My goal going forward, now that I'm gainfully employed and healthy enough to travel, is to make a trip to the UK once a year. Like a proper trip where I take time off work, relax, see friends, shop, go to a show, you know. This year I got absolutely wild because apparently I'm doing two, and one (which has happened) lasted five days total including travel and consisted almost entirely of going to a single-day event in Derby.

I've intended for a while now to go back to conventions, but something always stopped me. I did ODUcon for a few days - a local college con - but even that made me kind of shaky. While I've spent something like half my life doing cons of all stripes and having a great time, something sufficiently unpleasant can knock it straight out of you. But I realized that, given the trajectory I'm on with my writing, I should probably get back used to them again or I'm going to have a difficult time networking and selling and getting myself out there.

Hence, Whooverville: located in Derby and in its 16th year this year. It's a single-day event, it's so far from home that it would be extremely difficult to back out if I got cold feet, and I would finally get to meet several people I've worked with for years but have never actually been in a room with.

Did I have a good time? Yes. Did I get what I wanted out of it? Yes. Will I ever do a five-day round trip with no fixed address like this again? Probably not unless someone else is footing the bill. But I'm still glad I did.

Thursday

Headed out of Norfolk International (kind of a misnomer) and had a stopover in JFK. This was my first time getting to try out the airport lounges, since I'm making it a point to fly business where I can. Gotta rack up those miles for the holiday trip (and also there's no other way I can sleep). They are pretty nice. If nothing else, for a working holiday like this, it felt good to have a place I could sit comfortably, plug in my laptop, have tea, and get things done.

At this point, I kind of have a plan for British Airways flights: have some drinks and watch Traitors UK 'til I pass out. That worked again as usual here. Food on the flight was fine - but honestly, because I was a little anxious about the trip as a whole, I didn't eat much.

Friday

Normally this would be the stage of the trip where I catch a train to my friends' place, unload my luggage, and rest for a bit before going out into London. But that is not how this trip worked, so I was straight out into the city with all my goods in hand. Stopped at a Costa for some tea and reading time before navigating my train to Derby. Did stop to say hello to Paddington on the way in from Heathrow, though. As you do.

I was told to keep an eye out for the "Mr. Booze" (styled a la Tesco) across from Derby Station, and yes I did indeed see it. But mainly it was a matter of getting to my hotel, having a shower, and meeting up with people. Most were still piling in, but I touched base with Stephen Hatcher (one of the Whooverville runners), Jenny Shirt (a very lovely and very active fan of all things Who), and John Isles (an old friend from Westlake).

Later that evening was a show from We Sound Familiar paired with a quiz. Excellent stuff, and not just because John and I placed in the quiz. I'd never heard WSF's stuff before. If you're ever at an event where they're performing, keep an ear out. They're excellent. (Also one of them is currently the War Doctor for Big Finish.)

Derby QUAD, where Whooverville is held, is a really nice venue. Multiple-floor event space with meeting rooms, two cinemas, and a cafe downstairs. 757 types, imagine the Naro, but more so. Would love to have something of that scope in our area.

Saturday

The day. Was I nervous? Sure. But it helped a bit to have friends there. I had one panel with Obverse Books. Sitting alongside Stuart Douglas, Paul Magrs, and Nick Wallace (lovely fellows, all of them) felt a bit... wrong? Like they belong up there talking but I don't. I've been at this for something like ten years, but I still feel like a bit of an intruder in this space. But it was nice to see and hear from fans, as well as finally meeting fellow Obverse writers Jay, Selina, and Jon. (Even if Jon was here and gone swiftly.)

Additionally, finally got to tease a Faction Paradox story I have coming out eventually. If you were there, you know.

There was a vendor's room with lots of merch and books, and it was great to see Obverse, Cutaway, and others (including Fio Tretheway and Georgia Cook) getting lots of positive attention from the fans.  It can be hard to tell at this distance what kind of readership the more fringe stories get, but seeing writers and publishers do well in the venue felt really nice.

