ3ybPmMeOPFWYui8CPOOmFqNLUbzd6asrTaka-pH7ZlpAvdv9zVPAr0kacmNlL9gn4pwtQJDpOS64aj5R-si_FkgnP_KhyphenhyphenbfPIZBQn3dU4qzNWTdwvpWodMx22AM_Bha9lJ2kEugMyuJTa8UeiS6EIHDQ4St0HV6Gr1pCIRKYS-scV9zxQu/s320/IMG_1378.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We had about three days of slow, gentle, life-giving rain. This is what the ocotillo are doing with it: quickly putting on little leaves. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XWayUr1Z5r7t3e15MwzZyqUaNbbWdu1YjOzJQl0m3TIGqj8kw7OUcHcUXD2ZO6IhNMToRBijpftxPt5t097Hyiq9tjfdMT8nbt5HkGyDH-lEIpstWQ6Co42zDbpNv7hDA3uNhlXx53dLrglyzpyovYVVTN6i5jiDaRVjHw_TMbfcAlA39M-HEH41Qivd/s4000/IMG_1367.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XWayUr1Z5r7t3e15MwzZyqUaNbbWdu1YjOzJQl0m3TIGqj8kw7OUcHcUXD2ZO6IhNMToRBijpftxPt5t097Hyiq9tjfdMT8nbt5HkGyDH-lEIpstWQ6Co42zDbpNv7hDA3uNhlXx53dLrglyzpyovYVVTN6i5jiDaRVjHw_TMbfcAlA39M-HEH41Qivd/s320/IMG_1367.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><div>Pictures taken 1/24/2024 at South Mountain Park in Phoenix, Arizona. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p></div></div>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-81885394472836465142024-01-23T22:06:00.004-07:002024-01-23T22:06:39.492-07:00My story, "Vodník," published in Shadows on the Water<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCgrQ-6Ya_AbSHsiHmV60XR_xZpRdGN0nVWe3qZhcP6xe-VqWDMozcewNi-gJayXaZTQyZqRyhngN3OqiTTZwX5uWvb8iy5L1Ul-TKtEiVYTr0kId2o5e4VpCW1YPB-1IboMjlrJHd6NkwWpNAFOI6LUwwQZ6Z2eEDMrxB8011QLeYiOtiKVXrP3ffEt6/s600/shadows-on-the-water-short-stories-isbn-9781804177785.0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="399" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCgrQ-6Ya_AbSHsiHmV60XR_xZpRdGN0nVWe3qZhcP6xe-VqWDMozcewNi-gJayXaZTQyZqRyhngN3OqiTTZwX5uWvb8iy5L1Ul-TKtEiVYTr0kId2o5e4VpCW1YPB-1IboMjlrJHd6NkwWpNAFOI6LUwwQZ6Z2eEDMrxB8011QLeYiOtiKVXrP3ffEt6/s320/shadows-on-the-water-short-stories-isbn-9781804177785.0.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />Today is publication day for Flame Tree Publishing's <i>Shadows on the Water </i>anthology, which includes my story, "Vodník." It's inspired by tales of the Czech vodník, a sort of water goblin that is in some versions a mischievous trickster and in some versions an terrifying stealer of souls. Guess which one mine is. <p></p><p>It's live in the UK and will go on sale in the US on February 13: <a href="https://www.flametreepublishing.com/shadows-on-the-water-short-stories-isbn-9781804177785.html" target="_blank"> https://www.flametreepublishing.com/shadows-on-the-water-short-stories-isbn-9781804177785.html</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-85301974388940008312024-01-21T19:36:00.000-07:002024-01-21T19:36:00.150-07:00The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, by Brandon Sanderson<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_b35az2du0c3sfjFHShTzjzPacJzGpigB5b77TAZaJ2dEh1SDuOjD6gM5srkVDODcqLrlO476IAyq0tznCUuvIdWBPAWs3R3dOF7UwCqOc_cPhKDjq-JjiTqy6hZSGRGlKw9R6vJ3YGpnr0WWxvr15CC3gUH3fbJAXAH-W_kH_An1l46PXXNLId3IZgq/s445/51OWQxQS03L._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="283" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_b35az2du0c3sfjFHShTzjzPacJzGpigB5b77TAZaJ2dEh1SDuOjD6gM5srkVDODcqLrlO476IAyq0tznCUuvIdWBPAWs3R3dOF7UwCqOc_cPhKDjq-JjiTqy6hZSGRGlKw9R6vJ3YGpnr0WWxvr15CC3gUH3fbJAXAH-W_kH_An1l46PXXNLId3IZgq/s320/51OWQxQS03L._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><br />This was a fun read.
I especially loved the handbook entries. <p></p><p>Some of the plot was a bit confusing to me—mainly how the
mythology worked into the dimension they were in. But that's probably my fault for not paying
enough attention.</p><p>There was more repetition than I liked, especially about
how the main character is such a failure.
