#MondayRecommends #steampunk #NailArt #nails #Maniology #HelloManiology #ManiologyAmbassador #MomGoth10discountcode #writingprompt
Y’all know I’m all eat up with K-dramas, and I’m lucky enough to live in a library, and double-lucky enough to find one of what I’m recommending today: a textbook. The particular one I found is A Handbook on Korea, and I very much enjoyed learning about the history of the place I enjoy watching shows about, and especially learning about events, attitudes, celebrations, and commonplaces, the knowledge of which enhance my appreciation of the shows.
My late husband was an English teacher and a man with an insatiable appetite for learning, so we have many textbooks on many subjects. How lucky am I to have the very one I wanted most? Way, that’s how!
My nails this week are in honor of Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene, who, among other things, writes Steampunk fiction and the endlessly fascinating Real Steampunkery Tech.
The stamps were silver and copper, but I was undone by the wretchedness of metallic red, which bleeds into what one puts over it, even if one puts a thick coat of topcoat between the base coat and the stamp. I still like it.
Speaking of red, how about the cover of my new book, House of the Warrior Pimchan:
Over the years, Marian Allen wrote a series of stories about The Warrior Pimchan published in Marion Zimmer Bradley’s SWORD & SORCERESS anthologies.
The roving Warrior Pimchan made one mistake: She saved the life of the All-Father, ruler of her country. As a reward, he gave her the guardianship of a mountain township, complete with a residence compound and two orphan children as slaves.
The only thing she wanted less than a fixed abode was fixed responsibility, especially responsibility for children.
Sadly for her, the thing the All-Father cares least for of all things is what anybody else wants.
In each story, Pimchan finds herself saddled with unasked for dependents and insoluble crises the All-Father expects her to solve, and solve to his benefit.
A final story, written just for this collection, brings Pimchan a reward she actually wants.
A WRITING PROMPT FROM ME TO YOU: something faded yet still beautiful
MA
Daniel Antion
March 5, 2026 at 3:19pmThis is a wonderful post, and I like the nails.
At the moment, Amazon shows me your book, but when I click on it, it says “Sorry. Something went wrong…” I’ll check again.
Marian Allen
March 6, 2026 at 10:11amThank you for trying. I checked, and the link worked for me. Please let me know if it misbehaves again.
acflory
March 3, 2026 at 5:38pmCrap! I almost missed this. I haven’t thought about nail polish in so many years it’s scary! Your marketing is worse than mine Marian Allen! Well, despite you, I’ve just bought and downloaded The House of the Warrior Pimchan and read the first couple of pages. It’s brilliant and I can hardly wait to get stuck into it. 😀 😀
Marian Allen
March 4, 2026 at 10:45amMy marketing is total rubbish! Thank you for buying Pimchan. I hope you enjoy it. I certainly enjoyed writing the stories.
Teagan R Geneviene
March 2, 2026 at 5:45pmHi, Marian. Thanks for the shout-out!
I haven’t gotten to watch any of the K-dramas yet, but that’s only because of lack of access — I think I’d love them.
Your book cover is gorgeous, and I’m beyond intrigued by the stories.
I was at a financial low-point back in those days, but once in a while I splurged on Marion Zimmer Bradley’s magazine. How exciting to have been in it! Wishing you a splendid new week. Hugs.
Marian Allen
March 3, 2026 at 9:38amHi, Teagan! We love the historical K-Dramas best, but there are a bunch of them revolving around cooking, which is another of our interests, and a bunch with supernatural themes or elements. Then there’s Squid Game….
I’m really sad the MZB trust has wrapped the magazine and the anthologies up. They were great markets for me.