K.M. Alexander's Blog, page 58

Happy New Year

It’s January 1st. The new year is finally upon us! Here’s wishing a fantastic upcoming year to you and yours. As I said at Christmas, thanks for all your support. I can’t wait to see what this fresh year brings, new travels, new books, new conventions… there’s a lot to look forward to in 2016.

For your enjoyment, here’s a postcard from the Victorian era featuring a potato wearing a hat and boots holding an umbrella and wishing everyone a Happy New Year. What a jaunty and thoughful fellow!

You’re welcome.

Now, if that didn’t quite satisfy your new year helping of strange, feel free to check out these other postcards. Featuring a picture of a cat with glasses in a bonnet, a floating dog head delivering greetings, or a bug using a telescope to look at the moon. You know, seasonally appropriate festive stuff.

The Victorians were a weird people.

Filed under: News Tagged: 2016, a potato wearing a hat, new year, postcards, victorian

My Reading List for 2015

As is now a yearly tradition, I share my reading list for the year. Last year I surpassed my goal of thirty books with thirty-seven. This year I had a goal for thirty-five and ended up with exactly that. (I’m not the fastest of readers.)

Since this list is so long, I tend not to fill it with reviews, but you’re welcome to follow me on Goodreads where I do review books I read from time to time. At the end of the list, I will call out some of my favorite books of the year. As before, all links will go to Amazon as a default, but if one of these books sound interesting to you then I would encourage you to visit your local independent bookstore and purchase through them.

Novels:

The Mirror Empire (Worldbreaker Saga #1)

by Kameron Hurley
Blightborn (The Heartland Trilogy #2)

by Chuck Wendig
Dune (Dune Chronicles #1)

by Frank Herbert
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America

by Erik Larson
The Hour of the Oxrun Dead (Oxrun Station)

by Charles L. Grant
The Martian

by Andy Weir
The Slow Regard of Silent Things (The Kingkiller Chronicle #2.5)

by Patrick Rothfuss
The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard #1)

by Scott Lynch
Something Wicked This Way Comes

by Ray Bradbury
Annihilation: A Novel (Southern Reach #1)

by Jeff VanderMeer
NOS4A2

by Joe Hill
The City of Ember (Book of Ember #1)

by Jeanne DuPrau
Changeless (Parasol Protectorate #2)

by Gail Carriger
The Wind Through the Keyhole (The Dark Tower #4.5)

by Stephen King
The Well of Ascension (Mistborn #2)

by Brandon Sanderson
Karen Memory

by Elizabeth Bear
The Flight of the Silvers (Silvers #1)

by Daniel Price
Southern Gods

by John Hornor Jacobs
Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances

by Neil Gaiman
Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive #2)

by Brandon Sanderson
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Fairyland #1)

by Catherynne M. Valente
Black Chalk

by Christopher J. Yates
Redwall (Redwall #1)

by Brian Jacques
Chapelwood (The Borden Dispatches #2)

by Cherie Priest
The Alloy of Law (Mistborn #4)

by Brandon Sanderson
The Tombs of Atuan (Earthsea Cycle #2)

by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Dunwich Horror

by H.P. Lovecraft
The Harvest (The Heartland Trilogy #3)

by Chuck Wendig
A Darker Shade of Magic (A Darker Shade of Magic #1)

by V.E. Schwab
The Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3)

by Brandon Sanderson
Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking

by David Bayles, Ted Orland
The Spirit Machine

by Robert Hazelton
A Witch’s Feast (The Memento Mori Series #2)

by C.N. Crawford
The Gap Into Conflict: The Real Story (Gap #1)

by Stephen R. Donaldson
The Deep

by Nick Cutter

If there is one takeaway I have, it’s that I read way to much Sanderson. He’s on the list four times. While I’m not discounting him as a writer (his books are a lot of fun), that’s way too much for me. So next year I vow to be Sanderson free (even if the next Stormlight book comes out.)

