Gail Carriger's Blog: Hail the Victorious Parasol - Posts Tagged "gail-carriger"

You can watch me read the WHOLE first chapter of Divinity 36 on YouTube! Curious as to how this stuff sounds in my head? This is it.

DIVINITY 36

DIVINITY 36 direct from me

My "eye" necklace

My lippie is Revlon Ultra HD Vinyl Lip Polish in "She's On Fire"

My new glasses are Pair Eyewear's "Ella" with changeable magnetic frames

My dear Gentle Reader, how about a post featuring things I’m enjoying that are making me happy right now? I hope it cheers you up, and if you try any – that they make you happy too!



Someone told me about book fans & I’m so excited they belong at the top!

1. Spring at the office

My office is looking very pretty right now. Because my apartment is so small and crowded I have a separate remote office. That office is kept nice and tidy (as is my wont) but it is also very very VERY cold. I’m so glad the weather is finally turning warm again. The office is both more hospitable now and looking lovely with flowers (no flower at home… cat eats them).



2. Wearing Lip Masks

I’ve talked before about my perennial dry skin and the Eternal Quest for all things that fix that (without causing my equally sensitive skin to overreact in some way). I found this lip mask for evening use (fancy talk for a nice lip balm). The pot is adorable, it’s citrusy, and it works pretty good.

I’m also enjoying this lip oil mostly because it has a slight cocoa sent and my little heart enjoys anything food related.

3. Meeting the maker of The Tea

OK, it’s complicated. Not quite the maker of the tea, but the brother of the person behind the making of my beloved Deep Blue Abyss oolong tea.



He was at the last steampunk event I visited. And he brought me a bunch of individually wrapped samples of my tea. I’ll be including these in giveaways etc. via the Chirrup regularly for a while.

Just letting you know.

And for drinking tea I have also discovered a new travel tumbler I love.

4. Eating rum cake

Speaking of tea and things that go very well with it, I’ve been on a rum cake hunt recently. I know, rum cake is more of a fall/winter kind of thing, but really is it ever the wrong time of year to eat a rum cake? Rhetorical question.

I used to Love these little mini prepackaged ones that they had at the Dickens Fair way back in the day.

I’m convinced that they exist somewhere else (in reality) if I could just find them. So I ordered these ones, and they are good, but not exactly what I wanted. I worked my way, slowly, through all the flavors, just in case.

~I liked the taste of the Caribbean Mexican Vanilla flavor best but its consistency was more like a poundcake than a sponge cake, and I was hoping for something with a little bit of a lighter feel to it.

~The Kentucky Bourbon Butter Cake actually tasted the closest (whiskey versus rum notwithstanding) and had the best consistency, but it still wasn’t exactly right.

Quest continues.

5. Reading manga & graphic novels

For some reason I’ve been reaching for and reading manga and graphic novels again. I don’t know why, but my brain is really loving this style of story at the moment. And my motto with reading tends to be to lean into whatever is appealing to me at any given time.

Some of these were rereads, and some of them were new to me. Here’s a quick list of my current favorites:

Old-Fashioned Cupcake by Sagan Sagan – probably one of my favorite romances in a really long time, plus the live action adaptation was brilliant and beautifully shot & acted.

Bloodlust & Bonnets by Emily McGovern – basically Jane Austen is given the sword and gets piratical. If you’re a fan of my Parasolverse stuff but you wanted a little bit more Our Flag Means Death in the mix then this is for you.

The Flower That Seems to Truly Dance by Saki Tsukahara – this historical romance is just stunning, the art is so beautiful. There’s some gender bending social commentary as part of the story structure.

I Cannot Reach You by Mika – I actually enjoyed the live action adaptation (on Netflix) of this yaoi better, but the graphic novel is still very good. It’s a sweet love story that genuinely explores the ramifications of falling in love with your best friend in a gentle and kind way. Friends to lovers is such a common trope but it’s rarely handled with such delicate authenticity.

The Bride was a Boy by Chii – I have mentioned this graphic novel before, because it is an almost memoir manga of love and transition that manages to be entertaining, happy, and sweet but ALSO extremely informative. Highly recommended for those who might be questioning their own gender, but also family and friends of anyone transitioning who need a window of understanding.

10 Graphic Novels You’ll Enjoy if You Loved Soulless the Manga

6. Watching Thai drama The Sign

This show is on YouTube, but I wouldn’t advise you to just click and go watch it. Please read the rest of my thoughts first:

It is a wild ride.

It’s truly unhinged in the most glorious possible way. It’s a bonkers mash up of a dozen different genres

~paranormal romance
~mythological fantasy
~police procedural
~suspense & slasher
~and, of course, BL

Was it good? Not really, but I had a raucous good time watching it.

Tropes included (but are not limited to)

~soulmates
~fated enemies
~band of brothers
~doomed lovers
~reincarnation cycles (red thread, gender bending)
~pre-cog & supernatural abilities
~shape shifting alter egos
~and it gets pretty darn sexy.

If you’re a fan of my San Andreas Shifters stuff, you might enjoy this, but if you can’t/don’t get the first episode, it’s not for you, I give you complete permission to just drop it and walk away.

FYI: A few if you have asked, and I am indeed planning a third installment in the epic series of blog posts I did a few years ago (during lockdown) on Asian dramas, and BL in particular. It’s just taking me a while to write up all of the reviews for the new spate of shows we’ve had (that I have watched, and want to recommend) since the last installment. Watch this space though, I promise it is coming.

In the meantime, if this sort of media interest you here’s a two-part series that I did on the subject:

BL Dramas Analyzed from a Writer’s Perspective: PART I>/a>

BL Dramas THE LIST: What to watch? PART II

This show, The Sign, is very much a BL of its time, in that I don’t think we would’ve gotten something like this if there wasn’t an established track record in Thailand of previous successful BLs. It’s so off kilter and experimental, and that’s for me part of its charm.

7. Traveling again!

I cannot articulate how exciting it is too once again be consistently traveling. After I got back from Thailand I had to go on hiatus for a while to deal with some pretty extreme family drama.

But now I’m back and in gear. I was in Colorado Springs for superstar writers, I turned right around and went to Wild Wild West Con in Tucson, and this month I am off to both Seattle and later Portland (Pendleton). I enjoy travel, for the sake of it and to be in motion and go new places, see new faces, and eat new things, but I also very much enjoyed going back to familiar territories and seeing old friends and readers again.

Upcoming Events

8. Receiving a Tippy Golden Teacup Award!

I am the proud winner of a Tippy Golden Teacup Award for Tea Maven of the Year.



I’d like to thank the Mum, Madame Askew, the Grand Arbiter, and all who have helped turn me into the tea sipping malcontent I am today.

9. Cosplay!

I honestly have no idea how long it has been since I did any kind of cosplay. I forgot how much fun it is. At Wild Wild West Con this year, I participated in an informal Star trek steampunk cosplay group. A couple of friends told me they were doing it, and I happen to have a dress and corset that would work perfectly for red steampunk Star Trek, specifically a sort of take on an officer in ST:TNG.

Here we all are:


10. Purple Food!

A little while ago I did this thing where I collected a bunch of purple food and then sampled it on video and relayed my unfiltered thoughts on the matter. Anyway my favorites of the ones I ate were these Hopia Purple Yam Cakes which reminded me a little of moon cakes and very fresh tasting roasted yammy, not too sweet, quite filling. Quite enjoyable. If they were a little easier to get hold of I could imagine snacking on them regularly.

I should say, I generally really like purple yam (ube) things. But because it is such a delicate flavor, I prefer this kind of execution to its use in baked goods or ice cream. It’s too often cut with vanilla or something else and it’s own natural sweetness doesn’t come through properly.

Case in point, I got this lovely (looking) ube cream filled croissant. But while it looked gorgeous, it tasted quite bland. And the pastry, which has to carry the day under such circumstances, was really disappointing (stodgy). So all in all, I was sad about the whole experience. And I probably won’t be going back to that bakery anytime soon.

Honestly, I didn’t mean to end this on any kind of a downer. The purple food experience was, in general, quite pleasant.

Also that Live in which I essentially did an accidental mukbang (Accidental Mukbang = the name of my Kpop cover band) was my most well attended video for the past year . Made me wonder if I should integrate eating strange snacks into EVERY live video (oh, woe is me).

No hardship, I’m always eating the strangest things I can get my mitts on.

