Kelly McCullough's Blog, page 14
December 5, 2014
Wayward Waywardness
Wayward is just a fun word, isn't it?
Anyway, there's a new installment of the School for Wayward Demons up, called "Magical In-Take Exams." Go check it out.
As I think I MAY have mentioned here, I'm going to be one of the Guests of Honor at this next year (2015)'s MarsCON. They're currently soliciting ideas, and I've been wracking my brains trying to come up with things I want to talk about. It's weird, because this not usually an issue... me, having trouble rambling on about any old subject. But, I guess the problem I'm having is, what do I know that's not just super-detailed fannish squee about the latest chapter of Bleach or whatever. I mean, I could totally talk about how awesome all the things I'm watching and reading are, but... do people really want an entire hour about Barakamon? And is anyone else in the entire Twin Cities watching it?
So, you know, if you can think of anything I might be good at talking about, let me (or MarsCON) know.
Anyway, there's a new installment of the School for Wayward Demons up, called "Magical In-Take Exams." Go check it out.
As I think I MAY have mentioned here, I'm going to be one of the Guests of Honor at this next year (2015)'s MarsCON. They're currently soliciting ideas, and I've been wracking my brains trying to come up with things I want to talk about. It's weird, because this not usually an issue... me, having trouble rambling on about any old subject. But, I guess the problem I'm having is, what do I know that's not just super-detailed fannish squee about the latest chapter of Bleach or whatever. I mean, I could totally talk about how awesome all the things I'm watching and reading are, but... do people really want an entire hour about Barakamon? And is anyone else in the entire Twin Cities watching it?
So, you know, if you can think of anything I might be good at talking about, let me (or MarsCON) know.
December 2, 2014
Links Galore
Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving (if you celebrated it).
I have some links for you. Why? Because it's Tuesday, the day I put out all the content. We have for your reading pleasure a new installment in the Wayward Demons story: "Tracking Trouble." In this story, we get a little bit closer to Erin.... Also, I have posted a new bit in UnJust Cause (which is a bit of a heart breaker): "The Stubbornness of Dragons."
Enjoy!
I have some links for you. Why? Because it's Tuesday, the day I put out all the content. We have for your reading pleasure a new installment in the Wayward Demons story: "Tracking Trouble." In this story, we get a little bit closer to Erin.... Also, I have posted a new bit in UnJust Cause (which is a bit of a heart breaker): "The Stubbornness of Dragons."
Enjoy!
November 26, 2014
More Waywardness
In case you're following the School for Wayward Demons as it comes to press, we had another installment yesterday "The F.U. Cake":
Art by Mandie Brasington
Things are starting to get interesting at the School, so you don't want to miss any installments.
In other news, my Japanese class had a dinner out at Tanpopo last night. I had the Age-Dashi Tofu appetizer, and, because it was a blustery winter night, the Nabeyaki Udon, which is a kind of hot-pot stew that comes in a clay pot with (in this case) fish cakes, chicken, mushrooms, hrimp tempura, tamagoyaki (the rolled omelet thing I've only ever before written about!) and, as advertised, udon noodles. I had a weird kind of flush of pride when I realized that the instructor and I had ordered the same thing. Made me feel like I was making good choices, you know? I also had edamame mochi for desert, which was terrific, though not a lot of people liked it because it is green bean paste inside a kind of rubbery rice wrapping. I'm a big fan of any kind of bean paste, though, so I was very happy.
Art by Mandie Brasington
Things are starting to get interesting at the School, so you don't want to miss any installments.
In other news, my Japanese class had a dinner out at Tanpopo last night. I had the Age-Dashi Tofu appetizer, and, because it was a blustery winter night, the Nabeyaki Udon, which is a kind of hot-pot stew that comes in a clay pot with (in this case) fish cakes, chicken, mushrooms, hrimp tempura, tamagoyaki (the rolled omelet thing I've only ever before written about!) and, as advertised, udon noodles. I had a weird kind of flush of pride when I realized that the instructor and I had ordered the same thing. Made me feel like I was making good choices, you know? I also had edamame mochi for desert, which was terrific, though not a lot of people liked it because it is green bean paste inside a kind of rubbery rice wrapping. I'm a big fan of any kind of bean paste, though, so I was very happy.
November 23, 2014
In Case You Missed it....
Rachel and I published our next episode last Thursday to the School of Wayward Demon's site: "Aftershocks Run Deep."
Check it out. We're pretty deep into the story now and a lot of the ensemble cast is really starting to show off their personalities and the world around them is deepening. It's that part of the story that starts to feel lived in.
I also did a really fun back-and-forth via email interview with Rachel Manija Brown and Sherwood Smith, the authors of a new YA dystopian novel called, Stranger that will eventually be published on Gay YA. I'll post a link here when that happens.
Check it out. We're pretty deep into the story now and a lot of the ensemble cast is really starting to show off their personalities and the world around them is deepening. It's that part of the story that starts to feel lived in.
I also did a really fun back-and-forth via email interview with Rachel Manija Brown and Sherwood Smith, the authors of a new YA dystopian novel called, Stranger that will eventually be published on Gay YA. I'll post a link here when that happens.