I didn't need it pounded home quite that much.</p><p>But overall, I enjoyed the adventure, the humor, and the
relationships. </p><p>Note: I've never
actually read any other books by Brandon Sanderson (gasp), so I can't
compare. </p><p class="Reviewbook"><o:p></o:p></p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-89204453844126243652024-01-16T19:38:00.001-07:002024-01-16T19:38:00.127-07:00Zoo Lights, Phoenix Zoo<p>We went to Zoo Lights for the first time, back before Christmas. They decorate the zoo with I don't know how many holiday lights and "wildlife lanterns" and a light/music show. The animals are mostly hiding, but it's a beautiful experience. I LOVED it.</p><p>Here are just a few pictures:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsqwBiPmwR8egNyajIAQ_TBJ0NZRIN0MWCtAJaFTjMhzQHrmeVQzj7Z_wUsugLbJDsPF1Fh_IQj_fNWmwNuFqnaYbDhG42Rb4oWESTILDWicQLnsluPTEPldd03RCx1oljQt05Ir7tfO59kFxM-3RIBlpqMsxSXCrafpv-LhgzeIONR3p-c6LQSj9-MLc/s4000/IMG_1300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsqwBiPmwR8egNyajIAQ_TBJ0NZRIN0MWCtAJaFTjMhzQHrmeVQzj7Z_wUsugLbJDsPF1Fh_IQj_fNWmwNuFqnaYbDhG42Rb4oWESTILDWicQLnsluPTEPldd03RCx1oljQt05Ir7tfO59kFxM-3RIBlpqMsxSXCrafpv-LhgzeIONR3p-c6LQSj9-MLc/s320/IMG_1300.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGbGRil8I9Do3wvb9qQZgqOIbSz6udA12UHp_g48GqqtUcxNlevMjbnOc5YtF1aXrZ5m2Ne5W9YNiLzM3-OSgJUecz8n0DfvOIrUVe9pvqRoB0CXV0-ScZa6E9X58gWVo7YdvhQqZ9IdQwMotFhJrbDsfbzP-ynydyplZx4KgbNagh02cygIK3zUzwpGv/s4000/IMG_1317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGbGRil8I9Do3wvb9qQZgqOIbSz6udA12UHp_g48GqqtUcxNlevMjbnOc5YtF1aXrZ5m2Ne5W9YNiLzM3-OSgJUecz8n0DfvOIrUVe9pvqRoB0CXV0-ScZa6E9X58gWVo7YdvhQqZ9IdQwMotFhJrbDsfbzP-ynydyplZx4KgbNagh02cygIK3zUzwpGv/s320/IMG_1317.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsHqggNQeUPrqK7QFlUM127brvMYTur6HomPNRh6GUY0c6Y0lsKnm5PiNL9UQHvuu_zU3BDYHhfGKPCr1NE87BfjlPxmCae9aV3otz3JvhqM4FRFxkaIsEGRIRhI5kevcm1kviJS1miOTL5Z8zapEkgml6mqvinXmnB3BD4H3lCA2zgvXMlg1pmRtPWVU/s4000/IMG_1324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsHqggNQeUPrqK7QFlUM127brvMYTur6HomPNRh6GUY0c6Y0lsKnm5PiNL9UQHvuu_zU3BDYHhfGKPCr1NE87BfjlPxmCae9aV3otz3JvhqM4FRFxkaIsEGRIRhI5kevcm1kviJS1miOTL5Z8zapEkgml6mqvinXmnB3BD4H3lCA2zgvXMlg1pmRtPWVU/s320/IMG_1324.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_48TPhRj8w9dvlauWqk_USOwdNSoA3qr3dGRnfwS6PIBXS-P3tRfByePgxfAwEiVcENxN9dSRmUZhaYsf5HsXCXD8PW9lpwLJTd2MiiGOr-lm1zxZ2VY244ajTlkG8Z9kzR-JQhjpBJHLgQbzgbfhpHByEe1X9w6wr5wcjg-t-APx9C3qVNNDP0_BMMfy/s4000/IMG_1327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_48TPhRj8w9dvlauWqk_USOwdNSoA3qr3dGRnfwS6PIBXS-P3tRfByePgxfAwEiVcENxN9dSRmUZhaYsf5HsXCXD8PW9lpwLJTd2MiiGOr-lm1zxZ2VY244ajTlkG8Z9kzR-JQhjpBJHLgQbzgbfhpHByEe1X9w6wr5wcjg-t-APx9C3qVNNDP0_BMMfy/s320/IMG_1327.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbloQH0Lo24frm8kRnJE1E8vItdsK5KmYVKYB03HLzoV_EQItYiuP15ysvaAdXhbGIrVSzz0xio-37Z-a-yjJ3vAH-REayF0KUf8YVHl3b-P2Uv5nu7FyQP1btidHqIW0QOom3oHywAKuEXf3GT8D8OxpakwObH6QuB83mg1DdqjZ6bZ0QgUrocelUWTw/s4000/IMG_1334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbloQH0Lo24frm8kRnJE1E8vItdsK5KmYVKYB03HLzoV_EQItYiuP15ysvaAdXhbGIrVSzz0xio-37Z-a-yjJ3vAH-REayF0KUf8YVHl3b-P2Uv5nu7FyQP1btidHqIW0QOom3oHywAKuEXf3GT8D8OxpakwObH6QuB83mg1DdqjZ6bZ0QgUrocelUWTw/s320/IMG_1334.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRl2k-Kk-sBjCRDAaRd8CXnuc9dFE5GTXSYSf9OeSZg6a84jD0dwRag4pMX6XjMs6uTzTAOBZ55DlYbCmeGv7QqZbSRxSDWd_PXXA5J8k4LIN9xsfVcB9V0Lb1h4MwI0rf9wrt7vE_hP5zKRDkEs9Yml-uAw6APbMDzznVXx0xwyak6V1h-5SoTVrebL0/s4000/IMG_1339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRl2k-Kk-sBjCRDAaRd8CXnuc9dFE5GTXSYSf9OeSZg6a84jD0dwRag4pMX6XjMs6uTzTAOBZ55DlYbCmeGv7QqZbSRxSDWd_PXXA5J8k4LIN9xsfVcB9V0Lb1h4MwI0rf9wrt7vE_hP5zKRDkEs9Yml-uAw6APbMDzznVXx0xwyak6V1h-5SoTVrebL0/s320/IMG_1339.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXW-aFGE_o_-sShuXWsDQtXCC7xmrieKyMuZZ9bK8PiNeDIqDfSBd2PRAdcT7XDSphfuMbeTTCHpGbH6fwP7Ox5g07wdbO7gEtBQeltBdWSlqDpG5qWULOOXZAyAHqbZ8LynoFVEldpYHFlY119TUIDVhN6qzknVa_lC5-Y-9PIjjyGXuprX21WeIHXQg4/s4000/IMG_1340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXW-aFGE_o_-sShuXWsDQtXCC7xmrieKyMuZZ9bK8PiNeDIqDfSBd2PRAdcT7XDSphfuMbeTTCHpGbH6fwP7Ox5g07wdbO7gEtBQeltBdWSlqDpG5qWULOOXZAyAHqbZ8LynoFVEldpYHFlY119TUIDVhN6qzknVa_lC5-Y-9PIjjyGXuprX21WeIHXQg4/s320/IMG_1340.