A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking

 I just finished reading (and loved):

Kingfisher, T. A wizard’s guide to defensive baking. Dallas, TX: Argyll, 2020.

(self published but very good fantasy by author, Ursula Vernon.  

I’d place it in middle grade, myself instead of YA. Although she writes YA horror under this name, I hope she does more like this one, and gets a traditional publisher who will place it solidly in middle grade)

NOTE: just because I occasionally talk about books I've read, this does not mean that you can ask me to review your book, because I'm not a professional book reviewer anymore. Thank you for not sending.

State of Terror by Clinton and Penny

 Wow. When a great crime writer and a great politician/ Secretary of State get together to write a political thriller the result is an edge-of-the seat read! I highly recommend Hillary Clinton and Louise Penny's new book = State of Terror.

They thread together Clinton's experience with being Secretary of State with the fact that, when the Soviet Union broke up lots of fissionable material went missing - enough to make many bombs. What if terrorists planted those bombs in cities around the world? In the United States? In the White House? 

 The writers say there were three nightmare scenarios that woke Clinton up in the middle of the night. This was just one of them. I'm hoping they're going to write about the other two as well. 

Girls don't go to college (in olden days - 1950s-60s)

 My mother went to college in the late 1920s and met my dad there. Therefore as the oldest girl who was given the responsibilities for everything at home, I assumed that I would go to college, too - in the late 1950s. 

Nope, they were only saving money to send my brother to college. I could be a salesclerk or something. Still determined to go to college, I negotiated going to a Junior college (now called Community college). Got a Yes, but only if I prepared for a career - so signed up for the secretarial course. Once there, I transferred into the academic course in the second year. 

Since my parents only promised 2 years of post high school training for any of us four children, I worked summers and had part time jobs during the school year. My husband and I continued with college plus working part time and getting scholarships after we were married, finally both of us graduating with a MSLS 10 years after we had graduated from high school. 

(as for my brother -- he didn't go to college. He went right into the Air Force after high school.)

Yes, almost EVERY male I met in the 1960s in college assumed I was only there for my MRS. degree. And yes, I gave those guys a glare and a cold shoulder.

You need to Read this Book

 

I highly recommend everyone read Lisa Yee's latest middle grade book - Maizy Chen's Last Chance.

It's getting rave reviews:

Review: Packed with surprises, heart, and stories within stories, this irresistible novel from an award-winning author celebrates food, fortune, and family

Rave review: “I love this book. This is a big story and brings up much-needed discussion about the importance of community, history, and truth.” —Rita Williams-Garcia, Newbery Honor-winning author of One Crazy Summer.

Heartfelt, personal, and real—this book is a gift. Readers will cheer and feel for Maizy as she bonds with her grandparents, discovers the joys and pains of growing up, and learns about her family’s Chinese American history.” —Tae Keller, Newbery-winning author of When You Trap a Tiger

“Bursting with humor and heart, Maizy Chen’s Last Chance celebrates the power of food, family, understanding our roots, and stepping up to help others when it mattersthe most.” —Kate Messner, New York Times bestselling author of Breakout and Chirp

Three types of Rejection

 When writers send out manuscripts to editors, there are three types of responses they'll get.

1 -- Nothing. No response. They've read your submission on their computer or cell phone and just deleted it and went on to read the next submission.

2 -- A rejection, usually by email, which often makes a comment about your lovely writing and that they like it, but that they just didn't love it enough to buy it.  Sometimes they include a statement that they'd like to see more of your work, which is nice.

3 -- Acceptance.  They want to buy it and publish it !!!

Recently I've been mostly getting numbers 1 and 2.  

Talking to cats when they talk back

 We were given a cat along with his vet record and discovered his 'name' was Eliot. Who the heck gives a cat that name? 

But we continued to call him by that name, and he was the first (and only) cat who would come when we called that name. Huh. How about that? He would also answer when we called. He would Meow a 'hello' when we let him inside and he did expect a response from us, so we would. 

Part time college jobs -- the typing pool

 One of my part time jobs in college was in the science department typing pool. I was moved from the typing pool into a separate room to use the just invented MTST machine. What an amazing change. I could type with the Selectric typewriter on paper while a wire connected my actions into a desk high 'computer' sitting beside my desk and my actions were recorded on computer tape. Then I could edit the paper copy, mark corrections, then have the computer type out what I had written while I had the ability to stop it and make corrections, which were instantly saved on the tape in the computer. Once everything was corrected or re-written, I'd order the computer to print out a fresh copy - perfect. !!! Next to the computer box was a large storage cabinet of typing supplies and fresh computer tape. Yes, this was the first 'word processor.'