Minnesota NoICE

 https://www.patreon.com/posts/minnesota-noice-156554358

Naomi Kritzer, Marissa Lingen, J. R. Dawson and I talk about everything that's been happening in Minnesota to resist ICE... and, of course, our writing, too.

Pride StoryBundle

 

From my editors

THE 2025 PRIDE BUNDLE

The 2025 Pride Bundle - Curated by Catherine Lundoff and Melissa Scott

It's Pride again, and time for another queer-themed bundle! At a time when the community is once again under threat, we felt it was more important than ever to showcase the work and the writers that celebrate us. We looked for books that show queerness in all its complexity, with stories that range from pure adventure to profoundly serious, and from across the range of identities that make up our whole. We looked for stories that showcased the many and complex forms that queerness takes — the many ways that we have chosen to be. We looked for stories that engage with threats to the queer world, and for stories that imagine what we might be without threats, for stories that celebrate our joy and our resilience.

And we're pleased to say that we have found those stories, and more. If anything, the hardest part of curating this bundle was narrowing down the field: there are so many writers out there creating intelligent, nuanced, queer science fiction and fantasy that it's incredibly hard to choose among them. This is not to claim that this is a definitive LGBTQIA+ collection — given the ever-growing amount of stellar queer writing being published, we're not sure that's even possible. Instead, we thought of the bundle as a sampler, or perhaps a tasting menu. It includes novels, novellas, single author collections, and anthologies; the genres range from fantasy mysteries to cyberpunk to far future to post apocalyptic fantasy. There are newer works and writers, and some older work you may have missed when it first appeared. It's your chance to read work by some of the best writers working today.

StoryBundle has always allowed its patrons to donate part of their payment to a related charity, and this year we're once again supporting Rainbow Railroad, a NGO that helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored persecution and violence worldwide. Their work is needed now more than ever, and if you choose, you can pass on part of the bundle's price to them — a gift that can save a life. – Catherine Lundoff and Melissa Scott

* * *

For StoryBundle, you decide what price you want to pay. For $5 (or more, if you're feeling generous), you'll get the basic bundle of four books in .epub format—WORLDWIDE.

•            The Map and the Territory by A.M. Tuomala

•            We're Here - The Best Queer Speculative Fiction 2023 edited by Darcie Little Badger and series editor Charles Payseur

•            Point of Dreams by Melissa Scott and Lisa A. Barnett

•            These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart by Izzy Wasserstein

 

If you pay at least the bonus price of just $25, you get all four of the regular books, plus TEN more books, for a total of 14!

•            Be the Sea by Clara Ward

•            Fallen by Melissa Scott

•            A Necessary Chaos by Brent Lambert

•            Luminescent Machinations by Rhiannan Rasmussen and dave ring

•            Fairs' Point by Melissa Scott

•            So You Want to be A Robot by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor

•            Price of a Thousand Blessings by Ginn Hale

•            Reforged by Seth Haddon

•            Welcome to Boy.Net by Lyda Morehouse

•            Power to Yield by Bogi Takács

 

This bundle is available only for a limited time via http://www.storybundle.com. It allows easy reading on computers, smartphones, and tablets as well as Kindle and other ereaders via file transfer, email, and other methods. You get a DRM-free .epub for all books!

It's also super easy to give the gift of reading with StoryBundle, thanks to our gift cards – which allow you to send someone a code that they can redeem for any future StoryBundle bundle – and timed delivery, which allows you to control exactly when your recipient will get the gift of StoryBundle.

Why StoryBundle? Here are just a few benefits StoryBundle provides.

•            Get quality reads: We've chosen works from excellent authors to bundle together in one convenient package.

•            Pay what you want (minimum $5): You decide how much these fantastic books are worth. If you can only spare a little, that's fine! You'll still get access to a batch of exceptional titles.

•            Support authors who support DRM-free books: StoryBundle is a platform for authors to get exposure for their works, both for the titles featured in the bundle and for the rest of their catalog. Supporting authors who let you read their books on any device you want—restriction free—will show everyone there's nothing wrong with ditching DRM.

