Wolf House and A Fine Time for Romance (Fiction)

My new short story, House of Wolves, is up in the new issue of Kaleidotrope! Please enjoy it, the other stories of the Summer 2021 edition, and this devastating art by Cindy Fan.

In other news, I spoke with book critic Peter Berard at Melendy Avenue Review about a passion of mine that woke up a couple years ago: reading romance fiction. The discussion includes a brief overview of pioneering force in historical romance Georgette Heyer, romance fans as early adapters of ereader technology, the importance of escapism, and, of course, the difference between "closed door" and "open door" romance! (Hint: it's sex.)

It was fun to do. Getting to talk to people about my specific interests is always a delight. Because I largely move in the sci-fi/fantasy/horror genre circles, this was a really unique opportunity. Thanks to Peter for asking thoughtful questions and his willingness to engage over different literature!

Reading Today!

I'll be reading with Strong Women-Strange Worlds today, June 17th at 5pm. Not only will I be reading a slice of horror, you can also hear some great stuff from Elaine Isaak, C.S.E. Cooney, Ingrid Kallick, Elle Ire, and MB Austin. The emcee will be Sarah Smith. If you haven't already, please register for the event (which, yes, is free) here!

Also, the 43rd issue of Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet is now available for purchase. The last story, "King Moon’s Tithe to Hell," is mine. If you get your paws on it, please enjoy!

Strong Women · Strange Worlds June 17th Reading!

For the first time, I'll be reading with Strong Women-Strange Worlds! I'm doing a Third Thursday Quick Reads event on Thursday, June 17, at 5:00pm EST. So I recommend a cocktail or pleasant beverage! 

You can now register for the event here!

Looking at the current line-up, which is subject to change, I'll be reading alongside Elaine Isaak and C.S.E. Cooney (both of whom I have prior reading experience and are lovely people to boot) as well as Ingrid Kallick, Elle Ire, and MB Austin. The emcee will be the eminent Sarah Smith!

Their next reading is this Friday at noon and features Barbara Ann Wright, Gloria Oliver, Sarah Jean Horwitz (who I met at a convention a while back), Patricia Correll, Jane C. Esther, and Carol Berg. Please join them if you can.

Updates to register for the event will be available here. You can also sign up for their mailing list to receive information about upcoming events.

LCRW #43 Rides to Hell and Back

I have a story in the upcoming 43rd issue of Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet, "King Moon’s Tithe to Hell"! I'm so excited (and nervous) to share it with you all. It's a story about fairyland, love, and hell. 

You can order your very own copy here. Take a gander at the super stars in the table of contents. This includes the very talented and cool Leah Bobet, for whom I read slush many moons ago when she was editor and publisher of Ideomancer Speculative Fiction. 

I'm vaccinated and healthy and fizzy and funny and fine. In New England, 70% of adults have received their first shot, the weather is sunny without being too hot, and it's my birthday month. Everything feels new and blooming.

Hourly Comics 2021!

Hourly Comic Day is every year on February 1st! They're a wonderful time capsule, I find. Here are the ones I did 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, the last year I did it. Now, to chronicle this day in 2020 2021!

One more thing. If it's in my head, it's now in yours:

Boskone: February 12-14, 2021

Arisia may be over for the year, but Boskone is now on the horizon! I'm on panels for it as well:

 

Creating Across Media

12 Feb 2021, Friday 17:00 - 18:00, Carlton - (Mtg Room) (Virtual Westin)

Versatility is an author's greatest tool in today's publishing market. Whether it's books, blogging, comics, drama, film, gaming, graphic novels, non-fiction, short fiction, social media, or TV there is a story to be told. When switching from one to the other, what do you need to keep in mind? What are some of the key tips and tricks to creating compelling content no matter which medium you are writing in at the moment?

Christopher Golden, Walter Jon Williams (Word Domination), Scott Edelman (M), Gillian Daniels, Mur Lafferty

Female Character Evolution in Speculative Fiction

13 Feb 2021, Saturday 13:00 - 14:00, Burroughs (Webinar) (Virtual Westin)

Is there more to life than virgin-mother-crone? Let's look at how physical and psychological change in women is portrayed in fiction today. We've talked about how the representation of women in fiction has changed, but we'll talk here about how a woman actual changes through time and experience within today's works. How does SF/F/H approach the physical changes, from childhood to womanhood or the later changes in life? How do print and screen differ in this regard? 

Nancy Holder, Gillian Daniels (M), Maura McHugh, Connie Willis, Tamora Pierce (Tamora Pierce LLC)

 

Horror Comics: The Art of Graphic Terror

14 Feb 2021, Sunday 11:30 - 12:30, Burroughs (Webinar) (Virtual Westin)

From comics to graphic novels, these artists and authors don't pull their punches. Instead they excel at steadily building the narrative dread through a combination of disconcerting story elements that happen both in the panel and off the page as they push old tropes into unknown territory. From body horror to creepypasta, zombies, noirish superheroes, organ farmers, demonic ice cream men, and fairies dwelling inside the rotting corpse of, well, never mind, why do we read them? Is it the sheer inventive fun of titles like Afterlife With Archie; Killadelphia; Die; Crawl to Me; or Gyo: The Death-Stench Creeps? Maybe it’s the sequential-storytelling skills of writers like Joe Hill, Cullen Bunn, Gail Simone, Victor Lavalle, or Carmen Maria Machado? Or maybe there’s just something wrong with us?

Jack Haringa (Worcester Academy), Cat Scully, Maura McHugh, Gillian Daniels (M), Joe Hill

 

The Representation of LGBTQ+ in Popular Culture

14 Feb 2021, Sunday 14:30 - 15:30, Carlton - (Mtg Room) (Virtual Westin)

LGBTQ+ characters are no longer invisible on the screen. While there has been an obvious shift in popular culture, we still have a long way to go in the fight for appropriate representation in film, television, and fiction. The surge in LGBTQ+ representation has brought with it a surge of creators exploiting our desire to see a more realistic representation of diverse stories, often writing characters who are either caricatures or characters in relationships without being fleshed out appropriately. We'll discuss good and bad examples of LGBTQ+ characters. How do they help or hurt popular conception, including self perception, of gays and lesbians?

Jennifer Williams (Circlet Press), Sara Megibow (KT Literary), Gillian Daniels, Julia Rios (Mermaids Monthly) (M)