Newsletter Archive

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June 2026: Full Moon June.  Published: When Midsummer Hearts Burn Bright. 
Upcoming: July 16 QuickReads.  Writing Life: Sky God's Warrior revision.  Death-Cleaning Cheat Sheet.
Behind the Myth: Four Queens of Aeëtes
Reviews: Quit,  The Secrets of Story,  Amplitudes
​

May 2026: Merry May. In the Works: "A Sorcerer Is Born."  Writing Life: Sustainable writing practice.  
Writing Tips: Engaging Character Voice
Reviews: The Song of Achilles, The Correspondent, What a Fish Knows
Poem: "The Grainman is Alive"

April 2026: April Showers.  Published (reprint): "Inanna Eclipsed."  In the Works: "The Marsh Queen's Bargain" accepted for publication. 
Behind the Myth: Divine Darkness
​Reviews: The Afterlife of Malcolm X,  The Genius of Birds,  So Many Beginnings,  The Everlasting

March 2026. March Along.  Author Spotlight (Monica Frederick).  In the Works (A Sorcerer is Born).  Writing Life: Gunsmoke & Writing Sex Scenes.
Writing Tips: Character Killers
​Reviews: The Heroine with 1,001 Faces,  Arabella of Mars,  Ithaca,  The Lost Books of the Odyssey

February 2026.  Fractal February.  Creative Journey (four-act structure).  Writing Life (Sky God's Warrior).
Behind the Myth: 15 Healing Deities & Practices
Reviews: The Secrets of Character,  Slither,  Some Desperate Glory,  Waypoint Kangaroo​

January 2026.  January Joy.  Writing Life (Sky God's Warrior); In the Works: Tic-Tac-Toe poems. 
Author Spotlight: Katherine Quervedo
Story Sparks: Gender and Sexual Diversity
Reviews:  Lord of the Butterflies, Evolution's Rainbow, The Widow's House, The Spider's War 

ecember 2025. December Rules Yule.  Published: "Yule Minutes of the United Council of Witches Precent 217."   Writing Life (Sky God's Warrior).  Creative Journey (popular blogs). 
Behind the Myth: The Wild Hunt
​Reviews: If You Want to Write,  Blade of Dream, The King's Blood, The Tyrant's Dream
​2025 in Review: Publications,  Newsletter Poetry, Blog Highlights, Top 10 Favorite Books​

November 2025. November Nudge.  Writing Life. Creative Journey.
Writing Tips: Playing with Palindromes
Reviews: The Salmon Cannon and the Levitating Frog, Tiny Experiments, Hemlock & Silver, Little Thieves, Most Ardently

October 2025. October Outlaws. ​Creative Journey. Writing Life (Free Expressions, Odyssey salon). 
Behind the Myth: Top 20 Cat Gods & Myths.  Story Sparks: Animal Emotions; Leaf Sheep
Reviews: You Better Be Lightning, Priory of the Orange Tree, Ancillary Justice, Stillness is the Key
Poems: "All Hallows" and "On Hallows Eve . . ."

September 2025. Sere September.  Writing Life (Apex class on polishing prose).  Creative Journey.
​Behind the Myth: Land magic
Reviews:  Song of the Huntress,  Spear,  One-in-a-Million Boy,  The Silk Roads
Poem: "The Gift"

August 2025: Lost in August.  Creative Journey (vulnerability). In the Works (upcoming projects). Writing Life (classes: Crafting Characters Reader Care About; Elevate Your Story Using the Art of Pacing).
Writing Tips: Research Rabbit Hole
Reviews: The Unspoken Name,  The Thousand Eyes, The Dragon's Path, Dispatches from Anarres, Life Admin

July 2025: Flying High in July.  Published: "Captain Palaio's Twilight Flight."  Writing Life: Sarcoidosis.  Behind the Myth: Water Gods.  Writing Tips: Drafting Daring Dialogue
Reviews: The Golden Thread; Paladin's Grace; Swordheart; Babylonia
Poems: "Firefly Palindrome," "Lament"

June 2025: Midsummer Musings. Published: "Battle for the Poet's Seat"
Writing Life (Athans on writing in ecstasy).  Story Sparks: Space Sickness
Reviews: Disfigured; Someone You Can Build a Nest In; Greenteeth; Dialogue; The Way of the Wizard
Poem: "Midsummer Eve"

May 2025: May Daze.  Writing Life (WisCon 2025).  In the Works (Website indexes).  Creative Journey (low energy illness blues).
Behind the Myth: Sky Goddesses. 
Reviews: Kissing the Witch, The Starlit Wood,  The Tainted Cup,  Behind the Throne,  Art & Science of Connection

April 2025: April Imaginings.  Writing Life (1764 contest). In the Works (short stories). Creative Journey (Kansas City & Jane Friedman). 
Behind the Myth: Imagining Ancient Funerals.  Writing Tips: Crafting Subtext. 
​Reviews: Sistersong, The River Has Roots, Thorn.  Subscriber Link

March 2025: Spring Forth!  Creative Journey (classes). In the Works (Sky God's Warrior).  
Behind the Myth: Spring Maiden.
Story Sparks: Creatures of the Night. 
​Reviews: Being Seen,  The Tainted Cup, Remnant Population.   ​For sharing: Subscriber Link.