I always joke that my tombstone is probably gonna read

“She only wanted to try it once.”

And on that note, I’m off. Probably to go stuff my face with something inexplicable.

Yours,

Miss Gail

My darling Gentle Reader!

I’m participating in a most excellent Fantasy Steampunk Bundle, curated by the indomitable Kristine Kathryn Rusch right NOW.

One of my silliest books, Defy or Defend (in which our heroine must save a vampire hive with the power of interior decorating) is a bonus offering.

(One of the things that always amuses me with these bundles is how bright and cheerful my covers are compared to others. It’s very Gail of me.)
About Storybundle

With StoryBundle, you decide what price you want to pay. For $5 you’ll get the basic bundle of four books in any ebook format ~ worldwide!

If you pay at least the bonus price of $20, you get all 4 of the regular books, plus bonus books!

Bundles are only available for a limited time.

StoryBundle allows easy reading on computers, smartphones, and tablets as well as Kindle and other ereaders via file transfer, email, and other methods. You get multiple DRM-free formats (.epub, .mobi) for all books!

It’s also super easy to give the gift of reading with StoryBundle, thanks to our gift cards – which allow you to send someone a code that they can redeem for any future StoryBundle bundle – and timed delivery, which allows you to control exactly when your recipient will get the gift of StoryBundle.
Previous bundles?

How to Marry a Werewolf was offered as part of a gaslamp fantasy digital bundle in 2022 curated by Charlotte E. English

Yours (destined to be killed by a tumbling TBR pile),

Miss Gail

My dearest Gentle Reader, I have a new book in the works at last!

The Dratsie Dilemma, the fourth book in the San Andreas Shifter Series is coming December 1, 2024!

image:

Preorder The Dratsie Dilemma today!

Preorder is rolling out slowly, please be patient. It will be on your platform of choice and in the edition you prefer soon. Promise.

You can preorder directly from Gail and read the first chapter.

Otherwise here’s where the digital edition is currently up and running:

Amazon
Kobo
B&N
Apple
Other

About this book:
Once upon a time, Trick went up against the sea and lost. Badly. Or so he thought.

What the sea decides to keep, it keeps forever.

Trick is a dratsie shifter, a river otter. He is charming, loads of fun, and just a little bit slippery. He’s running from a past he can’t forget, and he’s landed unexpectedly in the chaotic comforting embrace of a small town cafe and the world’s queerest pack of werewolves.

Unfortunately, it turns out the past has also refused to forget Trick. It washes up on his doorstep and gets instantly tangled up in marine biology conferences, twelve mermaids thrift shopping, and specialty cappuccinos. That past is grumpy, sexy, and wearing a very sparkly tail. (Don’t you dare call him a fish.)

Trick was just starting to feel like it was all going to be okay. But sometimes the sea decides to spit up a merman who has been looking for Trick for over a decade. And Trick will have to decide whether he starts running all over again or faces up to heartbreak and the childhood best friend who betrayed him.

The San Andreas Shifter books stand alone and do not need to be read in any order, but if you’re a stickler, this book comes after The Enforcer Enigma (and newsletter exclusive short story Vixen Ecology).

Delicate Sensibilities?

This paranormal romance contains M/M sexy times, horrible puns regarding oceanography, and clumsy mermaids in high heels. If you get offended easily, then you probably will. The San Andreas Shifter stories include blue language, dirty deeds, and outright admiration for the San Francisco Bay Area. Not for the faint of heart (or mouth or tongue).

Articles, thoughts, and tidbits for The Dratsie Dilemma

Where is Print & Audio?

Where is the preorder for the print edition?


The Dratsie Dilemma audiobook is in the works. Please be patient. Audio take a lot of time and money to get right. Why must that be?
Gail always makes her audiobooks available for purchase ahead of time to members of her newsletter, the Chirrup. She also gives away audiobook codes regularly.

If you want up to date information on this release – you simply must get the Chirrup.

About this cover

This cover is by the talented Joy Kenney who stepped in and handled everything in a pinch. I am very grateful to her.

I was asked where I get my models. In some cases they are friends (I have inroads to the local burlesque and cosplay community which means photographers etc…). In some cases they come from networking within the local queer or steampunk community. And in some cases I use stock art.

