Plans Piling Up for 2019 - Science and Writing and Education, Oh My!

Time does it's thing.  2019 is on the way!

Hello Folks!

2018 has been filled with ups and downs, but overall I'm calling it a win.  That might be because, as the years go by, I'm becoming more of an optimist.  This seems impossible under the present circumstances of the world, and yet I see it happening to myself.  With some surprise, I see my old cynicism being overtaken by a sort of circumspect, determined hopefulness.  A sense that things can and will change, and that I can be a meaningful part of making the world a better place.

Now, I'm not sure my schedule for 2019 is really a reflection of my trying to improve the world, or just a result of my having some amazing opportunities to share science, education, writing, poetry, and more fun stuff.  It is all hard work, but I love it so much.

So here just a bit of the intense geekery that this scientist/writer/poet/advocate hopes to have on tap for 2019 ...

Women in Space Conference, February 2019, Arizona.  http://www.womeninspacecon.com/
I'm working with some amazing science and education colleagues to present a talk entitled "Space Ethics and Our Expanding Vision for Exploration: Core Conversations," as well as a poster about "Remote Mentoring of Postdocs - A Preliminary Look at Effective Approaches to Increase the Accessibility of Postdoc Opportunities."  Haven't heard yet if I might end up on a panel there, too, but that'd be great if so.

Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 2019, Texas.  https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2019/
One of my two big science conferences every year.  Okay, the abstracts are not in yet for this, but I'm planning to submit for a talk about our research into the needs and barriers of scientists who want to engage in public outreach.  We're just finishing up the manuscript, so now is a good time to share.  I'm also planning to get in on a poster with colleagues from our SSERVI TREX group about the maturity of the lunar regolith.  AND I'll be in on a poster about looking at the relative age of impact crater ejecta in different wavelengths.  No doubt I'll be helping out new-timer students and postodocs with reviewing their talks and posters.  I'll also continue to be a part of the group that makes sure the Susan Neibur Women's Networking Event happens every year - it's a fantastic event.  Busy, busy meeting.

Balticon, May 2019, Maryland.  https://www.balticon.org/wp53/
I have so many ideas for this, and I really have to get my stuff sent in!  I've an idea for a fun science panel, as well as a presentation on "Planetary Impacts:  From Creation to Destruction."  Also a writing presentation about "Making Science Work in Your Fiction:  Beyond Facts and Research to the Heart of Your Story."  So I'll get those ideas in and see what the programmers might like ...

World Science Fiction Convention, August 2019, Dublin. https://dublin2019.com/
My first WorldCon!  I've been talked into this by a good friend who has gone for years.  (Note pre-twisted arm.)  Plus I've never been to Ireland.  So this could be a lot of fun.  She and I have an idea for a fun panel and some excellent panelists for the science track.  And we are going to propose a tag-team science talk that should be very thought provoking and get lots of audience response!  So stay tuned to see what the programming committee decides on our stuffs.

Hippocamp, August 2019, Pennsylvania. http://hippocamp2019.hippocampusmagazine.com/
This is an excellent creative nonfiction conference that I've had my eye on since my memior-writer sister pointed it out to me.  I've proposed a session on a topic that is near and dear to my heart, "A Glorious Alchemy: Blending Science and Nonfiction to Create Writing that Readers Crave."  Hope the programming committee picks it up because I'm so stoked to present it!  But even if not, this will be a great place to become more in touch with the nonfiction community, and learn more about my own nonfiction process.

AAS Division for Planetary Sciences Annual Meeting, September 2019, Geneva.  https://dps.aas.org/
The second of my two big science conferences each year.  In 2019 we are meeting internationally, joint with the EPSC in Switzerland.  Many plans still in the works.  This is going to be great ...

HallowRead 2019, October 2019, Maryland.  http://hallowread.com/
Near and dear to my heart, this little horror writers' conference is not to be missed by anyone in the DMV area.  It is mostly home to paranormal romance, but any stripe or flavor of horror is welcome.  Relaxed, casual, and very welcoming.  I've been the only poet going, and so the organizer named me her Poet Laureate, which makes me smile from ear to ear.  I have plans to do a "Science in your Horror" workshop this year.  I have a reputation to uphold, as people keep asking me what I'm going to do to top my last two workshops.  This, as you can see, is a very positive and friendly group!

