september updates: many panels, lots of flailing
Hello! Welcome to V.M. Ayala's definitely on-time newsletter updates—hi yes, it Val, it me. It is, in fact, September 30 and not Oct 1 like the last newsletter. Please celebrate my proper use of calendar reminders!
Contributor Copy Flaily Time
I got my Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2024 contributor copy a bit early. It comes out October 22, but you can pre-order it here.
Flights of Foundry Wrap-Up
Flights of Foundry is a speculative writer focused, fully virtual convention put on by the lovely Dream Foundry folks. I jumped way in over my head and signed up for seven panels (well, technically 5 panels and 2 group discussions).
- New Queer Cyberpunk: featuring Ann LeBlanc, dave ring, Marianna Miller, and myself!
This was the first panel and the first writing focused panel I’ve ever been on (as well as the first panel I’ve ever done in a convention setting). I feel like we barely scratched the surface of conversation about queer cyberpunk, and it was such a great talk.
- Our Attraction to Monsters: No, Not Like That: featuring Mia Tsai, Helen Gould, Coral Alejandra Moore, and myself!
There was also a “Yes, Like That” panel which was hilarious and great. But this one was more academic and focused on broader concepts of the monstrous: what we are drawn to in monsters, who is considered a monster and why, and so much more. Again, felt like we barely scratched the surface and I would love to talk more—especially since at the end Mia asked if maybe we’re just colonizing the concept of monsters in Western fiction now, and I can’t stop thinking about it.
- Streaming & Video tips: featuring Daniel Dickinson, Ellana Thornton-Wheybrew, CaitieSith, and myself.
This one was more familiar territory, and it was oddly comforting to realize that I know what I’m doing a bit when it comes to streaming!
- So You Want to Do an Actual Play: featuring Michael R. Underwood, Ash Vale, and myself.
I felt massive imposter syndrome about this panel, especially since both Ash and Michael are awesome GM/DMs. It was nice to talk TTRPGs and what to keep in mind when you want to do actual play—at this point, I might have started playing in APs this year, but I realized I’ve done over 15! Talk about diving into the deep end (totally not a thing I’m famous for doing, as an ADHD gremlin).
- Group discussions: Cozy games & Disability Creators Chat
These were both really rewarding discussions, and it was nice to be in community.
All in all, if you are interesting in the speculative writing space, I definitely recommend Flight of Foundry as a convention. When the VODs are up (for the ones where everyone agreed to video release, at least), I will link them for folks that couldn’t make the panels!
College Continues, and It’s Getting Tougher (But I’m Managing!)
I mentioned in my last Mini-Space that it's the most Val thing to jump into 5 classes after not going to college for a decade, and it's still true. For context, 5 classes is 15 credits or about 38-45 hours of work a week. I'm absolutely sleepy. While I might have to a 5-class semester one might time to graduate in 2 years, it thankfully won't be next semester. Just have to get through the next 10 or so weeks! I can do this 😤
This Week's Story Recs Aren't So Short
- Countess by Suzan Palumbo
Listen, I love a Count of Monte Cristo retelling. I extra love a sapphic version, set in space, that yells about colonizers and the realities of having to exist in those spaces (as well as try to dismantle them).
- Embodied Exegesis edited by Ann LeBlanc
We mentioned this anthology a lot on the cyberpunk panel, and I really loved a lot of the stories in it. The opening that explains the inspiration source behind the anthology is also great.
Other Places to Find Updates From Me
I have my Mini-Spaces (which are public and free) on Patreon, and also intend on starting up more frequent blog posts on my website that are just life updates or thoughts (for example, I want to ponder what monsters mean to me after that panel now).
Upcoming Work
- "On Lunar Magic and Gryphons: Sofia’s Edition" will be in Flame Tree's Moon Falling anthology in November.
And that's it! It was a busy month.
One final note: Buttondown has been buggy and glitchy, and I might switch to Beehiiv. So don't be surprised if the next update is in a different place!
Wait, okay, just kidding a final final note: Don't be surprised if October's newsletter is released on November 2 or 3 because Dragon Age: The Veilguard comes out on Halloween, and I make no promises I'll be capable of doing anything but hyperfixate on that for a few days.