February 2025: February Fever.  Writing Life.  Creative Journey (Sea God's Lover).  Poetry Package. 
​In the Works. 
Writing Tips: Scene Architecture. 
Reviews: ​City of Stairs, City of Blades, City of Miracles. 

January 2025: Winter Song. Published: "Singularity Storm." Creative Journey (Sea God's Lover).  Writing Life.  Behind the Myth: The Green Man. 
Reviews: The Hidden Life of Trees, The Word for World is Forest, Be More Tree. 
​Poem: "Winter Song" 

December 2024: December to Remember.  Published: "Fortune and Luck in Ancient Assyria."  In the Works (submissions on Duotrope).  Story Sparks: Being a Bird.  Creative Journey (update on Sky God's Warrior).  Reviews: Demon Copperhead, The Witch's Heart, Best New Romantic Fantasy, Mythic Journeys. Writing Life 2024: Publications, Events, Classes, Blog Highlights.

November 2024: November Render. In the Works (submissions).   Creative Journey and Writing Life (Sky God's Warrior updates).
Behind the Myth: Tricksters
​Reviews: Disability Visibility, I Love You but I Hate Your Politics, Say the Right Thing, I am Ashurbanipal. 

October 2024: October Ogre. Author Spotlight: Karen Altergott Roberts.  In the Works (short stories), Creative Journey (Sky God's Warrior), Writing Life (Archon 47).  
Behind the Myth: Victory (goddess).  Writing Tips: Embracing Fear
Reviews: Klara and the Sun; Fearless Writing; The Horse, the Wheel, and Language; The Courage to Write

September 2024: September Embers. Reprints from Where Rivers Meet: "I Love the Ballpark." "Summer Amusement," and "Arch Magic."  Update on Sky God's Warrior. 
Story Sparks: Human Hunters & Alien Brains.  ​Behind the Myth: Women Leaders. 
Reviews: The Spear Cuts Through Water; A Sorceress Comes to Call; An Immense World; What makes a Hero? 

August 2024: August Harvest.  In the Works (excerpt from Sky God's Warrior: Harvestfest). Creative Journey (art shapes our world).  Writing Life (reimagining Beowulf).
Behind the Myth: Justice.  Story Sparks: Serving Plants.  
​Reviews: The Light Eaters, Disability Intimacy. 

July 2024: July Lullaby. Creative Journey & perfectionism.  Website updates.  Updates on Sky God's Warrior. ​
​Writing Tips: Creating Microtension. 
Reviews: Stories are Weapons,  Assyria,  Empire of Horses,  The Fire in Fiction. 

June 2024: June Jingle.  Author Spotlight: Annie Reed.  Updates on Sky God's Warrior: 2/3 mark!
​Behind the Myth: Fire Goddess Tabiti.  Story Sparks: Whacky Weeds. 
​Reviews: The Imposter Heiress, Dead Country, Three Weeks with My Brother, Art & Fear.  ​
Poem: "Garden Seasons"

May 2024: May Missive.  Updates on Sky God's Warrior. 
​Story Sparks: Rewarding Gluttony: Cicadas. 
Reviews: Pandora's Jar,  Age of Ash, The Magician's Daughter,  Supercommunicators. 
​Poem: "Garden Fairy"

April 2024: April Alignment.  Updates on Sky God's Warrior.  Aphrodite.  
Reviews: A Covenant of Water, The Jasmine Throne, What Moves the Dead, The Scythians.  
Poem: "Solar Eclipse"

March 2024: March Merriment. Published: "Inanna Eclipsed."  Creative Journey (Sky God's Warrior),  In the Works (Captain Palaio's Twilight Flight and Into the Depths), Writing Life (high praise), Nerd out on Dune 2.
Story Sparks: Universes within Us.    
Reviews: A Closed and Common Orbit,  The Mammoth Book of SF Stories by Women,  Spellcast,  Heartwood.  

February 2024: February Brouhaha.  Publishing updates.  Updates on Sky God's Warrior.  
​Behind the Myth: Fire Goddess Brigid. 
Reviews: Pump Six; Asian Pulp; Beginning, Middles, & Ends; 1,000 Words.

January 2024: January Jazz. Updates on Sky God's Warrior.  
Writing Tips: Writing with Authority.  
Reviews: How to keep house while drowning; Memories of Ice; Just Write. 

