A Steampunk Fair. How awesome, wish I could go!

This morning, I opened my email and read these awesome news! I’m pasting them here for those who might be interested.

Coming to Piscataway, NJ this weekend: The Steampunk Worlds Fair!

steampunkworldsfair.com

If you miss out this weekend, you’ll have to wait another year… to experience, quite simply, the best Steampunk festival in the country, if not the world!

So, what is Steampunk?  It is perhaps best understood as a forward-looking, optimistic and modernist outlook coupled with Victorian-era fashion and sensibilities.  Much of its charm and growth has been attributed to its welcoming, family friendly nature, and its very diverse elements and sources of inspiration.  The dress and mannerisms of a gentleman or lady, complete with pocket-watch, corset or vest, and top hat or parasol umbrella would be considered prototypically Steampunk, but so would a mad scientist, a Zeppelin pilot, a jungle-crawling gentleman-adventurer, Western fronteir bartender, or a clockwork tinkerer and inventor.  (With all that said, though many will be in costume, do not feel that you have to be!  And naturally if you wish to be, there will be many vendors prepared to help…)

What might make us the best?  It’s not simply the fact that we are, arguably, the largest event of this kind – we are filling two hotels! Both the Radisson and the Embassy Suites (Piscataway) will be main hotels.

We have an unbelievable amount of entertainment, encompassing a diverse range and scope. For example, we have -

The Symposium Track – for the intellectuals among us
A DIY Maker Space – where you can get your hands dirty (including, but not limited to 20,000 Legos Under the Sea)
The Marvelous Midway
Milly Wonka’s Wild Absinthe Tasting
The Goblin Market & VIP Meet and Greet
Hope It Rains – Outdoor entertainment exclusively for damp weather
And our ever-expanding list of performers, contests and presenters!

We’ve got less than a week, folks! The Third Annual Steampunk World’s Fair is less than FIVE DAYS away… and we’re putting the finishing touches on our spectacular programming. Not one but TWO bands will be making their US debut at the Steampunk World’s Fair – Strange Artifact (Japan) and Victor Sierra (France) – we can proudly say that we have unique entertainment you won’t find anywhere else in the country

Speaking of unique entertainment… try your luck on the Marvelous Midway – play traditional carnival games in the midst of unicyclists, fire jugglers, singing clowns… and more! The Midway harkens back to the golden days of the traveling circus. Some of our favorite performers – Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band – will be hosting their record release on the Midway. More exclusive material that you won’t find anywhere else but World’s Fair.

If you’re looking for a darker kind of carnival – upgrade your ticket, and gain admittance to the Goblin Market and Carnival Obscura, where anything and everything is for sale. For a few of your secrets, you can literally “toy” with our living dolls. A memory or two might buy a spin on the Wheel of Misfortune. A plethora of vendors offer every imaginable service – peddling everything from dreams, to Colors, to the absolution of sins. Also housed inside the Carnival is the VIP Meet and Greet – where you can mingle with our Steampunk Celebrities.

Finally, be prepared to meet the Green Fairy! Well, lots of them, that is. Milly Wonka’s Wild Absinthe Tasting – which now includes two delicious meads, as well as traditional and white absinthe – features unbeatable entertainment, and a gaggle of lovely fairies for your viewing pleasure.

Find out more and purchase tickets at steampunkworldsfair.com !

ON A FINAL NOTE…

Hopefully, you’ve either purchased a ticket (or we’ve convinced you to do so!).

A true Gentleperson/Explorer is always prepared. As you pack your trundles and bindles in preparation, please keep in mind the following things -

Registration will be in the EMBASSY SUITES. (Please do note that both the EMBASSY and the RADISSON are “Main Hotels,” and have programming to reflect this.)

If you’ve purchased a ticket to the Absinthe Tasting, the Dinner, or the Goblin Market, please review times and policies here.

If you are planning to bring a weapon of any sort, please review our policy beforehand. Your safety is our highest priority.

SteamPunk World’s Fair (Photo credit: Arsenic and Old Lace)

The World Within wins an Honorable Mention!

