Category Archives: Life Stuff

Comics, Family, Life Stuff, Poetry, Short Fiction, WFH (work for hire/tie-ins)

MID-YEAR ROUND-UP

Writing

So, yeah, it’s been a minute. In all honesty, while I have been doing writing stuff, given the general state of things (*gestures to…everything*), I have not felt much like talking about those things. (Which is why it’s always good to follow me over on bsky or FB, I guess…I’m more likely to drop writing news there, since it’s quicker.) But I’ve been doing some updates to the ole website, so I figured I’d take some time and do a proper(ish) blog post.

Some things that have occurred since my last post:

*poems “#LANDBACK” and “The Fabulous Underwater Panther” nominated for the Rhsyling Award

*poem “The Fabulous Underwater Panther” long-listed for the Rhysling Award

*short story “Triptych” published at Arkham Horror

*appeared on Graymalkin Lane’s “About John Proudstar” podcast episode w/Jon Proudstar

*short story “The First Gate” published in Permutations: A Well World Anthology

I also recorded another podcast for Graymalkin Lane and I have another short story which will hopefully be published soon, both of which I’m sure I will post about on FB or bsky long before I get around to blogging about here (sorry). Might be some other stuff, too; hard to say (or maybe I’m just being cagey, heh).

Everything Else

Let’s see:

*Got elected Band Booster Board Secretary

*Band kiddo got chosen to be a section leader

*Husband got laid off

*Daughter got her first job

*Band kiddo got his learner’s permit

*Shoulder injury that morphed into frozen shoulder; finally starting PT

*got a new kitten; say hi to Charmander!

Close up of orange tabby kitten face

I’m sure there was more, but that’s all the old frosty shoulder can take for one sitting. Until next time, take good care of yourselves, your loved ones, and your community.

Awards, Causes, Family, Interviews, Life Stuff, Mental Health, Métis, Poetry, Short Fiction, WFH (work for hire/tie-ins)

MID-YEAR ROUND-UP

Writing

HAPPY PRIDE!!!

It’s been so long since I’ve updated this blog, you probably wondered if I was even still writing, LOL. I am! I have stuff to talk about! I’ve just been floundering in the Sea of Overwhelm, so actually sitting down to recap All The Things has seemed nigh impossible (this is why you should definitely follow me on social media – I post updates there much more regularly).

Some things:

I sold a poetry chapbook! I can’t give you all of the deets just yet, but the poems revolve around my experiences as a Métis woman and was blurbed by Montana Poet Laureate Chris La Tray (who also happens to be my cousin, but you can’t be a Métis person from Montana and not be cousins, so…). Anyway, I’m super excited about this, since it’s been a goal of mine for a long time now.

I have a SF story, “The First Gate,” coming out in Permutations: A Well World Anthology, slated for March 2025. My story features the Betareds, which are basically giant teddy bears with red eyes and fangs. Seems on brand, no? You can read more about that here.

I have an alternate history story, “Our Lady of the Gatling Gun,” coming out in the Shifting, Swirling, HERitage anthology. In my timeline, the Métis women lead their people to victory at Batoche, forever altering the history, culture, and geography of western Canada and the US, and ultimately the entire world. The story features my own Métis ancestors, Charlotte Adam(s) LaFountain and Madeleine Ross LaFountain, as well as relatives by marriage, Madeleine Dumont (wife of Gabriel Dumont) and Marguerite Riel (wife of Louis Riel).

I will also have another story, “The Curious Incident of the Blog in the Night-Time,” coming out in the IAMTW’s Multiverse of Mystery anthology. This story features an Indigenous Holmes, a Pinkerton Watson, and a monster…or does it?

I was a contributor to WordFire Press’s upcoming Shadows & Verse: Classic Dark Poems with Celebrity Commentary. Which I guess makes me a celebrity? LOL

I made an appearance on Russ’s Rockin’ Rollercoaster, doing an episode on tie-in writing with fellow tie-in authors Jennifer Brody and Dayton Ward. You can watch that here, if you’re so inclined.

I was also interviewed over on the Horror Writers Association website RE: the intersection between horror and mental health.

Oh, and I just found out my poem, “Tapping on the Void,” was selected to be in the SFPA’s Dwarf Stars Anthology, which also means it’s been nominated for that award. So, yaay!

Anyway, I think that’s everything.

Everything Else

Kids. Pets. Health. Mental health. Genocide. It’s been, and continues to be, a LOT. But today is National Cancer Survivors Day, so hug ’em if you’ve got ’em, and remember to donate to your favorite cancer charity (mine is Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation).

AWARENESS = FUNDING = CURE

Awards, Comics, COVID, Family, Life Stuff, Novels, Poetry, RPGs, Utility Drawer, WFH (work for hire/tie-ins), Witchy Stuff

2023 WRAP-UP-Y THING/HAPPY 2024!

Writing

I actually was not going to do a 2023 wrap-up post because I’m sick and I didn’t think I had that much to say, but I realized I was wrong, so here are some things I did or that happened in 2023 that I’m proud of or happy about (in no particular order):

  • Had my second Marvel book published (Marvel Zombies: The Hunger)
  • Had two poems selected as Rhysling Finalists (“EMDR” and “A Spell for Winning Your Personal Injury Lawsuit”); neither placed in the top three, alas
  • Had my first role-playing adventure published (“The Case of the Great Underwater Panther”)
  • Got an agent for the book of my heart
  • Found the perfect crit partner for said book
  • Wrote my first solo comic book script

Everything Else

  • Started driving again, after having been unable to do so since getting hit by a cop and a subsequent spine surgery in 2019
  • Attended Stasia Savasuk’s Style School (literally life-changing; you should totally do it if you can)
  • Reconnected with several members of my LaFountain family (and connected with some further back in my Métis line)
  • Went to Paris and London over the summer and got to sit inside the circle at Stonehenge during the full moon
  • Got a really nasty case of Covid while in Europe that murdalized my immune system; said immune system is still rebuilding (I am not happy about this, but it has been an ongoing challenge I’ve had to overcome, so the fact it hasn’t completely derailed the latter half of my year should probably be acknowledged)
  • Lived to tell the tale

Here’s hoping 2024 brings more of the good and less of the bad for all of us! Happy New Year!!!