Wordy Wednesday with J B Rockwell

I nearly ran out of authors for you all to read about! Can you imagine, the horror! Luckily the world is full of amazing people writing tales for our enjoyment, which is just as well as I know most of use read a book in much less time than it takes to write one! Twitter put me in touch with some new (to me, and sometimes actually new) authors and I popped them into the virtual hot seat for a full grilling!

First up let us all meet J B Rockwell. Sweating in the interview chair, quaking slightly, clutching her beverage of choice, and looking forward to the slice of cake which she has been told she can only have once this interview is complete.

Hello JB, may I call you that? Tell us all about you:

So, I’m J.B. Rockwell *waves* and I write speculative fiction—sci-fi and fantasy mostly, though I did have one light horror/weird book published that’s…well, weird. I’ve got four books published now (yay!), the first two books fantasy trilogy (BREAKSHIELD and SEIOKANA, with Book 3—REAPER—due out this November), that light horror book I mentioned (BIMIANGUS, which I put more in the creepy/weird category since it’s about a creepy bull…I KNOW!) and my latest (and favorite) book: SERENGETI, which is sci-fi. Oh. OH! And SERENGETI comes out in audio book at the end of April! SQUEEE!!!
Mostly I write adult spec pic but I’ve also dabbled in young adult fiction and middle grade level fiction.
As for me, personally, I’m a wannabe archaeologist. Oh, and I have three cats. That’s important because I only had TWO cats until number three showed up after a snow storm and never left.

Do you have another job or are you a full time author? If you do something else what is it and do you like it?
Yes, I’m a slave to the day job. I DREAM of writing full time but right now I work in information technology for the US Coast Guard. That also means I only get to write on the weekends so I jealously guard my scarce writing time. I like working for the Coast Guard. It’s a pretty cool organization. The Mighty Mite of the Military, as it were. :)

When did you start writing?
About 5 years ago—I know, I’m a late bloomer. I’ve always loved to read but I was completely intimidated by the idea of writing a book myself. Then I got an idea and decided to challenge myself and go with it. As with most authors, that first book was very…first bookish and never made it off the shelf. In fact, is still isn’t published, but one day I’ll pull it out and rewrite now that I actually have somewhat of a clue about writing.

What 3 things are guaranteed to make you smile?
Puppies. Kittens. Anything cute with fur. (I’m counting that as one)
Hearing that someone really, truly enjoyed one of my books or short stories, especially if they liked the humor I tried to build in. - you see readers, reviews matter, make an author smile, review a book!
Hanging out and chatting with good friends. I mean GOOD friends. Because we always end up cutting up and laughing our butts off.

Do you have any pets? If yes, what, and do they help or hinder the writing process?
Yes! The aforementioned three cats. I’d like to add a dog too, but right now my working days are too long and it wouldn’t be fair. Cats are great, they just sleep until you get home and then demand food and snuggles. Sometimes the cats help with the writing and sometimes they are a complete roadblock. My best writing moments are sitting in front of a roaring fire with a sleepy cat cuddled up beside me and a good movie or some really good music in the background. But when the cats aren’t sleepy they have zero patience for writing. So, if they’re stirred up and wanting attention there’s no sense even trying to write. On the other hand, I’ve found a lot of inspiration in watching my cats. I’ve written stories with both foes and dragons in them and much of their mannerisms are based on watching my cats be cats. - evil cats?

Who is your favourite author? Do they influence your writing or are they a total break from the sort of thing you write?
I’m a HUGE fan of C.J. Cherryh. She’s one of those authors where I just buy the book because here name is on it. Her writing has definitely influenced mine—no one writes a broken character better than her—but I am in no way, shape or form saying I write as well as her. Just, some of the themes she uses, the way she builds characters and the way she weaves her stories together—I’ve tried to borrow some of that awesomeness and adapt it to my own stories. Plus she writes both sci-fi and fantasy equally well so I feel a kinship.

Which book(s) are you reading at the moment?
I’m actually re-reading the Richard Sharpe books by Bernard Cornwell. I love them. I read a lot of sci-fi and fantasy, obviously, but historical fiction is another love of mine.