•            Give to worthy causes: Bundle buyers have a chance to donate a portion of their proceeds to Rainbow Railroad!

•            Receive extra books: If you beat the bonus price, you'll get the bonus books!

 

StoryBundle was created to give a platform for independent authors to showcase their work, and a source of quality titles for thirsty readers. StoryBundle works with authors to create bundles of ebooks that can be purchased by readers at their desired price. Before starting StoryBundle, Founder Jason Chen covered technology and software as an editor for Gizmodo.com and Lifehacker.com.

For more information, visit our website at storybundle.com, tweet us at @storybundle and like us on Facebook

Yet Another unboxing video... YAY!

 

My alter ego, Lyda Morehouse, is having a banner year. I'd be jealous, but... you know, she's also me, so.... ANYWAY, the point is that her original series, which is now 20 years old, is being reprinted by Wizard's Tower Press. We are finally releasing the last one, Resurrection Code, on October 3 (though it is already available for pre-order.)  

Mostly, the previous books are coming out nearly identically to their original. However, Resurrection Code had previously been published by a different small press, had a different cover, and many people who were fans of my previous books may have missed it. Even if they didn't, this book is also the only one that has 100% BRAND NEW material!  

So, even if you already own Resurrection Code, you won't want to miss this version!

Cover Reveal!

As you are aware, gentle reader, my AngeLINK series turned 20 this year. (I mean, technically, given that it's a series, 20 can be counted anywhere from 2021 to 2031.) But, what is truly important is that this is the year that the books are being re-issued in print by Wizard's Tower Press. The reason that Resurrection Code has lagged behind all the others is because when it was first released by Mad Norwegian Press is was it was barely a novel in length. It might be technically novella length, but we tacked on two short stories to the original publication. Wizard's Tower really wanted the price break that comes from a regular-sized novel and so I dug up and dusted off almost 30,000 "new" words to be added to this book. To be honest, dedicated fans of my series might have found a way to read a lot of what is being touted as new material, however, as it was hidden in various places all over my ancient (if still functioning) website. But this is the first time it will all be collected in one, easily readable place.

From its inception, this book was written for my superfans, so I feel like it's really fitting that it contains what is essentially authorial fanfic.

I have no idea if there is any kind of real market for this book. It is certainly NOT the kind of book that Penguin would have ever allowed me to write, not even in my heyday. It's generally weird, very trans, and now filled with so many odd (and wonderful, I hope!) drabbles and chapters I pulled from previous books and... they would have looked at it and said, what is this garbage? Or maybe not, but they certainly would have given it a pass.

I am so grateful to Wizard Tower for giving this book not only a home, but a chance to go out into the world to anyone who needs or wants even a part of it.

WorldCON Schedule

 WorldCON will be in Glasgow this year ( Aug 8–12, 2024), but I will not. However! I will be attending virtually. My final schedule looks like this:

• Let Them Cook - Food in Anime (THURSDAY: 1 pm GMT/8:00 am CT) - hybrid
• The Immersive Possibilities of Horror Audio (SATURDAY: 7pm GMT/2:00 pm CT) 
• Everything We Love (a Little or a Lot) About Fanfiction (SATURDAY: 10pm GMT/5:00 pm CT)
• Help, I Got Reincarnated Into a Worldcon Panel! (SUNDAY: 10pm GMT/5:00 pm CT)
• If I'm Not Kira and You're Not Kira, Who is Writing in the Death Note? (MONDAY: 1pm GMT/8:00 am CT) --hybrid

That's a lot of panels for me for a WorldCON and a lot of anime/manga panels! But, I am excited to be there and cheer on the friends of mine who are up for Hugo Awards this year. Hopefully see you (virtually!) there!

Queer Cyberpunk Episode!

  My new podcast, Mona Lisa Overpod, has just dropped its second episode in time for Pride Month: queerness and cyberpunk. Co-host Ka1iban and I go deep into the idea that there is something intrinsically queer about body mods, internet anonymity, and other cyberpunk themes.

