This is draft five of this @#$!! story. I’d forgotten what it was like to not outline first. Blargh. Anyway, I’ve done a heavy rewrite of Ina’s Spark, which involves a new scene and a totally different ending. IF you were in one of the earlier rounds of readers and are curious, it is at […]
Looking for beta readers for 12k fantasy story. Read More »
This dough was shockingly pliable. It was also tender, flaky and tasted like a damn fine pie crust. 1 cup gluten free flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1) 4 tablespoons butter (frozen. I just keep butter in the freezer for this.) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon xanthum gum* 1 tablespoon powdered sugar 3
HA! I have cracked the gluten free pie crust. Read More »
Somehow with all the travel I’ve been doing, I finished a 12,500 word fantasy story. I’m looking for five to ten beta readers. Just comment on my site to raise your hand. Here’s the teaser. # Ina’s Spark If Evina waited much longer it would be full dark, and the tavern would almost certainly have
Beta readers for 12k fantasy story? Read More »
I wrote this way back in 2005 and it was published in 2007 in All Possible Worlds. It was science-fiction. But today… NPR just published a story about scientists doing pretty much this exact thing. Some Other Day by Mary Robinette Kowal Josie Langdon leaned back from her microscope and rolled her neck to ease
Short Story: Some Other Day Read More »
Michael F. Haspil is joining us today with his novel Graveyard Shift. Here’s the publisher’s description: Alex Menkaure, former pharaoh and mummy, and his vampire partner, Marcus, born in ancient Rome, are vice cops in a special Miami police unit. They fight to keep the streets safe from criminal vampires, shape-shifters, bootleg blood-dealers, and anti-vampire vigilantes.
My Favorite Bit: Michael F. Haspil talks about GRAVEYARD SHIFT Read More »
Frequently, when I’m attending a convention as a writer, someone on programming will ask me to bring a puppet show. And they ask me to do it for the children’s track. I understand this impulse, I really do, because people have probably never booked a show before and there’s a fair chance that they haven’t
Why you almost never see me do a puppet show at an SF con. Read More »
“This is an operational spaceport…” These weren’t the first words that I heard at the NASA Social event, but they were the ones that made everything real. I was going to an operational spaceport. It wasn’t a line from science-fiction. I’m at the Kennedy Space Center as part of a program by NASA to make
Day One at the SpaceX CRS-11 Cargo Launch NASA Social Read More »
The short form: Reading fees. Don’t pay them. “What?!” You’re saying, “But… but I paid for a critique at a conference.” I know. It’s that ambiguity I want to address. Doing critiques is exhausting, but it’s also really valuable to attendees. So as a compromise, some writing conferences offer them with a fee attached. That
On reading fees, and why they are Not Done. Read More »
Apparently, when I’m not under a crushing novel deadline I write a lot of short fiction. Who knew? Anyway, I’m looking for five to ten beta readers for a 5000 word short SF story. Just comment on my site to raise your hand. I think I’m set on readers. Thanks! Here’s the teaser. ARTISANAL TRUCKING,
Beta readers for 5k short SF story? Read More »
For those of you who are Writing Excuses listeners, you might recall in season 10 that I demonstrated some ideas using a Milliner Assassin. I have actually written that story and am looking for a couple of beta readers. Here’s the teaser. A Feather in Her Cap Biantera stabbed the hat on its stand with
Beta readers wanted: 4200 word fantasy short story Read More »
Ahem. Here is where I take off my gloves, set down my fan, and jab someone with my parasol. Odyssey Con. What the fuck are you doing? When your Guest of Honor comes to you and tells you that a member of your concom has made them uncomfortable in the past and that she feels unsafe,
In which Mary takes off her gloves and discusses the OdysseyCon fuck-up. Read More »
Been awhile, eh? I wrote two novels in the last year and let short fiction slip to the side. Or back. Or under… or whatever. POINT BEING that I just finished a short story and could use some fresh eyes on it. Here’s the teaser. THE WORSHIPFUL SOCIETY OF GLOVERS Outside the window of their
Beta readers wanted for 9600 word fantasy short story Read More »
In the midst of finishing my most recent novel, I managed to forget that this weekend was April Fool’s Day, or as I like to call it, Alternate Reality Day. It’s my favorite holiday, but this time I’m actually teaching all weekend. This is disappointing, because I had done some early groundwork for this year,
This is not my cat. I’m in Utah to record Writing Excuses, to speak at the Utah Valley Writers Association, and to attend LTUE. It’s a busy week, because I’m also working on a novel. Fortunately, there’s a cat. He’s so restful, I thought I’d share. View in Instagram ?
It’s hard to get much cozier than Pinecone. Read More »
Actually, I have two party favors for you. One of the things that fascinates me is the way you can tell the same story and, depending on the audience, it will differ wildly. Back in 2013, I wrote a story specifically for audio called Forest of Memory. I used the audio medium not just as a
I’m 48 today! Have a party favor! Read More »