Tag Archives: Comics

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!!!

Comics, COVID, Family, Interviews, Novels, WFH (work for hire/tie-ins)

I FELL OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH & LIVED TO TELL THE TALE

Writing

She lives!!! LOL

It’s been a minute since I posted last. Q3 started out great, with a family trip to Europe (in which I got to celebrate the full moon inside the circle at Stonehenge; I bask in your jealousy), but I contracted Covid a few days before we came home and it’s just been one illness/injury after another since.

Picture taken from the inside of Stonehenge, looking out through two pillars at the heel stone.
Inside Stonehenge

I’m still not at 100%, but there are a couple of things coming up that I need to let you know about, so here goes:

First, I have a new interview with the guys over at Dear Watchers which drops on Monday, where we talk about Marvel Zombies: The Hunger, formative horror movies and novels, and our shared love of the spooky season in general. You may remember I did an interview with them for Sisters of Sorcery last year that turned out to be their most listened-to podcast of the year, so be sure you listen to this one and let’s try for a two-fer!

Second, Marvel Zombies: The Hunger releases THIS Tuesday, October 3rd, so be sure and swing by your local bookstore and pick up a copy!

I’m sure there’s more that happening during The Q3 from Hell, but hopefully you follow me on social media and saw anything important there.

Writing

We also unexpectedly lost our beloved ginger catdog, Jonesy, and that devastated the whole family. I don’t know if it was more salt, yet another wound, or both, but it still hurts, and I still miss that little pest like the dickens. He went to the vet for an ultrasound and never came home. So if you’re lucky enough to have a furbaby of your own, give ’em a hug for me.

Ginger cat laying on low interior wall looking at camera
Beloved ginger catdog

Jonesy
May 25, 2019 – August 25, 2023

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

PRIDE MONTH NEWS

Writing

First, the cover for Marvel Zombies: The Hunger has finally been released, and here it is:

Cover for novel Marvel Zombies: The Hunger showing a chained and zombified Dr. Strange.

Creepy, amiright? You have NO idea, LOL. Available October 3rd (but you should totally preorder, because it totally helps authors when you do that).

Also, in the days leading up the the anniversary of the Dobbs decision, the publishers of Mine: An Anthology of Body Autonomy Horror are doing an author read-along for each piece in the antho, from June 9th through the 24th. My reading of my poem “Child Bride” will go live on June 12th. You can find out more and follow along with all the authors here.

Author Readalong schedule for bodily autonomy horror anthology.

Also, also, while I have been announced as a guest at Tucson Comic-Con, Jeff and I will not actually be attending this year, as we will be in Montana for the Lewistown Métis Festival instead, meeting up with family and MMF folks coming down from Canada. But don’t despair – we are hoping to be at Tucson Terror Fest in October to make up for our absence at TCC, so hopefully we’ll still see some of you.

Finally, after several years without an agent (my choice, having parted ways amicably with my last agent, who was very good at his job), I have rejoined the ranks of the represented. I’ll be working with Wayne Arthurson at The Rights Factory, one of only a handful of Indigenous literary agents in North America. Should be a good partnership.

Everything Else

Happy Pride Month! And while yes, love is love, this Pride, please remember that LGBTQ+ rights are under attack and trans folx in particular face increasing danger in many places in the US, so our focus should maybe be less on catchy slogans and more on actually protecting those who need it most right now.

#TransRightsAreHumanRights

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

APRIL DROUGHTS BRING SNOTTY MAY SNOUTS (AHH-CHOO!)

Writing

I’ve been feeling like I desperately need to update my blog, but now that I actually sit down to do it, I’m not sure I have all that much new to report. (Maybe it was my website…LOL)

The Rhysling Award has move to a juried process this year, so being nominated doesn’t make you an Insta-Finalist anymore. That said, two of my nominated poems ARE Rhysling Finalists (Yaay!):

Short category:

“A Spell for Winning Your Personal Injury Lawsuit” – Dreams & Nightmares

Long Category:

“EMDR” – Unnerving Magazine

Oh, and I made (created) a list for Shepherd.com of The Best Contemporary Fantasy Books About Witches, so check that out. I hadn’t read it at the time, but if I had, I definitely would have included Cherie Dimaline’s VenCo.

They have lots of cool curated lists of witch books, so you should totally hop over there and take a peek!

Still no cover art for Marvel Zombies: The Hunger, but I will obviously post it when it drops.

Jeff and I will be doing a local library event this coming weekend:

Phoenix Public Library Con-Fusion 2023
Weird and Wild West
Ironwood Library
4333 E Chandler Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85048
Saturday, May 20th
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Jeff and I have a panel on publishing at 10 AM, and Jeff has one on weird westerns at 3 PM. They have had other events over the past several weekends, focusing on different genres, but this is the only date we could make. Come see us!

