Welcome, fellow Helluo Librorum! *
Let’s frolic!
* A Latin phrase of dubious parentage which allegedly means “A glutton of books”)
Okay, what’s this page for?
This lil fledgeling site is, first and foremost, a place for potential clients—audiobook narrators and producers, and independent authors—to find out what I can do for them, along with a place for current clients to see if there’s anything else they’d like to hire me for.
But I’m me, so this site will never JUST be that… I contain multitudes (many of whom are Basic Bitches (c) and you can take my PSL from my cold dead hands) and so this site will too. I’ve designed it to be like a wonderful used book store, with hidden hallways leading to more and more and more books. This page is going to be a continuation of that, with bits and bobs appearing from time to time.
Art on my site is a mix of stock photography—properly credited tyvm—my own photography, and pictures of Book Art like you see to the left. Many pictures all over the site are linked to Book Art and other Bookish Things that I think are cool and hope more people will buy, and occasionally articles I think might be helpful. I’ve also linked some of my favorite libraries and used book stores. Because why not.
At some point I hope to start a book blog too, for funsies, but as of Nov 2024 that still lies at some point in the future.
I hope you enjoy!
“Keeper of the Plains,” by Blackbear Bosin
Photo by Paul Adams Photography
Happy Indian Heritage month!
I grew up in Wichita, KS, where arguably the most iconic structure in our city is the statue pictured here: “Keeper of the Plains,” by Indian artist Blackbear Bosin.
A word first on language. For an EXCELLENT note on What to Call Natives/Indigenous People/First People/Indians, go to this fantastic video by (deeply entertaining) obsessive researcher CGP Grey. For a tl;dr: Every single human being who is descended in any part from the people who were on this continent before Europeans has their own opinion—and a full right to that opinion, since it describes THEM—about which word/phrase they prefer. Those who live in my hometown call themselves Indians, and that’s the word I’m going to use out of respect to them. (Fun fact, my senior prom was at the Indian Center and it was AWESOME.)
Because I grew up on the prairie (well, in a small city, but my region and soul are inarguably prairie), where Indians from all over the East Coast were shoved when my ancestors wanted their land, I grew up more aware and educated about their history AND PRESENT (Indians are not gone, yo), and I want to pass on some of that education wherever I can.
Start here: This is an interactive map where you can input your address and find out which tribes used to live on the land you call home. I highly encourage you, in honor of this month—and maybe as an addition to your Thanksgiving traditions—to check out any websites available for the tribes whose land you live on, and see how you can support one in some way. Maybe they have an online store, maybe they have a giving page to repair something on their land. Maybe their reservation is still in your local area and you can visit their museum or visitor’s center.
Another idea? Check out a Pow Wow—all of them listed on this calendar are open to the public! It’s a fantastic time, and an excellent opportunity to learn while eating delicious food and seeing all-new things! Just please be respectful.
A Postscript: Notes on site design
(because these elements make me happy)
Warning: wild run-on sentences ahead, please wear appropriate PPE if needed
First, the quilt square that is officially my logo (in the header) is a miniature of the first ever full-size quilt I designed, made, and finished, for my best friend of so many years that we’re just sisters now. I may show off additional quilts here on the fun page in the future, who knows.
Second, I have many “favorite colors” but there was never a question what color would dominate my website. In the fantasy series Wheel of Time, the main magic users choose to join one of seven (eight, really, but only if you’re Evil ;) “Ajahs” upon ascendance to full You-Know-What-You’re-Doing-Now-And-If-You-Blow-Yourself-Up-It’s-Your-Own-Damn-Fault status. These Ajahs are built around a core Thing that their members do, the way they see the world. There’s Logic, Diplomacy, Battle Readiness, etc.
The Ajah which is formed to investigate, document, and spread knowledge is the Brown Ajah. They run the Library, they do the studying, and they are One Hundred Percent my Ajah. And so? My site is Brown. It is the color of chocolate, and leather, and wood, and earth, and coffee—all of which are wonderful things—but above all, it is my Home. Verin and Sulamein, this one’s for you!