Category Archives: Awards

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!

Appearances, Awards, Poetry, Short Fiction

TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS & OTHER NEWS

Writing

Happy Pre-Aries Season! LOL.

First, a second poem of mine, “Erasing Myself from the Narrative,” published over at Lorelei Signal, was also nominated for the Rhysling Award in the Long form category! Yaay!

Second, I sold another poem! The contract is signed, so I believe it’s safe to announce that my poem, “EMDR,” about trauma therapy, will be appearing in an upcoming issue of Unnerving Magazine. My first time being published in this cool horror venue!

Third, today is the last day to get in your nominations for the Nebula Award, so if you’re still reading, I have eligible work!

Also, Jeff and I will be at Tucson Festival of Books on March 12-13 with the Artisans of Words and Wonders in Tent #116 (formerly the Desert Dreams Conference tent). It’s pretty much the same tent in the same place, just with a new name.

Members of the Artisans of Words and Wonders who will be in attendance at the 2022 Tucson Festival of Books

Anyway, I will have a TON of new stuff available for purchase and signing, including:

Straight Outta Deadwood, which includes my Indigenous weird western horror story, “Dreamcatcher,” which Publishers Weekly said “incorporates Native American mythology” in a “fresh fashion.” (Note that dreamcatchers themselves aren’t mythology in the sense of an ancient belief – we make them and use them for the same purpose today as when we were originally gifted with them. But, whatever. Still nice to get some love from PW.)(Jeff also has a story in this.)

The One That Got Away: Women of Horror Anthology Volume 3, which includes my Stephen King homage, “The Recliner.” (Note that this story is a reprint, so if you have Bridges, you’ve already read it. But you should still pick this up for all the other great stories.)

Turning the Tied, which includes the story I wrote for my trans daughter (who was not yet out at the time), “A Prisoner Freed in Oz.” (Jeff also has a story in this.)

Voices of Varuna: A Renegade Legion Universe Anthology, which includes my Indigenous story about colonization and assimilation in space, “Stepping Stones.”

Wanderers: Poems from Those Who Cross Borders, a chapbook which includes my Métis poem, “The Things We Pass Down.”

The 2020 Rhysling Anthology, which includes my nominated poem, “Stormbound,” plus a ton of the best speculative poetry being put out today. (Also, I don’t know why, but I wound up with a metric ton of these, so please come buy some!)

And I may have this one:

Bodies Full of Burning: An Anthology of Menopause-Themed Horror, which includes my Lady Bathory story, “It Will Have Blood, They Say.” (I somehow did not order author copies of this, so am, trying to rectify that now.)”

And a bunch of the old stuff, too, though you probably have all of that by now, heh.

Anyway, come see us! It’s an outdoor event, but we’ll be wearing masks and making liberal use of hand sanitizer to do our best to keep you (and us) safe. We are also vaxxed and boosted – hopefully you are, too.

Everything Else

#StandWithUkraine

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

A POEM NOMINATED, A BOOK SUBMITTED, A PRE-ORDER LINK LINKED

Writing

First, I submitted my tie-in novel to my editor today. Hoping I can talk about it soon. I’ve seen the cover and it is GORGEOUS!

Second, my poem, “Reservation Fairy Tales 101 – Final Exam,” about #MMIWG2ST, was nominated for the 2022 Rhysling in the Long form category. Yaay!

Third, I can announce now that I made my first sale of the year! My story, “Blue Hair,” a Dark & Twisty gender-swapped witchy Bluebeard retelling, will be appearing in the super-cool Diet Riot: A Fatterpunk anthology, out in June 2022. Here’s the cover/TOC:

Fourth, my poem “The Honorable Iris C. Thaumantos, Presiding,” about a goddess who trades her rainbow for the black of a judge’s robes, will be appearing in the Musings of the Muses anthology from Brigid’s Gate Press this April. It’s available for pre-order now. You know what to do!

I think that’s everything for now. More bulletins as events warrant!

Everything Else

So, after two years of isolating, mask-wearing, social-distancing, etc., the kids got COVID. Grrr. Luckily, they were vaxxed (tested positive a week before they were scheduled for boosters), so it was pretty mild, and we are thankful for that.

Also, after more than two years of waiting, we have finally been able to schedule my youngest’s tonsillectomy. Hopefully when they are removed, his severe sleep apnea issues will resolve and he won’t have to use a CPAP anymore. Fingers crossed!

Happy Valentine’s Day if that’s your thing, and Happy Super Bowl Sunday if that’s your thing. Otherwise, happy generic weekend, because I’m pretty sure that’s everybody’s thing!

Awards, Poetry

ANOTHER ELIGIBILITY POST!

Writing

It’s poetry award season! Specifically, the Rhysling Award, which I have been nominated for a gajillion times, but have never actually won. Maybe this year, LOL.

Anyway, here is a list of my eligible poems and where to find them. If you are a voting member of SFPA, these poems should be up in the member area.

  • “Reservation Fairy Tales 101 – Final Exam,” Augur Magazine 4.1, Nov 2021
  • “Erasing Myself from the Narrative,” The Lorelei Signal, Oct 2021
  • “Triple Moons,” Scifaikuest, Aug 2021
  • “Once Upon a Starbucks,” Scifaikuest, Aug 2021
  • “Damsel in Distress Redux,” Star*Line 44.3 (Editor’s Choice), Summer 2021
  • “Cylindropuntia Spatium,” Utopia Science Fiction Magazine, June/July 2021
  • “Swim Test,” Star*Line 44.1, Winter 2021

    • Wish me luck!

    Everything Else

    I have a book due in mid-February, so that, PT, and pandemic parenting are my whole life at the moment and so I am even more boring than usual, LOL.

    Here, have a picture of one of our neighborhood strays, whom we have named Socks, hanging out in our backyard.

    A picture of the neighborhood stray cat, Socks, chilling in our backyard.
    Awards, Short Fiction

    AWARDS ELIGIBILITY POST FOR 2021

    Writing

    So, I actually had quite a few (for me) short stories published in 2021, all of which are speculative in nature, so eligible for the various awards that recognize that sort of work (you know what they are). Only one was published online, but if you are a voting-type person and would like a copy of one of the stories that isn’t online, HMU.

    So, without further ado:

    “A Prisoner Freed in Oz,” Turning the Tied charity antho, IAMTW, March 2021. This story is special to me, as Ozma of OZ was a childhood hero of mine. She is also widely considered to be one of the first transgender characters portrayed in speculative fiction and my story is dedicated to a young transgender girl who is near and dear to me.

    “Stepping Stones,” Voices of Varuna anthology, Budgie Smuggler Games, June 2021. Colonialism and assimilation from the Indigenous perspective. In space.

    “Applesauce,” Enchanted Conversation, June 2021. A Dark and Twisty™ fairy tale retelling.

    “It Will Have Blood, They Say,” Bodies Full of Burning antho, Sliced Up Press, Sept 2021. A Dark and Twisty™ Lady Bathory tale.

    “Play It Again, Sem,” Fall Into Fantasy 2021 antho, Cloaked Press, Sept 2021. Gods in hiding, Titan assassins, budding romance, and bad beer. Something for everyone, LOL.

    Everything Else

    Friday saw the end of the worst Husker season in modern history. If this season were a video game, yesterday I would have rage quit. They are going to need a miraculous turnaround in 2022 if Frost wants to keep his job. Sigh. /football