Avalon Hall by Ruth Miranda ^_^

Avalon Hall is available for Pre-Order now and launches October 3!

The Short:  Fans of modern paranormal fantasy and Arthurian medieval fantasy rejoice, for Avalon Hall celebrates both, weaving them together through magic and Ruth Miranda’s distinctive voice into an engrossing and entertaining tale.  It’s an interesting, fresh, and unique concept, and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire journey.

The Long:  Avalon Hall is like two books in one in which Ruth Miranda explores Arthurian legend through the past and present by serving up a slice of modern paranormal fantasy in Part One and a slice of medieval fantasy in Part Two.  A tidy epilogue bridges them as a platform upon which the reader must eagerly await the next installment.

In Part One, fans of the The Blood Trilogy will recognize a few faces and places as they are swept into majestic Avalon Hall, a modern day academy for witches with its own resident vampire and too many secrets.  Surrounded by gates, magical barriers, forest, and a misty lake, Avalon Hall’s setting is perfect for the mystical mysteries the characters either keep or must uncover before they can understand the true powers within themselves, of the school, and of a history enveloped in legend.  Be forewarned that the cliffhanger into part two is a sheer drop, so watch your footing.  ;)

In Part Two, the reader is whisked into the heart of medieval fantasy and the early origins of King Arthur’s tale.  Miranda’s voice shifts here, and appropriately so, to fit nicely amongst nobles and castles and the magical world of Avalon—a world they must carefully curate and maintain through strict tradition and strategy.  Themes of personal freedom and gender roles/equality glide along the undercurrents and punch the surface to add ugly truths atop the romanticized legends of the dark ages.  Life, death, love, hate, sorrow, joy, betrayal, loyalty —all of these things blend the past with magic to build the foundation for a future that must be protected at all costs.

But what happens when that future comes crashing into its foundation while still in its infancy?  Well…this is a trilogy, so stay tuned!

My Thoughts:  As with anyone, my reading habits skew my views, but they’re particularly pertinent here because I may read a lot of paranormal fantasy manga, but I don’t read many fantasy novels (I do read some – I read a bit of everything as long as it sounds interesting).  As a fan of Ruth Miranda’s The Blood Trilogy, I am partial to Part One.  If you’ve read it (no spoilers from me), this fills in the gap.  I envisioned the twins on the island listening to this story, and, for me, that made it even more interesting.  Many of these characters were minor or secondary characters in The Blood Trilogy and you get to revisit them and/or learn more about them, so you not only get this new story with this new trilogy, but you also get a companion tale from within the same universe that encompasses most of Ruth Miranda’s books.  Avalon Hall holds true to Miranda’s writing style, but it’s subtly tweaked in ways that match this story and its needs.  The modern Part One doesn’t punch as hard and fast as The Blood Trilogy, and it doesn’t need to.  It’s a sweeping tale in which Miranda holds nothing back and explores many of the same hard-hitting gritty bits of reality like domestic violence, self-discovery, and self and peer acceptance, while pulling the reader into the lives of these magical characters in a realistic manner.  The shift into the past in Part Two is abrupt and I think it’s beneficial to the reader to know that going in.  I loved tales of chivalry and knights in my youth, but they’re not usually in my reading piles these days.  That said, I enjoyed it and I was sucked in.  The flow slows a bit at first, which I think allows the reader to recover from the momentum of the previous section and adjust so they can sink into the lives of characters that were merely glimpsed in the present.  Part Two carries a palpable emotional weight that is easy to identify with.  These characters feel real despite originating from historical legend and being wrapped in magic.  The story is simply crushing at certain points and that speaks volumes of Ruth Miranda’s skill at adapting her voice and writing style to support the setting and era as she deftly weaves her words. 

Overall:  Avalon Hall is essentially two books in one:  a modern paranormal fantasy with the intrigue of legend and a plunge into that legend for a delightful Arthurian/medieval fantasy.  Ruth Miranda’s distinctive voice and writing style draws the reader into both parts with skillful shifts in her techniques that match the settings of both present and past.  She delivers a thoroughly captivating pair of intertwining tales that are not only fascinating, but also tackle real life issues that you can sympathize with or that make you think.  Miranda’s fans are sure to love Avalon Hall, which also serves as a welcoming invitation to new readers to discover her magical writing!

I am the Night by Ruth Miranda

The short: If you like intense reads with bloody vampires and a gritty reality that holds nothing back, READ THIS.

The long: This companion novella to The Blood Trilogy fits between Blood and Scars, books 1 & 2. It can be read alone simply for the story of a newly turned vampire learning about his new life, or with or after reading the trilogy. Where you jump in depends on what you want - if you want Marcus's POV and character development from the events in Blood before moving on to Scars, then read it after Blood. If you want the maximum emotional effect, read it after you finish Marianne.

Marcus's energy and confusion are palpable from the start as the whirlwind of his life throws everything but kindness at him. This poor boy, from a poor family, knows nothing of true friendship or love, but is intimate with ridicule and brutality. It's no surprise that he both embraces and loathes what he becomes. It speaks to the effects of abuse and the questioning nature of accepting our actions, acting on impulse, enacting revenge, learning from mistakes, and growing to love ourselves. Although it comes from a preternatural angle, the emotions are raw and quite human. The wild fluctuations of Marcus's state of mind transition seamlessly and believably. Caught in a moment where everything ever known shifts in an instant, adrenaline and base emotion deliver a powerful blow that forces us to stay on our feet however we can. Marcus's resolve makes him do just that. Life keeps kicking him, but he's not one to fall flat and get trampled.

As a fan of the original trilogy, I loved seeing Marcus's side of things from Blood, seeing his character development, and hearing his thoughts, feeling his emotions. Ruth Miranda has a distinct voice and a writing style that flows with the way many of us think. We generally don't think or speak with grammar in mind - there's a stream of thought, of words and fragments - and that's what makes slipping into Marcus's head so easy. The reader becomes one with his thoughts and, to me, that pulls you in even more. I don't mean this as a slight or insinuation that grammar is foregone. On the contrary, I feel that there is magic in the wordsmith'ing that Ruth Miranda pulls off and it sets her writing apart.

All in all, I loved all of it. It's an emotional, gritty read that tackles tough issues while delivering an entertaining and thought provoking story. I enjoyed the entire series, with Marianne standing out as the highlight and emotional peak, but this adds layers and insight into Marcus that fans will love. I'm so happy Ruth Miranda choose to write this companion novella, and, as others have said, I hope she writes more like this in the future.

Praetorian Rising by J. McSpadden ^_^

With a writing style and turns of phrase all her own, yet reminiscent of epic fantasy from the days of yore, Author Jessica McSpadden lulls you into the simple, and, at times, harsh, life of small village Aspera before plunging you into the depths of chaos.  She welcomes the reader into her richly detailed world on a note of pressing intrigue and grows that world around vivid, believable, and connectable characters.  Fierce and headstrong Camille throws herself between anyone and anything that threatens harm to those she loves and seeks to protect.  Camille's snap-to decisions aren't always the wisest and sometimes (usually) make things harder, but she follows through and keeps her traveling companions on their toes.  Praetorian Rising is a delightfully fun, yet gritty and dark, fantasy that will have readers curling their toes while their fingers twitch to turn the page.  But in one's haste to reach the climax, pause to enjoy the scenery, sink into the emotional depths, and don't be surprised if McSpadden coaxes out a few tears and laughs before she takes your breath away and leaves you gasping for more! 

Praetorian Rising is a fast-paced must read for fans of Tolkien style fantasy that rides an undercurrent of tension all the way to the breathtaking end. 

(My reader review is available on GoodReads!)

Hot-Blooded Hunter by Katie Lewis ^_^

The frustrating thing about reading (or writing) a series or trilogy is resolving a self-contained subplot within each book while furthering the overarching tale and hooking the reader into wanting more...willing to await the next "fix."  Katie Lewis nails this and then hammers it into your chest on the final page!  Okay - I don't normally read romances...but DAMN!  I am not in this book's target demographic, but at one time I was and I must applaud Lewis for grabbing my attention enough with the main plot that I'm eagerly awaiting the next book, HOT-BLOODED HUNTRESS.  I mean...DAMN!  I like books that make me think (not that this one doesn't), but...DAMN!  Okay, okay.  Backing out of the heat broiling my brain and insides alive, the first page hooked me.  Entering at a mid-point with the characters at a natural pause in the action isn't easy to pull off, but it feels real - anticipation flows from the page into your fingers.  The shift from that scene into the next few chapters pulled me out a bit and I can't pinpoint why - this may be part of the whole not-my-thing thing - but Lewis hooked me again and the rest is a blur.  I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and I haven't felt that pull in a while.  The exhilaration of paranormal romance hit me like it did when I read the genre 20 years ago and a different kind of anticipation took over - as it should.  An info dump of backstory isn't given or necessary.  Lewis provides everything you need to know along the way.  I am left oh so satisfied with the subplot resolution, but have so many questions yet to be answered with the next book(s).  Trace reminds me a lot of Zero from the Vampire Knight manga, and those familiar with the hunter's society can easily picture the Institute.  I've returned to that series in my reviews lately, but there's a more direct correlation here.  Lewis offers the perfect opportunity for Zero fans who may want a bite (and rather large one at that) of hot sexual tension in a similar situation.  I connected more with Trace and feel like he is a better formed character, but that fits the story so far.  I don't believe, for an instant, that Ilana knows so little about guns after 10 years of vampire hunting and training, and I was disappointed at how weak she was against the one vampire, but, again, it fits with the story and each character is similarly flawed.  Ilana is clearly a healer, and the fact that she's uncertain of her place in life adds realism.  If your heart's not in it, you're not in it, and even down to life or death, certain expectations, hindrances, and confusion excuse her shortcomings (see? It does make you think).  I think Lewis has something in mind for Ilana and I'm rather curious about it.  (wink)  Even though it's not my normal read, I'm giving 5 stars because Lewis did her job and did it well.  She not only snagged someone outside her target audience, but also took my breath away in the end.  I've joined the ranks of those who can't wait for the next book!  Kudos for providing the guilty pleasure I've been unknowingly missing for a long time. 