Favorite Novel of 2015:

The Flight of the Silvers (Silvers #1)

by Daniel Price



It would have been easy for me to select Dune or Something Wicked, both classics and both books I love. However, I wanted to pick something that was a new favorite, something that stuck with me after I put it down. Flight of the Silvers was that book. Daniel Price wrote an amazing world with incredible characters all struggling together and against one another. A fresh new sci-fi series and I cannot wait for the sequel.

Favorite Novel Runners-up of 2015:

Chapelwood (The Borden Dispatches #2)

by Cherie Priest

The sequel to last year’s runner-up, Maplecroft. This book exceeded its predecessor and was easily one of the best books I read all year. Priest’s take on new mythos is both fresh and familiar, it’s dark but is still heartfelt and incredibly engaging. I loved every minute of it.

The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard #1)

by Scott Lynch

I didn’t know what to expect when I sat down to read this book and even a few chapters in I was dubious. I’m glad I stuck with it. I loved this book. The world is familiar but feels fresh and fully realized, its characters are well-crafted and real, and the plot was amazingly complex. I found it impossible to anticipate and quite difficult to put down.

Graphic Novels:

Unlike last year, in 2015 I read a whole swath of great graphic novels and a handful of some pretty terrible ones. As with the previous list, at the end I’ll pick my favorite graphic novel from 2015. (I’m not going to pick Saga… I’m not going to pick Saga… I’m not going to pick Saga.)

The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act

by Kieron Gillen (Author), Jamie McKelvie (Author, Illustrator)
Prophet, Vol. 1: Remission

by Simon Roy (Author), Farel Dalrymple (Author), Giannis Milogiannis (Author), Brandon Graham (Author, Illustrator)
East of West Volume 1: The Promise

by Jonathan Hickman (Author), Nick Dragotta (Illustrator)
Moon Knight Volume 1: From the Dead

by Warren Ellis (Author), Declan Shalvey (Illustrator)
Southern Bastards Volume 1: Here Was a Man

by Jason Aaron (Author), Jason LaTour (Illustrator)
Trees, Vol. 1: In Shadows

by Warren Ellis (Author), Jason Howard (Author, Illustrator)
Saga, Vol. 5

by Brian K. Vaughan (Author), Fiona Staples (Illustrator)
Catbeard the Pirate, Book 1: Keelhauling & Kitty Litter

by Matt Nelson (Author & Illustrator)
Sex Criminals, Vol. 2: Two Worlds, One Cop

by Matt Fraction (Author), Chip Zdarsky (Illustrator)
The Manhattan Projects, Vol. 1: Science Bad

by Jonathan Hickman (Author), Nick Pitarra (Artist)
Neonomicon

by Alan Moore (Author), Jacen Burrows (Artist)


Favorite Graphic Novel of 2015:

Prophet, Vol. 1: Remission

by Simon Roy (Author), Farel Dalrymple (Author), Giannis Milogiannis (Author), Brandon Graham (Author, Illustrator)

I didn’t pick Saga! But seriously, there was something so engaging about this reboot of Prophet (a former, and awful, Image character from the 90s) that I loved. It’s Conan in space, the artwork is beautiful, the stories bizarre. Prophet, Vol. 2: Brothers is already on my list for next year.

Favorite Graphic Novel Runners-up of 2015:

Catbeard the Pirate, Book 1: Keelhauling & Kitty Litter

by Matt Nelson (Author & Illustrator)

As you can tell from my list, when it comes to comics, I usually am not drawn to comedy. However after a recommendation from a friend, I picked up Matt Nelson’s fantastic book. Catbeard is charming, witty, and was a delight to read. What else would you expect from a book with cat-beard voodoo curses, dinosaur riding heroes, and strange pirate adventures? It was the perfect respite between some of the darker graphic novels I was reading. Ready for the next one.

Trees, Vol. 1: In Shadows

by Warren Ellis (Author), Jason Howard (Author, Illustrator)

Trees is one of those books I wish I thought of, the setting is simple, but the ramifications of its simplicity are complex. What would society do if strange and enormous aliens arrived on Earth? Ten years after that event, Trees seeks to explore that idea, with what appears to be terrible ramifications, I can’t wait for more.

