The Machine Whirs To Life
……
Systems booting… booting… booting…
PING.
Comedy core status: Active
Story core: Active
Brevity core: ALERT MISSING ALERT
::sound of wrench hitting metal until—::
BUH-DING!
All systems normal.
Welcome to Good Idea Machine. We hope your stay is a pleasant one.
*
The year is 1995. Words on a page, images surrounding them. The cool no-light of Kindergarten nap time. I am reading when I should be sleeping; this will continue to be a common occurrence. In my hands, a thin, floppy teal green and white book. On the cover, a snowman and a young boy. The snowman is alive, and the boy and them have the best day together. Until the boy awakens to see the snowman has melted in the light of tomorrow’s sun. I read it back to front, dozens of times; my teacher tells my mom that I’m one of her youngest readers. I know the end, but it always hurts.
The year is 1999. I have already used the Ocarina of Time to turn back the clock, Hyrule saved. But now, we wander Termina as the moon is called down on it; in three days time, it will destroy the world. Every three days, you must turn back time. Every three days, you must begin again. A story of masks and what it takes to find yourself again, even when you succeed, there is an ache inside you and it’s there in me, too.
The year is 2006. I’ve spent many lonely hours hunting strange, magical giants across a desolate landscape. I’ve found them in caves, in ruins, in lakes and rivers and deserts. I’ve killed them. For a good reason, that’s what I tell myself every time the light goes away and my body collapses, infested with whatever darkness was being trapped by the behemoths. And here, when I thought I was the hero, I am anything but. This whole time, I’ve been used as a pawn and like any pawn, there’s only one move left and it won’t be winning. But what else can I do?
I’ve been a reader and story obsessive for my whole life. Being read to, audiobooks in the car, reading at the table, comics, mass market paperbacks, hardcovers held in one hand that have made my wrist bones akin to marble after years of strength training so I may eat and read at the same time, I’ve always been a reader. And while I entertained the notion of being a baker at the age of 10, (a whole other story though I still love baking!), from the age of 13, I knew I wanted to be a reader. A story for another time, but a unique mixture of school assignments, books, and not knowing I had ADHD led me to writing.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
So here’s a little breakdown on me, my work, and what you can expect from this newsletter:
Hi! I’m Marty. I’m a golden retriever in human form, and the wizard still won’t turn me back. In the meantime, I’ve learned the joy of opposable digits and have become a writer. I write science fiction, fantasy, horror, and plenty of stuff in between. My debut book is coming out this September from Tachyon Publications, Audition For The Fox, which has time travel, trickster gods, and one poor goofball trying to navigate one in order to prove herself to the other. I also have over 20 short stories sold and published with more on the way, have done work across a number of IPs, and have begun working professionally in the TTRPG narrative field.
I love stories and if you’re here, you probably do, too.
In the months to come, here’s what you can expect:
Updates! Life, writing, stuff coming out, cool stuff happening
What am I reading/listening to/enjoying? A lil peek into the artistic process that ISN’T just staring off blankly wondering how a certain afterlife ecosystem operates
Worldbuilding tips, tricks, and prompts! Because I like worldbuilding and it’s my newsletter, so hmph
Publishing Insight; I’ve been in this insane industry for far too long to not have learned a thing or two; take the benefit of me navigating the labyrinth and becoming friends with the minotaur, and stick around to learn some stuff
Whatever else I think of!
The idea is to mail out a newsletter usually around the first weekend of the month, and not to bother y’all too too much! This one is a freebie as it’s the first, and if you’re receiving it, thanks for BEING one of the first. Community is an invaluable resource, one not easily found, and I am grateful that you’re part of mine, and I’m part of yours.
Another newsletter to come shortly about my novella and a sale running now, but for now, thanks for being here. I promise to do my best to make it worth it <3
Reading Now: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
Watching: Andor S1 Rewatch in preparation of S2
Listening: The Hills of Tanchico from the Wheel of Time soundtrack
A small joy: The pink wildflowers surprising us by our front door. The starlings taken up residence in our lone tree. The march of daffodils by the road.