We went with that color green because it reminded me of my beloved Pacific Ocean, particularly off the coast where I grew up (north of the Golden Gate Bridge).

Also I wanted this cover to look good with all the others, whether that be just the books or the full scope of the series (including the two shorts).

For those who don’t know reading/digital order is as follows:



But there are only 4 full length print editions in this series:



The two shorts are reserved special beasties.

You can read/listen/print out Marine Biology for free as a member of the Chirrup.
Vixen Ecology is offered as a digital exclusive ($1.99) to Chirrup members only. It is also provided as a pdf so you can print it out and have it in physical form that way.
The Chirrup is my newsletter, it’s tons of fun, sign up here.

The two shorts are not offered in print as books themselves because they are too short to bind properly into a book form. That would be silly. And I am only silly with purpose, never on a whim.

All of which is to say, the cover and colors of Dratsie Dilemma were also chosen because I wanted this book to look good both in digital and print form along side all of its brethren.

Yours (swimming through the mire of book launch),

Miss Gail

I know, kind of an incendiary blog title. But when the concept of this “new genre romantasy” came along, a group of us jaded old Gen X types were left looking in great confusion at each other and wondering why no one was talking about books exactly like this from 20 years (or so) ago.

So here you go!



My 10 Favorite Early Romantasy Books!
I define romantasy as a 50/50 combination of romance and fantasy. Pretty simple, actually. Some of these lean a little more one way than the other. The genre seems to be earning its weight and references from Maas and Yarros, but my recommendations aren’t going to be exactly like those. I prefer a bit more range to my fantastical elements when I read this genre. You’ve been warned.



1 Warprize
Vaughn

This is a culture conflict comfort read for me. I just love the juxtaposition of Keir’s pastoral-nomadic allied tribes and Xylara’s settled quasi-medieval world. The romance is sweet and poignant but equally balanced against wonderful alt-history meets fantasy world building. The side characters are excellent too, and there’s solid LBGTQ representation (especially as the series progresses).

I love that there are flaws in culture and knowledge on both sides of this relationship, as well as strengths. As the fish out of water main character, Xylara must learn both balance and understanding. I also really enjoy a healer main character. This book never serves me wrong.

2 Radiance
Draven

I have no idea why this book is so neglected and forgotten about. Because for my money it is one of the best early romantasys ever written. Perhaps it was too far ahead of its time? Perhaps it’s the cover art that is doing it no favors?

Regardless, this is a stellar read.

Built on the arranged marriage trope, this one posits a kind of dark elf male lead, a nightbourn creature of razor teeth, claws and luminous yellow eyes. It is his background and the underhill court family dynamic that our heroine is thrust into as a result of an arranged marriage. There is an alien quality to Brishen, which I very much appreciate. These two, from completely different worlds, learning to trust, rely and eventually adore and want each other is magical. There’s a truly romantic nature to the alliance they forge, when ultimate victory is getting to have and hold onto your one person, make that person your rock to cling to, and become that for them in return. It’s a wonderful love story.

3 Kushiel’s Dart
Carey

Okay, depending on your age you might already know about this one. But out and about chatting with “the young readers” I have come to realize that many of our youth have never heard of this fantastic series.

It’s amazing. An absolute sensation back in the day, with ground-breaking cover art and ground-breaking concepts and themes. The main character is trained as a courtesan and then adopted into a noble household to become a spy. The plot is deliciously convoluted, and her many loves and losses over the course of this trilogy are both sexy and epic.

In fact, that is something not enough fans give Carey credit for – she not only writes characters, intimacy, kink, and relationships well, but her battle sequences are extraordinary. If you want truly epic romantasy, this is the one, especially the later books.

Perhaps it’s the main romance arc that’s the weakest link? I prefer to think of this as a kind of poly romance (Nicola is my bias) but I think Josselin will still satisfy romance readers. Well, all but the biggest sticklers. Which, if you are reading my blog, I suspect you are NOT.

4 The Lightning Struck Heart
Klune

Before The House in the Cerulean Sea Klune wrote this absolutely hilarious comedic high fantasy piece, that is also a romance. This one has pretty much everything you could want, including absolute belly laughs.

I stayed up late to finish this and actually cried with laughter.

