Maybe It Was the Moonshine

A Narration, a Sale, and some Miles beneath my Feet

2015-09-04T08:06:00.004-07:00

Hellooooo. Here's some news:

I sold a short story! And it's my first collaboration! Randy Henderson and I have co-authored a creepy little tale called "Hiss," for a new supernatural steampunk anthology called GHOST IN THE COGS. For a list of all contributors, see the Table of Contents. We're in some very familiar and talented company. The antho is on track for a release next month -- October 2015.

My narration of "Bent the Wing, Dark the Cloud" by Fran Wilde is now available at Beneath Ceaseless Skies. This was a really fun story to narrate, and takes place in the same universe as Fran's new novel UPDRAFT, which was just released a few days ago.

The other big news, which is actually small news, is that I'm writing and submitting again. It's been a rough year in a lot of ways, but I've had a great support network and I'm feeling ready to jump back into the fray.

This summer I've gone on several quick trips, including Spokane for WorldCon, New Orleans for family, Idaho for friends, a yurt sleepover in the woods, and a quick visit to The Dalles in Oregon. There's so much more I could say about those trips, but if I stop to upload pictures and document the minutiae, I'll likely never get around to posting this post. And what a tragedy that would be.

Biannual tête-à-tête

2015-07-03T06:38:00.002-07:00

Six months is a long time between posts. amirite.

So. I've seen some things. Things you wouldn't believe. Things that would sizzle the hair in your belly button. Especially #14.

Mostly plays and a They Might Be Giants concert. Let me see if I can remember the plays: Threesome, Carmina Burana, Big Fish the Musical, Jasper in Deadland, and Outside Mullingar (with a post-play discussion with John Patrick Shanley!).

I changed jobs, but within the same org. I'm more into technical support and business analysis now than tech writing, although that will always have a place in my dark and twisted heart.

I've read a few books on my loooong daily commute. Rothfuss' "The Name of the Wind" and VanderMeer's Southern Reach Trilogy. And Chu's "The Lives of Tao." Only a few years behind now.

I haven't been writing. I think about writing all the time. I need to kill -9 the bloated noggin processes. amirite.

The list of things I haven't been doing is long.

I've been trying to figure out what it means to be me.

Or I never stop, and the figuring gets in the way of the doing. Surprise!

It's been a year since a lot of life changing stuff happened. I've been cutting myself some slack, but at some point there is just too much slack and you have to reel yourself back in or you just get lost in space, endlessly drifting, waiting for a passing ship to throw you a line and refresh your oxygen, completely dependent on the kindness of the Others, that six-limbed collective of hamster robots sponsoring a new porpoise university in the methane sea.

But on the plus side, I am growing some fantastic tomatoes on the deck and some basil in the window. I'll get to eat caprese salad until it oozes out my ears. (No you absolutely cannot use the word orifices there, me.)

amirite

Saying goodbye to 2014

2014-12-28T09:51:00.000-08:00

Hi. Let me catch you up.

2014 happened.

A year ago I was married, I had a house, I was unemployed (beyond getting paid to narrate stories occasionally), I volunteered as the Podcast Manager at Every Day Fiction, and I was hoping to get into Clarion West--a six-week intensive writing workshop. I lived with two cats.

Almost everything that could have been different is now different except, thankfully, my health. My health remains the same. Well, I could stand to lose a few pounds.

At the end of 2014, I find myself divorced from a very nice man. I am dating another very nice man--a vegetarian who made me meatloaf! And it was good! I live in a different county. I no longer have a house. I have a full-time job. I resigned from Every Day Fiction to focus on paid narration work, taught myself to edit/master audio, and now have recorded five audiobooks for sale through Amazon, iTunes, and Audible. I also recorded stories for two of John Joseph Adams' anthologies, and more stories for Beneath Ceaseless Skies. One of my own stories was podcast (a first!) by Tina Connolly at Toasted Cake. I attended the Clarion West Writers Workshop over the summer, met a bunch of fantastic classmates, administrative staff, and instructors, and wrote six short stories in six weeks. I was on my first panel at StoryCon in Portland, OR, as an authority on flash fiction. And I live with a dog, instead of cats.

Basically, 2014 looked like this: Maybe I should learn how to record and master an audiobook? Did I get in to CW? OMG I got in to CW, read all the books to prepare! Record 3 audiobooks before ACX changes its contract! Whoops, my marriage fell apart, what happens now? Find a place to live! Okay, found! CW is very challenging, and now it's done! Move move move all the crap forever! Find a job! Go to court, see a judge, dissolve the marriage! Sign up for retirement plans! Go go go!

Other items of note:

TRAVEL: I went sightseeing in Washington, D.C., after attending World Fantasy Con. Participated in a couple of writing retreats. Strolled through the Hall of Mosses in the Hoh Rain Forest out on the Olympic Peninsula. Saw the Pacific Ocean from a Washington state shore for the first time. Flew out to San Diego, CA, for a couple of days. Explored the Swap Meet. Visited the Mysterious Galaxy bookstore on their last day before moving to a new location. Oh, and I attended the World Horror Convention in sunny Portland, OR. Ate my first Voodoo Donuts, served from the side of a squat pink van.
WRITING: Two of my short stories ("The Man at the End of the Chain" and "Arkquarium") came out in print anthologies. My poem, "Shag," was published online. Wrote and submitted my first ten-minute play in years.
PROMOTION: Had a reading at Norwescon in SeaTac, WA. Whoo!
PHOTOGRAPHY: Shot more author portraits. Sold a few more licenses through my stock photo agency.
READING/LEARNING: I discovered how much I love Jack Vance's fiction. Then spent the first half of the year reading works by the CW instructors. Discovered how fun it is to take classes through the Coursera website.

