It’s an experiment this month. Instead of sending out a big old newsletter, I’m building a blog post, which will be part of the newsletter. The Writing Corner and Reading Corner have been, in some form, part of my newsletter for ages, but I’d like to bring them to a wider audience. I mean, why hide the books and writing news that I want to share?
The newsletter itself will still have pictures of my animals and exclusive thoughts and observations. Want the whole newsletter? You can subscribe right here.
This is a new newsletter system, and I’m not sure if I’ll permanently switch from my old solution. Stay tuned for updates (I only send once, maybe twice, a month, so things are going to move pretty slow around here.)
Writing Corner
The past month has been a slow month for writing, but packed full of editing. Terrible, right?
Well, not really.
I love the revision process. My first drafts tend to be light. Revision is where I get to flesh out descriptions and the complexity of the plot. It’s where I can make analogies click and all those subtle comparisons that nobody but me will ever notice. This last month of editing has been fantastically creative as I put the final touches on The Man Who Walked in the Dark before it goes to my editor.
I’ve also been assembling a short story collection called Not Done Yet. It science fiction with older protagonists, because hey it turns out I write a lot of those. Many of the stories in the book have been previously published, but many are quite new (most have made an appearance on my Patreon, if you dig that sort of thing.)
For the collection, I wrote a new story called The Wabasha Street Butcher, which is a completely new story in the Old Code universe. It follows Ajay as he visits an old friend, who now happens to own a butcher shop on Wabasha street. I don’t want to spoil too much, but Ajay’s old friends always seem to be trouble, don’t they?
Anyway, I only need a few more pieces before that collection clicks into place, so keep an eye out for that soon.
Reading Corner
It’s been a busy month, but WE’RE NEVER TOO BUSY FOR BOOKS, RIGHT????
I sent a mid-month book blast and I spent a lot of my time reading something that won’t be out until February, so the list might be a little short this month.
But good!
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
I’m not even done with this one yet, but it’s so good. It’s about a pirate-mother going out for one last adventure, and every step on this adventure is more amazing than the last. This is a HARD recommend on my list.
Kyx by Jennifer R. Povey
I’ve JUST started Kyx because it just came out, but so far so good. It’s got hints of noir in a very alien setting. Povey does some interesting things with language that won’t be for everyone, but I’m past the point where I know I’m going to give it a chance. And really, isn’t that all we can expect? The mysteries have mysteries, and you KNOW I love that kind of thing. Plus, I happen to know from her short stories that she’s a hell of a writer. I’m excited to see where this one goes.
Crossroad by W. H. Cameron
Speaking of mysteries, I picked up a mystery/thriller on a whim and really enjoyed it. Crossroad follows an acidic and moderately clever undertaker who somehow gets wrapped up in a small-town murder mystery which happens to involve disappearing corpses and a gigantic auto accident at a crossroad.
Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship
One last note. Of a Strange World Made is in the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship. Wish me luck, but also take the opportunity to grab some of the other novellas. You can check them out and decide which one is your favorite.
Novellas don’t get enough love, in my opinion. They’re an easy, consumable size for a book. Long enough to build some depth into the world and some backstories into the characters. Not so long that the world ever feels old.
Really, there are some interesting things happening at this length, and it’s great that it’s getting more attention.
Keep Reading
Like I said, this is about half of the newsletter (I’m saving some fun stuff for just the exclusives). Join if you’re interested, but do it quick because this will be going out soon.
And keep reading. Let me know if you run across anything good, because there’s so much out there.