It's a Jumble

I’ve lived most of my life in Michigan, but only last week did I really visit the Upper Peninsula. I saw Lake Superior for the first time, which means that I have now finally seen all the Great Lakes. My girls on the shore of Lake Superior My family and I took a boat cruise on Lake Superior, that great, cold, inland sea. We saw cliffs streaked with ancient mineral stains, worn by wind and waves. We hiked to see waterfalls (so many waterfalls!) We ate pasties, the hand-held savory pies beloved in the UP, brought there by Cornish immigrants who worked the copper mines generations ago. L akeside cliffs in Painted Rocks National         Lakeshore  Waterfalls in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore I’m reminded, again, of the treasures we have in America in our national and state parks, in the areas set aside for conservation. The UP is protected forest and lakeshore; blue waters and empty beache...

So it's real. My little book came out and my publisher sent me three copies and I can hold them in my hand and put them on my shelf and coo over the cover and layout and my words in print on real paper. It's a real book, y'all.   My hardworking publisher lined up advance readers and bloggers and the reviews are beyond what I expected. As I said to her in an e-mail earlier today, readers are getting it . That makes me so happy.  And there are giveaways for this book, too! Annorlunda Books has arranged for a Goodreads giveaway. One print copy will be given away, and you have until Aug 12 to enter. Click here for more info. Vicky at the book review blog, Books and Strips, was kind enough to interview me and also host a giveaway of the ebook version for us. Click here for the interview and an introduction to her lovely blog. The blog Rope and Tire also had a lovely review. My gratitude to all who have bought the book, mentioned it on social media, retweeted...

So my fantasy novelette, The Lilies of Dawn, has now been officially released! You can go here to the publisher page for more information and links to purchase (it's available as both ebook and paperback). I've been seeing people retweet my initial announcement on Twitter; I've heard writer friends and non-writer friends tell me that they've purchased a copy. I've already seen lovely reviews from advance readers on Amazon and Goodreads. And I am so, so gratified. I'm thrilled to be finally sharing this world and its characters, Kai and Kevak, with you all. (Note: that gorgeous cover art is by Likhain . Check out all her work! And thank you, too, to Francesca Forrest for expert copyediting. And thank you to Annorlunda Books for believing in this work and investing in it). 

I seem to have settled into a rhythm of posting short fiction reviews bimonthly. So hey, let’s go with that, shall we? Okay, some wonderful things I’ve read lately. . . Uncanny Magazine " The Drowning Line" by Haralambi Markov I’m finally almost caught up with Uncanny Issue 10. It’s a truly stunning issue, and this story is one reason why. Visceral, intense, harrowing—it’s the tale of a terrible family curse and the narrator’s struggle to free himself and his descendants of it. The intensity of imagery and feeling remind me of Alyssa Wong’s desert tale, “You’ll Surely Drown Here if You Stay”   from the same issue ( recommended in my last short fiction roundup ). It’s an interesting pairing of stories—water and desert, constrictive families ties, a common struggle to escape. And Markov’s story is a fine bookend to a truly strong issue. "El Cantar of Rising Sun" by Sabrina Vourvoulias   I’ve only just started Issue 11 of Uncanny Magazine, but t...

Okay, despite all the general insanity of the world, June was a good month for me, publication-wise.  On June 3 my short story, "In Dew and Frost and Flame," was published at the lovely new journal, Metaphorosis Magazine.  On June 24, there was t he official cover reveal for my upcoming fantasy novelette, "The Lilies of Dawn," to be released in July by Annorlunda Books . And on June 26, my latest story, "The Wave," was published at The Future Fire.  It takes place in the same world/timeline as my previous story in The Future Fire, "Disconnected." So yes, it's cyberpunk, or least cyberpunk-ish. And it's also about big-wave ocean surfing. I've never surfed in my life, but this story did manage to fool some real surfers into thinking that I have.  And now it's July, and I'm late in getting to bed. I'm off for vacation tomorrow in the Colorado Rockies! And hopefully I'll have new adventures to write about when...

Here it is. . . The cover reveal for my fantasy novelette, The Lilies of Dawn, forthcoming from Annorlunda Books ! What? you say. Is this, like, a real book? Why, yes it is. It's not a full-length novel, but it's being published as a short ebook. And also in paperback! So you'll be able to hold in your hand that gorgeous, gorgeous cover, illustrated and designed by the talented artist and poet, Likhain. What is this story about? you may be asking. Well, it's about magical lilies (modeled after lotus flowers, as you can see).  And it's about a flock of demon cranes. And it's also about love and duty and one young woman's coming-of-age. All set in an imaginary secondary world that doesn't correspond exactly to any place in our real world, but that does draw geographically and culturally from Southeast Asia. It's due for release on July 27, and pre-orders will be available in mid-July. You can view the official publisher announcement he...

I have a new publication out today! In Dew and Frost and Flame is now up at the lovely Metaphorosis Magazine. It's a tale about love, marriage, and magical paints. Much thanks to editor B. Morris Allen who worked so patiently and carefully with me on this one. And thank you also to illustrator Luke Spoon for the gorgeous illustration!