All that said, I'm not gonna lie. 2014 was hard. (Haaaaarrrrd, so says the whiny pirate). It'll take a while for the dust to settle, but I feel like the changes have been overwhelmingly positive and necessary.

But after a year like this, I'm wary of what 2015 will bring. I hope that I'll be able to wrap up the last of the loose ends from this year. That I'll get back into the rhythm of taking care of myself--both mentally and physically. That I'll figure out how to be less cranky after the 1-2 hour commute home from work. All of that equals my 2015 forecast in a nutshell.

It's been a long time since I've taken myself off auto-pilot and looked around at my situation. This year I'm going to try to get back to basics and think about where I'd like to go next. So far so good. All of these changes were tough to live through, but overwhelmingly positive in the end.

Finally, I leave you with my traditional New Year’s wish to you: May you get everything you desire and only some of what you deserve. Happy nearly 2015.

Publication News

2014-10-19T15:32:00.000-07:00

Hello! I have news. I just had a new Lovecraftian short story, "Arkquarium," come out in That Ain't Right: Historical Accounts of the Miskatonic Valley (Mad Scientist Journal Presents).

And look! The back cover features a quote from my story. How cool is that! This book is available in print from Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and as an ebook for Kindle and for Nook and from Smashwords.

And I have another short story, "The Man at the End of the Chain," coming out at the end of this month in The Beast Within 4: Gears & Growls. Take a gander at this cover:

Cover art: Shane Tyree
Cover layout: Matt Hults
Release date: 31 Oct 2014

The theme of this anthology is steampunk and shifters -- creatures like werewolves who can turn from a human into some other form. My story features a were-capuchin from Brazil.

Lastly, a story I narrated for Beneath Ceaseless Skies has just been made available. Butterfly House by Gwendolyn Clare. Runs 34 minutes. It was a lot of fun to read. I hope you like it.

Thus ends my commercial.

Happy Birthday to Me

2014-08-09T19:54:00.001-07:00

Birthdays are one of those deep introspection opportunities for me, and since mine is tomorrow, I guess it's that time again.

A lot has happened during the past year. Most of it in the last six months. Clarion West ended a week ago, which was an amazing exhausting overwhelming encouraging experience. I am moving into a new place. I am making plans to return to the workforce. I started narrating audiobooks. And I sent in my resignation as the Every Day Fiction Podcast Manager--that was a hard decision and I will always be grateful for the experience, but at the end of the day it was a resource issue and something had to give.

Not to get too much more personal, but life is good and bad and in between. Change is change is change. I am just plain grateful to so many people for being a part of my life, and I am grateful to Jeremy for more than I can say here.

So, happy birthday, me. I look forward to seeing where I/me/we end up on the other side of all this crazy.

Now I think I'll go get drunk.

Week 6 of Clarion West 2014

2014-07-27T13:43:00.001-07:00

It's Sunday afternoon, beginning of week 6, here at the 2014 Clarion West Writers Workshop in sunny Seattle. My fan rotates lazily behind me. Cars whoosh down the street outside my window. My stomach is full of ham-and-egg scramble from the Mexican restaurant nearby. My tree puppet continues to be supportive, and uncannily wise.

And so we begin our week of lasts. Last critiques, last provided meals, last hanging out on the couch watching Kurt Russell movies. I have an annoying tendency to become sentimental about events as they're happening, so I'll try not to do that too much more. But even as I'm excited to go back to the real world again, I'm also sad to be leaving this place behind. Already I have one foot in and one foot out and I'm struggling to keep my focus on the present.

Tonight we meet our last instructor, John Crowley. We just said our goodbyes to Charlie Jane Anders.

Only 1 more story left to write. Only 17 more critiques left to deliver.

Starting week 5 of Clarion West

2014-07-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting at my desk in my room at Clarion West on a Sunday afternoon. After a stretch of hot dry days, the weather has turned cool and I am enjoying a chance to wear jeans again, my old uniform. We're starting our fifth week, which means I only have two stories left to write and up to 34 stories to critique.

Not that I'm counting.

Time is strange. It simultaneously feels as if I've always been here and I've just arrived. The absence of television is probably a factor. The constant nap-taking definitely adds to the disorientation. Not to repeat last week's post too much, but I continue to be in awe of everybody's talent and work ethic and so happy to have been included in this experience. But I can feel the exhaustion tugging at me, the real world reasserting itself, and I am trying to cushion the landing by eating regularly, taking naps, being kind to myself.

Some days I am more successful than others.

Last night I lay in my bunk listening to party sounds from the street--mostly dudebros shouting at each other over terrible pounding music. A young man's voice rose above the din--aggressive, slurred, and slightly desperate. He shouted, "What fucking street is this? How did I get here? Where the fuck am I?"

I rolled over and fell asleep.

Week Four, Clarion West

2014-07-13T22:15:00.000-07:00

Hello, world. We've just passed the half-way point here at the 2014 Clarion West Writers Workshop. It is hot outside for Seattle and I am not used to this stifling heat so I am drinking a cold beer (Obsidian Stout from Deschutes Brewery) and sitting in a basement (have I said too much?) trying to write my fourth week story.

There's a paper cutout of a gray turtle taped to the wall.

There's not much else to say. This is an amazing experience. I am in awe of everything all the time. They're feeding me well. I'm drinking a lot (both alcohol and water). I sleep on the lower bunk of a bunk bed. I brought two fans from home. When I leave I will probably be lonely because there is always somebody doing something and I haven't taken enough advantage of that yet. Later, will the quiet unman me? Stay tuned.

There is a lot of work to do here. Sometimes I nap. Often I nap. Sometimes I feel old and out of touch. I stare off into space. I read crazy wonderful prose and think about why it works and why it doesn't. I formulate opinions and express them. I eat. Things happen. Time contracts, expands. I make a fancy salad.

