pbray

One more in the books

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 12:24:51 GMT

And back from another bike tour.

2025 Trail of the Coeur D'Alenes (Idaho), Bicycle Adventures
2024 Heart of Tuscany (Italy), Ciclismo Classico
2023 Cotswolds Tour (UK), Bicycle Adventures
2022 Olympic National Park and Discovery Trail, Washington State, Bicycle Adventures
2021 Finger Lakes NY - Carolina Tailwinds
2020 Trip Canceled - COVID
2019 Glacier Park Montana, Trek Travel
2018 Michigan - Cherry Coast, Carolina Tailwinds
2017 St John's - Trinity Bike & Hike, Freewheeling Adventures (Canada)
2016 Best of Madison, Carolina Tailwinds
2015 Middle-Tennessee, Carolina Tailwinds
2014 Coast of Maine (Acadia), Discovery Bike Tours
2013 *no trip*
2012 Big Sur--Monterey to Santa Barbara, California, Backroads
2011 Santa Fe/Taos, New Mexico, Bicycle Adventures
2010 Outer Banks North Carolina, Carolina Tailwinds
2009 Black Hills South Dakota, Timberline
2008 Northern Shenandoah VA, Carolina Tailwinds
2007 Crater Lake Oregon, Bicycle Adventures
2006 Canadian Rockies Alpiner, Timberline
2005 Historic Quebec, Classic Adventures
2004 Bryce/Zion Alpiner, Timberline
2003 Finger Lakes, Classic Adventures
2002 Blue Ridge NC, Carolina Tailwinds
2001 Nova Scotia, VBT
2000 Mid-coast Maine (Camden, Castine), VBT
1999 Nantucket weekend, Easy Riders
1998 Middlebury VT weekend, VBT

Trips before Stacey became my personal trainer :-)
1996 Kerry Ireland (9 day), Easy Riders
1995 Maryland Eastern Shore, VBT

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Saint Me day plus 1

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 18:19:30 GMT

Three things make a post--

Yesterday was an in office day for a team planning session, so I brought in Irish Soda Bread muffins. I'd forgotten how good they are, and how much they remind me of my childhood. And how much I miss being able to bake and share, which is one of the downsides of the Zoom workplace.

Struggling a bit with work/life balance, but I keep reminding myself that the work part pays for the balance side of the equation. And I realize I'm lucky to have a job.

Caught in the conundrum of trying to manage my stress by rationing my consumption of news and social media, but then I worry about missing things.... not sure there's a right answer.

And for a bonus fourth topic, realized that it's the equinox this week and the official start of spring, regardless of the weather forecast. So, um, yay?!

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I miss GEnie. And sff.net. And Livejournal (old school)

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:01:08 GMT

Thinking about community and especially the community of writing friends that I've engaged with over the years.

When I first started writing, GEnie was a popular place to hang out and network with other writers. Many of us then moved over to sff.net for discussion boards, and livejournal for blogging.

Then livejournal was bought by Russians, and sff.net shutdown, and let's not even mention the artist formerly known as Twitter. Facebook worked (kind of) for a time, but even with a ruthlessly curated friendslist the algorithms make it impossible for me to see posts that I'm actually interested in.

As the enshittification continues, and my friends scatter to different platforms, I'm wondering what's next. Is the future a mimeographed newsletter sent via snail mail to the friends I haven't seen in person in the past year? Or the telephone tree-like game we engage in at cons starting each bar conversation off with "Has anyone heard from X recently? How about Y--they deleted their social media accounts, does anyone know how they're doing? By the way, I heard from Z they just move to place and are loving it."

Sigh.

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Annual bike trips

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 12:56:12 GMT

This was our 25th trip together... for those keeping track... and our third trip with our friend Sarah B.

It was our first trip with Ciclismo Classico. Highly recommend them if you're planning a bike trip in Italy.

