events, excitement, and writing updates

I have been working on developing the geomorphology of Rsiltar, which is not easy as I seem to be challenged at learning earth science and chemistry, but good speculative fiction depends on a good science base.

Last Major Trip:
Texas and California (Fall 2005)

Didn't get as much accomplished writing-wise this last trip (Plano), but it was still nice. I guess last year was just so extraordinary it would be unrealistic to expect that much progress every time I have a few days to write.

I picked up a few very good books which I hope presently to describe. I finally finished reading Barber's The Holy Grail: Imagination and Belief; it is a nice "review course" as I read and studied a lot of Grail lit in college, a lifetime ago! You can see my review at amazon.com, along with other reviews. Great book. There is also a lovely new edition of Malory available at Barnes & Noble and online, and I just had to get that as well. Haven't read it yet though; The Road to Middle-earth is next in line (well, some Girl Genius comics have snuck in first, along with Despereaux).

It was my first trip to California! I stayed with friends in Sacramento, and one night at a hotel in San Francisco. The main event was "The Culture of Chocolate" at the Hearst gallery (museum?) in Berkeley. It was very interesting and there were tastings afterwards of everything from fancy modern truffles back to authentic mole and beverages. I even got to use a metate to crush roasted cacao beans. My friend Dr. Kirsten Tripplett was the moderator. I will never look at chocolate the same way again.

Link to the Hearst's Media site to see press release which is very interesting.

Link to Dr. Tripplett's home page