Sound Clip from Vampire Close

http://coffeeminx.tumblr.com/post/133545243064/example-i-used-at-rwa-national-conference-of-an

If you're interested: here's the audio book on Audible

Historical Cat and Dog Cuddling

I love the stuff one can find when researching in old newspapers. I also love that humans have been fascinated by cats and dogs cuddling for centuries. This would have been on I Can Has Cheezburger if it took place today.

Anecdote of a Cat - Edinburgh - 1821

Kitty to the rescue.

Magical Scottish Fling

If you attended the RT BookLovers' Convention you know about this year's Magical Scottish Fling Faery Ball. For those unable to attend, here are some photos, the stage shots courtesy of RT Book Reviews:

THE CLAN MACFAE

This was our Faery Court for this year; we hosted the party. I'm the one in the blue hat next to James Rollins. You can't tell, but I'm in a matching blue cavalier coat and Appin Stewart tartan skirt (kilts are only for men). Unfamiliar with Appin Stewart?

The plaid inside the shield is Appin Stewart.

Each of us had tartan badges like this lining the entrance to the ballroom. I chose Appin Stewart as my tartan.

The costumes this year were fantastic (as always):

Six foot wing-span on this one!

tattooed wings!

You might be wondering - why is this event called both the Faery Ball and the Magical Scottish Fling?

Traditionally, the Convention's Thursday night dinner and dance was called the Faery Ball and had Faery/Mythology themes and costumes. It was thought that after so many years, it would make a nice change-up to open the theme beyond Faery/Mythology. 

So this year the Thursday dinner and dance was called the Magical Scottish Fling. We're the same Court, but your costume only had to connect with Scotland. It could be historical, mythological, steampunk, whatever.

And under the category of I-have-wings-and-am-ready-to-party:

J.A. Konrath & Blake Crouch

Next year we may cast an even wider costume net, we'll have to see. Anything to get the fellas to participate, right?

Courtesy RT Book Reviews

Oh, and if you want a closer look at my hat:

Jacobite Susanne

I hope y'all can attend next year in Kansas City, MO!

Books, Scotland & More in Chicago April 2012

Online registration for the RT BookLovers' Convention in Chicago, April 11 - 15, 2012 is open!

Are you going?

There's tons of panels and chats and parties for writers, readers, booksellers and librarians, YA fans, everyone!

And of course, book-signings, like the one pictured here.

The hotel is the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, which looks beautiful - and convenient for the airport. 

As always, I am on the Faery Court, hosting the Faery Ball. This year we're doing a Magical Scottish Fling and encouraging our guests to attend in a Scots-themed costume. Something out of Scottish myth and legend, a character from your favorite Scottish historical or person from Scottish history, or even the embodiment of your favorite Scottish song or poem! 

You love Robert Burns' Red, Red Rose? Come in a gown of red rose blossoms and petals! 

There will be a costume contest, of course, and - new this year - a drawing for three mega-baskets of gifts. Not just promo stuff. Actual cool gifts.

It's going to be fantastic. 

This year I am also hosting a readers' panel and, as you can see, I have awesome company (panel info below). Please join us for the Naked Truth about Scotland!

Hope I see y'all at the Convention!

UNDER THE KILT — THE NAKED TRUTH ABOUT SCOTLAND

Everything you ever wanted to know about Scotland. Not only what a gentleman wears under his kilt, but also: If the rebels supported Bonnie Prince Charlie, why are they called Jacobites? Are Bloody Mary and Mary, Queen of Scots the same person? What is a Burns supper and is haggis really as disgusting as it sounds? If you love Scotland, join us for an interactive chat about this unique land.

Hosts: Loretta Chase, Donna Grant, Sahara Kelly, Kimberly Killion, Cathy Maxwell, Susanne Saville, Veronica Wolff

Bored at the Library? Don't Ruin the Floors

Yes, do please go home and masturbate if you are bored. Or over-excited by the University of St. Andrews Library collection.

I love how they add to enquire at the Library Help Desk if you have any questions. Being a librarian myself, I can imagine the Help Desk actually being prepared for such enquiries - having a binder of Places Where It Is Acceptable To Masturbate and Masturbation Etiquette and so forth.

And, of course, now I'm wondering if this is a SECRET, UNRECOGNIZED PROBLEM at American universities. Is this why tuition fees are going up? Professional cleaning for the excessive amount of semen stain on university library floors?

New Cover for Vampire Close

UK Under Snow - Yes, All Of It

Emigrants' death voyage recalled

This photo and the quotes below are from BBC News

This is an interesting little corner of Highland emigration history. I've read about the emigration to Canada and the US, but I had not read of this. St. Kilda is a small, remote island, the westernmost of the Outer Hebrides. Today it is no longer inhabited by anyone.

""The deaths of 18 islanders on a voyage to Australia was a factor in ending large-scale emigration from the Highlands," historian Eric Richards, professor of history at Flinders University in Adelaide, has said. ...

""The 36 who went represented a third of the population of St Kilda. On the course of their journey to Australia half of them were to die not from smallpox, or influenza but measles.""

"The St Kildans were so badly affected by measles because their remote island life meant they had not previously been exposed and built up any immunity to it.

The survivors, many of them orphaned children, were quarantined on arrival in Port Phillip. Prof Richards said the authorities were also frustrated that most only spoke Gaelic and no English."

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