The hand crank on my window broke off. That is the worst.

So you see, everything is fine. Situation normal. I am working on my third short story out of five, in the basement, with an ice cold bottle of beer and Colonel Mustard. I am surrounded by clever folks. I am possibly going mad.

And that about sums it up through week three.

Why the month of May is busy

2014-05-03T08:47:00.001-07:00

Hi!

Here it is an overcast Saturday morning after a string of warm dry days. I'm listening to the coffee gurgle in its maker and willing the process to go faster--which is a pretty good metaphor for my life right now.

GO FASTER.

In the next week I am delivering an audiobook to its rights holder for approval, and if all goes well, the audiobook will be available for sale on Amazon, iTunes, and Audible.com within a few weeks. This will be my third project through ACX, and my second narrated novel. This one clocks in at 77k-ish words, but I am still mastering the audio so I do not have an official time length yet. It is fantasy, where the previous novel I narrated was horror.

Narrating audiobooks is fun, but make no mistake, it is a LOT of work.

Because I am ... ambitious --definitely not some other less favorable word-- I have also accepted the great honor of narrating Cat Rambo's two short story collections: Eyes Like Sky and Coal and Moonlight and Near + Far.

Basically my life is all audio, all the time.

I am not complaining! I really really enjoy narrating stories and novels. Let me add in one more "really" to drive the point home. But I am super busy right now, and I feel like I should mention how busy I am for future reference, and why there's a chance I might be slow to return emails.

On the plus side, I received my first royalty statement for the first month of audiobook sales. It isn't much, of course, but I can see how it could add up and that is encouraging. Passive income, here we come.

Lastly, I have carved out some time to attend the World Horror Convention in Portland, OR next week. I will be bringing my laptop and headphones along, so when I am not hanging out or attending con-related activities, I can go hide in my room and master audio, and stay on track.

Optimism -- it's what for breakfast. :) Also coffee.

Five Narrator-Related Announcements for your Tuesday

2014-04-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Announcement # 1 (StarShipSofa)

StarShipSofa has re-posted a Beneath Ceaseless Skies story I narrated back in March 2013 along with Tina Connolly, Rajan Khanna, and Michael J. DeLuca. The story is “Boat in Shadows, Crossing” by Tori Truslow and starts 30 minutes into the podcast. This re-post is in honor of the story text being nominated in the “Best Short Fiction” category of the British Science Fiction Association awards. I read the part of Bue.

This podcast was also a 2013 Parsec Award Finalist for Best Speculative Fiction Story: Large Cast.

Runs 1 hour 6 minutes.

Listen to "Boat in Shadows, Crossing" at StarShipSofa.

Announcement # 2 (Beneath Ceaseless Skies)

I narrated a new story for Beneath Ceaseless Skies, "Golden Daughter, Stone Wife” by Benjanun Sriduangkaew.

Runs 59 minutes.

Listen to "Golden Daughter, Stone Wife” by Benjanun Sriduangkaew at Beneath Ceaseless Skies

Announcement # 3 (Horror Audiobook on Sale)

The horror novel I narrated, THE DEAD OF WINTER by Jack Night, is now on sale through Audible, iTunes, and Amazon. You can listen to a sample at the links. (Runs 9.5 hours!) I'm really pleased with how this audiobook turned out and I look forward to narrating more.

Now I'm narrating a fantasy novel that I'll be wrapping up soon, and then I get to start narrating two story collections by Cat Rambo.

Announcement # 4 (Podcast Class)

Speaking of Cat Rambo, I will be co-teaching an online class with Cat called PODCASTING BASICS. We've taught this one a few times before and it's always a lot of fun. The date is now set: Sunday, April 27, 2014, 9:30-11:30 AM PDT. $89 for former students; $99 for new students. More details at Cat's web site.

This may be the last podcasting class we'll able to teach for a while, so if you have any interest it's a good time to sign up.

Announcement # 5 (The End is Nigh)

I mentioned in a previous post that I had narrated two stories for THE END IS NIGH audiobook, the first of three anthologies on the subject of the apocalypse, edited by John Joseph Adams and Hugh Howey--audiobook produced by Jack Kincaid.

You can now buy THE END IS NIGH audiobook from the usual sources: Amazon, Audible, and iTunes. I'm not sure why I'm not listed as one of the narrators, but maybe I'm not famous enough yet. :) Rest assured, I narrated, "Heaven Is A Place On Planet X" by Desirina Boskovich (which you can listen to for free at Drabblecast) and "Wedding Day," by Jake Kerr.

And I think that gets us all up-to-date. I hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday.

Clarion West Class of 2014

2014-03-28T10:23:00.002-07:00

Long story short, one week ago today, I received the call offering me a spot in this year's Clarion West class. Of course I accepted. Of course.

Some of you know how much this means to me already. For those who don't, well I will tell you. Clarion West is a six-week intensive workshop for writers of speculative fiction--fantasy, science-fiction, and horror. The program only accepts 18 students each year. Each week a different instructor--a professional writer or editor type--comes in and leads the class. Each week each student writes a story, and each week each student critiques all of the other students' stories.

In addition to the heavy workload, there are socializing opportunities, readings you can attend, the occasional party, and all the while, the students live in the same housing and try to keep up with the workload.

This was my third time applying. I really, really wanted to attend. So to be able to share that it's actually happening, can be expressed in just about any happy-making cliché ever. If you're wondering I'm partial to "over the moon."

I look forward to meeting my classmates, reading the instructors' stories, and being there, immersed in writing and critiquing and learning for six overwhelming weeks.

