Years ago, after a particularly tense quarter at a company I used to work for, some defiant soul hung this sign up in the break room. It was probably inspired by the bi-weekly forced meetings all departments had to endure before getting their paychecks. Meetings that followed one of two paths from management, depending on…
Read More ‘The beatings will continue until morale improves’Thank you, kind readers, for reading, discussing, and reviewing my debut novel Moro’s Price. Many of you have taken me more or less gently to task for the large cast, sprawling settings, and confusing names and histories mentioned as backdrop for Moro and Val’s story. To maybe help you out a little (or at least…
Read More New page: a Moroverse glossary and appendixWhile browsing a new press release from Fire Mountain Gems, I ran across a project by metal clay* artist Wanaree Tanner. Her work is precise, detailed, exquisitely designed, and mythic in scope. She’s going on my list of inspirations for Sirrithani and Sonta jewelry in my fiction. Also, on my if-I-win-a-lottery-I’m-buying-your-work list. Seriously, this is…
Read More Amazing metal clay artist Wanaree TannerI am honestly trying to decide how to feel about a business practice I’ve heard of recently: writers (often erotica writers) who file the serial numbers off their earlier published work, re-do it slightly if at all, and publish it as new fiction under another title (and often a new pen name). It’s called mirroring…
Read More When writers plagiarize themselvesCourtesy of Tor Books, the noted writer offers a love letter to epic fantasy, explaining to the rest of the world why some of us adore gigantic, sprawling, multi-plotted stories. It’s worth a read. Author’s note 3-4-2014: I haven’t read a lot of Sanderson’s work yet, though I can say that Warbreaker was a solidly…
Read More Brandon Sanderson on epic fantasyI recently had a ringside seat to an authorial meltdown that made me cringe on behalf of the meltees. Without me going into too much detail, a couple of writers basically said, “We don’t read other writers in our genre, because we don’t want to compromise our unique voice.” Going by blog and Twitter comments,…
Read More Golden words and golden momentsNow, I will be the first to admit that I harbor some ambivalence toward George R. R. Martin’s best-known fantasy series. I’ve never actually read the books. (I won a set of the first four and donated them to a reading charity; I’ve made the decision to wait on reading the entire series until the…
Read More Game of Thrones pop-up bookHa ha ha ha ha ha ha, I’ve known something y’all haven’t for a couple of months, but I kept it on the down-low because the author asked me to. But now she’s spilled the beans, so I can too. Announcement thingy here: http://blog.alisfranklin.com/2014/02/27/you-gais-imma-gonna-be-an-author/ I know this unbelievably talented writer whose fan work knocked my sox…
Read More Wyrdtouched, the NovelWith all the media attention on various US states where ‘religious freedom’ bills have been floated in the past few months, it may be time to aim readers at this handy little Huffington Post article: How to test if your religious liberty is being attacked. The short answer: it probably isn’t. Point 1: these bills…
Read More The Religious Liberty Test (offensive content advisory)Decades ago when I was just beginning to muck about with crafty stuff, I had a mental block. I made miniatures of anything, because committing to a human-sized project seemed too daunting. I’m still shaking off that block. Every few years I try to create a larger tapestry, or book arts piece, or wearable art, mostly…
Read More Beaded glovesAdded 11-13-2021, see note below!) Here in the US, writers are getting some interesting incentives. Late last year, we heard about Detroit’s plans to boost the local arts and literacy scene through a permanent residency program for authors. Basically, authors promise to stay in a Detroit house and put down roots in the community, and…
Read More All aboard: free houses and train residencies for writersI had conclusive proof today of something I’d noticed before on several fanfiction sites: stories with happy endings get more hits, faster, than stories with unhappy endings. (Author update, February 28, 2014: the two stories in question are in the same fandom, and are virtually identical in word count. The angsty one was released on…
Read More Simple lessons from fanfiction (some adult content)Rounding out our week of Valentine’s-inspired M/M flash fiction are three more short pieces. Evelise Archer gives us ‘Valentine’s Jeans’: a happily married couple get a chance to recreate special moments, courtesy of their teenage daughter . Kate Lowell shares ‘Fire, Fur, and Faulty Genetics’: an alpha werewolf and a slightly magic-challenged witch celebrate love, trust, and…
Read More M/M flash fiction, Day 7 (adult content advisory)Courtesy of the M/M writing critique group House of Manlove, today’s M/M flash fiction tidbits come to you from authors J. T. Hall and N. D. Wylders. J. T. gives us ‘The Year Before’, a brief noir encounter between a psychically-gifted rent boy and a time-worn, grieving bounty hunter. N. D. gives us the sexy-but-angsty…
Read More M/M Flash fiction, Day 6 (adult content advisory)Three bits of flash fiction for you today, readers. First up is Dakota Trace’s story ‘Baked with Love’, featuring a tired chef, a lawyer afraid of kitchens, and a Valentine’s Day miracle. Second is Crystal Jade’s story ‘Silk and Feathers’, as two retired angels reaffirm their bond here on Earth. My own story will be…
Read More M/M flash fiction, Day 5 (adult content advisory)(This is set in my Lonhra Sequence universe, which readers of my Cleis Press story ‘Saints and Heroes’ might remember. These two men aren’t lovers yet, but I thought their meeting deserved more than the two sentences it has in my notes.) The bribed bailiff walked around a corner, her sandals slapping on dusty pavement.…
Read More Out of Omiesh (M/M flash fiction: adult content advisory)Alas, still on phone access only, so this will be a bare bones update. Our House of Manlove’s Valentine’s Day flash fiction blog hop continues! Scroll down to my Feb. 12 post, and follow links to Eva Lefoy’s wolf shifter discovering the scent of his destined mate, and Azalea Moone’s spicy-sweet Valentine’s Day morning after.
Read More M/M flash fiction blog hop, Day 4 (adult content advisory)For Day 3 of the House Of Manlove’s Valentine’s M/M flash fiction blog hop, we have a perfect prom from Kimber Vale (Cadillac Time Machine), and a very sexy-sweet 1870s master/courtesan encounter from Shiloh Saddler (Blindfolded). Just scroll down to the main schedule in my Feb. 12 post, and go from there. (I’m updating via…
Read More M/M flash fiction blog hop, Day 3 (adult content advisory)From its beginning four years ago, the fanfiction archive Archive Of Our Own has grown at a stunning rate. On February 14, 2014 the site passed 1,000,000 individual fan works including stories, poems, screenplays, art, and videos in thousands of different fandoms. They’re celebrating here. If you have any interest in fanfiction and transformative works,…
Read More One million fanworksHappy Valentine’s Day, everybody! Our blog hop begins with M/M flash fiction from Heloise West and Jena Wade. Since my system may be down for an upgrade tomorrow, Saturday’s offerings will be from Amelia Bishop and Mina Kelly. I toyed with offering you a tagline for each story, but even that might ruin the moment.…
Read More Valentine’s M/M flash fiction Day 1 and 2 (adult content advisory)