Allison Hurd's Blog, page 16

Book is On Sale PS The World Is Burning

It feels disingenuous to ignore what’s going on today as I write this post. But there you are. I am dealing with the realities of the world in which I find myself and am afraid I don’t have much time or energy right now to write a decent post.

If you’re hurting, know we’re fighting. If you’re confused, listen. If you’re tapping out right now to keep your sanity, that’s fine, too.

If it is helpful, Feeding Frenzy is on sale. Buying and reading it helps me remember what I love doing, supports small artists, and is a bright point in my life. I hope maybe it can be one in yours!

[image error]OMG IT’S NOT FINE! SUPER UN-FINE. THIS IS THE RAW SUGAR OF FINE.

Feeding Frenzy Is Teething!

This week Feeding Frenzy turns one! Happy birthday, small thing I made! In honor of that, it will be on sale starting the 27th through Valentine’s Day! I’ll mention that again later. It will also be returned to Nook and added to Smashwords, so if you’ve been waiting to read it, here’s your chance!

It’s been really important to me lately to have something I can do that inspires me. With everything going on in the world, it’s so important to have something that not only brings me joy, but encourages catharsis; the good guys always win, and the monsters always get what’s comin’ to them. I hope you all find and share whatever it is that allows you to keep on keepin’ on. Know you’re in my thoughts, and constantly at my fingertips–a lot of you have characters in my books!

 

Near Future, Near Failure

I learn a lot from seeing the thoughts of others.

A lot of the time, it’s bitter medicine.

It feels like we spend all this time being told we’re wonderful the way we are, that we can be anything, but somewhere around our mid-twenties, if you still believe that, you’ve stopped growing, and will be stuck as a frustrated teenager forever.

After that, you get a few gleeful tidbits and a whole lot of carefully worded admissions that nothing is fair, truth is mutable, you actually hurt a lot of people on accident because you think you’re done growing, and the only way to make things better is to take on a lot of things that suck.

That’s what my latest reading choices have highlighted. As part of my resolution, I’m trying to read twenty books by twenty authors I have somehow missed until now. I’m really lucking out so far with my first two reads. Digital Divide by K.B. Spangler and Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale are both tales about how far we can go in relative quickness. While Digital Divide is definitely the more positive of the two, it is filled with subtle bias and discrimination, a chilling tale of struggling against self, society, and moral codes wrapped in a brightly packaged series of jokes and cultural references.

Meanwhile, The Handmaid’s Tale dispenses with the jokes and focuses on the inner beauty and horror of someone trapped in their own mind by a society who refuses to see past function.

I would recommend both, and that we all take a good look at ourselves to ensure we end up with lesbian cyborgs fighting for justice rather than silent Handmaids, dreaming of burning us in our sleep.

[image error]Hush little baby, don’t say a word. Mama’s gonna burn down the whole damn world.

The Wise and The Profane

I’ve been discussing lately what makes something mature. Is it the language? The content? The depth of comprehension? Some unfortunate combination thereof, that, like charisma, you’ll either possess or envy forever?

Hell if I know. Most days someone says something serious to me and I look around for an adult to come sort it out and then I realize this person is older and presumed wiser than I am and is asking me for my help, which means no one’s driving the bus.

[image error]OMG! YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WITH WRISTS! TURN THEM! TURN THEM!

Correct use of language doesn’t bother me. I think one of the hallmarks of my generation is that word use doesn’t bother us much, but words used at someone are a problem, as are words co-opted from other groups and misused. For example “son of a bitch” is a totally acceptable thing to say in surprise. But if that person said “you son of a bitch,” I may take it a little personally. Slurs are completely unacceptable. The “c-word” will get you thrown out of my house, I don’t care what context it’s used in. (Sigh. Except the books by GRRM, because apparently there wasn’t any other word he could think of, and I like dragons.)

And, while dropping helper verbs or articles is now a thing used in common parlance, it has grammar to it, believe it or not. You can say “I been done,” which is a phrase stressing how quickly something was finished, but “I been fished” makes no sense, unless you’re a trout upset about the hook in your mouth. “I done fished,” is, however, totally correct English.

