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Analysis and applications: The mathematical work of Elias Stein

By terrytao.wordpress.com
Published On :: Fri, 13 Mar 2020 02:53:16 +0000

Just a short note that the memorial article “Analysis and applications: The mathematical work of Elias Stein” has just been published in the Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society.  This article was a collective effort led by Charlie Fefferman, Alex Ionescu, Steve Wainger and myself to describe the various mathematical contributions of Elias Stein, who […]


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Course announcement: Math 247B, Classical Fourier Analysis

By terrytao.wordpress.com
Published On :: Sat, 14 Mar 2020 19:04:09 +0000

Next quarter, starting March 30, I will be teaching “Math 247B: Classical Fourier Analysis” here at UCLA.  (The course should more accurately be named “Modern real-variable harmonic analysis”, but we have not gotten around to implementing such a name change.) This class (a continuation of Math 247A from previous quarter, taught by my colleague, Monica […]


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  • 247B - Classical Fourier Analysis
  • math.CA
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Abel prize awarded to Furstenberg and Margulis

By terrytao.wordpress.com
Published On :: Wed, 18 Mar 2020 18:45:18 +0000

Just a short post to note that this year’s Abel prize has been awarded jointly to Hillel Furstenberg and Grigory Margulis for “for pioneering the use of methods from probability and dynamics in group theory, number theory and combinatorics”.  I was not involved in the decision making process of the Abel committee this year, but […]


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2019-2020 Novel Coronavirus outbreak: mathematics of epidemics, and what it can and cannot tell us (Nicolas Jewell)

By terrytao.wordpress.com
Published On :: Fri, 20 Mar 2020 18:49:55 +0000

At the most recent MSRI board of trustees meeting on Mar 7 (conducted online, naturally), Nicolas Jewell (a Professor of Biostatistics and Statistics at Berkeley, also affiliated with the Berkeley School of Public Health and the London School of Health and Tropical Disease), gave a presentation on the current coronavirus epidemic entitled “2019-2020 Novel Coronavirus […]


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Polymath proposal: clearinghouse for crowdsourcing COVID-19 data and data cleaning requests

By terrytao.wordpress.com
Published On :: Wed, 25 Mar 2020 16:17:26 +0000

After some discussion with the applied math research groups here at UCLA (in particular the groups led by Andrea Bertozzi and Deanna Needell), one of the members of these groups, Chris Strohmeier, has produced a proposal for a Polymath project to crowdsource in a single repository (a) a collection of public data sets relating to […]


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247B, Notes 1: Restriction theory

By terrytao.wordpress.com
Published On :: Mon, 30 Mar 2020 01:49:14 +0000

This set of notes focuses on the restriction problem in Fourier analysis. Introduced by Elias Stein in the 1970s, the restriction problem is a key model problem for understanding more general oscillatory integral operators, and which has turned out to be connected to many questions in geometric measure theory, harmonic analysis, combinatorics, number theory, and […]


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Mathematics Seminars List

By terrytao.wordpress.com
Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2020 23:09:43 +0000

My student, Jaume de Dios, has set up a web site to collect upcoming mathematics seminars from any institution that are open online.  (For instance, it has a talk that I will be giving in an hour.)   There is a form for adding further talks to the site; please feel free to contribute (or make […]


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247B, Notes 2: Decoupling theory

By terrytao.wordpress.com
Published On :: Mon, 13 Apr 2020 22:53:28 +0000

The square root cancellation heuristic, briefly mentioned in the preceding set of notes, predicts that if a collection of complex numbers have phases that are sufficiently “independent” of each other, then similarly, if are a collection of functions in a Lebesgue space that oscillate “independently” of each other, then we expect We have already seen […]


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247B, Notes 3: pseudodifferential operators

By terrytao.wordpress.com
Published On :: Sat, 02 May 2020 19:10:28 +0000

In contrast to previous notes, in this set of notes we shall focus exclusively on Fourier analysis in the one-dimensional setting for simplicity of notation, although all of the results here have natural extensions to higher dimensions. Depending on the physical context, one can view the physical domain as representing either space or time; we […]


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Outfits for Denver Pop Culture Convention 2019 Maxi Dresses & Purple!

