31 July 2024 - I'm updating the list with a few more recommendations from friends! And I've removed Where the Monkey Sleeps. It's out of business.

I am excited to head to my third-ever Worldcon, this time in Glasgow, in just a couple weeks! That excitement comes from knowing I’ll see so many great writer friends I’ve made over the years, that I’ll learn a ton about Scotland’s science fiction and fantasy storytelling history, and that I’ll get to tour some of region. But of course, I’m MOSTLY excited to seek out Glasgow’s foodie treasures!

I’m sharing a few lists of what I’m hoping to hit up in Glasgow, knowing full well that it’ll be impossible to try it all. But try I will! I’ll start out with the spots where I’m most likely to hit classic Scottish foods, though not necessarily in classic presentations. I have yet to find a spot that mentions serving cock-a-leekie (roast chicken & leeks), but I’m keeping my hopes up I’ll find them.

1. Café Gandolfi – This spot comes highly recommended by my friend Rina Weisman, the long-running organizer of SF in SF and the mastermind of Oakland’s 2026 World Fantasy bid. Café Gandolfi appears to have a charmingly low-key interior of wooden furniture while offering refined takes on the Scottish classics: https://cafegandolfi.com/restaurant-bar
2. Butterfly and the Pig – This multi-level restaurant offers adorable a la carte menu descriptions and affordable afternoon teas. The Yorkshire puddings stuffed with MANY THINGS look amazing:  https://thebutterflyandthepig.com/the-butterfly-and-the-pig-city/
3. The Hidden Lane Tearoom – This restaurant is indeed on Hidden Lane, an artisan neighborhood in the Finnieston area. They offer afternoon tea, and what looks to be an impressive, and maybe even healthy, array of sandwiches, breakfast toasts, and scones. It looks to be a great escape from the convention hubbub: https://www.hiddenlanetearoom.com/
4. Ubiquitous Chip – This restaurant has multiple levels of service, so you can be more casual with the brasserie, head into fine Scottish dining at the restaurant, or head all the way up to the rooftop terrace. There are multiple bars, too, and despite the name...no chips! Sign me up for that sort of playfulness: https://ubiquitouschip.co.uk/
5. Shawarma King – While it's not exactly traditional Scottish food, I couldn't ignore the recommendations rolling in for Shawarma King. There is a sit-down location with that name across the river from the Scottish Events Center . . . but reviews seem clear that sticking with the takeout window in Merchant City and taking it to eat in the nearby Glasgow Green is your better bet. Overflowing platters and freshly baked bread make for great shawarma here: https://www.facebook.com/ShawarmaKingGlasgow/

Doubtless, one of those options above will also introduce me to Irn-Bru sodas and cranachan (raspberry & oats parfait) desserts – I can’t wait! But there are some finer dining options also on my list, for enjoying a tasty afternoon or evening out:

1. The Finnieston Bar – This spot offers sustainable Scottish seafood, including local langostinos, oysters, and mussels. They also have a renowned gin bar. There is inside and outside seating: https://www.thefinniestonbar.com/menus.php
2. The Little Curry House – This spot comes recommended by friends who used to live in Glasgow. Their black daal, stewed for 7 hours, seems like a must. Also seems good for a tasty lunch! At dinner, they focus on serving up great Indian in tapas-style portions: https://www.littlecurryhouse.co.uk/
3. Mother India - Upscale Indian, recommended by Anthony Bourdain … and my same friends who recommended the Little Curry House. The Lunch Time menu for £22.00 includes starters, mains, side breads, and the Bungalow’s ice cream, an awesome dessert spot also owned by Mother India. https://www.motherindia.co.uk/mother-india/
4. Two Fat Ladies at the Buttery – This may be Glasgow's "oldest culinary establishment" per their website, and from the pictures, it offers quite refined takes on Scottish classics. There's a prix fixe available for lunch, and a la carte for dinner. Plus, cullen skink (haddock chowder)! The desserts also look quite delicious: https://twofatladiesrestaurant.com/buttery/

Of course, in Scotland, one must also drink whisky! And maybe tour a distillery while we’re at it, though there are not many in Glasgow proper. You should also note that tons of bars also have a food menu!

