Friday, September 01, 2006
  The saga of the missing sci-fi group
Of course, Tuesday night arrived, both dark and stormy. Nonetheless I boldly set forth in my small, but valiant, Corolla with the broken door handle in search of the Cinci science fiction writing group.

Little did I know, what I thought would be a simple ten minute drive would turn into a Hurculean task.

I was running late when I left, but arrived in the area with several minutes to spare. Alas, the store was nowhere to be seen, though I had mapquested its address before leaving home. I drove up and down the street, peering into giant strip malls, trying to find which nook or cranny hid the Barnes and Noble, as I watched the minutes ticking by.

As long last, I stopped at a Panera cafe, not with the intent of procuring nourishment for the travails ahead, but to -- gasp -- ask directions.

My choice was ill-advised.

"Barnes and Noble?" asked the girl behind the counter, as though I were seeking some fanged beast, rather than a humble bookstore. "There's no Barnes and Noble around here."

Her compatriot directed me to a Borders, and I hastened to find it, hoping I had in my eagerness, jotted down the wrong bookseller.

I pulled into the parking lot, and rolled down my window so I might reach outside and open the door. Chills rains besmattered my arm and my side. Raising the window, I grabbed my papers and stepped out, into the night.

With galumphing gait, I entered the store. The clerk behind the counter was busy, and I thought to find another employee. Oddly, none were to be found, and in this peculiar sign, I might have taken an omen.

But oblivious was I, and so I queried the clerk, "Is there a writers group meeting here tonight?"

"Writer?" he questioned, as though he had no notion of the providence of the very items he was purveying.

"Science fiction writers," I answered, and he shook his head. A quick call to an unseen co-worker, and the verdict was confirmed.

No writers had been seen, or were likely to be seen, in this den of literacy.

Though I fear it might be a breach of common decency, I asked if this location had once housed a Barnes and Noble.

Nay, it had not.

Or did he know of a Barnes and Noble nearby?

Again, nay.

And so I sallied forth, into the deepening gloom.

But ne'er let it be said that Pamela Taylor lies down before the wheels of fate.

Through the dark, damp streets I drove, to the store I had lately visited. A Barnes and Noble, not close to my intended target, but not, either.

They too knew nothing of the sci-fi group.

Perhaps that group has moved to a different plane of existence, or a different location. Tis a mystery that may never be solved. But until it is, I shall seek them out, wherever they might be.
------

See, that's why it's fun to be a sf/fantasy writer. You can make a really frustrating, mundane wild good chase sound like a dashing adventure. (well, sort of...)
 
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Progressive Muslim, feminist, mom, writer, mystic, lover of the universe and Doug Schmidt, cellist, theologian and imam.


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Cane River
An interesting exploration of the gradual whiting of a family through slavery to modern days.

To see an archive of all the books I've read (well the ones I've read and review since I started the blog) with comments, please click here

Causes Worth Supporting

This is just a short list -- a few of my favorites.

English Language Islamic Fiction. We need more of it. Lots more.
Pay a Teacher's Salary in Afghanistan. The Hunger site actually has a lot of worthwhile programs. You can find them all here .
Muslims for Progressive Values. My organization. We can always use donations, of time or money!
Human Rights Campaign for the glbt community
National Religious Campaign Against Torture
The ACLU I'm a card carrying member. Hope you'll become one too.
MoveOn.org. The organization that has done the most, as far as I can tell, to pull the countries progressive side together.
Network of Spiritual Progressives. Working to reclaim religion and morality for the religious left.

Blogs Worth Reading

Wanda Campbell also known as Nochipa A very gifted poet and a gentle, compassionate soul. Nochipa and I are on the same page on sooooo many things
Writeous Sister Aminah Hernandez, she's got some excellent latino pieces and always has good writing info on her blog.
Sister Scorpion aka Leila Montour - Leila is a fount of energy, quirky humor, and bad attitude. She's also a talented poet.
Muhajabah Very interesting commentary here. I don't always agree with her, but her pieces are always thought-provoking.
Georgie Dowdell Georgie is a great writer and a good friend.
Louise Marley Another great writer. I think Louise is one of the best sf writers exploring faith themes.
Ink in My Coffee Devon Ellington (who has numerous aliases) who is also the editor of Circadian Poems. A truly inspiring woman with a seemingly endless supply of energy.
Ethnically Incorrect With a name like that, isn't a given I'm going to enjoy this writer?
Freedom from the Mundane Colin Galbraith, another excellent writer, from Scotland.
The Scruffy Dog Review This is a new e-zine with an ecclectic mix of fiction, poetry, and non-fic, some really enjoyable pieces here.
Ramblings of a Suburban Soccer Mom Lara, another gentle soul, very thoughtful.
Circadian Poems A journal of poetry, new stuff up all the time.
Ye Olde Inkwell Michelle writes romance and is one of my writing buddies.
Muhammad Michael Knight The original punk Muslim writer. Like him or love him, Mike is always coming up with the unexpected.

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