As an 1840s-era steampunk novel, it is more Jules Verne (or Gail Carriger)

A Newsletter from Joanne Merriam

Enormous news! Inanna Publications, a small-but-mighty feminist press based in Toronto, has accepted my Austenesque novel Aether and Ego for publication in autumn of 2026. I am, of course, absolutely over the moon.

Just published: Some poems. Jesus Murphy, who cares, I have a book coming out! Ahahahahahahahaha. OK, I’m better now, here we go: The Orchards Poetry Journal reprinted “Sealed in Nectar,” which was in my poetry collection 20 years ago. You can read it here: PDF. It also won 2nd place in their Grantchester Award. A few haiku: “her snoring”, “plovers,” and “skyward asphalt.” I’ll also be the featured poet in the August print edition of Scifaikuest, which I am pretty psyched about.

Currently reading: I’m on a Natasha Pulley run at the moment, rereading The Mars House after having read her new The Hymn to Dionysus. Also read this month: Kate Heartfield’s The Embroidered Book and The Tapestry of Time and Jasper Fforde’s Shades of Grey (all very much recommended).

Currently writing: Answers to Inanna’s author questionnaire, which is really a remarkable document listing items they need for promotion, and which I’m nearly done. Also still poking at The Ministry of Fae, same as last month, the ending of which is still driving me bonkers.

_{^{Title is from my submission to Inanna. Pride and Prejudice title page photo by Elaine Howlin on Unsplash.}}

Thanks for being here with me, friend!