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Wed, 07 Aug 2019 18:47:00 +0000


Here are all the outfits I wore in Denver recently. I was mostly pleased that I managed to wear the right clothes for the weather... always a risk when packing. And never easy with an event of a Comic Con size.


Day One: Black with Pink Print Maxi Dress from eShakti 


Hat was made for me by a fan.
Dress is from eShakti. Yes it has pockets! (Remember you can make many of their dresses into a maxi dress if you like.)
Leather gloves are vintage. Similar on Amazon.

Day Two: Blue Pattern Maxi Dress


Maxi dress on sale from Nordstrom Rack.
Mesh gloves from Amazon.
Teapot Bag from Amazon.
Turban hat from Amazon.
Sunglasses from Amazon.

Day Three: Purple Pattern Pleated Day Dress


Day dress is vintage 1970s.
Mesh gloves from Amazon.
Teapot Bag from Amazon.
Turban hat from Amazon.
Sunglasses from Amazon. 


Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle


Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.


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In Red & Black Pencil Dress in Alameda for the Launch of Reticence

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Thu, 08 Aug 2019 17:55:00 +0000


Recently I had an event in Alameda, CA for the launch of Reticence. Because the cover is quite red, I dug into my closet for an old favorite...

 

This is a red Jessica Wiggle dress from way back in the day. No longer available. 
I paired it with a little back cardy, black vintage leather gloves, cut jet tassel jewelry, a facinator from Amazon. You can find many items similar to these on this list. 
The shoes are from Shoes of Prey, make your own, a service I adore the idea of but hasn't really worked for me. 


Anyway this was a fun out fit to throw together. And I do mean thrown, I had planned on a different dress but I find I have out grown it and don't like the way it looks with this foundation corset so I went into the chopping pile and I had to scramble for an alternative on the fly. 


The previous night I wore a new eShakti for a launch at Borderlands, with leopard accessories: 


Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle


Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.


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Fun Historical Costumes from National Museums in Edinburgh and Dublin

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Thu, 05 Dec 2019 16:48:00 +0000


I visited both the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and the Naitonal Museum of Ireland in Dublin, here's some fun fashion related stuff that I saw...

In Dublin




In Edinburgh 


 









Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle


Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.


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Reticence Extras: CP3 Straw Hats of the 1890s for Primrose in the Custard Protocol Series by Gail Carriger

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Wed, 11 Dec 2019 17:37:00 +0000


Went to the Degas exhibit a little while ago, Fashionable Reader. Here's a retrospective on some of the straw hats of the 1890s that I saw there. These may, or may not, show up on Primrose in the forthcoming Custard Protocol book.

Image taken by Gail Carriger, do not share without attribution

Made me think of Ivy...


Image taken by Gail Carriger, do not share without attribution

Image taken by Gail Carriger, do not share without attribution
 
Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle


Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.


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New Teapot Purse ~ Larger & RED from Gail Carriger

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Thu, 12 Dec 2019 16:39:00 +0000


I simply haven't been into shopping much recently, Fashionable Reader. Which is  GOOD thing. All in all I shop too much.

However I have a new book out, Reticence. And instead of my usual reward of new shoes, I decided I deserved something special. This is the final book in (for now) my final series in the Parasolverse, so I bought this ridiculous thing of Etsy.

 

Obviously when I ordered it I thought it was a great deal smaller! 

The vendor is out of Russia so I guess everything is bigger in Russia! 

You see I wanted to round out my teapot purse collection with a red one, since I already have a black kettle and a cream colored bessie. 




However this red one is so big I'm not sure how often it'll be traveling with me. But I will certainly use it for local events.



 Reticence!



Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle


Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.


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Gail Carriger's Tour of the New Office + Writing Q&A

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Tue, 17 Dec 2019 21:34:00 +0000







TEXT
Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle



Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.


