I made a thing!
Forging a hook at Desert Metal Craft
Just spent a rainy Friday evening at the forge at Desert Metal Craft in the heart of Tucson. Instructor Sean took us through the basics of blacksmithing, from square steel to fancy decorative hook in four hours. It’s a lot harder than it looks, and not because of any superhuman strength required. It’s skill and experience that makes the metal go in the direction the smith wants it, and makes it look pliable as putty to the gormless onlooker.
So anyway, I made a thing, and learned some things, including do not touch the hot thing! Can’t wait for my next class!
This is all part of research for the fantasy novel I’m working on. It’s a High Fantasy adventure seen through the eyes of the Commoners, with a splash of Hydropunk, plenty of family drama, dragons (of course) and maybe a capybara or two!
Working title? [smiles mysteriously] The Blacksmith.
Lullaby in Progress: an Update
Strawberry tart, Rhubarb scone, Apples on the hillside grown….
Last week Paige Ozma Ashmore took her beautiful artwork to be photographed at Davin Lavikka’s studio in Mesa - one more step, and a big one, on our road to bringing Lullaby in Red into reality as a book! My current plan is to do a limited print run around September of this year, and also offer it long-term as print-on-demand.
In the meantime, we are looking into making some of Paige’s illustrations available as posters for children’s playrooms, libraries, maybe your bedroom or living room? Watch this space to find out!
For those who have joined us recently, here’s a little promo video we put together last year. Unmute to hear the music!
Introducing NanCoin
Dear readers (and others), I am tickled pink to announce the next step beyond crypto: NanCoin, the imaginary currency! Forget cumbersome wallets and costly blockchain computations - NanCoin is 100% carbon neutral, because it’s powered entirely by your imagination! Forget your password? Misplace your retinas? Accidentally drop your hard drive in acid? No worries! You can’t ever lose your NanCoin, because it doesn’t exist – it’s imaginary!
FAQ
Q: Sounds great! How do I get in on the ground floor?
A: Easy peasy! You earned your first NanCoin just now, by reading this blog post.
Q: Can I earn additional NanCoins by reading your other posts?
A: Sure can! In fact, here’s another two NanCoins. Take as many as you like. It costs you nothing, and it certainly doesn’t cost me anything, because it’s imaginary!
Q: How much is a NanCoin worth?
A: It’s worth whatever goods or services someone will give you in exchange for imaginary money.
Q: How do I pay someone in NanCoin?
A: Easy – simply mime giving them coins and let your imagination do the rest!
Q: What if I tell someone I was paying them NanCoins, but imagine that I am keeping them instead?
A: That would be dishonest, but sure.
Q: Without a wallet, how do I keep track of how many NanCoins I have?
A: That’s your problem, not mine. Use your imagination.
Q: Is NanCoin legal tender?
A: lol no
Q: Is NanCoin tied to any real world currency?
A: I think you’re missing the point that this is imaginary.
Q: Is NanCoin FDIC insured?
A: I – M – A – G – I – N – A – R - Y
As I was saying…
Stellar’s Jay perched on a branch with red fruits.
Well, and here we all are, my friends. After the typewriters and photocopiers, after the VHS tapes, after the self-published CDs, the coffeehouse venues, the urban park music festivals. After the road trips and the late night runs to Denny’s and sneaking into the cemetery at night over the chain link fence when the gates were wide open. After dial-up bulletin boards, Usenet, GEnie, AOL, blogs, YouTube, and the glorious promise and ignoble dumpster fire of social media. After the adventures, the horseback riding, the SCUBA, the marathons, after I crashed out of a 27-year career of arguing with people about computers with a chronic back injury (mine, not the computers’).
After the loss of family and too many friends over the years.
This is my Act III. The creation of a new work of art, something that sparks joy, provokes thought, or provides release is a worthwhile endeavor in these times, even if it touches only one other person; that is what I now believe. Jaycroft will be the rallying point for all my creative endeavors from here on out. Please be patient with me as my back pain, which comes and goes, limits my screen time.
“In this world of hate and anger, when it’s easy to destroy,
Every act of creation is an act of joy!”