1. The Pot Still – This busy Central Glasgow bar specializes in whiskies and beer and several varieties of traditional meat or veggie pies like neeps & tatties or even mac & cheese fillings. Pretty sure I’ll be here the first night I hit town: https://thepotstill.co.uk/
2. Clydeside Distillery – This spot is close to the Scottish Events Center, which is a plus. Tours are available, including one that ends in a chocolate and whisky tasting. Or just get a flight and nibbles at the café. It’s a newer distillery, so the whisky may need more aging to be great … but you can’t beat that proximity to Worldcon: https://www.theclydeside.com/
3. Ben Nevis - This local pub has a cozy, close feel and the fiddles of local musicians may erupt at any time: https://www.thebennevisbar.com/
4. The 78 – A great neighborhood pub recommended by friends. https://www.the78.co.uk/
5. The Flying Duck – Also recommended by friends, this tiny bar and larger music venue is located down a flight of stairs up an alley – hard to find, fun to hang! https://www.theflyingduck.org/bar-drinks
6. Auchentoshan – This distillery is located out of town about 20 mins, so it would be more of an adventure to visit. But if you’re looking for an established distillery in the Glasgow area to try, it may be worth the trip: https://www.auchentoshan.com/
7. Glengoyne Distillery – I've learned that there is one distillery an easy bus ride from Glasgow! From the Buchanan bus station, you can hop on the X10, and it'll take you straight to the distillery's gates! It's about an hour ride, but may very well be worth it to take a tour, taste whisky, and get a little escape into the Scottish countryside. Story-filled distillery tours start at £20.00. https://www.glengoyne.com/visit

You’ll note that a full Scottish breakfast has NOT appeared yet on my lists. That’s because I am NOT a fan. I don’t like beans, period, and especially not on my breakfast plate! Plus, I prefer my eggs scrambled or poached to fried and my breakfast items generally all mixed together rather than presented individually. Which is why the following cafes and breakfast spots look more appealing to me. They offer many of those tradition full breakfast items in different ways:

1. Cup TeaRooms – This spot has a large variety of brunch options, including streaky bacon benedicts, Lorne sausage sliders, and a unique morning tea option: https://cuptearooms.co.uk/
2. Tantrum Doughnuts – The breakfast for sweet lovers! This Glasgow chain makes handmade, beautiful doughnuts with flavors like forest fruit jam, lemon & poppyseed old-fashioned, and milk & cookies. https://tantrumdoughnuts.com/

Now that I’ve identified a doughnut option, I’ll finish this foodie compendium with more sweet things! I’m always on the hunt for at least one great dessert on vacation. Some of these spots are a bit farther afield than the rest, but likely worth the diversion.

1. Bungalow Café – This café is part of Mother India, mentioned in the finer dining list. They have a light café menu, but the ice cream is the star here, which can come topped with a variety of options with names like “nougats, snowballs, hundreds and thousands, 99 flakes” and more. I look forward to learning just what they mean … by ordering them.
2. Sugarfall Patisserie – The individual cakes and pastries on offer at this bakery are making me drool. Tropical pavlova? Pistachio & raspberry choux? Yes, please: https://sugarfall.co.uk/
3. Broken Clock Patisserie Café – A variety of beautiful cakes are on offer here, usually 10+ flavors each day. I’m aiming for the one shaped like a cherry: https://www.brokenclockcafe.co.uk/

Most of the options mentioned in my list above are within a 15-minute walk or transit trip of the Scottish Events Center, in the Kelvinhaugh, Finnieston, or Central Glasgow areas of the city. Most of them also take reservations, which is a plus! Here’s a map with all the spots marked:

Please feel free to share this list with other Worldcon attendees! And if you’d like to meet up with me for a drink or meal, shoot me an email to  becca@gomezfarrell.com. I’ll try to work something out! But I am also totally happy to just run into folks at Worldcon’s own socializing spaces and the hotel bar. Making plans can be difficult with full convention schedules, which I understand.

Hope to see you there!

Hi Friends! Tomorrow is Hayward Lit Hop 2023! https://haywardlithop.com/

I'll be hosting two groups of readers for this event:

- Women Who Submit: Bay Area Chapter at The Dirty Bird Lounge at 5:00pm with readers Dera R Jones Williams, Karma Bennett, and Joyce E. Young

- East Bay Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers at The Bistro at 6:00pm with readers Vanessa MacLaren-Wray, Author, Sibyl Saint, Caitlin Dwyer, and Sophie Green

Hayward Lit Hop occurs Saturday, April 22nd from 2-8pm on Earth Day and National Poetry Month. Conceived and organized by volunteer community members, Hayward Lit Hop is free for all ages. The Hayward Lit Hop celebrates our active and dedicated literary scene.

The event begins at 2 pm at Heritage Plaza Park, across the street from the Downtown Hayward Public Library, with a welcome from Hayward local civic and literary leaders and a musical performance from the East Bay Symphonic Band. At 3pm, Hayward-area Poet Laureates' read with East Bay teens. As it's Earth Day, the reading will have a nature and ecology theme. Local environmental organizations will set up tables in the Plaza to promote their work, as well.