Life & Writing Updates

Things at Pavlik HQ have been busy as usual.  Gunner, my husband's retired EOD K-9, crossed the Rainbow Bridge on March 19.  He was a part of our lives for nearly a decade, so we're rediscovering "normal" life where we can and making up the rest as we go.  Gunner was so much more than a pet.  He "spoke" five languages, came to the United States from Slovakia, and had the mentality of a 6-year-old.  He was Tim's partner for 9 years, putting his life on the line every single day.  They were attached at the hip, even after Gunner retired and spent his days at home with me and the cats instead of with Tim.  As soon as Tim got home from work, Gunner lit up, always excited to see his guy and to return to his side.  The house is empty and quiet without him, and his absence has left a large hole in our lives.

In other, typically-Pavlik, news, I was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder.
  It's not great news by any means, and might end up being the worst news I've ever gotten, but it does answer so many questions for my doctors.  After more than 5 months of my doctor and I arguing with insurance, we finally approached the lab directly and they agreed to run the required DNA panels at no cost to me.  This is an insanely great development, as this disorder has several subgroups, one of which being fatal, that can be confirmed with DNA testing.  Additionally, there is a global push for genetic testing to further research.  There is no cure and currently no adequate treatments for the defect itself.  People with this disorder are born with faulty collagen and not only suffer through life, but sometimes live rather short lives.  The results should arrive any day.

As is also typical for me, when I need something good in my life, I make something good in my life.  Today, I received my physical proof for my short story novelette, How to Make Lemonade.  I've had fun developing a few digital images using both photographs and original drawings, which I then replicated via pencil sketch and colored using blended oil pastel and chalk/charcoal pencils.  To complete the illustrations, I then merged the digital and physical copies and created hand-touched pictures with the added depth of digital.  I will post about this separately soon.  This should go live by the end of next week!

I'm still rather active on Instagram.  The writing community there is supportive and interactive, and it's nice to be apart of a group of like-minded individuals.  I'd been searching for a support group for my health, but I don't fit in with the MS or EDS communities, although both are helpful at piecing together ways to cope with my unique needs, so it's awesome to connect with other authors, writers, and readers.  It has truly worked wonders for coping with everything despite being completely unrelated to my health.

In fact, I've connected with an author whose books I enjoy, Serene Conneeley, who interviewed me for her Camp Nano MoWri daily challenge for today.  Check out her site to read the interview and check out her books, HERE!  I also reviewed one of her books a few posts down.  And I enjoy interacting with author Ruth Miranda, whose Blood Trilogy I am currently reading.  The review of the first book, BLOOD, is also in the posts below.  More reviews coming soon!

Finally, I'm preparing for my speaking engagement at the Tolono Library on April 23!  The library has received quite a bit of interest, so I'm nervous.  (laughs)  I'm seriously looking forward to it, though. I love talking about my books, the writing process, and so forth, and I'm not afraid of talking in front of people.  I am a little scared that my MS brain will steal something from me mid-sentence or mid-explanation, but that's a daily thing, so I'll deal with it, like I deal with everything else!

Bye for now!

   

Blood by Ruth Miranda Book One in the Blood Trilogy ^_^

I bought Ruth Miranda's Blood Trilogy and am reviewing each novella after I read it to keep it simple. In Blood, you come into a world equally as real as our own. But then reality begins to bend and shift in these twisty little ways, and I love how she does this. The majority of the novella is told from Cai's POV and in his voice, and this works well because you learn what drives him through his actions and in the meanings between the lines. There is a duality to his view of blood that multiplies by the end -- the blood on his hands, the blood that binds, the blood that gives life, the blood that takes, etc. It's an interesting concept furthered by magical/mythological additions still set within a very real and gritty reality. By the end of BLOOD, I was ready to open Scars and keep going! If you're a manga fan, there's a mythology in the Vampire Knight series regarding vampire hunter twins that I kept wondering about as I theorized. But, no spoilers from me. :) This first part is short, but it does its job quite nicely to start the trilogy. @kitchenwitchmiranda 🖤🖤  Originally posted HERE.