You can listen to us anywhere fine podcasts are found, but several include:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11brxmJZjf3gnzltvwXI7H

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mona-lisa-overpod/id1750537130

Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mona-lisa-overpod--6195851

iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/53-mona-lisa-overpod-182995443/

New bi-weekly podcast!

 

My co-host Ka1iban and I, in conjunction with Just Enough Trope, have launched a new cyberpunk-themed podcast: Mona Lisa Over Pod. Currently, you can catch our debut/zero episode on Spreaker, but we should be available on Spotify and Apple Tunes shortly. 

We will be dropping new content every two weeks, so be sure to subscribe at your favorite podcasting site so that you don't miss an episode.

You can also follow the podcast on X, Facebook, and Instagram at @monalisaoverpod !

I am incredibly excited about this. I have remained a huge fan of cyberpunk since I first published in that genre over twenty years ago. We're going to be doing broad subject episodes, like, Queerness in Cyberpunk, etc., but also deep-dives into some of the classics (and new works!) 

"Talking Smart" an interview with My Dad

 I'll bet you didn't know that my father has a vlog. 

Yes, and he has 31 subscribers!--a number which I would mock, but is significantly more followers than I have on my Patreon. At any rate, we sat down last Sunday and had a lovely conversation (if a bit awkward when it becomes fairly clear that he's not exactly sure whether I've written about zombies or vampires as Tate Hallaway) about life, the universe, and everything in the digital age. 

Unfortunately, I can't embed this video, so if you want to watch it, you'll have to click this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjSix3rLWF0 

Anyway, check it out. It's fairly entertaining.

Big Idea: Resistance

 If you're curious about what was percolating in my lizard brain as I wrote my most recent novel, here's my Big Idea: https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/04/29/the-big-idea-lyda-morehouse-2/

Official Book Birthday Day!

Today is the big day! My book Welcome to Boy. Net is official out today. This book had the working title of Lesbians in SPAAAAACE which pretty much sums up the plot. To celebrate, please enjoy this ridiculous, self-made video of the moment I unboxed my author's copies of the trade paperback edition. I do my own subtitling, so any misspellings are on me, but also this means there is a chance for me to editorialize in the subtitles, like at the very end of this video. (Yes, this is my secret ploy to get you to watch this until the end.)

If you are so inclined, please feel free to pester your local bookstore to buy a few copies to put on the shelves! 

Cover Reveal, Welcome to Boy.Net

 

My newest book from my trans owned publisher with a trans main character is out today, on Trans Visibility Day. You can pre-order it here: https://wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/books-by-lyda-morehouse/welcome-to-boy-net/

Back in Paper After 20 Years

 

Hey, everybody, this is your friendly neighborhood author just popping in to tell the GOOD NEWS....

*foot goes into door quickly*

Not so fast there, friend! I can promise you this a Good Deal. *talks really fast, as you are crushing her foot trying to get the door shut in her face* SoMyAngeLINKBooksAreAvailableInPaperAgain! Including HARDCOVER!!! PleasebuythemPleasebuythem! Okay, Thanks!

Also Available Here!

*limps away to try another unsuspecting customer*

ConFABulous Schedule

 In which I will be game-mastering for the very first time!!!

FRIDAY

6: 00 pm 

The Queering of Good Omens. The second season of Good Omens had an explosion of canonically queer characters and couples. There were lesbians, nonbinary demons, and queer side characters galore. Yet our mains, Crowley and Aziraphale, couldn't seem to get it together, despite "the kiss." As we prepare for the Second Coming, let's talk about the good and the bad of the second season. 

 Lyda Morehouse, Naomi Kritzer, Don Kaiser

9:45 pm 

 Lesbian Space Opera: A Reading and Q&A by Lyda Morehouse. 

Lyda Morehouse has signed a deal for a new lesbian space opera trilogy. Come and join her for a reading and discussion about the forthcoming first novel in the trilogy.


SATURDAY

1:45 pm 

Yaoi and Yuri, the 2023 Edition. 