2024 Heart of Tuscany (Italy), Ciclismo Classico
2023 Cotswolds Tour (UK), Bicycle Adventures
2022 Olympic National Park and Discovery Trail, Washington State, Bicycle Adventures
2021 Finger Lakes NY - Carolina Tailwinds
2020 Trip Canceled - COVID
2019 Glacier Park Montana, Trek Travel
2018 Michigan - Cherry Coast, Carolina Tailwinds
2017 St John's - Trinity Bike & Hike, Freewheeling Adventures (Canada)
2016 Best of Madison, Carolina Tailwinds
2015 Middle-Tennessee, Carolina Tailwinds
2014 Coast of Maine (Acadia), Discovery Bike Tours
2013 *no trip*
2012 Big Sur--Monterey to Santa Barbara, California, Backroads
2011 Santa Fe/Taos, New Mexico, Bicycle Adventures
2010 Outer Banks North Carolina, Carolina Tailwinds
2009 Black Hills South Dakota, Timberline
2008 Northern Shenandoah VA, Carolina Tailwinds
2007 Crater Lake Oregon, Bicycle Adventures
2006 Canadian Rockies Alpiner, Timberline
2005 Historic Quebec, Classic Adventures
2004 Bryce/Zion Alpiner, Timberline
2003 Finger Lakes, Classic Adventures
2002 Blue Ridge NC, Carolina Tailwinds
2001 Nova Scotia, VBT
2000 Mid-coast Maine (Camden, Castine), VBT
1999 Nantucket weekend, Easy Riders
1998 Middlebury VT weekend, VBT

Trips before Stacey became my personal trainer :-)
1996 Kerry Ireland (9 day), Easy Riders
1995 Maryland Eastern Shore, VBT

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Mon, 31 Jul 2023 15:32:55 GMT

This was our 24th trip together... for those keeping track... and our second trip with our friend Sarah B.

2023 Cotswolds Tour (UK), Bicycle Adventures
2022 Olympic National Park and Discovery Trail, Washington State, Bicycle Adventures
2021 Finger Lakes NY - Carolina Tailwinds
2020 Trip Canceled - COVID
2019 Glacier Park Montana, Trek Travel
2018 Michigan - Cherry Coast, Carolina Tailwinds
2017 St John's - Trinity Bike & Hike, Freewheeling Adventures (Canada)
2016 Best of Madison, Carolina Tailwinds
2015 Middle-Tennessee, Carolina Tailwinds
2014 Coast of Maine (Acadia), Discovery Bike Tours
2013 *no trip*
2012 Big Sur--Monterey to Santa Barbara, California, Backroads
2011 Santa Fe/Taos, New Mexico, Bicycle Adventures
2010 Outer Banks North Carolina, Carolina Tailwinds
2009 Black Hills South Dakota, Timberline
2008 Northern Shenandoah VA, Carolina Tailwinds
2007 Crater Lake Oregon, Bicycle Adventures
2006 Canadian Rockies Alpiner, Timberline
2005 Historic Quebec, Classic Adventures
2004 Bryce/Zion Alpiner, Timberline
2003 Finger Lakes, Classic Adventures
2002 Blue Ridge NC, Carolina Tailwinds
2001 Nova Scotia, VBT
2000 Mid-coast Maine (Camden, Castine), VBT
1999 Nantucket weekend, Easy Riders
1998 Middlebury VT weekend, VBT

Trips before Stacey became my personal trainer :-)
1996 Kerry Ireland (9 day), Easy Riders
1995 Maryland Eastern Shore, VBT

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2022 update

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 16:34:30 GMT

This was our 23nd trip together... for those keeping track"

2022 Olympic National Park and Discovery Trail, Washington State, Bicycle Adventures
2021 Finger Lakes NY - Carolina Tailwinds
2020 Trip Canceled - COVID
2019 Glacier Park Montana, Trek Travel
2018 Michigan - Cherry Coast, Carolina Tailwinds
2017 St John's - Trinity Bike & Hike, Freewheeling Adventures (Canada)
2016 Best of Madison, Carolina Tailwinds
2015 Middle-Tennessee, Carolina Tailwinds
2014 Coast of Maine (Acadia), Discovery Bike Tours
2013 *no trip*
2012 Big Sur--Monterey to Santa Barbara, California, Backroads
2011 Santa Fe/Taos, New Mexico, Bicycle Adventures
2010 Outer Banks North Carolina, Carolina Tailwinds
2009 Black Hills South Dakota, Timberline
2008 Northern Shenandoah VA, Carolina Tailwinds
2007 Crater Lake Oregon, Bicycle Adventures
2006 Canadian Rockies Alpiner, Timberline
2005 Historic Quebec, Classic Adventures
2004 Bryce/Zion Alpiner, Timberline
2003 Finger Lakes, Classic Adventures
2002 Blue Ridge NC, Carolina Tailwinds
2001 Nova Scotia, VBT
2000 Mid-coast Maine (Camden, Castine), VBT
1999 Nantucket weekend, Easy Riders
1998 Middlebury VT weekend, VBT