So that’s my list for 2015. A lot of really great stuff, and I’m looking forward to new books in 2016. I was also given a new challenge! If you recall, in 2014, I was challenged to read more women authors, and I ended up doing just that. Well, my friend Steve Toutonghi, author of the upcoming sci-fi novel Join, challenged me to read more classics in 2016. So that’s my plan. First on my plate (after I read my advanced reader copy of Join) is to dive into Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges and then it’ll move onto Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain.

How about you? How does your reading list compare this year? Did anything stick out? Did you find a new favorite book or favorite author? What are your plans for 2016? Is there any new book you’re excited to read? Are there any classics I should visit in my 2016? Leave a comment and let me know!

Filed under: Reading Tagged: 2015, catbeard the pirate, chapelwood, cherie priest, daniel price, flight of the silvers, matt nelson, prophet, Reading List, scott lynch, the lies of locke lamora, trees, warren ellis

Close the Door

“Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.”

—Barbara Kingsolver

Filed under: Quotes Tagged: advice, barbara kingsolver, encouragement, voice, writing

Friday Link Pack – Christmas

It’s Friday, and it’s Christmas! Merry Christmas! Hopefully, you’re done opening presents and full of delicious Christmas Dinner and ready to curl up with the Friday Link Pack, my weekly post covering topics such as writing, art, current events, and random weirdness. Some of these links I mentioned on Twitter, if you’re not already following me there, please do! This will be the last official Friday Link Pack for some time [Details here]. Next week we’ll finish up with a big year-end review. Let’s get to it.

WRITING:

Creating Fictional Holidays

One way to increase the believability of your fictional world is to pepper it with invented but engaging holidays. In this article Robert A. Sloan offers some advice on creating holidays unique to your world.

Worldbuilding: Creating Holidays

Sensing a theme here? Since today is Christmas, I thought it’d be fun to explore different aspects of holidays as it pertains to writing. In this article, author Elizabeth Briggs breaks down our holidays into five unique categories. (She also links the next link that I’ll embed below.)

Life Day!

The crew of Writing Excuses and author Dave Farland discusses holidays in this video taken at Superstars Writing Seminar 2011 in Salt Lake City. Click the link to watch it on YouTube or use the player below.

What Did Kindle Unlimited Pay for Pages Read in November, 2015?

Author Chris McMullen crunches the numbers from last month on the per-page payouts for Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program.

Boost Your Writing: 3 Things To Do Now To Start 2016 Off Right

The new year is right around the corner, and Angela Ackerman of Bookshelf Muse and Writers Helping Writers has some helpful housekeeping ideas to kickstart the upcoming New Year.

ART:

Krampus, The Yule Lord

In his new book, author and artist Brom has illustrated some of the characters surrounding the legend of Krampus. From Mrs. Clause to Krampus himself. Wonderfully creepy and as always amazingly imaginative. Today’s Featured Image is a detailed version of Brom’s Santa, make sure you check out the full version in the link. You can buy, Krampus, The Yule Lord at Amazon.

Constructual by Juana Gomez

Faded photographs of humans printed on fabric are embroidered with the internal anatomy, neural pathways, muscle structure, even the circulatory system. A unique and lovely look into the human body and the systems housed inside.

Paintings of Haphazardly Wrapped Gifts by Yrjö Edelmann

I stared at these images for a long time and just found myself shaking my head. Edelmann’s skill is undeniable, and it’s amazing to think these are simple oil paintings on canvas.

RANDOM:

2015: The Best Year in History for the Average Human Being

If you listen to the 24-hour news cycle, you’d think we’re spiraling down into a maelstrom of doom and gloom. However, that isn’t the case at all. Things are looking pretty awesome for humanity, despite what Fox News will tell you. (Spoiler: next years looking even better.)

Cthulhumas Wreath Creature

Next year, if you want to terrify your friends and neighbors, consider crafting this wonderful (and festive) Cthulhu-esque wreath.

Should We Keep A Low Profile In Space?

We have been so eager to discover intelligent life outside our planet, the New York Times questions whether or not that is a good idea. Some doors might best be left closed.

