Hard to believe it’s already the start of summer!

I’ve been writing a lot more this past year, but with the way time has been flying it doesn’t feel nearly enough. But the projects I’m currently working on have been a lot of fun, which hasn’t changed even on the days when the words don’t come as easily. On to the roundup:

Remember how Chromophobia: A Strangehouse Anthology by Women in Horror (featuring my story “Gray Rock Method”) was nominated for the 2022 Stoker award for best anthology? Last weekend was Stokercon, and the anthology unfortunately lost out to Screams from the Dark, edited by Ellen Datlow. Bummer. But it was fun being a contributor to this particular project and seeing it get recognized in a way that’s not always guaranteed in our field.

I’m happy to announce my story “Those Who Wear Their White Hair Proudly” was reprinted in Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Volume 6, edited by David A. Riley and published by Parallel Universe Publications. In case you missed this story when it first appeared in Flame Tree Publishing’s Heroic Fantasy Short Stories (a part of their Gothic Fiction anthology series), now’s your chance to take a look.

Some news on the Solar Flare front, the solarpunk anthology from Zombie Needs Brains as a part of their successful Year 10 Kickstarter. The book is back from the printer so Kickstarter fulfillment orders are imminent! If you missed out the first time, you can still pre-order through the Zombies Need Brains website (as well as Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Kobo)

Here Comes the Sun!

Rising temperatures, melting glaciers, violent storms, and excessive heat. The future seems bleak…but there are signs of hope.

In SOLAR FLARE, we ask you to step into a world where we have managed to mitigate or even reverse the disastrous effects of climate change and our own destruction of our world. Race down the depleted waterway of the Mississippi in a solar-, wind-, and water-powered boat. Sail through the skies in a floating hydroponic dirigible. Skim along a solar-powered road in order to expose a corporation’s secret. Hover weightless in space in a last-ditch effort to repair an umbrella-like solar collector. Or cower in a shelter as fire rages outside…only to emerge and discover the rebirth such fire can bring.

Experience all of this and more in these seventeen solarpunk stories brought to you by today’s hottest authors, including David Keener, Anthony W. Eichenlaub, Sarena Ulibarri, Jason Palmatier, Lauren C. Teffeau, S.C. Butler, Devan Barlow, Chaz Brenchley, Liam Hogan, Nicole Givens Kurtz, Christopher R. Muscato, Rhondi Salsitz, Ember Randall, Gail Z. Martin & Larry N. Martin, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, Kristine Smith, and Anthony Lowe.

Time to turn the tide and dream of a better future.

Back Cover Copy for Solar Flare

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My story “Root Cause” in Fighting for the Future: Cyberpunk and Solarpunk Tales, edited by Phoebe Wagner, releases sometime next month but there’s still time to pre-order through the Android Press website.

In other news, I sold my story “Water Cycle” to the Solarpunk Creatures anthology that will be published by World Weaver Press later this year or early next. I’ll keep you posted as that exciting project evolves.

Con season is once again on the horizon, and I’m looking forward to attending Armadillocon and Bubonicon this August and reconnecting with the fine folk who I’ve seen there in times past.

Otherwise, there’s been some stuff happening behind the scenes, including a short story that’s made it to the final round of consideration at every market I’ve sent it to that still hasn’t found a home (!), but nothing tangible beyond just some ineffable sense of momentum on my part, which is enough to keep me plugging away with my words. More as I have it!

I’m happy to announce the Solar Flare: Solarpunk Stories anthology, edited by Patricia Bray and Joshua Palmatier and published by Zombies Need Brains is now available! You can get it from most retailers including the Zombies Need Brains website (as well as Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Kobo).

The anthology was a result of a successful Kickstarter campaign celebrating Year 10 of publisher Zombies Need Brains collections of short stories. They commissioned my story “Trial by Fire” for Solar Flare, and I’m thrilled with not only how the story turned out but also how the entire process went from start to finish. 

I was asked to write a solarpunk story for the anthology and “Trial by Fire” was the result, where I take readers to a futuristic northern New Mexico still at risk from wildfires but developing new capabilities to deal with such threats. You may recall there was a horrendous fire here last year that greatly impacted the area, and my story was heavily influenced by that, asking the question what if there was a better way to meet these risks going forward into the future. Plus bioluminescent lights, living walls, fire shields and more! You can check out some of my other influences collected on my “Trial by Fire” Pinterest board.