P.S.  I finished the second book, SCARS, last night.  Review coming soon!  I definitely recommend reading these books back to back as a complete story.  It helps maintain the connection to the characters.  I'll expand upon this more, but I love that there's no lamenting or acceptance of what the brothers are - they simply are who they are, love each other, and have an incredibly tight bond, AND how the world around them expands without stealing the focus.  This is their story, which is contained within their radius without narrowing the world at large.  I'll begin the 3rd book, MARIANNE, today or tonight. 

Into the Light by Serene Conneeley ^_^

Review:  Into The Light by Serene Conneeley, YA Magical Realism/Fantasy/Slice of Life
 
Love! "Into the Light" by @sereneconneeley completes the "Into the Mists" ya trilogy. This 'slice of life inside magical realism' begins at the end of book 2 and follows 17-year-old Carlie through the end of her journey of grief and self discovery. As someone currently grieving, I sympathized with Carlie's process and found myself empathizing with her at varying points such as the discovery of a new furry friend or her friend's unexpected aloof attitude in her time of need. Serene has a way of weaving magic into the page and pulling you in so you're sitting in Rose's kitchen, petting Luther, and smelling all those wonderful herbs and breads and cookies! (She needs to do a cookbook.) The descriptions of the rituals impress upon you the character's delight and wonder, and offer a sense of the power that Carlie can grow into - which is never explicitly mentioned, but lingers like a thread for the reader to pull and discover. Magic doesn't take the spotlight. Carlie's growth and acceptance of the self is the star, making her relatable and likeable as she navigates school, life, death, and everything in between. 🖤🖤  Originally posted on Instagram HERE.

The first two books in the trilogy, Into the Mists and Into the Dark, are both equally as good.  This trilogy follows Carlie on her life-changing journey as she moves halfway around the globe following a devastating loss.  Life throws hard lessons at her that nearly close off her heart, but she learns how to push forward, to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and is ultimately able to open her heart to love and friendship.  This trilogy is quite insightful and deep in ways that will keep you thinking for a while.

Also!  Serene interviewed me for her Camp NaNo WriMo monthly challenge for today!  Check it, and her books, out HERE.  (http://www.blessedbeebooks.com)

The Arrival Midwest Book Review, Dark History and Horror Convention, And MORE!

This is longer than I intended, so I'll provide bullet points:
*Midwest Book Review critiqued "The Arrival" - skip to the end to read its awesomeness
*My health sucks and it interferes with my life and writing goals (surgery is higher in the air than the Flying Graysons)
*I'll be at the Dark History, True Crime, and Horror Convention in November #DHHC2018
*In a TBA release, my short story "How to Make Lemonade" will appear in a vampire anthology by Dark Moon Press entitled "Tales of Blood and Shadows"
*I hope to have Confessions on Kindle by the end of the year
*I'm making progress on the 3rd "Children of the Morning Star" book, have a tentative release schedule, and new working title
*I may have some speaking engagements forthcoming at the library
*The Library of Congress is cataloging Confessions
*I am bad about using apostrophes, quotes, italics, and underlining consistently for titles (forgive me)
*I write long blogs
*The above picture is one of several potential covers for Confessions that I chose not to use
*Signed copies of both books are available locally at G-Mart in Downtown Champaign

OK- AND GO!

Shortly after Confessions of the Second Born went live, I sent copies of it and The Arrival to Midwest Book Review with hopes of not only being selected for review, but also of gaining (hopefully) positive industry critiques.  I will get to that...I mean, it is the best part of this post (so skip to the end if you want), but first, updates and such.

While waiting to hear from Midwest Book Review, I prepped for the local Dark History and Horror Convention in November (#DHHC2018), dealt with another batch of health issues that may or may not need surgery, tried to work on the 3rd book in the Children of the Morning Star series, and wrote and submitted a short story to Dark Moon Press for a vampire anthology.

Sound like a lot?  You have no idea.  I don't allow my health to define me, but I can't help how it affects me.  Sometimes my brain works and sometimes it's way off--like, not off in left field, but not even in the stadium.  Or the parking lot.  It's more like finding Waldo in a zoomed out satellite picture of Chicago.  Throw in new things and Waldo's buried.  Essentially, nothing about this is easy for a normal person on a good day, so it requires a lot of hard work, energy, and time from me (and I always mess something up and need to fix it - par for the course). 

Ooh!  TWO sports metaphors from the geek in ONE paragraph!  I'm getting better at this.

Ok, so, in many ways, writing and editing is cathartic, which I've written about in the past, and can be both a source of stress and a coping mechanism for stress.  If you've followed my blog, you already know the story: I wrote the first two books over a decade ago, it started as a dream when I was 13, and health interruptions thrust me into a rut of edits.  To any creative type, a project is rarely ever finished.  We continue to peck at endlessly until we set a 'done point' and stick to it.

