August 28, 2008
Backpack Bonding & The Dyslexia Police
As always coming home from the back country had its shocks: warm showers, microwave ovens, and bills. The first few days back were again frenetic—the hardest was the back to school shopping: a new laptop, and a not-so-hip-but-practical single speed bicycle. I hate spending money. My grandmother always used to say it was because I had inherited a Scottish Heart from her. Grandma grew up during the Great Depression in a tiny Midwest town of Scottish immigrants. In her, to be called “thrifty” was a complement outdone only by the famed “Scotch Heart”. It caused her physical pain every time food was thrown away. Read the rest of this entry »
August 19, 2008
Frenetic in the Frontcountry
The trip was wonderful. I fell in love with the higher trails–ridges of high dessert veined with narrow creeks that were themselves filled with boulders, flowering lupine and castillja. We slept the first night at Nobel Lake. I hopped into frigid waters and started to swim laps. Being a cardio-addict, I can usually go for 3 kilometers without too much of a problem. But at 10,000 feet, I nearly sank after a single lake crossing. Bit of a humbling experience. We would have continued in the high desert, but a member of our party developed acute mountain sickness that night and we had to hotfoot it down to lower elevation. Read the rest of this entry »
August 14, 2008
Backcountry Bound
Every few months I give myself a lecture about not over committing. Seems I’m due for another one. After just barely getting my feet back on the ground post Worldcon, I’m now packing for a backpacking excursion through the Stanislaus National Forest. First trip (training for the leaders) will be from Friday to Sunday. Maybe I’ll have a chance to post when we get back. More likely, I’ll be frantically editing and running errands before we take the incoming med students out for their bonding-in-the-woods trip (the 20th to the 24th).
In other news SF Signal asked me to participate in one Read the rest of this entry »
August 13, 2008
SEEDS OF CHANGE Website Launch!
At long last, Amazon and B&N have gotten Seeds of Change in stock. To celebrate our fearless leader, John Joseph Adams, has launched the anthology’s official website: www.seedsanthology.com
JJ has really out done himself this time. The beautiful site contains a wealth of information about each author, each story, and each the underlying scientific concept. After wondering around the site, I’m in awe of my bunk-mates in the anthology and am so proud to be in their number. Read the rest of this entry »
SEEDS OF CHANGE Book Trailer Launch!
Most wonderfully, media maestro and author Jack Kincaid has assembled a jaw-dropping book trailer for the anthology. Enjoy!
August 12, 2008
End of Worldcon Post
The last two days of Worldcon were almost completely opposites: the first filled with anticipation, excitement, frenetic activity; the second with lassitude and loss. Previously, I’ve attended cons as a fledgling writer looking to understand a new culture and to make connections. This time, I really enjoyed going as a fan—attending readings, wandering the dealers’ room, and (most importantly) catching up with old friends. That’s why for the first time, I felt a sense of loss as the con wound down. All the energy and the sense of community was fading. A bit like the end of summer camp. Back to real life. *Le sigh.* Read the rest of this entry »
August 10, 2008
A Painful Calculus, or Should I Delay Publication by a Year?
The last two days of Worldcon have been wonderful, but I’m going to hold off on a recap because I need your help. Probably.
Last post I mused about the price one pays for an interdisciplinary life. In the spirit of embracing that sacrifice, I’ve spent the last days of Worldcon brooding over the difficult and painful calculus of timing three books and an MD. I’ve had wonderful conversations with authors I respect and with my editor. The results are a bit surprising. So rather than explain the dilemma to friends and family over and over, I’ve posted the situation below. If you have any advice, please *please* pass it along. Read the rest of this entry »
August 9, 2008
Mid Worldcon Post
Saturday morning, toward the end of the con, I’m sitting in my hotel room drinking the stuff-that-is-almost-coffee, which one can make with the hotel room’s percolator. So far the week has been the culmination of a “literary summer” after my first “medical year”. The con is wonderful fun–I’ll describe the highlights below–but it often gives me a sharper sense of my internal division. Last autumn, a surgeon pulled me aside quoted something that has haunted me ever since: “Chase two hares and both will get away.”
There are a hundred reasons why this pearl of wisdom is cracked. Mostly, I’m convinced that blending disparate disciplines–bring art to science, science to art, emptying what’s full, filling what’s empty, scratching where it itches–is the only life to live. Read the rest of this entry »
August 6, 2008
Worldcon Bound
The bags are all packed, and as usual I have this unshakeable feeling I’m forgetting something. Looks like a wild week ahead: catching up with friends, pursing the wonderful things they’ve been writing, touring NORAD(!), gabbing until all hours of the night about possible stories. Summer camp for SFF authors.
If you’re going to be in Denver, drop me a line!
August 5, 2008
SF Signal calls Endosymbiont “100% engrossing”!
Another blush-inducing review! And when bald white men blush, lemme tell you there’s a lot of red involved. These comments come from SF Signal. The review of the over all anthology is positive, and I’m thrilled that I was picked out for further remark. Comments relating to Endosymbiont quoted below. You can read the whole review here.
“This is Charlton’s first published work and, if it is any indication of things to come, he will be one to watch.”
“Blake Charlton’s “Endosymbiont” — to put it simply — blew me away. What starts out as the touching personal story of a young girl on chemotherapy soon makes way to things of larger scope and import. Read the rest of this entry »