I took things easy for the rest of the day, dropping in on panels and catching up with friends. Of course, I had to see Jo Martin's panel at the end of the day. She seemed really lovely, very friendly and warm to the fans, and I'm pleased she's getting a chance to do more in the Who space.

While this was definitely different from a US con, there was plenty that was the same. TARDIS photo booths, people in costume, and the opportunity to socialize beyond the event space were all very welcome. It was the perfect way to ease myself back into that kind of space. And we had some great curry afterward.

Sunday

Breakfast with Scott Liddell and Stuart before we all hit the road, and then it was a day of travel for me. Though I did dip through Covent Garden to pick up some tea to bring home.

In hindsight, a little more time in Derby would have been nice. I only really saw the Cathedral Quarter, but it was genuinely lovely there. I was also told there are a lot of recent Doctor Who filming locations not too far away in Sheffield, so I may have to double back and check those out at a later date.

But frankly, watching YouTube videos and eating an egg sandwich at the airport hotel was about my speed at this point. (It was an okay egg sandwich.

Monday

An early start made easy by the Hotel Hoppa. The trip back was on American Airlines, which meant no Traitors UK for me. But I did have some good chicken for lunch and watch the first three episodes of Severance, so I finally understand what everyone's on about.

A very long layover in Philly, during which I got some more work done, and then home to Virginia.

In an ideal world where this trip wasn't at the end of busy season, I would have spaced things out and done more. Oxventure were doing some live shows at World's Lair in London, which I missed by a matter of a few hours. But, like I said, the trip served its purpose. I did a convention again. I saw people I like. And I'm pretty sure I'm back at it convention-wise.

So, what's next? I'm planning that out. I do feel revitalized when it comes to writing, which I've been doing in the background but which I've always felt a little imposter-y about. Talking with fellow writers over the weekend helped that a little bit, though I'm not fool enough to think that feeling will ever go fully away. And I did hear from readers who want to know more about what's going on, so I'm going to do my best to be better about actually talking about things as they happen.

If you're local to Derby, you really ought to do Whooverville. If you're as far away as I am... well, that's really your call.

It is, as has been said all over the Internet, the 'ber months at last. And to get myself in autumn mode, I've picked up Plum Deluxe's Autumn Tea Sampler Kit. This selection of cozy teas includes some that you can only get for a couple months, both caf and decaf depending on what you prefer.

Check out my thoughts on the blends I received, then forge ahead to each link to grab bags of your own. (And thanks to Espresso for his excellent modeling job.)

Spicy Caramel Apple Cinnamon Herbal: 3.5/5
One of two apple-centric teas in this sampler, and while it was pretty darn good, it felt a little blander than I was expecting. It was fine, and would likely make a nice base for something else, but I was expecting something with a bit more punch.

Pumpkin Spice Brulée Oolong: 4.5/5
Plum Deluxe tends to do well with "brulée" teas, in my experience. Getting that burned sugar flavor without it going too far in the caramel direction is, I imagine, tough. But this turned out nicely. The cloves were the first thing I smelled when I opened the package, but the rest followed when it was steeped. And it was flavored just enough to let the actual oolong itself come out.

Autumn Almond Chai Herbal: 4/5
The almond is more of a final note in this chai, but it's definitely there. It's not an especially spicy chai, so if you prefer them milder, this is for you. Compared to some of the others in the batch, this is much subtler-flavored overall.

Maple Ginger Butterscotch Black: 3.5/5
This is a nice one, though the ginger was much more prominent than any of the others. The maple was also there a bit, but I sadly didn't get much of the butterscotch. It's still a lovely tea generally speaking, but it's not one you can necessarily judge based on the name on the label. As a tea? Good. As a maple ginger butterscotch tea? Slightly mislabeled. But still autumn-y.

Mulled Wine Herbal Tea: 5/5
Note that this review really only applies if you are an enjoyer of mulled wine... which I am. When an herbal tea claims it's going to give me that kind of flavor, I'm always skeptical. But this hit all the right notes, probably because there actually is grape in the blend. It was a cozy warm drink, just right for the cool autumn evenings coming up.

