I discovered that the world is full of cool at a really young age. My mom had several sets of encyclopedias from different decades. They were rich in coolness. It breaks my heart that they disappeared, but I can understand her not wanting to tote them around as she moved from one place to another.
I can remember sitting on the landing at the top of the stairs when I was elementary-school age. One wall had a bookshelf built in, and I would perch there beside it and browse through those encyclopedias and the scores of other books living there.
At age eight or so, I’d found heaven.
And now our ability to learn wonderful (and sometimes weird) things is limitless: we have the internet! I sometimes stand in severe danger of walking in and never coming out again. Except for food. I like food.
The World is Full of Cool
Artist Felix Semper Uses Paper and Glue to Make Moving Sculptures
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqnMoqZk_pM
People have the potential to be so amazing, and clever and wonderful!
10+ Badass Trees That Refuse To Die No Matter What
https://www.boredpanda.com/trees-refuse-to-give-up/
Trees survive in the most astonishing places, and in the most astonishing ways. How cool is that?
The Battle Against Book Piracy Continues (petition)
https://www.change.org/p/google-inc-ask-google-to
“Bestselling American fantasy novelist Maggie Stiefvater is leading a chorus of writers warning readers that if they download pirated ebooks, then authors will not be able to continue writing because they will be unable to make a living.” (‘We’re told to be grateful we even have readers’: pirated ebooks threaten the future of book series’, from TheGuardian.com)
Don’t think pirating is a big deal? Maggie puts it in perspective in her post HERE.
Spicy Shrimp Bowls With Parmesan Quinoa and Garlic Kale
http://www.thegarlicdiaries.com/spicy-shrimp-bowls-with-parmesan-quinoa-and-garlic-kale/
I’m not a huge fan of “spicy,” but I do like a little. Hubby and I found the spicing perfect when we reduced it by half, and seriously wished there were leftovers.
BOOKS GO SOCIAL Giveaway (runs 22 Nov – 12 Dec)
https://www.instafreebie.com/gg/yH4Ant7ZJsuQejivprjY
Looking for a new fantasy or science fiction novel to read? They have a wide selection for you—just in time for holidays! Bookmark this and come back to it on Wednesday, November 22!
Bonus Coolness
Writing buddy and fellow Drift of Quills author P.S. Broaddus has a new book out! 
Nightrage Rising is a street-level fantasy-adventure novel with a healthy splash of Nancy Drewish mystery—mixed with a dollop of wit and snark. It is a fast paced, first-person, present-tense story of a girl discovering self-worth, courage and friendship in the face of an unstable kingdom, magical inequality, and a dangerous, seductive cult. If you grab a copy off the shelf and flip to the back cover, here’s what you’ll find:
“Essie Brightsday is blind. But that hasn’t kept her from curses, dragons, or rock basilisks in the past. Now her family lives in the bustling capital of Plen, a far cry from their small farm tucked against the Valley of Fire. Little does she know that a secretive cult is growing in the city, guaranteeing this adventure will be just as eventful as the last…”
While Nightrage Rising is the sequel to A Hero’s Curse, it was written to stand on it’s own. If you missed the first book, don’t worry, you can still jump in, right now. (You can find out more about a A Hero’s Curse HERE).
Go check out all the really cool things he’s done with and for the book here on Kickstarter. (There’s a MAP. Maps are really high on the Cool Scale, especially if they’re as neat as this one!)
Want to see more good stuff? I’ve got you covered: All Kinds of Good Things
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Which of these do you think is most awesome?
What fantastic things have you seen in the ethersphere lately?
Share in the comments!