A.J. O'Connell, Author at GeekMom

20 Fantasy Novels and Series by Black Authors

June 9, 2020June 9, 2020A.J. O'Connell

Fantasy has traditionally been a white, male-dominated genre, but that’s changing. Here are 20 fantasy books by Black authors, most of which were published in the last decade.

‘She Remembered Caterpillars’ Comes to Nintendo Switch

March 25, 2019March 24, 2019A.J. O'Connell

‘She Remembered Caterpillars’ is a puzzle game in which you lead cute, spore-like creatures called Gammies around a dreamscape while haunting music plays. There’s also a larger story: a scientist’s desperate experiment to save her father, with whom she has a complicated relationship.

My Week in a High-Fashion Facebook Ad Rabbit Hole

December 17, 2018December 17, 2018A.J. O'Connell

This is the story of how I did not tell Facebook its algorithm was wrong, and kept deliberately clicking on the most ridiculously-priced ridiculous fashion in the hopes that the algorithm would deliver more. It did not disappoint!

Earrings by Emma: Plastic Post Earrings for Sensitive Ears

November 26, 2018November 26, 2018A.J. O'Connell

When Emma, age 10, wanted to add more variety to her earring collection, but didn’t want to deal with her sensitivities to most metal posts, she made up her own with plastic posts!

Tini Lux: The Company That Helped Me Wear Earrings Again

November 4, 2018November 4, 2018A.J. O'Connell1

GeekMom A.J. wore titanium earrings in her sensitive ears for a month. Here’s how it went.

Introducing Your Kids (And Other Family Members) to DOCTOR WHO

July 25, 2018July 26, 2018A.J. O'Connell

Are you the lone Whovian in your house? Gallifrey Public Radio came to ConnectiCon this July for a panel on introducing every family member — from the youngest to the oldest — to the Doctor.

Attention Cats & Kittens: Margaret Atwood’s Comic ‘Angel Catbird’ Is Now a 1940s Audioplay

March 3, 2018March 2, 2018A.J. O'Connell1

Audible’s audio adaptation of ‘Angel Catbird’ is the cat’s meow.

I Tried A Bunch of Tricks for Wearing Earrings in Sensitive Ears. Here’s What Worked.

February 26, 2018February 26, 2018A.J. O'Connell38

GeekMom A.J. tried the all the Internet’s tips for wearing earrings in sensitive ears so you don’t have to.

I Miss Being Young and Dead Inside

February 10, 2018February 9, 2018A.J. O'Connell

GeekMom A.J. rarely cried when she was young and cool and child-free. Now she cries all the time, for every emotion, and it’s getting worse as she ages.

Reading ‘The Hobbit’ Aloud? Make It a Punk Rock Sing-a-Long.

January 23, 2018January 22, 2018A.J. O'Connell2

Anarchy in Middle-Earth!

11 Geeky Yoga Pose Names to Distract You During Class

January 10, 2018January 10, 2018A.J. O'Connell2

Why do Tree Pose when you can be the Eye of Sauron?

It’s the Week After Halloween. Here Are the Best Halloween Clothing Sales.

November 6, 2017December 12, 2017A.J. O'Connell

While most of humanity is reasonably irked about having to listen to “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” when they’re still eating their way through leftover Halloween candy, I am here to tell you why this is a good thing: Halloween stuff is on clearance this week.

GeekMom ‘LEGO Ninjago Movie’ Giveaway

September 20, 2017December 12, 2017A.J. O'Connell6

Are you a LEGO fan? If so, you’re probably all suited up for ‘The LEGO Ninjago Movie,’ which opens in theaters on September 22.

10 Things Parents Should Know About ‘The LEGO Ninjago Movie’

September 18, 2017May 8, 2018A.J. O'Connell16

What you need to know about ‘The LEGO Ninjago Movie’ if you’re going to see it with kids.

‘The LEGO Ninjago Movie’ Screening Passes for West Hartford, Connecticut

September 13, 2017December 12, 2017A.J. O'Connell1

Screening passes available but act quickly before they’re gone!

10 Things Parents Should Know About ‘The Tick’

September 4, 2017December 12, 2017A.J. O'Connell

‘The Tick’ is now available on Amazon’s streaming service and is included with Amazon Prime.

Actor Martin Klebba: A ‘Pirate’ and a Champion for Dwarf Rights

July 15, 2017December 15, 2017A.J. O'Connell

How should parents talk to their kids about the dwarf actors they see in the movies? Martin Klebba, who plays Marty, a member of the Black Pearl crew, in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ has a simple answer: don’t be a jerk.

7th Doctor Sylvester McCoy On the Importance of Older Superheroes

July 13, 2017December 15, 2017A.J. O'Connell

The Doctor is an old superhero who solves problems with his brain. McCoy, a guest at Connecticon 2017, says that’s valuable.

9 Body-Positive Cosplay Lessons We Learned at ConnectiCon 2017

July 9, 2017December 15, 2017A.J. O'Connell3

Some of the lessons we took away from Making It Fit: Techniques for Body-Positive Cosplay, a panel at ConnectiCon 2017.

‘YIIK: A Postmodern RPG’ Invites You to Game Like It’s 1999

April 29, 2017December 12, 2017A.J. O'Connell2

Playing the ‘YIIK: A Postmodern RPG’ demo at PAX East in March was a little weird for me. After all, I graduated from college in 2000, just a year after the game’s protagonist comes home from college to find himself facing both adulthood and a terrible mystery.