I can’t believe it! I just got the email a little while ago.

My very first novel, The World Within has won an Honorable Mention at the Green Book Festival in San Francisco.

www.greenbookfestival.com

They misspelled my name, but I don’t care, I’m too happy.

In case you’re interested:

My book is available both in print as well as in Kindle format and you can read the first chapter and part of the second over here:

Mac lovers, can click over here:

The World Within

YAY!!!

The River, The Trees and The Tree Cuddler

The River.

There is a long river that runs parallel to the street behind my house. Well, actually it practically runs across the entire neighborhood. It is called Río Piedras. I’m actually standing more than 20 feet away from the water, but it’s a bit hard to appreciate. Yet, if you look to the upper left corner, there is a house that lets you appreciate the steep way down to the river. I wouldn’t dare to walk down. It’s very steep and I’m afraid I wouldn’t know how to climb back up.

Most of the time, the stream is very low and you can appreciate the river bank and its pebbles.

There is a bridge that connects my neighborhood with the neighboring one. My reflection got in the way…, sorry about that.

The Trees.

There are many trees surrounding the green area along the river and the upper bank, the one that runs up to street level; if such a thing exists and I haven’t made it up. Usually, there are many birds on the area, but today they saw me and flew away, aparently.

Some trees seem to defy the river by growing in all sorts of strange angles, like this palm tree.

However, there are others that have grown on the grass, like any normal tree, parallel to street level. This particular one has gorgeous gnarled roots and it shows off beautiful flowers around the month of June.

There are other trees that have served as playground for long-gone kids that used to play around the neighborhood. This used to be a tree house, now only a couple of fences remain.

I wish I knew the names of all these trees. My botanical knowledge is limited, but at least I know how to plant a tree and that’s why I’m blogging this.

This baby tree was given to me by the Conservation Trust on Sunday. They had this magnificent fair where they gave out trees to all participants. I got two baby trees and decided to plant them here, close to the river and to some older trees, but with enough space where they can grow strong. Right after I planted the first one, the wind started blowing and bent this baby tree to the side. I waited and when the wind stopped, the baby tree stood upright. I like the way the photo turned out though.

Yet, the second baby tree needed some special prosthetics to keep it upright. I devised these crutches so that the baby tree can lean on them and grow upright. This means I’ll have to keep an eye on this one and give it some TLC each day until he outgrows his prosthetic arm and can stand on his own.

The Tree Cuddler.

Obviously someone who likes trees more than enough to cuddle with them.

Argine – Wonderful Animation

I was just browsing short animated films on You Tube and came across this one. The captions underneath are in Russian, but thanks to Google translate, they say:

Dreams come true, you only have to wish!
A touching story of a little dreamer who wants to be in a fairy tale.

 

Book Awards for Indie Authors

I’ve been wanting to post about this for some time, but I haven’t had the time, until now. Just wanted to share a list of Book Awards where independent authors can submit their work. These are the ones I know of, there might be others, so feel free to add to the list in your comments. The not so good news about these awards is that you have to pay a fee to participate. So, I’ll just list them here, in no particular order.

1. Independent Publisher Book Awards

2. Next Generation Indie Book Awards

3. The National Indie Excellence Book Awards

4. Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards

5. Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards

6. San Francisco Book Festival

7. The Green Book Festival

8. New York Book Festival

9. Hollywood Book Festival

I have submitted my book, but I won’t say to which ones, so I’ll just leave you with the mailing promo I made and…

Good Luck to all!

 

You know you’re odd when…

It is a well known fact that I’ve been labeled as odd ever since I was born, apparently. I don’t know why, I think I’m pretty normal, but what is normal anyways? So, I’ve decided to list some things I do that are perfectly normal to me, yet a bit weird for the rest of the world…

1. I have 3 cats and they are treated like family. I talk to my cats and I believe they understand me.

2. I sing aloud or to myself when I’m alone. I have a radio in my office space and if a song I like starts playing, I may sing along. What’s wrong with that? I have that office to myself.