Cthulelf!

Artist Kate Leth created this adorable little Cthulhu for you to cut out and hang around your house. An easy (and terrifying) way to decorate your home or workspace for the holidays.

Time Travel Map

This map from 1914 has been making the rounds lately. The isochronic map shows the time it would take to travel from Europe to the far-flung edges of the world.

WEIRD WIKIPEDIA:

Caganer

“A Caganer is a figurine depicted in the act of defecation appearing in nativity scenes in Catalonia and neighbouring areas with Catalan culture such as Andorra, Valencia and Northern Catalonia (in southern France). It is most popular and widespread in these areas, but can also be found in other areas of Spain (Murcia), Portugal and southern Italy (Naples).

The name “El Caganer” literally means “the crapper” or “the shitter”. Traditionally, the figurine is depicted as a peasant, wearing the traditional Catalan red cap (the “barretina”) and with his trousers down, showing a bare backside, and defecating.”

H.P. LOVECRAFT STORY OF THE WEEK:

Christmas

Did you know Lovecraft wrote a super sappy Christmas poem? (Well, honestly, he wrote a bunch.) Last year I featured the poem Christmas on I Make Stories, and if you’re feeling jolly you should check it out.

GIF OF THE WEEK:

Filed under: Link Pack Tagged: 2015, aliens, brom, caganer, Christmas, cthulhu, fictional holidays, h.p. lovecraft, juana gomez, Kindle Unlimited, krampus, space, world building, yrjö edelmann

Happy Christmas

I’m spending time with my family today, but I wanted to make a quick post wishing each of you a wonderful and happy holiday. Thanks for reading this blog and my books, thanks for the support, and thank you for making my 2015 so incredible. You’re all amazing people, and I could not do any of this without you. Have a very merry Christmas and happy holidays.

This amazing Cthulhu Santa comes from illustrator Scott Brundage. You can check out more of his work on his website. See how this piece was created over on his blog, and if you want to terrify your family next year you can buy this as a Christmas card. Perfect!

Filed under: News Tagged: 2015, Christmas, cthulhu, Cthulhu Claus, scott brundage

More of H.P. Lovecraft’s Silly Christmas Poems

A lot of people don’t realize Lovecraft had a sentimental side. As I shared last year, it seems around Christmas he would often spend time writing some pretty sappy poetry. Well, thanks to the wonderful resource of the H.P. Lovecraft Archive this year I get to share a few more of his silly little Christmas poetry with you. In these Christmas Greetings, Lovecraft writes a few short poems for his friends and their cats.

Christmas Greetings To Eugene B. Kuntz et al.

May good St. Nick, like as a bird of night,

Bring thee rich blessings in his annual flight;

Long by thy chimney rest his pond’rous pack,

And leave with lessen’d weight upon his back!

Christmas Greetings to Laurie A. Sawyer

As Christmas snows (as yet a poet’s trope)

Call back one’s bygone days of youth and hope,

Four metrick lines I send—they’re quite enough

Tho’ once I fancy’d I could write the stuff!

Christmas Greetings to Sonia H. Greene

Once more the ancient feast returns,

And the bright hearth domestic burns

With Yuletide’s added blaze;

So, too, may all your joys increase

Midst floods of mem’ry, love, and peace,

And dreams of Halcyon days.

Christmas Greetings to Rheinhart Kleiner

St. John, whose art sublimely shines

In liquid odes and melting lines,

Let Theobald his regard express

In verse of lesser loveliness.

As now in regal state appear

The festive hours of Yuletide cheer,

My strongest wish is that you may

Feel ev’ry blessing of the day!

Christmas Greetings to Felis (Frank Belknap Long’s cat)

Little Tiger, burning bright

With a subtle Blakeish light,

Tell what visions have their home

In those eyes of flame and chrome!

Children vex thee—thoughtless, gay—

Holding when thou wouldst away:

What dark lore is that which thou,

Spitting, mixest with thy meow?

