10 Years Ago....

Ten years ago I had long hair.
And an apartment in Santa Cruz.
My first book, a short story collection, was being published
I hadn't hit 30 yet.
I had a cat named Missy May
And a best friend named Mark.

Today,
My hair is short -very short-
I live in Fresno with my husband and daughter.
My first book, a short story collection, is still my only literary child.
40 is getting uncomfortably close
I have a cat named Minka
And last week Mark took his life.

I'm still reeling. I'm still hurt. I'm still trying to breathe and move my body through my day.

September has always been a month of hope... the month of a new relationship that just celebrated 12 years. The month of a new baby who is now 7. The month of a new home. The month of possibilities and new school years and goals for things to accomplish.

And now... now it is all that and also bitter tears and feelings of misplaced guilt and conversations left unspoken.

I'm so glad it's October. The month where I think about what I need to do before my December birthday, the holidays, and the end of the year. This month I will start to heal from this latest wound and I will rededicate myself to writing and leaving the world better than how I found it.

And I will not leave the conversations undone.

In ten years, I'll still miss him.
But I will have written again.
And my daughter will be older.
And my hair ... well... who knows.

Time will tell.

Fogcon... and ME!

I have joined the ConCom for FogCon (which is supremely fun to say) and will be working as a junior Honored Guest Liason as well as helping with the Writer's Workshop.

I am super excited!

Partly because it's a bunch of new skills, partly because it is an event I love, and partly because I get to work with some pretty bomb-ass people including this year's Honored Guests: Mary Anne Mohanraj and Nisi Shawl.

I mean. Really. How awesome is that?

This year the theme is "Turning Points" which is super relevant for all sorts of personal reasons and a meaty topic to dig into.

FogCon is the first weekend in March in Walnut Creek, CA... register today!

Fresno Library Poetry Reception

Today I was privileged to announce some of the winners of the Annual Fresno Library Poetry Contest.

Hooray for being a judge!... Double hooray for these awesome kids who submitted poetry! I judged the Middle School category and, let me tell you, it was an eye-opening experience. These kids are full of angst, y'all! But also full of power. I had a hard time not just awarding all the Gonna Change The World poems because they spoke to my inner "burn it all down and rebuild" chaos demon.

Anyway, as well as presenting to the kids in my category, I also got to read a few of my own original works. That was also very cool. It makes me want to finish that poetry chapbook I have been working on for... years...

Maybe by next year's event!

10 Down...

My fledgling little podcast dropped its 10th episode today.

Perfect time for you to catch up if you have accidentally missed any of them...

Podcast Website

Podcast on Facebook

List of books/movies we have discussed:

The Mist
A Simple Favor
Nothing Lasts Forever / Die Hard
The Last Unicorn
Fried Green Tomatoes
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Breakfast At Tiffany's
3:10 To Yuma
(The) Children of Men
Girl, Interrupted

Nice and diverse, yes?

Well, there's more where that came from! Check us out wherever you listen to podcasts!

Fog Con

Zomg.

FogCon was... amazing.

The mid-con break to go see an Abba tribute band with my mom and sisters... was amazing.

Getting to hang out with Becky Chambers, yes that Becky Chambers was... amazing.

Getting critiqued and complimented by Karen Joy Fowler, yes that Karen Joy Fowler, was... you guessed it, amazing!

I only have two photos but I have memories and inspiration from the awesome panels. Also, I made some new friends!

Banner weekend for me!

Booth! (Part 2)

I did the "sell your stuff at a booth in the mall" thing last weekend.

It was pretty fun actually. I sold a few copies, chatted with a few people about books, was able to promote the podcast (cough Pages and Popcorn Podcast cough), and see a bunch of people in cool cosplay outfits.

10/10 would recommend!

Booth!

I have been offered the chance to sell my books (and prints) at a mall event coming up.

While I love geeks, and all things geek related, and this is definitely a geek-themed mall event...

I can't help but wonder if it will be actually profitable to set up a booth, sit there for two days, and hope that people who are thre to buy toys and comic books might want to take a chance on a literary short story collection with adult themes.

It bears considering though...