Chocolate Caramel Macadamia Nut Herbal Tea: 4/5
This was the first tea I tried from the sample, and I'll admit I worried it would be a bit "busy" just from the name. But it turned out to be very nice. I'd compare it to a Nutella or Frangelico flavor profile. It would make a great after-dinner dessert tea, especially since it's one of the decaf herbal selections in the box. Herbal teas always lack a little bit of the bite I enjoy in black tea, but it's still quite good.

Salted Caramel Black: 3/5
This one wasn't bad, but the "salt" flavor profile didn't blend quite as well with the caramel as I was hoping. It left things tasting generally a little briny. Maybe this would work better as a milk tea.

Halloween Blend Black: 4.5/5
This blend describes itself as an alternative to sickly-sweet Halloween candy, and it's so right. There's a faint sweetness to it that's a bit hard to describe, but it hits like the aroma of a full candy bucket without the sugar rush. This is one that would definitely make a good latte, but I absolutely enjoyed it on its own.

Pistachio Puerh: 5/5
Friends, this is the one. If you like pistachio even a little and you're only going to buy one fall tea, make it this one. The flavor is strong, it's somehow creamy-tasting with no milk in it (so imagine it as a latte!), and it is extremely comforting in all the right ways.

Baked Apple Green: 4.5/5
The clear champion between the two apple blends. I could smell this one as soon as I opened the packet (and that's a good thing). This green and blank blend was like warm apple pie in tea form. If apple is your favorite autumn flavor and you don't mind caffeine, this is the one to go for out of this sampler.

 

Full disclosure: my only hands-on experience with Bloodborne was one night at a taproom in Hackney, and I was terrible at it. I am not a Soulsborne player myself, but I enjoy watching other people tackle these beautiful, gory, extremely difficult games. Those of us who don't have the experience of fighting uphill both ways against these games still have an awareness of the story and setting. And even if you are not an adept player, Bloodborne: The Death of Sleep captures the vibes of the game admirably.

Our hero is, of course, a nameless Hunter: someone who lives, dies, and lives again in search of Paleblood to transcend the Hunt. What is Paleblood? Obviously, no one actually knows—but this particular Hunter might be on the right track. Maybe.

The Hunter meets a strange child who bleeds literal pale blood, or so it seems. The Child also appears to have awareness of otherwise invisible creatures stalking the two of them during the Hunt. By the open-ended finale of the story, the Hunter might not have a prize. But there is a new awareness of the world and its monsters that could change everything.

The Death of Sleep doesn't seek to answer any major questions about the lore of Bloodborne. Instead, it finds places to play within the story as it stands, poking at corners and asking questions. You don't need to be versed in the game lore to understand or appreciate the comic, partly because it pulls from art, film, literature, and many other sources to build its story. It's a tribute to the original game and an exploration of its world, querying the nature of the Hunt and the beasts we slay (or that, more often, slay us).

This deluxe edition gathers all four issues in a beautiful hardcover, as well as several extras. There's a gallery of covers, a series of process shots, reprints of the Issue #1 script, an interview with the series creators, and a look behind the scenes at how the gorgeous art for this series is made. The story alone makes this a worthwhile acquisition, but the sheer amount of behind-the-scenes extras makes it a must for any lover of Bloodborne in particular or horror games in general.

Bloodborne: The Death of Sleep Deluxe Edition goes on sale September 2.

As we speak, I'm preparing to head to Derby for a short, but very fun, trip. There will be a longer UK jaunt later in the year, but expect to hear more about this one in the coming weeks.

Prepping for this trip during busy season at work has meant a bit less time than usual to read, even with my daily reading for charity. To that end, I've focused on three books for this month: a memoir in verse, a cozy murder mystery, and another trip to Rokugan. Thanks as always to the writers and publishers who send along their work, and be sure to reach out if you'd like to be featured in a monthly review!

Bookish Candle: My favorite candle company is getting spicy with this month's Spice Factor candle. It's a surprisingly nice blend of pepper, grapefruit, and ginger. Use my link to get 20% off your purchase of this and other book lovers' candles!

