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Showing posts from 2019

“Things Every Southern Woman Should Know How to Make”

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Alice clicked on the headline, mildly curious about what yet another stranger thought should be in her kitchen repertoire. Pictures of China plates mounded with crispy fried chicken, greens, cobbler, and a pile of biscuits a mile high flooded the screen, all set off with a pitcher of sweet tea beaded with condensation. The table was set; an apron draped off to the side next to a box labeled “Gramma’s Recipes” in fine calligraphy. She closed the browser and put away her tablet. She was born a Georgia peach, but she couldn’t make a cobbler to save her life. Did that mean she wasn’t southern? Or maybe just not “Southern.” For Alice, there was no recipe box full of family traditions. Her younger years were filled with rental homes in different states and her father’s voice coaxing her toward a text book rather than a cookbook. Metalworking and fabrication held more interest than learning to flambé or sauté. Did it make her less of a woman that her cooking skills consisted of fresh salads...
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“Things Every Southern Woman Should Know How to Make”

Image
Alice clicked on the headline, mildly curious about what yet another stranger thought should be in her kitchen repertoire. Pictures of China plates mounded with crispy fried chicken, greens, cobbler, and a pile of biscuits a mile high flooded the screen, all set off with a pitcher of sweet tea beaded with condensation. The table was set; an apron draped off to the side next to a box labeled “Gramma’s Recipes” in fine calligraphy. She closed the browser and put away her tablet. She was born a Georgia peach, but she couldn’t make a cobbler to save her life. Did that mean she wasn’t southern? Or maybe just not “Southern.” For Alice, there was no recipe box full of family traditions. Her younger years were filled with rental homes in different states and her father’s voice coaxing her toward a text book rather than a cookbook. Metalworking and fabrication held more interest than learning to flambé or sauté. Did it make her less of a woman that her cooking skills consisted of fresh salads...
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Comic Recs: unOrdinary by Uru-chan

Hey all! I'm here with another Webtoon recommendation! Today, I want to tell you about unOrdinary by Uru-chan!  In the world of unOrdinary, most people have superpowers, which sounds great! But, of course, people found a way to ruin it. A hierarchy allows the strong to control the weak, and it's often enforced with brute force. And if you're powerless like John, it's no place to be at all.  Except John isn't powerless, and he may just be the most dangerous one of all... Uru-chan does a great job of turning the superpower trope on its head. The whole "with great power comes great responsibility" view gets an amazing twist in this comic. The elites dominate those with lesser abilities, and most accept that this is the way the world works. However, a few believe that the strong should protect the weak--a viewpoint in a book called unOrdinary, and one that is highly discouraged by society and the government. The authorities try to weed out the those ...
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Ramblings of a Gamer: Open World Maps

I love the freedom of an open world map. I've spent endless hours traveling across Skyrim, climbing mountains and discovering hidden altars and caves, enjoying the scenery, and meeting other travelers on the road. Of course, there's danger; a dragon could swoop down and roast me, bandits could (attempt to) waylay me, or I could get caught in a magic battle between two random mages. Most of the time, though, I can go about my business, hunt a few bears, and take in the countryside. Sure, there's a story line to follow, but the game doesn't demand it of me, and I can venture into it at any time. FFXV allowed me to roam for the most part, too. I repeatedly left my car behind to enjoy a chocobo ride with the guys, visiting my favorite fishing spots and seeing how far I could get before night fell and the hordes of fiends came out. I spent a lot of time exploring the map, searching out hidden places until I reached the point of no return and was funneled to the ending. ...
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Ramblings of a Gamer: FFXII: Zodiac Age II or I Sometimes Miss Random Battle

Life's been busy, so gaming's been slow, but I managed to get a little time on FFXII: Zodiac Age. I'm currently hanging out on the Phon Coast, woefully unprepared for the flying fiends and in need of better equipment. There are way too many birds for me to not have found Telekinesis. I'm, of course, out of gil from my last shopping spree in which I loaded up on some spells I'd neglected early on, so I decided to go hunting. Unfortunately, hunting means finding the monsters on the map, battling, and then moving on to another map area to locate more monsters until I've made a circle back to my starting point. I kinda need a lot of dough. It's moments like these when I miss random battle systems. Need money or to harvest a drop item? No problem! Just spin around in this spot until the screen does its flashy transition to a battle. Need to fill your pockets with the equivalent of the king's coffers? Go for it. The enemies won't run out here. Od...
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Anime Rambles: Forest of Piano

