David Bowles's Blog: Meme Floe, page 5
April 19, 2021
WITCH OWL PARLIAMENT Cover and Trailer
Thrilled to share a book trailer and the cover for both the English and Spanish versions of The Witch Owl Parliament, Volume 1 of Clockwork Curandera, the new graphic novel series co-created by Raúl the Third and me that drops this October from Tu Books.
First, the covers!
And here’s the exciting book trailer!
April 7, 2021
THE PATH GRANT
In conjunction with Estudio Tlalli, I am establishing THE PATH GRANT, which will award annual $2500 prizes to new and emerging BIPOC women writers of speculative fiction.
To fund the grant, I am donating all of my royalties from my space opera quartet THE PATH (The Blue-Spangled Blue, The Deepest Green, The Rising Red, and The Swirling Black). I’ll add whatever remaining money required to award at least one prize per year.
I will also be seeking further funding to provide support to the maximum number of BIPOC women writers possible.
Some specifics:
BIPOC—any member of a community of color that doesn’t identify as white, principally Black, Indigenous, Latina, Asian, Pasifika.Women—any person who identifies as a woman, whether cis, trans or non-binary.New or emerging—a writer with no more than one book to her name and fewer than a dozen short fiction / non-fiction credits.Award date—January 1st of each year.Application process—There will be a short form to fill out on the Estudio Tlalli website. A writing sample and statement of creative philosophy will also be requested. The application window will run from June 1st to October 1st. A panel will review applicants (using a rubric that we will share in advance) and select recipients by December 15th of each year.More details forthcoming!
April 5, 2021
“Desperation” by Senryū
Karai Senryū was born in 1718 in Edo. A town official and frequent judge of poetry contests, he was responsible for popularizing a more whimsical or humorous variation of haiku that now bears his name (senryū). Some of his work is darkly ironic, as in this piece.
her parents, left
with just well rope and necks,
take a son-in-law
—translated by David Bowles on March 5, 2021
Original Japanese:
親達は井戸と首とで婿をとり
oyatachi wa
ido to kubi to de
muko o tori
“Longing for the Divine” by Matsuo Bashō
In 1688, during one of his many journeys throughout Japan, Bashō came to Mount Yamato Katsuragi. Near the Shinto shrine for the local god, Hitokotonushi, the poet composed this haiku.
still, what joy I’d feel
to find the god’s face amid
all these morning blooms
—translated by David Bowles, April 5, 2021
Original Japanese
猶みたし 花に明行 神の顔
nao mitashi
hana ni ake yuku
kami no kao
March 3, 2021
THE BLUE-SPANGLED BLUE Soundtrack
After writing my first science fiction novel, The Blue-Spangled Blue, I began to get ideas for a sort of literary soundtrack, music that would dramatize certain scenes or embody characters. By 2012, I had produced fifteen instrumental pieces. In 2021, I crafted another three for the book’s republication. You can listen to them by clicking on the track titles below, or download them by clicking on the three dots on the right.
1-The Path
2-Beyond the Oort Cloud
3-Fenestration
4-Osculation
5-Jitsu
6- Brando (coming soon)
7-Massacre at the Temple
8-Tenshi (coming soon)
9-Station City
10-Quantum Enlightenment
11-The Oracle
12-Tenshi and Brando
13-The Haunting of Konrau Beserra
14-Tana and the Blue Fairy
15-Bereft
16-Alpha Squad Battles L’ermandá
17-Pursuit Across the Desert
18-Divine Monsters
February 28, 2021
Cover Reveal for BLUE
On Wednesday, February 17, Tor(dot)com revealed the cover of The Blue-Spangled Blue, book one of The Path, my new BIPOC space opera.
We have since updated the image on the cover. Here’s the new version!
Coming March 16, 2021: The Blue-Spangled Blue. Art by Estudio Tlalli.Series description: Humanity stands at a crossroads. Our next steps will either lead us over a precipice or elevate us to enlightenment. It is a crucial time, when the actions of every person matter. A single family could tip the balance.