At points where I really needed something good to happen, I called 'done' on both of them and set up a rough plan for the 3rd.  But the 3rd is tricky.  I started it shortly after the initial two.  It's a patchwork mess of disorganized scenes and notes.  At some point, I organized several patches into the first five chapters, with the rest making up a potential 4-7 additional chapters.  The 3rd already contains 188 extremely roughly written pages.  The working title is "Children of the Morning Star." (COMS)

Truth be told, once Confessions went live, I was a nervous wreck about finishing the series.  I hadn't creatively written anything seriously in 6 or 7 years.  Can I still do it?  Will my health and brain and everything else allow it?  I'm in constant pain and my hands and arms have started going numb.  Sometimes I can't even hold a book to read.  How do I expect to type a new book?

Enter Dark Moon Press's Tales of Blood and Shadows A Vampire Anthology.  For weeks, I wrote out ideas for a submission.  I started 3 stories and abandoned them.  Then I had a dream, a dream of a nightmare I'd had years ago that made me sick to my stomach.  So I wrote.  And a short story was born.  I submitted it and recently learned it will be used.  (Release TBA plus happy dance!)  It is titled How to Make Lemonade and tells the story of a suicidal woman who falls into the arms of a widowed vampire.  The question, however, is whether he sees her as something to save?  Or savor?

I liked it.  I liked it so much that I was far too nervous to submit it because I knew something had to be wrong with it.  I read it aloud to a few groups of people and asked a few friends to read it.  The groups were captivated to an uncomfortable level.  I've never felt such laser-pointed focus from others before.  But that's a good thing.  And the readers loved it.  I held onto it for a few weeks, still unsure, and then called it done.  My nerves were on fire.  Not only had I not written in years, but I tried an entirely new writing style.  Seems like a good gamble.  How to Make Lemonade is not your typical vampire story, but, if you've read either of my books, you already know that I don't write "typical" vampire stories.  Visit darkmoonpress.com to subscribe for updates and notifications, and, of course, like and follow me on Facebook.  (My current stress relief project is making cute mini-bookmarks to market this short story and anthology, and I'm toying with writing a novel based on the short.)

The positive feedback boosted my confidence.  I read the 188 pages I'd previously written for COMS.  EGAD!  The writing is terrible.  The story is fine.  The story and characters were more developed than I remembered.  I took time to think over the story elements and direction, jotted notes, and so forth, and finally began working on it.  I've only just finished cleaning up the first chapter, but I've already cut thousands of words from the first 20 pages.  It's put me into a hybrid writing/editing mode that works.  It's a bit bland, but the twisty prose and phrasing will come.  I can't get ahead of myself.  I've also developed a new working title, but that's a secret for now.

It's no secret that there is a lot going on in my life, always.  This is one, tiny facet, but it's a dream come true.  All my life, I wanted to be an author.  I wanted people to read my words.  I wanted my writing to make people think.  And it is!  Currently, Confessions is only out as a paperback.  A Kindle version is coming, and when it does, it will be free to download for the first several days.  I hope to have it ready by the end of the year.  I apologize to anyone who is waiting for it.  It is a project that requires more focus than I can give it right now to do it right, and I want to do it right.  My readers deserve that.

Additionally, my local library asked me about possible speaking engagements and possibly entering my books into circulation.  That is also very awesome!  It's hard for me to commit to anything (I mean, I've got help for the upcoming Con, but I am terrified of how I'm going to get through it, both physically and mentally given the challenges I face just getting through a day at home with my cats - lol), but I would love, LOVE to do this.  My therapist sees my books as a shining beacon in my treatment.  I love to talk about them, about the process, about the different meanings people take away - she says I light up.  I perk up.  I've spent so much time in their world that it's real to me.  And when I'm there, I don't hurt.  When I "come home," I pay for it dearly, but it's a price she thinks is worth it for the relief and happiness it provides.

And so, with everything going on, I'm closing in on my tentative time table for COMS.  3 months or so to write it.  3-6 to edit and polish.  Another 3 to start publication and proof, proof, proof.  Plus 3 months extra for delays with an estimated release by the end of 2019.  Health complications and stress loom over this time table, placing me in an unfortunate position of already being behind.  It's a self-imposed deadline that can obviously change, but I'm not going to drag this release out.  It's a different story now.  People want to know.  I have readers!  They want books to read!  I can't allow myself to fall into another ten year rut.  And trust me, that is not an option.  If I need to, I'll work with another author.  This story is my story, and it's been my story since I was a kid.  It deserves readers, and the readers deserve something compelling and good.