Trips before Stacey became my personal trainer :-)
1996 Kerry Ireland (9 day), Easy Riders
1995 Maryland Eastern Shore, VBT

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Partying like 2019

Sat, 07 Aug 2021 18:49:40 GMT

After skipping last year due to pandemic, Stacey and I really enjoyed getting to ride with Carolina Tailwinds. Our favorite tour company and before the trip I got to catch up with old friends.

This was our 22nd trip together... for those keeping track"

2021 Finger Lakes NY - Carolina Tailwinds
2020 Trip Canceled - COVID
2019 Glacier Park Montana, Trek Travel
2018 Michigan - Cherry Coast, Carolina Tailwinds
2017 St John's - Trinity Bike & Hike, Freewheeling Adventures (Canada)
2016 Best of Madison, Carolina Tailwinds
2015 Middle-Tennessee, Carolina Tailwinds
2014 Coast of Maine (Acadia), Discovery Bike Tours
2013 *no trip*
2012 Big Sur--Monterey to Santa Barbara, California, Backroads
2011 Santa Fe/Taos, New Mexico, Bicycle Adventures
2010 Outer Banks North Carolina, Carolina Tailwinds
2009 Black Hills South Dakota, Timberline
2008 Northern Shenandoah VA, Carolina Tailwinds
2007 Crater Lake Oregon, Bicycle Adventures
2006 Canadian Rockies Alpiner, Timberline
2005 Historic Quebec, Classic Adventures
2004 Bryce/Zion Alpiner, Timberline
2003 Finger Lakes, Classic Adventures
2002 Blue Ridge NC, Carolina Tailwinds
2001 Nova Scotia, VBT
2000 Mid-coast Maine (Camden, Castine), VBT
1999 Nantucket weekend, Easy Riders
1998 Middlebury VT weekend, VBT

Trips before Stacey became my personal trainer :-)
1996 Kerry Ireland (9 day), Easy Riders
1995 Maryland Eastern Shore, VBT

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Bike trips update (or lack thereof)

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 13:19:43 GMT

This was the year that Stacey and I were going on our first international trip-- we'd signed up for a "Prague to Vienna" trip with Trek Travel.

Then COVID happened, and riding in Vermont became an exotic destination. Sigh. Only the second time in 22 years that we've not gone on a trip.

Hoping for next year-- our plan is to travel with Carolina Tailwinds, our favorite tour company.

Posting the list here, for the record.

2020 Trip Canceled - COVID
2019 Glacier Park Montana, Trek Travel
2018 Michigan - Cherry Coast, Carolina Tailwinds
2017 St John's - Trinity Bike & Hike, Freewheeling Adventures (Canada)
2016 Best of Madison, Carolina Tailwinds
2015 Middle-Tennessee, Carolina Tailwinds
2014 Coast of Maine (Acadia), Discovery Bike Tours
2013 *no trip*
2012 Big Sur--Monterey to Santa Barbara, California, Backroads
2011 Santa Fe/Taos, New Mexico, Bicycle Adventures
2010 Outer Banks North Carolina, Carolina Tailwinds
2009 Black Hills South Dakota, Timberline
2008 Northern Shenandoah VA, Carolina Tailwinds
2007 Crater Lake Oregon, Bicycle Adventures
2006 Canadian Rockies Alpiner, Timberline
2005 Historic Quebec, Classic Adventures
2004 Bryce/Zion Alpiner, Timberline
2003 Finger Lakes, Classic Adventures
2002 Blue Ridge NC, Carolina Tailwinds
2001 Nova Scotia, VBT
2000 Mid-coast Maine (Camden, Castine), VBT
1999 Nantucket weekend, Easy Riders
1998 Middlebury VT weekend, VBT

Trips before Stacey became my personal trainer :-)
1996 Kerry Ireland (9 day), Easy Riders
1995 Maryland Eastern Shore, VBT

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Bike trips update

Sun, 13 Oct 2019 11:38:44 GMT

And the 2019 trip was Glacier Park in Montana, with Trek Travel. Our first time with Trek, and the best rental bikes we've ever ridden. Actually best bikes we've ridden period.