Where do you do most of your writing?
When it’s cold or icky outside, I write in my living room by the fireplace. When it’s nice, I sit outside on the patio in the dappled sunlight with the trees all around me. I have a very zen patio. :) I also carry a little moleskin notebook around with me and I’ve been known to scribble down ideas and entire passages while standing in the feed zone at one of my husband’s bike races, waiting for him to come by and want a water bottle.

Tell us about the character that you've written that you like the most - no spoilers!
I’ve got a series of short stories of written, about half of which have found homes in anthologies and e-zines about that this half-crazy, over-machoed starship Captain named Phinnaeus Crowhammer who’s always getting into trouble. He’s a fun character to write because he’s foul mouthed and completely sexist in an entertaining way. Plus he’s got an eclectic crew that includes an otter who pilots the ship. Those stories are pure fun to write.

What is your favourite biscuit?
Ha-ha! This always cracks me up. UK biscuits = US cookies :) I have to say, I’ve never found a biscuit I didn’t like, unless it has raisins instead of chocolate chips—WHAT IS THE POINT??? I think my favorite of all time is still the good old, tried and true chocolate chip cookie. I mean, what’s not to like? - separated by a common language, drawn together by a love of biscuits/cookies :-)

Tea or Coffee?
Coffee. I know, I’m a heathen. Then again, I’m American. I also quite fancy cocoa. not a heathen at all - I'm a real coffee fan, hot as hell, dark as night, sweet as love...actually not sweet I don't take sugar...bitter as my soul?

In the film of your life who would play you? (why)
OH GOD THIS WOULD BE A HORROR MOVIE WHY WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS??? Um…I think Reese Witherspoon is closest to my basic size, shape and looks (not that I look like her but running through actresses she probably comes the closet to not-not looking like me…if that makes any sense). Personality-wise, I like to think I’m more like Felicia Day: cookie and off-kilter but fun to hang with. :) - ha I'm the interviewer - I do it because I can!

If you could genetically cross an animal and a vegetable, what would you pick and why? I like the idea of a potato and a sloth...could you get a lazier creature? (my soul mate)
Good question. I think a pumpkin and a hedgehog. You’d get this fat, orange, prickly little critter with a long snout and tiny paws that would alternate between sleeping and waddling about—ADORABLE!

Find out more about J B Rockwell at her Author site: www.jenniferbrockwell.com
Find her on Amazon (and buy books) at: http://www.amazon.com/
Over on Goodreads : https://www.goodreads.com/
SERENGETI: http://www.severedpress.com/books/serengeti/
Follow her on Twitter: @Rockwell_JB
'Like' her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockwellJB/

Huge thanks for taking part - as usual readers are welcome to come and chat over at my Facebook Page or my Twitter. Until nest week. Keep reading! (oh and you can have that cake now)

Science toys for cool kids

When I was at Blog On Winchester blogging event last month I discovered the company Trends UK. They are the UKs number one science toy supplier.

As a toy company that seems to have some pretty cool toys! We met and slightly fell in love with the Roboraptor, which as his name suggests is a robot dinosaur of the raptor variety. He has various personality settings and could change from hunting mode to your best friend!

 

We also loved the funky haired Elektrokidz who shake their mop tops to any music they hear. A great addition to a teen bedroom or the top of a sound system, I imagine a tiny disco of various colours all wiggling about to the latest One Direction song or rocking out to some drum and base.

But while I loved the robot toys it was the science stuff on the website that really grabbed my attention. Great gifts like telescopes, metal detectors and microscopes. I'm a bit of a science geek and I know I would have loved to have had the tools to explore the world around me when I was younger, I think I made do with a magnifying glass.

Trends bring together some excellent brands, and have a chemistry section too. I still fancy having my own chemistry lab!

But I think for retro goodness alone, and huge 'dad appeal' the Haynes section of the website might be the winner. Airfix Spitfires, model engines, just brilliant! Find out how an engine works and build one, perfect for a tinker of a winter's afternoon in the shed.

