I am fortunate to work from home in a largely quiet little road. Today, a neighbour has spent 9:30-2:30pm powerwashing his car (and tyres). Who has time for that? The noise is driving me insane. V hard to ignore it to focus on words!
"Folded" by Helen French: second-hand guilt / ash scattering journey / mysterious mass destruction Ashes and memories and a heap of obligation were all I had left of my mother. I might’ve ignored her dying wishes, but Mother had put the requests in a will, which was a surprise given that she’d had Alzheimer’s for so many years. I supposed she’d made it official when her neurons were still firing properly, long ago.
The second story in Saros #4, edited by @hannahgreer.bsky.social: "Folded" by @helenfrench.bsky.social, which originally appeared in the anthology Strange Days from Midnight Street Press.
To read it, grab a copy of Saros #4 for free at sarossf.com/issue-4/
I'm in this issue of Saros with one of my favourite ever stories - v excited to see it out and about :)
If you have daily goals, like writing or walking (eg I have 1k and 10k ones), do you just give yourself a break if you have to be away from home, or strive to complete no matter what? Next week I'll spend 2 days mostly in the car for example. Then I'll be visiting family. I may just need to... rest?
I particularly love it when the people investigating are really competent or clever
Audiobooks have pushed me to purchasing more print books than Netgalley this year. First it was Dungeon Crawler Carl, now it's Legends & Lattes - so different in tone but both creating worlds I want to spend more time in. Or, perhaps, people/cats I want to spend more time with...
My daughter was reading last night and asked: "Mum, why does all the dialogue here end in 'he said' or 'she said', but my teachers say we're not allowed to do that?"
Had to explain teachers want to extend her vocab, but that in published work 'said' is used so often because it's kinda invisible.
So pleased to land third place here. Now the hard work begins! (Because I still have some writing and editing to do...)
Saros #4 Table of Contents edited by hannah greer christina tang-bernas: at the heart of it organ harvesting / moon colonies / a fresh start eric fomley: brain leech memory selling / for the good of the family / corporate greed helen french: folded second-hand guilt / ash scattering journey / mysterious mass destruction jl george: little shade plague / unresolved grief / cat companion lex chamberlin: new immortals restrictive stereotype droid bodies / self-love / immortality during mass extinction
Saros #4, edited by @hannahgreer.bsky.social, is currently in production! Featuring stories by @ctbideas.bsky.social @ericfomley.bsky.social @helenfrench.bsky.social @jlgeorge.bsky.social and Lex Chamberlin, with gorgeous cover art by @warls.bsky.social!
Stay tuned for more info!
I've just started Apocalypse Parenting and really liking it so far, so thank you!
Very happy to have made the shortlist for one of the
@iaminprint.bsky.social novel categories this year! Some days/weeks/years you just need a little boost to your confidence to keep on going, and this news has worked wonders for mine.
A picture of Dungeon Crawler Carl (the hardback)
So it finally happened. I finished listening to the last (currently available) Dungeon Crawler Carl book (sob!). What do I do now? Do I move on to reading them all instead? They are very lovely in hardback form…
Just looked back on my Goodreads and that was a five-star read for me, so another good sign. Thanks for the rec!
I wasn't familiar with the book, but now you've said that, I'm interested!
I feel like I only really talk about audiobooks online nowadays, but I've been on a really satisfying listening spree for months. Currently I'm on book 7 (of 7 so far) of Dungeon Crawler Carl and I'm going to be bereft when it's over. What on earth can I read next?!
Really pleased to have a flash story in the latest issue of Mythaxis. You can find it here: mythaxis.co.uk/issue-41/saf...
Or use the link in the quoted post to see the whole issue.
Last chance to read for free! The thrilling story "The Race For His Heart" by Helen French (@helenfrench.bsky.social) is free to read until midnight!
dailytomorrow.substack.com/p/the-race-f...
This is so good to hear. Friends are always surprised when I say I have completed books before - they just didn’t get published. I’m still working at it.
The final part of my serialised story (about a catfishing robot) is now out at @thedailytomorrow.bsky.social!
You can use the same link to read from the beginning, and there's an afterword for paid subscribers.
dailytomorrow.substack.com/p/the-race-f...
Part six of my serialised story on @thedailytomorrow.bsky.social is up now - final part tomorrow! You can also use the link to start reading from the beginning:
dailytomorrow.substack.com/p/the-race-f...
Writersky is talking about writers and ages again, so it bears repeating: there is no expiration date on writers except for death. Up until your last day, you can be writing, you can be published, you can be produced, you can sell. There's no "Too late." Only you can decide when your done.
Thrilled to have a story serialised in The Daily Tomorrow this week - parts one and two already available!
I've recently really got into my walking treadmill - it actually helps me stay focused. But it means, for the first time in my (very dorky) life, I've started buying trainers... Now, can someone explain to me - how on earth do you get brave enough to wear white ones outside?
I have a 100-word drabble available to read today over at @blackharepress.bsky.social. The prompt was 'Evil Editors'!
Revising Evil www.blackharepress.com?p=14387
After a couple of weeks with a walking pad and a standing desk, I can now walk and type without too much wobble or slowdown. It's time to attempt creative writing while walking next. Any tips? #amwriting #writingcommunity
I finally read (ok, listened to) Octavia E Butler's Parable of the Sower and it's incredibly powerful and prescient. Wonderful. 5 stars. But I don't think I can bear the next one as Butler never got to finish the series. And I'm scared of it not being as good. Sensible or weird?
I have a ridiculous amount of short stories out on sub and I'd normally be expecting a rejection or two per day by this point. Where are they? Yes, I'm aware that mentioning this will cause a rejectolanche! Or maybe a whole bunch of sales? Sure!
Already happening! :D
I've got two novelly projects I can't decide between, so I've decided to work on both (2 windows open side by side whenever I'm at my desk writing). That's totally reasonable and going to help me make progress, right? #amwriting #writingcommunity
It’s also essential that I listen alongside a manual task that doesn’t require too much thinking. I can’t listen to a book (or podcast) while working for example - I tune out. But walking, doing the dishes, gardening, driving - all ok!