Also, I believe I will be doing a reading of some sort of my poem, “Child Bride,” as part of a readalong with the other authors involved in the Mine: An Anthology of Body Autonomy Horror, a charity antho whose proceeds go to NARAL. That will be on June 12th, so keep an ear out!

Okay, I think that’s everything. Further bulletins as events warrant! Heh.

Everything Else

Just a reminder: trans rights are human rights, trans women are women, trans men are men, and people who are obsessed with what’s down someone else’s pants or what bathrooms they use are creepers. Gross.

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

SEKRIT PROJEKT REVEAL!

Writing

Well, the big news has finally broken, and my sekrit projekt is no longer secret!

[INSERT DRUM ROLL]

I am writing a Marvel Zombies book!!! The Hunger will be out in August of 2023. Here’s the teaser:

“The Incident has infected the planet, creating zombified Super Heroes who destroy everything they swore to protect. Doctor Strange realizes the plague cannot be allowed to spread to other realities, but his Hunger is irresistible…

Now Earth’s only hope is the Sanctum Sanctorum librarian, Zelma Stanton. She knows every spell in the book, but she’s no fighter. Enter witch Nico Minoru, monster hunter Elsa Bloodstone, and Deadpool. They plan to trap the zombies in a time loop, but it goes horribly awry (thanks, Deadpool), crushing a million butterflies, and the timeline unravels, making the original Incident look like a cakewalk. It’s going to take magic bullets, bloodstones, and brains to fix this flesh-eating nightmare.”

No cover art yet, but for now:

Placeholder cover for Marvel Zombies: The Hunger by Marsheila Rockwell.

Yeah, so, that’s been keeping me pretty busy, and will continue to do so into the new year.

Also, just a quick note that the December issue of Penumbric is out and you can read my poem “Soiled Dove” here.

I also have a poem (“Child Bride,” a reprint) in Mine: An Anthology of Body Autonomy Horror from Creature Publishing, which released on December 1st. All proceeds go to NARAL.

And you can listen to the Graymalkin Lane podcast where I get to blather on about Sisters of Sorcery and how little I know about Gwen Stacy here. Also bonus Tristan Palmgren’s cat licking itself during recording! LOL.

Everything Else

Chances are good I won’t post again before 2023, so Happy Whatever You Do Or Don’t Celebrate & may next year be better than this one for all of us!

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!

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!

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!

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

I WROTE A BOOK FOR MARVEL! *KERMIT FLAIL*

Writing

…BREAKING NEWS…

I finally get to announce it! I wrote a book for Marvel! About witches! Squeeeeee!

Marvel Untold: Sisters of Sorcery releases from Aconyte Books in September. I can’t show you the cover yet, but here’s a picture to tide you over in the meantime (no spoilers, sorry).

Clea and Umar

(Also, I wound up not doing my podcast interview with Vickie at Speculative Sandbox until today, so I got to talk about the book there, which was serendipitous timing!)

Everything Else

We now return you to your regularly scheduled scrolling.

Comics, Novels, Poetry, RPGs, Short Fiction, WFH (work for hire/tie-ins)

GOODBYE TO THE OLD, HELLO TO THE NEW

Writing

So, everyone is doing their end-of-year posts. I don’t usually do these, but it’s been a rough year and I’m proud of the things I managed to accomplish despite that.

In 2021, I:

  • Sold 13 new poems; saw 7 of those published
  • Sold 4 new stories; saw 3 of those published
  • Pitched, sold, & delivered a story for a WFH RPG anthology; saw it published
  • Pitched, scripted, sold, & delivered a comic book story
  • Pitched, sold, & delivered a WFH RPG adventure
  • Pitched & sold a WFH novel

    • (I can’t talk about those last two yet, but will of course share more when I can.)

    That’s a lot for me, especially considering that the nerve issues in my neck I’ve been dealing with since I was rear-ended in 2019 make it so I can’t spend a lot of time at the keyboard.

    Things I am looking forward to in 2022:

  • Finishing & delivering the WFH novel
  • Writing a solicited story for a WFH anthology

    • More RPG work? More WFH work? Nothing firm in those areas yet, but some good possibilities, so we’ll see.

    Also, I got this really nice tweet about my poem, “The Things We Pass Down,” in the Wanderers chapbook. (Note that “moved” in the tweet should be “woven.” Thanks, autocorrect! LOL)

    Nice tweet about my poem, “The Things We Pass Down.”

    Everything Else

    I hope you all had a wonderful [insert your preferred winter holiday/break], that you have a very happy New Year’s Eve/Day, and that 2022 makes up for how crappy 2020 & 2021 have been for most of us.

    A cool blurry picture of my youngest with a sparkler on New Year’s Eve (2020).