How’s my world?

Hi, everyone! So much has been going on, and since I know people are getting bits and pieces but maybe not the whole picture, I thought maybe we could catch up a bit. So, here’s the latest from around the Emily World, at least as of October, 2018—in this timeline. (Fun fact: My first blog ever, in 1995, was called Emily’s Own World. I think I hit that nail right on the head!)

Events

Despite sales being up and down (and the crescendoing toll of social anxiety), being at signing events is actually my favorite thing to do. I love talking about my writing with people, I love getting to say hi to the literary or comic artists (such good people), and most of all I love getting to say hi to and meet people stopping at the table. By my count, I’ve done nine events this year, with two left: London Comic Con this weekend, and then the Great Lakes Comic Expo Holiday Show on 08 December. I’m very excited about London (*waves at London*) since I had so much fun there last year. I just love Ontario, and I’m happy any time I can visit.

Writing

In terms of writing, I have two big ongoing projects: The most important one is Diamondsong. If you’re not familiar, it’s a ten-part novella serial, with lots of experimental worldbuilding. I’m really proud of it! And I’ve been trying to keep links and such up to date at edebell.com/diamondsong. Part 02 is out now, and a new one will follow every three months until 2020, when I’m sure we will be living on spaceships except apparently that’s not that far away. My second ongoing endeavor is writing non-fiction and fiction for my subscribers at patreon.com/edebell – I’m allowing myself to get edgier with the non-fiction, and stranger with the fiction. And yes, that’s very possible, haha. Just you wait! And also, and you are the first to publicly hear this, I wrote a secret novel earlier this year. I haven’t figured out what to do with it yet, but I think it has enough promise that it should see the light of day at some point. Another thing I was really happy about this year was getting accepted into the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). They have such great resources, and I’m so honored to be part of this great organization. Bell. SFWA. It’s fancy.

Reading

Well, my stack of books (most of you know the one) is growing. I’ve been reading a lot from other indie authors, including ones I’ve met at events, but I have a whole bunch on the stack including anthologies and fantasy, and oh, I need to make time to get to it all. Above all, though, I’m most excited for Empire of Grass by Tad Williams. One pitfall you hear from a lot of writers is that at some point, it’s hard to not see reading as work too. Not to say a good book won’t do it, but it gets more complicated. Actually, a good book does do it, and for that, we writers are most grateful.

Editing

If you didn’t see, I edited and released our first short story (and flash fiction) collection, As Told by Things, this spring, with the theme of stories told from the perspective of inanimate objects and featuring wonderful authors from all around the US and Canada. I am so proud of it, especially for a first effort. I was so honored to be able to feature such great authors and interesting stories. And I’m trying now to get a second one funded. Getting a little scared that it isn’t doing better and won’t fund, but not giving up! I really wanted to pay pro rates, but at this point I just hope the project will succeed. Either way, all funds will go to pay indie writers, a goal for which I’m passionate. Check it out here (only until 08 November!): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/atthisarts/hotel-stormcove

Publishing

Also, you may or may not know that I left my previous, bill-paying career to start a small indie press just north of Detroit. So that’s a big risk! Well, I’m really stubborn and really passionate and dedicated and who needs to retire anyway. Art matters! And we have some great titles on the way. A lovely middle-grade fantasy trilogy, Descent of Shadows by Ryanne Glenn, will debut in January, then we’ll release the conclusion to Anna’s Nightmare, When They Come Alive by Sarah Fleming Mountford in the spring, and next we’ll release a stand-alone contemporary paranormal roadtrip that I am so, so excited about (you really must not miss it; please trust me on this despite my inherently obvious bias)—The Traveling Triple-C Incorporeal Circus by Alanna McFall. For more on our publishing, sign up for updates (no spam) at atthisarts.com.

Life

You know, I went through a rough patch earlier this summer, mostly when Escape didn’t get the reception I’d hoped for. But lately, I’ve just been overwhelmed thinking about all the good things out there: friends, family, fall colors, and free expression among them. So if you’re feeling down, I know it’s hard sometimes to lift up, but try to remember how many nice things there really are in our worlds. You don’t have to fix everything today, just pick something you have and love and think about it. The rest, well, I can’t say it’ll work out, but either way, we’ll deal with it.

Blogs

If you’ve been following along, part of my mid-life purge involved a new web page and deleting most of my old blogs, which really didn’t resonate with all the changes in my life. I admit what was left was a wee bit picked-over. So (with some good advice) I’ve resolved to connect more often here, as well as on my social media and Patreon. Some general updates, some stories, things I hope you’ll find interesting. Thanks for reading, and thanks for following along!

Cheers and best wishes to everyone out there! I appreciate you! – E

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