November 20, 2014
Ordering Hidden Folk
This is where to order my new book. 20% off for preorders. A heck of a deal.
A Lot of Links....
I'm doing a lot of things right now, and I've gotten behind on telling you where they are, so this is going to be a lot of linkage, as it were.
First, I managed a chapter on my WattPad WIP. This chapter is called: "Mending Fences." In it, our heroine finally has a little down time.
There's a new chapter from Tuesday up on the joint project I'm doing with Rachel Gold on our Enter the UnSeen page: "Post-Apocalyptic Pizza." In a moment of synchronicity, this is also a kind of downtime moment for our ensemble cast, and, like in the Alex piece, it's a time for learning things about the characters, the world, etc.
Probably, by the time you check out the pizza story, there will be another chapter for you to read, since today is Thursday and we have them set to come out around 10 am.
If you're interested in seeing me read from my book Resurrection Code, the embedded link is below. This is video from the November 9th reading at Acadia Cafe, which was part of the Local Authors' Showcase, here in Minneapolis/St. Paul. As I say in the video, I had to follow a really hilarious short story about time-traveling sperm....
First, I managed a chapter on my WattPad WIP. This chapter is called: "Mending Fences." In it, our heroine finally has a little down time.
There's a new chapter from Tuesday up on the joint project I'm doing with Rachel Gold on our Enter the UnSeen page: "Post-Apocalyptic Pizza." In a moment of synchronicity, this is also a kind of downtime moment for our ensemble cast, and, like in the Alex piece, it's a time for learning things about the characters, the world, etc.
Probably, by the time you check out the pizza story, there will be another chapter for you to read, since today is Thursday and we have them set to come out around 10 am.
If you're interested in seeing me read from my book Resurrection Code, the embedded link is below. This is video from the November 9th reading at Acadia Cafe, which was part of the Local Authors' Showcase, here in Minneapolis/St. Paul. As I say in the video, I had to follow a really hilarious short story about time-traveling sperm....
November 18, 2014
New Book
This is collection of stories based on Icelandic literature and folklore, which is due out this month.
November 10, 2014
Requires Decency
I don't know if you've been keeping up with the latest in the science fiction/fantasy community, but there's a very big discussion going on right now about the author who has been outted as the "Requires Hate" blogger. For a full, insightful rundown on all the things regarding this, I point you to Laura J. Mixon's post on the subject:
I've mostly stayed out of this one, as I do most of them, because I've been fortunate enough to never REALLY be a target of "Requires Hate" under any of her pseudonyms. Now, she did "review" Archangel Protocol in her usual style. I wrote about my reaction to finding it skewered there in my post: Nerves of Aluminum. It was painful to read, but, in my case, what she wrote was no more than what any writer who publishes professionally can expect (to some degree.) Which is to say, she kept her reactions within the context of her personal reaction to my writing. She was gleeful to discover I was out of print, which is a little more personal, but again, nothing I can't just shrug off (with my nerves of aluminum, by which I mean, easy to say now, but yeah, it stung at the time.)
I, however, was not harassed or internet stalked or... worse.
So, I can't really complain about a review, except to say that for my part, I believe in this model: "It Costs Nothing to Encourage An Artist."
But, by saying she didn't hurt me that does NOT mean that I excuse her harassment of anyone. Anywhere. Ever. Full stop. Because there's a very serious difference between a mean-spirited review and some of the internet stalking and harassment that this person has been involved in.
But, I feel inspired to weigh in a little about Requires Hate in general after reading Jim C. Hines's post: "Only a Sith Deals in Absolutes." Some books should be taken to the mat and CONSTRUCTIVE criticism makes us all better readers, writers, and people. Similarly, there should be a place for snark and snide comments and humor with an edge. And, if you go back and read my post, I actually considered her complaints of my work with some seriousness, because, you know, that's part of the dialogue between reader and writer.
You can do this, however, with minimum douchbaggery.
That is all.
/PSA
I've mostly stayed out of this one, as I do most of them, because I've been fortunate enough to never REALLY be a target of "Requires Hate" under any of her pseudonyms. Now, she did "review" Archangel Protocol in her usual style. I wrote about my reaction to finding it skewered there in my post: Nerves of Aluminum. It was painful to read, but, in my case, what she wrote was no more than what any writer who publishes professionally can expect (to some degree.) Which is to say, she kept her reactions within the context of her personal reaction to my writing. She was gleeful to discover I was out of print, which is a little more personal, but again, nothing I can't just shrug off (with my nerves of aluminum, by which I mean, easy to say now, but yeah, it stung at the time.)
I, however, was not harassed or internet stalked or... worse.
So, I can't really complain about a review, except to say that for my part, I believe in this model: "It Costs Nothing to Encourage An Artist."
But, by saying she didn't hurt me that does NOT mean that I excuse her harassment of anyone. Anywhere. Ever. Full stop. Because there's a very serious difference between a mean-spirited review and some of the internet stalking and harassment that this person has been involved in.
