Strange Brew edited by P.N. Elrod

Strange Brew is a collection of short stories edited by P.N. Elrod.  I picked up this anthology based upon one story written by Patricia Briggs called "Seeing Eye".  Briggs is one of my favorite fantasy authors and I was excited to read her contribution.  In addition to "Seeing Eye" there are stories by Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine, Karen Chance, P.N. Elrod, Charlaine Harris, Faith Hunter, Caitlin Kittredge and Jenna Maclaine.  With the exception of Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs and Rachel Caine, the authors were new to me so this collection of stories gave me the opportunity to sample their writing in 30 to 40 pages.  Usually an anthology has a theme that connects all of the stories and the theme of Strange Brew is witches and dark magic.
 
Obviously I was excited to read Briggs' story "Seeing Eye" about werewolf Tom Franklin and witch Wendy Moira Kelley.  Tom and Moira were introduced in "Hunting Ground," the second book in Briggs' Alpha and Omega series. Tom is a police officer and also the second in command of the Seattle werewolf pack.  He has to work with Moira, who just happens to be blind, to solve a crime.  Naturally you would think a blind witch would need extra help (and of course that is just what Tom thinks), but as it turns out Moira is no pushover.  This short story had everything I love about Briggs' writing.  Her female characters may get into trouble but they can usually find a way to save themselves.  She also infuses just enough humor into her writing to cut some of the tension without making a mockery of dangerous situations.  My love for Patricia Briggs began with "Moon Called" the first book in the Mercy Thompson series and has extended to the Alpha and Omega series.

Hello Faith Hunter! Where have you been hiding?  "Signatures of the Dead" by Hunter introduced me to Jane Yellowrock.  A witch and her family are threatened by a group of dangerous (more dangerous than usual that is) vampires.  Enter Jane Yellowrock, vampire hunter, full blooded Cherokee, and skinwalker. Jane isn't a were-anything, she is a woman who becomes another animal (she prefers some type of big cat). Jane has no family to speak of and the threatened witch, Molly, happens to be Jane's best friend.  Although Jane was a supporting character she was by far the most compelling.  After reading this short story I was happy to learn that Jane Yellowrock is the star of her own series starting with "Skinwalker". Fans of Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series and Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series should check out Faith Hunter.

I've read several of Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampire books, a series written for young adults.  "Death Warmed Over" gave me a chance to sample how she writes for adults.  This is an interesting story about Holly,  a resurrection witch, who takes on a job for the police department.  She is asked to resurrect a man named Andrew because the police need him to solve a crime.  The twist in this story is that this isn't the first time Holly has had to resurrect Andrew and this time the stakes are much higher than before. 

Clearly I enjoy fantasy with strong female characters and a mix of supernatural creatures (werewolves, vampires, witches etc.) and just because the other stories didn't resonate with me doesn't mean they are not worth reading. With that said, I am going to shamelessly plug Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series starting with "Bitten". I discovered Kelley Armstrong in another anthology titled "My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon" also edited by P.N Elrod. If you are looking for someone new to read or a new "favorite author" I highly recommend picking up an anthology.  Think of it as sampling authors like you would ice cream flavors. 

~Amy, Adult Services

Gluten-Free Living is October's Magazine of the Month

Our magazine of the month for October is Gluten-Free Living, which provides support and recipes for those diagnosed with Celiac Disease or other related disorders and allergies. In addition to Carnegie-Stout's subscription, you can check out their website: www.glutenfreeliving.com

Not sure what glutens or Celiac Disease are? Have you stood in the grocery store trying to understand what it means for a pizza to be gluten free? Looking for a specific gluten-free recipe, and you couldn't find it in Gluten-Free Living? Carnegie-Stout has a collection of books on Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free diets for you to check out!

Just wondering what a gluten is? Wikipedia provides the answer: "Gluten (from Latin gluten, "glue") is a protein composite found in foods processed from wheat and related grain species, including barley and rye. It gives elasticity to dough, helping it to rise and to keep its shape, and often gives the final product a chewy texture. Gluten may also be found in some cosmetics or dermatological preparations."

