Lana and I bought bikes today. I like to describe them as old people bikes. They're "Huffy's," with big, cushiony seats, high handlebars, and no gear shifts. We also bought some accessories.
We first went to a specialty bike store to look at bikes. They had them, but they didn't have one to fit Lana, and even the old folks bikes ran between 330 and 550 bucks each. Their specialty bikes generally ran over 2 grand. We'd not planned on spending that much so we broke down and went to one of those discount stores where we got our two Huffys, an air pump, two locks, a basket for Lana's cameras, and an all in one tool set for less than 300 total. I like to support independent stores, but we probably saved 700 dollars and that's not exactly chump change to me.
Anyway, we're looking forward to our first ride this evening, and the weather is perfect for it here today.
In reading news, I'm reading and enjoying three of the Chuck Norris "fact" books by Ian Spector. I've seen this stuff around but when Borders had their going out of business sale I picked 'em up fairly cheaply and they are pretty funny.
I'm also reading two fine works by blog colleagues, "Resonance" by Avery Debow, and "The Ravening" by Stewart Sternberg. I'll have reviews of those up when I'm finished. I'm certainly enjoying so far.
Nuff said. Let's go ride.
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Showing posts with label Stewart Sternberg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stewart Sternberg. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Around the Web
Stewart Sternberg did a review of Cold in the Light over at Elder Signs Press Blog. Although he didn’t just say positive things about the book, the positives certainly outweighed the negatives and I believe he enjoyed the novel quite a lot. I’ve linked to the review here, but I’ve also quoted a couple of my “favorite” pieces from the review below.
“At its heart, Gramlich’s story is an old fashioned science fiction tale from the fifties or early sixties—and that’s not a bad thing. His writing at times reminded me of Heinlein, with its muscular prose and solid pacing. Gramlich though infuses modern, edgy sensibility and carefully sets the stage for jarring action sequences with a strong cinematic quality to them.”
“In one outstanding chapter, where the heroes are preparing for a last stand in an old sawmill, it is easy to call to mind the work of director John McTiernan (Predator) or Ridley Scott (Alien).”
Thanks, Stewart, for reading and reviewing. I appreciate your honesty.
Also, Natasha Fondren is running a great series on how to format books for Amazon Kindle. Since I’m planning to publish my western collection through Amazon in July, this is spot on information and great timing for me. Check it out. I’m certainly following it with care. Much appreciated, Natasha.
Rich over at Meridian Bridge is also still running his My Personal West series of posts. I'm finding these fascinating. I did one for the series and more have gone up since, or are going up soon. The West has been on my mind a lot lately.
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Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Halloween Flash #3
OK, here is my third Halloween flash story. It's a revision of something I once posted on another blog in response to a prompt. I hope I was able to turn it into something appropriately Halloweeny. I've also reposted the links to all the other Halloween flash pieces just below my piece. We have new, additional pieces from Avery and Laughingwolf.
HEAVEN
The spaceship jarred as it landed. The computer had done its job, had brought me down safely from orbit. But I was weak, gasping for breath, mind drifting from lack of oxygen. The recycler had broken down. Even my space suit was nearly exhausted of air. But I managed to make it to the airlock.
I didn’t know this planet. Was the atmosphere breathable? I had no choice but to find out. The outer hatch opened under my hand. I staggered through, fell to hands and knees, slapped my helmet release.
A breath shuddered into my lungs. Warm. Languid. It fed me. My lungs filled with it; my body drank it like nectar. I coughed, then forced myself to my feet. The view froze me.
A low mist coiled thickly around my feet, as if I stood on a cloud. But up through the fog thrust metal trees, of copper, black iron, gleaming platinum. Their leaves chimed in a zephyr breeze. Above me, the sky was clear and golden, like melted butter.
And in the sky drifted a city of silver. I heard the belling of trumpets, and rising over the city’s needle spires came a flock of beings who swept toward me. They were white, blindingly white, with feathered wings.
For an instant I wondered if I had died aboard my ship, or if I lay dreaming with brain damaged from oxygen loss. But I’d always understood the difference between fantasy and reality, and the reality was that the creatures who dove toward me were angels.
They began to sing. My heart swelled with the beauty. I lifted my own voice to join theirs.
The angels swirled before me. Their luminous eyes were sharp, piercing. Their voices rose higher and higher.
My own voice faltered. I couldn’t match them. And I realized that their song was no song at all. No song at all.
At the sound of the angels’ laughter, my ears began to bleed.
--- the end ---
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LINKS TO OTHER STORIES
TWO NEW ONES:
Problem Child, by Avery Debow.
lady jane, by Laughingwolf.
EARLIER ONES IN CASE YOU MISSED ‘EM:
Fat Man by Stewart Sternberg.
Twisted by Miladysa.
Having His Say by Sidney Williams.
The Empress of the Fescue, by Avery DeBow.
flight by Laughingwolf.
