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For me, the 2011-2012 school year began again today. I spent the majority of my day pruning my email box. Wooh! What you missed out on!

It’s been a strange news day in Oslo. Awaiting more details.

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I have been keeping busy working on writing for the Clarion Write-a-thon. And I’ve been thinking about ways that I can improve my writing motivation. What I think I’ll be doing is looking for readers that might want to read my work as someone who enjoys the work, rather than someone who is helping me fix the work.

Don’t get me wrong. I want to have readers who help me fix my work, and I’ll still be chatting with writers. But I need some folks who would read my work for fun, and ask me questions about content and story. So, if this sounds like you, just let me know. I’m working on how I’m going to get this set up. First, though, I need to see if I can interest anyone in the actual reading.

This is just reading. You don’t need any kind of expertise, just a desire to read some Klarion books. Let me know if this sounds like you.

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Hope to finish my Norway posts this weekend, and get some pictures up. We’ll see. I have four more writing hours to pay the piper in order to get caught up from all my travel antics.

Catherine

HELP? In my quest to interview all VP XIIIers, I begin my search for one Drew Morby. If you know how to get in touch with Drew, please let me know, as I have yet to be successful in this regard. I haven’t seen or heard from Drew since we parted ways at the ferry at Martha’s Vineyard in 2009, so I’d appreciate any leads.

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The busy, she makes me dizzy.

I need to be writing, but I thought I’d write some quick snapshots to let you all know I’m alive and well.

North American Discworld=Interesting writer and reader panels. Surprise visit by Neil Gaiman. Never eating steak tartar again. Some things should not be sushi.

Family Reunion=spent wonderful weekend with excellent friends in hot Iowa weather. Jimmy Jack’s continues to be fantastic barbeque.

Iowa weather=swimming pool of the Midwest. I have no air conditioning save in our bedroom. Sleep is not a problem. The rest of the day is.

Work=I return to work on Friday, so there will be more regular updates and witticisms. Also, busy-ness of a work-related nature, for variety.

Phyllis=social circle is huge and expanding. Being a good person for 80 years pays off in dividends.

We return you to rest of Internet while I work on some writing.

Cath

Kat Hankinson could be the busiest writer on the planet. Pursuing a PhD, raising twins, writing and running occupy her time. Plenty of time in there to whip out a best seller too!

Tamago: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

Kat: When I was in grade school. I remember telling somebody that I wanted to be an “arthur” when I grew up. I actually wrote & illustrated a science fiction “epic” in fourth grade (about the evolution of a race of gentle & wise reptilians). As a child I was constantly writing, drawing and creating fantasy worlds. It took a while to come around to the idea of actually having a career as a fiction writer, though. In college I made the commitment to be a fiction writer. Several years later, after I got my MFA and worked as an intern on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” I decided to write fantasy. I’ve been plugging away since then. I’m so grateful to Viable Paradise for the support and encouragement that has come from the instructors and alumni.

Tamago: Which writers would you say influenced your work?

Kat: Mythology first and foremost, from any culture anywhere.

In fantasy/sci-fi, well of course there are the Inklings: Tolkien, the dazzling E.R. Eddison, and C.S Lewis (Till We Have Faces, a retelling of the Eros & Psyche myth, is my favorite of his works). The Inklings were all about mythology; in the face of world war and a widespread loss of faith, the lack of a “center” in cultural life, they wanted to create mythology for the modern age. I find that compelling.

More contemporary influences include Gene Wolfe: his intensity, darkness and invention have gotten under my skin. I adore Ursula LeGuin, and especially admire her range: she can do everything from high fantasy to sci-fi to literary fiction, and I’d like to emulate that. I also admire Patricia McKillip’s elegant style and her seemingly effortless world making.

Tamago: What kind of genre do you work in?

Kat: I prefer fantasy, though I do occasionally write science fiction and “literary” stories as well.

Tamago: Tell us about the projects you’re working on right now.

Kat: There are several simmering away. Two novels: one is a fantasy epic that I can best describe as “Milton meets the Mahabharata”; the other is a dark/urban/historical saga about a family descended from demons.

