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Archive for the ‘Books & Movies’ Category

Yes, this is the official release date for Aunt Anne’s Archive. I’m excited to bring out my second short story collection, spanning most of my career.

What’s in it? Twelve short stories, from the brooding “Bonewood Forest” and “Hag” to the humorous “Buried Treasure” and “Rosewood’s Challenge.” Some of them are previously published, while others are coming to the public for the first time. And all for just $9.95!

Get it from Amazon or Books2Read and prepare for a great read.


Aunt Anne’s Archive

Behind the velvet curtain, beyond the secret door, lies a lost archive of literary enchantments. From the creepy to the cozy, the mysterious and the magical, the witty and the wondrous, each tale casts its own rare spell. Welcome to Aunt Anne’s Archive.


Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, BlueskyFacebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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It’s been a while since I did one of these posts, where I focus on specific words that sometimes are confused with each other. Today it’s “hardy” and “hearty.”

Hardy means a person or thing that is able to endure difficult conditions. Someone tough and brave or daring. Plants that don’t die of frost are hardy; in spring, we “harden them off” before planting outdoors. Soldiers are hardy; we often speak of veterans being “hardened” by combat.

Hearty refers to expressing a strong emotion, usually a positive one. Someone might have a hearty laugh or give a cause their hearty support. Their actions come from the heart.

Don’t forget! My short story collection, Aunt Anne’s Archive, releases next Wednesday on Amazon and Books2Read. I hope I can count on your hearty support.


Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, BlueskyFacebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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A couple of major new SF/Fantasy shows have come out on streaming lately. Having seen just a couple of episodes of each, I have some reactions.

Fallout, on Amazon Prime, is based on a video game series that my husband and I both played extensively in the past. As such it features settings and factions from the game that are familiar to us. I was very impressed by the attention to detail. The costumes and sets are re-created very accurately from the games.

It’s set in a post-apocalyptic America, with ruins and relics scattered all over. The plot events are correspondingly harsher. I do recall that in the game, you continually encounter locations with micro-stories embedded that are almost always tragic and/or horrific. Watching the first few episodes, I found it almost too dark to enjoy. Again, this is faithful the source material. In general, I’m just not a horror fan. Others may not be bothered.

Dead Boy Detectives is the other show. It’s based on an off-and-on comic series from DC in the ’90s, which spun off the more famous Sandman. Unlike Fallout, I knew almost nothing about Dead Boy Detectives when I started watching. I can’t attest to its faithfulness to the source material.

Despite being sometimes dark (I mean, two of the main characters are ghosts) the tone is lighter and more humorous. For instance, Crystal, the psychic character, carries on conversations with them, but only she can see them. You constantly see people in the background looking around for who she’s talking to. Where Fallout follows two or three plot threads, Dead Boy Detectives has just one, so it came across more focused to me.

On the other hand, fan reaction indicates there’s a gay romance, either hinted or explicit. Bear that in mind if such content would bother you.

Anyway, I’m interested to know if any of you have watched these shows, and what you thought of them.


Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, BlueskyFacebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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If you’re interested in being more active with the publishing side, I’ve heard of an opportunity. Hexagon Magazine is a semi-pro outfit looking for first readers. It’s a volunteer position. Details are here.

Other than that, I’m working away on The Spirit Binder. Other tasks include spring cleaning (washing the drapes and windows) and getting my garden up to speed (making sure my hoses all work). Fun! Don’t forget, Aunt Anne’s Archive is releasing in two weeks! The paperback will be up for orders later today, so I hope you’ll take a look at it.

Happy weekend, all!


Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, BlueskyFacebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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Queen Titania's Court, Annual Event in June

Yep, I’m still hustling for a few more authors to take part in Queen Titania’s Court. I have the basic spots filled, but it feels thin compared to previous years.

Anyway, if you have a fantasy book to publicize or know someone who does, I’d love it if you shared the details!


Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, BlueskyFacebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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I’ve been working away on The Spirit Binder. The going has been slow as I’ve reached another part that I didn’t plan extensively, and now I have to put some pieces together. What did this place look like before the seven years of drought? What does it look like now? What happened to the previous leaders, and how did the bad folks push them out of the way?

I’m reminding myself this is meant to be a juvenile novel, and I shouldn’t make things too complicated. Besides which, the word count is up to 57,000 now, and I originally planned for 30,000. Either I’ve accidentally written two novels back to back, or I’m going to have to cut a whole lot of material!

The good news is, Cleodora arrived at the place she was traveling to. She’s keen to take action, and the adults keep telling her to slow down and be careful. Not an easy course for a thirteen-year-old with a mission. It also brings me to the ideas that originally inspired this story, which is that Cleodora can send minor spirits around the place to spy for her.

After taking some time to develop ideas, I’m getting back some energy for the tale. My hope is to finish the first draft before summer break. That would allow me to do revisions before fall. However, Queen Titania’s Court will require some of my attention, too. We shall see.


Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, BlueskyFacebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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After I finished setting up the pre-release for Aunt Anne’s Archive, I paused to take stock. I’ve been shocked at how much has gone on for me within the past six months.

In August, I released Renegades of Skaythe, the paperback that combined my novellas “The Renegade of Opshar” and “Prisoners of the Wailing Tower.” Then in November, I published the series finale, The Tale of the Drakanox. I also read from my work at Fall Folk Festival in November of 2023.

In January, Wolfsinger published Borne in the Blood, an anthology that includes one of my stories. In February, I was Author Guest of Honor at RadCon. That’s something I will never get tired of talking about! Another anthology, Wee Folk and Wise, was re-issued in late March. That was one I edited.

Next month, Aunt Anne’s Archive comes out. Then in June it’s Queen Titania’s Court. People who aren’t familiar with my career might have the impression that I’m such a dynamo all the time, but honestly… I think I might need a break after all that!


Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, BlueskyFacebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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Yes, it’s up for pre-orders, with a release date of May 15th. I just received the printed proof, and am going through it for last minute corrections.

What’s in it? Twelve short stories, from the brooding “Bonewood Forest” and “Hag” to the humorous “Buried Treasure” and “Rosewood’s Challenge.” Some of them are previously published, while others are coming to the public for the first time. And all for just $9.95!

Pre-order from Amazon or Books2Read if you’re interested.


Aunt Anne’s Archive

Behind the velvet curtain, beyond the secret door, lies a lost archive of literary enchantments. From the creepy to the cozy, the mysterious and the magical, the witty and the wondrous, each tale casts its own rare spell. Welcome to Aunt Anne’s Archive.


Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, BlueskyFacebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

Read Full Post »

I’ve just received the contract for a short story I submitted to an anthology last fall. Whoot! Of course, it won’t come out until 2025, so it’s hard to get too excited.

Anyway, I’ll be over here basking in a moment of success.


Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, BlueskyFacebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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Continuing my read-through of vintage fantasy by Tanith Lee, I’ve come to one of her books that I remember most clearly. Kill the Dead is a gothic fantasy of a ghost killer and those who haunt him.

Parl Dro is the main character, the grim ghost killer whose notoriety is at odds with his charismatic presence. He’s joined by Myal Lemyal, a brilliant but klutzy bard who plays an instrument no one else could ever handle. The two of them share an obsession: to banish a legendary haunted city.

Then Myal witnesses Dro’s tactics in banishing a young girl’s ghost. He becomes entangled with her sister, Ciddey Soban. Though disgusted by Myal’s confusion and vulnerability, Dro can’t quite turn his back. It’s a quirky and atmospheric adventure into the dark places of the world — and his own past.

Kill the Dead was first published in 1980. The ebook is still available, but if you want a physical copy, your best bet is to haunt some used book stores. Finding one may be a quest worthy of Parl Dro himself.


Have you read one of my books? Then it would be great for you to leave a review! Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about me and my work, check out my website, BlueskyFacebook, Pinterest, or Instagram.

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