From 4-7 pm, we'll hop to different venues up and down and near B Street to with spoken word performances including the AfroSurreal Writers Association, students from Chabot College, a bilingual Spanish/English reading, the Queer Writers, local Horror Writers' and Mystery Writers' Association chapters, the Peer Writers' Group, Women Who Submit Lit, the East Bay Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers, the California Writers' Club, and students from CSUEB and Hayward Unified School District K-12 students.

Readings will occur at local venues including Aranea's Craft Studio, the Sun Gallery, the Odd Fellows Lodge, The Bistro, Dirty Bird Lounge, the Pizza House, The World Famous Turf Club, Yoga Sociale. Hayward Lit Hop concludes with an afterparty at the Sun Gallery where there will be music, food and drinks. The gallery features a climate art exhibit.

This event showcases local businesses, celebrates Hayward's diverse cultural scene, and allows people to meet their neighbors and hear and see each other's talents. We’re here to help people with an interest in writing or art find local groups to support and foster their talents.

A detailed schedule will be posted at https://haywardlithop.com/. Hope to see you there! I'm looking forward to hanging out in our fun downtown all day long.

I am super excited to be reading at Barrow's Intense Tasting Room in Brooklyn on April 18 at 7pm! The Rooftop Readings series -- currently indoors and not on a rooftop due to, you know, THE COLD -- is organized by the super awesome debut novelist and super-talented entertainment journalist Randee Dawn. This reading will also feature Nadia Uddin, Richie Narvaez, and Katharine Duckett!

Barrow's is at 86th 34th Street, Brooklyn, NY (D train to 36th Avenue, then about a 5 minute walk). You DO NOT NEED TO PURCHASE A TICKET to attend, but if you'd like a drink while you're listening, please make sure to snap one up for $10 at Eventbrite. Which honestly? A cocktail in Brooklyn for $10? What a deal! Nevermind the entertainment! Purchase a ticket here: https://buff.ly/3G9ZVEZ and learn more about the Rooftop Reading Series here: https://buff.ly/3Mq63wT

Yes, this is basically my springtime promo blog tour for Wings Unfurled, and I cannot wait to share this sequel with East Coast epic fantasy fans! SF in SF went great, and now NYC will get its own taste of this book. And I'll get to taste Barrow's Intense Ginger Liquor, and honestly, I'm probably just as excited for that.

I'm looking forward to raising a glass with you, Brooklynites!

I am delighted that the Wings Rising series appears on the current episode of Pondering the Orb, a vidcast from fantasy author Jay Requard. In the episode, Jay reads the first chapter of Wings Unseen, Book 1 in the duology. This is where we first meet Vesperi Sellywn and the story gets going with a bang--or more fittingly, a poof.

Watch it here:

https://youtu.be/QV32rVUEttY

The episode also features a conversation between Jay and Sam Montgomery-Blinn, who's actually the reason that Jay and I met in the first place! Sam invited us both to read for an NC Speculative Fiction Night in 2013, which was also celebrating the launch of Bull Spec #5, which Sam edited and in which my "Bother," my first SFF pro sale, appeared. I actually still have video of my reading that night!

http://vimeo.com/22656890

Unfortunately, I think Jay stays just out of the frame, but Sam introduces me at the pedestal. That one night was the first time I met so many great authors local to the RTP area, some who'd become critique partners, some Game of Thrones TV night buddies, and others support in all the ways that we authors need each other to continue in this career.

Thanks, Jay, for sharing Wings Unseen on Pondering the Orb and for reminding me of those wonderful memories. Sure, some writers are known for their drama, but in my experience? Writers are just plain awesome and supportive people. You should get to know a few. 😉

Don't forgot! Tomorrow, I appear at SF in SF for the second time, to celebrate Wings Unfurled! This reading series takes place on Sunday, March 26, at 6:30pm at the American Bookbinders Museum in San Francisco. There's a $10 entry fee, but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

After our readings, Cliff Winning will interview me and fellow guest, Mia Tsai, who's promoting her paranormal debut Bitter Medicine. We’ll be taking questions from the audience as well, and Soma FM will be recording the event for their station. Come grab a seat and ask me whatever you’d like. Even what my characters would pick as their favorite cocktails. 🍹 All proceeds from the $10 entry fee and the cash bar are donated to the American Bookbinders Museum.

See you there!

I'll be appearing at a few events in the Bay Area, coming up this week and next. Here's the deets:

The Wizard's Homecoming Book Launch

I am thrilled to celebrate my friend, the talented Elwin Cotman, and his new speculative poetry collection, The Wizard’s Homecoming, this coming Friday, March 17, at 7:00pm Pacific Time! I'm also thrilled that he asked me to read as part of the celebration.

The book launch takes place at Hasta Muerte Coffee in Oakland, and Elwin will also be hosting comic artist Dan McCloskey for the evening. Come on out! More Info.

