"A Confederation of Valor" b. Tanya Huff

A Confederation of Valor by Tanya Huff

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
If I had a daughter, I would press this book into her hands so that she could truly see that women can be badasses and leaders just as sure as any male! Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr is a beast! She's a Marine through and through. Tanya Huff portrays the 'Leave No One Behind' soldier as a profound leader in the face of truly horrific circumstances. "A Confederation of Valor" is actually two novels in one: "Valor's Choice" and "The Better Part of Valor." While the first book is more emotionally wracking, both books carry Ms. Huff's talent for witty conversation, military and scientific jargon and claustrophobic chaotic action. These books are definitely not romantic and far from chick lit! Pure hardcore action with a colorful array of aliens, the most profound being the every horny Di'Taykan and the mysteriously absent but always discussed H'san. As I reach for the 3rd book in the series, I am so glad that I picked up this recommendation from a friend. Kerr is as much if not more of a badass than Ripley from the "Aliens" series and the villains are only slightly less vicious and I luv it!


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Balticon and Back in the Day Geekdom...

I actually have the 2nd edition and the 4th edition of the Advanced Dungeon & Dragons Player's Handbook and played for a long time prior to finding World of Warcraft. Gaming in worlds built upon fantasy, has always been a favorite pasttime of mine. Back when I first started hitting cons, I went to a very geeky, but comfortable, friendly and small sci-fi and gaming con called Evecon/Castlecon. Talk about awesome! Getting to meet other geeks like myself, to game in the LAN room, and talk sci-fi was like heaven. It lasted for a few good years, but when it ended I was a bit lost. I had friends working for Katsucon, a japanese anime con with some gaming thrown in and so I decided to work for their staff. While there were some geeky elements, there wasn't nearly enough sci-fi and live action for me and I will admitt that the amount of yipping kids in costumes pretending to be Cloud or Tifa just didn't do it for me. (However the guy dressed as General Grievious kicked ass)

Anyway, I have worked at Katsucon for the past 4 years and all the while, I kept hearing about Balticon. A friend gave me a program last year, and I'll admit that it was the writer's programming that got me first, but the when I saw all the sci fi programs, I was determined to attend! And then I found out that I recognized a lot of the writers attending. Oh yeah, it was a must.

Initially, I figured I would go in writer persona, but nah, the geek in me won out and I ended up accepting a job. So this year, I will be in table top gaming, where I can watch (and play) some of the cool table top games. (Debating about bringing Magic cards) I will have my muse with me and will be doing some brain storming for my next project (hint: Guard) and hope to get a few autographs and books.

Wish me endurance...I allways end up sleep deprived and exhausted by the last day but expect to have a good time.

The Grind...

Contrary to some folk's suspicion, my new found love of World of Warcraft is not the reason why I have no upcoming releases. I will say that it makes waiting on the Muse and editors, a little easier to bear though. (And I'm getting closer to lvl 30 upon which I can purchase my first mount)

Currently, I have a novel and a short story seeking homes and one novel that needs an overhaul before it can find one. As I have said before, I'm mainly a story teller trying to be a writer, and while I could throw a story up on my website every month, they wouldn't necessarily be sales-worthy. Thus I am in my grinding period currently, trying to rein in my chaotic, sorcerer novel. Work has not yet started on the Guardian sequel, which wants to be more action and less erotica. I have a half-finished Vamp/Wolf tale which is begging for attention and then there is 'Bulletproof'...which may be my next short story challenge. I don't know. Even without plans for submission, I *have* to write...something, anything....my crocodile tale?

Well as I grind away, 2-4 hours a day at my craft, and while I've been grinding pretty well in Darkshire, I am afraid to admitt that sometimes I suspect my literary grinding may be a little chaotic. Appart from WoW, writing is my main obsession and sometimes I get so caught up in writing, in getting the story down, that my editing is ussualy on EPIC-Fail levels... So for those waiting for a new release from me, just know that that I am grinding still...