Winter
Hello, friends.
Even though he is an indoor cat, Loki is an excellent indicator of the temperature outside. The colder it gets, the more he wants to snuggle. This is lovely for relaxing, but a bit difficult when I'm attempting some serious novel revisions.
He is very persistent.
(I know; I am a monster.)
The turn of the seasons has me in a strange, nostalgic mood. We are still curtailing many of our activities in an attempt to stay healthy, which is the right choice for us, but it does make me wistful, and I pine for distant family and friends. If you have the inclination, let me know how you're doing, here at the tail end of 2022. Tell me what the landscape looks like outside your window, and what you're looking forward to in the coming year.
In return, I have a couple of stocking stuffers for you: two wee flash pieces which were released this month. Both will, I hope, warm you this season, but in very different ways. Feel free to choose according to your mood and inclination.
"A Recipe for Crocodile Tears" was published in The Dread Machine, and it's both vicious and vengeful. If you like the way righteous anger can bring a flush to your cheeks and a bit of perspiration to your brow, this is the story for you.
In contrast, "Sturgeon Moon Jam," which came out in Fantasy Magazine, is more like a cozy blanket and a steaming cup of tea. Read this one when you need a bit of respite from things that make you sad, or when you're ready, at long last, to snuggle with your cat.
I hope the last couple of weeks of 2022 treat you incredibly well, and I hope I'll see you again in 2023.
Take care,
Jen