December 2023: Writing Life 2023. Publications, Awards, Events, Classes. Update on ​Sky God's Warrior.
Behind the Myth: Warrior Goddesses
Reviews: Queens of Innis Lear; Thornhedge; The Forest Unseen; Underworld. 
​

November 2023: November Noodles. 
Story Sparks: Space Trash. ​Sky God's Warrior update.   Bonus material: Dynamic Setting ("Cheese Curls");
Reviews: Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet; The Future Second by Second; Characters, Emotion, & Viewpoint; Plot & Structure.
Poem: ​"Autumn Song​"

October 2023: October Odysseys. 
​Behind the Myth: Genderqueer Gods.
Writing Tips: Multiple Storylines 
Reviews:​ Tracker 220; Annihilation.  

September 2023: September Sombreros.
Writing Tips: Building Inclusive Worlds.
Reviews: How to be an Antiracist; Pretty, Pretty Boys; Write Away; Character. 

August 2023: August Aurochs. Updates on Sky God's Warrior and Sea God's Lover.  
Story Sparks: Nomads.   Social Media Update: Goodbye to "X"
Reviews: The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fischer; Story.  

July 2023: July Jewels. Published: book review: Pagan Portals - Lugh. Writing Life: Fear and resilience. 
Behind the Myth: Animism
Writing Tips: Ideal Readers      
Story Sparks: Extremophiles
Reviews: Not a Princess; Writing for Emotional Impact; Rogue Protocol; Exit Strategy.  

June 2023: June Toons.  Published: ​"Dragon Moon." 
Behind the Myth: Dragon Moon Origins.  
Story Sparks: Race+Class=Death. 
​Reviews: Pledging Season; A Paradise Built in Hell; All Systems Red; Artificial Condition.  Update on Sea God's Lover.

May 2023:  May Magic.  Published: "Forest Magic."  
Writing Tips: Crafting Emotional Resonance
Writing Tips: What we write creates our world . . .
Reviews: The Bruising of Qilqa; Scourge of the Seas.  

April 2023: April Foolishness.  Writing seminar highlights.
​Behind the Myth: Grendel's Mother.
Reviews: Girl, Serpent, Thorn;  Water Logic; Writing Down the Bones; How to Write Killer Fiction. 

March 2023:  March Mayhem. Rhysling Nomination for "Home from the Wizard Wars."
Story Sparks: Children of Ash and Elm.  
Reviews: Earth Logic; Techniques of the Selling Writer. 
Poems: ​"Waiting Room," "S-O-S,"  "Labyrinth"

February 2023: February Fun. Annie Reed's Catch Her if You Can.  
Story Sparks: Parthenogenesis.
Behind the Myth: Sibling Rivalry
Reviews: Fire Logic; A Conspiracy of Truths & A Choir of Lies; The Emotional Craft of Fiction.  
Poem: "Daffodil Fingers "

January 2023: A Writing Odyssey. Writing Life (new kittens and Odyssey classes).  In the Works (Parks Stewardship Forum essay). 
Writing Tips: Short Story Writing.
Reviews: A Taste of Gold and Iron; You've Got a Book in You.  

December 2022: Where Rivers Meet.  Published in Where Rivers Meet: ​"I Love the Ballpark," "Summer Amusement," "Arch Magic."
Writing Tips: Of M.I.C.E and Ken: Conflict in SFF and Power of Practice. 
Reviews: The Witch King; The Paper Menagerie; The Book of Gothel; Refuse to be Done. ​

November 2022: 1 Million & Counting.  Creative Journey: Word count 1 million plus. 
​Behind the Myth:  Tiamat versus Marduk and Rumplestiltskin.  
Reviews: Black Pulp; A Snake Falls to Earth; Zen in the Art of Writing; Writing the Other.  
​Poem:​ "Dear Daddy-O"

October 2022: Wizard Wars.  Published: "Home from the Wizard Wars." 
Story Sparks: Gender and Sexuality in SFF. 
Behind the Myth: Lion-Dragon of Mesopotamia.  
​Reviews: The Bone Marrow Thieves; Nettle & Bone; The Art of Character; The Witches are Coming.

September 2022: September Celebrations!  "Home from the Wizard Wars" accepted for publication.  Writing Life (ChiCon 8, Archon 45, online classes).
Reviews: If Nietzche were a Narwhal; Every Father's Daughter; The Best of World SF. 

August 2022: August Favorites.  Behind the Myth: Sirens as Woman Empowered. 
Writing Tips: Resources for "Arch Magic" 
​Reviews: The Forest for the Trees; Sounds Wild and Broken; Even Greater Mistakes; Mexican Gothic; The Broken Heart of America.  Poem: ​"I Love the Ballpark" 

July 2022: Sunsets.  National Sunset Week: Joy's sunset picture.   Flash Story: "Sirens."
Poem: "Independence Day 2022"  
Reviews: Cultish; Light from Uncommon Stars. 

June 2022: Inside Forest Heart.  Published: "Forest Heart" and book review, The Four Profound Weaves.
Behind the Myth: #Me Too Medusa
Story Sparks: Cockroach Sex
Reviews: Shit Cassandra Saw; Wordslut; The War of Art; Fevered Star; The Four Profound Weaves.