Christmas Greetings to Annie E. P. Gamwell

As when a pigeon, loos’d in realms remote,

Takes instant wing, and seeks his native cote,

So speed my blessings from a barb’rous clime

To thee and Providence at Christmas time!

Christmas Greetings to Felis (Frank Belknap Long’s cat) #2

Haughty Sphinx, whose amber eyes

Hold the secrets of the skies,

As thou ripplest in thy grace,

Round the chairs and chimney-place,

Scorn on thy patrician face:

Hiss not harsh, nor use thy claws

On the hand that gives applause—

Good-will only doth abide

In these lines at Christmastide!

Man, Lovecraft had a soft spot for Frank Belknap Long’s cat. Felis better have appreciated both those little poems. But, like most cats, I’m sure he was probably indifferent and a little smug.

I hope you enjoyed reading these silly little poems as much as I did. It’s always enjoyable looking into a different side of a writer like Lovecraft. So much of his work is mired in his xenophobic fears it’s always interesting to see something that is the complete opposite of his more known work. It shows the complexity inherit in a person.

Filed under: Random Tagged: Christmas, h.p. lovecraft, poetry

Friday Link Pack 12/18/2015

It’s Friday! That means it’s time for the Friday Link Pack, my weekly post covering topics such as writing, art, current events, and random weirdness. Some of these links I mentioned on Twitter, if you’re not already following me there, please do! If you missed the post, please be aware, the Friday Link Pack is being sunsetted at the end of this year.

All right, business done, let’s get to it.

WRITING:

Top 10 Grammar Myths

From using the passive voice, to irregardless’ existence, and the infamous act of splitting infinitives. I think a lot of folks will be surprised at these ten myths. [Thanks to Will for sharing!]

Amazon Reworking Rules For Product Reviews

It was bound to happen sooner or later. False reviews made to push political or social agendas are getting the ax and the Amazon enforcement is coming. Also, Sandy Hook conspiracy theorists are apparently a thing, so… add that to the list of reasons to be disappointed in humanity.

Gifts For Writers, 2015 [NSFW]

‘Tis the season of gifting. Chuck Wendig, in all his profanity-laced style, compiles a list of gifts for us scribes. Featuring coloring books, neat portable lamps, and even houseplants, it’s a fun little list. If nothing here is your style, then consider perusing the Lovecraft-inspired Gift Guide I compiled a few weeks back.

52 YA Covers For 2015

Dan Wagstaff, over at The Casual Optimist has put together a list of some of the best YA book covers this year. Some of my favs from this list: Hannah Moskowitz’s A History of Glitter and Blood, David Almond’s A Song for Ella Gray, and Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows. It was tough to pick favorites.

ART:

Chef Jacques La Merde

Fancy food made from less-than-fancy ingredients photographed beautifully and described oh so perfectly. This goes from joke to art and then back to joke. It’s great.

Winners of the First Annual ‘Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards’

There’s wildlife photography, and then there is wild wildlife photography. This is certainly the latter. What’s your favorite?

Galimatias

In their recent show at Thinkspace Gallery in Los Angeles, the Polish duo Etam Cru presented their latest body of work. It’s amazing. Blending traditional approaches with a bold illustrative style this series combines subject matter the same way the duo blends styles. Beautiful work, it’s no wonder their show sold out. (I used a detailed version of their piece, Henryk Nowak, for today’s featured image.)

RANDOM:

Star Wars: The Force Accounted

The Force is often used throughout the Star Wars movies, but by whom, and how often, and what do they do? There’s a lot to answer within that question. Thankfully, Bloomberg steps in to give us the lowdown on the usage of the Force from within the film, complete with interactive graphs and charts. A full (and quite thorough) breakdown.

Model Railroad of HP Lovecraft’s ‘Arkham’

A highly detailed and amazingly crafted version of Arkham at HO-scale. This really could have gone in the art section as well. I love the night shots. So cool. [Thanks to August for sending this my way.]

Get Rich Or Die Vlogging: The Sad Economics Of Internet Fame

The reality of the internet is likes, views, and RTs don’t pay the bills. (Even thousands and thousands of them.) I appreciate Gaby Dunn’s willingness and bravery to open up and put herself out there like this. Support the creators who’s work entertains you: buy their products, donate via Patreon, show your support with more than just clicks.

