All posts by marcyrockwell

Appearances, Awards, Comics, Family, Novels, Poetry, Reviews, WFH (work for hire/tie-ins)

I WON A MAJOR AWARD AND IT’S NOT A LEG LAMP!

Long time, no update! I’ve been busy on stuff I can’t tell you about. Sorry!

I CAN tell you this, though:

My #MMIWG2ST poem, “Reservation Fairy Tales 101 – Final Exam,” won second place in the Long Form Category of the Rhysling Award!!! This is my 13th nomination, and I am so pleased that this particular poem is the one that finally broke my losing streak, especially in light of it being Native American Heritage Week.

In other poetry news, the Bloodless anthology, which includes my witchy poem “Final Arrangements” released on October 25th.

Also, my weird western poem “Soiled Dove” will be appearing in the December issue of Penumbric Speculative Fiction Magazine, so keep your eyes out for that.

In prose news, Sisters of Sorcery was reviewed in the Midwest Book Review, which was cool.

I will be on an episode of the Graymalkin Lane Podcast (hosted by Chad Anderson) on December 8th, along with fellow Aconyte authors Carrie Harris and Tristan Palmgren, where we discuss Sisters and some chick named Gwen Stacy.

I was also a guest on a Very Special Episode of the Graymalkin Lane podcast where we discussed mind control and sexual assault in comics. My other smart and empathetic panelists include Carrie Harris, Stephanie Pitsirilos, Susan Kirtley, and Jessica Baldanzi. You can listen here, but be warned, it is obviously a heavy (but important and necessary) discussion.

Since Twitter seems to be imploding, here are the other places you can find me, all in one handy linktree. If I stay on Mastodon, I will probably be switching servers, or I might try Hive instead, but either way, I will update the linktree.

Oh, and we wound up cancelling on TusCon49 because my disc at the L4/L5 level decided to give out. When I got my L5/S1 fusion in 2017, they warned me that my L4/L5 would probably go, but said I had a good 10 years. Hah, fooled them – only took me 5! I’m an overachiever, LOL.

Everything Else

We got a dog! This is Clio, our special needs rescue. She’s got some brain issues and is super anxious and scared of everything, but she’s ours.

Our special needs rescue dog.
Appearances, Awards, Comics, Family, Interviews, Mental Health, Novels

FEED ME IN MY EARHOLES!

Writing

Lots of things for you to listen to this month!

First, the SFPA has been recording some of the Long Category Rhysling Award nominees, and “Erasing Myself from the Narrative” was included (I opted not to have “Reservation Fairy Tales 101 – Final Exam” recorded because it it written in a multiple choice format that doesn’t lend itself well to reading aloud). Go give it a listen – Diane does a great job!

Then I did two podcasts. One was an interview with Rob & Guido over at the Dear Watchers podcast. That one bounced around and was a lot of fun and I think you will enjoy it. Pop over and check it out!

The other was not quite so fun. It was actually a serious panel discussion with some wonderfully compassionate ladies (and the host, Chad) about the ramifications of mind control in comics being used largely as a tool for sexual assault. Like I said, not a fun conversation, but a necessary one, and hopefully a healing one. You should head over to Graymalkin Lane the Podcast to hear that one.

Last but not least, I have my TusCon 49 schedule! The con runs from Nov 11-13, and my stuff is all on the 12th:

Autograph Session, 1-2 PM, Autograph Area
Gloria McMillan, Jay Smith, Jeffrey J Mariotte, Marsheila Rockwell

Killing Off Characters, 4-5 PM, Ballroom
Some authors love to do it. Some authors hate to do it. But you have to do it. Characters must die. But why? And how do you do it well?

Carolyn Kay, Jeffrey J Mariotte, Jennifer Roberson, Marsheila Rockwell, Marty Ketola, Thomas Watson

Writing Realistic Women, 5-6 PM, Ballroom
Striking the balance between having your female characters still female, but not insulting can be a challenge.

Beth Dolgner, Diana Terrill Clark, Heshe Leontess, Marsheila Rockwell, Sharon Skinner

I think that’s it. Hope to see some of you there!

Everything Else

Our son David and his long-time partner, Becca, have gotten engaged. We are so happy for them and can’t wait for them to start this new phase of their lives together!

Appearances, Causes, Family, Interviews, Novels, Preorder Link, RPGs, WFH (work for hire/tie-ins)

ALERT!!! NEW RELEASE DATE!

