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The Reintroduction blogfest is hosted by Mark Koopmans, Elise Fallson, C.M. Brown, and Stephen Tremp. If you want to join in, you can find the sign up and list of participants HERE.
Every summer I work as a volunteer star guide at Pine Mountain Observatory where I freeze my toes solid on weekend nights looking at the sky through telescopes and explaining the sites to visitors. As unpleasant as it can be at 6400 feet [sometimes below freezing], I love every second of it. It’s my favorite place on Earth.
I live in stunning Central Oregon with the Husband Unit and my two lovely kitty girls. I’m a huge Jane Austen fan and love historically based fiction, movies, and TV [ie, Tudors, Rome, Spartacus]. So, it’s not just sci-fi and the weird I love. I’ve also read a lot of classic literature and enjoy the modern stuff, too.
Nice to meet you, or remeet you. Both types of visitors are very welcome here in my dimension, and on Wednesdays [except for the 1st Wednesday], I chat with other writers in my Spacedock 19 feature. Contact me if you’re interested in being on it.
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Writers4Writers
Writers for writer, which I cohost with Stephen Tremp, Christine Rains, and C. M. Brown, resumes February 18th, and will be launched the 3rd Monday each month. Next up we spotlight writers Gwen Gardner, YA Fiction Author and Melissa Bradley from Melissa’s Imaginarium. If you’re not familiar with W4Ws, can check out the Writers4Writers Page.
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And don’t forget the Back From the Future bloghop on Friday, March 1st. I’ve teamed up with Suze of Subliminal Coffee and Nicki Elson for this one. You can find out more about it and sign up HERE.
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Nice observatory pic! The BBC just did a feature on American Jane Austen fans:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21036818
I’m still jealous of your volunteer work. :) Oh, I think you are next on my Kindle. It’s amazing that I’ve found some reading time lately. I look forward to reading your work!
Something tells me those cats have attitude.
You certainly have a great view there!
That’s the first time I’ve seen your kitties! Blue point Siamese and Chocolate point Himalayn?
You have about the coolest job in all of Blogdom too! Are those Earth cats or are they from another dimension?
Hi Mary,
Long time no see, and I can tell that you have been super busy … good for you!
Maybe I will come and visit you at the observatory some time; I haven’t been there yet.
Kathy M.
I’m looking forward to summer already, Sean.
I know I’m fortunate to have found it, Ciara.
They are bossy little things, Alex.
They are actually from the same litter, Laura. Half Himalayan and half Siamese, and since Himalayan is part Siamese, they are very Siamese. Makalya is a blue point and Nini the seal point.
They are bossy, spoiled cats, Stephen.
It’d be great to see you, Kathy.
MEPS!
Two beautiful cats and freezing is probably a small price to pay for the view.
I always call you Mary whenever I refer to you. I like that picture of the mountain. It’s so picturesque.
What a cool volunteer gig you have!
And I love the pics! (and Spartacus :D)
Aww. You have some cute little kitties. And I’d love to help people see the stars. That sounds so amazing. Cold or not!
That’s a wonderful view certainly! I’ll check the link to the free ebook. Nice to meet you again, Mary Pax
thoroughly enjoyed this in depth bio!
you are a woman of many talents!
Aww, the kitty girls are beautiful. What a cute pic. <3
I think I will just call you "hey you" from here on out.
Oh, we both love our Jane Austen. And I love historical fiction/TV/movies too. My favorite genre, even though I don’t write it.
Beautiful cats!!
You really live in a cool place. I like reading the same stuff you do and just about every other type of fiction.
Hey Mary. I haven’t signed up for your blogfest… yet… I’m just trying to get through the Jan/Feb bloghops in one piece…
You are obviously passionate about your universe-gazing activities which are sometimes carried out in below-freezing temperatures? At the moment, I’m baking in a temperature of 76.5 degrees F…
Nice to re-meet you!