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Relaxing Victorians: Casual Wear From Unseen to Seen to Seen by Only a Few ~ Wrappers & Peignoirs & Dressing Gowns to Morning Dresses & Tea Gowns to Lingerie from Gail Carriger

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Wed, 18 Dec 2019 17:17:00 +0000


One of the things the Victorian era saw, Fashionable Reader, was an exploration of that liminal space through casual around the house wear.

Wrapper 1855  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Here we have the wrapper that was only meant to be seen by family.

Dressing Gown  early 1870s The Metropolitan Museum of Art


Dressing Gown  1875  The Kyoto Costume Institute

 Dressing gowns, banyans and wrappers are often quilted all or in part.

Wrapper early 1860s  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

One of the signs of a wrapper is that the waist is designed to be loose or tied tight. Often they split up the front, like a carriage dress or a robe so they can be pulled over a nightgown or underpinnings, like a dressing down but slightly more tailored. Still NOT designed to be worn over a corset.


Peignoir 1860-1865  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Peignoir  1880s  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

 Peignoir seems to be a catch all term.

Morning Dress  1860  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Morning dresses were initially gowns for the breakfast table that did not require a corset.They're characterize by a looser top lots of details in the neck and sleeves.

Morning Dress  1872-1873  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

One of the things we see evolving (and limits being tested) after the 1950s through the 1900s is the idea of what was not meant to be seen (undergarments and nightgowns) to what was initially only meant to be seen by family or lovers (wrappers & peignoirs) to receiving casual around house guests at breakfast (morning dresses) to I'm comfortable at home and I want to show my wealth with yet another space & occasion specific outfit (the tea gown).

Tea Gown  late 1870s  The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Tea gowns were an evolution of the morning gown.

Tea Gown  1875  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Tea Gown  1875-1880  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

1Harpers Bazar New York Sat June 13 1891 Dressing Gowns Nightshirts

This evolution is coupled with the rise of the middle class, the sexual revolution (including contraception and woman's suffrage) and various other factors.

Bed Jacket  1885  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Dressing Jacket  1885-1890  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

 We see a culmination in this towards the turn of the century in the popularity of (and wide-scale use of the word) negligées and lingerie sets, which specifically implies an article of clothing that is sexual in its nature for it is meant to be seen by a lover.

Negligée  1880  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

This kind of clothing, prior to the first sexual revolution, would not have been acceptable for a fashion house to make, let alone a fashionable lady to purchase.

Negligée Callot Soeurs, 1898-1900s The Metropolitan Museum of Art


Lingerie Set  1880s  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

There was also head wear that was designed to be worn exclusively around the house, but that's a whole other story...

House Cap 1900  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

For Primrose!

Boudoir Cap 1895 The Metropolitan Museum of Art

nightgown 1894  The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Dressing Gown  1897-1899  The Metropolitan Museum of Art


Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle


Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.


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This Retro Rack Blog is Fading

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Thu, 02 Jan 2020 02:47:00 +0000

In case you hadn't noticed recently, Fashionable Reader, I've been lax about posting to this blog.

 Maintaining two blogs has gotten a bit overwhelming for me. Something has got to give. Much as I love fashion, it isn't actually my primary working world. Writing is, so that has to take most of my focus.



What's Going On?


I have been migrating and posting my historical fashion stuff, which ties to my books, over on my main blog, at my gailcarriger.com website.

There is a Victorian fashion tag there if you want to see all my posts on the subject.

And I have been posting pictures of myself in my outfits there as part of the footers there.



In other words, I'm fading this one away.


However! I promise there are ways to stay in touch with me and my fashion.

Instagram


Of course I am also on Instagram. I would truly LOVE it if you follow me there. Apparently there are secret things you can unlock and have access to if you get over 10k followers and I am ... almost ... there.


Pinterest


Alternatively I have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to my Retro Style & Looks and their inspiration, you can always follow that board. Or I have one that is all my Steampunk outfits.

Facebook


I always post pictures of my event outfits to Retro Rack's Facebook group.

I know that's not ALL the platforms, but again, writing and lack of time mean I have to be selective about where I spend my online chips.

Anyway! Thank you for sticking with me for almost 10 years, and I hope you will not lose touch.