Trends also have lots of great spy gadgets. So for the budding MI5 employee or the sneaky preteen there is plenty to choose from, night stealth goggles, door alarms and listening devices.

It's a great site with new toys arriving daily so it's well worth bookmarking and checking regularly. They even have science-y time-y wime-y Dr Who cybernetics labs!

Disclosure - Trends UK gave me the weird dancing music loving Elektrokid as a gift :-) But I wrote this post.

Beautiful Blob Slime Laboratory Giveaway

After a delightful time at a recent blogging event I am in the rather lovely position of being able to giveaway some goodies.

Today's giveaway is fun and educational (not really kids, it's just fun, the only thing you'll learn is how to make a mess!) It's a slimy science kit! Suitable for anyone disgusting over 10 years old.

I wouldn't be giving it away but the lovely DD already has one! She's such a science geek, and who doesn't love creating their own slimy monsters!?

And in case you really are a useless mad scientist and fail to create the alien life form of your warped dreams, I'm also including some glow in the dark slime!

Loads of ways to win, and a few weeks to win it in (the plan is that it will be posted out at the beginning of November.) Open to the UK only - and not my family! (sorry chaps)

DD assures me that you'll love it. You can use the lab to make jelly gemstones, wriggly worms, caviar beads, flubbery tadpoles...and pretty much anything gloopy and disgusting!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BEE Inspired

I need to blog about my new bee obsession! But right now I'm busy checking my tent for leaks. I simply can't wait to see what the world of festival goers at Glastonbury think about Ecover and Bees!! I hope I can  get them to be as excited about recycling and plastics as I am!

So here is a rather fabulous infographic from Ecover about bees, bottles, cleaning and nature to keep you going! Enjoy.

ECOVER's aim is to create powerful, fully sustainable and biodegradable ingredients that will eliminate the need for petro-chemicals. Visit The-Splash for more information and to read and support our pledge.

No sex please we are in the Cretaceous

So, I read a scientific article (I know that sounds clever , actually it was a BBC article where I first saw it) about how dinosaurs 'Evolved feathers for courtship not flight' and this got me thinking...

Did they? Did they really? Evolve something for a certain purpose, is that even possible? Did the 'good old boys' of the dinosaur age sit down one evening and have a conversation about it..

*that wiggly thing that shows there is about to be a flashback*

T.Rex : I'm getting so fed up, I never seem to get a girl friend these days, my short arms put them off.

Allosaurus : man I know what you mean, I tried to take out an ankylosaurus and she just wanted to go clubbing with her girl friends, not interested in coming back to my place at all

T.Rex : seriously dude we are gonna go extinct if we don't get some loving soon.

Avaceratops : (butting in) look at the tail on that Apatosaurus!

T.rex : shut up, concentrate how do we improve our chances!?

Allosaurus : we should grow some feathers, I saw an Ornithomimosaur down at the tar pit, he's evolved feathers and the babes were all over him!

T.Rex : ok lets give it a go, lets grow feathers, grab your coats - lets pull!

*wavy thing again, we are back in the present*

So I think maybe they didn't evolve something 'for' something. I think maybe feathers happened, like weird stuff does, and those lady dinosaurs just liked it...so the males got lucky more.

Any way, this is why I'm not a scientist.

Breasts, juicy juicy breasts...

So there was a report, it was about breastfeeding, we all got enraged. Yes all of us, everyone..or maybe just me. Anyway the point was I was enraged. The report (widely reported in the media) seemed to say that breastfed babies were poor sleepers, miserable, cranky, and generally sadder babies than the chubby bundles of fun that sleep through and giggle like smiling cherubs when fed formula. No wonder there was rage; I’m almost a breastfeeding nazi! (I’m not but once on twitter someone listed me as such, I was sort of proud) anyway….I went off to track down the report itself since none of the media sources, not even the BBC, saw fit to link to it or reference it in anyway. Luckily the NHS website was more forthcoming and even helpfully pointed out the errors with the ‘study’…such as that the ‘study’ was not actually designed to study the difference between breastfed and formula fed babies at all, it was an aside from a larger study and that the study itself had only 300 participants, that the data was all subjective and no backgrounds were obtained for the babies…well go check see for yourselves(and a snippet below), it’s basically a pile of ‘maybes’ and ‘might haves’. No real concrete data at all.