2019 Glacier Park Montana, Trek Travel
2018 Michigan - Cherry Coast, Carolina Tailwinds
2017 St John's - Trinity Bike & Hike, Freewheeling Adventures (Canada)
2016 Best of Madison, Carolina Tailwinds
2015 Middle-Tennessee, Carolina Tailwinds
2014 Coast of Maine (Acadia), Discovery Bike Tours
2013 *no trip*
2012 Big Sur--Monterey to Santa Barbara, California, Backroads
2011 Santa Fe/Taos, New Mexico, Bicycle Adventures
2010 Outer Banks North Carolina, Carolina Tailwinds
2009 Black Hills South Dakota, Timberline
2008 Northern Shenandoah VA, Carolina Tailwinds
2007 Crater Lake Oregon, Bicycle Adventures
2006 Canadian Rockies Alpiner, Timberline
2005 Historic Quebec, Classic Adventures
2004 Bryce/Zion Alpiner, Timberline
2003 Finger Lakes, Classic Adventures
2002 Blue Ridge NC, Carolina Tailwinds
2001 Nova Scotia, VBT
2000 Mid-coast Maine (Camden, Castine), VBT
1999 Nantucket weekend, Easy Riders
1998 Middlebury VT weekend, VBT

Trips before Stacey became my personal trainer :-)
1996 Kerry Ireland (9 day), Easy Riders
1995 Maryland Eastern Shore, VBT

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Newfoundland!

Sun, 27 Aug 2017 15:02:23 GMT

Just returned from annual bike trip. This year it was Newfoundland-- started off in Saint John's and wound up in Trinity. Trip included 2 hiking days which was a nice change.

Newfoundland was wonderful. I'd love to go back sometime when I had more time to explore.

2017 St John's - Trinity Bike & Hike, Freewheeling Adventures (Canada)
2016 Best of Madison, Carolina Tailwinds
2015 Middle-Tennessee, Carolina Tailwinds
2014 Coast of Maine (Acadia), Discovery Bike Tours
2013 *no trip*
2012 Big Sur--Monterey to Santa Barbara, California, Backroads
2011 Santa Fe/Taos, New Mexico, Bicycle Adventures
2010 Outer Banks North Carolina, Carolina Tailwinds
2009 Black Hills South Dakota, Timberline
2008 Northern Shenandoah VA, Carolina Tailwinds
2007 Crater Lake Oregon, Bicycle Adventures
2006 Canadian Rockies Alpiner, Timberline
2005 Historic Quebec, Classic Adventures
2004 Bryce/Zion Alpiner, Timberline
2003 Finger Lakes, Classic Adventures
2002 Blue Ridge NC, Carolina Tailwinds
2001 Nova Scotia, VBT
2000 Mid-coast Maine (Camden, Castine), VBT
1999 Nantucket weekend, Easy Riders
1998 Middlebury VT weekend, VBT

Trips before Stacey became my personal trainer :-)
1996 Kerry Ireland (9 day), Easy Riders
1995 Maryland Eastern Shore, VBT

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Welcome LJ refugees

Wed, 05 Apr 2017 15:11:50 GMT

Will admit that I'm seldom active on my blog, but if we were connected on Livejournal and you want to connect here, please post a comment with your Dreamwidth handle.

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The secret knowledge of goats

Wed, 14 Sep 2016 18:40:31 GMT

In film, Alfred Hitchcock is known for his signature cameo appearances. In fiction, Patricia Bray is known for including goats. Goats creep into her stories like secret punctuation marks, leaving tiny cloven hoofprints among the pages. Some call her obsessed, but Patricia has stumbled on a truth that few others know--the universe is made up of five elements, not four-- Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Goats. Now you can show your support for all things Caprid, by pledging $85 you'll receive a ZNB goat mascot autographed by Patricia, guaranteed to contain the secret knowledge known only to goats and their devotees.

Follow this link to learn more about ZNB's latest Kickstarter: Robots, Water, Death, and to make your pledge in order to receive your very own goat mascot.

