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Helloooo everyone

In this month’s newsletter I’ll talk about the weather, an anniversary, some pet news, and some minor writing updates, including a little sample. If you’re only interested in the writing, go ahead and scroll to the bottom: it’s right above the final pet pic.

What the Heck is This Ish

Up here in the northeast US, the weather has been very, uh, mercurial. Because of that, I’ve been very slow to do anything, including writing. When the weather is this irregular and extreme, my body decides to stop working appropriately. So all of this “swinging between freezing temps and balmy weather, sometimes within the same day” stuff has made it tough to get anything done. Particularly this past Monday, when it snowed an hour after short-sleeve temperatures. My wrists and shoulders did not appreciate the efforts to write, and even my attempt to voice-record was difficult.

I’m assuming Mother Nature decided to go bunjee jumping or something. As long as she’s having fun, I guess?

Not An Anniversary I Wanted to Have

My struggle this month might also be due to the unpleasant milestone I’m facing. In 7 days I will have been unemployed for a full year. I’m still job hunting, but my industry has been taken over by AI (which I refuse to use) and that makes it hard to find positions. Between that and the mass layoffs everywhere, the competition for any job I’m qualified for and am physically able to do is intense. At this point I can’t even get an interview for a customer service job, which certainly does a number on one’s self-esteem.

That said, it does mean I’m writing a LOT when my body will let me.

Pet Update

All of Timelord Cat’s tests came back with what we expected, which is great news. We were already aware he had some kidney disease, and despite his weight loss, the tests found that he’s still in stage 2, so it’s still under control. The big plus is that the vet found a kidney diet food that he likes, so we’re hopeful he’ll manage like this for a while. I mean, also, he’s going to be 17 this year, so we want his life to be really, really good for as long as it can be.

Kizu and Sammi’s numbers were mostly great! Sammi has some stuff that needs monitoring but it’s not a big deal.

The only bad thing is that apparently EVERYONE needs some dental work. :grimaces in dollar signs:

Writing Update

First, congratulations to all of the Nebula, Locus and Hugo nominees!! This was a stellar year for stories, and I’m impressed with everything I’ve read that made the lists. That said, I have to share how stonkingly stoked I am that “Laser Eyes Ain’t Everything” by Effie Seiberg hit both the Nebula and the Hugo award finalist lists. It’s not the usual style nominated for awards, so the fact that a snarky story about disability is receiving the love it deserves pleases me no end.

I don’t have any fun news on the submissions front, and I’ve only received 1 rejection over the past two months. But I’m now up to 53k words in 2026 on the novel, getting the whole thing up to 90k. I’ve also written 70k words overall in 2026, across everything I’ve been writing. (Including newsletters.) I’m thinking about setting a belated goal of 200k words for the year.

I’ve also started writing a new novel, which is a sequel to the one I’m writing now. I’m trying to be disciplined and stick to the first novel, I swear I am, but the new story is already tugging on me. I’ve written about 2k words on it and I just have to share the first two lines for Book 2 as of now:

There's nothing like being a prisoner in the nicest damn jail in the universe. There's a war going on out there, a war that most humans don't know about, and I'm stuck being the most useless fly on the wall as my best friend makes her plans to leave me.

That’s Dash, my trans protagonist for book 2. I’m SO EXCITED to dive into their voice and to reveal who will be their romantic counterpart.

But! FIRST I have to finish the first book! I have a contest to submit to, and hopefully, publication at the end of May!

I’m really grateful to my writing group for giving me amazing feedback on my first 7500 words and providing enthusiasm for the story as well as insight into what needs to be fixed.

Even if I don’t have a job, I have something amazing to focus on, and I’m grateful for that.

And?

And yes, here’s a puppy.

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With love and weirdness,
~Risa