It’s a brilliant book, that suffers from persistently bad covers. Please forgive it it’s a visual sins for the gem of prose that is within its pages?

If what you always wanted from Terry Pratchett was more romance and more gay, here you go. I know I was beyond delighted.

5 Lord of Two Lands
Tarr

How about historical romantasy set under the conquering army of Alexander the Great? Perhaps the romance isn’t exactly front and center, but it’s definitely there, and it is truly romantic and wonderfully endearing. A high priestess from Ancient Egypt joins Alexander the Great’s army for… reasons. Falls in love with one of his soldiers.

The other awesome thing about this book is Tarr’s writing style, which is utterly unique. I’ve never encountered anything like it before or after. I love this book and I’m constantly recommending it, but so few people have actually read it.

Another one that is in a similar vein, but for a young adult audience is Mara Daughter of the Nile.

6 Bitterwood
Speedwell

This one is definitely on the romance end of the spectrum. What sets it apart in the genre is the setting. You can feel the bone aching cold seeping through the pages of this book. It’s deeply chilling to its core, but you can also feel the warmth of the connection between the main character (who is gay) and his love interest (who is bi). Because they notice and resonate with each other in a way that is very adult, grown up. Both clearly feel that they no longer deserve or get to give romantic love, not because of self worth, but because they feel they have moved on to a new phase of life. They are both bound hard and willingly by their respective duties, the one to his country and soldiers (he is a captain of the guard) and the other to his home and civic responsibilities (he is a landed nobleman). Their love builds slowly despite this, out of a profound mutual respect. It’s a thoughtful and mature little story, that reminded me a little of Robinson’s Cheysuli series.

7 The Forgotten Beasts of Eld
McKillip

I have talked about my love for this book many times (so often I ended up writing a forward to a new edition) but this time I’ll mention the romance.

This romance is about sacrifice. It’s about what is required to love a truly powerful sorceress, one who has little care or attention for the world of men, because she is greater than the petty squabbles of kings. But it is also about what one gives up in order to keep the smallness of love, the tiny comforting parts of it, the warm stew and quiet hearth.

It’s about finding and accepting the magic of the self, and the joy of affection, as opposed to the great and the grandiose. And it is about the fact that it might be worth sacrificing power to be, not happy, but content.

There is a reason this is one of my all time favorite books.

8 Crown Duel
Smith

This is a YA of the old school style (low heat) but it is also still a KILLER romance.

Told in essentially two parts this about a wild child country bumpkin duchess who leads a revolt against the crown. The heir to that crown sets out to catch her but ends up falling in love with her and wanting to catch her for whole new reasons.

The second half is what happens when our main character goes to court and must learn to fight on a different playing field. At which juncture the prose includes a secrete identity component while our prince is trying to court and educate our troublemaker without her realizing he’s her enemy from the first half.

Mel is a plucky and incredibly likable heroine, with none of the angst and all of the good, giving, game we enjoyed in our 90s YA.

9 Grave Mercy
LaFevers

Another romantasy series the weaves alt-history together with spies, assassins, court intrigue, and the occasional battle sequence. If you like Carey, then LaFevers is her scion.

Actually it’s the second book in this series that is, I think, the most romantic. But they kind of have to be read in order. All three are about troubled young women with horrible pasts (triggers all around) who are taken into a convent and dedicated to be Death’s Handmaidens.

The can see the mark of doom on their intended targets and they are bound to execute that doom under certain circumstances. Of course it all goes wrong when they fall in love.


10 Poison Study
Snyder

Similar to Uprooted in the tone of the romance, so if you read that and were put-off by that style of power differential romance (I know some were), you probably should avoid this book. But I happen to like both this kind of romance and this kind of book.

Yelena killed her abuser and is sentenced to death because of it. It’s just she’d going to serve out that sentence as a food taster to the commander of the realm. But Yelena’s past has more secrets in it than even she knows, and her survival depends on her ability not just to master her own abilities but to make friends who will help her along the way.

The romance in this book is certainly on the back burner and the fantasy tropes are somewhat predictable since they make up the backbone. I happen to enjoy predictable tropes, in romance or fantasy, there is reassurance in that. But because of the style of this series it means the ending of this first book is HFN not HEA, so you’ll need to be aware of that. This is strong SF/F style, which means the romance will be a somewhat slow burn behind the whole series, not just the first book.