Other possibilities I really have to make a choice about VERY SOON ... can't do everything (can't I?)

Muse in the Marketplace, April 2019.
Stokercon, May 2019.
Readercon, July 2019. 

And more!  Gonna have to work to carve out my science research time, and my actual story writing time!  I want to see myself do a lot of submitting this year, so I've got my work cut out for me!

Image Credit:  Free download from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/time-moondial-time-machine-1842674/ found via Creative Commons CC 3.0

Writer Interview - A.L. Kaplan

Today I'm pleased to bring you a writer interview with speculative novelist and poet A.L. Kaplan! A. L. Kaplan’s love of books started as a child and sparked a creative imagination. Born on a cold winter morning in scenic northern New Jersey, her stories and poems have been included in several anthologies and magazines. Her novel, Star-touched, was released October 1, 2017. She is the Maryland Writers’ Association’s Chapter/Board liaison and served on the Howard County Chapter board for several years. A. L. is a member of Broad Universe and holds an MFA in sculpture from the Maryland Institute College of Art. When not writing or indulging in her fascination with wolves, A.L. is the props manager for a local theatre. This proud mother of two lives in Maryland with her husband and dog.

1. You have only three minutes to convince a stranger to read your latest work. What do you tell them about your writing, and about yourself, to get them interested?

Eighteen-year old Tatiana is running from her past and her Star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population. Gifted with the ability to both heal and destroy, Tatiana seeks refuge in a town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.

I had no idea that we’d have so many natural disasters or that huge asteroids would be flying so close to earth this year when I wrote Star Touched. It’s rather frightening how many similarities there are to what’s going on now both environmentally and politically.

2.  Your spaceship can travel to any world, real or imagined. Where do you go?

I’d love to travel inside my mind and find out what’s going on in there.

3.  What was your favorite book you that read as a child? What have you read recently that you can recommend?
I grew up reading James Herriot, Jack London, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Albert Payson Turhune, and of course J. R. R. Tolkien. Lord of the Rings may have birthed my love of fantasy, but there are three other books I read that were a huge influence: Island of the Blue Dolphins, My Side of the Mountain, and Julie of the Wolves. I guess I have a thing for kids surviving on their own in the wild. My favorite musicals are about orphans as well: Annie and Oliver.

There have been several books I’ve read recently that have been really good. The House on Moss Swamp Road by M J Patrick comes to mind, as does The Fuller’s Apprentice, by Angela Holder, The Enchanted Dagger by Vonnie Winslow Crist, and Dawn Study by Maria V. Snyder. I don’t often read non-fiction, but The Strong Woman Trap: A Feminist Guide for Getting Your Life Back by Sasha Mobley was very enlightening. I could go on, but there is only so much space in your blog.

4.  How do you meet and stay engaged with other writers?
I’m very active in the Maryland Writers’ Association at the state and chapter level. I’m also in a critique group and am a member of Broad Universe. I’ve made some great friends at conventions like the MWA Writing Conference and fan-based cons like Balticon. This year I’ve been invited as a participant at Raven Con in Williamsburg on April 20 – 22, and Balticon in Baltimore, Maryland on Memorial Day weekend. I’m really looking forward to them. Book festival are a great way to meet people as well, and Facebook makes it easy to stay in touch and find out what other writers are up to.

5.  What is a quote that resonates with you - either from yourself or someone else?

“Be who you are.” It’s an important theme in Star Touched. My main character, Tatiana, is afraid to be who she really is. It’s one of the quotes I sign in my books. It’s also on my license plate. (A birthday present from my husband this year.)

6.  Do you have a personal symbol or icon with which you identify?

I don’t know about an icon or symbol, but I do feel a connection to wolves. When I was in high school I had a dream about wolves. The next day I went to the library and started reading. The more I learned, the more I liked. My collection now includes books, art, toys, and a few odd things like a howling cookie jar. Wolves have also inspired several stories, including my short story, Wolf Dawn, which is in the Young Adventurers: Heroes, Explorers, and Swashbucklers anthology.