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In praise of Madison

Sun, 26 Jun 2016 14:29:54 GMT

Just back from the annual bike trip, where we had a fantastic time. Madison, Wisconsin lived up to its reputation as a bike-friendly city. Not only do they have an extensive network of bike paths and bike lanes, but even out on country roads the drivers are incredibly patient and respectful of cyclists.

Carolina Tailwinds remains our favorite company to travel with. Great people, great bikes, and they think of everything, so all we have to do is pedal and enjoy.

Already plotting our trip for next year. In the meantime, here's where we've been so far:

2016 Best of Madison, Carolina Tailwinds
2015 Middle-Tennessee, Carolina Tailwinds
2014 Coast of Maine (Acadia), Discovery Bike Tours
2013 *no trip*
2012 Big Sur--Monterey to Santa Barbara, California, Backroads
2011 Santa Fe/Taos, New Mexico, Bicycle Adventures
2010 Outer Banks North Carolina, Carolina Tailwinds
2009 Black Hills South Dakota, Timberline
2008 Northern Shenandoah VA, Carolina Tailwinds
2007 Crater Lake Oregon, Bicycle Adventures
2006 Canadian Rockies Alpiner, Timberline
2005 Historic Quebec, Classic Adventures
2004 Bryce/Zion Alpiner, Timberline
2003 Finger Lakes, Classic Adventures
2002 Blue Ridge NC, Carolina Tailwinds
2001 Nova Scotia, VBT
2000 Mid-coast Maine (Camden, Castine), VBT
1999 Nantucket weekend, Easy Riders
1998 Middlebury VT weekend, VBT

Trips before Stacey became my personal trainer :-)
1996 Kerry Ireland (9 day), Easy Riders
1995 Maryland Eastern Shore, VBT

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Leading by example

Sat, 11 Jun 2016 12:47:29 GMT

I'm working on my notes for my upcoming guest lecture at the Odyssey Writers Workshop. The workshop organizers stress the value of including personal experience into your presentation.

Which brings to mind an unfortunate kayak excursion. The river was extremely low, so much so that we kept stepping out, picking up our kayaks, then carrying them until we found a spot where they would once again float. As the group started to separate across the width of the river, we'd call back to our companions "Not this way!" and "Not this way either!"

Come to think of it, that encapsulates my advice to new writers. Be prepared to try lots of things, and don't be discouraged if you fail. Learn from those who have gone before you, but don't assume something that worked for them will also work for you. Or conversely, just because they failed doesn't mean you won't succeed.

And always keep your sense of humor.

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Planning the next adventure

Thu, 03 Dec 2015 12:36:41 GMT

Having fun looking through the bike catalogs, picking our adventure for 2016. Hard to believe I've been doing this for 20 years. And oddly enough I'm in better shape now than I was when I started this.

Here's where I've been so far--

2015 Middle-Tennessee, Carolina Tailwinds
2014 Coast of Maine (Acadia), Discovery Bike Tours
2013 *no trip*
2012 Big Sur--Monterey to Santa Barbara, California, Backroads
2011 Santa Fe/Taos, New Mexico, Bicycle Adventures
2010 Outer Banks North Carolina, Carolina Tailwinds
2009 Black Hills South Dakota, Timberline
2008 Northern Shenandoah VA, Carolina Tailwinds
2007 Crater Lake Oregon, Bicycle Adventures
2006 Canadian Rockies Alpiner, Timberline
2005 Historic Quebec, Classic Adventures
2004 Bryce/Zion Alpiner, Timberline
2003 Finger Lakes, Classic Adventures
2002 Blue Ridge NC, Carolina Tailwinds
2001 Nova Scotia, VBT
2000 Mid-coast Maine (Camden, Castine), VBT
1999 Nantucket weekend, Easy Riders
1998 Middlebury VT weekend, VBT

Trips before Stacey became my personal trainer :-)
1996 Kerry Ireland (9 day), Easy Riders
1995 Maryland Eastern Shore, VBT

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Submissions: ALIEN ARTIFACTS and WERE- anthologies

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 13:24:26 GMT

ZNB LLC is currently accepting submissions for these two anthologies, guidelines can be found here.