Short stories include a series of science fiction pieces as well as a fantasy story that is turning out to be a retelling of the Demeter-Persephone myth. There are a few projects that fall into the realm of realism as well.

Tamago: In addition to writing, I know you have young twins, and that you are pursuing a PhD. How do you balance all of these demands on your life with your writing?

Kat: I take lots of vitamins.

Seriously, having children has taught me that it’s okay to take my time and to strike a dynamic balance between the creative life and everyday life. Being a parent has also helped me to be uber-practical and prioritize. For example, this year I’ve set fiction aside so that I can get through the dissertation as quickly as I can. Even with my little ones in day care a few days a week, it’s a challenge to squeeze in a few hours of writing and research, and I need all the brain space I can get to stay focused on my topic. (Of course, whenever I’m driving, fiction projects are weaving themselves in my head!) The reward that I’ll give myself when the doctorate is done will be at least a year to write fiction, fiction, and nothing but fiction.

Tamago: Does the subject you’re studying for your PhD influence your work at all? If so, how?

Kat: I wish it did. I imagine life would be simpler if I were studying mythology or writing about science fiction or fantasy. But no, my intellectual interests have led elsewhere: I’m exploring the narratives of whites who were adopted by Indian tribes in North America in the 17th & 18th centuries. These texts necessarily reflect the difficulty of communicating Indian cultural concepts in Anglo-American terms and forms. So I wouldn’t say this research influences my work, but it expresses an interest in frontiers, in the edges of experience where communication becomes nearly impossible: the liminal state. Which is what much mythology deals with as well. And which I am drawn to in my fiction writing. So my academic work is not so much an influence on my writing as it is another expression of my interest in the liminal.

Tamago: Do you prefer writing short stories or novels?

Kat: Novels. My imagination likes to complicate & expand things.

Tamago: If someone wanted to go to Viable Paradise, what advice would you offer them? What could they expect to get out of the workshop?

Kat: Go for it! I learned more about writing and forging a career as a writer at VP than I did in the two-year MFA program I attended. Be open to everything you hear and takes voluminous notes, because the program is intense and your brain will overflow rapidly. When you get home afterward, you will need those notes — and lots of contact with your new VP friends — to incorporate all you’ve learned into your work and your life.

You will receive tough criticism, which is always needed. You will receive encouragement, which is also needed. You will be invited to consider your authorship as a real career-in-the-making — not just a dream. And you will have the opportunity to become part of a great circle of supportive and talented writer friends.

Tamago: Who are your favorite writers?

Kat: In the “literary” realm (including magical realism & the Gothic), I love writers with intense style and courage to explore: Toni Morrison, Isabel Allende, Marquez, Carson McCullers, Truman Capote, early American Gothic writer Charles Brockden Brown, the Brontes, Shakespeare, Melville. Others include (randomly) Virginia Woolf, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Herman Hesse, Tennessee Williams, and Wallace Stevens. I also enjoy the work of many Native American writers including Diane Glancy, Leslie Marmon Silko and Sherman Alexie.

Tamago: Where do you hope to be in your writing career in 10 years?

Kat: In ten years I’d like to have two novels published, I’d like to be teaching writing and literature, and I’d like to spend more time with writer friends/colleagues, sharing our passion for our art.

In Oslo, there were many museums. There are a freaky amount of museums, and there’s just NO WAY you could visit them all. During our time there, we visited

the Norwegian Folk Museum, which is a great place to see rustic Norwegian buildings and folk craft. Fun facts: Norwegians use sod roofs on some of their old buildings, and the grass keeps right on growing on the roof; when in doubt, rosemale it, and Norwegian barns are thinner on the first floor than they are on the second floor.

the Viking Ship Museum, which is, as you might expect, full of Viking Ships. Catrina asked the question, Why would the Vikings leave Norway, especially after we saw the beautiful fjords? And the answer is because the food is so darned expensive!

the Norwegian National Gallery, where there were some amazing pictures in a variety of styles. Alas, the pickpocketing problem has gotten out of hand. No, we weren’t sticky fingered, but we were warned. Here you can see The Scream , and a wide variety of gorgeous landscapes. Also, some art of the fantastic.

