1898 Edition of Alice in Wonderland

All about Alice in Wonderland on the iPad. The face of literature is changing for sure.

See the video that inspired me previewing the Alice App for the iPad.

Although I am being a ‘good’ early adopter and waiting for the iPad with 3G capabilities to come out in Canada as opposed to deflecting across the border to obtain a copy from a US store.

Having had the opportunity to check one out at the recent Northern Voice conference, I can’t wait to get my hands on one.

Status: So I’m sure you’ve heard the big news (and if you haven’t… get with it!), Sony has a new product line and it is sexy-hot! Not only do their new Touch and Pocket Editions offer touch screens, smaller size options, and 3G wireless, but they ALSO let you read ePUB and BeBB file formats (and PDF, MS Word, RTF and TXT too..). The icing on the cake? I don’t have to pay $300 for a new one, I just downloaded the latest version of their software to get that last feature. Software that is now available for Macs, I might add!

So if you have ever considered making the leap from Hardcover to Hardware, now is the time to do it. Duuuude, with the 3G you don’t even have to be hooked up to your computer to grab up the latest LJ Smith book! (and yes, that is what I am currently reading in preparation for Vampires Diaries on Sept. 10th).

So while Sony moves right along movin’ and shakin’ the ebook world, Amazon sits on its pretty lilly white bum arguing over pricing. yeesh. But it’s okay Apple might enter the market soon and make things really interesting. So stay tuned.

In other news, I will be disappearing this long weekend to complete my attempt at the 3 Day Novel contest.

Wish me luck!

Location: Gulping down Grande cups of coffee in Yaletown after an All-Night Reading Binge

Status: In this fast-paced world of blogs, memes, and #hashtags, missing your regularly scheduled posting is comparable to disappearing off the face of the planet. Taking this into consideration, I wholeheartedly apologize for my recent absence from the online world.

I am sure I have broken many of the generally accepted rules for good little bloggers, but I swear it was not my fault, I place all of the blame on my 3-year-old MacBook. Early last week my hard drive crashed for no apparent reason at all on my beloved Mac. I repeat: On My MacBook (No, not while running Windows…On My MAC-Book).

For those who are just tuning in, I am a self-admitted, iPhone-carrying, slave to Apple and their awesome marketing tactics. Needless to say, my faith was tested. In the end, I ended up with a bigger, stronger, faster hard drive and am back in action. So what have I missed while I was gone?

It goes without saying that with the extra time forced upon me, I managed to devour a great many books. Among those was Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey. A surprisingly entertaining read, you can check out my review of it on my Bedside Table.

I am also gearing up for the 3-Day Novel Contest coming up Labour Day Weekend. Although I am still debating which of the stories roaming around in my mind to use, I am super excited to see what will come of it. Stay tuned for my haggard, tired post the following Monday.

I am also still submitting articles for the Vancouver Observer. Their new website launching in September is going to be gorgeous (and not just because of the Books Section ), so I can’t wait.

The Summer is winding down to a close, and soon we will all be heading back to school (or work if you aren’t me, suckas!) so let’s make the most of the time we have left!

*Update: The formatting is going crazy on me! Sorry for the lack of space

]]> http://meghanstrain.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/absence-makes-the-heart-grow-fonder/feed/ 0 meghanstrain apple-mac http://meghanstrain.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/you-want-me-to-do-what-in-3-days/ http://meghanstrain.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/you-want-me-to-do-what-in-3-days/#comments Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:27:31 +0000 meghanstrain http://meghanstrain.wordpress.com/?p=474 ]]> Location: Enduring the 30+ degree weather (complete with an ice cold beer)

“Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.” ~Russell Baker

Love the Cover Art!

Status: I came across this saying online and  had no idea who Russell Baker is, but when I Googled him I was thoroughly amused. Especially since he is an American Pulitzer Prize-winning writer known for his satirical commentary and self-critical prose (I would love to one day be known for my satirical commentary and self-critical prose… and I loved Masterpiece Theatre).

I mainly found this quote entertaining due to the fact that Vancouver is currently experiencing record summer temperatures. You would think this would be cause for celebration since most of the year Vancouver is nothing but a torrential downpour, but this is not the case. Instead, people are complaining of the heat! Just like we complain of the rain, then complain of the snow… so on and so forth. I am beginning to think we Vancouverites just like to complain (so much for that whole “Canadians are nice” theory).

