Just a Few Updates

NEGOCIOS INFERNALES: The Unboxing! All In Among the Briars: A Memorial A...

Just a Few Updates

When I find myself writing really long Facebook or Instagram posts, I know it’s time to sort of scoot them over into a bloggish setting, because things are happening.

What I’m Reading

I’ve been listening to Stephen King’s YOU LIKE IT DARKER in between listening to Andy Serkis read me LOTR like I’ve never imagined it before. I generally like King, especially later-King, and particularly his short form work, and PARTICULARLY his novellas.

I was drawn to this collection because A.) my father is listening and recommended it, and the narrator, and B.) the title recalls Leonard Cohen’s final album, YOU WANT IT DARKER, which gives me a strange feeling like King is trying to tell us something. Or at least honor Cohen. Either way. I’m attracted.

The collection starts with a novella: “Two Clever Bastards,” which I adored. I woke up too early this morning, and was using it to lull myself to sleep, but it finished before I drifted off again, and it went into the second story, which totally Shirley Jacksoned me there at the end (I’m thinking “The Witch” short story in particular), and I was treated with a heart-pounded jolt of adrenalin and the certainty I was up for the day.

So, thanks for that, Mr. King. LOL. SO MANY MORE GAMES OF SLAY THE SPIRE before my writing day begins.

So far, of the 3.5 stories I’ve heard so far, the first is the most stunning and philosophical and immersive and perfect. The others are really damn great horror. I’m finding the fourth story harder to get into; I’m going to start it again and give it more than sleepy attention. Also thinking about getting the ebook from the library and reading that one. It made need more on-page attention.

Some Newsletters I Love:

Ann Leckie She’s just full of news and insights. Today’s link is to her latest newsletter. I love especially the part about reading conventions and emotional response, as well as the part about reading Moby Dick like an SFF novel. And I love, love, love TRANSLATION STATE, so I’m super glad it’s in paperback. I HAVE THE HARDCOVER HOWEVER TEE HEE!

Louise Penny I may not be the ULTIMATE Inspector Gamache fan, but I’m a BIG Inspector Gamache fan. Not the sort who remembers all the details, and can tell you the name of every character, but the sort who read at least the first 11 books (and I think more) of the series, and who went to see her speak in DC, and who reads and enjoys her newsletters. This link is to her June newsletter, full of beautiful puppers and book and charity news. She always has great quotes.

Ilona Andrews I’m a huge Ilona Andrews fan, both for the physical books and the audiobooks. But their blogs are endlessly insightful, entertaining, productive, and inspiring. The blog/newsletter I’m linking to is their take on the Romance Writers of America bankruptcy, which I found a fascinating read.

MV Media “Afrofuturism, Sword and Soul, Steamfunk and more!” This is a link to their blog, but you can scroll to the bottom and sign up for their newsletter if you like.

Penny Reid In usual Penny Reid fashion, she claims hers as the world’s greatest newsletter. That makes me laugh, but then, so does she! I’m SUCH a Penny Reid fan-girl, Carlos made me a shirt with an armadillo on it that says “Cletus Ex Machina” on the front, and “Team Winston” on the back. Those reference my favorite of her series, “The Winston Brothers.” But my favorite brother is Cletus. He and Jen even have their own spin-off mystery series. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve read those books and listened to the audiobooks. The narrators are out of this world, and I love the newsletter in generally.

What I’m Writing (or have just finished)

The STORYTELLER Tanith Lee tribute anthology funded fully on Kickstarter, thanks to the tireless and charming efforts of editor and publisher Julie Day, of Essential Dreams Press. They reached their SECOND STRETCH GOAL. YAY! That means all the writers get paid, not only pro-rates, but 10 cents a word. And the anthology will also open up to two additional submissions next month.

That link up there links you to a page where you can sign up to be notified for PRE-ORDERS!

After turning in SAINT DEATH’S HERALD, I had three short stories due, right after another. I just finished the third of these three stories–for the STORYTELLER anthology–and submitted it to Julie yesterday. It’s in homage to Tanith’s demon story-fairytales from the Flat Earth series, though it isn’t one of those. I’m calling it “Moons Over Sea,” which is a joke you won’t get till the end. You’ll even forget I gave you this little hint.