BONUS!



Beauty by Robin McKinley
Hands down the best retelling of Beauty and the Beast. And sure, fairytale retellings don’t necessarily Count as romantasy, but this one is such a good retelling and it is quite romantic, but I had to include it on the list. Just because also so few younger readers know about it six distance. It’s also beautifully written and really fun to read with great and extremely lovable characters. So I think people who read my books and are also looking for romanticism would particularly like her work.

* Seriously though, if you want your dragons having sex causes humans to have sex trope from the original, then you really should read the person books. My favorite is actually the bar to call trilogy, but those are pretty way, so what you’re probably looking for is something like Dragonflight.

** You might also try Melanie Rawn. Just Saying.

Yours (destined to be killed by a tumbling TBR pile),

Miss Gail
Want more sneak peeks, free goodies, gossip, behind the scenes info?

This goes to my Chirrup members, because I love them bestest. Sign up here.

I have stuff for you today about my favorite authors, but in a round about way. Simply put, here are authors who I read a lot. In fact I’ve read over 5 of their books. But that’s partly because they’ve written over 5 books! I do have other favorite authors.

10 authors by whom I’ve read at least 5 books (the way back version)

So these are authors I read a lot in my youth. This is going date me. (But, frankly, you can find out how old I actually am if you try hard enough. This is the Internet Age, there are no secrets, only lies. Good luck finding my actual birth date. That’s under lock down.)

Garth Nix
Tanya Huff
Kate Elliott
Lee & Miller
Anne McCaffrey
Robin McKinley
Patricia Wrede
Jane Yolen
Sharon Green
Tamora Pierce

10 authors by whom I’ve read at least 5 books (the yes, really version)

Some of these authors may surprise you since, for various (probably not very valid) reasons, I don’t seem to talk about them much.

SL Viehl
Jean Johnson
Moira Moore
Eli Easton
Lyn Gala
Kim Fielding
Amy Lane
AE Via
Cat Sebastian
JD Macdonald

10 authors by whom I’ve read at least 5 books (the of course version)

Never say you’re surprised by any of these!

Douglas Adams
Terry Pratchett
Mercedes Lackey
Patricia Briggs
Alyssa Cole
Courtney Milan
KJ Charles
R Cooper
Alexis Hall
TJ Klune


Yours (destined to be killed by a tumbling TBR pile),

Miss Gail

This one if for the authors at the back, Gentle Reader (Author?) Enjoy!

10 Habits That Improved My Author Life

1. Jealously guarded writing time and determining what time of day/system works best for me.
2. Writing dates with other authors that I get to via walking or biking = social time, sunshine, exercise, and productivity.
3. Writing retreats.
4. Joining local author groups/clubs.
5. Dedicated writing bag/backpack that includes noise cancelling headphones.
6. Blocking out time for painful tasks (e.g. taxes).
7. Blocking out monthly brain breaks, usually a weekday where I’m not allowed to schedule anything, just give myself time to be creative.
8. Understanding exactly how I value my time and how much my time is worth to me including what I must/should/enjoy doing most.
9. Consuming writing podcasts and YouTube videos.
10. Doing something small that makes me happy every single day.

10 Habits That Improved My Author Business

1. Weekly agenda plus time on Mondays set aside to review that agenda each week.
2. Systems and templates for everything (e.g. itinerary, invoices, newsletter) stored in the cloud.
3. Dictating into the Notes app on my phone for emails, blog posts, social media, story ideas.
4. Writing down goals: writing, business, life and then parsing each out into manageable tasks, so that they become SMART goals.
5. Scheduling time to achieve those goals (and to review them 4 times a year).
6. Scheduling, time boxing, and batching social media.
7. Refusing to engage with DMs on any platforms, instead using automated responses or redirects to email me about business or join my newsletter for fans.
8. Automated bill payments.
9. Tracking spreadsheet for all of my subscriptions and auto-pays (monthly, annual, or sporadic; on what credit cards; about how much they charge; and how to cancel them with links).
10. Jealously guarded weekends, when I have them and I’m not traveling, that are not for work.