Telephone Repairman Follows His Dream: Designing Women’s Shoes

Chris Donovan spent 25 years at the phone company before he quit and jumped into something new and strange. A wonderful video about following dreams and never settling. If you are interested in more content like this, make sure you check out the documentary short on Kari-Lise: Overlooked Details, An Artist’s Journey.

WEIRD WIKIPEDIA:

Ten Cent Beer Night

“Ten Cent Beer Night was a promotion held by Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians during a game against the Texas Rangers at Cleveland Stadium on Tuesday, June 4, 1974. The idea behind the promotion was to attract more fans to the game by offering 12 U.S. fl oz (354.9 ml) cups of 3.2% beer for just 10 cents each (regular price was 65 cents) with a limit of six per purchase, but with no limit on the number of purchases made during the game. During the game, fans became heavily intoxicated, culminating in a riot in the ninth inning which caused the game to be forfeited due to the crowd’s uncontrollable rowdiness and because the game could not be resumed in a timely manner.”

H.P. LOVECRAFT STORY OF THE WEEK:

The Horror in the Museum

Wax museums are creepy already and Lovecraft is bound and determined to make them even creepier.

GIF OF THE WEEK:

Filed under: Link Pack Tagged: amazon, arkham, book cover design, etam cru, gaby dunn, Gifts, Grammar, h.p. lovecraft, model railroad, reviews, star wars, the force, thinkspace, wildlife photography, writers

2015 in Ten Awesome Photos

Last year, I published a post summing up my 2014 In Ten Awesome Photos. It was a fun challenge because a lot of stuff happened and it was a good way for me to reflect on the year. Going forward, I want to make this post a regular thing, I like the idea of a yearly recap of the ups and downs of my year condensed into ten pictures.

Going back through these photos has made my 2015 seem so much longer. Since I have made the decision to focus on my writing in my free time, I’ve noticed that time for me has slowed down. It feels like ages since I launched The Stars Were Right, but the reality is that it has only been three years. Losing myself to the creative process has forced me to enjoy the moment so much more, as Ze Frank says in An Invocation for Beginnings, “life isn’t just a sequence of waiting for things to be done.” For me, the journey has become as engaging as the destination.

So let’s take a look at ten stops in my 2015 together…

Like every year, Kari-Lise, myself, and some friends started the year off with a hike. This photo was taken on Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound at a National Historic Reserved named Ebey’s Landing. It’s also a great place to see incredible views of both the Olympic Mountains and Mt. Baker. The first hike of the year has become a right of passage for Kari-Lise and me, and it’s a good way to start the year out right. I wonder where we’ll end up in 2016.

In February, I put The Stars Were Right on sale for 99¢ and promoted it through BookBub. The result was astounding, I sold hundreds and hundreds of copies, and the book was propelled to the top of the Amazon Bestseller List for a day. I wrote a whole post about it.

There’s always a bit of nervous excitement when this happens, but overall I was excited to see how many new readers loved the story and continued on to Old Broken Road.

Kari-Lise and I went down to San Diego for the opening of her show Inflorescence. The show was fantastic, and we were able to spend some time exploring the city and its environs. While there we made the trip out to Joshua Tree National Park. I haven’t visited this stretch of desert in over a decade, and the return was purifying in a way you can only experience in a desert.

In March, I went to Norwescon 38. It was incredible. I sold out of books. I met a lot of amazing people, and I was threatened by Rorschach! I had so much fun that I’m doing it again in 2016. Norwescon 39 here I come!

After Norwescon, I hit up CthulhuCon in Portland, Oregon. It was great to gather together with so many fellow mythos fans. There was short films, tons of books, great panels, amazing art, and so much more. The show was a big success, and I was able to not only participate in a reading of The Stars Were Right, but I also sat on the “Creating a Mythos” panel moderated by Ross Lockheart. Like Norwescon, I met some great people along the way, and I’m hoping to return this year.