Those are the things that get me. F-bombs are more like f-breezes, unless they’re aimed at me, and then we ’bout ta have have a talk.

So, if it’s not language, what makes a book for mature audiences? The sex? Girl…there’s been sex in the books I’ve read – even YA! – since I was eleven maybe? Probably earlier, but that feels safe. Sex is everywhere. Is it the violence? It better not be, because Looney Tunes is basically a riot of ultra-violence, and I watched that a lot as a kid. The gore? I hope not. I really don’t want to just read gore for the rest of my life.

Take that, gore!

I tend to think books more mature when they’re…well…not as fun. No dragons, no spaceships, lots of metaphors and the loss of something critical to the human experience. That sounds like a thing grownups might read. They like things like coffee and beer and onions, so maybe somehow they derive pleasure from the terrible things in the world, which is why they read the news, even now that websites don’t often have a section dedicated to crosswords, horoscopes and Charlie Brown.

But I also think it can be in how less painful things are discussed. When the bad guy is actually just a guy who doesn’t understand how he impacts the world around him, when some things can’t be put right, even if you have all the right spell components. When we think about how zero gravity would impact human evolution and how the vastness of space would weigh on our psyche, those are not small, childish thoughts. We don’t think of children as mature when they curse at the TV, or when teenagers fool around, or toddlers punch each other. We consider them mature when they stop thinking just about themselves and how cool something would be. When they discover stillness and consideration. And therefore, I submit that possibly it’s the same for literature.

Resolved

Happy New Year!! I am so excited to have the reign of terror called 2016 quit us. Ciao, you sonovabitch, I hope you skin your ankle when the door hits you on the way out. Bring it, 2017. I’m ready to make friends, but if you’re not gonna play nice, I’m gonna bite you. 2017’s going to be a big year, I can feel it. For example, today is the last day to enter for a paper copy of Feeding Frenzy. The times they are a-changin’! So, what is your goal(s) for 2017?

Here’s what I’m gonna do, come Hell, high water, or drought:

1. Finish “Just A Taste.” I’ve got it mostly outlined and I think it’s gonna be funny. This one is much lighter than The First One’s Free, but it will similarly be a quick read. Aiming to have it out in the summertime!

2. Finish Blood And Bone. Already outlined, one chapter down, and about five thousand total words written. I really have to take a break though to do item number four, so we’ll see how long this one takes me. I’m really excited for it though, y’all. It’s got BOOM kinda action and tear emoji kinda feels. Gonna be great.

3. Read 20 books by 20 people I’ve never read before. I think I’ve got them mostly figured out on Goodreads! It’s a good mix, gender-wise, but I don’t think I’m being very good right now with my intersections. I’m really really behind in some classics and standards–even in the genre I write in!–so I’m trying to clean that up pretty quick. I’ll be honest, I’m nervous. I had a pretty disappointing year for reading (with a few stand out exceptions like The Fifth Season) and most of them were authors I already enjoyed! So 20 strangers feels like…a risk. But I live on the edge baby.

4. Do something I hate but have to do. Get it out of the way.

5. Go to the Nordic countries. The Other One and I have been talking about this forever. I want to go to a show in Finland, he wants to tour Stockholm, and we both wanna boat down the fjords, while they’re still there to boat down. This is our time!

[image error]

6. Record the audiobook for Feeding Frenzy. It seems like this is a thing people like? So I guess I’m recording myself saying words. Over and over. It’s kinda fun though! Let’s see how many times I can’t hide the fact there’s a cat butt in my face as I record.

7. Smash oppression. 2016 kicked my ass. This is the come-back fight. Hold onto your butts.

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Happy All The Days (And A Gift!)

 

Holidays, man.

They’ve found us.

Thanksgiving is my favorite because I just need to remember to show up and stuff my face. Maybe I’m put in charge of a singular food. Like dessert for broken people who dislike pie. My people.

