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..

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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.

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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!

Video of the Podcast

 If you would much rather see my smiling face while I record the Podcast that I posted a few days ago, here is the YouTube link:

Guest Appearance on Written Well Podcast

 

I was a guest on my friend Adam's podcast, Written Well.  Feel free to check it out: https://open.spotify.com/episode/53Er1jeTXgXaVEN3bNzQK3  

Chicon8 VIRTUAL schedule

I had been slated to attend WorldCON in-person, but a month or so ago, when COVID numbers began to spike, I requested to be shifted to fully virtual. I must have gotten my request in in early enough because I am still on a fair amount of programming. Whoot! So, if you are attending WorldCON/Chicon8 this weekend and have virtual access, here's where I will be:

Thursday, September 1, 2022

5:30 PM  Virtual Table Talk - Lyda Morehouse / Tate Hallaway (Airmeet Tables,) Duration: 60 mins

7:30 PM Reading - Lyda Morehouse / Tate Hallaway (Airmeet Readings,) Duration: 20 mins

Saturday, September 3, 2022

10:00 AM The Legacy and Influence of Satoshi Kon (Airmeet 5,) Duration: 60 mins

Alina Sidorova (moderator), Osawa Hirotaka, Lyda Morehouse / Tate Hallaway, Nick Mamatas

Come explore this retrospective on the maker of films like Paprika, Millennium Actress, and Tokyo Godfathers, Satoshi Kon. Often exploring themes of performance, social stigma, and the human psyche, Satoshi's stories have left an indelible mark upon media though focus on the synergy between dreams and reality.

 

7:00 PM Noir and SFF (Airmeet 2,)Duration: 60 mins

Lyda Morehouse / Tate Hallaway, Marissa James, Nick Mamatas, T. C. Weber (moderator)

 Noir fiction and SFF have similar roots in the pulps, and speculative fiction often uses noir themes—or at least its surface appearance. Our panelists will consider noir's influence on cyberpunk and novels like Miéville's The City and the City or Khaw's Hammers on Bone, and ponder the best uses of the fedora. . . in space! Let's talk about our favorite SFF hardboiled detectives, existential dread, and French cinema.