I’m sitting in an airport. Ursula Le Guin is dead. Several years ago, I recorded some memories to be banked by NPR in case they needed an obituary. This is apparently standard and the way such things are done with Notable Figures. I was assured that she was in good health. That it was just […]
Wendy Nikel is joining us today to talk about her novel The Continuum. Here’s the publisher’s description: For years, Elise has been donning corsets, sneaking into castles, and lying through her teeth to enforce the Place in Time Travel Agency’s ten essential rules of time travel. Someone has to ensure that travel to the past
My Favorite Bit: Wendy Nikel talks about THE CONTINUUM Read More »
Mary is the Guest of Honor at Boskone! Join her in Boston, MA from February 16-18, 2018 for New England’s longest running science fiction and fantasy convention. It’s going to be a fun weekend filled with discussions of books, film, art, music, games, and more. For more information about Boskone, visit The Boskone Blog, Twitter, and Facebook as well as by going to
Where to Find Mary at Boskone Read More »
2018 will be our sixth Writing Excuses Retreat: Join us for a cruise in the Caribbean, September 22-30th 2018! Registration is now open! The full details are available on the registration page, but here’s a quick overview: We will board in Galveston, TX, and spend a week at sea, stopping for excursions in Honduras, Belize, and Mexico.
Writing Excuses Retreat 2018 Read More »
KJ Kabza is joining us today with his short story collection The Ramshead Algorithm and Other Stories. Here is the publisher’s description: In The Ramshead Algorithm and Other Stories, sand cats speak, ghost bikes roll, corpses disappear, and hedge mazes are more bewildering than you’ve ever imagined. These 11 fantasy and science fiction stories from KJ Kabza have
My Favorite Bit: KJ Kabza talks about THE RAMSHEAD ALGORITHM AND OTHER STORIES Read More »
Hopefully there is a little less nope in your New Year. Mary is mostly hibernating this month, but here are a few places to catch her in January! January 9 Online Patreon Writing Date January 14 Online Patreon Writing Class: Methods of Worldbuilding Or find her online here Patreon • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram
Where to find Mary in January Read More »
It’s time for the wrap-up of what I’ve accomplished in 2017! Publications! Short Story “Your Mama’s Adventures in Parenting” – Shimmer Magazine “The Worshipful Society of Glovers” – Uncanny Magazine Best Related Work Writing Excuses Season 12: Theory and Technique This looks like low output, which, well, it is. BUT, that’s because publishing schedules mean that
My 2017 year-end wrap up Read More »
If you’d like to gift my books this holiday season (perhaps even to yourself!) you can order signed copies from Volumes Bookcafe and they will be shipped right to you! This is actually true all year long, this is just a reminder for the holidays. I’m also happy to personalize them, but you’ll need to
Gift my books – personalization deadline is 12/16! Read More »
The Lady Astronaut books are now available for pre-order! The Calculating Stars The Fated Sky If you pre-order through these links, which will take you to Mary’s favorite local bookstore, a SIGNED and personalized copy will arrive at your house on release day! These books are prequels to Mary’s Hugo-award winning story The Lady Astronaut
THE CALCULATING STARS and THE FATED SKY available for pre-order! Read More »
Carrie Ann DiRisio is joining us today with her novel Brooding YA Hero: Becoming a Main Character (Almost) as Awesome as Me. Here’s the publisher’s description: Have you ever wished you could receive a little guidance from your favorite book boyfriend? Ever dreamed of being the Chosen One in a YA novel? Want to know
My Favorite Bit: Carrie Ann DiRisio talks about BROODING YA HERO Read More »
Since I was little, this is the cake I request for my birthday. Mom mails one to me every year. We requested it for our wedding cake. This is the ur cake. This is the platonic ideal of cake. 2 sticks butter 3 c. sugar 3 c. plain flour 1 c. sour cream 1/4 tsp.
Mom’s Sour Cream Poundcake recipe Read More »
Fonda Lee is joining us today to talk about her novel Jade City. Here’s the publisher’s description: FAMILY IS DUTY. MAGIC IS POWER. HONOR IS EVERYTHING. Jade is the lifeblood of the island of Kekon. It has been mined, traded, stolen, and killed for — and for centuries, honorable Green Bone warriors like the Kaul family
My Favorite Bit: Fonda Lee talks about JADE CITY Read More »
Tracy Townsend is joining us today with her novel The Nine. Here’s the publisher’s description: In the dark streets of Corma exists a book that writes itself, a book that some would kill for… Black market courier Rowena Downshire is just trying to pay her mother’s freedom from debtor’s prison when an urgent and unexpected
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Jim C. Hines is joining us today with his novel Terminal Alliance. Here’s the publisher’s description: In his hilarious new sci-fi series, Jim C. Hines introduces the unlikely heroes that may just save the galaxy: a crew of space janitors. The Krakau came to Earth to invite humanity into a growing alliance of sentient species. However,
My Favorite Bit: Jim C. Hines talks about TERMINAL ALLIANCE Read More »
Character driven stories are a journey of self-discovery. They begin when a character is dissatisfied with an aspect of self and end when the character solidifies their self-definition. This can end in a positive or negative state. Either the character achieves the self-definition they were going for, or they recognize that they never will. Basically,
Character and Self-Definition Read More »