Update – Sailor Moon Book!

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Well here’s the latest update on the Sailor Moon Book . . . the research phase is done!

. . . this is not exciting as it sounds.  First, because we’re not doing an in-depth historical book so it’s pretty basic.  Secondly, most information on Sailor Moon is limited, biased, or piecemeal.  The best sources for discussing the experience were Sailor Moon Reflections and Warriors of Legend – both of which ironically focused on aspects of Sailor Moon different from our focus.  Go figure.

The biggest surprise so far seems to be the ill-explored history of Magical Girls.  Everyone traces it back to Sally the Witch, but Sailor Moon seems closer to Princess Comet (the manga, not the 2000’s anime based on it), but there’s really little on that series.  Probably worth revisiting.

Meanwhile Bonnie finished editing the entire book, and integrated new interviews, so now I’m taking this week to do an editing run.  As the book itself is roughly 120-140 pages that’ll go pretty quick.  In fact, I’m rather glad it’s not voluminous – it’s got a friendly, intimate feel.  It’s like a documentary or series of con panels s a book, and we’ve kept a bit of an informal feel inside the formal organization.

Once I do that pass it’s time for her and I to sit down and read it together – then it goes to prereaders and contributors.

Still not dropping until September or so – sorry folks, we want this done right.  But if we can accelerate it . . .

  • Steve

The Power Of Creative Paths Is Out!

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And it’s done, out, published, ready – the first of my Sanctum-inspired books, “The Power Of Creative Paths!”  Thanks to everyone for your support!

The book is my guide to improving your creative abilities.  The idea is that you can identify how you create, and then expand your horizons to use other creative methods and work well with people who create differently.  Through advice, exercises, and examples, it’s a way to get better and dreaming things up and reaching those valuable Big Ideas.

It’s also going to be one of several.  I’ve got my Way With Worlds books coming, and am considering a few more.  It’s time for me to do more than Geek Career advice, and this is one of the other things I know about.

So go on, give it a shot!

– Steve

Lemon Broth Chazuke

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Remember how I’ve been experimenting with chazuke for a quick meal?  Well here’s my latest creation, a chazuke uses lemon-flavored teas. Bigelow’s Lemon Lift was the one I used, but you can find others using lemon zest and the like. It has a taste reminiscent of chicken broth – enough I think you could use just the tea-garlic-soy mixture as a broth substitute.

Seriously, this is delicious – and remember you could probably whip this up at cons, especially with the right canned goods or a little refrigerator.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cup lemon tea
  • 1 tsp crushed garlic (one clove)
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 3 cups steamed green vegetables – I use broccoli, collard, spinach (you can steam them in a microwave, but spinach will blanch if you pour boiling water on it, from say a coffee maker)
  • Either 1 cup garbanzo beans or 7 ounces of tofu, cubed. (Use 1 ½ cup beans/14 ounces tofu if really hungry or add a cup of rice)
  • ¼ cup frozen corn. (leave out if you use rice)
  • 1 tbsp chives.

Directions:

  1. 1) Make the tea by mixing the water, garlic, and soy sauce together. Add the tea bag after heated and let seep.
  2. Mix the vegetables, beans/tofu, and corn. Add the tea.
  3. Heat if necessary in microwave to unthaw corn/heat tofu
  4. Add chives, serve.