Tea Pairing: Porch Stories is a fantastic summer tea. I loved their summer tea rollout last year, and this one in particular has remained high on my list since it's great hot or iced. Check out Chapters' full catalogue of bookish teas, and use my code KARA15 for 15% off your order!

KNOCKING ON WINDOWS
by Jeannine Atkins
Available Now

In Knocking on Windows, author Jeannine Atkins pens a memoir through the lens of poetry—both her own and that of poets who affected her life. Grouped sometimes chronologically, sometimes topically, these poems tell the story of Atkins's personal trauma, and how that trauma extended into every area of her life.

As a college student attempting to look forward and find her voice as a poet, she finds comfort in the lives of other women who have endured similar suffering. Sylvia Plath becomes a regular touchstone, as does Emily Dickinson. As she and the people close to her explore what it means to be  a writer, she considers relationships, parenthood, the aftermath of sexual assault, and how the people around us respond to the tragedies and traumas in our own lives.

Usually I do not review memoirs. I tend to stick to fictional works and the occasional science-adjacent nonfiction. But I gave Atkins a chance, and I was wowed. It's not an easy read, as she speaks frankly about traumatic issues, but she sketches her complicated feelings out in a way that will resonate to many. Seeing her find peace and comfort in her writing, and eventually in the companionship of a fellow creative willing to meet her where she is, is a wonderful upshot, even (and especially) in the wake of all she loses and leaves behind. Even if you're not sure if this is for you, give it a few pages. You may be surprised.

MURDER ON AN ITALIAN ISLAND
by T.A. Williams
Available Now

In the latest Armstrong and Oscar cozy mystery, a detective-turned-novelist gets a little too much real-life inspiration when his current story seems to come to life. Dan Armstrong has been enjoying a much-needed vacation on the island of Elba with his girlfriend Anna and dog Oscar. But days of windsurfing lessons and nights sampling the local fare are interrupted by the death of a notorious local... and at first, it seems that Dan's best friend Virgilio is the most likely suspect.

Considering the victim was persona non grata after a string of crimes 20 years prior, just about everyone has a motive. But things get more complicated when a second body turns up under equally suspicious circumstances. Has the killer struck again? Was one of the murders a case of mistaken identity? Or could these two killings really simply be accidents? Despite attempts to enjoy his vacation, Dan soon finds himself swept up in solving the case—at first because it could put a pin in his writer's block, but eventually because it seems someone has dragged Anna into proceedings.

If you've never read an Armstrong and Oscar mystery, you won't feel too adrift. It's clear that the core cast has a history, but all you need to know is that Dan Armstrong is British, he writes murder mysteries, and his dog Oscar is the best. While the final act suffers a bit from characters blurting out facts where they might not ordinarily, the book itself is broadly enjoyable. It's a relaxing summer read with just enough intrigue to keep you turning the pages.

A THRONE BETRAYED: A LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS NOVEL
by Julie Kagawa and J.T. Nicholas
Available Now

The emperor has been slain, his sons have disappeared, and the clans of Rokugan are in disarray. As the Crab Clan attempts to hold back the shadowy horrors that infest the land, clans fight alongside and against each other. Everything has become unbalanced and, down several separate storylines, a handful of people try to set things right.

Doji Hotaru of the Crane is torn between her love for her secret Scorpion paramour (whose husband also slew the emperor) and her duty. Toturi, who avenged the death of the emperor, now roams the land as a ronin with a trio of unlikely allies. And on the Wall, a Crab Clan soldier makes a literal deal with the devil to turn the tides of battle. As each story unfolds, the Lion advance, shrouding themselves in darkness to destabilize the other clans and exert their might.