I am fairly certain this complaining only occurs because we are unprepared for these sudden weather changes. I grew up in Arizona with temperatures much higher than this and everyone was fine (we did all have A/C though). I do have to say that it makes sitting and writing with a hot computer in my lap very unappealing (and yes I am aware of the side effects of a hot computer in my lap, but I’m a girl so no worries).

Despite this fact, I have managed to update my Bedside Table with a review of Kristin Cashore’s debut YA novel Graceling. Check it out HERE. I have also decided to suck it up and enter the 3daynovel contest over Labor Day weekend. This is a local, Vancouver-based contest (but you can enter it from any internet-available place) where you close yourself up for 3 days and attempt to produce a coherent work of fiction. Wish me luck ☺ You can find out more about it HERE.

Enjoy the Heat Everyone!

Status: Alright, the bad news comes first. Due to the extremely pleasant and summer-like weather Vancouver has been experiencing, I have not been able to write as often as I would like (read: I’d rather be out on the water than inside with my laptop). The upside is that I have solved this dilemma by taking my laptop outside.

Now for the good news, the writing I have done has been for my first * published * article in the Vancouver Observer! The Vancouver Observer is a fantastic online newspaper locally owned and independently run. Beginning in September with the launch of their new site, I will be giving some of my time (and writing) towards a book review blog. I am really looking forward to the opportunity to write about the reading that I love to do as well as work with other people in the industry.

The Vancouver Observer site is driven by community . If you or someone you know would like to get involved, either reviewing, recommending or simply writing about books in any way, please drop me a line!

In the meantime, check out my article about eReaders and my transition from Hardcovers to Hardware ☺

(complete with almost-spilled iced coffee and an alliteration)

Great Image from CSnyder

Status: When someone tell you that they are currently “in-between” jobs, you immediately assume (or rather, I immediately assume) they are guiltily enjoying their free time. So when I got the opportunity to take some “time-off” (read: can’t find a new job), I was looking forward to all the time I would have to spend on things like writing.

Unfortunately, my love of reading has taken over as a procrastination tool. I find myself up until all hours of the night reading like a maniac. Why don’t I do this for my writing? So today I resolved to do just that for the next week and see how it goes.

In the meantime here is my latest submission to Readers on a Deadline at the Deadline Dames site. As per usual, you take inspiration from an image given and write a short blurbette. My inspiration kinda went wild with this one and might turn into more of a short story later on. We’ll see .

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The WeatherMaker

It wasn’t meant to be like this, Kara stared out the large bay window to the countryside below. The picture that unfolded was still one of relative calm. Dark shapes of farmers dotted the landscape as fields of wheat swayed in the breeze. The sky above held a collective feeling of unrest, despite remaining a quiet shade of light blue.

Idly, Kara wondered how everyone could simply go about their day. The WeatherMaker was dead! She was murdered, for sky’s sake! Never mind the fact that she was also Kara’s mother and their Monarch; the townspeople should be worried for their lives. With vivid clarity, horrible scenes of tornados and ice storms played across Kara’s mind as she imagined the infinite possibilities of disaster. Without the WeatherMaker here to balance the sky, who would protect them?

Unbidden, the image of her mother sprawled across the stone floor of the balcony flashed. Stop. Kara halted the spiraling downfall of her memories. Now is not the time for dwelling in the past or for getting lost in the horrible possibilities of the future.

Now is the time to stay focused on the present. On avenging the murder of the WeatherMaker, her mother’s murder. Since she was gone, the responsibility of warm summers, temperate winters, and safety from disaster was now Kara’s.

With newfound resolve, Kara turned her back from the large bay window. Donning her traveling cloak and pulling the hood high over her head Kara’s storm grey eyes were focused. Outside the window, the farmers paused in their work in the wheat fields to lift their heads towards the sky. The once quiet blue now rumbled with dark storm clouds.

As Kara softly closed the door behind her, the first crack of lighting whipped across the sky.

(complete with new sustainable, bamboo-fabric scarf)

Status: Truthfully, being on vacation and having the ability to sleep in every day isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Instead I find myself lying wide awake until all hours of the morning just staring at the ceiling. So I decided to be productive instead.

