Happy Monday, Aledan Merfolk! It’s been a while since I’ve posted, mostly because my website keeps crashing and I don’t want to deal with it this year. But, if you haven’t been here in a while, take a look around (assuming the website doesn’t crash). I’ve changed a few things, and added a Books page where you can find the Goodreads link to Speak The Ocean (still waiting on a publishing date, although it looks like it’ll probably be sometime in July next year?) and buy links for Putting The Science In Fiction!
Last time I updated you, I told you about all the exciting things that were going to happen this fall, and guess what? They’ve all happened! And I have more exciting things on the way! Ok, one exciting thing on the way. Assuming the editors at the City Paper accept it, my short story set in StO’s world will be appearing in the Literary Edition on December 26th! I’ll try to remember to post on the blog to remind you, but I guarantee I’ll post to remind you on Twitter and Facebook, so maybe add me on one of those platforms so you don’t miss it 🙂
So, a recap of all the exciting things that happened this fall:
The Write On! Literacy Festival was in August, and the little of it that I remember was a blast! My cat almost died two nights before from a blocked urethra, and we had to put him in the dog kennel for four nights because he’s an outdoor stray that didn’t know how to use a litter box. So when he had to go (which was approximately every half hour), he’d cry, and we’d have to get up and physically put him in the litter box, and make sure there was urine coming out and it wasn’t full of blood. So I had zero sleep for two nights before my panel @.@ The moderator was great, though, and we had some excellent audience questions, and then Hubs and I went out for BBQ to celebrate both my first ever author panel and the fact that our cat was alive and not pissing blood! Yay!
Next up was PitchWars! I received 191 submissions and went through every single one myself. I found some amazing books, but I kept coming back to the absolute weirdest one that combined mythology and technology. I ended up choosing Dan Rowinski’s book, MUSE AI, and he sent me edits back two weeks early! You can check out a mini-interview with us here.
My own edits came in at the same time that the submission window for PitchWars opened, so I was a busy Becka for a few weeks there! I basically went to work, came home, read submissions or edited, ate dinner with hubs, read submissions or edited again, and went to bed. I finished my StO edits the day before my birthday to make sure I didn’t have that hanging over my head for the weekend 🙂 And then I dressed up fancy and ate a shellfish tower!
And then came November. The busiest month of the year. Not only was I working on a book for NaNo, but I volunteered at the Charleston to Charleston Literary Festival, where I met Madeline Miller and had her sign my copy of CIRCE. The next day was YAllFest, and although I arrived late due to a bout of food poisoning, I was able to see some friends, make some new friends, grab a copy of INTERNMENT by Samira Ahmed, and buy the absolute best book in the world: CRAP TAXIDERMY. I’m serious, friends, go get a copy of this marvelous book and laugh until you cry.
YallHaul! 
Awww Hubs <3
And finally, the last day of the month was spent at my first SFF con: Atomacon! It was the perfect first SFF con experience: not too big to be completely overwhelming, but still a ton of fun! I met a lot of other authors and soaked up advice, and doled some out, and had some really excellent conversations on craft. I plan to be back next year, and if you want to join us, check out Atomacon and get your early bird tickets now! Myke Cole and Faith Hunter are the guests of honor next year 🙂
I also dyed my hair magenta for my mermaid Erie <3
Photo by James Nettles 
Peekaboo Blue! 
Mike and I on a pitching panel 
Mermaid hair and nails!
So that was my almost-half-a-year! How was yours?