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HEAVEN
The spaceship jarred as it landed. The computer had done its job, had brought me down safely from orbit. But I was weak, gasping for breath, mind drifting from lack of oxygen. The recycler had broken down. Even my space suit was nearly exhausted of air. But I managed to make it to the airlock.
I didn’t know this planet. Was the atmosphere breathable? I had no choice but to find out. The outer hatch opened under my hand. I staggered through, fell to hands and knees, slapped my helmet release.
A breath shuddered into my lungs. Warm. Languid. It fed me. My lungs filled with it; my body drank it like nectar. I coughed, then forced myself to my feet. The view froze me.
A low mist coiled thickly around my feet, as if I stood on a cloud. But up through the fog thrust metal trees, of copper, black iron, gleaming platinum. Their leaves chimed in a zephyr breeze. Above me, the sky was clear and golden, like melted butter.
And in the sky drifted a city of silver. I heard the belling of trumpets, and rising over the city’s needle spires came a flock of beings who swept toward me. They were white, blindingly white, with feathered wings.
For an instant I wondered if I had died aboard my ship, or if I lay dreaming with brain damaged from oxygen loss. But I’d always understood the difference between fantasy and reality, and the reality was that the creatures who dove toward me were angels.
They began to sing. My heart swelled with the beauty. I lifted my own voice to join theirs.
The angels swirled before me. Their luminous eyes were sharp, piercing. Their voices rose higher and higher.
My own voice faltered. I couldn’t match them. And I realized that their song was no song at all. No song at all.
At the sound of the angels’ laughter, my ears began to bleed.
--- the end ---
----------------
LINKS TO OTHER STORIES
TWO NEW ONES:
Problem Child, by Avery Debow.
lady jane, by Laughingwolf.
EARLIER ONES IN CASE YOU MISSED ‘EM:
Fat Man by Stewart Sternberg.
Twisted by Miladysa.
Having His Say by Sidney Williams.
The Empress of the Fescue, by Avery DeBow.
flight by Laughingwolf.
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Monday, October 13, 2008
Halloween Horror October
My Halloween Flash #3 is almost ready but I probably won't get it posted till tomorrow. Today is Lana's birthday and we're off to the big city's bright lights for some fun and games. Actually, we're going to the insectorium because we just don't get enough bugs around here.
However, so as not to leave you Jonesing for some flash fiction horrors, two new folks have entered the lists with their own wicked quickie tales. So check 'em out for some shudders. The links are:
Fat Man by Stewart Sternberg.
And:
Twisted by Miladysa.
And Sidney Williams, Avery DeBow, and Laughingwolf still have their tales up as well. The links are below.
Having His Say by Sidney.
The Empress of the Fescue, by Avery.
flight by Laughingwolf
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However, so as not to leave you Jonesing for some flash fiction horrors, two new folks have entered the lists with their own wicked quickie tales. So check 'em out for some shudders. The links are:
Fat Man by Stewart Sternberg.
And:
Twisted by Miladysa.
And Sidney Williams, Avery DeBow, and Laughingwolf still have their tales up as well. The links are below.
Having His Say by Sidney.
The Empress of the Fescue, by Avery.
flight by Laughingwolf
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Friday, June 01, 2007
Wildlife and Villains
We’ve been in our new place since August of 06 and we’re still seeing new creatures in the area. Today we saw a mottled tree snake so still that he could have been carved from wood. He allowed us to get within a foot or so of him without moving. We also startled a couple of Whitetail deer at the Wildlife Preserve about a mile from our house. It had rained a lot here over the past few days and the area was so flooded that we heard them splashing in the water as they leaped away. Then, when we got home, we found that we had bats sweeping through the air over our house. I always enjoyed watching bats of an evening when I was growing up, but this is the first time I’ve seen them here.
In other news, Stewart Sternberg, that arch villain extraordinaire, the blogosphere’s answer to Dr. Doom, the Metal Man of Mirthful Mayhem, needs your help. He seems to have gotten himself in hot water with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and needs bailing out. Why should you bail out an arch villain you may ask? Well just imagine, where would Austin Powers be without Dr. Evil, Sherlock Holmes without Dr. Moriarty, Sigmund Freud without Dr. Jung, Dudley Do-Right without Snidely Whiplash, Wayne Allen Sallee without Stewart Sternberg? To help Stewart, click on the following link.
In other news, Stewart Sternberg, that arch villain extraordinaire, the blogosphere’s answer to Dr. Doom, the Metal Man of Mirthful Mayhem, needs your help. He seems to have gotten himself in hot water with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and needs bailing out. Why should you bail out an arch villain you may ask? Well just imagine, where would Austin Powers be without Dr. Evil, Sherlock Holmes without Dr. Moriarty, Sigmund Freud without Dr. Jung, Dudley Do-Right without Snidely Whiplash, Wayne Allen Sallee without Stewart Sternberg? To help Stewart, click on the following link.
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