Sunday Squee: Tea and Jeopardy

The Sunday Squee is about things that make me happy and excited. From books to movies to television shows to podcasts, I'll highlight less commonly known things as a way to share what I love. If you want to join in the Sunday Squee, please link back to me, magnifying both of our joy.

This is a hard day to Squee - with the recent murders in Paris and Beirut. The world is full of anger, and pain, and hatred, and I stand with the victims of terrorism and against anger and hatred. Together, I hope we can heal our pain.

Tea and Jeopardy is a podcast about exactly that. Every few weeks Emma Newman - author of books like Planetfall and Between Two Thorns - interviews a different author in an ever-changing tapestry of tea lairs, from the literary to the mediariffic. Each time the author brings a curio to share (my favorite is when Seanan McGuire brings her cat because said cat insisted) and answers a variety of questions both serious and silly, including one drawn from "the twitters". Emma does all of this with the help of her "helpful" butler Latimer, who makes a simply divine cup of tea and is almost certainly working against the authors themselves, though mentioning it might be seen as uncouth. Emma herself is charmingly oblivious most of the time and has her own adventures in the narrow band before and after each interview involving cake, time-travel, and occasionally not being quite so oblivious. This is one of those series that I re-listen to, relaxing into the charming, perilous but not too damaging adventures and trusting Emma to see us all through. It helps that the authors themselves are all quite clever in escaping their perils via means both violent and not. There are also chickens. Magical, singing chickens. Come for the chickens, if nothing else.

This is one of my comfort podcasts, one I listen to time and again because I enjoy how delightful everyone involved is. It is largely positive and sweet; Latimer is by far the darkest element, and he is perfectly poised and polite which goes a long way. It's also largely timeless and perfect; the interviews may be related to the author's books it is more about who they are as a person and what they enjoy - the essence, if you were.

I mentioned McGuire above and she remains one of my favorite podcasts guests because she is so solid and bright. My favorite Tea Lair by far was the Labyrinth, with Karina Cooper, but i have to put in a good word for many of my favorite authors: Paul Cornell, Mur Lafferty, Catherynne Valente, and Gail Carriger. Though honestly, I'd recommend you start at the beginning with Chuck Wendig and work your way through - it's definitely worth it.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: Izzie's, Irene
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Poppy
Crown: :BAMSE:, Butterfly Headband
Eyes: .:Soul:., Roomee
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeshadow: Elymode, Coal & Magenta
Lipstick: .:Soul:., Fades
Ears: .:Soul:., High Elf
Wings: Stockholm&Lima, Neon Heart Wings (TAG Gacha)
Body: SLink, Body, Hands & Feet
Nails: A:S:S, Precious 2
Pet 1: Lassitude & Ennui, Hanging imp (TAG Gacha RARE)
Pet 2: Sweet Thing. & darkendStare, Pink Corgi (TAG Gacha)
Outfit: Cila, Doris Lace Princess (Gacha RARE)
Wrap: Cila, YingChen Shawl  (Gacha)
Jewelry: Lassitude & Ennui, Chenoeh neckpiece
Shoes: Aura, Bukre Shoes

Poses: Grafica

Location: Watercolors in the Rain
Light Settings: Places, Cromac
Water Settings: Nacon's Lake Water

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping