Okay, maybe newsletters every 2 months...

Mar (and maybe Apr) 2025

I had originally hoped to get back to sending a newsletter once a month, but with all the spinning plates right now, that feels a bit ambitious. Maybe bimonthly is more sane. (And why, oh convoluted English Language, does bimonthly have to mean both every two weeks and every two months, because that’s just ridiculous and confusing. So, yeah, every two months.) Maybe even bimonthly or so… In any case, I promise you’ll be the first to know anything exciting and if I ever have deals or special content to pass on, you’ll find it here.

Next up on my immense to-be-read pile:

(I’m seriously excited about getting to all of these and already own most of them.)

The Spear Cuts Through Water came out in 2022 and has been on my list (and in my audiobook collection) since it was first published. Three years after its release I’m still hearing great things about it, though, and it’s now bubbled to #1 on my TBR.

Nothing to See Here, like the book above, this is by an author I haven’t read before, but again, I’m hearing great things about it by people I know. Better still, the premise is so right up my alley that it jumped 200 other books on my list — 70 of which I already own (I know, I know… I have a book-buying addiction) and is in line to read soon, possibly by the time I get this newsletter out. Literary fabulism is one of my favorite sub-genres and the description and writing style put me in mind of another favorite author, Jonathan Carroll (The Land of Laughs).

Absolution. Since I’ve already enjoyed the Area X trilogy, this one is a no-brainer to land high on my list. Even though I didn’t start it as soon as it was released, it also jumped the line into the top 5 as soon as it came out. (I know I mentioned it last time, but yeah, soon now…)

Someone You Can Build a Nest In — I know of the author’s other fine work and the book keeps getting put on award list after award list. Even that title — how can I not? *Red alert: Chirp (see below!) notified me recently that as of writing this, the audiobook was on sale for $4.95!! No idea how long the sale will last. *

Sour Cherry — I’ve looked forward to this book since I first heard the premise, long before its release. In fact, it’s not out yet, which is why I’m listing it last, but I’ve loved multi-award winning Natalia Theodoridou’s short stories for years and was so excited to hear a book was in the works. This reimagining of Bluebeard as seen through the ghosts of his dead wives, will be coming out from the literary publisher, Tin House, in April. I’ve already pre-ordered the audiobook through Audible!

I love owning the books I’ve enjoyed, and I refer back to or reread many. However, if buying books feels out of reach these days (I’m tightening my belt too) libraries and library apps are a great option for print, ebook, and audiobooks. I read in audio, and often use Hoopla and Libby through our US library system (and authors still get royalties!). Also, if you like buying audiobooks but don’t want to pay a monthly subscription, Chirp is a great alternative. No subscriptions, commitment, or fees, plus lots of sales. They send email notifications for things on your wishlist, and you can read them on your phone directly through the Chirp app. I’ve used them for years.

My News

I’d hoped to attend and possibly present at WorldCon this year, but let go of that wish at the beginning of the year due to logistics and timing. I still have some faint hope for World Fantasy in Brighton, England this fall, especially as my publisher for my forthcoming set of three books is based in the UK, but at this point, attending is still very much up in the air. I hope to be able to share more news soon, though, on the novels being released. Bit of an understatement to say I’m excited!

And In Short Story News:

I’d hoped to have more short story news to share, but I did get a notification from the good folks at Tales to Terrify that my flash horror reprint, I Promise is in the pipeline. It’s now in the hands of a narrator, but will be probably a few more months before it’s published on the podcast. Hopefully, more news on this story and others in the next newsletter.

Fae

And in the opposite of news about a new story publication…

Hard to believe, but it’s been ten years since this anthology came out! Editor Rhonda Parrish has a blog post about it here, including a brief update quote from me. Sadly, all four books in this anthology series will be going out of print at the end of this month, including my short story, The Last King in Fae. Grab the book now if you want a copy. If you live in the US and want a signed paperback, let me know. I think I have half a dozen or so copies on hand. (The nitty gritty: signed by me only/ print price plus shipping/prepaid thru PayPal.) For that matter, if you want to buy a signed copy of any of my books, send me a comment or email and I’ll see what I can do.)

Cute Animal Video (0:55 sec)

Caring for and helping each other is always a good thing and it’s always the right time for kindness, but sometimes it feels like maybe we (collectively) need it more than others. This might be one of those times. (And oh, my, that smile at the end. Okay, I know that sloths, like some other animals, have a natural smile but still, my heart… 💘)