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />If you go, leave yourself plenty of time to explore the whole zoo, and be prepared for difficult parking. <p></p><p>It's too late for this year, but keep it in mind for next year. </p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-12252492784864245252024-01-13T19:35:00.002-07:002024-01-13T19:35:16.557-07:00Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law, by Mary Roach<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoI-TZCbmlLvFiN3tFGia_PPa8e6r7_Z1L0UWKTskZs5LXE3E52xBUdnvFylbp8d4_Eot-oLH0sc1V8oCXkISZ8OA90ThtYqzPGhNhw9BH6GbKCvH2tqUC0k1nXfdwXzqJcK8wrTQE02qSsFvOzD9jlXXPj2LTpIvdGb3pm7ffattWBDoAmfsMAh6zc8N/s445/41kzLaZv3PL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="292" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoI-TZCbmlLvFiN3tFGia_PPa8e6r7_Z1L0UWKTskZs5LXE3E52xBUdnvFylbp8d4_Eot-oLH0sc1V8oCXkISZ8OA90ThtYqzPGhNhw9BH6GbKCvH2tqUC0k1nXfdwXzqJcK8wrTQE02qSsFvOzD9jlXXPj2LTpIvdGb3pm7ffattWBDoAmfsMAh6zc8N/s320/41kzLaZv3PL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br />This was really interesting and thought-provoking—and by
nature, rather depressing. I think the
title was slightly misleading, but the writing style, as always, was good. <p></p><p class="Reviewbook"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Reviewbook">More accurate rating:
4.5</p><p class="Reviewbook"><o:p></o:p></p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-62573905938545514322024-01-08T17:06:00.005-07:002024-01-13T19:30:59.820-07:00 2023 Reading List<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the time of year I have fun reflecting on my last year's reading list.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Some stats: </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9kMUzIyE6krSliHISLUdF-S5fHFaf4-xdLyfC7cIXZE4h3yrWyEcb8mzBukDKW7sIdcz0qW1zu515vgRWM2VBBcqmXtYj7dhSXIiHUHgjMvlqfssH2KgR4CQdRkkVcTDUCY1_Vi_7tRTIaP9-87oWX5JEB-jnahEUx4daHoU79erKGk8Nl-z6j3lEi99G" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1510" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9kMUzIyE6krSliHISLUdF-S5fHFaf4-xdLyfC7cIXZE4h3yrWyEcb8mzBukDKW7sIdcz0qW1zu515vgRWM2VBBcqmXtYj7dhSXIiHUHgjMvlqfssH2KgR4CQdRkkVcTDUCY1_Vi_7tRTIaP9-87oWX5JEB-jnahEUx4daHoU79erKGk8Nl-z6j3lEi99G" width="159" /></span></a></div></div></h2><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Books read: 50</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">But don't be too impressed: 36% were middle-grade and 12% were YA (which are no less valid, often very thought-provoking and well written...but generally shorter). </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nonfiction: 46%, my highest percentage ever</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of the nonfiction, I read a lot of biography/history/memoir this year. It actually beat my usual highest category: plants/animals. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of the fiction, I read a good amount of science fiction/fantasy/spec, but the highest category was contemporary (non-thriller, non-mystery, non-romance)</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Best-of Awards:</span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQNnGMxZmKlg3uBcnptxnecFmG9CZq6oKgtmLtUfiZ-aAJbGtAjVU-ff5EM4WAB58-FADQPJGgbzY18fM05W2NdAewGO0u0y6Iy2kKDRla8ZXpwt1Va2kWmxQMRWe9I-R_zEkWqMM4WCeiJ0tq4wNIo9MEM_KRcwbbRiHhh8AsA5eRGJtsoMkYzoZ2Nrpv" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="279" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQNnGMxZmKlg3uBcnptxnecFmG9CZq6oKgtmLtUfiZ-aAJbGtAjVU-ff5EM4WAB58-FADQPJGgbzY18fM05W2NdAewGO0u0y6Iy2kKDRla8ZXpwt1Va2kWmxQMRWe9I-R_zEkWqMM4WCeiJ0tq4wNIo9MEM_KRcwbbRiHhh8AsA5eRGJtsoMkYzoZ2Nrpv" width="158" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most
bizarre premise: <i>Hope Never Dies</i>:
<i>an Obama Biden Mystery,</i> by Andrew Shaffer. Yeah, you read that subtitle right: Biden solves a mystery with the help of his
friend, Obama. In FIRST PERSON. Bizarre.
