…than ships–because they had armours, because the ships had been tasked to take care of them. Dong Huong remembered arguing with Lady Meng’s Brewer–begging the ship to spare itself instead of her–and running against a wall of obstinacy, a fundamental incomprehension that ships could be more important than humans. Among the Northerners, however, everything was different. (I have no idea what I’m going to do with this, and it looks like the kind of…

…ors and the bodhisattva Quan Am to find strength; but that it would always come back to that core of dark thoughts within you, that fundamental fright you carried with you like a yin shadow in your heart. I know, of course, where it started. I took you to the ship–because I had no choice, because Khi Phach was away on some merchant trip to the Twenty-Third Planet–because you were a quiet and well-behaved son, and the birth-master would have attend…

…, I admit have no idea what was going on here. (this actually got multiple searches. Colour me puzzled). 3. the science of pineapple brownies Ha. Fair point. So, pineapple brownies: chemical reactions between gluten in flour, butter and chocolate, cemented by a good hour in the oven to form a superstructure that holds together in the dish. (what do you mean, no? Ah yes, I didn’t actually take chemistry beyond cristallography and basic organics… Mi…

…hall now go back to my novel and browbeat it into submission. So far, it hasn’t exactly been cooperative… [1] All stories should have food. It improves the plot immeasurably. Also, it compensates for those times when I’m typing on my computer and can’t have more than a mug of tea and a raisin because it’s not dinnertime yet….

…Via xanthalanari and j_cheney: learnt that KD Wentworth passed away from complications related to cancer and pneumonia. I… um, am pretty much speechless. She was always generous with her advice, and did a beyond-excellent job of being the first judge for Writers of the Future, as well as an awesome teacher and a great writer. Gaaah. The world sucks….

…Just a heads-up that I’ll be in Sussex for four days for the Villa Diodati workshop; there might be wifi there, but I’m not really going to be inclined to keep blogging much… See you on Wednesday 😀…

…myself cooking in a kitchen that’s not my own, and I have to say you don’t realise how well-stocked your kitchen is until you run into one that’s… less well-stocked? I was cooking for VD [1], and the things I missed the most were, by order of decreasing importance: -chopsticks. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I’m absolutely useless as a cook without a pair of chopsticks. -kitchen knife. The difference between a good quality, balanced knife a…

…and my first chapter, so I’m ready to roll! I obsessively proofread the upcoming “Immersion” in Clarkesworld; I think I’ve got everything, but probably I haven’t 🙂 Kind of worried how it’ll come across: I seem to have moved in a new phase where I attempt very ambitious and very personal things, and end up always worried I’ll get something wrong or get howled at by everyone (OK. Not that very different from the Impostor Syndrome. Just turned up to…

…y anyone has seen yet!). You can find more information about the event (in Romanian) here [1]. And for those of you who can make it, I look forward to seeing you there! (and, hum, aside from this, if anybody has recommendations on what the H and I should see while in Bucharest, go ahead) [1] I don’t speak a word of Romanian, but google translate tells me it says very blush-inducing things about me and my fiction……

…too wide, skin that feels too pale, an odd, distant smell wafting from the compartment’s ambient system that is neither incense nor garlic, but something else, something elusive that you once knew. You’re dressed, already—not on your skin, but outside, where it matters, your avatar sporting blue and black and gold, the stylish clothes of a well-travelled, well-connected woman. For a moment, as you turn away from the mirror, the glass shimmers out…