I will keep this blog's old posts, particularly the useful ones like eShakti shopping tips and how to prepare for breast reduction surgery, and links alive as long as Blogger will let me.

I might move some of my popular ones of these plus steampunk DIYs over to my author blog eventually. I won't be deleting this blog, I will just stop posting to it. 

Stay in touch, please.

Yours,
Miss Gail


You can visit the following shopping lists: Travel Dork, My Steampunk, My Wardrobe.

Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I gets a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.


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Sample Gail Carriger's Meat Cute Audiobook!

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Sat, 11 Jan 2020 19:13:00 +0000







Listen to a sample of Gail Carriger's audiobook, Meat Cute: The Hedgehog Incident.



Available many platforms here or from Gail directly here.



Alexia Tarabotti attends what appears to be a very dull London party,
until the new werewolf Alpha turns up, is unconscionably rude to her,
and sits on a hedgehog.

Don't miss this charming novelette featuring the very first encounter
between the Parasolverse's most popular power couple, preternatural
Alexia and supernatural Lord Conall Maccon.

Look out for cheeky appearances from other much beloved characters, not
to mention the strategic application of a certain wicker chicken.

Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle



Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.


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Sample Gail Carriger's Romancing the Inventor Audiobook!

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Tue, 28 Jan 2020 00:25:00 +0000







Listen to a sample of Gail Carriger's Audiobook Romancing the Inventor: A Supernatural Society Novella. 
 
You can find this audiobook here: https://gailcarriger.com/youtube_RTI
 
Parlormaid seeks scientist! 
 
From New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger comes a delightful lesbian Victorian romance featuring a maid bent on seducing an imprisoned cross-dressing inventor. 
 
FEATHER DUSTER 
 
Imogene Hale is a lowly parlormaid with a soul-crushing secret. Desperate to understand her own desires, she takes work at a local vampire hive, only to fall in love with the amazing lady inventor the vampires are keeping in their potting shed. 
 
LEATHER GOGGLES 
 
Genevieve Lefoux is heartsick, lonely, brilliant, and French. With culture, class, and the lady herself set against the match, can Imogene and her duster win Genevieve’s heart, or will the vampires suck both of them dry? 
 
Set in Carriger’s popular steampunk Parasolverse, it’s full of class prejudice, elusive equations, and paranormal creatures taking tea.
 
 
Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle



Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.


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All About MEAT CUTE, Producing Audio, Word Counts Fueled by CAKE, AMA Q&A

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Tue, 11 Feb 2020 21:08:00 +0000







LINKS OF INTEREST

Meat Cute in digital format is out Feb 16, 2020!

Meat Cute Audio is out NOW can be purchased directly from me.

Meat Cute in print is in Fan Service, why only there in print? Too short.

Reticence in trade paperback to the USA!

Writing right now? The Enforcer Enigma

The Heroine's Journey non-fiction (??) merph.

Defy or Defend (Dimity's Book) cover art coming to the next Chirrup. Also TEA THEMED goodiebox!

Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle



Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.


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Gail Carriger: Just Silly Gossipy Gail: Book Sneaky Hints & Other Excite...

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Mon, 23 Mar 2020 18:48:00 +0000






Retro Rack is now on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle



Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.


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20 Minute Delay Gail and Piper are Back! and with Video!

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Wed, 25 Mar 2020 04:24:00 +0000






Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle



Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.


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How to Lace Yourself into a Corset

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2020 14:46:00 +0000







By request, this is how I get myself into a corset.


Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle



Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to produce this blog without sponsors.


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Sample GL Carriger's The 5th Gender Audiobook!

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Mon, 06 Apr 2020 17:21:00 +0000







Retro Rack is now mainly on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts, and you can do the same. Or you can follow me on my regular blog for historical fashion posts, or join my newsletter, The Chirrup, for insider trading information.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle



Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to blog without sponsors.


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Sample of Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger read by Moira Quirk

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Mon, 13 Apr 2020 15:11:00 +0000






Etiquette & Espionage is available most places: https://gailcarriger.com/youtube_FS 
 
It’s one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It’s quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to Finishing School. 
 
 Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners–and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality. 
 
