In an effort to better discipline myself into updating my blog on a more regular basis , I’m instituting a new feature here, starting today– I call it Soda Saturday. Every Saturday I’ll drink and review a novelty or international soda (suggestions welcome), which will serve two purposes– first, it’ll be fun (I like trying new things as much as anyone), and second, the taste-test will provide a reason to get me to my blog and a launching point for whatever else I have to write about that day.
So with no further ado, today I’m drinking Refresco Goya Cola Champagne, purchased in the international section at Harris Teeter. Don’t be deceived by the name– this Hispanic soda bears absolutely no resemblance (besides that it’s cold and wet) to either cola or champagne. Appearance-wise, it more closely resembles a bottle of melted orange freeze-pops.
The flavor is pretty hard to describe. It’s extremely sweet– there’s a definite vanilla element reminiscent of cream soda, but with a hint of artificial fruitiness, as if a handful of orange tic-tacs were crushed up and dissolved in it. It’s pleasantly fizzy, but it sits heavily in the stomach and for some reason it actually seems to coat the tongue with an aftertaste that lingers like one of those awkward handshakes that doesn’t break off when one thinks it should. While not offensively nasty, it’s not what I would call refreshing by a long stretch of the imagination– it’s just too thick and cloying. When I was a kid, though, I’m sure I’d be all over this stuff… for pretty much all the same reasons I’m less impressed with it now. 2 out of 5 stars.
With that out of the way, I’m excited to make a couple fun announcements regarding sci-fi conventions. I have two coming up (maybe three, but more on that later) I am going to be a guest author at. On November 14-16, I’ll be down to Charleston, SC for Atomacon, and, next May (29-31, 2015), I’ll be at ConCarolinas. I attended ConCarolinas as a fan this past summer and had a blast talking with other spec-fic authors. I’m really looking forward to the chance to hang out with other sci-fi people and to connect with some new readers.
Speaking of hanging out, I’m going to be at R&B Games, Cards, and Comics, for Halloween Comic Fest on October 25, signing copies of Pantheon. If you’re near the Statesville area, swing by, snag some free comic books, and say hello.