I’m a little breathless at having finishing three things in two months, after not finishing a novel for a year and a half. But now I’ve finished a novel AND THREE THINGS.

Or… well, I’ve finished the novel till I get the edits back…

*panicky heartbeat*

In the meantime, a lot of potential projects to work on, but nothing with an immediate deadline. I have a sort of “second chance” romance novel I’d like to set in Gloriana, the world of NEGOCIOS INFERNALES.

Carlos and I have written a few short stories set there already, namely: “Catharsis,” “A Minnow or Perhaps a Colossal Squid,” and most recently “On Wings of Crystal,” which is set in Espada itself, the same country that the game takes place in.

I might start that novel out long-hand. With a fountain pen. For my pleasure.

My friend Caitlyn Paxson… *begin interlude* I’ve mentioned Caitlyn’s newsletter a MILLION TIMES, but seriously, friends. SERIOUSLY. She lives on PEI, she interprets for historical houses, she runs AND debunks seances, she makes clothes out of old sheets and tablecloths, and she writes absolutely always the best books I want and need to read, and she grows HERITAGE FLOWERS… *pants* AND MORE!!!… *end interlude* has requested and required my “Espadan romance,” and I can’t bear to disappoint her, though I have A THOUSAND OTHER THINGS TO WRITE.

The idea stems from characters born in “On Wings of Crystal.” They were the parents of the main character–a professor and a balladeer, long-divorced from each other, but devoted to their poet daughter–and they kept wanting it to be THEIR story. Most of their AWESOME PARTS I had to cut, because it was, in fact, their DAUGHTER THE POET’S story.

“On Wings of Crystal” was the first of my three stories that came in the last few months, and it will soon appear in this year’s Origins Game Fair anthology. That’s limited to people who attend Origins, but I think I get the rights back soon, or I already have them as it’s non-exclusive. I’ll check my contract and get back to you.

“Catharsis,” also set in Gloriana, can be found in the “Rogue Artists” anthology, and “A Minnow, or Perhaps a Colossal Squid,” which Carlos I wrote together, is free to read online, from Mermaids Monthly.

Excitement for

Zig Zag Claybourne has released the first of his Khumalo Trilogy: BREATH, WARMTH & DREAM. Get thee hence! BASK IN THIS RADIANT TENDERNESS.

Charities

The world continues, in otherwise, awful. In addition to voting, and agitating for change with one’s representatives, here are just some of the hard-working organizations straining to stem “the blood-dimm’d tide” that’s been loosed.

Women for Women International: This particular link goes directly to Gaza relief. The organization also invests in women across the world.

International Rescue Committee This link goes directly to Gaza relief. The organization “works in over 40 countries to help people impacted by crises survive, recover and rebuild their lives.”

World Central Kitchen They feed people who need to be fed. This link leads to a donation responding to “response to “the recent escalation of violence in the Middle East, World Central Kitchen (WCK) is providing crucial aid to affected communities. Partnering with local organizations in Gaza and working on the ground in Egypt, Cyprus, and Lebanon, WCK is committed to offering support to Palestinians and anyone else in need.”

Other

The world has lost a light in MaryAnn Harris, mythic, musician, and wife of Charles de Lint.

The world has a lost a light in Karen Wick, mother to my friend Jessica P. Wick, one of the founders of Goblin Fruit Magazine.

Everywhere, our friends and strangers are hurting. Nothing I do is enough. It’s not ever enough. So. I just do some things, as I can. And it’s not enough. I’m full of a restlessness. I want to walk only at night. I want to listen to Henryk Górecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs (that’s the YouTube link, here’s the Spotify link, with the version I grew up with, and an excellent Guardian article on the work), and write poetry that means something. Anything.

How many food chains can I get on? How much can I donate? Where do I put my mind and body to work where it may best be used? Where do I start?

Anyway. As my mother once wrote, in the years following her divorce, “I am 10 women.” There is so much joy in my life, too. Joy and sorrow and utter weirdness all mixed in. Like all lives.

I got to see my dad and stepmom last week, as well as the youngest of my brothers. We were in Chicago for five days, and they passed like a butterfly. We also saw butterflies in the Chicago Botanic Garden.

[image error]Peonies too big for their branch, Black Princess Lilies, Bonsais…