Before the program starts in June, I still have to deliver three more audiobooks so I'll be keeping pretty busy. My first novel length audiobook has been approved by all parties and is in the process of going on sale as I type this. I'll announce it more formally when the audiobook finishes propagating to iTunes and Amazon, but here's a sneak peek at Audible for Jack Night's "The Dead of Winter." There's even an audio sample if you're curious.

So that's it. That's my news. I hope you'll all follow along with me on this new crazy adventure.

Beneath Ceaseless Skies Podcast

2014-03-08T09:09:00.001-08:00

I neglected to mention, and I should have mentioned, in my last post that I also narrated a story for Beneath Ceaseless Skies: "Pilgrims" by Ann Chatham. The whole podcast runs about 27 minutes and the mp3 is available to download or stream.

Beneath Ceaseless Skies is a great market for fiction, one of my favorites. Their focus is on literary adventure fantasy in secondary world settings. You can read their stories for free online or for a small subscription fee ($13.99 for the year, as of this posting) have issues delivered to your eReader: subscribe to BCS here.

Cool News

2014-03-07T16:47:00.004-08:00

Some cool news.

First, I narrated "Heaven Is A Place On Planet X" by Desirina Boskovich for THE END IS NIGH, the first of three anthologies on the subject of the apocalypse, edited by John Joseph Adams and Hugh Howey. You can listen to the story for free (or download the mp3) at the Drabblecast. Runs an hour.

You guys, this is seriously cool. And an awesome story. I understand that this narration will be included in the audiobook version of this anthology later. But if you'd rather buy a physical or digital copy now, you can buy the anthology at Amazon. I also narrated a story by Jake Kerr called "Wedding Day," for THE END IS NIGH. And I can't wait to share that one as well.

Second, I have a brand new story, "Arkquarium," that will be included in an anthology that's being funded through Kickstarter: THAT AIN'T RIGHT -- A LOVECRAFTIAN-THEMED ANTHOLOGY. The publisher even did an author spotlight on me. So, if you're moved to contribute, there's still about a week left to back this project. One of the backer rewards is a narration of a short story of up to 5,000 words by me.

Third, the first project I've narrated through ACX is now on sale: Hand of Fire: Battle for Magic. I'm really pleased about that. I am also currently narrating a horror novel that's due in about a week and a half to the author.

Fourth, the next "Podcasting Basics" class I'm co-teaching with Cat Rambo is currently planned for the end of April. I need to double check the date before I post it here, but there is one planned.

I think that's everything for now. Hopefully, this update helps explain why my blog has been so quiet lately. Have a great weekend, everyone.

Better Living Through Pseudoscience

2014-01-22T09:04:00.000-08:00

"The spotlight makes me feel as if I'm a giant alien bug roasting beneath a magnifying glass--not unlike those noble arthropods in my favorite film, Starship Troopers. But I am only a middle-aged man wearing a frayed lab coat, standing center-stage in a theater that's seen better days. Although I can't see much beyond the glare of the spotlight, I know I am addressing a full house, thanks to savvy promises of air-conditioning and free soft serve during the worst heat wave of the decade.

I rub my thumb against the freckle on my palm for luck. It is my first infomercial and I have reasons to be jittery. Even now, my nemesis hides among the slack-jawed tourists, waiting to strike..."

These are the first two paragraphs of my new short story, "Better Living Through Pseudoscience" available in the new ebook, MAD SCIENTIST JOURNAL: AUTUMN 2013.

Available for Nook and Kindle.

It's one of those funny mad scientist stories--at least, it makes me chortle in the secret corners of myself. And it clocks in at 2,700 words, if you are concerned about getting enough value for your money. I know I am! No shame there!

Happy Wednesday.

Working with writer's block

2014-01-15T11:57:00.004-08:00

At 2am this morning, I finished a new 3,500-word short story. It's embarrassing to admit how long it's been since I last wrote a short story from scratch. Let's just say...a while.

So, future me asks, how did you manage to complete this story?

A few things helped. On Sunday, I attended a one-day Clarion West workshop taught by Eileen Gunn, about working through creative impasses. I managed a rough ending during one of the 15-minute writing burst exercises--at least enough to start editing and expand.

Having a deadline helped. Knowing I had to deliver what I promised helped.

I didn't turn off the internet, but I probably should have. After a month of trying to write this thing, by mid-day yesterday I had about two thousand good words and some rocky words. The key was that no matter how much I procrastinated, and I procrastinated a lot, I would keep forcing myself back to the keyboard. I treated myself like a stubborn kid who refused to eat her vegetables. I basically threw a lot of tantrums, certain I wasn't going to be able to do it, but I kept forcing myself to open MS Word and make small attempts. Over and over and over...Until I was too exhausted to fight anymore and I ate the damned leafy greens.

There are authors who don't believe in writer's block. I envy them. I wish I didn't believe, too. But I have these tendencies, if nothing else, to avoid writing fiction. Give me something tangible and clear cut, where I can make a fancy list and check off deliverables and I'm solid. Technical writing, no problem, but fiction? I struggle.

I've thought a lot about why I struggle. I know it's in my head. I've reorganized my entire life to be conducive to writing. I have the equipment, the books, the support network. So why freeze up? Two reasons come to mind. One, I dislike not being good at something so much I'd almost rather not to do it than fail. Two, I'm afraid of being boring. Both are fantastic ways to make that playful voice inside my head, the one that whispers, "What about..." and "This might sound weird, but..." to take its toys and play elsewhere.

All of this is to say, the draft is done and submitted. And, future me? There are much, much better ways for us to write a short story. Go find them.

Hello, I'm a Narrator for Hire

2014-01-07T10:00:00.001-08:00

Hi. I realize this post isn't applicable to 97% of the readers of this site. This post goes out to that very special 3%. You know who you are...