This is the story of that family. If we follow in their footsteps, we will walk along… The Path.
Book description: Tenshi Koroma’s people, the Aknawajin, were brought to the planet Jitsu as workers more than a century ago. Against all odds, they managed to win their independence from the world’s corporate owners.During a long period of isolation, a theocratic government arose, dominated by fundamentalist views. Now, as Jitsu begins to open itself to the rest of humanity, Tenshi—a controversial architect and leader of a religious reform movement—meets Brando D’Angelo, who has left Earth to accept a teaching position on Jitsu. As the two grow closer, Tenshi begins to teach Brando about her faith—The Path—and he decides to accept its tenets, to shatter his identity and rebuild himself with her guidance so that he can be worthy of a soul.
But the dogmatic struggles on Jitsu are a mask for the machinations of a diabolical mind, and the couple’s life will be forever altered by the cruelty of Tenshi’s enemies. In the aftermath, their family will find a perilous new Way along The Path. And their steps will echo throughout history.
December 4, 2020
Debut Picture Book Cover!
Early one Saturday morning, a boy prepares for a trip to the Other Side/el Otro Lado. It’s close—just down the street from his school—and it’s a twin of where he lives. To get there, his father drives their truck along the Rio Grande and over a bridge, where they’re greeted by a giant statue of an eagle. Their outings always include a meal at their favorite restaurant, a visit with Tío Mateo at his jewelry store, a cold treat from the paletero, and a pharmacy pickup. On their final and most important stop, they check in with friends seeking asylum and drop off much-needed supplies.
My Two Border Towns by David Bowles, with illustrations by Erika Meza, is the loving story of a father and son’s weekend ritual, a demonstration of community care, and a tribute to the fluidity, complexity, and vibrancy of life on the U.S.-Mexico border.
About the illustrator:
Erika Meza was born in Mexico, fell in love with animation on the border with California, and developed a taste for éclairs in Paris before moving to the U.K. As an adoptive Tijuanense, she took her first steps to find her visual voice at the border—forever fueled by tacos de birria. When Erika isn’t drawing, you’ll find her drinking coffee, tweeting, or plotting ways to bring her cat traveling with her.
Erika Meza nació en México, se enamoró de la animación en la frontera con California y desarrolló un gusto por los éclairs en París antes de mudarse al Reino Unido. Como tijuanense adoptiva, comenzó a encontrar su voz visual en la frontera, siempre alimentada por tacos de birria. Cuando Erika no está dibujando, la encontrarás tomando café, tuiteando o tramando formas de llevar a su gato de viaje con ella.
And here are the covers of My Two Border Towns/Mis Dos Pueblos Fronterizos:
My Two Border Towns / Mis Dos Pueblos Fronterizos are now available for pre-order: !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';..., 'script', 'twitter-wjs');lang: en_US
December 1, 2020
HALFLING named one of Best MG Graphic Novels
So delighted to see Rise of the Halfling King (illustrated by Charlene Bowles) on Kirkus’s list of Best Middle-Grade Graphic Novels of 2020!
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October 17, 2020
THE PATH Coming 2021!
Exciting news: Castle Bridge Media has bought my BIPOC-futurist space opera quartet THE PATH (formerly named D’Angelo Chronicles.)
Revised versions of the first three books (briefly self-published a decade ago) will drop quarterly in 2021 with stunning new cover art by Cody Jimenez. Then the series will wrap up in 2022 with a final volume.
The tagline: “Humanity stands poised at the brink. Our next steps will either destroy us or elevate us to a new stage in our development. It is a crucial time, when the actions of every person matter. A single family could tip the balance. This is the story of that family.”
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';..., 'script', 'twitter-wjs');lang: en_US
October 10, 2020
The Swirling Black
A work-in-progress. The soundtrack to my novel The Swirling Black. Will be released spring 2022.
1-Only the Broken
2-Reversing the Arrow
3-Semanawak
4-Return of the Dead