Forest of Piano is an anime presented for your viewing pleasure on Netflix. In the forest rests an abandoned piano, and Kai Ichinose, a poor boy from the nearby red light district, is the only one who can coax music from its keys. When his talent is discovered by his new friend Shuhei and his music teacher/former world-renowned pianist, Sosuke Ajino, Kai ventures out to hone his skills and share his piano with the world at the International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition. Kai is this wonderful, bounce-back kid who doesn't let hardship slow him down. He has a natural talent for the piano, but he meets the challenges that Mr. Ajino sets before him with hard work and tenacity. It's about the love of the music for him, even when he's in a competition, and his enthusiasm lifts up his competitors so that they face their challenges head-on. Unfortunately, not everyone sees it as challenge to themselves. His childhood friend, Shuhei, whose dad is a professional pianist, cr...
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Comic Rec: DAYS OF HANA by Seokwoo

Today’s recommendation is the webcomic, DAYS OF HANA, by Indonesian artist Seokwoo, whose romances are far more than a love story. They deal with social perceptions of minority groups, in the case of DAYS OF HANA, werewolves, what happens when the world views begin to change. In the world of this story, humans keep werewolves as pets, but Hana and Haru were raised together like siblings, and the line between owner and pet is blurry. Hana’s family took Haru in when they found him injured and alone one winter. There's an adorable montage of photos of Hana and Haru growing up, ending with a family photo. But as the two get older, the hazy boundaries between human and werewolf become a problem. Werewolves are given limited rights—education, right to work for wages, etc.—with the hopes they they’ll be able to live independently and on equal footing with humans. However, as the werewolves explore their newfound freedoms, there’s pushback from the humans who have owned them. Tensio...
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Ramblings of a Gamer: Final Fantasy XII: Zodiac Age

I played the original FFXII way back in the day, and I didn't love it. The graphics were great, but Vaan annoyed the crap out of me, no one really stood out, the game battle mechanics were meh, and--a personal pet peeve--Ifrit and Shiva and my other favorite summons had been relegated to airships in favor of a new crop of espers. When Zodiac Age came out, I decided to give it a second shot--and it fell into my queue because my game TBP list is greater than my free time. But, at last, I found a moment, and I'm once again exploring Ivalice. And I still have mixed opinions. Vaan is still grating, though he doesn't seem as bad after he finally understands Basch didn't kill his brother. I didn't find much use for him in my original go-around, but this time, with the job system, I've been using him in battle a lot. As a shikari, so far he's fairly well-rounded when it comes to health/speed/strength, though I'm struggling with what I want his second job t...
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Book Recs: A BLADE SO BLACK by L.L. McKinney

Alison “Alice” Kingston suffers the worst night of her life when her father dies. Overcome with grief, she flees into the dark, and trips down the rabbit hole. Only, the rabbit hole doesn’t take her to a brightly colored world filled with odd wonders and a disappearing cat; it instead threatens her with a monster—a Nightmare—and introduces her to Addison Hatta, who recruits her to fight the Nightmares plaguing Wonderland and encroaching on the human world. A BLADE SO BLACK is a magnificent twist on Alice in Wonderland , where Alice is a dual-blade wielding Dreamwalker badass backed up by her mentor, the mysterious Addison Hatta and the sleepy-eyed Maddie, a Poet who keeps them going with her potions. She’s got a healthy fear of her mom, who worries about her and wants her to stay safe in a world that’s not always safe for a black girl going about her business. I really like Alice and her friends. Even though she was a skilled fighter, she didn’t come out on top in every battle,...
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Comic Rec: UNSOUNDED by Ashley Cope

I may sound like a broken record, but if you haven't read UNSOUNDED by Ashley Cope, and you like twisted tales of undead wizards and cocky sneak-thieves with tails, you really should. This is an ongoing comic, and the author is 66 pages into chapter 14. It's beautifully drawn and intricately woven for a tight storyline that never fails to surprise you. The characters are wonderfully flawed, messy, and true to character throughout the story, and it's amazing to watch them grow as they face their prejudices and fears. The magic system is well-grounded and the world's history tied to it. Ashley Cope has successfully Kickstarted three volumes of UNSOUNDED at the demands of her fans, and she offers them for sale on her website with a few other items. BUT! You can read the story and enjoy the artwork for free right here!  http://www.casualvillain.com/Unsounded/comic/ch01/ch01_01.html So, check out UNSOUNDED and follow along as Duane, the formerly alive scribe, travels w...
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Ramblings of a Gamer: Drakengard