I got my contributor copies over the weekend and am still in love with such a striking cover and the great TOC I’m a part of:

• “Dustbowl Detective” by David Keener
• “Race on the Dry Mississippi” by Anthony W. Eichenlaub
• “Walking Through Fog” by Sarena Ulibarri
• “For the Love of Loudness” by Jason Palmatier
• “Trial by Fire” by Lauren C. Teffeau
• “Going Home” by S.C. Butler
• “Refraction” by Devan Barlow
• “Of Grace and Youth and Memory and Time” by Chaz Brenchley
• “Umbrella Men” by Liam Hogan
• “The Astronaut” by Nicole Givens Kurtz
• “Hemingway Versus the Storm” by Christopher R. Muscato
• “Radiant” by Rhondi Salsitz
• “Drips of Hope” by Ember Randall
• “Lumen” by Gail Z. Martin & Larry N. Martin
• “Interventions” by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
• “The Repairer of Lost and Broken Things” by Kristine Smith
• “The Palmdale Community Newsletter” by Anthony Lowe

I hope you check out the anthology and all the great stories it contains! As always, thank you for the support!

Earlier this week, author David A. Riley announced they had made a sale to The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. It soon came to light this author has apparently embraced fascist, far-right, and xenophobic stances according to people who are better versed in the nuances of British politics than I am. This same person published a reprint story of mine earlier this year in the most recent volume of the Swords and Sorceries anthology series they edit.

I was completely unaware of the association when I submitted my story for consideration, when I received my acceptance, and when I received my payment and contributor copy. I was just thrilled to find a market that 1) paid for reprints and 2) accepted sword and sorcery. Until today, I had no idea of this man’s beliefs and how they are actively harmful to so many of my friends and colleagues in this community.

I will not promote this anthology going forward and have removed it from my list of publications. It will still be included in the post Spring Roundup that originally announced the sale, with a link to this apology.

Needless to say, after this experience I will be doing much more diligence going forward when deciding on which markets to submit to in the future. Thank you for your understanding.

It’s that time of year again when writers from New Mexico and beyond gather in Albuquerque to celebrate all things fantasy and science fiction! Things kick off today (!) for Bubonicon 54 at the Uptown Marriot and will go through Sunday. Our guests of honor this year are the amazing Rebecca Roanhorse and Carrie Vaughn.

You can find me on the following panels:

Friday, 4pm: A WIZARD NAMED SUE: A CHARACTER BY ANY OTHER NAME

Friday, 6:30pm: TIME’S MAKING CHANGES: TODAY’S INFLUENCE ON TOMORROW

Saturday, 10am: HEY, YOU GOT SCIENCE IN MY FICTION

Saturday, 12pm: HAND ME THAT WORD-DRIVER: AUTHORS’ FAVORITE TOOLS

Or the Mass Autographing Session at 4:25pm on Saturday!

Hope to see you there!

UPDATE – 8/28/2023

Bubonicon was a great experience this year. I mean, it always is, but last year was the first time back after going virtual two years in a row and things still felt new and off-kilter getting into the swing again for public events. This year, things felt easy, untroubled, fun and thought-provoking, with a good mix of panels, activities, and of course author friends and colleagues. Some highlights from my panels are below, all courtesy of NM area writer Drew McVittie of The Scribblings:

So looking forward to next year’s con!

Android Press’s anthology Fighting for the Future: Cyberpunk and Solarpunk Tales, edited by Phoebe Wagner, and featuring a story by yours truly, came out last month after a successful Kickstarter.

If you haven’t snagged your copy yet, you can do so through the Android Press website, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

The anthology is comprised of three parts: Cyberpunk Tales, Solarpunk Tales, and a middle section called “Transitionary Tales” for stories that bridge the gap between Cyberpunk and Solarpunk futures. That’s the section where you’ll find my story “Root Cause,” set in the storyworld of Implanted, my debut novel. In it, a disillusioned plant scientist is looking for renewed purpose in the troubled dome city of New Worth, and his story comes packed with adventure, rebellion, and occasional technological musings.

The timing of this anthology was perfect considering Implanted turned 5 years old (!) this past August. I’m still really proud of the book and all the technological and sociological developments I was able to capture in the story. It’s bittersweet watching the conversations around climate change (as well as in the climate fiction corner of the internet) that are happening now, knowing my book probably came out too far ahead of the curve to really catch on, but I stand by so much of what I wrote and believe it still holds up to scrutiny and the developments we’re seeing today, which is saying something–just in case you need encouragement to read it if you haven’t already.

There are some other fantastic stories in the anthology as well, by some powerhouse authors, so please check it out!

