Monthly Archives: June 2011

Tips from Tesla #1: Don’t Get Kicked in the Face

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Susan Spann

My son (called Tesla here in order to give him some plausible deniability in public) has an interesting way of looking at the world. I could explain, but instead I think I’ll just make a blog category and let the … Continue reading →

Posted in Running Amok | Comments Off

Amazing Things Happen When You Put Your Mind To It

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Susan Spann

(And also when you haven’t got a choice…) Meet the humble coco worm (aka “fan worm,” aka “tube worm”). I have seven. Three have names – Fluffy: Ed: and Shai-Hulud (Named for the fact that his tube is four times … Continue reading →

Posted in Something's Fishy Here | 2 Comments

Gearing up for Colorado Gold

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Susan Spann

I spent this morning finalizing my lecture notes for the master’s class I’m teaching in September at the 2011 Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Conference. (Can’t wait for another visit with the tribe.) If you’re looking for a conference, … Continue reading →

Posted in Conferences | 4 Comments

Keep Your Friends Close and Your Inspiration Closer

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Susan Spann

Writing is a lonely road littered with distracting scenery. I’ll admit I’m easily – ooo…cupcakes! Two enduring lessons from last weekend’s Historical Novel Society conference have remained in my thoughts all week – the importance of finding your tribe and … Continue reading →

Posted in Conferences, Scribbling | 2 Comments

Happy 16th to Tesla

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Susan Spann

Sixteen years ago this morning I was preparing to leave the hospital after recovering from a scary bout of pre-term labor. An hour before they checked me out, the labor started up again and the doctor decided to let the … Continue reading →

Posted in Anything for a Party, Lessons Learned | 3 Comments

The Destination and the Doorstep*

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Susan Spann

We can’t always see our destination from the doorstep. It’s not much of a journey from the front porch to the street. It’s  scary, and sometimes dangerous, to set off on a chosen road, but rewards are often greater for … Continue reading →

Posted in Scribbling, Something's Fishy Here | 3 Comments

HNS 2011 Highlights and Wrapup

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Susan Spann

Now that the Historical Novel Society’s 2011 Conference is over, I’d like to share some highlights and reflections, and to encourage everyone writing historical fiction to attend either next year’s conference in London or the 2013 event here in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Conferences | 4 Comments

HNS 2011 Conference – Evening 1 – Revenge of the Tweeps

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Susan Spann

The first evening of the Historical Novel Society Conference ended on a high note. Harry Turtledove gave a fantastic keynote address, which I enjoyed in the company of the clan of HNS Tweeps (twitter friends, for the less-than-TwitterLiterate among you) … Continue reading →

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HNS 2011, Morning 1 – Potatoes Have No Carbs

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Susan Spann

Yesterday morning I arrived in San Diego for the 2011 Historical Novel Society Conference (HNS for short). The Holiday Inn On the Bay is fantastic, and I took a long walk on the waterfront to compensate for the fact that … Continue reading →

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Not Always What They Seem

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Susan Spann

I’m not telling you anything new when I mention that things are not always what they seem. Most of us know this, and most of us often ignore it. Life moves too quickly to stop and look a little closer. … Continue reading →

Posted in Something's Fishy Here | Comments Off