7.  How do you find good new reads in your genres of choice?

There are several places to find new books. Friends recommendations, perusing the stacks in a bookstore or library, Goodreads, and of course, talking to authors. There’s a lot out there. I also look for those free book days. If I like that first one I’ll by others by the same author.

8.  What is one thing that really scares you?

That would be tornados. I’ve never seen one, but they really freak me out.

9.  Which conferences/book fairs/meetings do you try to never miss each year?

Balticon has always been my go to.

10.  You have a magic wand that can cast only one kind of spell. What does your wand do?

My wand has the ability to cast unlimited heal spells that can also cure illnesses like cancer, AIDS, and depression.

11.  Where can fans find you and your work online?

https://Alkaplanauthor.com

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorA.L.Kaplan/

@ALKaplanauthor on Twitter

Image Credits:  All images provided by author and used w permission.

Writer Interview - Shadow Leitner

Shadow Leitner - Beautifully Haunted Writer

I'm honored to present a blog interview with Haunted writer Shadow Leitner!  She graciously posted an interview with me on her excellent blog Dark Inklings, and I'm so happy to have her here today - so read on to learn about Shadow, her haunted writing, and what really scares her :)

Shadow Leitner spent over a decade in the performing arts but left the stage for the page to write Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy and Gothic Romance novels for Young and New Adults, and thoroughly enjoys torturing her imaginary characters with love and other peculiar things.  She also creates beautifully haunting art with her iPhone, consumes absurd amounts of coffee, and is enchanted by all things vintage, old world and macabre. She’s also quite fond of nonsense literature. Well, all sorts of nonsense really.  Shadow haunts from Maryland, with her husband, their two spawn, and a menagerie of mostly domesticated creatures.

1.  You have only three minutes to convince a stranger to read your latest work.  What do you tell them about your writing, and about yourself, to get them interested?

I am Beautifully Haunted. Eventually, the voices in my head make it to the page where they can haunt you, too.

 

2.  Your spaceship can travel to any world, real or imagined.  Where do you go?

I travel to a steampunk world where the cities and towns float in the air. There I own a Victorian mansion which I open-up as bread & breakfast for other airship travelers.

3.  What was your favorite book you that read as a child?  What have you read recently that you can recommend?

I was a bookworm growing up, so I have many, many favorites, but the first book I remember having a real impact on me was Shadow Castle by Marian Cockrell. It’s about a fairy prince who marries a human princess and trouble ensues.

Where to start, I’ve read so many great books lately. I just finished The Mara Dyer Trilogy and started the first book of its companion series The Noah Shaw Confessions by Michelle Hodkins.  They are YA and deliciously dark. I’m in love and dying for the next one to be released. In the adult, more ghostly realm, I’ve recently finished and highly recommend The Haunting of Maddy Clare and Silence for the Dead by Simone St. James.

4.  How do you meet and stay engaged with other writers?

Well, it works like this, I stalk my favorite authors, wrestle them to the ground, chain them in my basement and like that we are besties. Okay, not really, that would be creepy. Don’t do that.

The real answer is I belong to author organizations and attend meetings, conferences, etc.  I write a blog for Dark & Gothic Writers called Dark Inklings where I get to hang out with other cool Night Writers. And yes, I do totally stalk other authors, but in the nice, safe (for them) environment of the internet and social media.

5.  What is a quote that resonates with you - either from yourself or someone else?

So the darkness shall be the light. – T.S. Elliot

6.  Do you have a personal symbol or icon with which you identify?

White spiders. Though I’ve never really thought of them as a personal symbol or icon and I’m not particularly fond of them, either. However, they seem to have an affinity for me and show up often. I certainly sit up to take notice when they do. I’ve come to accept them, seeing them as messengers, who let me know when I’m on the right track.

I’m also very fond of black hearts.

7.  How do you find good new reads in your genres of choice?

Well, there is this place where all the available space is covered in books and all of them are free. FREE. Maybe you’ve heard of it. It is called the Library, and while I could literally set up a cot and live there, I don’t have to, because I can take the books home with me. I promise this place is not a figment of my imagination. It’s real. One should really check it out. ;)

I refer to Goodreads a good bit, as well. Come friend me and we can share all the books. Muahaha.

8.  What is one thing that really scares you?

Being eaten alive by zombies and tornadoes, but then that would be two things. So let’s stick with zombies because they really freak me the f**k out.