Yesterday I signed up for Elance--a web site that helps freelancers connect with employers. There are no fees for basic membership, but Elance does take a cut of any earnings you arrange through the site.

I put in bids for a few jobs -- voice acting, podcast related -- that sounded interesting and I'll keep an eye out for new opportunities. Of course, if I did get hired, I wouldn't discuss any details of the jobs here--so to any potential employers that might be checking me out, no need to worry about discretion.

In related news, it's true! I am happily available to narrate your fiction or non-fiction for the purposes of audio distribution, and can supply you a quote if you tell me the word count. My email address is at the top of the About page and examples of my narrations are on the Podcasts page.

I'm still actively applying for full-time work, but in the mean time, I would like to explore all revenue-generating opportunities.

What else is going on? I've been struggling like crazy to finish writing a new short story. I don't know why I'm having such a hard time, but on Sunday, I'll be taking a one-day workshop about working through creative blocks. So that's good.

Happy Tuesday.

Achieving website non-bloat

2014-01-03T10:37:00.001-08:00

How is it that just my right hand gets cold when I'm typing? Both hands contribute equally, and yet the right is a veritable ice sculpture while the left remains a tepid puddle.

So here I am, again, at the dining room table. I'm working on a new short story--in and of itself a minor miracle--and trying to ignore all the things my brain says I should do instead.

Like write blog posts, obviously.

For some reason I've also decided it's more important (than writing) to tediously save a bunch of recipes to my desktop from an old website on angelfire that I've consulted many times over the years. I loved the site, but all the angelfire popups have finally made the site unusable because each page takes forever to load, so I had the bright idea of saving all content off-line and removing the ads manually so I could keep using the site as reference. It's working great except there are over 1,000 recipes to save and update and I am not savvy enough to use grep or other magic editing tool. To be clear, I'm not removing any copyright info or obscuring origin info, and the ads don't benefit the content creator, just the hosting company.

I just really want to be able to browse the site without bloat!

Anyway. The process has actually been kind of soothing. Some people craft, I make off-line copies of really useful web sites that haven't been updated in three years and will probably disappear soon.

The plan for today is to write, read, edit more recipes, record a podcast, and watch some TV. I'd add "work out" to the mix, but honestly I'm afraid of the gym in January, what with all the resolutioners resolutioning. Better to focus on the writing this morning and then tackle the treadmill.

Following that logic, it's back to MS Word.

Happy 2014, and Hello Again

2014-01-01T10:34:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I always feel extra hopeful around the start of the year, like the slate has been wiped clean and I'm free to attempt some crazy new goal without judgment.

This feeling also explains why I tend towards depression around February, when the reality of my repeated failures sinks in, but that's not important right now. Now is the time to compartmentalize!

Last year my focus was on health and I made some huge strides in that area. I met with a nutritionist, learned how to prepare and cook vegetables, worked with a personal trainer and made all the bad numbers move in a good direction.

This year I need to get back to writing. And I need to get a job. Those are my goals in a nutshell, although they are better defined than that off-line. You'll just have to trust me.

So now I'm sitting at the dining room table, listening to the dishwasher whoosh and what-not. The curtains are closed. It appears (via gaps between the fabric, the wall, and the window) to be sunny and cold, always cold now, but a moderate cold. And I am not hungover, which means today is already miles better than yesterday, assuming happiness is measured in miles and not kilometers--miles sounds more like smiles, leading me to believe my instinct is correct--and the holidays have left me with a new pile of books to read, music to consume, and movies to deaden my sockets.

As for my traditional New Year's Wish: May 2014 bring you everything you desire and only some of what you deserve.

And we're off.

2013 Year in Review (with pictures)

2013-12-20T11:41:00.002-08:00

Here we are, at the end of another year. Without further ado, here are some things I did.

January

Start seeing a nutritionist
Join a new gym, start seeing a personal trainer once per week
Go to Book of Mormon musical and an exhibit about women artists at the Seattle Art Museum
EDF PODCAST: The Art of Opening an Oyster by Sierra B. Ryan read by Folly Blaine [7-Jan-2013]

February

CONVENTION: February 1-3, Potlatch 22/Foolscap 15 in Redmond, WA. I have a 25-minute slot to read my work. Here's a shot of my audience.

Start taking cooking classes through the nutritionist

PODCAST: "The Prisoner's Missive" by Michelle Strackmann, as discovered by Mark Floyd, Runs 20 minutes
PODCAST: "The Scoundrel's Wife" by Ben Langdon. Runs 25 minutes and was written from the perspective of a super-villain's agoraphobic wife.
EDF PODCAST: Forget, To Live by Ben Langdon read by Folly Blaine [04-Feb-2013]
EDF PODCAST: First Time by K.C. Ball read by Folly Blaine [11-Feb-2013]
EDF PODCAST: The Passing of Grandmother’s Quilt by Cat Rambo read by Folly Blaine [18-Feb-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Saving Nimoy by Sally York read by Folly Blaine [25-Feb-2013]

March

March 2, Attend a day of Emerald City ComicCon
CONVENTION: March 28-31, Norwescon 36 in SeaTac, WA. I think I only went Saturday this time, but I did have the chance to read for five minutes as part of the Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading.
BENEATH CEASELESS SKIES PODCAST: Boat in Shadows, Crossing by Tori Truslow. Runs 1 hour. I play Bue. Other narrators include Rajan Khanna, Michael J. DeLuca, and Tina Connolly.
EDF PODCAST: There are Those Who Have the Stars… by John Eric Vona read by Folly Blaine [4-Mar-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Fire in the Heart by Samantha Memi read by Folly Blaine [11-Mar-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Shades by Randall Brown read by Folly Blaine [18-Mar-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Twist Twist Shake by E.M.Pearson read by Folly Blaine [25-Mar-2013]

