Forgotten Bones, the mystery novel by Vivian Barz is one of the latest books I’ve finished reading. It was so good that I eventually stayed up all night while on vacation to finish it. Highly recommended, except for the first salacious chapter that almost made me discard the book.
Took mystery writer Patrick Kelly out to lunch (Terry Black’s BBQ). He’s an author to watch. All of his books are very good.
Binge watched Season 2 of The Mandalorian, binge watched Season 1 of The Amazing Race. Watched The Kentucky Derby (after watching the movie Secretariat). And am working on my mystery novel again.
I’m re-reading Gai-Jin by James Clavell, a ten-pound hardback that I remember not at all. Re-reading the first book in The Expanse series of science fiction writer James S.A. Corey Leviathan Wakes that I pretty much remember. Still reading (and reading it out loud to my cat) the fantasy novel Mystic by Jason Denzel. And have finished reading Patrick Kelly’s newest mystery novel Murder At Dawn (This one I couldn’t put down.)
After what was likely a six-month vacation from writing, I’m working on the end of Chapter 4 of my new mystery novel.
Re-read Becalmed by Kristine Katherine Rusch. Very disturbing story. Also re-read His Mysterious Lady by G.G. Vandagriff. Needed something light and pleasant and her Regency Romances usually are.
I’m revamping some or all of my book blurbs. Below is my first.
It doesn’t matter what you are or who you are. It doesn’t matter what you think or what your intentions are.
It only matters what you do.
Oh, really?
So, you’d let Attila the Hun pet sit your precious Fluffy the kitten just because he wasn’t known for abusing cats? Or hire Jack the Ripper to mow your lawn?
The middle aged owner and editor of the weekly newspaper called The Watermelon Pump has lived most of her working life believing that doing counts more than being, but having a sociopathic teenage boy on her staff as a small town newspaper reporter was making her rethink that stance.
At least he was only writing the engagement announcements and wedding stories. Couldn’t get in much trouble there. Right?
Luling, Texas is a small town known primarily for its watermelons (and one great barbecue joint.) Plus, a river runs through it. The only paper in town is run by local teenagers looking for an easy credit in journalism they can apply to college later. And one curmudgeonly middle aged woman who keeps a pet chicken in her office.
And maybe a budding serial killer.
Sometime sweet, maybe more bittersweet than not. Funny. And short. Easy to read, and short.
I’m reading an unexpectedly intriguing fantasy novel this week—Mystic by Jason Denzel. I found it in our back room library and haven’t a clue where it came from. Likely a free book from one of the science fiction and fantasy conventions we’ve attended over the years.
I’m also re-reading Kristine Katherine Rusch’s novel Maelstrom. Finished it. Very close to being boring.
Last weekend was the Cult Classic horror convention in Bastrop, Texas. The remaining cast of the movie Porky’s were there to be admired. Lots of people were there on Saturday. It’s one of the most entertaining book-selling opportunities we go to. Always fun. Nice people, too.
Just canceled our planned trip to Houston next week. Flooding anticipated, decided to play it safe.
I’ve finished reading Pet by Alwaele Emezl (a brilliant book) and almost finished re-reading The Chase by Kristine Katherine Rusch.
Wednesday zoo party had some of the best food I’ve ever eaten at any event! Example—three different hors d’oeuvres followed by a salad they were calling Mexican Citrus Salad. It had nine different ingredients. Queso fresco and toasted pepitas being two of them. Main meal was seared flatiron steak topped with coriander chimichurri and salsa macha. Best of all were the potatoes! AKA potato pave. And for dessert, salted caramel tres leches (with other good stuff on top)
Heaven! Except for the strong cold wind that buffeted us coming and going.
Ambassador animals were a lovely little sloth and a big lizard on a leash. (FYI I had written “lizard on a leach, and then lizard on a leech” before I realized it wasn’t right!!!
We sat with a Neiman-Marcus top executive and three other lovely ladies whose husbands (and them, of course) help make sure the San Antonio Zoo has the money it needs.
Gorillas coming to the San Antonio Zoo! Eight of them.
Recovering from Fencon (we were vendors their this last weekend), Doubletree near Galleria in Dallas. Getting there . . . I will never again drive the 635 loop. Never. Getting home, much better. Got instructions on how to drive from hotel to North Park and the streets we are used to taking.
The convention was interesting. We made a lot of new friends, and caught up with a few old friends as well. The view from our hotel room window was really interesting. It was like being in a futuristic dome looking out if we looked up, looking down showed us the dining room (and everyone in it.)
Roxanne and I sold my books (and bought art and books from our fellow vendors). My book The Goodall Mutiny was the one we sold most. (For those of you who don’t know, fen is the plural of fan in science fiction land, so selling my one science fiction book was a no-brainer). We also had A Resurrection of Starlings, Ill Met By Moonlight, Tiger Tiger Burning Bright, and others on our racks.