As the first book in The Clan Wars, A Throne Betrayed is an excellent entry point into the world of L5R. Even if you don't know a Unicorn from a Dragon, this novel's multifaceted story will introduce new readers to the complicated politics of Rokugan in a manner that's both exciting to read and easy to digest. And for those who are more acquainted, there are new characters to get to know, each with secrets and passions that are only just beginning to be unveiled. While some stories are brought to a close, others are just beginning—even within the novel's closing sentences. Whether you're a Legend of the Five Rings fan or just an enjoyer of classic samurai stories, this is a great summer read.

 

A couple of months ago, I was invited to be part of the book tour for Vol. 1 of YAN. As regular readers will likely remember, I was hugely impressed by the first volume. The art, the story, and uniqueness of the characters all came together to make something really special. While I was looking forward to later volumes, I wasn't sure there would be anything new to talk about. There's a reason I tend to stick to covering first volumes over on Otaku USA.

Anyway, I also enjoy being wrong about good books.

YAN Vol. 1 left us with a cavalcade of strange characters, all of whom would allegedly come together in the story somehow. This middle act evolves Yan's story past the inciting incident (the death of her family some 30 years ago, allegedly at her hands). As it happens, this is far bigger even than a seemingly-immortal opera star on the hunt for vengeance.

Diving too deep into the story would give away far too much. Suffice to say, though, this story is huge. New players enter the field, adding context to a decades-old crime and setting the start of this bizarre timeline earlier than first believed. It also answers the question that's been top of mind for me since the first volume: why are so many super-powerful people congregating in one place, within one story? The answer is a surprising one, and one that blows the whole story wide open.

The art continues absolutely stunning. I think most people who read comics, manga, manhua etc. are used to the occasional "lazy panel." Maybe the action of a certain moment isn't big or important enough to necessitate the artist's full attention. Regardless, YAN is consistently detailed and consistently beautiful. Every panel is gorgeous and drawn with care, and fortunately the print editions are physically huge so you can fully appreciate that fact.

By the end of Volume 2, YAN is a very different story. There are many different threads tangled up in each other, the fate of the world is on the line, and who and what our protagonist even is. The two epilogue pages muse on some of the powers in the story and how the final volume will go, and frankly, I couldn't be more excited.

If you're a fan of paranormal action-adventure, or even just action-adventure in general, immerse yourself in YAN. And definitely start from the beginning.

YAN Volume 2 goes on sale September 9.

 

So, I read a lot. Pretty much every day unless I am seriously under the gun when it comes to work. So when I saw the American Cancer Society hosting a "Read Every Day in August" fundraiser, I thought... damn. Finally a fundraiser I can do.

Short of contributing to charity anthologies (which I love doing and hope to continue doing), there's not much I can do in terms of fundraising. Ever since I broke my ankle a couple summers ago, I can walk around the neighborhood fine, but I'm not walking or running any 'thons. It's the same reason I picked an English major in college: I know for a fact I can read, and read a lot.

So, starting on the 1st and ending on the 31st, I will not only be reading every day, but documenting what I read. You can look up those updates on my Facebook fundraising page, and I'll likely end up reviewing a lot of these for my August book review entry (and September, depending on how far ahead I get).

To address some questions:

Why this charity?
While I have some very specific charity interests — epilepsy, endometriosis, dementia, and literacy specifically — I don't know a single person who hasn't had their life affected by cancer in some way. I've lost family members to it. I'm a high risk for a variety of reasons. And, frankly, it's one I don't think many people can argue with.

What books will you be reading?
My first priority is my August ARC stack. After that, I'll likely move on to my September ARCs. If somehow I manage to plow through those, I have a lot of summer books that didn't make the review list, but I still want to read and review them online.

Don't you have a trip coming up?
Yes, as some of you know, I'll be at Whooverville this summer. (More on that later!) But I'll also be on a lot of planes and trains. So expect some of my reading updates to be on the road!

Can I still donate?
Absolutely. I'd love you to! Follow this link to go to my donation page. That money goes straight to the American Cancer Society. Every little bit helps. Please do drop a note if you donate!

I'd also love to hear more about fundraising events in future — be they readathons, charity anthologies, zines, etc. Please get in touch with me via social media if you're aware of an upcoming, reliably-run event along those lines!