And then there’s the pageant called The Holidays. Navigating the rituals of various religions, family traditions, and work parties, it’s a solid block of cookies, eggnog, and guilt.

Is this a good gift? Are we still doing gifts? Did I already give this to you? How do you plan a holiday meal for a group that is vegetarian, Celiac, diabetic, kosher, lactose intolerant and just plain picky? Are we going to mass? What movie is the Must Watch? Where will everyone sleep? HOLY CRAP IS IT SNOWING?!

It’s just too much. It is extra.

Summer and Lia simply take themselves out of the equation and take vacation over The Holidays. They are smarter than me though, and their family isn’t as tight knit as mine is. So, I’ll put up with all the -ish in order to spend time with ’em, the goofballs.

We’re hosting this year, which means we’re trading the hopscotch tour we tend to do of New England in favor of me just not sleeping for three days because I insist on waking up when the first person is awake and not sleeping until the last one goes to bed. Still worth it,  but it’s never that “relaxing sitting on the couch watching the snow fall” thing you see in movies.

I’m making a goose! I’ve never had a goose. You will not get me to stop making A Muppet Christmas Carol references all weekend. I’m also making two desserts I’ve never had, which is the epitome of a bad idea. You shouldn’t make multiple things for the first time as company comes, but I’m both a rebel and a risk taker.

I even think I might use a mix of napkin rings. Oh yeah. Put my face on a t-shirt, I AM the revolution, baby.

We picked up a few games to play this year–Archaeology and Spy Fall, which both look pretty fun but I haven’t played yet. We have the usuals…Taboo, Scrabble and all that, but sometimes confusing (slightly) drunken relatives is just as much fun as the game, so I’m excited to see how this works out! Maybe we’ll convert ’em and next year will be the world’s largest Risk Tournament, and then Hell will freeze over, pigs will fly and the four riders will set out upon their fell steeds.

Speaking of picking up, Feeding Frenzy is up for another giveaway on Goodreads! Get it before the New Year!

Yes, this is a small gift, sorry, I stressed about what to get you, but I wasn’t sure if you’d gotten me anything, either and I didn’t want you to feel bad so… yeah. Feeding Frenzy it is!

You go ahead and enter giveaways, and I’ll show you the bird. No, really, I’ll show you pictures of the goose I’m cookin’. I’m just planning to goose you, is all, I promise. Nothing personal.

 

This Is A Rebellion

I saw Rogue One this weekend! I won’t spoil anything–it was fun! I hope you get to go see it. I’m not sure 3D was necessary, but it did help hide when I cried, so plan what is best for you.

It got me thinking though. We all want to be the soldiers in the rebellion. The people who would sacrifice everything, but whose names will become synonymous with hope and victory.

If only all rebellions kept us fed and clothed and offered homes to our children! God, we’d all be such big damn heroes.

But they don’t, really. The professional protester is a myth. The people on the front lines of any cultural war are the few underpaid staffers of some non-profits, the one or two radically motivated, and the people who’ve lost everything and have nowhere else to go. The rest of us will not be infantry. We will be intel, we will be supply lines, communications, runners, and cogs in the war machine. Don’t get discouraged that you won’t be a general! Your options are not “in the trenches” or nothing.

So what can you do? What can any of us on our couches, lacking financial or political resources do?

You fucking rebel. That’s what you do.

Give resources you have.

Got cash? Give it to a non-profit that makes sense to you. Don’t over think it. Something is better than nothing. Got time? Volunteer somewhere. Anywhere. There are a million wars looking for troops. Got neither? Make a call or two a week. Set a schedule, pick topics, get numbers, and call people with more resources than you have.
Encourage and educate.

This is freaking exhausting work and it will never end. It is thankless, painstaking, and so, so important. Shoulder this burden. Be kind, supportive, and gentle. Remind workers that they’re valuable. Thank people for asking questions. Provide answers even if you’re yelling “this is what the internet does!” the entire time.
Create.

Art isn’t for the tame. Be fearless. Recall the struggles you wish to highlight and overcome. Make something for it that communicates your thoughts to others, in solidarity, censure, or the spirit of growth. Shoulder your part of the criticism, because art is the riot shield pushing back status quo.
Live, laugh, love.