First off, I know everywhere still says Sisters of Sorcery is slated to release Sept 20 (next week), but I have been informed that the release date has been pushed back to SEPTEMBER 27. So you’ll have to wait just a tiny bit longer for your copy. Sorry about that!

Also, it will be the day of dueling releases here in Marcyville, because my husband, Jeffrey J. Mariotte, ALSO has a book releasing that day – The Squad, the first book in his new Major Crimes Squad: Phoenix series. So pick that one up, too!

It was great seeing everyone at TCC, but I got food poisoning from Denny’s pancakes on Saturday, so that ended the con early for me. Apologies to everyone who was hoping to get a signed book on Sunday. We’re planning on attending TusCon 49 in November, so hopefully you can pick one up there!

I also have an adventure in Coyote & Crow’s latest crowdfunded effort (which looks like it will be very successful). It’s my first ttrpg credit and I originally pitched it as a Scooby Doo episode, so you really don’t want to miss it!

I was also involved in Part Two of Gwendolyn Kiste’s Pro-Choice Horror Roundtable, which you can read here.

Oh, yeah, and I recently signed a contract for a Super Sekrit Project that you guys are going to LOVE. But I probably won’t be able to talk about it until next year – gotta love those NDAs, heh.

Everything Else

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. You all know this is a very important cause for me, given that my youngest son was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he was only 4 months old. I’ll leave you with some facts and a link to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a pediatric cancer charity started by a young girl who eventually lost her battle with neuroblastoma. Please consider donating something if you can. Less than 4% of federal research dollars go to pediatric cancers, and Big Pharma has no incentive for research, given that childhood cancers are “rare” in comparison to adult ones – the ROI isn’t large enough for them to bother. So research money has to come from private sectors – that means US.

Appearances, Causes, Family, Mental Health, Novels, Poetry, Preorder Link, WFH (work for hire/tie-ins)

TCC! POEMS FOR REPRO RIGHTS! AND POSSIBLE TMI!

Writing

Tuscon Comic-Con is less than a week away! Jeff and I will be at Table(s) 129/144 in Artist Alley and we will have a TON of new stuff for you to pick up, hopefully including early copies of Marvel Untold: Sisters of Sorcery. We also have a panel on Saturday from 1:30-2:20 with our friend James A. Owen, “How to Write a Novel.” That should be interesting. (Jeff also has all of this stuff on his blog, including a list of some of the stuff we’ll be bringing, so do check that out.)

I also forgot to mention that my poem, “Damsel in Distress, Redux,” was solicited for the In Trouble anthology by Ominum Gatherum, in support of reproductive rights. That one is available now, at the link provided. I will also be having my poem, “Child Bride,” reprinted in a Body Autonomy Charity Anthology coming from Creature Publishing, also in support of reproductive rights. More info on that one’s availability when I have it.

And the Blog Tour for Sisters of Sorcery has ended. If you missed any of the days, I have links posted on my Instagram account, so you can find them all there.

As part of the tour, the fine folks over at The Book Network did an Author Spotlight on me, which you can read here.

And don’t forget I’m offering personalized poems, poem-spells, and one-card Tarot pulls over on my ko-fi page. Limited availability, so don’t miss out!

Everything Else

Possibly TMI for my readers on the more male end of the gender spectrum, but…menopause fucking sucks, especially for a control freak like me. Ask my poor husband, who has to deal with Irrationally Angry/Dangerously Depressed Marcy every few days (he’s been more patient and kind than anyone could ask for; I’m very lucky to have him). I’ve had some bloodwork done and will be seeing a hormone specialist, so hopefully I will be back to my normal uptight, repressed self very soon, LOL. Fingers crossed!

Comics, COVID, Family, Mental Health, Novels, Poetry, Preorder Link, Short Fiction, WFH (work for hire/tie-ins)

BLOG TOUR FOR SISTERS AND MORE WITCHY STUFF

Writing

First off, Aconyte has set up a blog tour for Sisters of Sorcery that starts TOMORROW, Aug 15, so you should totally check out each of these fine folks to see what they have to say about the book:

Sisters of Sorcery Blog Tour Schedule.

Next, I sold another witchy horror poem! This one is called “Final Arrangements” and will appear in the Bloodless anthology from Sliced Up Press. The book releases in October (just in time for Halloween!), but you can find pre-order links here.