April

PUBLISHED: April 15, "Before the Fireworks," third place winner in the String-of-10 FIVE Flash Fiction Chronicles contest is posted online. Plus an interview!
RETREAT: April 18-21st, Writers Retreat at Fort Warden in Port Townsend, WA

Theo Chocolates Tour with Eliza and Miriah

Georgetown Brewery Tour with Eliza and her husband
Teach my first podcast class online with Cat Rambo
Finally finish reading the Harry Potter books
EDF PODCAST: Smoke Rings by dj barber read by Folly Blaine [1-Apr-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Tears in a Box by dj barber read by Folly Blaine [8-Apr-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Oranges by Gay Degani read by Folly Blaine [22-Apr-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Apotheosis Cake by Alexander Burns read by Folly Blaine [29-Apr-2013

May

BENEATH CEASELESS SKIES PODCAST: Singing Like a Hundred Dug Up Bones by Alex Dally MacFarlane. Runs 35 min.
EDF PODCAST: His Good Wife by Tina Wayland read by Folly Blaine [6-May-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Abasteron House by Paula Cappa read by Folly Blaine [13-May-2013]
EDF PODCAST: A Good Use by J. Chris Lawrence read by Folly Blaine [20-May-2013]
EDF PODCAST: The Merry Jester by Kevin McNeil read by Folly Blaine [27-May-2013]

June

CONVENTION: June 13-16, The Bram Stokers Award Weekend 2013 Incorporating World Horror Convention in New Orleans, LA. Highlights include a trip through the swamp on an airboat to see the gators, attending a Kaffeeklatsch with Caitlin R. Kiernan, and sightseeing on absinthe.

June 28-29, Locus Awards Weekend in Seattle, WA. Includes a class with Paul Park and Connie Willis.

EDF PODCAST: Drawn to the Glow by K.C. Ball read by Folly Blaine [3-Jun-2013]
EDF PODCAST: The Pale Farmer by Rich Matrunick read by Folly Blaine [10-Jun-2013]
EDF PODCAST: The Old Man and the Safe by Peter Wood read by Folly Blaine [17-Jun-2013]
EDF PODCAST: The Air Above My Head by Rachael Dunlop read by Folly Blaine [24-Jun-2013]

July

Friends, Phil and Susan, visit for a week. We go to the EMP Horror exhibit and I scream in a booth, the aquarium, and the Airlock in Redmond to fight each other playing mechs in pods.

Attend readings by Neil Gaiman, Joe Hill, Margo Lanagan, Samuel Delany and an interview with Ellen Datlow (also go to my first Clarion West parties)

WORKSHOP: July 25-28, Cascade Writers Workshop in Portland, OR
EDF PODCAST: No Arrests in 2039 by Suzanne Conboy-Hill read by Folly Blaine [1-Jul-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Flash Flood by Gay Degani read by Folly Blaine [8-Jul-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Seventeen by Virgie Townsend read by Folly Blaine [15-Jul-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Soggy Sandy by Gay Degani read by Folly Blaine [22-Jul-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Repossession by Peter Wood read by Folly Blaine [29-Jul-2013]

August

CONVENTION: August 29-September 2, LoneStarCon 3 (WorldCon) in San Antonio, TX. Highlights include a lantern tour of the Natural Bridge Caverns, seeing the Alamo for the first time, and hanging out with Cat Rambo.

EDF PODCAST: Cat Nav by Suzanne Conboy-Hill read by Folly Blaine [5-Aug-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Nikki Comes Home by Christopher Owen read by Folly Blaine [12-Aug-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Dear Baby by Allison Nast read by Folly Blaine [19-Aug-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Member of the Herd by Guy Anthony De Marco read by Folly Blaine [26-Aug-2013]

September

I shoot my first book cover for Roms, Bombs, & Zoms.

CONVENTION: September 19-22, KillerCon in Las Vegas, NV. Highlights of the trip include a day trip out to the Grand Canyon.

WILY WRITERS PODCAST: The Mary-Jane Effect by AJ Fitzwater (read with Nathan Crowder) About 30 min.
EDF PODCAST: Steaks by Guy Anthony De Marco read by Folly Blaine [2-Sep-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Terry and the Eye by Gaius Coffey read by Folly Blaine [9-Sep-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Understatement by Gaius Coffey read by Folly Blaine [16-Sep-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Over-Exposed by Patrick Mahon read by Folly Blaine [23-Sep-2013]
EDF PODCAST: And What About Me by Irena Pasvinter read by Folly Blaine [30-Sep-2013]

October

Cemetery Dance mentions my story in a review of Fresh Blood, Old Bones. My name is misspelled.

Book exchange party at Eliza's

I buy a wig.

Attend Dan Simmons reading.
WILY WRITERS PODCAST: Modern Love by M. Darusha Wehm. Runs 16 min.
EDF PODCAST: Wish Fulfilment by Georgina Allen read by Folly Blaine [7-Oct-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Spring Melt by Gay Degani read by Folly Blaine [14-Oct-2013]
EDF PODCAST: Clear Title by Brian J. Hunt read by Brian J. Hunt [21-Oct-2013]
EDF PODCAST: The Mixture by K.C. Ball read by Folly Blaine [28-Oct-2013]

November

This Mutant Life: Bad Company anthology is released. Includes a reprint of my story, "The Hero Garden."
RETREAT: November 21-24, Writers Retreat at Fort Warden in Port Townsend, WA

Have some friends over for Thanksgiving. I make too much food.