But I enjoyed it. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most
light-heartedly enjoyable speculative fiction for adults: Brandon Sanderson's <i>The Frugal Wizard's
Handbook for Surviving Medieval England.
</i>A bit repetitive in some parts, confusing in others, but the
guidebook entries were priceless. <i> <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most
light-heartedly enjoyable speculative fiction for kids: <i>Pip Bartlett's Guide to Unicorn Training </i>by
Jackson Pearce and Maggie Stiefvater.
Not quite as darling as the first book in the series, but still great. And the guidebook entries were priceless. I think there's a pattern here.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Best
guidebook for how to die while hiking in the Grand Canyon: <i>Tail of the Scorpion</i>, by Mike Graf. The guidebook parts were informative and
seemed factually accurate. But the story
part should have been called <i>How to Kill your Kids in Grand Canyon</i>. You can read my whole rant on Goodreads, but
do NOT start on a major hike of the Grand Canyon at 3:00 pm in August. Just don't.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Best
guidebook for how not to die while hiking in the Grand Canyon: Okay, so it wasn't a guidebook at all, but a quietly
tense thriller which portrayed the canyon realistically: <i>Getaway</i>, by Zoje Stage. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.15pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5T7DVsksERpuJpliGBOwO-wNkeJqrf9zk6ABmBpMhXHvZc2GderXn_S5tlguChleP2MSECHGD7mfCqB_MhUROk96aYXOKrM-TOPxZ_E4edPlnTTfhvYHp-TY6359mkIiwrx6bY5L1IYF1nDRZnV1TiOfrC3hIjrZd_X9Pn-W6i_cL03Q_rUf9jyarItLz/s440/57007702.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="300" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5T7DVsksERpuJpliGBOwO-wNkeJqrf9zk6ABmBpMhXHvZc2GderXn_S5tlguChleP2MSECHGD7mfCqB_MhUROk96aYXOKrM-TOPxZ_E4edPlnTTfhvYHp-TY6359mkIiwrx6bY5L1IYF1nDRZnV1TiOfrC3hIjrZd_X9Pn-W6i_cL03Q_rUf9jyarItLz/w186-h273/57007702.jpg" width="186" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Best book about people who actually did die while boating the
Grand Canyon: <i>Sunk Without a Sound:</i> <i>The Tragic Colorado River Honeymoon of
Glen and Bessie Hyde, </i>by Brad Dimock<i>.</i> Well written, comprehensive (but not in a
belabored way), and grimly fascinating.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.15pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Best relentlessly religious historical fiction book taking
place at the Grand Canyon (yes, there were a couple of themes this year): <i>A Deep Divide</i>, by Kimberley Woodhouse. I didn't realize when I put this on hold that
it was Christian fiction, but I should have, because there doesn't seem to exist
a genre of clean historical romances that doesn't ram religion down our
throats. I loved the locale and the
historical details, and if it hadn't been so preachy, I really would have
enjoyed it. But some people will enjoy
it because of all the talk of God and scripture.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.15pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Best book about nature:
<i>Around the World in 80 Birds</i>, written by Mike Unwin, illustrated
by Ryuto Miyake. Interesting little write-ups
of fascinating birds. Beautiful illustrations. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.15pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Author whose books I read the most of: Kathleen Krull. I got on a kick and read several of her books
of short biographies written for kids.
They're full of interesting, rapid-fire facts. Maybe not a lot of depth, but fun to read.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.15pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Best novel for kids: <i>Across
the Desert</i>, by Dusti Bowling. I love
Dusti Bowling. And the Arizona setting
doesn't hurt any. Check out her books!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.15pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SyZAmCS9JAzp-N10LlhVdtXDiV6_3drxUjVCWgviERkJzYLCd6YBsml0PntYwcXZexZB7wGmmk7MXdT-lQ1KNh0DYgZAbhy326mrxMLiVWtVT0PbdG546CkQ780Y_12uJdMSil2XJ79AcGZFM1-zCrkV3L0A68IG4FNWd0hJFI0k2cai9W0tX_h9aLZv/s2850/59807954.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="1875" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SyZAmCS9JAzp-N10LlhVdtXDiV6_3drxUjVCWgviERkJzYLCd6YBsml0PntYwcXZexZB7wGmmk7MXdT-lQ1KNh0DYgZAbhy326mrxMLiVWtVT0PbdG546CkQ780Y_12uJdMSil2XJ79AcGZFM1-zCrkV3L0A68IG4FNWd0hJFI0k2cai9W0tX_h9aLZv/w167-h254/59807954.jpg" width="167" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Best novel for adults:
<i>Other Birds, </i>by Sarah Addison Allen. Interesting setting, engaging writing, slight
supernatural element. A very warm and gentle
read. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.15pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Not sure if this counts, because I listened in audio, but…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.15pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Best mountain climbing survival book (yeah, this is a whole
genre I read/listen to a lot of): <i>The
Climb; Tragic Ambition on Everest</i>, by Anatoli Boukreev and G. Weston DeWalt. Like all of these books, it had its flaws—like
how I couldn't keep all of the characters straight—but it was really captivating. I would tell myself I was just going to listen
for 15 minutes before bed, and at the end of 15 minutes I'd set it for another
15 minutes…then another. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6.15pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">Best graphic novels based on historical events and
people: ) <i>Guardian of Fukushima</i>, by Ewan Blain