Akershus Fortress. Rick Steve’s said to not visit. What the hell does he know? It was GREAT! The free English travel commentary added a lot, as did the ghost story track.

Now, did we like Oslo? Well, to be honest, we found Oslo to be a bit spread out. I mentioned that the Oslo pass was a good buy. It’s a necessity if you want to get around Oslo for anything like a reasonable price. Food was the most expensive we encountered during our trip. One save grace was that we found our way to the grocery store, and we got to experiment in cold cuts and cheese to help with our traveling lunch and breakfast.

Food questions for travelers–can anyone tell me what’s up with the ubiquitous pink donuts in Scandinavia? How’s about the convenience store spaghetti cups?

At this point, we journeyed to the fjords, and I’ve written a heartfelt entry about that. I will weigh in on Bergen next, and then I will try to start getting some photos posted. Catrina has some amazing mountain photos that are to die for, so I’m looking forward to sharing her skills with you.

Catherine

I did mention that I’d be coming out in a collection of stories from Paper Golem Press, Cucurbital 2.

First of all, I have to compliment Dr. Lawrence Schoen, the publisher of Paper Golem. I have never been through an editing process that was so fast and thorough. Just when I thought I’d figured out that publishing is all about waiting! Anyway, the fast turn around is much appreciated. I’ve already done the line edits, proofed the galleys, and my part is done.

Would you like to see the cover? Do you remember that the three prompts for the story were turtle, watermelon, and sex worker? The cover manages to capture two. Yes, the two safest, for PG’s sake!

I think it’s really cute.

When can you buy the book? The book will probably go up for pre-order after Renovation (so that would be after August 21st). Official release will be first week in November. Lawrence says that there will most likely be a release party at Capclave

So, there will be links and things like that forthcoming. I really went through all this writing so I could share the cover.

Catherine

My summer cold has evolved into double conjunctivitis. Some of us have all the luck!

I’m using drops and resting my eyes. I hope to get back to writing and an on-line life soon.

The convention was good, although with a cold as heavy as the one I had, I spent most of my time trying to avoid people so I wouldn’t share. The conjunctivitis developed on Saturday night and lead to an early departure Sunday.

Luckily, I was able to get my voice in shape for my reading Friday, which was about the last reliable half an hour I had with it.

Anyway, number one goal this week is to get better so I can go to North American Discworld on Friday. I hope that my eyes have improved enough that I can be writing again tomorrow. I’m an hour down as of today.

I look less like someone’s punched me now, so we’re coming along. God bless modern meds.

See you guys soon.

Catherine

I should add that I will be at Convergence this weekend. We’ll be leaving any time now. (Kind of hanging around for Fed Ex because my 25 anniversary wedding ring upgrade is supposed to be arriving. Husbands care, it seems.)

Most of the time I’ll be taking it easy, because Convergence is generally my con to be a geek with my geeky friends, not a writer. However, I’ll certainly say hello to the writers I know who will be there.

And I do have one writerly thing scheduled. Along with Kathy Sullivan, I’ll be at the Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading (only two of us, so it’s not terribly rapid). That’ll be Friday at 12:30-1:30. I’ll be reading the newly edited, not so spicy, but still pretty spicy version of “Turtle of the Earth” which will be published in Cucurbital 2 sometime this fall.

If you see me there, say hello.

Back on Monday.

Catherine

Oslo. The name says it all. Doesn’t the word Oslo conjure up…um…images of romance? adventure? How about expensive? I would contend that if Oslo isn’t the most expensive city in the world, it’s in the top five. I can now say I’ve had a $4 bottle of diet Coke at a convenience store.

Oslo turned out to be a bit more spread out than I bargained for. We stayed in a hotel that was supposed to be in Oslo, according to our travel information, but instead was in Hovik, which was a bit down the road. It didn’t matter in the long run. The room was good, the hotel breakfast was pleasant, and we were a short distance from both a grocery store and a bus stop.