Using last month’s Readers on a Deadline idea from the Deadline Dames, I had some fun writing. The idea was to use an image to come up with a short story. Here is what I came up with, please feel free to comment or critique (I swear I can take it).

PS. You can also check out some of my other Writing Workouts for more fun…

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Brushing the hair out of her face with the back of her bloodied hand, Rebecca stared up at the man who had attacked her. The man she loved. Used to love.

One hand on the handle of her sword, she stared at the hard expression on his face, searching for a glimmer of the man she used to know. Where was the patient and understanding sensei? The hardworking and dependable lover? The man whose ruthlessness was one of his best qualities? Oh right, he’s gone. In his place was this power hungry monster.

Why couldn’t he just accept my advancements? I never intended to be chosen in your place, she pleaded silently, hoping he could see through his rage for just one moment. When only the wrath-filled eyes of a stranger glared back Rebecca knew what had to be done.

Some part of her knew that the creature before her had no idea the pain he was inflicting, both physically and emotionally. She remembered a time before, before the power, when they had passed an entire afternoon sparring in the old worn down dojo behind his house. Ending only when they fell down laughing from sheer pleasure and utter exhaustion. Never again. Now the power controls him. Instead of the other way around, as he had always assured her it would be. Just as he had assured her he would never hurt her. Now look where we are.

Packing up her emotions and retreating within, she tried to steel herself for what had to happen. He’s broken the cardinal rule. It must be dealt with and I must be the one take responsibility. A warrior must never let the power hunger become a priority, especially under the influence of jealousy. An eerie silence washed over her and Rebecca felt her features relax into a calm façade. A lesser opponent might be fooled, but it was only the calm before the storm. Finally resigned to her fate and to the fate of her former love, Rebecca glanced down one last time at her sword, the one he had given her, and prepared to attack.

She could only reassure her conscience with the fact that he would never see it coming.
I’m sorry.

So Excited!

Location: Lounging on a Lakeside beach (complete with big, floppy hat)

Status: My apologies for the delay in posting. I can’t say I have a very good excuse, but you can take comfort in the fact that I have been enjoying myself. Doing nothing but reading and basking in the sun has been good for my soul this past week. But now it’s back to work (while maintaining the basking, mind you).

First off, in case some of you have either had their head in the sand or maybe just spend most of their time in the Boonies (and yes, I am determined that this is a real location somewhere off the coast of Newfoundland) I will be happy to let you in on something fairly awesome. The folks down at CW are adapting one of my all-time favorite book series for Primetime TV, The Vampire Diaries by LJ Smith.

Now I am going to go ahead and assume/hope that this adaptation will be done fantastically (think Gossip Girl, not Privileged). So far, the only thing the show has going for it is the time slot before my OTHER most favorite show, Supernatural. Oh, and you can’t forget the yummy actors playing the leads. So don’t let me down CW. You can’t go wrong with good-looking men and great paranormal storyline, I tell ya.

So everyone stay tuned for the Premiere Thursday, Sept 10th @8pm (or just set your DVR or remember to download it later… whatever works really).

PS. I just finished the first two novels in a snappy new series by Claudia Gray. Check out my Bedside Table for reviews of Evernight and Stargazer.

Now with 30% more Zombies!

Status: Rumor has it,  Zombies are becoming the new Vampire. So that makes Zombies like the new Pink, but Pinks the new blog… so where does that leave Vampires again?

Oh right, they kick butt since so many people think the whole drinking blood “thing” is sexy.

But wait, my Mom always told me that brains were sexy, not blood… and zombies EAT brains… so Vampires lose? Geez Louise, no wonder there are so many articles discussing the topic. Check some of them out Here and Here.

Now on to my main point.

As I wandered around one of my frequent downtown haunts, Chapters (albeit not such a frequent haunt now that I have an eReader. Sorry Heather, you’re not my “Pick” anymore… har, har) I spotted what is probably going to be the most awesome book, EVER. Wait for the drum roll…

Pride and Prejudice AND ZOMBIES! (The capitals are a result of my excitement, not the author)

This novel, a notorious collaboration by Seth Crahame-Smith and Jane Austen looks fricking fantastic, and I’m not just talking about the cover. I have yet to read it, but after spotting it in my local Chapters, it is next on my to-read list for sure. I can’t wait to see Mr. Darcy vs. the Zombies.

Zombies are the new Vampire, btw. In case you missed that.