Kurella de Village: Septembering!
Hello friends!
I am fresh back from an Amtrak trip across almost the entire United States and holy wow is that a better way to travel than flying! Took the Amtrak from Cleveland to Chicago (short trip), and then from Chicago to Seattle. Why? Why not! But also to go to Worldcon in Seattle where they give out the Hugo Awards.
No, I had nothing nominated for a Hugo, but there’s plenty to do at Worldcon for someone like me. So many friends! Dance parties! People to talk to! More parties! So much good food in Seattle! The best cortado of my life! The worst cortado of my life! At the same place!
At Worldcon, I read from THE DEATH OF MOUNTAINS, and hung out with so many cool people. It was probably the best four or five days (what is time) of my life in recent years. Such a fantastic time. Also difficult, but also great. Stella was not with me; this was the first trip I took without her since she started working with me in 2016.
Stella has retired from being a Service Dog, and is now a pet dog in full pet-me dog mode. She remained back home with my roommate and got star treatment.
Hence why I took the train out there, as I could, not having a dog with me. The train trip was gorgeous and restful and wonderful. I met a geologist who gets off the train to go find cool rocks! Met a woman who works with the blind to help them navigate the world. Met people also going to and from Worldcon. Met a letter carrier who was reading a Premee Mohammed book!
Train=fantastic. Love trains now.
Here are some photos from the train:
Anyway, August was very busy and full of travel. But September is looking to be very busy and full of appearances. The writing-train never stops.
Speaking of the Hugos, my story about the guy who coughs up an entire skeleton and ends up dating it ended up on the Hugo Longlist? Apparently this is a thing I can talk about like it’s a big deal. I don’t know these things. The story is called “Evan: A Remainder,” and it was already nominated for a Nebula Award (lost), and the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award (results pending).
In September, which is this month (HOW!?!?!?), I have a bunch of things going on:
- On 9/14 (September 14th): Will be hand-selling books at a book-fair at Land Grant in Columbus, Ohio. This is my only in-person event this month, and I will be there as one of the featured authors! The
- On 9/21 (September 21st): Will be talking with Weeknight Writers online about how I continue to stay motivated as a queer and trans author in a world that would silence me. This is a great honor to be chosen to do this and I am thrilled!
- On 9/24 (September 24th): Will be reading from THE DEATH OF MOUNTAINS as a featured author at Two Hour Transport. This is a virtual reading online and anyone can attend.
- On 9/27 and 9/28 (September 27th and 28th): Will be at Flights of Foundry online doing a reading (27th) and a Chill-N-Chat (28th). The lottery to sign up (if you’re registered) is still good to go and is here.
SO BUSY! SO SEPTEMBER!
I am getting tired and excited just thinking of all the things, also trying to squeeze a visit to the Ohio Ren Faire in there, but we’ll see if I can do that.
What are you doing that’s fun this month?
Stay safe and keep on keeping on!
- Jordan