Category: Uncategorized

What’s your backup?

So I just got back from Easter vacation in Turkey, at Trabzon and Lake Uzungöl.  It was pretty awesome–I’ll definitely be blogging about it in the next couple of days!  First, though, I wanted to share something interesting that happened on the way back. While I was hanging out in Batumi with some other TLG… Continue reading What’s your backup?

მოტაცება, or how to bag a wife–literally

მოტაცება (pronounced mot’atseba) is the Georgian word for bride kidnapping, as opposed to regular kidnapping, which takes a different word.  It’s an ancient practice in the Caucasus region that doesn’t happen as much as it used to, but still happens, especially in the rural areas.  Today, most Georgians condemn it, but there’s still a whole… Continue reading მოტაცება, or how to bag a wife–literally

Q1 2012, or what writer’s angst looks like

Actually, this last quarter wasn’t quite so bad as the title might make it seem.  For the first part, I was on roll, writing almost 25k new words a week.  But then I finished that project, started a new career, moved to the other side of the world…yeah, my writing took a hit.  Or at… Continue reading Q1 2012, or what writer’s angst looks like

One Confirmed Kill by Peter Johnston

The best description of this book that I think I could give is the disclaimer at the front: The following is not fiction. The characters and events described are closely based on real life, and any resemblance to real persons, organizations and events is purely intentional, and should be construed in the most negative light… Continue reading One Confirmed Kill by Peter Johnston

Trope Tuesday: Abduction is Love

In real life, abduction is an awful, violent thing that we hope would never happen to us or anyone we know.  But in fiction, the Rule of Romantic can make abduction the basis of a wonderful, heartwarming love story…at least for some of us. This is actually a more common trope than you might think.… Continue reading Trope Tuesday: Abduction is Love

Staying in Georgia

So I’ve decided to stay here in Georgia for another semester.  Things are working out really well, I enjoy teaching English, and for the full experience I think it will be better to stay for a full year. I’m not sure if I’ll stay in Kutaisi yet, though.  It’s a convenient place to live, but… Continue reading Staying in Georgia

Winter in Kutaisi

From what I hear from my friends, it’s been a pretty mild winter back in the States.  Here in Georgia, though, it’s been a much different story. I think we’ve had only three sunny days since I arrived here in Kutaisi almost four weeks ago.  The natives tell me that this is highly unusual.  The… Continue reading Winter in Kutaisi

Thoughts after finishing Vortex by Robert Charles Wilson

Whoa. If I had to sum up my thoughts with one word, that would be it–though of course, by itself that word is hopelessly inadequate.  Let’s just say that, for me at least, this  was a truly astounding book, a literary journey that left me wide-eyed with my mouth hanging open, blinking wearily as I… Continue reading Thoughts after finishing Vortex by Robert Charles Wilson

Quarter Share by Nathan Lowell

Ishmael Wang never thought he would sign up with the crew of a solar clipper, traveling the stars as part of a merchant collective.  But when his mother unexpectedly dies, leaving him with barely enough money to pay next month’s rent, he finds himself without any other choice.  Fortunately, the starfaring life suits him quite… Continue reading Quarter Share by Nathan Lowell