In the summer, I was asked to be a best man at the wedding of Steve and Sarah, easily two of the best people I know. The weekend was centered around a group camp and held at Dash Point State Park here in Washington. It was a fun weekend, and that’s coming from a guy who isn’t generally much of a camper. The wedding was incredible, and it was touching to see Steve and Sarah share their love in front of a whole bunch of pretty amazing friends and family. I was so glad I attended and honored to be a small part of it.

Sadly, this summer my friend Jake Rogers lost his battle with cystic fibrosis. Jake was one of the kindest, caring, and supportive people I’ve known. He has been an inspiration to me and many others, and he is and will always be missed. (I didn’t take this photo, but I needed to include Jake in this list.)

At the end of the summer, Kari-Lise and I went to Iceland. It was a quick trip (only a week) but we saw a lot of the country and we’re plotting a return. Getting out into the world with Kari-Lise has had a fundamental impact on both our lives and my writing. I’m glad that we’re able to do it together. Travel doesn’t have to be expensive, and there are many ways to explore this beautiful world. Do it. You’ll thank me later.

In September, we traveled to San Francisco for the opening of Kari-Lise’s second solo show of the year, A Lovelorn Theft. The opening was terrific and like her previous show, it did really well. It was great to see so many fans coming out to support her and check out the work in person.

In October, we returned to Lovat when I launched The Bell Forging Cycle, Book III: Red Litten World. It was my largest book launch yet, and the book continues to do well. People seem to really enjoy Waldo Bell’s latest adventure that makes me happy. With its release The Bell Forging Cycle has become a trilogy!  You can buy it right now!

Behold my 2015! There’s a lot in those ten photos, but there is so much I left out: Mariners games, Seahawk games, book research, I finished another manuscript, I took more pictures of Iceland, I spent more time in the mountains, I went to other conventions, I took pictures of my dogs, I explored my city, and so much more. I gleaned a lot of these images from my Instagram account which I like to keep as a running record of my life (and I’ll occasionally talk about my books.)

As before, why not keep this ten awesome photos thing going? Post ten awesome photos of your own on your blog and leave a link in the comments below so others can see what happened in your year. I’ll even update this post to include links to your ten photos!

Filed under: News Tagged: 2015, a lovelorn theft, amazon, cthulhucon, Hiking, iceland, inflorescence, instagram, joshua tree, Kari-Lise, norwescon, photos, red litten world, the stars were right

This Christmas, Send ’em to the Territories

We’re now past the date where I can ship signed copies and guarantee their delivery by Christmas. (Well, for a reasonable price.) However, that doesn’t mean you still can’t gift my books to your friends or family. Now is the perfect time to send them to the strange and mysterious world of the Territories. I mean, who doesn’t love action, adventure, murder, cults, and weird monsters? Particularly during the holidays! Plus, most booksellers ship quickly and usually for free. Any of the following links will take you right to listings of my books:

Order from Amazon→
Order from Barnes & Noble →
Order from Powell’s →
Order from BAM! →

If you’re like me and want to support your local book shop (which you should) just ask and see if they have my books in stock. If they don’t they can usually order them in for you in a few days. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

And… while they’re not as much fun to gift, you can always give digital copies. I have DRM-free eBooks available through my store. Plus you can buy ebook versions from any of the major platforms: Kindle, iBooks, Kobo, Nook, and Google Play. (The current trilogy is available for under $15 for all three books.)

Finally, make sure you check out my Lovecraft-inspired gift guide for other Lovecraftian gift ideas, it’s full of books, games, music, and lots more fun stuff.

Filed under: My Books, Shop, The Bell Forging Cycle Tagged: books, Christmas, Gifts, lovecraft, old broken road, red litten world, the stars were right

Friday Link Pack 12/11/15

It’s Friday! That means it’s time for the Friday Link Pack, my weekly post covering topics such as writing, art, current events, and random weirdness. Some of these links I mentioned on Twitter, if you’re not already following me there, please do! If you missed the post, please be aware, the Friday Link Pack is being sunsetted at the end of this year.