PODCAST: Gay Degani's "Something About L.A."
EDF PODCAST: Schrodinger’s Spat by Peter Wood read by Folly Blaine [4-Nov-2013]
EDF PODCAST: How He Likes Me To Dress by Sarah Salway read by Folly Blaine [11-Nov-2013]
EDF PODCAST: The Red Sno-Cones Are Not For Sale by Emily C. Skaftun read by Folly Blaine [18-Nov-2013]
EDF PODCAST: His First Wife by Von Rupert read by Folly Blaine [25-Nov-2013]

December

VACATION: December 7-14, Visit southern California
PODCAST: Beyond the Curve by Gay Degani. Runs 5 1/2 min.
PODCAST: Home for Christmas by Sandra M. Odell. Runs 16 min.
EDF PODCAST: Speed Demon and Clockwork Dancer by JR Hume read by Folly Blaine [2-Dec-2013]
EDF PODCAST: And Though Worms Destroy by Sarah L. Byrne read by Folly Blaine [9-Dec-2013]
EDF PODCAST: The Cavern by K. Esta read by Folly Blaine [16-Dec-2013]

In closing: THANK YOU, for joining me on this crazy adventure. I sincerely appreciate it.

Things for sale and stuff I've done

2013-10-30T08:36:00.001-07:00

In an effort to de-clutter and bring in a little cash, I've started selling PS3 games, books, and movies on half.com again. Here is the link to my store. I've got some great stuff up there in fantastic shape. Adding new stuff all the time.

In other news I narrated a short story for Wily Writers, an online fiction magazine. The story I read was "Modern Love" by M. Darusha Wehm. You can listen to the reading at this page. Scroll down and select the "Click for Audio" icon.

Another cool thing: Cemetery Dance magazine, issue 70, page 132, mentions my story in a positive review of the anthology Fresh Blood Old Bones. My name is misspelled in the review (Folly Blaine is missing an 'e') but that's because my name is misspelled in the book. And hey! If you're looking for something to read for Halloween, this ebook I'm talking about is filled with some majorly creepy short stories for only $2.99. The anthology includes stories from a mix of established and emerging writers--hence the title.

So, this whole post has been pretty much pitching stuff at you. Sorry about that.

I hope you're doing well. I hope you get to eat all of the candy you want to eat without any repercussions, and that you have at least one genuine fright, in the spirit of Halloween, of course.

Happy Wednesday.

Fall

2013-10-17T17:12:00.000-07:00

Hi. I've been pretty quiet here because I don't have much to share. Fall is my favorite time of year--the chill in the air, the fiery leaf confetti, the pumpkin-flavored everything. I've always enjoyed Halloween, but I don't expect much this year. It's been a while since I've gotten to dress up.

I need to remember to buy candy. One year I failed to buy candy because I didn't expect any trick-or-treaters at our apartment and the only individually wrapped sweets I had on hand were Fig Newton cookies. I still feel bad about that. The looks on those poor kids' faces as I dropped the Fig Newtons in their bags...

Anyway. I hope you all are doing well. I'm still around here somewhere, chugging along.

LoneStarCon3 : Camera Phone Edition

2013-09-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

WorldCon is a Massively Traveling Science-Fiction Convention (MTSFC for short, like an MMORPG but not at all), and is literary based. For its 71st year, WorldCon was hosted by LoneStarCon (3) in San Antonio, Texas, August 29th through September 2.

And I have all the low-resolution camera phone pictures to prove it.

Something I like to call "Clouds, Window Seat" -- on way to San Antonio

View from the balcony of my hotel room overlooking the river walk, to give you a sense of place. My awesome roommate was Andrew S. Williams.

If it's not clear, this recap will be based around pictures I shot around the con like some kind of fancy photo essay, only with less connective tissue and fewer megapixels.

So. First, I woke up early Thursday morning and went on a lantern tour of a cavern.

Kelly Lagor and Nicole Feldringer waiting to start our Lantern Tour of the Natural Bridge Caverns

Infamous lantern

Our guide, plus the actual Natural Bridge in background. Marks the entrance to the living cavern.

Almost the whole tour was in total darkness, except for our lanterns. At the end, our guide switched on the stage lighting so we could take pictures.

Melting rocks, or living calcite formations. You pick.

Self-portrait. I like to take these frequently, just in case one is needed for a Missing Persons Poster.

The first panel of the con I attended was on Fantastic London. Two of the panelists were Paul Cornell and Elizabeth Bear.

I signed up for a lot of Kaffeeklatsch and Literary Beer events, and consider them to have been the most useful time I spent at LoneStarCon. If you've never been to one of these before, it's just an informal hour-long conversation that consists of one person-of-interest with 9-12 attendees around a big table. To join you just had to sign up a half-day in advance, assuming there was space left. Drinks weren't provided, but they were available to purchase nearby -- either coffee or beer, depending on the type of event. Hence the "coffee" and "beer" theme.

Kaffeeklatsch with Sheila Williams, editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine

Outside the Alamo, twilight

Ghost Tour that left from the Alamo. I only lasted a half hour in the heat before giving up and heading back to the bar for A/C and libations.

Hanging out with Cat Rambo

Kaffeeklatsch with Lee Harris, senior editor at Angry Robot Books

Not pictured: Writers Workshop organized by Oz Drummond. My session was led by David D. Levine and Amy Sundberg. Extremely useful.

Literary Beer event with Kij Johnson

Sunset from the SFWA suite -- I was Cat Rambo's plus one. Thanks, Cat!

After the sunset, I hung out with a bunch of people including Chester Hoster and I tagged along with Sanford Allen and his friends to attend room parties. (mostly not pictured) One of the highlights happened at the Helsinki in 2015 bid party. I sampled a Finnish liqueur called Terva made from the wood and roots of pine, pine tar. Loved it.

