Category: Featured Posts

Here are some of my featured (a.k.a. “most popular” or “ones I happen to really like”) posts.

I hope you enjoy them!

Arisia 2021–Panel Notes & Relevant Links

FRIDAY 1/15 8:30 pm “Pandemic Fiction: Before and After”

Living through an actual pandemic is bound to have an impact both on how pandemic fiction is written, as well as how pre-COVID-19 fiction is read. In this panel, we’ll discuss what we, as readers, think pre-existing fiction got right and what it got wrong, and how future pandemic fiction could change because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some works mentioned on the panel and in chat:

  • Black Summer
  • The Doomsday Book
  • Lock In
  • Wanderers
  • A Song for a New Day
  • The Lady Astronaut Books by Kowal
  • What’s So Funny About Feeling Good
  • The Plague
  • Year of Wonders
  • Containment (TV series)
  • Travelers (TV series)
  • Twelve Monkeys (movie and TV series)

My mentioned books:

  • Earth Abides by George Stewart (1949)
  • The Mother Code by Carol Stivers (2020)
  • Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay (2020)
  • My Honorable mentions: Station Eleven, World War Z, and Speech Sounds by Octavia Butler (short story), A Canticle for Leibowitz

Relevant links:

“The Best Science Fiction Pandemic Books” (list with descriptions.) https://best-sci-fi-books.com/23-best-science-fiction-pandemic-books/

“Top 10 Pandemic Films to Watch” https://screenrant.com/top-pandemic-films-imdb-score-quarantine/

SATURDAY 1/16 2:30 pm”Surviving the Apocalypse Emotionally“

Most discussions about surviving the apocalypse (be it zombie, climate, or alien) focus on the skills necessary for physical survival. But we are emotional creatures, and coping with the stress and grief is just as important as building a fire. What do healthy emotions and healthy relationships look like after the world ends? What genre stories have tackled these questions well, and what advice can they give us for our own non-apocalyptic trauma?

Some of the works mentioned on this panel include:

  • Contagion (movie)
  • Coppice & Brake (anthology)
  • Empowered (comic book)
  • Forest of Hands and Teeth
  • The Girl with All the Gifts
  • The Dark Tower (series)
  • War of the Worlds
  • The Postman
  • Day of the Triffids
  • Life as We Knew It
  • Kingdom (TV show)
  • Bannerless Saga
  • Janelle Monet “Dance Apocalyptic”
  • The Rift
  • Seveneves
  • We Are Legion
  • The Road
  • Sarah Lyons Flemming’s zombie books

SATURDAY 1/16 4:00 pm”The Octavia Butler Future is Now”

In her Earthseed series, Octavia Butler gave us a vision of the 2020s that is disturbingly close to our reality, including storms, and droughts brought on by climate change; escapism through addictive pharmaceuticals and games, and perhaps most chillingly a far-right US President backed by extremist evangelical Christians. This panel will review the highlights of these books and discuss the influences on Butler’s writing as well as the influence these novels have had since their publication.

There is no list of recommended works, since it was a panel on Butler, and the Earthseed series in particular.

Basically, READ PARABLE OF THE SOWER and PARABLE OF THE TALENTS!

Next, read the rest of Butlers work! One person did ask in chat (as an ADHD person) what would be a good place to start reading her. I suggested perhaps starting withg her short story collection, Bloodchild and Other Stories. “Bloodchild” and “Speech Sounds” are favorites of mine. Also, many people start with her works by reading Kindred, which may be one of her more accessible works.

Feel free to add any other “must reads” relevant to any of these panels, or add a comment for discussion.

 

Virtual Appearance at Arisia ’21 (Jan. 15-16)

I’m excited to be a virual program participant for this year’s Arisia Convention!

My schedule is:

FRIDAY 1/15 8:30 pm”Pandemic Fiction: Before and After” I’ll be on this panel with Ken Schneyer, Rachel A. Brune, Lisa Batya Feld, Mark “Justin” Waks.

Living through an actual pandemic is bound to have an impact both on how pandemic fiction is written, as well as how pre-COVID-19 fiction is read. In this panel, we’ll discuss what we, as readers, think pre-existing fiction got right and what it got wrong, and how future pandemic fiction could change because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SATURDAY 1/16 2:30 pm”Surviving the Apocalypse Emotionally” Joining me on this panel is Bhadrika Love, LB Lee, Gordon Linzner, Bey Woodward.

Most discussions about surviving the apocalypse (be it zombie, climate, or alien) focus on the skills necessary for physical survival. But we are emotional creatures, and coping with the stress and grief is just as important as building a fire. What do healthy emotions and healthy relationships look like after the world ends? What genre stories have tackled these questions well, and what advice can they give us for our own non-apocalyptic trauma?

SATURDAY 1/16 4:00 pm”The Octavia Butler Future is Now” I’m on this one with Gillian Daniels, Andrea Hairston, Rob Cameron, Sam Schreiber.

In her Earthseed series, Octavia Butler gave us a vision of the 2020s that is disturbingly close to our reality, including storms, and droughts brought on by climate change; escapism through addictive pharmaceuticals and games, and perhaps most chillingly a far-right US President backed by extremist evangelical Christians. This panel will review the highlights of these books and discuss the influences on Butler’s writing as well as the influence these novels have had since their publication.