All right, business done, let’s get to it.

WRITING:

The Importance Of Jumping The Shark As Early As Possible

Charlie Jane Anders, the author of the forthcoming All the Birds in the Sky, discusses how jumping the shark as early as possible will help establish the weirdness in your worlds without having to alienate your audience from stranger things to come.

Dealing With The Protagonist Who Won’t Talk to You And The Character Who Refuses To Be Cut

We have all been there, we’re ready to write, but we’re struggling with a particular character. Something about them gnaws at us, making them tough to write. What do you do? In this post, Lauren Sapala offers advice about dealing with problem characters head on and how you can overcome those blocks.

‘Based On A True Story’: The Fine Line Between Fact And Fiction

What happens when the lines between fiction and nonfiction begin to blur? Geoff Dyer and others explore this idea in this fantastic piece for the Guardian.

Our (Bare) Shelves, Our Selves

While the accessibility of streaming media is incredibly handy, is there a case for having shelf after shelf of books for children to peruse? Teddy Wayne makes the case in this article for the New York Times.

ART:

Get Ready To Appreciate The Fantasy Art of Frank Frazetta on a Whole New Level! [NSFW]

In the sixties and seventies, it was Frazetta who defined the look of Conan the Barbarian and much of the swords and sorcery era. Recently a cache of early Frazetta’s sketches, drawings, and watercolor paintings went up for auction, and we can appreciate his skill on a whole new level. [Thanks to Steve for sharing this with me.]

An Octopus Typewriter by Courtney Brown

For her piece for this years California Sculpture SLAM, Oakland artist Courtney Brown brought out Self Organization a 1938 Underwood typewriter that has seemingly come alive. Make sure to check out the creation process on Brown’s site as well.

Perfect Faces And Bodies Evanescing Into Rough Pastel Brushstrokes

Painter Meredith Marsone’s juxtaposition of the delicate and beautiful with the chaotic and raw create pieces that are both intimate and yet melancholy. Beautiful work.

RANDOM:

The 2015 Lovecraft-Inspired Gift Guide

Just like last year, I put together a handy little gift guide for the Lovecraft fan in your life. I cover everything from books to music to apparel and games. Lots of neat stuff.

Yule Log 2.015

The tradition of the Yule Log is a strange one, but sitting around a comfy fire and telling stories is something I can get behind. Yule Log 2.015 is a collection of short films created by various artists that hope to bring the Yule Log tradition into the digital age. It’s fun stuff. What’s your favorite?

Where’s Me a Dog? Here’s You a Dog: the South’s Most Unusual Regionalism

Language is a fluid thing it shifts and changes Across countries, within states, even among cities. Atlas Obscura delves into the strange world of grammatical variations throughout America centered around one strange turn of phrase.

Ghost Streets Of Los Angeles

BLDBLOG takes a look at streets of Los Angeles that have long since disappeared but who’s scars have remained. A cool look on the evolution of a modern city.

WEIRD WIKIPEDIA:

Aokigahara

“Aokigahara, also known as the Suicide Forest or Sea of Trees, is a 35-square-kilometre (14 sq mi) forest that lies at the northwest base of Mount Fuji in Japan. The forest contains a number of rocky, icy caverns, a few of which are popular tourist destinations. Aokigahara forest is dense, shutting out all but the natural sounds of the forest itself.

The forest has a historic association with demons in Japanese mythology, and it is a notoriously common suicide site (in which 57 took place in 2010). For this reason, a sign at the head of the main trail urges suicidal visitors to think of their families and contact a suicide prevention association.”

H.P. LOVECRAFT STORY OF THE WEEK:

The Man of Stone

A trip to visit strange lifelike statuary deep in the Catskill Mountains goes awry in this story collaboration with Hazel Heald.

GIF OF THE WEEK:
Filed under: Link Pack Tagged: aokigahara, books, Charlie Jane Anders, courtney brown, donald trump, eagle, frank frazetta, Gifts, h.p. lovecraft, hazel heald, los angeles, meredith marsone, protagonists, reading, regionalism, writing, yule log