I know I’ve been a bit remiss in sharing my travel adventures for your vicarious pleasure but I confess I am overwhelmed, exhausted and looking forward to escaping back to Scotland. This summer the plan remains no conference presentations. Temptations arise, but I have beat them back like St Anthony. Having grown up in the (northern)…
Tag: Kurt Vonnegut
Conquered: First Draft
‘I have Conquer’d, and shall still Go on Conquering. Nothing can withstand the fury of my Course among the Stars of God & in the Abysses of the Accuser. My Enthusiasm is still what it was, only Enlarged and conform’d.’ Which is to say I think I’ve finished the first draft of the comic academic roman…
Under My Skin
A week ago — a momentous time for so many reasons — I whacked my knuckles on the book case in the conference room outside my office at the end of a day meeting students for advisement. I’ve done it before: those of you who know me well will not be surprised. Head in the…
Vonnegut Talk
I had a great time at my talk on Saturday. There was a big crowd who proved very enthusiastic. I was rather glad that Vonnegut’s nephew Kurt and his son didn’t introduce themselves until after the talk or I would have felt rather self-conscious talking about their family members. Kurt said that his father Bernard…
Today: Vonnegut in Schenectady
Join me at the Schenectady Historical Society’s Mabee Farm at 2pm for a talk about Kurt Vonnegut’s Schenectady years. I talk a lot about Player Piano as well as a bit about Cat’s Cradle and Welcome to the Monkey House. Quite shamelessly I mention Owl Stretching, too and I would be remiss if I didn’t…
While You Were Out
Or I suppose, while I was out and about in the Big Easy with Miss Wendy and other folks (yes, write up to come) I neglected my blog. So a hasty round up while I get caught up — INTERVIEWS Hector D Jr interviewed me for Sliver of Stone magazine and I natter on about…
Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
Every creative gets this question sooner or later: those asking think it’s the most natural thing in the world to ask about this ‘mysterious’ process. Those questioned, however, can’t help wondering where don’t you get ideas?! The truth is inspiration comes from the oddest things (that’s why we carry notebooks) but it can also be…
Writer Wednesday: A Sense of Wonder
Some days are a lot harder than others. In the midst of even more bad news that Iain Banks is terminally ill and after the unexpected death of Rick Hautala last week, so many writers I know are simply reeling lately. Friends mourn of course, but readers who never met them anywhere except between the…
Upcoming Appearances
I knew this semester was going to be busy, but it’s got even more so as time has gone along! Here are the places I’ll be appearing and the things I’ll be doing for new releases in the coming weeks. Sorry for the cut and paste — in a rush! Running from now until May….
Reasons to be Cheerful
Spring break is over and I didn’t do the eleventy million things I somehow imagined I could shoehorn into that jam-packed week of ‘relaxing’ and (in theory) grading. HA! Always the case, always. Every time I have a little ‘time off’ I draw up a long list of things to do and then proceed to…
K. A. Laity 