If you ever find yourself in Oslo, as people do, and you’re there to tour, my advice is get the Oslo pass. We had 48 hour Oslo passes. They initially seem like a chunk of change, but by the time you’ve figured out all the bus trips, the museum entries, and even the discounts you can potentially get, the pass is a steal for touring Oslo.

Catrina and I picked up our Oslo passes our second day in town, and then we were off to the Folklore Museum (museums next entry). To get to the Folklore Museum, one takes a beautiful little ferry ride out over the water to Bygdoy. We got in line for the ride, and I pulled my Oslo pass out of my wallet…

…exactly as a breeze fluttered up and pulled it right out of my hands. It flittered into the water and floated on the surface.

Continue reading “Customer Service”

Before too much writing, I’d like to thank Shannon Ryan, Aric Stewart, and Diana Nevins for donations to the write-a-thon. You guys have all been added to the writing blog, and thanks for helping to support the burgeoning talent of new writers who might receive these scholarship funds.

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I have a few more thoughts on Finland that I’d like to share before I begin on my reflections of Oslo. Overall, I found the Finns to be very polite and friendly. With the exception of our friend Marcu, who is painstakingly lambasted in our last entry, most of the folks in Helsinki and Turku were pretty great. In Helsinki, all I had to do was stop to look at my map, and someone helpful asked me if I knew where I was. Turku wasn’t quite that attentive, but it still had a friendly vibe.

There were some things about Finland that seem to be super cool. Both our hotels had saunas. Well, yeah, you might not want one every night. But on vacation, saunas are a treat.

Cider made from many fruits is apparently a way in which Europe is superior to us. Strawberry cider appears to be a Swedish thing, but the Finns were very helpful in helping us get our fix. It became the drink of choice on the trip.

I don’t understand the decision to sell hot dogs and sausages without a bun. I take that back. Food is very expensive, so I get it. I’m just saying that you might want to bring special gloves for those times you don’t have bread assist, because them piggies is greasy.

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The reason we journeyed to Turku is so Catrina could get a good look at the castle. I was fairly impressed by the vaulted ceilings and the interesting architecture. This castle had a load of old wooden religious relics, some of which reminded me of the many I saw in Russia a few years back. There were some other objects kept in the castle as a sort of historical museum which were also interesting. Rick Steve’s won’t recommend Turku for a trip in his guide book, but if you like castles, I wouldn’t miss it.

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Oslo’s coming. Next up: the exciting story of the Oslo pass.

Catherine

(The next two entries in the journal will discuss our time in Turku, Finland.)

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Dear Mrs. Marcu:

My apologies in writing to you if you don’t exist. Since I’m a writer of fiction, that doesn’t bother me as much as it might bother some. I also know your last name wouldn’t be Marcu, because your alleged husband’s first name is Marcu, but it’s better than calling you woman who doesn’t necessarily exist who may or may not be attached to the man that tried to pick Catrina and myself up in a bar in Turku, after we made it very clear that his attentions weren’t wanted.

The day before I found out how sick my husband’s father was, I came back from a day of sight-seeing with the declaration that I wanted to karaoke, as I had heard it was big in Finland. Catrina, trooper that she is, researched a great place in Turku, so we were ready for Tuesday night karaoke fever. Honestly, Mrs. Marcu, we wanted to play glow in the dark mini-golf, which was across from the hotel, but they had moved downtown, and then they were on vacation when we located their new location. It was just not meant to be.

So, we went to karaoke. The bar was kind of dead, but hey, it was Tuesday. We were in there, a couple of young women were in there, a folk singer was doing an interesting mix of English songs and English songs in Finnish. It’s all good. We forked over two euros each, cozied up with a couple of strawberry ciders and waited until the karaoke started around ten.

Now, Mrs. Marcu, let me make this clear. Neither Catrina nor I were dressed very provocatively. Not that that matters, but you should know we weren’t screaming available. Catrina looked nice, and I would go so far to say that I looked…frumpy that day. But Marcu gave us the eye across the room. I leaned over to Catrina and asked if she had activated her plus one ring of protection (the wedding ring) because I thought we were going to have company.

Marcu asked if he could join us.

Continue reading “An Open Letter to Mrs. Marcu”