‘Tis the season for MileHiCon, Denver’s science fiction and fantasy convention. This October 27, 28, and 29th, a wonderful group of regional authors will be gathering at the Marriott-Denver Tech Center to celebrate all things SF/F/H!

Mary Robinette Kowal, Drew Hayes, and Tamora Pierce (virtual) are the Author Guests of Honor, Peri Charlifu is the Artist Guest of Honor, with Toastmaster Sumiko Saulson. Should make for a great weekend full of inspiration.

My schedule is full of interesting panels, and I’m excited for the conversations these topics will spark:

Fri 5pm: Building a Sustainable Future
Sat 10am: Beta Readers
Sat 12pm: Finding Mr/Ms/Mx Right in the Modern Age
Sat 4pm: Mass Autographing
Sat 7pm: Science Fiction Romance (M)
Sun 12pm: Technophiles, Technophobes, and Climate Change

If you’re in the area, I hope to see you there!

Today, the cover for World Weaver Press‘s forthcoming anthology Solarpunk Creatures was released and I love how vibrant and otherwordly it is.

The whole collection examines “creatures,” interpreted broadly to mean non-humans, and how solarpunk futures impact them. You may recall Multispecies City, also from World Weaver, and this is considered to be a sequel to that influential anthology. It’s edited by Christoph Rupprecht, Deborah Cleland, Rajat Chaudhuri, Sarena Ulibarri, Melissa Ingaruca Moreno, and Norie Tamura and is expected to be published in January 2024.

The anthology features my short story “Water Cycle,” and I had a lot of fun playing language, inhabiting the concept of water and its take on humanity and its future, and sublimating a lot of rage and grief in words and otherworldly ideas. It’s a bit of a departure for me because it’s pretty short word count-wise, and there’s definitely a literary formalness to the writing that I don’t always deploy in my work. But I love it immensely, and I hope you’ll check it out as well.

There’s a great table of contents of writers and artists involved in this project too:

Stories:
“Threadloom” by N. R. M. Roshak
“Sonora’s Journey” by Kai Holmwood
“The Colorful Crow Of Web-Of-Life Park” by Sandra Ulbrich Almazan
“The Business Of Bees” by Andrew Knighton
“Night Fowls” by Ana Sun
“Water Cycle” by Lauren C. Teffeau
“Microbia” by Center For Militant Futurology
“Rabbits, Rivers, And Prickly Pears” by Justine Norton-Kertson
“Hunting For Rain” by Lyndsey Croal
“AI Dreams Of Real Sheep—More At 8” by Commando Jugendstil and Tales from the EV Studio
“An Inconvenient Unicorn” by Geraldine Briony Hunt
“Quorum Sensing” by Calliope Papas
“Flyby” by Priya Sarukkai Chabria
“Quarropts Can’t Dance” by Rodrigo Culagovski
“Thank Geo” by BrightFlame
“Our Minds Share A City” by Catherine Yeates
“Hopdog” by Rimi B. Chatterjee
“Solar Murder” by A.E. Marling
“The Wetlands Versus The Mayor” by Jerri Jerreat
“Leaf Whispers, Ocean Song” by Tashan Mehta

Artwork:
“Kelp Gardens” and “Stormwater Streams” by Yen Shu Liao
“Orange Crested Grebe” by Pamina Stewart
“Solar Powered” by Badlungs Art
“Renaissance Pisces” by Irina Tall
“Tunaakola” by ZiitaMdot
“Moth City” and “Kombucha Atoll” by Yen Shu Liao

​Cover Art by Paul Summerfield

Preorders are now available through the World Weaver Press website!

It’s a bird, it’s a plane… no, it’s a new book from me! Well, technically it’s a novella, but still! Another book!

My novella A Hunger with No Name will be published in the fall of 2024 by the University of Tampa Press as a part of their new Pomme imprint. (I would put another exclamation point there, but then this post would be all exclamation points and no info.)

I’m beyond excited to share this new story with you. It’s secondary world (science) fantasy, in a setting inspired by the high desert of New Mexico, full of strong women, philosophical questions, and the stories set in the stars that guide the main character on her journey to a mysterious glass city full of secrets.

About the book:

Thurava of Astrava is intended to become a herder, a most honored position for her dwindling community that clings to life on the banks of the Najimov, the river that’s the lifeblood of the high desert. But the Glass City on the horizon threatens the delicate balance the Astravans have managed to hold on to for centuries, polluting the air and water as the city grows bigger and bigger. The Glass City’s clockwork liaisons offer to bring the Astravans into the Glass City’s walls, but they will have to give up their ways and their precious herds to do so. Thurava must decide who she is without her animals, using the stars as her guide, putting herself on a collision course with the secrets the Glass City holds dear.

