My mind is still over in Canada, and I haven’t gotten back into the swing of things, so the pickings are a bit sparse. That said, here’s some solid links for you, plus some compelling reading choices to try.

What I’m Reading:

An aftermath of my wonderful trip to Canada has been that I’m walking in the mornings again. However, unlike there, I lack a furry companion to keep me interested. I had put a number of audio short stories on my phone for a road trip where I wasn’t driving, but I didn’t have time to listen to most of them. Finally, I had the equivalent of a commute, and a short story is the perfect length. I’ve been enjoying a run of stories from Beneath Ceaseless Skies, though I’ve noticed other ezines are starting to offer audio versions as well.

The Manufactory by Dru Pagliassotti is one I didn’t expect to find in this magazine, and yet the feel of it denies its modern/futuristic elements. This is not a comfort story. It explores the choices that status brings and takes away in a creepy and powerful tale:
http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/story.php?s=64

The Bone House by James Lecky disturbs me because it explores the question of war and costs, and goes in an unexpected direction.
http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/story.php?s=42

Blighted Heart by Aliette de Bodard is a wonderful exploration of an Aztec-like city and what it demands of its people without either condemning or supporting the culture.
http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/story.php?s=45

And going in the opposite direction, I am almost finished reading a non-fiction book called Reading by the Colors by Helen Irlen (ISBN: 0-399-53156-4). I was considering putting it in the categories below, but couldn’t find a good one. The book details the Irlen Syndrome with concrete examples and information compelling enough for me to make a screening appointment to see if my dyslexia is complicated by color sensitivity. While Irlen doesn’t offer a panacea or cure, if the screening shows evidence of the Irlen Syndrome, there are tools that can improve the ability to read and function in the modern world. If you’re curious, here’s more information:
http://irlen.com/index.php

Writing

A good look at goals, what they should be, and what they shouldn’t:
http://magicdistrict.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/on-goals/

Since it just posted, and I’m a small piece of the editorial arm, I thought I’d remind everyone to take a peek at Vision: A Resource for Writers. It contains articles, reviews, interviews, workshops, and publication news writing by and for writers at all stages of their journey. There’s a lot to be poured over in each issue that can help you with whatever stumbling blocks or curiosity you might have:
http://www.visionforwriters.com/index.html

Research

While off in Canada, I happened to watch a nature show about the endangered slender loris. Though I have no conscious memory of seeing this species, how it moves has been incorporated into Kyrnie, the lead character of my novel Shadows of the Sun (http://margaretfisk.mmfcf.com/novels.php). I find the lack of distinction between hands and feet fascinating. Here are some video clips of the slender loris (they may take a moment to load):
http://www.arkive.org/gray-slender-loris/loris-lydekkerianus/

Publishing

Here are two perspectives on the consequences of the current publishing market and the impact on writers. They have much in common, and at the same time, some things are very different. Whether in the English or Asian tradition is not yet clear, but we certainly live in interesting times:

http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/07/07/the-future-of-publishing/ (warning, long post)

http://hollylisle.com/writingdiary2/index.php/2010/07/07/rebel-tales-my-war-for-the-midlist/