& Fabien Grolleau, about the man who defied government orders by staying in
the irradiated zone to take care of abandoned animals after the Fukushima
nuclear power plant disaster. <i>They
Called us Enemy, </i>by George Takei, about the Japanese Internment Camps in
WWII. </span></p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-4098109616007372212023-12-21T14:46:00.006-07:002023-12-21T14:46:38.694-07:00Book Review: Sunk Without a Sound; The Tragic Colorado River Honeymoon of Glen and Bessie Hyde, by Brad Dimock<p class="Reviewbook"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukcFcT6RbVd5OCu8YPgNW6pRY2bclmb8-E18Nl7y7oHgDB4UxSvjGpRcYyQ5v4Or1LAOSwyTuYFnw_EkzYoqbMOg1NfeUdJZMmdsiPxYjR86Uoz3wGKpi9m7YIbZw_dwhW0bqPgTlX2v9CONWrAI7LxsnTYyw9dZlSKTj5cUFksSaCZCBv4tV-5VAHlG1/s475/Sunk%20without%20a%20sound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukcFcT6RbVd5OCu8YPgNW6pRY2bclmb8-E18Nl7y7oHgDB4UxSvjGpRcYyQ5v4Or1LAOSwyTuYFnw_EkzYoqbMOg1NfeUdJZMmdsiPxYjR86Uoz3wGKpi9m7YIbZw_dwhW0bqPgTlX2v9CONWrAI7LxsnTYyw9dZlSKTj5cUFksSaCZCBv4tV-5VAHlG1/s320/Sunk%20without%20a%20sound.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>This was fascinating—both a fascinating but tragic story
and a well-written, accessible, fascinating telling of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="Reviewbook">Some of the details of running specific rapids got a bit
long for me, since I'm not familiar with the terms and have a hard time
visualizing it, but that's a very minor issue, and river runners will probably
love it for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="Reviewbook">The structure of the book was also very good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learned about Glen and Bessie's early life
and courtships. We saw their journey through pieced-together accounts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went with the author as he and his wife
reenacted the journey in the same type of boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We learned about the boat itself, and how time (and dams) have changed
the Colorado.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We met other characters,
like the Kolb brothers, those who searched for Glen and Bessie, and other
survivors or victims of the river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
were stumped by the mystery and led through all the possible theories, some
far-fetched and dramatic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We suffered
with Glen's dad and as he and others searched and searched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we got a measured analysis of what
likely happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And all this was woven
together very logically and smoothly.</p>
<p class="Reviewbook">I wish Brad Dimock would write more books like this!</p>
<p class="Reviewbook">4.5 stars <o:p></o:p></p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-27896805630730321112023-12-10T21:49:00.005-07:002023-12-10T21:50:19.397-07:00Artists from the S'edev Va'aki Indian Market in Phoenix<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aqxVfJaSZCI5_ffuH32Rr54VDSek4Av8Bs0oHkMMkyxo8ZsEkO8wHEjc0HKUBihfDK5pzjYqnyqVfqtr0qa9v0p5eu5fzf-YWpGeYw25UuXYifCnyOnt8JwT4gkE4I3rAfjS3cakZlS7lprnBVbGtG3eQ9KiwXTDkhCT2ZL8gRlQnVSkDJVeDnjp7L5b/s1280/brush-96240_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aqxVfJaSZCI5_ffuH32Rr54VDSek4Av8Bs0oHkMMkyxo8ZsEkO8wHEjc0HKUBihfDK5pzjYqnyqVfqtr0qa9v0p5eu5fzf-YWpGeYw25UuXYifCnyOnt8JwT4gkE4I3rAfjS3cakZlS7lprnBVbGtG3eQ9KiwXTDkhCT2ZL8gRlQnVSkDJVeDnjp7L5b/s320/brush-96240_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Today at the Indian Market at S'edev Va'aki (formerly Pueblo Grande), I saw so much beautiful art and craftsmanship. Here are some of the artists I particularly liked:<p></p><p>Piersten Doctor: <a href="https://www.artbypiersten.com/">https://www.artbypiersten.com/</a></p><p>Virgil Nez: <a href="https://www.virgilism.com/">https://www.virgilism.com/</a></p><p>Kevin Horace-Quannie: <a href="https://waterbirdstudios.com/">https://waterbirdstudios.com/</a></p><p>Gregory Hill: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/greg.hill.378/">https://www.facebook.com/greg.hill.378/</a></p><p>David K John: <a href="https://www.thedancingrabbitgallery.com/about-minimal/online-exhibitions/the-art-of-david-k-john/">https://www.thedancingrabbitgallery.com/about-minimal/online-exhibitions/the-art-of-david-k-john/</a></p><p><br /></p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-11975388933769374342023-12-02T21:39:00.002-07:002023-12-02T21:39:22.948-07:00My story, "Palatable Potions," to appear in Zombies Need Brains Presents<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyv3IHvujALHedPO2QRXkiDQZxcv2zTFBgjAQjyPpHd4AvQU6ulMvTJoMTbe9PWQ64Ai0oQUJmUr9ZhlBgD-hG0ZmZCjeH0_VFkBw1dz0iQUX037qElsmypbMI6TbKXZFf07Wl-8P0wyQw2OMR9qJqvW0viXLBeSjNunhdwTdtZz7Wg_vvpRtv5E0xRju/s768/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyv3IHvujALHedPO2QRXkiDQZxcv2zTFBgjAQjyPpHd4AvQU6ulMvTJoMTbe9PWQ64Ai0oQUJmUr9ZhlBgD-hG0ZmZCjeH0_VFkBw1dz0iQUX037qElsmypbMI6TbKXZFf07Wl-8P0wyQw2OMR9qJqvW0viXLBeSjNunhdwTdtZz7Wg_vvpRtv5E0xRju/s320/download.jpg" width="213" /></a></div> <p></p><p>My light-hearted fantasy story, "Palatable Potions," was recently accepted by <i>Zombies Need Brains Presents. </i>It should appear in March of next year. I'll post again when it's live.