NaNoWriMo - DONE!

The folks at NaNoWriMo call finishing 50,000 words in the month of November "Winning." For some reason that's never felt right to me. Maybe it's because I have the metaphor of a race in my mind. At the end of the race, only one person wins.

But I get it. When you complete the challenge of writing 50,000 words in 30 days, which averages out to 1,667 words a day, you've won the struggle against writer's block, fear of failure, fatigue, and in some cases, very real physical pain.

Still, I have a hard time calling myself a winner. Yes, I did hit a verified word count of 50,325 words on November 30, but as any writer knows, finishing a first draft is just the beginning.

I'm letting my text cool, and then, sometime after the first of the year will start the arduous task of editing and rewriting.

To all those who participated in NaNoWriMo this year, I salute you, whether you "won" or not. Just starting it, just accepting the challenge was a big step. I hope that step brought you confidence and joy.

Necon Panel on July 22

On Saturday, July 22, at 9:00 AM, I'll be participating in a panel at Necon in Portsmouth, RI.

With two exceptions, I’ve been attending Necon since 2000. It’s a different type of convention; only one track mostly horror, but well-worth attending. They cap attendance at 200 (with the addition of some walk-ins), which makes it nice and cozy. You begin to feel like you're part of the family. I've heard that they have some slots open, so if you're interested, register ASAP. The full registration fee includes meals, and parking is free. For details on the types of registrations available, see the Necon registration page.

The panel I'm on this year is Fresh Fangs: Making Traditional Tropes Breathe Again with Janet Joyce Holden, David Demchuk, James Chambers (M), Gary Frank, and Tom Deady.


9:00 a.m.        Fresh Fangs: Making Traditional Tropes Breathe Again

Morven Westfield, Janet Joyce Holden, David Demchuk, James Chambers (M), Gary Frank, Tom Deady

The classics never die, but they sure can get played out if overused by less-than-skillful artists. What’s the secret to keeping a trope fresh? How does one not reinvent the wheel, yet also not lean too heavily on the traditions that precede their work?

Broad Universe Reading at Readercon 28

I'll be reading at Readercon with other members of Broad Universe, an international organization dedicated to promoting, encouraging, honoring, and celebrating women writers and editors in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and other speculative genres.

If you've never been to a Rapid-Fire Reading, give it a try. They're a lot of fun, yet sometimes very sobering and thought-provoking as well. You might hear stories of horror, fantasy, or science fiction -- or a delightful combination of all of the above.

The final list of readers includes Dianna Sanchez, Elizabeth Crowens, LJ Cohen, Morven Westfield (me), Randee Dawn, Tracy Townsend, and Trisha Wooldridge.

Click image for a larger view

Note: Thursday night events at Readercon are free and open to the public, so even if you aren’t coming to the full convention, consider checking us out on Thursday anyway.

Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Reading (RFR) at Readercon 28

Thursday, July 13, 2017, 8 PM
We'll be reading in Salon A.

Quincy Marriott (Boston Marriott Quincy)
1000 Marriott Drive
Quincy, MA 02169

Witches' Almanac #36: New Articles

The Spring 2017-2018 edition (issue 36) of The Witches Almanac would make a good Yule gift. This issue's theme is Water: Our Primal Source.

In addition to its usual features — Moon Gardening, the Moon Calendar, Moon Cycles, and Presage, where astrologer Dikki-Jo Mullen gives us the astrological outlook for the upcoming year — it also contains numerous articles not related to water, including the following that I contributed:

"Corpse Doors"
"Easter Witches"

From the Nordic countries we find two fascinating bits of folklore, one ancient (“Corpse Doors”), and one extending into the current time (“Easter Witches”).

The Witches Almanac is widely distributed. You can find it your local bookstore, chain bookstores, Amazon, and, of course, www.amazon.com, where you can also buy back issues.

Witches' Almanac #35: New Articles

The Spring 2016-2017 edition (issue 35) of The Witches Almanac has just been released. This issue's theme is Air: The Breath of Life, and features an article "Herbs of Air" (by Lilith Hearthstone), "The Nine Elements" (by well-known Druid Ian Corrigan), a compilation of quotes related to air, and "Breathe Easy" (by Tammi Wilson).

In addition to its usual features — Moon Gardening, the Moon Calendar, Moon Cycles, and Presage, where astrologer Dikki-Jo Mullen gives us the astrological outlook for the upcoming year — it also contains numerous articles not related to air, including the following that I contributed:

“The Magic of Kohl”
“Nyctophilia, or the Love of Night”
“The Cursed Amethyst and Other Cursed Gems”
“Breaking Glass”
“Sidonia von Bork, Sorceress”

Not just for beautification, kohl has magical properties. Read “The Magic of Kohl” to find out more.  “Nyctophilia, or the Love of Night” gives insight into why many of us love the night. “The Cursed Amethyst and Other Cursed Gems” explores some of the legends associate with cursed gems. We all know the superstitions associated with breaking mirrors, but what about those associated with breaking glass? "Breaking Glass" has some good news. Who was Sidonia von Bork? Read “Sidonia von Bork, Sorceress” and find out.

The Witches Almanac is widely distributed. You can find it your local bookstore, chain bookstores, Amazon, and, of course, www.thewitchesalmanac.com/, where you can also buy back issues.