 

Acceptances and Coming Appearances

Poetry Acceptances

Somehow, Thanksgiving is almost here and the end of the 2010’s is looming. Writer-wise, I was largely inactive during 2019. I wasn’t feeling compelled to write by the time March rolled around, and then by May discovered painting. I’ve just recently begun to write a new short story.

The one piece of writing I completed before my hiatus was a horror-themed poem that was accepted into Horror Writers Association (HWA) annual poetry showcase. (The kindle version has just been released and hardcovers should follow in a few days or so.) That poem, “It is Forever Stalking You,” was written as I was experiencing a depressive episode and chronicles what that feels like.

HWA Poetry Showcase Vol. VI Cover

I’ve also just received word that my space-themed poem “Reincarnation” was accepted into the charity anthology Beneath Strange Stars by TL;DR Press. The proceeds from this collection of short stories and poetry will benefit the UK-based Association for Science Education. (Science education–a cause near and dear to my heart!) This collection will be available to purchase in January 2020.

Beneath Strange Stars charity anthology

Upcoming Appearances

I plan to attend Boskone in Boston in February 2020 (where I’ll be a panelist) and should be attending at least part of Arisia in January. When not on panels at either of these conventions, you can find me at the Broad Universe table in the Dealer’s Room.

A Final Note…

I appeared at Stillwater Books in Pawtucket, RI, with three other women horror writers in October. They have a few of my books on consignment, so check them out if you’re in the area!

Reading and afterpanel at Stillwater Books–from left to right: Christine Lajewski, Doungjai Gam Bepko, Jessica Levai, me

 

As This Year’s Women in Horror Month Draws to a Close…

Read my post, “My Journey to Horror (and Why Women’s Representation in Horror Matters)” to end Women in Horror Month at New England Horror Writers website–check out the three previous posts as well!

http://nehw.blogspot.com/
 

My Boskone Convention Schedule

Boskone, New England’s longest-running scifi and fantasy convention takes place at the Westin Waterfront hotel in Boston, from February 15–17. Hope to see you there!

Alone in the Dark

15 Feb 2019, Friday 21:00 – 21:50, Burroughs (Westin)

A look at why horror protagonists are often in it alone. Is it just a case of the observation tainted by the presence of the observer? Is the fear worse when you don’t have anyone around with whom to face it? And why do their flashlight and cell phones batteries always die at the worst possible moment?

With: Barry Lee Dejasu, Jack Haringa, Cadwell Turnbull, Joe Monti

The Evolution of the Slayer in Dark Fantasy

16 Feb 2019, Saturday 13:00 – 13:50, Marina 2 (Westin)

Since Van Helsing’s debut as the original vampire hunter in 1897’s Dracula, characters such as Buffy, Sam and Dean Winchester, Hellboy, Wynonna Earp, and John Constantine have all, er, staked their claim to the mantle of Slayer. How have these characters changed the role — or have we evolved to think about it differently? Why is this character type so popular? What part have Slayers played In the growth of the dark fantasy genre?

With: James Moore, Christopher Golden, Bracken MacLeod, Jack Haringa

Reading by Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert

I have my own reading slot! Come listen to me read from one of my recent short stories (I’m not sure which one, yet :-))

16 Feb 2019, Saturday 16:30 – 16:55, Independence (Westin)

If Only It Were Real

16 Feb 2019, Saturday 20:00 – 20:50, Griffin (Westin)

What science fiction concept, other than space travel, would you most like to see realized? Flying cars? Matter replicators? Time travel? Why? What would be the impact on civilization of this wish fulfillment? Flying cars crashing into buildings, replicators putting manufacturers out of business, time travelers running wild, oh my!

With: Alan Brown, Marshall Ryan Maresca, Mary Anne Mohanraj, Karl Schroeder

How to Survive a Horror Story

17 Feb 2019, Sunday 12:00 – 12:50, Marina 4 (Westin)

Who knows better than a horror writer how to survive a horror story? Join he fun and “lively” conversation as our panelists discuss scenarios from horror novels and films as if they themselves were characters within the scenes. Will their special authorial insights keep them safe? Will they split up to look for the cat? What are they willing to do to survive (relatively) intact? Who dies first? Who lives to tell the tale?

With: Marshall Ryan Maresca, Barry Lee Dejasu, Nicholas Kaufmann, Clarence Young

Note: This is a new idea at Boskone, and sounds like a blast!

 

New Year; New Stories and Appearances

First Publication of 2019

Happy new year! 2018 was challenging, and I spent several months not writing a word. I’m hopeful and full of energy for 2019, though!

Pre-order The Final Summons
In Darkness, She Sheds in The Final Summons anthology will be my first publication of 2019!

My first publication credit of 2019 will be my fantasy/horror short story In Darkness, She Sheds, part of The Final Summons anthology. I love this story and can’t wait for the world to see it. This diverse complication of scifi and fantasy stories by me and 13 other fantastic authors is due on February 5. Pre-order for Amazon and other retailers here.

First Appearance of 2019

I’m sad to announce that for the first time in almost a decade, I will not be attending Arisia. However, I’m thrilled to have been accepted as a panelist at Boskone (which has become my favorite Boston-area genre conference) and I should have a schedule to share in a few weeks.

I hope to see old friends and meet new ones at Boskone in February!