But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine’s, young ladies learn to finish…everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but the also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage–in the politest possible ways, of course. 
 
Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year’s education.


Retro Rack is now mainly on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts, and you can do the same. Or you can follow me on my regular blog for historical fashion posts, or join my newsletter, The Chirrup, for insider trading information.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle



Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to blog without sponsors.


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Silly stories of Gail Carriger the Fangirl, Bonnets and Glue Guns, Defy or Defend

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Mon, 13 Apr 2020 21:39:00 +0000







I mention my upcoming book, Defy or Defend, and give a few non-spoiler sneak peeks.


Retro Rack is now mainly on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts, and you can do the same. Or you can follow me on my regular blog for historical fashion posts, or join my newsletter, The Chirrup, for insider trading information.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle



Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to blog without sponsors.


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Gail Carriger's Poison or Protect Audiobook!

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Mon, 27 Apr 2020 20:22:00 +0000








Sample Gail Carriger's Audiobook Poison or Protect! 

 
You can find POISON OR PROTECT: A Delightfully Deadly Novella here: https://gailcarriger.com/youtube_PoP 
 
A sexy assassin, a Scotsman, and two lobsters attend a Victorian house party.

New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger brings you a charming story of love and espionage set in her popular Parasolverse. 
 
ASSASSIN 
 
Lady Preshea Villentia, the Mourning Star, has four dead husbands and a nasty reputation. Fortunately, she looks fabulous in black. What society doesn’t know is that all her husbands were marked for death by Preshea’s employer. And Preshea has one final assignment. 
 
VERSUS SCOTSMAN 
 
t was supposed to be easy, a house party with minimal bloodshed. Preshea hadn’t anticipated Captain Gavin Ruthven – massive, Scottish, quietly irresistible, and… working for the enemy.

In a battle of wits, Preshea may risk her own heart – a terrifying prospect, as she never knew she had one. 
 
May contain plaid, dainty sandwiches, and the strategic application of leather gloves. 
 
Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Outlander in this charming story from the author of the Parasol Protectorate books. Perfect for fans of Ilona Andrews, Lindsay Buroker, or Diana Gabaldon.

From the author of the Finishing School series, featuring deadly ladies of quality, this story stands alone but you can find out what happened to the next generation in Reticence. 
 
 Delicate Sensibilities? 
 
Contains men pleasing women, and ladies who know what they want and ask for it, sometimes in detail.



Retro Rack is now mainly on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts, and you can do the same. Or you can follow me on my regular blog for historical fashion posts, or join my newsletter, The Chirrup, for insider trading information.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle



Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to blog without sponsors.


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Gail Carriger's Defy or Defend Launch Outfits

By retrorack.blogspot.com
Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 00:11:00 +0000







Retro Rack is now mainly on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts, and you can do the same. Or you can follow me on my regular blog for historical fashion posts, or join my newsletter, The Chirrup, for insider trading information.

You can shop my recommendations via the following lists:
Steampunk, Retro Jewelry, Makeup, Retro Clothes, Lifestyle



Product links on this blog are usually to Amazon using my associate code. At no additional cost to you this means I get a slight kick back if you make a purchase. Thank you! This allows me to continue to blog without sponsors.


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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 3

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Fri, 03 Apr 2020 16:18:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 3 (YA): ICE, a fantasy adventure about an Arctic research scientist & a talking polar bear. The #booknecklace for this one is an adorable polar bear pendant. At the book launch, a reader asked my favorite question ever: "Do you like bears that aren't polar bears?" Yes, I do.

ICE is a modern retelling of the Norwegian folktale East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon. I was inspired by a picture book illustrated by the phenomenal PJ Lynch -- specifically, the moment when the bear asks the "lassie" if she's afraid, and she says defiantly "No."

I wrote this book as a love letter to my husband. And to polar bears.



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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 4

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Sat, 04 Apr 2020 16:47:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 4 (YA): ENCHANTED IVY is about getting into college. And talking gargoyles and were-tigers... It's set at Princeton University so my #booknecklace is a Princeton tiger.

