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I have struggled to write this post for weeks, rather months, okay, since January 20, 2017.  Like many sane people, I have difficulty processing much of what has happened in the past 12 months, kind of like processing being hit by a mack truck and dragged for a mile caught in its undercarriage as an afterthought.

The urge to wax poetic about my struggles with depression and suicidal ideation during the Year of Bizarro ...continue reading "2017 – The Good, The Bad, The WTF?"

2016 has been a shit year for far too many of us.  We all need good things.  Here are a few of mine.

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I have more than one Nebula Award eligible story for 2016.  They are, in no particular order: ...continue reading "Nebula Nominations, Solstice, and Other Good Things"

Brain weasels are jerks.  Their nests clutter your thoughts, and the weasels gnaw on your sense of self worth, your confidence, your belief that you are deserving of common courtesy and respect.  Once a nest of brain weasels gets going, they can keep you up all night with their incessant chittering and it seems like they'll  never stop.

Case in point:

Early in our marriage, hubby and I applied for the Christmas Angel program through Kitsap Community Resources so our boys could have presents under our tiny Christmas shrub (I still have the picture around here somewhere).  For two years, complete strangers gave of themselves to deliver clothes and toys so our children would have something to open on Christmas day.  Hubby and I promised ourselves we would someday pay the generosity forward to another family.

Years passed, our ...continue reading "The Giving Tree (or Resistance Is Never Futile)"

A week late and a dollar short, but life has finally settled enough to allow a few moments to talk about GeekGirlCon. (YMMV)

GeekGirlCon first opened its doors in October of 2011, a celebration of the female geek, of all geeks, really.  It started small, and has grown steadily since, moving from the Seattle Center and EMP to the Washington State Conference Center.  This year they expanded the dealers' room, allowing for nearly twice as many dealers and exhibitors.  There were multiple panel tracks, and a kickin' DIY science area (honest, you have to see the science area).  For four of the last six  ...continue reading "Open Minds & Open Hearts: GeekGirlCon 2016"

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Hi-ho!  And welcome again to The Muppet -

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Hello, and welcome to my new website!

If you don't already know me, allow me a brief introduction.  My name is Sandra Odell, and I am a smart mouth, troublemaker who writes, advocates, and eats chocolate.  Not necessarily in that order.  In 2010 I attended Clarion West, and in 2012 Hydra House Books released my holiday short story collection THE TWELVE WAYS OF CHRISTMAS.  I am represented by Caitlin MacDonald of the Donald Maass Literary Agency.  Um...what else?

Did I mention I like games and chocolate?

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...continue reading "It’s Time To Get Things Started"