Happy 30th Anniversary Twin Peaks! Or, My Non-English Speaking Mom's Love of Surrealism
Lately I've been thinking a lot about why my mom enjoyed classic horror and surreal films/TV despite not knowing English. Some of the things she introduced me to included The Twilight Zone--although, she was terrified of Rod Serling because she once dreamt his head was speared onto an antler--Hammer Horror films, the Roger Corman Edgar Allan Poe adaptions, Universal Monsters …
Hello!
It's day 23 of "sheltering in place" in San Francisco. With all the shit that had been going on, it was nice to escape for a bit into a world that has most definitely inspired me: Twin Peaks. Thank you @kyle_maclachlan and @madchenamick!! ☕️🥧Today's the 30th anniversary of the show and David Lynch is one of my favorite directors. Surrealism is a valid way to explore realism, and I feel that Twin Peaks did just that.
Lately I've been thinking a lot about why my mom enjoyed classic horror and surreal films/TV despite not knowing English. Some of the things she introduced me to included The Twilight Zone—although, she was terrified of Rod Serling because she once dreamt his head was speared onto an antler—Hammer Horror films, the Roger Corman Edgar Allan Poe adaptions, Universal Monsters, Dark Shadows (1991 version), and more. Since the hub and I have been on a bit of a classic movies kick, I've come to the conclusion that despite the language barrier, she was able to enjoy these films because they relied on more than dialogue. They relied heavily on body language and atmosphere, facial expressions that clearly conveyed the moment, and sets or imagery that allowed her to truly be a part of that world without needing to understand a single word. And Twin Peaks was one of those such shows. Are you a Twin Peaks or a David Lynch fan? <3
And now for a bookish excerpt:
🎣Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity by David Lynch🎣
"I love going into another world, and I love mysteries. So I don't really like to know very much ahead of time. I like the feeling of discovery. I think that's one of the great things about continuing a story: that you can go in, and go deeper and deeper and deeper. You begin to feel the mystery, and things start coming.”
Definitely the way I'm feeling about The Faceless God 💙✍️
Let's all do our best to look out for one another. Stay safe and healthy, everyone🌻
Originally posted on my Instagram @tomesandcoffee 4/8/2020. Minor edits were made to the text for the post. Videos and external links were added.
Kanoqui the Feral Prince has A Conversation with the Shaodws
“One by one the Deadbringers came, bringing with them their Dolls to play. Will your strings be cut? Not on this day! The Dolls have found someone else to maim.”
Feb + March 2020 Bay Area Conventions: Indie Uncon, FogCON, and Oddities & Curiosities Expo
Convention season for me starts this Friday! First up is the San Francisco Indie Uncon, a three day convention dedicated to helping indie authors learn more about the business-side of writing. This will be my first time attending …
Feb 21-23: 2020 San Francisco Indie Uncon
Convention season for me starts this Friday! First up is the San Francisco Indie Uncon, a three day convention dedicated to helping indie authors learn more about the business-side of writing. This will be my first time attending, but what I’m excited about from the con’s description is that it’s supposed to be about indie authors coming together to freely share their knowledge. It’s authors supporting authors instead of “come learn about our paid services.”
You can learn more about the 2020 San Francisco Indie Uncon at https://kellymcclymerbooks.com/san-francisco-indie-uncon/.
March 6-8: FogCON 10
Walnut Creek, CA
2 Panels + 1 Reading
All my books will be available at the Borderlands Bookstore table in the Dealers Room
I’m going to be on two panels at this year’s FogCON, and I will also be reading from my work alongside authors L. S. Johnson, Loren Rhoads, and Sian Jones. I still haven’t decided what to read but, with nearly 16 minutes of reading time, I’m leaning toward an excerpt from The Deadbringer.
The two panels I will be on are (1) Things I Wish I’d Known Earlier: Writing Edition, and (2) Shades of Fear: Color in Horror.
For more detailed information about the panels head on over to my events page.