9.  You can create the perfect one-week writing retreat - describe what makes it ideal for you.

The perfect retreat would to be holed up in a historical place, such as a Victorian mansion or castle with roaring fires and plenty of coffee. Being in such a surrounding the stories almost vibrate out of me and reverberate off the walls, but then that might be coffee. It’s hard to tell.

10.  Which conferences/book fairs/meetings do you try to never miss each year?

A new one for me, but one I don’t plan on missing is HallowReads. There are many others I haven’t been to but would love to attend.

11.  You have a magic wand that can cast only one kind of spell.  What does your wand do?

My wand transports me where ever and whenever I want.

12.  Where can fans find you and your work online?

ShadowLeitner.com is my main haunt, but I can also be found creeping around on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest.

13.  What is the question I should have asked?  Answer in the form of a haiku or limerick.

How reliable of narrator are you?

When you've bats in your belfry that flut,

When your comprenez-vous rope is cut,

When there's nobody home

In the top of your dome --

Then your head's not a head; it's a nut

-        “The Nut” by Anthony Euwer

Image Credits:  All images provided by and used with permission of Shadow Leitner.

The Humanity Star and Critical Conversations in Space Exploration

On January 21st of this year, Rocket Lab (on their debut launch) orbited several satellites, including a secret payload.  This (no longer secret) object is named the Humanity Star - and it has the potential to be one of the brightest objects in the night sky (as noted here).

My usual reaction whenever I see science and art brought together is glee.  I am a scientist and an artist, and I love both.  But I don't feel gleeful about this particular piece.

As both an astronomer and an education/communications specialist, I have some strong feelings about this object now orbiting our planet - especially because of the way it was launched.  A secret launch means no important conversations take place about the object, how it will be perceived, and its eventual consequences.  I'm going to repeat that, because this is the whole point of my post: critical conversations with all stakeholders must take place as space exploration moves forward.  And if what you are doing can affect the whole planet, then the world becomes your stakeholder.

In the Quartz article on the Humanity Star, Peter Beck, the CEO of Rocket Lab is quoted as saying, "For us to thrive and survive, we need to make big decisions in the context of humanity as a whole, not in the context of individuals, organizations or even nations. …We must come together as a species to solve the really big issues like climate change and resource shortages.”

These sentiments are certainly fine things, and I completely agree.  But the Humanity Star may not inspire this kind of thinking.  Will a person in another space-faring country, say India or China, look up, and upon seeing a new, bright satellite, think about our communal responsibilities for climate change?  Will they imagine themselves as part of a global community?  Will they be angry for an overbearing demonstration of technology?  Will they be afraid at what we might do next?  Will they be appalled at our lack of respect for the sacred night sky?  Well, we don't know.  We don't know because those conversations did not happen in advance of launch.

What about other kinds of stakeholders, say like space scientists?  Well, that conversation didn't take place before launch either, since astronomers are expressing displeasure.  Some people are describing it as "litter" or even "vandalism."  This article in mashable.com gives some details about the feeling of astronomers, and how Rocket Lab appears to be scrambling to put minds at ease.  This reaction might have been completely avoidable had the conversation with this group of people happened as it should have.

I am astonished at the last few sentences of the Quartz article on the Humanity Star, which unintentionally serve to underscore my point.   The article states: "The first artificial satellite, Sputnik, was a mission with a similar effect: Its radio broadcast was designed to say “I’m here!” to the world, as well as provide data to scientists on the ground. It turned out to be a harbinger of a space race that created most of the space infrastructure we have now. Is the Humanity Star a herald a new age of commercial space flight and ambition?"

This is an eye-popping interpretation of the intention and result of the orbit of Sputnik.  The satellite was launched at the height of the cold war, and it engendered anxiety, fear, and apprehension in half of the world.  It indeed began the space race - but this was not a time of good-natured exploration.  It was a time of governments flexing their muscles and each attempting to demonstrate ideological superiority through technological advancement and achievement.  Our space infrastructure came at this high cost.  Will the Humanity Star have this kind of legacy?  We don't know, because again, no one was asked how they might feel to have this object over their heads.

