April Happened, and Now It Seems To Be May 2021
smol news edition
I continue to work on book two, FURIOUS HEAVEN. It is my entire life which is the main reason there was no April newsletter.
However, I have bits and pieces of news for you lovely people, so let’s get to it. No time to waste!
On the personal front, I have received both Pfizer jabs. Even better, by the end of May everyone in my immediate extended family will be vaccinated, so I am starting to think about being able to see people again. Here in Hawaii, outdoor sports are now unofficially allowed and my outrigger canoe club is practicing twice a week (whoo!) although the racing season has again been canceled, just as it was last year. This is disappointing but frankly given how bad things are in other places suffering from horrific outbreaks and/or which lack access to vaccines (for a multitude of reasons), I cannot complain. I’m just grateful to be back out on the ocean with my crew.
My forthcoming tordotcom fantasy novella formerly titled LAMPLIGHTER has a new title: SERVANT MAGE. Publication date is 18 January 2022. You heard it here first!
I have been given permission to drop a sneak peak on the newsletter of the (excellent) cover 12 hours before it goes live, so keep an eye open for that. I don’t have a date for the reveal yet. It could be next week or three months from now. WHO KNOWS?
UK/Commonwealth readers: UNCONQUERABLE SUN is on sale on Kindle for the month of May. If you already have it, tell your friends and enemies this is their chance. Or tell them regardless. It is a shockingly good deal that can’t be beat (except, I suppose, by the unconquerable Sun). (Sorry, bad jokes).
On Monday May 3 at 7:00 pm Central Time (USA) I will have the great pleasure and honor of being in conversation with the fabulous Martha Wells, author of many of my favorite books as well as one of my all time top 5 favorite sff ships. Hosted by Murder by the Book, Houston TX.
If you hang out at Reddit r/fantasy (a well moderated place, and I mean that seriously), I will be doing an Ask Me Anything on Tuesday May 4, with a particular focus on the Crown of Stars fantasy series. r/fantasy just finished a read along of the entire 7 volume sequence. They probably know it better than I do at this point. No link because you either know how to get there or have no intention of ever going there. :)
Over at The Book Smugglers, Thea James has announced her forthcoming fantastic and marvelous fantasy cookbook, COOKING FOR WIZARDS, WARRIORS, AND DRAGONS: 125 Spell-Binding Recipes Inspired by Diverse Fantasy Worlds, from The Witcher to The Broken Earth
It’s a wonderful cookbook filled with intriguing recipes, and is copiously stuffed with Thea’s commentary about books and food she loves. It includes lovely illustrations by Tim Foley. I’m involved tangentially and specifically. There are recipes from the Spiritwalker books included. Also, Thea asked me to write the Foreward, and I was honored to do so. Pre-orders available for the hardcover now; ebook pre-orders to come.
I’m excited to announce that a Spiritwalker-universe short story “When I Grow Up” will appear in Don’t Touch That: An Anthology of Parenthood in SFF as a late addition to the stellar line up.
My Narrative Worlds vid-cast craft-of-world building series continues. You can find the recordings on the SFWA You Tube channel. The March ‘cast with Rebecca Roanhorse on archaeoastronomy and cosmology is up, and the April ’cast with Nilah Magruder on using detail to create setting and background should be up soon. I’ll be talking to Malinda Lo on May 16 about using research to build worlds.
Over on my Patreon I posted a very long public post (not locked) titled: A Deep Dive Into My Thoughts On Exercise, Moving More Without Exercise, and Finding A Physical Activity You Will Stick With to Make Yourself Feel Right
In May on Patreon, I plan/hope to post two craft posts on how to deal with a large cast of characters in a big book/series. As mentioned above, I am ALSO focused on finishing FURIOUS HEAVEN. So we shall see if I can manage both. Wish me luck.
UNCONQUERABLE SUN is a 2021 Locus Awards finalist in the Best SF Novel category in an excellent field of sf novels. A lot of other fine work in other categories too, including by dear friends who I’m delighted to see mentioned. Check out the finalists here.
As I said in late March, I will be moving this newsletter off Substack but not until I have finished FURIOUS HEAVEN because sorting out the move will take time that I don’t have right now.
Napping Finn. The flopped up ear is the perfect touch. He does need a bath though.
As always, I could not do this without you.
Thank you.
Kate Elliott