Well, it’s been awhile since I’ve written here, not since the release of the great cover art for Freewoman. Isn’t it lovely? We can thank the truly wonderful Marissa Morris for her creativity and consistency across all three novels. Speaking of Freewoman, I’m chopping away and editing it together bit by bit. Winter is coming.
I’ve been away from the blog because I’ve been away from my computer, mostly. I got seriously ill a few weeks ago and didn’t eat for two weeks or sleep for a week, and I vomited (sorry, I know that’s yucky) for almost 36 hours straight. Not fun at all. The upside of that was that it gave me time to play Xenoblade Chronicles 3, which is a Very Very Good Game indeed. And of course, it features nopon:
I just can’t get enough of these cute little buggers.
In further news (and it will be updated on my media page), Librarian is book of the month for August at PrideParade.net, down in DC! Yay! I’m glad to represent the LGBTQA+ community in my capacity as a novelist.
Never let anypon tell you can’t reach your dreams, team! Pon! Pon!
Well, hello there! I know it’s been awhile, but after a Tremendous Trip in Orlando (never fly a certain airway company…), Chris and I scurried off to England. It was his first time across the pond, and he only suffered mild trauma from driving in London and then in Cornwall.
That pic was from Tintagel Castle, where supposedly King Arthur was born! Needless to say, the landscape alone provided plenty of inspiration. We had a lovely time, especially meeting up with my fellow Oxonian, Laura, and figuring out how not to die in a motor vehicle accident.
We also saw Les Mis on the West End; I ugly-cried only four times.
On the writing front, I honestly didn’t get much done as we wandered the countryside. I re-read some Orson Scott Card, whom I can’t decide if he is a misogynist or not; the jury is still out, but his writing is very good for sci-fi and anthropology-likers. I just wish every other sentence wasn’t in a foreign language. I speak enough as it is! Still, his concept of the Speaker for the Dead is very appealing to me; something I hope someone would have the balls to do at my funeral.
Tomorrow, though, I’m heading to our local dive to crank out some more Freewoman. Got that deadline to meet, y’know? And I tend to work better when (1) there are libations and (2) when I’m not covered in cats.
Also, please check out the updated Media page; I’ve included several interviews and even a YouTube interview about my works, style, and writing process. I touch on some issues likes gender fluidity and what it means to be marginalized, so I hope everything checks the links out!
I knew of Diana Wynne Jones ever since my friend John introduced me to Howl’s Moving Castle (which, if you haven’t read, shame on you; if you’re banking on the Ghibli movie, double shame!) back in middle-school, and was a devout fan ever since. I’ve read every book she’d published and was mesmerized by each. We unfortunately lost her to illness several years ago.
When I was still a lad in my teens, I reached out to her, desperately searching for a copy of a then out-of-print novel called Fire and Hemlock, and the only one she could provide me with was in Japanese. Heh. See how it all connects? I was not only learning Japanese at the time, but my favorite author had just become a penpal.
Her nuance of tropes — eliminating the Mary Sue — and turning the mundane into magic tempered my style, which, while I’m still a huge D&D player, was a little too Vancian for my liking where witchery was concerned, so her lessons became invaluable.
What can I say, Diana? I dedicated my thesis at FDU to writing about your life, as much as I could glean, but I feel like I have to do more for you. Write more. Make my female protagonists even stronger, more independent…
…and, as my father once suggested, perhaps a little less drunk. But if you know Lenna or Jacob (read my works, darn it!), that not might be happening any time soon!
PS — if you want to read my essay, just leave me a note and I’ll either post it or send it! I thought twenty-some pages my be a bit much for a blog post…
First of all, I must reach out to my beloved Marissa for bringing me an image of the day; her Netflix queue lined up the most perfect mashing to create the best TV show for me in all of existence. Baking is Futile.
Now, onto deeper topics: the state of me, and how I haven’t posted in ages.
Most importantly: the personal, as it’s distracted me from everything else since January. My father became quite ill and was on hospice for many months, and my mother’s illness finally and rapidly progressed into heart failure. My mother passed in May; my father hung on until August. Both my husband and I were temporary caregivers, and the loss has been felt very deeply. I’m thankful for the friends and family who offered succor during what has been a terrible year for me.
Now, the bigger questions. WHERE’S LENNA? WHERE’S MORE JACOB? WHERE’S THE JANET PROJECT?
Well, those are all really, really great questions and I can answer them all!
Freewoman (scheduled for 2021) is being pushed back to 2022 just because of the sheer insanity of my life these days, but over the next few weeks I should have TEASER ART from my beloved cover artist to tide you all over with.
“Jacob Orange” short stories. I actually have three more coming! One is complete, and two more on the way. There are hijinks with Napa cabbage, Eyeballs (yes, they must be capitalized here), and the divine wrath of Victoria’s high heels. Keep your eyes peeled for a release of the next story, “The Progenitor Machine.”
The Janet Project… I haven’t abandoned you, my beloved retelling of the Scottish ballad “Tam Lin.” I have good news: it’s pretty much done its first round. Then it goes through an edit (or two) from me and some peer review, and fingers crossed, you’ll see it at Barnes & Noble in a couple years. I’m hoping to ship it off to some agents/agencies by year-end, so maybe even earlier than 2023. Ambitious, huh?