Here are the authors who have agreed to be part of these anthologies: Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Phyllis Ames, Jacey Bedford, Patricia Bray, David B. Coe, David Farland/Dave Wolverton, C.S. Friedman, Walter H. Hunt, Faith Hunter, Katharine Kerr, Gini Koch, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, Gail Z. Martin, Larry N. Martin, Seanan McGuire, Juliet E. McKenna, and Jean Marie Ward. Stories selected from the open call will be used to fill the remaining slots.

Submissions must be received by October 31st 2015.

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Science fiction? Fantasy? Why not both

Tue, 11 Aug 2015 19:46:48 GMT

Zombies Need Brains publishing has just launched their new Kickstarter looking to create not one but two original anthologies featuring an outstanding lineup of authors.

This project will fund TWO science fiction and fantasy anthologies, titled ALIEN ARTIFACTS and WERE-, each containing approximately 14 all-original (no reprint) short stories from established SF&F authors in the field—including Phyllis Ames, Jacey Bedford, Patricia Bray, David B. Coe, Walter H. Hunt, Faith Hunter, Gini Koch, Gail Z. Martin, Seanan McGuire, Juliet E. McKenna, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, and Jean Marie Ward. The books will be edited by Joshua Palmatier & Patricia Bray, both editors of the DAW Books anthologies “After Hours: Tales from the Ur-bar” and “The Modern Fae’s Guide to Surviving Humanity," and the Zombies Need Brains LLC anthologies "Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens" and “Temporally Out of Order.”

Follow the link here to learn more and see all the great rewards that have been lined up, including a Tuckerization in my WereGoat story.

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FBI admits errors in DNA match calculations

Sat, 30 May 2015 11:09:21 GMT

In the latest news from the FBI crime labs, an admission that they've been overstating the likelihood of DNA matches, a problem that dates back to at least 1999.

This is part of a series of reviews that have revealed systemic problems with forensic evidence provided by the FBI. Back in 2012 they revealed similar issues with hair & fiber evidence, these dating back to the 1980s. Not to mention the earlier well-publicized problems with gunfire residue evidence and fingerprint analysis.

Back in 2009 the National Academy of Sciences went before Congress with a scathing indictment of the state of forensic science at all levels of law enforcement in the US, pointing out that the lack of standards and scientific rigor meant that junk science was routinely being presented, unchallenged, at criminal trials. In an optimistic view, one could say the latest report from the FBI shows that they've committed themselves to reform, and are being open about the past.

Or you could say that they are just as likely to learn from this as they learned from the FBI lab scandals in the 1990s...which is to say, not at all. Bad FBI science.

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Release Day

Tue, 17 Feb 2015 15:21:14 GMT

Thrilled to announce that Diversion Books has just released e-book editions of five of my Regency romances. Check out the links below for more information.

AN UNLIKELY ALLIANCE Gifted fortune teller or cunning thief? Lord Kerrigan is determined to find out.

LORD FREDDIE'S FIRST LOVE Sometimes nice guys finish first.

THE IRISH EARL When Lady Felicity used her fortune to buy an estate, the earl was a handsome bonus.

A MOST SUITABLE DUCHESS The Duke of Torringford scandalizes society when he advertises for a wife.

THE WRONG MR. WRIGHT Diana is in love with George Wright, but it's his brother Stephen who proposes marriage.

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The absolutely true story of how I broke my first agent

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 15:38:07 GMT

Once upon the time there was an attorney who wanted a job where she could set her own hours and work from home. The agent began attending RWA conferences and making connections. Soon she'd signed on a promising crop of unpublished romance authors, including yours truly. With great enthusiasm she began sending their submissions out.

After several rejections, a publisher made an offer on my book. They sent along their boilerplate contract, which we reviewed and asked for a few minor changes. And then the negotiations started. While the changes we'd asked for were straightforward, the byzantine ways of publishing meant that even the simplest of changes required time and jumping through hoops. I remember a phone call where the agent vented her frustrations over the difficulties involved, and how the entire process bore little resemblance to her previous experience negotiating business contracts.

At last the agent presented the final contract for my signature, then informed me that she quit. After spending over a year trying to launch her career, the big bucks had yet to roll in, and she'd realized she was making far less than minimum wage. She set her clients free and returned to the legal world.

In fact she disappeared so quickly and thoroughly that this caused a series of problems, since my publisher kept sending snail mail to her old business address which was no longer valid, and of course the business phone had been shut off. Eventually I tracked her down, not an easy thing to do in the 90s, and managed to get her signature on a document authorizing all correspondence for this title to be sent directly to me.

