This blog is not neat and organized. It's pretty much me chewing on some gender-thoughts in my writing. I want to share my thoughts on gender representation, especially in science fiction, and ask that you share yours, too. I write a lot of near-future and general future speculative fiction. With the current state of the…
New Directions on This Publishing Journey
About two years ago, I started trying to get an agent. Today I am officially putting an end to that search. Because I found an agent!?! Nope. Because writing and submitting short stories for the past year has taught me a lot about respecting myself as a writer. The agenting world has this common standard:…
When the Timing Isn’t Right
Last week I finally started reading The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin. This book has come highly recommended by a friend who I absolutely trust. They even said I should hold off for awhile because it would change my opinion of fantasy. Great. I couldn't wait. Except I had to. It's taken two months for…
Unfaithful
At night, in my dreams, I am terribly unfaithful to my husband. I fall asleep thinking of him and the two cheerful monsters we’ve created. But inevitably a deep, sedative sleep washes over me — the kind that feels like three glasses of wine and a vicodin. My body settles into a sweet paralysis, while…
New Year, New Beginnings: January Update
This year started out well enough. I got my first full manuscript request for Casual, and a few of my publications hit. Adjustment Parenting brought me lots of new visitors to my website and connections with different readers and writers, which was a lot of fun for me. It's thrilling to get recognized for me…
It’s a Frankenstein Kind of Year
I've been away from my blog for the past few weeks--travelling, dancing, writing, and taking care of a sick family. (Damn the flu). So this post is a little late and a little different than usual. I'm setting a focus for my next stint of writing. How long is a stint? A year? A week?…
On Physical Books
I Had to Go Digital 🙁 I don't buy a lot of physical books these days. First of all, they take up room in my somewhat small home. We already have our two shelves stuffed with books, and I don't want to make any more holes in our rental walls. Electronic books take up no…
Gergyovden: The Day of Saint George
Spring came to Bulgaria with a stutter — unexpected heat followed by a final week of snowstorms and then consistent tank top weather. If it wasn’t for the pollen creating a fine mist throughout the city, plugging up my sinuses, I would have thought spring had been skipped completely. I wouldn’t have minded if it…
Coming Up In 2020
I took a couple of weeks off the blog during the holidays. I spent the time with my in-laws, children, and husband. It has been a great vacation, but I am itching to get back to writing. Last year was an amazing year for me. I went from getting my first acceptance to getting fifteen…
Recipes Aren’t Only For the Kitchen
I'm one of those people who assumed I wouldn't like recipe stories. I thought they were a bit too formulaic and predictable to intrigue me. Besides, I'm not one who enjoys following recipes, so why would I like my fiction in a format I can't stand in the kitchen? But recently I've decided to give…