Successful programs in space science education, communications, and outreach all have formal evaluation as part of their structure.  Such evaluation allows a program, especially in the crucial beginning phases, to react and respond to input from stakeholders.  The eventual program may look very, very different from the initial concepts because you found out things from your stakeholders that never occurred to you.  (For example, when Gene Shoemaker's ashes were sent to the Moon, the Navajo expressed displeasure, and NASA formally apologized.  Such a disconnect is avoidable if channels of communication are open.)  Why didn't the Humanity Star have an engaged, international evaluation program that allowed it to learn what would indeed inspire global unity?  Why didn't it build a positive audience ahead of time?  With the goals as stated by the CEO, such evaluation was essential to success.  Evaluation didn't happen.  Why?

A few more things of note.  The Humanity Star will burn up in our atmosphere within the year, so this situation is temporary.  Yet the artist is planning to launch yet another, larger piece of space art.  There is no indication that critical conversations have happened around this piece.

As we move forward with space exploration, we need to be as inclusive as possible, or the voices of most of the planet will not go forward with us into space.  We need to have the tough conversations before each endeavor.  If we do this right, we will indeed engender unity.  As we have these conversations, we will discover our global vision for space exploration.  It will be something amazing, a vision we cannot even conceive without the input of all kinds of people.  So let's take the responsibility to seek out and have the conversations now.

J.A. Grier

A Writer's Media Roadmap

The Howard County Chapter of the Maryland Writer's Association had its first meeting of 2018 on January 18.  We were treated to an excellent presentation entitled "Creating Your Social Media Roadmap" by Tiffany Carter.  More than just an introduction to creating a media platform, Tiffany gave us some insight into how to make it really work for us. 

Here is just a bit of what she shared, starting with her approach of:  Platform - Schedule - Automate - Connect.

Platform - She listed six platforms as high priority for writers and authors: a personal blog, Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.  The advice was to pick two of these and maintain them well, rather than try to do them all at a shallow level.  She suggested the two most powerful platforms were: (1) having a website "home" with a personal blog and (2) an active presence on Goodreads.  

Schedule - But the emphasis regardless of platform was on consistency.  Pick the platforms you can engage with the most robustly.  Her advice was to create a schedule for posts/tweets/content and stick to it.  This ensures that followers and fans know when and where to find your content.  When is somewhat flexible, although she had recommendations (like posting once a day if doing Facebook or Linked In) she said the key was making sure followers were getting the content when they had come to expect it.

Automate - Of course staying consistent with media is always a challenge.  Tiffany gave us some tips for automation, like connecting blog posts to Goodreads and Linked In, and using tools like Buffer.  I know I've used HootSuite in the past with some success to automate tweets.  She said that once set up, a writer could spend as little as an hour and have the rest of the week's media scheduled and automated to post.  I'd love to reach that point ... I'm certainly not that efficient now with posting.

Connect - Connecting with fans and followers is obviously the point of all of this.  Writers want to meet people and forge connections that lead to authentic interaction.  Being efficient about posting means that time can be spent in the kinds of interactions that are rewarding for both writers and their followers.  Tiffany said that a good foundation of quality content, delivered on schedule, including guest blogging, blog tours, and even pod casting would support more 'rapid' forms of exposure like live video/audio, book promotions, and giveaways.

Finally, she emphasized that we are of course all readers.  She reminded us that we already know what our fans want, because we are readers, too.  We know what works with us - how we get engaged, how we have fun, and what we are looking for from books and authors.  We just need to put those ideas into motion for ourselves as writers.

I thought her presentation was really valuable, and certainly the rest of the room received it enthusiastically.  I hope she comes back to the group and shows us more advanced techniques for making the most of our time online.

Image Credits:  Publicity image of Tiffany Carter from MWA HoCo flyer.  Image of Tiffany Carter from her workshop taken by myself and posted with permission.

Starting the New Year Right

Here's me with planetary astronomer and asteroid
scientist Andy Rivkin, waiting on the dais for the start
of our Mars exploration panel.

Someone said something nice to me on New Year's Day and I'm still floating with joy.

Here's some context.  I ended 2017 and started 2018 by attending an innovative private event with panels, talks, workshops, and much more - covering topics from science, to mental health, to social justice.  Even as a first timer I was a part of two panels and gave a workshop.  I met fantastic people and left with a mind full of ideas.