10 Tiny Habits That Improved My Life
1. Creating traveling kits for myself inside zipper pouches of different textures that all live in a go bag.
2. Finding a sunscreen that I actually love wearing, and wearing it every day as part of a dedicated skin care routine (I may have to start buying these when in Thailand as the best filters are banned in the US).
3. Labeling and organizing my house accessories in clear plastic tubs.
4. Using a thermos (with built in tea strainer) for my tea in the mornings instead of a teapot.
5. Leveling up my compost bin, I mean literally, raising it up so it’s level with my countertop.
6. Cooking mainly with an electric tea kettle, toaster oven, wok, or rice cooker (and not my oven).
7. A digital shopping list on my phone.
8. Winding down in the evening with a scented candle.
9. Creating zones in my apartment so that all items of one type (like cleaning or repairing) are together in one place and easy to find.
10. Ensuring my entire house has conveniently placed charger, plug, extension cord combos and devices that work off of USB charging (e.g. speaker, lighter) rather than batteries

Yours,

Miss Gail

Darling Gentle Reader,

It has been a while but I thought I might provide you with an update outside of the Chirrup at least once this year. I know I know.

Fun Book Releases


Dear Lord Akeldama & Parasolverse Ephemera

Dear Lord Akeldama and the Parasolverse Ephemera got a limited run cloth bound gilt inlay special edition from Subterranean. As of typing this there are about 100 left. As always with these editions there is only the one shot at them.

This compilation may be released in print in another form (or not, knowing me) but this style and fancy hard cover version will never exist again. It’s now or never.

My lovely author friend Lin Lustig drew the cutest Lord Akeldama chibi as a pirate that I am charmed by.

Lin writes fun silly queer uplifting pirate fantasy. If Lord A were a pirate, he would likely be in her books. The most recent one is Our Ship Must Sail. She describes it as “a cozy sapphic fantasy series about sky pirates.”

The Heroine’s Journey sold into Korean translation last year. I never announce these kinds of things, because even if they buy the right one never knows if the translation will happen.

This one did!

3 Kdrama’s that made me think of this narrative arc?
The Uncanny Counter | Hospital Playlist | W

This is my first Korean translation for any of my work. Some of you may know I am a big Kdrama and Kpop fan so this was a real delight for me to have happen.

Plus I think the Korean script is so stunning looking, kind of modern and mathematical. I adore the precision of it. It’s very tidy looking.

Where has Gail BEEN?

Mexico
I went to Mexico on a tiny writing retreat just after the Popster died. It was to try to get my head back in the game, not a resounding success. Still, it was nice to see a part of the world I haven’t ever before (in this case La Paz, I’ve been to Mexico proper quite a few times back in my Archaeology days).

La Paz is a boat kinda place full of boat kinda people. The Popster was just such, and so I found it a tad challenging since my feels around boats and his relationships to them (my string of inanimate siblings that all signs point to him loving more than me) are complicated, to say the least.

CONpossible
After that is was off to a steampunk event where I got to see some of my dearest friends.

These two were the best last good thing to happen to me before the hell year began.

Hell Year
Hell year = car total, concussion, moving Popster, caretaking Popster, terminal diagnose 1 & 2 of 3 (not me, people I love), breakup/divorce-ish (15 years counts, right?), Lilliput death, Popster death, terminal diagnose 3 of 3 (please world stop now) and so forth.

Atlanta Love (Matcha Shade)
I also got to spend a little time in Atlanta for the first time in my life, and I have to say I liked it a lot.

Mad respect for the size of your H-Mart (I wish we had one close SO BAD), the epic food scene, and general goodwill and kindness of the peeps.

I enjoyed the place, the food and the company. Can’t ask for more, can you? Shout out to the fact that multiple times the green thing I encountered was pandan flavored. I ADORE pandan and it’s really difficult to find. Green things tend to be macha flavored these days, and I am sad to say I am not a fan of the grassy side of tea.

New Book in Progress!
After that I had yet another writing retreat, I really was trying to get back into being able to write fiction after a year of crisis management.

This time it helped a bit and I got started on a new book. Code HTCAK it’s is in the How to Marry a Werewolf line and you can follow it’s progress in the Chirrup. I’m loving it so far, we are deep in (what was called then) Burma just after the Napoleonic Wars at the very edge of the British Empire, but I’m making no promises these days on deadlines because life has been so chaotic. I’m to scared to tell you a thing will be done when I may get derailed all over again my incommodious circumstances…

There were parasols in the sky at this retreat, which I took as a good sign, and for some reason I keep running into this style art installation (more to come on that).

