Marian Blue
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Marian Blue’s award-winning writing has appeared internationally for 45 years in newspapers, magazines, and books, including her own book of poetry How Many Words for Rain, her non-fiction humor book Interpretative Guide to Western-Northwest Weather Forecasts, and a science fiction novel Quantum Consequences released in 2019. She is also co-author with JoAnn Kane of a biography from Amphora Editions, Artie Kane: Music to My Years, Life and Love Between the Notes. She has edited many publications (including books--Sea of Voices, Isle of Story and Southeast Writers Handbook–and magazines–One World Journeys online and Soundings Review as founding editor). Blue has taught writing for Community Schools in Portland, Oregon; Old Dominion University in Virginia; and Writers Digest Schools. She also taught writing, literature, and communication for 20 years at Skagit Valley College, WA before retiring in December 2015. She currently writes and edits through Blue & Ude Writers Services and Sunbreak Press from her small farm on Whidbey Island, WA.
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Sailing off the Hook
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Fiction, Short Stories
These stories cover a range of time. I considered revising some of the older stories to update language and technology, then I decided to leave them alone. The characters are within their cultural time frames, and they don’t wish to be juggled about nor to have their lives and stories changed, their histories altered.Many of the stories have been published (see acknowledgements). Some haven’t found a home until this volume for various reasons. For instance, one problem story is “Baby Botchers.” Editors, publishers, and readers tend to wince and run from the story as somehow supporting the concept of baby bartering. From my perspective, the story isn’t in support of the idea of selling babies or manipulating genes according to human genetic specifications; rather, it’s about how human attitudes and culture could be altered (not for the better) once that becomes the norm. See what you think. “By turns bittersweet and hopeful, surreal and surprising, these dazzling short stories kept me turning the pages late into the night. No matter what she writes—poetic vignettes or fantastic, speculative fiction—Marian Blue never disappoints. An absorbing collection, not to be missed!” ––Anjali Banerjee, bestselling author of nine novels for children and adults. www.anjalibanerjee.com 
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Quantum Consequences
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Science Fiction
What if you discover that you aren’t human? That your parents aren’t your parents? That you’re expected to save the world? Vala, who talks to animals, and Eric, who reads individuals’ thoughts, believe they’re just oddball humans. What else is there to be? Their beliefs and lives shift forever when a transparent figure haunts their lives. When they finally make contact with the mysterious visitor, they learn they must give up everything and try to save not one but two Earths. Challenges to Alpha Earth, 2029, include environmental devastation and political demagogues. A greater threat looms over unaware residents: collision with another Earth threatens annihilation. Beta Earth residents have begun to realize the Membrane separating the two Earths is failing. Not only has Beta Earth lost its status as a sanctuary created by gentem–genetically divergent from homo sapiens–the threat of collision now endangers both Earths. The gentem have to find a solution to save at least one of the planets and at least one of the species. Which Earth should they choose? Which species? The questions force them to try to connect with the two children they abandoned on Alpha Earth 29 years earlier. The existence of both planets depends on what the children have to say. |
Interpretative Guide to Western Northwest Weather Forecasts
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Non-Fiction Humor
The Interpretative Guide of Western-Northwest Weather Forecasts shines some humorous light on the challenges and creativity of weather forecasts within the unique Great Northwest, influenced by the Pacific Ocean, Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Puget Sound waterways, and many islands. Micro-climates include rain forests, rain shadows, convergence zones, cityscapes, and altitudes that range from sea level to 14,411' (Mount Rainier)-all of which are wet to varying degrees. Throw in the possibility/probability of sunlight and a forecaster's possible desire to be both accurate and well-liked, and the result is a vast array of conditional terms and statements that range from confusing to creative. Is the day partly sunny or partly cloudy? Are the showers scattered or isolated? What is a sunbreak? How does a water year differ from a calendar year? Why is it drier in a rain shadow? Why are these and other terms used? Author Marian Blue ironically considers the many ways forecasters can predict rain without saying that word. Terms are listed and defined. Color photographs, paintings, and graphics provide clarity and beauty to explanations. Also discussed is a bit of history, from the days when in-comers to the region were discouraged to the more welcoming culture of today. Terms and descriptions are enhanced through the wonderful photographs, paintings and sketches of the many artists. |
How Many Words For Rain
Artie Kane: Life and Love Between the Notes
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Biography
Co-authored by Marian Blue and JoAnn Kane, this book explores how Artie Kane's music has touched and inspired millions of people. In his newly released memoir, "Music To My Years: Life and Love Between the Notes," he captures the romantic as well as the unrelenting perfectionism demanded in the entertainment industry. Mr. Kane conducted scores for over 60 motion pictures, wrote music for over 250 television shows ("Wonder Woman," "Vegas," "Loveboat," "Hotel," "Dynasty," "Matlock," "Question of Guilt," "Man Against the Mob") and seven motion pictures, such as "Looking for Mr. Goodbar," "Eyes of Laura Mars," "Night of the Juggler," and "Wrong Is Right." Artie Kane, with candor and acerbic wit, recounts his quest to find love through eight marriages as he pursued his dreams as a pianist. His memoir is infused with provocative and poignant stories about the celebrities he worked with and gives an insider's look at Hollywood culture, films, and TV shows of the last five decades. "Music to My Years" captures the romantic as well as the rough-hewn and unrelentingly perfectionist sides of the world of professional entertainment. For the love of music, and in quest of love through eight marriages, Artie reimagines his dreams, and with characteristic candor and acerbic wit, proves that the American landscape thrives as a place for misfits who follow their dreams to success. "Music to My Years" is also the story of the ever-changing world of professional entertainment, told by an artist whose talents helped to define the transformative era. This memoir will delight and inform lovers of music, fans of Hollywood culture and films, and devotees of TV shows of the last five decades and resonate with anyone who has pursued a dream or struggled to find true love. |
Reverie - Wing & Fin, Fur & Scale
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Poetry/Photography
Poetry and photography explore the magic, humor, wonder, and joy we experience when we cherish Earth and all the habitats and inhabitants we find here. From clouds to Myakka soil and snakes to penguins, Blue and Ude-Crowe celebrate what's right within us and our environment while they also explore how to improve our lives and experiences within nature. Leap into fact and possibility that reside around us. Discover more about our vital connections to Earth and how to have faith in the resilience of those connections. All ages will discover words and images to cherish in this superb collection of nature poems and photography. This collection doesn't shy away from controversial issues - climate change, pollution, invasive species, and more - but positive images for change and reasons for celebration also abound. This book is also a call to action to become aware of life's vibrancy surrounding us as well as awareness of our involvement in that vibrancy. Humans are one of Earth's creatures, an animal with the ability to improve life for all species. Wildlife and the many habitats creatures both need and help to sustain spark readers curiosity. This collection isn't meant to be factual detail from experts but is meant to provide a leaping off place to explore and rejoice in all that the natural world has to offer.
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