</p><p>I enjoyed writing it a lot, and I'm very excited to see it published. </p><p>If you want to check out <i>Zombies Need Brains--</i>who also publish themed anthologies--visit them at <a href="http://www.zombiesneedbrains.com/index.html">http://www.zombiesneedbrains.com/index.html</a> of find them on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/zombiesneedbrainsllc">https://www.facebook.com/zombiesneedbrainsllc</a></p><p><br /></p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-12323048527285583032023-11-27T23:13:00.001-07:002023-11-27T23:13:07.240-07:00NaNoWriMo 2023<p> <span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Okay, I'm a NaNoWriMo rebel this year, but I just finished my personal writing goal for this November, so I'm celebrating. I'm still going to keep going strong for the rest of the month (and beyond). </span></p><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">For those who aren't Nanowrimoers, it's National Novel Writing Month. Regular participants write the rough draft of a novel (50,000 words or more) in one month. Rebels like me do different things. I counted time spent on an existing novel, using a time-to-word formula I developed a couple of years ago, because I needed to spend time researching, reorganizing, revising, etc. in addition to writing.</span><br /><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">My project is a novel-in-short-stories set on an ill-fated space colony. Several of these stories have already been published in literary magazines. If you want to check them out, see the list here: </span><a class="x1fey0fg xmper1u x1edh9d7" href="https://melindabrasher.wixsite.com/writer/short-stories"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">https://melindabrasher.wixsite.com/writer/short-stories</span></a><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><div><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDNlUXwlObxAVb6it2wQ6AW01kqOho24ALw07AZQBD0eGGjzVZZAdvRXsBC2FprPLssuH6M7IDNv6cbblMOk3By6vkk28nKNDFdANjMsjAJRtzEHN4URVjugpbPui6QS6q_J9KPTmOIGrlbVOyQFotsaUHpallzlVZbqY9AcblCpsLAgs1DUyE1orcBv-/s1000/2023-Winner-Badge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDNlUXwlObxAVb6it2wQ6AW01kqOho24ALw07AZQBD0eGGjzVZZAdvRXsBC2FprPLssuH6M7IDNv6cbblMOk3By6vkk28nKNDFdANjMsjAJRtzEHN4URVjugpbPui6QS6q_J9KPTmOIGrlbVOyQFotsaUHpallzlVZbqY9AcblCpsLAgs1DUyE1orcBv-/s320/2023-Winner-Badge.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-18519277657064593782023-11-17T11:52:00.002-07:002023-11-23T17:35:09.008-07:00Short Story Dispenser<p>A few years ago, I got a poem published by Short Édition, the people who distribute short works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry through their Short Story Dispensers in libraries, airport, cafes, etc. The stories are free to the user. You just decide if you want a 1-, 2-, or 3-minute story, push a button, and it prints you a tiny bit of literature on receipt paper. Awesome. </p><p>I hadn't actually found one, however, until I heard there was one at the Tempe, Arizona public library. So I went and checked it out.</p><p>Here it is, with a lovely mural behind it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5DfxLsl9JY-jmPLFS7h-oKHJrE2m0X69ZGG4kA6U69DbT1bttJJU_4PPKpH3PlD_iw8sMwezIhdatTJqvMKtFYrIPhV-xcUjGsLwOBNIMNc-IQRM8Aey4A9jeWUwEjszSYC-19NB7G49a5qZtKE8Fimqv93yEZAghKcFEqZOVTcY-BojmoRB9S1hKHbN/s4000/IMG_0972.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5DfxLsl9JY-jmPLFS7h-oKHJrE2m0X69ZGG4kA6U69DbT1bttJJU_4PPKpH3PlD_iw8sMwezIhdatTJqvMKtFYrIPhV-xcUjGsLwOBNIMNc-IQRM8Aey4A9jeWUwEjszSYC-19NB7G49a5qZtKE8Fimqv93yEZAghKcFEqZOVTcY-BojmoRB9S1hKHbN/s320/IMG_0972.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>I printed out several short stories and sat there in the library, reading. A lovely experience. There's no way to choose what you want, besides picking the length, so I couldn't get my own poem, but apparently more than 2600 people have printed out my poem. What a lovely thought.</p><p>If you want to read it, however, it's also on their e-zine here: <a href="https://short-edition.com/en/story/poetry/to-my-students">https://short-edition.com/en/story/poetry/to-my-students</a></p><p>If you're in the Tempe area, go check out the short story dispenser. There may also be one at a Mesa library. But go soon. They may be temporary.</p><p>Other dispensers: <a href="https://short-edition.com/en/p/find-a-dispenser-near-you">https://short-edition.com/en/p/find-a-dispenser-near-you</a> </p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-46119454310815521552023-11-13T11:52:00.004-07:002023-11-13T11:53:00.906-07:00Call the Nurse: True Stories of a Country Nurse on a Scottish Isle, by Mary J. MacLeod<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcXqu9Nd0ODL-IYcSwMQ8-MRsdtPgA7-0RcX4udoa36r9Guf1DhHknG2CpSYTxcKU8soZ2wk3d1A7d_mi05uxkDhTw0WGDHgVvAked9uwZjlfpQRnk5hLE7Mduidu-3c3r4BeLAj7ZhOVPtaoaltFI_tvcNR8yQKmQh62ayqkhrrvTQseniaVw9-IUvw_/s445/514yyAlkigL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="279" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdcXqu9Nd0ODL-IYcSwMQ8-MRsdtPgA7-0RcX4udoa36r9Guf1DhHknG2CpSYTxcKU8soZ2wk3d1A7d_mi05uxkDhTw0WGDHgVvAked9uwZjlfpQRnk5hLE7Mduidu-3c3r4BeLAj7ZhOVPtaoaltFI_tvcNR8yQKmQh62ayqkhrrvTQseniaVw9-IUvw_/s320/514yyAlkigL._SY445_SX342_.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><h1 class="a-spacing-none a-text-normal" id="title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; line-height: 36px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><br /></h1><p>This feels very much like All Creatures Great and Small meets
Call the Midwife. I enjoyed it a lot,
especially the glimpses of a way of life very different than mine.</p><p>The chapters don't always transition smoothly, but if you
read it like a series of independent personal essays, that shouldn’t bother
you. However, if you read it as a series
of independent essays, what might bother you are the characters that appear
from several chapters back without enough reminder to the reader as to how they
fit in—and the questions that get posed but never answered (and not in a
thought-provoking or philosophical way).