I’m going to try to keep the blog up-to-date as time permits. The day job that’s paying the bills is a little intense at the moment, but believe me… there’s more to come!
As a special treat after the break, there’s a writing sample from me for a creative fiction publication. If you’ve stuck around this far, go ahead and read it!
Taxes, taxes, taxes. I know I’ve been MIA for a solid two months or so, but work and family have kept me away from the best part of my life — writing!
The Janet Project is currently still a WIP, but doesn’t have much more to go. Then I get to go through the joy of query letters! *shudder* If anyone has suggestions on a good way to write one, I’m more open than an Atlantic City hooker. Too crass? Too bad. Query letters stink.
As my day-job is in the financial field, I wanted to explain to those who write exclusively as their source of income that you might not have tax withheld from your advances and royalties. If you don’t want to owe a lump sum in April, you should pay estimated tax (April, June, September, January [of the next year]). This is more or less the same concept of withholding, as here in the US we’re required to PRE-PAY our taxes. So, to avoid any penalties… fork over some of your tax liability during the year and don’t get whammied up the rear end in April. 😉
This is perhaps the most boring post I’ve ever written, so I’ll link to a great music video by a group Chris and I are going to see live on Tuesday. It’s Snow Halation, by μ’s. It’ll be a nice diversion from all the stress going on right now. Definitely check out the vid and TODOKETE!! with Honoka.
Happy 2020, everyone! I hope everyone rang in the New Year with something fun and delicious.
Speaking of deliciousness, hubby (who is obsessed with all types of bao, including me — my nickname happens to be Bao-Bao) made David Chang’s pork buns today from scratch. How amazing is that?
Steam away.Bao buns!So many bao…
And then, of course, we have the final product: a bao with pork, pickled radish and cucumber, hoisin sauce, and a little sriracha for good measure:
Steamed bao with pork, pickled cucumber, and radish; tomato salad garnish.
What is everyone eating to pick up their spirits? It had better involve wine!
It’s this time of year that we truly think of our loved ones. As we decorate, I remember back to the days when my grandmother was alive; cooky, faux-fur coat, fake earrings; her Scotch, and her cigarettes.
“She lived in her liquor, and died with a flicker.”
I still relive some of her traditions, and it’s having pieces of her that really enlivens my holiday. It’s not just that: even though she passed when I was fourteen, to this day she still informs my writing and my life. This post is to celebrate her.
The scariest Santa ever.
Nana’s ceramic Santa and Mrs. Claus.
I hope everyone has something special from a loved one to put out this year. Be it my great-grandmother’s ugly Christmas tree ornaments to the newest, sparkly bulbs, make a new tradition to celebrate the season.
Happy holidays, everyone.
xoxo
PS — to all those sending well wishes, thank you! I embrace them all and am truly humbled.
Facebook has the lovely “remember this?” memory function that most of the time fills me with unabashed shame or a surfeit of giggles. Needless to say, I seldom share.
Today marked the seven year mark of my first pony picture of my OC (original character), Wine Quill. I would, once again, be remiss if I didn’t share him with the world:
Wine Quill, Brian’s OC
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic has had a remarkable impact on my life; on what I feel about friendship, love, and how I could cope with depression. I still carry ponies on my person, and am proud to have a husband who became a Brony as well. The series may have just ended, but it lives on in our hearts. *sappy music plays*
Wine Quill celebrates Halloween.
As as a PS, I once made a custom pony for my friend Dan. He may have lost the pic, but I have not!!
We’re here listening to My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Christmas (thanks, Uncle Scott!). Pinkie Pie’s “Twelve Days of Christmas” is especially epic.
Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive these past few, hectic weeks! Mom seems on the mend, so fingers-crossed, all will be well.
Hopefully we’ll get to game some Tails of Equestria this week, and maybe squeeze in a dance lesson or four. I miss my Dana. <3
As I’m now a public figure of sorts, my heart is open to the world. I’m glad that there are those who read this blog — I’m working hard to produce good work and am so thankful for all my supporters out there. Love you and happy holidays. xoxo
I doubt my mother would like this post, but I am remiss without it.
Mom had a bypass; vascular surgery to be exact, and the prognosis is that she’s going to lose some toes. That’s horrible. My mother is the champion of Christmas, and being hospitalized has severely lessened her ability to be the magic Santa she always is (spoilers kids: Santa is my mom).
I worry about my family; my mother’s desire (above getting out of the hospital) is to make a perfect Christmas. It won’t be. There will be lost toes. There will crutches. There will be siblings who despite the season will call my dad to check up on him (and he’s not doing so swell, as well), but don’t check in with my mother. This saddens me greatly, especially in what is supposed to be a time of love and joy.
I have Nana’s ceramic tree up. I have Pop-Pop’s gimpy, wind-up dog. What does everyone have this season? I just want my Santa back in the shop.
Isn’t it lovely? We can thank the truly wonderful Marissa Morris for her creativity and consistency across all three novels. Speaking of Freewoman, I’m chopping away and editing it together bit by bit. Winter is coming.
I just can’t get enough of these cute little buggers.
