Re-introducing myself

[Finnien]

Well, I think I said hello once, five or six years ago. Back then, I was living somewhere mildly unpleasant (Fresno, CA), working in real estate, and reading too much. Then I disappeared because life is life and I forget about fun, interesting places and things and people and... you get the idea. However, this forum has easily the lowest person-to-troll ratio of any public forum I've found, and is the only place I know of where I can consistently get recommendations on books that I've not only never heard of, but I desperately need to hear about. It was here, five or six years ago, that I was introduced to John M. Ford, R. A. Lafferty, Michael Swanwick, and H. Beam Piper. I have a feeling there's plenty more to discover.

So, I'm re-introducing myself! Hello! I'm still reading too much, although some of it is now school work - I've abandoned the real estate thing, which really didn't suit me in the first place but sure did pay well, so that I could go back to school. I'm currently living in Anaheim Hills, CA, going to Chapman University in Orange, and I'm majoring in Creative Writing (taking a class from James Blaylock, whose work I liked before I realized he taught there) and minoring in film studies, mainly so I can stay in school an extra semester or two.

My primary interest is video games - anything with a role-playing slant. I play MMO's, action-rpg's, old classics, console games - pretty much a little of everything. I enjoy discussing the mechanics as much as I enjoy playing the actual games, and half my friends work for various local game companies. One day I might end up there as well.

My very-slightly-secondary interest is reading. 90% of what I read is sci-fi and fantasy, but I'll read just about anything if it's recommended by someone I trust, and I do enjoy some classics, especially snarky satirical books like Vanity Fair or Catch-22.

I also write a little, and really, REALLY want to write more. I tend to lack discipline - I'll get a great idea, scrawl rabidly for a few hours/days, and then shove the idea in a drawer and never see it again. I'm working on that. School is helping...to a point.

Other interests that aren't really relevant but make me sound like less of a shut-in hermit are traveling (a natural interest of anyone who grew up somewhere like Fresno), poolside margaritas/wine-tasting, and barbecuing (or cooking of just about any sort).

So, hello again. Good to be back. Summer break starts in a few weeks. I'll be looking for recommendations soon.

[Boneman]

Is there a rainbow in there somewhere? Welcome back - pretty sure I wasn't a member when you were, way back, so I can't re-member. I like the idea of maragarita wine tasting, how do you mix those? I'm sure you'll be writing again - just open the drawer and see which one falls out first. That one deserves your attention...

Did you read Patrick Rothfuss yet?

[Finnien]

I'm writing right now for school - I just finished a 30-odd page sci-fi short story, and short stories aren't my natural leaning, but I promised my teacher I'd try to challenge myself. I think the story shows promise... once I trim it by about 20% and work on the ending a bit. As for margarita wine tastings... well, I've had days where I've been wine tasting on the central coast, and ended up at the hotel bar drinking margaritas afterwards... and the hangover the next day certainly immortalizes the experience in memory.

I've read The Name of the Wind, which I absolutely loved, but I'm waiting for the third book to be out before I read the second, so that I don't get stuck (again) with the incomplete longing I suffered after the first book. I'm finally USED to waiting for his next book, so I'm going to wait until it's done and not torment myself with intermediate steps.