Next time I’m down to visit my folks, I’m paying you a visit at Pine Mountain. We need to have a nice long coffee date! I love your kitties, so cute! And I didn’t know you liked Spartacus. It’s one of my faves, although I miss Andy so much it hurts.
Mary! A fellow Mistress Snark Survivor! Haven’t seen a lot of us hardy types on this blog tour so it’s great to find you here. Always been a fan! Love your neck of the woods and your cats are beauties.
I used to just be Mep, Suze, but have been Meps for 19 years now.
It is, Maurice. Although, I may say otherwise this coming May and June.
I see that driving around town most days, Michael. Utah has some gorgeous views.
It is mega cool, Jackie. I couldn’t believe I could do that when we moved here. I knew nothing then.
I think they’re quite adorable, Krystal. It is an amazing thing to do. I’ve learned tons and can’t believe at how good I’ve gotten at finding dazzling objects in the night sky.
Nice to remeet you, Father Dragon.
Many passions at least, Tara. :)
Aren’t they cute? Don’t let those innocent faces fool you, Julie, they rule the house. Hey You it is then. lol
I don’t write it either, and it seems to be the stuff that excites me most, LG. Although, I sometimes draw from it to create new stuff.
I do love living here, Susan.
lol I hear you on that, Michelle. It’s been insanely busy here in writer bloggyland.
I miss him, too, Nancy. Poor Andy. Sniff. Yes, we must meet next time you come down this way.
The punch finally just wore off, Cathy. Thank you. I think my gals are beautiful.
Hey you, there’s so much interesting stuff here. You have your dream job, obviously, and to be able to write in the genre–priceless! Thanks for sharing so much!
Great to find out more about your star guide job. What an awesome gig!
Happy 200th birthday to Pride & Prejudice! I’ve seen loads about Jane Austen on the news today in the UK for that reason.
That volunteer job sounds amazing!!! Your kitties are cute! I love Spartacus! The original guy was the best if course!! So nice to learn more about ya!
What a great re-introduction. I’m glad to re-meet you. Working at an observatory rocks! Except for the cold part, which does not.
It’s nice to get to know more about you. Your cats are gorgeous. I’d love to have a pair myself, but my hubby is allergic.
Hey, hubby is from Oregon, though he’s from the eastern side. The picture is lovely.
Long time no comment! It’s so awesome to be re-introduced to you again!!! :)
Cute cat. Can’t wait to see what Ms. Locklear’s all about.
I do enjoy it, Denise.
I’ve seen a lot on Jane, too, Nick. She’s awesome. I’ve been rereading S&S
I can’t wait to see the new Spartacus, Dani. I miss Andy, too. He was… inspiring.
No, the cold is annoying, Rusty, but tolerable… more so when you love what you’re doing.
I can be allergic, too, Christine, but I don’t care.
Hi, Sara. I’m on the eastern side… well, the valley calls this eastern OR, even though we’re smack in the center of the state.
Nice to see you again, DL
I hope you enjoy her, Joy. I enjoyed writing her.
Your two kitty girls are lovely indeed, and wow, your volunteer job sounds fascinating. Thanks for offering us the first Backworlds free–that’s very generous!
Hi, Mary,
WOW, how beautiful. What a view! How cool to work at a observatory! You must be very knowledgable. Now wonder you love space type things….
Always enjoy visiting you blog and the Medieval Champion contest was such fun!
i would so freeze my toes to have such an awesome view!!!
Ooo.. I want to volunteer! Except for the freezing toes part. You live in a beautiful area. Looks like the perfect inspiration for a writer ;)
That’s a stunning landscape. It was great learning more about you, Mary. It’s cool about the observatory. I love astronomy.
Your kittehs are delightful-looking creatures! I look forward to seeing your other Backworlds works in paperback! And I definitely want to read Hetty at some point soon!
