Late night. A Serbian Orthodox church in Maryland. November winds rattle the trees. In a shadowed corner, near the entrance to the common areas and the kitchen, a lone Orthodox priest speaks with a figure in a coal black suit.
Tag: writing
AI, NaNoWriMo, and “That Guy with the Idea”
This is a quick post. If you're a writer or writer adjacent, you've likely heard about NaNoWriMo's recent stance on AI contributions. Stephen Blackmoore has some key thoughts as his books were outright stolen to train the Generative AI now sponsoring Nano. What are my thoughts on AI? First, it's not really what most folks… Continue reading AI, NaNoWriMo, and “That Guy with the Idea”
Back from a Big Country
Just a brief note: We are back from Scotland. This was a combination trip - one to celebrate my wife and I reaching birthdays that end with zero, and one to attend Glasgow 2024's World SFF Convention. Pictured here: (L-> R) Seanan McGuire, Nnedi Okorafor, Naomi Kritzer, Erin Hunter, and John Scalzi discussing their cats.)… Continue reading Back from a Big Country
It’s gonna be WHAT? No, wait, it’s still April
First and foremost, I wish to protest the fact April in the DMV feels more like August. Second, I do like this chair - but so does Tellus: But, I have some updates to my 2024 non-writing and photography list: Have learned recipes! And helped with dinner! Without causing illness within the family! Adding ten… Continue reading It’s gonna be WHAT? No, wait, it’s still April
Looking Forward – also, Alan Wake II calls me out
Mid-Week Winter Blues Time has screamed by - February came in with a drunken mix of freezing days and unseasonal warmth. It also came in with the completion of a two projects - flooring in the basement and a cleaning of the chimney. This President's day, there will be assembly of display cases and kitty… Continue reading Looking Forward – also, Alan Wake II calls me out
Welcome to 2024 – A To-Do List
OK, I will be completely blunt. The idea of creating a list of goals for the year outside of what has been defined in a professional capacity (i.e. 'the day job says you need to make x number of customer success plans and hold y number of meeting') has me in the following mood: Crow… Continue reading Welcome to 2024 – A To-Do List
Crying at Christmas – or the Ancient Magus’ Bride
I honestly should not have liked this show/manga. The basic premise sounds like the cringiest of urban fantasy books. An ancient fae mage purchases a young woman with magical abilities and declares she will be his apprentice... and his bride. In any other context, I'd be throwing this book at the wall/shutting off the TV.… Continue reading Crying at Christmas – or the Ancient Magus’ Bride
A.J. Harris Update – New Anthology Appearance: Sexy Strangers
News from the world of my alter egotist, A.J. Harris: A new short story is appearing in the latest anthology edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel Sexy Strangers. You can order it from the Cleis Press site here. Aching for a preview? Check this amazing cover: I'll talk a bit more about the story, "Private Beach," as… Continue reading A.J. Harris Update – New Anthology Appearance: Sexy Strangers
The City, The Country, and Community (ReaderCon Thoughts)
One of the panels at ReaderCon 23 has stuck with me, especially in the light of ongoing controversies involving country music songs. I'll put the program description here: The emergence and predominance of cities in Western culture has been seen variously as a spiritual loss and as humanity's greatest achievement. In speculative fiction, Terri Windling… Continue reading The City, The Country, and Community (ReaderCon Thoughts)
April Heatwaves, May Heat
This has been one of the warmest Aprils in recent record. We've hit August temperature, but without the August humidity. Pollen counts are up. And, my alter egotist, A. J. Harris, has a new short story coming up. I've got an expanded bio on the editor's blog (And there's a contest to win a free… Continue reading April Heatwaves, May Heat
Biomechanoid Blues 