Oddities & Curiosities Expo
San Mateo Event Center | San Mateo, CA
All my books will be available for purchase
Prints by The Ellderet Series cover artist, Pink Pigeon Studio, will be available for purchase
I will be joining Loren Rhoads (199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die) and L.S. Johnson (Rare Birds)
As the title suggests, this is a convention celebrating all things dark <3 This will be my first time at this convention - exciting!
Mexica New Year 2020: The Year of Chicyei (8) Tecpatl (Flint)
Mexica New Year is nearly here, and I will FINALLY be able to attend the celebrations in San Jose, CA! Unfortunately, the past two new years (Chicoace Tochtli/6 Rabbit and Chicome Acatl/7 Reed), FogCON have fallen on the same weekend as the celebrations …
3/11/2020 NOTE: Mexica New Year in San Jose has been canceled to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Read the official organizer statement.
Photo Credit | https://www.aztecadancers.com/
Mexica New Year is nearly here, and I will FINALLY be able to attend the celebrations in San Jose, CA! Unfortunately, the past two new years (Chicoace Tochtli/6 Rabbit and Chicome Acatl/7 Reed), FogCON has fallen on the same weekend as the celebrations. Calpulli Tonalehqueh’s celebrations are held in San Jose while FogCON is in Walnut Creek … not an easy trek. Also, did I mention I got sick just in time for last year’s FogCON?
Thankfully, because I live in a city with a strong Latinx culture that is proud of its indigenous roots and celebrates it to the fullest, I was able to attend Mexica New Year 7-Acatl in San Francisco. I am talking about the Mission, of course. Sadly, because of ongoing gentrification, communities of color and local shops are being pushed out of the neighborhood and city.
“Latin culture is part of San Francisco culture,” says [Silvia Ferrusquia]. “When we go, the Mission is not the Mission anymore. If everyone goes, it’s just one more city in the whole U.S. — and it’s boring. Who cares about San Francisco if it’s not San Francisco?”
Photo Credit | https://bit.ly/2wqs5KZ
Not only did I attend, but I was fortunate enough to help set up the altar alongside so many others. I learned a lot that day. These spaces and celebrations exist in San Francisco because of the Latinx community. Without them, there would not be a 13th Annual Mexica New Year in San Francisco.
I’m looking forward to celebrating 8-Tecpatl in San Francisco on March 11 and in San Jose on March 14-15 💙
The Assistant Travels to Nepantla (the In-Between Space)
“We are the spirits of pandemonium, thrust into this world by the actions of one man. Before this journey ends, we will claw out our eyes …
“We are the spirits of pandemonium, thrust into this world by the actions of one man. Before this journey ends, we will claw out our eyes and wander crazed, in pursuit of an illusion, so the Land may have its false, fragile peace of mind returned.”
Kanoqui the Feral Price Goes On An Adventure
“The day had dawned gray, as it had for the past week, thick with storm clouds barring the sun.”
“The day had dawned gray, as it had for the past week, thick with storm clouds barring the sun.”
ICYMI: RedStarReviews is hosting a group read of The Deadbringer this February on Bookstagram (Instagram) !! If you’d like to join please head on over to his Instagram page so he can add you to the Group Read DM. I will taking part in a Q+A on Feb 29, 2020.
Happy Holidays from the world of the Ellderet!
Sending love, whiskey, and good wishes to everyone during this holiday season - and, of course, cat hair. Cat hair for everyone, lol! To everyone driving: Safe travels. I confess that I’m not a huge fan of X-mas carols . . .
Sending love, whiskey, and good wishes to everyone during this holiday season - and, of course, cat hair. Cat hair for everyone, lol! To everyone driving: Safe travels.
I confess that I’m not a huge fan of X-mas carols, but the Hub might have found a holiday tune I can finally get behind, bwahahaha 😈 I can most certainly see E’sinea and Amonos singing this tune. I have a feeling it speaks to their poetic souls.
🥀💙
Halloween in Christmas: Podcasting and Quilting Pumpkins with HorrorAddicts.net
Lo! Christmas is nigh. And thus I bring a bit of October back with a podcast glorifying all things dark, including a quilted pumpkin project. To everyone driving for the holiday season, stay safe! Back in October, I was invited by HorrorAddicts.net to be a guest on their podcast’s season finale.