Hey folks! Today I'm hopping into the game time machine! (cue flashy lights and eerie noises) I dove into gaming late. My brother played everything, but nothing really caught my attention until some high school friends of mine shoved Final Fantasy VII into my hands, and then I was hooked. So, for the longest, FF games were my go-to, and from there it was Square and later, Square-Enix. DRAKENGARD was one of the first non-FF games I played. I was drawn to the gorgeous artwork and movie clips and it had dragons! And it was by Square-Enix, so I felt confident that I would love it. And I did love it, but it was so very different from the worlds I was used to. The game was an action-RPG, where I was used to turn-based RPGs, but I caught on quick enough. I honestly loved the weapon wheel and the ability to change weapons on the fly. My favorite weapons were the pole-arms, and that running dash that sent my enemies flying was the best. With the help of free expeditions, my body c...
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Happy Independence Day!  When you're celebrating the birth of the nation, mind your fingers, keep your fireworks on a level surface, and clear the area before detonation!  We'll see you next week! 
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Ramblings of a Gamer: Detroit: Become Human or an Interactive Choose-Your-Own-Adventure

If you're looking for a game with a lot of action, then this is not the game for you. However, if you're looking for a game that challenges the way you think and every decision affects the outcome of the story, look no further! DETROIT: BECOME HUMAN lets you play as three different android characters in a not-so-distant future full of rising tensions between humans and the androids who serve them. As you play, a timeline is created for each character based on the decisions you make for them, which is cool because you can see how one simple choice bends the future in several different ways. I've only completed a single playthrough so far, and while I was mostly satisfied with the outcome, I have a couple characters that I would like to improve their futures. A single playthrough doesn't take too long, but the replay value promises to give me my money's worth--which, by the way, was a bargain in the Quantic Dream collection with HEAVY RAIN and BEYOND: TWO SOULS. T...
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WEBTOON: Lots to Read, Lots to Love

Hey all, I'm breaking from our regularly scheduled book rec because I'm behind on my TBR pile. (Sorry, delicious books. I will get to you shortly!) Today, I want to share with you the invaluable wonder of the WEBTOON, and all the excellent comics to be found there. It's a free app with hundreds of comics in just about every genre you can think of. Sometimes translations are hinky, but I've found a lot of real gems here. Some of my favorites are: SWEET HOME by Carnby Kim and Youngchan Hwang. If you like horror, this one's for you. A young man moves into an apartment building after the death of his family, and a strange sickness turns people into powerful monsters. The story and art are both amazing. LET'S PLAY by Mongie. Game designer, Sam, is devastated when her puzzle game Ruminate gets trashed by vlogger, Marshall Law, and his rabid fans downvote her into oblivion. And then Sam meets her new neighbor...Marshall, who has no clue he's destroyed her...
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Ramblings of a Gamer: FFVII Remake First Thoughts

When the Final Fantasy VII: Remake was first announced, I expressed my excitement and fears for the new rendition of the game that turned me into a gamer. Years passed, and it looked like the remake might go the way of Versus:XIII, but once again, Square-Enix has announced the Final Fantasy VII: Remake--this time with a release date! The game is supposed to release on 3/3/20, and the footage they've released looks promising. The character designs are top-notch, the secondary characters appear to have been given more a role in the story, and the game-play looks great. Reports of those who played the demo say it plays great, too. I hope those of us who weren't at E3 get a chance to play a demo between now and March, but I can live without it as long as the game gets the attention it needs to be the best version it can be. The first installment centers on Midgar, which hopefully means that the story has been fleshed out. I'm eager to stroll through the sectors and see what...
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Book Recs: DAMSEL DISTRESSED by Kelsey Macke

CW: Self-Harm I'm not going to go into details on that, but it does play a factor in the story so be aware. What I really liked about DAMSEL DISTRESSED is that Imogen is flawed, knows she's flawed, and even though she's trying to work on it, sometimes she fails hardcore. She sometimes thinks or says terrible things about people she loves, but she usually calls herself out on it or someone else will. Which was nice because too often things like slut-shaming or body-shaming slip into a protag's dialogue and they aren't pointed out as wrong. Imogen lives with clinical depression, and in her low moments, it's hard for her to believe in herself or other people, even when they are supportive of her. She struggles with the fact that even with therapy and medication, she still feels broken. She isn't magically cured by a pill or a couple therapy sessions or by the love of her best friend, Grant. Rather than curing her, the support of her family and friend...
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Ramblings of a Gamer: Kingdom Hearts III Part 3: Final Rant

**** SPOILERS**** I have quite a few bones to pick with Kingdom Hearts III; I’ve already mentioned the POV fail and the overabundance of Disney, but there were a few other points that hit my editing nerve. The dialogue tags were excruciating. There was no need throughout the game to keep naming all the characters when they were talking to them. It came off very awkward the first couple times, and was painful the longer I played. The cut scenes were another problematic area. Don’t get me wrong; I absolutely love those little mini movies in my RPGs, but in KH3, there were so many that the gameplay was interrupted. Cut scenes are good for a reward after a long battle or to tell a part of the story that can’t be told in the gameplay, but too many can pull the player out of the game, which was the case for me. Kairi got shafted in this game. She worked so hard to be a member of the team, and she doesn’t even get to use her skills. Instead of being the fully-fleshed out chara...
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Book Recs: A SUN IS ALSO A STAR by Nicola Yoon