Alas!  That brings us to today!  Today I learned that the Library of Congress is cataloging Confessions, and I found "The Arrival" in the October issue of Midwest Book Review's Small Press Bookwatch!  And with an awesome critique!  Many, MANY thanks to the reviewer(s) at Midwest Book Review.  Thank you so much for accepting my submission and for enjoying it.  I am incredibly happy right now and that's something my aching body or Wheres's Waldo brain can't take from me.  It follows:

"The first volume in Kastie Pavlik's 'Children of the Morning Star' vampiric fantasy series, "The Arrival" reveals an author with a genuine flair for originality and character driven narrative storytelling. A deftly crafted and unfailingly compelling read from beginning to end, "The Arrival" is unreservedly recommended and certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Fantasy Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated vampire fiction fans that "The Arrival" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $1.99)."  - Midwest Book Review

Much love to everyone who is on this journey with me.  It's a Hell of a ride.  I hope you're enjoying it.

(And don't forget that copies of both books are available locally at G-Mart!  If you purchase a signed copy, message my author page and I'll arrange to customize the autograph and give you extra goodies!)

Random Stuff - What I'm Up To

That moment when you want to write something, but sit down and can't think?  That's what this is.  (laughs)  I feel like I have a zillion and a half (the half is important) thoughts zooming through my mind.  If I catch one, I'll jot it down and maybe this post will be somewhat cohesive.  Fingers crossed.

A few months ago, chest pain took me to the ER twice in two weeks.  Abnormal EKGs and another doctor's concern had me held overnight the second time.  Since then, I've worn, and returned, a month-long heart event monitor and am awaiting the results.  At the moment, the issue remains unexplained.  Neurology and Cardiology are working together to figure out the cause:  my brain or my heart.  (Giggity)

Probably unsurprisingly so, I haven't felt that great lately.  I'm experiencing more issues with my arms, which, of course, causes issues with my hands and fingers.  Like last summer, I'm hitting extremely hard fatigue walls that knock me out for a few hours.  And I'm feeling a greater disconnect between myself and my brain.  I swear, I talk about my brain like we share a symbiotic relationship, and that's weird, I know, but it truly feels like it. 

This morning I was talking to my cats about finding Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card on Hulu last night, (there was a huge WHOO-HOO moment when I found the books on Rightstuf).  I couldn't get the words right.  I kept saying, "Cloudclaptor..."  I got frustrated and shut up.  (I think the cats were grateful.)  But this word slippage and other vocal issues have been getting worse.  I mumble now and don't realize it, I put the wrong consonants into words (like Funny instead of Money), and I randomly pick up an Irish or other foreign accent.  It's still at that super weird stage that makes us laugh when it happens. 

Speaking of Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card, I love it!  Sakura is one of the cutest and sweetest anime/manga characters, and the anime itself is always uplifting with positive interaction between Sakura and her friends.  Thankfully, there is no English dub to waste your time with (unlike the original season-don't, just don't).  I'm so used to watching the Sub that it'd be odd to hear other voices.  Since I am reading the manga, and am current, I'll eventually get to a point where I need to stop watching so I don't ruin the reading experience.  So far, it seems that several episodes fit into a book. 

I've also been reading the Sherlock manga that essentially takes the BBC show and puts it to paper.  It's pretty cool.  The lack of color pages does limit what the reader can deduce, which is my only complaint.  It's obvious from the first book:  A Study in Pink.  I missed quite a bit of the pink stuff since it's all in black or white.  Otherwise, it's cool to enjoy Sherlock in different mediums.  Like with Cardcaptor, I read the books first and then watch the show.  I realize this reveals that I'm a late comer to the BBC show, but oh well.  With only 3-4 episodes per season, I like the forced pacing.  I also enjoy Elementary and the Robert Downey Jr movies.  I have the Moriarty novel in my towering "to read" pile, and the collected works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  The game is a foot!

My newest obsession is watching (and listening to) the ISS live feed here:  http://www.n2yo.com/space-station/.  The first few days I watched, it was silent, so it scared the beejees out of me when I was in another part of the house and heard a man talking in the supposedly empty loft.  I hadn't noticed the other live feeds on the page and got to watch one of the astronauts (Alex) working in the air lock.  It's fascinating!  And watching the sun set from the ISS roughly every 20 minutes is otherworldly.

I picked up a book called "Civil War Front Pages" by John Wagman.  It is absorbing.  It's difficult to read since much of the news print is small.  I happened to flip to the day the war ended and was amazed by the headlines, huge and bolded, with giant eagles of victory.  I wonder what it was like for people to see that on their newspaper in 1865 after years of a nation torn apart.  The grandeur of the headlines spoke volumes.

