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The Big Idea: Alex Kingsley

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/10/17/the-big-idea-alex-kingsley/

Published: October 17, 2024 14:45

Debut author Alex Kingsley is here today to talk to us about crabs, monsters, being an outsider, and how all these things are inexorably connected. Follow along through their Big Idea for their new novel, Empress of Dust, and see what it really means to be…

View From a Hotel Window, 10/17/24: NYC

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/10/17/view-from-a-hotel-window-10-17-24-nyc/

Published: October 17, 2024 14:43

Oh, midtown. You have such medium-sized buildings in you. Plus a few skyscrapers! You know, here and there. Today: NYCC! A panel on audiobooks, and then a panel on the worst reviews the panelists have ever gotten. Gonna be fun. Plus I’ll sign some books…

The Big Idea: Curtis C. Chen

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/10/16/the-big-idea-curtis-c-chen-3/

Published: October 16, 2024 13:47

For the third book in his science fiction series, Curtis C. Chen sets his site on a planetary neighbor, and a classic 90s action film, as inspirations. Which location and which film? Chen reveals all in this Big Idea for True Blue Kangaroo. CURTIS C. CHEN:…

Library Events and NYCC

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/10/16/library-events-and-nycc/

Published: October 16, 2024 13:20

Last night I did an event at the Piqua Library, Piqua being just a few miles from where I live, and it was an interesting event because I didn’t know who was going to show up. When I do a book tour event, it’s reasonably certain that the folks who come to…

The Big Idea: Nisi Shawl

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/10/15/the-big-idea-nisi-shawl-2/

Published: October 15, 2024 15:01

Famous writers will tell you of their lives and the lives of those in their orbit. That framing, however, suggests those other lives are not on their own journeys through the universe. In this Big Idea for The Day & Night Books of Mardou Fox, author Nisi…

Celebrating Maialata With Plates & Pages

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/10/14/celebrating-maialata-with-plates-pages/

Published: October 14, 2024 15:33

Maialata was a term I’d never heard before until I saw that Five on Vine and Household Books was having another Plates & Pages event, and that was the theme. Based on my fantastic experience last year with this event, I knew immediately I had to get myself…

Krissy, Rock Star

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/10/13/krissy-rock-star/

Published: October 13, 2024 16:01

I was DJing an after party last night, as I occasionally do, and Krissy was there to dance along with me while we were there. At one point I got out my phone to capture her mid-head bang. She was singing along with the song while holding a mic stand, so it…

To the Person Actively Trying to Get Into My WordPress Account

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/10/11/to-the-person-actively-trying-to-get-into-my-wordpress-account/

Published: October 11, 2024 11:56

Quit it. It’s annoying. — JS

Look To the Skies

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/10/10/look-to-the-skies/

Published: October 11, 2024 02:35

The Northern Lights, once again visible in Ohio. Twice in one year after never seeing them before in my life. And from my house at that. 2024 has that going for it at the very least. — JS

100,000 Followers On Bluesky and Other Notes

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/10/10/100000-followers-on-bluesky-and-other-notes/

Published: October 10, 2024 13:48

Today feels like a bit of an auspicious day for my social media: I’ve gotten to 100,000 followers on Bluesky, which is at the moment the place on social media where I hang out the most. It took me about 18 months to accrue that number, which is less than…

Spot Review of the Pixel Buds Pro 2

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/10/09/spot-review-of-the-pixel-buds-pro-2/

Published: October 9, 2024 16:35

I’ve been using various iterations of the Google Pixel Buds for a few years now, and have generally been happy with them, but the one exception was the Pixel Buds Pro. I disliked them for a single, simple reason: They wouldn’t stay in my ears. My ear shape…

I Voted Early, and You (Probably) Can Too

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/10/08/i-voted-early-and-you-probably-can-too/

Published: October 8, 2024 16:48

I am going to be in France on the actual election day, so it was important for me to vote as soon as I could here in Ohio, which happens to be today. I drove over to the Darke County Board of Elections, presented my ID, got my ballot, and then made my…

The Big Idea: Sung-Il Kim

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/10/08/the-big-idea-sung-il-kim/

Published: October 8, 2024 14:12

In the world, some things are treated like immutable natural laws — but can change happen? And what would happen then? In Blood of the Old Kings, author Sung-Il Kim (in translation via Anton Hur) looks at what could transpire when characters crave to…

Back Home But Not Done With the Book Tour

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/10/07/back-home-but-not-done-with-the-book-tour/

Published: October 8, 2024 02:38

At least one creature is happy to see me! I’m back home now, but that doesn’t mean the Starter Villain paperback tour is done yet. Tomorrow (October 8) I’ll be at the Barnes and Noble at the Easton Town Center in Columbus for another event, starting at…