Speaking of which, I have enough witch poems now for a chapbook or collection, so horror poetry publishers, HMU!

I also sold a (witchy) Halloween story to a very cool market, but I’ll have to wait to tell you about that one.

Also, also, I don’t know if you know I have an Instagram page, but I’ve been posting some mini-primers on various characters who appears in Sisters of Sorcery, so you should pop over there and read up before you get your copy!

Finally, I started a ko-fi page where I’m offering personalized poems, personalized poem-spells, and one-card Tarot pulls. Just some fun stuff I like to do that I thought other people might be interested in. You should check it out if you get a chance.

Everything Else

Well, let’s see, I slipped and fell TWICE (once UP the stairs, because I am just that talented) and had a pretty bad drug interaction between my antidepressants and ginkgo balboa (which my doctor had suggested for lingering post-COVID brain fog, saying it “couldn’t hurt” – ha! joke’s on her!) of all things. I’m doing betterish now, though.

Anyway, here’s a picture from our Sedona trip. My amazing photographer/writer/lots of other stuff husband Jeff Mariotte has better ones on his social media, so you should check those out, too.

Two birds flying over Sedona

78 more days until Halloween!

Appearances, Awards, Family, Interviews, Novels, Preorder Link, WFH (work for hire/tie-ins)

TCC, SCRIBE AWARDS, OTHER STUFF

Writing

It’s funny, I’ve been thinking I really needed to write a blog post to catch everyone up, and now that I’m here, I’m not sure what I have to catch people up on, LOL.

There are a few things, though. First, I somehow completely missed this when it was published back in May, but I have an interview up over at author Nico Bell’s website, so you should go check that out.

Next, I’ve been officially announced as a Featured Author Guest for Tucson Comic-Con.

Featured Authored Guest at TCC 2022

And speaking of TCC, there is a decent chance I will have early copies of Marvel Untold: Sisters of Sorcery there, so you can hopefully come pick up a copy and get it signed! (Of course, if you can’t make it, pre-orders are always MUCH appreciated.)

Filed under “This is not news,” my short story did not win this year’s Scribe Award, but you can check out the list of winners here.

I also have some other writing-related things going on that I’m not yet able to talk about, but hopefully soon(ish).

And that’s all she wrote, kids.

Everything Else

We took a very short trip to Sedona before school started for the youngest and now we are getting back into the swing of that whole routine, with the fun new addition of trumpet practice. Whee!

Awards, Collaborations, Mental Health, Poetry, Short Fiction, WFH (work for hire/tie-ins)

LINK-A-PALOOZA!

Writing

June has been a busy month! First, Diet Riot:A Fatterpunk Anthology has officially released! It contains a ton of great stories, one of which is my witchy, gender-bent Bluebeard retelling, “Blue Hair.” You don’t want to miss this one!

Next, Jeff and I have another Elin and Kord story out! (Well, minus Kord.) This one is in Cosmic Horror Monthly #24, entitled “Deep Into That Darkness Peering” (which some of you may recognize as a line from Poe’s “The Raven”). They did misspell my name, but what are ya gonna do? Buy it anyway!

I also had a short story nominated for the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers Scribe Award – “Stepping Stones” from the Voices of Varuna anthology. It’s about colonization and assimilation – in space! You should pick up the antho if you haven’t already – it’s awesome!

(Also, for those of you keeping count, that’s my fourth award nomination of the year; three for poetry and one for fiction. Just, you know, if you’re keeping count.)

Finally, the poem I wrote for the Horror Writers Association’s Mental Health Initiative, “The Bullfrog and the Black Dog,” is up. You should go check it out, along with the other great work being put out by members for this initiative. The anthology, Of Horror and Hope, which has more work than is up on the website, will be out on July 1st.

Whew! That’s a lot! Hope next month is even busier!

Everything Else

Recovered from COVID only to have a tooth fracture and have to be extracted. Fun! (Not.) It’s always something, LOL.

Anyway, this is a long weekend in the US. Not much to celebrate of late, but I hope you find some space for self-care this weekend. You deserve it. (Except you, Roy. You can fuck off.)

Awards, COVID, Family, Mental Health, Novels, Poetry, Preorder Link, Short Fiction, WFH (work for hire/tie-ins)

THERE IS TOO MUCH. LET ME SUM UP.

