One year from the release of The Faithless, one year out from The Sovereign...
Howdy, everyone. I hope you’re hanging in there. Unfortunately, things haven’t changed greatly for the world since my last newsletter. Despite the great galvanizing of people across the world against the Palestinian genocide, most governmental leaders have dug in their heels, or worse waved their bloody hands in the air as if they were helpless.
It’s hard not to feel helpless ourselves when that’s the response. That doesn’t mean we stop, though. The protests, the speaking out, all of it has made an immeasurable difference in the pressures our governments face, and in the social acceptability of being a Zionist. It seems like a small petty thing, but that’s a huge change from only a couple of years ago. I know we can do more.
It’s odd to juxtaposition the news of my own life, of my career writing little lesbians with swords alongside this real and brutal news, so much so that my updates have been sporadic. Mourning periods should be observed. The juxtaposition will never be easy. It should be uncomfortable. And yet, we privileged ones are alive and that is something to embrace and also to think carefully about. Ilya Kaminsky said it best in his poem, “We Lived Happily During the War.” Even if we are not happy, even though we do not “move on,” we are living. We must live.
Forgive us. Forgive me.
The Sovereign
The Sovereign is currently scheduled to release in about a year (current estimates say April 1 or April 3 2025). I have seen a cover sketch for it, and if you lost your mind on the reveal for The Faithless, it will completely vacate the premises when you see The Sovereign.
April 2025 is…well, that’s a long way away, and I’m too eager to share this next book with you to wait until then, so I cooked up a little thing with the help of well_dipper: an illustrated broadside of chapter one: “Glass”.
If this broadside means you can’t wait until April 2025, you can pre-order here (UK) or anywhere you normally order your books. US shops don’t seem to have it up yet, but you can always ask at your local indie. Otherwise, just hold tight.
Trust me, I’m just as excited as you are.
We Mow Lawns - Another [NSFW] AU
Yes, another. This one is of a decidedly NSFW nature, so beware. For £1, you can read about a post-grad who needs some cash and homeowner with a very condescending mouth.
You can find it on my blog, along with any others I make in the future. (I already have some ideas.)
Upcoming Projects
Fate’s Bane, my Juliet/Juliet novella about two young artificers who spin the fates of their clans in their hands, continues apace. It’s mostly done, but I really want to nail the ending. It is also projected to come out next year. You can add it on goodreads if you like. The cover sketch is amazing. I feel very lucky with the cover lottery.
I’ve also finished a draft of a secret project that I can’t talk about, but I will tell you that it’s cool as hell.
Subscribe for free to receive new posts when I can tell you about my secret projects.
Appearances
- I was just on Page Chewing with P. L. Stuart, author of The Drowned Kingdom series and Taylor from Maed Between the Pages, and we talked for about an hour and a half about everything from the books to the Hugos
- Mar 16-17: I’ll be at Worldbuilding Con along with many other cool folks. It’s free and open to GMs, writers, everyone!
- I got to pick out a short story from my editing days at PodCastle to celebrate PodCastle’s 10-Year Anniversary last year, and did a little interview with Matt Dovey. It was good to be back, and better to share and talk about a story I loved so much that I also chose to narrate it. Check out No Mercy to the Rest by Bennett North.
What I’m Reading
- Reasons Not to Worry by Brigid Delaney - pop philosophy book about stoicism in a relatable package (i.e. not the dudebro alphamale packages that usually promote stoicism). I found a lot to value in this, especially in an industry (and a world moment) where so little is in my direct control. Contrary to giving you a pass because we can control nothing, it makes me pay more attention to what I can devote myself to.
- The Bladed Faith by David Dalglish - just finished this the other day and it was so much fun. Exactly what I needed—a revenge story featuring an ax lesbian mentor who gets the hero into sandbag training.
- I also have loads of ARCs to read, but I am woefully behind on them. Things I’m looking forward to: The Daughter’s War by Christopher Buehlman (The Blacktongue Thief audiobook is one of my favorites), The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron (gay! pirates! maybe true myths!), and The Crimson Crown by Heather Walter (gay! snow white from the villain queen’s POV!). Actually, all of them are some kind of sapphic. Surprise, surprise.
I’m sure this update has gone on far too long, but that’s the glory of hearing from me so seldomly. Until next time.
Stay sharp, my friends, and keeping doing everything you can to move against the destruction of the Palestinian people and the theft of their land.
Cherae
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