Rhino44

I'm a writer and editor and don't own a cell phone. I love reading, drinking tea, listening to music, knitting, looking at the ocean, and puttering in my vegetable garden.

I also love travelling -- so far, I've been to England, Scotland, Wales, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada, Italy, and China (twice!). Not much travelling in the US, though, just New England (where I've lived for most of my life), New York, Maryland, Arizona, Florida, and California. Hubby and I have two fluffy grey cats that I adore, no kids.

Every November I do National Novel Writing Month. So far, I've finished it six times. I'm working on a novel now that is sort of a prequel to the last NaNo I wrote. Finishing it is a lot harder without the deadline!

I loved postcards when I was a girl, and am excited about the postcard swaps! I love seeing other places: scenery, landscapes, weather, water, cities, towns... New and vintage are both cool.

I really like rhinos, but I love badgers!

Oh yeah, and I think puns are awesome.

I mostly read mysteries (cosy or noir), chick lit, or nonfiction (travel, nature, science, memoir), although lately I've been enjoying paranormal romances too. Not a fan of women's fiction or weepies. Some authors I love are Naomi Novik, Jennifer Cruise, Mindy Klasky, Gregory Maguire, P.G. Wodehouse, Jasper Fforde, Tim Moore, Ian Rankin, Dorothy Sayers, Ellis Peters, Gerald Durrell, and Terry Tempest Williams. I read a lot and can easily read a book in a day. The public library is my friend.

I generally prefer contemporary British poetry to American. Some of my favorite poets are David Harsent, Li-Young Lee, Kim Addonizio, Michael Donaghy, Louise Gluck, and Sheenagh Pugh. I usually name my cats after poets.

I knit, but don't crochet or sew. I've knit some sweaters, toys, socks, shawls, felted bags, hats, etc. -- I like trying new patterns and don't want to knit the same thing more than once.

I bake bread but not sweet things, and like to cook. I've had some poems published, and am currently working on a novel about a Siberian vampire.

I take ballet lessons, am thinking about starting yoga again, and love modern dance -- both doing and watching.

I used to play bass (guitar).

I listen to music every single day, can't imagine my life without it. My husband and I took a bus tour across France a bunch of years ago to catch three David Bowie shows, and we've seen Living Colour in Brussels and Paris as well as here.

I like a really wide range. Let's see...

• Indonesian gamelan music
• medieval choral music
• sacred music in general (although I'm not religious)
• Living Colour
• David Bowie
• Talking Heads
• Laurie Anderson
• Pink
• Bruno Mars
• Adele
• Franz Ferdinand
• Rhianna
• some of Lady Gaga
• ragtime
• Django Reinhardt
• Brazilian jazz
• college radio because it has everything from choral and classical to hardcore

I am easy, I like all food! About the only thing I don't like is natto, which is something more than an acquired taste IMO. However, my husband is allergic to peanuts -- so I would prefer not to have recipes that feature them.