Lo! Christmas is nigh. And thus I bring a bit of October back with a podcast glorifying all things dark, including a quilted pumpkin project. To everyone driving for the holiday season, stay safe!
Back in October, I was invited by HorrorAddicts.net to be a guest on their podcast’s season finale. I was super excited to be a part of the project and thankful that I could help out. This marked the fourth time I’ve appeared on a podcast or broadcast, but the first time I’ve been able to see the podcaster at work. Previously, I was a guest on Unreliable Narrators via Skype, did a live reading of “Leaving the #9” at SF in SF, appeared on FCC Free Radio (FFR) alongside Tales for the Camp Fire: A Charity Anthology editor Loren Rhoads.
But of course, anxiety decided to rear its ugly head.
Participating in the HorrorAddicts.net podcast episode as it was being recorded was a very insightful experience. I got to see the podcaster (Emerian Rich) at work directing, narrating, planning, troubleshooting, stabbing repeatedly at a craft pumpkin, sound checking, checking on her crew between takes, etc. The number of moving pieces was way more than I had ever expected, and I only saw one part of a very large beast … mind blown. Mad respect to all the podcasters out there!
The number one thing that stood out to me about podcasting is how forgiving it seemed to be. Stumble on a word? Say something you wish had not left your pie hole? No problem: re-record and edit. There had been no such accommodation on the live radio show, which was also a great experience, but different (I now have the cutest lucha libre rubber duck courtesy of FFR’s host)!
The other difference with podcasting was being able to see the questions ahead of time, although even then my mind blanked. While talking about favorite cursed places with Emerian and crew, I forgot to mention one of my favorite YouTubers who explores abandoned places: Exploring with Josh. It’s like knowing what books you want and forgetting them all the moment you step into the bookstore!
During the podcast, we talked horror movies, gothic music, and upcoming dark literature releases, and that was just in the segment I was part of! Afterward, we somehow wandered into the topic of hats, and I learned something new about my friend: she makes tea hats. The Craft(ing) is strong with Emerian. Not so much with me. Need a button or patch sown? I gotcha. Need that hemline raised? That’s what safety pins and staples are for 🙃.
To date, my quilted pumpkin remains unfinished, its iridescent green bottom naked for all to see. Mind you, it’s not for lack of supplies, as my friend was kind enough to send me away with the necessary accoutrements. One day, Little Pumpkin, I will finishing driving pins into your artificial flesh. One day.
Safe travels and best wishes to everyone, during this holiday season and always.
Until next we meet,
EMM
Check out podcast Episode 176 and how to make your own quilted pumpkin.
Sweet Corn Atole Recipe: The Mexican Beverage that Appears in ‘To Nurture & Kill’
Hello!! I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. It’s a cold and rainy day in San Francisco as I write this post. The Assistant is sitting in his chair beside me, buried under a blanket because the room that is my office doesn’t really heat up …
“Kira took a huge gulp of his own drink, which was made of finely ground corn, milk, and sugar. ‘My dwink is the best.’”
Hello!! I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. It’s a cold and rainy day in San Francisco as I write this post. The Assistant is sitting in his chair beside me, buried under a blanket because the room that is my office doesn’t really heat up. He could easily go to another, much warmer room, yet he remains here with me in solidarity.
One blanket to rule them all.
The holidays are bittersweet for me, as I’m reminded of my mom and the countless hours we would spend making food. In that tradition, the husband and I made chicken mole chatino. And yes, it’s true what they say about Mexican mole: it does tend to have a lot of ingredients and steps, but the end result is always worth it. The other recipe that I made was the sweet corn drink that little Kira enjoys during the Corn Festival in To Nurture & Kill.
When thinking of the dishes and drinks to include in To Nurture & Kill, I naturally tapped into my own culture’s cuisine. Corn, or maize, is the heart of Mexican cooking, and so in the world of the Ellderet it is the staple crop of the southern half of Moenda, especially Florinia.
“They were natural mazes, mazes forged of rows of plowed dirt and leafy walls carrying the divine kernals that would nourish the people through the winter.”