I'm a bit behind on my comics, but I'm enjoying the Doomsday Clock comic and the Justice League Dark tradebacks - I'm almost done with them.  I can't believe Doomsday Clock won't finish its run until next summer!  AND!  I am so, SO thankful that Netflix picked up Lucifer for season 4!  A tv without Tom Ellis on it would be a sad tv.  The saddest tv if ever there was.  Now it can be happy.  ^_^  I'm into the fourth volume of the Lucifer run by Mike Carey (he was created by Neil Gaiman in his Sandman series).  It is vastly different from the show, but that's a good thing, I think.  Because they are so different, spotting Easter Eggs on the show is extra cool.  I'm also still working my way through the Hellblazer tradebacks from the original run.  I grew up in the 80s, so seeing it portrayed in comic form as an adult is eye-opening.  With few differences, you'd think it was modern day - racism, fear of war, violence, etc.  Aside from the supernatural aspects of the story, it's very real and sometimes that makes it hard to read.  Not hard in a literal sense - it's like watching the news these days.  You need a break from it.  Hence - moving slowly. 

I think we're going to watch a movie soon, so I need to post this and "run."  (I don't run; I hobble.)  BUT - we watched Annihilation the other night and it's amazing.  Gorgeous shots with a story that doesn't ram itself down your throat.  Anyone who's played The Last of Us - watch this.  So many of the mutations in the shimmer are reminiscent of scenes in The Last of Us and even from The Evil Within 2.  I would love for a game developer to base a game on this movie/book series.  It has potential for some really cool things. 

Ok, well, I smell popcorn.  Confessions is still in the works - I've just taken a small break while other folks are critiquing.  I think we'll be on track for a July release.  ^_^

PS - there's a promo video for Confessions on my Amazon author page.  Watch it!  amazon.com/author/kastiepavlik 

HP Pavilion M6 - Follow Up Review

The initial review of the HP Pavilion M6 has had a lot of traffic and one person left comments about his/her own experiences with the laptop.  His/her concerns were as follows:

1. Slight warming of the left palm rest

2. Feels like the display is a bit too reflective (my last one was matte, so i might be panicking)

3. i have some worries about the build quality. i really do hope it lasts {at least} 3 years without any major issues.. (KP Note:  the screen broke and was replaced by HP)

I'll address those concerns first, with my own experience:

1.  I have noticed a warm spot to the left of the touch pad.  However, I generally use a chill pad and that greatly reduces the heat generated.  When one looks at the bottom of the laptop, it is readily apparent that the hard drive, ram, and so forth are compartmentalized through the center - or under the touchpad and through the middle of the keyboard.  All of the vents and fans are in the middle and to the left side, so it's not surprising that heat would gather there.  The only thing of note on the right side of the bottom is the subwoofer.  So - in short, I always use a chill pad - and not one that sits flush against the bottom, but one that allows for proper air circulation between it and the laptop.  It does make a difference.

2.  I had initially noted that the display seemed less reflective than my last laptop, but I believe it's actually the same.  Going from a matte screen to glossy is a big jump and I had issues with it when I purchased my first glossy screen 3 laptops ago.  However, one does adjust and gets used to it.  I'm not going to say it's not a pain - it really sucks when the screen is used outdoors, especially on sunny days.  My personal opinion though is that the glossy screen tends to hold up better to being touched and is easier to clean than a matte screen (my second monitor is matte).

3.  I can't comment with any certainty on the build quality.  I baby my laptops, so the risk of breakage due to use or accidents is minimal.  I have not experienced breakage on any of my previous 4 HP laptops (I still have three of them-current one included-and donated another that is still in use).  That said, the screen/lid is considerably thinner than on previous laptops, so I can see where that could be an issue.  However, in the course of my work, I have seen some truly flimsy laptop lids (cheap Toshibas and HPS) where the lid physically warps and bends when grabbed at the top and given a slight twist.  On this one, if the screen is pushed all the way back and tapped, it will rock on the hinges - so it's not indestructible.  When it comes to laptops and computers, you generally get what you pay for.  This class of laptop is probably mid-range - it's not cheap by any means and it's also not high end,  but it is solid in comparison to the cheapo laptops I just described.  In short - I have not had any problems with the build quality and in fact believe HP added to the portability by adding the grippy-texture to the bottom side of the lid when it is closed to help in avoiding slippage or droppage.  (And yes, like Barney Stinson, I made up quite a few words in that last sentence.)

