Reading

new Bujold podcast interview is up

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/26591562-new-bujold-podcast-interview-is-up

The interview I recorded a couple of weeks ago for the Baen Free Radio Hour podcast in support of the launch of Penric's Intrigues is now up, in various places.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxObg...

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4TDK...

and doubtless other venues.

By the way, if folks want more, I have an Author Q&A slot right here on Goodreads with, by now, over 1500 answered questions:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/1609...

Which should keep anyone busy reading for a while.

Ta, L.

posted by Lois McMaster Bujold on May, 08

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/26591562-new-bujold-podcast-interview-is-up

Entry tags:

gardening

Caterpillar

I just found the first caterpillar of the season on my cabbage, so I need to start checking regularly for them. Ugh.

Entry tags:

More digging

I got back to digging the trench under the short wall for the raised bed today. It was easier while listening to Murderbot. Also, I've gotten to a part that has more gravel, which makes it harder. I did a bunch of weeding too, so the yard does look a bit better.

I'm kind of moody. Because we'll be travelling soon, I assume.

Every time I see one of the desktop backgrounds from one of my favorite romance games, I miss the characters, so clearly I should try to find time - somehow - to play again.

Bujold NESFA collection reprint & e-print

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/26588779-bujold-nesfa-collection-reprint-e-print

Way back in 1996, I was writer guest of honor at Boskone, the science fiction convention associated with the New England Science Fiction Association, NESFA, one of the longest-running fan clubs out there. As was and is the custom of NESFA Press, they produce a nice book of their writer guest's unpublished or other writings for a convention souvenir. I didn't have much unpublished at the time, but we scraped up what we could, and the NESFA folks filled out the volume with interesting related matter.

On the most recent reprint, they went for an updated edition with a new intro by me, plus for the first time an e-edition. Now available here:

https://www.nesfa.org/book/dreamweave...

You can also get all their other Bujold hardcovers -- signed! -- through Uncle Hugo's Science Fiction Bookstore here in Minneapolis, http://www.unclehugo.com/prod/index.s... Where I will be doing a book signing on May 16th at 1 PM in honor mainly of Penric's Intrigues, but I'll sign whatever of mine folks have.

My books are also available locally through Dreamhaven Books & Comics.

Ta, L.

posted by Lois McMaster Bujold on May, 07

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/26588779-bujold-nesfa-collection-reprint-e-print

Entry tags:

books

Doing All The Things

The new Murderbot book is out, so I picked activities today that don't require a huge amount of focus, so that I can just binge listen to it. As a result, this is my most productive day in a long time. I did a ton of little chores that I had been putting off (like watering plants, cleaning the sink, changing the tablecloth on my desk), worked on some larger project (finishing sewing a pair of paints, digging the trench for the gravel under the wall of the raised bed), and did some things earlier than I normally do (like making soup for the next few days). I have a couple more things to do before I start my art time, which will definitely get me to the end of this book and may get me to the end of one of the other books that I'm listening to. Tomorrow, I'll have to get back to all the stuff that I need to do that requires my undivided attention. Oh, and Platform Decay (the book) is fantastic!

Entry tags:

health

Still worn out

When travelling, we discovered that if I go much more than 12,000 steps, I'm going to be exhausted for a while after that. I walked more than 12,000 steps on Friday and am still really tired. I'm going to need to eat more carbs, I guess.

Penric's Intrigues releases this week

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/26577894-penric-s-intrigues-releases-this-week

Penric's Intrigues, the 4th Pen & Des collection on paper from Baen Books, should be reaching stores this week, or maybe a bit earlier -- Uncle Hugo's Science Fiction Bookstore and Dreamhaven Books & Comics here in Minneapolis have theirs already, signed.

I don't know how widely distributed this one is going to be, but in any case your favorite local bricks 'n mortar bookstore should be able to order it via their usual channels on request, if it hasn't popped up on its own.

The online booksellers will start shipping it Tuesday, which means you can hit that order button most any time now.

