Raven Oak's Blog, page 13

August 9, 2023

Happy Little Accidents

Last week, I was trying to take a selfie, and like many, the shutter did its thing yet none of the photos were what I wanted. It wasn’t until I was about to set my phone down that my thumb slipped and the following selfie was born.

Accidental selfie of Raven Oak featuring blue computer glasses, rainbow hair, gray shirt, and a wide-eyed stare.

Funny thing is, this happy accident looks better than most of my intentional photos—pics where I blinked or I have something in my teeth. Sometimes, happy accidents can lead to unexpected greatness, which is how I feel about a project coming up.

See, I never set out ...

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Published on August 09, 2023 10:06

July 14, 2023

Nonbinary Day!

Happy International Nonbinary People’s Day!

Also, our skeleton out front was decked out for Pride last month. I forgot to post these then.

Pride Skeleton wearing a rainbow colored suit

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Published on July 14, 2023 16:01

July 5, 2023

Weekly Review Round-Up

I’m going to have to start posting reviews this way since a lot of them are rolling in with two book releases!

Queer SciFi and Liminal Fiction also reviewed Space Ships & Other Trips! They said it was:

…every bit as wonderful as the first.”

You can read the full review here:

https://www.limfic.com/2023/07/04/review-spaceships-other-trips-raven-oak/

Also, Renaissance Writer reviewed Dragon Springs & Other Things, giving it 5 stars! Five colored in stars indicating a 5 out of 5 star rating

…each story has a rich, cohesive magical or future setting, with...

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Published on July 05, 2023 14:07

Queer SciFi Reviews Space Ships & Other Trips

Queer SciFi and Liminal Fiction also reviewed Space Ships & Other Trips! They said it was:

…every bit as wonderful as the first.”

You can read the full review here:

https://www.limfic.com/2023/07/04/review-spaceships-other-trips-raven-oak/

The post Queer SciFi Reviews Space Ships & Other Trips appeared first on Raven Oak.

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Published on July 05, 2023 14:07

June 29, 2023

Liminal Fiction reviews Dragon Springs & Other Things

The great folks over at Liminal Fiction gave Dragon Springs & Other Things a 5-star review, stating:

I loved this collection of short stories, and can’t imagine anyone not finding some that are just their cup of tea. Every tale held my interest and I loved the fact that the author explained how each one came to be.”

You can read the full review here: https://www.limfic.com/2023/06/29/review-dragon-springs-and-other-things-raven-oak/

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Published on June 29, 2023 15:19

June 14, 2023

“…Big-Hearted Collection…”

Australia’s oldest science fiction magazine, Aurealis, reviewed Dragon Springs & Other Things in Issue #161 and called it a “…big-hearted collection….” They had more to say about it as well. Here’s a bit of the review by Aurealis‘s Eugen Bacon.

Featuring six new offerings together with earlier stories, the collection opens with ‘Mirror Me’, a detective noir of sorts—serial deaths around a homeless encampment. ‘Water the Fire’ unburies a first-person house exorcism, and a lady mercenary comes to...

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Published on June 14, 2023 11:30

June 8, 2023

Pride was a Riot

It’s Pride Month.

And surprise, surprise, I’m angry. I’m fired up and fed up. I didn’t know that asking to exist was like asking someone to find a needle in a haystack.

I had my annual with my primary care physician—a woman who I *thought* was a good physician, but today I am reminded of why Pride Month exists, and of why it began as a riot.

Today, my doctor erased me, and after that, she grew angry that I advocated for myself and my wife. She made several critical mistakes that have earned her ...

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Published on June 08, 2023 13:13

Autographed Copies!

Autographed Copies? Yes, Please!

If you’re wanting autographed copies of Dragon Springs & Other Things and/or Space Ships & Other Trips, you can grab both over on my store site at:

https://ravenoak.square.site/

Snag them now!

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Published on June 08, 2023 13:06

June 2, 2023

Launch Party Link!

Do you need it?

Here it is! 6 PM PST!

See you there!

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Published on June 02, 2023 17:11

May 30, 2023

Reviews rolling in!

Reviews are starting to roll in on Dragon Springs & Other Things: A Short Story Collection Book I and wow! All 4/5 or 5/5 stars and the comments the reviewers are leaving… The stories are definitely connecting with people, which is what every writer wants.

Also, I know I tend to write very diverse characters (lots of LGBTQ+ and people of color protagonists) but I don’t think I realized how much until reviewers were pointing it out (in a positive manner). So if that’s your bag, you’ll definitely ...

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Published on May 30, 2023 14:41