Facing the Truth

Firstly...

So again, it has been a while. But I'm not going to apologize for that.

Secondly...

It has been a year of tremendous (and sometimes painful) growth for me. I had to face several truths about myself, and about how I've been conducting my life. I had to admit things to myself, and I had to make some changes.

And most of it's stuff I don't really want to get into now. Suffice it to say, the last year sucked but I've come out intact and feel I'm a better human being for it.

For the purpose of this post, I will say that I had definitely hit a plateau in my writing. And it was completely one of my own making. I was subconsciously waiting for a magic bullet to appear--one that would eliminate stress, drive my kids around to their classes, build me an office to write in, and generally somehow "put me on the map." All without really putting in the work.

And you're not going to get on any map if you spend two hours a week (if that) writing.

I really had to let go of the fear of failure, and stop using my many responsibilities as a crutch for just not doing it. 

This does not mean I don't have many responsibilities, and having a spouse and young kids is a full-time job in itself. BUT IT DIDN'T NEED TO BE MY CRUTCH.

So after a lot of mental work and good advice from my writing group, I hurled myself over the plateau, and I'm super-excited about what I've been writing. I finished a flash fiction piece for a contest last week, and I've been writing additional chapters for my novel-in-progress.

Most importantly, I feel ready for failure--because I know that if I fail it means I'm out there trying.

Lastly...

I'm really going to make an effort to update this blog regularly again. It will help me if I know people are reading it, and I welcome comments of any type. Please bookmark this blog and/or share it on your various social networks. I promise to be entertaining or at least annoying.

It's "Read an e-Book" Week!

Did you know that it is "Read an e-book" week? Did you know that you can read an e-book even if you don't have an e-reader? (A computer does fine.) During this week, I am offering the e-version of "Interview With the Faerie" for FREE, until March 10. Use coupon code RE100 and it's yours! (Don't forget to rate it and/or leave a comment :-) ) Link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/121747

Self-publishing

I've self-published my poem/short story, Interview With the Faerie on Smashwords!


This piece was written years ago, and I've had absolutely no luck getting it published as either a short story or a poem! It's a bit short for a short story, and the lines are stanzas. It's too long for (what most people think of as) a poem.


It has Faeries...and borrows from Celtic mythology (particularly Lebor Gabála Érenn , or Book of Invasions.) And I would not say this is for kids, although it should be fine those 13+.


Smashwords is an e-book only distributor, so only an electronic version is available for now. It cost 0.99 and is available in your standard ebook formats.


I am looking into creating a paper version at CreateSpace in the future. 


In the meantime...please consider paying your hard-earned-buck to support my work! :-)

My Arisia Panel Schedule

I'm psyched to be paneling at Arisia again this year! Arisia is an awesome scifi/fantasy culture conference that takes place every year in  Boston. I'm usually a panelist on topics such as gender, sexuality, religion and sociology and how these relate to science fiction in books, TV and film. I'm often on panels about dystopian science fiction, as this is my primary scifi love.

Here's my current panel schedule...

Gender Limitations in SF/F with Greer Gilman, Jennifer Pelland, Trisha Wooldridge (m), Andrea Hairston. Friday 1/13 at 5:30 pm.


The Nature of Gender: Past, Present and Future with Raven Kaldera (m), Michelle d'Entremont, Dyschordiana. Friday at 10 pm.


Sacred Sexuality with Shava Nerad, Rev. Matthew (m), Dyschordiana. Friday at 11:30 pm.


Can You Like Literary Scifi Without Being a Snob? with Grant Carrington, John Bowker,  Andrea Hairston, Kenneth Schneyer (m). Saturday 1/14 at 10 am.


Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading with Elaine Isaak, Phoebe Wray, KT Pinto, Trisha Wooldridge (m), Morven Westfield,  Kimberley Long-Ewing. Saturday at 11:30 am. ** All of the participants--myself included--will be reading from our works.**


Our Grim Meat-Hook Future with Steve Sawicki, Ken Kingsgrave-Ernstein (m), Glenn Grant, Alexander Jablokov. Saturday at 1pm.


Politics in Science Fiction with Ian Randal Strock, Walter Hunt, Mark L Amidon (m), Ira Nayman, Proprietor, Alternate Reality News. Saturday at 10 pm.

Published work...about ZOMBIES

I've been a whirlwind of busy. I have a few clients for my social media/marketing consulting business, Seed Media Consulting. I am LOVING working from home.

How are you?

In other awesome news, my poem "The Lies Parents Tell" was published today on the website "Tales of the Zombie War." It's already gotten three really positive comments :-)

Go check it out! http://www.talesofworldwarz.com/stories/

Until next time...