Look, here’s the thing, after the Popster died I went a little stir crash and I said to Kelly, said I, Assistant please just say yes to stuff, I need to get away.

And so-eth, she doth say yes, and I might have bitten off a bit more than I could chew for the rest of this year as a result.

It’s been necessary, I think, but a LOT of travel.

Distractions are good, but also, perhaps, escaping one problems should not be undertaken in quite such a literal manner? Just Gail from the future talking to Gail in the past for when this happens again. Because that looks more and more likely.


France & Spain

After that is was off to France where I had an… interesting time. It was really nice to meet my French readers and see my translator again, but it was an odd not-bookish event.

One of them brought me hard boiled eggs, which was very very exciting to this weary traveler who had picked up a bit of a tummy bug. I love an egg on the road.

I bought some lovely jewelry and was reminded of my long gone days working the Ren Faire. But a book event it was… not.

I got to see my new French books covers and was pleased the Parasol Protectorate is still getting some love. But I suspect I should be getting more of my books translated into French in order to keep those readers happy, and it’s just very complicated and wicked expensive when I do not speak the language myself.

Speaking of speaking, I do have a little Spanish so after France I visited Barcelona.

This was a trip I had planned with my ex pre-covid, Also this is a place I visited and fell in love with in my 20s. I was great to be back, and I didn’t feel any of the anti-tourist sentiment.

First I didn’t stay or spend much time in the tourist parts of the city (they haven’t changed much since I was last there) and second I dress and act (and walk) like a local. This is a part of the world where it is relatively easy for me to blend in.

It was odd for me. I could see myself visiting again for a writing retreat, but I’m not sure I enjoy traveling to this part of the world alone. There’s a lot of things, like dining out, that are really long social activities and it felt surreal to do this by myself.

All that said, Barcelona’s filled croissant game is ON POINT.

Summer Fun
Back home and then off to a charity tea in Virginia. Another event that was in process for before the pandy and managed to reboot itself.

Because I wore a new cute thrifted dress I did a whole blog post of that event here. No need to rehash. Super chuffed to say someone on the socials said I looked like a teacup myself, and that is exactly the look I was going for so… yay!!!

Some of my best friends from high school and I went on a little trip to visit one of our number who recently relocated to the Chicago area.

I tapped the lovely Volumes Bookstore & Cafe to host an impromptu gathering.

So many of you turned out for that, I was quite touched. I haven’t done an event in Chicago in 9 years so it was so nice to be remembered. Many people drove many hours to come, and there were a ton of new faces as well.

Truly honored to those who made the effort to drive into (and PARK) in the city, I know it’s such a hassle.

Wore one of my favorite new vintage acquisitions this lavender 1940s organza dress with a cool neckline. I’m getting into these sorts of colors as I get older and also this one packs like a dream. I also had it on the France trip.

Someone made me these little dolls of Conall and Alexia.

Chicago was the next place I meet the parasols in the sky!

Lots more this time around.

Lately I have been to WorldCon in Seattle but that was such a bumper of an event I likely will do a whole other blog post on it. Outfit rounds ups and some notes from the panels and other exciting projects that have resulted.

Right now I am home(ish) for a few months. Still settling the last of Popster’s estate, it just goes on forever. I have a few more events in October and November, but I am looking forward to being in place for the next month or so.

Maybe I will even get some writing done?

Except…

One Should Not Bathe One’s Computer
Revelation, I know!

So during the Chicago trip I upended an entire glass of water on my main laptop.

I did all the things. I dried what I could. But the blinky blinky light of doom doth break. So I am down for the count while we see what can be salvaged.

Don’t worry about the work!

I write in Scrivener which does a cloud backup via dropbox, and I edit in gdocs which is in the cloud already.

I also back up my whole computer regularly, and always the day before a big trip. So the only bits I lost were what I did on the plane on the flight there, which wasn’t a whole lot.

So I’m ending this blog post with a reminder to run a backup, just in case.

Oh and don’t bathe your computer.

Yours (destined to run herself ragged),

Miss Gail