This panel is becoming a staple of ConFABulous, so it's time to move beyond 101 definitions of this manga genre. What's new (or new to you) and fun this year? There may be some discussion of manhwa and manhua (as well as anime and dongha,) but we're sticking with 2-D for this conversation. 

Lyda Morehouse, Jason Tucker


7:00 

Dance in the Neon-Pixelated Dark: A Thirsty Sword Lesbians Cyberpunk Homebrew. 

A rogue artificial intelligence that has escaped its corporate masters into the dark and rain-spattered streets of Neo-Toyko’s Akihabara’s “Electric Town.” A sleek, sexy agent of MegaCorp offers the thirsty lesbians gathered at the Potable Pussy Coffee Shop a hard-to-resist bounty to return this rebellious robot. Will they accept? If so, will they be able to find this runaway android before the machine-hating Luddite Cult gets their hands on it? Thirsty Sword Lesbians RPG. Simple rules will be taught. Up to 7 players.
GM: Lyda Morehouse


SUNDAY

3:30 pm 

Writing for RPGs. 

What are some best practices when designing adventures or sourcebooks for tabletop RPGs, either for publication or for your own gaming group? Discussion topics may include sources of inspiration, research and preparation, game balance, and having fun! 

James Satter, John Everett Till, Lyda Morehouse

5:00 pm 

Why Do Queer Women Write so Much M/M? 

This phenomenon has been true since the first Spock/Kirk slash was penned in the late 1960s. But this fan fiction trend has been mainstreamed lately with books like Everina Maxwell's Winter's Orbit, T. Kingfisher's Paladin's Hope, and an entire romance m/m genre (https://www.goodreads.com/genres/m-m-romance). Why aren't these queer and straight ladies writing F/F? Where are the male, gay authors? What are some concerns about this trend--are we being mainstreamed right into heteronormativity?

Lyda Morehouse, Naomi Kritzer, Lauren Crabtree

New Anthology!

 I have a short story, "Go Ask A.L.I.C.E." in the Reinvented Detective: Welcome to Tomorrow anthology, which you can pre-order right now!  Somehow I missed the cover art reveal, but I am INSANELY chuffed to discover my name listed among the featured authors. This may, in fact, be a first ever for me. Normally I'm listed among the "...and more."

Anyway, it will make a lovely holiday present! Go get yours now!

Big News! Many books forthcoming...

 I bet most of you have figured that I've dropped off the face of the earth. Turns out that I have been busily working on a science fiction book (under my given name Lyda Morehouse.) I just sold it and two more books in that trilogy to Cheryl Morgan at Wizard's Tower Press. 

https://wizardstowerpress.com/media/wizards-tower-acquires-earths-shadow-trilogy-from-lyda-morehouse/

Also, since I suspect that most readers here are more interested in my Tate Hallaway persona, GOOD NEWS FOR YOU AS WELL.  As part of the trilogy package, I have also agreed to write Alex Connor #3! (currently titled Infernal Affairs.) 

Guest on B Cube's Sunday Morning

I was a guest along with Lambda award-winner, Deborah J. Ross, on this very special Pride Month episodes. I had great fun--although my microphone decided to play hooky near the end of the broadcast, alas.  We did, at least, have a great conversation up until that moment.

Kickstarter is LIVE

 The Kickstarter for the Dragon Shelter Anthology is now live!!

This is the Kickstarter that I mentioned in an earlier post. The story I wrote for this is a lot of fun and very personal. I wrote it based on my time as a library circulation staff and the ending makes me cry happy tears (and hopefully will for you, too.) Teaser: there is an emotional support DRAGON involved!

At any rate, if you are so inclined, please consider tossing a bit of funding in its direction. Every little bit will help! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wolfinmybeard/a-day-at-the-dragon-shelter

Kickstarter News Coming...

 In the next week, expect some news about a Kickstarter for a shared-world anthology that I will be part of edited by Steven Brust and Chris ‘Fox’ Wallace.  Among the contributors are not only myself, but also Jane Yolen, Adam Stemple, and Emma Bull.

Just to whet your whet your appetite, here's a hint as to what it will all be about..

