Fantasy and Science Fiction Author
Yesterday, the ebook version of issue seven of Lontar: The Journal of Southeast Asian Speculative Fiction was finally released! I'm thrilled to announce that: I have a story there. It's my week 2 Clarion piece, "Ink: A Love Story", about two writers who write their perfect lovers into existence. I'm sharing the TOC with Clarion classmate Manish… Continue reading Publication Day: ‘Ink: A Love Story’
I. I read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire the year I turned 11. Like so many other Harry Potter fans, I was hoping against hope that Hogwarts was real and that I'd get a letter inviting me to attend (of course, no such thing happened). But then, I read a phrase that I didn't… Continue reading Why I’ll Never Be a Witch in Harry Potter’s World: Language, Politics, and the Elitism of a Magical Education
If you read only one novel this year, make it Rachel Hartman's debut novel Seraphina. I was first attracted by the gorgeous cover of the 2014 reprint edition, and then by this interesting article on inventing gender systems by Hartman herself. When I finally dove into Seraphina, the first book in the duology, it was thankfully much, much more… Continue reading Book Review: ‘Seraphina’ by Rachel Hartman
WARNING: SPOILERS AHOY. I bought this book for four reasons: Finding this book (and its unusually bright cover) in the usually snooty Literature section of the bookstore, The blurb from the amazing Kelly Link at the back, Finding out that the author's day job is that of a journalist, And the summary stating that this would… Continue reading Book Review: ‘The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic’ by Emily Croy Barker
Things have been pretty quiet around here. Bear with me while I adjust to some life changes, including a new job and a rowdy litter of puppies. But I've also been writing a novella at the same time. It's kept me sane since January, for which I am grateful considering some of the really shitty… Continue reading Where Ghost Words Dwell: In which I share a discarded scrap from my novella
Yay for the first post of the New Year! "To Megan, with Half My Heart," my short story about Philippine folklore, first love, and motherhood, is now live at Expanded Horizons! I wrote drafts of "Megan" as early as 2009, but I wasn't ready to write the story yet. Apparently, I was ready enough to… Continue reading I’ve sold a story!
Before the actual post starts, let's be clear here: Week Four Syndrome is a thing. But one will never be prepared for it no matter how many Clarion blogs one reads. I know I certainly wasn't. In general, it's usually the week when all the physical, mental, emotional, and psychological exhaustion comes to a head in… Continue reading Clarion 2014, week 4: In which everything breaks down and is eased back together
Readers can dive into a short story collection at any point in the book--unlike with novels, which are usually read from cover to cover. Not so with Angela Slatter's Sourdough and Other Stories. You could read the 16 gems in this book in any order, but to get the full effect of her nesting doll-like structure,… Continue reading Book Review: ‘Sourdough and Other Stories’ by Angela Slatter
Okay, so the title says everything. Things have been quiet around here lately, mainly because of my day job and some troubles I've been having with it. But on the plus side, my writing life is as vibrant as ever. 🙂 Out within a handful of days of each other, two anthologies where my stories… Continue reading In which I’ve sold two stories!
Doesn't that wonderful title just give you a sense of quiet devastation? But I'll get back to that in a bit. When reading an author's work for the first time, I usually prefer getting my hands on a short story collection of theirs, if they have any. That way, I'll have the option of looking… Continue reading Book Review: ‘How the World Became Quiet’ by Rachel Swirsky