There's a legend at Princeton that if you walk out the front gate before commencement, you won't graduate. That's what inspired ENCHANTED IVY, except I said if you walk out the gate, you cross into an alternate magical Princeton.



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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 5

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Sun, 05 Apr 2020 17:53:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 5 (YA): DRINK SLAY LOVE, a snarky fantasy about a 16-year-old vampire who is stabbed through the heart by a unicorn and develops a conscience. My husband tried for a fang #booknecklace, but it was absurdly huge -- the size of actual teeth. So he also got me a unicorn.


DRINK SLAY LOVE was made into a TV movie starring the fabulous Cierra Ramirez. I wore the fang #booknecklace on the day it premiered. That might be the only time I've ever worn it. It doesn't exactly go with everything...





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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 6

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Mon, 06 Apr 2020 15:21:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 6 (YA): VESSEL is about defying destiny. Liyana is destined to sacrifice herself so a goddess can inhabit her body, but the goddess never comes. There are glass dragons in her world, so this #booknecklace is a glass dragon. I wear this one to book events all the time.

VESSEL is the only book I've ever written that was inspired by a dream. I dreamed about a girl dancing barefoot on the sand beneath the moon. She knew that when the dance ended, she would die. I woke up worrying about her and knew I had to write her story.



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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 7

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2020 17:04:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 7 (YA): CONJURED is the creepiest book I've ever written. So creepy I couldn't go into our basement while I was writing it. It's about a teen in the paranormal witness protection program. Lots of magic, a carnival, and a serial killer. Here it is with its #booknecklace.



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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 8

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Wed, 08 Apr 2020 14:21:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 8 (adult): THE LOST is about a woman who is trapped in a town full of only lost things and lost people. My husband had a #booknecklace made for it that reads "Welcome to Lost," which is what it says on the sign outside of the town of Lost.


There's a myth that ideas spring into existence fully formed, like Athena from Zeus's head. But often they begin with a single moment. For this book, I was at a stoplight, blinker on to turn, and I wondered what would happen if I just went straight instead and didn't stop...

It was only after I started writing about that moment that I developed the idea for the town of Lost. I loved creating my town and imagining all the lost things that could be there: buttons, socks, paperclips, stolen artwork, foreclosed homes, dreams, lives...


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International Unicorn Day -- April 9, 2020

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Wed, 08 Apr 2020 16:57:00 +0000

This Thursday (4/9), eighteen authors (including yours truly!) will be doing live readings to celebrate International Unicorn Day!!! At 10:30am ET, I'll be on Facebook Live on my author page here: https://www.facebook.com/sarahbethdurst

And I may be wearing a unicorn onesie... 


Hope you'll join me!  And feel free to invite along any unicorns who want to listen too!  I'll be reading from my kids book, THE GIRL WHO COULD NOT DREAM, which features the winged unicorn Glitterhoof.

For the full schedule of the day's events, visit: https://www.internationalunicornday.com/events


#OperationStoryTime #InternationalUnicornDay


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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 9

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Thu, 09 Apr 2020 21:16:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 9 (YA): CHASING POWER, an Indiana-Jones-style adventure about a girl with telekinesis and a boy who can teleport. Three magic stones play a key role in the story, so my #booknecklace (and earrings) contain three stones, possibly magical.

This book was so much fun to write! Kayla, the protagonist, has a minor power -- the ability to lift small (and only small) objects with her mind. Her true strength is her cleverness. I loved thinking up ways for her to have a big effect with a small amount of magic.



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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 10

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Fri, 10 Apr 2020 16:52:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 10 (middle grade): THE GIRL WHO COULD NOT DREAM is about a girl whose family owns a dream shop where they buy, bottle, and sell dreams, and the adventure she goes on with her best friend, a monster named Monster who loves cupcakes. My #booknecklace is an adorable monster.

Usually my characters develop over the course of many revisions. But with Monster... It felt like he plopped down on my desk fully-formed and said, "Write my story! And feed me cupcakes!"



