Samhain Publishing Ltd. Weblog

Goth Me, Please!

I have a book life list. I have a bird life list. I feel pretty good about those two things. If you don’t know what those are, well, it’s not complicated. I have written down every book I’ve ever read. I have written down every species of bird I’ve ever seen. I’ve read more books than seen new species, but they aren’t as far off as one might imagine. My favorite bird? Probably the simple red-winged blackbird. My favorite book? Oof.

Okay, so these lists are not complete, because I started them in high school, at the urging of a very smart woman. My mom. She can’t read now, but I read to her. And I tell her about birds I’ve seen recently. So I’m missing the Curious George books, etc.

Beating the February Blahs

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you’re probably feeling it—February. You may have snow, or just be craving the sunshine that makes most of us feel better. Perhaps if you’re a writer, you aren’t feeling inspired. If you’re a mom, those snow days are driving you insane. If you’re a reader, well—there’s everyday life.

I have a theory that there are two types of people—summer people, and the crazies. Kidding. Even if you enjoy Winter, you might need to shake things up a little this time of year.

My advice may seem counterintuitive, but it comes from professional counselors who are faced with these complaints from their patients every day.

Your first instinct may be “I need a ME day.” The spa, shopping, lunch with a friend, etc. But if you’ve found yourself, well, self-involved in your problems, overwhelmed, maybe a trifle depressed, that may not be the answer.

Psychologists recommend that to give yourself a wonderful lift, do something for someone else. WHAT? I’m already doing everything for everyone! Not so fast. I don’t mean fold your laundry or make a special dinner. Do something, anonymously if you can, for someone needy.

Write a letter to an elderly person who may not get much mail. Help someone carry their groceries in. Take your old romance novels to a cancer ward. And yes, there’s the local soup kitchen. Why? The trick is to get you out of yourself, your worries, the loop of doom.

Hey, how about sending a friend who doesn’t have much money a free ebook? With a note telling them how much you appreciate them.

Here’s to sunshine and an early Spring!

Bonding Over Books

Thanksgiving at my in-laws was a fairly typical affair—the now young teen nephew and nieces eating in a frenzy, then shuffling off to their corners to check emails, voicemails, and fan forums. Somewhere after about 1990, I lost track of what turns on kids. Hanna Montana? What’s that? High School Musical? Shudder.

There are a few universals, however, and I pulled them out just before my MIL was about to start fuming over the lack of familial bonding. Books. My husband’s niece is sixteen going on thirty, loves the paranormal and scifi, and of course, has developed a dozen hardcore crushes on stars. Aha! A prime candidate for a paranormal romance. I hopped into my car, drove the 10 minute round trip to my home, and returned with the booty.

My husband’s nephew is a tough nut to crack. Brilliant, a little shy, a trife arrogant. I drew him out with talk of Lovecraft and Robert Jordan. He hadn’t read Piers Anthony? I drew him into a long conversation about the great names in scifi and fantasy. Dazzled him with Asimov. Mesmerized him with a summary of Thomas Covenant’s story.

The little girl likes suspense, but hasn’t read Nancy Drew! Throw away that American Girl stuff, I ordered.

I’m not a parent, and I admire those who have to day in and day out find ways to talk to reach their children’s inner lives, their imaginations.

You know so many wonderful books, don’t you? I watched Black Friday shoppers wrangling over items that plug in, and tune out the outside world. I skipped those items, and went to the book section. Books are (relatively) cheap, and are treasures far beyond the cover price. What else gives you a return for under $20 that lasts a lifetime? Long after the barking iPod holder breaks, I’ll be able to talk to the kids about their first tastes of some very magical books. Books ARE magic. They’re better when you share them, and get better with age. The only other thing I can think of like that is cheese, and no teenager wants a good round of bleu for the holidays.

Happy Bonding!
Ciar Cullen

Labors of Love

Happy Labor Day weekend to those of you in the states. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union.

There’s no other “peoples’” holiday, really. It’s not about religion, wars, etc. It’s for everyone who works. I heard recently (okay, it was on a game show), that about 20% of Americans work two jobs.

Get Him on the Couch

Get your mind out of the gutter! I meant, book your hero an appointment with a therapist. He won’t go, of course, because he’s an alpha, right? He doesn’t have time for nonsense—he’s busy out saving his kind or rescuing the heroine. But perhaps you can be the therapist—and apply some basic psych concepts to the hero you’re reading about or creating. It will tell you a lot about yourself!