I am rather envious of where you live – we have no mountains or snow here – and also of your Observatory stint. I always wanted to be an astronaut, and would have if only I’d had the aptitude for science, maths, etc.
I’d love to take one of your stargazing tours. :-) (I’m moving to the West Coast/Northern California in July, so maybe!)
Didn’t realize you were a Jane Austen fan. Just shared (on Twitter) this very cool article I read about her this AM. Here’s the link in case you missed:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/28/world/europe/jane-austen-travel-locations/index.html?iref=allsearch
Great to meet you, Kern
There’ll be a new contest this fall, Michael. I’m not as knowledgeable as the folks I work with.
We’d love more help, Tonja
It is stunning, Medeia.
My kittehs love hearing how beautiful they are, Trisha
Ooo! You’ll have to visit, EJ. Thanks for the Jane link!
What a cool volunteer job. How did you find out about it?
Nice to meet you!
Hi Mary….sorry I’m late…I meant to get over here yesterday and totally forgot :(
Anyway, very nice to meet you and you have a fantastic view from Central Oregon, I’m sure :)
Loved your re-introduction post . . .I think I was in super stress mode when I wrote mine . . .so happy to be blogging from a pc instead of my phone that I went way overboard on my word count.
I loved the view from the observatory, and the pic of your kitties!
Aww! The kitties are just so cute!
What a wonderful post! I always enjoy finding out a bit more about you. I loved the pictures! I feel like I haven’t seen the cats before! Thanks for sharing. :)
Awww, you have very lovely kitty girls. Just reminded me, too, that I need to review Hetty. I just loved her! And, eeep! I’m next at the Writers 4 Writers! Can’t wait :)
Wow. Looks like I know you pretty well….I knew all of that about you. Your kitties are pretty!
That picture of Pine Mountain is amazing. How far is that from Portland. When I visit my brother, I might have to check that out.
Nice to meetcha! I can’t help but wonder if your sci-fi writing led to your interest in working at the observatory (what an awesome job!) or if gazing at the sky led to your interest in writing sci-fi…
By the way, I didn’t think I was much of a sci-fi fan, but I LOVED your book. Guess that means I’m a convert.
Ooh, I’d love to come look through a telescope with you so you can tell me what I’m seeing!
Hi Mary;
Nice to get to know you better; didn’t know you have cats. Good thing, they should be able to warm your toes when you get home from the observatory :)
………dhole
What lovely kitties! And what am amazing place to work during the summers. You must get the best ideas being a star-guide–no wonder you write speculative. :)
I originally found it on meetup when we first moved here, Azara.
It is beautiful, Mark
I know what you mean, Tyrean. When my pc went, I limped along on a netbook for awhile. Then I finally noticed speed. My husband was amazed, because normally I don’t notice such things.
Aren’t they? They’re giving you cutie blinks for that, Cherie
They appear from time to time, Stephanie. They’re almost always with me when I’m working.
I’m glad you loved her, Gwen. Yes, you’re it.
The snowcapped peak is actually Mt. Bachelor. Bend is 3 1/2 hours from Portland.
Yay, I’m glad you loved it, Susan. I had an interest in space first. I think because I was very young when we landed on the moon. I started writing sci-fi and needed an astrophysicist then the observatory just popped in front of me. I was nervous to volunteer at first, because I didn’t know much. But I sure did learn a lot.
I’d love to show you, Deniz
They usually run away from me, Donna, because I’m so cold. My husband accuses me of being a human air conditioner.
I do get many ideas from working at the observatory, Jessica
That’s an exciting volunteer job!
Hi Mary .. the photo of I guess Mount Hood (had to cheat!) .. is lovely – what a great view … Pine Mountain Observatory must offer an amazing experience for you and the visitors ..
Cheers Hilary
Loved your intro info and photos. Gorgeous kitties too. :O)
Jane Austen? now I would never have guessed. I always forget what speculative fiction really means. the name makes one speculate all sorts of things! ;O)