Posts in Life, the Universe, and Everything


John Denver and the Muppets album cover

Christmas Songs, Christmas Covers

My family was never particularly religious, but we always celebrated Christmas. And one of our favourite holiday traditions was playing Christmas carols. While some Christmas songs are so irritating that I practically punch holes in my car’s dashboard attempting to ... Read More  

Fox Talk: How Some Very Special Animals Helped Scientists Understand Communication by LE Carmichael Book Cover

Ten Random (But Fascinating) Facts About Dogs and Domestication (Plus, Holiday Freebie!)

Have a junior science lover on your holiday shopping list? Here’s how to give them a special treat: Buy a copy of Fox Talk or Fuzzy Forensics from your favourite bookseller Email a copy of the receipt to shop@foxtalk.ca Include ... Read More  

skull reflected in cornea

(Holiday) Customers From Hell… And How To Handle Them

Another piece from my archives for Throwback Thursday this week! After I defended my PhD, I took a job at Chapters (best job for aspiring authors ever). Most of my customers were fabulous, but one was truly possessed by ... Read More  

Fuzzy Forensics: DNA Fingerprinting Gets Wild by L.E. Carmichael - Front Cover

The Lizards in the Luggage (And Bonus Holiday Freebie!)

  Have a junior science lover on your holiday shopping list? Here’s how to give them a special treat: Buy a copy of Fox Talk or Fuzzy Forensics from your favourite bookseller Email a copy of the receipt to shop@foxtalk.ca ... Read More  

The Hobbit movie poster

The Hobbit Blu-Rays – Theatrical or Extended?

On Cyber Monday, Amazon informed me that The Hobbit Extended Edition trilogy was deeply discounted on Blu-Ray. I nearly bought it… and then I had second thoughts. I have The Lord of the Rings Extended Trilogy on Blu-Ray, and ... Read More  

bath and body works collection

It’s Not the Holidays Without Bath and Body Works’ Twisted Peppermint

December 1 – the day I switch on the twinkle lights and start playing Christmas Carols. Also the day I switch from whatever Bath and Body Works scent I’ve been using all fall to my holiday favourite – Twisted Peppermint. ... Read More  

border collie

Talking to Your Dog Is Not as Crazy as You Think (Plus, Bonus Holiday Freebie!)

Have a junior science lover on your holiday shopping list? Here’s how to give them a special treat: Buy a copy of Fox Talk or Fuzzy Forensics from your favourite bookseller Email a copy of the receipt to shop@foxtalk.ca Include ... Read More  

Tornado Alley - Free Short Story for Middle Grades by L.E. Carmichael

Tornado Alley – A Short Story for Middle Readers

Ann emptied her purse onto the bedspread and poked through the coins. Ninety-seven cents. A Barbie doll cost three dollars. She sighed. “I’ll never earn enough.” Tree branches scraped against the window, and Ann flinched, her pulse jumping. “It’s ... Read More  

cover for The Prince and the Hedgewitch

Hey Look, I Created a Newsletter! And It Comes With Free Stuff!!

It was one of those projects that was on my list for years. Also one of those projects that sounded simple, but turned out to be a bit more complicated in the actual implementation. Read More  

Bite Into Bloodsuckers book cover

Bite Into Bloodsuckers – Like Vampire Bats!

Want more creepy good bloodsucking facts? Check out Bite Into Bloodsuckers by Kari-Lynn Winters and Ishta Mercurio – perfect for the ghoulish 10-year old in your life! Read More  

Stan Carmichael in uniform

Now, More Than Ever, We Cannot Forget

A lot of us have had a really rough week. A lot of us are wondering what a Trump presidency is going to mean for us, and for our family and friends, and for the world at large. For every ... Read More  

Harry Potter puts on invisibility cloak

Now You See Me…

If you were a superhero, what power would you pick? Reading minds? Super speed? How about invisibility? That last one is a good choice. Scientists around the world are already working on ways to make everyday objects – like ... Read More  

Monster Squad poster

Life Has Become a Scary Movie

In keeping with my longstanding Halloween tradition, I’ve been watching scary movies for a couple weeks. In this context, my definition of scary is fairly broad, including such films as: Cabin in the Woods (the perfect combo of terror ... Read More  

Lindsey as a demon

Happy Halloween!

The doctor will see you now. Read More  

young bison in the woods

A New Home on the Old Range

I’ve been cleaning out my manuscript files, and came across this little news piece. Since I wrote it in 2011, it’s not quite news anymore. But Google tells me that an additional 30 Canadian bison were added to the ... Read More  

Grandma's Teacups - Free Short Story for Early Readers by L.E. Carmichael

Grandma’s Teacups – A Short Story for Young Readers

Summer was the bestest time of year. Kaylee loved lying in warm grass, looking for cloud pictures. She loved running through the sprinkler. The ice-cream truck came every day. But the bestest part of summer was going to Grandma’s ... Read More  

Young girl dressed as Holtzmann from Ghostbusters

Mad Science in the Movies: Ghostbusters Edition

I love the new Ghostbusters. I really, really, do. It’s funny, it has great special effects, the casting (including supporting characters) is brilliant. And despite being a fantasy, it’s so authentic, it almost hurts. Academia really is that cutthroat. Female ... Read More  

movie poster for 10 Cloverfield Lane

On Highlander, Suspense, and Offending an Entire Fandom

Wow. When I wrote about my issues with Highlander last weekend, I had no idea that: There is a large Highlander fandom I was about to make it angry. Oops. One member of the fandom turns out to be a ... Read More