But, I feel inspired to weigh in a little about Requires Hate in general after reading Jim C. Hines's post: "Only a Sith Deals in Absolutes." Some books should be taken to the mat and CONSTRUCTIVE criticism makes us all better readers, writers, and people. Similarly, there should be a place for snark and snide comments and humor with an edge. And, if you go back and read my post, I actually considered her complaints of my work with some seriousness, because, you know, that's part of the dialogue between reader and writer.
You can do this, however, with minimum douchbaggery.
That is all.
/PSA
November 9, 2014
"Live Tweeting" A Reading
I'm just back from the Minn-Spec Annual Local Author's Showcase reading, which I participated in. As I was heading out the door, Mason asked me if I'd live tweet my experience. So I took along the iPad, which would have been perfect, except I forgot my Twitter password and so attempted to face it on FB. Here's how it went:
Who knew Acadia was the old Riverside Cafe? #latetothereading
Got the stare of doom when I sat in an empty chair. Guess it was taken? #nerdsocialskillzTyler Tork awesome short and an alien invasion involving tax evasion.#supercool
New story involves mandibles clicking. #IloveSF
Plus "forearm barbs" #notsureitgetsbetterthanthisWait, it got better. "A post-apocalyptic steampunk story about a circus traveling through the remains of civilization."
Now not the least prepared... #thankyouthankyouthankyouParanormal military SF... That involves German World War I werewolves.#fuckIloveSFNext story is "Amish science fiction spy story." #notsureIcancompare
At that point I quit, because Shawn informed me that Mason had wandered off to do more interesting things. There were several more amazing stories including one about 'time traveling sperm' which was ridiculously funny and probably the very worst thing a writer could ever hope to have to follow. So, of course, I went on next, after the time-traveling sperm.
I have to admit I'm not overly fond of readings. I do them because I feel like I ought to and this seemed like a really good way to get out there and such, since it was a shared venue with SO MANY talented people. We were given about 7 minutes a piece, so that made things even sweeter, because how can you screw up 7 minutes? Well, I may have since I probably only read for about half a minute.
Well, see, I have an excuse. I ended up being slated last, and, frankly, it seemed like a fine choice to get up there say a few words and get the heck off the stage so people could go home/mingle/etc. I hung around for a little while afterwards chatting with Micheal Mirrim and a few of the other authors. They're a good group. I'm proud to be a long-standing member of Minn-Spec.
Even though I feel like the least professional among them these days. Sure, I've books out, but these folks are all very serious, hardworking writers.
Who knew Acadia was the old Riverside Cafe? #latetothereading
Got the stare of doom when I sat in an empty chair. Guess it was taken? #nerdsocialskillzTyler Tork awesome short and an alien invasion involving tax evasion.#supercool
New story involves mandibles clicking. #IloveSF
Plus "forearm barbs" #notsureitgetsbetterthanthisWait, it got better. "A post-apocalyptic steampunk story about a circus traveling through the remains of civilization."
Now not the least prepared... #thankyouthankyouthankyouParanormal military SF... That involves German World War I werewolves.#fuckIloveSFNext story is "Amish science fiction spy story." #notsureIcancompare
At that point I quit, because Shawn informed me that Mason had wandered off to do more interesting things. There were several more amazing stories including one about 'time traveling sperm' which was ridiculously funny and probably the very worst thing a writer could ever hope to have to follow. So, of course, I went on next, after the time-traveling sperm.
I have to admit I'm not overly fond of readings. I do them because I feel like I ought to and this seemed like a really good way to get out there and such, since it was a shared venue with SO MANY talented people. We were given about 7 minutes a piece, so that made things even sweeter, because how can you screw up 7 minutes? Well, I may have since I probably only read for about half a minute.
Well, see, I have an excuse. I ended up being slated last, and, frankly, it seemed like a fine choice to get up there say a few words and get the heck off the stage so people could go home/mingle/etc. I hung around for a little while afterwards chatting with Micheal Mirrim and a few of the other authors. They're a good group. I'm proud to be a long-standing member of Minn-Spec.
Even though I feel like the least professional among them these days. Sure, I've books out, but these folks are all very serious, hardworking writers.
November 4, 2014
Fiction! Come and Get Your Piping Hot Fiction!
So, I've got some fiction for 'ya! Come get your pipping hot fiction!
First up is the continuing saga of UnJust Cause. This episode is called, "Why Did the Centaur Cross the Road?" The answer is: he didn't. He started to, but got hit by a car before he made it. Now, Jack and Alex (who, if you recall, were taken off the jumper/drop-victim case) are sent to investigate what happened.
After reading that, you can make your way over to the Enter the Unseen website and read: Theo Uncovers Secrets! with a lovely illustration by Mandie:
First up is the continuing saga of UnJust Cause. This episode is called, "Why Did the Centaur Cross the Road?" The answer is: he didn't. He started to, but got hit by a car before he made it. Now, Jack and Alex (who, if you recall, were taken off the jumper/drop-victim case) are sent to investigate what happened.
After reading that, you can make your way over to the Enter the Unseen website and read: Theo Uncovers Secrets! with a lovely illustration by Mandie:
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