Just got the news that Lockhart’s one and only movie theatre is closing down. Right now. Very sorry to lose it. Spent a lot of nice times watching films with them. Even rented it to show our friends a private movie once. So sad they couldn’t make it.
I read 2001 by Arthur C. Clark this week. Was a lot better than the movie, and I have never liked the movie. And I read Cold River Rising by Enes Smith, could hardly put it down it was that compelling.
Watched the ever famous Superbowl, only the second time I’ve done so. In my lifetime. Was an interesting game. Halftime entertainment was dazzling. TV coverage superior. And likely won’t watch another. Superbowl. Good luck to those players who got injured that night.
But Mardi Gras at Fiesta Texas came first, on Saturday. Lively, and fun. Lots of entertainment (singers, dancers, parades, costumed cartoon icons). And the food was real good, although a bit too spicy for our tastes.
We went to the zoo, too. Near New Braunfels, Texas. The Snake Farm (And Zoo) which is mightily improved. The snakes are no longer in fish aquariums but have big, big glass enclosures. Don’t let the original (likely) façade of the building fool you. They have a nice little zoo as well as all those snakes. A wide range of animals to see, not counting dozens of chickens following you everywhere as if you’re their last hope. (Last time we were there those chickens were fluffy baby chicks). A cougar that meowed at us, a gray wolf that ignored us, hyenas busy tearing up their lair, bison, camels, zebras, lions, panthers, koi, capybaras. Picnic tables. Animal lectures. And a gift shop, ice cream truck.
Visited the George Bush Presidential Library at Texas A&M this past weekend. Impressive. Had already toured the L.B.J. Library on the U.T. grounds. Planning to head up to S.M.U. sometime to see the other Bush Presidential Library. Might as well. Felt that the L.B.J. library and museum covered the history of his times better than A&M’s, but Bush’s library was more personal. And it has a block of the Berlin Wall in it!
What I read this week—OZoo by Max Thompson, a riveting science fiction thriller.
Spent last Saturday walking all the way around San Antonio’s SeaWorld Park in search of their Mardi Gras Festival. No one working there could give us directions. Go figure!
Found it!
Part of it is past the Beluga whale stadium, and the rest of the action is in the front part of the park just before you get to the Steel Eel roller coaster.
Some jugglers walking on balls, beautifully dressed revelers handing out glass beads, Mardi Gras music playing all over the park, and wonderfully good food. The jambalaya was best. Also banana bread pudding.
Great weather. Was introduced to a bald eagle, saw the giant tortoises strut their stuff and a bunch of smallish alligators sunbathing.
Worth the hair-raising drive on I-10 getting there. Was easier getting back. Whatever they were doing to the road Saturday they weren’t doing Sunday.
This weekend was supposed to be our very last time as vendors (selling my science fiction and horror novels) at Aggiecon. But in fact, it was two years ago that was the last. Something happened. Don’t know what, but it’s like communication between us and their organization was blocked.
So, no Rix Café Texican old ladies in the vendor’s room. But it looks like there will be a lot of fun things to do there this weekend.
Have fun, all of you.
It’s February now. One month gone. I’m completing Chapter 4 of the mystery novel I’m working on. And re-watching LOST, wondering why no one in the YELLOWSTONE saga realizes the character Josh Holloway played (got bit by a rattlesnake thrown into his face) just disappeared.
Dropped plot line, like the polar bears and other dropped plot lines in LOST.
One more thought. The movie Roxanne helped produce (like a go fund me project) is getting advance reviews. Sort of cool seeing Roxanne Rix and our publishing company Rix Café Texican in the credits. Want to see? Bring up the movie title A Stranger in the Woods.
What I read this week: Night Magic by actor-turned-writer Thomas Tryon. Although it’s more accurate to say What I finished reading this week. It took me a long time to read this book and the overly-literary style was out of my comfort zone, but I did enjoy it. I also read two Jack Reacher novels, one totally this week Nothing to Lose, and finishing up one other Worth Dying For. They had a lot in common and I’m glad I read Worth Dying For first. I think it was the better story.
Ate at Dan’s Hamburgers in Kyle (onion rings were great!). Got a mammogram from ARA in Kyle too. On Tuesday and Wednesday we had a huge rainstorm. Looked like most people were staying home, at least on Wednesday when I ventured out to Black’s BBQ for their 4 for $10.00 chopped beef sandwich sale.
Reading The Son of Tarzan right now, even though I’ve read it before. Pretty good, but over-bloodthirsty and a bit more racist than I remembered. A great story illustrating tell, not show as a form of writing. I hardly noticed it.
The weather is turning warmer, thank you. And if you’re interested, Nine of my books are in the Austin Public Library system. Several of my books are in the Lockhart Public Library, three are in the Bryan, Texas library, and they are all available through Amazon and Brown and Noble as e-books.