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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 11

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Sat, 11 Apr 2020 16:25:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 11 (adult SFF): THE QUEEN OF BLOOD, Book 1 of The Queens of Renthia, is an epic fantasy set in a world filled with bloodthirsty nature spirits. Only queens have the power to control them. So my #booknecklace is a crown with a tiny blood-red stone.

Writing The Queens of Renthia was such a wonderfully immersive experience. Every day I sat down at my computer, it felt like walking through the wardrobe into Narnia... except it's a Narnia where the trees want to kill you.



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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 12

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Sun, 12 Apr 2020 19:07:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 12 (middle grade): JOURNEY ACROSS THE HIDDEN ISLANDS is a fantasy adventure for kids about two sisters, one winged lion, and a LOT of monsters. My #booknecklace is a winged lion!

This book was born one day when I wandered into the kitchen and announced, "I want to write a book about a winged lion." My husband said, "Great! How about plot, characters...?" "Winged lion!" I shouted. And then I wrote it.



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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 13

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Mon, 13 Apr 2020 14:46:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 13 (picture book): ROAR AND SPARKLES GO TO SCHOOL is my first picture book, art by the amazing Ben Whitehouse. Roar the dragon is worried about his first day of school, but luckily he has his big sister Sparkles to help him through it. My #booknecklace is a little dragon!

My favorite part of writing this book was inventing the dragon school -- imagining a day in the life of a draconian kindergartner. I knew from the start he'd char his lunch with his breath, play hide-and-seek-the-princess in gym, and ride a dragon bus to school!



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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 14

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2020 19:41:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 14 (adult SFF): THE RELUCTANT QUEEN, Book 2 of The Queens of Renthia. Bloodthirsty nature spirits, a dying queen, and a middle-aged woman who wants nothing to do with the power she could wield. This book shares a #booknecklace with THE QUEEN OF BLOOD but we added blood-red earrings!

I actually wrote 90 pages of THE RELUCTANT QUEEN (book 2) before I wrote THE QUEEN OF BLOOD (book 1). My editor at Harper Voyager, the awesome David Pomerico, read the pages and said, "Can this be book two?" And now I can't imagine it being any different.

In THE RELUCTANT QUEEN, I wrote my first middle-aged heroine. She's definitely not the last! The protagonist of my upcoming RACE THE SANDS is a badass middle-aged single mom!



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  • Race the Sands
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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 15

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Wed, 15 Apr 2020 17:42:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 15 (MG): THE STONE GIRL'S STORY is about a twelve-year-old girl made of stone who, when the carvings that brought her and her stone friends to life begin to fade, must go on a quest to save them all. So my husband gave me a #booknecklace made of stones!

THE STONE GIRL'S STORY is, at its heart, a story about stories. I believe that stories are as essential to life as food, water, and shelter. They're how we understand who we are. I wrote this book for everyone who wants to shape the story of their life and choose their own destiny.

It was surprisingly tricky to write about a character made of stone. She can't smell, taste, or sleep. Her stomach never drops, clenches, or feels butterflies. I couldn't use any of the common physical reactions to convey emotions, because stone. Made for a fun writing challenge!






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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 16

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Thu, 16 Apr 2020 19:17:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 16 (adult SFF): THE QUEEN OF SORROW, Bk 3 of The Queens of Renthia, is the final battle between vicious spirits and three strong-willed queens. I loved writing these books so much that I cried when I finished. This book shares its #booknecklace with the first two in the series.

I loved writing an epic fantasy trilogy! It's something I've wanted to do ever since my mom introduced my eleven-year-old self to the SFF shelves in the Northboro Public Library and placed THE SWORD OF SHANNARA by Terry Brooks in my hands.



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Clone Wars Anthology Cover Reveal!

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Fri, 17 Apr 2020 14:51:00 +0000

Cover reveal!!! So excited to be part of this Star Wars anthology!

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS -- STORIES OF LIGHT AND DARK comes out on August 25th and features eleven stories retelling the best episodes from The Clone Wars, each story told by a different author and each focused on a different character.  My character is the awesome Ahsoka Tano, and I wrote her story from the point-of-view of Jedi youngling Katooni.