---

You probably remember where you were when you heard the dragons had returned. No doubt, unless you were one of the first to see one, you thought it was a hoax, and I'm sure it took you a while to be convinced. And you have certainly seen how it has changed things--destroying some businesses, creating others, but in one way or another, having an effect on almost everyone.

For us, here at the shelter, it's seasonal. Every Christmas, parents see a cute little hatchling and think what a wonderful present it would be. And, in many cases, they're right. But too many don't even bother looking up even the most basic information about whatever breed they've settled on, and there are too many unscrupulous breeders who don't bother telling them to. Many of these well-intentioned dragon owners somehow miss the two most important facts about a dragonling – It will grow, sometimes very large, and it may not choose you.

That's why, every spring, things start to really pick up here at the City of Lakes Dragon Shelter.

---

I really had a great time writing the story for this anthology. I got inspired, in part, by my work at the Ramsey County public library... and, of course, drag queen story hour.  

If you get a chance to support it when I have more details, please do!

Minicon 2023

My schedule for this year's Minicon (in Saint Louis Park, MN): http://mnstf.org/minicon56/

FRIDAY

8:30 PM

Gender & AI (Park 2)

Androids and AI in science fiction disrupt the idea of a gender binary: what purpose is there for an Android and/or AI to have gender? Could an Android/AI be trans, gender-fluid, and/or non-binary? How will that affect how we as a society see gender as a construct?

Justin Grays, Naomi Kritzer, Lyda Morehouse, Ian Young

SATURDAY

1:00 PM

Humor in genre fiction (Orchard)

A serious discussion of funny F/SF and horror.

Eleanor Arnason, Mike Aurelius, F. J. Bergman, Lyda Morehouse, Douglas Van Dyke Jr

2:30 PM

LGBTQ+ Representation in SF/F (Orchard)

Queer characters are showing up in both YA and adult F/SF. Where can you find queer characters? Are their authors getting it right? Which books/shows are the best? And, maybe, assuming that such representation merely a good start, what is the next step?

Justin Grays, David Lenander, Catherine Lundoff, Lyda Morehouse, David Paschal-Zimbel

SUNDAY

10:00 AM

The Power of Play (Park 1)

The concept of play includes many ideas such as stress relief, a path to creativity, connection with others (and our younger selves), and more. Science fiction and fantasy fans enjoy playing around mentally, after all. Silly hats, clothes, footwear, and toys are encouraged for panel members and attendees.

Jeanne Mealy, Lyda Morehouse, Laramie Sasseville, Crystal Therese

Fun New Patreon Perks

 So, you may not know that I have a Patreon. I do, but it is under my given name, Lyda Morehouse, under which I write science fiction. 

https://www.patreon.com/lydamorehouse

I've recently revamped (PARDON THE PUN) it hoping to lure in a few more fans of my paranormal work. 

If you subscribe at the $1/mo level, you can can stay caught up on all the lovely things I have been up to, including (but limited to!) the fact that I am in the midst of writing a short story for a dragon anthology. (If  you sign up at the $5/mo level, I will be sharing a bit of that once it's finished, just as a teaser.)

But, in specific, of interest to people here, I am adding some new things to my higher tiers. At the $5/mo level, I'm going to be starting a  weekly, Monday morning Tarot journal blog. This is 100% exclusive and in it, I'll be sharing pictures of my spread and my thoughts on what the card(s) mean generally, but also personally. If you're at all interested in the witchy aspects of my life, this is where you can find that kind of stuff. 

If you're willing to pay a bit more, I'm hoping to make my $10/mo tier attractive to people who tuned in to this blog in the old days when I wrote a lot about writing and how writing works. At this level, I'll be posting a blog about my writing advice, how-tos--basically stuff I've distilled from years of teaching at the Loft--once a month. This might also come with videos or podcasts, I'm not sure yet. I'm trying to make this new stuff all relatively easy for me to add into my life so that you'll be sure to get what you're paying for.

Also, you know, it's okay if this is not of interest to you. I put it out here just in case you are! I know you love and support my work, whether or not you can contribute to my Patreon.

Thanks!