Writing

So, it’s been forever since I last posted, I know – my baby girl graduated from high school and then 3/5 of the household came down with COVID, so I haven’t spent a ton of time at the computer.

But I do have a few things to tell you about. First, I turned in what I hope will be my final edits on Marvel Untold: Sisters of Sorcery today. Don’t forget, the book is due out September 6, and you can (and should) pre-order here.

Also, my poem, “Damsel in Distress, Redux” (which you can read here) has been nominated for the SFPA’s Dwarf Stars Award, which honors short poetry under 10 lines.

(If you are keeping track, that’s 2 Rhysling nominations and 1 Dwarf Stars nomination for my poetry this year. Not too shabby.)

I’ve also had a poem accepted for the HWA’s Of Horror and Hope anthology, which is part of their Mental Health Initiative, an effort to promote hope and #EndTheStigma of mental health issues in the horror genre (and beyond). I’m honored to have my piece be part of such a worthy effort. They are rolling out pieces every day this month; I’m not sure if mine will be one of those posted on social media or not, but it will be in the anthology. More deets as I have them.

Also, my story “Blue Hair,” a witchy, gender-bent Bluebeard retelling, will be available in Diet Riot: A Fatterpunk Anthology later this month, so be sure and grab a copy of that.

Finally, Jeff and I will be attending the MCAO Citizen’s Academy in August, to learn more about the legal side of things for our various crime-related efforts. (Books, guys. I’m talking about books. Sheesh.)

Everything Else

Still struggling with COVID symptoms. Grateful that I’m fully vaxxed and boosted, as I know it could be much worse. Studies are showing lots of serious long-term effects even from mild cases, so stay safe (and masked), everyone!

Causes, Collaborations, Poetry, Preorder Link, Short Fiction

TODAY’S THEME IS RESISTANCE

Writing

Quick update to let you know about some new stuff of mine that has been (or is about to be) released into the wild.

First, a story Jeff and I wrote together, “A Single Feather,” has been updated and reprinted in Black Cat Weekly #34, so you should definitely check that out if you missed the story the first time around. It was inspired by Amanda Polchies’s iconic resistance to fracking and is dedicated to Jeff’s brother Michael Mariotte, whose own efforts to protect our Mother Earth are legendary.

Also, my SF poem “The Bones On Which They Cut Their Teeth,” is part of this very cool anthology, Resist With Every Inch and Every Breath, which comes out on May 1st, but is available for pre-order now.

Everything Else

All these laws trying to make gender-affirming care for trans youth illegal are disgusting, immoral, and downright evil. The people behind these bills DO NOT CARE about protecting kids. They just want to get rid of trans people. That is their only agenda. The definition of genocide does not currently include trying to destroy a group based on their gender identification, but make no mistake – that is what this is.

If you don’t believe me, you can read the UN’s definition for yourself:

“In the present Convention, genocide means ANY of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

*Killing members of the group;
*Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
*Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
*Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
*Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

Importantly, the victims of genocide are deliberately targeted – not randomly – because of their real or perceived membership of one of the four groups protected under the Convention.”

Remember, the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

#TransRightsAreHumanRights

Comics, Novels, Poetry, Preorder Link, WFH (work for hire/tie-ins)

MARVEL GIRL! EMDR! DARK TRIADS! OH, MY!

Writing

So, Marvel dropped the cover for Marvel Untold: Sisters of Sorcery sooner than I was expecting. You can check it out on their website here, and read the teaser copy. Here’s another look at the cover, which includes many of the “sisters” in question:

(art by Fabio Listrani)

The book is due out September 6th of this year, but remember that preorders –> future contracts, so please do get your order in soon!

Also, my trauma therapy poem, “EMDR,” is out in the new issue of Unnerving Magazine. And, no, it’s not at all autobiographical, why would you think that? LOL. April is National Poetry Month, so treat yourself!

Finally, my interview with Vickie Lan about Dark Triad Personalities (Psychopaths! Fun!) will be up on the Speculative Sandbox podcast next Wednesday, April 13th, so you should definitely give that a listen. Here are some fun teaser graphics:

(graphic courtesy of Vickie Lan)
(graphic courtesy of Vickie Lan)

Everything Else

Greedy little bastards, aren’t you? J/K

That’s it for now. Happy Cruelest Month!