This week, the final lines of Lease's poem (opening line"Try saying wren.") have replaced my usual mantra of  "No matter. Try again.  Fail again.  Fail better."  (Famous quote from Waiting for Godot)

"The thing about damage is that if you can lead someone right to it, like
a sleeping bear, point to it, say, shhhh, donʼt wake him, then it likely is already
toothless. At least for the winter months. Come spring everyone is damaged, all
over again, whether they talk about it or not. Itʼs just the world waking up. Itʼs the
sap running through ( Read more... )

If you're an aspiring or journeyman poet or fantasy writer, and looking for a little mentorship, I highly recommend my friend saladinahmed.  He's an award-winning writer, and a marvelous human being.  Whip-smart, funny, nurturing, wildly creative--really, I can't say enough good things about him.  Check out the details of his offer (and his qualifications) ( Read more... )

John Joseph Adams is doing a giveaway of his anthology The Way of the Wizard.  So if you want to read some amazing stories by authors such as George R. R. Martin, Kelly Link, Neil Gaiman, Ursula K. Le Guin, Genevieve Valentine, Desirina Boskovich, Orson Scott Card, and many others others, enter now!
And if you've ever wanted to read a Leahy story... ( Read more... )

If you like to think about language, and also about the exigencies of being human, I highly recommend reading Michael J. Deluca's (boonofdoom ) story "The Eater" and blog post over at Apex. 
Compelling and haunting.  Well worth your time.  And imagination.

If you haven't read Cat Rambo's "Close Your Eyes," Peter M. Ball's "The Birdcage Heart" or Gavin Grant's "Widows in the World", what are you waiting for?  They're free, online, and each, in their own way, extraordinary.

I love cooking.  But I don't always have a lot of time.
If those two sentences ring true for you as well, check out The Minimalist, Mark Bittman--well worth your time, if you don't know him already.

Earlier this week, Shimmer officially released Issue 12.  Huzzah huzzah!

It's a beautiful issue, full of stories of transformation, and I feel terrifically lucky (gulp) and proud to be in the company of such talented authors.

Heartfelt thanks to Beth Wodzinski and all of the marvelous and dedicated Shimmer staff--who work with such love to make ( Read more... )

In case you haven't already heard, KGB Fantastic Fiction is holding their annual raffle.
A worthy cause, and some truly fabulous prizes to be had.  Check it out here.

I've announced this elsewhere, but a few months ago I sold my story "Too Fatal a Poison" to The Way of the Wizard.  About a month away from launch, and I can finally stop holding my breath--it's really going to happen!

It's a tremendously exciting sale for me.  I've always loved wizard stories and this anthology is a marvelous mix of ( Read more... )