Then the book just ends. There’s
no real tie-up, and though the last chapter is dramatic, it doesn’t really feel
like a conclusion. The epilogue is full
of longing for the life they once had there, with not one word of explanation
of why or when they left. I think this is all to keep it open for the sequel, but it bothered me. Of course, it mostly bothered me because I
was invested in the people and interested in their lives—so that’s as much
compliment as criticism. </p>
<p class="Reviewbook">Despite any issues, I really enjoyed the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The writing style is easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pacing is pleasantly gentle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The observations are good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The subject matter is really
interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The setting is well
drawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Reviewbook">I’ll probably read the sequel.</p><p class="Reviewbook">4 stars</p><p class="Reviewbook"><o:p></o:p></p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-48664173568359653242023-10-29T21:37:00.001-07:002023-10-29T21:37:00.148-07:00Cool Bug<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uaophkbXZhPvf7vWCepN8HFLRPeG1XRT9E_rWlZD5cGsWFko_mX4rVaPt9QQedYnW8G6aD0hCNiavtiwath_bOH1g-3aiDYs1ZuqrlNRESgYuzipagw54d1Kfky3rZP6J4XM9dG68cqOkYzp6A7dTFlkS7FId0XxbDuSzo3209yLem9YMgRmpmkFrVVl/s4000/IMG_0936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uaophkbXZhPvf7vWCepN8HFLRPeG1XRT9E_rWlZD5cGsWFko_mX4rVaPt9QQedYnW8G6aD0hCNiavtiwath_bOH1g-3aiDYs1ZuqrlNRESgYuzipagw54d1Kfky3rZP6J4XM9dG68cqOkYzp6A7dTFlkS7FId0XxbDuSzo3209yLem9YMgRmpmkFrVVl/s320/IMG_0936.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />I found this cool bug in the garden (well, cool except that it was eating a bee--poor bee).<p></p><p>Look at those beautiful colors! </p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-19515925938056695202023-10-26T21:32:00.001-07:002023-10-26T21:32:00.183-07:00Odder, by Katherine Applegate<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I enjoyed this (despite it being written in verse). It was sad and sweet and cute. I loved Odder. It was also educational in a
bet-you-didn't-realize-you-were-learning sort of way. </div><p></p><p class="Reviewbook"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Reviewbook"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNd2p_aEHc-_dkTRLkAuatzg4s54m_OfHH8JifhXeEQGGixdn7OcgMNxrwBP9edQqyqUPgna3aN0IkockrSkZI9VlR838GbE6JozBZ2tyI_-eAfa4HUGl8ERHluuDNgawz58d1kfW_tBnJv4qw9Y6qa2vBmcKRvF01wDETa7y5HF-f0avvS6BMP2rCbPpB/s445/odder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNd2p_aEHc-_dkTRLkAuatzg4s54m_OfHH8JifhXeEQGGixdn7OcgMNxrwBP9edQqyqUPgna3aN0IkockrSkZI9VlR838GbE6JozBZ2tyI_-eAfa4HUGl8ERHluuDNgawz58d1kfW_tBnJv4qw9Y6qa2vBmcKRvF01wDETa7y5HF-f0avvS6BMP2rCbPpB/s320/odder.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><br />I did find the timeline a little confusing (but I read it
over a couple of weeks, so that was probably my fault). Some of the otter thoughts and language
seemed a little too human. It's a tough line to walk, and Applegate mostly did
it well.<p></p><p class="Reviewbook"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Reviewbook">If you liked this, I absolutely recommend Applegate's <i>The
One and Only Ivan</i>, which I thought was heartbreaking and beautiful. I haven't seen the movie based on it, but
I've seen previews, and I advise you not to judge a book by its movie. </p><p class="Reviewbook">PS And the cover is
adorable. </p><p class="Reviewbook"><o:p></o:p></p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-68374787327972832102023-10-23T21:47:00.000-07:002023-10-23T21:47:12.962-07:00Aspen in Flagstaff<p> Photo taken October 15, 2023 on the Aspen Loop at Snowbowl, just out of Flagstaff, Arizona:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjeeryQBoPV5-IERS24bBjIYvlmwRWv5kVPxQvcj6caXykHb00uYQNwKdDZeQPPNEbBoeLTjEPjLh8vxIIhBPDLgIx1HIym-YPOttg6_4y4iDpQMknPB3bYVGU6UgXdY_hYgIHEZS6EMeYOtg6ouBoAK_Cj24HlaCrD1iKlyNBY5LLO56Xgs2qF4Ka-4I/s4000/IMG_1065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjeeryQBoPV5-IERS24bBjIYvlmwRWv5kVPxQvcj6caXykHb00uYQNwKdDZeQPPNEbBoeLTjEPjLh8vxIIhBPDLgIx1HIym-YPOttg6_4y4iDpQMknPB3bYVGU6UgXdY_hYgIHEZS6EMeYOtg6ouBoAK_Cj24HlaCrD1iKlyNBY5LLO56Xgs2qF4Ka-4I/s320/IMG_1065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I don't really think I need to say anything else. 