But one of those panels I was on was a bit daunting - it was a Mars exploration panel.  There were only two women (including myself) out of nine panelists, and represented on the panel were NASA officials past and present, an astronaut, and more.  I was the only person on the panel I'd call a planetary surface scientist.  I was the only one who could really speak to the research and analysis aspects specific to the lunar and Martian surfaces.  Because of these factors, I felt a strong responsibility to hold my own amidst some strong personalities.  I wanted to represent science and the women who do it, well.

So, okay.  The stage is literally set.  We are up on a dais before a lunchtime crowd of about 250 intelligent and attentive people.  My first major "intervention" is when someone on the other end of the panel says that basic science research is not as important to Mars exploration as engineering and propulsion research.  I can't let that sit, and take the microphone.  I remind him that without science we wouldn't even know something as basic as what we were landing on.  I briefly mention dust as an example - the dust the Apollo astronauts ended up breathing and even eating when it made its way via electrostatic effects right into the lunar module.  This is also the dust that will be gumming up gears and other mechanical devices in any exploration effort, lunar or Martian.  And given it's insulating properties, this is the dust that explorers may be hiding under to escape temperature extremes and radiation hazards.  We know a lot less about Martian dust than lunar.  Research science to characterize this stuff is critical.

My last major "intervention" happened when a panelist near me responded to the question, "What are the moral or ethical considerations of Mars exploration?"  His response was basically, "Well, if there is no life already on Mars, then there are no issues."  I was astonished and grabbed the mic, following up with something like, "Actually, there are a variety of moral or ethical considerations to space exploration.  Here is an example.  We impacted a spacecraft on the Moon that was also was carrying the ashes of a famous scientist.  No cultural dialog was engaged before the decision was made, and when certain communities found out after the fact, they were very unhappy.  Some Native American groups protested because they view the Moon as sacred, and did not feel placing someone's ashes there was appropriate.  We can't continue to make mistakes like this.  Scientists, engineers, and administrators are becoming more and more aware of the need to reach out and have diverse conversations as we continue to explore.  We must make these conversations a priority."

I left the dais at the end of the panel feeling a bit strange, and wondering if I'd done well in such august company, and achieved my goals of representing the voice of women scientists in a positive fashion.

Okay, so punchline finally after all this.  I was approached after midnight on New Year's Eve, just minutes into the start of 2018.  The woman who addressed me gushed about the Mars exploration panel.  She said how excited she was to see my good representation of women scientists, and how I'd done an excellent job - especially with the "morality and ethics" question.  She shook my hand enthusiastically.

Does this seem like a small thing to you?  Or maybe I just don't have a habit of taking compliments to heart ... but this one hit home with a nice warm sparkle.  Wow.  So I'm headed into the New Year with a huge boost to my sense of agency in the world, and just general good feels.  I'm wishing the same for you, as we continue to navigate our way through a challenging world this 2018.

Image Credit:  Andrew Rivkin pic of Jen and Andy.  

A Daily Twitter Challenge

A new sun rises - What shall we tweet about today?

So back in 2016 I gave my best friend a gift - it was a promise of a new twitter question each day to which the two of us could respond.  The idea was to get to know one another, and our interested followers, just a little bit better. 

Well, that lasted into March maybe, before we lost track and stopped.  But it was, as they say, fun while it lasted.  So now that the dust has settled on the start of 2018, we are going to give it another try this year.  This time around we are going to use monthly themes to give us something to focus our thoughts, and to hopefully keep us going through all of 2018.

The challenge, if you want to join in, is this:  I'll tweet a question, and you tweet an answer, citing the original question.  Give it the hashtag of #JATOTD - that's "Jen/Andy's Tweet of the Day."  And that's all there is to it.  Don't feel you need to take the question literally.  Actually, feel free to tweet whatever works for you, just using the question as inspiration, if you like.

We are going to try to see what we can do to be genuine, authentic, helpful, and maybe even uplifting.  It's just a small space to connect, express, and be real.

January's theme is "Travel" because it seems like that's pretty much what we do these days.  I'm wondering how we can refocus on all this travel, and remind ourselves what it can to open our eyes, and more.

Image Credit:  Sunrise, PublicDomainPictures.net