We open on an exhausted writer...
We open on Risa the exhausted writer, drooping over their keyboard...
Hey howdy hellooooo
Welcome to the end of March! I've been adoring the flowers and the rain and the new fuzzy green things piercing the air. I'm almost drunk with delight over the new colors and smells. I should also note I've been sick for the past week, plus super busy, so that might be contributing to the way I stumble up to newly-bloomed hyacinths to take a deep breath.
Part of the reason why I'm busy is because I'm planning an adventure for the upcoming eclipse. The April 8th eclipse is the last total eclipse in the lower 48 states of the US until 2044, and there's no way in hell I'm going to miss this. We had such an amazing time watching the eclipse in 2017, and the photo at the top of this newsletter is one I took then. And yes that blue dot on the upper left is not a lens flaw - it's in every photo I took of totality. That level of detail is part of the reason I'm not missing the opportunity to take more.
Okay, Makes Sense. Any News?
Yes, some fun news!
First, I was on the Shining Moon podcast with Deborah L. Davitt and Samantha Mills, talking about creating fantasy religions for our stories. It was a really amazing conversation and I am honored to have been invited to this discussion.
Second, I think I neglected to mention that the anthology 99 Fleeting Fantasies is now out in ebook! My story Delicate Situations is in there alongside brilliant brief works by Cat Rambo, Wole Talabi, Premee Mohamed, and more. It's a gorgeous gathering of stories.
Finally, I'm doing my first in person event! I'll be at the Spring Writes 2024 Literary Festival in Ithaca, NY, US, on May 4th. I'll be at the Speculative Works Reading and Live Art Show alongside D.A. Xiaolin Spires, Leora Spitzer, and Debbie Urbanski. If you're around the area, keep an eye out!
What Else Is Going On?
Well, if you haven't read it, I really recommend the short story You Cannot Grow In Salted Earth, by Priya Chand. It's less than 1500 words but is a real jaw-dropper of a story.
Sounds Good. Puppy?
Absolutely. Here's the tiniest blop ever.
With love and weirdness,
~Risa