😊</p><p>Except...keep track of the colors on Flagstaff's <a href="https://www.flagstaffarizona.org/plan-your-trip/leafometer/" target="_blank">LEAFometer</a>, try to go on a weekday, be prepared for crowds, and try to take another more isolated hike while you're here. </p><p><br /></p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-21620922606258386552023-09-20T23:13:00.001-07:002023-09-22T09:53:43.742-07:00My story to be published in Shadows on the Water<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRVDQl7ant4XXrgUydEhu9_Ux2id1uLJ1xKq7Lhfi9J_KJR16xUjByTG2_5vRIFUkQIvk8XgHVb3MsGfVQiVwNUtIEW-GCABooH_h4Byq0uJ6ia-fbbHyHaAFWDny1IW7FY6zk5qfDuRRQWnhw9J2MWsaLgjz6Q1VP_cP9iLMH1oOKPts9VQ_jd4mSGoC/s1080/Untitled%20design.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRVDQl7ant4XXrgUydEhu9_Ux2id1uLJ1xKq7Lhfi9J_KJR16xUjByTG2_5vRIFUkQIvk8XgHVb3MsGfVQiVwNUtIEW-GCABooH_h4Byq0uJ6ia-fbbHyHaAFWDny1IW7FY6zk5qfDuRRQWnhw9J2MWsaLgjz6Q1VP_cP9iLMH1oOKPts9VQ_jd4mSGoC/w320-h320/Untitled%20design.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />My story, "Vodník," is to be published in Flame Tree's Anthology, <i>Shadows on the Water, </i>early next year. It's set in the Czech Republic, where tales of the vodník, a sort of water goblin, fascinated me.<p></p><p>See Flame Tree's post (and the book cover) here: <a href="https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-gothic/gothic-fantasy-successful-submissions-shadows-on-the-water">https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-gothic/gothic-fantasy-successful-submissions-shadows-on-the-water</a></p><p></p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-29555791441173459042023-09-11T20:08:00.004-07:002023-09-11T20:08:37.264-07:00Around the World in 80 Birds, by Mike Unwin<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdICUtSI-Fcshe4KmsD73XivAOP2yDQPN3WCQ08E-_0OnAdQgOLryZvvx0veuNsQqfPNnLKTPlmTDeOtyzX7Wo0rKpBAbwOt1Oni-g6LSOPTVqA2Tbvru1NvlzFLvPDBlOSqWIG8Uwz8MdxqNMegrjv6Li-p7W1wP6RI4AgIiPBnwfuOeOifQOez43audA/s400/58739280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="262" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdICUtSI-Fcshe4KmsD73XivAOP2yDQPN3WCQ08E-_0OnAdQgOLryZvvx0veuNsQqfPNnLKTPlmTDeOtyzX7Wo0rKpBAbwOt1Oni-g6LSOPTVqA2Tbvru1NvlzFLvPDBlOSqWIG8Uwz8MdxqNMegrjv6Li-p7W1wP6RI4AgIiPBnwfuOeOifQOez43audA/s320/58739280.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><p></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"><br />This is a great book.
The writing is engaging. The
illustrations by Ryuto Miyake are beautiful. Each
chapter is short but fascinating, dealing not just with the biologically
interesting facts but with cultural associations.</p><p class="Reviewbook"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Reviewbook">If you enjoy short surveys of interesting topics—especially
birds/animals—you'll love this. </p><p class="Reviewbook"><o:p></o:p></p>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9163718907774911804.post-34316549976448900862023-09-03T19:23:00.001-07:002023-09-03T19:23:00.149-07:00Horton Springs Trail (Again)From the Horton Springs Trail, one of my favorite trails because...CREEK!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA08bGVEPC9duaEHdbkj9zIa44cfRf-GAu3fkpfYAl1maljqsPlVhXM1JrwBtG2mpnoByWJMCPNJS4JIF4h76QXuBbDeie6a7KvJD2qteR066WhtuT82UFlg4FwOd2lxqaJ3vT0NeW2KQjS3pRZNKk0yL8M-dlQpC2dopxS8oWJLBDSrmEJ2gpL3qhKp_/s4000/IMG_0909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA08bGVEPC9duaEHdbkj9zIa44cfRf-GAu3fkpfYAl1maljqsPlVhXM1JrwBtG2mpnoByWJMCPNJS4JIF4h76QXuBbDeie6a7KvJD2qteR066WhtuT82UFlg4FwOd2lxqaJ3vT0NeW2KQjS3pRZNKk0yL8M-dlQpC2dopxS8oWJLBDSrmEJ2gpL3qhKp_/s320/IMG_0909.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Trailhead: Upper Tonto Creek Campground, near Kohl's Ranch, between Payson and Willow Springs lake. At the turnoff, head north. Parking's available at the Derrick Trailhead or just past Upper Tonto Creek Campground (to the left across the tiny bridge). </div>Melinda Brasherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11481061372330595910noreply@blogger.com0