Clik here to view.
WorldCon 2016: The art of worldbuilding
Disclaimer: I am not perfect and neither are my notes. If you notice anything that requires clarification or correction, please email me at melanie (dot) marttila (at) gmail (dot) com and I will fix...
View ArticleClik here to view.
WorldCon 2016: Alienbuilding
Disclaimer: I am not perfect and neither are my notes. If you notice anything that requires clarification or correction, please email me at melanie (dot) marttila (at) gmail (dot) com and I will fix...
View ArticleClik here to view.
WorldCon 2016: Political worldbuilding in science fiction
Disclaimer: I am not perfect and neither are my notes. If you notice anything that requires clarification or correction, please email me at melanie (dot) marttila (at) gmail (dot) com and I will fix...
View ArticleClik here to view.
WorldCon 2016: Two suns in the sky
Disclaimer: I am not perfect and neither are my notes. If you notice anything that requires clarification or correction, please email me at melanie (dot) marttila (at) gmail (dot) com and I will fix...
View ArticleClik here to view.
WorldCon 2016: Terraforming Terra
Disclaimer: I am not perfect and neither are my notes. If you notice anything that requires clarification or correction, please email me at melanie (dot) marttila (at) gmail (dot) com and I will fix...
View ArticleClik here to view.
WorldCon 2016: The state of feminist fantasy
Disclaimer: I am not perfect and neither are my notes. If you notice anything that requires clarification or correction, please email me at melanie (dot) marttila (at) gmail (dot) com and I will fix...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Story Masters: May 11-14, 2017
This lovely workshop came to my attention last year through Jenny Madore, a writer friend. It was put together by Lorin Oberweger and Free Expressions. Jenny sent me a notice last spring, yes, that was...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why you should enrol in Writing the Other
Disclaimer: I’m a total newb at trying to express my thoughts and feelings on diversity and cultural appropriation. If I inadvertently write anything offensive or harmful, I invite you to let me know....
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Writing Excuses Baltic Cruise, part 1
I’m baaa-aaack! Did you miss me? As you might be able to tell from the title of this post, I’ve decided to break up my Writing Excuses Retreat (WXR) experience into parts. There was just too much...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Writing Excuses Retreat, part 2
Copenhagen and day at sea In this instalment, I’m covering days two and three of the Writing Excuses Retreat (WXR) Baltic cruise. On day two, I was up fairly early, mostly because I hadn’t yet fully...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Writing Excuses Retreat, part 3
We resume the tale of the WXR Baltic cruise on Tuesday, August 1st, day four. I woke up at ridiculous o’clock and couldn’t get back to sleep. So I dealt with the morning’s email, social media, and blog...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Writing Excuses Retreat, part 4
Part four of the Writing Excuses Retreat (WXR) begins on the morning of Thursday, August 4, 2017, day six of the cruise. This was our day in St. Petersburg, Russia, and our third port day in a row. In...
View ArticleClik here to view.
WorldCon 75 summary post
It seems we’ve exchanged hurricanes and mass shootings for wildfires and floods. Wherever you are, whatever has come your way, please find safety. Welcome back to the ongoing tale of my European...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Review of The Sorrow Stone by J.A. McLachlan
I’ve been a fan of Jane Ann’s for some time and when I saw that she was launching her latest historical fiction novel at 2018’s Ad Astra, I had to pick up a copy. Jane Ann is an excellent storyteller...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Book review of Putting the Science in Fiction
Another overdue review. What Amazon says: Science and technology have starring roles in a wide range of genres–science fiction, fantasy, thriller, mystery, and more. Unfortunately, many depictions of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Book review of The Calculating Stars
What Amazon says: On a cold spring night in 1952, a huge meteorite fell to earth and obliterated much of the east coast of the United States, including Washington D.C. The ensuing climate cataclysm...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Book review of What the Wind Brings by Matthew Hughes
What the publisher says: In the mid 1500s shipwrecked African slaves melded with the indigenous peoples of coastal Ecuador and together they fought the Spanish colonial power to a standstill, to remain...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Book review of River of Teeth and Taste of Marrow by Sarah Gailey
I decided to review both of Sarah Gailey’s novellas—currently collected in the volume American Hippo—in one post. What the publisher says: River of Teeth: In the early 20th Century, the United States...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Book review of The Fated Sky by Mary Robinette Kowal
What the publisher says: Mary Robinette Kowal continues the grand sweep of alternate history begun in The Calculating Stars, The Fated Sky looks forward to 1961, when mankind is well-established on the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Review of A Time and a Place by Joe Mahoney
I promised Joe I’d get the review out before the end of the year. I know, I’m cutting it close. What the publisher says: Barnabus’ nephew is behaving oddly. Calling upon Doctor Humphrey for assistance...
View Article