My qualms with the laptop:

1.  Wireless range.  To be fair, it very well could be our home network.  I have not yet troubleshooted the issue, cycled our equipment, or tried switching the channel.  ALSO - I experience the same wi-fi issues on my phone in the same rooms...although my phone also has connectivity issues with the cell towers, too, when switching from 3 to 4g (Droid Razr).  However, I never had this issue on my previous laptop, so even if the problem lies mostly in my network equipment, I have to wonder if the wireless adapter wasn't somehow....downgraded...or something.  The issue:  in the back rooms of the house, I've had the signal drop out on me (the modem and router are in the living room).  When vpn'ing into work, it's dropped my connection on multiple occasions during the same session.  My VPN connection is considerable slower on this laptop than my other one, as well.  Again, however, there are many variables at play here - as I said, I have not troubleshooted my network equipment and my work pc has recently had some resource hogging software installed on it (and its motherboard is dying - so the list of issues never ends).  The only thing I can say with certainty is that the wi-fi connectivity on this laptop while on BATTERY use, is limited and can drop easily.  That can be rectified by changing the power settings during battery use, though this will use more battery life because it directs more power to the wireless adapter.  This is a common issue in today's laptops, however, and does not necessarily speak poorly of this laptop.  So...did I say anything helpful there or just a bunch of contradictions?  ^_^

2.  Sound.  Beats audio did turn itself back on, despite being disabled in services.  The sound just suddenly got worse.  Other reviewers have completely uninstalled Beats and rolled the sound driver back to an older version that does not use Beats.  That is an option one can take.  I have chosen to work with Beats instead - I turned off the equalizer in Windows Media Player and tweaked the settings on the Beats equalizer.  That has helped considerably.  BUT - the sound on this laptop is just shoddy.  On my old laptop, I could blast the music at full volume and hear it throughout the house.  On this one, sometimes full volume isn't enough for sitting at my desk.  Beats or no Beats, I am disappointed in the sound - both quality and volume.  For my use, it's not a deal breaker, but still a disappointment.  I have yet to use the laptop with headphones, but I anticipate the experience to be more pleasurable (given my experience with the DV7) - this is pure speculation.

3.  Keyboard.  On the rare occasions that I use the laptop keyboard, I am continually thrown by the arrow key placement.  As I said in the other review, I love shortcut keys, so now I'm always hitting the wrong keys.  That said, this laptop does include a full keyboard with number pad, so even when I don't have my USB keyboard, this one is sufficient.  It's a minor issue.

4.  Charging USB Ports.  Excellent theory behind the technology and probably very useful.  But I'd like to be able to turn the function off.  Thankfully, my chill pad has an on/off switch, but few come with that option and it's a pain to remember to turn it on and off.  Both charging ports are on the right side, and due to the way my chill pad works, I cannot use the ports on the left side.

Overall, I don't have much to add to my first review.  Despite the minor issues I've noticed, this is a quality laptop that I would recommend for purchase.  The sound and keyboard are truly minor issues, and I haven't thoroughly investigated the wi-fi issue, so it's not fair to make any decisions based on that.  With the rise of wireless networks and wireless devices comes a rise in wireless conflicts.  Cycling my equipment or changing the broadcast channel just might resolve the issue completely.  When it comes to something like that, unless the wifi on the laptop isn't turning on or is disabling itself (like the DV7), all variables need to be considered before one blames the laptop's wireless adapter.

Aside from the "techy-stuff" and things I talked about in the first review, there are cosmetic and functional changes that I do like - such as the fact that there is no lighted HP Logo on the lid.  Whether it was simply generated by light from the screen or lit by a separate power source, it was a distraction for others in the room (I know, because my husband now uses it in the living room and we typically watch tv in the dark).  The touchpad is larger and not quite as sensitive as the last one.  When typing in MS Word on my previous laptop, I would frequently hit the touchpad and wreak havoc in my document.  I had to get into the habit of turning it off when typing and then turning it on when I needed to use it.  That was a pain.  I have not had that trouble with this laptop.  In fact, the letter keys on the keyboard and the palm rests are in perfect place for typists who use the home row.  The blacklit keyboard is nice when typing in the dark and I LOVE that it can toggled on and off.  I would hate having a backlit keyboard that could not be turned off.  The absence of touch buttons makes the laptop easier to clean without accidentally turning it on/off, adjusting the volume, or turning off the wifi, etc.  In fact, the metallic finish also make the laptop not only easier to clean, but more aesthetically pleasing (the last laptop was glossy and showed every fingerprint, smudge, etc).   The laptop is thinner, lighter, and more portable than my previous one.  I never thought that would be an issue until I found out just how easy it is to move this thing.  I'd have to check the technical specs again (provided in link form in the first review), but I believe this weighs around 5 pounds.  And the added grip is a really nice touch for those who tend to drop things (like me).

In summary, it is usually quite difficult for me to give up my previous laptops in favor of new ones.  I get attached.  I get used to the way things used to be.  I don't like change.  But I haven't had any of those issues with the HP Pavilion M6.  Aside from a few minor quirks, the transition has been smooth and I haven't given my old laptop a second thought.

Sorry for any typos - I didn't edit this post well.  (Feeling lazy today ^_-)