I just returned from the 2018 Nebula Conference in Pittsburgh. It was my first writing con of any kind, and going in I was nervous. When I signed up (and reserved my hotel, and purchased my flight) I knew literally zero people who would be attending the con. Some I followed on Twitter (and some of those even followed me), but in terms of people I’d actually met in person–none. I was that unconnected with the sci-fi/fantasy writing community. And I knew that was something I needed to fix.
To celebrate the release of my first book in print, I’m giving away a prize to a random purchaser of my novelette “The Icelandic Cure.”
Since the story is about genetic engineering, I thought a DNA-related prize would be appropriate.
The Prize
One 23andMe Health + Ancestry Kit (retail price $199)
or
$150 cash (if you’ve already gotten your 23andMe results, or don’t want them)
The Rules
Contest rules are simple:
The contest will run until June 15, 2018. I’ll announce the winner and award the prize by June 22nd.
I don’t directly profit from sales of the book–I won the 2016 Omnidawn Fabulist Fiction prize which granted a flat fee prize of $1000. But I’d still like to do what I can to boost sales and promote the story.
This is a strong, thoughtful story that inspires hope for the future, curiosity about medical progress, and sheer terror at what might be done in its name.âPublishers Weekly
Thank you, and good luck!
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The contest winner is Hardy Stegall of Pretty Prairie, Kansas. Congratulations Hardy!
Over the years I’ve noticed my blood pressure creeping up a few points, on average, each year. Recent readings have been good (around 110/70) but I’ve seen my systolic BP register as high as 130, which is considered prehypertensive, and high(ish) blood pressure runs in my family.
Controlling blood pressure is an important factor in terms of reducing risk of heart attack and stroke. Common sense measures are avoiding excessive salt, exercising daily, limiting alcohol, and losing weight if overweight. But what about food?
Garlic
This study from 2017 found that raw crushed garlic significantly improved several aspects of metabolic syndrome in humans, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
In this rat study, hypertensive rats given S-1-propenylcysteine, a compound from aged garlic, had their systolic blood pressure return to baseline values.
Fish Oil
In this study, older adults experienced a drop in blood pressure after taking four grams of fish oil per day for twelve weeks.
This study found that older adults given fish oil for twelve weeks experienced fewer hypertension-related symptoms.
Fish oil is a supplement, not a food, but presumably fatty fish such as salmon and sardines would have a similar effect. And this study suggests that’s the case.
Low-Fat Dairy
This broad review of the literature found associations between consumption of low-fat dairy (especially skim milk) and reduced hypertension, but no association with supplemental calcium, supplemental vitamin D, or whole-milk dairy products.
Whey protein in particular appears to reduce hypertension.
Dark Chocolate (Maybe)
This paper reviewed twenty recent interventional studies using cocoa on both normotensive and hypertensive subjects, and found modest but consistent reductions from high-flavanol chocolate, especially dark chocolate.
On the other hand, this eight-week study found no effect on blood pressure in hypertensive adults from daily consumption of dark chocolate.
This study found very modest reductions in blood pressure, but improved endothelial function after four weeks of adding high-polyphenol dark chocolate to subject’s diets.
Berries/Red Grapes (Maybe)
In one study, blueberries, while improving endothelial function, didn’t appear to reduce blood pressure.
This study found modest improvements in blood pressure and other cardiovascular markers from daily consumption of strawberries, but not enough to warrant a “treatment effect.”
However this meta-analysis found significant reductions in blood pressure from foods rich in anthocyanins, including berries and red grapes/wine.
Summary
Daily exercise (long brisk walks at a minimum) is probably the best defense against (and remedy for) hypertension and metabolic syndrome, even among young people. But diet comes in at a close second. While recent research suggests that reducing sodium may not be effective, adding fresh garlic, fatty fish, skim milk and/or whey protein may be beneficial. And dark chocolate, berries, and red grapes may have additional positive effects on endothelial function.
In June of 2016 we took a short family trip to Europe, visiting my dad in France and doing some genealogy research in a small town in Italy with my mom. An unexpected highlight of the trip was a two-day stopover in Reykjavik. The cheap flights on WOW airlines lured us in, but arriving in Iceland’s capital on the day of their historic Euro cup tie with Portugal got us into the national spirit.
Something about the city must have stuck with me. On our return I wrote a investigative sci-fi thriller set in Reykjavik. I submitted the story to the Omnidawn Fabulist Fiction contest, and to my surprise it won.
This is a strong, thoughtful story that inspires hope for the future, curiosity about medical progress, and sheer terror at what might be done in its name.âPublishers Weekly
If you enjoy philosophical, plausible science fiction, I think you’ll enjoy this story. Please do me a solid and pick up a copy (or more, for friends and family). “The Icelandic Cure” is now available for purchase directly from Omnidawn, or via Amazon. And if you’ve already read the book, please take a few seconds to rate it on goodreads or amazon.
Moyerâs research into neurology and gene therapy gives Jane a credible persona. Her intellectual progress as she unearths fragments of the mystery is lovingly tied to the ever-greaterâand ever more crucialâquestions of self-determination. . . . Jane writes, âWho wouldnât fix a genetic flaw or two if they could?â Beyond the human desire for personal improvement, the consequences of this technology involve systemic corruption and the preservation of our right to choose.âThe Arkansas International
Speaking of plausibility, recent events made me wonder if my writing might be a little too plausible. My recently-published story “Plastic Eater” (2nd place winner of the sfreader.com contest) appears to be unfolding in real life.
One note–if you do purchase the chapbook, please retain your proof of purchase (email receipt or other) for reasons I’ll explain in a forthcoming post.
Thank you!
I’ve been sleeping better–much better–and it feels like a good time to do a complete roundup of all the methods that appear to have helped me, and also mention a few sacred cows of sleep tips that didn’t seem to help at all. For those of you new to this blog, my sleep went to hell in mid-January after the deaths of two family members within a single week. It’s been a slow climb back to a more-or-less normal sleep pattern ever since. Here’s what worked:
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