Blog - Laurel Anne Hill

November 8, 2010 By Laurel Anne Hill

Reflections on Vampires, Laughter and Loss (by Laurel Anne Hill)

LowRes_5703400400200 — Hide in a book when you can't face the world

Saturday my relatives scattered the ashes of a family member who shouldn’t have died. Twenty-seven was far too young. But then, Death respects neither youth nor age.

I awakened Sunday morning, needing to laugh, to feel alive. Our daughter headed back to Los Angeles before noon. I was glad my husband and I had tickets to the Lamplighters’ annual gala and fundraiser in San Francisco. The Lamplighters, established in 1952, had titled their special musical comedy: “You can’t bite city hall, or, some of my best friends are vampires.”

“You can’t bite city hall,” was a spoof on “Twilight,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” San Francisco city politics, political correctness, and urban fantasy in general. Characters included:

Buffy, the Vampire Lawyer,
Heidi, the Valley Ghoul,
Mary Anne Rice,
Mayor Navin Gruesome,
A Zombie Rapper,
and many more.

Two mummies joined the “LGBZ” Chorus (lycanthropes, ghouls, bloodsuckers and zombies), to sing hilarious new lyrics to familiar tunes–music taken from “Ruddygore,” “The Mikado,” “The Pirates of Penzance,” and other Gilbert and Sullivan light operas.

I laughed hard. It felt so good to laugh. Dealing with the undead was far easier than dealing with the real dead.

After the performance, I stepped from the theater into the damp San Francisco air. The streets were dark and still wet from the early afternoon rain. David and I made our way to the BART station to catch our train home.

Inside the BART station, a guitar accompanied a beautiful voice. A thin young man, around six feet tall, played and sang a plaintive song. Our gazes met. We smiled. I passed by, then returned and dropped some money into his guitar case.

The Lamplighters had lightened my heart. This young man reminded me of why my heart had felt so heavy in the first place.

I prayed his relatives would enjoy his company for the next sixty years–or more.

Warm wishes to you and those you love,

Laurel Anne Hill
Author of “Heroes Arise”
http://www.laurelannehill.com

November 7, 2010 By Laurel Anne Hill

This Bird Now Twitters and Tweets (by Laurel Anne Hill)

I can’t believe I’ve opened a Twitter account, after all my inner resolve to ignore the existence of tweets. Alas.

My nickname from childhood is “The Bird.” Well, this Birdie finally twitters and tweets.

To follow me, go to http://twitter.com/#!/LaurelAnneHill.

Warm wishes,
Laurel Anne Hill
(Author of the novel, “Heroes Arise,” and “Thar Be Magic” in the “Rum and Runestones” anthology.)
http://www.laurelannehill.com

November 7, 2010 By Laurel Anne Hill

“When Terror Takes Hold” (by Laurel Anne Hill) on Horror Addicts Website

Earlier this week, the Horror Addicts website posted my essay: “When Terror Takes Hold.” To read about scary events in my life, go to http://horroraddicts.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/when-terror-takes-hold-laurel-anne-hill/.

Warm wishes and chills down the spine,

Laurel Anne Hill
(Author of novel “Heroes Arise,” and “Thar Be Magic” in the “Rum and Runestones” anthology)
http://www.laurelannehill.com
http://twitter.com/#!/LaurelAnneHill

November 7, 2010 By Laurel Anne Hill

Laurel Anne Hill’s Schedule at OryCon 32 (Nov. 12-14, 2010)

Here’s my schedule for OryCon, November 12-14:

Friday:
Writing workshop mentor (closed meeting) 4-5 pm
Can you read my mind? Ethics and use of psychic abilities (panel), Madison, 5-6 pm
Writing quality work for young adults (panel), Ross/Morr 8-9 pm (Sharyn November will be on this one, too.)

Saturday:
Laurel Anne Hill reading her work, Lincoln, 11:30 am – 12 noon
Reading for children, Hawthorne, noon – 1 pm
Promotion in the information age (panel), Jefferson/Adams, 7 – 8 pm

Sunday
Gore vs. Terror (panel), Hamilton, 11 am – noon (Hey, this is NOT a panel about “An Inconvenient Truth.”)

I hope to see some of you there. I’ll Twitter my comments. Follow me on http://twitter.com/#!/LaurelAnneHill.

Warm wishes,

Laurel Anne Hill
(Author of “Heroes Arise” and “Thar Be Magic” in the “Rum and Runestones Anthology)

October 25, 2010 By Laurel Anne Hill

Wicked Women Writers Challenge and Six Deadly Sins

69468_461041637600_506452600_5952172_8083029_n — Select your favorite sin

Get ready for those Halloween time-of-the-year tingles down the old spinal column. The Wicked Women Writers Challenge podcast (Six Stories of Sin) goes live on October 28. Go to http://www.horroraddicts.net, episode #49.

My contribution is entitled “Beyond Her Reach: A Tale of Sloth.” Other contributors are Hollie Snider, Michele Roger, Kimberly Steele, Rhonda R. Carpenter and R.E. Chambliss. Listen to all six podcasts and vote for your favorite by November 16.

One lucky voter will receive a Horror Addicts prize package.

Warm, chilling wishes,

Laurel Anne Hill, Author of “Heroes Arise”
(http://www.laurelannehill.com)

October 5, 2010 By Laurel Anne Hill

Hail Polytechnic! I’m loyal to you. (by Laurel Anne Hill)

Picture 016LoRes — Alicia, Frank & Laurel, Class of 1961

How many high school alumni associations can you name that hold annual gatherings for former students regardless of the year of graduation? Of those gatherings, how many draw hundreds of alumni annually for a school that became extinct over 35 years ago?

San Francisco’s Polytechnic High tops my list of one. The Polytechnic Athletic Association organizes an annual luncheon and has done so for many years. In recent years, the event has been held at The Patio Español Hall in San Francisco. The gathering was on September 18, this time around, with the oldest attendee (age 100) from the Class of 1929. Wow!

I attended Poly from early 1957 to early 1961. Poly teachers provided the encouragement and support I needed to discover my own road to success. I still remain in touch with a number of my former classmates. An ache forms in the pit of my stomach when I worry about friends who don’t write, email or return for gatherings. Biological attrition may be a fact of life, but I don’t have to like it.

By the way, the 50^th reunion of the Class of 1961 has been scheduled for September 17, 2011. I hope my former classmates are marking their calendars. If you are unable to attend, at least send a message.

Regarding a very brief history of Poly:

According to entries in the 1915 and 1947 school journals, (http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/schools/poly.htm) , San Francisco’s Polytechnic High started as the “Commercial School” downtown. Academic and technical subjects were added to the curriculum by approximately 1885 and the school name changed to Polytechnic. [The Perennial Parrot Newsletter (http://www.perennialparrot.com/links/links.htm) lists 1884 as Poly’s official first year.]

Poly moved to Frederick Street in 1908, using shacks that had housed the homeless after the 1906 earthquake and fire. The new structure was built in 1914 and closed in 1972. San Francisco demolished Polytechnic High in the mid-1980’s and souvenir bricks were distributed at the Poly High Farewell Party on November 7, 1987. One of those bricks has a home in my living room bookcase. Every once in a while I give the brick a hug. Hail Polytechnic! I’m loyal to you.

Laurel Anne Hill (Author of “Heroes Arise,” http://www.laurelannehill.com)

Picture 009LoRes — Donna, Priscilla, Bill & Joan

Picture 012LoRes — Gary, Alicia, Laurel & David

Picture 011LoRes — Three Cheers for Dave!

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