Bland Lemon Denton & the Lemonaides - Description from program "Hugo and Nebula nominated Austin author Brad Denton rounds up his band of talented musicians"

Kaffeeklatsch with John Berlyne, agent at the Zeno Agency. (In the process of signing up for this event, I also met Brian C. E. Buhl, who has his own write-ups of the con at his blog.)

An Hour with Lois McMaster Bujold: Lillian Stewart Carl, Lois McMaster Bujold

Kaffeeklatsch with Neil Clarke, publisher/editor-in-chief of Clarkesworld Magazine

Drinks with Authors event at Ernie's Bar: Scott H. Andrews (Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Beneath Ceaseless Skies) and Cat Rambo

Random shot of the Drinks with Authors crowd at Ernie's Bar. How many authors can you spot?

Hanging out at the bar with Chuck Wendig. I took a less blurry picture, but he looked way too serious.

Hanging out at the bar with writers Rob Ziegler, Sandra Wickham, and Tobias Buckell

Blurry picture of the audience for the Broad Universe reading - I read my poem "Shag" that's been accepted by Kaleidotrope for 2014

Literary Beer event with editor Ellen Datlow

Kaffeeklatsch with Dave Wolverton aka David Farland

Riverwalk on the walk to dinner

Instead of attending the Hugo Awards, I met up with some very entertaining authors at the bar and we followed the results on Twitter.

Lettie Prell and Tod McCoy

Cat Rambo and Ann Leckie

Me and Django Wexler

Not pictured, but also making an appearance at the table: Wesley Chu

Literary Beer event with Paul Cornell

Waiting at the San Antonio airport with J.A. Pitts, Brenda Cooper, Nicole Feldringer, Keffy R. M. Kehrli, Cat Rambo, and Tod McCoy. (Not pictured: Mark Teppo, Kay Kenyon, and probably others I'm forgetting)

Overall I had a great time at LoneStarCon3. I know I am forgetting lots of people (like Cormac! whose last name has slipped my mind, and chatting with Rhiannon Held and Patrick S. Tomlinson and Michael R. Underwood and Mari Ness and S. Hutson Blount and Christie Yant and Brooke Bolander and Sara A. Mueller and many others) and I apologize for that. Thanks, everyone, for making it such a great con!

LoneStarCon / WorldCon in San Antonio, TX

2013-08-27T11:38:00.002-07:00

I only have one thing I'm doing at LoneStarCon publicly, so if you're around it'd be cool to see you. I'll be reading as part of the Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Reading, group panel, on SUNDAY from 10-11am at the Convention Center 007B. We have a flyer and the event is in the program with my name included and everything. So it's real and now I have to choose something to read.

Very exciting. Hope to see you there. Or if not there, maybe the bar.

Eight months in, health check

2013-08-14T09:48:00.001-07:00

At the start of the year I decided to take steps to improve my health. Now that we're eight months into the process, I thought it'd be useful to check in.

The two biggest changes are that I'm down about 25 pounds since December 2012, and that my blood pressure has reached reasonable levels without medication. (I self-monitor with one of those wrist-band devices.) Besides the physical, I've made changes mentally. I've taken quite a few classes with the nutritionist to learn how to prepare and cook vegetables and fish, and do some basic meal planning. I've also worked with the nutritionist to come up with strategies to combat old habits.

As part of this process, I've also switched gyms and have an appointment with a personal trainer once per week. And I finally cancelled my Weight Watchers membership so I don't have that as a crutch anymore.

Yes, I could have lost the weight faster, but I wanted this to be a long-term change. And changing habits like this is a major process for me.

The best part is that as of today--and the reason I thought it'd be a good time to talk about this--I'm entering the fun phase. Finally. I'm starting to be able to wear clothes I haven't worn in a few years. Muscles are appearing. And I'm able to do all sorts of things physically I wasn't able to do back in January.

There is still a lot of work left to do and I am fighting like hell to continue seeing improvements and maintain my progress, but I feel good. I feel stronger than I've felt in a long time. And I just need to remember this feeling when it gets hard again, which I know from experience it will.

Happy Wednesday.

Perfect Attendance Awards are my favorite awards

2013-08-01T09:19:00.000-07:00

Hi! I thought maybe I should post when I'm in a good mood for once. So here I am.

Yep.

It's true though. Inner conflict makes for more interesting reading. Yet somehow I'm sure we'll muddle through.

Since I've been back from the Cascade Writers Workshop I've mostly been in recovery mode. I stumbled in to work out with my wonderful personal trainer on Monday morning and managed to say goodbye to our houseguests before the happy couple hit the road. On Tuesday I attended the last Clarion West "reading" of the summer, although in this case it was Ellen Datlow being interviewed by Eileen Gunn so really more of a conversation. Really enjoyed that. That evening also marked three years in a row I haven't missed a single event in the Clarion West Summer Reading Series.

Not that I'm counting or anything. Or expect to win some sort of perfect attendance award.

Unless that's a thing that exists. And then I want it.

No new acceptances to report. One of my stories made it to the second round of readings at a pro market for the second time, but that won't mean much to anyone but me. It's funny how your definition of success becomes a sliding scale after enough rejections. But hey, that just means I'm still in the game, right?

See? Good mood. Coffee helps. So does bouncy music.

Also, today is the first day of my birthday month. Since time goes by so quickly now, I've decided to just extend the single day to a month to get my money's worth. Sounds fair. Because Leos rule. Everybody else drools. (Except you, of course. Of course! Your wit, your charm, your fashion choices--not to mention your excellent posture--are above reproach.)

This coffee is seriously amazing. Combined with Blues Traveler's "Canadian Rose," I feel positively jubilant. Don't worry readers, serious Folly will be back before you know it. She is always there in the shadows, waiting. Like a...puma? Hm.

Happy Thursday, everybody. Never forget how nice you smell.