Loved writing this so much!  Also loved the excuse to rewatch the series!

http://www.theforce.net/v3-story/frontFirst_Look_At_Star_Wars_The_Clone_Wars_%E2%80%93_Stories_Of_Light_and_Dark_186760.asp



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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 17

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Fri, 17 Apr 2020 19:13:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 17 (YA): FIRE AND HEIST is about a sixteen-year-old socialite from a family of master thieves... who can also breathe fire. Think Ocean's Eleven with were-dragons! My #booknecklace for this one is, quite appropriately, a flame!

While I was writing FIRE AND HEIST, I watched so many YouTube videos on how to pick locks, read so many articles on real-life heists, and researched the specs of so many secure vaults that I wanted to add a disclaimer to all my Google searches: "This is for a book! Really!"



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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 18

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Sat, 18 Apr 2020 16:12:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 18 (adult SFF): THE DEEPEST BLUE is a standalone epic fantasy set in the same world as The Queens of Renthia (but you don't have to have read the trilogy first -- it's a true standalone). It features a LOT of sea monsters so my #booknecklace is a sea monster!

When I saw the cover for THE DEEPEST BLUE, I was thrilled to see that the artist (Larry Rostant) had depicted the sea monsters precisely as I'd imagined them. The sea dragon, the kraken, and the multi-headed snake -- those are my murder-babies!



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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 19

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Sun, 19 Apr 2020 19:01:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 19 (MG): SPARK is my newest book for kids. It's about a girl and her lightning dragon (a storm beast), and how even the quietest voice can change the world. My #booknecklace is a lightning bolt, and I wore it so much that I broke the chain.

I wrote SPARK for all the quiet kids out there. But it's not about a quiet kid who learns to be loud. It's about a quiet kid who discovers that she's strong exactly as she is. She doesn't have to change herself to change the world.

I also wrote it because I not-so-secretly want my own lightning dragon.....



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RACE THE SANDS Book Necklace Countdown: Book 20

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Mon, 20 Apr 2020 16:20:00 +0000

I'm counting down to the publication of my 20th book, RACE THE SANDS, out 4/21, by sharing pics of each #booknecklace my husband gave me to celebrate each of my prior books...

Book 20 (adult SFF): RACE THE SANDS. And this brings us to my newest book and newest #booknecklace! Tomorrow my 20th book comes out! It's a standalone epic fantasy about monster racing. The primary monster is a metal lion, and my husband found the most perfect necklace on Etsy!


My cat Gwen claims she's the inspiration for this book since she loves to run around the house at top speed. And it is true that I wrote most of the book with her sitting on me!


Funny thing is that my husband forgot he already gave me a #booknecklace for RACE THE SANDS -- a tiny hourglass with sand inside. But don't tell him, because I love both.


Thanks so much for joining me on my #booknecklace countdown to RACE THE SANDS pub day! It will be out in the world tomorrow!!! I hope all of you are safe, healthy, and happy. Sending so much love to everyone!



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RACE THE SANDS comes out today!!!

By sarahbethdurst.blogspot.com
Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2020 14:11:00 +0000

Today is the book birthday for my new epic fantasy novel for adults, RACE THE SANDS!!! My 20th book!!! It's about two kickass women vying to become monster racing champions. I loved writing this book, and I hope it will provide an escape to everyone who needs one. 


Tamra, the disgraced monster-racing trainer at the heart of RACE THE SANDS, is named after Tamora Pierce, author of the Tortall books and one of the most awesome and great-hearted people I know.  In writing this book, my goal was to write a character as kickass as she is.

I believe that fantasy is a literature of hope and empowerment. It can serve as a light in the darkness, a guide toward strength, and an escape from pain. I hope that someone will read about my monster-riding women in their sun-blasted land and find strength, escape, and hope.

If you're interested, there's more information on my website, including the first chapter: http://www.sarahbethdurst.com/RacetheSands.htm

Thank you to my awesome editor, David Pomerico; my incredible agent, Andrea Somberg; and all the wonderful people at Harper Voyager for bringing this book to life!

Happy book birthday, RACE THE SANDS!!!



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