"There are several additional points to make:

• The researchers did not take into account other wider issues that might affect the chosen feeding method, mother/baby interactions and babies’ temperaments, such as whether the mothers were working, time spent with babies and feeding schedules.
• The study relied on mothers to subjectively rate their babies’ temperaments. Such self-completed ratings could be influenced by other things, such as the mothers’ anxiety about breastfeeding.
• The differences in temperament between breastfed and formula-fed babies as rated by the mothers appeared to be small. For example, the emotional instability score was 2.8 in the bottle-fed group and 3.0 in breastfed and mixed-fed babies. It is not possible to say whether these small score differences would have made appreciable differences in the day-to-day temperament of the babies.
• Educational achievement of women who breastfed or mixed-fed their babies was higher, and how this might have influenced their scoring of temperament was not discussed by the authors.
• It is not known whether the current method of feeding at three months represents a consistent pattern since birth or whether there have been changes. For example, a baby described as formula-fed at three months may have only just been switched to formula feeding and may have been exclusively breastfed up until then. Finally, as the researchers point out, this small study of mothers and babies in Cambridge may not be representative of UK mothers and babies generally."

But why were mothers bothered? If a study says that something may not be as good for your baby you won’t do it – you want the best or your baby. Best is a fed baby. A baby that grows and is happy. Breast or formula can do that, but mothers all want the best. This study seemed to imply that breast was actually inferior…or did it? It said that breastfed babies were more restless, formula fed babies slept more. Well I don’t know about you but after a huge meal of heavy to digest food I sleep well too! Often most of the afternoon, so having a belly full of heavy rich food makes you sleep … ok …

And babies that are breastfed cry more. Now this is the thing that made people sit up! Babies that cry are sad! Miserable! Poor little things! But most breastfeeding mums I know feed on demand. The babies need to inform mum when a new helping of grub is in order, and it might not be in four hours because, well it was easy to digest, it went quick and now “I’M HUNGRY!” and then they drink and are not hungry and can get on with being babies..watching the world, growing, communicating (often by crying “I want to touch the thing!” “why is the light bright” “I want a cuddle” “I want to be left alone” “I want a cuddle “I’M HUNGRY AGAIN!” ) so really is the crying bad? 

No! babies cry! Breastfed babies may (or may not – it’s a tiny, flawed study) cry more but that may be because they are communicating more! Because they are more awake, because they are not dozing with a tum full of formula!

So is formula bad? Of course not. Lots of babies grow up happily on formula, a mum may not be able to feed, may adopt, may have a tough birth, may have a busy job or a second child that is ill and needs her attention too, amy not fancy brestfeeding, there are a million reasons a mum might not breastfeed (one reason I’m not a ‘breastfeeding nazi' and would never say anything to another about her choice unless she asked for advice) but should a woman choose not to breastfeed because of this study? NO! certainly not!

But the sad fact is that thousands of women every year are put off of breastfeeding, and your milk is nearly always the right thing for your baby. The reasons for not breastfeeding are usually fear, fear of exposure, fear of offending people, fear of being verbally abused, fear of not having enough milk, fear of not being able to do it, and an added fear that on top of all that it may be ‘bad’ for the baby is just awful!

Formula is not a poison and may suit you better, but don’t use it ‘to get a quiet night’. My own experience and that of many breastfeeding mums is that if you relax, if you are led by your baby, you can have plenty of sleep with breastfeeding (not all at night it's true!) and will often not get sleep with a formula fed baby…because (guess what) babies are all different. Babies are different and mums are different, babies that sleep may have mums that don’t worry, or mums that fuss more to get things right! who knows!?

You are the mum, you and your baby are a perfect match, and if you can, you should listen to what you, your baby and your family needs, then everyone can relax and be happy. They are only babies such a short time, enjoy them.