3. I get bored at parties and pubs. I feel like I’m wasting my time.

4. I read. I love literature.

5. I have rescued animals in need, (toads, iguanas, dogs, birds, cats, etc.).

6. I like theater plays and puppeteering. I also like independent and foreign films.

7. I don’t like beer or soda drinks, I only drink water or juice, but I do love red wine and whisky.

8. I like animated movies. I love claymation and computer animation too.

9. I use movie lines from “Top Secret,” “The Princess Bride,” “Burn After Reading,” and many Peter Sellers movies (among others) to reply to people. Of course, only very few ‘get it’ and I irremediably leave laughing out loud.

10. I observe people and I listen to them attentively when they talk to me.

11. I also observe nature and I am very intuitive. I see behavior patterns or details, in both people and in nature, that nobody else sees.

12. I write.

 

 

Embracing your inner nerd

There is a time in any person’s life where he or she may face the fact that indeed, they may be the hosts of an inner nerd. In my case, I came to this inevitable conclusion when I decided to pursue a Master’s Degree in English Literature. I remember the epic day a friend of mine, whose identity will be kept in the shadows but will be referred as D, accompanied me to a nearby library to do some research for a paper.  This particular library was not too big, since many of its books were rare and specialized. Also, we had to go there because they had the books we needed. I should also add that these were times before the Internet became to exist, so our University work was done in the old fashioned way, through many books, reading, writing and patience.

Actually, D came along because she also had a paper due on that same week. I think it was a Sunday afternoon, now that I remember, and when we entered the library, we were greeted by the librarian and directed to where we could find the books we were looking for.

I don’t know how many hours went by, because I just glued myself to the chair and had tons of books spread out on the table, and I was taking notes like a maniac, totally absorbed in my research. I believe D did the same thing until one of us asked: “Do you know what time is it?” We did not know. Neither of us had a watch. All I could see is that we were alone in the room and the clock on the wall said it was 9:00 p.m. Nowadays some University libraries do not close, but back then, they did.

“Are you hungry? I think we should wrap up and leave.” I said. D agreed. I had almost finished my work, I just needed to corroborate some details and we could go. Now, the thing is, D had gone to the front door and came back saying: “I think they closed and left us here!”

I unstuck my eyes and nose from the book I was reading and said: “Are you serious?”

“Yes, the door is locked and there’s no one here.” D said.

“So, how do we get out?” I said, panicking.

“I don’t know!” D added.

We tried using the phone, but none of the extensions worked, not even the one from the security guard in the front. How could we spend the night locked up in a library? I thought. It was just plain stupid. So it occurred to me, we could try and open up a window, since they faced the corridor that took us to the outside world. These were guillotine windows, and if we were lucky, one of them would be unlocked and we could escape!

Thank God my intuition was right. We found an unlocked window, then we ran to gather out stuff and immediately jumped out into the corridor unnoticed, like two bandits. However, we were careful to close the window afterwards. We did not want any burglars to come in and steal the library’s books!

Ok, but what does this have to do with embracing your inner nerd?

Maybe a lot or maybe not much, but it does open a preamble for my fascination with books, literature, novels and history.

I recently came across this post, somewhere over the Internet, asking for characters to role play The Tudors as in the TV series. I humbly asked the administrator, King Henry VIII, if I could play Lady Mary, his daughter, and he agreed. Now, I know I am not as spectacular as the actress who plays her part in the series, but I don’t look like the real Lady Mary either. As usual, I did some research, but now I can bless the Internet for providing these images in a timely manner.

Let me say that in order to do role playing, you don’t need to reveal your true identity. They could either be men or women playing male or female characters. Players use avatars taken from the series in order to portray the characters they choose, but again, my inner nerd felt the calling and urged me to do something extra…

I’ve already been called a geek, a nerd, a weirdo, etc. But, what if I encourage the rest of the gang in the group of role players I’m in? At least I appreciate and do embrace my inner nerd, and I’m proud of it.