Strong Women • Strange Worlds Birthday Book Fair

I’ll be taking part on Facebook in Strong Women • Strange Worlds’ Birthday Celebration Book Fair on Saturday, March 18, from 12pm to 1pm PT!

This event intimidates me, to be honest. Why? Because it’s not a reading but twenty minutes of time for me to just talk about my books, my writing process, the publishing industry, and maybe even how my foodie ways influence my fiction. I’m afraid of being a rambling mess....but if you’d be entertained by a rambling Rebecca Gomez Farrell, check it out! SWSW’s birthday festivities will be going on all day, but you should be able to tune in here on Facebook at 12:00pm to find me. Sumiko Saulson and KC Grifant will also be authors on display during that Book Fair hour.

SF in SF

I am delighted to return to SF in SF for my second reading with that great celebration of speculative fiction writers! It takes place on Sunday, March 25, at 6:30pm at the American Bookbinders Museum in San Francisco.

After our readings, Cliff Winning will interview me and fellow guest, Mia Tsai. We’ll be taking questions from the audience as well, and Soma FM will be recording the event for their station. Come grab a seat and ask me whatever you’d like. Even what my characters would pick as their favorite cocktails. 🍹 All proceeds from the $10 entry fee and the cash bar are donated to the American Bookbinders Museum.

Will I see you in March? I hope so! But if not....more April events will be announced soon!

We have arrrived at the final stop of the Wings Unfurled Blog Tour. And we're ending with a doozy - a wonderful review from the folks at Big Indie Books!

My head is spinning with delight! Here's my favorite part:

Written from multiple points of view, including that of a Moon, Esye, the writer seems to have really hit her stride with this second offering. The book nicely ties up the overall story and the reader will appreciate the resolution of the various relationships we learned about in Wings Unseen, and that come full circle in Wings Unfurled.

The whole review is thoughtful, and I appreciate the amount of time and effort it takes to review books. Each and every one means so much! Especially because they aren't intended for writers, but to help readers find the works that they'll most connect with. I hope you'll consider connecting with the Wings Rising duology! Be sure to read the full review at Big Indie Books!

Only two days left to enter the $50 giftcard drawing from Meerkat Press to celebrate the Wings Unfurled Blog Tour! Don't miss your chance to profit off my success. 😉 And now for today’s contextless quote from Wings Unfurled...

“The flame must fly to be found again. That’s what my father said, remember?”

Today at WritingForums.com, I shared questions that writers should consider when writing a series.

These are questions I had to wrestle with while writing Wings Unfurled, and they may be slightly different questions than writers who intend from the get-go to write a series might consider. That's because Wings Unseen was writtten as a standalone novel, so the writing process for a second book in the same world was a different one. But many of the questions are likely useful either way.

WritingForums.Com is quite a useful forum, too, and I was excited when they joined the Wings Unfurled blog tour. They often come up when I'm searching for information on the industry or craft advice. I'm looking forward to finally starting an account with them and poking around. They do also organize manuscript critiques, which I point out because folks are ALWAYS asking for where to find critique.

I hope you pick up some tips from the post! Don't forget to also visit the Meerkat Press Wings Unfurled Blog Tour masterpost to enter our $50 giftcard prize drawing! And now for today’s contextless quote from Wings Unfurled.

And now, for today's context-free quote from the book:

“Listen to your father,” the specter said, billowing like a sheet of pressed metal in decay.

Today's Blog Tour review of Wings Unfurled is glowing! Thanks to Monty's Book Reviews for sharing their thoughts. Here's a snippet:

"An enthralling story told from three separate viewpoints which are skillfully woven into a free flowing narrative that keeps the reader's interest throughout. The characters are both interesting and flawed which endears them to you as the story progresses and ensures that a vested interest in their future is maintained. "

Read the full review at https://montysbookreviews.blogspot.com/.../wings-unfurled... and find an excerpt from Chapter 3, the silver moon's first POV chapter! Have you entered the Meerkat Press Wings Unfurled prize drawing yet? Only four days left to enter....

And here's today's contextless quote from Wings Unfurled:

He wilted, a vine in the sun. Alive, but with too much taken from him.

Today, on the Wings Unfurled Blog Tour, you can visit Ali Lucia Sky's blog, where I answer "What’s The Worst Writing Advice You’ve Ever Received?" It's a claim I've heard many times, from many writers, but one that lacks the nuance that newer writers need to hear, in my humble opinion.

You'll also find an excerpt of Chapter 1 in the book! This comes from Serra's point-of-view, and she's at Castle Callyn for the first time in quite a while....and for reasons she needs to report to King Dever right away.

Don't forget to also visit the Meerkat Press masterpost to enter our $50 giftcard prize drawing! And now for today's contextless quote from Wings Unfurled.

“I heard the Green Lady was building a new glass house, so I came with my hammer and thought to help.”