2021 Publications: A Year in Review

It's been a busy year. I'm really proud of the stories I've published. They're now eligible for 2022 awards.

"King Moon's Tithe to Hell" is about a woman, another woman, the land of Faerie, and a journey to Hell. Also, far more terrifying, commitment. It's my first work of prose accepted by Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet and is in their June 2021 issue.

"House of Wolves" is about the "found family" trope but also I wanted to explore its potential toxicity. I'm so pleased Kaleidotrope put it in their Summer 2021 issue and grateful that it was accompanied by some lovely art (right) by Cindy Fan, "Tea Time."

"Here is the Girl Ghost" is a ghost story set in a house that's a lot like the one I live in now. (Okay, I live in an apartment in said house, but still.) It features memories I have of visiting France. I'm happy it has a home in Mirror Dance, July 2021.

What a pleasure to have my queer, dysfunctional vampire romance, "Frost Bloom" in Nightmare Magazine, September 2021. It's my first short story in Nightmare and my first in a John Joseph Adams publication. What a thrill!

Arisia 2022: CANCELLED!

UPDATE: Due to high COVID numbers, Arisia 2022 has officially been cancelled. I'm sad but, well, yeah. It's likely for the best.

Until we meet again, friends, stay healthy and safe!

Until further notice, Arisia 2022 is happening in person. Per their COVID statement, this may change. My current plan is to be there, vaxxed, masked, and ready to con.

Here's my schedule as it stands right now:

Superman and Religion
Friday, January 14
8:30pm

Marina 4
Michael A. Burstein (moderator), Pablo Vazquez, William H. Foster III, Alex Jarvis, Gillian Daniels

Superman remains an enigmatic figure in American mythology. As an often Christlike figure (who worships a Kryptonian sun deity), created by two Jewish sons of immigrants, the Man of Steel also includes elements from the Sumerian epic of Gilgamesh. Does the wide cast of Superman’s religious influences render him a defender-of-all-faiths? Can any religion claim him as one of their own? Arisia last explored this question seven years ago; have more recent stories complicated any of these questions?

Overt or Covert Antagonists: Who's "More Evil"?
Saturday, January 15
2:30pm
Alcott
Gillian Daniels (moderator), Athena Andreadis PhD, Allison Neff, Gordon Linzner, Sonya Taaffe

Some antagonists shout "villain!" as soon as they appear on the page or screen: hissing, winking their glowing red eyes, and cheerfully skewering villagers. Others--and these can be both more realistic and more chilling--are more circumspect in their wickedness. What makes the stealth antagonist so frightening? Bring your favorite wolf in sheep's clothing (my apologies to wolves) to our discussion.

Identifying Markets For Your Work

Saturday, January 15
8:30pm
Marina 3
Ken Schneyer (moderator), M. Dalto, Rachel A. Brune, Gillian Daniels, Rachel Kenley

This workshop invites writers to bring their ideas, and we will explore how they might do some preliminary research to understand the state of publishing for that genre, and find a fit for their work-in-progress in the wild, wild world that publishing (both indie and traditional) has become. Attendance to this workshop will be capped at 15 participants.

Creeping Sense of Doom
Monday, January 17
11:30am
Faneuil
Gillian Daniels (moderator), Liz Salazar, Sonya Taaffe, Rachel A. Brune

Long before the monster strikes and the evil lurches into view, some authors excel at creating dread. How do you hint at the terror lurking just around the corner without spoiling the rest of the story? Panelists will explore the question of creating apprehension and foreboding in works of horror and other genres.

Shout Out from Best Horror of the Year Vol. 13!

In Ellen Datlow’s The Best Horror of the Year Volume 13, my short story, “Her Eyes Like Silver Dollars,” got a shout out in the Honorable Mentions! Special thanks to the editors of Wicked Women: An Anthology of New England Horror Writers, Trisha J. Woolridge and Scott Goudsward. And thank you to my fellow anthology wicked women and notables, Jennifer Williams and the irreplaceable Jane Yolen.

Also, my gratitude to new Patreon supporter, Abner Hall! Thanks, friend!

Infernal Salon: The Stream Recording!

This past Sunday, C. S. E. Cooney and Carlos Hernandez hosted the Infernal Salon to support Strange Horizons! With the use of Negocios Infernales, a dice-less roleplaying game, each writer on the stream was challenged to write a short piece in a little over a half hour. The result was a four hour stream and a boost to Strange Horizons' Kickstarter for the coming year!

You can skip ahead to 2:18:38 of the four hour stream to see me reading a section of the 900-word (!!!) flash fiction I wrote. It's currently titled, "Poisoned Crossing," but may change once I get a chance to edit it.

Come to the Infernal Salon Sunday, 10/24/21!

On Sunday, October 24 at 7:30-9:30pm EST, I’ll be taking part in the live literary event! Talented writers C. S. E. Cooney and Carlos Hernandez will be hosting an Infernal Salon on Arvan Eleron's Twitch channel to support Strange Horizons in the final days of its annual Kickstarter!

Our hosts will be giving every writer (like myself) a prompt of one or more cards from the very spooky deck they and artist Rebecca Huston concocted for their TTRPG "Negocios Infernales." Once every writer has their prompt, we'll set a timer for 30 minutes while they interview Strange Horizons affiliates.

At the end of it all, the writers will share their infernally-inspired works with the stream.

You can register here or learn more about the authors on the Facebook event here. See you then!

Here is the Mirror Dance Girl Ghost

So, because I am a walnut sometimes, I completely forgot to promote this flash piece that was published in Mirror
Dance for the Spring 2021 issue. It's called, "Here is the Girl Ghost." Editor Megan Arkenberg kindly gave it a home.

It took me a long time to place this story and it's a piece close to my heart. I don't pull straight from my own life a lot, but the memories attached to France are real. If the ghost is real, too, I haven't spoken to her, as far as I can remember.