It’s trite, but true. Do not let the nebulous “them” rob you of your joy, whatever that is. Fall in love, celebrate, explore, cherish the things we’ve won, the rights we’ve secured. Don’t feel guilty for living. Just don’t forget those who didn’t make it. Celebrate them, too. You’re standing on their sacrifices. They didn’t do it for you to be miserable. Continue the work, and appreciate what you have.

Is It Time for Audio or Just Holidays?

We are in the twelve days of winter festivities range now. You are running out of time! BE STRESSED LIKE ME!

Nah, just kidding. If you’re stressing about what to give people, may I ask that you consider giving someone some books for Christmas? Two books make a decent gift, and if you buy books from an indie author, you’re also shopping local, giving money to the arts, and encouraging authors to keep authing. I just so happen to know two such books here!

I’m also playing with the idea of offering my books as audiobooks. What do you think? Do you listen to books at all? Is my voice made for radio, or just my face? Let me know your thoughts–I’m not super interested in spending hours and hours doing something if it turns out it’s like Brillo pads on people’s ears, you know? I’m fairly anti-Brillo-ing ears.

If maybe pictures are more your speed, I’m now on Instagram!

I hear that’s where all the kids are these days, so I, too, have found my way there, like that grad student who awkwardly shows up at the frat party. People want to see pictures of things about writing, right? And staged photos I make for a fake world? I mean, I do, at least.

Let’s be picture buddies.

Tired of me in all my forms but still interested in supporting indie authors? KB Spangler writes wonderful books and has a whole shop! If you like ghosts and robots and Ben Franklin, you’ll love her work.

Stanley Hurd‘s books wrap very well and are incredible gifts for those in your life who’ve ever enjoyed (or might enjoy) Jane Austen.

Jessica Woodard‘s books are perfect for last minute shopping, because you can email them! Sweet, spicy, and good fun, I’ve recommended them to many.

Or, check out Luci Cosway, for the people on your nice list who are a little naughty. Rowr!

Whatever you decide, I hope the season goes more smoothly for you than it tends to for banishers. Basically, don’t get eaten or sucked into any after-lifes, and do try to consume something with rum in it at some point.

 

 

LAST DAY!

Quick note that today is the last day to grab Feeding Frenzy for $1.99! Tomorrow it's back to full price. If you've been waiting for a new urban fantasy (not PNR) read that's funny, fast-paced, and has complex heroines, now's the time to get a sweet intro deal.

Book Deals Work Better Online

PHEW! Well, that’s that. I guess I’m done with all things book forever, now that these two are out.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Ah. It’s good to laugh. Instead of over, IT HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN.

Yeah, Theoden King, that’s what I just said. You don’t have to look so grumpy about it, though.

Feeding Frenzy is on sale until some time on? through? December 5th. I’m not actually sure how this works. We’re learning together! Soon, we’ll grow a bond and superpowers. We’ll use them to fight invading humanoids and unexplained magical phenomena! Ach, sorry, people have been talking about anime a lot recently, and I lost my way a second. I’m back.

I wanted to thank the people who helped me rill quick. Thanks Jessica, Dante, Paul, Tiff, and Maude for reading everything through, catching my errors, and convincing me I needed to do more work. Dave, I already thanked you, don’t get greedy.

Some people. Honestly.

And now I guess I work on getting people to know I exist! Apparently following them around malls shouting “I have something I think you’d like” isn’t um…well, it’s frowned upon, let’s just leave it at that. There was lots of frowning.

Also on writing the next two things, but honestly my writing time until March is basically nonexistent. Life is a bitch, but less so than an underworld, so I’ll dance to its tune.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy a book and the start of the holiday season. If you’re lookin’ for gift ideas…the hard copy of Sacrifice should be out any day now, so I have something I think you’d like!

Can I say that here? Are you frowning, too? Don’t frown.

Sigh. It’s like the mall all over again. Yes, officer. I’ll leave.