Natasha and Daniel’s lives collide on a crossroads to their uncertain futures. Natasha is on a desperate mission to stay in the states, and a poetic boy in a red tie doesn’t fit into her plans. But Natasha is the twist-of-fate Daniel has been wishing for; the sign that he can escape the life of Ivy League ambition his parents have planned for him. Coincidence or destiny, their collision will change their hearts and minds forever. Even though there is love-at-first-sight (at least for Daniel), this isn’t a reality-breaking insta-love story where nothing matters anymore because the characters are in love. They still have decisions to make, and while they influence each other, they still have to make them on their own. However, Natasha and Daniel’s meeting creates eddies that alter the world around them, and these ripples add subtle layers that enrich the depth of the story. These small twists make this one of those books that sticks with you long after you read it. You can find...
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Ramblings of Gamer: Kingdom Hearts III Part Two: Plug Much, Disney?

****SPOILERS AHEAD**** Kingdom Hearts started as a Final Fantasy/Disney mashup, and I loved it. I loved the incarnations of my FF favorites and how they were integrated into this strange new world that had me visiting Ariel in Atlantica and the Beast in Hollow Bastion. Somehow, they were balanced so that one didn’t overpower the other. That joy continued in KH2. And then we got to KH3. And there was something conspicuously missing. Where the heck did the Final Fantasy aspect go? Where were Cloud and Aerith and Sephiroth? What had happened to Leon and Cid? And why was everything so unapologetically pushing everything Disney? Everything was Disney; the worlds (per the norm, fine), the summons (okay), but then the special attacks? Theme park rides in full neon lights? Really? There was so much going on in this game when it came to battles, and some of it was completely unnecessary. With special skills, group skills, Rage form, weapon changes, and summons, the them...
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Book Recs: DREAD NATION by Justina Ireland

If you like kickass girls fighting zombies in a post-Civil War alternate history, then you should read DREAD NATION by Justina Ireland. Attendant-in-training Jane McKeene knows her way around a sickle when it comes to taking out shamblers, and she hopes to use those skills to make her way home to her family once she graduates from Ms. Preston’s, an academy where black girls are trained to fight the risen dead to later serve the white elites in the protected cities of the United States. But Jane has different plans—graduation is her ticket to carve out her own path and attain the freedom that the end of the Civil War failed to bring. DREAD NATION has great, well-rounded characters and a fascinating alternate history. People’s prejudices often lead them to underestimate Jane, and she uses this to her benefit not only to save her own hide, but usually theirs as well. Unfortunately, Jane’s smarts are often dismissed due to the racism of the white Survivalist party that’s in charg...
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Ramblings of a Gamer: Kingdom Hearts III and a Storytelling Fail

**** SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU HAVEN”T PLAYED AND HAVE MANAGED TO AVOID SPOILERS, RUN AWAY NOW! ***** Still here? For real, there’s going to be spoilers because I can’t talk about this without them. Staying? Okay! Here we go! I’ve been a fan of the Kingdom Hearts series since the early days. The thought of Final Fantasy mashed together with my fave Disney characters was just odd enough to make me check it out, and that gorgeous opening sequence with Utada Hikaru’s Simple and Clean absolutely drew me in. The game was beautiful and strange, and it had a compelling story that somehow made these characters from completely different franchises work. I bought a Gameboy Advance to play Chain of Memories, and I eagerly snatched up KH2 when it came out, but after that, I couldn’t keep up. There were too many games on too many platforms, and while I love my gaming collection, I’m not much of a handheld gamer, and I couldn’t justify all these extra purchases ...
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Return to the Attic: The Blog Lives!

*dusts off cobwebs* Hi!  It's been awhile since I've visited the attic. Many things happened in my personal and professional life, and this blog unfortunately fell by the wayside. But! Here I am, ready once again to ramble about whatever gets stuck in my mind and needs an outlet. Here’s a brief recap: Shortly before the release date of my book, things went awry, and an agreement was made that I should have it back. Bittersweet, but I haven’t given up on that story yet. There was much to be done, and frankly, some tears to deal with, but it wasn’t all bad because in the midst of it all, I signed with Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour Agency. After the dust cleared, I set to work on a new WIP, which I love and hope to share with the world, and now I’m 52K into my next. Words are flowing, and I’ve got new ideas and plans to rework some of my existing projects. Progress feels awesome! I want to share my excitement and my words and...
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