In the end everything worked out for the best. Since I was orphaned, I was free to look for a new agent, and this time I got my top pick, Jennifer Jackson, an experienced pro with the power of an established literary agency to back her up. The contract negotiations that had mystified my first agent were well known (if arcane) rituals to Jennifer. And when the time came, she had the knowledge and contacts to help me make the leap from romance to SF&F.

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Coming to an e-reader near you

Mon, 12 Jan 2015 18:21:58 GMT

I'm thrilled to announce that in February Diversion Books will be releasing e-book editions of five of my Regencies: AN UNLIKELY ALLIANCE, LORD FREDDIE'S FIRST LOVE, THE IRISH EARL, A MOST SUITABLE DUCHESS and THE WRONG MR. WRIGHT.

Over the years I've had to disappoint fans who asked where they could find e-book editions of my backlist. I'm delighted that they'll finally be available, and that new readers will be able to discover and enjoy these stories.

I'll post here and on my website patriciabray.com when the covers are available, and when the titles go live.

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Small acts of kindness

Wed, 26 Nov 2014 14:57:17 GMT

Thanksgiving is a time to focus on what's most important to me--friends, family, and community.

So tonight I'm hosting a friend, so she doesn't have to make a long commute in the worst of the storm. Tomorrow I'll be cooking the turkey for David's House, help making the day a bit brighter for families whose children are at the hospital. Then I'll come home, and make a non-turkey dinner for friends. Friday I'll be baking desserts, then heading over to their house for our customary Tday+1 turkey feast.

At no point will I be participating in the Black Friday shopping rituals of megastores, malls, and competitive bargain hunting. There's nothing these stores could sell me that's as important as spending time with friends.

There are so many reasons to be angry, depressed, outraged or sad. And it's easy to feel overwhelmed. I don't have answers for everyone, but for me, the solution is to do what I can in this corner of the world, and to take the time to appreciate the people who make my life better.

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Tis the season

Mon, 24 Nov 2014 15:11:31 GMT

Feeling overwhelmed, as I often do as the Christmas season approaches. Lots of stuff going on, and like many women I am conditioned to feel bad whenever I have to say No. Even when saying No is key to maintaining mental health.

So here it is. No. With the following explanation: "You have a great crowdfunding project/I love that you're raising money for a charity/I share your outrage about X and want to help. But between bailing out a family member in a financial crisis and supporting charities in my community, I am completely tapped out."

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Honing your craft, online classes from the Odyssey Writing Workshops

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 23:10:43 GMT

If you've ever thought about taking an online writing class, you can't do better than starting with one of these: Winter classes from the Odyssey Writing Workshop.

Three classes are available starting in January:

Showing versus Telling in Fantastic Fiction
Course Meets: January 1 - January 29, 2015
Instructor: Jeanne Cavelos
Application Deadline: December 6, 2014

One Brick at a Time: Crafting Compelling Scenes
Course Meets: January 5 - February 2, 2015
Instructor: Barbara Ashford
Application Deadline: December 9, 2014

Effective Endings in Speculative Fiction
Course Meets: January 22 - February 19, 2015
Instructor: C. C. Finlay
Application Deadline: December 26, 2014

Click on the link above to learn more.

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Book review: THE MIDNIGHT QUEEN by Sylvia Izzo Hunter

Sat, 13 Sep 2014 21:33:26 GMT

For those of my friends who enjoy clever Regencies, and/or fantasy novels with sophisticated worldbuilding and well-thought out magic systems, this is a book not to be missed.

Regency + magic = win. Sylvia Izzo Hunter's first novel THE MIDNIGHT QUEEN combines two of my favorite things-- the intelligence and witty dialogue of a classic Regency romance woven into a fantasy world where Oxford's colleges are the center of magical studies. I loved all the details that made up this alternate Regency Britain, from the cleverly designed magic system, to the seamless integration of the regional languages and local customs. Sophie and Gray's romance is charming, sharing equal time with their quest to foil the sinister conspiracy they've uncovered. The ending is suitably satisfying, while leaving room for more novels in this universe. Both fantasy readers and romance readers will enjoy this book, highly recommended!

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