It contains the novel-length The Assassins of Thasalon, and the novella "Knot of Shadows".

All three of the prior volumes remain available in hardcover, and can be ordered. (Some of the paperbacks are sold out.) To recap:

Penric's Progress, containing "Penric's Demon", "Penric and the Shaman", and "Penric's Fox".

Penric's Travels, containing "Penric's Mission", "Mira's Last Dance", and "The Prisoner of Limnos".

Penric's Labors, containing "Masquerade in Lodi", "The Orphans of Raspay", and "The Physicians of Vilnoc".

A week or so ago I recorded an hour-long interview for the Baen Free Radio Hour podcast in support of the new release; I'll link it here when it goes live.

Ta, L.

posted by Lois McMaster Bujold on May, 03

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/26577894-penric-s-intrigues-releases-this-week

Entry tags:

health

Worn out

After a couple of (quite fun) days of early mornings, I'm really tired. That would be fine if tonight wasn't supposed to be a late night playing Dungeons and Dragons. I think it might be time for a nap.

Entry tags:

the portuguese experiment

A lovely walk

I joined a couple of friends for a walk along the river this morning. Quite lovely! There is a boardwalk above the wetlands most of the way.

Entry tags:

the portuguese experiment

Much better

While keeping the yard under control is constant work, I've got the entire yard usable, mostly. There are spots where I'm not pulling the weird groundcover plants, as they seem mostly inoffensive. I'll have to deal with the weeds and grass that are growing in the same area, but there are no sections of yard that I can't get to because of waist-high grass or out of control nettles. If I can keep this up, I might be able to get the ivy and jasmine under control someday. Thank goodness for the scythe.

Entry tags:

painting,
sewing

A good day

I keep feeling like I'm forgetting something, as I have more time than usual. However, I've done all the normal stuff. I'm going to see if I can get some sewing done now, as I'd really like to have another pair of pants. I should be able to finish up a painting tonight, and I'm going to see if I can do another one with a stencil, since it should be really easy. I have no idea if I'll have enough time. Anyway, all is going well.

Entry tags:

health

Forgetfulness

My psychologist would like me to get a bit more exercise. She expressed it in the form of steps. I don't want to give up things that are exercise but don't generate steps, which makes sense. However, I keep forgetting to turn on the exercise counter for things like tai chi and gardening. An hour of tai chi is actually a lot of work, but it is too slow to show as lots of steps. Of course, one would think that the heart rate monitor would tell the band that I was exercising, but it seems to not do so well at that. It got readings from before and after, plus one reading from when I was actually working on gardening (which was much higher). However, now that I check the settings, it was on the "check every ten minutes except when exercising" setting, which is probably part of the problem. So, with a better setting, it might do what I want it to.

Entry tags:

Busy!

Tai chi was postponed until today, as yesterday was a big holiday. I went and am glad that I did, as we learned a bunch more of the sword form. However, I'm really tired. Also, I've decided about the neurofeedback. I won't do it this summer, as I need to prep for the language test. However, I'll go see the neurologist, tell him about the report that I need from him to get the tDCS covered, and get the ball rolling on that. Then, I can work on it later. I'm going to do the minimum this afternoon, as (like I said) I'm so tired. Joel's changed his mind about the need for bike repairs, so next week, we are planning on getting me set up with a bike route to the train station and back. We'll see how that goes.

Darksight Dare spoiler discussion space

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/26557075-darksight-dare-spoiler-discussion-space

As is my usual custom, this is to supply a discussion space in the comments for readers who have already read the new Pen & Des novella to talk about it with each other, without having to worry about spoilers for those not yet caught up. (Because it's hard to have a substantive discussion about a book without spoilers.)

In a nice piece of serendipity, this podcast discussion of specifically the Penric & Desdemona series surfaced this week on the podcast series The Incomparable Mothership:

https://www.theincomparable.com/thein...

Enjoy! L,

posted by Lois McMaster Bujold on April, 25

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/26557075-darksight-dare-spoiler-discussion-space