The sweet corn drink enjoyed by Kira during the Corn Festival is a Mexican drink known as atole. The foundation of most atoles is usually masa harina, milk, sugar, and spices like Mexican cinnamon and vanilla. Some variations add fruit, fresh corn, or chocolate and piloncillo (champurrado) to the atole.
My version uses masa harina and fresh corn, since the beverage enjoyed by Kira in the book takes place during the Corn Festival that is held every year in Florinia at the beginning of the harvest season. Corn aplenty, y’all. You can also expect to see atole make an appearance again in the forthcoming The Faceless God. And this time, not only will you know what the characters are drinking, but you’ll also know how this warm and luscious drink is made. Plus, for a behind-the-scenes look at how the beverage was made, check out my IG Story Highlights!
Let me know if you’ve had this drink before and if you decide to make it yourself tag me on Instagram @tomesandcoffee :) I’m a bit slow with responses, but if you have a cooking question, please feel free to ask and I will answer it asap.
Now, off with you to the corn fields, dear, and pray that you reach their end without being bitten by a tezca snake. I hear that it’s a terrible way to die.
Ingredients:
6 fresh corn ears
1 cup water
1/4 - 1/2 sugar, or to taste
4 cups milk
1-2 tablespoons of masa harina
*1 tablespoon corn scratch (if you can’t find masa harina)
To a medium pot, add the water + cinnamon sticks. On low to medium-low heat, slowly infuse the water until it’s tinted a deep red. Add sugar to taste and dissolve. Remove the pot from heat, add 2 cups of milk, and set aside. Move on to preparing the corn.
Remove the husk and silk from your 6 ears of corn. Discard those, then rinse the ears, dry them, and carefully remove the kernels without offering up a finger to the Faceless God.
Add half of the kernels + 1 cup of milk to a blender. Blend to a smooth consistency. Add the remaining kernels + 1 cup of milk and repeat.
Place a fine mesh sieve over a bowl or pot. Pour the blended corn + milk mixture into the sieve, gently helping to push the liquid through with the back of a wooden spoon. Make sure to sieve and squeeze out as much of the liquid as possible. This will take a good 10 minutes.
Over medium-low heat, cook your mixture for 30-40 mins. Do not boil. At this stage, you will have to repeatedly stir to prevent the milk from burning/sticking to the bottom of the pot. Bouts of existentialism might occur as you stir stir stir away your life. Fun times for all!!!
After 15-20 minutes of cooking, proceed to the next step while continuing to cook. Dissolve 1-2 tablespoons of masa harina in a small bowl with a bit of the corn-milk mixture from the cooking pot. It will remain kinda clumpy, but that’s okay. Now, sieve the mixture into the pot while using the back of your wooden spoon to help push the masa harina clumps through the sieve. If you still have clumps hanging around in your sieve, ladle some of the milk-corn mixture and repeat the above step until most of it is gone. Discard whatever clumps/grains remain. This step is super important! You want to make sure your atole is smooth. You don’t want to piss off the Faceless God with grainy atole. Unless, of course, you want to …
*ALTERNATIVELY: Dissolve corn starch in a bit of cold water and then slowly pour and stir the mixture into the pot. If you can’t find or don’t like the taste of the nixtamalization process (calcium hydroxide), then use corn starch. Masa harina is what was used in To Nurture & Kill, and I personally love the taste.
Continue cooking and stirring over low heat until the atole thickens to the consistency of hot chocolate. Remove from heat when done.
Serve warm in a cup, grab a book and blanket, and settle in for comforting goodness.
Note: If your atole becomes too thick for your taste, warm up some milk and slowly stir it into the pot (or cup) until it becomes the consistency you want. This will dilute the corn flavor, but I feel that enjoying the texture of your drink is important.
Cheers!
EMM
Kanoqui the Feral Prince and E'sinea Listen for the Swiftest Bird Alive
“I should like one day to catch Gossip and wring its neck.”
“I should like one day to catch Gossip and wring its neck.”
-E’sinea (The Deadbringer)