I hope you’ll join me on this new adventure! More to come, so stay tuned!

Well, it’s been a year. It’s always a year when I do these posts, and it will always will be a year, and there’s always ups and downs and frowns and things that make me smile. And so, here are some of them!

New Stories

This year I published two short stories in pro-level anthologies from Zombies Need Brains and Android Press. Both of them were the result of successful Kickstarters, and I was actually one of the commissioned authors for Solar Flare: Solarpunk Stories, which I was really excited to be a part of. I’m very proud of “Trial by Fire” in that anthology as it deals with a futuristic take on New Mexico fire season, which is always interesting to say the least here in Albuquerque where all you can do is watch horror at what’s going on in other parts of the state. That was very much on my mind when I was writing that story.

The other story, “Root Cause,” which I wrote for Android Press’s Fighting for the Future: Cyberpunk and Solarpunk Tales, is right out of the world of Implanted. It was really fun to not only revisit that world but create a story that would introduce new readers to that story world.

Implanted‘s Five Year Anniversary

Speaking of Implanted, not only is the audiobook on sale for a short time through the New Year, but it’s also been 5 years (!) since the book came out. While I still have lots of complicated thoughts about the book and how it did, I’m still really proud of the book and what it achieved given such little notice it received from the industry.

Out in the Wild

I did a few more events this year, including CoSine (my first time!), Rainforest Writers Retreat, the Williamson Lectureship, Armadillocon, Bubonicon, and MileHiCon. Next year, I’m hoping to add World Fantasy and the Nebulas as well.

Looking Forward

I’m looking forward to the Solarpunk Creatures anthology which will be out early next year from World Weaver Press. I had a lot of fun writing my story “Water Cycle,” for the collection which you’ll hear more about as promotion ramps up for the release in January.

Something else to look forward to in 2024 is I have a new book that’s coming out! My novella A Hunger with No Name will be coming out next fall from the University of Tampa Press and their new Pomme imprint. There are just some stories that need to be told and this is one that is really close to my heart. I am just so glad that the publishing team there really got the book and are just as excited about it as I am. Release date, cover reveal, and so forth all coming up in the new year, so stay tuned!

Goodbye Twitter

The other thing that happened this year is Twitter died. I mean I’m still there, but others aren’t and even if they are, the algorithm long ago decided my little feed was not important. That means my Twitter-only social media strategy is now kaput. I’m not convinced that any of the replacements that have popped up are worthwhile, though I am mirroring my Twitter content on Blue Sky to a certain extent. I’m also exploring Instagram, which I’m actually liking a lot more than I thought I would. I still have a lot to learn and am building my my profile from scratch, but I’m also reconnecting with a lot of people that I had lost track of over the years and I’m realizing just what I lost by not opting in to handing over my personal data to Facebook years ago. So be sure to give me a follow on Instagram, Blue Sky, or perhaps these other options through Linktree.

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I am optimistic for 2024 or at least as much as it deserves, and I’m really really looking forward to the novella release and finishing up some my WIPs that I started this year. And, you know, sometimes that’s all you can ask for, and I plan on asking for that again next year.

Stay heathy, stay sane, and best wishes for 2024!

Today, Solarpunk Creatures from World Weaver Press is now available everywhere books are sold! The collection is edited by Christoph Rupprecht, Deborah Cleland, Melissa Ingaruca Moreno, Norie Tamura, Rajat Chaudhuri, and Sarena Ulibarri.

The ebook is currently $4.99 and will remain that until the end of January, when it will go up to the full price of $7.99. OR get your hands on a print copy with *full color* illustrations! Swoon! Buy it now from:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Books-a-Million * IndieBound * World Weaver Press.

To celebrate the anthology’s release I read the first part of my story “Water Cycle” and recorded it for posterity:

In the coming weeks, I’ll have a guest blog post out on what I was thinking about when creating this story.

It’s a great collection of stories by a number of talented authors, but you don’t have to take my word for it:

A dazzling array of polyphonic voices building lives new, strange and infinitely wonderful. I strongly recommend inviting them all into your brain.

—Samit Basu, author of The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport

This anthology brings out delectable futuristic stories as seen by a new subaltern – robots, animals, artificial intelligence, birds, trees and other creatures who have been rendered voiceless by humans.

—Shweta Taneja, award-winning author

I hope you check it out!