 Looking for an excuse to try out a gluten-free recipe? October 12th is World Egg Day! Like gluten, eggs can provide a binding element in a recipe, which makes them a staple in many gluten-free recipes. The American Egg Board and the International Egg Commission have even more ideas for how you can celebrate World Egg Day.

Taking a Trip

Sometimes, we all need a vacation, but planning that vacation can turn into a part-time job full of stresses and headaches. Where to go. When to go. What to pack. How to budget. Where to stay. And all those little details from Airport security to Vaccinations.

The best travel tip I can give you is to start planning early. As much fun as it can be to take an impromptu road trip, but knowing which exit to take to see the world's largest wooden nickel can add so much. Likewise it can be useful to know if a big convention is happening before you find out there's only one hotel room available and it's three times the usual price!

Luckily Carnegie-Stout has the resources to help you get started planning your next trip today. We have everything from books to DVDs to recommended websites - we'll even help you pick the perfect audiobook or walk you through loading up your eReader from our eBook collection.

The first step for planning your trip depends on you. Is there a specific time you are able to travel? You'll want to see what to see what the weather is like at your potential destinations. A beach vacation in rainy season is no good, but neither is the peak of tourist season! If you'll be visiting another country, check to see if your visit overlaps school vacations or holidays like our Thanksgiving when shops are closed and everyone is visiting home.

A good guidebook will give you include advice on these topics, as well as tips for getting around, must-see destinations, recommended hotels and restaurants, and more. You can check our catalog for the latest guidebooks by searching in the subject field for: DESTINATION -- Guidebooks. I recommend using the Subject Keyword option.

Click image to see our Hawaii guidebooks.

While a good guidebook can get you started, some topics require up to the minute information. If you'll be visiting a foreign country there are three websites you should visit: the U.S. State Department, the CDC, and the official tourism page for your destination.

The State Department has instructions on applying for a renewing your passport (you can also visit most local post offices to pick up this information), information on tourist visas, and information for travel safety and warnings for Americans abroad.

Likewise, the CDC will tell you which immunizations you'll need, up to date information for local outbreaks or other concerns, how to locate medical help overseas, as well as general travel tips. You'll also want to check that any medication you'll be bringing with you is legal to have in your possession, and likewise some drugs you can buy over the counter in other countries require a prescription in the U.S.

Other online resources you might find useful:

• Practice your language skills with Mango Languages
• Check for airfare deals with a comparative site like Kayak or FareCompare
• SeatGuru has information for meals, in flight entertainment, and where the good seats are
• World Airport Guides has maps and other information for airports around the world
• The TSA will tell you what you can and cannot pack in your checked bags and carry-ons
• The TSA also maintains a blog, which has pictures of all the strange and dangerous things people try to smuggle onto aircraft.

And of course, Carnegie-Stout has books with general travel tips, as well as guidebooks for cruises, traveling with infants and toddlers, and more.

The Smart Traveler's Passport (910.202 TOR)
Budget Travel magazine, one of several travel magazines available at Carnegie-Stout, compiled this book of reader submitted travel tips. While some of the tips are a little out of date (how many people travel with CD player in 2012?), there's still good information. A tip on page 178 suggests bringing bilingual takeout menus when you travel to a country where you don't read the language and need to know if you're ordering chicken or ox heart.

1001 Smart Travel Tips (910.2 ONE)
Fodor's, publisher of travel guides, has a more recent book of travel tips from their writers, editors, and readers. The organization in this book is very clear, and includes sections on packing, flying with animals, trains, and brief information for many popular destinations.

The Packing Book (910.2 GIL)
In addition to some general travel information, this book tells you the best ways to pack your suitcase or carry-on for short trips or long, business or casual. One highlight are the packing lists that you could copy and then check off as you prepare.

Smart Packing for Today's Traveler (910.2 FOS)
Another detailed packing guide with great illustrations for how to select your travel wardrobe for your destination. The author's advice on page 18 is especially useful: "If you can't lift and maneuver your gear by yourself after you've packed it all, edit the contents down to the amount you can mange alone."

If you don't see the information you need for your next trip in this post stop by the library, give us a call ((563) 589-4225), leave us a comment, or check out the other travel posts we have on the blog. Safe journeys, and drop us a post card if you think of it!