Shenanigans X: Recovery

Hello, friends! It’s been a while, for various reasons. Work picked up like a sirocco, and then my years-long streak of not catching Covid was cruelly broken, knocking me out for a couple of weeks. I’m doing my best to take it easy so my hit points and mana can refill properly, but unfortunately I’m also playing catch-up on an Olympus Mons-sized pile of stuff. That means this will be a correspondingly chonky newsletter, so gird your loins. Maybe grab a snack first.

News!

Speaking of Covid (ugh), unfortunately Jackson Ford caught it, so I’ve subbed in for a really cool event with K.B. Wagers. Tonight, July 6th at 8pm ET (6pm MT), we’ll celebrate the release of The Ghosts of Trappist, the newest NeoG book. The event will be streaming to the Old Firehouse Books Facebook page, and is free!

Worldbuilding for Masochists, a great podcast devoted to thinking way too much (or perhaps exactly enough) about worldbuilding, is kickstarting an anthology. Traveling Light will be a series of stories from former guests, including me! Back it before August 10th, and watch for the submissions window to open if they fully fund, so you too can be part of this fun project.

It’s always slightly terrifying when book reviews start to roll in. Coping methods include hiding under the couch with my cat, or telling my butler** to inform anyone who leaves their calling card that I am not at home.

Thankfully, Where Peace Is Lost got a starred review from Library Journal! No hiding required.

“Terrific action sequences do not detract from the emotional arc that Kel follows as a war survivor. Valdes (Fault Tolerance) delivers with her epic worldbuilding and characterizations in this sharp and poignant novel.”

—Kristi Chadwick, Library Journal

My book is sharp and poignant! Gonna bask in that glow. The end of August is fast approaching, so pre-order Where Peace Is Lost while you still can. After that, you’ll have to just… order it, I guess? If you’re a reviewer, you can also request an eARC on NetGalley or Edelweiss+.

Do you Audible? Is that even a verb? It probably should be. Regardless, if you enjoy listening to audiobooks, you can grab Prime Deceptions throughout July for the low price of $5.99.

Wait, another Uncanny Magazine news item? Two, actually! My poem, “Eroticide” appears in issue 53; you can read it now if you buy the issue; otherwise, you have to wait until August 1st, when it will be posted on their website for free.

I’m also one of the solicited story writers for the year 10 Kickstarter! If you pledge $100, you can have a 30-minute online hangout with me or another cool person on the list. Pledge $200, and I’ll include your name in a story, perhaps even the one I write for Uncanny!

I’ll be part of a Brookline Booksmith virtual event at 7pm ET on Monday, August 7th, to celebrate the publication of Fit for the Gods on August 1st. No link yet, but stay tuned. You can pre-order this book, too!

Ruminations!

My blog fell behind along with my newsletter, but I do have one new post:

Antagonists: Depending on the protagonist’s goals, it can be difficult to find believable or relatable reasons why someone would be working against them, without resorting to mustache-twirling levels of villainy. I offer some thoughts on possible avenues of interrogation that might lead to useful options.

If you want updates on new posts, you can subscribe to my blog directly, or just wander in there at your leisure to see what’s manifested lately, or wait for me to give you this convenient summary in my next newsletter. The power is yours!

Cats!

Wash demands that I stop waking him up by engaging in unacceptable behaviors, such as talking or shifting slightly because my butt is falling asleep.

If you have any questions you'd like me to answer in a blog post or here in the newsletter, you can leave a comment on the Substack page, email me, or find me on the social media site of your preference. Stay safe, and thanks for joining in the shenanigans!

**me, but wearing a really snazzy uniform